I've been giving thanks and practicing gratitude all week and one of the things I'm most grateful for is you, dear readers. Your pageviews and comments keep me going, and I'd like to thank you for your support this year and throughout the years—it means a lot to me! One of the most important ways you help support me is by clicking on and making a purchase from my affiliate links; since I receive a small commission from many of them—at no cost to you—that money helps me provide content to you for free. That said, we're going into the biggest shopping season of the year, and if you're in a position to spend money right now, there are a lot of retailers out there who would appreciate it. I will be featuring small, local, and/or POC-owned businesses in my upcoming gift guide, but for now, I'm focusing on the ah-MAY-zing deals to be found at the larger retailers. These items are things I will likely buy for myself, plus I've listed even more sales below. Read on, click through, and pat yourself on the back for supporting content creators like me and the retail industry as a whole. We appreciate it!
I didn't do a trend report this season for multiple reasons. For one, I didn't feel like (or have the need to go) shopping for new things this spring, because I've been staying at home since mid-March. For another, I'm trying to buy less, so following trends kind of seems like a recipe for disaster. That said, I have been shopping a bit, and now that it's finally summer and I am starting to venture out into the world, I've had one thing on my mind, and that's dresses. I will probably never tire of buying summer dresses—they look great, they're comfortable (even more so than sweats, I believe!), and they're just so effortless. There are some trends emerging this year, and basically, the key look is a boho prairie thing, with puffy sleeves, a voluminous tiered shape, and a ditsy floral print here and there. You can often find more than one of those elements in a single dress, if you want to get even more bang for your buck. So without further ado, my top summer dress picks are below, plus I'm trying new widgets that let you shop even more of my favorite styles—let me know what you think!
Smocked
The square-neck, smocked-bust trend has been happening since last year, and this year there are even more great options: with or without sleeves, printed or solid, mini or maxi. I love this style because it flexes for all bust sizes, and empire waists can accommodate a food baby (or a real one).
It's hard to call wrap dresses a trend because they've been around forever, but this season's wraps tend to be longer and more drapey, and pretty much feel like glorified bathrobes, which I'm totally okay with. This is also a great silhouette to combine with puff sleeves and/or ditsy prints.
Sometimes actual puffs, other times more like giant balloons, this season's sleeves are all about the volume, which is awesome if, like me, you have a little arm dingle-dangle that you prefer to keep covered. Plus, lengths can vary from full to short, accommodating a range of summer weather.
Of all the summer trends, this can be one of the trickier ones to wear, because it can look juvenile if the style of the dress is too precious. So stay away from too many ruffles or cutesy details for this one and look for more chic, streamlined shapes—it's all about contrast.
The tiered babydoll kick started last summer—when I was in Scandinavia in July, it's what all the women were wearing—and it's still going strong this year. This can also be a tricky one to wear; I've found that sizing down tends to help tame the volume.
Okay, white dresses aren't exactly a trend either—I tend to buy a new one every year—but they're a great way to incorporate more than one of the above elements. For example, this LPA dress has puffy sleeves, smocking, and tiers.
It's no secret that retailers are hurting right now. It's also probably no surprise that nearly everything is on sale right now. And it makes sense: we haven't been going anywhere, so we haven't really needed anything to wear, hence we haven't been shopping. (Not to mention, stores have been closed for 2+ months.) Also, many of us are furloughed and/or unemployed right now, so maybe shopping isn't the best idea, to be honest. BUT, if you have disposable income and want to make sure that the stores and brands you love don't go out of business, who am I to stop you? Here are my favorite items on sale now, plus more stores with amazing deals below.
Here we are in May already and Mother's Day is just a few weeks away. With stay at home orders still active in much of the world, most of us won't be celebrating in quite the same way. I usually go home to Chicago to visit my mom, but even if you live closer to yours, it's a big bummer to not be able to celebrate in person. The silver lining is that since we're all in the same quarantined boat, it kind of makes shopping for Mother's Day gifts a bit easier. So here are my favorite gifts for Mom, with a stay-at-home (and supporting local businesses!) theme. Send one (or all) to her and make Mom's day.
The last couple of years, I've focused on gifts that you and your significant other can enjoy together. It's a nice sentiment—and one still worth pursuing—but after texting with my girlfriends today, I decided we're all a bit starved for some self-care, and so this Valentine's Day, why not take an opportunity to practice some self-love? I mean of the treat-yourself variety; this is a shopping blog, of course. ;) Here are some of my favorite Valentine's Day gifts to give yourself (sharing always encouraged).
Since Monday was officially the first day of fall, now we can talk about fall fashion, which is my favorite season for it. I mean, what’s not to love about cozy sweaters, comfy boots, and an overall feeling of hygge? I am really excited to share my favorite fall 2019 trends—so excited, in fact, that I’m going to try something new and kick off my fall shopping guide with a preview of everything I’ll be featuring. The best part is that all of the items can be worn together to create one amazing (and age-appropriate) fall look. Here are my must-have trends for fall 2019.
PSA: Mother's Day is Sunday May, 12th, which is sooner than you think! If your mom is anything like mine, she's not the easiest person to shop for. Hopefully the ideas below will make your Mother's Day shopping excursion a bit easier. (Hey, it's what I'm here for!)
We are nearing the end of Dress Month here at Cheryl Shops—how is it almost August already?!—but I've saved one of my favorite posts for last. Here are eight essential dresses every woman should have in her wardrobe. You've seen me wear all of these silhouettes—I hate to make blanket statments like this, but they are truly universally flattering on a range of body types. The best part? All the styles below are all under $100. (You're welcome.)
What are you doing New Year's Eve? I'm hosting a party at home, which is my favorite way to celebrate, but whether you're going out or keeping it low key, I think it's always fun to wear a little sparkle. Here are some of my favorite sequined, beaded, spangled, and all-around glamorous New Year's Eve looks.
1. Whenever I wear a romper or jumpsuit, I usually burst out in giggles when I go to the ladies' room and realize I'm totally naked. Which might be extra fun after several glasses of champagne. I love the sleeves and the detail on this one, and it's a good option if you have amazing legs, or are celebrating somewhere warm. Parker London sequin romper $357 (on sale)
2. Sequined pants kind of seem like a bad idea, and yet these have a wider, more forgiving cut. They also come in a darker silver color, which might be even more flattering. Also a good choice for those of you who hate dresses and/or want to stay extra warm. Topshop Premium sequin trousers $110
3. There are silver and gold sequins...and then there are hot pink ones. With the formfitting cut and the bold color, this one is not for the shy, but I also think it's one of the most elegant (and warmest!) looks here. Dress the Population Emery dress $260
4. This rainbow dress looks like it's made for Instagram, which is not necessarily a bad thing, because it's just fun. I love the bigger pailettes and all of the psychedelic colors. This is also not one for the shy (or the big-busted). Motel Lola sequin dress $92
5. I love how the pattern on this blazer looks all Art Deco, and you can throw it on over anything from a basic black dress to a T-shirt and jeans. It's probably one of the more versatile pieces here and, at $100, kind of a no-brainer. WYLDR sequin blazer $100
6. I already own a similar skirt, but I'm tempted to buy this one—I think it has a very flattering line, and the pailettes are a little unexpected. I like the flexibility of being able to wear something different on top, too, depending on the weather or the season. Or my mood! Milly pailette midi skirt $325
What are you wearing New Year's Eve? Tell me in the comments below!
