I know a few weeks back I threw a little shade about Grace Kelly being the true American Princess, but I drank the Royal Wedding Kool-Aid (so to speak). I had plenty of jaded thoughts about love and weddings leading up to the Royal Wedding. I couldn't stand the television coverage and the onslaught of Taylor Swift songs in their advertisements. But somehow, someway, I woke up at 4am on May 18th to watch the big event.

Ah, Memorial Day. The first long weekend in a while. I'd love to say I plan to relax and just chill out for the next 3 to 4 days, but knowing me that won't happen at all. Of course, I'll probably enjoy some rosé and pool time. On the other hand, I'm sure I will find plenty of things to catch up on like cleaning. My one true goal is to stay off my phone as much as possible. It's the unofficial start to summer so regardless of what is on tap, it's important to have something stylish to wear.

I feel like every time it gets above 85 degrees outside I instantly start thinking about every blog post I could possibly do involving warm weather. Sometimes I feel like I constantly repeat myself. But at the risk of repeating myself, there are just some necessities when it comes to summer style. I think that having a set of trendy and classic staples really makes getting dressed in the summer easier.

Denim shorts are a warm-weather staple. Of course, everyone knows that. Truth be told I have a love/hate relationship with shorts. They are either too long or way, way too short. But unfortunately, there's just no way around them when it comes to summer. The goal ultimately becomes finding the shorts that work the best and sticking with it until September. 

With the Royal Wedding happening in just weeks, everyone has been talking about America's Princess, Meghan Markle. But that got me thinking about the original American Princess, Grace Kelly. Grace Kelly has a timeless style that can still be embraced today without seeming like a costume. That's one of the main reasons I consider her one of my style icons. We have a very similar classic, simple, but chic and comfortable personal style. In 2018 it's pretty hard to pull off a full Grace Kelly look without looking and feeling like a time traveler, but there are many ways to channel the iconic starlet in everyday fashion.

A simple Google search will yield thousands of results telling you how to spend your tax refund. There's plenty of realistic, responsible advice like investing the money for later on in life. There's also starting that fixer upper project you've been putting off. Then there are the fun ideas like taking a vacation to a place you've never been before. Of course,  I have a different idea: update my closet. With wardrobe updating in mind, I made two categories: Investment Buys and Affordable Favorites.

Spring dresses aren't the most groundbreaking of trends. Ever since I was a kid I have looked forward to warmer weather so I could live in sundresses. I wear them far less often as an adult, but I still love them. Spring dresses are a wardrobe staple although the trendy colors, patterns, and styles may change year after year. They can be worn casually during the day and dressed up at night. It's easy to create the perfect collection of spring dresses that are on trend or last for years to come. Whether they are short, mid-length, or long there's a spring dress that is perfect for everyone.

Runways tell us what to wear, but can mostly feel like incredibly artistic statements no could ever pull off in real life. Street Style on the other hand really shows us how to bring these trends into real life. Okay, maybe not entirely into real life. I'm almost positive it takes a lot of planning to make a good outfit that gets noticed for the right reasons. Both ways we look to style inspiration have their pros and cons. One thing is absolutely true: I love looking at street style. Maybe too much.

Obviously, the runaways during fashion month tell us what trends are going to be popular for the next season. Of course, runway looks aren't always the most practical for daily life. They are worth lusting over multiple times a year, but not necessarily adapting regularly. Another reason runaways are more interesting to look at then copy is because not every trend is for everyone.