Tag: fashion

Music Festival Season: What to Bring & Trends to Try

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

I mentioned festival season in my previous blog post, and then realized that I lied on a podcast. I said that one of my most popular blog posts was what to bring to Boston Calling Musical Festival, and recently realized that was an Instagram post that never actually made it to the blog.

Even though this year Boston Calling Music Festival won’t be taking place, Coachella and Breakaway, as well as other music festivals will be. And honestly for the year, this season starts concert season for me regardless.

I attended my first concert of the season with Andrew, and we loved it. My life had been missing live music for sure. Twice was a much needed fix and while I don’t currently have anything lined up, I still already can’t wait for whatever my next concert will be.

That said, here are my music festival and concert must haves.

What to Bring

Above anything else, you need the right size bag. This will very much so be dependent on the venue, so you HAVE to make sure to do your research first. For example TD Garden doesn’t have to be clear, but must not exceed 6″ x 4″ x 1.5″ which is essentially a wristlet. While Gillette Stadium is 12″ x 12″ x 6″ but must be clear.

If the bag policy allows, here is what I almost always try to make sure to bring, especially for outdoor venues.

SPF

I prefer a travel size spray, but honestly anything is fine as long as you have some form of UV protection. And one for your face.

Lip Balm/Tint

One with SPF is a must for me.

Portable Fan

If it’s hot, a fan is nice to have. I don’t like feeling sweaty and a nice little breeze can come in clutch.

Portable Phone Charger

You will not catch me with a dead phone. I will never not have a portable phone charger. Sometimes I pack my usb charge cord as well (just in case, some festivals have charging stations).

Water Bottle

This is festival specific, the days are long and it can get hot. Stay hydrated out there! A collapsible one is ideal for packing purposes.

Earplugs

I myself rarely use these, but the one time I didn’t pack them, Andrew asked for them and I felt terrible. You don’t realize how loud it is until your ears are ringing the entire way home. Also good to have if you get overstimulated easily, there is a lot going on and earplugs can help.

Anti-Chafe Stick

If your thighs will be touching, you need this. Period.

Flip Flops

Depending on the bag policy, I’ll bring flip flops. You can also clip them to a smaller bag if really needed. The amount of times I’ve worn boots and regretted life but had to suck it up going home because I didn’t have a change of shoes? Never again. Bare foot is an option, just not for me.

Trends to Try

Concerts and music festivals are kind of like cosplay. Hear me out, you can wear something that you love the look of, but might feel out of place wearing it in any other context. This makes it the perfect opportunity to try a fashion trend you may not be so sure of.

Here are a few trends that I’ll be giving a try.

Crochet Clothing

I previously mentioned a matching set that I’d picked up after seeing it in store. I failed to mention that the set was crochet, so if you didn’t click through the link to check it out, you might have missed that detail. I have yet to wear it, but know the top would be cute for let’s say the Bruno Mars concert later this summer. Yes, this is my not so subtle attempt to try and manifest it.

Jelly Shoes

Admittedly, I can be a bit reluctant to jump on trends that are nostalgic. Growing up I often dressed in a way that got me called weird. So seeing things being loved that I was picked on for, doesn’t exactly sit well with me. For example, crocs. It took me a bit to fall back in love with them, but now that I have, I’m happy I got over myself. On that same wave length, jelly shoes have been making a major comeback and this time around I will be embracing them early instead of denying my inner child of her happiness.

I got a clear pair from Melissa Shoes that I’ll be trying out. Once I do, I will make sure and report back. Since ordering them, I learned that they also have a collaboration with Dr. Scholl’s. As an elder millennial, that is something worth giving a try just for comfort purposes. If you’ve never been to a music festival or concert before, there is a lot of walking and standing involved. So comfort is key. Especially with these knees and this back.

Sneakers with a Twist

Comfortable footwear for me, often looks like sneakers. Specifically Adidas Sambas are my shoe of choice. If trying trends isn’t something you’re really into, you can always go with a classic sneaker with a bit of a twist. Like adding little charms to your shoe laces, or swapping out your shoe laces for ones in a bright color or lace material. There’s also options, including embroidered shoes or metallic ones.

Fun Fanny Packs

Fanny Packs in my opinion are never going anywhere, they’re the best bag for running errands and are great when you don’t need to carry too much. Plus they just look cool. I’ve done a blog post just on fanny packs, and I know I not the only one who loves them.

I personally love the ones I currently own, but do have my heart set on the Clare V. Grande Fanny, I just need to pick which one.

Again, I must reiterate, please please please triple check the bag policy of your venue. If you don’t, you won’t be able to bring your bag in and may have to rent a locker or worse…

Could this have been two separate blog posts? Yes. Should it have been? Probably. But I was feeling chatty and up for a challenge. So, you’re welcome. I hope.

Recent Trendy Closet New Additions

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

The fashion trends this summer have been some of my most loved ever! Finding trendy closet new additions has made me fall back in love with my wardrobe. Which is also helping me to rediscover my personal style and getting me excited to get dressed and go out.

Mesh ballet flats, light wash barrel jeans

Horseshoe Jeans

After getting my first pair of barrel leg jeans, the Citizens of Humanity Horseshoe Jeans in a medium wash, I quickly fell in love with the statement making jeans. I’d have them on my wishlist for a hot minute and had really wanted them in the light wash. Recently I made that happen and couldn’t be happier. They are easily one of the most fashionable ways to add interest to any basic outfit formula. You will for sure see me in these often, especially with a white tank top or black t-shirt.

Invisible Strap Tank Top

Another fashionable way to add interest to an otherwise basic look, is this clear strap tank top. I’d seen it come up on my Instagram feed a few times, and knew that I needed it. The clear straps are positioned more in the front and this tank is truly a work of art. I splurged, but you can find this similar style on Amazon for under $20. There’s also a maxi dress version, for an even easier outfit idea.

It is slightly thin, and I did get it in white. So while I don’t wear a bra with it, I do use these nipple covers. You can use my code ‘BETHANY10’ for 10% off.

Mesh Ballet Flats

While ballet flats are not my favorite style of shoe, they have started to grow on me. I really wanted a pair of chic ones without a bow. Something cool that I could wear everyday that weren’t too basic. I’d seen a pretty popular pair at Free People but didn’t love the strap. Then I found a very similar pair without a strap, no bow, and mesh. Perfection! I love them so much and with both the clear strap tank and the barrel jeans, you have the most effortless, stylish look that is so simple, without being at all basic. Just add a bag of your choice and go!

Would you give any (or all) of my recent trendy closet new additions a try?

A Few Things to Shop From the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

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The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is live and things are already starting to sell out. You may or may not think that this sale is overhyped for whatever reason. I’ve come to think of it as the re-up your closet for fall sale.

If you don’t need anything, by all means, don’t shop the NSale. I’ve gained some weight, hello late-30s, and needed to replace some of my wardrobe staples.

Jeans

I got five pairs of jeans in an attempt to cover my bases with different styles. All five pairs were on sale for under $100. Some of them are no longer available at Nordstrom, but if you really love them you can get them for full price from the brand’s site directly.

Jackets

It is not lost on me that now doesn’t feel like the appropriate time to even think about jackets. That said, the off season is when you want to buy them. This sale is the perfect excuse to. I really love my BlankNYC suede moto jacket from a past sale. You can buy it, just not on sale. Here are other jackets you’ll wish you’d gotten when autumn rolls around.

Beauty

In addition to your closet, you can restock your shelves. I’m not low on much right now, but I found so many good beauty exclusives! And if you’re looking to splurge on a bigger beauty item, like a T3 hair tool, there are some great deals. For instance, the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare glow set is sold out, but you can get the LED light therapy device and skin care set for $455. Other brands I love like Olaplex and Sulwhasoo, have product favorites on sale as well.

I love shopping at Nordstrom in general, but their anniversary sale is probably one of my favorite sales ever! How do you feel about the NSale? And if you’re shopping it, what are you shopping for?

Boxer Shorts Are The Best Way to Beat The Heat

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My favorite heatwave style hack is one of this season’s most controversial fashion trends. Borrowing from the boys has gone next level and now we’re stealing boxer shorts. While we may not be going into his dresser drawers, we are styling boxer shorts in a new cool girl way.

I personally love how airy they are and how easy they are to wear. You pull them up and go on your way. And they are more versatile than you might think. Pair them with a peplum top and loafers, with cute ankle socks. Or wear them with and oversized graphic t-shirt and sneakers. I love them for after the beach with a sweatshirt or button up shirt and flip flops.

These are boxer short options for you, if you want to give this trend a try!

Free People

The pair I keep purchasing (I have three pairs), is from Free People. They don’t have pockets, which I feel like most don’t. This pair is a little on the thin side, but they are longer and provide more coverage in that regard. They also have a matching shirt and pants, which are both on my ever-growing wish list.

Another Free People option is this pair, which is a slightly thicker fabric, and pockets. But they do seem like they are a slightly shorter short.

J.Crew

Now I know I said we’re not literally stealing his boxers, but we can buy them. This three-pack from J.Crew comes in the cutest spring gingham colors that would seamlessly fit into a preppy look with that aforementioned peplum top. And they’re currently 50% off during the J.Crew 4th of July Sale! Keep in mind that these are in men’s sizes, so you’ll need to figure out which size it best for you.

Old Navy

Another great option for men’s options that you can get away with is this pair from Old Navy. It comes in classic stripes and other much more fun prints, like pineapples, and flamingos. They have a hot deal right now, where they’re 33% off, making them only $7.99 a pair!

The three-pack version of this one is 30% off and $15.99, but the color options are more what you would expect to find in a man’s underwear drawer.

And if you’re not trying to wear actual men’s boxer shorts, Old Navy also has these linen-blend shorts which achieve the same look and they have pockets! There’s also a matching shirt and pants.

Urban Outfitters

Similar to the pair I own, this pair gives that loungewear vibe. This pair seems to be a little more fitted, but the colors are more fun.

DONNI

These are the it girl boxers. If you want a pair that is effortless and chic, this is the pair you want.

Is this trend for you? Why or why not?

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It’s Not Too Late to Pounce on The Leopard Pants

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Animal print in fashion can be polarizing. Typically you either love it or hate it. I personal have loved it for a long time even though I rarely wear it now. However, with the resurgence of 90s trends, leopard pants are back and I’ve decided to pounce.

Topshop leopard print plisse pants

Here are some leopard print pants that are worth your consideration, in case you’re thinking about trying out this trend too!

Topshop

These leopard print plisse pants are the ones that ultimately won me over. I like that they’re unique and easy to wear. I love how the Pinterest girls are wearing them with bright colored shoes, like I did here with my green Adidas Samba sneakers. I also plan to wear them with my Teva sandals for festival season.

EDIKTED

I also considered this print straight leg pair, because they are under $100 (like the Topshop pants I got) and jeans. I may still get them, but we’ll see.

Damson Madder

Can’t go wrong with cargo pants and Damson Madder has been the go-to brand for the girls. I found them at both Shopbop and Anthropologie.

Ganni

If I was only going to try this trend based on brand alone, it would be Ganni no question. They have a pair of cropped jeans and canvas drawstring trousers that are both chic ways to give the leopard pants fashion trend a go.

If these pants aren’t something that you already have in your closet, which pair do you think would make you give this trend a try? And if you do already own a pair, what pair do you have and how do you wear them?

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The Summer Sandals You Need to Keep on Rotation

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Learning that heat can leave your body through your feet, helps me to justify wearing sandals and flip flops the second the weather permits. While this may not be every day during the summer, it’s been hot enough to do so most days.

Here are the summer sandals styles you need to keep in your rotation!

Barely There

This can be a nude or minimalist style sandal. I especially recommend Tkees sandals for this, I have two pairs that I go between. Both cover my needs from casual outfits to more dressy looks.

Birkenstock

This is my go-to slide on and go pair, although you also can’t go wrong with a pair of Birkenstock clogs or other slides, if that’s more your personal style. Regardless, these should be a casual style for running a quick errand or to keep in the car when the heels are too much. On the chance you are looking for a dressier style Birkenstock sandal, I recommend these chunky ones.

A Dressy Pair

Summer events and weddings can be tricky but a good wrap sandal or more formal slide can go with your wedding guest dress, no problem! On that same note, sometimes a heel helps, I love this pair from Loeffler Randall.

Be Basic

I have two pairs of sandals that I consider basic for different reasons. One is a classic leather slide, and the other is a Tory Burch sandal that I feel like everyone has, or has had at some point. These work best when I don’t quite know the vibe of where I’m going, but want to feel like I’m dressed appropriately.

What summer sandals are on your wish list? I currently have my heart set on a pair from Miu Miu that I just can’t stop thinking about. UPDATE: I just found this similar pair for $59.99!

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Gifting Partnership Opportunities with Brands Available on ShopMy

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While I don’t know exactly how many of you reading this actively follow my blog, I’m sure that some of you are fellow content creators looking to work with brands. There are many different ways that creators can collaborate with brands, and one is gifted partnership opportunities. I know the goal is to get paid, but hear me out!

When you’re first starting out, or trying to cultivate a relationship with a brand, gifting partnerships can be ideal. I don’t always recommend working for product, because that won’t pay your bills. However, you can turn those gifted products into cash, using affiliate links. I’ve talked about this before, and use multiple networks, but I have had the most success with fashion giftings through ShopMy.

Most recently, I’ve been able to partner with clothing brands like Favorite Daughter (the matching vest and pants, as shown above), Clare V., Margaux, and AYR (the dress from my previous blog post, that I can’t stop wearing and a pair of jeans). And others, like Mille and UNTUCKit, have even given me discount codes to share with all of you. This is even more so the case when it comes to beauty and skincare brands.

If you have any questions about getting brand partnership opportunities or affiliate links, please feel free to ask them in the comments! And if you’re interested in giving ShopMy a try, you can do so using my referral link. If you do join, we both earn an additional 10% on all our earnings for 6 months. Let’s monetize those product recommendations!

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My Summer Fashion Purchases and Shopping Ideas Under $500

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It’s been a little bit since I’ve posted, and even more so since I’ve shared my recent buys. Obviously I’ve been shopping, so I wanted to share some of my most recent summer fashion purchases.

Cult Gaia Jenise Knit Mini Dress

Even though it’s officially summer now, and the trend seems to be moving from pastels to brighter more bold colors, I couldn’t stop thinking about the Staud light pink cardigan sweater I tried on at Saks back in late March. This heatwave won’t allow me to wear it yet, but I’m sure it’ll come in handy for cooler summer days/nights or anywhere the AC is blasting.

Speaking of pastels, butter yellow is having a moment and I jumped on that trend with a little yellow Ronny Kobo crop top from Revolve. I didn’t get the matching skirt or cardigan. That said, they are both on my want list. For now I plan to style the top with light wash denim shorts and again with white trousers.

I haven’t felt like wearing heels at all recently and my go-to sneakers don’t always feel like the right move. When I need to go out, I found myself reaching for my nude Tkees sandals so much, that I decided to get a dressier black pair. I also have the white square toe flip flops in my cart, but I’m holding off for a bit.

Recently, I went on an Influencer trip to Nantucket and managed to spend money. Specifically at Olivela, on a Cult Gaia dress from their summer exclusive pop-up collection. What I like about Olivela is that 20% of the net proceeds from every purchase goes to support CARE.

To say I’m obsessed with all of my summer fashion buys would be an understatement. I regret nothing.

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Best Budget Friendly Wedding Guest Dresses For Under $200

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It is officially wedding season and if you’ve been invited to a wedding, you’re going to need a dress.

The hunt to find the perfect wedding guest dress can be a daunting one. So let me help you!

I recently attending a friend’s wedding in Los Angeles and the dress code was ‘Fancy Fun’. While I don’t know what that is supposed to mean, I ended up wearing what I feel like most wedding guests do. A floral dress. Spring. Groundbreaking. I know.

Now had the wedding been more formal or black tie, I more than likely would have went with some variation of black slip dress.

I’ve had some pretty amazing success finding some quality wedding guest dresses from three particular retailers. Here are my top picks for where to find the best budget-friendly wedding guest dresses.

Few Moda

Few Moda is a members only club. After you pick a plan, you gain access to shop for up to 80% less than traditional retail! I especially love that you can get dresses (and other pieces) from the same manufactures as beloved designer brands, like Zimmerman, Reformation, Ulla Johnson, the list goes on.

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Abercrombie & Fitch

I’ve loved Abercrombie & Fitch since as long as I can remember. But it wasn’t until more recently that I’ve come to find them to be a reliable wedding guest dress resource. They even now have a wedding guest dress section on their website! The most popular styles tend to sellout quicker than I care for, but you can always find a true gem.

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Revolve

As problematic as this love to hate it/hate to love it brand can be, please just hear me out. They’ve got great dress options from some amazing brands. It’s also worth noting that they are the easiest retailer to shop when you have a specific dress in mind. And if you’re not concerned about the budget-friendly part, they have some designer dreams as well.

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I sincerely hope that if you are in need of a new wedding guest dress, or even just need some inspo, that you found this somewhat helpful. If you still need some help or have any questions, please let me know in the comments!

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The NEW Reebok X Anine Bing Collaboration Collection in Store on Melrose

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There are very few brand collaborations that speak directly to my soul. One such being the Reebok x Anine Bing collaboration.

As a Boston influencer (or blogger, or whatever you want to call me), I obviously have strong ties with Reebok, and seeing them work with one of the brand of one of my longtime favorite fashion influencers is a dream that I didn’t even know I had. Ironically, I got to check out the collection for myself while I was in Los Angeles for a friend’s wedding.

Stopping in the Anine Bing store on Melrose was not on my Bingo card for this year, especially now that there is a Boston location on Newbury Street. But, it felt like it would be a missed opportunity to not visit one of my favorite brands in such an iconic spot. I mean, who wouldn’t want to go shopping on Melrose?!

I didn’t try on anything but was excited to see the Reebok x Anine Bing pieces IRL and up close. I’m still deciding what exactly I want to get from the collaboration collection, but I did snag the Kate Tote which ended up being the perfect personal item for my return flight. It fit everything from my neck pillow and snacks to my travel wrap and Airpods Max headphones!

In addition to the collaboration collection, I found some other Anine Bing items that caught my eye, so an Anine Bing want list blog post may have to happen soon. Which Anine Bing pieces do you want? Anything from the Reebok collab?

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