The weather is warm, the sun is shining, and the 4th of July is just a few days away! All week on the blog I will be posting outfit of the day (#ootd) ideas, as well as food and drink recipes so that you are ready to celebrate the 4th of July in style!

A maxi dress is an easy outfit choice for the summer. It is a hassle-free, single-item outfit that keeps you cool and keeps the mosquitos off your legs. Choose a two-tone printed dress (such as navy and white) and add a bright necklace (like the red necklace shown in the photo) for a patriotic color palette that doesn't make you look like you are wearing an American flag. If you like this look, here are similar pieces you can buy now: maxi dress / red necklace / birkenstocks

Here at practically stylish there is more than just fashion advice. Click over to the bread and flowers page for recipes, books, DIY projects and more. Recent posts from June include a design tip for improving an awkward apartment window, a recipe and a craft project to try on a weekend, and a list of nonfiction book recommendations. Be sure to check back next week for Fourth of July cocktail and dessert recipes!

Summer is here and that means it is time to break out your colorful clothes. Not sure where to start? Here are three color combinations that are sure to put you in a summery mood, no matter the weather. Which one will you rock this summer?

A seersucker jacket is one of my must-have summer pieces and is absolutely perfect in a light grey. It can be paired with just about anything, including a fun pair of patterned shorts. Although yellow and grey has been a go-to color palette for the last few years, I like to make an even bolder statement with a bright pink.

Like this look? Here are similar pieces you can buy now: pink tank / grey seersucker jacket / patterned shorts

For a bold summer look, I don't think you can do better than navy, citrine, and white. It is a high contrast and big statement palette of colors that feels cool and fresh in the heat. The pop of citrine takes springtime nautical to summertime wow. I've heard from many women who are concerned that the citrine color will look too harsh against their skin, but even a small dash of color in accessories can make your outfit more impactful.

Like this look? Here are similar pieces you can buy now: citrine necklace / navy tank / striped skirt

I always intend to write review posts about the samples I get each month in my Birchbox, but it usually takes me awhile to get around to trying out all the goodies. However, there is one sample that I got a couple months ago that I absolutely adore and want to quickly share with you. I don't normally wear eyeliner, but the Vasanti Kajal Extreme Eyeliner in Rose Gold brightens my eyes so much that I find myself reaching for it again and again. It is very close to my skin tone, so it adds shimmer and light around my eye without the look of heavy makeup. Since it is translucent when applied, I think that the color would work for a wide range of skin tones. However, my favorite part is that it works equally well for daytime and evening looks. Has anyone else tried a rose gold eyeliner? Let me what you like or dislike about it in the comments!

Summer is here which means wedding season is underway! When deciding on an outfit to wear to a wedding, I like to choose something that can be reworn for other occasions. However, sometimes the dress code calls for something that you wouldn't normally wear. So in that spirit, I want to talk about dressing for a black tie event without spending big bucks on an outfit that will collect dust in the back of your closet.

Unless you have lots of black tie weddings and galas on the calendar, the price per wear of an appropriately formal outfit can be very high.To be perfectly frank, even with the suggestions in this post it is likely that the price per wear will be much higher than you normally would choose to spend. 

First off, before you go shopping at all, double check the dress code and see if it is black tie required or optional. For a black tie optional event, you can probably scrounge up a great party dress from the back of your closet. Black tie required pretty much means that you will have to don a full-length gown, because the exceptions to that rule are finnicky and not worth the effort to navigate.

There's a pervasive myth that bridesmaids can easily rewear the dresses that they were told to buy for a wedding. My favorite part of that myth is that floor-length dresses can gain a new life as a cocktail dress if the former bridesmaid just cuts off a foot or two of fabric and hems it. I don't have any statistics on this, but I can guess that what generally happens is that those dresses mostly just get abandoned in the backs of closets until a shortage of storage space sends them to the thrift store or the trash. 

My point here is that you or one of your friends may have a floor-length gown that can be repurposed for your event. Add your personality to the dress with statement jewelry and a unique purse. Yes, it may still look like a bridesmaid dress, but if any of the other guests notice, it will probably be to note your ingenuity. Even if the dress requires alterations to make you feel confident in it, your wallet will still be coming out ahead.

When dressing for a black tie wedding, it can be easy to get caught up in the dress code and feel like you need to spend more than you would otherwise be comfortable with. But just because the wedding will be formal and lavish does not mean that you need to pour your yearly clothing budget into dressing for it. Rent a dress, borrow a friend's dress, or become a sleuth of the sales rack so that you can find an option within your comfort zone.