Living in Central Illinois has a few perks aside from being a two hour distance from Chicago. Unique downtown Bloomington holds a fashion forward boutique with trendy clothes and affordable prices. Gigi Bottega's clothing and accessories are great for fashionistas looking for items that are on- trend and different from everyone else. The store's newest feature is The BraLab. This new line takes basic bra cups with detachable straps and turns them into a fashion statement. Hiding bra straps is a thing of the past. The assortment of original shoulder and back straps is great for showing off open-backs or low-cut necklines. This Gigi Bottega open-back draped dress I wore was perfect to feature this Bondi Beach back strap. 

Find out more about The BraLab and purchase your own at thebralab.com or your local Gigi Bottega in Bloomington or Evanston, Illinois. You can purchase the one I'm wearing for this outfit here.

Shout out to Haley Hoesley Photography for taking all my amazing photos (: Check out more of her work here. 

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Stay tuned for another BraLab feature coming soon!

Summer Uniform

 

My summer uniform consists of ripped shorts and basics paired with simple accessories. Still obsessing over this off-the-shoulder number because its breezy fit and thin fabric makes it great for a hot summer day. My ripped jeans makes this outfit really casual, while adding a little bit of a boho vibe. I added bracelets and some mirror sunnies for an effortless look I could wear all summer.

Shop This Look:
Top | Similar + Similar
Shorts | Similar + Similar
Sandals | Similar + Similar
Sunglasses | Similar

Style Tips

This summer I've been all about extending my wardrobe to save money for Italy. For a girl who loves to shop and impulsively buy online, the urge to splurge has been at an all time high. Here are some ways I'm refashioning my wardrobe and adding flare to the clothes I already have without spending a penny.




Tucked Shirt.
By simply tucking part of a shirt into a pair of jeans is a great way to attain effortless style. I do this with basic tee's and button-ups.




Ripped Denim.
Ripping and distressing old denim is a great way to refashion jeans you may not wear anymore. I did this to an old pair of faded black denim. I started by ripping big holes near my knees and then proceeding with little cuts all over. The messier the better. I then threw them in the wash which naturally distress them more on their own.




Rolled Sleeves.
Take an over-sized t-shirt and roll the sleeves. This is a simple fix and is also great for the summer heat. You can also cut the sleeves completely off  and create a slub muscle tee.




Cut Lengths.
I often roll the bottom of my jeans to create an ankle length in my jeans. You can also achieve this length by using scissors and cutting off the hem. Don't cut in a straight line to create a messy and edgier look.




Lip Pop.
A bold lip always changes the look of an outfit. Lately, I have been obsessing over this deep purple shade with a little red tint. I wear it with a plaid flannel for a put together look that is still relaxed for summer time.




Knotted Hem.
Maxi skirts and dresses are a summer staple. To change it up and also make is more relaxed, take the hem of the skirt and tie a big knot. You can also do this to loose and flowy shirts.




Bleached.
Take old t-shirts that have faded or are worn and splatter bleach. It expands the life of an old shirt that may have been thrown away otherwise and it pairs great with the ripped denim.




Sides Tucked.
You can buy shirts in stores that already have the shirt sewn in place like this or you can do yourself with an over-sized button-up. Completely unbutton the shirt and tuck each flap to separate sides. It's as easy as that. This trick works best with high-wasted jeans.

Haley Hoesly Photography

I'm so excited to share with everyone my collaboration with Haley Hoesly Photography! Haley recently graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in Apparel Merchandising. Her love for fashion and photography is something she enjoys more than anything else. Haley's photography has a beautiful soft, romantic, and dreamy style. At this point in her career, she really enjoys Portrait Photography and working with fashion lovers, like herself! Haley hopes to combine her two loves of fashion and photography in her business based in Central Illinois.

I had so much fun working with Haley on this shoot. The photos speak for themselves! Check out her Facebook page at Haley Hoesly Photography. To book appointments and find out more, she can be reached at hehoesly@gmail.com 

Inspired by Haley's romantic photography style, I chose two different outfits for my looks. My first look reflected more of my summer boho style with a PacSun crochet trimmed top and DIYed ripped shorts. For my second look I wore an ASOS premium crochet cutwork midi dress with blue embroidery.

Shop These Looks:

Look One:
Top | Similar / Similar
Shorts | Similar / Similar
Cardigan | Similar
Hat | Similar

Look Two:
ASOS Dress