best friends 4-ever

Earlier today I was writing up a shopping post for StyleCaster — today was my last day :( so sad — of  a bunch of super cute friendship bracelets. This summer I plan to have my wrists thoroughly layered with all these colorful, woven wonders. There was one jewelry designer that I absolutely died and went to heaven for though. Frieda & Nellie. They take vintage rhinestone bracelets and necklaces and splice in bright sections of friendship bracelets. It's so creative! I might have to try a DIY session for these and see if I can't whip up something similar. If you want in on the trend, check out my original post on StyleCaster for several other options and styles, but continue on to see more of the Frieda & Nellie fabulosity below. 

vive le lapin

And after noticing several cottontail-inspired things during my online browsing and shopping, I've decided to create this post as an ode pour le lapereau. I'll be thinking of my Bunny, and you can be thinking of these bunnies. ;) Don't you want to cuddle them? Happy springtime!

i spill kisses with love

zapatos rojos

april showers

Wow! How creative, New York! You've given us another nice and gray, rainy day.

Photo: WhatDidYouExpectDarling

Now don't get me wrong, I love the rain--but only under two conditions. 1. It's warm weather and the sun is still shining even though it's raining. OR 2. It's cold and gray and I have the luxury of staying curled up by a fire, warm and dry, inside all day. Since things don't seem to be going in either of those directions lately, here is an April Showers Survival Guide to get you through the wet-weather-wardrobe season. Just because the weather is dull doesn't mean your outfit has to be too! ;)

I've always had qualms with outerwear. I feel like it can so easily muddle up your perfectly selected outfit, especially when it comes to rain gear. These jackets are functional and fun so you won't have to cringe as you put on your old, puffy, might-as-well-be-a-trash-bag slicker. 

From top left, clockwise: Yellow Pac-A-Parka, Topshop; Burberry Mint Green Pack-Away Parka, Net-A-Porter; River Island Leopard Trench Coat, ASOS; Jones and Jones Pink Paris Trench Coat, Topshop; Mackage Short Zip Rain Coat, Bloomingdale's

Sure, anyone can buy a pair of Hunter rain boots and call it a day. (Not that I don't adore my Hunters.) But let's get slightly more original.

From top left, clockwise: Loeffler Randall Lace-Up Rain Ankle Boots, Saks Fifth Avenue; UGG Australia Belcloud Rain Boots, Bloomingdale's; Tommy Hilfiger Women's Canaan Rain Boot, DSW; Sperry Top-Sider Cormorant Rubber Slip-Ons, J. Crew; Sperry Top-Sider Hingham Rain Boots, Nordstrom; Tangerine April Showers Rain Loafers, Ruche; BCBG Max Azria Willis Rain Boots, Heels.com

Here are a few cute, little, rainy-day pieces, just for fun. A hat is always a good idea when it's raining out, particularly for the purposes of covering up the crazy hair the weather is giving you. This tote bag is especially cool because it's a PVC-covered cotton, so it has a shiny, plastic-y finish and it won't get ruined if it gets wet!

From left: Gray Wool Floppy Hat, American Apparel; Navy Cath Kidston Spot Rain Hat, ASOS; Piazza Sempione Raindrop-Print Dress, Bergdorf Goodman; Wear the Rainbow Hair Clip, Modcloth; Antipast Silver Bee in the Rain High Socks, Bird; Antipast White Bee in the Rain Socks, Bird; Bottega Veneta Blue Ombre Cashmere and Silk-Blend Scarf, Net-A-Porter; DKNY Aqua Metallic Raindrop Cap-Sleeve Tie Blouse, My-Wardrobe.com; Piazza Sempione Raindrop-Print Side-Zip Capris, Saks Fifth Avenue; Pastel Prism 'What Color Is It?' Watch, Modcloth; English Rose Cath Kidston Carry-All Bag, ASOS

Of course, no rainy day can be weathered without an umbrella.

From top, left to right: Blue Sky Printed Umbrella, Urban Outfitters; Dusty Pink Bunny-Print Crook-Handle Umbrella, Topshop; Black and Cream Striped Umbrella, Kate Spade; Red Hearts Umbrella, Moschino Cheap and Chic; Marc by Marc Jacobs Jumbled Birds Umbrella, Net-A-Porter; Neon Geometric-Print David David Blocker Walking Stick Umbrella, Coggles; English Rose Tiny Umbrella, Cath Kidston; Blue Geometric Print David David Carousel Walking Stick Umbrella, Coggles; Burberry Regent Double Umbrella, Bloomingdale's; Orange Regimental Stripe Folding Umbrella, Barneys New York; Clear Purple Bubble Umbrella, Urban Outfitters; Yellow Vintage Stripe Folding Umbrella, Barneys New York

There is no morning too busy or rushed to stop and throw on a ring or two... or three. And a pair of earrings, naturally.

Sterling Silver Raindrop Ring, LuttrellStudio on Etsy; Umbrella Ring, PaperBiscuit on Etsy; Cloud Ring with Brass Drop, luckyduct on Etsy; Acrylic Sun and Cloud Rings, CupOfSea on Etsy; Sleepy Raincloud Ring, KimberlyDanielle on Etsy; Sterling Silver and Copper Spring Showers Ring, MintyFreshStudio; Gold April Showers Adjustable Ring, eelizabeth on Etsy; Rainbow Charm Ring, CsCharms on Etsy

Vintage Blue Canary Green Umbrella Earrings, Steven Alan; Happy Cloud Earrings, Cute-Plush; Partly Sunny/Partly Cloudy Earrings, LivCreatively on Etsy; She Draws Umbrella Earrings, Hannah Zakari; Air Elements of Nature Necklace, Modcloth; Alassin Sane Necklace, Modcloth; In the Name of Love Necklace, Modcloth; Sad Storm Cloud Necklace, Cute-Plush; Little April Shower Necklace, loubijoux on Etsy; Carrie Saxl Cloud and Star Pendant Necklace, Max & Chloe; Wooden Umbrella Girl Necklace, Stolen Thunder Boutique; A Bracelet For a Rainy Day, RMichelle on Etsy; Rain on a Sunny Day Necklace and Earring Set, robyny83 on Etsy

So hopefully these April showers...

Photos: oO-Rein-Oo 

will bring some May flowers.

Photos: Goodmorning&Goodnight; Studded Hearts

And soon!



-S.

Daily Dress Up

Photo: Living a Better Life

I went to take Delilah out this morning, fearful that the gusty gale I'd heard rattling the windows all morning would sweep us up and away as easily as it did the dried and brittle maple leaves that darted around helplessly in it's whirlwind of fury. As I creaked opened the back door prepared for the inevitable icy blast to whip through my clothes and burn inside my nose, I was thrown off guard by the moderately cool air that playfully kissed my cheeks. The curls of wind invited me out onto the deck and the ferocious movement of the branches I had previously seen as violence revealed itself instead as cheerful dancing. I must say, I have mixed emotions about this kind of gentle climate still showing up in November. There's no way it could snow in with temperatures like these, and I am so desperate for a white holiday season! On the other hand, the moment it snows I will have to figure out an alternative method of transportation as my itty-bitty convertible Nissan 350Z is slightly more sunshine and speed than blizzards and black ice. Not to mention that it's fairly hard to complain when the weather permits you to step outside in cute outfits without the eskimo factor.

I finally have all my clothes and shoes put away as of today... or so I thought. Several boxes of my winter-wear and nicest shoes have vanished under my mother's watch. She claims to remember boxing them up when my parents cleaned up the house and put it on the market this past summer. A whole slew of things went into storage. This was allegedly where I would find my things. Not so. Thus, the search continues for the boxes that contain my super-luxe black cashmere cowl-neck sweater and my chalky brown suede fold-over cuff booties. I should establish a reward for their recovery! Perhaps that might incite little more urgency into the attention of the search party... Good news though! Though my precious treasure chest of apparel is missing in action, I did stumble upon my grandmother's vintage fur stole in one of the wardrobe boxes marked "Dress-ups." Hah! Dress-ups! Please, this puppy is meant to be worn in the real world. Don't you agree? 

For now though I am making do with the clothes I have and the weather I am given. A basic black bandage skirt (ok maybe not SO basic, the high waist and the ruffled texture add a little extra) paired with a loose and open-knit thin sweater is an easy ensemble that effectively toes the line between dressy chic and casual. I added a pair of sheer black pantyhose and my black American Apparel thigh-high socks to warm up my extra long leggies. My oxford-style booties are from Buffalo Exchange in Austin. They have a small hidden platform underneath the ball of my foot so they're much more comfortable to walk in than they look. The finishing touches to any outfit I put on usually come from a last minute stroll through my mother or sister's room. In this case, I stole my sister's nubby charcoal gray boyfriend blazer and snagged a vintage gold medallion tassel necklace out of my mom's jewelry stand. The chunky pink cocktail ring is my own, however, and hails from my beloved fashion heaven: Forever 21. 

Friends start coming home soon! I cannot wait! I have had way too much parental company and far too few margaritas to cope with it lately. Someone come rescue me! 

-S.

Click below for more snapshots...

Gimme Gimme!

I hate when the end of the month comes and my money is terrifyingly low. I always tend to see soooooo many things I love right when I can't afford them. Case in point....

Wishlist

Wildfox Couture - Indian Spirit - Unisex Tee - Shop Now, $77
Sheer Lined Sweater, $23
3/4 Sleeve Knit Tunic, $22
Halston Heritage Leather Hot Pants, $345
J-Brand Houlihan Skinny Cargo Pants Vintaupe, 298 EUR
Forever21.com - New Arrivals - 1082149919, $6.80
Surface To Air 'Buckle Ankle Boot' Mastic, 233 GBP
Jeffrey Campbell Suede Lace Up Wedge, $148
Women's Apparel: shoes | Banana Republic, $79
Forever21.com - Accessories - Jewelry, $7.80
Forever21.com - New Arrivals - 1086325691, $5.80
ASOS | ASOS 70s Floppy Felt Hat at ASOS, 22 GBP
ASOS Long Fantasy Fur Snood, $34
Forever21.com - - 2083729266, $23

If anyone feels so inclined as to buy me a present. That's my wishlist! ;)

-S

Thriller

Wow it has been quite a while since I've posted. I've been inundated with the responsibilities of finding a job and an apartment! Closing in on both, so I hope this phase soon shall pass.

Despite my busy-bee-ness as of late, I still haven't been able to keep my mind and my time off of the rapidly approaching holiday. Halloween! Every year I brainstorm for weeks about what to wear. And every year I change my mind the night before. Halloween is not really the same anymore since I've left home, though. My golden memories center on parties in my parents' creepy 100+ year old house with my high school friends. We would decorate the front porch like a haunted house and stick my poor grandma in a makeshift coffin, her face smeared with bloody makeup, to scare the party-goers who dared enter (and not sneak in through the back door...) through the dark cloaks that draped in a haunting array from corner to corner of my front porch. Nonetheless, I still refuse to abandon a holiday that insists I dress up. After all, dressing up is what I love to do. I have searched around for costume inspiration lately and thought up a few options that I like. My lack of funds will likely end in the ultimate purchase of your typical prepackaged sexy-something-or-other costume... but until then I will fantasize of the organically fashionable concoctions that my dream wallet can afford. Take a peek after the jump! 

S.

Photos: www.ohdeedoh.com; www.sodahead.com

Hobo Chic?

This is what I'd be wearing today if...
a.) I weren't living out of a suitcase, and
b.) it wasn't 90 degrees outside.

Wishful by slindig05 featuring lace jewelry

sequin racerback vest, 425 GBP
James Perse Knitted merino wool sweater, $325
Mid-rise bleached skinny jeans, $98
Surface To Air 'Buckle Ankle Boot' Mastic, 233 GBP
botkier Brooklyn Cross-Body Hobo, $348
Muriel Grateau 18k Blackened white gold lace ring, 1,085 GBP
Original Aviator Sunglasses, $140

S.