style dictionary: espadrille

Hi, friends! It's been a while since I did a style dictionary post, and I'll be honest here, mostly because I could never think of what to write about. But! Some lovely lady who took my survey mentioned that she missed these! And my babies get what my babies want. As I was brainstorming yesterday, I realized that maybe I don't need to seek out terms that no one (read: most people) don't know - maybe I just need to highlight things that in all likelihood, you've heard of, and give a good background on the term and why it's cool / matters.

So with that in mind, let's talk Spring and Summer's biggest shoe trend: the espadrille! If you attended the talk I did at The Brass Owl last month, Nicole and I raved about its perfection.

What it is: a light canvas shoe with a plaited fiber sole. You know what else it is? The perfect Spring/Summer shoe for the NYC gal, and a timeless pair of shoes that will never go out of style.

No, really. Espadrilles have been around since the 14th century (according to my friend wikipedia), and became the shoe choice of Salvidor Dali. Most are made in Spain, though nowadays you see high end retailers like Chanel producing couture versions. I bought the pair above at the oldest espadrille shop in Barcelona - I wish I had a picture, it was absolutely glorious.

If you don't have plans to hop on a plane to Spain anytime soon, here are a few affordable, super sweet espadrilles to add to your wardrobe this Spring:

// two tone // laces out // metallic // ballet //  slingback //

Yum! See you lovelies tomorrow!

xoxo,

style dictionary: henley

Good morning from snowy Astoria! Everyone in NYC is bummed about yesterday's small storm, but you have to admit, winter wonderland is better than just plain cold (with a side of filthy snow). And what's more, we're free to dream about Spring no matter the weather! Which is why I'm excited for today's style dictionary word: HENLEY. Henley is defined as "a casual top with a scoop neck and a short row of buttons in the center of the neckline."

If you still have no idea what I'm talking about,

Originally more of a men's shirt (worn by English rowers), ladies can find henley's just about anywhere these days. My favorite come from J. Crew (see above); the brand does menswear inspired so well.

A henley is perfect for Spring - chic, effortless, comfortable, and classic. Here's how I envision the look:

// henley // jeans // bag // espadrilles // sunglasses //

Talk to me, friends. You like? I think this outfit would be perfect for a sunny vacation. Don't forget to subscribe to LRW and get my packing list for free!!

xoxo,

style dictionary: jacquard

Happy (holiday) Monday, friends! There's nothing better than a long weekend, am I right? We spent ours huddled up on the couch with large glasses of wine; the cold here is intense. It's a sweltering 5 degrees right now! Whether or not you're working, there's always room to expand your knowledge of style and clothing, which, I hope, is why you stopped by today! Last week's style dictionary post was the most popular post of the week, which tickles me, so we're going to continue our education with today's word: JACQUARD.

Now, my good friend Merriam Webster defines jacquard as "a fabric of intricate variegated weave or pattern," but that's a little general for me.

When I think of jacquard, I think of a boxy, honeycomb type fabric. Raised and textured, like this:

By the way, this was happening to the left of that photo:

He loves to nap on the heater, go figure. Anyway, ASOS consistently does jacquard really well, at an affordable price with great quality. Which, if you're wanting to experiment with this fun pattern, is a great way to go:

// blazer // pj's // crop top, skirt //

My favorite way to wear jacquard is in a top or jacket, but here I love the luxe jammies (great for the wedding night, maybe??), as well as a crop top set worthy of Taylor Swift.

How do you feel about jacquard? (PS- DON'T FORGET ASOS IS OFFERING 20% OFF WITH CODE PREZDAY20)

xoxo,

style dictionary: bouclé

Good morning, friends! In an effort to be the most well-rounded, diverse style blog on your blogroll, I am rolling out a new series today: STYLE DICTIONARY! I don't know about you, but half the time when I'm making a purchase, I have no idea what the description on the tag means. What's a henley? What's argyle? You get my drift. Slowly over time I've busied myself with learning these vestial buzzwords, but I realize you may not have done the same. Today I'm going to do my best to take the guess work out of shopping for you all, starting with the word BOUCLÉ.

According to my good friend Merriam Webster, the word is defined as, "an uneven yarn of three plies, one of which forms loops at intervals." It also describes the type of fabric made from the aforementioned yarn. The best way to remember bouclé? CHANEL.

That, right there, is bouclé! That fuzzy texture no doubt made famous by Chanel's jackets, is bouclé! Jackie Kennedy was wearing it on that fateful day in Dallas, and these days you can find it just about anywhere. Here are 3 bouclé pieces I'm loving:

// yellow coat // scarf // sneakers //

There you have it, friends! If you like this new series, let me know! I'll bring it back again next week.

xoxo,