My Ultimate Rockabilly Inspired Summer Style

So lately I've been talking lots about how excited I am for summer to come, so I thought that to keep my spirits up during all this snow the Chicago area has been getting (boo!) I would do a post on my ideal summer style. Spoiler alert! It's very rockabilly influenced!

{from left to right: Picnic Park Skirt, Vintage Style Poplin Dress, Blue Racer Skirt, Havana Dress}

My favorite dress/skirt style for the summer usually involves a very, very full skirt; 1950's silhouette, and lots of color! Patterns are also welcome.

{from left to right: Hot Pink Luichiny Wedge, Jessica Simpson Dany 4 Cream, Yoki Celia 12 Teal Sun Cross T-Strap}

For shoes I usually like something bold, with a heel or wedge. Who says you can only have one "statement" piece??

{from left to right: Zad Extreme Rose Blue Rose Ring, Through the Wire Headband in Red, Ready, Set, Bow! Teal Bow, Shoreside by Side Hat}

For accessories I like to go bold, too. Brightly colored rings, belts, necklaces, ect. Scarves look great with high pony tails (which have the added benefit of keeping my hair away from my face!), and floppy hats just add to the chic-1950's feel while keeping the sun off my face.

What about you? What's your ideal summer style? Link me up with your ideal summer dress/skirt/accessory!

xo,

Katie Burry

Disclosure: While no one asked me to write this post, and I received nothing for writing it, several of the links above are affiliate links. Having said that is not the reason I wrote this post, and I picked out all the dresses because I like them - in fact I've had my eye on several of them for weeks.

When I've Got My Skates On // Daily Outfit

"Some days are horrible - like you trip in the hall and your skirt flies over your head just when the jock you like is walking past. Some days are just 'ok.' Maybe you find a $20 bill, but you get a parking ticket. And some days are just so amazingly awesome and everything with the world is right!" 

~ Lizzie Benne

Reasons why the day I wore this dress was awesome:

• It was the perfect almost-spring-day! I woke up to the sound of birds in the trees, it was unny and not too cold. Spring, please come quickly!
• I drove with the windows down for one of the first times this year
• I just recently bought a pair of socks just like my white thigh highs but in the gray, and I wore them for the first time with this outfit. I love them so much. Seriously so comfortable. I want them in black, too, and I'm even thinking about getting a pair for a giveaway. Does anyone think this is a good idea!?
• I used my new make-up palette, Boudoir Eyes by Too Faced, to try my hand at the smokey eye the girl at Ulta did on me. It wasn't as good as hers, but it didn't suck, either!
• I loved my make-up, and was pleased with my hair/make-up, so I felt great all day!
• I went ice skating for the first time in four years, which was awesome despite all the mothers bringing their little daughters to practice figuring skating which meant me being shown up by a couple of five year olds.
• After searching for over a year I finally bought the perfect purple lipstick - not too purple-y, and not too dark! Thank you, MAC cosmetics!
• Semi caught up with one of my bestest girl friends.
• It was payday so I got to pick up my check + say hello to my co-workers, which - of course - ending up being a discussion on how great Jeffery Campbell shoes are (in the words of my co-worker "he knows how to make shoes!" YEAH GIRL!)
• I realized when I looked at my paycheck stub that I got a pay raise, so I am now $.25 per hour closer to being rich. Yay me!
• I burned so many calories ice skating, that I ate whatever I want when I got home, completely guilt free. (I really need to ice skate more often, y'all!) 

xo, 

Katie Burry

♥ ♥ ♥       

dress: Moon Collection via the Red Dress Shoppe

cardigan: Forever 21
Lita spikes: Lori's Shoes

tights: Forever 21
socks: the Forest Bootery

belt: Windsor

necklace: gift from Emily
sunglasses: ModCloth

bag: Little Black Bag
lipstick: MAC in Rebel
title: Tip of the Iceberg by Owl City

And Now I See // Daily Outfit

After feeling pretty "blah" about life for a while, I think I'm finally getting back to feeling like myself again. I'm letting go of things I can't control, and ceasing to feel guilty about things that aren't my fault. I'm also super pumped about Christmas because I know my family will love everything I got them! And on top of it Molly is making me a dress out of the most gorgeous fabric for my birthday/Christmas present, and I'm really looking forward to taking it on my upcoming trip to Missouri! I'm finally going back to visit my aunt and uncle - I haven't been there in nearly three years! I can't wait to get back to the great outdoors and see my aunt and uncle - I miss them so much! And on top of it all I'm really hoping to get some good shots and practice my photography. *winks*

In other news, this outfit is what I wore to church several weeks ago. Then I switched out the pumps for my favorite pair of chevron flats to go to work in. I loved this outfit, and this t-shirt so much, but later that night I got a spot of red nail polish on. At least it's at the bottom so I can still wear it tucked into something, but it shall never again be worn with a cute, comfy pair of jeans. So sad. :'(

 ♥ ♥ ♥       

t-shirt: thrifted
blazer: H&M
jeans: Forever 21

Betsy Johnson necklace: Little Black Bag
Betsy Johnson bracelet: Little Black Bag

Dolce Vita pumps: Lori's Shoes
Betsy Johnson sunglasses: Little Black Bag

lipstick: MAC in Lickable
Title: I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift

Sew Lovely Dress // Daily Outfit

Remember this summer when Molly let me borrow this gorgeous handmade dress? Well - being the dear that she is - she let me take it home and borrow it again after our Christmas party last weekend. It's one of my favorite dresses. The colors are all of my favorites, and it just seems to go with everything in my closet - even (maybe especially?) my Lita spikes. *wink*

On another subject, happy Hobbit day, y'all! Today after work I'm heading to the theater with my mom and Maddie, and my dad is meeting up with us after his plane lands (he's been on a business trip since Tuesday) then we're all going to wait in line for hours so we can try to get good seats for the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. It's gonna be epic! I've wanted a movie of the Hobbit since LOTR came out - over 10 years ago! And after over four years of hearing that so-and-so is going to direct and such-and-such actor is rumored to be playing Bilbo- wait! No, that guy is not going to direct and they have another actor in mind for Bilbo, etc. it's finally filmed and finished with the perfect director and some of my favorite actors! I'm just so excited, y'all!

Are any of you going to the midnight showing? If so I'd love to hear all about it tomorrow! (Or today if you're in the southern hemisphere. *wink*)

♥ ♥ ♥       

dress: Dahl Clothes
cardigan: my moms from Target
belt: Francesca's Collections

tights: Target

Jeffrey Campbell Litas: Lori's Shoes

Betsy Johnson bracelet: Little Black Bag

lipstick: Kat Von D Foiled Love in Valentine

Little Red Riding Hood // Daily Outfit

Sometimes I get so, so caught up in everything that's past. I think it's just in my nature. I can't stop thinking of everything that was. I've done it for as long as I can remember, and it always hits worst in December. It's the month of my birthday and the last month of the year - both are times I think people naturally get reflective, but for me it borders on depression. This year I can't stop thinking of some of my old friends. I trusted them, and even though I know that it's time to let go I just can't seem to...

The good news, though, is that all this friend drama has made me see the need to patch up some hurt feelings with some of my favorite family members. Family may be crazy and imperfect but they'll love you and I've been blessed to have some really amazing family that accept me - Lita Spikes and gear-head-wannabe in all! I'm really hoping to visit them again this spring - it's been far too long. ♥

For those of you wondering, this is what I wore to my dad's family's Christmas party earlier this month. When I got this dress I vowed to wear it more than just for my graduation party, and I've certainly done that! (I'm not even going to lie: Katy Perry is a constant source of courage! If she can wear candy themed outfits I can rock that hot-rod-red tulle dress!)

 ♥ ♥ ♥       

dress: Spotted Moth
cardigan: Lace Affair
belt: Windsor

tights: Target

Jeffrey Campbell Litas: Lori's Shoes

necklace: Kane County Flea Market

blazer: H&M

lipstick: Kat Von D Painted Love in Underage Red
Title: Once Upon a Time

Like a Girl // Daily Outfit

This outfit is actually several weeks old. Eep! Luckily I'm finally getting caught up on my outfit posts. Woohoo!

I think I must have caught the "crazy-shoe bug" from reading Kaelah's blog because this is seriously one of my favorite pairs - right up there with my faux teal JC Litas and my real Lita spikes! I mean, what doesn't a pair of pink and camel platform heels go with!? I really loved how they added a little pizazz to this simple, girl-next-door look (also, "pizazz" is one of my new faovrite words).

In other news I'm hoping to start some new changes next year and I set up a reader survey so I could hear your thoughts on what you'd like to see more/less of! I'd really appreciate it if you'd take the time to fill it out. (I promise it won't take long! Only 5 required questions.) It will also give you an extra entry in a giveaway coming up next month - I'm just sayin'! *winks*

 ♥ ♥ ♥       

dress: Forever 21
cardigan: Old Navy
belt: Windsor

tights: Target

Dolce Vita Heels: Lori's Shoes

ring: borrowed from Maddie

lipstick: MAC in Lickable
Title: Hot N Cold by Katy Perry

Part of Me // Daily Outfit

 I just wanna throw my phone away

Find out who is really there for me

You ripped me off, your love was cheap

Was always tearing at the seams

I fell deep and you let me drown

But that was then and this is now...  

Now look at me, I'm sparkling

A firework, a dancing flame

You won't ever put me out again

I'm glowing, oh woah oh

 ...

In fact you can keep everything

Yeah, yeah

Except for me

This is the part of me that you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
This is the part of me that you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

Throw your sticks and stones
Throw your bombs and your blows
But you're not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me that you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

~ Part of me by Katy Perry

Sometimes in relationships - be they the romantic kind of just friendships - you can get to the point when you realize that the other person in the relationship doesn't really have your best interests at heart anymore. That they just keep taking and taking without really offering to give back, and that you've lost yourself because it was so much easier to suck it up and do what they wanted rather than hear about it from them later. Well, I've been there very recently... 

Looking back on the past year I can't believe how much I stifled myself just to make one of my friendships work. I didn't post on blog about things I wanted to because I knew it would cause problems - even things that weren't even about anyone else, but just how I was feeling. (How pathetic is that?) And I can't believe that I didn't notice it at the time! I mean, when someone all but forgets your golden/eighteenth birthday for months, and you don't say anything because you know it will just get your friend ticked off at you, it ought to be a pretty bit indicator that this friendship isn't working, right?? But I put up with it for months and months as the friendship dragged on, and now that it's over, I just feel so weird...

I know it's for the best, and no one can convince me otherwise but it's still so hard. It's hard to see someone I love so much and not really recognizing them... But hard as it is I know it's the right thing, I know I'm stronger for doing the right thing, and - honestly - I've never felt more like myself than I do right now. No more worrying what people are going to think when they see what I wore that day, or when they read that I'm stressed out about a friend. I am me because you know what? I'm a single girl, and I don't have to answer to my friends for behavior that doesn't concern them. I mean, I'm totally fine with friends talking to me if they think I'm behaving badly, but I cannot handle them acting like it's their duty to save me. I'm almost nineteen years old and I'm old enough to make decisions for myself, and I really, really just want to be myself. ♥
 

 ♥ ♥ ♥       

dress: thriftstore
cardigan: ModCloth
belt: Francesca's Collections

shoes: Libby Edelman via Lori's Shoes

bracelet: gift from my parents

ring: Target

jeans: Forever 21

lipstick: MAC in Lickable
Title: Part of Me by Katy Perry

The Key to Life // Daily Outfit

I'm pretty sure the key to life is taking the time to wear an outfit you feel good in. My days are always 10,000x better when I'm feeling confident in what I put on that morning instead of wishing I'd worn something other than a baggy (but still awesome) Doctor Who tee shirt and jeans. I mean, who can help but be cheerful while wearing a colorful, floral print blouse!?

In other news this pair of shoes is another steal I got from Lori's Shoes. They're real leather and have the cutest little gold chains on them (forgot to get a close up but here's them online). They were originally $90 on sale for $25 so I just couldn't pass them up, considering I'm in desperate need of shoes to wear to work (my heel collection offers no-thing in the way of work appropriate shoes!)

Also, I'm really loving blazers lately and I'm pretty sure this H&M one is the perfect black blazer ever. I'm so glad I found it when I went to exchange the brown tweed one I originally bought! I just can't pull of tweed like the Doctor can...

 ♥ ♥ ♥       

blouse: ModCloth
blazer: H&M
belt: Francesca’s Collections

shoes: Libby Edelman via Lori's Shoes

necklace: Kane County Flea Market

bangles: H&M

rings: Target

bag: ModCloth

lipstick: Kat Von D in Underage Red

Firework // Daily Outfit

"Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colours burst"

~ Firework by Katy Perry

In an effort to make my blog more music related I have taken to naming all of my outfit posts after songs/with song lyrics. No, I'm just kidding. That's totally not why I do that, but it is a nice perk. I just really, really love music. I always have. And when I draw a blank as to what in the world I should call this post, song lyrics/titles work well. It's become a bit of a creative crutch, but a completely acceptable one at that.

On another subject I just really need to talk about these shoes for a minute. Real swede featuring two of my favorite colors (hot pink? yes please!) by designer Dolce Vita. Retail: one-hundred-and-thirty-dollars. I paid: forty. Can you say "good deal"!? Originally I was a bit on the fence about whether or not I should get them (I have no idea why!) But after weighing the pros and cons of the purchase - and by "weighing the pros and cons" I mean "talking it out with my mom" - I realized that I would be stupid not to get them! But then, let's be honest: both my heart and they themselves knew they'd becoming home with me the minute the salesperson told me that I could pull them off because I had a "Katy Perry style."

That's a compliment I've been getting a lot lately, actually, and I'm super flattered every time someone tells me that my style reminds them of hers. Despite the fact that I dress much more conservative than she does, I think Katy Perry is such a bombshell. Especially her hair/makeup. It always looks flawless and is generally just to die for. I mean, have you seen this?? Oh, and have I mentioned she was one of the inspirations behind me getting bangs last winter?

 ♥ ♥ ♥       

dress: ModCloth
blazer: my mom's
belt: Francesca’s Collections
tights: Target

shoes: Dolce Vita via Lori's Shoes

necklace: Kane County Flea Market

bangles: H&M

lipstick: MAC in Lickable
title: Firework by Katy Perry