Jaguar

The latest addition to my jewelry collection: this jaguar ring. 

It is fierce, stylish, unique, and definitely a statement maker. The jewelry designer who made the ring for me told me that the jaguar symbolizes confidence, agility and strength, all great qualities to be reminded of on a daily basis. 

To bring that fearless quality into the rest of my outfit I decided to wear this black jumpsuit. Despite its excessive comfort it took an extra boost of confidence to wear a bold one-piece like this. Rounding out the look with wedge sandals and a soft moto jacket maintained the bold yet feminine vibe. 

Whenever I say the word 'jaguar' to myself I always think of it with the British pronunciation, ever since watching season 5 of Mad Men when they get the account for Jaguar cars after their merger with a British company. It sounds so funny pronounced that way that it always makes me smile!
(And then cringe a little bit remembering that character's demise...)

Jumpsuit: Michael Stars. Sandals: Franco Sarto. Jacket: bebe. Jaguar Ring: by Jeanne Ruland. Bracelets: H&M. Necklace: kate spade. Bag: kate spade. Earrings: Banana Republic. Nails: Sally Hansen "Lacey Lilac."

xoxo, CC

Party Dress

Happy Memorial Day! I've been working all weekend, but I hope you all had a chance to enjoy the weather and a few days off!

Warm weather calls for bright colors!

This pretty party dress certainly fits the bill with the sunny orange and green combo. I got this dress at the Gilt City Warehouse Sale a few weeks back and I couldn't wait to wear it. For a more casual outing I would probably pair it with subtle strappy sandals, but to spice things up for a dinner party I went with bold matching orange. 

My new favorite fringe bag was my go-to to complete the outfit and it lends a casual summery vibe. I'm so happy that the weather is nice enough for wearing cute dresses like this one! 

Dress: Alice and Olivia. Shoes: Kate Spade Saturday. Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Bracelet: Ruche. 

xoxo, CC

Dressed Up for No Reason

This outfit came together so last minute as I was running out the door to work one day, and I absolutely love the combo. A full skirt, cute cropped top that shows just a touch of skin, and a pretty layered statement necklace equals a fun and fancy outfit. There was just a light breeze as I was shooting photos that made the skirt dance so prettily! 

Sometime it is fun to get a little extra dressed up for no particular reason at all other than simply the delight in pretty clothes. While you're sure to catch me in an easy tee shirt-and-jeans type outfit several days a week, I also love putting on a pretty skirt and some sparkly jewels just for the fun of it.  People often ask, "Where are you going all dressed up?" and I simply reply, "Oh, nowhere, I just felt like dressing up today!" Because why not?

But, a peek of skin and a tee shirt-like top do keep this look balanced for the daytime.

Skirt: Last seen here (similar 1/2/3). Top: H&M (1/2/3). Necklace: Ruche. Shoes: J Crew (similar). Denim jacket: Gap.

xoxo CC

Black and White

Normally I like to wear a lot of color in the summer, or at least light shades like white. You'll hardly ever find me without a pop of color in my outfit when it's warm! But, this black and white skirt has posed a problem for me. I find it really hard to match with! The color in the print is a weird off-white/beige that doesn't like to go with many colors. So rather than try to pair it with something bright, I tried a different angle this time: a modern black tank. 

I love the resulting outfit! I feel like it is very urban but still feminine and fun. The fringe bag adds a summery touch to the look without the need for color. The movement in the fringe and in the skirt make sure the outfit is still fun and light, but I can take on the streets of New York like a real city girl.

Top: Zara (1/2). Skirt: Urban Outfitters (old. Similar: 1/2/3/4). Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Sandals: Dolce Vita. Earrings: Gorjana. Necklace: similar here.

xoxo CC

Weekend Stripes

What a beautiful weekend to be outside!! 

This past Sunday was spent on roommate adventures in the city. We started with brunch outside at a sidewalk table, followed by a walk in the park through the Conservancy Garden and grocery shopping (at multiple different stores, carrying lots of heavy bags.... always an adventure). I absolutely love the conservancy garden: if you live in the city or visit sometime, it is definitely worth checking out. The garden is a beautifully curated space planted with seasonal flowers of all types and colors as well as flowering trees, fountains, and plenty of benches to sit down and enjoy it all. It is such a relaxing and refreshing place to drink in the beauty of nature and forget the city streets for a bit.

I wore my favorite summer go-to, this coral and white striped dress. This was defintiely my most-worn item last summer because it is so easy to throw on for almost any occasion (work, lunch, drinks with friends, etc.) and is just so darn cute! It needs minimal accessorizing and it is so comfortable. The bright color was perfect for enjoying the floral garden and sunshine over the weekend :)

Dress: Splendid (floral version). Sandals: Sam Edelman. Necklace: Kate Spade. Earrings: BaubleBar. Bracelet: H&M. Bag: Ruche (love these 1/2/3). Nails: Sally Hansen, Lacey Lilac.

xoxo CC

Summer Pants

When the weather is hot last the thing I want to wear is a pair of skin tight pants. Usually my go-to in this situation is a skirt or a pair of shorts, but last week I switched it up a bit with a pair of loose fitting comfy pants. 

These loose black pants are super comfortable and also very versatile. The style of them allows them to be dressed up or down depending on what I pair it with. I wanted a casual summery look this time so I added a slouchy tee, chambray shirt, and sandals. This whole look is loose and breezy for when the weather is warm but I don't want to show too much skin. With a bunch of bracelets and layered necklaces added to the look it has such a fun bohemian feel! 

I know that flowy printed pants are really in right now, but I love the classic black of this pair because they can be worn with so many different things! 

Pants: Tommy Hilfiger (1/2/3). Tee: bobi. Chambray: Rails. Shoes: Dolce Vita. Bracelets: Alex and Ani, Kate Spade. Nails: Essie, Butler Please. 

xoxo CC

Keep in Touch

I admit it. I'm really bad at keeping in touch with friends when I don't get to see them regularly. Life gets busy, I put things off, and eventually it begins to feel like those far-flung friends are completely out of reach. I always miss those friends and the good times we've had, but sometimes sending a random text or facebook message feels insincere.

So, a year ago I gave myself a challenge: send a birthday card to each one of my good friends, with a personal note. I always love getting a letter or card from a friend in the mail, especially when it's unexpected. And nothing makes a birthday more special than getting sweet notes from friends! So I spent some time tracking down friend's birthdays and addresses, wrote them all down in my planner, and began the "Year Of Birthday Cards." 

Now a year has gone by since I sent the first card, and I am happy to report that I met the challenge! Not only did I successfully send a card to every friend whom I could find a birthday and address for (I didn't want to ask for addressed too much because I wanted the cards to be a surprise!) but I also sincerely enjoyed the process. Picking out the perfect card for each person, writing a personal note and reminiscing about fun times from the past, then decorating the cards with doodles or stickers was fun and refreshing. 

I often struggle with what to say in a letter, so when I was having trouble thinking of what to say I came up with a little formula to help me out and get some ideas. 

After the greeting:

1. Ask a question about the person you're writing to, about their new job/apartment/boyfriend etc.

2. Bring up something that you used to do together, or a fun memory

3. Tell them a little something about what's new in your life recently 

4. Propose a plan for the future, a time you might see them or something you want to do together.

Using these steps always helps get the words flowing and makes letter writing feel a little more natural for me. One thought often leads to another and my message usually overflows onto the back of the card! 

Do you send cards or letters by mail often? 

What other methods do you use to remind yourself to keep in touch with friends? 

xoxo, CC

Little Orange Shift Dress

The perfect piece for summer: an easy shift dress in a sunny hue. And when it's in my favorite dress color I really couldn't resist! I know this one is going to be getting a lot of use in spring, summer and even fall. It is perfect with sandals on hot days, or a jacket and booties in cooler weather. 

I find that a shift dress looks best with a long necklace to balance out the loose fit and high neckline. Also adding a jacket or cardi breaks up the look, adds dimension, and give the silhouette more definition. I may experiment with using a belt or a statement necklace as well to mix up the looks for more variety. I love how cheerful this color is, and it definitely gives my skin a little bit of a glow!

Some contrasting nails and nude sandals complete the look for a nice walk in the park after a day at work.

Dress: Jack by BB Dakota. Denim Jacket: Gap. Necklace: American Eagle, similar. Shoes: J. Crew, similar. Earrings: Kate Spade.

xoxo, CC