Bridal Eye Candy

Call me a sucker for fashionably-styled events, I LOVE this bridal photo shoot featured on Style Me Pretty yesterday. Style Me Pretty is one of the blogs that I frequent every day, especially since I got engaged last year. I love the typography used for the signage in this photo shoot, it makes me wish I had amazing handwriting so create some of my own masterpieces like this!

Photography By / Christa Elyce Photography

Wardrobe Essentials: The Black Blazer

Having recently traveled to a lot of metropolitan cities including Seattle, San Francisco, and New York, I’ve realized that there’s something missing from my wardrobe, the basic blacks…

You know, the boots, the handbag, the blazer…

Every winter Season I find myself wishing I had more of these basic black pieces in my closet to wear on gloomy days or when I’m packing for a trip to a big city. But living in Southern California where it sometimes can get up to 90 degrees in the dead of winter, I haven’t had much need to buy black (plus I’ve always felt I look better color).

Since I don’t have much, I end up wearing the few black pieces that I own over and over again. And in my recent travels I’ve felt a little out of place because I’m forced to mix in a bit of color. But Black being the ultimate universal color, I know I need more of it. And when I say universal I mean it, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Paris, anywhere you go, you’ll never feel out of place if you’re wearing black!

So I’ve set a goal for my wardrobe, as I do every season, to “invest” in more basic blacks so I feel more like a “local” while traveling. I always think it’s the best compliment to get asked for directions in a city where you’re just visiting, because it means you look like you fit in!

I’ve check off the boots and the bag from my list, next up… the basic black blazer

Theory Leather Sleeves
Rachel Zoe Velvet Blazer
ALC Jones
Helmut Lang
Maryna Blazer
Halston Heritage
Asos Leather
Patterson Kincaid.

What's your style?

A curious blogger commented on one of my previous blog posts with a question, “What if you have neither fashion nor style?” The post that spawned this question was the quote by the queen of fashion herself, Coco Chanel, “Fashion Fades, only style remains the same…”

In response, it’s important to first understand the difference between fashion and style.

Fashion, is like a storm…it brews, spreads like wildfire, hits a peak, then disappears as if it never happened.

Style, however, is what defines who we are to others forever, in the memories we leave behind and in the present… Has anyone ever told you, “This shirt looks just like you,” or “I saw this cute shop and it made me think of you,” … That’s because we as individuals express our personalities through the way we look, act, and project ourselves in the various aspects of our life…fashion, hairstyles, makeup, our homes, the restaurants we choose to go to, the books we read, etc.

Most people think they have no “style” because their clothes aren’t on the latest trend or their hairstyle has been the same for the last 10 years. But it isn’t the clothes that are “in fashion” that make your style, it’s the shade of lipstick you always turn to when you get dressed up, or the sunglasses you have in three different colors in the same style because they look the best on your face.

Whether it be very simple or very chic, the important thing to remember when you are putting on your favorite pair of jeans or go-to your ballet flats, is that these are the things that make your style you.

My challenge to you is this, look at your wardrobe, your makeup, your house and analyze the colors, patterns, and styles that you seem to always turn to. Put them together and soon you’ll start to notice a pattern. Does your style reflect who you are? Remember that style can evolve over time, but it should always stay true to your personality.

Here are some examples of Style Achievers...

Karl 1/ Karl 2 / Karl 3 / Karl 4/ Karl 5 /Jackie 1/ Jackie 2 /CBK1/ CBK2/ CBK 3/ CBK 4

And Sometimes Splurge...

Jcrew Harper Leather Booths

Kate Spade Scarf

Tory Burch Dome Bag

You don't have to break the bank...

Nordstroms Leopard Square Heels Jcrew Leopard Square Heels

Givency Leopard Square Heel

Isaac Mizrahi

As Coco Chanel Once Said...

Fashion fades, only style remains the same

And so it begins...

I have found that in the past few months of my life I have struggled with anxiety more than I have ever had before. Granted, I had a high-stress job and was planning my wedding at the same time! Knowing that I could do it all my self (and wanted to for that matter) I thought, "no problem, I can do everything!" With a history in excelling in high-stress environments and being noticeably calm under pressure, I used to use these characteristics as my greatest selling points in interviews and on my resume. But now having transitioned from a young working woman who yearned for more free time to do the things "I enjoy" to being a stay-at-home wife with more time than I know what to do with, I find myself more anxious than ever! As I struggle with finding my new "purpose and identity" I have decided to start a blog as an outlet to share the things that make me happy: fashion, decor, design and anything that just tickles my fancy. I hope you come along for the ride and enjoy.

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