Casual

August 1, 2018

ELLE APPAREL ULTIMATE SUNGLASSES GUIDE: MY FAVORITE SHADES FOR EVERY FACE

Sunglasses are the accessory that get me every time. They are fun to wear, fun to buy, and you can change the entire look of a basic outfit just by switching out the style of sunglasses you are wearing.

It’s no surprise that one of my favorite sunglass brands is Quay Australia. I own more Quay pairs than I should admit, but they are that good. I’m pretty sure I pronounced this brand wrong for an entire year- the pronunciation is “key”. Also, they are an Australian brand that delivers high quality fashion forward sunglasses at a great price point.

ULTIMATE SUNGLASSES GUIDE:

SWIMSUIT (on sale!) || SUNGLASSES

The nice thing about Quay sunglasses is that they carry lots of classic styles. In addition, they keep them in stock for a long time. I’ve had this pair for about 2 years, and it is still available on their website (one of my most worn pairs).

I get a lot of questions about my favorite sunglasses, so I wanted to do an all encompassing post on my very favorite Quay sunglasses, why I like them, and how they look on.

MY FAVORITE CLASSIC SUNGLASSES

WEARING THIS PAIR

HIGH KEY MINI: A classic aviator shape- the most high quality aviator I’ve found at the best price point.

AFTER HOURS: These are my most worn sunglasses. Also, I wear them a ton in my instagram pictures.

LA PLAYA: I get asked about these ones a lot. The perfect size rimless aviator. I love them best in the silver color. Worn here.

MY FAVORITE OVERSIZED SUNGLASSES

WEARING THIS PAIR

BREEZE IN: Super chic, oversized round glasses. I love pairing these with long flowy dresses and oversized hats like I did here.

SUPERNOVA: My most worn oversized sunglasses from Quay. I love that the rims are flat, not curved, and the cutout detail in the middle. Trendy…but not like you are trying to hard. Worn here.

CAFE RACER: I’m always feeling suuuuper confident when I put these ones on. I love that they are matte and go straight across my face. Also, I’m wearing them in this post.

MY FAVORITE SUNGLASSES TRENDING RIGHT NOW

WEARING THIS PAIR

CAN YOU NOT: Such a cool unique pair. of glasses. I love the matte rim and the sleek all-over lens. In addition, I love it with the gold rims too.

JEZABELL: A great round frame with a flattering fit and gold rims.

SUBCULTURE: These trendy frames check both the small frame lens and the cat eye lens boxes.

SUNGLASSES THAT LOOK GOOD ON EVERYONE

WEARING THIS PAIR

OTL II: A great pair of straight across sunglasses that are flattering to the face. I love them in tortoise.

LA PLAYA: I want these in the brown/gold color because I wear my silver ones so often. Perfect sized aviator lens.

AFTER HOURS: Everyone. These look amazing on EVERYONE.

SHOP ALL OF MY FAVORITE QUAY SUNGLASSES BELOW:

in partnership with Quay Australia

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Casual

June 18, 2018

POOLSIDE SALES (RAY BANS 25% OFF + 45% OFF MY RUFFLED SUIT!)

RUFFLED BATHING SUIT ON SALE (SIMILAR SUIT IN BLACK also on sale) || SIMILAR RAY BAN GLASSES 25% OFF || SIMILAR DISTRESSED SHORTS ON SALE (ALSO LOVE THIS PAIR) || SIMILAR PANAMA HAT (on sale for $44!)

POOLSIDE SALES:

This suit was one of my favorites last year. I was so excited to see that it’s currently on sale! This season this exact suit comes in white, cobalt blue, and hot pink and it’s currently 30% off. Making it under $90. I own a few Trina Turk suits and they are always so well made and have great support. I’m going to take advantage of the sale and order another color. I’m thinking white!

If you love the black, I found another suit almost identical to this off the shoulder black ruffle suit that is also on sale! This one is an even bigger steal at almost $40 off. Black is so chic at the beach. And I love the structured stitching detail that this one has.
If you are a big Ray Ban fan like me (I just gave Garrett a new pair for Father’s Day yesterday). I found my favorite classic gold rimmed Ray Bans on sale for $50 off the original price in both the 55mm size and the 58mm size. I wear the 55mm size and Garrett wears the 58mm size. They are timeless. If you have been hesitant to spend over $200 to get them full price, you must take advantage of this 25% off sale + free shipping!
I get asked all the time about these distressed denim shorts. I have a few different pairs, but my shorts from Blank NYC are the best fit and the most flattering cut because they are slightly higher waisted. This exact pair is no longer in stock, but I found two similar Blank NYC distressed denim shorts that are both on sale. This pair is my favorite on sale for under $55 (I found them to run TTS), and this pair is a bit more (also on sale) with a little lighter wash. Distressed denim shorts are one of my poolside must-haves because they are so easy to throw on over your suit.
My Panama hat is one of my favorite hats I own. I’ve had mine for 2 years and it is still such a classic summer hat. I found this one that is super similar on sale for under $45. This one is a slightly different shape, still a classic look for under $30.

My boys and I spent 4 straight days at our pool last week and I plan on doing the same thing this week. I knew it would be so nice having a pool. But I completely underestimated how much I would love it. We got Eli in swimming lessons. So it has been so cute to watch him practice swimming in our pool.

SHOP MY LOOK:

MY FAVORITE SUMMER SWIMSUITS

MORE OF MY FAVORITE SUITS HERE

A SIMPLE TUTORIAL FOR A TASSLE BATHING SUIT COVER UP

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Casual

May 29, 2018

WELCOME SUMMER + 20% OFF SWIM SALE TODAY ONLY

BOTANICAL PRINT TOP (20% off today only, wearing a small) || BOTANICAL PRINT BOTTOMS (20% off today only and reversible! They are coral on the other side, I’m wearing a small)

The boys are out of school this Thursday and I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it! Growing up we always got out of school mid-June, so being out by the end of May feel so early to me! That means summer is coming and there is no slowing it down!

We put Eli in swimming lessons for the last 2 weeks to help get him prepped for a summer spent out back in our pool. He did so great! The first day of swimming lessons is always hard- he spent most of the lesson crying, but was totally fine by day two. I would tell him that I would “take a movie” of him swimming and he would get so excited watching videos of himself swimming on my phone on the drive him. I will still need to make sure I am in the water with him whenever he gets in, but he understands the concept of holding his breath, kicking, and reaching the edge of the pool. My plan is to spend basically our entire summer swimming, so hopefully the more he does it the better he will get!

BOTANICAL PRINT TOP (20% off today only, wearing a small) || BOTANICAL PRINT BOTTOMS (20% off today only and reversible! They are coral on the other side, I’m wearing a small)

Since we will be living in swimsuits most of the summer, I’ve stocked up on some really cute bathing suits from Modcloth. Modcloth is currently having a 20% off sale on all swimsuits through today only, so now is the time to grab a cute suit if you are in the market! This floral suit has reversible bottoms that are coral on the other side, which makes it so fun to mix and match. I have a handful of suit from Modcloth and I am always so impressed with the quality of them- this suit is no exception. There is great support in the chest (a must for me) and the top stays in place. The bottoms provide great coverage, and it’s a suit I feel comfortable wearing around my kiddos.

MY FAVORITE SUITS ON SALE FOR 20% OFF TODAY ONLY

I wore this fun blue and white suit on the blog last month and I also highly recommend it (on sale for 20% off today!).
I love the cut of this pretty botanical print one piece. The cross in the front is so cute.
My suit also comes in this cute gingham print, and 8 different patterns total!
Simple, black, and classic. With the sale this suit is under $100.
This front zip black floral one piece is so unique. I always think a front zip detail on a suit is a cute sporty look.
Love the print on this palm leaves high waisted suit.
I’ve had my eye on this embroidered black one piece for over a month now. It is gorgeous and I’ve never seen another suit like it!
I have this poppy colored ruffle off the sleeve one piece and I love it. Great support in the chest. I think it looks even better in person than online. I ordered 1 size up in this suit.

SHOP ALL MY FAVORITE SUITS ON SALE

Who is ready for summer? Whether I’m ready or not, it’s just days away! I am also SO excited because I have a huge announcement for The Monthly Dress Series coming this FRIDAY! I finally get to share with you what I am doing with all my dresses! You WON’T want to miss the post!

in partnership with Modcloth

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Casual

April 17, 2018

MY SECRET WEAPON FOR FINDING CUTE SUITS ONLINE

RED, WHITE, AND BLUE CUT OUT ONE PIECE (runs TTS, I’m wearings a small) || SIMILAR SUNGLASSES || SIMILAR RED LIPSTICK

Summer is going to be here before I know it! I’m in slight denial that I only have a month and a half until the boys are out of school. They are done with school the last day of May and that feels so early to me! Every year since we have lived in Pasadena I am always shocked at how hot it gets. Our new home has a pool in the backyard, and you better believe we will be the party house all summer long! I can’t wait for pool dates with our friends!

I’ll probably be living in a bathing suit during the summer, so I am stocking up early on some cute ones. I love this red, white, and blue suit! The quality is spot on for the price, it offers a great amount of padding (a must for me), and good coverage in the back. I am totally obsessed with suits that have great cutouts. I love that this one incorporates a stripes print plus a solid, and it would be so fun to wear at a fourth of July BBQ! I found this swimsuit at Modcloth. They are my secret weapon when it comes to finding cute suits that are unique and well made.

Modcloth also has some other really unique suits, and I rounded them up for you at the bottom of this post. I like to think of Modcloth as my secret weapon when it comes to finding cute suits that nobody else has. I have about 6 bathing suits from them now, and all of them are such great quality. If it isn’t on your short list of places to check when bathing suit shopping…it needs to be. How incredible is this embroidered suit? It’s so unique, and I love the colors and detailing. They also have a fun selection of sandals, blow up pool toys, and sunglasses.

RED, WHITE, AND BLUE CUT OUT ONE PIECE (runs TTS, I’m wearings a small) || SIMILAR SUNGLASSES || SIMILAR RED LIPSTICK

Here are a few more items I’m loving from Modcloth:

I just bought this swimsuit and it is so flattering on! I love the coral color and off the shoulder ruffles.
This woven pineapple crossbody bag is darling, it would be so fun to wear for a picnic date to the beach or pool.
I love this twist on a cognac classic saltwater sandal.
I love that my same suit from this post also comes in a stripe and floral combo. Another great pattern option!
Pretty sure I need this cherry pool float this summer.
I usually don’t gravitate to pieces with tons of different colors, but I love the stitch detailing on this rainbow halter one piece.
These crochet flats would be easy to slip on and off during a day at the pool.
One of my favorite sunglasses designers, and with a fun blue tint to the glass!
I have these bead embellished sandals and I love them so much. They are really comfortable and well made too (run TTS).

MY FAVORITE MODCLOTH SWIM ITEMS:

SHOP MY LOOK:

in partnership with Modcloth

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Casual

July 10, 2017

OFF THE SHOULDER

BLACK RUFFLE SUIT (wearing a size 6, similar suit for less than 1/2 the price here) || DISTRESSED SHORTS (on sale for 40% off!) || PANAMA HAT || SUNGLASSES || CHOKER

The off the shoulder bathing suit trend this season has to be my favorite. Its flirty, feminine, and I do much less tucking and pulling and adjusting the top of my suit when it’s covered by a cascade of ruffles! I love this suit so much, and it also comes in an amazing royal blue, white, and a pretty orange color. If you are on the hunt for a good pair of distressed high waisted jean shorts that won’t break the bank, these are them (and currently 40% off!). They are a great fit and have just the right amount of distressing.

Here are some of my favorite off the shoulder suits right now…

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Casual

July 7, 2017

HOT PINK FOR THE BEACH

LIGHT BLUE TEE (super soft and under $20! order 1 size up) || HOT PINK ONE PIECE (on sale! also comes in white, I’m wearing a size 6) || DENIM CUT OFF SHORTS (similar option under $50 here) || SANDALS || SIMILAR BAG || SUNGLASSES

A casual tee with some really great denim shorts is one of my favorite beach looks. I can’t stop wearing this soft knit tee since I got it. It is so light weight and comfy (I got it in a medium), and it’s under $20! I need to grab it in white and black too. I also love the cut of this cute strappy one piece. I found it on sale here (also in black), and I recently saw it in white, and I think it’s so pretty in that color! It had good chest support and the fabric is high quality.

I’ve gotten a lot of questions about what self tanner I use. I’m working on a big post to go over all of my favorites, but for these pics I used Mystic Tan self tanning spray in the color Mocha. It’s a super dark natural tan. It lasts completely for a little over a week and fades naturally.

If you are on the hunt for cute suits, here are more suits I’ve posted in the past….

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Casual

June 28, 2017

BEACH CHIC

BLACK DRESS (wearing an XS, runs large order one size down) || BLUSH CROCHET SUIT (on sale! sizes limited, I’m wearing a size 4) || SIMILAR GOLD CUFF (on sale!) || SUNGLASSES || SIMILAR NECKLACE

Wearing black to the beach always feels so chic to me. I absolutely adore this black coverup. I am really picky with fabrics, and the fabric on this dress is incredibly high quality, very soft, and it has pockets! It’s such an easy dress to throw on to a trip to the beach. I am also loving crocheted one pieces this season as well. They feel a little more sophisticated to me than a crocheted bikini, allow for coverage, but still feel fun and sexy! This one is made out of great material that feels a lot more luxurious than the price tag (plus it’s on sale!). I tried on a different suit this weekend that was about twice the price, and it was not nearly as well made (so I will be returning it). I had to snag this one though; it is too good!

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LOVING THESE CROCHET SUITS…

photography by Jordan Zobrist

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Casual

June 8, 2017

2017 SWIMSUIT COVER-UP TRENDS

SWIM COVER-UP (wearing a small, runs TTS) || SWIMSUIT || TURQUOISE BRACELET || SUNGLASSES || GOLD CHOKER || SIMILAR CRESCENT NECKLACE || SANDALS || SIMILAR TOTE BAG

You know what is much more fun for me to buy than swimsuits? The cover-ups for those swimsuits. No pinching or tucking or sucking in. Just a really cute piece that is easy to wear and keeps any insecurities nice and covered up while you play with your kids on the beach, or chat with friends by the pool.

I had no intention of buying a cover-up when I was out shopping, but I saw this one, and I couldn’t pass it up. I’ve mentioned before that I’m not the biggest fan of wearing red; I have very few red pieces in my closet. But this color I am always on board with. It’s the most beautiful poppy color, a great mix of red with a hit of orange.This color looks amazing on so many skin tones, and for the detail and quality of the cover-up, I think its a pretty good price too!

I got the chance to meet with the buyers from the Zappos team in downtown LA yesterday, and I got a very up close (and top secret) look at some of the trends that are going to be hot for Winter 2017 and Spring 2018. It was one of those ‘pinch me’ moments! I had to get special permission to post footage from some of the pulls (and they had to preview anything before I could post it). So there are lots of things I wish I could have shared, but I did see a ton of pieces with the cold shoulder trend that is so hot right now. It continued through the holidays and clear into next spring, so my prediction is that this cold shoulder swim cover-up will still be right on trend for next summer as well. That alone is enough of a selling point for me!

I rounded up my favorite swimsuit cover-ups available online, and I was so impressed at all the good options. The color of this orchid dress is to die for! I’m always a sucker for trims, and the pink detail and yellow pom pom trim on this one is so cute. I have this dress in black, and it is amazing! It’s Ultra soft and lightweight with pockets! This is another cute option with good trim in a fun fuchsia color, and this dress is absolutly gorgeous with the crochet work in a lightweight denim color (it also comes in white). I wore this cold shoulder cover-up in this post and it’s on sale now for 40% off!

SHOP ALL OF MY TOP PICKS BELOW:

photography by Jordan Zobrist

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Casual

May 23, 2017

THE KEY TO A MOM FRIENDLY BEACH LOOK

thank you to Zappos for sponsoring this post

LEMON BATHING SUIT (SIMILAR HERE, HERE, HERE, AND HERE) ALSO LOVE THE CUT OF THIS ONE || WHITE CROCHET COVERUP || SANDALS || STRAW TOTE BAG || SILVER RIMLESS SUNGLASSES

With the temperatures getting hotter and summer just a few weeks away, I am really looking forward to taking the boys to the pool and beach to beat the heat! I still need to sign the boys up for swimming lessons, and I’ve been thinking about having Eli take lessons this summer too. Normally I don’t have my boys start that young, but we will be swimming a ton this summer, and I’ve discovered that this kid is fearless around water! He dives right in and thinks it’s hilarious. So I think I might play it safe and throw him into the lessons too.

Hitting the beach with the kids always makes me double think what I plan on wearing. Lets face it, there are tons of cute suits out there right now, but they are definitely not all mom friendly. I’m always rescuing Eli from running into the deep end, picking up toys, carrying around the kids and bags, etc. and I don’t want to have to worry that I’m showing off more that I want to. Finding mom friendly suits has been my number one struggle with buying bathing suits lately. I have been on a mad hunt for the best mom friendly suits, and there are so many good ones on Zappos right now! One of my absolutly favorites is this lemon suit. How cute is that print! Plus, it fits all my criteria for being kid friendly.

The thing that I love best about Zappos is their one day free delivery. I ordered a handful of sizes and styles, and I got them delivered right to my doorstep so I could try them on with kids climbing all over me in the privacy of my own home, rather than in a public dressing room. And the ones that didn’t work, I just popped back in the mail. Super simple.

Here is what always I look for when shopping for mom friendly beach looks:

Chest support: This one is obviously a must. After three kids you better believe I need plenty of support! I can’t handle suits that have zero padding or support; those will not even be considered! I love this suit because it actually has underwire coverage that continues up and around the chest, so it actually stays there, along with light padding. It also comes with removable straps if you want even more security.
Rear coverage: I mean, there is no way I’m going to feel comfortable around my boys, let alone bending over and moving around, without full coverage in the back. I have been so disappointed to find so many cute suits bare pretty much everything back there.
Easy on/off shoes: I got some really cute sandals last year that laced up and tied, but they were such a pain at the beach. I love these because they are adorable, on trend, and they just slide on and off. I didn’t realize how important that was until I had to deal with a difficult sandal.
No fuss coverup: I love this white coverup because it is light, white, doesn’t wrinkle too easily when it is wadded up in my bag, and it is easy to move around in. With all that goes into bringing kids to the beach, you know how important a good coverup is.
Big carry-all bags: A giant bag is crucial, and this one is big enough for two towels, snacks, my coverup, and sunscreen for me and the boys.
Good style/print: The sound of “mom friendly” suits might make you think of weird cuts and ugly prints, but there are plenty that are so cute! You don’t have to sacrifice style to get a great fitting mom friendly suit. Zappos has so many good options.

There can be so much planning that goes into taking kids to the pool and beach throughout the summer, so it’s really important to make sure I know what makes me feel most comfortable for whatever the day throws at us. Establishing these mom friendly essentials has helped me be more carefree and comfortable, and with the help of Zappos I have been able to easily find beach looks that are not only trendy, but also practical and mom friendly.

photography by Jordan Zobrist

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Casual

May 17, 2017

A NAVY SUMMER

This post is brought to you by CJ Affiliate’s VIP Content Service. Thank you Aerie and AEO for sponsoring this post. While this was a sponsored opportunity from Aerie and AEO, all content and opinions expressed here are my own.

NAVY RUFFLED SUIT (currently on sale) || CUT-OFF AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS DENIM SHORTS (on sale less than $40!) || STRIPED BEACH BAG (on sale) || SUNGLASSES || THIN GOLD RINGS || BRACELETS

Summertime is around the corner! For us, that means sunscreen, sand, and lots of trips to the beach. Bathing suit shopping can be tough. I have had my eye out for the best suits this season (at the best prices), and I was pleasantly surprised to find this unique on-trend suit as I was browsing through Aerie’s new arrivals. Have you seen some of the cute suits they have in this year? I usually opt for strapless suits, but a flattering one can be a little tricky to find. I love this suit because the stretchy embroidered band stays in place, and the ruffled detailing along the bust is actually flattering on the chest! So many suits have problem areas when it comes to fitting the chest correctly, which is why I was so happy to find this one. As far as sizing goes, it runs a tiny bit small in my opinion (I’m wearing a small for reference). It has full rear coverage (can I get an amen?!), and it is on SALE right now for under $40! The quality of the material is really impressive at that price point too. It is well made, and the side cut-outs are so fun! They are currently fully stocked in all sizes, so run and grab yourself one for summer while they are on sale.

I am wearing these cute distressed American Eagle Outfitters shorts and they are have an amazing BOGO 50% off deal going on with American Eagle denim shorts. Today is the last day of the promotion, so go grab yourself a few pairs! (they run a bit big, I would recommend ordering one size down on these). Aerie also has some great lightweight shorts good for throwing over your suit at the beach. I love these chambray ones. They perfect if you like the distressed denim look, but want something a little lighter (currently on sale for under $27). I grabbed this pair of sunglasses and an oversized tote bag that has plenty of room for two beach towels. You can check out more of Aerie’s new cute pieces for summer here.

photography by Jordan Zobrist

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Casual

June 3, 2016

HELLO SUMMER

SWIMSUIT TOP AND BOTTOMS VIA MODCLOTH | FLAMINGO | SUNGLASSES (SOLD OUT, SIMILAR COLOR AND STYLE)

Yesterday was Bradley’s last official day of kindergarten, and that means that summer is here in the Barlow house! It certainly felt like summer. We baked in the 90 degree sun at the park after school! Poor B was really sad for the year to come to an end. He loves school and loves getting to be with his friends.

This weekend I am going to put together a summer bucket list with the boys and write down everything we want to do while school is out. I really want to try to get out to the beach a few times a month. We loved spending so much time on the beach while we were in Hawaii, and the boys love it.

I wore this suit from ModCloth while we were in Hawaii last week, and I love it! I saw the suit in person about a month ago, and I couldn’t get it out of my head. When we booked our trip for Hawaii I knew that was one that needed to come with me. The pink and chartreuse are so cute and vibrant, and it is one of the most flattering high-waisted suits I’ve ever tried on. ModCloth makes so many really cute unique suits. I was pouring through all of their swim options and saw so many cute suits I had never seen before (like this one and this one). And I just couldn’t resist bringing along this blow up flamingo. Even though Garrett rolled his eyes at me, it was so fun to float around on at the beach. We made quite the spectacle on our way down to the ocean, but we had the cutest flotation device in all the land, so we didn’t care. ModCloth also had this cute watermelon float that I almost got instead!

Happy summer!

in partnership with Modcloth

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Casual

June 2, 2016

SUMMERTIME CLASSIC

STRIPED SUIT (CURRENTLY ON SALE FOR $50 OFF!) | WATCH c/o DANIEL WELLINGTON (GET 15% OFF WIDH CODE BARLOW) | LAZERCUT SUN HAT (SIMILAR HAT HERE AND HERE) | ROUND BEACH TOWEL

While bright colors are always so fun and playful for summer, I have a soft spot in my heart for a classic pairing of black and white. This striped suit has the cutest big bow across the front and is currently on sale for $50 off! The simple clean chic design of my Daniel Wellington watch is also a great summer classic. I have had this watch for a few years now, and recently added this new style to my list of favorite watches.

Daniel Wellington watches are beautifully made. The design is clean and not fussy, which makes them super versatile. Most of the watches are unisex (Garrett wears my black watch almost as much as I do). Right now you can get 15% off any watch with code: BARLOW. These would make for a great Father’s Day gift (and you might be able to get some use out of it too)!

in collaboration with Daniel Wellington

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ULTIMATE SUNGLASSES GUIDE:

MY FAVORITE CLASSIC SUNGLASSES

MY FAVORITE OVERSIZED SUNGLASSES

MY FAVORITE SUNGLASSES TRENDING RIGHT NOW

SUNGLASSES THAT LOOK GOOD ON EVERYONE

POOLSIDE SALES:

SHOP MY LOOK:

MY FAVORITE SUITS ON SALE FOR 20% OFF TODAY ONLY

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