Rent the Runway!

We have a black tie wedding on December 20th, so I need to find a long gown. I feel like I only get to wear a long formal dress once or twice a year, so I am really excited. At the same time, if you only get to wear a long dress once a year...

1. You don't want to wear the same one every year.

2. You don't want to spend a bunch of money on a dress you'll only wear once.

3. If you do end up investing in a gown, you should probably pick a classic style so you can wear it again. And that means no fun trends! BORING!

Insert Rent the Runway. This a website that carries a huge selection of designer dresses (and accessories) available for rent! Basically, it solves all of the issues listed above.

Now for what I want to wear....I have an extreme obsession with this full skirt / high low hem line trend right now. I can't stop thinking about it. Monique Lhuillier seems to have us covered!

This Monique Lhuillier retails for $598 and rents for $100.

Here is another Monique example in the same style and price.

This  Monique is my favorite, but I don't know if this bubble gum pink is appropriate for a December wedding? I NEED to find an occasion to wear this dress though. It retails for $698 and rents for $125.

 

I also think a Christmas red dress would be fun, and I love these two fitted peplum styles!

This Badgley Mischka retails for $695 and rents for $70.

This BCBG retails for $495, and rents for $115.

 

Decision decisions. What do you all think?

Holy Brow

If you know me at all, you know I have no shame... which helps explain the photos above. Recently my girlfriends and I discovered eye brow tinting. Game changer. With our eye brow tinting sessions,  came the our mid-dye selfies. I won't humiliate my girlfriends on a public forum, but let's just say I have enough blackmail brow selfies to get them to do just about anything. Anyways, these terrifying photos really do have a point! Besides making me die with laughter every time I look!

A dark, shaped brow makes a huge difference on everyone's face! I always ignored my eyebrows. They were thin and light so I figured I didn't have to maintain. After all, they were barely visible. Then one day. I went into the Benefit store, which is basically Disneyland for  20-something girls. The beautiful employees and bubblegum pink decor can talk you into doing/buying just about anything. And so my bi-monthly tints and benefit makeup obsession began....

I wanted to show off the before and after websites from the Benefit website because they are responsible for my tinting obsession.

And if you are still skeptical, you can get all of your questions answered on their bubblegum pink website! 

Trending: Canadian Tuxedos

Fall in Lexington is all about Keeneland and football games.  Yesterday, we ended up tailgating with a bunch of friends. It was the perfect fall weather! I am not yet bleeding blue like the rest of  Lexington. Coming from Chicago, arguably the best city for sports, I can appreciate the enthusiasm. However, that does not mean I am going to show up in a UK jersey. Instead, I showed up in a Canadian tuxedo. Yep, you heard me. Does that count as Kentucky blue? #superfan

For so long, denim on denim has been a big fat fashion NO. When done right, I love the look. Yesterday, I wore my J Brand dark skinny jeans, a J Crew denim button down, leopard belt, and brown boots.

You could take this same outfit, and completely change it with the shoes. Nude pumps for a night out or some fun  flats for running errands! I will definitely be repeating this look! Here are some of my favorites that I found on Pinterest!

 

 

 

 

What a Stud!

I took the chandelier earing trend way too seriously in high school... So much so, that I caused permanent damaged to my ear lobes! That being said, I am now confined to stud earrings. Luckily, Kate Spade has my back. I seem to have to replenish my stud supply every 6 months. Kate's earring game has only gotten better since last time I looked. Of course, I will wait til her next sample sale to pull the trigger, but I am keeping my eye on the following pairs...

I think these tortuous shell earnings are to die for! But every girl needs a (fake) diamond pair in her jewelry box too. This "Small Square" style comes in plenty of colors. 

 

These Secret Garden Studs come in a variety of colors as well! Simple yet glitzy!

 

These Platform Chain Studs are like my version of a hoop! Except I won't be in danger of skin ripping. Sorry....too graphic. But I definitely need these.

 

And if my lobes could handle them...I wold so rock these! Brings me back to 2004! RIP dangly earrings.

You won my heart, Amal

I didn't think it was possible.George Clooney's wife, Amal Alamuddin has won me over. George was not supposed to get married, unless it was to Julia Roberts. It is written in the official Hollywood rule book! I knew that she had amazing street style before, but her wedding weekend just pushed me over the edge. I am officially obsessed. She is at the top of my list of style icons to watch.

I want to kick it off with this AMAZING white embroidered couture dress by Giambattista Valli. 

PHOTO: Ernesto Ruscio/GC Images

She made Dolce and Gabana look casual. She looks like she belongs in this dress.

PHOTO: ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images

  

This Alexander McQueen red dress is stunning on her. Those legs!

Source: Google Images, IoDonna.it

 And I have never seen any person look better in a white suit, including Olivia Pope.

PHOTO: SGP/FAMEFLYNET PICTURES

Lastly, her wedding dress...timeless elegance. Do they have a fan blowing her hair or is it just that voluminous?

Source: Vogue

Fall Means Booties Rockin' Everywhere!

Booties are in. Just ask J Lo, Iggy Azalea and Nicki Minaj. Bad joke? Seriously though, I am so excited to whip out my fall boots, sweaters and blazers! Here are some of my favorite booties...from the ones I can't afford to the ones that will arrive via Zappos' freakishly fast shipping tomorrow. Snaps for Zappos.

Giuseppe Zanotti Blue Booties - Love this pop of color and the scalloped cuts are amazing. My mission is to find an affordable pair, but these might just be one of a kind.

 

VC Signature, who I found out of Cusp makes similar pair in black. $325 is still a hefty fee but I like these because the open font makes them look dainty.  I struggle with black booties because they often look so harsh and bold. I am not trying to partake in the combat book trend!  Or the Hocus Pocus witch look.

For $110, these Jessica Simpson's Allest Booties are a solid investment. This is my favorite color shoe because you can wear it with black and brown and almost everything in between. This shoe would get a lot of use out of me!

 

Michael Antonia's Marlie Bootie would also get a lot of wear from me. This shade of hunter green is also a great neutral fall color. And of course, I love that the gold zippers contrast. My favorite part is the price! $59 makes these worth every penny!

Happy Fall! 

Jean Jackets...The American Classic is Back!

Jean Jackets are back in a big way. For some, this trend  never went away! Some might say it's a classic American look. Completely timeless. But the jean jacket can go wrong. Very wrong and very fast.  If you aren't careful, you will end up looking like a soccer mom circa 1994....or Kelly Kapowski. Nothing against either...but here are some more modern styles 

Fall is around the corner. I knew I had to get down to business and find my jean jacket. I ran to Macy's on my lunch break today to get a gift for a wedding shower this weekend, and there it was. I knew when I passed it, I had to have it. Better yet, this Masion Jules Denim Jacket was on sale online for $54.99. The queen of impulse buys wins again!

Here are a few other styles that I love!

Love, love love this  Paige Vermont Jacket in Kirby. The distressed patches give it a little edge. And the lighter wash allows you to wear it with dark wash denim jeans. Did I really just say it was okay to put on a Canadian tuxedo?! If I buy a second jean jacket, this will be it!

Not only do I love this 7 for Mankind Classic Denim Jacket, but I love the whole look that they have her in. This is the perfect example of how jean jackets can be a timeless American classic!

If you aren't ready to rock the jean jacket yet, ease into this trend by buying a denim shirt. This one from Jcrew is on sale here! Woohoo! I wear mine with everything from white jeans to hot pink shorts  and plain black leggings. It's a great basic to keep in your closet because it goes with everything.

Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale!

It's not Thrifty Thursday, but I had to share this great Lilly Pulitzer Sale. Over the last few years, Lilly has expanded far beyond patch work and pink flamingos. I would have guessed Lilly would have come out with a "Flying Pigs" dress before a Little Black Dress...but I was wrong.

While everything is adorable, some of her pieces are only appropriate for certain summer occasions For example, how many times could you get away with wearing this amazing Margurite Caftan? I think this piece ends at Poolside Cocktails. But for $79, I might just have to get it!

Lilly has come out with some more toned down styles, while still embodying her classic county club style. I even considered using this Jepson Shift Dress and Meredith Scoop Neck Sheath for my bridesmaid dresses!

I am obsessed with this mod style Go Go Green Dress.  Throw a navy blazer over it and head to work!

I also love this Ahton Rufled Peplum Top on sale for $54. It is a great piece to throw on over skinny jeans and heels for dinner date. Easy and classic! It also comes in navy.

Check out the rest of the sale here. And don't forget to look at the accessories! iPhone Covers, scarves and clutches galore!

Thrifty Thursday - Save on Swimwear

The end of the summer is here. Sigh. But there is one more thing to look forward to...swim suit sales! I am a bathing suit hoarder. I buy 5 every year, and never get rid of them. And now is the time to buy!

J Crew has a bunch on sale! I am obsessed with this fun geometric print on the Shattered Swirl Underwire Top. 

The top is on sale here for $35.99.

 

The bottom is $29.99.

Mara Hoffman made some amazing bathing suits this season, but they are not cheap. Bloomingdale's has it on sale here, and plenty of other Mara Hoffman options too!

 

 

I absolutely love this bottom. The cut  definitely contributes to making this one of the more flatter bikini bottoms out there.

Fringe is in. But I didn't want to pay a lot for a fringe bikini, because I don't see this trend lasting much longer.  I still had to have one. Obviously. Not only is this top  from target less than $10, but it is cute too!

 

 I am all about mixing and matching my  suits, and Target is a great place to go for solids. Get 'em while they are cheap!