BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

The Weekend Guide

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BUY
It’s a little early for holiday shopping, but I have Arrow + Sage bookmarked for unique gifts this year. I’m obsessed with the pretty ceramic planters.

SHOP
I’ve been going a little overboard with spending this year and not always on items I’m crazy about a few months later. Here are tips to shop like a stylist — on a budget — to keep your wardrobe in check.

ANTICIPATE
With Brad Goreski at the helm, C. Wonder will relaunch next spring on QVC.

READ
Be one of the first to read Garance Doré’s book, Love Style Life, when it’s released on Oct. 27.

LEARN
Hair doesn’t always react to heat the same way. One mechanical engineer is taking it upon herself to study the science of curly hair.

KNOW
Your DSLR’s manual mode can be a little intimidating. Get acquainted with the basics and start practicing this weekend.

EARLIER THIS WEEK
This week’s five finds under $55.
Nine acres of sunflowers.
Mini moments from July.
My favorite face care products.
Learning to embrace sneakers with dresses.
Meeting up with Fran for cocktails.
A scalloped leather bag to obsess over.

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additional images via 1, 2, 3

Five Under $55

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This clutch is one of my favorite budget finds in a very long time. The bamboo bag is a reproduction of a classic Japanese picnic basket. It comes in two sizes: small for $35 and large for $45. There’s also free shipping.

I’m also surprised to see this ink-print dress make it to the sale section with most sizes still available. Midi dresses are terribly unflattering on me, but I wouldn’t mind the cost of having it hemmed since the dress is only $49.50.

Always Sunny

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Dave hates this dress. So do the ladies at GOMI. Whatever. We all know it’s the perfect thing to wear to a sunflower field. It’s a little bit country in the very best way. It’s also a knockoff of an AG x Alexa Chung dress from earlier this year (see the latest from that collection here). A version of the dress is still available at Chicwish, but purchase at your own risk. I collaborated with them once and the item was such bad quality that I wouldn’t post it on the blog. Maybe they’ve gotten better?

If you’re in the Madison area, head out to the Pope Farm Conservancy to see nine acres of sunflowers in bloom for the next few days. There’s a daily sunflower update on their website to consult before making the trip.

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Dress: Express (similar, as a top) | Necklace: c/o Gerard Yosca | Bracelet: c/o Julie Vos (similar) | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff c/o Shopbop | Sunglasses: Karen Walker c/o Shopbop

 

The Coveted

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This week, I’m coveting:

  • A versatile silk shirtdress. The understated print and ladylike ruffled hem makes this an autumn must-have. Wear it now with strappy sandal heels (like these) and later with borrowed-from-the-boys oxfords.
  • Emoji loafers! Take your time scrolling through the options and reading the corresponding hashtag. I love the color of this pair, but thought this #bombshell pair was especially clever.
  • Mirrored aviators because summer isn’t over yet.
  • The scalloped leather details on this drawstring bag (also available in black). It’s such a fun piece for an evening out, even if the scallops and grommets make it look a little bit like an owl.
  • J.Crew’s swing pullover. I live in my BR “Sloan” pants at work in the cooler months and prefer wearing them with relaxed tops. The swing silhouette and split hem make this a no brainer for long days at work and an easy transition to weekend wear. I’m probably going to pick it up in heather hydrangea and grey before the season is over.
  • The intricate embroidery on this darling mini.

July Highlights

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July-2015-Recap

This summer really hasn’t been a banner one with my injury, but things started to look up after we went to Louisville for a three-day weekend to celebrate the removal of my boot. It was just the thing I needed to kick off the rest of summer on the right foot (…see what I did there?). Here’s what I was up to:

  • Finally ditched my crutches and slipped into sneakers! I’m not a sneakers girl by any means and didn’t actually own a pair other than uncomfortable canvas Chucks. Black Pumas and white Jack Purcells have proven to be fairly versatile. Now, if only the Jack Purcells would stop cutting into the back of my ankle.
  • Watched A Streetcar Named Desire under the stars at American Players Theatre. APT is an open-air performance theater near Madison. I had always wanted to go, but never made it a priority until a Travelzoo deal came around.
  • Met 50 Cent. He was visiting a nearby suburban grocery store as part of his Effen vodka tour to do bottle signing at the country’s highest volume stores. My coworker and I waited in line for over three hours and suffered serious sunburns for a minute-long meet-and-greet with the artist. When it was my turn in line, I asked the rep if he would have 50 write “Go Shorty” on my bottle. The rep was skeptical because 50 wasn’t writing anything more than his name. I must have been suffering from sunstroke when I insisted that he ask him anyway because “I’m a pretty girl!” Evidently, it worked. 50 Cent was smirking as he wrote the lyric on my bottle and I was deliriously happy (and dehydrated). This article sums up the experience perfectly.
  • Found a vine wall in Louisville. Score. (If you’re not familiar with the glory of the Elsa tunic, you’re seriously missing out. It’s my favorite road trip shirt. It’s breathable and still looks pretty after you’ve been sitting in a car for hours.)
  • Went to see The New Pornographers in downtown Madison at a free outdoor concert. Dave is a fan and I couldn’t have named a song they performed. I was happily surprised by how much fun it was.
  • Enjoyed craft cocktails at Meta in Louisville. This was our third trip to the city and we had already taken care of the tourist must-dos, so we spent the weekend shopping and imbibing. I’m terrible at writing trip recaps afterward, but I’ll make it a priority this time. We’ve found so many gems during our three vacations that I feel like I’m holding out on you!
  • Two words: Pool. Time.
  • Stayed at 21c. I was beyond excited to stay at this boutique hotel, which is part modern art museum. The hotel has a large golden statue of David outside and its signature red penguins throughout the hotel. We’ve wanted to stay here in the past, but it was always just a bit too pricey. Thank goodness for last-minute deals online! (There are 21c hotels in other cities, each with different colored penguins. I’ve been collecting the small ceramic versions available for purchase in the gift shop. So far, I have the red one and the yellow one from Cincinnati.)
  • Watched Bacon get acquainted with our new rug. We haven’t actually put it down yet because I wanted to wait for the coffee table to arrive (it’s been on back order for two months), but Bacon races to it whenever I unroll it to peek at it. He loves stretching on it and rolling on his back. I’m assuming he wants the rug to smell like him, but I prefer to think he’s just enamored with it.

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