BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Behind the Baubles: Alexa Leigh

November 5, 2015 by jessica 10 Comments

It all started when Alexa Leigh Meyer designed double pendant necklaces to be worn with one pendant in front and another at the nape of your neck. Since then, Alexa expanded her line to include additional pieces that can only be defined as modern classics. Her collection is crafted from precious metals — many are studded with diamond pavé — that mix and match with other items from the collection and your own jewelry box to create a look that’s both unique and timeless.

You can also shop the Alexa Leigh collection on Charm & Chain!

Follow Alexa Leigh: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr

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additional image via

DIY It: Dolce & Gabbana Brooch Beanie

November 4, 2015 by jessica 8 Comments

I was stunned to come across this Dolce & Gabbana knit hat for $1,375. I know it’s a luxury brand. I know it’s cashmere. But, I know it’s still a rip off. This is probably the easiest DIY project to tackle for much, much less and you get to walk away with a winter beanie that uniquely yours.

Pick out a black ribbed knit hat. I chose this merino wool version available for $24. There are certainly cheaper options, but the ribbed texture of this one looks luxe and real wool in the winter is always a better option than synthetic.
Pin on an assortment of brooches. You could go new with this Bauble Bar set or this one from The Limited. However, I’d recommend going vintage. Sift through your grandma’s jewelry box for ’50s beauties or scour eBay* to find unique brooches to decorate your hat. (Searching for “vintage Trifari brooch” will yield some great options. This one gives the D&G brooch a run for its money.) If you’d rather save time, I found this Dior bird on One Kings Lane and Sweet & Spark has a nicely curated selection.

*Don’t fret if your brooch arrives with a loose clasp. Snip off the pin with a pair of pliers, file away sharp edges, and sew it directly to your hat.

Mini Moments: October 2015

November 4, 2015 by jessica 2 Comments

October is my busiest work month and I think that was pretty evident this year, given the lack of color in my Instagram feed over the month. I didn’t realize quite how dark things had gotten until I posted this yesterday. It looks so out of place with the other photos! Here are some of my favorites from the month:

Tried the new Cafe Hollander, a Belgian-inspired restaurant in Madison with roots in Milwaukee. Everything was good (they even had bitterballen!), but it was too expensive. Four beers, bitterballen, and two sandwiches came to $100 after tip. Brasserie V in Madison is a much better bet for better beer, food, ambiance, and a lower ticket price.
How, ahem, darling is this little tray?! It’s only $15 and makes for the perfect gift this holiday season. I’m also obsessed with this Tiffany-blue mug and saucer.
My jewelry drawer (seriously, not a jewelry box, a full drawer in our dresser is dedicated to gems) got a serious upgrade thanks to Julie Vos and her team. I’ve been wearing this pendant and ring almost exclusively since they arrived. I’m sharing some insights into her collection with a couple of interviews coming up!
This outfit post is one of my most popular yet and for good reason: the cape is pretty amazing! If you’re a medium/large, it’s on sale right now for $100! You can score the black version for $90 in XS/S or M/L here. (I went with the XS/S because I have narrow shoulders.)
I can’t pass up an opportunity for a Ferragamo + Floor photo.
Sharing a special, slightly-harass-y moment with Bacon. I went to Target on Sunday, hoping to find deeply discounted Halloween costumes for him (because if there’s one thing a cat loves, it’s a costume…). They were sold out, but I did find this fuzzy winter hat to purchase later.
Treated myself to snowy white mums.
Tried out the recently renovated Avenue Club in Madison. It was a wood-paneled neighborhood bar before it underwent a Midcentury Modern makeover.
Went out of my comfort zone to try this ASOS dress. I just wish the weather was warm enough to wear it again!

The Coveted

November 3, 2015 by jessica 6 Comments

Over the last few weeks, I’ve found myself bookmarking more bright, whimsical items to (hopefully) incorporate into my wardrobe once “No Shop November” comes to a close. Although, there’s a good chance I’ll lose my resolve once Black Friday rolls around. (Last year, I couldn’t resist a beautiful Monica Vinader Baja bracelet in sterling silver and green onyx for half price.) Until then, here are some of the items catching my eye this week:

A bright pink coat. I wanted a pink winter coat last year, but couldn’t find the right one. It seems like such a wonderful dose of much-needed color in the dead of winter.
A monkey bag charm. It’s an irresistibly cute way to stow coins and other small essentials.
This plaid dress from Banana Republic, which I might break my shopping ban to try this month. The direction of the plaid pattern and cut of the wedding dress look flattering. I think the fringe hem looks sloppy on a tailored piece like this and I’d have it hemmed to hide it.
Stripes and scallops! Does it get any better than this darling swimsuit?
Celebratory shot glasses to take the edge off the holiday stress.
Lulu Frost’s oversized initial pendants.
A pair of hot pink pumps that would make Barbie proud. I also love these muted pink pumps.

Not pictured:

I’m tempted to snag this Joyeux Noel striped t-shirt for lazy days at home.
I came across this dark floral blouse this morning. Not only is it beautiful, it’s wallet-friendly!
How amazing is this accent table? The top is solid marble and it comes to just $76.50 after the extra 15% off. Need.

Painterly Plaid

November 2, 2015 by jessica 20 Comments

From what I saw on Instagram, many of you had a fun Halloween weekend! I donned my sleepy Holly Golightly costume at work on Friday (with longer shorts, so I wasn’t inappropriate) and was only marginally embarrassed to discover that my coworkers didn’t know who I was masquerading as. (Apparently they need to brush up on their knowledge of iconic American films.) Dave and I barely left the house on Halloween. We played Yoshi’s Woolly World, carved pumpkins, watched The Babadook, and ate too much holiday candy. I also watched the debut episode of Wicked City starring Ed Westwick. I couldn’t believe the reviews that poo-pooed anything starring Chuck Bass! But, it really is that bad. Maybe even worse. It doesn’t mean I won’t watch a few more episodes, though.

We had an unseasonably warm kickoff to November yesterday with temperatures in the 60s, giving me the excuse to wear this dress sans tights. It was an impulse purchase at Anthropologie a couple of weeks ago and I’ve already worn it four times since. It’s such an easy piece to throw on and feel pulled together instantly. In addition to loafers, I’ve worn it with cobalt flats (similar to these), boat shoes, and sneakers — and it looks great with all of them. In fact, I suspect this versatile dress will transition well into spring with sandals and a white tote bag. (C’mon, I can’t be the only one already yearning for warm weather!) It runs a full size large. I’m usually a size 8 and opted for the small.