Something Summery in Something Navy

I’ve been following Arielle Charnas (of Something Navy) for years, and it’s been really exciting seeing her new clothing line evolve since it’s initial launch. When she first started selling in Nordstrom, a lot of the pieces in her collection didn’t fully fit my style aesthetic, but over the last year – now that her line is sold exclusively through her own stores and e-commerce – I’ve been finding more and more pieces that really resonate with me. I think she’s been adding more feminine details – which I find appealing as I would characterize my style as feminine, colorful and chic. 

This Natalie Smocked Dress really drew me in – I think it’s stunning and has elements of being casual (the smocked bodice for comfort, the pockets!) and dramatic details that make it super special-occasion appropriate.

I put together a simple beach-y look with it – that plays on color and pattern – and it’s very easy to take this look to the “streets” by adding some strappy sandals.

Here are the exact ingredients to this outfit formula, and how I styled it:

1. The Smocked Bodice Dress. I love the floral print on the dress – and that it’s a little darker and slightly more busy – so the florals kind of blend into each other, becoming more abstract. Stylist Tip: one concept I discuss with my clients during our Style Development Sessions is how to find patterns that suit your specific face, and it has a lot to do with the scale (size) of your features. I feel that because my features are on the medium side (e.g. nose/lips/eyes) – the medium-sized patterns fit me best. I also find that since my features are fairly spread out on my face (not all clustered in the center, and not taking up every bit of space on my face) – the positioning of the pattern that works best for me is where the elements “grow” into each other – with a little space around them. I also find that busier patterns look good on me as they slightly camouflage my sun spots and freckles – which is another way of looking for patterns that flatter. Those of us with “pattern” on our faces do better in patterned clothing overall – and specifically patterns that resemble our “own pattern”; those with smoother complexions (or if you choose to use makeup to cover up facial pattern) look best in smoother, less-patterned pieces. If you’re interested in learning more, please don’t hesitate to contact me to set up a virtual or in-person Style Development Session!
   
2. The Goyard Pouch. I’ve been looking for a bag that I can use for work – to lug around all my styling supplies + daily essentials. I have an LV Neverfull, and I love it – but it doesn’t fold well for travel, and is lighter-colored (I have the Damier Azur – which is gorgeous, but not super practical). I’ve been considering a Goyard St. Louis GM Tote (smaller size) and finally decided to get one. As I researched the brand and learned about their history, I was convinced that it was worth the investment. There is a special “elite” feeling to their bags as they don’t sell them online and don’t disclose their pricing either. It makes getting one a little bit like being a part of a smaller club – that has an “if you know, you know” feeling about it. I contemplated getting the original pattern (brown + black) but if you’ been following me for a while, you’ve probably noticed that I love wearing color and own almost nothing in black. So picking out a color seemed a lot more natural to me, and I opted for green. I’ll style the bag in another post (or a few posts, I’m sure) but for today’s outfit, I pulled out the removable pouch and styled it with this dress. It seemed like the perfect companion for it as the green busy pattern both blended with and contrasted the dress. 
   
3. The Cay-Eye Sunglasses.  As I mentioned in many-many previous posts, these sunglasses have been my go-to’s over the past year as I feel like they go with everything and add a touch of a classy feminine elegance to my looks. If you’re in the market for a new pair, I did find them on sale at Nordstrom Rack – you can see the link in the carousel below!

I hope this inspires you to try out a similar outfit this Summer! As always, please feel free to share the outfits you create via Instagram, using hashtag #ModnitsaOutfit in your posts, and I’ll be sure repost them on my stories!

xo,

Photography by Abigail Cernava.