Paper to Party: Cinco de Mayo Style

In my opinion, a good party starts with paper and ends with paper. From the invitations to the thank you notes, paper is a key factor in the success of a good bash and also a great source of inspiration for the whole party planning process. Whether you're decorating a tablescape or trying to decide what you'll wear, pulling design elements from your stationery will give you a cohesive look throughout your soirée. So to kick off my new series, Paper to Party, (and because Cinco de Mayo is a great excuse for throwing a party!) I rounded up a few style essentials inspired by this Papel Picado Fiesta Invitation from Palm Papers. After all, choosing your party dress is one of the most important parts of the process!

Dress – Pulling from the text on the invitation, I chose a bright red/orange maxi dress, perfect for the weather this time of year. Top it with a jean jacket and scarf if you're heading out after the party.

Earrings – Nothing pairs better with lime green and orange than a bold bright blue. I've had these gorgeous Dayla Earrings in coral on my wish list for quite a while but the cobalt fits this look perfectly.

Nails – This is the perfect excuse to paint your nails blue! Butler Please from Essie will match your earrings and you'll be oh-so-coordinated.

Senorita Margarita – Practice your bar tending skills and memorize this margarita recipe in the shower with this 3 in 1 body wash from Philosophy. Bonus, these would make super cute party favors for the girls!

Bangle – Forget the watch, it's time to party! Toss on this chunky bangle and that wraps up the jewelry for your look.

Sandals – You'll probably be on your feet most of the night if you're the party host, so wear something comfortable but cute.

Straw Tote – OK this last one really has no purpose but it's so cute I had to add it. Day of, you'll be busy picking up last minute items for the party, so that's your excuse! This Tory Burch tote, though adorable, is a bit pricey. J.Crew has a similar tote here, I've had this one for a couple of years and I love it, it's sturdy and makes for a perfect beach bag in the summer.