winter re-vamp

{pictured: just a few of my must-haves... equipment cardigan, rag & bone jeans, c.wonder earrings, rgb nail polish, 3.1 phillip lim clutch, rms living luminizer, elizabeth arden 8 hour cream, report flats}

while i'm definitely excited for all of the fall trends, the truth is, i've been looking at these clothes since february — at some point, it starts to feel a little tired. which is why i am on a mission to find perfect, high-quality classics that will keep me going all season long.

for starters, i'm a huge sucker for cashmere sweaters – i have more than i can physically count – but i recently realized they're all pullovers or v-necks. no variety there. i'm hoping to switch up my game this season with a perfectly slouchy cardigan, and this equipment one is looking pretty dreamy.

i'm also in the market for a new pair of jeans (aren't we always? ) and rag & bone is my source for the very best denim. i'm hoping i have time to stop by their nolita store one of these weekends to get a pair. i'm a skinny-jeans-only girl, and these have the perfect rise, super-slim legs and a flattering dark wash.

another wardrobe staple for me? ballet flats. while i amassed quite the collection of j.crew statement sandals this summer (like these and these) i tend to wear ballet flats almost every day. (you can imagine how cold my feet get in the winter). i've been obsessed with these vince flats for quite a while – the pointy toe and d'orsay style are a nice departure from my standard ballets. since i haven't wanted to splurge, i was happy to discover this identical pair by report. they look strikingly similar and are beyond comfortable (yes, i've tried them on a few times). they also come in this super cute leopard style.

as for the earrings, they're from c. wonder and i am in love. (thanks, liz!) the $38 price tag makes them almost too good to be true. they look cute with everything, from a leather jacket and skirt to my favorite sweatshirt and jeans. i suggest you get yourself a pair.

next: do i need a furry clutch? i certainly do not. but that didn't stop me from falling hard for this phillip lim bag, $500 price tag and all. it's everything i want in a clutch – large, simple, functional –  and it's fuzzy. what could be better? now, how can i make this happen…

when it comes to beauty, i'm all about maintaining a solid routine. even though my skin gets drier in the winter, i'll still be using my favorite products – including boots botanics rose hip facial oil, origins brightening eye cream, boscia tinted moisturizer, origins mascara (i'll never go back to chemical mascaras), kerastase cristalliste shampoo, lancome flash bronzer lotion, neutrogena pressed powder (i love the finish), and nars laguna bronzing powder. i've used all of these for years, but i'm constantly trying new products, whether i'm stopping by sephora on the weekend or snagging free samples from work. in terms of new discoveries, i recently added elizabeth arden 8-hour cream to my arsenal (yeah, i'm about 10 years late) and i think i've found the perfect crimson polish in rgb's "classic red." my other new favorite thing is my rms living luminizer, which adds a glow in one swipe and includes just four all-natural ingredients. 

how are you updating your winter look?

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   

baroque is back

of all the fall trends emerging this season, baroque is by far my favorite. 
i know what you're thinking. at first glance, it seems kind of crazy. a couple of years ago i took a course about baroque art in italy, and i couldn't imagine how that era would translate to modern fashion. and if it did, there was no way it would be wearable... right?


wrong. baroque came about so fluidly, it was almost as if designers had been storing these dramatic shapes and gorgeous patterns in their closets for years and were just waiting for the right moment to share them with the world. proenza schouler, balmain and alexander mcqueen -- among countless others -- turned out particularly incredible head-to-toe masterpieces: 

{from left: proenza schouler, balmain, alexander mcqueen / images via style.com}


personally, i would love to wear that balmain get-up every single day -- but let's be realistic. for our day-to-day routines, full-on brocades and scarf prints are just not going to work. 


in fact, i prefer modernizing the trend by sticking to simple, boxy tops, like the ones below, which add angles to the swirly patterns and keep things sleek. you can wear these tops with anything -- even your ratty jeans or shorts -- but slim pants look especially amazing. try a bold color or leather finish for some nice contrast; i especially love the idea of wearing that ornate preen top with those super-sporty side-stripe rag & bone pants -- they kind of feel like they were made for each other.


tie it all together with a clutch that doesn't distract from the artfulness of your shirt. oversized styles hold everything you need during the day but look perfectly polished at night, instantly making the baroque trend perfect for any occasion.

peep my ideas below to get the look:

{ look #1: preen top / rag & bone pants / 3.1 phillip lim clutch (bonus: it reverses to white!) }  

{ look #2: vionnet top / michael kors pants / clare vivier clutch }

{ look #3: marni embellished top / helmut lang pants / the row clutch }

more shopping ideas below.....

a little sparkle

 

 { image via stockholm street style }

this is one of those pictures that makes me wonder if i live under a rock. seriously. how have i not thought to buy a metallic purple coat before?! 

well, mostly because i'm not ezgi kiramer, to put it simply. it's a harsh truth. (btw, she told us it's balenciaga - should've known!)

not only is this a super unique and stylish piece, but as you can see, it can be dressed down and worn a million different ways by throwing in a few basics.  and yes, leather pants are indeed a basic, and a slouchy white tee (plus showstopping prada heels) truly makes everything cooler.

i'm loving shimmery finishes on anything, as evident in my recent post about the APC x vanessa seward collaboration, which features covetable icy blue and champagne separates. it's truthfully all i want right now. 

follow ezgi's lead and be one of the first to wear a shimmer-finish piece this season -- a few little ideas below:

 

{ clockwise from top left: topshop skater dress / free people dress / topshop pleather leggings / topshop jacquard pants / topshop playsuit / jimmy choo clutch / 3.1 phillip lim bag }

II emily