Friday Buy Day 6.19.15

It's Friday again which means it's time for us to share some of our favorite sale picks!  We are headed to Ojai next weekend for a girls trip so we chose pieces inspired by our upcoming getaway!

The color of the sun isn't for everyone, but if it's for you...then this is the dress.  Finished in a gauzy cotton fabric and off-the-shoulder, this dress is modern and clean with a boho appeal.  Wear it as a cover-up, or pair it with neutral flats and a bold turquoise earring for dinner al-fresco.  It is $39 (on sale at Zara) and is an inexpensive way to indulge in bold color and the shoulder baring trend.

Next up is this ethereal embroidered top.  We love the gathered sleeves, the blouson shape and the creamy color.  Pair this top with denim cut-offs and ankle wrapped sandals, or try it with skinny flare denim and natural colored wedges for a casual evening out.  It is less than $100 from almost $200 and you will wear it ALL the time.  This will be part of my traveling ensemble as it is comfortable to wear on a plane, while chic enough to wear while wine-tasting.

LOVE. love, love these jeans.  Made by Frame (one of our favorite denim lines), they are skinny flares.  Skinny at the top and through the thigh...flared from the knee down, making them THE most flattering style of denim ever!  Because they are slim at the top, feel free to experiment with different top styles.  They look fantastic with a more cropped, boxy style blouse or try them with a blouse tucked-in for an elegant outfit.  We also love them with a more drapey, boho style blouse (like the one pictured above) and wedges for an unexpected and chic combination.  These sell for $220, now are on sale for $149 and are an ADDITIONAL 50% OFF the sale price!  All sizes left...for now.

A little louder than our previous picks, we couldn't help but add this to our list because of it's sexy, yet boho shape and bold color palette.  Screams vacation, right?  This Mara Hoffman dress is perfect for Happy Hour margaritas, or lounging around the pool playing dice.   Pack it for a weekend trip to Southern Cal, or a week-long trip to Mexico or Morocco...it is fun, fresh and easy to wear.

These sandals complete all of the above, and anything/everything else you have in your closet.  They are super-stylish, while also remaining super neutral.  They don't compete with loud pattern, yet will add depth and interest to a "plain" outfit.  They are only $125, and are a fantastic and versatile addition to your sandal collection.

Hope you enjoyed this week's Friday Buy Day picks...Have a wonderful weekend!

Packing the Perfect Shoe Assortment

Summer is almost here and everyone seems to be going on a trip.  Close friends are headed to Hawaii, Thailand, Europe...and although I am sad to report that I am not going to any of those places I am happy to share some solicited (I swear I've been asked a bunch) advice on packing(:

Typically, there is one reason why your luggage weighs 100 pounds and why you can't fit all of your clothes into your bag when you are packing for a week-long getaway...your shoes. Shoes are the downfall of almost all over-packers. And after experimenting with this dilemma for years, I am going to share my results.  Travelers should pack no more than 5 pairs of shoes.

Thats right, for 90% of all travels 5 pairs of shoes should adequately suffice a wide range of outfits and outings.   Exemptions; Sub-Saharan Africa, you need less.  Cannes Film Festival, you need more.  Camping in Big Sur, you need less.  Kim Kardashian's Wedding weekend in Italy, you need more.  You get the drift...outliers are the exceptions.

Here are the only 5 styles of shoes you need to pack:

1. Sneakers, of course.  These will serve as your leisure, airport, and workout shoes. We love the nike high-tops because they are fashionable, super comfortable and look great with Lululemon leggings if you decide to hit the gym. 

2.  A comfortable (but chic) flat. This can be a ballet flat, a sandal or a smoking slipper (the climate will determine which one is appropriate) . We love one with some sort of print or interesting texture (leopard, tweed, or patent leather).  This will be your shoe for a day of shopping, sight-seeing or traveling between cities. It has to be chic enough to to wear to the Louvre but comfortable enough to schlep your luggage through an airport. 

3.  Heel. This can be a pump, a platform or our preference is a strappy gladiator style heel that pairs just as well with a dress as it does with skinny jeans.  This is where a lot of women get tripped up...too many heels.  So, here is our recommendation: get creative with your accessories and stay basic with your heel. There is no doubt that funky heels can spice up an outfit, but when traveling try to make your outfits interesting so you can keep your shoes neutral.  A black strappy heel looks amazing with ripped jeans, a blouse and a chunky necklace or wear them with a printed cocktail dress and statement earrings for a dinner party.

4.  A wedge OR a bootie (depending on climate).  This is for that "in-between" outing.  Not fancy enough for a 4-inch pump, but fancier than a flat sandal.  A trip wine-tasting, a chic brunch, a Sunday evening dinner at a neighborhood gastro-pub.  Wedges with your flared denim and a cropped eyelet blouse for somewhere warm (P.S. the ones featured are on MAJOR sale...click link!).  Or, booties with your skinny jeans and a chunky turtleneck sweater for somewhere cool.

5.  Lastly, flip-flops.  They require little in terms of space in your luggage, and require little in terms of explaining their purpose.  They are needed for trips to the pool, trips to get ice down the hall, or trips to grab a coffee in the lobby bar.

And there you have it, our guide to packing for a week-long excursion and avoiding back pain and baggage fees.

Friday Buy Day 5.15.15

It's another Friday which means it's another Buy Day.  Time to  scoop up some great pieces on sale so let's get down to it:

This is the bohemian version of a shirtdress (at the bohemian price of $76).  A drop waist, petite floral print and a flounce hem are the makings of a casually cool and feminine frock.  It would look just as good with gladiator sandals and a panama hat as it would with a denim jacket, wedges and a top knot for a late afternoon/evening event.  It's fresh, modern and sexy without being revealing.

Love this straw tote.  The fringe is spot-on trend without feeling trendy.  The natural raffia and black colors are a classic combination and will always be in style.  Add dark sunglasses, skinny jeans and espadrilles and this "beach bag" is a chic carry on.  Oh the places you'll go...

Everyone knows Shannon and I love a good romper.  Long sleeve, short sleeve, pants or shorts...we like them all!  We found this brand a little while ago and they make really affordable, really stylish pieces with a bohemian vibe.  This crochet romper is only $72 and is darling as a beach cover-up, or we love the idea of pairing it with two other Friday Buy Day items: the black bralette(from Urban Outfitters) and the black Matiko gladiators we featured two weeks ago.  Effortless and super stylish.

These Joie Kidmore sneakers are fantastic.  We found them for $154 (from $220), even though they are still full price at all other retail outlets we checked!  They have all sizes in stock except 9, for now....but I'm sure not for long.

These sneakers are sporty, stylish and the perfect color.  Can't think of another style of shoe that offers the elegance of a smoking slipper while offering the comfort of a sneaker.  These will become your go-to shoe with a cashmere sweater and jeans, as well as with a linen tee and cut-offs.  Get your size before it's sold out! 

We are definitely aware that this is a "trend" but we love it....and for $14.50, everyone is welcome to participate.  These mismatched earrings would be the perfect complement to that more conservative wedding dress ensemble, or a welcome addition to an all black outfit (or all white, or all denim).   With mismatched earrings, a petite choice is the best choice.  Nothing wrong with making your stylish statement subtly...

 It is actually really hard to find the perfectly cropped denim jacket.  Longer ones can look boxy and masculine.  Worse than a manly denim jacket is picking one that is TOO cropped.  No offense...but if your daughter can barely get away with her Justice ensemble, you certainly can't get away with it.  

This one from Paige is under $120 and has all sizes left.  This is a mandatory Spring/Summer staple to layer over your maxi dress or top off embroidered shorts.  With a mid-wash and classic styling, this jacket will last you for years to come.

Hope you enjoyed this week's Friday Buy Day!  If you want this directly in your inbox, just scroll down and add your email address in the "Subscribe to the Blog" box below.  Have a great weekend! 

Friday Buy Day 5.8.15

Looking forward to another fantastic weekend, and thought we'd bring you some picks for your home this week.  Whether a cool new rug or an awesome new piece of art, both have the ability to make a huge impact in your space while neither are required to make a large impression on your credit card statement.  We're bringing you special pieces at ordinary prices:

Love this sexy piece of art by Oliver Gal.  The gold is a little more modern than a traditional red or pink, and makes it perfect for a living room or a bedroom.  Picture it hung above a mid-century dresser, or greeting you in the entry over a lucite console next to a vintage lamp.  It's bold...yet it's limited color-palette makes it a really versatile piece to add to your collection.  At $189 (from $356) it is a great price for a timeless, yet sassy symbol.

Next up: Moroccan leather poufs.  I'm sure you've seen these in a variety of stores, magazines and online...and for good reason.  They are a really easy way to pack a punch without draining your bank account.  These come in every color of the rainbow (and more) and look great nestled in front a fireplace for extra seating, or tucked under a kid's play table.  They're fun, easy to style and can be moved to the family room if you get sick of them in your bedroom.

Ah Mah Gawd!  How great is this rug?  Such a great rug at such a low price ($199 for 8x10..YES!) In fact, we were tempted to keep this as a personal secret but our dedication to bringing you the best stuff at the best prices prevailed!  Picture this in a home office with a brass desk, vintage chair and couple of those poufs we just mentioned.  Or it would look great in a serene master bedroom with creamy white bedding, a macrame wall hanging and a Mongolian fur bench. Monochromatic bedrooms are so soothing. 

It's mid-century. It's modern.  It's white (also comes in black...both are on-point).  It's brass.  It's perfection in a table/task lamp.  Instantly refreshes a side table or console table.  Would look fantastic flanking your bed, or add it to your desk for a chic work table accessory.  At barely over $150, this is a fantastic addition to virtually any surface!

We hope you enjoyed this week's Friday Buy Day!  Have a great weekend!

Friday Buy Day 3.20.15

Shannon and I went to a really chic baby shower last night at a wine bar.  It was a semi-casual affair, being the mom's second child, and was a great excuse to get together with friends and enjoy some adult beverages and yummy food, and celebrate the baby girl-to-be.

When I was getting dressed for the occasion, a dress was calling my name but I couldn't quite find the type of dress I had conjured up in my head. It was a warm evening, and the event started at 6 PM so what I wanted to wear (that sadly was not in my closet)  was a Springy and special outfit that was worthy of this fun and celebratory event.  The night called for one of those "in between" ensembles:  I didn't WANT to wear jeans (although I did) but a sexy LBD wasn't the right outfit either.

Ultimately, I ended up wearing an Equipment eyelet silk blouse, tucked into Paige skinny distressed jeans with embroidered ankle strap pumps (although never planned, Shannon and I showed up looking like twins).  The look worked...but it made me realize that I wanted to dedicate this week's Friday Buy Day to cool pieces that could work for a stylish day ensemble (work or lunch, etc) and could also work for something like an evening baby shower at a bar.

Here goes...

I love this look (the blouse from the top pic, the skirt from the bottom pic).  The boxy cotton top with the cool drawstring detailing on the side with the eyelet pleated mini-skirt.  It is a fresh, modern and on-trend.  This outfit is work appropriate if you work in a creative capacity (sorry Finance girls) as the mini-skirt is really not that mini unless you are quite tall and the blouse provides full coverage.  Pair it a gladiator style sandal or platform wedges (yes, they're back in a big way for Spring) for a daytime fete, or up the volume with black ankle strap heels and deco drop earrings for an evening event. All white is here to stay and this whole outfit is under $150...now it's just the tan I have to start working on.

This floral dress from Asos caught my eye because of the playful print and the sophisticated shape.  This is another piece that, depending on how it is styled, can be more conservative, or more edgy.  For a conservative luncheon, it looks great as shown: simple heel and a nude, pouty lip.  For a night celebrating at a cool wine bar, I would up the edge factor and pair it with booties (those Isabel Marant ons that were suggested awhile back...on sale of course..would be great) and a black leather moto jacket.  Saturate your lip in a dark raspberry or classic red and be on your way.

Come On!  The last time I was this excited about a tube top was 1999.  I am dead serious...they were in heavy rotation during my days at USC.  But, now that I'm a grown-up, I am thrilled to find that the Australian designers at Camilla and Marc have designed an elegant and sophisticated strapless top.  If you look closely, you can see the asymmetrical belt and the soft draping of this awesome piece.  

I absolutely love the idea of it paired over wide leg trousers, and the polka-dot ones shown in the picture are a steal from Asos priced at $81.  Long over long is a big trend right now and this ensemble feels very modern and current without feeling trendy.  This would've been the perfect outfit to wear last night!  For an edgier look, I love this strapless blouse over leather leggings with a cropped blazer.  Right now, all sizes are available except 44 and it is on sale for $185 from $370.

Hope you enjoyed this week's picks and feel free to enter your email address if you'd like to get these tips delivered directly to your inbox.  

Friday Buy Day

It's the most exciting day of the week again.  Friday.    Friday is the day when you excitedly look forward to your weekend dinner plans with friends or loves.  The day when you can almost taste the latte you will sip on your leisurely Saturday stroll.  And, not least of all...it is Friday Buy Day.  Which means we are AGAIN bringing you the best deals and sale items from the web and beyond.

No explanation is needed for why we love this Alexander Wang silk blend asymmetrical top  but we will indulge you nonetheless.  It is tres chic.  The slightly cut in shoulders, the side slit and the tucked seam are edgy without being over the top.  We love it styled just as is with black leather leggings (we suggested some great ones last week) and heels.  Add a textured/tweed cropped jacket and you will leave the house feeling Parisian rocker chic...

This cream cable knit sweater will do double and triple duty.  Guaranteed.  We love the color, the texture and the slightly scooped neckline (crew-necks can be hard for a lot of people, so scoop-necks are a nice alternative).  The vents on the side are great for allowing your silk cami or striped tee to poke through.  Pair it with skinny sweats and high-tops for a stylish yet casual weekend look (or travel look) or try it with a a denim button up underneath and moto inspired skinny jeans.  It was $118...it is now $59.95 and right now an additional 25% off the sale price.  Yes you read that correctly.  And you are welcome(:

Tom Ford Sunglasses 70% Off?  And no, they are no the style that everyone wore 5 years ago. Nude, slightly over-sized with a great shape for most faces.  And at $129 (from $425) with a 21 day return policy...even if you aren't sure if the shape would be a perfect fit for you it may well be worth a try.  We are heading into Spring and these are the perfect accessory to get you excited about the warmer weather headed your way!  

You know that dress that looks kinda blah on the hanger and then the salesperson encourages you to try it on and you fall in love?  This is it.  It is 100% silk and 100% versatile (I would recommend getting your true size or even sizing down) It has a tie waist and a timeless, yet modern print.  It is perfect with a leather jacket and booties for a client meeting or Happy Hour and it also translates to a more conservative affair like a school luncheon or play.  Seasonally, it is very transitional and something that will never look "dated". For under $200, it is an easy and stylish piece that you will likely get to wear often.

Lastly, we bring you diamonds.  There is something so feminine and stylish about the combination of rose gold, white topaz and diamonds. For the price, ($765 from $1500) these beautiful topaz earrings with 36 pave diamonds surrounding the center stone are a fabulous deal on a timeless piece of jewelry.  Neither Shannon nor I regularly buy ourselves fine jewelry; however, the few times we have it has actually brought us a weird sense pride.  It feels good to treat yourself to something special every now and again.  Hope you have enjoyed our picks this week.  Feel free to forward this along to anyone else you think may need a little retail pick me up!