the LBD summer alternative :: the little BLUE dress

Black is slimming, classic and chic. But black can also be HOT and dark in the summertime! Many people feel it is inappropriate to wear a solid black dress to a summer wedding {and you would probably be right, although I have yet to determine my exact feelings on it!} So I am bringing you a summer alternative to the LBD. Enter, the little BLUE dress! You'll be feeling the summer blues {in a good way} no matter what hue or shade of blue you choose ::

Some LBD options ::

 So go ahead and try an LBlueD this summer; a perfect lighter alternative for weddings, special events and more.

Stay Stylish,

the maxi dress {& painted earth giveaway winner!}

Everyone needs a maxi dress in their summer wardrobe. This easy-to-throw-on, chic & put-together look is so versatile; dress it up or down, take it from day to night, and accessorize in all sorts of different ways. Here are a few tips to go by when choosing a maxi ::

• Find one that hits you between the ankle and the top of the foot. That gives you the ability to pair both flats/sandals as well as wedges/heels with the dress. You don't want to buy a dress that is so long that you have to wear a heel with it every time.
• On that note, be sure to stay away from dresses that hit you mid-calf. This cuts your legs in half and gives you the illusion of wider and shorter legs; a look no one wants to achieve!
• A defined waist is the way to go. Don't choose a maxi that hangs and doesn't accentuate your shape. Find one that defines the small of your waist and hits under the bust line for the ultimate figure-flattery. This goes for all shapes, especially larger busted ladies and petites.

 Here are some of my favorite maxi dresses for all your summer occasions ::

And now, the winner of last week's Painted Earth Baked Mineral Blush giveaway! Drumroll please... Ashley O'Dea! Congratulations, you are the new owner of Painted  Earth Apricot Swirl Mineral Blush {a $36 value}! Simply email courtney@lifestyledatlanta.com with your address and we'll get it in the mail to you. Thank you to everyone who entered, and stay tuned for another giveaway coming soon!

Stylishly Yours,

Courtney

tuesday's trend alert :: neons

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend with friends and family. The weather was absolutely gorgeous {here in Atlanta, at least} and my hubby and I had such a relaxing weekend, our first in awhile without any set plans or places to be. Aren't those kinds of weekends so nice & refreshing?!

Tuesday's trend alert highlights bright neons and how to wear them. NEON is a scary word. It means bold, bright and sometimes obnoxious. But what you pair neon with is key. Here are two of my favorite neon outfits I've pulled out for spring thus far ::

And, a few favorite neon accessories ::

So don't be afraid to brighten up your wardrobe with a little pop of neon! As long as you're balancing it out with a complimentary color or neutral, you can rock it with confidence.

Don't forget, the LIFEstyled GILT CITY deal expires on Thursday, April 24th! That means you have two more days to take advantage of the one-hour wardrobe consult offer or get your Wardrobe Revamp at a huge discount! I would love to work with you in your spring wardrobe. You can check it out HERE

Until tomorrow!

Courtney

working girl wednesday :: pretty in pastels

Hey all you working women :: the week is almost over! Today we're highlighting a spring trend that you can take with you into the workplace, pastels. Pastels are girly and flirty and even better with your sunny spring tan! Colors like lilac and periwinkle can compliment your neutral tones and patterns alike, and give you a sunny alternative to your duller colors that have carried over from the winter months.

Here are some of our favorite pastel trends that you can add to your workwear wardrobe ::

So add some pretty pastels to your workwear wardrobe this spring to brighten things up!

Stylishly Yours,

Courtney

Crushing on Chambray

This spring especially, I am crushing on all things chambray. For those of you who don't know what "chambray" is, I am referring to those light denim button-downs that you have probably seen out and about for the last several months. But chambray doesn't stop with the button-down. I am loving the new ways to wear chambray, both at work and at play.

First of all :: Chambray {as a color} looks good on EVERYONE. If I were to ask you, "What colors do you NOT like on yourself?" and you replied with, "Yellow," I would believe you. However, if your reply included "Chambray," I would be forced to call your bluff {politely, of course!} Chambray-toned clothing is flattering to virtually all skin tones.

Here are some of my favorite chambray looks for the spring/summer ::

Show us your favorite chambray by tagging us on Instagram, commenting on our Facebook page or leaving your feedback here!

Stay tuned tomorrow for our Friday Feature!

stylishly yours,

Courtney

Tuesday's Tip :: Small Closet Organization

Y'all... I have a SMALL closet. When I say small, I mean so tiny that I can only fit one season {barely} of my clothing in at a time. Apparently when one lives in a house built in the 1800's, in downtown Atlanta, unfortunately {to my disbelief} one cannot expect a walk-in, custom-shelved closet. *Sigh* But, I have learned to maximize my closet space with a few simple organization techniques. I figure small closet now = more excited and grateful when my husband builds me a custom closet similar to Carrie's in Sex & The City later in life, right? "Right...." my hubby says.

Here are a few storage and organization gadgets I used to maximize the space in my closet to its fullest potential ::

SHOES. As I said, my closet only allows me to keep one season of clothing in there at a time. Hence, shoes in the closet are NOT gonna happen. I bought this plastic hanging shoe rack at Bed Bath & Beyond. It fits up to 36 pairs of shoes and I love how they can be displayed, rather than the cloth shoe holders that you have to jam your shoes into, thereby hiding them. I also love that it's white, so it blends with the door.

You can buy it HERE

Now, onto clothing. Confession :: Despite my line of work, my closet is NOT well-organized. I don't have matching sueded hangers. I don't really even have my clothes color-coordinated correctly or even always hung right-side-out. I can do wardrobe consults all day long, but don't ask me to organize your closet! It takes a professional...

To maximize my closet space, which is tall and narrow rather than wide, I used a hanging closet rod to give me two tiers of bar space rather than one. I decided to hang dresses on the far top right, then hung my bar and filled it with outerwear -- sweaters, jackets, blazers & vests. Covering the majority of the top bar are my tops.

  

You can buy the closet rod HERE

And, for my belts, cardigans and other accessories I did the classic wall hanger. I have these things everywhere; from the walls to the door.

So there you have it, small closet storage & organization tips on this lovely Tuesday. The best part? It will cost you less than $50.00 to maximize the space in your tiny closet. And for those of you with walk-in, spacious, luxurious closets? I'll try to hide my envy...

Stylishly Yours,

Courtney

The Oscars :: Best & Worst Dressed

The Red Carpet is by far the best part of any awards show... {Well, for the Oscars, Ellen as a host comes in as a very close second} I absolutely love seeing the Red Carpet looks for the Oscars... So much glamour and elegance. So many trainwrecks.

Here are some of my picks for BEST & WORST dressed at the Oscars ::

BEST -- Kate Hudson

I love everything about this dress :: The cut, the fit, the neckline and the draping. It is perfect for her. The plunging neckline is flattering on her small chest, and the rusching around the midsection adds detailing and shape to her boyish figure.

BEST -- Olivia Wilde

Proof that you really can never go wrong with an LBD! How cute do Olivia and her baby bump look in this black gown?! I love how simple and elegant this look is, and the neckline works perfectly on her. Also, I'm loving the pockets!

WORST -- Liza Minelli

I just don't even know what is going on here. Jumpsuits are tough to pull off. And when you are that age, and that short, you just can't do it. The fabric choice is wrong and everything is drapey and bulky on her short figure.

WORST -- Chrissy Teigen

I've never been the biggest fan of black and pink patterns. To me it usually looks cheap, unless it's a little black dress with hot pink accessories. This dress is no exception. I don't like the pattern, the colors or the fabric.

BEST -- Naomi Watts

I am loving the simplicity of this white gown. The embellished collar is amazing, the fabric is perfect and I love the cap sleeves. Naomi can pull this off perfectly with her ultra-slim frame. It is a win-win!

BEST -- Emma Watson

Edgy and elegant -- two words that always describe Emma Watson and this look is no exception. The a-line is perfectly figure-flattering and I love the contrast between the top and the bottom. The top is all edge, bottom all elegance. Love!

WORST -- Sarah Paulson

This color - is just wrong! When you have such a fair complexion, you should never opt for a color that is virtually the same. She is totally washed out and blending in with the dress. Maybe if it were a different color it would be different. But then again, maybe not.

BEST -- Jennifer Lawrence

Who doesn't love Jennifer Lawrence? She is quirky, fun and shows us a side of normalcy in Hollywood. I'm loving this peplum red dress on her. It flatters her shape nicely and accentuates her curves. I kind of wish the top were a sweetheart shape, but I wouldn't know until I saw it! The straight-across neckline might be best for her shoulders and chest. Either way, she looks stunning and did everything right with this one!

What about you? Do you agree? Disagree? Feel free to share the looks you were loving, and not-so-much!

The Swing Dress

As the temperatures here in Atlanta reach the 60's and spring is approaching {wishful thinking!}, I wanted to discuss a spring staple in my closet. Enter, the swing dress. I love this classic and casual dress that is versatile enough to dress up or down. I like to call it the "daytime dress." So many of us have the little black dress and others that we pull out for cocktail parties, dinners out and more. But what about a daytime dress? I'm thinking the swing dress fits the bill this spring. It has a girly, classic shape and can be accessorized in almost any way. Here are a few examples, many from one of my favorite online shopping sites - asos.com {if you haven't been to this site, they always have great deals and totally unique pieces!}::

1) ASOS Swing Dress in Knit - pair with a bright patterned scarf, like the Stella & Dot Wild Hearts

 

2) Carmina Halter Swing Dress - I love this pretty shade of pink. Take it from day to night with a white blazer, and belt to draw in the shape a bit

3) Anthropologie Savant Swing Dress - I love this for a casual day of errands, lunch, or whatever your day might bring you. Simple black and white stripes make this an effortless look. Just pair it with a long necklace like this Makena Pendant Necklace. Pairing a blousy dress or top with a long necklace as opposed to a short one will draw the eye up and down, creating a slimming effect.

4) ASOS Swing Dress in Paisley - This pattern is so much fun. Dress it up or down with booties or heels. It doesn't need much in terms of accessorizing, just a simple long necklace like my favorite Rebel Pendant, and you're good to go!

5) ASOS Vero Moda Swing Dress - This casual fabric is perfect for almost any activity, and the dark color allows it to be taken from casual to dressy in no time. Pair with a leopard belt, and dress it up with a black pump at night.

So will you be adding a swing dress to your closet? I'll be posting some real outfit photos of swing dress ideas on Instagram and Facebook, so be sure to follow along!

As for now, I'm headed to sunny Florida so I won't be blogging for a few days! But you can keep up-to-date on my beach-chic outfits through social media, as always.

Wishing you a happy & stylish week!

xoxo.