Halloween

Halloween is probably my favorite "holiday" of the year.....

I LOVE the crisp fall evenings, the colorful leaves, a fire in the fireplace, carving pumpkins, and of course-dressing up!!!

Now that I am "too old" to trick-or-treat, I have yet to be invited to a Halloween party, but as a teacher I can dress up for the day (school appropriately of course)! I also love just staying home to answer the door & see all the costumes the kids from the neighborhood are wearing.
Pinterest has made the idea of dressing up even easier, as it's so simple to find costume ideas-whether it's just for yourself, for you + one, or a group costume idea!

Here are just a few of my favorites I've seen or heard about this year:
(all of the following photos/pictures were taken from Pinterest)

Any of the Harry Potter characters is always fun....this could be a single costume, a couples' costume, or a group costume!!

I've recently seen friends dress up as Paul Bunyon & Babe the blue ox! ...maybe just a common costume for those of us in the Midwest/state of MN??!!

Here's another fun costume for couples: Marilyn Monroe & Joe DiMaggio!

I'll always be a fan of the "zoot suit + flapper" costume idea as well...who doesn't love dressing from the '20s??!!

There are SO many adorable costumes for kids....especially now with etsy as a great site to find handmade costumes and/or props or even just another place to peruse for ideas!

Love this one (mouse trap):

Fabulous scarecrow:

...and of course, a "mini-Audrey":

Check out this LINK with 10 "last minute" costumes....some fun ideas!


Check out my costumes Pinterest page for more fabulous costume ideas HERE!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Style

Just thought I'd share some of my favorite quotes & items that I'm loving right now!

LOVE this:

J.Crew does it again...SO in love:

...loving this double initial necklace, AND it's shown in MY initials! Fabulous!

This neutral ombre mani is so fun:

LOVE both of these too:

For more Style Love check out "my STYLE" board HERE on Pinterest!

Fall Fashion: MINT

Mint is no longer a color that is solely reserved for spring/summer. I'm seeing it more and more in stores' fall collections and I'm loving it! 

Blair Ritchey

This gorgeous clutch by Blair Ritchey is one that if I was lucky enough to own, I'd never "put it away for the season"...I think it's a rich enough color to use all year round.




JCrew continues to amaze me, as always. 

The fall collection has several mint hues....from the classic mint-heathered v-neck sweater to the gorgeous print shift dress and the fabulous baubles for your wrist! 
LOVE it all!

Jade = mint's darker version - is also a great way to wear this color into fall....love this silk JCrew blouse! (pictured right)


You can also easily pair 2 shades of mint together without looking too crazy...love this denim + blouse combo! Just make sure that your accessories are neutral & that the 2 mint shades are different enough in color that it doesn't look as though you were trying to match & miserably failed!

Another fashion/style blogger, J of J's Everyday Fashion shares her love for mint + camel in a somewhat recent post....which I couldn't agree more with--LOVE this color combination! Here are a few of her outfits where she pairs these 2 colors together....often with just her accessories adding that pop of color. 

As I've blogged before, I am a total sucker for MINT....and love that I can continue to wear what I have (& possibly find more fabulous pieces) all fall+ winter long!

October

October is finally here....and to celebrate these fabulous 31 days of cool, fall weather, a local designer is showing her love for her fans/customers with a giveaway.

NELLE is a designer of gorgeous handbags + clutches. She has been featured in countless bridal magazines, sells her clutches at the gorgeous l'atelier couture, and even had pieces that were sold on Anthropologies's wedding partner site, Bhldn! AMAZING!

The owner, Laura Nelli is conducting an extremely generous giveaway this ENTIRE month of October...giving away a clutch EVERY DAY!! Find her on facebook, like her page, and then sign up to win - it's that easy!

If you haven't checked our her gorgeous pieces, now is the time! I own 3 of her pieces and LOVE them! (Check out a post I did about her collection last winter HERE.)

View her collections at nellehandbags.com ....and sign up for her giveaway here!

GOOD LUCK & Happy Fall!

Seeing Spots

Animal print.....treat it like a neutral or use it as a simple, yet perhaps unexpected statement. 

It's easy to think about throwing on a leopard or cheetah print scarf with an all black outfit as your pop of print & color, but you can also mix it in with other prints as if it were one of your neutral pieces. 

Animal print has changed over the years, and there are now so many new versions of this print that may have been viewed at something a "much older" woman might wear. I am loving the prints I'm seeing on bloggers and in stores this fall, and can't seem to find enough reasons to wear my own Madewell printed heels.

This leopard jacket is an unexpected & updated version of the classic blazer. Throw it on with jeans and a tee and you now have a chic & put together look.

I love pairing my Madewell leopard heels (circa fall 2011) with one of my favorite polka dot blouses (Zara)....it's such a fun way to mix prints!

Dots & Spots

Madewell is very much in on this trend again this fall, as they just recently sent out an email about "Trend Spotting." They have fabulous pieces, and always unique versions of the cheetah print. My above shoes are from Madewell last fall -LOVE them! 

Here's a better shot these fabulous heels:


I love how fashion/style blogger Julie (Jules) of Sincerely Jules styled a similar version of my dots & spots:

JCrew is another retailer in love with the leopard look. I'm loving this "wild side" bangle, and these leopard round toe pumps are fabulous as well!

Here's another chic look that includes a leopard jacket paired with denim and the very on trend cap toe heels. LOVE!

Another way to embrace the animal print is to add a simple skinny leopard print belt to a dress or with denim and a print blouse. This is one easy way to slowly begin mixing prints.

above 2 photos courtesy of Pinterest

Animal print is a chic & easy way to add something new to your wardrobe. Whether it's a simple bangle or skinny belt, or an investment pair of pumps or printed jacket, you are sure to be spotted in style!

Fall Fashion: Favorites

With the first "official" day of fall just around the corner (Saturday, September 22), I'm getting more and more excited to pull out my boots and sweaters.

It's still been fairly warm here in MN with even a day earlier this week that reached 90 degrees!!! Since then, temperatures have remained in the 70s, which is the PERFECT weather for jeans, a sweater, and boots (no jacket, hat, scarf, or mittens required)!!!

With that, I thought I'd share some of my favorite fall pieces from my own wardrobe and a few other items that I've seen & love for this season.

AG jeans

Printed & Colored Denim

Houndstooth boutique

I still can't seem to get enough of the colored & printed denim. I am so excited to pair mine with a sweater & boots!
I am a lover of the "color of the season," oxblood, in all of it's varieties of shades, and I am SO excited to wear my JBrand gold brocade skinnies (pictured right).






Denim/Chambray Shirts
I will also continue to be wearing my denim/chambray shirts throughout the fall and into winter. They are another fabulous pairing with the printed & colored denim, as well as a fantastic layering piece. As the temperatures continue to drop, throwing a chunky knit sweater over my denim shirt makes a chic outfit that's winter-weather appropriate.

shopmama.com

Here are a few of my favorite looks from Nordstrom's fall catalog showcasing printed denim, chambray shirts & vintage inspired jewelry:

Vintage-Inspired Jewelry & Stacking your Wrist
I can't say enough fabulous things about our local jewelry designer Jen Scheffler and her jewelry line, realia. I am obsessed with my newest piece, as I have worn it 3 times in the last week! (pictured left)

Stacking your wrist with fabulous jewels is also "on trend," and I love the look! Now, you don't want to go too overboard, but if done right, it can look fantastic! Check out realia's selection of fabulous wrist baubles to create the look that works for you!



With that I'll leave you with just a few more looks/pieces that I am loving for fall! Here's to enjoying the crisp, colorful days ahead!!!

7forallMankind

Burberry

Cashmere

speaking of Quality....
...when you think of a piece of clothing that is of high quality, you probably think of something that feels fabulous to the touch, wears well, keeps its shape, and will last forever.

As the weather is slowly cooling down, and we near the start of my favorite season, Autumn, it's almost time to pull out those favorite sweaters.

One type of sweater that screams quality to me is a cashmere sweater. Sure, there are many sweaters out there that boast that they are a "cashmere sweater" ....only to reveal on their tags that they contain a mere 5% cashmere. 
What I'm talking about is a 100% pure cashmere sweater.

What exactly IS cashmere?
Cashmere is a type of wool that comes from the neck of the Cashmere goat. There is actually a Cashmere & Camel Hair Institute that aims to promote pure products.
According to this institute, found at cashmere.org, 

Cashmere is luxurious and fashionable and is also a durable and practical investment. Cashmere travels well and doesn’t wrinkle. It offers great insulation; is warm in the winter and cool in the spring. Cashmere is long lasting; it actually becomes softer with age and rarely pills after being worn and washed. It should last a lifetime.

Thus, choosing to invest in a cashmere item is choosing a quality piece that will last - a lifetime. Check out the above website for more commonly asked questions, information, and care for your cashmere.

One piece of info that this site confirmed for me was how to care for your cashmere knits/sweaters. You should NOT dry clean them. You should use a gentle detergent, or even a cashmere soap-JCrew sells some, and hand wash your cashmere sweaters. This will keep them in better shape than sending them off to the dry-cleaners, and it's much less expensive!!

There are several places to find cashmere items here in the Twin Cities. JCrew is one place that carries cashmere. 


I am loving this polka-dot version. Classic yet fun.
...and if you don't love this burgundy color, even though it is "the color of the season," there are several other color combinations to fall in love with. I honestly have a hard time deciding which one is my favorite!

Thanks to my time spent working in retail, I have discovered a "new" line of sweaters & knits: Autumn Cashmere. This brand is by no means "new," as they have been around since 1993, but new to me, as I have never seen or touched these fabulous knits before.

Their sweaters are fabulous, and mostly 100% cashmere, with some that are cashmere blends, but are appropriately labeled.

Hot Mama is carrying several styles this fall, as is Nordstrom, and a local St. Paul boutique Stephanie's.


Will you be adding a new cashmere piece to your wardrobe this fall?

Fall Fashion: JEWELS

Not only will my daily go-to outfit consist of jeans & boots, it will most likely include several pieces from my favorite local jewelry designer, Jen Scheffler of realiabyjen.

Her work is AMAZING, and I just can't seem to stop adding her pieces to my collection! 

She just recently completed the creation of a GORGEOUS lookbook, in collaboration with many talented people, including myself, as the stylist.
Here are a few shots from the lookbook:

I can't seem to say enough great things about her work....she does everything from custom pieces for moms, brides & bridal parties to taking your vision & making it a reality: just tell her what you like & what you're looking for and she'll design & create it!

She of course has many collections...this lookbook presents her fall 2012 collection, but just click on any of the tabs at the top of her page to peruse what else she offers... from vintage refined to beautiful bling, you're bound to find a piece or two you have to have!

Here's my latest add:

...a FABULOUS statement piece- I can't wait to wear it!

She will also take pieces of your own jewelry collection that you aren't wearing and help you turn them into jewels that you love to wear. Whether it's a vintage family piece, or just items you are tired of as they are....you'd be amazed at what she can do with old clip on earrings and brooches! Send her an email with photos of what you have, what your ideas are, and a little about your sense of style....she'll work with you to create timeless, quality pieces you'll have & wear forever.

If you haven't yet....check out her fantastic website and start accessorizing your wardrobe for fall!