Summer Style and Being Selected as the Ann Taylor Muse

The Ann Taylor Muse program launched earlier this year as a way to celebrate inspirational woman from around the country. Ann Muses share their stories and work life routines – all while showcasing Ann Taylor seasonal collections. A few weeks ago, the Ann Taylor team messaged to say they’ve chosen me as their July Muse. So incredibly kind!

After working full-time for nearly two decades, along with blogging on the side, being asked to be an “Ann Muse” is an honor. Plus, the brand is a natural extension of my personal style. They have saved me when packing for work meetings, new business pitches, and everything in between.

Today, I wanted to highlight a few looks from their recent collection. Specifically, I wanted to select three styles – for work, weekend, and just for fun.

Ann Taylor Muse

Prior to diving into some of my fave styles, I also wanted to highlight the previous Ann Taylor Muses, including Blake, Liz, and Melinda and Michele. Please be sure to checkout their posts and stories. Blake and I go way back, and she continues to do amazing things as always.

To be transparent, the word “muse” gave me pause at first. Am I deserving of such a title? Like me, when you think of “muses,” your mind drifts to women who have greatly transformed our world… Amelia Earhart, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Oprah Winfrey, Audrey Hepburn… the list goes on and on.

But when I Google’d “muse,” the dictionary defines it (in part) as “a person or personified force who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist.”

While I’ll always aspire to be better, it’s incredibly amazing to be seen and acknowledged for hard work. But don’t get me wrong – I still have a LOT of work to do. 🙂

Ann Taylor Work Outfits

Now that I’m in a hybrid work schedule, I’ve found a new appreciation for Ann Taylor work wear. Friends, don’t play it safe when it comes to work outfits. Now, I’m not advocating for crop tops and short shorts, lol. But over my career, I’ve been shocked at the standard uniforms that people fall into.

While I’m wearing bubble gum pink dresses, others are wearing all black. Other times, I’m opting for colorful striped separates while everyone else in wearing neutrals.

In a creative industry like mine, I can’t help but wonder – why in the world would you choose to fade in when your sole purpose and job is to stand out.

Ann Taylor has given me the chance to embrace innovation and color with my work war.

The July collection of Ann Taylor is phenomenal. After all, the purple and neutral tones along with the stellar orange and red color combinations. If you’re looking for stylish work outfits, I recommend starting with Ann Taylor’s core suiting styles. 

Weekend Outfits

Weekend style is my absolute favorite. Chicagoans earn our summers, so I love going out on the town for dinners with friends, cocktails with Bob at our favorite rooftop bar, or just grabbing a blanket and heading to the park to read books. Since our schedule tends to get quite busy on weekends, I need outfits that can take me from day to night.

One of my favorite combos is a gorgeous printed dress with a matching cardigan. The cardigan is an easy item to wear over the shoulders or around the wait during the day, and actually put on when it gets cooler at night. This lemon print dress from Ann Taylor is just SO good. Additionally, I love they came out with lemon earrings for that extra special touch.

Another dress that caught my attention was this multi striped wrap dress. Normally, I’m not a huge fan of wrap dresses, but this silhouette is fantastic. The fabric is really breezy and lightweight, and the wrap dress actually stays put so you don’t need to worry about it coming undone.

Plus, the color combination is so festive for the summer season. I styled it with this gorgeous Mark & Graham wicker bag and these comfy shoes that are on sale now.

Just for Fun

Lastly, I’m excited to highlight some outfits for those fun occasions. Those styles that you see in your closet and immediately know will work for every occasion. To start, I adore this blue and white striped skirt. It’s so versatile! While I styled it with this crisp button-down, it can be worn with tank tops, crop tops, bodysuits, and everything in between.

Be sure to checkout my Reel with Ann Taylor for their Ann Taylor Muse program. I dive into various topics about work, life, and everything in between. Moreover, be sure to shop Ann Taylor’s new arrivals and core suiting for your summer wardrobes. Happy shopping!