Southern Wardrobe Staples: Crisp White Top

|| Top: J.Crew Factory (sold out, additional colors) || Skirt: J.Crew (sold out) || Shoes: kate spade new york (around three years old) || Earrings: Lisi Lerch in ear candy || Watch: kate spade new york (similar style) || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

I am bringing a new series to the blog! A few of my readers have asked about what items I think are a must-have. My goal is to have a summer, fall, winter and spring capsule wardrobe post (broken down into age categories). I am treating this as a big project and giving it the time it deserves. Until then, these ones from posts will have to suffice. Over the years, I have had numerous influences on my personal style from Vogue, J.Crew catalogs, Legally Blonde, Southern Living, to influential women in my life. I am taking the time to comb through my closet and share my southern wardrobe staples with you.

Throughout college, I had the chance to work at an upscale women's clothing store, Elizabeth's. A husband and wife team, Bud and Betty Townsend, own and operate this Knoblock Street shopping destination. If you are familiar with Stillwater, you might remember seeing Elizabeth's impressive window displays, it's right by the original Hideaway Pizza (let's just say I ate a lot of personal ATW pizzas in college). During my time there, I soaked up as much as I could. I took each day as a learning opportunity, taking notes from the mastermind behind Elizabeth's. One thing I remember in particular was her love for a crisp white top. Miss Betty had a way of making such a statement with such a simple piece. I might be over exaggerating, but I think she might have worn a white button down once every two weeks. Now that's getting bang for your buck!

I took a note from Miss Betty and found a great short-sleeved popover from J.Crew Factory this summer. I have worn it with skirts, jeans, and black structured leggings. This particular top is still available in a blue and white stripe and chambray option. Right now, J.Crew Factory has a few other crisp white shirts that are at great price points ( 1 / 2 / 3 ). The only thing I will say that is kind of a bummer is that these tops usually require dry cleaning if you don't have time for (or hate) ironing. With that said, I have three crisp white tops that are in my lineup. They seem to rotate in and out of the dry cleaning bag.

You might be asking yourself, why do I need a white button-down blouse? It’s simple really. It never goes out of style, and you can style it for the season you are in. Heck, you can wear the same top with dark wash jeans and change your lipstick and shoes for the season--and it looks like an entirely different outfit! Not only is a crisp white top a stable, it's also easy-button approved.

The Perfect Date Night Dress

|| Dress: LIKELY in navy [c/o] || Heels: kate spade new york (from summer 2017, similar color and style) || Earrings: kate spade new york (spring 2017) || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

For better or worse, I am constantly looking for the next big thing. I love trying new products and discovering new brands. One of the cool things about blogging is that I get to share my findings with my friends in real life and my friends on the web, just like you! Here at Sassy Southern Lindsey, you have my word that my reviews will always be honest (keeping it 100, all the time), even if an item is gifted. Recently, LIKELY reached out with some exciting news. I was handpicked as a LIKELY 100 girl! What does that mean? I had a chance to look at their newest arrivals and pick out my favorite dress from the lineup.

I would like to introduce you to the Driggs Dress! This fitted strapless dress with a dimensional fluttering neckline is the perfect date night dress. It is available online in sizes 00-12 (I found it to be true to size). It is a mostly polyester blend that is dry clean only. If navy is not your color, it comes in numerous other options from bold to pastels. This dress is grown up, sexy and sophisticated! You will be sure to turn heads whenever you wear this number out on the town. Thanks to Pure Barre, my backside was feeling like a peach!

Since this dress has such an interesting neckline, I didn't want to distract from it by adding a necklace. Instead, I opted for a great statement earring with both texture and length, to keep things interesting. Unfortunately, these kate spade new york earrings are out of stock online. I am not sure about in store. Dear ksny, please bring a store to OKC. Believe it or not, I actually scored these for 75% off on Poshmark! If you haven't downloaded that app, you are seriously missing out. I find so many gems on Poshmark.

I recently figured out that one of my favorite Oklahoma stores carries LIKELY. Balliet's in Classen Curve is on another level! This store sells the high-end brands that you cannot find anywhere else in the state. Their shoe department is my weakness. One of the things I love about this place is their staff. They are so helpful and kind. I called to double check, and they do have numerous LIKELY dresses in stock. If you are a local girl and want to check this brand out in person, tell them Lindsey sent you!

I know that not every girl is into dresses. LIKELY also has a fabulous selection of tops and jumpsuits. I have my eyes on this Plaid Talcott Top. It has a cool gingham pattern and flutter sleeves! If you have an upcoming event this fall and are looking for an affordable option, I highly recommend checking out LIKELY’s new arrivals.

Why I Rent Some of My Clothing

|| Dress: kate spade new york in cherry pepper || Wedges: kate spade new york (from summer 2015) || Earrings: Lisi Lerch in ear candy || Belt: J.Crew Factory (from summer of 2014) || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

Off-the-shoulder items are back and better than ever. From high-end to low-end, fashion brands are giving the people what they want: exposed shoulders! With any trend, there is no telling how long it will stay relevant. I discovered something earlier this summer to help me try trendy pieces without breaking the bank. This one dress alone was original $298 (p.s. it's on sale for $209 right now). I would love to have this dress in my closet, but I could not justify spending that kind of money without knowing if I would still enjoy it next summer. Today I am going to let you in on a little secret of mine. But first, let me give you the backstory.

I have been a huge fan of Rent the Runway (RTR) for five years strong. It's safe to say that we are in a serious, committed relationship. I first turned to this clothing rental company to help me look best as a wedding guest. I am currently in that season in life where there is a wedding every month it seems. Okay maybe I am a little too dramatic, but you get the idea. I hate wearing the same dress to events (I know that sounds so silly, but it's true). All I can say is bless up to the lady boss who created this genius company! I have also turned to RTR to dress me for galas, parties and other significant life events. They recently launched an unlimited rental service so I started my subscription back in June. Each month I pick out three items and they are shipped to me ready to wear. RTR takes care of dry cleaning and shipping both ways.

This cherry pepper off-the-shoulder dress from kate spade, was in my first round of unlimited. I wore it to a birthday party, brunch, a Garth Brooks concert, date night, and if it wasn't so darn hot—I could have worn it to the office with a jean jacket tossed over it. To me, I found this dress to run large. I was able to wear this dress so many times in one month by accessorizing it with different belts, jewelry and shoes. This might be my favorite combination, no necklace, a great statement earring and funky wedges. When we were shooting this look, Melanie said I looked like the salsa dancer emoji girl, so you know I tried to recreate that!

If you haven't used RTR before and feel inspired to give it a try, I have a treat for you! Click this link and you will save $30 off your first order (please note that this offer is only valid for new customers). If you are not sure what to wear to an upcoming wedding, party or event feel free to shoot me a DM on Instagram. I would be happy to help you find the perfect dress!

My Casual Summer Style Featuring JORD Watches

|| Top: Anthropologie in grey || Jeans: AG in 11 years journey || Shoes: kate spade new york (from four summers ago) ||  Watch: JORD [c/o] in navy || Necklace: Kendra Scott in turquoise || Earrings: Tiffany & Co.|| Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

Here lately, I have found myself living for the weekends. For me, it's a time to recover from the workweek, spend quality time with Jered, and get my ducks in a row for the upcoming week. My weekend uniform is more on the casual side if I am be-bopping around town. A few weeks ago, I stopped by Anthropologie and found this tunic top. I didn't try it on, I just grabbed a medium as a safe guess. As you can see, it is a little large under the armpits. It comes in four different colors and is less than $40! This week I paired it with skinny black pants and wore it to the office (with a gray tank underneath). You will feel like you are wearing pajamas out in the world--it's that comfortable!

Speaking of comfortable, let's take a moment to talk about jeans. Every woman should own one pair of jeans that fit her in all of the right places. I do my best to keep things budget friendly here at Sassy Southern Living, but these jeans are a splurge. I like to think of them as an investment. My fashion philosophy is quality over quantity and mixing high-end with low-end. These jeans are expensive, I know. Let me show you how I make large purchases like these jeans, suck a little less.

First, think to yourself, how often will I wear this?  Right now, I am wearing these jeans once a week (praise hands for casual Friday) and sometimes more. The jeans are $215, and there are 52 weeks in a year. That brings my cost per wear to $4.13. When you break it down like this, they cost me less than a grande iced caramel macchiato from Starbucks (and yes, I know that number off the top of my head).

There is another piece that is a necessary investment to any wardrobe, a good watch. I purchased my husband a men's watch and gave it to him on our wedding day and he wears one watch every day to work. Over the past year, I have seen these unique watches popping up everywhere on Instagram. What makes them so unique? JORD uses different woods instead of traditional metals. This particular Zebrawood and navy watch caught my eye. If you have been lusting over these beautiful watches, you are in luck! The best part? You can engrave them to make for a perfect gift item. I have partnered with JORD for a $100 giveaway! Every person who enters will be eligible to win a $100 gift code to use on the JORD website. One lucky person will win, but everyone will receive a consolation code worth $25 once the contest ends! Please note that the offer codes will expire on 10/31/2017.

Effortless Cotton Gingham Shirtdress

|| Dress: J.Crew Factory || Sandals: Jack Rogers (sold out) || Necklace: J.Crew Factory in neon flamingo || Earrings: kate spade new york (gift from sister-in-law, similar style)  || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Purse: kate spade new york (from a few years ago) || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

Back-to-school season is here! That is the unofficial sign that summertime is winding down. If there has been one constant in my life this summer, it would have to be gingham. I have shared multiple looks this season featuring gingham in one way or another. If you can't get enough of this checked pattern, you are in luck! I found this shirtdress at J.Crew Factory a few months back. They didn't have my size in store, so they ordered it for me and shipped it for free (they have pretty great customer service). The only thing that could make this dress better would be the addition of pockets. Other than that, I am pretty happy with it. It was the perfect material and weight for a hot summer afternoon on the patio at Brennan's Restaurant in New Orleans. It also comes in a great green color as well. I decided to get the black due to versatility. For me, the black and white color combination will get much more wear. If black happens to be in your school colors (go huskies and go pokes), you could easily make this look work for a game day with the right jewelry, scarf, shoes, or handbag.

I also found this fun thread tassel pendant necklace at J.Crew Factory. When I was looking at the description online, I have to say I fell in love with it even more; they call this color combination neon flamingo! Speaking of neon, I have an odd and random confession. I really want a neon sign with my name in cursive (heck, maybe in my own handwriting) in neon pink, giving off major Barbie vibes. I don't know why, but I think that would be the coolest addition to my workspace. When I am out and about exploring a new city, I like to check out the neon signs.

I hate to break it to you, but the last two items that complete my outfit are from previous seasons and no longer available. This purse was a gift from my husband a while ago. If you are looking at investing in a good black handbag, I would highly encourage it! I have sorted the current kate spade new york handbags in black for you. My sandals are Jack Rogers, and these little guys have been everywhere with me. Honestly, I should look into retiring them but I haven't found their replacement, so they are still in the rotation. If you are considering a pair of Jack Rogers, take notice that they do take a little work and time to break in. I would wear them for a few shorter trips before you have a day with heavy walking in them. I would keep an eye out at your favorite big box store, summer shoes will be on clearance in no time.

The Dress That Screamed "Take Me Home"

|| Dress: J.Crew in heirloom orange || Heels: kate spade new york (sold out) || Necklace: J.Crew Factory (sold out) || Earrings: Francesca's || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Pomaliscious Party Pouch: Packed Party || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

Jered and I have been married for a little over four years now. As cliché as it sounds, time does really fly by when you have fun! There were some tasks in wedding planning that were more enjoyable than others. Yet when it came to picking out the colors for our special day, I didn't have any hesitation. I love orange, pink, and Tiffany & Co. blue. I know it sounds odd, but it actually works when they are together. I don't think I ever shared any of our wedding photos with y'all. I will have to do a blog post about that sometime soon.

This summer has been filled with Oklahoma weddings, some indoor and the others outdoors. When I was looking for dresses this spring, this particular style made me glow with excitement. When I saw it online, it just screamed: "take me home." The color pairing of this dress reminds me of my wedding day and the bow detail gives me major heart eyes. If orange is not your thing, check out the vivid clover option. At the moment, both of these dresses are on sale. There are not many sizes left online, you might have better luck at your local store. When shopping online, I usually order my normal size within that company. I found that this dress ran large, so I returned it and ordered one size smaller. During the summer, I try to find dresses that are made out of cotton and machine washer friendly. Those two things make life a million times easier!

The statement flower necklace I am wearing in these photos is sold out, I found it at J.Crew Factory earlier this spring. However, there is a similar style still available and it comes in three different colors (fuchsia blossom, soft blossom and frosty sky). I am also wearing those darn CZ studs from Francesca's. It is safe to say I got my money worth on these bad boys, I probably wear them once a week if I am being completely honest with you. One time a co-worker thought they were real diamonds. I wanted to say, “sure they are real diamonds and you can call me Kim K.”

Let me introduce you to a party in a pouch! This pomaliscious party pouch from Packed Party is an instant conversation starter. Pom-poms are having a major moment, as we all know. Maybe I am 100% extra, but I do not care. I will shout it from the rooftops, I LOVE pom-poms! This little thing can fit whatever you need. Honestly, if I am carrying a large purse, you can bet there are at least two pouches in my bag keeping things nice and organized. Heck, my lipstick alone needs its own zip code (sad but true). Messy things stress me out! If you have a BFF that is team pom-poms, order this now and surprise her later.

I have exciting news! I have teamed up with two other bloggers (Basically Joy and The Cocooners) for a giveaway. One lucky winner will take home a $60 Target gift card and a $15 Starbucks gift card! If you would not mind, please tell your friends to enter. The more the merrier! Thank you so much for following along my blogging journey. Your support and encouragement is what keeps me typing!

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Summertime Favorite: Pull-On Skirts

|| Top: J.Crew || Skirt: J.Crew || Shoes: kate spade new york (summer 2016) || Necklace: J.Crew Factory (few years old, similar style) || Earrings: Francesca's || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

Truth be told, I do not wear pants that often. This summer, I have been living for pull-on skirts with an elastic waist. If you follow me on Instagram, you might remember seeing that blue and navy dot J.Crew skirt I have worn on repeat. This particular style takes me back to my 4-H project days. Due to a large part by my nana and mom, Fashion and Fabrics was one of my project areas. You start by learning the basics of the sewing machine, safety and how to cut a pattern. My first project was sewing a pillowcase for the county fair. Once I got older, my nana and I tackled constructing robes, jumpers, and skirts with elastic bands. We spent a lot of summer hours laughing (and sometimes shedding an occasional tear) over the hum of a sewing machine.

This pull-on gingham clip dot skirt is almost sold-out online. I would say it tends to run a tiny bit larger, I wish I would have sized down but it's too late for that. Even though it's cotton, it is dry clean only (which is a major bummer). The bright side? It does have pockets and falls above the knee. You can pair it with white, navy, red, or another color that catches your eye. Since the material is cotton, it is easy and breezy. It is a great solution for those hot summer days. I know fall is quickly approaching but here in Oklahoma, we usually don't cool off until mid-October.

It's no secret that I am obsessed with a plain t-shirt. Earlier this spring, J.Crew made a few tweaks to their perfect-fit T-shirt. To me, it seems that the sleeves and overall shirt are a tiny bit longer. I am usually a medium in all things J.Crew, except for this tee. Looking at online reviews, it does tend to run small since it is a slim fit. If you are thinking about ordering this shirt, my suggestion would be to order your normal size and one size up, and you can return the size that didn't work for you. This summer I ordered this t-shirt in white, navy and neon petal. I am considering adding more colors to prepare me for fall because these would be great under a jean jacket!

I have an appreciation for a great statement necklace. A few years ago when I was at an agency in Oklahoma City, one of my co-workers always had the best accessories. She let me in on a little secret, J.Crew Factory! She was able to find a lot of her stuff for a fraction of the price. The particular necklace I am wearing here is a few years old, but I have found a similar design and color pattern. Right now, there’s a crystal collage necklace on sale for less than $35. With it having so many colors, you are able to get a lot of wear out of it. Use your imagination and get creative with pairing it with things in your closet!

From the Desk to Date Night: Pattern Play

|| Dress: J. Crew Factory || Blazer: J. Crew Factory || Heels: Kate Spade (sold out) || Earrings: Lisi Lerch in Miss Pink || Handbag: Kate Spade (same style, different color) || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

I am jumping for joy while typing this post. I have been dying to share this look! It's also great timing since most of this look in on sale. Earlier this summer, I was in New Orleans for a work conference. I wore this to the conference on Friday morning and then later to dinner with Jered. My presentation was on the last day, and I needed to set the tone for my workshop. My presentation style is very animated and lively, so why would I wear something boring? Even in a professional setting, I try to incorporate color when possible. When I find the chance, I also like to squeeze in pattern mixing to elevate things. If you are new to pairing different patterns, don't give up. It just takes a little practice and a whole lot of confidence!

This shift dress is a J. Crew Factory staple. I have been shopping here for a little over seven years now, and when the outlets in Oklahoma City opened, it was a big day for me. When the seasons change, J. Crew Factory is one of the first places I look when I am in need of a closet refresh. Honestly, I love looking good while saving money. Back to my point, they seem to keep this dress design year-to-year, switching the patterns and materials to correlate with the season. This dress is appropriate for the office (since it falls right above the knee) and perfect for special events like weddings. Looking at the online reviews, users are saying it fits true-to-size. However, if you happen to be on the thicker side on your bottom half, you might need to size up. Right now, this bright printed pleated shift dress is on final sale for less than $60.

This schoolboy blazer is another item that J. Crew Factory repeats. I have this in multiple colors and different fabrics. This cobalt color struck me when I was in the store last. Honestly, I should wear blue more often. It makes my blue eyes and brown hair really pop! Believe it or not, I didn't even think to pair these two items together until I was packing for my conference. The linen and cotton mix, is the perfect weight for summertime. I ended up going up one size, my arms are a little on the muscular side (they are not twigs thanks to PureBarre). I am not sure how long it will last, but this gingham blazer is on final sale for less than $65.

To me, the earrings tie this outfit together. These Lisi Lerch in Miss Pink are the icing on the cake. This earring style is called Kate and come in twenty colors. With such a colorful pattern, you could pull your jewelry from any of the colors in the pattern of the dress. I am sure you already own something that would pair really well with this.