Vacation Edit: Resort Wear

|| Dress: J.Crew (sold out) || Heels: Target (also available in black, blush and or gold) || Scarf: Target (also available in white, black, pink, yellow or lilac) || Earrings: kate spade new york (birthday gift from a friend) || Necklace: J.Crew (fall 2017) || Braclet: J.Crew (fall 2017) || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

In May, Jered and I will celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary. I cannot believe we have hit this milestone so soon. It seems like yesterday we were off on our honeymoon. When we travel, we always seem to find a beach. There is something about these trips that are truly relaxing. Picture yourself with a drink in your hand and sand between your toes curled up with a good book. Sometimes when I am stressed out at work, I close my eyes and think of just that and immediately feel calmer. Each year, we take a trip together, only the two of us. We call this the "abandon annually trip." I cannot stress enough the importance to have quality time with your spouse. We have visited the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Costa Rica and Mexico. Can you see a pattern? We are a big fan of turquoise water.

Back in February, Jered and I made a trip down to Los Cabos. One evening, I ended up wearing an adorable romper out to dinner. Since we decided to dine outdoors, it was way cooler than what I had in mind. Our waiter could tell I was cold (which is crazy because I am extremely hot natured). He found a blanket and wrapped it around me. I will never forget this moment, he went above and beyond to make our dinner special. After our trip, I found this beautiful dress at J.Crew and I knew it would be perfect for our next seaside vacation. I can't believe it is already sold out. I think this look is the definition of resort wear. It's dressy without being stuffy, effortless and makes a statement. Right now, J.Crew's ready-to-party collection would be a great place to start if you are looking for inspiration.

With summer just around the corner, vacation season is upon us! If you are lucky enough to be packing your bags for an exotic location, lucky you! Not going to lie, I am a tiny bit jealous of you. There is nothing better to me than the sounds of the ocean, the smell of suntan oil and a fresh book waiting in my beach bag. If you are planning a vacation to a beach resort, I would highly suggest checking to see if there any dress codes, especially if you are going to be dining out. A week before you leave, I would also check the weather forecast. No matter what, I always pack a fancy dress for a night out on the town. If you will be out later in the evening, it's worth thinking about bringing a great scarf, jacket or light sweater to complete your outfit. If you happen to be outdoors when the sun goes down along the water, it might be a little chilly. You don't want to pull a Lindsey and have a waiter feel bad for you because you are shivering.

How to Style a Concert Tee

|| Shirt: Garth Brooks Concert tee || Skirt: kate spade new york (from a few years ago) || Slides: kate spade new york (also available in black) || Earrings: Francesca's || Necklace: J.Crew Factory (from a few years ago) || Handbag: kate spade new york (similar style in black and grey) || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

Would you be surprised if I told you I don't listen to country music? Hear me out before you stop reading and boycott. Here's the deal, growing up in a small Oklahoma town, I didn't have a choice. If I remember correctly, my mom's car had five radio presets and the first two were country stations. 95.5 out of Tulsa was the jam back in the day; 90's country will always hold a special place in my heart. There was something magical happening during that time. Each song told a thrilling story paired with music that was complex and evoked emotion from its listeners. I think of George Strait, Clint Black and of course, my man, Garth Brooks.

Between Garth and my participation in 4-H, they both influenced my decision to attend Oklahoma State University. This town bleeds orange and plays good ole' country music on blast. Cowboy boots are not just worn to rodeos, they complete some gameday looks. As I grew older, one could say that  I gravitated towards more of the "city girl vibe" and swapped my cowboy boots for an over the top pair of high heels. There are a few things I still hold dear to my heart, like 90's country.

I imagine my life as a movie. I realize that sounds so unhealthy and way too obsessed with myself. It would be so easy for me to make a “soundtrack of my life." There are so many songs and artists that have impacted me. Think about in your own life. There has to be one song that you can name that helped you overcome a hard time in your life (breakup, disappointment, etc.) What's funny about all of this, I don't attend many concerts. I have such a hard time shelling out that kind of cash. However, there are always exceptions to the rule. A few years ago when Garth announced he was going on tour, I knew that I had to be there. I wouldn't miss that concert for anything. He stopped in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Jered and I somehow were lucky enough to see him both times. At the first concert in Tulsa, I grabbed a concert tee. Most generally, concert tees are limited because they find their way into the dreaded t-shirt drawer. Let's admit it, we all have one!

When I was planning this shoot with Melanie, I wanted to tackle a few things that I have talked with friends in the past with. That's how this post came to be. We all have a concert tee that we would love to wear in the outside world vs. in the comfort of our own home. It would be very obvious to me to pair this tee with a pair of dark-washed bootcut jeans, cowboy boots and a button-down over the top of the t-shirt. I wanted to think outside of the box. Not going to lie, these silver sequin slides served as the primary inspiration for this look. A concert t-shirt and a fancy slide seem so unexpected to me, but somehow they work together for a complete head-to-toe look. The best part? I had all of this in my closet!

Red Gingham Dress

|| Dress: Who What Wear (also available in black) || Heels: Target (sold out, similar 1/2) || Earrings: J.Crew || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

For the last 10 years or so, I have had numerous people tell me "Lindsey, I could dress better if I had more money." I would be lying if I said that thought never crossed my mind. However, I think that statement is a pile of garbage and I have to check myself more than I would like to admit. Girlfriends, you do not need a lot of money to put together a great outfit! The one thing that makes any outfit complete is confidence. And guess what? Confidence is absolutely free! Please promise me that you will never feel less than because you cannot afford the latest lineup from Nordstrom.

Growing up as the oldest of four, my parents had a lot of kids to clothe. We never went without, I can assure you. My nana and mom both learned how to maximize their dollar (nana, if you are reading this — thank you for the thousands of dresses you purchased for me over the years). There is nothing wrong with shopping on sale racks, discount stores or doing a deep dive in Goodwill. Heck, my mom found one of my favorite dresses in high school from a Goodwill in Tulsa. It was from Harold's, and it was the most precious multicolor gingham dress you ever laid eyes on. I wish I could still fit into that dress, alas my size zero days are long gone.

All of that to say, inspiration is all around you! A few weeks ago I was exploring every aisle of Target (one of my favorite past times, sorry Jered) when I found this dress. For some reason, it reminded me of a picnic blanket. I had one in a similar print that has been with me since college. Before I left college after graduation, Jered surprised me by coming into Stillwater (from Norman) and treating me to a picnic with take-out from my favorite Chinese restaurant. My picnic blanket made it have a little flair of fancy. It's moments like that I will never forget. I can see a picnic in this dresses future!

You don't need a million bucks to look great. To me, this outfit is proof! This darling dress is less than $40! No one would know that unless you told them. When someone gives me a compliment on an article of clothing or my outfit, I immediately say thank you and give the details. I am not scared to share that I found this at Target! Now, I will say, the hanger does not do this garment justice. I am so glad I took it into the fitting room! When I am looking at Target, I do try everything on before I make up my mind about what to purchase. There are so many items that do not work for me — I do not like the structure of the garment on my body or the feel of the fabric. I am kind of picky when it comes to those two things. TBH, that's probably a good thing for my wallet!

Spring Fever Feelings

|| Shirt: J.Crew || Button-down: J.Crew || Skirt: J.Crew || Heels: kate spade new york (from a few years ago) || Earrings: Target || Bracelets: Kendra Scott || Handbag: ZAC POSEN (purchase or rent) || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

When the seasons change, I have to fight back the urge to purchase an entirely new wardrobe. The feeling is even more significant when spring rolls around. I don't know what it is about this type of year, but man, it's tough right now. Besides wanting every dress and skirt on the market, I also have an undiagnosed case of puppy fever! I have been visiting pet adoption sites daily looking for a cute little fluff nugget to add to our family. We have a four-year-old Bichon Frise, and she is the love of my life, right behind Jered. Each spring I have this overwhelming puppy mom guilt wash over me. Here is an example of the thoughts I have been having:

Is Barklynn happy?

Am I giving her enough attention?

Does she need a puppy brother?

Do I need to arrange puppy play dates?

Seriously, I cannot make this stuff up. Jered tells me I am crazy and that she is one happy pup, so I am trying to give myself some grace and let it go. I do think she is pleased with her living arrangements and I am just overlooking this situation. Heck, I would trade places with her any day!

Another hard question I have been asking myself the last few months: as a fashion and style blogger, how can I cut down on shopping but still remain relevant? On Sassy Southern Lindsey, I only share items that I have paid for myself, unless something was gifted (and I am very transparent about that topic). This spring, I have decided to purchase only a few statement pieces and try to work with items that I already have. Take this outfit for example. There are three new things added to this lineup, the earrings, skirt, and handbag (and one of these items is rented). I am so glad they decided to bring back this elastic pull-on skirt back! For whatever reason, it just works for me. It makes me feel put together, confident and polished. Truth be told, that's how I want to feel each day when I leave my house and go out into the world. Even with a basic tee, this look is elevated. If you remember, last year I brought it home in that darling pineapple print and navy and blue dot print.

The unexpected winner of this outfit is these Tiered Tassel Drop Earrings. This mint color is the real MVP in my eyes. They are such a great pop of color! Each time that I wear them, people always want to know where they can get a pair of their own. For the price point, you can buy a pair for yourself and your BFF. Seriously, they are that inexpensive and come in multiple colors. I am thinking about getting black or white to wear with all of my Oklahoma State University gear. Here's to the darling accessories that tie an outfit together, cheers!