success-ories

Oh hi, friends! Is anyone else still half asleep? I had a chock full weekend - Raven's family was in town, there was a lot of eating (and a lot of drinking) and the Hedwig soundtrack has been on repeat. This morning doesn't feel like Monday in the slightest.

In my half-sleep stupor this morning, I began thinking about accessories (as you do when you're lying in bed), and I wanted to put something out there to you all: stop accessorizing for the sake of it.

Occasionally a trend will come along that's great, and then it gets reworn and reworn and trickles down through each realm of fashion / retail until there's nothing but a fragment of the former trend left - and the fragment usually isn't good. So many times we'll see the trend get used and abused and yet complacently we abide by it.

I'll use an example I love - statement necklaces. When they're good, they makes the outfit. And even if they aren't "good" (what does that mean, really), they're still a great go-to look. But the why is where I take pause. By all means, throw something on, and do it boldly and confidently despite what everyone else thinks - but think it through.

In the picture above is a necklace I have never worn save for the day I wore that outfit. I would always try to throw this necklace on - that's why I bought it - but just before I'd leave the house, like the Slytherin Horcrux in Harry Potter,  I'd take it off because it was dragging me down. It took me 3 years, countless outfits, and forgoing my "if you haven't worn it in a year" rule to pair it correctly. A crew neck tee and a monochrome palette were what worked for me.

So before you decide to throw something on tomorrow, take a step back and think about the why, and if it means you walk out of the house unsuccessorized, so be it.

xoxo,

little red wants

Oh friends thank you SO much for your thoughtful and helpful advice on yesterday's post!! Even though Raven and I still haven't reached a decision as to whether or not we'll have a first look, conversations are happening, which is awesome. Guys, I am cold. I am cold and all I want to do is be WARM! Today I'm serving you my spring wish list - no bathing suits on here, are you crazy?? I'm looking for 60-75 degree weather, and that's that!

// jeans // mini bag // bracelet // gold shoes // striped top // grey top // blue shoes //

This spring I'm all about classic, comfy, and subdued. I'll only layer in color where absolutely necessary (teeny tiny bag? Yes please.), and I'll stay away from ballet flats and wear the springy equivalent of boots and sneaks. I'll wear knee slits in my jeans so I can avoid wearing shorts, and every outfit will have stripes because they're the best no brainer way to add instant chic.

What are you coveting for spring??

xoxo,

there's money in your closet

Spring has come (for the most part) and it's the perfect time to clean out your closet (or, have me do it for you!). Here's an incentive for you: there's money hanging in your closet. Pictured above is only a fraction of what we eliminated at my closet makeover session yesterday - and this is all the good stuff. J. Crew, Anthropologie, Ann Taylor, Vince, the list goes on. All just sitting in her closet. After yesterday, she can sell these clothes to Twice or her local consignment store and make some money to invest in pieces for Spring.

Again, above is only the stuff she's selling aka making money off of. I always recommend Twice to my clients, because of the ease and the amount they offer per item. Twice sends you a pre-paid shipping kit (with an enormous bag), you send in your items to them, and in approximately 2 weeks they make you an offer. Accept it and get either store credit or cold, hard cash. Reject their offer and they will send your items back to you less the cost of shipping. Pretty sweet deal, right? Click here: liketwice.com/sW0Pq to give Twice a try and get a $20 store credit (disclaimer: I get $20 too if you sign up!), and let me know what you think!

If you're feeling lazy, throw some money at the problem and hire me! I'd love to go through your things!

xoxo,

This is not a sponsored post I just really love Twice!

color fatigue

That title, right? I can't take credit for it, it's part of a question submitted to me (by my ingenious friend Courtney) last week before The Brass Owl spring trend workshop. The question, and the subsequent answer, were so exciting to me that I knew I wanted to devote today's post to the subject. In case you missed it on FB, Courtney's question was as follows:

"I never have the right transitional outfits in the spring, I'm either too cold or too warm and my palette is still pretty gray/black. What's the best outfit to conquer temperature confusion and winter color fatigue?"

That, right there, is some JUICE. A helluva question, and I'll be honest I had to think about my answer. But here goes.

We spend 3-4 months of the year stuffing our down coats like turkeys, piling on every bit of warmth we can imagine, wearing muted tones and hoping against hope that snow boots go with everything. This fatigue Courtney mentions is two-fold. We're tired of the stuffing, and we forget what it's like to see the sun shine - even when it comes to our wardrobe. By the time winter passes us by, we're so used to covering ourselves up that we almost forget what it feels like to have the sun on our face and neck. So sometimes we get a little confused. We go crazy and wear a floral dress without tights when it's 55, or decide it's time to break out our pastel jeans and sandals. We feel weird, and we should.

Warm weather doesn't mean we have to go from one extreme (stuffed turkeys) to another (pattern and color crazed - and probably still cold). Take it easy, and start small.

1. Switch out your down coat for a wool one. Remember that awesome super sale pick you scooped up at the end of the fall season? Now is the time. Wool coats, come out. Pea coats, trenches, lined waxed jackets, faux fur. Make no mistake, we still need coats right now, we just do not need the big guns. Bring out the medium guns.

2. You still need to layer. Everyone is rolling their eyes, I know. But you can't go out without a sweater, cardigan, or some sort of layer between you and your newly dusted off spring transitional coat. Bring a larger bag and stuff it in there if you overheat, which is unlikely because the high's are in the low 50's right now.

3. Neutral color. While we're still warming up our color muscles, go easy on yourself and do some classic neutrals (which, by the way, are super in for spring!). Swap out those black jeans for blue jeans to keep the transition going. Add a dainty piece of jewelry and a bold lip. Et voila!

// top (less expensive option) // jeans (less expensive option) // necklace // lipstick // boots //

Now TELL ME you're not excited to get dressed this morning - I know I am!

xoxo,

real deal // huge steal: chloe

It's been a while since I've done one of these posts - but I'm always keeping a look out for super sneaky near knockoffs. Do you follow the street style of fashion week (New York, London, Milan and now Paris)? Well, this past fall, everyone was wearing Chloe's drew satchel:

It's gorgeous, right? It's impossibly fresh with a bit of a 70's vibe. Love it. I don't however, love the almost $1800 price tag that comes along with it.

Chloe Mini Drew Saddle Bag, $1750

Friends! Look what I found!

ASOS mini saddle, $30

Basically the same, yes? The same gold hardware, pretty clasp, and I love the color blocking this one has, just like some of the Chloe versions.

My rule of thumb for big time purchases is that they must be something you absolutely love, as well have high wearability. The Chloe bag is great, but for the average New Yorker like you and me, it's not super practical. I usually carry around two bags when commuting, and I know this bag wouldn't fit much - which is why I like the ASOS version better, for an inexpensive but stylish night out.

Hope to see you all tonight!!

xoxo,

top images via.