Is this real life?

Happy (almost) Thanksgiving beautiful bloggers! This is absolutely my favorite (and I mean FAVORITE!) holiday, which is ironic since I am not much of a foodie. But I truly love the atmosphere of a day in which everyone focuses on the blessings in their life and how many positive things are happening. Plus, I am such a family person so I adore when I can be surrounded by tons of family members and reminisce about past holiday memories. I actually sit down every year and write out a thank you list to all of the wonderful people in my life and tell them why I am thankful for their friendship. Those of you who follow me on twitter have probably seen me talking about this list a lot lately, and it is a tradition that is very near and dear to my heart. I like to think that it spreads a little Holiday cheer to my family and friends, and isn't that what this season is all about? 

To continue in the spirit of thanks, I would like to use this entry to give a shoutout to two of the people who have helped make this blog possible: my lovely photographers Katie and mom! Not only are they incredibly patient with me as I experiment with outfit photos,but they are both wonderfully supportive of my dreams. And they just so happen to be very stylish ladies themselves! We are always showing each other glamorous photos of models and celebrities for style inspiration, but I wanted to share some photos of real life women who inspire me daily, not only with what they wear but with how they live life. So without further adieu I present to you my lovely, talented and ever fashionable camera women!

My pretty, sassy momma! I love how she mixes classic and eclectic pieces to create a uniquely timeless look!  

She is my rock and truly the strongest person I know! I learn more from her every day and she is the perfect example of a woman who knows how to balance work and family. I hope every day that I will be half of the mother she is. 

I have always admired her style! She always cares about how she looks and how she presents herself to the world. She showed me that fashion is about more than just blindly following trends- she showed, by example, that true style is about experimentation and wearing what makes you confident.  

Ya you pop that foot girl!

The real photographer of the family (and the person who inspired me to learn!) happens to be my adorable little cousin! And lucky for both of us, we are like exactly the same size in almost everything! Aka we can raid closets! 

Before we did my photoshoot from last weekend's post, I took some more senior pics for her and because she is so gorgeous, they turned out great! She looked perfect in her comfy jeans, tee and boots and my new bomber jacket perfectly completed her edgy every day ensemble! 

Photography is easy when you have beautiful subjects!

The lake behind our house was the perfect background. 

Love ya doll and appreciate all your help!

She has such a young spirit that I couldn't help but take a few shots of her on the playground!

So now you have been introduced to the real magic behind this blog! My darling photography wizards, I appreciate your help, patience, inspiration and love so much! Thank you both! 

Bisous! 

 

Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

**Be prepared for mass pictures**

Hi darlings! I hope everyone had a terrific weekend filled with fabulous adventures. I rarely left the couch this weekend, so no real adventures for me. Just a photo shoot with my cousin where we switched off role of photographer/model. I love taking pics with her! It is fun because we both prefer being behind the camera, which forces both of us to learn how to be in front, as well.

College teaches a girl many, many things: 1. You will change your mind several times before you figure out exactly what you want to do with the rest of your life and it is OK! 2. That boy who just learned your name and is promising you the world, probably isn't dreaming about your future children. 3. But perhaps one of the most useful things college teaches you is how to make the most of your wardrobe. A student budget makes it nearly impossible to afford a new wardrobe every season. Plus, does anyone really want to stop wearing that perfect flirty summer frock just because the inevitable autumn chill has come once again? Of course not! Lucky for those of us who may have left behind the college days (but not quite the student budget), there are a cornucopia of ways to extend your summer favorites into the colder days. And all the essentials you need are likely already in your closet.

1. The classic cardigan: An essential in every girl's wardrobe and one of the easiest ways to flawlessly transition your summer options into breeze-ready selections.

For summer, there is nothing better than a flowy, patterned dress that keeps you looking hot, while feeling cool. But by the time November rolls around, you may still be craving the warm colors, while desperately needing some actual warmth.

Well my dolls, don't fret! Just grab your favorite, comfy cardigan, throw on a pair of tights and swap the summer sandals for boots and you are good to go! 

I went with a little blue number to avoid adding too much black to the ensemble, but black is always a classic option.   

The leaves are totally optional :)

2. The comfy sweater: I know you already have a myriad of these just waiting to be paired with a feminine frock to create the perfect cozy, chic choice.

This happened to be one of my favorite summer ensembles, but a pair of open toed heels and short sleeves are not an option for November in D.C.  

But you throw on your favorite cable knit sweater , a skinny belt to keep your waist defined, tights and wedges and you are  autumn ready!

Despite the fact that I wore this dress many, many times during the warmer months, I repeatedly got asked whether I had gotten a new skirt. Layering a sweater over a dress creates the illusion of a whole new outfit. 

The sweater was just so comfy, I wanted to cuddle with myself!

An added bonus of the sweater is that it can turn any dress into work appropriate attire. 

Warning: You will be warm enough to go traipsing around in the woods in this ensemble, but wedges aren't the shoes to do it in! 

3. The faithful jean jacket: Ah, the reliable fall staple that transforms a summer night out selection into a casual, chic number.

This was another summer favorite as it made appearances at both my best friend's wedding shower and the Sex and the City 2 premiere. But once again, bare limbs and peek-a-boo toes just won't do for this time of year. But I didn't really want to retire this for the whole season. 

And cue the trusty jean jacket, knee-highs and boots! Voila, from summer sexy to fall fashionable.  

Fun jewelry is always a necessity when donning a playful jacket... and playing on a swing set :) 

I highly recommend making sure a jean jacket hangs in your closet before the end of this season, as it will never fail you!

The balance beam in heels... not always the best idea!

Now, we all know that their are certain situations where a new outfit truly is required, but for the times when you just need a little update to a classic remember three options: cardigan, sweater and jean jacket! You might just be pleasantly surprised with all the creations you throw together. Do you have any tricks up your sleeve to extend your wardrobe through the seasons ladies? I'd love to hear all about them!

Bisous!

I'm dreaming of a shoe-filled Christmas!

Bonsoir babes! Man this week feels like it is going fast! I can't believe the weekend is almost here again. I have to admit I have many countdowns going on right now that keep me perpetually excited :) 5 days until the best little brother comes home, 9 days until my weekend at VT with best friends, 8 days until I see the cutsie baby again (and her fabulous daddy and fashionista mommy), and of course 8 days until my favorite holiday!! 

As a major fan of Thanksgiving I am not one to skip right over the holiday to get to Christmas and I have strict rules for myself concerning when I can start celebrating the tinsel season: no decorating, christmas music or holiday shopping until at least the day after Thanksgiving! But my dears, I can't always manage to keep myself from dreaming about the treats I hope to find underneath that perfectly dressed tree! What can I say, I am a kid at heart :) And let me tell you loves, this year my wish list seems to be all about an accessory near and dear to all of us: the shoe. Ah yes, the ever important vessel that carries us from point a to point b with grace, style and a little bounce in our step. Instead of sugarplums dancing in my head, I have visions of Louboutins, Manolos and Choos waltzing around and they are just dying to be shared with you! 

Oh red soles, how I covet you. I just think every fashionista deserves to see a pair of these babies shining back at her from the closet every morning. To me, they are kind of like Audrey Hepburn: the epitome of glamour. Confession time: I have actually been thinking about making this a reality in my life sometime in the next year! It would have to be a BIG reward, so I don't know when the timing will be right, but even just thinking about the possibility is enough to make me bubble over with happiness! I think I would go with the classic black pump as it is a staple in any girl's wardrobe that will forever be fashionable. 

Carrie Bradshaw, see what you have done to me! You have me drooling over this totally decadent royal specimen of a shoe! Even the name is perfection and enough to make me swoon: Something Blue. I would totally get married in this beauty and make it my something blue, wouldn't you? :)

And to bring myself back down to earth (although not really if I was standing in this towering shoe!), another shoe lust that is more attainable, and actually a Christmas possibility. I have been lusting over this knockout that has been gracing us with its presence all over the blogosphere on the dainty feet of fabulous bloggers everywhere! You know how I can never say no to a sky high heel, and make it chunky and I'm sold! I can't decide between black and taupe, leather or suede though. I tend to lean towards black, because it goes with more. But 90% of my shoe collection is black so perhaps I should branch out? Oh decisions, decisions. 

I rarely find myself a fan of anything connected to Jessica Simpson, but for these heels I make an exception! Yet another shoe that took the blogosphere by storm this year. Perhaps I am just too easily influenced by you lovely ladies? No, never! This shoe never fails to make the legs of its owner appear to go on for miles, and who wouldn't be in favor of that? Again, should I ask dear Santa for the caramel or black version? 

Loves, what shoe lusts are you currently enduring? Will you cave? What items have found their way to the top of your holiday wish list? 

Bisous!

First class travel

Hello lovelies! How was everybody's weekends? Parfait, I hope! I have to admit that mine was one of the best I have had in awhile! Sometimes you just need a mini vacation to unwind and regroup, and this weekend was exactly that. I got to be pretty lazy, soak up some rays, snorkel, spend quality time with family and not stress about anything. Absolutely wonderful. The only downside was that I had totally meant to take outfit photos to share with you darlings (mainly because the setting was just so great), but I ended up living in a bikini all weekend, and that didn't really seem photo worthy! I wound up with like 500 or so pictures of the fantastic sunsets though :) I'll share one or two with you soon! 

My traveling this weekend, and the upcoming holidays, got me thinking about what our travel clothes say about us. If you find yourself waiting at the airport for a flight in the next few weeks, take a moment to look around and observe the various travel styles you will inevitably see: the juicy couture track suit woman, leggings and uggs girl, stilettos and pencil skirt lady, etc. I would venture to say that many of us (being the fashionistas that we are) still carefully select the garments that will decorate our frames on travel day, but a part of us may crave the comfort of sweats with a burning passion. But ladies, just because you aren't flying first class doesn't mean you can't look like you belong there. And trust me, you won't even have to sacrifice comfort doing so!

I usually don't advocate the leggings as pants trend, but I think airports are the one exception, particularly if you pair them with a tunic that is long enough to cover your butt. Throw on a pair of riding boots for a chic shoe that is easy to take on and off at security. Don't forget to pack a drapey cardigan that you can wrap up in since planes are usually a little chilly. I wouldn't wear too many accouterments when flying, because it is just a lot of hassle to take all your jewelry off at security, but I think a simple layered necklace adds the perfect finishing touch to this comfy, chic travel day outfit. You will look put together enough that you won't be embarrassed if you happen to be seated next to a hunk, but still totally able to comfortably cuddle up and nap if your plane mate turns out to be a dud. If you prefer to take your traveling style up a notch, your best option is a flirty, feminine frock that provides just the right amount of shape (try a cinched waist dress) but is still flowy enough to wiggle in comfortably. Swap the leggings for a pair of girly tights and add in your favorite low heeled lace up ankle boots for an instantly dressed up look. Again, keep a longer cardigan within reach. You can even take this look out on the town once you get to your fabulous destination! The best traveling outfits are truly those that leave the flyer feeling comfortable and confident, and if you don either of these options I guarantee you will achieve the desired result!

Babes, what is your preferred travel day style? Do you have a go-to traveling outfit? Do you forget about fashion for a day in order to survive the holiday transportation madness? What are your best tips for maintaining a dignified, relaxed look? Stay tuned for more holiday travel style guides!

Bisous!

Glitter, sequins and lace, oh my!

Hello dolls! I hope you had a terrific Thursday! I have arrived in sunny Florida and am loving it already! Yes, my flight mess got all worked out and I made my way to the Sunshine state tonight!! I had forgotten how much I loved this place. While I am obviously thrilled to get a little beach time in this weekend, I am even more excited about seeing family I haven't seen in far too long. This will be my first visit with my grandmother, cousin and my godson in 4 years!! Way too long. I still can't believe my little Jonah is 8 years old now. I hope I still recognize him! 

To begin, I would like to say congratulations to the fabulous Jessica from Style Obsession for being the winner of the In Fashion giveaway!! I hope she will enjoy the book as much as I have so far! Thank you to everyone who participated. I appreciate all of you SO much. Stay tuned for more fun giveaways to come!

Well my loves, the season of twinkle and shine is fast approaching once again, and you know what that means? Holiday dress shopping time! With the abundance of party invitations sure to be flooding your mailboxes in the coming days, you will inevitably find yourself in a very familiar position: standing in front of your closet frantically searching for the perfect party dress with that certain je ne sais quo that will impress that cutie from HR, or turn your slightly snobby cousin green with envy.  Rather than stressing yourself out playing the classic game of "I have nothing to wear", why not start planning a magnifique wardrobe selection now, in order to ensure your spot at the top of this year's "best dressed" list! Holiday parties of any kind are the perfect excuse to go wild with metallics and sparkle to make yourself even more of a knockout than you already are on a daily basis.So eschew simplicity and minimalism for a night and bedeck yourselves in shimmer kittens!

For a family gathering, sophisticated comfort is essential. Try pairing a cowl neck sweater dress or tunic in a rich purple or plum color (one of the fall's hottest colors) with a pretty pair of lace tights and classic flats. Add in a playful waist-cinching belt to define your shape,a gold satiny clutch and some fun metallic earrings and rings to really shine. Loose curls half up, half down would be the perfect finishing touch to this glam/casual look. Your family will think you are the definition of chic, which of course you are! This is a great way to try the metallic trend in a small dosage, if you aren't quite sure you are ready for the more daring full-on frock of shimmer. 

In the working world the holiday season brings with it a myriad of pseudo mandatory (if you know what's good for ya) work soirees. These get-togethers could potentially be the most difficult to dress for, as you try to achieve a standout look, while remaining professionally appropriate. A silver hue dress is an on-trend selection, as we saw many gracing the runways as part of designers modern metallic designs. This divine DVF wrap dress perfectly balances sexy with coverage, making it a great choice for any holiday work function, if you can swing the price tag. I am actually dying to own it myself!! Accessorize with your favorite pair of black strappy heels, evening clutch, cocktail rings and dangly earrings (essential if you style your up like the model) for an effortlessly coiffed look. I personally would go with a shorter, statement necklace with this dress (rather than the longer version pictured on model), but I certainly don't doubt the styling team at DVF, so go with your personal preference there. Show up to any work party this season in a similar ensemble and you will no doubt make a top-notch impression!

Cocktail parties with friends are simply a given this time of year, and for this occasion I don't think you can ever go wrong with a LBD! These days there are so many styles to choose from in order to make your LBD reflect your shining personality, but one of my personal favorite party options is a one shouldered LBD. They are utterly sexy and chic all at the same time! And when discussing glitter and sparkle, I couldn't miss an opportunity to once again drool over one of my current shoe cravings: the phenomenal Steve Madden Caryssa gold glitter pumps! I die :) The beauty of working with a LBD is the freedom you have when it comes to your accessories! Just have fun with metallic jewelry here! I threw in a lace clutch to incorporate another great holiday season trend, but you really can go a lot of ways with this one! When mixing with tes amis, anything goes  really so don't fret over too many "rules" for friend-hosted cocktail parties!

*Sorry about the distortion on this dress. I had to import it to polyvore* I would be totally remiss if I didn't present an ensemble for the mecca of all holiday parties: New Years Eve! I have to say, it is one of my all time favorite nights to get dressed for! I am actually showing you the dress that I am planning to wear this year, but I bought it online so we will have to see how it fits and all. But I think it encompasses a lot of what a great NYE dress should be: sexy, sparkly and slightly embellished. To achieve the embellished look, you can also choose a dress with a statement bow. I would personally recommend going all out on the shine for this particular occasion, whether it be with a sequined number or just a shimmery frock like this. You can go for metallics here or one of the season's hot colors, like purple. I actually like that the model here kept her hair fairly low maintenance, because I think the attention should be on your dress and not your hair. Play up the shine of your dress with sparkly shoes, and then keep the rest of your accessories rather muted. I really like the pearl theme here, but you certainly don't have to go that classic. Just make sure your accessories aren't so wild that they are competing with your dress for attention.

 Darlings, what are your holiday party plans so far? Have any outfits lined up yet? Do you enjoy playing with glitter, sequins and lace this time of year??

Bisous!

Classic with a twist

Bonsoir divas! I hope you are all having a fantastic week! If you are anything like me, you are already thinking about your weekend plans, and daydreaming about the fabulousness to come. If all goes right for me (a little flight drama to work out) I will be living it up this weekend in sunny Florida for a quick vacation to the Keys and a visit with the grandparents!! I haven't seen my grandmother in 4 years, so it will be really nice to see her again! Plus, our house is literally on the beach, which means I can hopefully soak up the last little bit of color until spring. Just when I thought I was done with my tanks, shorts and sundresses, along comes a trip to Florida- not that I am complaining :) Since I haven't even started to pack yet, (yikes) I am going to keep this post short and get straight to the outfit photos. 

As much as I adore color (especially pink) and the instant spice it adds to an outfit, I never get tired of a classic black and white combo. Add in a fun pattern or funky shape (like this layered skirt and the ruched sleeves) and I am sold! Blouse: BCBG; Skirt: Boutique in London (forgot name); Tights: Topshop; Booties: Steve Madden; Watch: Micheal Kors, Necklace: Lavender Cottage; Rest of jewelry: Gifted or borrowed.

My college roommate and I actually both bought this skirt when we studied abroad. I had left Paris to visit her in London for the weekend and we found a very pink boutique in Camden Market (rather rare) and I, of course, insisted on popping in. The sweetheart that she is indulged my obsession, and we both wound up leaving with this fun skirt!

Now that I finally fixed the previously uncomfortable lining of these booties, I totally love them! They are rapidly becoming my go-to black heels, although everyone seems to question my sanity when  I wear them. I'm sure you all will understand :)

I've made it well known that my goal for this season is to diversify my look, so to add a little oomph to my classic look, I paired it with my new H&M aviator shearling bomber jacket. It is definitely not a style I usually wear, and I LOVE it. It is an easy way to add a little edge to my girly vibe. Plus, it is sooo warm.

This jacket is definitely going to be a staple piece in my wardrobe this year!

Back of the shirt. My mom and I actually found this shirt at the Williamsburg outlets a month ago when we went down to visit my brother. I loved that it gave me an opportunity to experiment with the sheer trend, without feeling too exposed.

I think I really am addicted to shoes!

And I say the higher the better!

And before I go try and figure out how to pack three days worth of clothes (and shoes!) plus my laptop into a carry-on, I wanted to show you the necklace I am wearing, a bit closer up. It was a gift from the terrific etsy shop, Lavender Cottage when I won  Belle de Couture's giveaway a few weeks ago and I am totally in love with this sweet piece. The light always seems to catch it just right and I adore how it shines. It is a nice size too- not a statement necklace, but not too tiny either. 

Everything was first-class about this necklace, right down to the adorable packaging it arrived in. And I am a total sucker for packing!!

So dolls, what is on your weekend agenda? Any vacation plans, or upcoming trips you are excited about? Try out any "out of the comfort zone" outfits lately? Don't forget to enter my In Fashion giveaway before midnight Wednesday. The winner will be announced Thursday!

Bisous!