BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

The Coveted

February 9, 2016 by jessica 9 Comments

In other retail news:

Ann Taylor is offering 30% off full-price shoes and accessories. I love these classic slingback flats for spring. Black is perennially chic for the office, but I’d pick the playful banana yellow or this pretty print. On the jewelry front, I’m loving this mod lapis ring.
Kate Spade’s Surprise Sale is on with up to 75% off. My picks include this snakeskin satchel in black, a lemon coin purse, a passport cover, and this adorable polka dot cosmetic case. I never buy clothing on final sale, but I’m tempted to try this sundress.
Fashionable favorite Olivia Palermo debuted a collection with Chelsea28. The bustier and skirt pairing is my favorite, and I’m loving the unexpected bow on the back of this striped sweater.
Marbled. Wedges.
During my weekly scroll through ASOS’ new arrivals, I came across this retro off-the-shoulder dress. It would look incredible with the Tory Burch mules featured above.

I’m usually opposed to buying something at full price from LOFT, but I couldn’t help myself when I tried on this tunic tee on Friday. I actually stopped at the store to try on this skirt and pulled the shirt to wear with it, assuming that it was just another striped shirt and I’d go home without. The skirt fell short of expectations. It didn’t have enough of an a-line shape for my hips and the quality seemed a bit shoddy. This shirt, on the other hand, is amazing. It’s the softest long-sleeve tee I’ve ever worn (as I admitted in this weekend’s Instagram). It runs large, likely due to the tunic-inspired loose silhouette. (I’m usually a size 8 and I went with the small.)

And, in other shopping news, I went ahead and purchased the loafers I mentioned a couple of times over the last few weeks. I wanted a pair of shoes to wear on our Europe trip that weren’t ballet flats, wouldn’t get ruined by rain, and would be versatile enough to wear with pants and dresses. The Louise et Cie loafers fit the bill. There’s a lot going on with them: brogues detailing, metallic patent leather, and tassels. I adore them, though, and they’re incredibly comfortable with a decent amount of padding inside. I wore them for a two-mile walk on Saturday and didn’t end up with sore feet or blisters.

The Weekend Guide

February 5, 2016 by jessica 4 Comments

LISTEN
Head down hip hop’s memory lane with a scrolling audio timeline of the Billboard Top Ten from 1989 to 2015.

SAVE
I wanted to chat about my experience with The Laundress products this week, but I ran into some technical difficulties with our computer that left me in a blog drought for a few days. I’ll get to it on Monday (fingers crossed). In the meantime, snap a photo of your laundry day chores and post it to Instagram with #IamTheLaundress. Then, fill out this form for a $25 voucher to spend at The Laundress!

WEAR
I’m late to the cropped flare bandwagon, but I’m eager to jump aboard now that I came across this pair (also in a darker wash here). Here are tips on how to try the trend.

RELAX
At this point, I’m in the kids-after-33 camp. Everyone seems to have their opinions about older mothers, but those who naturally conceive later in life might enjoy a longer life.

HIDE
Stop looking like a DJ with a gigantic headphones. Instead, disguise a pair of ear buds in a statement pendant.

GIGGLE
Have you seen Tiffany Beveridge’s hilarious take on toddler fashion? I’m eager to pick up her book featuring the fictional pint-size fashionista Quinoa.

The Coveted

February 2, 2016 by jessica 6 Comments

Monkeying Around

February 1, 2016 by jessica 16 Comments

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If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you’ll know that I don’t particularly enjoy wearing pants — and it’s especially true in the winter. I rely on a uniform of skirts or dresses, tights, and wellies to keep my real shoes safe from precipitation and road salt. I know Hunter boots get a lot of criticism for being worn in colder months. And, no, rubber isn’t exactly the warmest material. However, when they’re paired with thick hiking socks (and a short walk to the car from my apartment and office), they’re really not that bad for a Wisconsin winter.

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Coat: J.Crew (old, similar here and here) | Skirt: T by Alexander Wang (similar here, or buy it secondhand in a small, medium, or large) | Sweater: J.Crew Factory (similar) | Boots: Hunter | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff c/o Shopbop | Sunglasses: Karen Walker c/o Shopbop | Rings: Monica Vinader, c/o Julie Vos (similar) | Lips: Stila “Bella