Fashion & Style Archives - Dresses & Democracy

An Updated Hill House Home & Nap Dress Review and Guide (with try-ons and a discount code!)

Disclaimer: Items linked in this post may be affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase, I might make a small commission. This comes at no additional cost to you, and the money I make helps me keep this blog up and running!

Last summer, after buying my first Nap Dress, I wrote a blog post reviewing it. I think it’s actually my most-read blog post ever. Since then, my Nap Dress collection has grown quite a bit. I wear a Nap Dress at least once a week (usually more). I own… quite a few of them.

Why I Love The Nap Dress

It’s clear that I love Nap Dresses. I’m not sponsored by Hill House (a girl can dream though), but I promote these dresses like I am. Why? Well, here are a few reasons I love them:

They’re super comfy. I can wear one all day long without getting uncomfortable. I actually have taken a nap in one before. The smocking and flowy silhouettes provide the ultimate balance of both style and comfort.
The quality is great. I love the fabrics and feel of all the Nap Dresses I own. I’ve only had an issue with an item once (which I’ll get too next), and nothing else since. And I wear these items often. Also, for the most part, they’re machine washable and easy to care for!
Their customer service rocks. Like I said above, I’ve only had an issue with an item once. A top I bought from them had a seam at the sleeve coming apart. I emailed customer service about it, and they quickly apologized, sent me a replacement, and provided me with a shipping label to return the defective one. They’re also extremely responsive on Instagram, both in DMs and in the comments on their posts.
They’re versatile. I’ve worn my Nap Dresses to work. I graduated college in a Nap Dress. I celebrated getting my job in a Nap Dress. I’ve worn them to weddings, in the winter and the summer. They’re easy to make casual or dressy. Do I need to go on?
It’s a woman-founded and -owned company. I love supporting women and female entrepreneurship!!! Hill House’s founder, Nell Diamond, is so freaking cool. She’s a working mom of precious children. She’s unapologetic about how girly, frilly style does not mean you shouldn’t be taken seriously in a professional environment (something I definitely appreciate). Also, she votes Dem (evidence here, here, and here), so obviously I support that. She’s been super kind when I’ve interacted with her through DMs, so I’m kind of obsessed with her and kinda want to be her when I grow up.
There’s such a kind community of fellow Nap Dress wearers. I’ve been blown away by how amazing Nap Dress Nation is. I’m in a few Facebook groups for it, and I’ve actually made some friends through it!
They. Added. Pockets. For a while, this was a lot of people’s main complaint. In Hill House’s most recent drop, they gave the people what they wanted. Their dresses now have pockets, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about it!

Need I go on? I probably could forever. But in the interest of time, I’ll spare you the details. Let’s get into the review.

Discount Code

If you’re already convinced, I’ll go ahead and throw in my promo link. I am not being paid to promote this; anyone can do it. If you use this link to make your first Hill House Home purchase, you’ll get 20% off! I’ll also get a coupon for $20 off a purchase of mine. It’s a win-win for both of us!

Sizing

As I’m sure many of y’all can relate, women’s sizing tends to be pretty inconsistent. Typically, I’m either a small or medium and I can range from a size 2 to a size 6 depending on the brand and garment. However, I’m usually a size 2/4 and more often a small than a medium. I have a relatively small chest and I’m more bottom-heavy. My bra size is 32A, and I usually wear a 28 in jeans. As for height, I’m about 5’5″, although I do love wearing heels!

I take an XS in most of my Hill House dresses. I’ll be posting try-on photos and sizing below of all my items, though, and please don’t hesitate to ask me questions! I’ve found that in general, Hill House tends to run larger and most people can get away with sizing down. The smocking and flowy, tiered silhouettes of a lot of their garments make it so the sizing is pretty forgiving.

Dress Types and Try Ons

The Ellie

The Ellie is the classic Nap Dress style. I recommend this as everyone’s first style. I wear an XS in this one, and it’s the style I have the most of. An XS is one size down from what I usually wear, and I do recommend going a size down in the Ellie for most people trying the Nap Dress for the first time, unless you have a larger bust, in which case I’ve heard some people take their normal size to compensate for that.

The Nesli

I would describe the Nesli as an Ellie, but with puff sleeves. To me, they’re super similar dresses, with the sleeves being the main difference. I wear the same size in this as I do with the Ellie, an XS. This may be one of my favorite silhouettes that Hill House makes. I think it’s super flattering, and it’s just a fun, comfy style.

The Athena

I find the Athena to be almost like a shorter Nesli, but with smaller sleeves. I wear my same Nesli and Ellie size in this one, an XS. It’s the perfect summertime dress since it’s short and light, but it’s easy to transition to colder weather with some tights.

The Ophelia

The Ophelia is a newer silhouette, and it’s one of my favs. The lower neckline is flirtier, but the puff sleeves and full skirt still feel feminine and girly to me. Hill House changed their sizing for this drop, but I panicked and got my usual Ellie size, XS. I probably could have done my usual small, and if I get another I likely will size up. However, the smocked back makes the Ophelia pretty forgiving, and I didn’t want to deal with an exchange, so I’m fine with the size I have.

The Ava

The Ava is yet another dress from the last drop with the sizing change. I got an XS in this one as well, and I think it’s perfect. I could maybe do a small because it’s tighter in the torso, but because my chest is smaller, I would probably be concerned about the chest being too big. The ruffle sleeves can be worn on or off the shoulder, and this style comes with a removable sash. Personally, I like it tied in a bow at the front!

The Caroline

I don’t have a photo in this one because it happened to be in the laundry machine while I was writing this. (Sorry!) I have one Caroline that I mainly wear as a nightgown, but I do still love it. It’s super comfy to sleep and lounge in. I wear an XS in this style and it’s perfect, even with the smocking around the neck. I like my pajamas to be loose and comfy, but even with sizing down from my usual, an XS is the best size for me. If you’ve shopped Hill House before, I recommend going with your Ellie size in this. It’s the ideal Victorian ghost type of nightgown, if that’s your vibe (and it totally is mine).

Nap Dress FAQs

What’s your favorite silhouette?

Probably the Ellie or Ophelia! I love the Ellie for it versatility since you can wear it to so many different occasions, but the Ophelia is super flattering and makes me feel like a princess.

What style do you recommend to new customers?

Hands down, get an Ellie. I truly believe they’re universally flattering and the styling possibilities are endless. I’ve never seen an Ellie on someone and thought “Oh, that dress just doesn’t look good on them.” If you don’t believe me, go to the tagged photos on Hill House’s Instagram! Everyone needs an Ellie.

Do they run TTS?

Like I said above, I find that Hill House tends to run large. Unless you have a large chest, I’d recommend sizing down from your usual size. If you have any questions, their website also has a size guide with each item and they’re super responsive via DM on Instagram!

Does Hill House only make dresses?

No! They make home items such as bedding and bath linens (hence the name Hill House Home), and they’ve been expanding into other clothing items beyond dresses. There have also been rumors about potentially making shoes too! Some of the other items of theirs I have are…

The Quilt Coat, which I own in 2 colors because I love it that much.
The Kit Top, aka the perfect white blouse.
The Bea Jacket and the Olivia Skirt, which are my ultimate fun power suit.

What’s next on your list?

I’m hoping to snag an Elizabeth in the next drop! It’s like a short version of the Ellie, so I think it’ll be perfect for summer.

Any other question that wasn’t addressed here…

DM me on Instagram! I’m always down to chat Nap Dresses.

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Categories: Beauty, Fashion & Style, Lifestyle, Shopping

Recent Purchases Vol. 2

It’s no secret that I love to shop. Sometimes, though, this isn’t the best for my wallet. However, lately I’ve been trying to be more intentional about what I buy. This means purchasing things that I truly love, rather than just buying something I only like because it’s a good price.

For clothes, this means I want to cut down on my fast fashion purchases and move more towards higher-quality, investment pieces. I’ve really been finding my personal style this year, and I’ve found that it’s not exactly something I can get for cheap at Target or Forever 21. My tastes lean more towards unique items found in curated collections, boutiques, or smaller brands.

Below, you’ll find some things I’ve bought over the last few weeks. There are a few fashion items on this list, but it’s mainly other items like books or beauty items too! I’ve done a roundup like this previously, so here’s round two of it. I hope to make this a regular series that I post from time to time.

A Few Notes

On the books…

Target was doing a buy 2 get 1 free sale on books. Normally, I actually read ebooks on my iPad but I’ve been wanting to have more physical copies of books. These are all titles I’ve wanted to read for a while or that have come highly recommended to me, so I felt that buying them was a safe choice. I’m especially excited about Business Minded by Carly Riordan, which I hope will give me some insight on treating this blog like a business! Carly is a blogger I’ve been following for years, so I’m very excited to read more of her long-form writing in her first book. And also, Our Time Is Now by Stacey Abrams has been on my list forever. Stacey Abrams is one of the most incredible political figures of our time, and I can’t wait to read her words on how we can build civic engagement and become a better country.

On the skincare items…

Both items from the Inkey List (the cleansing balm and retinol) are repurchases. The Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand comes recommended by my friend Melissa (@melissa_albano on Instagram). She posted that it’s helped her acne scars immensely, so I immediately placed an order for it. Truth be told, one of my biggest insecurities is acne scarring. Hoping that this works to reduce them for me!

On the dresses…

Remember how I mentioned that I was finding my style? Well, it’s filled with classic pieces, flowy dresses, grandmillennial florals, and beautiful colors. I absolutely adore each dress in this roundup. They feel like they’re just perfectly me!

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Categories: Fashion & Style, Shopping

Fun & Affordable Headband Roundup

I love headbands. Both in everyday life and in pictures I post on Instagram, they’ve kind of become my thing! Recently I’ve gotten a couple of DMs asking where I shop for headbands. I figured that I’d answer with a blog post! I’ve rounded up a bunch of my picks below. All of these are super cute and definitely on the more affordable side. Everything is under $50, but the majority are under $30 and lots are under $20! However, if any of these go out of stock, here are a few of my fav places to look for headbands as well:

Anthropologie: I know they don’t have a reputation for the most affordable clothes, but Anthropologie has a lot of really cute, trendy headbands for oftentimes great prices, especially if you can catch them on sale!
J. Crew: Oh, my beloved J. Crew! They have a ton of nice options, especially in the spring and summer.
Etsy: You may have to do some digging, but you can find some great headbands. Lots of shops will customize them the way you like them too!
Lele Sadoughi: These are definitely more of a splurge, but I covet these. I have one Lele headband and it’s one of my favs! Super comfy too.
Poshmark: Again, you might have to dig a bit, but Poshmark is nice if you’d like to save a little money. I actually got my Lele Sadoughi headband from there for a fraction of the original price!

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Categories: Beauty, Fashion & Style, Lifestyle, Shopping

My 2021 Favorites

I’m an absolute sucker for a favorites blog post or YouTube videos. Even a TikTok. I love seeing what other people love. And a yearly recap of the best of the best? Sign me up!

Therefore, I decided to write my own favorites list for 2021, splitting it up into categories (or else this list would just be too long!). Enjoy!

Fashion

The winner: Hill House Home & the Nap Dress

This feels like a cop out because it’s an entire brand. However, 2021 was the year I bought my first Nap Dress. Then my second. And then a ton more. I wear one of them every week, sometimes multiple days a week! Safe to say that I’m obsessed. I wrote a Nap Dress review blog post last year if you want to now more, but I’d like to do an updated version at some point since I’ve now acquired quite the collection. Perhaps in time for the next drop on February 2nd!

Runners up: MZ Wallace tote, Sarah Flint heels (use code SARAHFLINT-BATALIAW for $50 off!), and Anthropologie headbands

Beauty

The winner: Maybelline Super Stay Ink Crayon lipstick

To me, there’s something that’s just so grown up about being a woman who has a signature shade of lipstick. It exudes a sense of energy that says “I have it together.” I bought this on a whim to get to free shipping on a Target order one day. Since then, I’ve purchased it in three more shades. It stays on super well without being drying, and it isn’t a massive pain to take off either. I have the colors Achieve It All (the perfect nude and a dupe for the famous Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillowtalk), Change Is Good (reddish pink), Keep It Fun (a fun vibrant pink), and Seek Adventure (mauve-y pink).

Runners up: Sunday Riley CEO Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil, Drybar Hot Toddy heat protectant, NARS Orgasm blush, and Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil

Books

The winner: Book of the Month and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

2021 was a year full of reading for me! I finished 34 books, which was above my goal of 30. In October, I decided to try Book of the Month after hearing some amazing things about it. I’ve been nothing but impressed thus far! Each month, you get to pick a new hardcover book for an unbeatable price. They have every genre you could think of, plus early releases of some titles! As for a specific book I loved, I read some amazing books this year, so picking just one favorite was super difficult. However, I think I’ll have to go with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It’s about an old Hollywood star who’s infamous for being married seven times and hasn’t talked about her husbands to the press — until now! The book straddles the genre line between romance and historical fiction, but it touches on so much more than just that. I absolutely devoured it. I won’t spoil too much, but the story is phenomenal and emotional. I cannot recommend it enough.

Runners up: Bringing Down the Duke (like Bridgerton, but feminist and about women’s suffrage), Big Little Lies (mom drama with secrets and a possible murder mystery), and One Last Stop (a queer romance and coming-of-age story about figuring your life out in your early twenties, with the most lovable cast of characters)

Lifestyle

The winner: Peloton App

In all honesty, I wish I could afford a real Peloton bike. However, I cannot with my current financial situation. Anyway, I decided to give the Peloton app a try when I heard about someone getting a subscription and a spin bike as a substitute for a Peloton. Pre-pandemic, I loved spin classes. My apartment’s gym has a few spin bikes, so I decided to try the app with those for at least the free trial period. Well, it’s been almost a year, and I’ve kept the subscription ever since. I mainly use the app for their spin and yoga classes, but I’ve done a few pilates classes here and there too. It’s under $15 a month for the app subscription, which is a lot more affordable than a monthly spin class membership.

Runners up: Papier wellness journal and matching pajama sets (some of my favs are here and here)

Miscellaneous

The winner: Gold clothing rack

Welcome to the random category I couldn’t think of a title for, but encompasses all my other favorites of the year! My clothing rack can be seen in the background of all my mirror selfies on Instagram. It’s part cute blogger backdrop, part storage solution to deal with the small closet I share with my boyfriend. I display some of my favorite dresses on it, and I love how it looks. I get asked where it’s from at least once a month. It’s definitely on the affordable side for a clothing rack, especially a nice-looking one. It’s lightweight yet sturdy, and it was easy enough for me to put together by myself. For styling advice, I only use these hangers on it and I try to stick to the same color palette in all of the clothing items. It’s a good decor piece that’s both fun and functional, which is key when you need to maximize storage space.

Runners up: Glamorous Wash laundry detergent, at home wax kit, pink disposable face masks (kids’ size, great for people with small faces like me), and 30 oz tumbler

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Categories: Fashion & Style, Holidays, Shopping

Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas (for eating lots of food!)

Do y’all want to know what makes me irrationally mad? When influencers share outfit ideas for Thanksgiving that include tight, form-fitting clothes or pants that DON’T have stretchy waistbands. It’s so small, yet it irks me to no end. I love Thanksgiving. I feel that having a holiday based mainly around food, with no obligation of buying gifts, is one of the greatest things about America.

However, when I dress for the occasion, the last thing I want is for my outfit to constrict my ability to eat as much food as I possibly can. I want my paper plate to be so loaded with food that it’s at risk of falling apart. A Thanksgiving is successful for me if by the end of the night, I have a food baby in my stomach.

Therefore, this Thanksgiving outfit ideas post will only consist of outfits that can handle eating copious amounts of food. You will find no high-waisted jeans here, nor will there be any bodycon dresses. All waistbands will be stretchy. These will be outfits that allow you to look cute but also eat your body weight in mashed potatoes (or whatever your Thanksgiving food of choice is).

Burgundy Nap Dress | Jewel Button Cardigan | Bow Pearl Earrings | Gold Platform Heels | Jewel Headband

Grey Star Hoodie | Chunky Hoop Earrings | Grey Star Joggers | Denim Jacket | Glitter Sneakers

Light Blue Sweater or Dupe Version (under $45!) | Black Ponte Leggings | Over-the-Knee Boots | Geometric Gold Earrings

Cable-Knit Sweater Dress | Plaid Headband | Gold Drop Earrings | Tan Boots | Pearl and Chain Layered Necklace

Jewel Button Collared Sweater | Claw Clip | Bow Earrings | Black Leggings | Cream Fuzzy Mules

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Categories: Beauty, Fashion & Style, Lifestyle, Shopping

September 2021 Favorites

I feel like everyone loves a good favorites post. It’s so interesting to see what other people are loving enough to dedicate a whole post to raving about them. They’re also a great way to find new items to try out! I keep a running list in my phone of stuff I’ve really been enjoying lately for posts like this. I’m sure you’re all antsy to get past my rambling and into the post, so I’ll jump right in!

Disclaimer: Some of these links may be affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase using them, I may earn a small commission. This comes at no extra cost to you, and it helps me keep my blog running! I really appreciate anyone who shops with my links, and I’d be super grateful if you use them!

Clothing Rack: This is the number one thing I’ve received questions about on Instagram since moving into my new apartment. It’s in my little office area and in the background any time I take a mirror selfie. It serves two functions: 1. extra storage for my clothes since closet space is limited (because now I share one with another person) and 2. a display for my prettiest dresses. I feel like having a clothing rack of nice clothes is the ultimate “fashion blogger” decor piece! This gold one from Amazon is a great price (under $100), was super easy to put together and holds a lot! I get so many compliments when people see it behind me on Zoom calls. And pro tip: there are two important factors to making it look styled and not like just some extra clothing storage. First, use nice, matching hangers. I like these! Second, try to stick to a color palette with the clothes you put on it so it looks cohesive. Mine is mainly pinks, blues, purples and whites, which I think compliment each other very nicely.

Matching Pajama Sets: Someone on TikTok called matching pajama sets key to leveling up your life and wow. I totally agree! It’s such a small thing (to the point where it feels kinda silly), but it feels like such a “self care” thing to change into one before bed instead of just wearing a big T-shirt. They can be as affordable or spendy as you want, too! I have these (which I got on clearance) and these (less than $25!), which are on the cheaper side. However, I’m dying for a more splurge-worthy set from somewhere like Printfresh or Lake Pajamas!

Benefit Cheek Tint: To be fully transparent, I was gifted this in a PR box in exchange for an Instagram post earlier this summer. That obligation was filled well before this blog post went live. I was not paid or compelled to write this post. With that being said, I love this stuff and have used it basically every day since I bought it. I have pretty pale skin, so I feel like a ghost without blush or bronzer to add some dimension to my face. This adds the perfect amount of rosiness without looking too over the top, but it’s buildable so you could definitely more if you need more color. I also find that cream or liquid blush stays on longer than powder blush does!

Nap Dresses: I feel like I can’t go a day without telling people how much I love the Hill House Nap Dress. I’m basically a Nap Dress evangelist at this point. I’m literally wearing one right now! I wrote a whole blog post review about my first Nap Dress (which includes a discount link). To sum things up: I started this summer with one Nap Dress. Now I have seven of them. Am I obsessed? Yes! But is it bad for anyone? Maybe my wallet…but I feel so cute and comfy! You need a Nap Dress. I need more of them. Everyone needs a Nap Dress!

Huggie Hoop Set: My ears are double-pierced, but the spacing between the holes is uneven on each side, so I’m a little limited as to what kinds of earrings I can wear. Basically, I either have to wear very small studs or thin hoops. This set from Amazon is awesome, and I’ve been wearing the crystal pair in my second hole multiple times a week! It looks great with the braided pair in the set or even a pair of bigger hoops or drop earrings. Bonus: the set of three is under $15!

Long-Lasting Lipstick: Something that just screams “I have my life together” to me is wearing lipstick. Bonus points if you have a signature shade! I recently picked up this lipstick in a Target order, and I’ve since purchased two more shades. It lasts for so long but doesn’t feel drying or flaky! I have the colors Change is Good (reddish pink), Keep It Fun (mauve) and Seek Adventure (bright pink). I have heard that the shade Achieve It All is a dupe for the famous Charlotte Tilbury Pillowtalk lipstick, so that’ll be my next pick.

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Categories: Fashion & Style

Hill House Nap Dress Review (with Outfit Inspo and a Discount Code!)

You might have heard of the nap dress or the brand Hill House. If you haven’t, maybe you’ve seen a photo of someone wearing one on Instagram. Even if you have no idea what I’m talking about, have no fear! Today, I’ll be giving you a crash course in all things nap dress, including what they are, how to purchase, my review and styling inspiration!

Blog post graphic featuring the title and a photo of a girl in a dress

What is the Nap Dress?

Hill House Home, the brand behind this all, boasts that they are the “home of the original Nap Dress.” But what is this piece of clothing? What’s with all the hype behind it?

As the name may suggest, the nap dress is a dress so comfortable, you could literally wear it as pajamas and take a nap in it. The silhouettes are loose and flowy, and the fabrics are soft, lightweight and breathable. They’re known for giving you serious comfort, while also looking stunning and serving total Bridgerton vibes.

Because of their amazing reputation, these dresses sell out very quickly every time there’s a new drop. The next one is actually on Wednesday at noon, so if you’d like to get your hands on one, have an alarm set! If you’d like to save a bit, I have a referral link for $20 off your first purchase. This post isn’t sponsored (anyone can get one of these codes), but if you use my code, I do get a discount on my next Hill House purchase. Some of these links may also be affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission if you make a purchase.

My Review

Fit & Sizing

I have the Ellie dress, which the brand recommends sizing down in, so that’s what I did. For reference, I’m typically a size small in most brands. My bra size is a 32A up top, so I’m smaller there, and on the bottom I’m usually between a size 2 or a size 6. In my Ellie dress, I got a size extra small and it fits great! The fit is definitely roomier because of the flowy skirt and the smocked bodice, so I think sizing down would work fine for most people, but I have heard some people buy their normal size with no problems. Each item on the website has its own sizing guide, so I would recommend checking those out if you’re unsure.

Comfort

In this regard, I can definitely say that the nap dress lives up to the hype. The fabric is very soft, and like I said above, it has a generous fit that’s in no way constricting or uncomfy. I haven’t yet, but I can totally see myself actually taking a nap in it. I’ve worn this dress for hours with no comfort issues. And a bonus point on comfort: the straps are wide enough where you can wear a normal bra instead of a strapless one and not worry about having the straps show. The bottom line: the nap dress is a very appropriate name for a super comfy garment!

Wearability

The nap dress is on the pricier side, so you may be wondering how “wearable” it is. I know with some more expensive garments, I’ve found myself getting scared to wear them because the washing instructions are so specific that I’m nervous to ruin them. The nap dress’s washing instructions said to machine wash cold with like colors and then tumble dry on low. I spilled iced tea on mine a few weeks ago (on brand, right?), and when I washed it, I did it in a delicates bag on a delicate cycle in cold water, then air dried it on a drying rack. The stain came out easily, and I didn’t notice any changes to the fit or fabric after washing. I did have to steam it after it was dried, which brings me to my next point in wearability: wrinkles.

If you know me, you know that one of my biggest (and admittedly kinda silly) pet peeves is when someone wears super wrinkled clothes. It’s not so much seeing this in everyday settings on random people; I know that things happen, especially when you’re out and about all day or commuting somewhere. However, I hate seeing other influencers and content creators post photos of clothes that look like they just pulled out of their clean laundry pile that’s been sitting around for days. It’s so easy to take the extra 5 minutes to steam a garment, and after that, they look so much better! All of this is to say that because the nap dress is cotton, it does wrinkle. However, I’ve found that if I give it a quick steam after washing, it looks a lot better than if I just left it all wrinkly. It does wrinkle, but they come out very easily and quickly!

Final Opinion

I totally recommend getting a nap dress. I love mine so much! It’s super comfortable, and I love the silhouettes that they come in. It’s one of those pieces of clothing that’s super easy to throw on and go, but it still looks amazing. If you’re hoping to pick one up during the next drop (which you totally should!), you can use this link for $20 off!

Styling Ideas

So now that I’m sure I’ve convinced you to purchase a nap dress, here’s the fun part: outfit ideas! The silhouettes and prints may make the dress seem very formal, but it’s super easy to dress up or down. For example, I’ve styled it two different ways below: one casual and one dressy. These are just two ways to style it, but the possibilities are nearly endless! Both of these are great options for the summer, but when the weather cools down, it looks super cute with a denim jacket too. I’ve also seen them layered over a turtleneck for a winter-y spin too!

Casual Nap Dress Look

Dressy Look

Discount Link

I know I already gave it above, but to end this off, I want to share my discount link in its own separate section for easy finding. It’s $20 off for you, and then 20% off for me as well. I’m not being paid to say this or anything; anyone can get one of these discount codes. It’s a great deal, though, which is why I wanted to share! As a reminder, the next nap dress collection drops on Wednesday, June 16th at noon eastern, so if you want one, be online then!

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Categories: Fashion & Style, Shopping

Affordable Summer Swimwear Guide

As I sit and write this post over Memorial Day weekend, I am mourning the fact that my apartment complex’s pool was supposed to open. However, since it’s a chilly 55 degrees outside, I am stuck inside, bundled up in a sweatshirt and leggings. I was looking forward to spending this weekend lounging by the pool, reading all day long with a drink in hand while the sun beats down on me. But alas, mother nature had other plans for the weather!

Because of this, I decided to channel my longing to be sitting by the pool into compiling this swimsuit guide for y’all! I’ve selected 10 one-pieces and 10 bikinis, all of which are under $60 and most are even cheaper! I love a good swimsuit as much as the next person, but with how trendy they can be and the fact that I don’t live at the beach, I tend to stick to the more affordable side when purchasing them.

The ones I’ve rounded up are all featured in the graphic below! Just click on the image to shop any of them.

I have the blue striped one-piece already, and I just bought this floral bikini too! The pom pom bikini and the island-print bikini are other favs of mine too. However, all of these are super cute, and I can see myself purchasing any of them soon!

Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means that I may make a small commission if you purchase these items. This comes at no extra cost to you and helps keep my blog up and running! I greatly appreciate everyone who shops using my links.

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Categories: Beauty, Fashion & Style, Lifestyle, Shopping

5 Things I Love Right Now

Hey y’all! Long time, no blog post. Working 9-5 has been kicking my butt lately, so blog posts have been on the back burner. However, I am slowly starting to get into a routine with working and blogging, so hopefully more consistent blog posts are coming soon! With that little explanation out of the way, I’m here with some products that I’ve been loving so much, I just have to share them with y’all!

MZ Wallace Tote Bag: I bought this before I flew home for Mother’s Day last week. I needed a tote bag big enough to hold both my work computer, which is already massive, plus my personal computer. My mom has an MZ Wallace bag too, so I knew the size would work for what I needed. It was a great choice for travel! The bag itself is massive, but I still used it as my personal item with no problems. I also got the deluxe version, which has tons of pockets and compartments to keep everything organized. One of the coolest features: it has a luggage sleeve to slip over your suitcase handle! It’s seriously the perfect travel bag, and I’m sure it’ll be great for carrying all my work stuff once I start going to the office later this summer.

Floral Dress: If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably seen this before because I swear I wear it once a week! I love flowy dresses for when the weather gets warm, and this one is no exception. I’m also a huge fan of florals for spring and summer, so this one checks all my boxes! I cannot even explain how much I love this dress, plus it’s very comfortable too. Seriously, if you’re shopping for summer dresses, I can’t recommend this one enough!

Morphe Cream Blush: Who doesn’t love a little rosy tint in their cheeks? If I’m putting on makeup, I need some color, so blush is a must for me. This one goes on so well and blends super easily. I really like cream makeup instead powder products because I prefer a dewy look over a matte one. The color I got is Wish, the prettiest soft pink shade. I love the color this adds to my cheeks!

Wax Kit: A slightly random item, yes, and it does require a little backstory. I hate shaving my underarms. Compared to the rest of my body, the hair there grows so much darker. Even the day after shaving them with a fresh razor blade, I’d be able to see hair. I was uncomfortable wearing sleeveless tops because of it. Adding on to that, the skin on my underarms has also gotten very sensitive recently, so I was constantly getting ingrown hairs, razor burn or rashes. After a failed attempt at sugaring, I decided to give waxing a go, and I’m so glad I did! Despite the fact that I haven’t gotten a wax done professionally except my eyebrows way back in high school, this kit was super easy to use to do it myself. The pain was actually much less than I expected, and I’m someone with a low pain tolerance. I can now go about a week before seeing any hair, which is so much better than how it used to be. My skin is also doing a lot better, no more bumps or rashes here! I’m definitely going to continue waxing my underarms with this.

Amazon Exercise Dress (under $40!): Everyone seems to be wearing the Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress, and while it is adorable, I wasn’t ready to drop $100 on it. A few weeks ago, one of my favorite influencers, Lindy Goodson, posted an Instagram photo of her wearing this dupe for it from Amazon, and I think I bought it within 5 minutes of seeing it. I got the pink version, of course. It’s super comfy and great for running errands or lounging in. I wore it to the airport and it was comfy but still allowed me to feel more put together than leggings and a tee would. I don’t think I’ll even need the Outdoor Voices version because I like this one so much!

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Categories: Fashion & Style

How to Shop My Outfits: All About LIKEtoKNOW.it + A Tutorial!

If you follow me on Instagram (which if not, you totally should), you may or may not have noticed that I post photos of my outfits on my story pretty much every day. You also might have noticed that in every photo I post, there’s a little icon with a heart in the lower-right corner and a quick note in the caption about shopping my looks. If you haven’t noticed this, no worries! It’s easy to gloss over, especially if you follow a lot of bloggers and see that stuff all the time. Enter, LIKEtoKNOW.it.

Before we get started, I will say that this post is not sponsored by LIKEtoKNOW.it in any way, nor did they ask or compel me to write this. This is just a platform I use basically every day so my followers can shop the content I post. I put a poll on my Instagram stories a while back, and about half the respondents wanted a tutorial about the platform. You can find my LTK.it account and shop my photos here: liketoknow.it/taliasw. It’s also always linked in my Instagram bio under the “Shop My Style” button.

So what is LIKEtoKNOW.it?

LIKEtoKNOW.it, also often shortened to LTK.it or just LTK, is a hybrid between a social media platform and an online shopping experience. Content creators like myself upload photos or videos to the platform then link the clothes or products within the post so that people can shop them! You can view their LTK.it posts via a link (which is usually in their Instagram caption) or, my personal preferred method, by taking a screenshot of their image and using the LTK.it app. Once you take a screenshot of a photo and open the app, you literally don’t even have to upload it, select an image or anything. The app will already have the post related to the photo you screenshotted ready for you to check out.

Another cool component of the LTK.it platform is that when a creator links items in a post, and you follow that link then buy the product or another product from that website, the creator gets a small commission from your purchase. This comes at no additional cost to you! The only catch is that you have to make the purchase from that link, so you can’t open a new tab then check out through there. However, it’s still an awesome benefit. You can shop products linked by your favorite creators, such as myself, and they make a little cash. You don’t pay a penny extra, so it’s truly a win-win situation!

I’m sure you’ve heard this spiel from a ton of bloggers/influencers already, but I appreciate it so much when you shop products using my links. I spend a lot of time and effort creating content for my audience, so being able to make a small commission from the links I share is super rewarding. If you do ever make a purchase using my links, I just want to give you a HUGE thank you from the bottom of my heart! I’m so grateful for all your support in any way possible. Also, if I ever share something on Instagram or the blog, feel free to DM me for a link to it! I love helping y’all discover new things, especially stuff that I recommend!

So next time I post a photo and you’re wondering “Hey, that piece of clothing/accessory/whatever product is so cool! Where did Talia get it?” you can easily just head on over to my LTK.it profile and get links to what I posted about! Or if it’s not on there, feel free to shoot me a DM on Instagram asking about it and I’d be happy to send you a link to whatever you’re curious about! Even if it’s something old that’s no longer available, ask anyway and I’ll try to find something similar. Your support means a lot to me, so finding links so you can shop whatever you want is something I’d be happy to do!

LTK.it Tutorial, with Screenshots!

If you’re more of a visual person, here’s a tutorial on two ways to shop my posts on the LIKEtoKNOW.it app.

Method 1: Shopping directly from my profile

Step 1: Head to my profile on the LTK app. My username is @taliasw, or you can just follow this link: liketoknow.it/taliasw. This is what my profile looks like right now!

Step 2: Tap on photo you want to shop from. I chose the most recent one.

Step 3: Check out the “Shop the Pic” section below it. This is where I link everything I’m wearing! Sometimes I’ll even add multiple versions of an item if similar options exist.

Step 4: Tap the item you want to shop! You can see details like the item name and price by doing this. I selected the dress I was wearing. If you want a link to purchase it, just hit “shop now” and it’ll take you directly to the website where you can buy it. You can also hit the “favorite” button to like something and save it for later if you aren’t ready to shop just quite yet.

Option 2: Taking a Screenshot

Step 1: Head to my Instagram account and take a screenshot of the post you want to shop from.

Step 2: Open the LTK app. Tap the icon on the bottom next to the home button. It looks like a polaroid photo with a heart inside of it. This will show you all the shoppable screenshots you’ve taken.

Step 3: Tap the photo you want to shop from.

Step 4: This is where it’s similar to the other method. Check out the “Shop the Pic” section below it. This is where I link everything I’m wearing! Sometimes I’ll even add multiple versions of an item if similar options exist.

Step 5: Tap the item you want to shop! You can see details like the item name and price by doing this. I selected the dress I was wearing. If you want a link to purchase it, just hit “shop now” and it’ll take you directly to the website where you can buy it. You can also hit the “favorite” button to like something and save it for later if you aren’t ready to shop just quite yet.

There ya have it! The complete guide on how to shop my outfits and how to use the LTK app. Please feel free to DM me on Instagram with any questions, or if you ever want a link!

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Disclaimer about links and sponsorships.