Independence day is tomorrow so, I figured I’d give you guys some last minute inspiration to get you excited and into the festive mood! I came up with three different outfits; Whether you’re celebrating at the beach, at a BBQ, or at a classy brunch spot, I’ve got you covered on what to wear.
As a bonus, since I have my own Fourth of July tradition, I figured I’d add in how I make my “Flag cake” in hope’s that you make it a new tradition for your family too!
If I’m going to the beach, my biggest concern is making sure I’m wearing something that is comfortable and breathable, the last thing I want to happen when I’m sitting in the heat is to be wearing something that’s going to make me feel sticky and hot. So, for look number one, I went for a cotton wrap romper.
I loved this romper because it’s a wrap style piece; It’s my FAVORITE style of skirt, dress, or romper. I’m a curvy girl so if an article of clothing is going to help define my waist and not make me look like a box, sign me up!
The romper wasn’t super obnoxious with fourth of July colors, and that was a bonus. It was a navy romper with white lines and the smallest red details. You can wear this for the fourth, but you can also wear it on a casual outing with friends. Never buy something you cant use more than once! Every time I go shopping I ask myself ‘will I be able to wear this more than once?’ I always try and find the biggest bang for my buck.
For shoes, I paired the outfit with my white Birkenstock’s, and it made the white lines on the romper pop! My mindset with this look was intended for the beach which is why I kept this look very minimal.
My BBQ look is something that’s SO easy to recreate; I’d be surprised if you didn’t have similar pieces in your closet already.
Nothing say’s all American girl quite like a pair of daisy dukes, right? So, that’s what I went for with this look. I got these high waisted shorts for $28 at Charlotte Russe, and they fit like a glove. Honestly, these have been my go-to shorts since I bought them! The wash on these short’s match with any and everything.
I’ve been obsessing over the color red since the start of this year, and clearly, it hasn’t died down. This red bodysuit has been in rotation for about a month now, and I can’t get over how brave I feel in such a bold color. I’ve talked about it before but being “plus sized” I used to be terrified of wearing anything that was going to make me stand out or be too form-fitting on my tummy area but, I’ve learned that it’s not about the size you wear instead, how you wear your size. If you tell yourself you feel confident or that you look good, I genuinely believe confidence will radiate out of you. The more you love yourself, and your whole body for what it is, the less you will seek validation and praise from others.
I’ve saved in my opinion, the best outfit for last. My “brunch/ classy” fourth of July look was my favorite of them all mostly because it’s not a BAM in your face festive look. It’s pretty subtle, I played up the accessories in this look, and I think that’s made the look a little more festive.
Again, I focused in on the red but, you could easily wear nude accessories, and it’ll be perfect for any occasion. If you changed out the heels for gladiator sandals to make it more casual, that would work.
When you wear heels, I swear your legs become 10x more attractive! I’ve never been drawn to high, high heels, so my preferred choice has always been small blocked pumps. They still give off the illusion of longer more toned legs without giving you the extra height.
Let me know in the comments below which look was your favorite!
Now, onto the sweets. Every year since I was about 13 I’ve made my famous ‘Flag cake’ it’s super festive and easy to make, and my family LOVES my cakes so, of course, this is the must-have every fourth. (You’ll get praised left and right for this one)
What you’ll need:
- Betty Crocker cake mix (Any flavor works)
- Fresh strawberries and blueberries
- Cool Whip
- Baking pan
Instructions:
- For the cake itself, follow the instructions step by step on the back of the box. (quick tip: To get a moist cake, turn off your cake maybe 5-8 minutes earlier than box and let it sit in the oven for that extra time with the left overheat! I swear the cake comes out so much better.)
- Wash fruit’s
- Cut the crown of the strawberry and then again in half
- Let the cake cool outside of the fridge for about 30-45 minutes
- Put a decent layer of Cool Whip as the frosting (The Cool Whip makes the cake a lot more refreshing and light instead of a heavy frosting)
- Aligning the fruit is all personal preference, you can put more “stars” and less “stripes” or vice-versa.
- Let cool in the fridge for an hour
- Then, EAT UP!
This recipe is so simple and delicious! You’ll be the talk of any gathering if you show up with this festive cake!
Last but not least, stay safe and have a Happy Fourth of July💥!
MidWest Lex 