Will you look at that – it’s Friday! This week flew by because I’ve been a busy bee, and in my spare moments I’ve been rapidly catching up on both seasons of Scandal. Help, I can’t stop! Speaking of things I’m obsessed with, I’m starting a new series on the blog where I’ll be sharing a list of random things each week that interest me and that I think you might be interested in too. Little things that don’t necessarily fit into another post but that I still want to mention. It could be anything from a fashion trend I’m not sure about, an app that’s changed my life, a new recipe, a blog I’m into, etc. I love seeing what other little things people are noticing, considering, obsessing over, and I hope you do too! So here we go with Round 1…
I would be completely lost without Teux Deux, a daily list making app that keeps me in check everyday.
I’m contemplating Tom Sawyer suspenders for summer. Would you rock em?
This song is my guilty pleasure of late.
Everyone and their mother seems to be stock piling these minimal Zara sandals in every color, but I found them to be very ill fitting. Have you tried them?
Say goodbye to those stacks of magazines dating back to October 2010. I don’t know what I did before Next Issue. It’s especially nice for plane rides – my travel tote has never been so light yet full of fun reading!
Fascinating e-mails from Steve Jobs that show how to win a tough negotiation.
I have been searching high and low for long flowing caftans for summer like the ones by Camilla Franks (which are only available in Australia and very pricey) but there seems to be a national drought on good affordable caftans. It’s a problem. Anyone know something I don’t know?
I adore this tour of Max and Margaux’s nursery for little Dash. The baby elephant is too precious.
Enjoy this first official June weekend!
VPL bra, Ray-Ban sunglasses, Emi-Jay for Splendid hair ties, Synergy Kombucha, Forever21 Tank, Maybelline Baby Lips lip balm, Nike waistpack, Kiss My Face sunscreen spray, Stella McCartney for Adidas shorts, Asics sneakers
Morning hikes are my new jam. I’ll admit, I used to be anything but a hike person. I don’t have a good excuse, I just never felt like I could take the time, didn’t know where to go, and never really had the desire. But lately I’ve been up at at em at 6:30 every morning to participate in a little fitness effort called Fit 40 (#fit40), organized by my friend, neighbor, and insanely inspiring health guru Caley. It’s 40 hikes in 40 days with a group of awesome people and dogs. Anyone is welcome, and we’re hiking all the steep trails on the west side! Man does it hurt, but it’s the best possible way to start the day. New friends, a great workout, and stunning views. Every night I lay out my hiking outfit so I can get dressed while I’m still trying to wake up without thinking about it. While it’s not the most obvious time to think about fashion, I can’t help myself. I always tend to have some variation of black, white, a certain pop of color, and a fun detail of some sort – whether it’s a striped tank or graphic tee. It makes for fun and easy styling when you have strength, movement, and empowerment in mind!
Follow Caley on Instagram at @caleyalyssa for daily wellness inspiration!
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Since I happen to be someone who’s overly obsessed with organization, it has been a challenge to find a wallet that doesn’t stress me out every time I open it. I tend to carry my life in big handbags, so space is in abundance. I don’t like to dig through stacks of cards squeezed into a confined pouch, so it’s important that everything have its own perfect place. Because of this, over time my wallets have grown drastically in size from one to the next. When I finally ditched the accordion style always-stuffed-to-the-brim continental wallets and graduated to a bigger version with more card slots and an all-access layout, my eyes were opened. So for those of you who are like me and love to have your cards laid out perfectly with plenty of real estate for everything from business cards to receipts, might I suggest you go big or go home. It’s all about the travel wallet ladies, and I promise you’ll never go back. I just picked up this Kate Spade version at the outlet near Palm Springs this weekend, and if the electric blue ostrich wasn’t enough to win me over, I couldn’t wait to get home and fill its many slots with every last card. I find it keeps my life in order while still having ample room to accommodate those extra cards and papers we tend to collect from the people we meet and the places we go, so they don’t end up sinking to the bottom of that black hole of a handbag. Keep in mind though, having a big wallet doesn’t mean we’re exempt from clean-out time, so you have to go through and purge the pile-up at least once a week so it doesn’t get out of hand. Wallets of this oversized, open fold design can be hard to track down, so I’ve pulled together a few of my favorite options for you. Many of them I have carefully tested and approved, so I can vouch for their obsession worthiness. Think about it.
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When you find yourself laying awake at night wondering why and how overalls managed to come back into style, don’t fret. I promise you’ll feel better if you come to terms with the fact that it was actually a series of very natural steps that lead to this. It’s been a good 15-20 years since they were last widely considered fashionable. I did own a wide leg pair from H&M somewhere around 2004 – not sure how that happened. But a lot has changed since the 90′s. Exhibit A: Rompers and jumpsuits became totally normal wardrobe staples. Exhibit B: The saggy crotch boyfriend jeans are no longer confusing to the mind like they first were when they surfaced a few years ago. Mix these totally acceptable trends together and overalls are exactly what you get.
I gotta say, I’m actually OK with it. I’m not going through a nay saying period on this one. Don’t get me wrong though, there are plenty of ways it can go very bad very quickly. So there are a couple things to keep in mind if you decide to try this trend: 1) The flap shouldn’t hang completely below your boobs, so make sure it reaches at least up to that general region to avoid it looking like you put on the same ones that fit you in 5th grade. And it shouldn’t be all the way up to your neck either. 2) I’m a fan of the ankle cropped, rolled up, relaxed style. That’s what keeps the look making sense. I’m sure some can pull off the more daring styles like the leather or skinny jean versions, but the classic denim boyfriend look will make them much easier to style. 3) Keep an eye on the behind. Some overalls can just hang all wrong back there so make sure it looks passable. In general, this trend is not a butt-flattering trend so let’s just make peace with that. But you can still avoid a disaster by choosing a pair that looks somewhat right back there. Everyone is different, so a little trial and error is all you need. 4) Freshen the look up from the early Rachel Green look we all can’t get out of our minds by pairing them with a modern shoe, like a structural gladiator heel, or ankle boot. I personally can’t wait to snag a pair for myself and find out where they can take me.
Top: Asos, J Brand, BDG, Bottom: Citizens of Humanity, Viva Vena! by Vena Cava, River Island
Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
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I think we can all agree that Free People has stepped up their game over the past few years. I remember when their stuff seemed to be nothing but crochet and knit flower appliqués as far as the eye could see. For that reason, it took me a minute to catch on to the fact that Free People is not just for hippies anymore. In fact, the collection is chock full of stunning pieces for a range of styles and budgets. Right now, I’m pretty fixated on their dresses and have quite a wish list going for a breezy summer wardrobe that’s equal parts feminine, flattering, comfy, and edgy. These are some of my top picks for every occasion from lazy days poolside to a twinkly twilight wedding. Which one is going to make it onto your wish list?
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
*This post is not sponsored by Free People, I just genuinely think they’re rocking it these days.
This week I am Austin bound for a little vacation with the hubs and some of our dear friends from back east. It’s a place that’s been on my list for years but I’ve never made it down, so I’m extra excited to see the city and take in some fashion inspiration. As I’m getting ready to pack, I’m inspired by styles that are a little bit hipster, Americana with a southern twang, and of course the always necessary touches of glamour and edge. I’ve been making a list of spots to eat, see, and shop at, so definitely fill me in on your favorite Austin hangouts!
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Happy Friday to you, dear friends! If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know that I’m a big practicer of what I preach when it comes to regular closet detoxing. It should be done at least once per season – it takes about that long to figure out whether stuff we bought last season is going to end up being a long term staple or just a quick style experiment. Or perhaps something you bought a couple of years ago has hung around long enough waiting for its moment before you finally decide it’s time to pass the torch on to another fashionable lady. I recently did my spring detox, and along with Jaimi who also just did hers, we’ve got a bunch of goodies to sell! My pile is a well edited bunch, if I do say so myself. It’s comprised of the items I allllmost held onto but had to be brutal and realize they are better suited for someone of a different style, fit, or coloring. I know Jaimi has a lot of really good stuff to sell too, so there’s bound to be something for everyone! I hope you will join us TODAY at 10:00am PST/1:00pm EST at @catherinejaimisale on Instagram for what’s sure to be a fun treasure hunt! If only we could all do this in person over champagne. Something to keep in mind for next time…
P.S. Closet Detox is one of my most popular styling services. Read more about what it entails here.
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When the baseball cap trend first reared its sneaky incognito head, I’ll admit I was almost a little bit horrified. Is that too harsh to say? I don’t know why I was so offended by it. I guess it just seemed like it was only here because we’d been through every other kind of hat and were running out of options. It feels weird saying that now, and that’s the effect that trends have on our brains. First we’re nay saying, then the next minute we’re coveting. Now the nay saying is a thing of the past for me and I want one. Immediately. Not only will it chicify any outfit, but it’s the perfect way to get yet another day out of that wilting blowout. Choose one in black or a saturated color for a more amped up look (I’m partial to the former as you can see below).
Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Kling umbrella, Miss Selfridge earrings, Calypso St. Barth hat, Kate Spade iPhone case, Joie blazer and shorts, Dior sunglasses, Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick, Chanel nail polish, Miu Miu swimsuit, Juicy Couture duffel, McQ Alexander McQueen pumps
On one of my first trips to LA as a teen, we stopped by the Beverly Hills Hotel for tea. I remember marveling at the iconic decor and just taking in all the glamour. Now, some fifteen years later, that place is every bit as chic as it was back then and I’m lucky that I now live close enough to spontaneously pop in for a gin fizz, or better yet – a staycation. And while it may not be the best idea to so blatantly match the famous banana leaf wallpaper when actually on the premises, it sure is fun to pretend.
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Certain things aren’t worth doing unless you really do them right, especially something as wonderfully lavish as an evening at the casino. In my mind, that casino simply has to be in Monaco where I’ve decided that the lights are dimmer, the chips are mother of pearl, and men are in tuxedos, smoking cigars. The martinis and secrets are in abundance, and most importantly, your outfit is of the utmost scandalous and garish perfection.
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Thanks for stopping by! I'm Catherine Sheppard, a fashion stylist living in Los Angeles...
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