WHY I LOVE VERSATILE AND AFFORDABLE CLOTHING FOR SUMMER

 

I love getting the biggest bang for my buck when it comes to clothing. Versatile clothing that can be worn in several ways is one way to stretch your investment, and another way is to buy quality clothing at affordable prices. I think you will find all of that and more when you shop at J.Crew Factory.

 

With the 4th of July fast approaching, I decided to show you some clothing that can be worn for the 4th, and also for the rest of the summer.

 

 

Red, white, and blue is a great color combination, but I want to make sure that I can wear my clothing for more than one day. I try to choose clothing that is festive without being boxed into one category.

 

 

My criteria is to ask myself, “can I still wear this next week, and if the answer is, Yes, then I know that it is versatile.

 

 

Summer has just started and a lot of us will be spending a lot of time outdoors. A button-up shirt is also versatile since it can be worn loose, tied, under a blazer, or open like a jacket.

 

 

Some don’t like to wear shorts, and would rather opt for long pants instead. But, for those who live in the hottest regions of the country, shorts are the way to go.

Now that you’ve gotten a look at the outfits that I am showing you today, let me tell you more details about each one.

 

 

A crisp white denim jacket is perfect for spring and summer. I like to keep a jacket in my car at all times since restaurants think that 50 degrees is a good dining temperature. Lol! This chalk white classic jean jacket is a great weight and is an incredible buy. When I buy a jacket or blazer, I will usually order a large so that I can wear a shirt or sweater under it. I ordered a large in this jacket, but I needed a medium instead. The shoulders were too wide for me, and the arm length too long, so this will have to be returned for a smaller size.

 

 

I am especially partial to sleeveless tops and tanks. One of the reasons that I love this style so much is because of its versatility. I can wear a sleeveless top all year long by layering it with a sweater, jacket, or cardigan. Because it is sleeveless, you don’t have the bunching of material in the sleeves that can be ugly and uncomfortable under a sweater.

 

 

This adorable Lobster print sleeveless button-up shirt is something that I would wear for the 4th of July. It contains red, white, and blue colors, so it still looks festive. But, it is something that I will be able to wear for the rest of the summer without looking dated. There are a couple of other prints available in this top, so be sure to check them all out.

I wasn’t sure of the sizing, so I ordered a large and it fits me great. I wanted to make sure that the shirt didn’t gape open at the buttons like some will do if they are too tight. The shirt is roomy without being too oversized, and the armholes aren’t so large that they show your bra.

 

 

Here is a look at the top from the side so that you can see the length in the back. I love that this shirt can be worn tucked or loose, and it looks great either way.

For those wanting a little more coverage on the arms, here are some cute printed tops that you will like.

 

The navy 9″ Bermuda chino shorts were great for creating a tonal look. These shorts sit right above the hip and have slant pockets. I think that they run true to size since I am wearing my usual size 10 in these. These shorts come in a variety of colors, so you should be able to find one that you like.

 

 

Some ladies don’t like showing their legs no matter how hot the weather. Don’t worry, I’ve got your back and I’ll show you a couple of jeans options instead.

 

 

These classic vintage straight-leg jeans are great, even for summer. The jeans fit slimmer through the hips and thighs, but they fall straight from the knee down. I have found that vintage-style jeans have a slightly loose fit but they aren’t baggy. So, even though the weather is warm outside you will still have some airflow that keeps the jeans from feeling hot and sticky. I ordered my usual size 30 in the jeans, and I think that they run true to size.

 

 

Although I like the tonal look of the navy, I really love how adding white jeans to the top makes the Lobster print pop!

 

 

I love wearing white jeans and shorts in summer, and this pair did not disappoint me. The vintage straight-leg style is a great mix of loose-fit jeans and skinny jeans. This style of jeans is fitted through the hips and thighs and straight from the knee down. I did a cuff on the jeans so that you could see the cute red flip flops, but they are a great ankle length when left uncuffed.

 

 

Here is a close-up of the button fly front on the jeans. These jeans hit me right above my belly button for a nice high-rise look. I sized up to a 31 instead of my usual 30 because the jeans were white. This is something that I usually do so that you won’t be able to see through the jeans.

 

 

However, I think that the size 30 would have fit me better and I don’t think that you would be able to see through these jeans at all. So, back these go and I’ll get a size 30 on the way.

 

 

These lightweight summer flip-flops are so cute and perfect for adding a tiny bit of color to any outfit. I love wearing red shoes as a pop of color, and these cute flip-flops add just enough color without being overwhelming. The shoes come in a ton of other colors, including bright pink and cobalt blue, so be sure to check them out. They seem to run true to size to me, and I am wearing my usual size 9. Also, if you love a good gingham print as I do, then you will love these red gingham flip-flops. I grabbed them too, and I’ll have them on the blog shortly.

 

 

Speaking of gingham, I love this pastel-colored button-up long sleeve shirt. This shirt looks good when worn with almost anything, but I wanted to show you how nice that it looks with the white jeans.

 

 

I tied the button-up shirt in the front so that you could see the button-fly detail on the jeans. This is a way that I like wearing my button-up shirts to make them look more fitted. A half-tuck or french tuck (tucking on the side instead of in the front) is also a great way for a shirt to look more fitted. I don’t usually do a full tuck since I carry most of my weight in my tummy region.

 

 

This shirt is lightweight, so it is not hot even though it is long-sleeved. And, it has back darts and a tailored bust to keep the top slim fitting. The top does run true to size, and I am wearing a large which fits me great. You don’t see any of my lumps and bumps, and the buttons don’t gape open.

I noticed that the shirt is sold out in large, but there are other prints for you to choose from, so don’t worry. I also ordered the navy and white version because I think navy and white is a great classic look, and I’ll get a lot of wear from it all year round.

 

 

As you can see, the pastel gingham button-up looks great when worn with chambray. I love the 5″ length of these chambray shorts because they make my legs look long and lean.

 

 

In fact, these chambray shorts might just be my favorite shorts for the summer season. I love the lightweight fabric, and they aren’t tight around my thighs. Plus, I really love the lighter chambray color and I think it looks great with all colors. These shorts run true to size, and I am wearing my usual size 10 in these.

 

 

I know that you are wondering about these ankle tie espadrille wedges. How cute are these?!? The tie sets these wedges apart from most espadrilles and it adds a feminine flair.

I know what you are worried about…will the laces fall down as you walk. Here is a helpful tip, the higher on the leg that you tie the laces, the more apt they are to fall. If you like them up higher, then you have to tie the laces tight since your leg tapers. You can still get the same feminine look by only tying the laces at the ankle where it doesn’t taper as much. The photo of the wedge with the white jeans shows them tied at a lower level, but the overall look is the same. These shoes also run true to size.

 

 

J.Crew Factory is a retailer that I shop often. I have found that their clothing is of nice quality and their prices are extremely affordable. You’ve seen me share lots of clothing from this retailer, and their items are always a “favorite of the week.” So many of you bought the t-shirt dress that I styled earlier that I am shocked any sizes are still available. Lol!

 

Everything that I have worn today can be purchased at J.Crew Factory. Lucy Lu and I think that you will love this retailer, so be sure to check them out.

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