do you like wearing shorts?

I feel like people either LOVE shorts...or truly don't like wearing them at all. I used to wear shorts ALL THE TIME in high school because I played tennis, and it was part of the culture. Plus, I always liked my legs and never minded showing them off. However, I've noticed in the last couple years, I have been wearing longer skirts and dresses and pants and covering up my legs. Maybe it's cause I am getting older (almost 39!) and felt like I had to cover up for some reason? Well, recently my friend Morgan at BURU asked me to style some pieces from her shop, and I challenged myself to wear shorts in a way that I felt was age-appropriate and chic. So I thought I'd share with you what I learned...

newest outfit obsession: matching tops and bottoms...

I love one-piece jumpers. They are so fun and somehow chic at the same time. However, I find myself sometimes annoyed with rompers when it comes to bathroom time. You know those times when you've waited too long to go and then you find yourself trying to rip off your romper and attempting to not have a toddler-sized accident. An alternate to the look of a romper that I am LOVING right now...matching top and bottoms! While matching "too much" used to seem very outdated, there's something chic about the same top and pants or skirt that I love in a great, bold print. The best part is you can take each piece and turn into a completely new outfit. Here are three ways to work it...

happy friday + vintage brooches...

It's no secret that I love vintage pins! They're such a fun, easy way to add a little detail to any outfit that is unique to you, your style, and whatever mood you're in at that moment. And of course, they can make an outfit you've had forever feel good as new! If you aren't sure where to start or have never worn pins before, I'm going to show you a few of my favorite, unexpected ways to wear them and how I group them together...

{how i'd wear} denim overalls...

I can't remember the last time I wore overalls (hello, 90's!), but I'm itching to get an updated pair in a more slim cut than what I had back in the day. Paired with a sleeveless blouse and dressed up a tad, it feels less casual and more chic. Would you guys wear overalls again? How would you wear them?

1. Headband by Ban.do, 2. Vanessa Mooney chain necklace, 3. A-Thread blouse, 4. Citizens of Humanity overalls or ASOS overalls, 5. JadeTribe bag, 6. Loeffler Randall clogs.

{illustrations by Jennifer Vallez for Oh Joy}

{how i'd wear} a head-to-toe etsy outfit...

When Etsy first began back in 2005, it was heavily craft-based and made up of a mix of folks making stationery, knitted booties, and any kind of crafty thing imaginable. To my delight, it's grown into a place where you can find indie designers and vintage clothing—but still a ton of handmade goodness, too. So I thought it would be fun to put together a head-to-toe Etsy outfit with pieces from some my favorite Etsy shops and searches as of late...

1. Faux fur hat, 2. A Quiet Curiosity necklace, 3. Leah Goren tank, 4. vintage green jacket, 5. Patkas handbag, 6. Three Little Ducks pants, 7. vintage ankle boots from Thrift Shark.

{illustrations by Jennifer Vallez for Oh Joy}

what i'd wear to {a holiday party}...

With holiday soirees aplenty coming up, it often feels like you need so many different outfits for different kinds of parties with different groups of people and different levels of dressiness. Sometimes you have to attend your partner's more conservative holiday party; sometimes it's a more festive cocktail-style party you're headed to. So I like to wear accessories that can go with lots of things and simply change up the main component of the outfit depending on the occasion.

For a company holiday party (especially when it's a spouse's or partner's, I try and stay on the more conservative side (no cleavage and nothing too short!). Paired with some colorful heels and a fun clutch, in this look my personality still comes through with the bit of color and pattern.

01. Jewelmint earrings, 02. J.Crew dress, 03. Kate Spade glitter bow belt, 04. Kindah clutch, 05. heels from Mod Cloth.

For a more laid-back and festive party with friends (a White Elephant party, perhaps?), I'd wear a sparkly number like this striped sequined dress. Topped with a blazer (in case it gets chilly) and the same heels and clutch, I'm ready for a holiday celebration filled with present-swapping and my closest girlfriends.

06. Ban.do smooch hair bobbi, 07. Madewell tuxedo blazer, 08. Forever 21 sequined dress (similar), 09. Kindah clutch, 10. Heels from Mod Cloth.

{illustrations by Jennifer Vallez for Oh Joy}

{what i'd wear to} thanksgiving dinner...

With the biggest eating day of the year just around the corner, I wanted to share what I'd wear for the festive feast. Whether you're having a totally casual dinner at home or going out to a fancy restaurant, giving yourself some room for comfort around the expanding waistline is key for maximum eating pleasure...

For a casual Turkey Day, I'm loving these patterned drawstring pants. They're like sweatpants, only dressier—kind of a totally chic version of your favorite PJ pants. And, don't forget a roomy tote for bringing home those leftovers!

1. Glitter bomb bobbi by Ban.do, 2. Colorblock sweater from A-Thread, 3. Giraffe bangle from A-Thread, 4. tote by Rib and Hull, 5. Pencey ikat drawstring pants, 6. Patricia flats from ShoeMint.

For a dressy dinner, I like feeling fancy and festive, with a fun dress that's not too tight around your waistline. And, because nothing should limit your intake of turkey and pie!

7. Anthropologie cropped jacket, 8. Homako felt ball necklace, 9. Thief & Bandit dress, 10. BHLDN clutch, 11. J.Crew chunky cap toe heels.

{illustrations by Jennifer Vallez for Oh Joy}

{how i'd wear} a patterned skirt...

Lately, I've been transitioning from the flowy skirts of summer to a more streamlined silhouette for the fall. Something about the A-line shape sometimes feels a little too serious for me, so I love the using pattern to make a fun and not-too-formal statement. Here, I'm pairing this striped skirt with a colorful floral top and a spotty cross-body bag. Topped with a fall coat and some sparkly heels, I'm ready to head out to delicious dinner with friends!

1. ASOS coat, 2. Madewell floral tee, 3. Lauren Moffatt striped skirt, 4. ASOS bag, 5. heels from Anthropologie.

{illustration by Jennifer Vallez for Oh Joy}

{how i'd wear} patterned boots...

While on the East Coast last week, I was reminded of how much I miss the fall weather with its brisk cold air and that occassional rainfall. While I certainly can't complain about L.A. weather, I do miss stomping around in rain boots! I've recently become obsessed with these Loeffler Randall rain booties because they feel like they can be worn even after the sprinkles subside. Combined with a fun, graphic umbrella and a gorgeous scarf, here's my outfit of choice to wear with a fun pair of patterned boots.

1. Marimekko umbrella, 2. Scarf Shop scarf, 3. Trench coat from A-Thread (I've been wearing this everywhere lately!), 4. J.Crew blouse, 5. Apolis Market bag, 6. J.Crew jeans, 7. Loeffler Randall rain booties.*

ps. See you tonight Los Angeles! *Also, Loeffler Randall has kindly offered an early friends & family preview for Oh Joy readers: receive 20% off ALL purchases through this Saturday. Use code OHJOY20 at checkout!).

{illustration by Jennifer Vallez for Oh Joy}

{how i'd wear} a patterned dress...

This week, it's all about the patterned statement dress. Lately, I've been really into vintage floral dresses and have been scouring Etsy in search of some great ones. However, vintage dresses usually never fit me quite right, so I end up getting them tailored a bit which is worth it to get to wear some of these amazing vintage patterns. For example, I recently got this vintage dress, and had it hemmed so it's bit shorter and more versatile. Paired with a cropped leather jacket, a chunky necklace, a gold polka dotted clutch, and some bright heels, this outfit feels perfect for a fall night out.

1. vintage floral dress from Etsy, 2. necklace by NotTuesday, 3. Leather jacket from Gap, 4. Scout and Catalogue clutch, 5. DV by Dolce Vita heels.

ps. See you tonight New York! Also, one of our sponsors, Serena & Lily, is giving Oh Joy readers 20% off and early access to their Friends & Family sale starting today before it opens to the public on October 16th. Enter SHAREOHJOY at checkout for early savings!

{illustration by Jennifer Vallez for Oh Joy}