Kansas Couture Cocktail: Planet of the Apricot

I'm excited to announce a new feature on Kansas Couture! Those who know me in real life can attest to my love of creating cocktails. I thought I'd start sharing some of my recipes here on the blog! First up is a refreshing, summery beverage that's perfect for enjoying on the porch or in the backyard on a warm day.

Muddle a few mint leaves and a couple of lime wedges
Add 2 oz. of rye whiskey and 2 oz. of apricot nectar
Add ice and top with fizzy water
Add a dash of bitters and stir
Enjoy! :)

If you make it, let me know what you can think! You can tweak the ratio of ingredients to create your perfect balance of flavors.

The Roses Are Free

Between my rosy backdrop, birdie dress and floral shoes, this girly look was bursting with the beauty of nature!

Dress: Audrey
Shoes: Forever 21
Necklace: Gift

Where the Wild Things Are

This weekend I retreated to the woods where I grew up to celebrate my sister's graduation from her Master's program! It was a lovely afternoon of family and friends, and the rain stayed at bay. Knowing there would be lots of pictures for the occasion, I dressed up a little bit. While I don't usually wear a lot of blues, I loved this navy number when paired with yellow and gold accessories!

Dress: French Connection
Belt: Vintage
Shoes: jcpenney
Bracelet: Courtesy of Loft

Casual Friday

This may be my very favorite kind of outfit... comfortable and casual with bits of pretty mixed in. Unfortunately you can't even tell from these pictures that the jeans are mint, not white. I love the way they play off the greens of the necklace. Hope you all have a happy weekend! I'll be back next week with some fun new features.

Tank: Forever 21
Jeans: H&M
Shoes: jcpenney
Necklace: Gift

The Finer Things

Sometimes it's fun to fully embrace your girly side. Yesterday I did just that with hot-rolled hair, dramatic makeup, a sweet dress and feminine finishing touches. Though I was slightly over-dressed for playing pool at a dive bar, I felt fab.

Dress: Gift
Shoes: Forever 21
Sash: Borrowed from a blouse
Necklace: Forever 21

Flower Girl

Rainy weather has ushered in slightly cooler temperatures. I keep reminding myself to wear jeans and sleeves while I still can! Jeans are always what I miss most during the dog days of summer. Though I don't usually opt for wide leg pants, I seem to prefer them cropped when I do! I don't think the silhouette does much for my short stature, but that's never stopped me before!

P.S. Kansas City area readers: Gilded Summer, this year's West 18th Street Fashion Show, is just around the corner! Don't delay buying tickets! They're available at Donna's Dress Shop, Birdies and online here. See you there?

Blouse: ModCloth

Jeans: Gap (cut by me)

Shoes: Payless 

Rings: Gifts

Fun & Games

I've wanted to take blog pictures in front of this beautiful backdrop for a long time. While I'm glad it finally happened, the photo shoot was rather bittersweet. It marked my last visit to Screenland Crossroads -- my favorite spot in KC to enjoy old movies on the big screen and vintage arcade games! This location is closing soon and hopefully reopening in an equally awesome spot.

Top: Courtesy of High Gloss Fashion
Jeans: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Courtesy of B.A.I.T.
Necklace: Forever 21
Ring: Courtesy of InPink

Suddenly Summer

Seemingly overnight, the temperatures sky-rocketed! While it almost seems like we skipped spring and headed straight into summer, I am thankful for the warmth. I can finally pack away my coats with confidence and focus on perfecting my warm weather wardrobe.

Top: Forever 21
Shorts: Vintage
Shoes: Old Navy
Brooch: Vintage
Ring: Gift

Hey Boy

While this outfit is far less feminine than my usual fashion, it still felt very me thanks to the denim, polka dots and red lips. Plus, it seemed appropriate for an evening of Indiana Jones and arcade games. Happy Friday, and have a fabulous weekend!

Shirt: Old Navy
Jeans: Forever 21
Boots: Courtesy of Wanted
Suspenders: Thrifted

Crop It Up

Lately I'm loving the crop top plus high-waist skirt combination for warm weather! Since last spring, I've been on the lookout for a matching top and skirt set. Then it dawned on me to attempt cutting a dress in half! The top I'm wearing here actually came from this dress. Once I sew a waistband into the skirt (assuming all goes well), I will share the complete outfit!

Top: From a dress
Skirt: Forever 21
Shoes: Courtesy of ModCloth
Sunglasses: Vintage
Ring: Gift

Drop It Like It's Hot

Though it can be a tricky silhouette to pull off, I've been very drawn to drop waists lately! Perhaps it's Gatsby fever. When I saw this sweet vintage dress on sale for a mere six bucks, I figured I had nothing to lose! I think I also want one that's looser and more flowy than this. Not only would it be super comfortable, but also I wouldn't worry about it hugging in the wrong places. Do you like drop waists?

Dress: Vintage
Boots: Forever 21
Earrings: Vintage

Rainy Day Woman

 

Friday was dreary and cold, but I did my best to channel spring at least a little with cheery colors and nautical stripes.

Dress: Old Navy

Sweatshirt: Thrifted
Jacket: H&M
Boots: Thrifted
Scarf: Thrifted
Bag: Thrifted

Second Wind

These shots were taken as the temperature was dropping dramatically, hence all the wind! Though the conditions were slightly uncomfortable, the breeze did help to play up the fullness of this fun little dress. You may recognize it from a couple of posts last year. It's actually a skirt that kind of swallows me up when worn at the waist. I fully committed to its status as a dress by adding straps and removing the belt loops.

Dress: Old Navy
Shoes: Nine West