Favorite Product Friday: Michael Kors Watches

On June 29, 2012June 30, 2012 By all dolled upIn Favorite Products, Michael Kors, Nordstrom Rack, TJMaxx, Uncategorized, Watches12 Comments

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.

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!!

Pops of Neon

On June 28, 2012 By all dolled upIn Nordstrom Rack, Outfit Ideas, Uncategorized1 Comment

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!

Silver or Gold?

On June 26, 2012June 26, 2012 By all dolled upIn Michael Kors, Nordstrom Rack, Outfit Ideas, TJMaxx, Uncategorized, Watches7 Comments

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.

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.

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! 😉

RATPOD

On June 25, 2012June 25, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas, Uncategorized2 Comments

My apologies for missing Favorite Product Friday las week-I promise I will make up for it this coming Friday. But in my defense, I had an absolutely crazy few days. I spent the week in Montana for work, flew back to the SLC late Thursday evening, and then turned around and drove back to Montana (different part of the state) Friday morning to participate in a 130 mile road bike ride called RATPOD.

So I’m guessing at this point you are probably wondering, what the heck is RATPOD? RATPOD is an acronym that stands for Ride Around the Pioneers in One Day and is a charity road bike ride that supports Camp Mak-A-Dream:

“a medically supervised, cost-free Montana experience, in an intimate community setting for children, young adults and families affected by cancer. A week at camp offers these kids and young adults the chance to be “normal”, to conquer challenges, gain independence and self-esteem, make new friends and face their fears alongside others who understand what it’s like to have cancer.”

Pretty incredible, right?? My husband’s family has participated in and supported the event for the last several years, and I was finally able to join in the festivities last year completing my first RATPOD ride (in the past I have typically had work conflicts). So to have the chance to participate for a second time this year was a pretty special treat. Here are some highlights from our weekend…

Our attempt at a family photo on the drive down. Fail. Lol.

Angry skies in Dillon-perhaps a little foreshadowing of the winds to come…

Enjoying the street dance after the pre-ride spaghetti feed

Me and my mother-in-law. We sure had fun together!

Heading out at 6am…

One of my favorite spots on the ride…

Minus the 30-40mph winds, it was a pretty spectacular day.

Happy to be done and out of the wind.

Free Big Sky Beers for all riders! NICE!

And even better than free beer? Free ice cream!!! 🙂

Enjoying more live music and a festive dinner for riders.

And even though I was there to ride, I still had to add some fashion elements to the weekend! In fact, my mother-in-law asked me if I wanted some more stream lined glasses to ride in and I had to tell her that I had purposefully selected the biggest cycling glasses I could find at the bike shop. Guess I’m not the most typical cyclist, but I love it just the same. 😉

And of course, our favorite sign on the drive back to the SLC. Montana pride runs deep in my veins. Always.

Hands down, RATPOD is an amazing event and this year did not disappoint. How incredible that we were not only able to spend a weekend with family we don’t get to see nearly enough, but also support such an incredible cause that touches the lives of so many. And as an added bonus, it’s also a pretty rewarding athletic accomplishment and one of the highlights of our summer! In fact, I’m already looking forward to next year.

Back with regular outfit posts tomorrow.

Wild About Rompers

On June 18, 2012June 18, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas, Uncategorized3 Comments

Are rompers a do or a don’t? In my book they are definitely a do. They are fun and flirty and a great way to add some variety to your style. I am absolutely wild about them this season and am particularly fond of the fact that there are now so many options of rompers to choose from (much more so than in the past two seasons). I picked up the below number at Macy’s recently and love that it is not only a romper, but that it has only one shoulder (one of my favorite silhouettes). Plus because it is black, it is essentially a blank canvas which will give me the opportunity to style it a lot of different ways this summer. But for a last minute dinner date with my hubby this weekend, I decided a pop of neon yellow was the way to go.

Romper: BarIII via Macy’s (recent)

Neon Belt: Macy’s

Bracelets: Tiffany and Co., H&M, Forever21, Macy’s

Watch: Michael Kors via Macy’s

Cocktail Ring: Flea Market in Italy

Earrings: ArdenB (old)

Neon Shoes: Aldo for Nordstrom (sold out)

But alas, as much as I love rompers, there is one slight problem with them-they aren’t the easiest for using the restroom. Lol. So if you are going to invest in a romper, make sure you only wear it when you aren’t drinking too much water or imbibing in too many cocktails. 😉

Happy Monday everyone!!

Favorite Product Friday: Conundrum

On June 15, 2012June 15, 2012 By all dolled upIn Favorite Products, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Years ago, when I began my career in the fashion inudstry at a little boutique in beautiful Bozeman, Montana, I learned two vital pieces of information that remain relevant in both my professional and personal life to this day.

The first came from the owner of the boutique who was wildly successful, but hardly ever wore anything from her store. Curious, I asked her why one day and she was kind enough to let me in on the secret to her success:

If you want to be a successful buyer, the first rule of thumb is that you NEVER, EVER buy for yourself. Success as a buyer comes from understanding your customer and how current trend in the relevant marketplace applies to them.

And let me tell you, I have used this little nugget of information throughout my career and truly believe that it is what has helped me gain success and notoriety in my industry.

And the second valuable lesson I learned during my time there is that Conundrum is the BEST wine EVER. I received a bottle as a gift from my manager, and since the first sip that passed through my lips, I have yet to waver in adoration and LOVE for this amazing white table wine.

co·nun·drum/kəˈnəndrəm/Noun: A confusing and difficult problem or question.

Why is such an amazing wine called Conundrum you might wonder? I promise that once you try it, you will understand. This wine is truly the perfect blend of California white grapes; not too sweet, not too dry, not too tart, not too anything but perfection. It is so refreshing and delicious on the palette, you won’t know whether to serve it with dinner, enjoy it for cocktail hour, have a glass by the pool, or share a bottle with friends over lunch. So how to resolve the conundrum that is Conundrum? Make it your perfect wine any time-I promise you will not be disappointed!! And if you have yet to taste this fabulous wine, try and incorporate a glass into your weekend plans-I have a feeling one you taste it, you will be hooked. Just like I am.

🙂

Happy weekend!!!!!!!

Park Silly Market

On June 13, 2012 By all dolled upIn Uncategorized3 Comments

One of the perks of living in the SLC is that we are just a short 30 minute drive from Park City. And while we spend a lot of time there in the winter skiing and enjoying it in all of it’s winter glory, I think I actually prefer PC in the summertime. So needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised when J suggested that we hit the opening of the Park Silly Farmer’s Market last Sunday. Park Silly is a great little summer Sunday market overflowing with food, artists, produce, musicians, and lots of people and dogs out and about taking in the festivities. It totally has that small town vibe and always feels like home to J and me.

However, we had a cold snap last weekend, so when I saw that the weather in PC was only 48 degrees, I was at a loss as to what to wear! I already put away all of my jackets and boots for the season, so while I had the brilliant idea of substituting one of my heavier blazers for a coat, it was my little tootsies were going to have to brave the cold. And brave it they did. 🙂

Blazer: H&M

Neon Top: Splendid via Macy’s

Skinnies: Gap

Neon Necklace: Forever 21

Bracelets: Tiffany and Co.

Watch: Michael Kors via Macy’s

Turquoise Clutch: Hobo International via Nordstrom Rack

Sunglasses: Calvin Klein via Sunglass Hut at Macy’s

Shoes: Guess via DSW

As you can tell in the last photo, it finally warmed up enough for me to take my coat off-right as we were leaving, of course. But it was a fabulous day and I can’t wait for more Sunday morning summer strolls through the Park Silly market. I will just bank on it being a little warmer from here on out!!

Happy Hump Day!!

Impromptu Date Night

On June 4, 2012 By all dolled upIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Even though we have basically finished remodeling our entire home, it seems that there is still a never ending list of projects that need to be done. So after a long Saturday spent painting and doing chores, J and I decided that we wanted to savor what was left of the gorgeous day and enjoy a nice dinner out on a patio somewhere. So with that, we settled on a little place called Pago-small and quaint with delicious farm-to-table food and a sweet outdoor dining area perfect for such a balmy night. And apparently Ty Burrell (Phil Dunphy) had the same idea, as he was seated at the table right next to us. 🙂

Because our date was sort of an impromptu affair and I didn’t have a whole lot of time to get ready, I ended up putting my hair up into the ever popular sock bun, and threw on a really easy (and comfy) silk color block dress, then topped off the look with fun accessories-my spike heels and a pair of feather earrings paired with some super long chain earrings that I can’t get enough of!! It was a look that felt just right for the evening and one of the easiest date night outfits I have thrown together in quite some time. And not only that, but I managed to cover up the stubborn white paint leftover on my legs and arms from the day’s earlier project.

Dress: Forever21 (recent)

Earrings: Aldo, TJMaxx (recent)

Handbag: Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC

Watch: Michael Kors via Macy’s

Bling Ring: Macy’s

Bracelets: Macy’s, Old Navy, Forever21, Tiffany and Co.

Spike Heels: Simply Vera Vera Wang via Khol’s

I am a huge fan of Forever21 but know that it can be a very overwhelming store to shop. However, there are a couple of tricks to follow to help you avoid the poorer quality merchandise so you can take advantage of the good stuff. One specific trick I have found to help me navigate Forever21 is to look at the fabric content on the tags of some of the seemingly nicer garments. The dress that I am wearing in this post is silk and was under $30-which is a pretty tough find to beat. And there are actually a lot of gems like this scattered throughout the store if you just take a little time to seek them out-which of course is challenging, but definitely well worth it in the end.

Happy Monday everyone!

Favorite Product Friday: Skinny Belts!!!!

On June 1, 2012June 1, 2012 By all dolled upIn Favorite Products, Outfit Ideas, Uncategorized6 Comments

Since this was a short week (which by the way felt like one of the longest weeks EVER), and I only got around to one true outfit post, I thought I would make this Friday’s Favorite Product post a bit of a hybrid. That said, today I want to talk about skinny belts.

I have never been a huge belt person, but because of my obsession with TLC’s What Not to Wear, Clinton Kelly planted a little bug in my ear many years ago: you always want to accentuate the smallest part of your waist. Seemingly a no brainer, but tougher than you would think given the current trends-all those long, flowy tops which are not particularly easy to wear. But about a year and a half ago, I discovered J’s Everyday Fashion and noticed she was putting belts back to just about every outfit and a little light went off in my head. What better way to accentuate the smallest part of your waist than with a belt??? Duh!! At that moment, I started collecting belts here and there and find that I now wear them all the time. And not only are they a great way to feel thinner by accentuating your waist, but because they are available in so many colors and styles, they are a fabulous accessory and a great way to add a pop of color to any outfit.

Striped Top: H&M (recent)

Skirt: BCBGMaxazria (last summer)

Sunnies: Guess via TJMaxx

Earrings: The Icing (recent)

Necklace: Basil the Cat via Etsy

Pink Skinny Belt: Cotton On (recent)

Watch: Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack

Shoes: Overstock.com (old and cute, but horribly uncomfortable) 😦

You can also check out some other examples of how to wear skinny belts here, here, here, here, and here.

One word of caution. Be careful of the width of the belt. Sometimes the wider the belt, the less it does for your figure. I find that skinnier belts seem to work better and be more flattering. But have fun and play around with them to figure out how to make belts best work for you. Just remember to make sure you accentuate the smallest part of your waist to achieve the most flattering look!!

Happy weekend and Happy June!!!!

Memorial Debrief

On May 29, 2012May 29, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I love Memorial Day weekend and look forward to it every year. It is always a time for reflection and gratitude to all of the brave men and women who have served and are serving this beautiful country I am blessed to call home. It is also a weekend that I get to spend with my family. Ever since J and I ventured off to the SLC, it has become a tradition for my parents to make the drive down from Montana to spend the long weekend with us. And since my brother and his wife moved back to the states from Australia last year, they have now become a part of the tradition as well. And of course this Memorial Day weekend did not disappoint. In fact, it might have been the best one yet-so much so that everyone decided to spend an extra day in the SLC to relish the beautiful weather and precious time together.

Me and my little brother

Mike and Justin heading out for a ride. Real men have chest hair, apparently. 😉

Sangria…yum!

My mom, Mike, Jess and me enjoying a beautiful evening on the deck

Mikey slinging pizza dough

The “kids”

First Corona of the year. Yup, it’s officially summer!

Pretty, pretty flowers.

It really doesn’t get much better than a long weekend with family and an added bonus day together, does it? So thank you mom, dad, Mike, Jess, Daisy, and Sydney for making the trip to the SLC. I don’t think I could pick a favorite part of the weekend, but I definitely feel really good about the time we had together. 😉 I already miss you each dearly and am so looking forward to August when we will all be together again!!