shut your mouth

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One of my goals since coming back from Alt Summit is for LRW to have more amazing photography for you guys to look at - whether that be my own or someone else's. As luck would have it, Julia is one of my favorite photographers and was also more than game to snap some pictures. Last Friday, armed with stories of wedding planning and not much else in the way of outerwear, we ventured out in Park Slope, Brooklyn to bring you all something pretty to look at. JuliaElizabethPhotography-50

Sometimes, to create beautiful stuff, you have to give your insecurities the what for:

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// shirt // sweater // skirt // tights // booties, similar // bracelet//

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If you're loving these bracelets as much as I am (they're engraved with NYC's coordinates!), never fear! I'll be doing a separate, more in detail post on my collaboration with Samantha Faye!

 

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xoxo,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

ALLIE SIGNATURE

 

 

all images via Julia Elizabeth Photography for LRW.

how to: wear hosiery

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111114howtowearhosiery Sometimes I think tights get a bad rap. Caught somewhere in between skinny jeans and leggings, we just never really consider them. We should be giving thanks to the stylish way we keep our frigid stems warm all winter long. Let's break down how to wear them so that we can give them proper love this season:

1. Find Your Style: Consider the style that works for you, and consider wearability. I am most comfortable in opaque tights in black or brown. That's just me. Maybe you like sheer black, or flesh toned fishnets. Like a signature scent, find what works for you. Maybe you wear a lot of brown and maroon cut out tights work best with that. Good, stick with it. I will occasionally wear the printed tight, but it has to be versatile. Subtle adornments in a neutral color work best, so I would avoid bright colors or elaborate patterns if you're going for cost per wear.

2. Style with Slacks: We've got to get into the habit of breaking our own rules. You don't always have to wear tights with a pencil skirt and pumps. Style them with wide leg culottes or silky shorts for a night out. For thicker tights, pair with socks, boots, and a casual skirt if you can. Lumpy tights sticking out of dress shoes is a no-no. Also, black is our friend. Pair an LBD with any kind of black tights and black ankle boots for a no brainer outfit. Pair with a fun blazer, scarf, or cardigan to mix in color.

3. Mind the Shoes: Unless you're going to a costume party dressed as a Go Go Dancer, stay away from flesh toned pumps and black tights. When dressing up, try to keep your tights and pumps in the same color family; this is for neutrals only, so, black with black, navy with navy, brown with brown.  However, black tights go equally well with brown shoes/boots and/or navy brogues/loafers. I like to remind my clients - when you're in your bedroom, all bets are off. Try on everything, the worst that can happen is you decide against it.

My absolute favorite brand for hosiery is Wolford. If you shop in store, you can feel a swatch each style before buying, and the sales people help you find the right size / style for you. Wolford is pricy though, so Hue is a great alternative, and they have a veritable library of styles. I also love H&M's simple black tights - they're affordable and they last.

That's it! Thoughts?

xoxo,

ALLIE SIGNATURE

 

 

 

 

 

 

image via.

telling stories: an experiment with ashley caroline photography

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Back when a landline was necessary, I would make calls to my best friend Ashley from my parents' bedroom.  We would plan to meet up in the woods, on the path halfway between our houses. There was this one scary part of the woods that was a dark tunnel of branches.  I can see it like it was yesterday.  We would run through it as fast as we could- that was about halfway- and continue on, sometimes stopping to explore, sometimes detouring, always, always laughing.

I can't believe that was almost 20 years ago, but the good news is…old habits die hard.  Ashley, who is a very successful wedding photographer and owner of Ashley Caroline Photography, contacted me a couple months ago about meeting up for a lifestyle / fashion photoshoot.  I think I said yes before her fingers finished typing.

Well, we made it happen this weekend with plenty of exploring, detouring and tons of laughter…here are the results.

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Sources: Free People Lou Buttondown Dress / Scarf made by my lovely sister in law (email me if you would like her contact info!) / Wolford tights / Belt on permanent loan from my sister (similar here) / Pedro Garcia boots (sold out- I got them when they were 50% off) / Hunter Boots borrowed from Ashley's sister / Hat borrowed from my impossibly stylish friend Vicki (similar here) / Soo Ihn Kim Bracelet (old) / Marcia Moran Druzy Ring (similar here)

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While I tried my best to smize, Ashley used glass to create some incredible images...

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You didn't think we would leave Charlie out, did you?  Master of the Smize...

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Okay that's a lie.  Charlie was FREAKING OUT!  Friend does not handle new situations well, though you can't tell by Ashley's shots, and we were fortunate to have the most handsome dog wrangler on hand (thanks, Raven!).

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I'm in love with the above shots.  Ashley's pictures read like a novel- I swear I can picture the entire story about that girl in the plaid dress with the lace blanket.

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Taking pictures on the rocks was amazing.  We were freezing, the wind was whipping and I felt like the ocean was going to swallow us up.  Again, you would never know it from these pictures...

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This last picture makes me want to cry!  Ashley, you are a true artist and I cannot wait to watch your career blossom and grow.

If you're interested in hiring Ashley, please visit her website here (and check out her recap of our shoot here!).

And please check back over the next couple weeks, I'll be recapping the other outfits!  Hope you've enjoyed :)

 

images by Ashley Caroline Photography