VINTAGE SCARF AND WHITE FRINGE

One of my favorite pieces of clothing I own is this vintage scarf from my Grandmother. Straight from Italy, the coloring and metallic detail dresses up any outfit, and the quality is amazing. My Grandmother had such lovely taste and was such a lady, so I cherish all of her accessories and clothing that I have.

I'm also obsessed with this white fringed kimono from Topshop that I picked up on a super sale. I've dressed it up for dinner and worn it poolside with a bathing suit - it transitions seasons so easily!

I'm also wearing Joe's Jeans, House of Harlow 1960 sunglasses, Anne Klein belt, and BCBG bracelet.

x Jill

MAXI MAYHEM

It's officially summer and we're wearing this season's uniform - maxis!

We love maxis not only for their comfort, but that they can be dressed up with a pair of heels for nighttime, or dressed casually with wedges or sandals during the day. Plus it's summer attire you don't have to shave your legs for. Who doesn't love that?

Top to bottom, left to right: Printed Maxi Dress ($49.99 - Sale!) - Zara, Tart Henley Stretch-Modal Maxi Dress ($100.00 - Sale!) - The Outnet, Folk Print Maxi Dress ($100.00) - Topshop, Andalusia Maxi Dress ($98.00) - Free People, Ryan T-Back Long Dress ($597.00) - Alice + Olivia, Penelope Dress ($108.00) - House of Harlow 1960, Scrollwork Maxi Dress ($138.00) - Anthropologie, Brynna Sleeveless Pleated Maxi Dress ($398.00) - BCBG, Chiffon Dress ($69.95) - H&M

What maxi dress from your closet is a repeat offender?

Jess & Jill

SUMMER ESSENTIALS

The heat is up and the sun is out... it finally feels like summertime in Chicago. And while we're definitely loving the fact that we can say bye bye to layers for now, there are a few essential items that we couldn't brave this season without. Check out our summer essentials that we're currently loving!

1. Keynote Dress ($74.50 - On Sale!) - Madewell, 2. Spa Sea Salt Hydrating Body Gloss ($18.00) - H2O Plus, 3. Printed Canvas Tote ($44.95) - Gap, 4. Sam Edelman 'Beck' Sandal ($99.95) - Nordstrom, 5. Summer 2014 Aster ($16.00) - LVX, 6. Simple Skincare Protecting Light Moisturizer SPF 15 ($13.49) - CVS, 7. Paula Sunglasses ($125.00) - House of Harlow 1960, 8. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green ($9.99 - On Sale!) - Barnes & Noble, 9. Neutral Straw Tie Hat ($39.50) - GUESS, 10. Le Shine Halter Maillot ($151.00) - Marc by Marc Jacobs.

What are some of your summer essentials?

Jess & Jill

FAVORITO FRIDAY: BLOGGER BELLES

We raved about our Henry & Belle denim, so it's no suprise that we couldn't wait to host the Henry & Belle pop up with some of our fellow bloggers at Purely Fashion! We were in company with a few of our favorite bloggers and Henry & Belle ladies - Megan of Henry & Belle, Lily of adoptedSTYLE, Stephanie and Darlene of Glitterary, and Christine of The View from 5 ft. 2. What's better than bloggers and good jeans?

L to R: Stephanie, Jess, Megan, Christine, Lily, Darlene, and Jill.

Jess is wearing Henry & Belle Super Skinny Ankle in Onyx (c/o), a Forever 21 top, Cooper Jacket c/o Blank Nation Apparel, DV by Dolce Vita wedges, and House of Harlow 1960 earrings. Jill is wearing Henry & Belle Coated Super Skinny Ankle in Royal Navy (c/o), a Maison Scotch blouse, and Intermix heels.

Happy Friday!

Jess & Jill

JILL IN dENiZEN BOOTCUT JEANS - #dENiZENSTYLEHUNTERS

Last week you saw how Jess styled her dENiZEN bootcut jeans and I couldn't wait to try on these slimming, instant-height adding jeans. I paired mine with a simple Theory top, Boutique 9 heels, Bulova watch, House of Harlow 1960 sunglasses, and added a feminine BCBG blazer to contrast the masculine look.

I'm a lover of skinny jeans, but I easily cheat on my favorite pair without feeling guilt with these dENiZEN bootcut jeans.

Jeans c/o of People StyleWatch.

Do you prefer bootcut or skinny jeans?

x Jill

As People StyleWatch Style Hunters, Jess & Jill received the product c/o, but were not compensated for this post. Opinions and commentary are of their own.

BRING ON THE FALL

As you can tell from last week's post here, we've been getting ready for Fall and pulling out some of our favorite pieces from our closets. What better excuse to play dress up than a new season?

Jess wore a Peruvian Connection 'Samarkand' silk dress and 'Wyeth' hat, GUESS cocktail ring, Spanx 'Tout & About Shaping' leggings, and DV by Dolce Vita booties.

Nails are 'Stormy Weather' by Deborah Lippmann.

Jill wore a Peruvian Connection 'Macedonia' pencil skirt and 'Inlet Royal' pullover, blouse from Gap, House of Harlow 1960 'Sunbust Button' earrings, and Intermix Privee booties.

 

What are you dying to wear this Fall?

Jess & Jill

COVERING THE COVER GIRL STYLE: HAYDEN PANETTIERE

The only thing tragic about seeing Hayden Panettiere on May 2013's cover of Glamour was being reminded of her misspelled Italian tattoo (this is why it's important to spell check before you ink yourselves, people.)

Hayden's looking gorgeous and summer ready, and I love the retro, beachy photos. Even if that scenery has me a little jealous. Okay, a lot jealous. And yellow is absolutely my new color obsession this season.

So let's all pretend we're on a beach, lather on the sunscreen, and get into the summer vibe with these pieces inspired from Hayden's Glamour shoot!

Photos via Glamour.com

1. Ete Swim Black Mimi One-Piece ($350), 2. ModCloth Bettie Page Little White Tie Top ($44.99), 3. Baublebar Gold Liquid Cuff ($26), 4. Topshop Brocade Cutout Dress ($118), 5. Miu Miu Bow-embellished Bandeau Swimsuit ($245), 6. Topshop Yellow Floral Pleat Calf Skirt ($96), 7. House of Harlow White Sand Sunburst Pendant ($63), 8. Delias Red High Waist Polka Dot Short ($24.50), $ 9. Topshop White Pineapple Bikini ($64).

x Jill

FUR SURE

Whether you're only here for faux stuff or want the real deal, fur can be anything from a trim to a full-on piece. I picked up a faux fur vest from GUESS today and I am so excited about it, I'm wearing it right now. Yes, over my pajamas. Fur is a classic and can spruce up any outfit, and I think it makes any look so very chic. If you're hesitant about it, just go for it - it's fun nonetheless! And if you're not into fur at all, we even threw a no fur fur vest. Yeah, you heard right. 

Cassie Faux-Fur Vest ($138.00) - GUESS | Hat Attack Fur Ear Muffs ($55.00) - Neiman Marcus

MINKPINK Cruella Faux Fur Coat ($190.00) - Urban Outfitters | Fur Bowling Bag ($39.50) - Zara

House of Harlow 1960 'Madoxx' Boot ($260.00) - Nordstrom | Faux Fur Beanue ($38.00) - Free People

 Blu Moon No Fur Vest ($98.00) - Rad and Refined | Premium Fur Tuck Stole ($40.00) - Topshop

What fur piece is your favorite?

XO Jess

ROAD TRIP STYLE

Beautiful Wisconsin!

You couldn't have asked for a more beautiful Fall weekend than this past one. To take full advantage of the day, my boyfriend and I did a scenic road trip through Wisconsin. We set out for the Kettle Moraine Forest and fell in love! We're already making plans for a camping trip soon! We found some trails and took some time to take in the beauty that is only a couple hours away the hustle and bustle of Chicago.

Enough about Mother Nature, let's talk about what I was wearing! I posted about my new black and gold goodies last week, so I put them to good use! 

I wore a GUESS 'Cary' poncho sweater, Marciano 'Beverly' crossbody bag, House of Harlow 1960 'Triple Skull' earrings (available in-stores at Nordstrom), Kate Spade knot ring (sold out) and ultra thin idiom bracelet, Sam Edelman 'Penny' boots and Marciano 'No. 61' skinnies in mulberry.

What are your plans for this Fall?

XO Jess

SKULL SOCIETY

While my style has evolved through the years, one thing I've kept from my teen angst is my love for skull details. As soon as fall came around, I was so excited to see skulls in every store I went into. Skulls in fashion is almost synonymous with Alexander McQueen, but if that's oh, just a tiny bit out of your price range, finding stylish pieces with a little bit of edge is a breeze. My absolute favorite right now is House of Harlow 1960. With various metals, stones, and finishes, their skull pieces are a perfect accessory to any outfit, no matter what style you're rocking.

House of Harlow 1960 Gold Skull End Cuff ($75.00) - Bloomingdale's (900 N. Michigan Ave.),  House of Harlow 1960 Rose Gold Skull Vile Necklace ($125.00) - Bloomingdale's (900 N. Michigan Ave.), Skull Print Leggings ($44.00) - Topshop (830 N. Michigan Ave.), Skull Shirt ($49.90) - Zara (store locations), Alexander McQueen Skull Scarf ($445.00) - Saks Fifth Avenue (700 N. Michigan Ave.), House of Harlow 1960 Oval Skull Ring ($90.00) - Bloomingdale's (900 N. Michigan Ave.), House of Harlow 1960 'Triple Skull' Stud Earrings ($55.00) - Nordstrom (520 N. Michigan Ave.), Jeffrey Campbell 'Skulltini' ($154.95) - Lori's Shoes (store locations)

If you're obsessed like me, you'll also enjoy this skull-themed Tumblr, skullology.

XO Jess

CALIFORNIA LOVE

Being loyal customers who appreciate their creative designs (see our infamous wig-night-out where we both rocked AKIRA), we were excited when Jess won AKIRA's Twitter contest. While she was sent this crop top, in exchange for a review Jill received this flirty dress. So why not make it into a photo shoot? (Photos courtesy of Jess's boyfriend, looks styled by Jess.) We were in a California mood, so we went for a Coachella and LA Rocker feel. (Hologram Tupac was unavailable to make an appearance in this photoshoot. Scheduling conflicts, y'know?)

We've always loved AKIRA for it's on-trend pieces and pleasant sales associates, so we're so happy they gave us the opportunity to try out some goodies! Love the look? You can shop for styles similar to Jess's here and Jill's here.

Cropped tops compliment high waisted skirts and jeans, but being not the most flattering piece on me, I had to figure out a way to work this top while still feeling at ease. Enter a maxi and jean jacket from my closet. This once intimidating top became a functional accessory, and for only $29.90, you have a piece that impacts your wardrobe, not your wallet. Alternative ways to wear this top, while still maintaining comfort, are with a bathing suit for the summer, under an unbuttoned t-shirt dress, or paired with a blazer. Cropped tops also serve as real-life traveling pants, since they're best oversized. I could wear it with my maxi, while Jill could use it for an off the shoulder look. The quality of the fabric surpasses the price and I'm loving the colors of the floral, as the varying brights and pastels match almost everything in my closet. - Jess

Shop similar styles here.

Shop similar styles here.

Shop similar styles here.

Jess is also wearing a denim jacket from H&M, dress from Forever 21, watch and bracelets from GUESS, and shoes from Aldo.

Adding a whimsical element to a different silhouette, this dress's airy flow and light feeling are perfect for summer days and breezy nights. The quality of the garment, as well as the shaping, were both flattering and well put together. An open back can be intimidating for those needing more support than a backless adhesive, (one problem I WISH I had), so I paired it with a black bra to show it's versatility. The color best compliments tan skin, but if you're pale and want to rock it out without being washed out, pair it with a dark lip. A black belt and shoes also help break up the light palette, creating contrast and edge to the look. Due to my short stature I usually have my long dresses tailored, but because of the high-low hem, the dress falls perfectly for any height, at any length. This dress is a savior for those who want to add a little umph to a summer trend. - Jill

Shop similar styles here.

Shop similar styles here.

Shop similar styles here.

Jill is also wearing earrings from House of Harlow 1960 (available at Nordstrom, 520 N. Michigan Ave.), necklace and ring from Forever 21, bracelets from J. Crew, GUESS and Forever 21, and shoes from Dolce Vita.

AKIRA-ed out.

Don't forget, you can shop for styles similar to Jess's here and Jill's here.

What are you favorite pieces from AKIRA? Do you love cropped tops? Are you for high-low hems?

XO Jess & Jill