Jean jackets beyond 8th grade

Everyone had a jean jacket in grade school. They were the trademark look that came after the pastel colored GAP hoodies and before The North Face jackets became the norm in high school. I was over jean jackets for the past eight years, but now I find myself wanting one again. They're great to pair with summer dresses for a casual day, and look great over anything white. I'm a fan of the medium to darker washes, and I've had my eye on this one for a while now. 

What's your take on jean jackets? Do you own one already? Have they made a comeback in your wardrobe?  

I've scoured the internet (and M Street in Georgetown!) to find some of the best jean jackets at {somewhat} affordable prices. I think Madewell and J.Crew probably have the best-quality jackets, but there are a few other less-expensive ones as well. Here's a few of my favorites.

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Dress Week Day 5: Bright Whites

Thank you for sticking around for the final day of Dress Week on A Pop of Style. My absolute favorite part about spring's post-Easter days is wearing white dresses. I think Lilly Pulitzer always has the best white dresses-- they're my go-to recommendation for graduation dresses. 

Enjoy your weekend!

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Francesca's Laguna Hills Ribbed Dress: This textured dress looks so comfy. It has a subtle ribbed fabric that is casual, but can be dressed up with a tan belt or accessories to make for a pop of color.

Lilly Pulitzer Nina Dress: Need I say more? Scallops are huge this spring, but besides the scallops on this piece, the back of this dress make it all the more better! I'm a sucker for bows, but seersucker bows? Yes!

French Connection Boatneck Fit & Flare Dress: French Connection is one of my favorite designers, but I've only every bought their dresses. I love the neckline and the flair of the skirt.

Francesca's Capitol Hill Dress: I may be a little partial to this dress because it's called "Capitol Hill," but I love the simplicity of it, along with the tie for a bow across the front. 

Dress Week Day 3: Maxi Dresses

There used to be days when I thought only tall people could pull off maxi dresses. I loved the way girls like Blake Lively, Heidi Klum and Kate Beckinsale pulled them off, but let's face it-- they all have legs for days. However, depending on how you style it, I think shorter gals wear them just as easily. Take Sarah Jessica Parker for example. At only 5' 3", SJP proves you don't have to have super long legs to pull off this look. 

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Mara Hoffman Pow Open Back Maxi: Mara Hoffman is the one designer I'd love to own a piece by, but I simply cannot afford it. Her prints are bold and flashy, and whether its her swimsuit collection or maxi dresses, there are always sexy back cutouts that make her pieces super unique. 

Mossimo Racerback Chiffon Maxi: The perfect Target maxidress. This one is different in that it's longer in the back than it is in the front, and the floral print gives it a nice pop of color. 

H&M Khaki Green Floral Dress: I'm not typically a fan of green floral, usually because I think the prints remind me of that God awful dress that J.Lo wore once upon a time. But I love the pink floral detail added to this dress. 

Ted Baker London Halter Maxi Dress: The color of this dress is perfect for the summer months, and I love how the neckline channels a Grecian style. 

Dress Week Day 2: Workday Dresses

One of my favorite parts of graduating from college and moving on to the "real world" is that I get to dress up every day. I find myself investing more in work dresses than skirts, primarily because I think dresses are more comfortable, but also because I think they're more professional looking.

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Club Monaco Ellie Dress: This takes colorblocking to new levels, incorporating navy down the bodice, and a lighter, more bright shade of blue along the top. I love the color in this dress!

Laundry by Shelli Segal Dress: I saw this dress in Nordstrom when it first came out, and loved how different it looked. The detailing on it-- which you can see better in person -- looks almost like a basket weave.

H&M Army Green Dress: The best part about this dress (besides the color) is the lace detail along the shoulders and throughout the back of the dress. It'd be perfect with a pair of nude heels.

J.Crew Multistripe Dress: I fell in love with this dress the moment I tried it on in J.Crew the other week. Although I did not buy it, (I went with this one instead!) it's a great summer dress and has a touch of nautical to it. 

Dress Week Day 1: Shifts

Because I'm moving this week for a job that I start on Wednesday, I knew I would be in a time crunch for posting every night. Luckily for my readers, I've put together a short, weeklong series that will feature different types of dresses each day. Each day will consist of my favorite picks for each dress category .. both splurge-worthy and affordable! 

Today, I'm focusing on shifts. It's the perfect shape, and while shifts can typically look unflattering, the stripes, scallops, floral and leather touches in these dresses will make for a standout shift.

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Club Monaco Haley Knit Dress: I love this dress because it has a nautical feel to it, but my favorite part is the leather pockets. Any dress with pockets has me sold instantly.

J,Crew Scalloped Dress: I bought this dress two weeks ago, and cannot wait to wear it once the weather warms up again. Scallops are a huge trend this spring, and I plan to dress it up a bit with a bright statement necklace.

A-thread Floral Sheath Dress: I saw this dress on Pinterest months ago and can't get it off of my mind. I love how the model pairs it with a bright neon necklace. 

Forever 21 Polka Dotted Shift Dress: I'm not typically a fan of polka dots, but I like the color band around the bottom of this dress, and the higher neckline. 

Spring fever

With all of the spring clothes in stores, I've had a hard time resisting the urge to buy everything I know I don't really need. I guess after Easter comes we can bring out the white attire and spring dresses, something I've been waiting for since January! Until then, here are a few of my favorite spring looks. 

Menswear Wednesday: Khaki + tan sport coats

Khaki is the perfect neutral for a men’s wardrobe, but its presence in 20-something’s closets is understated. I’ve always had the feeling that most guys—especially former private schoolgoers who donned the color nearly every day for their pre-college life—have left their khaki and tan attire in the backs of their closets, opting for lighter shades of greys and seersucker for the start of the spring months. However, the great thing about khakis and tans are that they can be used as a neutral tone to anchor any color(s) brought into the fold.

There’s still a bit of time before we all break out the post-Easter wardrobe, so before you do I thought I’d offer up a few tips for wearing a khaki or tan sport coat.

Pairing with patterns

Because the color is a neutral one, donning a khaki sports coat over a patterned shirt is a must. My favorite look is ginham shirts (especially oranges, blues and greens), but plaids are a go as well. If you’re feeling really bold, go for a polkadotted shirt as well.

Pastels

Pastels are what first come to mind when I think of spring fashion. In terms of matching a pastel shirt with khaki or tan, think green, blue or pink pastels… forget the yellow pastels, because it’s too close in color to the khaki and tan.

Darks

Dark army greens and chambray shirts are good contrasts to the lighter color of your sport coat. If you don’t want to opt for a dark shirt, pair a dark navy tie with a crisp, white button down.

Prabal Gurung for Target

After the Target + Neiman Marcus collaboration this past holiday season, I blogged about how disappointed I was with Target's designer collections. Most of them are too good to be true when you go from seeing the pieces on a commercial to in-store on the hangers, but I'm going to keep my fingers crossed with the new Prabal Gurung for Target collection. With all of the bright colors and floral designs, how could this not be gorgeous in person! Plus, how cute is the commercial? And just in time for Valentine's Day. :)

xxo