Favorite Product Friday: Michael Kors Watches

I am obsessed with Michael Kors watches-and surprisingly by default.  When white watches started getting popular a few years ago, I was on the hunt for a Marc Jacobs version and happened to stumble on a silver Michael Kors watch with a crystal clear band on ShopBop that I knew was “the one”.  I ended up asking my hubby to get it for me for my birthday, and he did!  And I have been in love ever since.

And while yes, MK watches are pricey, I can attest that they wear incredibly well, are very durable, stylish, and not only that, but a watch is a classic piece you will wear everyday and keep in your collection for a very long time.

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You have probably noticed that I am almost always wearing a Michael Kors watch in my daily outfit posts-I simply can’t get enough of them.  And lately my outfits don’t quite  feel complete unless I am wearing one-usually with an arm party of bracelets.  Although  I have to say, I still check the time on my iPhone.  🙂

And here’s a tip, if you are looking for an MK watch and don’t want to pay full retail price, check your local TJMaxx and Nordstrom Rack.  I have found 3 of my 5 Michael Kors watches at the Rack for under $100 and often see them at TJ too, but normally in the men’s section, so don’t forget to look there!

Happy weekend everyone!!

xx

Pops of Neon

I LOVE adding pops of neon to an outfit (you can see some examples here, here, here, and here)-such a great way to add a little interest to an otherwise simple ensemble.  I am also finding that I am loving adding pops of neon back to prints.  And even though prints are fun on their own, those little neon accents just take them to the next level-an instance where more is more and not less. 

That said, I recently purchased the below dress for three reasons:  1.  It reminds me of this Marc Jacobs dress that I LOVE, 2.  It is black so I can wear it to work with a cardi or blazer, 3.  The cute little heart print is just begging to be paired back to a little neon and some fun accessories. 

Dress:  Macy’s Junior’s Department (recent)

Vest:  Macy’s Junior’s Department (recent)

Neon Pink Belt:  Macy’s

Necklaces:  Tiffany, My collection of charms, Forever21

Bracelets:  H&M, Forever21, Tiffany, Macy’s

Watch:  Michael Kors via Macy’s

Hot Pink Druzy Ring:  Amanda Lynne Luxe (etsy)

Sunglasses:  Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack

Shoes:  Aldo via Nordstrom (sold out)

The first time I wore this dress to work, I literally had people stopping me to ask where I found it.  And of course everyone was surprised when I told them I found it in the junior’s department at Macy’s (and for only $18!!!).  And while I don’t always shop in the Junior’s section, I do think it is worth checking out now and again.  A lot of companies are now targeting the “millenial” customer who they see as a shopper between the ages of 16-31.  So the breadth of assortment is slowly but surely imporving to garner a larger target audience who is on the hunt for more affordable and fashion forward pieces. 

Hooray!

xx

Silver or Gold?

Growing up I HATED gold. Absolutely hated it and refused (for the most part) to wear anything besides sterling silver or white gold. In fact, I think I remember telling my mom once that gold just wasn’t “cool” and that it was meant for “older ladies”. So it seems that now a days I have either had a change of heart, or fall into that whole “older lady” category, because I am a HUGE fan of gold. And I am pretty sure it all began because of Michael Kors and his fabulous watches. Thanks to MK, gold watches have been all the rage for the last couple of years, and with a gold watch, one must have gold accessories. So, I have slowly been picking up gold baubles here and there and am LOVING that I now have the option to wear either silver or gold, and sometimes even both together. I feel like it makes my wardrobe more well-rounded and allows for me to change things up on a daily basis. So when I picked up this cute dress at TJMaxx a couple of months ago, I knew that because of the cute gold buttons flanking the top and the warmth of the orange base, that it would be the perfect item to wear back to a lof of chunky gold jewelry.

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Dress: TJMaxx

Double Wrap Belt:  Down East Outfitters

Monogram Necklace: Keti Sorely Designs (etsy)

Bracelets: Left Hand: Forever21, Macy’s, Right Hand: Oia Jules (etsy)

Gold and Tortoise Watch: Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack

Ring: Decofox (etsy)

Earrings: Macy’s

Shoes: Chinese Laundry Love Me

Sunglasses: Steve Madden via TJMaxx

And while I am pretty sure I will always be a silver girl at heart, I definitely find myself gravitating more towards gold in the summer months. The warmth of it compliments a nice tan and just feels like it belongs with the current summer trend-particularly white. But the good news is, for those of us with a preference between the two, you can get away with either silver or gold . But I definitely recommend having the option of both in your accessory collection.

xx

P.S.  Please excuse the crease in the bottom of my dress.  Funny thing is, you can’t see it in person, but for some reason, it showed up when I put the photos through the Instagram filter.  Yikes!  😉 

Sunshine and Lace

Ahhhh, lace.  So pretty, so sweet, so timeless, so romantic.  I have to say that I am awfully glad to see lace making a comeback.  And am especially loving all of the cute lace and crochet shorts, flowy tops, and crops-some bohemian, some more fashion forward, there is a style of lace out there for everyone. 

And with so many options and price points to choose from, I have been on the hunt for a perfect lace top for a while and finally found a beautiful cream lace cropped tank at Macy’s a few weeks ago (post to come).  So I was surprised when I was recently in Forever21 and found another lace tank that was not only longer, but the color of sunshine and about 1/3 of the price.  And I knew instantly that even though it was lace (and yellow), it was a great basic that could work back to skirts, shorts, denim, and even colored denim. 

Yellow Lace Top:  Forever21

White Layering Tank:  H&M

Colored Skinnies:  Else by Joe’s Jeans exclusively for Macy’s

Sunglasses:  Calvin Klein via Macy’s Sunglass Hut

Bracelets:  Tiffany and Co., H&M, Macy’s, Thailand (yes, the country)

Watch:  Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack

Color Block Platform Shoes:  ZigiSoho via DSW

If you haven’t already added a piece of lace to your summer wardrobe, I would highly recommend doing so.  Not only is it on trend right now, but lace is timeless and will most certainly keep making comebacks as the fashion trends cycle over the years.  I also wanted to point out that I did something I don’t normally do in this post-which is opt for a monochromatic look with my shoes instead of a complimentary, but different, pop of color.  While the yellow heel and the turquoise platform are a shade or two darker than my top and jeans, they are in the same color family, and therefore work back to each other.  The white pop on the shoe is also the perfect way to tie it all together.  All in all, I am really pleased with how the look turned out and will definitely be making more monochromatic choices in the future-yet another fun and different way to change things up a bit!

xx

The Long And The Short Of It

I love shorts, but truth be told, the majority of the shorts in my closet have always been some form of denim or another, and the majority of those have had cut off hems-which is great for summer, and might I add practical (yes, practical). But now that shorts have taken on a whole new meaning and are a must-have summer fashion staple, I knew that in preparation for warmer weather I had to reassess and add some pieces to my wardrobe that could be worn with sky-high heels or in lieu of a skirt.

Featherweight Sweater: JCrew (recent)

Purple Sateen City Shorts: JCrew (recent)

Yellow Bubble Necklace: JCrew via eBay

Watch: Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack

Bracelets: H&M, Forever21, Tiffany and Co.

Shoes: Steve Madden via DSW

There are so many fun options out there when it comes to shorts-from bright solid colors, to fun tribal patterns, to sweet lace versions, I guarantee there is a style out there for everyone. And while I won’t be giving up my cut-off denim shorts any time soon (and you shouldn’t either!), I am happy to add some of these fun, dressier options to my wardrobe-it’s always good to change things up a bit!!

Happy Monday!!

xx

The Cold Shoulder

One thing I know for sure, I definitely did not get the cold shoulder from my friends and family on my birthday-in fact so many people in my life reached out and made such incredibly sweet gestures, that it is safe to say it was one of my best birthdays yet.  I did however, choose to wear my new bright pink cold shoulder top to my birthday dinner at my favorite wine and tapas bar with our very dearest friends.   It was a wonderful evening and I am so grateful to all who came out to celebrate, for the beautiful weather, the lovely gifts, and time spent with so many sweet friends that I don’t get to see nearly enough.  I was a very blessed birthday girl this year!

Pink Cold Shoulder Top:  RACHEL Rachel Roy via Macy’s

Skinny Jeans:  Gap Jeggings

Shoes:  DV by Dolce Vita Jude via Macy’s

Necklace:  JCrew via eBay (again, a word of caution if you go this route-there are a lot of terrible fakes on eBay right now)

Clutch:  Steve Madden via Macy’s (sold out)

Watch:  Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack

Bracelets:  Tiffany, H&M, Forever21, Macy’s, Thailand (yes, the country!)

Sunnies:  Guess via TJMaxx

I love the cold shoulder trend.  I think it is a great way to dress up a simple top-in fact, the other cold shoulder tops in my closet are primarily jersey and most of them seem to have stripes.  I tend to gravitate towards them because they are comfy enough to make you feel like you are slipping on your favorite t-shirt, but add a few accessories and some cute shoes, and you have an outfit fit for just about any occasion-including a birthday dinner in your honor! 🙂  They also tend to be flattering on my most figures and are a great way to transition from long sleeves to tank tops.  I know I never feel quite ready to show my pasty white arms in the month of May, so a cute cold shoulder top is the perfect middle ground.

Happy Hump day!!

xx

Fashion Star Finale!

I was so excited when I learned of the inception of Fashion Star and have thoroughly enjoyed it every Tuesday night since its premiere.  The mentors are terrific, the designers are fantastic, and as a buyer myself, of course I especially love the buyers!  In fact, I was even privileged enough to spend some time with Caprice in LA when I first started working for Macy’s.  And let me tell you, she is just as pretty and fabulous in person as she is on TV!

So of course, having followed along with the designers on their journey thus far, I am so excited to see how the finale unravels tonight!  Although each person left is incredibly talented, I can’t help but find myself rooting for Kara.  She is sweet, and humble, and her sense of style rocks!!  I think she is the perfect candidate to design lines for H&M, Saks, and Macy’s.  But even though I’m rooting for Kara, Orly was my season favorite, so in honor of her, I wanted to pay tribute by wearing the AH-mazing lime blazer she debuted last week, and of course top it off with some jewelry from Nicole Richie’s House of Harlow…

Blazer:  Orly Shani for H&M

Black Silk Cami:  Express

Snake Skin Liquid Leggings:  Nodrstrom (old)

Heels:  Steve Madden

Necklace:  House of Harlow via Nordstrom

Ring: House of Harlow via Nordstrom

Tortise Watch:  Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack

Bracelets:  Tiffany, Macy’s, Word Market, H&M

Sunnies:  Guess via TJMaxx

So while I can’t wait to see if my girl Kara is announced as the very first Fashion Star, tonight will also be a bit bittersweet as I say goodbye to one of my favorite guilty pleasures.  Guess I better start figuring out something new to do on my Tuesday nights!

Good luck Kara!!!

xx

 

Neutral Layers

Sometimes dressing to go out in the evening can be a bit tricky this time of year.  The days are warm enough to get away with tanks and tees, but the evenings cool down just enough to ensure that some sort of jacket or layer is necessary.   And while I love blazers and cardigans (of course), it gets a little boring to always fall back on one of those options.  So what else is there?

In the fall, my go to layering piece is usually a black leather jacket.  I don’t have a super “girly” style, so I love the idea of pairing a rough-and-tumble piece back to something a little more sweet.  But alas, my black leather jackets feel a little heavy for this time of year, which got me thinking.  What about a neutral colored leather jacket?  Something a little lighter to fit the season?

Well thank goodness for my job!  I was at a meeting in one of my stores, and just happened to see it-a neutral colored, shrunken lamb leather jacket.  And I knew on the spot it was the perfect piece to add to my collection to give me a fresh new layering option for cool nights out on the town.  And even more than that, it’s a jacket that will also be perfect when summer fades to fall…

Cat Eye Sunglasses:  Jessica Simpson via Ross

Gold Hammered Earrings:  Street Vendor in San Francisco

Leather Jacket:  Guess via Macy’s (sold out online)

Chiffon Flower Petal Top:  Bohme (SLC Boutique)

Belt:  American Eagle

Red Skinnies:  Else by Joe’s Jeans via Macy’s (sold out online)

Tortise and Gold Watch:  Michael Kors via Nordstrom

Bracelets:  Tiffany

Leopard Wedges:  Aldo (sold out online)

And while it was a little bit of a splurge, I am so happy I decided to add this jacket to my wardrobe.  I have already gotten a lot of use out of it, and know that I will continue to do so once the summer months have passed and fall is upon us.  Black is always in, but neutrals are a great way to change things up and an excellent staple to pair back to pretty much anything, including red pants and leopard shoes! 🙂

Happy Monday!

xx

I Heart Yellow

Yellow is my favorite color.  In fact, when I got married, I wanted to put my bridesmaids in yellow dresses.  But lucky for them, I was a couple years ahead of the yellow trend and they got to wear tangerine instead.  😉  But it is the one color I have always been drawn to  for as long as I can remember (surprisingly, I had a falling out with pink after my pink and purple phase in kindergarten and only started loving it again in recent years).  I wore yellow in my senior pictures, attended a University where our colors were black and gold, but the gold was often translated into yellow, had yellow flowers and decor at my wedding (my hubby also wore a yellow vest with his tux), and even have a bright sunshine yellow Marc Jacobs computer bag that I carry with me everyday for work. 

And since yellow is one of the “it” colors of the season, that certainly makes my little heart very happy.  BUT, yellow is not for everyone.  It is one of the most difficult colors to wear and the brightness of it often scares people away (understandably so).  So how can you incorporate yellow into your wardrobe this season?  Through accessories, of course!  And I think every gal should purchase something yellow in anticipation of summer, whether it be a belt, a necklace, a fun pair of shoes, or a handbag, you just have to go for it.  Fashion is, afterall, all about taking chances and stepping outside of your comfort zone, right?

Cardigan:  JCrew

Skirt: Francesca’s (recent)

Sunglasses:  Calvin Klein via Sunglass Hut at Macy’s

Shoes:  Chinese Laundry LoveMe

Yellow Bubble Necklace:  JCrew via eBay (be careful if you go this route-LOTS of bad fakes!!!!)

Yellow Belt:  Macy’s

Watch:  Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack

I feel like I should add a disclaimer to this post, some kind of warning so that you can all prepare yourselves to see A LOT of this necklace.  I actually bought it in anticipation of my birthday to wear to a celebration dinner at my favorite restaurant with friends tomorrow night, but couldn’t wait to wear it and have already gotten significant use out of it since its arrival.  For me, it is the perfect yellow accessory.  In fact, I had to stop myself from wearing it again today.  🙂

And as a side note, thank you all so much for the birthday love and wishes.  I had a really incredible day and am so grateful for all that everyone did for me-particularly my hubby who made me feel like an absolute princess.  I am truly blessed!

xx

Colored Skinnies

Since I obviously love color, it should come as no surprise that I also love the whole colored denim trend. However, I have found it to be a struggle fo find the colors I want in the brands that I love, or a color that I love in a brand that fits. And I would even go so far as to say that generally most of the colored leggings and jeans that are out there are very ill-fitting (especially if you have any curves at all-which I do).

So with that, I am happy to announce that I have finally found an incredible denim resource with a great selection of colored skinnies, denim skinnies, and super cute denim bootcuts. They are figure flattering, comfortable, don’t sag in the booty (like A LOT of brands out there), and are actually affordable.  Almost seems too good to be true, doesn’t it? But rest assured, I tell you, because it most definitely is not!

The brand is called Else and it is a more affordable extension of the Joe’s jeans line (retailing for around $68 each), made exclusively for Macy’s. And really, how great is that? All of the awesome fit properties and the quality of Joe’s for almost half the price. I love them so much, I have picked them up in a dark denim wash, black(which are great for work), red, purple(seen here), and my new favorite color that I just can’t get enough of…

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Pink Aviators:  Steve Madden c/o TJMaxx

Striped Shirt:  BarIII c/o Macy’s

Spearamint Pants:  Else Denim c/o Macy’s

Pink Shoes:  Jessical Simpson Waleo c/o Macy’s

Pink Necklace:  Thai Pan Trading Company (local Utah store)

Bracelets:  Tiffany, Macy’s

Watch:  Michael Kors c/o Nordstrom Rack

So if you are in the market for a great fitting, high quality pair of skinnies, definitely check out Else at your local Macy’s or online (stocks and colors are pretty picked over right now, but a new delivery should hit within the next week or two).  I am absolutely thrilled with mine and wanted to give them some blog love so that you all could be in the secret too.  And please feel free reach out to me with any questions you might have about the brand or the fit, and I would be happy to help!! 

Happy shopping!!

xx