Joe’s legging jeans, Victoria’s Secret PINK tees, Theysken’s Theory leather jacket, Maybelline Colorsensational Vivid lipsticks, NARS #21 brush, NARS Albatross highlighter, individual false lashes, Klorane dry shampoo, Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation, Maybelline Dream Lumi concealer, Goyard tote, Kate Spade iPhone case, Kate Spade sunglasses, Tom Ford sunglasses, Yogi Super Anitoxident Green Tea, Starbucks mug, Target wedge sneakers, Steve Madden wedge sneakers
Ahhh how I’ve missed this blog over the past month. I don’t like to be gone for so long but sometimes I can’t avoid it. You’ve probably noticed that my blog often battles my day job for my attention. In this case, I spent the past several weeks styling a TV show for HGTV which required pretty much all of my time. I hate to leave my blog hanging but I love the fact that you stick around even if I can’t give you new posts every day. So thanks for your patience during the hiatus and I promise there’s plenty of new inspiration to share, starting with this collection of things that got me through my time working on set. If you find yourself in need of some new staple items for those never ending packed days, I highly recommend each and every one of these items. Most of them speak for themselves, but I do have a few specific notes:
Joe’s legging jeans – They’re equal parts flattering, soft, and comfy so there’s no restricted skinny jeans feeling. Maybelline Vivid lipsticks – They come in such an impressive range of high quality pop colors – I especially love Pink Pop and Shocking Coral. NARS Albatross highlighter + #21 brush – When you’re putting in long hours, it’s downright impossible to maintain a healthy glow without a little help, and this combo really does the trick. Lash extensions – Before starting the show I decided it was the perfect time to try lash extensions (I went to Lashfully). With the early wake-ups, it was so nice to not have to worry about sticking a mascara wand in my eye while I’m still half asleep. They looked glamorous but not too much for a regular day. I’m not sure I will become a devotee since it can get pricey and I still have yet to try the lash lengthening serums. I’ll keep you posted. Wedge sneakers – Even with the wedge, I was surprised to find they are just as comfy as regular sneakers and add an automatic touch of chicness. I’m sold on these altogether.
One last thing before we go back to business as usual. I’m selling my Louis Vuitton Speedy 35! LV just raised the prices on all their classic styles (those rascals), so if you’ve been thinking of adding this one to your collection, it’s the perfect opportunity. I still love it – I just want another LV bag in a similar style and need to prioritize. :) You can find all the details here.
No styling work is more fun than when I get to style my best friends. So naturally I was thrilled to get to be a part of my girl Jaimi‘s Style at Home feature on Glitter Guide. Jaimi has turned her Palm Springs home into a beautiful and happy place where I’ve been lucky enough to spend many long weekends with her gabbing and sipping pinot grigio, and I’m so glad she got a chance to share it. I helped her get dressed, choosing outfits from her wardrobe that felt quintessentially her but the Palm Springs version of her – glamorous but relaxed. Heather Kincaid took stunning photos as always, and Jessica Marx helped put the finishing touches on her beautiful home, working her magic the same way she did with mine. I love how this feature really shows Jaimi’s inner and outer beauty, and I’m so happy I got to be a part of it. See the rest of the feature here.
Hair, Makeup and Nails by Fiore Beauty
A few months ago, I shared the cover and fashion spread I styled for The Knot’s fall issue. Now, I’m so excited to show you Round 2 – the Winter issue! This one was extra thrilling to be a part of. Once again, the amazing Elizabeth Messina photographed some of the most gorgeous photos I’ve ever been lucky enough to have a hand in. The Villa at Sunstone Vineyards was the incredible setting – the most perfect place to spend a day. When we packed up, I did not want to leave as the sun was setting and the evening breeze was blowing. Dolce Designs created the floral wonderland that make this dream come to life. Erin Skipley brought her impeccable hair and makeup talent and made our gorgeous models look even more gorgeous.
I’ll admit, I’m like a giddy school girl getting to work with such stunning gowns like these from Monique Lhuillier, Marchesa, Claire Pettibone, Reem Acra, Ines de Santo, and Samuelle who designed that tulle stunner on the cover. Even the mens styles had me swooning with a tux by Yves Saint Laurent, the most perfect shirt by Dolce and Gabbana, and my favorite – the oversized Lanvin bowties (all thanks to Mr. Porter). And don’t even get me started on the diamonds…
Pick up your own issue, on stands now, and check out Grey Likes Weddings and Kiss the Groom for more peeks at the prettiness!
There’s something so daunting about packing for a long trip. I always intend to get started a few days beforehand and plan each outfit meticulously but in the craze of travel prep, it usually ends up coming together at midnight the night before an early flight. I then lay awake wondering if I have everything I need. The problem with “packing scatter brain” is that you end up bringing more or less than you need and often times the wrong things. The best thing you can do to prep for a trip is take the time to pack right. Here’s how I did it for this week’s trip to NYC for fashion week…
Start by pulling everything out of your closet that inspires you for this particular trip and place them somewhere where they are visible – I like to use a garment rack. Pull more than you need – you’ll edit later. Once you separate those items out from the rest of your wardrobe, it clears the clutter from your brain and you can focus on just those pieces. Since packing space is limited, I always try to avoid any really bulky pieces that I know I’d only wear once (sorry, sequined sailor blazer). You can make your one-time statements with smaller things like a bright top or chunky necklace.
To pack jewelry, I like to roll each piece into a cloth napkin or scarf so everything is surrounded by fabric and protected from rubbing against each other or tangling.
Once you’ve separated the key players from the bench warmers, it’s time to narrow down and make sense of it all. Starting with the pieces you are most excited to wear, put together some specific outfits out of what you’ve pulled and take pictures of each one. Taking pictures will help you make sure you have enough outfits while you’re packing, and also serve as a “trip lookbook” that you can reference later. You can always go back to the closet if you need to. I find that I always wear multiple different outfits in one day when I’m traveling, so keep in mind that you’ll need enough for both day and night. You don’t need to style every single outfit (more power to you if you have time) but just putting together a few ensembles in their entirety will help you solidify your key pieces and maybe even cause you to choose something random you may have otherwise left out.
Next, create piles on the bed of the things that are definite, categorized by type. You can visualize all the ways to mix and match them and you may find that you don’t need to throw in any extra pieces that would end up not getting worn. Once you see that you have plenty of each type (pants, blazers, etc) you can start to eliminate other things and put them back in your closet. Then you’ll have your maybes still on the rack and the definites ready to be packed.
Now it’s time to start packing. Start by neatly placing your definites into the suitcase. Things that matter the least in terms of wrinkling can go on the bottom (underwear, pj’s, etc). I like to roll each item rather than fold – I find it creates fewer wrinkles. For the items that are a bit more fragile (anything silk), it’s a good idea to roll them in tissue paper. Even if they still get some wrinkles, it gives you a piece of mind that your nice things are safe and secure. Once you’ve packed everything that must come with you, you’ll know if you have any extra space to throw in one or two last pieces. Often times that top you throw in at the last minute is the one that ends up saving you from a fashion emergency.
A note about luggage: Most luggage comes in the same variety of sizes. The biggest are usually around 25″ or 29″. I actually prefer the 25″ because I know I can stuff it full and not be over the airline weight limit, but it still holds a lot. On top of that, I like to bring a duffle carry-on in which I can put my computer, jacket, and any minor spillover from the suitcase. I always make sure there’s some extra space to hold any purchases I make on the trip.
And with that, I’m all packed up and off to New York for a busy week of fashion. Hmm which outfit to wear first?
I recently had the pleasure of styling the cover spread for The Knot magazine’s fall issue. It was so fun to get to work on a shoot with such breathtaking gowns, stunning jewels, and a few unexpected accessories. The idea was to add in bits of color while still remaining classic and restrained. This was so fun to do with everything from magenta Manolos to pink diamonds, a black and tan tattered tulle-for-days number by Vera Wang, and the most exquisite pink ombré Mark Zunino feathered shrug and matching gown.
The best part of it was getting to work with such a great team – Elizabeth Messina is one of my favorite photographers, both to work with and to stare at her incredible images. Everyone was a joy to work with – we could hardly even call it work. I was so excited when the issue hit stands (as I mentioned here), so I just had to share some more shots. Be sure to check it out in print too!
Photography:: Elizabeth Messina
Prop Styling:: Jeni Maus of Found Rentals
Floral Design:: Kat Flower
Hair & Makeup:: Erin Skipley
See more of the images on 100 Layer Cake, Snippet & Ink, and Grey Likes Weddings
Story time! If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you may have noticed a change of scenery in the past week, not to mention radio silence on the blog (sorry!). A little over a week ago, I was going about my usual business when I got a call out of nowhere asking me to come work on a super exciting project down in Kingsland, GA – a quiet town in the south eastern tip of the state. It’s a heart warming documentary series called Lovetown, USA for OWN with BBC about what happens when you swoop into a small rural town and get everyone involved to spread love in all sorts of different ways. I had to catch a flight the very next day to be gone for three weeks. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200. Needless to say, it was an opportunity not to be missed so I packed up my colored jeans, v-neck tees, and my new “conquer anything” boots and shipped out. It’s been an amazing experience dressing the show’s love experts and doing fun makeovers, frequent runs down to Jacksonville, FL (the closest place for wardrobe options), making tons of new friends, and drinking my daily Dunkin Donuts vanilla cinnamon medium iced latte. It’s definitely a game changer and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of such an amazing show. Thanks for your patience while I’m busy styling outfits of Frye boots (might need a pair of these as a memento), rain-appropriate colorful jackets (we had tornado warnings yesterday), and as many hearts as I can gather. Instagram is where you can find me most frequently while I’m here (@thelifestyled) but I’ve got plenty to share so I’ll continue to try to steal blogging moments until we wrap in 8 days.
Georgia Love print on Etsy
We recently put together this fashion board for a fabulous east coast client’s new personal style inspiration. She is offbeat and retro inspired, and never without an element of intense creativity in her look.
Thanks for stopping by! I'm Catherine Sheppard, a fashion stylist living in Los Angeles...
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