Pops of Red

Red is such a classic color. I love having subtle notes of a deep red throughout my entire wardrobe to add a piece of traditional New England style to my closet. The color can carry you from season to season here in New England, from celebrating  Memorial Day or Fourth of July during the summer months to complimenting the fall foliage during apple picking season all the way through winter to celebrate the holidays and transcends into spring as the perfect touch to any stripe, which is what I love so much about the color, its timeless (who doesn’t love a little pop of red!). Red is simply an everlasting color, it’s a constant in a sea of ever-changing trends and I don’t know about you, but I love how it remains simply classic.

During the year, I use red to style outfits in a number of different ways. Fall and winter always have me feeling like I can’t get enough of this beautiful color and I gravitate towards having the main pieces to my look be red (red skirts, red dresses, red flannel, oh my!). The spring and summer months lead me to take a different approach and I like to add hints of red throughout my look to compliment other colors (queue the red hair bows and red lipstick!), which is the method I chose when styling this adorable statement sleeved chambray top and white denim.  Immediately, when I saw this top I fell in love with all of it (statement sleeves, chambray and color? YES PLEASE!), especially the red detailing close to the neckline. Loving the red, I added a pair of red flats to make the color pop!

Outfit Details: Hemant & Nandita Top (Old), J.Crew White Denim, DSW Flats (Similar here and here.) 

What are your favorite classic colors and how do you like to style them?

Statement Earrings

Earrings are the perfect complement to any outfit and add such beautiful detail to timeless pieces. The ease of dressing up a skirt or even some denim with just a pair has me falling in love with statement earrings again and again. I love being able to not only match a pair of earrings to an elegant top but play with the more subtle colors that I have incorporated into my outfit. Typically, I find myself returning to the same stores to find the perfect pair to add some sparkle to my ears, but recently I discovered the cutest little online shop to add to my repertoire!

Hey Girl Earring Company is beyond adorable and offer elegant pieces that are in line with current trends and are affordable.  The different styles are perfect for any occasion ( I want them all!).  I love my Dauphine earrings in ballet pink! They add the perfect amount of pop to any outfit. These are a few other pairs that I have been eyeing and you can take a peek here, here, here and here.

Outfit Details: Dauphine Earrings, Pink Peplum Top (Old), White Denim, Shawl (sold locally at A Summer Place in Watch Hill, RI), Eyelet Wedges, Clutch (Old) 

The best part is the many personal touches that Tara has integrated into her brand. As a #BOSSBABE, Google employee, store owner and a part of the GRL PWR movement to provide women with coding and tech knowledge she makes sure that Hey Girl Earrings is an extension of her attention to detail, quality and dedication to empowering women. As a part of the available merchandise (all of which I am swooning over!) there are select products where 100% of the sales go directly to charities that advance women’s causes. In addition, access to a personal stylist is also available (I love this feature!)!

Make sure to check out their website to get details on all of their events, workshops and of course, to shop! I wish I wasn’t states away because there is always something new to learn!

Healthy Hair Care

Hair care is essential in keeping your hair long, shiny and most importantly healthy. As someone who frequently styles their hair, I have found that using the wrong products can leave my hair feeling heavy, dry and sometimes even oily.  Replacing styling products can help to reduce this, but I have found that the key to truly healthy hair starts at the foundation, shampoo and conditioner.

Healthy hair has always been a priority for me, but I have found it incredibly difficult to find products that won’t irritate my sensitive skin. Trial and error have been the only way to test out new products that more often than not leave me head to toe in hives. Obviously, a very frustrating process, has made it a challenge to find products that are equally as healthy for my hair as my skin. Over the last couple of years I have gone back and forth between products that just left me disappointed. Seeking advice, I went to my mom (moms just have all the answers!). She recommended that I try doTERRA and I was so happy that she pointed me in their direction!

doTERRA is a therapeutic-grade essential oils company offering single oils and oil blends as well as nutritional, spa and healthy living products that have been curated through essential oil technologies and a comprehensive wellness philosophy (so, in short, they have hair care products!).  

When I first researched their mission I was skeptical about the world “oil”. My hair and skin already have a higher amount of natural oils and was concerned that adding any additional oils might lead to both becoming greasy. Because doTERRA uses natural ingredients in both their shampoo and conditioner that are not only healthy for your hair and skin, but smell amazing I immediately noticed that my hair was silky and smooth (no grease at all!). Once I dried my hair and styled it, it once again felt light and full of beautiful volume! Of course, it also smelled amazing with scent combinations of citrus and peppermint, it was truly a hair defining moment! 

Everyone’s hair (and skin!) is different and while this may be my saving grace I know that it might leave your hair feeling different, but I do highly recommend giving doTERRA Salon Essentials Protecting Shampoo and Smoothing Conditioner a try, I absolutely love it!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Rainy days are here, which means that summer must be just around the corner. We are so happy to see you April showers! The weather this week has been promising and even though I have said it a few times now, only to be disappointed by nor’easters and snow storms, I think spring is finally here. In anticipation of the rain that’s to come, I have brought out my favorite rain jackets to take the place of my winter coats.  

The jacket that I find myself constantly reaching for during the spring and summer months is my Joules Coast Print Jacket.  My favorite part of this jacket is that it has the ability to withstand the ever changing trends and remain classic. The thick bold black stripes are timeless and add such a fun aspect to a rain jacket.  The material is slightly thicker than the average rain jacket due to the cotton liner that helps keep you warm during those chilly spring and summer days, which is one of my favorite pieces to this jacket ( I always find that I’m a bit cold). The liner is typically a different print than the jacket itself and adds even more character. The pattern usually is a floral or stripe depending on the style. The weight of the fabric also makes this jacket the perfect for a weekend getaway or weeklong vacation because it is wrinkle free! The ease of knowing you can just throw it on and go while your away is such a relief when you’re trying to get out the door.

Outfit Details: Joules Coast Jacket (a few sizes left, similar below), White Top, Black Denim, Keds

Today, I paired this jacket with a white top, black denim and classic white Keds to keep my look casual and comfortable. The striped pattern also lends itself to other outfits and is surprisingly easy to style for work as well. This has been my go-to rain jacket for a few years, which speaks to its quality. Unfortunately, they no longer have my size in stock, but Joules has the same style jacket in other timeless colors such as red, yellow and navy. They have a similar Coast Jacket with a navy stripe which the most similar to my own.

The In-Between

Immediately when I say, “The In-between” my mind visualizes the “Upside Down” from Stranger Things. Of course this comparison is slightly dramatic as I am obviously not stuck in a different dimension fighting a Demagorgon, but when I think of a way to explain the place I’m in the “Upside Down” was the first thing that came to mind, let me explain.

Chris and I met when I was twenty and he was twenty-nine. I’m sure you can all do math but for those of you who are numbers challenged, like myself, that’s a nine year age gap. The gap between us in age has never truly affected our relationship and for the most part I honestly forget that he is that much older, we’ve just found a rhythm. Although, this gap provides no noticeable differences in our relationship it does showcase the age difference between our friends. The majority of my friends are younger, which has them in a different place in their lives. They are exploring their career landscape, having thoughts about master degrees and starting serious relationships. Chris’ friends are buying homes and building families. Don’t get me wrong, I love each and every one of our friends. They are amazing beautiful people and I couldn’t be happier for each and every one of them for the places they are in and the steps they are starting to take. The only reason the places they are in are valid is because it has caused me to question mine.

Over the past couple of months, since Chris and I were married, I have felt stuck with what was next as though I was in between life steps with my younger friends and behind with my older friends. No matter the direction, I was alone in this space because now I was married so moving ahead of my friends who were still trying to form long lasting relationships with partners and behind my friends who were starting to have children, which is a different language altogether.  That’s really where Stranger Things comes into play, sometimes I feel like I’m communicating through string lights stuck in another world (drama queen, I know, but still..).

These feelings followed me around for months. Thoughts of  whether I was too far behind or too far ahead floated around in my head every time we went out with friends. I felt lost on how to connect or find common ground. Baby talk was a language I knew nothing about and I felt like with other friends my advice on relationships was overpowering as if I knew best or had all the answers, which is totally not the case, it’s definitely a learn as you go type of thing.   Obviously, having had this on my mind for so long it became a constant daily thought for me and after a while I noticed that I wasn’t enjoying the space I was in because I was so worried about everyone else. Over the next few weeks, I wrote down all of the amazing things that were going on during this chapter of my life. I took the time to see how amazing it was that Chris and I were able to spend two weeks in California to get married followed by an epic vacation to the Bahamas and a killer road trip to Key West. We were renovating our first home and building our careers. There was so much to be thankful for and to appreciate and through coming to a good place about the space I was in I found it so much easier to bring a piece of myself to the table with friends.

My biggest advice if you are stuck in the “In-between” or the “Upside Down”(haha) is to love every minute of the good and the bad. There will be so many chapters of your life. There will be a time for exploration, marriage or children, but you’ll never get right now back. Everyone has something to offer even if it’s different and the best part about being in a different spot than someone else is the support you get when the time is right for you. Relish in the moment, it is so darn special! 

I would love to hear if you guys have had any similar feelings or are stuck in this place now?

Outfit Details: Gingham Top, Jeans, Slides (Similar)

Poised in Pink

Reese Witherspoon has been my fashion icon and female idol ever since I saw, Legally Blonde. There was no better way to learn that you can love the color pink, be obsessed with fashion and still be a strong intelligent female figure. There doesn’t need to be a compromise between the two. Reese’s continued dedication to supporting the equal rights movement for women has not wavered in any part of her work and extends to all of her accomplishments, including Draper James. Now I not only respect her for her accomplished acting career but her amazing style!

Draper James has been a favorite of mine for a while. There has never been a time that I have been shopping there and couldn’t find the perfect outfit for any occasion. Embracing an elegant southern charm, Draper James styles also embody New England classics. Currently, my favorite dress is the Jacquard Sheath Dress which is perfect for welcoming spring! The fabric for this cutie is great for traveling as it doesn’t wrinkle easy. The scalloped hem is an excellent feminine touch and the color is absolutely stunning! The best part about this dress is that it can be styled so many ways! Looking to have it be a little more casual? Add a jean jacket and a cute pair of sandals or slides. Get a little bit more dressed up by adding a pair of white heels and a cream wrap. The options are endless!

Outfit Details: Denim Jacket (Similar), Dress, White Heels (Similar), Sandals 

Nautical Stripes

Happy Wednesday! The weather in Connecticut this past weekend provided a glimpse into the spring season (still can’t believe that spring isn’t here and its April), which made it impossible for me to keep some of my favorite stripes boxed up any longer. Whether or not spring has arrived, my wardrobe is feeling all of the spring vibes with pastel pants, eyelet tops, floral dresses and of course nautical stripes. All we need is for the snow storms to stop and the snow piles to melt (soooo close!) so I can actually wear all of the pretty things in my closet!

Outfit Details: Puffer Vest (Old), Jersey Top, Cuffed Denim, Converse

Taking full advantage of the warm(er) weather this weekend we spent most of our time outside. After unpacking my spring and summer wardrobe I was reaching for stripes! There are no restrictions on the number of transitional striped pieces that can fill your closet as they are always in style (I have so many!). The top I reached for the most this weekend was a Joules Jersey Top. The material is thick yet breathable and perfect for a spring day or summer night. When ordering Joules I always tend to size up in any Jersey Top to avoid it becoming too tight once I wash it. Keeping things casual I paired my favorite stripes with petite modern cuffed jeans, a navy puffer vest and white converse!

Have you all been transitioning your wardrobes?