Mad for Max: Kitsch at Capacity

Skirt: Wild Fable, Target; Shoes: Jessica Simpson Collection, DSW

Pink Petals Necklace

Bag: ModCloth; Sunglasses: Wild Fable, Target

Bow: Art Class, Target

Armed with charm(s).  

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Crafty Confection Necklace

Bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Cherry clip: Wild Fable, Target; Sunglasses: Kohl's

Nature's emeralds. 

Shoes: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bag: Betsey Johnson

Puff Piece Necklace

Yellow necklace: So, Kohl's; Belt: Belt is Cool, Amazon

Bunched up buttercup.

Shoes: Sugar, Kohl's

Sunglasses: Amazon; My Little Pony clips: Dolls Kill

When it comes to super-sized style, maxi dresses and excessive accessories make for a kitsch-tastic combo.  I'm talking about maximalism, the aesthetic that flouts the old-school edict of taking one thing off before leaving the house and instead adding five more.  I remember being excited when I found out that it was a thing.  Deep down, I'd always known it was okay to look like a try-hard Christmas tree.  So, it's with unabashed enthusiasm that I share these fits.  Stacking the flair is not only fun but functional because I like to have things to look at throughout the day.  It's why the idea of a uniform -- by which I mean anything from a school-issued skirt and blouse to a pants suit -- sends me into, to quote Anne of Green Gables, "the depths of despair."

That said, Anne, with her love of whimsy and pretty things, would've been a maximalist of the first order.

A Tropical Theme Beats a Topical Cream

Top: Nine West, Kohl's; Skirt: Dollhouse, Macy's

Emotion Commotion Necklace

Bag: Xhilaration, Target

Pitcher: Celebrate, Kohl's

Flower clips: Capelli, ULTA; Sunglasses: Mudd, Kohl's

Farm stand feels. 

Tray: Macy's Backstage

Top: Nine West, Kohl's; Skirt: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Necklace: Betsey Johnson, Amazon; Big bracelet: Amrita Singh, Zulily

Shoes: Jessica Simpson Collection, DSW

Bag: Francesca's

Dress: Nine West, Kohl's; Top: Madden Girl, Kohl's

Shoes: Unisa, DSW

Bag: Amazon

Unless, of course, you need a topical cream, in which case you should definitely use it.  Preferably while wearing a Hawaiian shirt to lend levity to the proceedings. 

Clearly, the pineapple gelati I had earlier has gone to my head.  

And on that awkward note, aloha.

Gilded Cage Rage: Tide Crimes and Misdemeanors

Don't trust men.  At least not rich men who claim to want to take care of you.  Which may be a bold way to begin a post, but it's one of the most powerful messages of Mary Kay Andrews's The High Tide Club.

The year was 1941, the place a remote island in Georgia, and four friends were forever changed because of the man one of them promised to marry.  Now it's present day, and only two are alive, one of whom is Josephine Warrick, a wealthy doyenne looking to right her wrongs before she dies.  Enter Brooke Trappnell, a down-on-her-luck lawyer and single mom.  Her first assignment?  Track down the families of Josephine's friends, the quartet known as the High Tide Club.  So named for their penchant for full moon skinny-dipping, they shared sisterhood and secrets until one fateful night.  Although reluctant to take the case, Brooke is in no position to turn down a payday.  And once she starts digging, she can't stop until she solves what turns out to be a life-changing mystery.

Drawing parallels between past and present, Andrews spins an all-consuming saga that makes you feel like you're right there in the Georgia wilderness.  Like the forest itself, it's lush with twists and turns, none of which I ever saw coming, adding depth to an already-compelling story.

Hypnotic and haunting, The High Tide Club is more than just a beach book.  It's a testament to strength and courage that'll stay with me long after the last summer moon.

Very Cherry: (Still) Celebrating Fruit Salad

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Amazon

Red top: Marshalls; Yellow top: SHEIN

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Amazon

Shoes: Impo, DSW; Socks: Zulily

Bag Charm: lhbdesignsbylaura

Skirt: POPSUGAR, Kohl's

Shoes: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bow: Wild Fable, Target

Bag: N by Nina, Kohl's

Chelsea Cherry Necklace

Dress: Lily Rose, Kohl's

Shoes: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Fun fashion's always in season, and fruit always brings the fun.  Why else would cartoon characters slip on banana peels, Gallagher smash watermelons, and Carmen Miranda balance fruit on her head?  (Also, for a more current, not to mention momlife reference, Cocomelon.)  So, despite the onslaught of pumpkin propaganda (I love pumpkins, but all in due time!), it's still about produce here at the Trove.   

At least until I'm pelted with acorns. 

Labor Day Fabrics and Flavors

Dress: Sugar Thrillz, Dolls Kill; Skirt: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Shoes: Jessica Simpson Collection, Amazon

Bag: Francesca's

Tank: Rebellious One, Macy's; Skirt: Arizona Jeans, JCPenney

Tomato girl summer going out hot.

Bag: Universal Thread, Target

Corn and crustaceans.

Top: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Jeans: Wild Fable, Target

Blue for You Necklace

Bag: Amerileather, Zulily

Filler schmiller. 

Because a felt boat's always a good idea.

Labor Day means red, white, and blue -- and one last BBQ.  So I donned my polka dot frock and enjoyed festive fare with my family.  The best thing on the table?  My mom's tomato pie.  Probably because it was bursting with, not only tomatoes and cheese, but mayonnaise and sour cream.  So, hearty enough for the hardest-working laborer, not to mention decadence in a dish.

As for Charlotte, she focused on the fruit, as per usual.  I've never seen anyone get so excited about oranges and blueberries. Watching her glee is my favorite thing.

Still, she'd better not get any ideas about me baking a pie.