Michelle Oliver: Napa attracts many fashion-forward people

This past weekend I went wine tasting in Napa Valley with my family.

Everything was so picturesque that it was unbelievable. I tend to forget how close Napa is in the grand scheme of things. It was nice to take an extended weekend and go see the sights, taste the tastes and spend quality time with my family.

One of the many reasons I love Napa is how many fashion-forward people it attracts. Let’s be honest, you see it all up there and I love every outfit I see. Some people definitely know how to rock that “casual chic” look for wine tasting and others definitely know how to dress it up.

I find inspiration in every outfit I see up there.

This is the perfect time of year to go sit out on a lawn at one of the wineries, sip on some vino and enjoy the atmosphere. That is exactly what I did. It was beautiful and I absolutely loved dressing for the occasion.

There are certain wineries and restaurants that are fancier than others, so I made sure to pack a variety of outfits. I wanted to be covered for whatever we’d do and wherever we decided to go. I brought a couple of dresses, some dressy shorts and quite a few pairs of heels.

Although it’s a lot of luggage, I recommend packing a variety because you never know where you’ll end up.

This outfit was perfect for a lovely dinner out one night. I found the Trina Turk dress pictured here at Nordstrom Rack a few months ago and wear it all the time. It’s bright and bold; what can I say? It spoke to me. I loved the distracting yet subtle lines on the material. This has become a staple piece for summer.

I paired it with mesh shoes I also found at Nordstrom Rack. They are comfortable and pair well with jeans as well as dresses. Yes, in case you were wondering, Nordstrom Rack is one of my favorite stores. I love finding very expensive designer pieces at a cheaper price. It’s all in knowing how to shop.

I also snagged this striped Tory Burch bag when I was in Beverly Hills a few weekends ago and it just seems to go with everything. I brought along my favorite denim jacket in case it was too cold, however during the day it was the perfect temperature.

Not that I planned this, but the pop of color from the dress sure did look great against all the lush greenery in Napa. It was so nice to see so many vineyards and all the wineries thriving. I highly recommend you all make a trip to Napa if you are able. Summer and fall are my favorite times to visit.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and remember to enjoy the little things. As always, feel free to email me with any fashion questions. Wedding season is in full swing, and I know you will have some new fashion opportunities.

This story was originally published May 22, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Michelle Oliver: Napa attracts many fashion-forward people."