Fall Boots to Wear Now??

Footwear really sets the tone for an outfit, and it’s a great way to transition a look with the change of seasons. I’ve been anxiously waiting to wear my new boots from Shoe Dazzle.  However, with the warmer weather we’re having boot weather isn’t quite in full swing yet.  So, I decided to pair some of my favorite summer dresses from my closet with my new fall boots. Going tights-less while the weather allows?

Love these western-inspired Talah ankle bootie featuring a block heel, pointed toe, and side zipper closure.
I loved pairing my romantic summer dress with these Annabeth Quilted Flat over-the-knee boots featuring a quilted front panel, stretchy neoprene back and buckle detail.
This chic Equestrian-Inspired look has to be one of my favorites. Will probably be adding a blazer next week. You never know what this New England weather will surprise you with ?

Which are your favorite boots to wear right now? Ankle boots or Over the Knee Boots?

*Sponsored by Shoe Dazzle

Photo Credit: Andrew Swaine

Teddy Blake Handbag Labor Day Sale is on!!!

Hope you all are enjoying the last sun-soaked long weekend of summer. I know it is sad to put away those bathing suits. But we can all agree nothing cures the end of the summer blues like the standout Labor Day deals.  So, dry your tears on the nearest beach towel because Teddy Blake has up to 60% off on luxury handbags.  Yes, you heard right!  These deals are just way too good to pass up. 

The eye candy on the Teddy Blake website is plentiful, but what caught my eye immediately was the “Kim Stampatto” collection.  This collection comes in two sizes and various colors.

Fall has me clamoring for rich textures and deeper colors so naturally the 11” Kim Stampatto Red bag made my heart skip a beat.  This structured design has all the elegance and pose to take any look from day to evening with ease. The gold hardware against the soft pebbled Italian leather pairs beautifully and gives this bag a very elevated final aesthetic.



The chic Kim Stampatto bag comes with a top handle as well as a longer strap option, which allows for the bag to be worn cross-body resulting in maximum functionality.

Whether you’re shopping for an updated everyday bag or a new silhouette to freshen up your evening assortment then the Kim Stampatto is for you. We are making our way right on into the new season and its time to treat yourself to a new handbag! ?

*Sponsored by Teddy Blake

Photo Credit: Andrew Swaine

DIY No Sew Cloth Face Mask

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain example grocery stores and pharmacies. CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.

I fashioned this face mask using a scarf / bandana. Hope you find this tutorial useful during this chaotic time.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. ????

Love at First Bite!

Everyone knows that the way to a person’s heart is through the stomach.  So, if you’re looking for a way to spoil your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day, you have to start in the morning with this adorable breakfast idea.  This will set the romantic tone for the day leading to your evening plans. 

To make these heart shaped pancakes, I simply used a set of silicone heart egg/pancake rings from Amazon. You don’t have to limit yourself to heart shaped pancakes. You can also use alphabet cookie cutters to carve out a sweet message. The easiest way to make them is to cook your pancakes first and then cut the letters out of the fully cooked pancakes instead of pouring batter directly into the cookie cutter. The edges will be smoother this way.

You can make your pancake batter from scratch if you have a recipe you love, but boxed pancake mix works just as well. I love this Trader Joe’s Buttermilk Protein Pancake mix. For an extra special touch, garnished pancakes with Nutella and strawberries.

Are you going to give this idea a try? It will be love at first bite!

Photo Credit: Andrew Swaine

Summer Stripes Styled 3 Ways

There are some summery trends that really just make summer feel like summer when you’re wearing them. I am talking about stripes. Whether you’re coastal living or find yourself landlocked, stripes are the perfect way to add a touch of nautical to your summer ensembles.

What I love about stripes is that you can dress it up or down. Here are my 3 looks:

  1. Keeping it classic and chic in this French inspired black and white  look. If you only own one striped top, opt for the off the shoulder, three-quarter sleeve shirt in black and white or navy blue and white. The horizontal stripes are perfect to pair with shorts, skirts or pants.

 

2.  Keeping it cool and edgy in these wide-leg striped pants. They are perfect to remix all throughout summer.

  1. Keeping it simple and sophisticated in this super cute candy striped dress. Paired with espadrilles this look screams summer getaway! What I love about this dress is that it can effortlessly transition from the beach, to brunch, to walking around town, to dinner.

Hope some of these looks inspire your summer wardrobe. You’ve earned your stripes to give it a try.

Photo Credit: Andrew Swaine

Below are a few more striped pieces under $60.00

                      

                        

 

Summer Trend: Blazers and Shorts

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

2 Pieces You Need to Mix & Match Your Spring Wardrobe

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

Declutter & Consign with Covet Boston

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!

Happy Holidays

Hello Lovelies,

I can’t believe that Christmas is only a few short days away.  Andrew and I are getting ready to unplug and check out ?️ of the grind.  But before we do, we would like to take a moment to wish you and your family a very Merry Everything. May your Christmas sparkle with moments of love & laughter. And may the year ahead be full of happiness & bliss.

Love Always

– Nikki & Andrew

P.S. Allow yourself the time to indulge in your favourite holiday foods. Life is short…eat the cookie/s.

~Nikki

Bye-Bye Summer

I hope you Lovelies had an enjoyable  weekend. Here in the States we had a three day weekend because of the Labor Day holiday.  Andy and I decided to make the most of the long weekend by enjoying a picnic on the beach. We had some good laughs as we reflected on the past few months.

It’s almost time to bid summer adieu. Although summer does not officially end until September 22 we definitely feel the dip in temps here in Boston. I am sad to see summer go. I am sad  about all the summery outfits I didn’t get to wear enough,  the beach vacations and  all the seasonal festivities coming to an end.

I want to send August off in style by sharing a few of my best and favorite summer looks from the season.

I will miss the road trips and singing in the car with the wind in my hair.

What will you miss most about summer? Looking forward to reading your comments.

The tans will fade but the memories will last forever. Cheers to summer!!!