i want to go out tonight!

One of the best parts of summer is going out on the town with your friends. Now, of course, you do this year round but there is something about memorial day and what comes after that makes things more fun. Maybe this is a Jersey Shore thing, and I don't mean in a Snooki way, but because the bars that we go to are so close to the ocean, the summer gives us more of an excuse to go all out. My friends and I frequent this sports bar, which means wearing shorts/jeans and a tank top all summer. Don't get me wrong, we love this bar and the bartenders and the people, but every once in a while it's fun to get a little more dressed up and play with fashion. When this bar shut down for a month (and my birthday month too!), we were extremely disappointed but at least we recently discovered some place that is a completely different atmosphere. Rather than sit/stand around talking to each other, we dance all night and I end up with sore legs the next morning. Going out that turns into exercise? That is the only kind of work out I'm interested in.

But like I said, this meant a fashion change. The first time we went, I wore jeans and a tank and felt a bit out of place. Girls were wearing tight skirts and dresses and heels! Before we went back, I knew I was going to have to go shopping, and I knew exactly what I wanted. I felt like it was necessary to be a little bit dressier/sexier than usual, but in no way did I want to look… well, less than classy or too fancy. And there is definitely a fine line between the two. To be on the safe side, I decided that I would need some bandage skirts. They are everywhere right now, and I finally see why! They are awesome. (To fellow curvy/bigger girls: they are like wearing spanx as your outfit. Trust me. Invest.) Above are some favorites that I found on polyvore. As of now, I have one that is similar to the black above and one that is a light, slightly-neon blue color. But I want more! That is how great these skirts are. But I think there are some rules for them. For one: you don't want it to be too short. It will absolutely ride up if you are dancing all night and you don't want to be the girl on the dance floor with her lacy bits showing. Also, I think it's important to have one basic black/staple skirt and then get some fun ones! And don't worry about the skirt being too dressy, like the yellow one above, because you can always dress it down with the top and shoes you choose. I think it's important to choose the skirt before you choose the top so that you know which direction you are going in. If I'm going to this specific bar, I don't want to be too dressed up so if I pick a fancier skirt, I'll go with a more casual top like the one with the tie or the smiley face. But if you are going somewhere a little bit more upscale where you need to really dress to impress, don't be afraid to choose a top similar to the black one above. The important thing is to mix and match, have fun and experiment! You don't want to be the girl at the bar that wears the same thing week to week (which is a rule I'm sort of breaking since I'm wearing the same skirt two weeks in a row, but my excuse is I'm desperate for a shopping trip for tops and some of these might be on my list!). You can really push limits with your top if you're feeling adventurous too. Don't be afraid to go a bit sheer or with a crop top (as long as only a sliver of skin is showing and NOT your navel!).

Of course, shoes are another key part of deciding what to wear. Here is my advice: unless you are going somewhere with a dress code that says you need to wear heels.. DON'T DO IT. Wedges are key if you are going out and want to be able to be on your feet with no issues. Or do what I do when I have to wear heels and keep one of those fold up pair of ballet flats in your clutch! But for me, and maybe again this is because I live on the Jersey Shore, I opt for sandals or flats every time. I just know that my feet will thank me the next day!

So those are some of my basic fashion tips for going out on the town with your girlfriends. Remember: don't be afraid to mix and match with your clothes but never with your alcohol!