BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Loving Lately

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Lately, I’m loving:

  • This Lele Sadoughi necklace. Lele was my very first “Behind the Baubles” interviewee and I’ve been obsessed with her jewels ever since. I still can’t believe I pulled the trigger.
  • A pair of $6 knock-offs of Dior’s double pearl earrings. Obviously I’d prefer the original, but I’ll happily settle on the pair that costs less than lunch.
  • Aquaphor. How have I been without this miracle worker for so long?! Winter leaves my skin dry, chapped and cracked and this balm immediately soothed and repaired the problem areas.
  • Fit and flare dresses. I’m keeping an eye out for one to wear on repeat this spring. So far, I’ve narrowed it down to this J.Crew dress in “haven blue” (but the sheen of the fabric might be too fancy for daytime wear), a Club Monaco dress in light pink (I like the placement of the seams and the v-shaped back), or this French Connection dress in poppy (I’m unsure about the pseudo cap sleeves).

The French Wardrobe: Spring/Summer 2014

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Apparently a seasonal transition was carte blanche to purchase as many spring items as possible. There were so many tempting sales and new releases that I loved too much to risk having sell out, which led to an early dent in my spring/summer wardrobe. Going through a ruthless closet cleanout and then taking the time to work on a comprehensive spring and summer plan has been a huge asset. The pieces I bought so far are exactly what I want; they’re great quality (for the most part—the Gap flats could be better), and they’re very “me.” (Honestly, though, I spent a boatload of money. The next couple of months are going to be sparse.)

A few things to note this time around:

  • I started a Pinterest board for my spring/summer purchases, which has already proved to be helpful. Before pulling the trigger, I’ve added items to the board to see how it coordinates with the rest of the items. It helps me stay accountable to my plan and it’s reassuring to see that each item coordinates with each other. 
  • I’m pickier when accepting gifted items and you’ll now see each of those listed below. Quite frankly, I don’t want to waste space in our apartment on an item I’m not smitten with. 
  • I’m adding a quick note about the items I ordered and returned. 
  • If you’re eager to give The French Wardrobe Challenge a whirl this time, send over a link to your progress by the 15th of each month (either in the comments or via email at jessica@bedknobsandbaubles.com). I’ll add the link to this post and share your post on Twitter and Facebook. The challenge isn’t ideal for everyone, but you might want to give it a shot if you’re feeling overwhelmed and dissatisfied with your own wardrobe.

THE RULES

  1. Just five standout pieces per season. (There are two “seasons” for this purpose: spring/summer and fall/winter.)
  2. Quality over quantity.
  3. Basics don’t count.
  4. Accessories don’t count, unless you’re spending a lot more than usual.
  5. Socks and underwear don’t count.
  6. Shoes do count. (I’m not counting shoes, though.)

MY PROGRESS:

Part of my Five:

Basics:

Bags:

Accessories:

Shoes:

Ordered and Returned:

If you’re curious about The French Wardrobe Challenge, I encourage you to peruse the archived posts. 

Mini Moments

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It’s depressing to go through my photos and realize that we barely left the house in February, but it’s even more of a downer knowing that we were shut-ins in January too. Until it’s warm enough to leave the house, here’s another month of at-home highlights:

Rose-Colored Glasses

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My brother, Nathan, and I are on completely different career trajectories: I’m an event planner and he’s in the Army working with explosives. I’m guessing that this is his official job description, but all I know for sure is that he has a security clearance and we’ve called him Hurt Locker.

So, you’ll understand why I was feeling awfully savvy when Randolph Engineering reached out to me about their American-made sunglasses. The brand is the “Frame of Choice” for the Department of Defense, giving soldiers like Nathan an alternative to the standard military-issued eyewear. They also supply sunglasses to the U.S. Army and Navy and allied Air Forces worldwide.

I, however, opted to try out the non-military-issued rose gold frames. They’re a glamorous update to the classic aviator style and, as you’d expect from their military partnership, the quality is impeccable. They’re lightweight, sturdy and comfortable.

A few additional highlights:

  • they’re made in USA
  • the solder joints have a lifetime warranty
  • they have adjustable silicon nose pads for customized fit
  • they’re made with lightweight polycarbonate lenses
  • they come with a case, microfiber cleaning cloth, and small maintenance kit (as you’ll see below, the cleaning cloth gives a nod to their aviation heritage)

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Featured: Randolph Engineering aviators (c/o) // Coach bag // Coach card case // Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Cherry