top 5 tuesday: why I love nautical inspiration

As of late, I've been obsessed with all things nautical. Not necessarily the "sailboats and lobsters" look, but I'll coin the term "nautical inspired". It's inspired by this Hampton, beachy, coastal look but isn't all starfish and compasses, you know? And even if you're not "preppy", it's still possible to incorporate some of these cool things into your home or wardrobe. So as we prepare for spring, here are the top 5 things I love about nautical inspiration.

1. Stripes. Hello my name is April and I'm a stripe-aholic. But I love how this look is so clean and simple with stripes. From bold contrasting stripes like navy and white and red and white, to the more demure seersucker and pinstripe look. I love them all.

2. Classic designs. You won't really see kitschy, eccentric or unusual in nautical inspiration. Everything is pretty classically designed and simply tailored. A simple a-line skirt. A beautiful striped duvet. No excess frills or thrills.

3. Breezy fabrics. In the South, it's gets real hot, y'all. So, the idea of clothing and house linens in breezy fabrics like linen, cotton, seersucker, canvas and denim blends make for breathable (and sweatable) comfort in the hotness that is July in the Carolinas. You know what I'm talking about...

4. Cute icons. Okay, okay, I said no starfish and lobsters, but some of these are really adorable. I do love crab and anchor stuf specifically. They are just so cute. Perfect for kitchenware or a tote, but not necessarily on clothing. Unless it was more subdued. Also, the whole sailboat, compass, sailing look can be cute when not overdone.

5. Colors. Navy. White. Red. Kelly Green. Pink. Yellow. Something about these colors makes me happy. I love the contrast of a navy and white or green and pink even. Many of these combinations can be found in nautical inspiration.

Here's a pic collage of some things that you might see in Nautical Inspiration.