contemporary |

Summer Wedding Wear

Posted on May 3, 2016 by garishgal

If you are like me, you are starting to get to the age where your calendar is quickly filling up with summer weddings! It’s weird that I am finally at this age!

I always feel pressure (specially owning a fashion boutique) to find the perfect dress to wear. I also feel like I cannot wear the same dress in the same wedding season (too much overlap!!). So if you’re like me–check out these super cute dress options for Summer weddings.

Maxi’s

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I love this maxi for a more casual wedding! Add a statement necklace & you are set!

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This sweet maxi is PERFECT for a casual wedding! I love how light, feminine, and pretty this maxi is!

Sexy Dresses

Hey Single guys go to weddings too! Don’t be afraid to rock the sexy dresses below & maybe catch the eye of a cute groomsmen!

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Fit & Flare– Fit and Flare dresses are extremely flattering! If you aren’t feeling a tight bodycon dress, this is a great and super flattering option!

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All of these looks will be available on the website NEXT WEEK 🙂 WOOOO!!

Check out the sale section for some really great dresses for amazing prices!

Have fun at all the summer weddings & don’t forget to tag @garishgal in all your posts ❤

xo-

Mother’s Day Must Haves

Posted on April 26, 2016 by garishgal

Mother’s Day is RIGHT around the corner & it’s time to find the perfect present for our “No I don’t need anything” mothers!

Let me tell you about my momma!

She’s my best friend, my twin, my biggest supporter, and my sounding board. She is a strong leader and extremely driven. Whenever I need advice about Garish Gal, she is the first person I call. Her faith is silent and strong, which I love. Her job takes her out of the country quiet a bit and it has made me realize JUST how much I lean on her! She somehow always finds a way to skip sleep and calm my fears even when she’s half way across the globe! She is humble and an introvert–so she’s going to HATE that I posted about her! Needless to say, she is everything I hope to be someday.

I’ve been blessed to have multiple STRONG women in my life. The older I get, the more I realize how lucky I am to be surrounded by such amazing, talented, & loving women.

My mom is the HARDEST person to shop for because if she wants something she purchases it herself! It drives me nuts. Fortunately for me, she wears A LOT of Garish Gal, so I have a few ideas in mind for this years!

Hopefully this guide will help you make your gift giving seamless & easy!

Gift Card– This is the EASIEST gift. Gift your mom a Garish Gal eGift Card by going online and purchasing one! It’s literally that easy. This one is great for dads & sons–the mothers in your life will love it!
Cocoon Cardigan– This is a great gift because it is very easy to wear! Wear to work, over a Summer dress, or with a tank & jeans for a casual look! This cardigan is super versatile and can be worn all year long!

3. Chevron Fair Trade Necklace– This is the best selling item for Garish Gal. My own mom has it in both colors and wears them at least twice a week! I even steal her gold one from time to time! This necklace is made by female artisans at a fair trade co-op in India! What an awesome way to celebrate women!

4. Classic Cool Cuff– This is a fun option. Your mom already has the above necklaces in both colors, so check out these really cool (fair trade) adjustable cuffs! These are great because they fit wrists of all sizes!

5. Small-Town Indiana Love– Most of my readers are from Indiana like me! I love this small town Indiana shirt specially after tragedy hit my small town a month ago & I was reminded of just how much I really do LOVE my small Indiana town. This top is the perfect way to show your small town pride! **These are locally made in Kokomo,Indiana!

P.S–If you want a direct link to buy these products, just click on the picture! Easy as that!

Happy Shopping & Happy Mother’s Day, Mommas!

xo-

Derby Looks To Love

Posted on April 12, 2016 by garishgal

Being in the Midwest, the Kentucky Derby is a HUGE event! I went last year for the first time and had an absolute blast! Needless to say, I will be going back again this year! The hardest part is coming up with a cute, fun, and unique outfit to wear with a matching hat!

Here are some great looks to love + fun hats that can complete your ensemble!

Here is my look from last year <3…the Mint Julep & Oaks Lily signature Derby drinks are a must have! (If you are of age!!)

My dress was Clover Canyon that my mom had surprised me with a year earlier. I loveeeeed this dress! So comfortable, beautiful colors, and perfect for Spring at the Derby!

One of my best friends (and her husband) helped me make my fascinator! I had a specific example I wanted to emulate, but couldn’t find it to purchase. My friend convinced me that we could easily make it and I must say we did a good job! It was HUGE and kept falling off my small head, but it fit in at the Derby.

I decided to wear sandals because I knew I would be walking around and socializing more than sitting! We started our day at 7am and it didn’t end until around 10pm! I must say wearing sandals was honestly the best choice I made! Some girls that rocked heels were dying by midday!

I went with some of my girls I played college golf with! It was a blast reuniting away from the golf course and getting dressed up together!

If you don’t get to go, here are some fun Kentucky Derby Party ideas!

Shop Garish Gal for super fun Kentucky Derby looks!

All of the dresses above are on sale! 😉

xo-

No Fail Fashion Formulas

Posted on March 29, 2016 by garishgal

Sometimes putting an outfit together can be the last thing you want to do when you wake up in the morning! Don’t worry–I have a few easy no fail fashion formulas for the perfect outfit! Check out how these celebs and fashion icons rock these looks! Then Shop Garish Gal to stock up on these great pieces to build your no fail formula looks!

Edgy Jacket, Skinny Jeans, & Ankle Booties or Heels

Pleated Midi Skirt, Cute Top, & Heels or Sandals

** Check out the Garish Gal Instagram (@garishgal) for a few more pleated midi skirt looks I posted for Easter!

A-Line Skirt, Cute Top, & Heels (add a cropped jacket for the chilly days!)

Track Pants, Cute Top, & Heels or Athletic Shoes

Loving these looks? Shop the links by clicking on the pictures and it will take you to similar products on the Garish Gal website!

xo-

Maggie

5 Spring Trends to Try

Posted on March 22, 2016 by garishgal

Thankfully, Spring is right around the corner! It’s time to test the trends and see what works best for your lifestyle! Check out the fun new trends for Spring/Summer 2016!

Pastel Plaids– I love that the plaid trend has carried over from fall! I love plaid and am obsessing over the pastel version of plaids that I am seeing. The super cute, flirty version Garish Gal has is great for Spring & Summer! This dress that is coming in May is another super fun pastel plaid!

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Chambray– One of the most comfortable fabrics around, Chambray has quickly become a highly transitional trend! We saw a little of this last fall, but you will see EVEN MORE Chambray for Spring/Summer. This jacket is a perfect way to carry the trend from Spring, to chilly Summer nights, and even into Fall! I also really love the Chambray dress coming in May–it is for sure another great transitional piece!

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Off the Shoulder- Whether it is done in a super cute top or a flirty dress, off the shoulder is going to be everywhere this Spring & Summer! Garish Gal has two versions in a top that has really sold amazingly! The floral version is a great way to bring pattern and color into your wardrobe, whereas, the striped version is tried and true black and white! I really love both! Garish Gal will also have an all white dress hitting the website and the truck in May! It is STUNNING & I can’t wait of you all to see it! Off the shoulder always comes off as subtly sexy to me–which is always fun 😉

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Fine Lines– If you are like me, you struggle to wear stripes! So the thought of stripes being a big trend for the Spring/Summer is less than thrilling. However, I have found that smaller “fine” stripes and/or stripes that are elongating rather than around are much more flattering! Currently, GG has an amazing striped black and white blouse that is great for work or a night out! There is also a super cute Summer style coming in May that is a great way to rock this trend. This sweater with fine lines in french terry fabric is a great layering piece that I have been living in lately as well!

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Pajama Dressing– Not going to lie–If I could I would wear PJs alllllll day everyday! So the idea of Pajama dressing is slinky, comfortable, yet fashionable looks! A good example of this is this super comfortable and feminine lingerie like dress that is coming in May. A current top selling dress that also embodies the sexy PJ all day look is this emerald green Embeth dress with a small cut out in the bust (The picture is the red version as I just received this piece in and haven’t posted on the site yet! It is the same color as the Nanna Dress)! If you are like me and tend to wear giant t-shirts to bed, Jolene is the perfect way to embody this trend!

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Check out the “Find The Boutique” calendar to come try out these looks and update your wardrobe!

Happy Shopping!

xo-

Maggie

MAJOR GARISH GAL NEWS!

Posted on September 1, 2015 by garishgal

Hey All!

I wanted to FINALLY share with you some MAJORLY EXCITING NEWS about Garish Gal!

A week ago Monday, I officially purchased a cargo trailer in order to make Garish Gal a mobile Fashion boutique.

AKA GARISH GAL IS GOING TO BE A FASHION TRUCK!

I am insanely excited about this expansion and am going to share this adventure with you all every step of the way.

Although, I had always intended for Garish Gal to be an online only boutique. I found that my clients wanted the personal interaction that you receive with a boutique. I also missed interacting with people and helping them find the perfect outfits.

I had a decision to make: Brick and Mortar store or something else.

My good friend called me one day with the idea of creating a mobile fashion boutique and I instantly loved it.

I had found the something else I was looking for!

I liked the idea of not being confined to one specific space, but rather meeting people where they are.

After doing a lot of research, I decided I wanted to use a cargo trailer instead of an actual truck.

I found the perfect trailer and ordered it about a week ago!

Hopefully, I will have it up and going by the middle to end of October!

I am teaming up with my grandpa to create the perfect mobile boutique that fits the needs of my customers and stays true to the Garish Gal brand.

On October 1st, I will also be launching a new website for Garish Gal that will be cleaner and easier to use.

It will feature a place where you can book the boutique and you will also be able to use the calendar feature to check out where the boutique will be (different events, farmers markets, first Friday events, etc).

I will keep the blog updated as I progress on the boutique!

Stay tuned 🙂

xo- M

The Cliche of Following Your Dreams, What It Means, & What They Never Told You

Posted on June 24, 2015 by garishgal

Following Your Dreams…

Growing up I would always hear adults talk about following your dreams. However, I never actually saw any of those adults truly following their dreams. I assume they told me to follow my dreams because they never did. Because they all ended up working in jobs that are nowhere near as fulfilling as they would have thought, but they paid the bills.

So as an adult, I did follow my dreams. My dreams have taken me to places I never thought possible. To places I saw in movies and thought were reserved for people that weren’t me. At 20, I moved to New York City to start an internship with a wholesale clothing brand. I loved the city- the feeling every single day walking to work. The hustle of everyone around you. Doing their all to make ends meet on their dreams. To this day, I still have never felt such energy in any other city.

I moved back to the Midwest in order to be closer to my family and to follow a new dream. Well, it wasn’t really all that new. Since I was a little girl, I dreamed of opening my own clothing boutique. For my 5th birthday, my only present request was a cash register so I could open my own store in my basement. As I got older, I put that dream on the back burner and chased a career I thought would suffice. When you tell people you are leaving a Division One Golf Scholarship and Pre-Dental Biology Major to move to NYC to work in fashion, you get some really confused looks.

To this day, it’s one of the best decisions I have ever made. Garish Gal come to be October 1st, 2015 and I don’t believe I would have had the courage to start if it wasn’t for NYC.

What Following Your Dreams Means….

When you follow your dreams, they don’t tell you what it really means. It means making sacrifices, wearing many hats, stepping out of your comfort zone, and making tough decisions. Its just you. You have to be the one that makes every single decision. You are the one that is taking all the risk. You are the one that has to move back in with your parents in order to be able to afford starting a new business. You are the one that has to work multiple flexible jobs to pay your own bills and still be able to focus wholly on your business. You are the one who has to try out new ideas in hope that they will work out well for the business. Your dreams don’t pay the bills-initially. Your dreams can be overwhelming and scary. But the feeling you get when someone tells you they love your business makes every emotion and stressful moment worth it.

What They Never Told You About Following Your Dreams…

When you follow your dreams, your dreams can take you places you never imagined before. As Garish Gal is still it its’ first year, I counted on slow and steady growth. But every time Garish Gal grows in unexpected ways, I am astonished. I get overwhelmed with humility and graciousness- it usually makes me cry (but don’t tell anyone!). Garish Gal has evolved and expanded my dreams into ideas and ways I had never thought of before. It makes me insanely excited for the future and puts the stresses in their place.

The coolest part of making my dreams come true is being able to give back. Being able to support nonprofits that fund and provide education for children is the most rewarding part of owning a business. Using an insanely materialistic and shallow industry to change the lives of children is my way of bucking the system. Buying clothes changes lives-that is just plain awesome.

So follow your dreams, be prepared for the wildest ride of your life, and soak up every single moment!

xo-

Maggie

Garish Gal Mother’s Day Sale + New Arrivals

Posted on May 7, 2015 by garishgal

Major Mother’s Day Promo!

25% off your entire purchase (including sale items + New Arrivals!!)

when you use promo code Mom25 !!!

Spring Trend Report 2015

Posted on February 16, 2015 by garishgal

If you are like me, you are SO over cold winter weather and dreaming of warm sweetness. Around this time I am always looking to update my wardrobe with fresh spring pieces and check out which new spring trends work for me.

This spring (and what feels like almost every spring) Midi Skirts, Florals, and pastels are going to be dominating the trend market.

Midi Skirts are great for the spring because they easily transition from work to weekend. You can dress them up with heels or go for the more casual look with sandals or flats. Two of my favorite styles of midi skirts are the gathered pleat and knife pleated bodies. The gathered pleat is great because it is fit around the waist and flares out, creating a great fit for any shape. I also really like the knife pleat because of the pretty and delicate look it creates, adding subtle volume. I also really love the way it sways; it makes me feel like a princess! florals for blog post

Florals for spring- groundbreaking, I know! I am not usually the floral kind of girl, but I really love a floral with a black background. I tend to gravitate to blacks and whites, so a floral with a black ground really meshes with my style. It also allows the floral print to pop more! A black ground also makes it easy to transition from spring to summer and even into fall, making the piece very transitional! pastels for blog post

Pastels are a trend that we have started to see not only in the spring, but also slipping into the fall trends (as it was pretty huge last fall). For the spring, finding the right balance of pastels is imperative to look on trend and not like an Easter egg. I really like light pinks, corals, and light blues. I tend to stay away from the pale yellows, again to not look like an Easter egg. Pastels can make you look and feel very fresh and springy (pun intended). Screen Shot 2015-02-09 at 6.36.25 PM

Gingham prints are also another really fun and easy trend we are going to see for spring. This print is often thought of as picnic like and hard to wear. However, with super cute silhouettes like these, it makes the trend easy and updated. It is a great way to look flirty and fashion forward!

All of the pieces in the picture collage are available at Shopgarishgal.com !!

Use promo code SpringBlog25 to receive 25% off your purchase of Spring Arrivals!

5 Valentine’s Day Outfit Picks

Posted on February 4, 2015 by garishgal

Whether you have that perfect someone to spend Valentine’s day with or not, you deserve to splurge on yourself! While my special someone happens to be dinner with my best friend, I still plan on rocking a great look!

I’ve never really been into Valentine’s Day, I am one of those people that believe I should be treated amazing every day and not just one day of the year (and of course vice versa). I’ve decided this V-Day is about loving myself and those who have been by my side every step of the way instead!

My best friend has been my rock for 15 years and I am SO proud of the women we have become over the past year. So its time to celebrate our love of ourselves and our friendship, to celebrate the challenges we have faced and overcome by each others’ sides, and to look forward to our futures. Sure we may be single, but loving yourself is the first step into being able to truly love others when it comes to a relationship. SO Happy I love Me Day- I’ll be rocking a Garish Gal Dress and my favorite heels.

Check out some of our favorite Garish Gal Valentine Approved looks!

Use promo code Valentine25 to receive 25% off one of these Valentine Perfect pieces.

This Sexy Slit sleeve, V neck romper looks great with nude and gold accessories.

Be a Golden Goddess in this amazing gold and black simmer dress.

Show stopping Hot Pink Shift dress with heels for a great evening look, or rock this look during the day time with a leather jacket and knee high boots.

Rock this Gorgeous Valentine Red Dress, Blazer, and accent accessories

For the trend seekers, pair this Crop top with our quilted Pencil Skirt and bring in a pop of color with your shoes