read more posts by

redrhinestone

Brunch Brights

Most of the time when I think of brunching with my girlfriends, I envision cute pastel dresses and lace, but what about the brights? With summer peeking around the corner, I wanted to put together a few chic red brunch-ready ensembles to get you inspired for summer!

Since cold shoulders and ruffles are all the range, I had to purchase this adorable Democracy top from Stage. It’s so comfortable, and adds a feminine touch to my casual rolled-cuff shorts and mirrored sunnies. To really complete this look, I paired it with strappy wedges, and dainty gold-tone jewelry. This is my favorite Saturday brunch outfit because its ideal when the temperatures really heat up, and it is cute-to-boot!

My other brunch look is a little more chic, and fun. I purchased this Peter Piloto for Target romper a few years ago, and completely treasure it! I wanted to work it into a tailored style, so I paired it with my long sleeve White House Black Market blazer (similar) and these adorable stacked MIA faux leather slip on’s. The combination turned out better than I had expected! I absolutely love how this ensemble looks. It’s such a confidence booster for me to put together an ensemble that makes me feel like…well, me! And that is what this ensemble does.

So for your next brunch, search through your closet for one of your favorite pieces, and see how you can transform it into a new look! You just might be surprised as to what you come up with!

Spring Stripes and Crisp Whites

So as most of you know, I recently had the opportunity to shop with Shein, and give my review of their site and products. One of the pieces I selected was this gorgeous oversized top that I just have to share with you guys!

With a busy schedule, it is always great to have go-to items that will transition you throughout the day, and keep you looking your best. This spring I got my hands on this beautiful baby doll collared top from Shein, and it does the job perfectly!

Haley050117-3201 (1)

I love that I can wear this top to work, but also out and about on the weekends and evenings. The oversized design is wonderful for catching the breeze on those warmer days and most of all, it doesn’t cling.

The Details

This top has some of the most feminine details! Featuring a baby doll silhouette, oversized flutter sleeves, a back button keyhole closure, and peter-pan collar, all comprised on a neatly striped print.

My favorite way to style this top is with Jessica Simpson Skinny jeans in white, and braided Olivia Miller slip on Sandals. I wanted the star of the ensemble to be the top, so I kept the accessories minimal with a single floral embossed bangle, and a lasercut clutch for a nice pop of texture.

Haley050117-3332 (1)

I ordered this top from Shein in a side Medium.  I wanted the top to be comfortable, breezy, and oversized and this size fit me perfectly for what I was looking for. And the best part of it all? This beautiful top was only $13.00! That is an amazing price for a garment of this quality. So if you like it, I advise you get your hands on one fast, while you still can!

Haley050117-3251

Fun Black and White Weekend Wear

I really enjoy a great black and white ensemble, so any chance I can get my hands on a unique piece, I do!

I would like to add that the focal pieces of these looks were purchased from White House Black Market. If you didn’t already know this, everything in the store is black and white, (aside from their season color focus.) Since black and white items are the majority of what they sell, I tend to find myself shopping their locations first when searching for my next black and, or, white piece.

For the first look, I paired this lightweight lace popover top with black skinny jeans, pom pom sneakers, tassel earrings, and cat eye sunglasses. This comfortable, and chic look has so many interesting details and textures, yet nothing is overpowered. That’s what I love about black and white, you can add a subtle pop of color, and mix different textures while still staying chic.

My next look is ideal for the beachside! This beautiful striped maxi dress is stretchy, features a slit on the side, and is perfect for a day out in the sun. I paired it with comfortable sandals, and my favorite oversized floppy hat. For this look, I kept my accessories solid black. This assists in streamlining the look, as the dresses’ striped print is very bold, and the spotlighted feature.

I purchased these pieces from the White House Black Market outlet for under 20$ each! If you have never made it out to one of their outlets, I highly recommend you stop in! They offer very flattering, high quality products ranging from classic tailored work wear, to trendy weekend t-shirts! You never know just what you might find on sale!

 

 

Shop The Mint: The Wear Anywhere Romper

If you are looking for a great one-piece ensemble to wear to a polo match, wedding, the movies, or even brunch with the girls, this is the piece to purchase!

This lightweight romper from The Mint Julep Boutique is as elegant as it is comfortable! The flowing material flatters any figure, as the culotte crops add style and on-trend vibes. The bodice features cold shoulders and a split back detailing, all on a cool shade of blue accented with soft white stripes.

20170423_164936(0)

I decided to dress it up with a blazer and sling back heels, for a more formal touch. I can easily see this romper paired with a large floppy hand and sandals as well! It is such a versatile staple piece for your spring and summer wardrobe!

My impressions

I was contacted by The Mint Julep Boutique, for a brand review, and selected this piece to try out. Their customer service is impeccable and all of their products are cute and well made. I especially love how easy it is to determine your size based off of their sizing guides and model specs. Their site is extremely user friendly and they have a dress for almost any occasion! All of their assortment is very affordable, and in my opinion, adorable!

My order arrived in a timely manner, and was packaged very neatly in identifiable mint packaging.

20170423_164908

This piece is available on Shop the Mint.com for $46.00 which is an excellent value for the quality of the garment. I ordered the romper in a size Medium, and am happy with the fit. I believe the Small would have fit as well but as I am 5’8”, I choose to go up a size when it comes to one piece garments for length purposes.

I hope you love this jumpsuit as much as I do! And don’t forget to sign up for Mint Julep Boutique emails, when you do you will receive $10.00 off your first order!

 

 

 

 

First Impressions: Best Hair Store

Everyday I want to do something different with my hair. From cut to color, my desires for change are never ending. And with the trends constantly changing, who’s to blame me? I love to have my hair bleached and colored different shades based on the seasons, or even when I get inspired for a change. Because of this, my hair is not as healthy as it used to be, therefore the length has been somewhat compromised. The lucky part of this is there is a solution! Clip-in extensions!

 

Some days I feel like having long hair and others, short. With extensions this is possible! I was recently contacted by Best Hair Store to review a set of their extensions. I selected an ombre style that would blend well with my current hair color. After ordering, the product arrived within a week. I was very impressed with the quality of the hair as well as the color. There was no shedding as I brushed out the hair, or even when I applied heat tools.

20170421_145111

The installation was quick and easy. All I needed to do was part my hair in desired locations, tease the hair at the root, and then clip in the tracks.

The clips have a secure hold and do not pull, or pinch my hair or scalp. Each extension is lightweight, so there is not heavy pulling on any areas of the scalp. I love the ease of installation and removal of this product, not to mention the excellent quality!

20170421_145023

This hair is most definitely worth the value and can be used to create so many exciting looks for me without further damaging or changing my natural hair!

If you are looking for some fun- current trend extensions, check out The Best Hair Store’s offerings! They have a beautiful assortment of extensions!

20170421_151523

Fun Ways to Dress Up White Shorts

Summertime means shorts…well it definitely does if you live in Texas! My favorite shorts to wear are these white rolled cuff denim ones from Old Navy. I just love the fit, length and stretch they offer! But the trick here is…how do you dress them up?

Shorts are super fun to wear, and the keep you cool, but lets face it, they are a casual piece of clothing. But as summer approaches, and the temperatures rise, dressing up gets very difficult and sometimes downright impossible! Which is why I wanted to brainstorm ways to create cute, wearable ensembles incorporating shorts that are chic enough you could brunch, shop, and even socialize in.

20170225_085052

That is how I landed on this combination! This lightweight Calvin Klein top is designed in a stretch material, that features a split neck design and roll-tab sleeves. The weight of the material allows the top to hang just right, as the print sets a cooling chic tone. To top off the look, I paired it with stacked bracelets, 50’s inspired sunnies and espadrille wedges. What takes this look from casual, to chic, is the wedges and the design of the top. Adding a modern print, 3/4 length sleeves, and a slightly dressy shoe, completely morphs the ensemble.

20170225_08523620170225_0850310So don’t be afraid to rock your favorite shorts at your next get-together! With the right pair of shoes and printed top, you can turn this said-to-be casual wardrobe piece into a chic complementary item.

Shein Shopping: The Perfect Color Block Dress for Spring

I absolutely love to get my hands on a great dress. There is something about it that gives you that “conquer-all” vibe. I am partial to purchasing “safe” neutral shades that transition, and can easily be re-styled, but ever so often, I find a piece that is bold, bright and I’ve just have to have it! That was this dress!

I selected this dress from Shein. Not only was the dress adorable, but the price was unbeatable! I just love how the mix of pastel shades blend together with the yellow back panel to create such a cute color block garment.

20170429_145303

The details

With a back ¾ zip closure swing silhouette, and front pockets, this dress has it all. I especially love the length of the sleeves, and the neckline. It is perfect for adding a sparkling statement bib necklace, and dainty bracelet as accessories. I would recommend a short slip be worn with this dress as it is not lined, and the back panel is slightly see through.

20170429_145302(0)

My thoughts

I ordered this dress for $20.00 in a size medium, and would say it is a steal at that price! I believe the size small would also fit, but I decided to size up for the length as I am 5’8″. The construction and fabric quality is well produced, and the colors and shape of the garment online are true to what I received.

It only took about two weeks for me to get my order in from Shein and the garments were very well packaged. Each piece was placed in a separate zip bag and folded neatly.

If you are looking for a great spring dress to go to your next daytime wedding, birthday party, baby shower, or even to work, this must-have dress will fit the scene and get you noticed!

2017 Anthropologie City Centre Fashion Show

Last month I had the opportunity to walk in an Anthropologie fashion show at the City Centre location. This was my first time to ever participate in something like this, so I did not know what to expect! Luckily, I was selected with a group of Houston bloggers that I know and love so at least I wasn’t doing this alone for the first time!

My look was selected for me by Victoria, a super sweet stylist at this location. She curated all of our looks based on our personal style and measurements. The ensemble selected for me to model included the following pieces:

Earrings: Albury by Bianca Mavrick

Top: Floral Texture Blouse in Mango

Purse: Londra Crossbody

Jeans: Pilcro High-Rise High-Low Skinny Jeans

When the evening of the show finally arrived I got their early for my hair and makeup application. This was really a treat for me, and was super fun! Getting hair and makeup done professionally for an event really adds to the excitement, and gives that extra touch of glamour.

Once I was all dressed with hair and makeup complete, it was time to take a few pictures with my girls! We were all very excited for the opportunity to walk! The store was set up beautifully with light bites and champagne for the guests. Once it was time for us to line up to walk, I really started to get nervous, but also really excited, and then before I knew it, it was my turn! Once I got out there are started walking, it wasn’t scary at all! It was so much fun!

I truly enjoyed this opportunity, and would love to get the chance to do this again…it was such a rush! 🙂 This was one of those opportunities in life where you just have to say, YES! I often let me nerves get the better of me, and don’t take that step- even if I know it will be amazing, but I have made a point to challenge myself this year to try new things and say yes. Because you never know what you are going to miss out on!

A huge thank you goes out to Anthropologie City Centre for putting the beautiful event together and for inviting me out to participate in your show!

Rodeo 2017 Looks Food and Concerts

Living in Houston all of my life means that the Rodeo is a yearly go-to event for me. With over 20 live entertainers, massive carnival, and a rodeo performance every night, there is a show for everyone. This year I attended two nights seeing Fifth Harmony, and Chris Young. I will tell you, although the rodeo is the same time of year, every year, the weather sure is not! Some years it is blazing hot, others it has been windy and cold, so planning ahead on your rodeo attire isn’t always optimal. But the one thing I will say you can prepare for yearly is a lot of walking, so comfort is key when it comes to your footwear! This year I decided on dresses and flat boots for both shows, and was comfortable as well as temperature appropriate both nights.

For Fifth Harmony, I decided on a long-sleeve dress from Armoire.Amore. It was very windy that day, and was going to get cooler by nightfall, so I chose my faux suede fringe boots to complete the look. Also I would like to add that if you are attending the rodeo, that means you are going to be eating some amazingly good–bad for you food! I chose the bbq route this year, but there is always the chance that I might sample a deep fried oreo, twinkie, or some other form of sugary goodness! Because of this, I like to wear looser fitting clothing to the rodeo- haha! I’ve got to stay comfortable no matter how much I decide to eat.

For Chris Young it was a much warmer day so I chose a patchwork print chiffon dress and cowboy boots. This also was my first time rocking the top knot, which was a lot of fun! I decided on this ensemble to keep cool, while still fitting the rodeo spirit. Everyone loves to dress up at the rodeo, I have just learned over the years to find a happy medium between rodeo fashion and wearability. Heels and jeans will have you miserable before the night is over, and with it being rodeo season, I want to enjoy every minute of it- not waste it whining!

I hope my styling tips inspire you to think outside of the box in creating your western wear ensembles. There is a look for you, no matter how country or country at heart you are!

Spring 2017 NYC Weekend Trip Photo Diary

New York is beyond my favorite city. I will take a trip there any chance I can, which is why Jhonathan and I headed up there a few weekends ago.

This trip was just for fun. To get away, and spend some time in the city. On this trip, we visited a few of our regular stops, but added in some new places that really made this particular trip unique.

Food:

While in New York street food is a MUST! I always get myself a hot dog and a chicken kabob first thing! There is just nothing in the world quite like a Manhattan hot dog. We also stopped in at John’s Pizza. This is by far my favorite pizza spot in the city! Located in a converted church, this brick oven pizzeria is not only delicious, but also extremely beautiful!

After dinner we walked over to Junior’s to get some cheesecake – yes this is another “must” stop for me! I have a massive sweet tooth and their cheesecake is simply the best.

Our other food stops included the Chobani cafe in SOHO which was excellent! I have never visited a Chobani restaurant before, and was extremely impressed with the ingredients atmosphere and variety. Our next stop was The Wren we ordered brunch there and had a few drinks. This bar is so lively and offers a delicious assortment of curated options.

Shopping:

I will say I kept the shopping to a minimum on this trip to really enjoy the sights and the city, but I did make the time to stop in Birchbox SoHo to create my own box and check out their store! This was such a fun experience, I truly felt like a kid in a candy shop! There is makeup, skincare and hair products galore! I wanted to spend all day in this shop, and was so glad we decided to stop in. I also made a trip over to the flagship Henri Bendel location to walk through and check out their new offerings, and amazing wall art! Henri Bendel is one of my favorite handbag and accessory locations, so it is inevitable, every time I step in one I have to get myself something!

Aside from these stops, we also strolled through Central Park, Grand Central Station, and over by the Brooklyn bridge. I have to say this was one of my most loved trips to New York. Not because we had a million places to go, but because we didn’t. This was a relaxing trip to really explore the city and enjoy enjoy all it was to offer.