Simply Lauren Gray

My Top 5 Fall Fashion Trend Picks

15 August 2017

Every year around mid August I start to get the Autumn itch and just want to clothe myself in cozy knits and blanket scarves and drink pumpkin spice lattes. So yes it is no surprise that I have already started to do some fall shopping (hello, sweaters and booties!) and whilst doing so, I noticed lots of trends for the upcoming fall season and I wanted to share my favorites with you ladies. Some of these trends I have tried out before and some are completely new to me, but there is no better time to experiment with fashion like the fall. Let me know in the comments what your favorite fall fashion trend is!

Wide Leg Pants

Orange Pants | Navy Pants | Polka Dot Pants | Camel Pants

Wide leg pants are making a comeback ya'll! As I said in yesterdays post, I think wide leg trousers are a great alternative to wearing denim and I just can't seem to get enough of them. Not only are they super comfortable, but they make your legs look incredibly long and make you look (and feel!) put together. For Autumn I would suggest looking for wide leg trousers in neutral tones and pairing them with chunky knit sweaters for a cozy look or pairing them with a fitted turtleneck and a bold statement earring for a more chic look.

Floppy Hats

Tan Hat | Black Hat | Navy Hat | Burgundy Hat

It is soon time to bid farewell to my straw summer hats and break out all of my fall felt hats. Floppy hats are a fall trend that seems to keep coming back year after year and I am more than OK with it. I think a simple felt hat can really take your look to a whole new level. Pair your hat with a cute Autumnal dress, tights and booties or with a cardigan, tee, jeans and flats- the possibilities are endless. (Tip: floppy hats are also a lifesaver for bad hair days!)

Statement Sleeves

Navy Top | Red Top | Gingham Top | Cream Top

One trend that is taking over the fall fashion world right now are statement sleeves! From ruffle sleeves, to tiered sleeves and billowy sleeves and oversized bell sleeves, it seems like just about every store has some sort of statement sleeve option and I can't seem to get enough. I would suggest pairing your statement sleeve top with some dark skinny denim that way the top can do all the talking. (If this trend is a little outside your comfort zone, I would suggest that you start small with something like a subtle bell sleeve and work your way up.)

A Touch of Tortoise

Necklace | Sunglasses | Earrings | Bracelet

An accessory trend that I noticed while doing my pre-fall shopping was tortoise. Everything seems to be tortoise right now! Earrings, sunglasses, bracelets- you name it! I love tortoise and think it looks so classy and elegant. And yes, this is the only type of hoop earring you'll ever catch me in haha!

Pumpkin Spice

Sweater | Dress | Cardigan | Tee

As much as I love pumpkin spice lattes, the orangey-brown color is not something that usually tickles my fancy. But this fall the color rust or pumpkin spice as I like to call it, is making an appearance and is actually very fitting for the season. At first I hated the trend, but the more I see it the more I admire the warm and cozy color. Personally I am going to ease into this trend with something simple like a tee or cardigan; like I said before, there is no better time to experiment with fashion like the fall!

Blush Pants.

14 August 2017

Ever since picking up these striped pants from this previous post, I have been on a trousers kick! The latest addition to my wide leg pants collection are these blush pink beauties from SheIn. I absolutely adore the color, the flattering cut and the dainty bow detailing at the waist. I think wide leg trousers are a great (and much comfier!) alternative to jeans and they instantly make you look put together. These pants could work for an interview, brunch, or even a casual wedding. For an afternoon stroll on St Simons Island with Joseph, I paired the pants with this feminine blouse, some heeled sandals and my infamous straw hat. This outfit made me feel so girly and happy!

Get My #OOTD

10 August 2017

Hey loves! I wanted to quickly pop in and share this look that I posted about on Instagram earlier this week. I am obsessed with this blue and white eyelet dress from Romwe! It can be dressed down with flats and a straw hat like I wore here or it can easily be dressed up with some fun wedges and some pearl accessories.

Some of the pieces I paired with this dress are no longer available so I made sure to link a few similar options so you can achieve the same look! You can shop by clicking on the links below. XO.

A Rainy Morning In Elizabethtown.

09 August 2017

This past weekend I flew up to PA for my sisters bridal shower and some much needed family time. It is always so good to be home and the longer I live in Georgia, the more I realize how much I miss PA and want to move back. (Hopefully soon!)

On Monday before I flew back down to Georgia, my parents, sister and I made a quick stop in one of my favorite places in PA, Elizabethtown. We took cover from the morning rain storm in Folklore, a quaint coffee shop downtown, and sipped on hot lattes and just enjoyed each others company. When the rain finally let up, we took a leisurely stroll around town and had an impromptu photo shoot. I wore this darling front tie blouse from Miss Match boutique paired with this pale yellow pleated skirt from Romwe. A brooch on my collar, my mothers vintage pearl earrings, some white slide sandals and my straw hat and basket bag completed the look. I don't know why but I was feeling major Princess Diana vibes in this outfit- totally not complaining though because I adore her style.

Until next time, PA.

Blouse c/o | Skirt c/o | Shoes | Bag (thrifted) | Similar Hat

A few other pieces I am crushing on from Romwe: this sweater, these shorts, this blouse and this dress.

Leather & Plaid.

08 August 2017

I saw this pretty plaid dress from Robbie & Co. online a few weeks ago and I just knew I had to get my hands on it because it would be the perfect transition piece for summer to fall. For now I styled the dress with a straw hat and some leather sandals and once fall arrives I will pair it with a felt floppy hat and some ankle booties- easy peezy, right!? I just love pieces like this that are so versatile! Speaking of versatile, I also just picked up the Half Moon Tote from Minor History and have been using it non stop; the quality is incredible and it can pretty much hold my life in it. One side of this tote is a neutral tan color and the other side is jet black which makes switching up your bag from summer to fall a breeze- all you have to do is flip it from tan to black and voila!

Dress c/o | Bag c/o | Similar Hat | Similar Sandals

July Favorites.

01 August 2017

I'm a bit bummed that July has come and passed so quickly because it's my birth month (yes, I am that girl that likes to celebrate all month long haha!) but at the same time I'm excited for Augusts arrival because that means we are one month closer to fall and all things pumpkin spice, aka the best time of the year!

I've got a few favorites to show you from last month... a few fashion pieces, a little beauty and some home decor- so let's get right into it! The first fashion item that I have been absolutely loving is this basket bag that I thrifted for $5 (!!!!) This little beauty has paired so effortlessly with summer dresses and jean shorts and tees... it really is the perfect summer bag. Here, here and here are a few similar style basket bags in case you want to pick one up for yourself. Next up is this dainty lace bralette from Lively that I have been wearing non stop. It is incredibly comfortable and makes me feel so pretty when I have it on. I wear it under just about all my clothes and even to bed under my pjs. My last favorite fashion item from July are these white espadrilles that I picked up at TJ Maxx. I picked these shoes up on a whim because they were on sale and I am so glad I did because I have worn them so much! I love how they can be dressed up or down and they just look and feel so summery. Here is a similar option to my espadrilles. I've got one beauty favorite from last month and that is this rosewater facial spray by Mario Badescu. I had been wanting to try this out for the longest time and finally made a point to pick it up when I went shopping at the beginning of the month. This spray is so refreshing and smells like a rose garden. I like to spray it on before I apply my makeup, after to set it and all throughout the day when I feel like my skin needs a little pick-me-up. 10/10 would recommend you pick a bottle up for yourself. And my last favorite for July is this book called The Inspired Room by Melissa Michaels. I picked this up mainly because the cover was pretty and I needed one for on my nightstand, but this book is actually really helpful with how to decorate and make the most of the home you have. It's a nice easy read and has the prettiest pictures (and it looks so lovely on a coffee table or nightstand!).

That's all for July!

Back To School Outfits Under $100

30 July 2017

Getting to pick out some fresh pieces to add to my wardrobe before heading back to school was always a favorite tradition of mine. I loved going shopping with my mom and buying new dresses, sweaters, jeans and shoes (and even school supplies!), it definitely helped make going back to school a little less dreadful.

*Before you do your back to school shopping this year, it is important to make a mental note of how much money you want to spend and what pieces you want/need to buy that way you don't go overboard. Look for pieces that are on sale and classic items that can be mixed and matched for more outfit options.

For today's post, I wanted to share some budget friendly outfits that you can use as inspiration for your back to school shopping! Let me know which outfit is your favorite!