Fall Favorites: Berry and Blue

Absolutely love this skirt in blooming berry I spotted from the mad men line at Banana Republic and these cobalt blue wedges from the new lookbook at Ruche, but love them paired together even more.

full circle skirt Banana Republic
leopard print tee Banana Republic
sweater blazer Banana Republic
cross body lady bag Asos
maison bleue wedges Ruche

To try: loafers

left: clementine via vanessa jackman right: the sartorialist

Loving the loafers and the endless possibilities of ways to wear them. Plus, they are a great alternative to heels and ballet flats while still looking polished.

How to wear loafers (2 ways): 

Left: Try wearing loafers with cropped skinny pants or jeans, a loose drapey tee or blouse under a blazer or coat. Finish the look with a structured satchel bag.


Right: Transition into fall by wearing loafers with a lightweight summer floral dress paired with an oversized wool jacket (a military jacket would look great as well).

1. Anyi Lu olivia flat Nordstrom
2. beata flat DSW
3. gangel flat Aldo
4. darby glitter loafers JCrew 

You might also like this and this

Indoor Slides

clockwise from top left: michaelis boyd associates, turett collaborative architects, ab rogers design

We took our little boy to the playground this past weekend, unfortunately he is terrified of slides right now, but how fun would it be to have a slide in your house?

My grandparents' had a fire pole in their house and when I was little I remember going to their house and thinking it was the coolest thing ever.

Would you ever build a slide in your house?

Weekend

Have a good weekend.

photo via pinterest

plus, fun things to share from around the web:

super cute (and easy) DIY sequin tote bag

awesome 10 minute ab workout

traveling abroad? what to bring to Paris

If the world lived like New Yorkers

adorable back to school clothes for boys

hot nail polish colors for fall

hands down the best water bottle, (and it's not plastic)

JCrew goes international, gotta love Jenna Lyons


Next week: more fall fashion picks and fall colors

Friday Find

I have been in love with this leather tote bag from Zara forever and now this one...

will be adding it to my fall wishlist.

 (Looking forward to the day when we can shop Zara online, supposedly September?)

Now and Later: wintergreen skinny jeans

transition your wardrobe from summer to fall...

skinny jeans Forever 21

Now: colorblock tee Forever 21, House of Harlow sunburst pendant necklace Piperlime, haven crossbody bag  Jessica Simpson Collection, band over band heels Anthropologie  

Later: Lush button front blouse Nordstrom, Rubbish pocket sweater Nordstrom, Hive and Honey wrap bracelet Piperlime, larkspur foldover clutch Free People, Mia page black boot Piperlime

Office Inspiration: Who What Wear

Love the new look and workspace of Who What Wear. I've been a fan of their website for years and it's fun to see them grow and expand into a new place.

 a conference room I would be happy to meet in

 when you have pretty business cards you should display them

such a fun way to bring color to the space

All images and more found here

To try: Stripes with Stripes

Nothing is better than a classic stripe, but wearing stripes with stripes mixes things up.

the inspiration:

clockwise from top left: cupcakes and cashmere, pinterest, weardrobe, vogue

the tips:

1. Try different stripe widths, especially if you are using similar colors. This top has a much larger stripe than the skirt. wonder stripe t-shirt Browns, blue stripe mini skirt Debenhams

2. Find something in common such as stripe width or color. In this look it is color, the black and gray on the top tie in with the gray and black detail on the clutch (even though there is also green, it works). Also, sometimes it's easier to add a striped accessory. nautical stripe blouse LOFT, milan stripe clutch Nasty Gal

3. Mix vertical with horizontal. The black band separates the vertical and horizontal lines on this dress, and the designer already did the work for you by combining two different stripes on one dress. stripe cowl neck dress Oasis

4. Separate the stripes with something solid or different. Notice the blue solid color separates the stripes on the skirt from the stripes on top. (Also, in the first picture top left notice how she separated the skirt and shirt with a vest and belt). secret stripe tee Madewell, Missoni wool mini skirt mytheresa

Color Files: Fuchsia

If you haven't noticed already I have a severe craving for colored pants. When the fall lookbook for JCrew came out I fell in love with these fuchsia cropped pants. I especially like this color paired with camel. Perfect for fall.

1. jcrew lookbook
2. kelly moore classic bag for your camera
3. junior templeton chair
4. ikat silk scarves

Are you a fan of fuchsia?

Desk Accessories

Happy monday, hope you all had a good weekend! I was extremely happy for my husband to return from his two week trip to China.

It's that time of year again when the kids start (or where I live have already started) school. Even though I don't have a child in school yet, I still love to look at school and office supplies. I think these supplies from Poppin would be a nice addition to my desk.

Friday Find

Caught my eye...

rays of sun necklace Modcloth

How to Dress for Family Photos

A couple of weeks ago we took some family photos. I thought I would share some of my tips on selecting clothing for a family photo shoot. 

1. First thing you want to do is think about location. I find that picking the location helps you decide what style and colors of clothing to choose. At first I thought we were going to take our pictures against a blue wall (which may have changed what we wore), but we ended up taking them in an old downtown area instead.

2. Pick a style and have the whole family stick to that style, meaning don't have someone really dressed up and the rest of the family casual. Also, have fun and pick a style that represents you and your family. 

3. Next, select a color palette. I find it helps to have at least 3 colors even if the third color is just a pop of color. Select colors you like and that look good on your family, or select colors that are in style especially if you plan on buying new things. If you have a piece of clothing you love and know you want to wear, start with that. I picked this orange shirt for my boy because when he wears it his blue eyes really pop.

4. Start with a foundation piece, a piece of clothing you can use to pick out the rest of the items. I tend to start with the girls because they have more choices and it is easier to find something simple that coordinates for the boys. (Although sometimes I start with the baby because you are limited on what they can wear because they don't have as many choices). For our pictures I started with my dress and my baby's orange shirt (which actually helped to determine my color scheme).

5. Mix it up. Don't put everyone in the same colored top and bottom (we all have old family photos like this). Feel free to use pattern, but don't overdo it and be sure to use different size patterns to balance it out. In our picture I am wearing the main pattern, but my son is wearing small striped shorts. If he wore a busier pattern on his shorts they may have competed with my dress. Also, try to avoid logos or words, because those items can be distracting.

6. Layer it. Using layers really helps to create more visual interest. In the summer this can be hard to do because it's so hot, but even just adding a different colored t-shirt under a shirt or putting on a belt can really add to your photo.

7. Lay out each person's outfit to visualize the overall look. This is wear you can really see if you need more color here or there or if you should have someone wear a different colored top or bottom. Don't worry about matching exactly (notice my belt and my boy's shirt). You want to blend without matching exactly.

Places and Spaces: Urban Outfitters Corporate Campus

Who wouldn't want to work here?

Once a navy shipyard, Urban Outfitters Inc. transformed the space into an amazing corporate headquarters for their brands Urban Outfitters, Free People, BHLDN and Anthropologie.

I love the industrial mixed with the bright colored patterns.

Those office chairs are incredible, wonder how I can get one?

photography by lara swimmer via Arch Daily

Teal or Mustard

If you haven't noticed, colored pants are all the rage right now. Teal and mustard are two of my favorite choices. So the question is, which color? 

skinny trousers Zara

Since I just finished sewing a mustard colored skirt, I may I have to go for teal.

What to Wear: Night Out

I'm back, sorry for the lack of posts, we have been on the go the past few days.

My friend recently asked me to give her some ideas for something she could wear for a night out. My idea of fashion for a night out is to have fun and wear something you normally wouldn't such as a bold red lipstick, a sequin top, or a bright colored pair of jeans.

10 things to wear for a night out:

1. statement jewelry - colorblocked or a mix of metal chains Piperlime and Lauren Elan
2. skinny jeans - in a bright color Forever 21
3. animal print top - paired with skinny jeans or a pair of dressy shorts Forever 21
4. embellished sandals - in a metallic color Amazon
5. t-shirt dress - with sequins asos
6. foldover clutch - in an unexpected color combination clare vivier
7. russian red lipstick - in a bold color MAC cosmetics
8. beaded heels - half sandal, half bootie Nordstrom
9. loose fit blouse - in a pastel color net-a-porter
10. sequin top - with stripes JCrew

Eliza, enjoy your night out (and PARIS)!

Baby Legs

What is it about baby legs that makes me want to squeeze them every time I see them?

I'm starting my weekend early and the boy and I are heading on a plane to go visit family.
See you next week.

p.s. dressing for family photos coming next week, I promise.

Must Haves for Fall 2011

All I can think about is fall, fall, fall, and I've been seeing lots of leopard, red (especially red jeans), and polka dots. So, here are some items to consider adding to your wardrobe...

leopard:
nicole lee leopard handbag Buckle,
scarf - my own, but I recently picked up at Old Navy
leather leopard belt ASOS

red:
BDG twill pant Urban Outfitters
perforated nylon classic TOMS
edie tote JCrew

polka dot:
marc jacobs polka dot sweater Net-a-Porter
sensational polka dot flats Ruche
bestowing compliments skirt Modcloth

More of my fall favorites on the way.

The Glow

Being a mom can be challenging at times, but is also so rewarding. Of course I knew this before I had my son, but had no idea just how rewarding it would be. I love this site The Glow that gives you a peek into the lives of inspiring and fashionable moms.

To try: Gingham and Floral

Left, Middle, Right

shirt Old Navy, skirt Anthropologie, necklace Max&Chloe, sandals DSW

Tip: One of the easiest ways to get this look is to select a color from the floral print and use that same or similar color in the gingham pattern, but don't get too concerned about matching exactly, colors that complement sometimes look just as good (notice the middle picture above).

Warm or Cool Colors?

Happy Monday, hope you all had a good weekend, mine was spent painting in my garage on probably the hottest weekend of the year.

It's no surprise how much I love color because I'm always talking about it. As I was browsing through my closet the other day I noticed I definitely have more cool colors (blues, greens, purples) versus warm colors (reds, yellows, and oranges), so I am curious to know what's in your closet (or your house), are you drawn to warmer colors or cooler colors or neither (maybe you're all about the neutrals)?

myne colorblock silk dress Nordstrom

 Actually finding which colors look best on you, we'll save for another day.

Family Photos Part 2

I thought I would share the rest of our family photos that my friend Nicole took for us before she moved to Georgia. She was kind enough to squeeze us into her busy schedule.



Next week I will be sharing my tips on how to select clothing for your family photos and also some of my must-have items for fall.

Have a good weekend.