I hate to even breathe a hint of the F-word when there’s almost two full months of summer until the fall equinox on Sept. 22, but I’m already daydreaming about my autumn wardrobe choices. The first piece up for consideration is this gorgeous transitional dress (on sale here). The colors and long sleeves are pre-fall appropriate, but the playful cutout screams summer. I’m also in love with this dress, this sleeveless tunic sweater, this bag (if only it would go on sale…), and everything in Tuesday’s post. Of course, any of these purchases is going to require some serious hustle to earn more dollars to earmark for this season’s budget!

BUDGET*
Summer Budget (June – August): $750
Spent in June: $250
Spent in July: $312.50
Added: $0
Amount Remaining: $187.50

Winter Budget Recap: December, January, February
Spring Budget Recap: March, April, May
Summer Budget Recap: June

*I don’t add money for tax and shipping into my budget, nor do I add athletic clothing or sleepwear. Most of the money I earn from the blogging goes into my general savings account or is earmarked for travel, but I’ll move some to the clothing budget when needed.

PURCHASED
See all of the year’s wardrobe additions here. 

• Tory Burch Fitbit double-wrap bracelet ($68): I’m so happy I finally snagged this! I’ve been trying to get more active again and while the Fitbit is an excellent reminder to keep moving, the standard-issue black rubber band is terribly ugly. I’ve thought about splurging on a Tory Burch Fitbit bracelet many times, but wasn’t convinced that I would wear it enough to justify the cost. I finally purchased this one when Neiman Marcus was offering an extra 35% off the sale price, and I’m so glad I did. It’s a beautiful way to camouflage the fitness tracker. It’s also available on sale here.
• Banana Republic vachetta bucket bag ($27): This bag is stunning. It’s a classic shape with a bit of a ’70s vibe, and the leather is gorgeous. It’s unlined, but the leather inside is smooth, not suede-like. I snagged it for a song with an extra 50% off the sale price, $40 in credit card rewards coupons, a $15 birthday certificate, and extra 10% off for using my BR card on the purchase. Best deal of the season and something I’ll be using throughout fall.
• Uniqlo pleated-back sleeveless top in black ($30): This is so pretty with the unexpected back detail. I went with a medium, which is my typical size at Uniqlo and it’s slightly oversize and drapes beautifully. One of the reviews online said that the back pleats fell out after laundering. The item says to hand wash and not to dry clean and even warns that the pleats will fall out over time. Even with the warning, I’m going to bring it to the dry cleaner and discuss options to make the pleats last longer.
• Uniqlo sleeveless top in navy ($30): The bust on this top is a bit snug, so I went up a size. It drapes beautifully, which makes it look pricier than it is. I love it paired with shorts and a-line mini skirts.
• Gap distressed denim shorts ($30): Who thought I’d be a jorts girl? Definitely not me, but I’m crazy about the fit of these. The legs have a wider opening than most shorts do, which gives me enough room for my thighs. (Truth be told, I bought them because I thought they were cute with the aforementioned off-the-shoulder top.)
• Rebecca Minkoff “Camila” heels ($62.50): These are gorgeous. The woven leather detailing is inspired by Mexican Huarache shoes. I typically wear a size 7 in every shoe I try on. However, I had to go up a half size in these to a 7.5, which I find to be the case for most Rebecca Minkoff shoes. They’re also available here and here.
• Adidas Stan Smith sneakers in dark blue ($65): I finally purchased this cult classic! Follow the recommendation on Nordstorm’s site and order a full size down from the women’s sizes. I wear a 7, but orded a 6 (which was a men’s 5). It worked out perfectly.

GIFTED
As always, I want to be transparent about what I’ve received from companies for review or as part of a collaboration. I’m selective about the pieces I accept and will only work with companies I feel good about recommending. 

• Baily Blue “Shifty” shift dress: This is so freaking cute. It’s an ultra soft t-shirt material that’s perfectly lightweight for hot days.

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Things I tried and didn’t love: 

• Ann Taylor grommet skinny leather belt: I bought this hoping that it would cinch the waist of some of my longer summer dresses. It was too skinny and looked ridiculous.
• Ann Taylor tropic crepe peplum top: The fabric and print are both beautiful, but I didn’t love the wide, trapeze-style cut. It was too wide and too short on me.
• Ann Taylor tropic stretch cotton skirt: I thought this would have an a-line shape. It’s actually more like a pencil skirt, which isn’t a flattering cut on me.
• Ann Taylor “Louisa” block heels: I really struggled with returning these. They’re gorgeous, comfortable, and fit in so well with my ideal fall wardrobe. However, I just didn’t see myself wearing them that often nor did I have the giddy “I’m so excited to wear these” feeling.
• H&M striped off-the-shoulder top: It’s a lightweight cotton that’s surprisingly not sheer. I loved the piece, but I decided I didn’t need it after it sat in my closet unworn for a few weeks. If I don’t want to wear something the very next day (or at least over the upcoming weekend), I typically don’t put it in rotation ever.
• See by Chloe striped mini skirt: As expected the quality was impeccable. I had gone up a size, which fit perfectly. I just wasn’t overly excited about it in person. I’d rather save my money for something better.
• ASOS ponte swing dress: Super cute and a good cut. I ordered a size 8 during a recent promotion and it was massive. I might reorder it in a 4 if it goes on sale again. It’s a nice, easy piece to pair with a gigantic piece of jewelry on those “I have nothing to wear” days.

I was all about the budget buys this month with each item coming in under $100. This led to a sartorially scatterbrained month with items ranging from a tropical off-the-shoulder number I haven’t yet worn to an ultra-girly dress that’s not totally my style to a faux fur scarf I can’t wait to wear this winter to a preppy button-down shirt I’ve donned at least a dozen times already. It’s amazing to see how quickly those little purchases added up, though! I came in at $250, which is right on the money if my quarter budget was divided evenly over the three-month span.

I don’t have any holes in my wardrobe I’m looking to fill next month. I do have this bag on its way to me (a steal with the extra 50% off, reward coupons, and a birthday discount code that brought the price down to a whopping $27). I’m also eager to try a few things from Ann Taylor, specifically this pair of heels, this top, and this skirt. I might finally add a Tory Burch Fitbit bracelet to my accessories collection now that this leather-wrap bracelet is on sale for $68.

BUDGET*
Summer Budget (June – August): $750
Spent in June: $250
Added: $0
Amount Remaining: $500

Winter Budget Recap: December, January, February
Spring Budget Recap: March, April, May

*I don’t add money for tax and shipping into my budget, nor do I add athletic clothing or sleepwear. Most of the money I earn from the blogging goes into my general savings account or is earmarked for travel, but I’ll move some to the clothing budget when needed.

PURCHASED
See all of the year’s wardrobe additions here. 

• H&M floral off-the-shoulder blouse ($25; not pictured): I adore this, but I actually haven’t worn it yet because the top is awfully sheer. I need some sort of tube top to wear underneath. Any ideas?
• J.Crew Factory linen-cotton blend shirt ($35; worn here): The linen-cotton blend of this shirt makes it a comfortable, no-fuss option for breezy summer days. It runs true to size.
• J.Crew Collection faux-fur striped scarf ($36): I’m so happy I patiently waited for this! I adored it last winter and almost pulled the trigger many times, but I didn’t want to spend $165 on it and it was often excluded from discounts. As much as I don’t like winter, at least wearing this scarf is something to look forward to!
• Zara flounce sleeve dress in blue ($70; worn here): In retrospect, I probably shouldn’t have kept this. On one hand, the lace is pretty, I love the color, and I’m all about the waist-nipping seams lately. On the other hand, I’m really struggling on how to style it. It’s such a girly dress that I don’t want to wear it with ultra feminine accessories because that’s just not my style. It’s also too large. Zara’s sizing is always so hard for me to figure out. I ordered both the medium and the large. The smaller size was a half inch too small around the waist. On the large dress, I can gather at least an inch and a half of fabric in the back. Eventually I’ll take it to the tailor.
• RACHEL Rachel Roy frond-print dress ($34): I stayed home sick for a day a couple of weeks ago and used it as an opportunity to catch up on magazines. I spotted this frond-print dress in InStyle (I think?) and immediately placed an order for it. I love the graphic black and cream print and the flattering cut. The fabric is stretchy. If you’re between sizes, you can probably get away with the smaller of the two. (I see that it’s now on sale for $42 with an additional 20% off with code FOURTH. Macy’s honored a price adjustment for me, which brought the price down from the $59 I previously paid.)
• Who What Wear x Target apron slip dress ($33; worn here): This was an impulsive purchase when I went to Target in search of cycling clothing. The fabric is lovely and feels like it should cost way more than it does. The box pleats hang straight down so it doesn’t add too much extra bulk too your figure.
• Merona black knot belt ($17; worn here): I purchased this belt the same day I purchased the slip dress from Target. I love the design. It’s been great for belting loose casual dresses this summer. I also love how it matches the bag I have en route to me.
• Jenny Bird large “Edie” hoop earrings (birthday gift): These were from Dave for my birthday! Aren’t they fabulous?

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Things I tried and didn’t love: 

• dRA “Henriette” dress ($92): Oof, this thing was dumpy on me. The bust was tight (and I don’t have much to fill it out to begin with), the baby-doll waist was too high, and the extra fabric around the waist made me look pregnant. Now, let’s pretend the fit was great. Would I have kept it then? Nope. The quality was pretty bad for $92.
• ASOS floral skater dress with contrast tipping ($62): I thought the background of this dress would be more of a pink hue, but it was a weird tan color instead. That said, the cut of this dress is incredibly flattering. It’s made of a stretchy knit fabric, so you could go down a size.
• Betsey Johnson lace trim cotton tunic dress ($148): This looks like a nightgown or, as Dave pointed out, a grandmother’s tea cozy. Don’t do it.
• Zara guipure lace dress in white ($70): The lace on this dress is gorgeous! The waist seam and halter-cut top are both flattering. The only drawback is that the lining of the skirt is incredibly tight on me. I didn’t love it enough to take it to the tailor to see if they could add triangle insets to the sides of the lining so that it didn’t keep riding up. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re placing an order or swinging by a Zara store, though.

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linking with Fran