Oxblood?? Fall 2012 Trend

I bet you're thinking, "seriously, I'm supposed to get excited about a color called Oxblood?" I won't lie, this is just a snazzier way to say burgundy. It's basically a red/brown color combo and very on trend for this fall. I think everyone is tired of saying burgundy, so this is like the new word. Please go ask your sales associate if they have any Oxblood sweaters... Just for fun. Gotta keep them on their toes right?

Either way, I'm not going to lie, it's a pretty color. During the fall you feel like wearing darker hues, so this is a nice compromise. I especially like the Oxblood clutches & pants because they change things up from the same old same old. This trend is great for all age groups. It speaks mature & sophisticated.

Target

www.debenhams.com

Urban Outfitters

New Look

Miss Selfridge

Banana Republic

H&M

Bauble Bar

xoxo,

Christina

Fall Obsession: Velvet Blazers for Women AND Men

Yessssssss, let me start by saying how much I ADORE velvet! I have 2 pairs of Siwy velvet pants that I could wear almost daily if it was socially acceptable. I obviously own a velvet dress as well as a body suit. I really can not get enough. Don't doubt that I will have a velvet handbag at some point in my life.

Now, on to the best invention since velvet itself... Velvet blazers. I truly can not think of a more chic combination than those two. Blazers have become a staple over the last few years in the closets of women everywhere. You can put it on with shorts, a dress, jeans, leggings, you name it, and it instantly adds that touch of sophistication. The velvet blazers out this year are sheer perfection. They have elegance and they have ease. From Rachel Zoe to J.Crew to YSL, this trend has spanned across nearly all fashion houses during the Fall fashion week this past spring. And it is sure to make a splash in closets everywhere. I promise you this, you WILL want to get one ASAP. This trend will completely take off, and I wouldn't be surprised if it starts an all around velvet revolution.

PS - This trend is for GUYS too... I haven't forgot about you all!

Some eye candy to lust over..

Rachel Zoe

Elizabeth & James

J. Crew

Ann Taylor

Calvin Klein

xoxo,

Christina

Elegance & Audrey Hepburn: Fall Jewelry Style Post

I have been MAJORLY slacking on updating this, especially with fall fashion just around the corner. There are a lot of things I love about this season. There is a lot of simplicity and a lot of bold styles as well.

One thing I love is the classic elegance to jewelry I have seen coming out. You can really see the 1960's inspiration happening, especially in earrings and bracelets. There is a sense of elegance and ease to the pieces. Instead of being gouty & giant statement pieces, they are beautiful in their own right of being chic. Think Audrey Hepburn..

• Crystal/Jewel Earrings: I love the simple crystal pieced earrings. Some are colored, but for the most part there is this ease that comes with this look. It takes every outfit up a notch. Whether you like long dangling earrings or studs, they all sparkle just right.

• Pave/Rhinestone crusted earrings: Luxurious pave chandelier drop earrings or smaller crusted studs. Simple & elegant. 

• Copper & Simplicity: I think the title speaks for itself. I love a lot of these

As far as arm candy goes I see a lot of simplicity in that too. Simple chain bracelets, or solid gold bands, layered with watches make for an elegant look. Nothing overdone or chunky. Focus on one or two pieces you love and pair it with some of these classic earrings. I keep saying, think Audrey Hepburn when you get dressed this fall. The luxury of it all goes with the continuing fall trend of the 1950's and 1960's. More to come on that later on...

xoxo,

Christina

Summer Trend Alert: Silk Head Scarves

Finally a trend that looks best with short/medium hair, which is great if you're like me and don't like super long locks. I have always been that OCD person who has to have the hair out of my face. I don't do side hair parts where I have to constantly brush the hair out of my eyes and I most certainly do not do bangs. I would probably go crazy. Thats why I am always on the lookout to get my hair up and out of my face, usually if I have a busy day of errands or especially if I am laying out or by the pool. Pulling your hair in a pony tail isn't always successful because the smaller layers end up falling down etc. And headbands are my least favorite thing ever because 2 hours after wearing them I get a headache from it pressing against my head behind my ears... ouch.

I used to feel like a total grandma for wearing silk head scarves, but thankfully the latest trends have been all about going back in the era's and these scarves are making a comeback from the 50's. They leave you feeling cool, but also are super cute. It looks great on shorter/medium cuts because if you tie the scarf so it hangs out from under your hair it is oh so chic!

Wanna know the best part? You can wear the same silk scarf about 10 different ways. It's really up to your personal style preference. I love to wrap it on my hair when it's up in a bun, tie it like a headband with my hair half up/half down, and wearing it as a turban to shield from scalp burning. That last one is a major help because no matter what our scalp burns in the summer time, which leads to flaking. If you wear a hat it casts a shadow over your chest and face and its not always something you want. A silk scarf in a turban is awesome for covering up just what is needed but letting you get a desired tan. Perfecto.

Don't believe me? Here are a few cute examples of how to wear this piece....

P.S - On a side note I'd like to make reference that the Brit's have been doing this for a while now, so once again as usual they are the ultimate trend setters. Cher Lloyd was rocking the head scarf on Britain's X Factor back in 2010. Goes to show why they are an amazing source of fashion inspiration.

A few places to check out headscarves

Shop Bop

Bebe

Forever21

xoxo,

Christina

7 Must Haves for Summer

Summer is in the air... and closets are getting stocked with all the newest trends. Whatever your personal style might be, I have a list of 7 must have items to get your wardrobe up to speed & ready for whatever vacation getaway you have planned.


1. Ankle Strap Flats: This season shoes are all about ankle straps. A lot of pumps have a fresh new take with ankle closures, but the same goes for flats. My personal favorite this year is from the Rachel Zoe collection. I saw these bad boys back in September and knew I couldn't live without them. I was definitely right, my life is much better now that we're together :) ... These sandals are incredibly versatile and can be worn with skinnies, shorts, skirts, you name it.

Gladys Falts

2. Flowy Maxi: My closet is a giant museum of Maxi dresses. Not only are they incredibly comfortable, but they look so elegant even when they are simple. Last year I wrote on this blog about the tail hem dresses (dresses that were longer in the back) and it took a little longer than I expected for it to catch on. Now however this Summer we are seeing a lot of Maxi's with this fresh take of having a tail hem. My favorite is still the traditional Maxi, but I think either style that suits you is a must have for your closet. You can throw it on and its so easy and effortless, but you look put together and elegant. There are skin tight Maxi's and there are loose flowy Maxi's. There is one for every body type that will flatter you & should be a staple in your closet. 

3. Retro Bikini: Fun Geometric patterns & high waisted bottoms are back in style. I think it's a great excuse to wear funky prints and spice up the boring solid colors. I've always loved Missoni prints, so this season my bathing suit splurge was for one of their ultra cute print bikinis. They have a lot of styles, 

Missoni

4. Simple bangle: During the summer time we wear less clothes, more vibrant colors, and therefore need to learn to relax on giant flashy jewelry. Now is the time to layer thin pieces, or keep it simple. I think an important summer staple is a go-to bracelet you can wear day or night, that goes with anything, and you can even rock at the pool (yeah I'm that weirdo who wears a necklace to the pool too). If you feel like splurging I happen to adore the Cartier Love Bracelet which is simple, timeless, and on a lot of celebs. I also love the Hermes H bracelet. Its thin and sleek. Some mid-priced options are the David Yurman cable bracelets. All of these pieces will stand the test of time for years to come, and wont get ruined if it happens to get wet or you wear it constantly. It's a worthy investment, and in my case I was happy to find out that my H bracelet has a GREAT replacement policy when I took it out of the pouch to find it tarnished. Little perks like that make it worth it. A few of them are below...

5. Big all purpose bag: During the summer we are always on the go. Finding a bag that helps us transition from day to night, and carry all the stuff we need can be a challenge. More-so, we want it to look cute with everything so we don't have to switch bags every other day. I always say its crucial to have a trusty brown bag and a trusty black bag, they can't ever go wrong. There are lots of options for this kind of bag, I've been lusting over a Celine tote for a few years now. But just to be more reasonable, I also like a few other all purpose totes. Since everyone has their own personal style of bags I won't put up any specifics, but a few great places for bags are Zara, J. Crew, Michael Kors, or check out the one day sale sites like Haute Look, Gilt, Rue La La, or Beyond The Rack.

6. Trusty Sunglasses: I love a good deal, and I don't always think designer everything is the way to go. However, when it comes to sunglasses I think they deserve a good splurge. For one, they come with warranties that last years so they can be replaced if anything happens. Secondly, they have great UVA and UVB protection on them. And lastly, they are made of sturdy material and won't break like some cheaper ones. A pair of go-to sunglasses for the summer-time are crucial. Everyone's face has a different shape and warrants a different style of sunglasses. It's always best to try on multiple pairs and see what suits you. My favorite style out right now is very Audrey Hepburn-esque black framed glasses. Dior has a great pair I got last year, and I know Sunglass Hut has a variety too.

7. Floppy Beach Hat: We all love the sun, but what no one loves is when you feel your skin starting to burn and you have another hour by the pool/beach. My must have item for anytime I spend time outdoors is a floppy beach hat. It helps cover up your back and chest and keep you cool even on the hottest days. I make great use of mine every time I lay out or hit the beach. You don't need to splurge on these at all. Forever 21 has a great selection, but so does Shop Bop at a higher price point.

xoxo,

Christina

Coziest Sweaters for Winter

I am always cold, and I absolutely hate winter time! Unless I'm under my giant fluffy duvet you can find me in layers of warm clothing and usually a blanket wrapped around me. What can I say, you can tell I was born a California girl to the bone. However, being in Kentucky is a rude awakening to the cold chills of winter that seem to go on for far too long. My solution to this was accidentally stumbling upon a great brand of cozy and chic sweaters. And now I just can't get enough!

The brand is Olive & Oak. I liked one of their sweaters and decided to buy it since it was on sale. Little did I know this would start a love affair with their knits. All of their sweaters are extremely warm, have cute fits, and are ridiculously soft. The one thing I have never liked about some sweaters is the fact that they are warm but also itchy. I am a texture freak, so an itchy sweater is a huge no-go. I end up shoving those sweaters to the back of my closet and somehow every winter wear one of 10 sweaters I like and can tolerate. Well not this year (thank god). What I really enjoy about Olive & Oak is that their sweaters are very versatile. They are chunky and cozy so you can easily toss it on with a pair of yoga pants and lounge all day in it, or you can put it on with skinny jeans, boots, a scarf & be cute. I am the queen of laziness, so this is basically heaven sent. I can relax and be warm around the apartment, & quickly change into some jeans & be cute to go run some errands. 

I sound completely endorsed, but I'm simply in puppy love. Since my initial purchase there have been many more, and absolutely none have disappointed. Check out some of the collection below!

Show Room Collection

Diamond Print

Chunky Knit

Cardigan

xoxo,

Christina