snow bunny

$32, asos

for the price of one dinner out, i think we could all stand to make room for this quirky bag in our wardrobes. it would be a nice twist on my winter uniform (big sweaters + sparkly earrings + flats) which is starting to feel a little boring!

 

{ alice + olivia top, j brand jeans, auden earrings, essie nail polish in russian roulette, asos bag, jeffrey campbell flats }

II emily

gypset

{ images via sincerely jules }

a few days ago, liz told me about her sudden dire need for an antik batik clutch. as you may recall, i was lucky enough to be given my very own oversized clutch last winter -- in fact, it looks a lot like the one above, with mostly red, green and turquoise embroidery. liz stumbled upon these photos and was instantly inspired to get her very own bold, multi-colored, pom-pom bag and wear it with her (extensive) collection of striped tees. together we scoured the internet for a good hour looking for antik batik options online, but since every bag is unique, you never quite know what you're going to get  -- but that mystery is kind of intriguing, too.

as luck would have it, she snagged the very last antik batik "banjo" clutch from shopbop (it is no longer on the site, but it's the cute little bag i blogged about here) and we're both pretty excited to get it in the mail. it's right on track with the parisian-boho trend happening this summer, and by wearing it with more modern pieces -- like ripped jeans, striped tees and maybe a metallic shoe -- you avoid looking like an actual gypsy.

below are some of my other favorites by moyna, zara, and more, plus a few ways to wear the look...

{ clockwise from top left: bags by antik batik, matthew williamson, zara & moyna }

{ images via the man repeller and pinterest }

II emily

red pop

{ images via atlantic pacific and le catch }

when it comes to bags, i stick to two extremes - my huge leather carry-all or a teeny tiny clutch or cross-body. there's no in-between. and to make matters worse, i used to have a (super boring) "neutral bags only" policy, stocking my closet with strictly cognac, black, and grey bags. as of late i've come to realize how essential a bold, attention-getting bag can be; paired with an otherwise simple outfit such as jeans, a t-shirt and flats, a pop of color changes everything. after acquiring quite the print collection (documented here), i've been on the hunt for the perfect little red bag like the ones above. a simple red bag feels all at once modern, summer-ready, and trend-proof.

the bags above are all by céline, but i have my eye on a few less expensive options: namely this clare viver fold-over, this basket weave christopher kon pouch, this studded rebecca minkoff cross-body, or this textured forever 21 cross-body. summer outfits... complete.

II emily

coral candy

these earrings are only $10, but they pack a serious punch. i'd wear them with jeans, a white tee & flat sandals on a rushed morning, or with something like this when i have a few more minutes...

{ j.crew embroidered top (on sale!), levi's 501 shorts, asos earrings, maison martin margiela rings, j.crew sandals (loosely inspired by these, but much easier on your wallet - plus, you can get them for 20% off by using the code SHOPNOW at checkout) }

II emily

fruit punch

images via pinterest

as summer finally (finally!) approaches, i'm loving bright color combinations, like pink and orange (or orange and yellow, or blue and green)... the bolder the better! subtlety is reserved for the winter months. go all out this season with my favorite pieces below:

{ from top left: miss selfridge necklace, baublebar triangle earrings, loeffler randall bag, michael kors watch, butter london "teddy girl" nail polish, nars "barbarella" (sheer peach) lipstick, adia kibur earrings, clare vivier clutch, topshop skirt, loeffler randall woven sandals, tory burch bow sandals }

II emily

chrome kicks

it's hard not to fall hard for everything at j.crew, but their sale section always proves the most tempting. the perpetually on-trend, always-wearable clothing mecca marks down nearly every single item they sell, and usually there's an added bonus, like "extra 25% off orders of $150 or more" or "free shipping with this special code" .... how can you resist?

i clicked through their sale yesterday and experienced a mixture of emotions. i was a) tempted to buy winter boots in preparation for next season, b) torn over which pastel sperry i'd want to wear on my fictional sailboat vacation this summer, and c) immediately obsessed with these silver superga sneakers:

superga sneakers are the ultimate classic, and there's a reason they're called "the people's shoes of italy." they're incredibly well-made and go with everything. we all have a pair of converse lo-tops (or 3), but these are so much chicer. i love the ultra-modern silver leather here -- it's a simple update on the original -- and they're the perfect shoe to get into the whole "wear sneakers with everything" trend. (i love how everyone's been wearing colorful running shoes, but i don't think i could pull it off) PS: you can also get plain white or navy superga sneakers here.

wear your silver kicks with loose (faux) leather skinnies, a bright striped tank and super-simple accessories for a sleek yet laid-back look...

{ topshop tank, karl pants (similar here), le specs sunglasses, michael kors watch, tom binns earrings, loeffler randall bag, superga sneakers }

tribal mix

zara shoes

tribal/ethnic prints are going to be huge this season, and these sandals by zara (!!!) are crazy cool, shockingly affordable and would be the perfect mixed-media punch for all of my basic summer outfits. i can picture these with all of my favorite skinny jeans -- from my trusty rag & bone "legging" jeans to my trendier destroyed styles -- as well as with a simple loose tank, black wrap skirt and sleek accessories. it lets the sandals take center stage but still feels totally effortless.

{ oliver peoples sunglasses, t by alexander wang muscle tank, zara wrap skirt (another great one here), giles & brother earrings, repossi ring, prada bag, & zara sandals }

II emily

splurge or save

i recently posted on my instagram that i purchased 3 sunglasses in 2 days. and while this is shamelessly accurate... i could have bought more. i'm a little (very) obsessed with sunglasses, especially thick, oversized tortoiseshell ones. and when the racks of forever21, h&m and urban outfitters all boast about 10 sunglasses i want and all of them only cost $5 - $15, it's really hard to say no. like, really hard.

that being said, i certainly understand the value of high-quality, more expensive sunglasses. i bought a pair of chanel shades back in 2009 and they fit my face perfectly, feel light as air and still look brand-new. the same goes for a pair of coach shades my parents gave me for christmas, which are the perfect shape for every day and fit amazingly well. but when it comes to trendier styles, like the mirrored aviators and oversized sunnies i got at h&m, you have to go for the bargains.

which brings me to the image below: can you tell which pair of retro round sunglasses costs the most? all 4 are practically identical... 

fyi: they're pictured in order from most expensive to least expensive. but who would ever know that?

the top pair, by the row x linda farrow, cost $442... enough said. the next ones, by illesteva, cost $160 -- a hefty price tag for such a trendy shape, but worth it if you know you'll wear them for a while. the third pair is from madewell and costs a cool $55, which also isn't terrible -- but i would still be hesitant to shell out that kind of cash. 

the bottom pair, which i got last weekend at urban outfitters, costs just $14. i don't know about you, but i'd rather save my pennies for frozen yogurt and starbuck's blonde roast coffee than 1 pair of popular sunglasses. they may not be high-quality resin, but they look fantastic -- i'll look just as chic as any girl rocking the linda farrows.

would you splurge or save on these sunnies? 

II emily

my next bag: the leather duffel

image via the jew in j.crew

"it bags" come and go, and while i've never owned one myself, i'm pretty sure i would get major anxiety if i were to purchase a celine tote or studded valentino. i'm constantly plagued by questions like, what if i got sick of it after a year? what if the bag suddenly goes out of style and i look totally dated and out of touch? 

luckily, there are some styles and silhouettes that will never really go out of style -- like a proenza schouler ps11 or a quilted chanel. another shape that's steadily gaining ground is the leather duffel, originally made popular by the louis vuitton speedy back in the 1930s. speedy bags still look perfectly chic, adding a casual touch to the fancy louis vuitton heritage. the leather duffel bags below would provide that same shot of laid-back, slouchy glamour (and a few are much more reasonably priced):

{ from top left: clare vivier leather 'escale' duffel (available with a monogram!), tory burch 'robinson spectator middy' bag, alexander wang 'rocco' bag, clare vivier haircalf 'escale' bag, see by chloe 'harriet' duffel bag, vintage chanel doctor bag (via WGCA vintage) }

II emily

between the lines

after yesterday's post, i went a little stripe crazy and quickly found a winning combination at madewell. the crimson, navy and ivory stripes look even better when you add another bold pattern into the mix (although i'm pretty sure everyone has agreed that leopard is now a neutral) and i love the final result. sleek, no-fuss accessories are the finishing touch for a modern, endlessly chic ensemble.

{ madewell top, madewell skirt, thierry lasry sunglasses, j.crew clutch (on sale), ginette_ny diamond earrings, michael kors signet ring, j.crew pumps }

stripes on stripes

images via atlantic-pacific, stockholm street style, and le catch

loving these multi-striped ensembles -- as long as you keep the colors relatively similar, you can't go wrong. wide stripes, skinny stripes, color blocked stripes... it's all good! 

in all of these photos, the striped pieces share a common color (in this case, navy/black). picture a navy-and-white sweater with a pink and navy skirt... or a green and navy skirt... if each item shares 1 color, you're set.

i have plenty of striped items in my closet but could always use more -- maybe this tee, this dress, this sweater, this jacket, this shift, and a skirt or two... 

PS: you can get blair's exact coat here at ASOS.

II emily

cheap thrills: march 26

because nothing's better than an affordable pick-me-up in the middle of the week.

{ from top left: american apparel bow clip ($16), adia kibur hoop earrings ($30), adia kibur enamel bangles ($75 for 3), forever 21 necklace ($10.80 - doesn't it remind you of louis vuitton?), forever 21 purse ($24.80 - valentino inspired), forever 21 sandals ($14.80 - look like 3.1 phillip lim!), gorjana chain ring ($30) and earrings ($32) }

put a bow on it

everyone who knows me is fully aware of my love for bows. i can't even count how many bow-adorned clothes and accessories i own, including a black leather hair clip i am constantly losing and then finding again in the bottom of my bag. you can imagine how excited i was when carven introduced those uber-popular slingback bow-tied flats and pumps, as worn by blair eadie (and about a million other bloggers/editors/models) below:

the $500+ price tag deterred me from even considering buying these shoes, but i was triumphant when i stumbled upon these very similar slingback flats at miss selfridge for just $38 (they come in black too). they're just what i need to put a spring in my step this season -- fingers crossed it actually starts getting warm soon!

this blush pink color would go with everything, especially the following... 

{ clu sweater, current/elliott jeans, essie nail polish in geranium, bijoux heart earrings, gorjana bracelet, clare vivier clutch, miss selfridge flats }

II emily

show your stripes

born and raised in the midwest, i've dealt with extra-long, harsh winters my entire life. as a result, you would think i've leared a thing or two about outerwear -- this, however, is not the case. i always have high hopes for winter: i picture myself in tons of colorful, cozy layers, the perfect bold wool coat, rosy cheeks, cute-yet-sensible snow boots, and an overall sense of content. this never happens, at least not past november. function trumps form when you're trudging through a snowdrift, and before you know it you realize you've worn the same michelin man knee-length down coat every single day for the past four months and are googling "symptoms of seasonal depression." (side note: how often are you supposed to wash a nylon/down coat? anyone?)

the transition period between winter and spring is every midwestern girl's saving grace. once temperatures rise above 40 and trees start to sprout tiny leaves, you'd think everyone had a life makeover. the first peek of sunlight promises spring! and springtime fashion, so we all ditch the uggs and leggings and puffy coats and put on those cute "winter layers" like tights + skirts and slouchy cardigans, usually when it's still way to cold to be wearing said ensembles. you have the ability to look even cuter (and actually stay warm) if you have a statement coat in your possession. they generally tend to be thinner and satin-lined, kind of epitomizing the "transition" piece -- especially when in a versatile animal-print. the images below prove that such a bold coat puts you on the fast track to chicness:

 i'm a leopard-print girl through and through, which is why i plan to replicate olivia polermo's exact outfit (maltese not included) once it's acceptable to wear shorts again. but that zebra coat is on another level. everyone could use a little zebra in their lives, especially if, like me, you once hated it. (i predict it will be a "trend" for at least another two seasons.) the girl above looks really cool wearing her zebra coat over a distressed canadian tuxedo, and this very similar number from zara would look great with denim on denim, too. however, i would personally just wear it with a worn-in white tee (plus a denim jacket if it's extra chilly), an orangey-red lip & some eye-popping accessories:

{ zara coat, gabriela artigas silver ring, ginette_ny gold ring, dannijo earrings (on sale!), marni clutch, face stockholm for j.crew lipstick in "french martini," zara heels }

II emily

springtime savings

in case you haven't heard, shopbop has been having a massive sale this week and today is the last day to take advantage of the savings! the way it works is the more you spend, the more you save -- i.e. spend $250 and save $30, spend $1,000 and save $200, etc. etc. just remember to use the code SPRINGEVENT at checkout! 

has there ever been a better reason to start start stocking up for spring weather? i put together some of my favorite pieces that you can start wearing right now and will continue rocking all spring (and summer) long. you know i'm all about transition pieces!

{ from left: tibi "athena" dress, pjk x man repeller "tinkerbell" dress, red valentino scalloped jersey dress & three floor "frenzy" skirt } 

{ from top left: 3.1 phillip lim "pashli" satchel, house of harlow "marley" clutch, samudra "flamingos" pouch, & 3.1 phillip lim "31 minute" bag (reverses to white!) }

{ from top left: nicholas "jocelyn" suede sandals, pour la victoire "sierra" sandals, rebecca minkoff "mabel" sandals, & alexander wang "emma" pumps } 

happy shopping!

II emily   

working for the weekend

i've been obsessing over kate spade saturday ever since the first looks were released a couple weeks ago. i'm already itching for spring, and sunny weather can't come soon enough now that i have a new line to stock my closet with!

kate spade saturday is packed with even more charm, whimsy and color than the traditional kate spade line, and the prices (with clothes averaging around $80, shoes for $85, jewelry for $30, etc) are more than right.

peek some of my favorite looks below -- i'm especially excited about that bold paint-splatter dress (the pattern reappears on several other pieces, including a phone case).

and speaking of kate spade... have you checked out their sale lately? it's full of several of my favorite KS pieces, and all of them would transition perfectly into spring. shop my picks after the images:

top images via lucky magazine // sale items: party pearl drop earrings ($47, were $68) is this seat taken? terry bag ($173, was $248) electric gardens bracelet ($89, was $128) all hours winking georgie clutch ($49, was $98)

II emily

less is more (sometimes)

though it isn't really news, the current handbag trends seem to have taken on 2 extremes: everyone's carrying either a teeny-tiny embellished clutch (think charlotte olympia, alexander mcqueen and olympia le tan) or an enormous, super basic tote. and though i think we can all appreciate a dog-shaped miniaudiere, the latter option is just plain chic. see below:

 

 

 

images via kendi everyday, because i'm addicted, atlantic-pacific & sincerely jules

since i tend  to carry the same bag around for five years straight, this new obsession is both a blessing and a curse. would a streamlined tote give my wardrobe a sleek and sophistocated update? yes. but i require perfection; that's why my cognac marc by marc jacobs hiller bag (scored on sale back in 2009) has survived my college career (so far at least...), made it through the european adventures of 2011, and resisted the grime of daily subway rides in NYC last summer. i never tired of my trusty bag. it provides stylish stability in my life. and after what could only be described as excessive use, it still looks pretty amazing. 

but now that i'm craving a gigantic, uber-simple leather tote of my own, i won't stop until i find the most perfect one ever. in other words, it needs to satisfy my handbag needs until the birth of my first child (or some other far-off milestone). and that kind of wishful thinking can get pricey.

for now, i've rounded up my top contenders  -- from super-pricey-and-beyond (a girl can dream) to much more affordable options that still look super chic. i decided rich neutrals are best for such a timeless shape, with a few pops of red thrown in for good measure. because red seems to be having a big moment, too. (you can blame celine's giant red tote for that one.) extra points for a good two-tone number.

the best part? there's no shame in loading these up with as much useless stuff (ten lip balms, a pair of shoes, earmuffs, a few diet cokes) as your heart desires.

 

 row one: rochas ($1,020) saint laurent ($2,350) rochas ($1,020)

 row two: tory burch ($575) tods ($1,165) marni ($1,280)

 

row one: madewell ($168) madewell ($168) j.crew ($298)

row two: j.crew ($298) vince camuto (also here) ($228) rebecca minkoff ($295)

II emily

be mine

with valentine's day fast approaching, it's either time to pick the perfect outfit for a date with your sweetie or ingest as much heart-shaped chocolate as humanly possible while you stab a voodoo doll of your ex love and watch twelve episodes of gilmore girls.

for those in said anti-valentine's-day camp, all i have to say is this: if you can't beat em, join em! why not wear a hot pink dress to celebrate how great your relationship with yourself is going? or get dolled up for a fabulous dinner of french fries and wine with your girlfriends to celebrate the kind of love that only besties feel? (hint: i'm referencing carrie bradshaw in all of these scenarios)

no matter how you feel about the holiday, the pink-loving carrie in all of us can appreciate any excuse to shop. try any of the cutest v-day items below for a perfectly cheeky and festive holiday ensemble:

{from top: three floor dress (on sale!!!!), ban.do glitter bobbi, ban.do mini hearts, marc by marc jacobs clutch, miu miu bikini, j.crew bracelet, j.crew flats}

II emily

spring break forecast

{ madewell top, current/elliot jeans, gorjana earrings, club monaco cuff, antik batik clutch, rebecca minkoff sandals }

after yesterday's post about spring fashion, it had me thinking about spring break... and seeing as my friends and i are jetting off to vegas in just about over a month, i obviously started brainstorming outfits. some variation of the look above will probably be on heavy rotation, especially the antik batik clutch.

while i was in new york over my winter break, i rented an apartment on union square from a girl who works for antik batik and she graciously gave me an oversized clutch very similar to the one above. it's proved to be quite the wardrobe update; i've always loved antik batik's boho-chic-French-girl style, but i never took the leap to buy a piece for myself. now i'm able to experiment with my new bag, and i found that it really looks good with everything: all-black, bold colors, striped tees, ripped jeans, sweater dresses, flippy skirts, you name it.

the clutch above is a complete wardrobe makeover for just $86 - and considering the escalating price of all the "it" bags out there, that's a pretty amazing deal. i can't wait to wear mine all spring and summer long, and if you're looking to get your own, you can see all of antik batik's bags here and shop the one above here.

II emily

bold step

{ j.crew cashmere sweater, matthew williamson pants, ginette_ny earrings and rings, deborah lippmann "shape of my heart" polish, botkier bag, nicholas sandals (on sale!) }

while the temperatures have dipped back to normal (the low today is a bone-chilling 7°), the past few days of humid, low-60s warmth have had me craving spring -- and spring-appropriate fashion. the sartorial opportunities are endless when you don't have to wear your michelin man-esque down coat everywhere you go (ditto salt-crusted leather boots and uggs). i was still thinking about colorful open-toe sandals, bold printed pants and sleek accessories when i woke up this morning, though i'm disappointed to report my perfect mid-to-low-sixties ensemble will not be seeing the light of day anytime soon. for those of you who are planning ahead, feel free to shop the look above (the sandals in particular are calling my name).

II emily