My best friend's wedding

With my friend's upcoming wedding, I wanted to post on what accessories I was going to go with. Since I'm a bridesmaid, I wasn't able to choose my own dress. Luckily, Liz has excellent taste and chose this dress by Bill Levkoff (mine will be a deeper gem purple color) -

Very cute and flattering for everyone. As I have mentioned before, I absolutely love gem tones for autumn, and Liz was spot on choosing a purple one for her wedding! 

Most important are shoes. I found that I do not need any alterations to my dress, as long as I wear high enough heels. No problem! I've had these Christian Louboutins for two years now, and tend to be my go to's for formal events. 

As for a clutch, I chose this one from a semi - obscure British designer, Wilbur & Gussie. It's so unique, and will look glitzy and fab with my ensemble! Love it!

As for jewelry, I have chosen to not wear a necklace (seems like it would be too much with the single shoulder strap). That being said, I've decided to wear my Links of London Bubble Effervescence earrings (the purple stone will complement my dress perfectly!) and my Tiffany & Co. aquamarine bracelet. As you can see below, I have made a distinct choice to wear silver jewelry to contrast the gold accessories. A bit unconventional for a fancy outing, but who said I played by normal rules?

I'm still quite indecisive of how I want to wear my hair. I was thinking of a happy medium of half up half down. I was also thinking of doing a gray toned smokey eye for makeup with a light pink blush. 

Well, I have a packing list to put together and outfits to plan! Very excited for my upcoming trip!

Congrats Liz and Chris!!!!!!

Saturday's Jewelry Picks

So all I've blogged about so far is clothes, so I thought it was time for a short post on accessories, namely jewelry. Earrings are probably my favorite piece. Here are a few of my favorite finds.

Coral sponge earrings by Serretta (as seen on the Duchess of Cambridge) - perfect for a casual look; dressed up or down - with a dress, or jeans and a tee.

Silver single leaf from Etsy.com - another versatile earring (even somewhat autumn-themed!).

Bubble effervescence by Links of London - so different from anything else I have in my collection. Very excited to wear these with my purple dress at my friend's wedding this upcoming month (I'm maid of honor!)!

Eternal drop oval amethyst earrings by Kiki McDonough - lovely and demure.

This is my favorite bracelet of all time. It's a Tiffany and Co. "Aquamarine by the Yard" single stone bracelet. Simple and elegant. 

It may be a bit childish to post this, but I just could not resist! I saw this at Macy's the other day (by Swarovski Elements). So cute, and matches the little ankle tattoo I have!

I've always been obsessed with initial and nameplate jewelry - even before Carrie Bradshaw donned her infamous necklace on Sex and the City. I bought this "L" from Tiffany and Co. last year, and it has been my go to necklace ever since. 

'Til next time!

Have a great weekend!!

Autumn is in full swing!

I cannot believe autumn is here! It's crazy how fast time flies - seems like just yesterday it was the first day of summer. I must say - fall is my favorite season to dress for. It's a shame that autumn weather doesn't arrive in Houston until late November or December. I have found a few items already, which I have bought, in preparation for fall.

In this post, I wanted to focus on some pieces I think are perfect for autumn. Whether it's dressing for work or cider mill, there are so many versatile pieces out there! Here are some of my faves.

This blazer by Smythe (Toronto - based designer, as seen on my favorite duchess) is great for going from work to night. It's a fabulous update on the classic navy blazer. It's a very fitted blazer - extremely slim cut - perfect for a girlie girl like me!

Another good blazer I have found is this red cardi-blazer hybrid from Zara. It's a nice alternative to black, navy, or tan. Having bought this, I can attest this is extremely flattering, and in a very cheery color!

I love this Reiss dress! Not only is this dress a flattering cut (nipped waist hides that stubborn tummy!), it is in one of my favorite colors for fall - sapphire! Sapphire is my birthstone, so I guess I'm kind of partial. Perfect for evenings out!

Another popular color for autumn is burgundy. These dresses from ASOS.com caught my eye - the first is a fun bird print dress (by Oasis), and the other is a pleated maxi (by Love Lace) - both very fresh looks! 

Again, I am featuring the lovely Aquatalia "Rouge" booties I posted about in my entry about end of summer sales. I did end up buying the gray version of these in the Nordstrom sale. I cannot express how much I love them! Cannot wait for the hot weather to go away so I can dress for my favorite season. It's such a good alternative to black - complements so many other colors!

Probably one of the biggest shoe trends for Autumn 2012 are riding boots. These boots from Tory Burch (style is Selma), are just the ticket! I would LOVE to get my hands on a pair of these but it seems they are sold out at many stores.

Here's a fantastic going out look from Zara. I love the combination of casual and dressy. I've always been a fan of feathers in clothes and accessories. The skirt is just too cute - ombre style with navy fading into white.

These are just a few ideas for the upcoming fall weather. Happy shopping!

Fashion For a Cause

So, here I am again, being lazy. I have commitment issues about everything it seems! Haha

I really wanted to do a post on fashion for a cause for this blog, because fashion is a great median to highlight some major issues going on in the world. I don't know if it's completely ignorant to think I'm contributing in some way, but I do feel quite accomplished after purchasing an item which has its proceeds go towards a charity or cause.

Now, that being said, I will start with my newest find - Beulah London. This label is intended to help former sex slaves get back up on their feet as independent women, as well as aiding in the prevention of sex trafficking. They have everything from dresses to accessories, with prints to die for. Here are a few items that caught my eye...

I love the versatility of this kaftan - it can be worn as a dress, shawl, or tunic. The blossom print is just so feminine and makes me happy!

This is the item they are perhaps the most famous for - as seen on quite a few celebs - the Shibani scarf. I posted this one (of many color combos) because I personally purchased it as my contribution to their cause. It is oh so soft (partially made of cashmere!), and transcends quite a few seasons!

I have also included a dress from their more formal line, which consists of gorgeous evening gowns, and even wedding gowns! I adore gem tones for the fall, emerald being one of my favorites! (yes, I bleed GREEN always having graduated from Michigan State University!)

For my next label choice, I selected TOMS. I must admit, I was not the biggest fan when I first saw these shoes. I thought that style shoe was only for people who live in remote villages, or something straight out of Aladdin! After a while, they grew on me, and I saw how good the cause is (One for One - buy a pair, a pair is given to a needy child), and how many different colors and styles there really are. 

This shows all of the different colored original style shoes. As you can see, there are many neutral colors you can pair with anything! And yes, they are quite comfy!

Keeping with the wedge trend, TOMS offers a small selection of wedges! 

These are also quite comfy, but I will warn you (on behalf of my sister), these will put your feet through a "breaking in" phase of a couple times. Just don't plan on walking any marathons the first few times you wear them!

On my "to buy eventually" list is of course a glittery pair of TOMS! 

These totally remind me of Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz"! Love them!

Of course there's the route of designers putting a special edition item in their collections which aid in a cause. While not dedicating their entire line to charity, this lets consumers have a peek into what designers see as important issues. A few nice items I have come across are below.

This tote by Tory Burch donates to Light One Little Candle Foundation, which helps families facing cancer bond with their children.

Ralph Lauren has its "pink pony" line, which benefits breast cancer research. This is one of my earliest memories of fashion for a cause. 

(PRODUCT) RED is a group of companies that have gotten together to release various products and such to aid in the education of and getting rid of AIDS in Africa. Some of the companies involved include Apple, Nike, Gap, and Converse.

Well, that wraps up this entry. As always, I hope you all take inspiration from this, and go out and make a difference with fashion! Every bit counts! 

I must be the laziest person alive....

Here I go again, not posting for quite some time.

Let's begin with me saying that I have been thinking a lot lately about change. Something just feels off with me right now. (Nothing bad, so no worries, please! Haha) The thing that gets on my nerves, is that I can't pinpoint what it is. I just know change is in order. I need a change of scenery - probably a new place to live (sorry Mom and Dad, but it's time for me to move :) ), a new job, and a new social life. I can only wonder what the future holds for me. It's time to be proactive, and find out! :)

Moving on, I'm in the mood for fashion! Appropriately, the Nordstrom Anniversary sale starts today! There are so many good deals to be had on new fall items! I was a bit crazy and stayed up til' 2am last night waiting for the site to reopen. I had it in my mind that I wanted to look for a pair of booties (Haha, not butts!), a.k.a. short boots for fall and winter. I have my eye on a pair of Aquatalia by Marvin K's, which happen to be in the sale. I've read so many glowing reviews, so I'm intrigued. They are supposed to be SUPER comfy (ladies say they've spent full days walking in them and they never have sore feet), stylish, and all-weatherproof!

It's hard to believe it's already time to prepare for fall - well, at least fashion-wise! Living in Texas, it's hard to remember autumn and winter exist. It's a shame, because autumn is my absolute favorite season to dress for! 

To wrap things up for this entry, I recommend browsing all the fashion websites over the next week or so. They are cleansing themselves of all their spring/summer clothes, and you can find some things up to 70% off! We forget it is still only the middle of summer, so why not get in season styles right now, for super cheap?!

As always, happy shopping, and have a great day!

Quick Post!

So here I am again, not posting for days, and feeling absolutely awful about it! I've been working so much lately, I just have not had much time to work on my blog. I figured today would be a good day to write a quickie post due to the huge sale starting at Zara, as well as quite a few other stores today.

Zara happens to be one of my absolute favorite stores. Everything is fashion forward, yet classic. Popping down to the Galleria today, Nicky and I kinda went on a shopping extravaganza. We both went nuts in Zara, picking up dresses, tops, and so on. We then ventured to one of my newer favorites, L.K. Bennett, where I purchased a gorgeous silk shirt dress and a cute robin egg blue sleeveless top.

Most retailers are starting to discount a lot of their spring/summer clothes in favor of moving in fall apparel. Moral of this blog is: take advantage! It's still only the beginning of summer! :)

Happy shopping all!!!!

My Love Affair with French Sole...

Well, it's Wednesday and I have decided today's topic is about another new favorite find of mine...French Sole ballet flats!

Founded by ballet pump lover Jane Winkworth in London in 1989, French Sole has proven to be a very popular brand with celebrities along with the common public. I found it so interesting how this company broke into the fashion market. Ms. Winkworth's flats first hit the big time when another British designer, Catherine Walker, introduced them to Princess Diana in the early 90's - she bought 12 pairs right away! The rest is history. Celebrities such as Olivia Palermo, Scarlett Johannson, Sienna Miller, and Kate Moss are also huge fans.

French Sole ballet pumps are such a great alternative from heels - preserving comfort without sacrificing style. Perfect for pairing with a clutch and a cute little sundress, or even a slouchy bag and skinny jeans.

Here are a few of my favorites (including the pair I own, shown first):

The Henrietta style in light pink croc -

These were created in honor of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee (the styles are Annie and Henrietta) -

Lastly, here is the style India in a cream nubuck -

This is just a taste of all the styles/textures/colors offered. FYI, if you are interested in purchasing from French Sole, use the websites www.londonsole.com or www.ASOS.com. These are the US vendors for the brand.

As with other posts, I offer a more budget friendly option of Target. Always up on trends of the moment, they offer lots of styles for less than $20.

Thanks for reading! :)