Summer Trend: Blazers and Shorts

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If you’ve been following me for a while, you know how much I love blazers. I love achieving a mix of polished and playful looks with a blazer. If you love blazers just as much as I do, you too, can achieve the chic tailored silhouette by incorporating a fresh and summery vibe with some tailored shorts. The short and blazer combo has given a new lease of life to the suit trend that was everywhere in Spring.

Wearing a blazer with shorts can be a really easy look to pull off as long as you have the right type of blazer. I got this at H& M’s mark down sale for just $8.99. I love how it looks paired with a pair of white shorts and wedges. Giving my bare legs as much Vitamin D this season. I bet it would look just as good paired with darker colored shorts and sneakers. The fabric is lightweight and sits comfortably on the body, achieving a relaxed and effortless look. I chose a size medium so I won’t have a problem wearing it over a sweater in the Fall.

Test-drive the trend by scooping this (on-sale) stripped blazer also from H&M for only $13.99. Style it with jeans or a leather pencil skirt; the styling options are limitless. What to you think about the blazer and shorts combo?

                     

Photo Credit: Andrew Swaine

Vitamin Sea

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Happy Summer Lovelies.  How many of you will be spending these hot, lazy summer days at the beach? What emotion do you feel when you spend time by the ocean?

Growing up in South Africa, we were lucky to have the sea just a ten minute drive from where we lived. My love of the ocean developed through accompanying my dad on his early morning fishing trips. While dad fished I discovered the wonderful sea life that crowded the tidal pools. I could have spent hours looking at the myriad of magnificent sea creatures darting around and watch the majestic waves crash the rocks on the shore. The relentless waves both frightened and invigorated me. In the summer months when my cousins visited during school vacation my parents would take us all to the beach. We would spend an entire day at the beach running, playing and exploring. The magic of the ocean is that it doesn’t matter whether you are standing on the shore or far out at sea; you can still sense the wonder and the force of the ocean.

I am so fortunate that my husband shares and feels the same way about the ocean. When looking for a home after we got married, Andrew said to me, “I need to be close to the ocean. It fills my soul.” So, we found a home that is just a five minute walk from the sea. The ocean is truly a source of inspiration for us both.

A lot of times
We are angry at other people
For not doing what
We should have done for ourselves.

~Responsibility – Rupi Kaur

It deeply saddens me to see what our actions are doing to the ocean. The one action that both Andrew and I have taken to ensure the well being of our ocean is thinking about the impact of our plastic use on the ocean. We both have reduced the amount of plastic we use. We don’t use plastic bags when we shop, we also don’t use single use plastic ware or straws. During our morning walks to the beach, we always stop to pick up litter.

What one action do you take to ensure the future well being of our ocean? Would love to hear from you.

Photo Credit: Andrew Swaine

Love is Love!

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Any day when the power of love conquers, you know I will be celebrating. Happy Pride Month Lovelies. Be proud – not only in June, but always. Stop letting other people define you. Be proud of yourself everyday in a world that tells you to be someone else. You deserve the love you give to yourself and worthy of the love you receive. You deserve to be comfortable in your own skin, living, loving, growing and creating your own story.

Photo Credit: Andrew Swaine

Eyecessorize

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Love this quote by Vera Wang.  It’s so true. My 10 second makeup routine? Sunglasses!!! Lol. I’m a sunglasses fanatic at heart, and my collection keeps growing every year. I have a mix of designer and street brands and love them all. Sunglasses are a timeless accessory that has the ability to seamlessly polish off any outfit.

There are so many different colors, shapes and sizes of sunglasses styles for everyone to choose from. I’ve had so much fun experimenting with:

  • Cat- eye
  • round
  • oval
  • rectangle
  • aviators
  • visor
  • semi-rimless
Here are some of my faves:

3 tips when choosing a pair for you:
  1. Stick to frames that flatter your face. For example if you have a round face try frames with angular lines to lengthen your face.
  2. Sunglasses should enhance your personal style.
  3. Keep frame size in mind. The better your frames fit, the better they flatter your face. Consider searching for your sunglasses as you would for a pair of shoes – first, you need to know your size.

Find your inspiration, with the perfect pair to match your own personal style.

Shop the Look

                             

                          

Photo Credit:  Andrew Swaine

2 Pieces You Need to Mix & Match Your Spring Wardrobe

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As you fashionistas know the key to creating a versatile wardrobe is to stock your closet with basic pieces that you can mix and match  for any occasion.

I found the perfect 2 pieces from Violet Skye Boutique to get started on my mixing-and-matching Spring journey. The classic Luna Striped Pant with matching Luna Wrap Top adds effortless chic to these 3 looks I created.

Look 1:

For a put-together outfit that exudes sophistication I wore both the Luna Pants and Top together for a flattering silhouette.

Look 2:

Instead of a t-shirt  I threw on the Luna Wrap Top with my favorite pair of white jeans for a more polished weekend look.  This top isn’t just for pairing with pants. Wear it with a navy pencil skirt to achieve the same pulled-together.

Look 3:

Reworking the striped Luna Pants with a white lacy bodysuit.  I added some fun bright accents that really make the outfit pop.  A few simple additions like a bag or earrings to give this look a totally different vibe, even though it’s really just the same piece, revisited.

Photo Credit: Andrew Swaine

Spring Commencement Dress

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Whether you’re approaching your own graduation or simply preparing to attend one, this dress from  Violete Skye Boutique will take the stress out of graduation season and leave behind only cause for celebration. From outdoor ceremonies to dresses that look good with any gown color, this dress has you covered.

I love the adjustable spaghetti straps and the a-line fitted midi silhouette.

How gorgeous is this floral lace appliques? Whatever your major, one thing’s for sure: wearing this dress will definitely make you feel like a master when it comes to style.

SHOP THE LOOK

                          

 

Photo Credit:  Andrew Swaine

Happy Earth Day World

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Although it is not a national holiday, Earth Day is celebrated on 22 April each year. This modern environmental movement was first celebrated on April 22 in 1970. It began when Wisconsin Senator, Gaylord Nelson, suggested that April 22 be used for an environment education day. On Earth Day events are organized all around the world to help teach people how they can help our planet. It has been reported that over 1 billion people do something on or around Earth Day each year in an effort to help the environment. I will be doing my share by volunteering with various Earth Day community projects this weekend. One of which includes planting strawberry transplants into pvc pipes and hooking it up to an aquaponics system. I am totally geeking out!!! I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a Happy Easter weekend as well. I know those chocolate Easter eggs are eggciting but don’t forget to enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature when you’re egg hunting. 

Photo Credit: Andrew Swaine  ?

Declutter & Consign with Covet Boston

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Spring has sprung and it feels so good! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the flowers are blooming. It’s the perfect time to start spring cleaning your home, garage, yard and yes…the closet too. It may seem a bit daunting at first but I am sure you can all agree with me, that it feels so refreshing. Decluttering can also be rewarding too because you can make $$$$ for that much deserved spring break vacay you’ve been thinking about.

Last weekend I found a chic way to go green. I was invited by Covet Boston to have a look around their adorable store. Covet Boston is a consignment store located in South Boston. It is a perfect way to consign your clothing and be environmentally responsible, while making room in your closet for more fabulous finds!

Did you know the average American throws out about 82 pounds of textile waste per year? That’s 11 million tons of waste produced every year by just the United States alone. People worldwide now consumes about 80 billion new pieces of clothing every year. Sadly, the average consumer prefers shopping new, versus consigned items.

Consignment stores like Covet Boston are trying to change that mindset. When you consign your pre-owned items, like this Self Portrait dress I am wearing below, you give someone (me) the opportunity to love it as well. In turn, this helps reduce your carbon footprint and puts some extra $$$$ in your wallet.

Here are 4  Questions to ask yourself when deciding to part with items in your closet:

  1. Does it fit? If it’s too small or doesn’t seem like it’ll fit again, kiss it goodbye.
  2. Is it your style? Trends seem to shift so fast these days, it seems we have closets full of last season trendy clothes that we do not wear anymore. If you are not wearing it, let it go.
  3. Worn or used it in the last year? Research shows, that most of us use only 20% of our clothing 80% of the time. If you have clothing that still has tags on it and you have not worn it in the last year, chances are you never will. So its safe to say “Let it go”.
  4. Does it have brand power? Top brands can earn you some extra cash. Here is a list of brand names at Covet that will get you a competitive 60% of the final selling price.

Do you shop at consignment stores? What do you do with clothing you no longer wear?  Looking forward to reading your comments.

Let’s Get Consigning!

Photo Credit:  Andrew Swaine

Ladies, please let me know if you have any fashion questions, tips, fave brands, or style that you would like to share or have me feature on my blog!

Working It!

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It’s hot then it’s cold. Temps are down then it’s up. Nothing flip-flops more than the weather this time of year. The key to surviving the work week during this awkward transitional period is through light layering. My favorite layering combination right now has to be lightweight pants or jeans with a blazer. If the right fabrics are combined it makes for a very chic look.

I like to pair a heavier fabric with a simple t-shirt and a pair of heels.

For a more casual take, I love styling my suit with a graphic or plain white tee and sneakers. This really modernizes the classic pantsuit and still looks polished.

A blazer can drastically dress up jeans and a t-shirt, totally transforming the outfit. Add some heels and a fun clutch for a casual Friday look. Or you can mix and match by dressing up your distressed jeans with a blazer, and some cute booties for a weekend look.

What are your transitional go to favorites this time of year?

Photo Credit:  Andrew Swaine

Animal Instinct

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It’s a zoo out there! From leopard and snake prints to zebra and tiger stripes, it seems like all the trendsetters are going wild over animal prints. Why? Because it is the secret wardrobe weapon that adds easy drama and glamour to almost any outfit.

To be honest I was not always a fan of animal print. I thought it was too loud and felt intimidated trying to tame animal prints. However, my mom is a bit of an animal print addict. She always makes it look so chic and effortless. So, I got some styling tips from her. Mom told me to start small and “Experiment until you find what works for you, there’s really no wrong way to wear animal print”. Experiment I did and found the winning combo for me.

I’ve learned that a little bit of animal print can go a long way. The simpler and more monochromatic the rest of your look, the more the touch of print will pop. Accessorize with a narrow belt to draw attention to your waist, or maybe a scarf to draw the eye up toward your face or my current favorite a pair of animal print booties that adds just the right amount of ferociousness to an outfit.

Scroll through the ensembles I’ve created and let me know how you like to pay tribute to this trend.

Photo Credit: Andrew Swaine