Classics

Happy March!

I wore this look on an adventure downtown to see the kate spade home pop up store in Soho. I don't make it downtown very often, but I love the architecture and some of the neighborhoods you can find in lower Manhattan. I was in the mood to wear stripes and a cuddly fur vest, but I wanted to add a little color too, so my kate spade gumdrop earrings were the perfect addition. Polka dots and stripes are classic prints that pair nicely together, and I added ripped jeans to update the look. A slight orangey lip gloss nods to the coral earrings and adds a touch of color.

The kate spade home store is gorgeous, and I want absolutely everything in it (but I was pretty good, I only made one small purchase!). And don't worry, I took tons of pics-- I have a post coming your way very soon!

Even though it was beautiful and sunny, it was SO windy yesterday that my hair was flying all over the place and my ears turned bright red from the cold! A high pony was the best I could do to keep my hair under control and looking somewhat chic.

Top: H&M (similar). Vest: Chicwish. Jacket: Tulle. Bag: kate spade (striped, floral). Earrings: kate spade. Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters. 

xoxo CC

Vintage Chic

What a beautiful, sunny, freezing cold day!! I was freezing my a** off trying to get these photos done in the whipping wind -- but worth it, right? Ah, what we sacrifice for the sake of fashion. Luckily this vintage coat handed down to me from my grandmother is 100% wool and super warm. I keep seeing images from Paris Fashion Week Men's going on now, and so many of the ladies attending are wearing long tweed coats just like this one. 

I paired this coat with a navy blue teeshirt featuring a floral hemline for a touch of print mixing.  Simple black jeans and booties keep the look classic and clean when I'm all buttoned up, while pretty vintage-glam inspired earrings add subtle sparkle. From afar the coat looks like a navy and brown combo, but up close you can really see how pretty the jewel tone greens and blues are. I wanted to pick up on the blue and green in the coat with the navy tee and greenish earrings. This long straight silhouette is back in style these days so I'm embracing the vintage feel for a classic feminine look that adds a little print to my winter outerwear style. 

As I was writing this post the song Thrift Shop kept running through my head with lyrics like,

 "I'mma take your grandpa's style, I'mma take your grandpa's style,
No for real - ask your grandpa - can I have his hand-me-downs?"

"Is that your grandma's coat?"

Yes, child from the Macklemore song, it actually is. 

Coat: Vintage (similar styles 1/2/3/4). Tee: J. Crew. Jeans: J brand. Booties: Jessica Simpson via DSW. Bag: Kate Spade. Earrings: Ruche. Necklace: Kate Spade. Nail tutorial. 

xoxo CC

Twilight

I loved this shoot on the rooftop at twilight so I wanted to share a few more photos from it. The glow over the rooftops creates a dreamy backdrop for highlighting an elegant outfit.
While this look was inspired by Las Vegas it works perfectly for a night in New York as well. Rooftop restaurants and bars are a fun destination in the city because you can get a phenomenal view of the buildings and skyline. When the weather is nice my friends and I like to go up to the rooftop of my apartment building and look out over all the lights of the city as well.

I love the color of this dress because it is bright and fun but it works in any season. The vibrant purple makes it an easy choice for warmer months but the crochet-lace is a heavy enough that it doesn't look out of place in winter either. With a blazer layered over it and pointed black heels it's a great choice for a dressy rooftop dinner--or even a holiday party!

Dress: ModCloth (similar 1/2/3) Blazer: Urban Outfitters. Shoes: Vince Camuto. Clutch: similar. Earrings: J. Crew (1/2/3). Lip: BareMinerals "Risk It All."

xoxo, CC

#Bestdressed for Vegas

One of my friends is planning to celebrate her birthday this year with a group trip to Las Vegas. Since it is never too early to start planning outfits I took this chance to put together my Ultimate Vegas Outfit. I wanted to do something a little different while still incorporating the typical Vegas glitz and glamour. Statement earrings and a fabulous clutch are some of the defining factors of the outfit, which I tried to keep simple, classy and still totally fun. 

For a day-to-night look I chose coated leggings with a ruffled tank and glam earrings. This sexy-casual style is perfect for walking the strip, grabbing lunch on the patio at Olives, and checking out the casino at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The leggings and tank with flat slip-on shoes ensure comfort all day, but the edgy leathery look, fluttery ruffles, and glittering earrings nod to Vegas style and will keep you feeling confident at the poker table. And in case anyone doubted, the #bestdressed clutch makes a playful statement, suitable for the notorious Vegas "anything goes" approach to style. I even made sure to have the necessary accessories on hand to transition this look to a night out at Ghostbar or Hakkasan: all it needs is a pair of eye-catching heels and a jewel encrusted clutch to take the look up a level. A brighter lip and collar necklace don't hurt either for a touch of glam suitable for the dance floor.

Top: Ella Moss (similar: 1/2/3). Leggings: H&M (1/2). Shoes: Elk. Clutch: Deux Lux at DSW. Earrings: similar 1/2. Lip: e.l.f "Pink Umbrellas."

I had so much fun with this that I put together a second outfit for an evening out in Vegas.

For an elegant look suitable for dinner at STK and a show, a tight lace dress is a great option. Honestly, I wish the skirt length were a little longer on this one to make it more sophisticated, but with a blazer layered over it and pointed black heels it's a great choice for a dressy dinner. I added a blingy clutch and bejeweled drop earrings to complete this show-stopping look for a night out in Vegas.

Thank you to Vegas.com for inviting me to participate in creating the Ultimate Vegas Outfit. Check out the various Las Vegas hotels if you're planning a trip or want to learn more about all they have to offer.

Look 2: Dress: ModCloth (similar 1/2/3) Blazer: Urban Outfitters. Shoes: Vince Camuto. Clutch: similar. Earrings: J. Crew (1/2/3). Lip: BareMinerals "Risk It All."

xoxo CC

New England Fall

Fall in New England is beautiful with all the changing leaves creating bursts of color. I've discovered some old photos I took before moving to the city, that still speak to things I think are important for fall styling! For instance, I've talked for years about how blush pink is an unexpectedly perfect fall color, and I've really been wearing a lot of it this season. 

These photos were taken in the earlier stages of fall when the sky was a bright blue and plenty of greenery still remained. The colors of the natural fall landscape are the perfect inspiration for fall fashion color palettes. Taking my favorite blush pink as a starting point and adding gold and orange tones drawn from the foliage and blues inspired by the crisp sky create a balanced and seasonal outfit. Neutral clothing choices, like a pale pink base, allow for more experimenting in the accessories, and here I wanted to focus on how the accessories I chose were drawn from the colors in the natural landscape. Even the leaf shaped earrings tie in perfectly with a fall theme. We all draw inspiration from our surroundings and I think it is fun to expose that by photographing fashion and landscape side by side. 

While I am often known to complain about the cold and short days in the fall, it truly can be beautiful while the leaves change. Fall in New England is something I will surely miss when my parents fully move to California and I won't be visiting my "home state" so much anymore...

Skirt: H&M (love these 1/2/3/4). Jewelry: Vintage. Shoes: Matiko (similar 1/2). Nails: Sephora by OPI "Let's Plie" (discontinued, similar here, here).

xoxo, CC

Spotlight on J. Crew Jewelry

Have you seen the glitzy line of J. Crew jewelry currently on their website? Their recent collections are stunningly beautiful. Every time I go to their site to find links for my blog posts I am blown away by the vibrant and glittering collection. Full of rich rainbow hues, glittering gems, and statement silhouettes, you can't help but be drawn in by them! I have always loved their jewelry selections, and the vivacity of these pieces is no exception. Any of these would make a great finishing touch to a simple dress with heels, or to dress up a cute blouse and jeans combo.

While I would take any of these gems in a heartbeat, the deep teal hue in the top left pieces is a winner in my book. Blue has always been a favorite color of mine! It matches so easily with most other colors in any season. Which of these pieces would you pick?

J Crew iridescent necklace, $175 / J Crew sequin necklace, $200 / J Crew colorful jewelry, $200 / J Crew crystal statement necklace, $185 / J Crew colorful jewelry, $135 / J Crew cuff bangle / J.Crew crystal stud earrings, $40 / J.Crew earrings, $47

xoxo, CC

Grey Day and Gold

My latest obsession: these earrings. When I saw them I knew I had to have them. Not only are ear jackets currently trendy, but this pair is so delicate and yet modern. Designed in collaboration with Wendy of the infamous Wendy's Lookbook blog, these earrings are the perfect mix of feminine and edgy, timeless and of-the-moment. I love that they are not too dramatic, which suits my style perfectly. I paired them with a simple sweater-dress last week to accentuate their simple and delicate aspects, and really let the gold jewelry pop. 

Sweater dress: Etam (similar). Belt: Garnet Hill (similar). Boots: ModCloth. Tights: similar. Earrings: Baublebar. Necklaces: Baublebar and Dogeared.

xoxo, CC