STYLING IN: BEACH WEAR

Ahhhh, Siesta Key, voted #1 Beach, USA. I love you so. I shared some photos with you from my trip, but today I want to show you the most ironic outfit of the week :)

 Shirt: Beach Shirt Madewell
Shorts: High-Waisted Shorts (Old) Thrifted
Shoes: Sperry Topsider.

I’ve always wanted to wear a shirt to the beach that says BEACH. (Okay, well, I’ve always wanted to do it since I bought this shirt that says BEACH on clearance at Madewell). The slight problem was that this shirt is a sweatshirt material & I don't know if you are aware, but Florida is H.O.T.

Luckily, if you wait til the end of your vacay, chances are you’re going to be burnt. & then your skin will be hot to the touch, but you're going to feel cold, no I don’t think this was sun poisoning. Well.. I only think that a little. But, guys, I’m fromOhio. Ohio..

Alas, back into The Studio with you BEACH wear! By the way, I'm hoping to score an invite to an end-of-summer beach trip, if anyone is offering :)

STYLING WITH: CINCIN-NATALIE

Shirt: Daniel Rainn via Nordstrom Rack
Pants: Black denim (Thrifted)
Shoes: Madewell
Fedora: Borrowed from Natalie
Purse: London Fog via TJMaxx
Necklace: Make-A-Wish Necklaces from Dogeared (Gifted)

Aren't good friends just the bomb? I know, I know. "Annie, you think you have the best friends in the all the land." Well, this is one of those kind of posts. Meet Natalie Folchi: street name, CincinNatalie. I've told you once before that Natalie & I met when we were kids - back in the good 'ole uniform days of a Cincinnati Catholic Grade School. You wouldn't have guessed it then by my hand-me-down jumper (have I ever mentioned I'm the third of four Butler Girls?) but we were both budding fashionistas. Why can I call myself that? Easy. In my eyes, if you want to be called a fashionista you are a fashionista. Self empowerment, people!

Natalie Wearing:

Shirt: Peplum Top via Love Culture;
Skirt: Thrifted
Necklace: Target (Neon DIY)
Shoes: Old Navy 
Lipstick: LAQA & Co. in Lambchop

Armed with flowers, wine & a cute print for the wall, Natalie came over to see the new studio. We would have hung out on my *cough cough* balcony.. but my apartment is a disaster. (Moving into an apartment 1/6 the size of your old house is a (rewarding) challenge.) Quickly, we progressed to a shared hobby: blogging.

Get two amateur photographers together with a (omg still obsessed with my new NikonUSA) nice camera & you get something like the following. 

Good friends are such  a blessing. I know I take it for granted, but I really do have amazing people in my life. I've been dealt a very good hand & I know it. p.s. Natalie did a post about our session as well. You can click here to see it :D

Photography: Natalie Folchi, Annie Butler & Courtney Boeckman

STYLING IN: LONG CROPS

Photog: Courtney Boeckman
Shirt: Crop Top from Abound via Nordstrom Rack 
Pants: Cartonniev via Gabriel Brothers (old);
Shoes: Leopard Skimmer via Madewell
Earrings: Curate Boutique

You asked for it! Well, only one of you did (love you so much, Leis!)... still waiting to hear from the rest of you. But,  writing my first style post was so fun that I decided to answer for you. Here comes Magical Simplicity's Style Post Volume 2: The Crop Top. 

Crop tops have been sneaking into our wardrobes for years & now it's pretty much everywhere! In fact, the last time I was at Neons, there was midriff at every turn. (Including a turn around the mirror in the (omg when did Neons make both bathrooms downstairs women's?!?!) bathroom).

I love the crop top. For one, there is literally less material to it. That is oh so nice in these warm months. Also, I think it's cool that this trend is coming back from the 70s. It really is a testament to my theory that all fashion is cyclical. But lastly & most importantly, it's about time we own our bodies! To me the crop top says: Well heck yes! I am confident & happy & love my curves! (But in a humble way, because you're not actually speaking it... Right?)

Anywho, I'm not quite cool enough for the full crop, but I sure do like to rock a long crop from time to time! & because I'm Annie, I've incorporated bows where I can (the pants. They've been a pair of my faves for years.  Partially for the ruffles but mostly for the bow).

Trying to decide if I would be able to make it up there... I was :D

One of my best gals & I took a little walk through our neighborhood  this week in a quick & rare respite from the rain. I know I've talked about it before, but the murals in Cincinnati are just the coolest. & isn't Courtney a great photog!? I love her angles & shots & I gotta say the fact that she's seen me at my truest (we send triple chin snaps to each other throughout the work day) made this shoot so fun & natural. Felt like we were just out for a stroll :D

Oh & p.s. in case you're wondering: my arm. I want to lie and tell you I injured it doing something really cool (skydiving? scuba diving? hang gliding? even a cartwheel..). But nope. Poison ivy. Probably got it while exploring Cincy for the blog. So, I guess it was something cool, after all.  :D

Well, this is my last post as a twenty-three-year-old, lovers! I'll catch ya in my mid twenties! Hope you have the best weekend.

STYLING: IN PANT ROMPERS

What's up y'all? I'm thinking about sharing a few style posts with you guys. Maybe. If you'd like them. Would you? For me, fashion is definitely  a Magical Simplicity. Personal style is your impression maker. People see your style before they even know your name. It's like boom: I'm wearing a pant romper. Also, hi. My name is Annie.

Your clothes tell people what you think about yourself & what you want them to think about you. Personal style is your art. It's your mood. It's your personality. It's you. Plus it just makes me really happy. & happiness is what Magical Simplicity is all about.

This season I'm obsessed with the pant romper. It's seriously perfect. Comfy & cozy & simple. Excellent for sneaking around railroad tracks & being rebellious.  I know - I really live life on the wild side.

Anywho, I'm excited to hear what you think. I'd love to share some of my wardrobe with you, but only if it's something you'd like to see on Magical Simplicity. P.S. This was a really fun photo shoot. :D

Photog: Jackie Butler
Wearing (in my first ever style post!!).... 
Pant Romper: dolan los angeles via TJ Maxx
Jacket: Finders Keepers via Curate Boutique
Shoes: Restricted via TJ Maxx;
Sunnies: Clearance at Target.