Stripes and Lace

You want to know a secret? Sometimes I shoot outfits that don’t always work “in camera.” A lot of times I get it right on the first go round of styling, but sometimes I don’t. In fact I had to shoot this top twice before I got it right. It’s not a hard blouse to style; I loved the way I styled it prior (boyfriend jeans and these surplus shorts) but sometimes things don’t photograph exactly the way I envisioned. Or sometimes outfits just don’t work like they did in my head. After blogging for 5 years, I’ve learned that if something doesn’t photograph well you always try again. I also believe that with pieces in my closet — just because it doesn’t work with what I first envisioned with it, doesn’t mean it won’t work at all. You just have to try something different. (Which can be frustrating when you are running out of time / running late; a state I am constantly in. It’s ironic that I hate being late and yet naturally I always am.) I realized after the first set of photos, that with this top needed a different bottom (pants or skirt, not booty) to give it a bit more je ne sais quoi, if you will. Sure enough, that’s what I needed. I switched from boyfriend jeans to lace shorts and the outfit came alive. I’m glad I didn’t give up on this top because it’s sure to become a summer staple. (I’ve worn it a total of three times in a week. I think it’s safe to stay.)
Plus lace anything gives a bit of a boost to any outfit. Summer just makes me gravitate towards lace. Oh yes and these are (surprise!) shorts not a skirt. They just look like a skirt because I’m sneaky like that. They are in fact shorts. Maybe a ‘skort’ if you’re fancy. (And I think you are very fancy, by the way.) Le skort it is. 
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Madewell Striped Top
Heartloom Lace Shorts
Similar Straw Hat
BC Leather Wedges
Gorjana Ring to Wrist Bracelet (c/o)
Gorjana Necklace / Bracelet
Lauren Merkin Clutch
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84 Responses

  1. The skort is super cute! I think you made a great call styling your top with it. I am sure you looked equally as cute with your boyfriend jeans, but I know what you mean when you think you have a great outfit and it just isn’t coming out in photos. Regardless of how it photographs, know that you are totes adorbs and equally as fancy.

    willbakeforshoes.com

    Reply

    1. Isn’t it the worst? But I will say that the outfits that don’t photograph great help me understand style better. It’s a love-hate when it doesn’t work out 😉

      Reply

  11. Lace always makes things pretty! No matter what! Love the top, I can see why you’d wear it three times in a week- I’d be living in that too! (And you are on point here, this outfit photographs beautifully!)

    Clare | Understated Classics

    Reply

  15. Oh my gosh, Kendi, I love that top! I’m all for “parachute” or shift tops and you did an amazing job pulling it off for this shoot! I normally wear skinnies with my shift tops, and it never fails for me! 😉

    Autumn | A Fabulous Hippie

    Reply

  24. The skort is super cute! I think you made a great call styling your top with it. I am sure you looked equally as cute with your boyfriend jeans, but I know what you mean when you think you have a great outfit and it just isn't coming out in photos. Regardless of how it photographs, know that you are totes adorbs and equally as fancy.

    willbakeforshoes.com

    Reply

  28. Isn't it the worst? But I will say that the outfits that don't photograph great help me understand style better. It's a love-hate when it doesn't work out 😉

    Reply

  35. Lace always makes things pretty! No matter what! Love the top, I can see why you'd wear it three times in a week- I'd be living in that too! (And you are on point here, this outfit photographs beautifully!)

    Clare | Understated Classics

    Reply

  42. Oh my gosh, Kendi, I love that top! I'm all for "parachute" or shift tops and you did an amazing job pulling it off for this shoot! I normally wear skinnies with my shift tops, and it never fails for me! 😉

    Autumn | A Fabulous Hippie

    Reply

  63. I think it’s the blousiness of it + the sleeves being cut off in such an awkward, unflattering place. I think is the sleeves were longer and hit at a more flattering spot, the blousiness would work better – or if the shirt were less blousy, cap sleeves would work better. As it is, the shirt’s just kind of a big ol’ hang-there with most pants choices I think.

    I do like that color of blue that’s the base color for the shirt. I saw a similar pattern in a basic T-shirt shape at Old Navy in that color that I thought was really cute! That’s a blue that will flatter almost anyone.

    Reply

  64. I love the blue sailor style of the shirt with the lace shorts — very French, which is always a good thing in my book! I’ll secretly steal some inspiration to match a cropped blue/white gingham top with my lace pencil skirt — if my bum doesn’t look too big in it. 😉

    I totally agree on certain outfits not working on camera. They seem totally fine in the mirror at home, but when you see them at a distance in a photograph they just make you look short/big/uncomfortable/gangly or something else we generally don’t want to look. Quite annoying, really!

    Anett | Tall Girl’s Fashion

    Reply

  69. I think it's the blousiness of it + the sleeves being cut off in such an awkward, unflattering place. I think is the sleeves were longer and hit at a more flattering spot, the blousiness would work better – or if the shirt were less blousy, cap sleeves would work better. As it is, the shirt's just kind of a big ol' hang-there with most pants choices I think.

    I do like that color of blue that's the base color for the shirt. I saw a similar pattern in a basic T-shirt shape at Old Navy in that color that I thought was really cute! That's a blue that will flatter almost anyone.

    Reply

  70. I love the blue sailor style of the shirt with the lace shorts — very French, which is always a good thing in my book! I'll secretly steal some inspiration to match a cropped blue/white gingham top with my lace pencil skirt — if my bum doesn't look too big in it. 😉

    I totally agree on certain outfits not working on camera. They seem totally fine in the mirror at home, but when you see them at a distance in a photograph they just make you look short/big/uncomfortable/gangly or something else we generally don't want to look. Quite annoying, really!

    Anett | Tall Girl's Fashion

    Reply

  71. You look STUNNING! Love this outfit on you and the location is gorgeous as well.

    Reply

  74. You look STUNNING! Love this outfit on you and the location is gorgeous as well.

    Reply

  78. I think sometimes outfits don’t “photograph” well but that doesn’t mean they didn’t look good in reality. Some clothes just look better when they’re in motion. You should make a gif or something next time. I say that even though I don’t know how to do it and am too lazy to learn how. But you totally should.

    ~Sarah of Sarah’s Real Life

    Reply

  79. I think sometimes outfits don't "photograph" well but that doesn't mean they didn't look good in reality. Some clothes just look better when they're in motion. You should make a gif or something next time. I say that even though I don't know how to do it and am too lazy to learn how. But you totally should.

    ~Sarah of Sarah's Real Life

    Reply
  81. Pingback: 10 Ways to Wear Lace in the Summer - The Effortless Chic - A lifestyle blog bringing easy ideas for every day style to you, every day of the week!

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