Wedding Bells

For some reason I have become a professional wedding guest.  I go to so many weddings that I have the standard vows memorized, I know which caterers you should and should not use and every pastor knows me by my first name. I also know which songs get the crowd going and am considering a side job as a wedding DJ. DJ TallSWAG sounds amazing.  Of course, most of this isn’t true but you get my point. I go to a lot of freakin weddings. 

This is my most recent wedding guest ensemble.  It was an outdoor/indoor wedding.  I searched forever for an asymmetrical dress that didn’t creep up so high in the front that I would pull a Britney. You will never guess where I found it…TARGET! I got the earrings there too. You gotta love a place where you can pick-up bananas, eye shadow, pillow cases and a dress that is actually fashionable in the same spot. Score.

I threw my hair in a messy side bun (not a pony, but I still think Andy Cohen would be proud), put on some neutral payless sandals, a Forever21 cuff, threw my keys, lip gloss and ID into my H&M clutch and was off to my 1,047^th wedding (again, not true but certainly reiterates my point).

What did you rock to your last wedding?

*Please excuse the mini afro puff at the nape of my neck. Somehow it made it past the flat iron.

Dress and earrings - Target/Cuff - H&M/Shoes - Payless (size 12)/Clutch - H&M

Photo credit: Kate Bowyer (YBowyer Photography)

She's got Legs

Summer is in full effect.  For many (including me) that means less clothing.  Don't get me wrong, I love me a great sweater, beautifully cut skinny jean and chic winter coat BUT there is something freeing about throwing on a shirt dress and calling it a day.

I picked up this blue beauty from H&M. It's so comfy and chic. A winning combination. I put some simple frosting on and a pop of color for the footsies. 4.5" inch, hot coral wedges just do something to me.

Yes. Some would say this is too short but to them I say, we can agree to disagree.  I am proud of my long legs and will share them with the world:)

Never let someone put a box around you. Your shine cannot be contained. Wear YOU!

Shirt dress - H&M/Earrings - Charlotte Russe/Bracelet - Ebay (2 years ago)/Wedges - Free People (size 12 via Nordstrom Rack)

Photo credit: Photo credit: Kate Bowyer (YBowyer Photography)

Easy as 1, 2, 3

My favorite local boutique is the Collage Clothing Lounge.  It has a little bit of everything for everybody.  Occasionally there are even pants long enough for us (I know, shocking).  The other day I picked up an incredible pair of tye die palazzo pants that literally drag on the ground (don't be surprised if you see them in a future post).

On the same trip as the palazzos, I found some super comfy, cropped biker pants. I am all about getting the bang for my buck so I played around with them a little to see what looks I could come up with. It's amazing what you can do with some simple changes.

Let's start with the work look. You want to dress up the pants a bit (because we all don't have casual Friday's) so I opted for a collared shirt.  I went sleeveless because it's summertime but any collared shirt will do.  The key to this look is selecting a top that is long so that it's office appropriate.  Put on a belt to polish everything up, slip on some nude heels, grab a bag and you are ready for your 9 to 5. Frosting tip: you can keep your accessories simple when wearing a bright color.

SHIRT/BELT/PANTS - Collage Clothing Lounge. SHOES - Vince Camuto (size 12). BAG - Windsor Store. RING - H&M.

Now for the laid-back, nerd alert, daytime look. Again, I used a pop-of color with the neon Tall is Beautiful shirt by ME (purposeful, shameless plug:). Throw on a cardigan, some glasses (totally optional but I LOVE a pair of fake focals), and some statement flats (a tall girl loves her glitz). Done. Frosting tip: don't be afraid to stack bracelets on your everyday watch. It's like a swatch watch on steroids.

PANTS/CARDIGAN - Collage Clothing Lounge. GLASSES - Target. BRACELETS - Forever 21. WATCH - Windsor Store. SPARKLE FLATS - Payless

Alright. It's time to fierce it up with the 'going out look' (could I be any more boring with the title). Clearly, I am big on the pops of color and absolutely love the back of this top.  Put on some sky highs (i.e. tall heels) and you are good to go. Frosting tip: do it big! There is no need to hold back on the accessories for a night out.

SHIRT/PANTS - Collage Clothing Lounge. EARRINGS/BANGLES - Charlotte Russe. NECKLACE - Forever 21. CLUTCH - Vintage. SHOES - Nine West.

Well, that's my 3-way (for the record, the ONLY kind I will ever participate in). What would you wear with these cropped biker pants? 

Photo credit: Doug-Ho (HkoPhoto)

Good to GORG

I slipped this dress on for a bridal shower (not mine silly) and instantly transformed into a tall drink of gorgeous.  I twirled in front of the mirror for 10 minutes shy of an hour. I almost took it off because I thought, 'I look WAY too good for a bridal shower, I've got to save this! But I just had to keep it on. I wore it to the shower and by the end of the day I collected complimentary comments from everyone in the room.

People were trying to snatch my shoes from me too! Umm, sorry. These don't fit you. Get your own size!

As you can see this dress is a statement on it's own, so there is no need for uber accessories.  A gold pair of hoops, a change in the belt (it came with a matching belt that I felt was too matchy, matchy) and you are good to GORG.

Dress - Bright Floaty Maxi dress at Long Tall Sally/Shoes (size 12) - Christian Siriano for Payless/ Belt - Vintage/Earrings - Charlotte Russe

Photo credit: Doug Ho (HkoPhoto)

Summer Wish List

Ahhhhhh how I love summer. It's a time to unwind, take in some sun (with SPF of course. Wrinkles need not apply) and wear fabulous things.

I like to call this season 'effortless flow.' The bright colors and the flowing fabrics speak for themselves.  There really isn't a need to over accessorize (1 bold statement piece will do) nor is it necessary to layer.  Throw on a cute foundation, an accessory, a fierce pair of shoes and you are good to go.

Check out my tall summer wish list (in no order what-so-ever and I must admit I have treated myself to some of these already:). What's on yours? 

1. ASYMMETRICAL STRIPED DRESS at Gap.com. $64.95. Sizes S-XL.

2. NINE WEST SPEEDUP PUMP at Nordstrom.com. $88.95. Size 5-12.

3. TALL SLEEVELESS DENIM JACKET at TopShop. $70. Sizes 4-12.

4. CLUTCH FLOWERS FOR DEAR ALEX ROSA at Fashion Pills. $38.

5. TRUCK JEANS KENDALL SKINNY JEAN at Alloy.com. $44.90. Sizes 1-25. 37" inseam.

6. WOMEN'S PRINTED CANVAS SHORTS at Old Navy. $24.94. HURRY! These are going fast.

7. MINT GREEN SNAKE PRINT CLUTCH at Windsor Store. $25.90.

8. TALL KALEIDOSCOPE PRINT DRESS at Ann Taylor. $99.90. HURRY! Sizes are limited.

9. TALL MIXED PRINT SLEEVELESS TOP at Next. $44. Sizes 4-14.

10. TALL ABSTRACT SMUDGE JOGGERS at TopShop. $70. Sizes 4-10. 

11. ISABELLA STRAPLESS MAXI at Height Goddess. $129. Sizes S-XL. 62" and 67" inseams.

12. DORINNE JADE SUEDE at Gwyneth Shoes. $119. Sizes 7.5 to 14.

13. ROSSI FLAT SANDALS at Bakers Shoes. $39. Sizes 5-12.

14. COTTON BRODERIE MAXI SKIRT at Long Tall Sally. $109. Sizes 6-18. 44" long.

15. SOUTH TALL CHAIN MAIL SHOULDER JUMPSUIT at Very. $41. Sizes 8-24.

16. STUDIO 54 HANG ME BOMBADAS at Headbangers Accessories. $75.

17. GOLD CUFF BRACELET at Windsor Store. $8.90. Will be back in stock soon. *Sign up on the page for a product alert.

18. F9303 SQUARE SUNGLASSES at Forever 21. $5.80.

19. NEON PINK ITALIAN SUMMER SCARF at J.CREW. $35.

20. BRASH MELON ESPADRILLE WEGDE at Payless. $26.99. Sizes 5-13. Don't forget to check at a store near you with their product availability feature.

Tall Morning Workout

First of all some congratulations are in order to myself.  Not only did I wake-up at 6:00a this morning to workout, I am still alive.  That is an amazing feat as the morning is not my friend and working out has not occurred in a hot minute.

When Bailey's Blast and I walked up to the instructor, I could already see what kind of workout this was going to be.  He had that Cheshire grin on his face followed by a non-stop staring contest where he was the only competitor.  Yes.  It was a tall workout.

For the first 10 minutes he did a good job of not verbalizing what was written all over his face.  But then, it was like he just couldn't take it anymore and as we started our first run he blurted out the comment we all love to hate "you must be 7ft tall." Normally, this comment would elicit an unladylike response however I couldn't breathe, so I just cut my eyes at him and said 6'6" in between puffs.

Next, we were doing some kind of torture exercise where you basically use every muscle in your body. Instead of cheering us on he again, singles me out in the class of 7 and says "this must be easy for you because you are so long." At this point, I wanted to fight him, but again, the body was weak and I chose breathing.

Now we are 20 minutes into the 45 minute workout and he starts in with the "did you play basketball" BS.  Sir, does it matter?  Right now I am not clearly at your boot camp trying to get right. Give it a rest.

Side note: every time he makes a comment Bailey is shaking her head and chuckling because she knows this is all going in a blog later.

Alright, so now we are almost to the cool down and this man has the nerve to start calling me Stretch. First of all, I don't know you like that and second, I don't know you like that, third, shut up.

The piece de resistance (in my French voice), he tells me how tall he is (5'1") and infers that I make him feel like a peon. Insecurity is a beach isn't it?

So let's do the math; in a 45 minute workout he commented about the tall for at least 35 minutes of it but I guarantee he is STILL talking about it.

The moral of the story: there isn't one.  It's simply just another example of why the world is obsessed with us.

You may have seen this picture before. I posted it on instagram over a month ago. Clearly I was dodging too many tall comments to take pictures this morning. BUT I needed a visual. Hence the re-post. And before you say anything...yes, I am aware that I needed a lint brush.