Manners and Moxie

If I know nothing else about myself it’s that I’m attracted to variety in all things. Whether it be fashion, design, architecture, food, people etc; If it’s different, I probabaly like it.  It’s the spice of life, right? If I’m not a huge fan of this, that or the other it’s a feeling that registers almost immediately, but for the most part I’ll give things a try. Do you feel the same?

I’d like to believe this makes me a more accepting person but the trouble begins when I can’t focus and start playing leap frog with all my ideas. Did you read my last post here? As you can imagine wedding dress shopping was an interesting experiment in style. Let’s just say I would have picked out a dress in every silhouette & color if possible. But I digress…

Occasionally this works in my favor and I pair up stylish elements that speak to different parts of my personality. Do you like to “wear” your personality too? I’ve touted my love for boyfriend jeans before but these Piper cropped AG Jeans are awesome and may be my new go to “guy”.  Sorry Mr. T They’re INCREDIBLY soft and this wash is great shade of blue for pairing with almost anything. Boyfriend jeans, along with this sweatshirt, give a contemporary but relaxed menswear feel I’ll never tire of.

Bright details like the colorful collar on this blouse brings in some trendy femininity. The t-strap heels and pearls are also ladylike but give a more refined, vintage touch I always appreciate.  Retro style sunnies continued the vintage vibe but the icing (and cherry) on top is Mr. Player from D’Andrea Handbags. Carrying this Mr. gives my shoulders a break but allows for all the essentials. Add to the fact that the leather is a beautiful color that’s buttery s and you have the perfect compliment any Combo Pack!

XOXO

Nic

**** I’m also linking up with Amber of Real Girl Glam for Real Girl Style. Check out the inspiring looks!

Jeans – The Piper Crop c/o AG Jeans // Blouse (similar) & heels  (love these & these)- JCrew // Sweatshirt – Forever 21 // Clutch - Mr. Player c/o  D’Andrea Handbags // Sunnies – Charlotte Russe // Pearls – gifted // Rings – Spear ring – Jewelmint and raided from mom // Bracelets - Ofina and JCrew 

Salutations, my fashionable friends! Just wanted to do a quick post and let you know why it’s been so silent here the last few days. So, ummmm, yeah… I ummmm,… well I got engaged! That’s right! Looks like I’m planning on being Mrs. T in 2014! The beautiful ring seen below is actually one I inherited  from my grandmother. It’s extraordinarily special to me since that’s exactly the way I felt about her. However, Mr. T & I are looking for an additional bauble to call my own. I’ve wanted a vintage engagement ring for as long as I can remember but it takes time to find the right one. Once found, I’ll most likely alternate between them both depending on the day or occasion. 

Saturday night I jumped a flight home for some fast and furious wedding planning with mom. And by that I mean trying to actually choose a wedding planner. We’ll be getting married in Charleston, SC and we need to decide on a wedding planner ASAP so all the fun can begin! Planning any event long distance is a challenge so having someone as our guide who’s local will be a must if we want to keep our sanity.

This is a quick pic of what I wore while trying on dresses Sunday. There wasn’t time for an outfit post but I put on something comfortable and hoped for the best. After working Saturday and not getting any sleep on the red eye I wasn’t looking that cute,… but the cats on this dress were!Our venue and date are set but while I’m here the madre and I are doing a little dress discovery too. We wanted to cover the “home” territory (Charleston & Charlotte) before deciding to go elsewhere. And let me just tell you Charleston has a killer selection…. More on that later. 

 I’ll be continuing on the travel train with mom for the next 48 hrs and then it’s back to San Francisco and work on Thursday. My brain will probably resemble swiss cheese but I’ll do my best to get an outfit post up then. In the meantime here’s a little sneak peek. And if you have any wedding planning tips please pass them along! I’d love to hear anything you’d have to say :)

XOXO

Nic

Last week I attended a fun and fashionable night at Mira Mira hosted by the adorable Alexandra Bigley of the blog SF ShopGirl. It was a great opportunity to hang with some industry folks, Bay Area bloggers and shop the lovingly curated pieces of Mira Mira. Unfortunately, there was no time to sneak home for a “costume” change after work so I just pulled a shoe swap for the evenings festivities. During my work day a printed pair of pointy flats from J.Crew did the business but these Zara sandals took over once the stars came out. An outfit post wasn’t planned but these snap shots come courtesy of Mira Mira. The gorgeous gal pictured here with me is KT Reed of the blog KTRstyle. As you see I couldn’t decide on an print or pattern so I went with three. It looks I like made a Triple Pattern Play for ladies night. Have you tried mixing prints and patterns? Do you find some combinations easier than others?

If you’re in San Francisco be sure to stop by Mira Mira for some fashionable finds!

XOXO

Nic

Pants – Walter Baker // Top – Gap // Cardigan – PIKO 1988 // Belt – Target // Sandals – Zara // Jewelry – Jewelmint, Banana Republic, JCrew, Swarvoski, unknown and raided from mom

Sundays seem tailor made for relaxing with family and friends, being carefree and remembering what’s wonderful about life. That’s not to say we always get to do that, but it’s nice when the stars align.  A few weeks ago when I was home I popped up to Greenville, SC to see my sister at Furman University. Yes, there’s quite an age difference between us but I generally lie to myself and pretend the years count as months. Totally legit, right?!

Mr. T and I had a great day with her where she filled in as tour guide for us and we all enjoyed some good eats. She was finishing up exams so our visit provided a needed break from her recent BFF, the library. Beyond that, it was a great chance to spend a little time together before she left a few days later for a Summer study in Ireland. Truth be told I wanted to trade places with her but I figured her classmates might notice an old lady in her place. Maybe if I wore bigger sunglasses and kept them saturated with Guinness they wouldn’t notice? Guess I’ll never know. 

I thought this dress was the perfect easy, breezy number to float around town in. The weather was warm and the silk, linen blend kept me comfortable and cool. An adorable elephant charm necklace designed by Dogeared jewelry made me feel like I was on Safari… Well maybe not Safari, but I can at least claim the title of explorer for the day. Neutral accessories, mixed media jewelry and my neon nail color lighted things up but spending the day with my sister was easily the best kind of Sunday style.

So whatever you do today hopefully you can take some time to enjoy yourself! Laugh, be silly and delight in life’s simplicity, but just one note of caution… Don’t get stung in the neck by a bee. That’s what happened to me AFTER these pictures were taken. For the next week half of my face resembled a chipmunk! Keep to the silly kind of pout like the ones I made in these before photos; Not the inflated kind I made after…. Bzzzzzzz 

PS – I’m linking up with Amber of RealGirlGlam for RealGirlStyle. Take a minute to check out all the great looks!

XOXO

Nic

Dress – Jones New York // Belt (similar) – Banana Republic // Bag – Erica Anenberg // Necklaces – love collection elephant necklace c/o Dogeared & unknown // Rings – Jewelmint & raided from mom // Bracelets – Tinley Road via Piperlime, Swarvoski and raided from mom // Sandals – Lauren by Ralph Lauren via Piperlime // Sunnies – AJ Morgan // Watch – Seiko

I love discovering new things and it just so happens I have a soft spot for jewelry. Surprised? Yeah, I thought not. Earlier this year at Lucky FABB I couldn’t contain my excitement when seeing the stunning pieces from Julie Vos; They’re VERY easy on the eyes and the quality is impeccable! I became transfixed. When they allowed me to take a piece home my jaw actually dropped. Seriously.

After much debate I chose the Lorraine necklace since it’s a piece I felt was missing from my current jewelry collection. Not only is it beautiful but is long enough to double up giving it additional versatility. You may notice mine is interspersed with Labradorite but there are multiple gemstones to choose from. The gold and silver used in Julie Vos designs is luxe and elegant, reminding me of the rich quality and texture seen in many vintage pieces.

This necklace has been in heavy rotation, especially in my work wardrobe, so for a change I paired it here in a more casual look. While in Charleston cooler weather called for a jacket but I kept to cropped cargos and sandals for touring around town. A few other details like an animal print belt and fun glasses gave these basics some personality.

Keeping my look casual put lady Lorraine in the spotlight but now that I’ve had some time with this beauty I want need more. A few on my list are the Crisscross Ring, Calypso Cuff in moonstone, Aquitane Earring in Smokey Topaz, Lion Ring and Owl Stud. Any favorites? Whether you like my choices or have others in mind Julie Vos is generously offering 15% off your order with the code VOS15. She also designs handbags and scarves so there are a lot of options. So go! Take advantage of this great offer and Be Jeweled…

XOXO

Nic

capri’s – J Brand // tshirt – American Apparel // moto jacket (similar) – Forever 21 // necklaces – (Lorraine necklace) Julie Vos c/o and unknown // rings – Jewelmint and raided from mom // bracelets – Swarvoski, Forever 21, Banana Republic, unknown and raided from mom //sandals – Lauren by Ralph Lauren via Piperlime // bag – Erica Anenberg // belt – Target // sunnies – A J Morgan // watch – Seiko

Sometimes you just want to take in the view and appreciate the beauty around you. What’s your interpretation of beauty? I believe there are elements of loveliness in most things. It just depends on your definition, vantage point and of course your individual “filter”. The photos below are from my few days of Charleston travel. Like a big dummy though, I left my battery charger at my parents so I didn’t get to play the role of fun loving photographer as much as I’d have liked. Wish I had a more and a greater variety to share but here are a few:

I’ve also included this little sneak peek of my next personal style post taken the day we arrived. Though for now, being that it’s Friday, I hope you have a wonderful weekend full of beauty; unexpected or otherwise!

XOXO

Nic

Yes. I will not deny borrowing this title from Portlandia but with today’s look I couldn’t help myself. But other than having a bird print on my dress no other fine feathered friends were used to capture this look.  I wore this adorable little frock while frolicking around Charleston with Mr. T a few weeks ago. Specifically, I wore it for an evening out and a delicious dinner at McCrady’s. Don’t you love wearing dresses come Spring and Summer?

One of my favorite things about warmer weather, and maybe the thing I miss most about living on the East Coast, is the changing seasons. For those folks, the heat & a cute little dress is right around the corner. Needless to say I took full advantage of my time back home in SC to keep things simple. Dress, bag, shoes, GO! Well actually, I take that back. Add jewelry. Maybe something like this necklace? THEN go.

I found this cutie pie of a dress at Kohl’s when I was searching for something else. I don’t shop there regularly (there’s not one near me) so if I swing by it’s usually for something particular. Of course, I never found that “something else” but this dress (at 40% off) was the happy accident of successful shopping dreams. The accompanying belt was missing (I couldn’t care less about the dang belt) so I requested an additional discount. Thank you Kohl’s! Hello additional 15%! That left me paying less than $25 which makes me excited enough to put a bird on ANYTHING! 

Even though these tweety birds are limey in color this bag paired wonderfully with them. Things don’t need to match, they just need to go; Unless of course you’re pairing matching prints then yes, THOSE have to match heh heh. I can see myself wearing this quite a bit during the warmer months and as it turns colder it’ll be great for layering with tights and sweaters. Is your happy place found in simple outfit pairings when it’s warm out? Maybe it’s a feeling we hold onto from childhood. That life is somehow simpler during Spring and Summer time. Carefree. Happy. Joyous  Or maybe, getting dressed just seems easier when you Put A Bird On It .

** I’m linking up with Amber of  Real Girl Glam for Real Girl Style today. Aren’t these ladies looking great?!

XOXO

Nic

Dress – Kohl’s – Use code BLOGGER10 for 10% off! // Bag (similar) – Urban Expressions // Sandals (similar) – Nine West // Belt – Banana Republic // Necklace – Forever 21 // Sunnies (splurge) – Charlotte Russe // Rings – Unknown and raided from mom // Bracelets – Banana Republic and unknown // Earrings (similar) – Forever 21

She’s a teacher, supporter, best friend, shoulder to cry on, cheerleader, nutritionist, soft place to fall, reason to smile, organizer, caretaker, mechanic, jokester, communicator and giver of life. She’s the reason I go through this world with an open heart. When I become injured, whether physical, mental or emotional she’s the reason I know there will be a brighter tomorrow. I’m open to adventure and the journey we call Life because I am loved, supported and always believed in. She taught me authenticity is the ONLY option. Give to the world and it will give back to you. I received the best gift the day I was born. She is my mother.

Happy Mother’s Day mom!

xoxo

Stinker Pie

As you probably know by now I like a good opposites attract mashup. So when Mr. T and I were strolling about in Charleston recently I took this look to the streets for a walkabout. Charleston is usually warm this time of year but the weather was playing tricks on us. Cool, but humid breezes had me frustrated and a hair up vs hair down battle ensued. “Damn you curly frizz!!!

But I digress… I’ve worn this blazer and lace tank combo before but usually with jeans. Denim would’ve been too hot so I paired them with cotton shorts instead for a new look. Wearing sandals during the previous few days had my poor tootsies begging for a change. These oxfords gave them a needed break and allowed me to “man up” with a menswear feel in this look. Did you see the last time I wore these oxfords? You can see them here.

Combining a black blazer, two tone oxfords and grey shorts feels very masculine. With this lace tank playing tug of war, routing for the ladylike win, additions were needed. So…. (trumpets sound in the background) a glitter belt to the rescue! Well almost. The glitter belt couldn’t do it alone. This Oxford Lady still needed a little more “lady”. Adding a bright bag, mixed metal jewelry and some cat eye sunnies gave me the final push I needed to get out the door.

Do you find yourself choosing comfort over style when discovering new territory? Or is it a balance like one between masculine and feminine? In my case, roaming the historic streets of Charleston with Mr. T always makes me feel like a lady; The oxfords aren’t required but are always welcome

** I’m linking up with Amber of Real Girl Glam for Real Girl Style. Check out all the great looks! 

XOXO

Nic

Blazer (similar) & lace tank (similar) – Banana Republic // Shorts (similar) & glitter belt (similar) – Target // Oxfords (love these & these with a few outfit details changed) – Steve Madden // Bag  (similar) – Urban Expressions // Necklace – Tiffany & Co // Earrings (like these) – unknown // Bracelets – Forever 21 (similar cuff style), Swarvoski and raided from mom // Rings – Forever 21, Jewelmint and raided from mom // Sunglasses – Tres Noir // Watch – Seiko 

Ladies love handbags. There’s no way around that and I’ll happily display my membership to what I call the “bag lady love club” any day of the week. No matter the size, shape, textile or fabric we need to tote our crap around so might as well do it in something we love! Right?! Last month while attending Lucky Magazine’s Lucky FABB conference I was introduced to d’andrea handbags. Getting clued in on this great designer easily makes my favorites list. These bags are a perfect blend of utility and luxury which you can now snag at 30% off during their Mother’s Day sale!

Nicole, the designer, was inspired by her grandfather who was a cobbler from Italy.  Through inspiration, experience & additional education d’andrea handbags and the Mister Collection was born. Initially, after seeing these bags I almost jumped over the table to abscond with ALL the Misters; they’re quite handsome! Luckily, I kept my cool and have been waiting patiently to give Mr. Player a friend. So when I heard about this special sale I couldn’t keep the news to myself! All the Misters can now be had at 30% off from May 4th -May 13th. Never had a One-Nighter? Well here’s a chance at your own with only stylish results for an outcome.

When Nicole started telling me the names of the Mister’s (Mr. Arrogant, Mr. Emotionally Unavailable etc…) I remarked to her that she must of had some interesting dates. Not only is this a girl I’d wanna hang out with but I think d’andrea handbags are a great combination of style and story; both of which I love! So grab your own Mister during this great sale and start making memories. After all, if we have to carry baggage it might as well be stylish!

XOXO

Nic

My Mr. Player (pictured above) was c/o of d’andrea handbags but all opinions and reviews given here are my own.