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The Style Collective Summer Style Challenge is here!

Go ahead, say that 5x fast 😉 The Style Collective Community, founded by the inspiring/fabulous/amazing Annie {The Lovely Girl} & Ruthie {Ruthie Ridley Blog} is a group that I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of since the beginning. It’s a space where women empower women, ideas turn into realities, collaborations grow like fire and lifelong connections are made. I’ve met my ‘best blogging buddies’ through this channel and couldn’t be more thankful for the support of each and every one of the amazing girls who have become an integral and unique part of the ‘team.’ The SC Summer Style Challenge is just one of the avenues of outreach that was created to grow the community and encourage more bloggers! The blogging world is saturated, scary and exhausting at times but it can also be wonderful, inspiring and uplifting; this group is always the later. Today’s theme has us starting the challenge with one of my favorite trends: Off the Shoulder.

Off the Shoulder everything, please!

I can’t get enough of this style. From minis to rompers to tops to maxis, I am head over heels. After finally finding a strapless bra that is so good {find out why I love it here!}, I have been adding more and more of these pieces to my closet. Because they are a style that isn’t appropriate year-round for my climate, I try to be really price-conscious on which of them I buy. THIS delicate floral print OTS top was actually an afterthought for me. I wore a white lace version of the top while trying my hand in modeling for a Girl’s Night Omaha event last month and nearly bought that one {seen on Insta!} and nearly purchased that one. It was so cute & comfy but my awesome friend Gina talked me out of it and into this one. Just another reason I love her! 🙂 I have been trying to add more floral patterned pieces to my wardrobe after finding out during last Style Challenge that I owned none. This is a good balance of my simple style and super feminine. It’s from Statement Boutique in Omaha and not available online; however I found this, this, this and this top that are all very similar and in the same price range as this one was!

Too feminine = not me.

I usually run away from avoid looks that are overly feminine because I don’t feel like myself in them. Sure there is a time and place for a skirted midi dress, pumps & embroidery but all of those together make me a little uneasy. Since I felt this OTS top was borderline too girlie for me, I added cut-offs & a more masculine sandal to make me feel like me and the punch of yellow this vegan leather bag gave was the perfect accessory to top everything off! It’s the LAST MONDAY IN JUNE! How crazy does that sound!? I’m currently at my parents’ in Texas with my MIL & SIL who were so awesomely willing to make the 10 hour drive with me yesterday so be sure to follow along on Snapchat (username: kristinkruse) to see what we’re up to this week! Tomorrow we have the MOST FUN girl’s day trip planned with myself, Mom, my youngest sister Janae & my MIL + SIL. I think a lot of you will be really jealous. But in a good way 😉 Happy Monday, babes! xox

Shop the Look:

OTS Top (similar here & here) / Cut-offs / Lace-ups / Bag c/o