Trend Alert: Lemon Print

As a certified citrus lover, I'm excited to see lemon print practically everywhere lately. Have you noticed? It's all about lemons right now. You know what they say...when life (clothing retailers) gives you lemons, make lemonade (a killer outfit)! Close enough.

Heart Shaped Style for Valentine's Day

20 Cozy Sweaters You Need This Fall

Ahhh, sweater weather. The weather so nice they make novelty t-shirts about it. Somehow they don't see the irony there?

Source

This is (or will be when we stop getting these random 80 degree days) the perfect time of year to wrap up in a soft, maybe fuzzy, maybe oversized, sweater to keep the chillies at bay. A girl can only fit so many sweaters in her closet, but no one said anything about limiting (browser) window shopping, did they?

Color Block Sweat Dress, ASOS $48

Intarsia Hound Dog Sweater, Modcloth $49.99

Knit Sweater with Embroidery, H&M $49.99

Outlander Cable Knit Cape, Torrid $68.90

E.L.K Relaxed Sweater In Fluffy Cloud Knit, ASOS $48.00

Plus Size V-Neck Sweater, Forever 21 $19.90

Daisy Street Sweater in Rainbow Knit, ASOS $32.00

Plus Size Grey Off the Shoulder Sweater Dress, Missguided $21.00

Striped Choker V-Neck Pullover Sweater, Target $39.99

CURVE Sweater in Block Stripe, ASOS $51.00

Sylvia Alexander One Size Wrap Sweater, Target $39.99

Plus Size Rose Printed Pullover Sweater, Target $29.99

Hooded Sweatshirt Cardigan, H&M $49.99

Button-Front Duster Vest, Lane Bryant $69.95

Knit Beaded Sweater, H&M $49.99

Plus Size Animal Print Any Day Cardigan, Target $24.99

Talah Eyelash Cardigan, Anthropologie $148.00

Off the Shoulder Chenille Sweater, Lane Bryant $69.95

Color-block Sweatshirt, H&M $49.99

Ruffle-Hem Plus Size Swing Sweater, Old Navy $44.99

What cozy sweaters are you wearing this fall?

Trend Alert: Embroidered Flowers

Embroidered Drop Waist Dress  /  Floral Embroidered Leather Biker Jacket

Have you noticed that almost every fashion item is embroidered lately? I have! It's been building steadily for months, and now I can't do any online window shopping (browser browsing? make it happen, guys.) without spying a vast selection of floral stitching.

I'm intrigued simply because I embrace any reason to add a slew of colors to a look, but also because flowers are just so damn cheerful. I haven't officially jumped on this trend yet, but I've been doing a lot of browser browsing (whoa, guys - is this, like, a thing now?) and wanted to share some of my favorite embroidered pieces in case you want to join this stitching soiree!

Rose Embroidered Joggers  /  Floral Embroidered Knit Cropped Sweater
Embroidered Wrap Dress  /  Plus Size Floral Bomber Jacket

Embroidered Satin Bomber Jacket  /  Striped Embroidered Skirt  /  Embroidered Tie Waist Dress  /  Embroidered Smock Dress  /  Mini T-shirt Dress in Embroidered Mesh  /  Sleeveless Embroidered Tank with Lace Up Back

Embroidered Kimono Jacket  /  Flower Embroidered Sneakers  /  Embroidered Belted Dress
A Cross-Stitch in Time Heels  /  Plus Size Embroidered Bodysuit

Are you yay or nay on the embroidered trend? Do you have any favorite embroidered clothing of your own?

STYLE: Fun Beach Bags

Typically, all of my beach stuff (towel, sunscreen, book, snacks - always snacks) gets stuffed into whatever bag is closest to the door when I realize that I have way more stuff coming to the beach with me than I can carry in my hands. I do have one dedicated beach bag - complete with a bikini-clad kitten in a hammock and the caption "Cat-Nappin'!" - but it is sadly starting to show its age, and I'm keeping an eye out for a cute new beach buddy. Here are some of the cutest beach bags and totes I've seen lately:

One  //  Two  //  Three  //  Four  //  Five  //  Six  //  Seven  //  Eight  //  Nine

Can you even handle that banana print bag? What are you storing all your beach crap in these days?

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STYLE: Statement Necklaces

It's always kind of funny to me when I hear that statement necklaces are "in style" because they've never been out of style for me. Ever since I can remember, I've gravitated toward oversized (read: obnoxiously large, garish chest decorations) necklaces because, let's be real, huge necklaces are AWESOME. Add awesome points to that if the necklace also contains blindingly bright gemstones or several tiers of beading. Yeah, I'll take alllll o' that, please. I have a nice stable of go-to giant necklaces, but I always like to fantasize about who I might add to that collection. You can generally find inexpensive statement necklaces at places like Target, H&M, Forever 21 or Claire's, but remember to look in unexpected places too; some of my most compliment-attracting necklaces came from random clearance piles at Sears, Yes, that Sears. They're out there making statements so start listening! 

One //  Two  //  Three  //  Four  //  Five

Six //  Seven  //  Eight  //  Nine  //  Ten

Eleven //  Twelve  //  Thirteen  //  Fourteen  //  Fifteen

Are you into statement necklaces or are you more of a charm-on-a-chain kinda girl? Or maybe you love giant earrings? I just wanna know what you're wearing!

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STYLE: OOTD Blue Studded Vest

I'm baaaaack! Sorry for the unintended break around here - I've been busy looking for a place to live and moving unexpectedly (long, horrible story), but we're finally settled in and I'm finally ready to get back to some normal habits, like this here blog. Lucky you, right?!

Just to dip my toe back into the Neon Rattail universe, here's a simple Outfit of the Day post taken a couple months back and lost in the twists and turns of my hard drive before being unearthed during a recent marathon organizational session.

I snatched up this vest from the Dots clearance rack last summer, where it was hanging all alone with its measly $5 price tag. Yes, $5. I'd almost purchased it previously at full price because, while I can do a lot of things successfully, resisting bright blues and moto-style clothing are usually not among them. I originally passed on it because I thought it was slightly overpriced for what it is (I'm sure it's made of, like, plastic and old paint chips or something), but at five bucks I was ready to play ball. Plus, I had a bunch of studs laying around (ebay is the best for bags of cheap studs!) that I used to quickly upgrade this vest.

Vintage Paisley, Revlon Lipstick, Skeptical Face

Outfit Details

Blue Studded Vest: Dots {with some DIY studs added by me}

T-Shirt: Old Navy

Jeans: Marshall's

Head Scarf: Vintage {thrifted}

Necklace: Forever 21

Ring: Dots

What have you been up to in my absence, babes? Have you ever done any DIY studding? How much do you LOVE clearance racks at already-cheap stores?

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STYLE: Fun Flats

I love few things more than the ease of slipping on a pair of shoes without using my hands. I mean, I know it's a simple thing, and maybe doesn't seem worthy of such acclaim, but almost every day I can put my shoes on my feet in a nanosecond (a slight exaggeration) while simultaneously walking to the door and slinging my purse across my shoulder. I almost never have to bend at the waist or put any thought into my shoe-putting-on. Life's little pleasures! When summer winds down, often the hardest part for me is adjusting to the more elaborate fall footwear and the socks that go with it. It becomes such a process! Sitting, lacing, the whole nine. WHO HAS THE TIME? I'm keeping the foot freedom going with a never-ending parade of flats, and these fun printed, studded and animal-adorned numbers are totally crush worthy. Don't you agree?

1  //  2  //  3  //  4  //  5  //  6  //  7

 Don't you kind of want to become a kindergarten teacher just so you can show up in those pencil flats on your first day and be all "oh, these old things?" while everyone nods gently because they know that you are the best kindergarten teacher to ever wield a pack of washable Crayolas? Me too!

8  //  9  //  10  //  11

Those yellow numbers above are HANDMADE on Etsy, and are suddenly making me feel inadequate for not making my own shoes.

12  //  13  //  14  //  15  //  16  //  17  //  18  //  19  //  20  //  21  //  22  //  23

I just cannot deal with boots yet and I kind of never want to wear a heel again lately. Flats forever! Are you switching up your seasonal footwear? Are you one of those crazy ladies that "feels better" in stilettos? Are you just dying to get some foxes or bunny ears all up on your feet?

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STYLE: Food Print Clothing

Have you noticed that it's basically impossible to enter a real or online store lately without being bombarded with clothing covered in miniature food items? I've seen this trend more online, but in those rare times when I've been foolish enough to leave the safety of my couch to enter The Real World I've seen racks and racks of cutesy cupcake print dresses and watermelon shirts. Some clothes take it even further and offer photo print graphics that completely encompass the garment so you can commit fully to becoming the hamburger, instead of just letting the world think you merely love hamburgers. Or you can just get a polo with a tiny stitched strawberry on the chest or whatever. There's something for everyone.

BECOME THE BURGER! 
Pizza T-Shirt  //  Burger Sweatshirt  //  Gummy Worms T-Shirt

It might sound like I'm mocking this whole food friendly clothing thing, but with my well documented love of color, print, kitsch and weird stuff in general, I'm actually super on board with the food invasion currently infiltrating our malls. 

I haven't seen many people actually wearing this stuff, though. I would wear it because it seems like something my kindergarten self would have worn, so I'm automatically into it. Don't like the idea of dressing like a kindergartner? Think about it - five-year-old you was free of judgement and gravitated toward what you liked just because you liked it. As adults, a lot of people worry about clothes looking cool or flattering or eliciting some kind of response from other people. Five-year-old you didn't care! Five-year-old you would have worn the pizza shirt. Five-year-old you probably even peed your pants once or twice, and what, may I ask, is more freeing than that? Dressing like a child is freeing, but, more than that it's fun. Just get on board already!

Gummy Bear Leggings  //  Candy Leggings  //  Popcorn Leggings

Kale T-Shirt  //  Apple T-Shirt  //  Pickle T-Shirt

Candy Shop T-Shirt  //  Pancake Sweatshirt  //  Donut Stack T-Shirt

Bow Tie Ice Cream T-Shirt  //  Nacho Shirt  //  Cartoon Junk Food T-Shirt

Junk Food Tank Top  //  Milkshake Shorts  //  Burgers & Hot Dog Smiley Tank Top

Ice Cream Dress  //  Watermelon Dress  //  Fruit Dress

These ones have small prints that are so cute close up:

Andy Warhol Campbell Soup Jeans  //  Candy Jar Dress 

So, would you wear clothes with food or candy on them? Is it really better to leave your kindergarten self in kindergarten? Who's buying me that pickle t-shirt?

xoxo,
Michelle

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