A Moment in Time at the Gardens

At home, this summer has been so exceptionally hot. I usually love being outdoors during the sunny months, but these past few weeks have really made me feel like I'm in a frying pan every time I step outside! To make matters worse, we've been inundated with so much rain that it's been hard to plan any fun day trips without worrying about getting surprised by a downpour by the end of the day...not ideal.

Luckily, I was able to find a day last week to make a trip out to one of my favorite botanical gardens. It was so perfect--sunny without being too humid, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

The gardens are absolutely gorgeous--I don't get the chance to visit often because they're about an hour away, but when I do make the trip, I always leave feeling so inspired by their beauty. Ever since I was little, it has been such a magical place where my imagination has run wild, and I've felt like I almost belonged to a different era.

I aimed to capture that sense of returning to an earlier time period in this outfit. Something about it reminds me of a Jane Austin novel, and I think that's what makes me love it the most. It's so feminine and ethereal, and compliments the landscape so well.

The top, by Reformation, is a corset-style blouse with puff sleeves (which would also look great worn slightly off the shoulder). The print is called "Vienna," and I think that's such an apt name for this floral linen fabric with a bit of a European flair. Reformation actually has several other beautiful items made with this fabric that are definitely worth a look.

As much as I love the blouse, it took me a while to find something that it paired with perfectly. White jeans seemed way too hot for the scorching weather, and everything else seemed to distract from the "statement" of the top. Then, on a whim, I found this skirt from Urban Outfitters. Normally Urban Outfitters isn't really my style, but this skirt fits it to a T! It's delicate enough without competing with the richly detailed top. A match made in heaven!

I'm always reminded of the iconic water fountain scene from the movie Atonement when I visit this lookalike!

I had such a lovely visit, and couldn't be more excited to share these snapshots of the day with you.

sandals and bag are sold out, linked something similar below