elle bow room: summer

Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts

Monday, September 3, 2012

setting summer

DVF tank {old} // ZARA scallop shorts {similar} // RayBan aviators // MRKT wedges // Michael Kors clutch // Vestique bauble necklace // Michael Kors watch // other jewelry: Hermes, David Yurman, Cartier, Derng, Handpicked, H&M

Happy Labor Day! {P.S. I don't believe in the white-after rule}

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Those sticky-hot summer days are far from over here in NC, so this chambray romper was perfect for galavanting around at the beach. I used to wear headscarves religiously in high school - such a great trick to avoid looking greasy on a steamy day!

similar chambray romper here and here // scarf: vintage // vintage Louis Vuitton bucket drawstring bag // wedges: Bakers {old, similar} // sunnies: House of Harlow 'Chelsea' // necklace: courtesy of A Beautiful Heart // watch: Michael Kors // bracelets: David Yurman (blue topaz, amethyst & gold buckle), Cartier "Love", Derng Chain, H&M Neon links // rings: David Yurman (blue topaz, stack & pave), Cartier & YSL 'Arty'

Monday, August 13, 2012

to the max

As someone who is under 5'5" (and 5'4", and 5'3"...) participating in the ever-popular maxi dress trend is frustrating. All the normal-height girls are wearing them, but each one that I hold up to my body drags the ground a good 4 inches. Those who suffer in this peril will understand how pleased I was to find this simple coral ruffled number - and my toes even peek out the bottom.

dress: Nordstrom // bag: Louis Vuitton 'Artsy' // hat // sunnies: Karen Walker // shoes: Kors by Michael Kors {old, similar on sale} // ombre necklace: Francesca's {similar} // watch: Michael Kors // bracelets: David Yurman (blue topaz, amethyst & gold buckle), Cartier, Derng, Handpicked // rings: David Yurman (blue topaz, stack & pave), Cartier & YSL 'Arty'

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

homemade, far from home.

For those of you who have followed this blog/me on twitter/my instagram feed, you know that I recently moved halfway across the country. I've been in Chicago for 2 weeks now & am slowly adapting to using public transportation. It's nice that Ry and I are together everyday after being apart for the last year, but I miss my family and friends like crazy. The weather has been...interesting. If you didn't know, Chicago is windy 24/7/365. This means no flowy dresses. Last week, it monsooned and went from 97 degrees to 45.

Nonetheless, I am adjusting and missing the fiery hot South. I've blogged several times about some of my homemade pieces, the products of collaboration between my mom and I. She sewed these fantastic ruffled shorts for me a few days before I left, and I have actually been able to bust them out up here! I love the colors and quatrefoil print, goes great with half my closet.

Also, meet the other blonde girl in Ryan's life, Zoe.

blouse: unknown // shorts: homemade // wedges: bakers // bag: Louis Vuitton // sunnies:House of Harlow // necklace: J. Crew // earrings: kate spade // watch: Michael Kors // bracelets: David Yurman (blue topaz & amethyst & gold buckle), Cartier, Hermes, Derng // rings: David Yurman (rose quartz {smaller version} & stack & pave), Cartier, onyx class ring

Here are some of the other homemade pieces by Mom:

this chevron skirt

this tunic top

this shift dress

Monday, April 30, 2012

Bells, Veils & Details...

{what i wore}: wedding shower

The Dress:

Oasis Scarf Print Dress

The Shoes: {blogged about here}

Zara I Basic Sandal

The Story:

...it's wedding season!

The time has come, as it does in every girl's life, when her first best friend gets married. My first bestie to get hitched is under 3 months away from her big day. I was actually at a wedding last summer, when I opened my clutch & saw I had a missed call and voicemail from her. I started screaming immediately, I knew what it meant...ENGAGED!

Meg, Amanda & I became close in when I started high school; the guys we dated were best friends {we have since moved on}. Anyhow, by my sophomore year we got pretty inseparable, thanks to an out-of-control Honors Algebra II class, and checking out of school during journalism class to "sell ads" for the school paper {In our defense, we did sell some ads. We also bronzed, got ice cream, etc.}. I was a year behind them, and will always cherish our last year in high school together, when they were seniors. We all went our separate ways in college, keeping in touch of course, & always keeping each other updated on the latest news out of our little home town.

This weekend was her wedding shower, and I was so happy to see her {it's been WAY too long!} & finally her ring in person!

This is us now:

...and this was us then! {slightly embarrassing}

Let's end on a more-flattering note: here's Meghan and her fiancé, Jason!

Love you Meg! So happy for you and can't wait to be there on the best day of your life.

Monday, April 9, 2012

bikini mania

Normally, I get really excited for bikini season in about February - and by excited, I mean depressed. I come to terms with reality (my love handles) and begin looking at Victoria's Secret's newest mediocre, at best, prints for Spring. I will admit that I own 20 too many VS bikinis, some never worn. The fact is that I just don't spend a lot of time in bathing suits anymore. For the last four years, I had college spring break, and beyond that, a handful of other instances where I got to enjoy summer + water. I am determined to change that this year.

Although you may realize that my most previous post was announcing my summer move to Chicago, they DO have water! I love informing my Chicago-native boyfriend that where Lake Michigan meets land is in fact NOT a beach (I have been a lifelong NC resident, known for the Outer Banks and other REAL beaches). I know that I win that argument, but nonetheless, the midwestern folks seem to believe that they are indeed on a beach shore. I can go along with this fluff for the summer, as long as the sun bronzing levels are not dramatically different from the South's.

In anticipation of summer, I have compiled some fabulous, non-VS pieces to get you beach- (lake or ocean) ready! To purchase any of these pieces or learn more, click the photo. That will direct you to my interest page, where one more click will take you to the source where the items are sold.