BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Weekend Guide

March 7, 2015 by jessica 2 Comments

SHOP
Today is the last day of Shopbop’s major sale. It’s a great time to purchase any spring essentials like cocktail dresses for upcoming weddings or vacation wear (Tory Burch has the cutest striped espadrilles). I pulled the trigger on a pair of black Ferragamo Varinas and a Tory Burch tote (no longer available at Shopbop, unfortunately).

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DIY
How cute are Erin’s monogrammed loafers?! She created them from inexpensive shoes from Old Navy. (Get started with the striped version here and the chambray version here.)

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PLANT
I’m still on a kick to redo our apartment and these succulent pots are too cute. Although, I think I’ll go with a white glazed pot with turquoise rocks.

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ANSWER
Charnele of Cha Cha the Fashion Genius is working on her final graduate school marketing campaign project and would love your help. The survey only takes a few minutes to complete.

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TRAVEL
Seven of the best places to see wild flowers this spring.

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DECORATE
So, uh, this happened earlier this week. I’ve wanted one of Harry Allen’s piggy banks for years, but it seemed like such a ridiculous thing to spend that much money on. After scouring eBay for four years to snag one on the cheap, I finally found a silver one that went for $112. I can’t wait for it to arrive. (It’s cast from a deceased pig, which Dave finds morbid. Pssh.)

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FITNESS UPDATE
I gained .6 pounds this week. I’m not totally surprised. We visited Milwaukee last weekend and one of my many cocktails was a Brandy Alexander, an ice cream drink that probably had a pint worth in it. On the upside, I’ve lost another half inch from my hips and from my waist. I’m still working out two or three times a week. And, now that Daylight Savings Time is tomorrow and it will be light out after work, we’re going to start the couch-to-5k program soon.

The Coveted

March 5, 2015 by jessica 8 Comments

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This week, I’m smitten with:

A cheerful red dress that’s under $100! Not only do I adore the color, I love that there are stretchy insets at the sides to ensure a perfect fit and it’s bra-friendly. It also comes in black with striped sides. (I’m pretty excited that Madewell items are now more readily available at other retailers, especially when those retailers that have free shipping both ways.)
A raffia box adorned with a pineapple closure. It’s a chic way to hide any small trinkets on your coffee table. (Speaking of which, I really like pineapples and just started a Pinterest board of ’em.)
Bold color. Weathermen are forecasting a spring heatwave next week in the low 50s. Just knowing spring is on the horizon puts me in the mood for bright, saturated color. This blanket is pricey, but it’s a fun inspiration piece.
Elephants.
Lemons and limes on this maxi dress. What do you think? Ridiculous or a must-have for Florida? (Possibly both.)
The cutest chambray romper.
A red bucket bag. Nothing screams summer like the reemergence of nautical pieces. A patriotic bucket bag keeps it on-trend.
Not Pictured: I’m tempted to snag these pillows for our bed. The pattern reminds me of Tory Burch’s summer textiles.

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There’s still plenty of time to shop Shopbop’s huge sale and save up to 25% on your favorite spring and summer pieces! Find all of the sale details here.

The Biggest Sale of the Season

March 3, 2015 by jessica 29 Comments

Alright, ladies, it’s time to get your trigger finger ready for Shopbop’s biggest sale of the season! And these aren’t last-season’s castoffs. Starting at 6:30 a.m., you’ll save on the newest items from your favorite brands!

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DURATION

Tuesday, March 3 at 6:30 a.m. EST through Sunday, March 8, 2015 4:00 a.m. EST

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DISCOUNT

Save 15% with a purchase over $250

Save 20% with a purchase over $500

Save 25% with a purchase over $1,000

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CODE

Click here.

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BEST BETS

Classic items you’ll wear season after season.

New spring items that you’ll wear all season long.

Brands that rarely go on sale. (Ahem, Ferragamos.)

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SHOPPING STRATEGIES

Check in with your loved ones to see if they have any items on their wishlists from Shopbop or East Dane. You can combine orders to get up to that $1,000 threshold for 25% off.

If something doesn’t work out, no sweat. Shopbop has a great return policy. (And it’s free.)

Items are reserved in your cart for 30 minutes. Add everything you love–especially if there’s low stock–and edit before you check out.

TOP TEN

I spent a lot of time the other night scouring the Shopbop website to find the ten best items worthy of a pre-season sale splurge:

A classic pair of Ferragamo Varinas or Varas. I own two pairs of Varinas and they’re by far my favorite shoe. They’ll never go out of style and they rarely go on sale. This is the time to order a pair to try for yourself. (And, yes, I am buying them in black today. Can’t. Wait.)
Tory Burch’s colorful Kerrington pieces are my favorite take on the ’70s trend. (I’m also snagging this tote.)
I think it’s safe to say that Michael Kors watches have finally reached icon status. This simple silver watch with a white face is another piece you won’t tire of quickly.
Loeffler Randall’s “Starla” sandals keep making a comeback year after year. Pair them with simple summer dresses.
Looking for an add-on item you’ll actually use? Opt for any of Gorjana’s pieces.
Keepsake is a new-to-me brand with ultra feminine clothes. I adore this white frilly romper.
This swimsuit has the perfect mix of sex appeal and athleticism.
A DVF wrap dress is a no-brainer. A black jersey option takes you from the office to date night with ease.
Style and UV protection? Yes, please!
A Tory Burch smart phone wristlet. Dave gave one to me last year for my birthday and I used it a ton last summer. It’s especially great for nights out on vacation when you only have a hotel keycard to stow. (Seriously consider this. You’ll use it more than you realize.)

This post is in collaboration with Shopbop.

Wardrobe Welcome

March 2, 2015 by jessica 11 Comments

If you couldn’t tell from yesterday’s post, I’ve been on a bit of an earring kick lately. So much so that I’ve actually added two new pairs over the last week: Tory Burch monkey hoops and petite tassels from J.Crew. Even if I hadn’t mentioned it last week, I’m sure you could tell the monkey earrings were destined to be mine. I talked about them last fall, right after the Tory Burch runway when they were available for pre-order, and again when the full spring jewelry collection was online. I purchased them as my annual “Tax Return Splurge,” so even though they’re wildly indulgent, I don’t feel too bad about spending the money on something so quirky. They’re sturdier than I expected and they do feel a little heavy after wearing them for a full day. The other pair, the J.Crew tassels, were an impulsive purchase this past weekend. We spent Saturday night in Milwaukee and stopped at J.Crew (not surprisingly, their store is larger than the one in Madison). I spotted the earrings on a table display as I was leaving and couldn’t resist. They have a nice weight to them, which I wouldn’t have guessed from the stock photo.

Bauble of the Week

March 1, 2015 by jessica 5 Comments

As much as I love gigantic statement earrings, you’ll only see me wear them occasionally. Why? One of my biggest fears is becoming an old lady with droopy earlobes* after wearing them for decades. Thankfully, there are plenty of gorgeous button earrings that pack as much punch as their chandelier cousins. All of the studs featured here are by Gerard Yosca and they’re anything but boring. My favorites are the daisies. They’re the perfect amount of retro chic and would look fabulous with a shift dress this spring. Browse the entire collection of button earrings here and if you also love the daisy earrings, you’ll be smitten with the new Flowerball collection.

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*Dave insists that there’s probably a surgery for that. If doctors can fix the earlobes of people who wear plugs, they can probably fix old lady lobes. And if I happen to develop them over time, you bet I’ll be hashtagging #OldLadyLobes on Instagram.