Spring Fling

 

 

 

Earrings: Nicole by Nicole Miller; Necklace, Gold and Beaded Bracelets, Cocktail Ring and Wristlet: Simply Vera Vera Wang; Faux Fur Vest: Jennifer Lopez; Tee: Rock & Republic; Skinny Cords and Slip On Sneakers: Gap; Rhinestone Bracelets: Swarovski

If you are sick of snow, raise your hand!

Even though I can't see you, I know I am not alone in thinking this. A week ago we had like 8 inches of snow. Today the temperature hit 55. I'm doubtful it will last...days like this are just Spring's way of teasing us. So I decided to have a fling with this Spring weather.

Pastels go with Spring like Body Con dresses go with Herve Leger. I was already wearing a white tee (you can never have enough!) and broke out my comfy Gap Always Skinny cords in this GORGEOUS pale periwinkle shade. I wish this would have been warm enough, but let's be honest. The wind is still cold, so I went back into my closet and grabbed my Jennifer Lopez faux fur vest and slid on my Gap slip on sneakers. Perfect!

Eh...maybe not.

I want to sparkle. I want to shine. I'm feeling flirty, don't forget. Some days I prefer simple jewelry. A chain with a charm or two. Perhaps a floral ring. Other days, like today, I want to stack up on jewelry. The more the better! Simply Vera Vera Wang at Kohl's is perfect for days like this. Her jewelry line is gorgeous and fun. Her pieces never shy away from the spotlight. I basically have a Simply Vera section of my jewelry armoire (kidding...not really!) so I grabbed this necklace, bracelets (with the exception of two Swarovski stunners) and a cocktail ring.

You cannot get more sparkly than that!

I like this outfit. It's simple with the casual rolled up cords and tee, yet a tad sophisticated with the faux fur vest and snakeskin wristlet. And as I walk out into the cloudless sky with rhinestones glistening in the sunlight, I give a little wink to Spring. Bring on the fling!

Liz

Happy New Year





 



Sunglasses and Statement Necklace: Simply Vera Vera Wang; Earrings: Nicole by Nicole Miller; Sweater, Bangles, Rhinestone Rings and Midi Rings: Forever 21; Rose ring and Skirt: LC Lauren Conrad; Boots: Jennifer Lopez; Oversize clutch: Liz Claiborne



Happy New Year everyone! I love that word: New.

New experiences. New people to meet. New places to visit. New items in my closet....okay, maybe I'm going too far.

My New Year started with a trip out of state with the love of my life. So I've already checked off the new experiences, new people to meet and new places to visit right off the bat! Now, all I have to do is shop for new items for my closet...oh wait, am I off track again?

The New Year is exciting. I am open to new opportunities and where they lead me. I'm open to trying new things and push myself even more in life and business. I want this year to bring me loads and loads of happiness and well being. I would like to be more carefree and daring. I want to have fun. Plenty of fun.

This LC Lauren Conrad skirt is fun. I have been eyeing this at Kohl's for months now. It came in navy as well, but this shade of pink is to die for. So, I finally bought it (on sale - I love a new sale). The hi-low hem and the beautiful satin fabric are playful and feminine. The flow of this skirt is amazing. I didn't want to wait till Spring or Summer to wear it. So I opened up my closet and thought "Just throw on a warm black sweater and over the knee boots and you're good!"

And so I did. I love this new outfit. Though the boots could have toughened up the skirt, they played off the simple black sweater nicely. Add some new accessories like these great Forever 21 rings and bangles and this GORGEOUS Simply Vera multi-chain statement necklace and what you have is a new outfit that is eye catching, beautiful and absolutely carefree.

What better way to start off the New Year!

Liz

Are You Ready For Some Football (Fashion) ?!?!

I love that there are no rules to fashion anymore. You can pair different prints and patterns together. Your handbag and shoes do not have to match. You can even wear white after Labor Day if you so choose. So, with all the rules thrown out the window, it makes perfect sense to wear your jerseys and tees for your favorite teams with whatever you want! A few years ago, I joined a Fantasy Football League and after doing a bit of research, I decided to go with Drew Brees (of the New Orleans Saints) to be my quarterback. I did pretty well, I believe I came in third, and since then I have been a fan of his.

 

I decided to buy a tee shirt showcasing his name and number and was excited to pair this with something other than denim. I combed through my closet and found this Joe Fresh sequined skirt I bought a few months ago. I absolutely LOVED this pairing (the cream color of the skirt was perfect against the gold in the tee) and decided to go with my favorite Simply Vera Vera Wang zippered peep toe booties. We all know I love my accessories, so I grabbed some eye catching crystal bracelets and bangles and was out the door!

 

So next time you want to support your favorite team, think twice before reaching for your usual outfit. Throw on a statement necklace! Grab an eye catching heel! Throw on a moto jacket or blazer and give your jersey or tee a whole new look!

 

Liz



 

  



 



 

Sunglasses, Crystal Bracelet with Black Bow and Booties: Simply Vera Vera Wang; Earrings: Napier; Tee: Nike; Skirt: Joe Fresh; Crystal Bracelet: Swarovski; Thin Bangles: New York & Company; Other Bangles: Unknown (gift)



Summer Days Drifting Away...

Top Ten Things I Love About Summer Fashion:

1. Breaking out the Panama style hat that works with anything from dresses to tees.
2. Tank tops that layer perfectly over one another.
3. Matching my bright nail polish with my bright sandals.
4. Sun catching jewelry.
5. Shorts. Shorts. And more shorts.
6. Easy, breezy maxi dresses that are non-constricting.
7. Raffia everything: Sandals, floppy hats, tote bags, etc.
8. Sunglasses of all shapes, sizes and colors.
9. Endless options for bikinis and swimsuits.
10. Oversize wristlets that fit all my necessities: lip gloss, ID, credit card, gum, eyeliner, keys and a hair band.

I don't care if Fall is soon approaching. I will hold on to Summer (and it's many fashions) for as long as I can! Who's with me?!?!

Liz

 

 

 

 

Panama Hat: Gap; Necklace: Simply Vera Vera Wang; Tee: Rock & Republic; Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters; Bangle: Pier 1; Bracelet: Dana Buchman; Watch: Guess; Cocktail Ring and Espadrilles: Juicy Couture; Oversize Wristlet: Coach

A Charmed Life

I have two charm bracelets. The first one is mine. It was a gift for my 30th birthday from my parents, which I absolutely adore. It is a sterling silver link bracelet from Tiffany's and currently houses one charm: a heart with Tiffany's address etched across it.

My second charm bracelet is not mine, though it was given to me as a gift by my Aunt Skip. My aunt, who has been gone since 2005, was actually my great-great aunt. She was fantastic, full of energy and so much fun. I could hang out with her for hours and listen to her stories.

I was visiting my grandparents in Florida one summer and when my aunt came over, she gave me a small white box and inside it, was the most fabulous charm bracelet I have ever seen.

It's been a while and thinking back, I wish I would have written down all the stories that came with the bracelet. It's hard for me to remember a lot of them, but then again, the charms basically speak for themselves. I take this bracelet out of my jewelry armoire from time to time (I should wear it, but the two EXTREMELY SHARP steeples on the St. Patrick's Cathedral charm bring about anxiety against my delicate wrist!) and I run my fingers over each charm, inspecting them and remembering (imagining?) the story for each one.

To an outsider, this charm bracelet could be perceived as quite random, but to have known my aunt, this bracelet speaks of her travels, experiences, personality and life in general. The bracelet is comprised of the following charms: an old fashioned water pump, comedy/tragedy mask, Empire State Building, push lawn mower (which really rolls), sleigh, New York skyline, love letter, toilet bowl (the lid raises up), St. Patrick's Cathedral, Chicago Water Tower, scissors (they open and close), bells, horse drawn carriage, Scottie dog, Statue of Liberty, United Nations Building and a passport case (that slides open).

I treasure this gift from my aunt. She could have given her charm bracelet to anyone (remember, she was actually my great-great aunt) and she presented it to me. Very few gifts in my life can ever touch me as much as this one does and I can only hope to build my own charm bracelet with such panache as she did.

Tear Drop Earrings: Unknown (gift); Necklace: Ann Taylor; Sweatshirt: Old Navy; Charm Bracelet: Unknown (gift); Silver Hammered Bangle: Unknown (gift); Silver Link Bracelet: Simply Vera Vera Wang; Cocktail Ring: Unknown (gift); Oversize Clutch: Liz Claiborne; Moto Jeans: Gap; Peep Toe Lace Up Pumps: Rock & Republic 

 

Cocktail Ring: Unknown (gift); Necklace: Ann Taylor; Sweatshirt: Old Navy; Moto Jeans: Gap; Peep Toe Lace Up Pumps: Rock & Republic

 

Charm Bracelet: Unknown (gift) 

 

Necklace: Ann Taylor; Sweatshirt: Old Navy 

 

 

 Moto Jeans: Gap; Peep Toe Lace Up Pumps: Rock & Republic

 

 Necklace: Ann Taylor; Sweatshirt: Old Navy; Charm Bracelet: Unknown (gift); Silver Hammered Bangle: Unknown (gift); Silver Link Bracelet: Simply Vera Vera Wang; Cocktail Ring: Unknown (gift); Oversize Clutch: Liz Claiborne; Moto Jeans: Gap 

 

 Cocktail Ring: Unknown (gift); Sweatshirt: Old Navy; Moto Jeans: Gap, Peep Toe Lace Up Pumps: Rock & Republic





My kind of vintage

I miss my grandmother. She had an extraordinary beauty both inside and out. She was kind, charitable, polite and had a wicked sense of humor. She was very beautiful and had a chic style.  The first thing to come to mind when remembering my grandmother’s style was her scarves. She always wore a scarf when she left the house. Though she had brooches in her jewelry chest, she pinned every single one of her scarves with a pearl head straight pin. Her scarves ranged from long to short, colorful to neutral, silks to polyester and solids to prints.

She has been gone a little over a year now, but her scarves still have the scent of her favorite perfume on them. I will wear these scarves from time to time, but I have yet to master the look such as she did.

My grandmother’s jewelry armoire was a treasure chest. My mother and sisters and I went through it after she was gone and had the best time playing “dress up.” My grandmother had plenty of luxurious items, but her armoire consisted mostly of costume jewelry. Plenty of pearls (she mixed her real set with her faux), gold chokers, crystals, long beaded necklaces, charms, bangles, chunky silver jewelry, rhinestones and more.

When looking at her jewelry or wearing it, I try to remember each piece on her. Whether it is a real memory or my imagination, she wore her jewelry with panache.

Her closet consisted of a little bit of everything. Over the years, her closet has seen a variety of fabrics such as denim, jersey and silk and styles such as embellished jackets, fur and printed blouses and colors such as neutrals, jewel tones and pastels. I do not recollect one specific style over the years; her fashion sense concentrated around classic staples with “at the moment” trends to add flair.

She understood fashion trends. She and I would discuss trends we would see in some of our fashion magazines, mainly Vogue or W but also Elle or Harper’s Bazaar as well. We would talk about what we loved, hated, who in the world would wear such things, and anytime she ran across a fabulous pair of shoes in a magazine, she would mark the page so I could see it and we could discuss footwear trends as well.

She taught me a lot, not only about style but also life in general. I miss her like crazy, but I know she lives on in memory, photographs and of course, her fashion.