A Non-Set Matching Set

Mondays are always easier when you’re still on vacation! I flew back home to Buffalo to celebrate my brother’s graduation with a big party. It was his day in every sense of the word and he’s still on a high from all the love and cake. Sunday also happened to be our family’s annual picnic reunion, which meant even more family time, chicken BBQ and mac ‘n cheese. With all the activities, it’s been a whirlwind and I felt like my parents and I didn’t stop moving until after we arrived home from the picnic. My mom and Tommy immediately went upstairs for a nap while my dad and I chatted on the couch for about 5 minutes…until we both nodded off mid-sentence.

But let’s chat about this non-set matching set. Sounds crazy, right? It’s crazy enough that it just might work. I keep seeing really cute matching sets pop up all over Instagram and blogs, it’s one of the few trends I could get on board with. But I’m a girl on a budget and always looking for new ways to mix ‘n match pieces I already own to create new styles. Enter this navy non-set matching set!

I purchased these J.Crew Factory Boardwalk Shorts early this summer and I love them. They’re so easy to just pull on and pair with a white tee and a baseball hat for a quick farmer’s market run – a more grown-up version of my childhood summer uniform: gym shorts and a softball tee. While I’ve definitely taken the more casual route with these shorts so far, I wanted to dress them up for an outfit to wear to brunch or for a night out for drinks with friends. Comfort + style = 🔑

To build upon this non-set matching set idea, I grabbed my navy top (Last Seen Here) and voila! A DIY matching set ensemble! Being trendy AND on budget? Win-win, guys! To bring out the navy, I went with my favorite power pink accessories: Kendra Scott Rayne Necklace and my trusty Vera Bradley Chainstrap Crossbody. Because you always could use a little navy and pink in your life.