Monogram Me

I love me a monogram, especially when I got my husbands last name, I was quick to change everything over to my new initials. It can make a gift feel more special when it's personalized and these days what was normally reserved for the preppy types, there are a lot of chic ways to have your initials in home decor and accessories. One of my favorite designers for leather goods Clare Vivier is killing it with incorporating personalization along with her stylish accessories. Some other favorites are also listed below.

soap  {love these too} // throw blanket // iphone case // necklace // cheese board & spreader // glass plate // acrylic tray // monogram mugs // pillow

Weekend Wear - Day to Play

I am a girl who loves high heels through and through. If I am out and about during the day but know I have plans at night I usually have a pair of pumps in my purse or in the trunk of my car for an easy swap as my plans go from day to night. However this isn't always easy when living in the city and you have to carry around everything with you all day. That is where those fabulous boots below come into play. I live in mine. They are so comfortable and while they are flat, I always feel a little more dressed up in them then the typical riding boot. I love to pair mine with tights and a skirt for a look that can easily be transformed into a nighttime ensemble with a swap out of an earring and a purse. 

Joe Fresh Sweater // J.Crew Mini // J.Crew Tights // Stuart Weitzman 50/50 Boot // Clare Vivier Croc Printed Clutch // Dannijo Barney Earrings 

Leopard Accessories

Leopard by far has go to be my favorite print ever. It might be my entire wardrobe consisting of all black clothing or the fact that a pair of leopard pumps I was wearing at work back in 2008 is what caught my now husbands attention at the office. Regardless of the reason, it's safe to say I am pretty obsessed with this animal print. While I haven't yet added a leopard clutch to my collection, any of the beauties below would most definitely be welcome. For now my new favorite leopard pumps will have to be my go to for a little added feisty flavor to my outfit. 

Lanvin Clutch // Clare Vivier Clutch // DVF Clutch

Christian Loubitin Clutch // Valentino Clutch // Jerome Dreyfuss Clutch

Cleobella Clutch // 10 Crosby Derek Lam Clutch // Cleobella Clutch 

Steve Madden Flats // Gap Flats // 2B Flats

Christian Louboutin Pumps // DVF Annette Pumps // C.Wonder Pumps 

Vince Camuto Booties // DV by Dolce Vita Bootie // Aerin Booties 

The Classic Black Tote

When it comes to fall fashion the one item that I will consistently have on me is my favorite black tote. I always have felt that a great bag is a good investment especially in a dark color that wears well. Most recently I had the misfortune of learning the hard way that some high end designer bags doesn't always mean they provide the best quality. Which inspired me to find a plethora of fabulous designer bags in my favorite shade {and a little fabulous leopard embellishment too} at all different price points for toting around town! Which one is your favorite???

under $1,500

Gucci Park Avenue Small Tote // Saint Laurent Reversible Shopper Tote // Prada Vitello Danino Snap Top Tote

under $1,000

Loeffler Randall Work Tote // Kate Spade New York Tote - Two Park Avenue Leopard Beau Shopper // 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli Large Tote

under $500

ZAC Zac Posen Eartha Large Soft Shopper // Clare Vivier La Tropezienne 5" // MICHAEL Michael Kors Tote - Large North South Selma

Happy Shopping!

Gifted - Bridesmaid Edition

Weddings are a time of celebrating. I love the idea of gifting your besties with some fun entertaining goodies. A great bottle of bubbly in a fun tote, patterned coasters and gilded glasses create a well curated gift for the ladies who will be standing by your side when you say I do. 

Monogramming and bridesmaids gifts go hand in hand. One trend that looks like it's here to stay is fabulous custom jewelry. I love the many different options available to gift to each gal according to their personal taste and all are available at BaubleBar for one stop shopping. Just remember these take a few weeks to make, so order early!

Almost everyone these days has a smart phone. While I already shared this fabulous charging wristlet here, I thought a perfect gift would be to pair it with a well coordinated stylish tech accessory for use long after the big day.

A classic clutch that can go from the wedding day to everyday use. Clare Vivier offers a plethora of options to coordinate with your big day's color palette and I have yet to meet a female who doesn't love a great clutch for nights out on the town. 

Wedding season usually falls through the warmer months, why not gift your ladies with a fabulous set of canvas tote bags for bringing to the beach or for the weekend getaway. Iomoi is behind this stylish trio making monograms super unique and always stylish. You can take your gift one step further and fill the totes with their favorite beach accessories.

iomoi tote // sun bum sunscreen // evian spritzer // pinch provision mini emergency kit // striped beach towel // hair ties // coola lip balm // sole society aviators 

check out more gift ideas over here on Pinterest!

Weekend Wear - Mixed Prints

When it comes to mixing prints I must admit that the combination of stripes with leopard has to be my most favorite. Ever since I purchased my favorite striped tee, that little leopard clutch below has been haunting me on a daily basis. It's the perfect pattern for mixing with other prints without being over the top. So naturally my obsession with this animal printed accessory has lead me to creating a look with it as my starting point. I personally adore the lovely ensemble below since it can easily be translated into cooler weather by adding some tights and a great coat. The classic pointy toe flats also keep the mini length classic while being comfortable day to night. 

A.L.C Striped Top // Madewell Skirt // J.Crew Necklace // Nars Lip Pencil // Clare Vivier Clutch // Zara Flats 

fall checklist

Let's face it, fall is the best season for the wardrobe. While I love summer and truly do not want it to end it's hard to ignore the fabulous fashions hitting the shelves right now. When I select items to add to my wardrobe I always like to keep it simple and classic which usually translates into a lot of black and my favorite pattern, leopard. Usually in the form of a perfect pump, the one below is the perfect heal height for comfort and style {I own last years patent version}. A few wardrobe staples like a great blazer, classic white shirt, a cross body tote, sensible walking boots and some fun accessories that I would love to add to my wardrobe this fall are listed below. 

What are your must haves come cooler temperatures???

Theory Leather Trim Blazer // AG Destroyed Denim // Rag & Bone Tank // Lulu Frost Necklace // Jordan Carlyle IPhone Case // Club Monaco Ring //  Clare Vivier Tote // J.Crew Leopard Pump // Equipment Blouse // Dolce Vita Boots

Geek Chic

Accessorizing your personal style is no longer limited to the typical jewelry, clutches and so on. With all the innovations in the e-world and the portability of these devices styling your favorite tech accessory has never looked so good or been so easy thanks to many fashionable designers branching out into tech design. I chose a few of my favorites to cover up your smart phone, ipad, lap top and all other accoutrement to work, blog, study or peruse the web in style.

one // two // three // four // five // six

one // two // three // four // five // six

one // two // three // four // five // six

Finally check out this amazing product that holds your phone & charges it...GENIUS!

clutch

The First Five Years

Anniversaries are a wonderful thing, a benchmark of time that you get to celebrate with your partner in crime but before I was married these annual days would come and go without much thought. That all changed after we said I do. I think the themed years definitely amped up the fun for me on getting the creative juices going on my gift giving.  On our first wedding anniversary we returned to Newport, RI where we tied the knot.  That year I got crafty with the paper theme and I gave my husband a giant piñata in the shape of his iphone filled with gift cards to his favorite stores, favorite candy as well as some vintage papers of inventors he admired growing up. Most recently we celebrated our second wedding anniversary in Nantucket, MA where I gave him a weekend bag that matched his current luggage set. Who knows what will come next year when leather is our theme, one thing I do guarantee is that he will have it easier then me. With anniversaries so recently on my mind, I assembled a little gift guide with the themes I plan on following to provide some inspiration for other couples who are on their way through the first five years of marriage. Happy Gifting!

 one - art is a difficult thing to find for men, this is exactly why I love these handmade gyotaku pieces where an actual fish is painted and rubbed onto paper creating unique pieces for your guy. 
two - a classic weekender bag for all your getaways will have your guy traveling in style 
three - a leather backgammon case or poker set is perfect for your guys easy entertaining
 four - a whimsical printed pocket square and a coordinating blazer will satisfy all silk fashions
five - create an outdoor area for your guy with a fire pit for cozy nights together 

one - stylish stationary is the obvious choice but a set of beautifully covered classics will last a lifetime
two - a cotton dress doesn't have to be boring, especially one in a ladylike silhouette and classic color
three - leather may be the easiest year for men, you can't go wrong with a clutch & coordinating wallet
 four - a timeless silk scarf from the french designer hermes, need I say more?
five - a great piece of furniture that she has had her eye on will do the trick for wood, this vintage louis vuitton trunk would surely make any gal weak in the knees 

neon - two ways

I have to admit that I am only fan of the neon trend in small doses so an outfit doesn't scream "look at me - I glow in the dark - break out the blacklights!" While I usually adore a pop of color in a fab accessory this time around I thought I would try to find another way to incorporate the bright color into a look that didn't follow my usual fashion rules. When I spotted the shirt below I knew it fit the bill perfectly for todays look. I think of all the neon colors, the flashy yellow has to be my most favorite. I is perfectly paired with whites and greys which can be dressed up or dressed down as shown below. 

J.Crew Crystal Collage Necklace // Clare Vivier Woven Clutch // J.Crew Mari Sandals // Mossimo Scarf {style steal $15} // Ray Ban Aviators // Dagmar Drew Lace Top // J.Brand White Denim // Barney's East/West Tote // Zara Moccasins // Marc by Marc Jacobs Watch 

Check out more neon goodness over at the lovely Long Distance Loving blog!

Seeing Spots

Growing up I was obsessed with polka dots. When I was gifted a room makeover for my 12th birthday I went with a complete black and white dot theme. Instead of circles I chose tiny black square dots on white wallpaper, with matching bedding, modern clean lined furniture and a black matte metal bed. Looking back the wallpaper & bedding was a bit of overkill and a tad dizzying but it looks like the pattern is here to stay for the spring and summer seasons. I love throwing on a dress in the warmer months, it's so easy to look put together at all times with little effort. The flowy hem keeps the look casual enough to dress down with wedges or a flat sandal. I personally love an oversized sunny and of course it wouldn't be me without a big statement necklace adorning the look! 

Marc by Marc Jacobs Sunglasses // TopShop Dress // Lulu Frost for J.Crew Necklace // Clare Vivier Clutch {DNS favorite} // Kors Michael Kors Wedge Sandals

Check out more fashionable dots over on Long Distance Loving

Weekend Wear - Deja Vu???

I thought I would do a weekend wear post recycling some items from another post that I did when I started this series. It's important to recognize that creating outfits with new items each week is fun and a good tool for inspiration for creating your own personal look but it's also important to know how to reuse what you may already own and wear it from season to season. So I reused items featured on this blog more then once and created an entirely new outfit by swapping out jeans for a skirt and pumps for wedges  Two classic items that would get a lot of mileage in your wardrobe through Spring & Summer. I just love the look below for mixing all different sized stripes and yet not looking like the hamburglar. 

Club Monaco Resort Stripe Blouse // Club Monaco Resort Striped Skirt // Ray-Ban Aviators // Stella & Dot Gold Hoops // Kors Michael Kors Wedges // Clare Vivier Striped Clutch 

Club Monaco Sale Alert

{valid till 3/3/13}

Spend $150 and receive 20% off your entire purchase - Enter code SPRING20

Holiday Gift Guide - For The Gals

Whether your lady is your mom, sister, wife or friend, I am pretty confident any or all of the below would be a big hit for the special female in your life...Happy Gift Giving!!!

A staple in any wardrobe is a blue and white striped t shirt. I love this amped up version with the quirky heart on it!

Travel in style with these trio of beautiful monogrammed canvas bags. Simply perfect for the weekend getaway!

Pamper that special someone with sweet smelling holiday flavors of glosses & washes by Philosophy. 

Equestrian inspired looks are always classic and on trend. This gold & pave horse bit bracelet is no exception! It's a timeless bauble to adorn your wrists with {DNS style steal at $58}. It will also look fabulous layered with that yellow gold chronograph watch!

It's likely your lady works hard to keep the kids happy, the house in order and or works full time. Spoil her with this cheeky pouch & fill it with a gift card to her favorite store to allow her a day of spoiling!

The perfect sunnies to shade her eyes and keep her looking good, these aviators are the original and are universally adored, go with everything and look good on everyone!

Bike riding can be a form of transport or it can be something to enjoy leisurely and of course why not do it on a fab looking ride??? I adore this cruiser for its classic style and the vibrant colors it comes in and oh the most wonderful part is the price $250!

Obviously something tigress animal print had to make it's appearance on the gift guide. This foldover clutch is holds a ton without looking bulky and in a color palette that will coordinate beautifully with any patters, print and color. 

I think it goes without saying that some glossy red soles would bring a smile to any woman's face. Regardless if you go with this classic black pump or a chic patent flat. These will forever be a luxury in any lady's closet. 

Mugs are one of those things that is a tad odd to give alone. I personally love to gift them filled with something and use it as the vessel to hold another gift. This metallic initial mug allows you to personalize the gift and fill with everything from their favorite treats!

Anything glitter is ok in my book. This sparkly bow belt can instantly glam up dresses and denim or any other ensemble you dream up for this holiday season and beyond! {more colors available}

Perfume is always the go to gift for everyone to gift to the next. Go the extra step and make this perfume purchase a lot more lux with this Hermes Perfume Padlock. I love that you can pick any Hermes scent to go into it & is available in gold & silver. After all what lady wouldn't love a little orange box to open!

Gift sets are so fun for anyone who likes to try lots of different things but doesn't usually splurge on themselves. These holiday nail polishes with the perfectly on trend seasonal colors will keep your ladies hands and toes looking good all through the winter. A perfect stocking stuffer!

Is your lady a book worm and loves to reads the classics over and over??? These old school favorites are now available in these bright hard covers that will be enjoyable for reading or looking at!
Tales from 1,001 Nights // Wuthering Heights // Sense & Sensibility // Jane Eyre // Pride & Prejudice

Breaking the law... Breaking the law

I have been asked many times how to wear white into the fall and if its fashion road kill to break the white after labor day rules. I personally say - throw the rules out the door and incorporate white into your fall/winter wardrobes in every way you can. Last month I gave an example on how to wear the little white dress into the cooler months and today I am going to show you how to do the same with white denim - the key is layering! I would start with a button down shirt, a soft denim or chambray shirt is always a favorite of mine paired with white. I would then layer the hell out of it with a light v-neck sweater and a vest. The finishing touch would be to belt the vest with a skinny belt so you don't lose your figures shape under all those clothes. Everything stays un-tucked yet you still look neat. Swap your flips for flats and you are on your way for a great day outfit around town. How do you wear your favorite summer items into the new season???

sweater // hoops // clutch // shirt // denim // vest // belt // flats

look #2 - swap out the sweater & chambray shirt for a classic striped t, add a necklace instead of hoops and booties instead of flats for a brand new casual look



necklace // clutch // shirt // denim // vest // belt // booties

layered inspiration