I don’t know what it is, but I have really been into wearing black right now. It just never goes out of style! So for this look I decided to pair a lot of my favorite textures…I know, just because I like it, does not mean it will pair nicely together, but in this case, I would say… SUCCESS!
Here I chose to mix a chunky textured knit sweater, faux suede skirt, fringe and quilted faux leather booties to complete the look. It does sound like a lot going on, but since everything is the same color, it works!
I wanted to create a fun look-something that would be easy to wear, and ideally for night time occasions. Also, something to keep with the current textural trends, but cool enough to wear out with the weather we are experiencing here in Houston, and I came up with this!
For accessories I decided on a clutch from Ralph Lauren and a gorgeous statement necklace from Kendra Scott. This particular piece is actually from Rocksbox! I am loving this subscription service, and cannot stop raving about it! Since jewelry trends move quickly it is really nice to be able to wear quality pieces and try them out before deciding to invest. I will provide a link and code at the end of the blog if anyone is interested in a getting a free month of unlimited jewelry rentals!
And once the temperatures drop, layering a jacket over this ensemble is all you will need! Here I have styled a black faux suede studded jacket from XOXO with this ensemble to add yet another layer of interesting texture and dimension (but saying true to my color palette.)
Details on the look:
Jacket: XOXO brand Stage Stores
Skirt: Joe B. Stage Stores
Sweater: Calvin Klein Stage Stores
Boots: Hautelook
Necklace: Kendra Scott Rocksbox
Click here to sign up for a free month of Rocksbox! redrhinestonexoxo
I am so ready to kick off fall and jump into all of the fun colors, sweaters and boots but Houston doesn’t seem to be with me on this, as the heat is still unbearable! Luckily today’s ensemble is the perfect blend of warm weather meets fall!
This fun sleeveless dress features a laser cut overlay with faux suede texture and nude lining. The mock turtleneck is my favorite neckline at the moment…I cannot get enough of it! Since this dress is a bit short on me I decided to pair it with tall boots. For some reason shortening the gap between the hem of the dress and the top of the boot creates the illusion of a “longer dress” not sure if anyone else uses this trick but it is a lifesaver for me!
These boots are comprised of a dark faux leather and feature a heel and mock fold-over button accent. They have a casual feel, but pair perfectly with a dress! This was a rather quick and easy ensemble for me to put together. The burnt orange shade of the dress paired perfectly with shades of brown. I decided to go with rich chocolates and rose gold accessories to complete the look. Perfect for whatever my day has in store!
I recently had the opportunity to travel to Louisiana, and stay at the beautiful Houmas House. All I can say about this plantation is; it’s totally breathtaking and…when can I go back? Every little detail of the property is perfectly thought out and elegant. Walking through the beautiful gardens on property will seriously transport you through time. All thoughts of city life seem to fade away and its just you, in the moment.
Our cottage was decorated to perfection and included a sitting room, working desk, and coffee bar. I loved all of the wood accented carvings and antique furnishings. No detail was left unturned, and even though our group took up the majority of the cottages, you still felt the quiet and peacefulness the vast plantation and gardens had to offer.
We ate at the restaurant on property which was decorated beautifully and was beyond elegant. I was taken aback by the size of the main room and the vast table we were served at. Each chair was upholstered and armed. Mixed patterns added charm to the room and the high ceiling with intricate carved crown molding and crystal chandeliers seriously gave the appearance of old world glamour and timeless beauty.
Thankfully while here the weather was pleasant, and the mosquitoes were tolerable, as I have an allergy and would have not been able to explore the grounds otherwise. I took full advantage of daylight and walked the beautiful gardens taking in all they had to offer.
Now, what brought me to Baton Rouge may not be what you have expected. No, I did not come out for vacation or to see the sights but actually to volunteer with the Red Cross and assist in the efforts of helping the victims in need after the devastating floods hit that region.
This was my first time volunteering with the Red Cross so I was a bit anxious and unsure of what to expect. All I knew is I wanted to help in anyway I could, and give back. After checking in I was assigned warehouse duty and spent my time volunteering loading totes of cleaning/household supplies into care packages, being prepped to be delivered to families in need. It took some practice but before long we were a streamlined assembly line. I’m not going to lie, this was hard work but is totally fulfilling. Knowing that my time and work was doing going to help someone else in need is an amazing feeling. Being sore and uncomfortable for a few days seemed trivial in compassion, and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to help out.
I definitely recommend volunteering if you are able to. It is an amazingly fulfilling and humbling experience and touches so many lives! Also, if you are looking for a wonderful place to stay near Baton Rouge I would hands down recommend the Houmas House! It was so wonderful, I could not have asked for a better stay.
On a beautiful day, when the sky is clear and there is a breeze to break up the heat, I find myself gravitating towards the outdoors. Since this is Houston, spending long periods of time outside is not realistic, but stopping for brunch or hitting up an outdoor shopping center are on the table! Today I decided to mix up textures and warm fall tones for a fun and breezy look!
This dress is so comfortable and offers pockets and short sleeves, perfect for the day, but as it is a bit short for my taste a lightweight kimono was the perfect edition to complete the look! This one in particular is a rich burgundy shade comprised of a thin lace with a generous fringe hem. The layer is enough to make me feel less exposed without adding a layer of weight and bulk.
To finish off the look I chose a comfy pair of booties. These in particular are by Muk Luks. I enjoy the knit contrast, buckle details and chunky heel. Again, a subtle touch of texture to tie the look together.
Featured products:
Dress: Marshalls
Kimono: Stage Stores
Boots: Muk Luks – Stage Stores
Living downtown with dogs can have its ups and downs…especially with the weather we have here in Houston. One minute its 100 degrees and sunny, the next its dark as night with heavy downpour, so choosing an outfit in the morning can be a struggle. For today’s walk, I decided on a sleeveless faux suede dress I picked up from Stage and a fun felt hat! This way I could be cool, and covered no matter what the weather has in store for me.
This dress is a keeper for sure! I have to say the fit is fabulous and the added pocket feature is my favorite! To stay comfortable and keep the look casual, I decided to pair it with my cheetah print slip-ons from G-by Guess. They worked perfectly to keep my feet dry and comfortable while walking the pups. And of course it started sprinkling on us so my hat served its purpose and kept me from melting. (lol) I definitely think a good hat makes an excellent style statement as well as serves a mighty purpose in the event of inclement weather, so I have started incorporating them pretty regularly. Needless to say, the pups enjoyed their walk and the cool down from the rain and in this ensemble I was able to enjoy it too.
Dress: Stage
Hat: Marshalls
Shoes: G-By Guess
Necklace: Baublebar
Sometimes purchasing a LBD or “little black dress” can be for a special occasion, or just to add that staple piece to your wardrobe, but somehow it ends up in the back of your closet because you haven’t had that “special occasion” come up for you to wear it to. Here I have accessorized a little black dress in an everyday appropriate style so that you can really get your use out of this piece.
First of all, I love how this dress has a collar and button placket. It adds such an interesting and structured feel to the dress. Not to mention it also has pockets so its functional! I love a good dress with pockets, and am usually sold as soon as I notice that feature is included.
So to style this dress in a casual way, I paired it with flats. Flats are comfortable and in my opinion, take away any “sexy vibes” a little black dress can create. To further my trend with the flats, I added a matching mohair cheetah print belt. By matching the accessories, which are printed, draws the eye away from the dress itself and to the details. Personally I love cheetah print. It is so fun and fierce! And the flats with that exaggerated flower just adds a touch of cuteness!
The fun thing about LBD’s is you can accessorize them so many different ways that one dress can seem like 5! Possibilities are limitless with this blank canvas, you just have to buy the right silhouette and style that is best for you. So bring you special dress out of the closet and give it a twirl, everyday can be a special day!
Dress & Belt: Express
Handbag: Henri Bendel
Shoes: Juicy Couture
Olive is totally one of my favorite colors…pretty much all year around. It blends easily with a variety of colors palettes, especially during fall, and can make such a statement!
Today I decided to dress up my faux suede olive heels with a gorgeous white vest from ABS by Allen Schwartz. It is lightweight, fully lined, and offered in a gorgeous white. I love the split side accents and the tunic length!
Since I accessorized the vest with suede heels, I wanted to add a casual touch to these otherwise two dressy pieces, by pairing with khaki ankle pants and a basic olive cami.
This is such a fun and chic ensemble for work, or a day out on the town. To really add interest, I decided to finish the look with my striped Henri Bendel convertible bag.
I hope everyone is having a terrific day and amazing week!
Until next time! <3
Heels: Urban OG
Ankle Pants: Express
Vest: ABS by Allen Schwartz/ Stage Stores
Cami: Forever 21
Handbag: Henri Bendel
As the seasons begin to transition, and the school year begins I like to start pulling out my light layering pieces and over sized sweaters. The first to make an appearance this year was this pale pink number from Forever 21! I absolutely love the color and knit texture detailing. Also, I have really long arms so the fact that it has extra long sleeves is an added bonus for me!
Today I decided to pair this sweater with Calvin Klein Jeans curvy skinny jeans in a dark wash to offset the pale pink and added interest with suede grey pumps and a sparkling statement necklace from Sam Moon.
When I style an outfit that has a “statement” color (such as this pink) I like to keep my handbag simple. Here I chose my Kate Spade convertible bag which is in a classic black. If I had to describe my perfect “casual Friday” ensemble this would pretty much be it to a “T”. I like to wear something that can easily transition anywhere. The sweater creates a casual feel but the heels and dark wash denim completely dress up the look so I can feel comfortable and confident anywhere.
Sweater: Forever 21
Jeans: Calvin Klein Jeans / Stage Stores
Heels: Stein Mart
Handbag: Kate Spade
Necklace: Sam Moon
I recently found myself shopping online with Stage.com and came across this gorgeous XOXO skirt. As soon as I set eyes on it outfit pairings started flooding in my mind. I love finding pieces of clothing that inspire me. This is definitely one of those kind of pieces.
The skirts offers a back gold tone zipper closure, front welt pockets, subtle stretch fit, and 6 gold buttons. It is on the shorter side, but is the length that I like to wear my skirts, especially since it is pretty much hot here year round.
I know, purchasing a skirt that isn’t black or navy may seem scary for some. The thought of “what can I pair it with” might come to mind, but the truth is, there is a lot you can pair with a bright and bold colored skirt. For instance; florals, polka dots, and even stripes can be paired. Since the skirt is a solid color pairing is simple. If you want to wear it with pieces already in your wardrobe, a simple black or brown top will work perfectly. It is all about a balance.
For this particular pairing, with the skirt I chose a burgundy top, flats and a oriental floral print scarf. The printed scarf adds interest and ties in additional colors and textures, while the dark top balances out the look.
For a sun shining day running around town I found this ensemble comfortable, cheery, and fall ready! Look forward to seeing this skirt styled a few more ways this season as I cannot get enough of it!
Skirt XOXO Stage Stores
Top Forever 21
Shoes Forever 21
Purse Henri Bendel
Scarf H&M
As I start the transition into fall, faux suede and fringe come to mind. The downside to this is thick fabrics, layering, and the fact that it is blistering hot here in Houston. So, for this shopping outing I wanted to wear something comfortable and cool but still toss in these warmer elements to ring in the new season. Here’s what I came up with!
I have a feeling I will be pairing this lightweight fringe vest over many ensembles this season as it has such a lovely color, great length, and flattering fit. And this dress! I cannot say enough about this dress. It has a faded denim print and a lovely floral embroidered bodice, perfect for this hippie boho look! Paired together, I was ready to conquer the day.
To tie everything in, I chose a pair of comfortable platform heels with faux leather and suede elements, and accessorized with stacked bracelets, a giant deer ring, and horn necklace which added some sparkle and shine.
This look is going to be wonderful for early fall as it is short, and the materials are lightweight but give off the appearance of thicker and warmer fabrics. Since our temperatures here aren’t leaving the 90’s any time soon I can welcome fall in style with ensembles like this without melting!
Until next time…peace, love and keep cool out there!
<3
Dress, vest shoes: Stage Stores
Handbag: Henri Bendel
Accessories: Henri Bendel Baublebar Sam Moon