I enjoy dressing up. And in the casual SoCal, I often feel out of place. But I learned not to pay attention to what people think of me, nor to let that change me. ​After all, it is about how I feel and so I choose to dress up for myself - to make myself feel good.

For instance, I got a few looks from strangers while wearing this colorful wide-leg jumper but it is what it is.
With the risk of sounding shallow, I have to say that I feel better when I am dressed well. We all had that lack of confidence and wish to disappear or become invisible on days when, out of boredom, inspiration or what have you, we decided to throw on the first thing that we saw in our closet and regretted it the second we were out in the world. Was it worth it? Is it ever worth it?

Avoid those kind of days or situations by having an - I'll call it - "escape plan". Always have an outfit - casual for everyday wear, or one for more formal occasions, that makes you feel great and gives you confidence, and wear it on those days when you fall into a rut or, are simply "not feeling it".

Not having to stare for minutes at your wardrobe, while sinking more into that "I have nothing cute to wear" feeling will allow you to focus on other things that bring you joy and lift your mood. If all else fails, it will ensure that at least you look good. That, my friend, will make things a little better.

Why do you think I wear so many dresses? Well, besides the fact that I love them, they are the easiest outfit to create. And, I can't really go wrong with wearing a dress (well, unless the dress doesn't fit well or suits me). Dresses are my escape plan. I am slowly adding jumpsuits to my wardrobe for the same reason.
I found this one made by Band of Gypsies over the summer at T.J.Maxx and I immediately loved how light it is, the floral pattern and that it has pockets (what is our obsession with everything having pockets?).
Since it's still warm here, I'm wearing it as pictured but for cooler weather, it would look even better with a suede or faux-leather moto/biker jacket.
I found an identical jumpsuit here and a similar one here. If you prefer it as a dress, check this one here or as pants here.