April's top Sellers

April is officially a wrap. It was fun transitioning my clothes from winter to Spring. Still styling plenty of long sleeve tops and jackets, while having dresses and shorts start to make an appearance. Being able to share my favorite styles is one of my favorites parts of Small Town Me. From old favorites to new purchases, I so enjoy seeing what you love. Today on the blog I'll be sharing my top three best sellers for the month of April. These items come at every price point and can be styled in countless ways. Thank you for loving Small Town Me!

Nordstrom Hoody

First up is this Nordstrom graphic hoody. Honestly, I am obsessed with anything Nordstrom, and this sweatshirt is no exception. The front showcases a minimalistic graphic reading Nordstrom NYC. The back has the iconic Nordstrom wink ;) This sweatshirt is so cute styled with leggings or biker shorts. It can easily be dressed up with a cute summer skirt and trendy sneakers or sandals. Also, this hoody is thin enough to throw on over your favorite swimsuit when the sun goes down. At under $50, you can't go wrong with this timeless graphic hoody. I'm wearing a size small, but you could easily size up for an oversized fit.

High-rise Frayed Shorts

Next are these cute high-rise frayed denim shorts. The frayed bottom on these shorts is so good, and you can't beat the length. They have just the right amount of length... short enough to show off those legs while still having enough length to cover the booty. I not only bought these in the lavender but also in blue and white. These shorts actually come in 7 colors and range from size 00 up to 26W! Seriously - well done Target!! Did I mention they're only $15?!! At that price, you can afford to add a couple colors to your summer wardrobe. I know I did! I found these to run a little big, so I sized down one size to a size two. They fit perfect around the waist, booty, and legs.

Military Jacket

Last up is a piece that has been hanging in my closet for years! My JCrew military jacket has been a favorite of mine for all seasons here in Minnesota. I love stying this jacket over a hoody or sweater in the fall for a little warmth with style. In the spring, I'll throw this on with my dresses when the weather is still cool. Or for the ultimate easy casual look, I'll style my military jacket with a cute pair of shorts. I like to think of my military jackets as a denim alternative - and yes. I said 'jackets' - because I own several! They are honestly timeless additions you can make to your closet. My exact jacket is not longer available, but I always link similar, so you can achieve my same look and style. There are currently so many cute military jacket options out there, I may be adding another to my closet!

Thank you for following along on my journey. I will continue to share new favorites as well as old. When my items are no longer available, I comb through my favorite stores for similar pieces. I try to link pieces that I'm truly excited about and would purchase for my own. Honestly, you all fuel my desire to share my favorite fashion finds. Thank you for loving Small Town Me. Get ready... there's more inspiring passion to come.

Remember to check out my Instagram @smalltownme

Love Emily.

My 2021 Bikini Haul

Summer is finally happening here in Minnesota. The grass is green again, temperatures are creeping up past 60 degrees, and our pool is open! I've done my swimsuit shopping for the year and now I'm ready to soak up all that vitamin D. Every year I end up finding the cutest suites... EVERYWHERE! That's right - I don't shop in just one place for my bikinis. There are so many awesome designers out there... cute flattering cuts, fun colors and prints... I literally pick them up everywhere. Today on the blog, I'm sharing the details of my bikini picks for this summer. Where to buy, sizing, and features that I both love and are still on the fence with. So let's dive in!!

My first suit I picked up was from my 'mother ship' Nordstrom. It's no secret I am the biggest Nordy girl. They carry such a high-class selection of everything from shoes to handbags... dresses to ... you guessed it - SWIMWEAR! Every year I pick up at least one new swimsuit at Nordstrom and this year is no exception. I picked up this Becca bikini days before a trip my husband and I took to Mexico. I actually found this bikini in-store, but honestly most of my suites I end up buying online. I know this sounds scary, but once you are confident in your sizing and measurements, buying online is so easy. Plus the online selection is typically bigger then what you'll find in store.

For my becca suit, the top is your typical triangle cut. I love the minimal tan lines (I'm a Minnesota girl, so yes... in the summer I do end up getting a little tan) . The fabric has a lot of stretch which makes the fit so good. Also, I'm in love with the texture, metallic stitching, and the tassel detail. The tie bottoms fit amazing. I love a good hipster bottom and these have the bonus of the side tie details. It makes it easy to customize the fit. Also - love that these bottoms are full coverage in the back. My only complaint with this suit is that the bra pads are not removable. They are a nice thin pad, but after washing they do get bunched up and require a little TLC. Other then that - love this suit. For reference, I'm wearing my typical size small in both the top and bottoms.

Next is this killer bikini by Johanna Ortiz. I have been obsessing over her swimwear for years and this year I finally pulled the trigger. I found my bikini at Revolve. I did order a size small and the top fit a little big. To fix the problem, I brought the top into Nordstrom where they sized me with bra cups and positioned them into my top. Through alterations, they sewed in my cups and now the top is a perfect fit. This exact suit is already sold out, but I've linked some similar and equally fabulous suits by Johanna Ortiz. I may need to pull the trigger on a second!

Next let's talk about Vineyard Vines. I LOVE Vineyard Vines swimsuits. The fit is super consistent, so once you're sure of your size, you should have no qualms about ordering online. The fabric is high quality ... no need to worry about whites being see-through. And the cuts are typically more full coverage. Vineyard Vines is probably my most worn suites here at home when I'm hanging at the pool with my kids. I love this white number - the side ruffle is the cutest detail. Also - the fabric is one of my favorites at Vineyard Vines. It's called the seersucker fabric. It has a small waffle texture and the perfect amount of stretch. I already own one white bikini in the seersucker and I've worn it non-stop for the past couple years. It's held up beautifully, so I grabbed this cut as soon as I saw it. I love a cute white bikini.

The second Vineyard Vines bikini I picked up is another seersucker in a different cut. I love the idea of a square-cut top. I think it brings such an easy casual vibe to my swimwear collection. Plus - can we talk about how cute the ruffle detail is on the top and the bottoms!?! Spoiler - I do have one complaint regarding the top (don't worry - it's an easy fix!) The top of this bikini pulls on over your head. So, on the back, there's a bit of ruching for a little added stretch For my small frame, that stretch made the top a little loose. I did order this suit in my typical size small and the fit is perfect everywhere but around my ribcage (below my bust line). I'll be talking this top to Nordstrom (they honestly have the best alterations department of anywhere I've found) and I'll have them take it in. This suit was just too cute to pass up.

The next four swimsuits are all from Target. I love Target suits! The price is always super affordable and Target has really upped their quality game. I love having Target swimsuits in my collection because off all the swimming I do here at home. We have a salt water pool and eventhough it is salt water, there are still chemicals in the pool water. The chemicals (and sun) really take a toll on my family's swimwear. Color fading, elasticity... I have to get rid of suits each year because they just plain wear out. Somedays I literally jump in for 20 minutes just for a quick break. It's so nice to have cute affordable options to reach for... emphasis on the 'cute'!

First is another square-cut bikini. The fabric on this swimsuit totally reminds me of Vineyard Vines. Plus - super obsessed over the cute ties on the straps. The top on this suit has the cutest fit, and I think it's because of the sewn-in bra pads. The top gives the perfect amount of padding and lift making it so flattering. It truly has a full push-up bra insert sewn in. Also - love that the bottoms are full coverage. I'm wearing a size small in the bottoms, and a 32D in the top.

Next is another Target bikini with a built in push-up bra in the top. I Love the cut and braiding detail on this top. Because of the built-in bra, there is a double strap. Here's my complaint on this bikini. The way the straps are made, adjusting them to properly fit your body is a little tricky. While trying it on, I was having issues making the straps tight enough while keeping the bra liner hidden. What I love - the cut and color on this suit is so cute... plus, I love the braiding detailing. For the price and cute factors, I'm keeping the suit. For sizing reference, I'm wearing a 32D on the top and small bottoms.

My next Target bikini gave me all the vibes of Summersalt swimwear... but without the price. I love Summersalt and own several different swimsuits from them. When I saw this bikini, I added it to my cart immediately. Yes - I purchased this bikini (and most my Target bikinis) online. The fit and ruffle detail is so cute. I love the key-hole side detail on the bottoms. The quality of this suit is really good for Target, so if you're loving the look of Summersalt, this suit is a great option for half the price. I'm wearing a size small in both the top and bottom.

For my last Target suit, I actually spotted the top in-store. They only had a size medium, so I bought it to try. I'm so glad I did because the fit is one of my favorites of this year's haul. The top is so flattering... and the sleeve detail makes the suit. Here's my story on these sleeves... I'm a Minnesota girl who doesn't see sunlight for nearly 9 months every year. It doesn't matter how much sunscreen I slather on each summer - there will always be a day or two when my shoulders are little red from too much sun. Enter the cutest polka dot puff sleeve bikini you've ever seen. I'm not sure if you can tell by the pictures, but the fabric on this suit also sold me right away. It has the tiniest polka dot texture. Seriously, well done Target on this one! For this suit, I'm wearing a size medium on the top and small on the bottom.

I hope this post was helpful in your swimwear shopping this year. With so many cute cuts and styles out there, it's really hard to chose just one store to shop. It's almost May - time to get your swim on!! Happy styling!

Remember to check out my Instagram @smalltownme

Love Emily.

Styling My Favorite Leather Wrap Belt

Once upon a time there was a belt that I was obsessing over. It was so chic, it could be styled in so many ways... and it was leather! Last summer I finally pulled the trigger and purchased the 'Jessica' belt by ALLSANTAELLA. At first, I'll admit I was a little intimidated on how to wear the belt. I'm not a huge belt person to begin with, but every time I'd see the 'Jessica' belt styled, I would fall in love. I decided to jump right in and I started styling my new leather wrap belt with so many pieces I already owned. Skirts, pants, dresses... this belt was already getting the mileage it deserves. Today on the blog I'm going to show you a couple easy ways to style the ALLSANTAELLA leather wrap belt this summer. Get ready to be inspired.

First I styled my ALLSANTAELLA belt with one of my favorite slip dresses. I love how it dressed up my outfit with a little leather edge. Because my belt is one solid color, it is so easy to pair with both patterned and solid color dresses. Also - this belt comes in several different colors, so whatever your style, ALLSANTAELLA has you covered. I decided to match my shoes and clutch with the black leather on my belt, but it would be so cute to style a contrast as well. Try wearing a black leather wrap belt with camel toned accessories. Or match your shoes and belt while adding a fun contrasting bag. My rule of thumb is to match two of your three accessories for a more minimalistic look.

Next I styled my ALLSANTAELLA belt over a black mini dress and finished off my look with a camel colored suede jacket. Here, I matched my belt with my clutch and added some neutral shoes. I love how this belt added a little sophistication to my LBD. Polished, with a little conservative edge - is that a thing? I can't wait to wear this look on my next date night!

Next I layered my ALLSANTAELLA belt over a pair of high-rise jeans. This is such a fun look for a casual night out. Style with a cute short sleeve shirt, tank top, or body suit... there are literally so many options! To style with denim, make sure you are wearing a high-rise jean because the belt sits at your natural waist. Also, I tucked in my top and bloused it out a little bit. Then I went back and gave the front a re-tuck to really show off the shape of the belt. If you choose to style with a fitted top, tank or body suit, obviously there's no need to tuck. Just be sure your bottoms (whether they are denim, dress pants, or even a skirt) have that high-rise so your belt lays correctly.

Lastly I'm styling the ALLSANTAELLA belt over an oversized button-down shirt. I threw on a pair of black bikers underneath for just a little peek, as my shirt was not quite long enough to wear as a dress. I chose a blue chambray shirt, but you could style with anything from a fun pattern to a plain white. Even a traditional button-down shirt would be so cute belted over leggings or denim. Play around and shop what you already have in your closet. To finish off my look, I layered on a black leather blazer and black moto boots - talk about an edgy street style vibe! I love how the belt looks layered with a leather jacket - it adds such a chic interest to my outfit.

Also, try styling your wrap belt over the top of an oversized or traditional blazer. Pair with dress pants and you're totally office appropriate. Seriously - the styling options are endless!

I hope I've inspired you to give the 'Jessica' belt by ALLSANTAELLA a try. The belt comes in so many fun colors - black, white, nude, olive, and camel. Plus, the belt comes in two sizes which I love - regular and XL. Copy my looks and shop your closet. And remember to have fun! Happy styling!

Remember to check out my Instagram @smalltownme

Love Emily.