Whenever I’m asked to describe my style  I always say that it is eclectic. My outfits can go from preppy to boho to geek chic to vintage to traditional professional wear- all over the course of a week.  Sometimes this confuses people, but honestly I’m just making up for lost time that I didn’t spend experimenting with fashion since I was always concerned with keeping my visibly plus body covered as much as possible, so I make an effort to try new things as much as I can. For the most part this has meant adding color and accessories to my wardrobe, other times it has been just playing with trends that I find interesting, like harem rompers.

The very design of a harem romper evokes this sense of summer ease and comfort, like time at the beach, so it isn’t surprising that this has been the item of choice to be used as a swimsuit cover-up this season. I had been curious about the trend but I rarely go to the pool or beach that I couldn’t very well justify purchasing a piece of my own until I saw the SWAK Teal Geo print harem romper on their summer lookbook. I fell in love with the draped silhouette, color and print that I saved up for to purchase it. Of course I wasn’t the only one as it sold out in just a couple of days. Then SWAK released this Royal Garden print and I jumped to add this to my cart. While it can be worn without a under-layer, I knew from the time I placed the order that I wanted to style the romper with a black top.  Because of how lightweight and flowy the material is I decided on a mesh body suit. This pairing worked well because it helped dress up this casual summer look to something I could easily wear to dinner as well as  gave me peace of mind since I didn’t have to re-adjust anything during the day. That said, I should note that the wide harem pant leg does nothing to protect you from chub-rub. I did apply Chafing Relief Powder Gel® from Monistat Complete Care®  before heading out so my thighs were fine for most of the day until I had to reapply later in the evening.  My absolute favorite part of this outfit (besides the functional pockets) was the fact that I was able to bring some sophisticated edge to my closet that most people aren’t used to seeing from me. As you can imagine, I will be looking for every and any excuse to wear this again soon. I’m already thinking up of ways that I can get this look to transition into fall with a leather jacket and booties. 

~Get the look~

Sheer Mesh Bodysuit (2X) | Forever 21+
Royal Garden Jenny Harem Romper (1X) | SWAK*
Obi Waist Belt | Torrid (similar here)
Brash Women’s Slayy High Wedge | Payless

*Style Notes: The fabric of the romper itself is very thin so I highly recommend wearing black or nude undergarments. 

What are some summer trends you tried this season? Will you be transitioning them to fall?