BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Outfit | Elie Tahari x DesigNation

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[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]A[/dropcap]long with the taxi print sweatshirt and graphic tees, this dress is one of the most literal representations of Elie Tahari’s New York City inspiration for his DesigNation line. It’s also one of the most charming pieces from the collection with a fit-and-flare silhouette and the NYC skyline printed along the hem. It reminded me so much of Kate Spade’s skirt from a few years back that I couldn’t help but play up the femininity with a pair of heels and a bow belt. I’m anxious to keep this dress in rotation when the temperatures finally fall and I can pair it with the collection’s neoprene and faux fur jacket (seen earlier this week) or a beautiful white wool coat like this one.

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Dress: c/o Elie Tahari x DesigNation | Jacket: c/o Elie Tahari x DesigNation | Belt: Kate Spade | Shoes: Kate Spade | Bag: Coach (similar) | Rings: c/o Julie Vos | Bracelet: Hermes | Nails: Essie “After School Boy Blazer” | Lips: Stila “Fiore”

Behind the Baubles | Letters by Zoe

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[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]G[/dropcap]ive me a good monogram and I am one happy camper, especially when it’s as beautiful as the personalized gold jewelry Stephanie creates for her collection: Letters by Zoe. Named after her first daughter, Letters by Zoe boasts timeless, understated jewelry that’s sure to become heirloom pieces in anyone’s collection. Each piece is handcrafted in Los Angeles with 14k yellow, white, and rose gold (and, in some cases, sterling silver). I’ve always wanted to own a dainty signet ring and this one is just about perfect.

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[blockquote]My most frequently worn item is my Letters By Zoe diamond initial disc necklaces, one for each of my daughters: Z for Zoe and R for Rhea.[/blockquote]

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[blockquote]My ideal Saturday starts with sleeping in (wishful thinking with two kids!) and ends with a date night at Pizzeria Mozza with my husband.[/blockquote]

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INSPIRED BY
People of all walks of life. I’m a professional people watcher!

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FIRST PAYCHECK
Teaching swimming lessons when I was 14 at a tennis club

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ALWAYS READY TO TRAVEL TO
Israel

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MY STYLE IN A WORD (OR TWO)
Everyday Luxe

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CAN’T RESIST
Dr. Hauschka face lotion

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ON MY WISH LIST
Bulgari serpenti watch

[blockquote]The proudest moment of my career was launching Letters by Zoe.[/blockquote]

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[blockquote]This year, I’m planning to expand the Letters By Zoe collection, travel, celebrate my daughter Rhea’s first birthday, and take over the world…[/blockquote]

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14k gold initial & heart stud earrings, $129 | 14k gold side initial necklace, $195 | 14k gold monogrammed small signet ring, $425 | silver nameplate necklace, $129 | 14k gold initial square necklace, $265 | 14k gold large signet ring, $585 | 14k gold thin bangle with single initial, $239

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Shop the Letters by Zoe collection here and follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

 

Outfit | Elie Tahari x DesigNation

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[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]W[/dropcap]ould you believe I’ve never been to New York? A trip to the city comes up each time we plan a vacation, but another destination always seems to capture my imagination by the time we’re ready to purchase plane tickets. (Truth be told, I’m a little nervous that once I visit, I’ll never want to head back to the Midwest again!)

Until we actually make plans to jet set to the city that never sleeps, I’m embracing the spirit of New York through Elie Tahari’s collaboration with DesigNation. If you’re not familiar with DesigNation, it’s a biannual collaboration from Kohl’s that brings a designer’s signature looks to an expanded audience with a fun twist: each collection is inspired by a different locale. (Next up: Milly in spring 2015 with a collection inspired by Capri, Italy.)

I teamed up with Kohl’s to share two looks incorporating pieces from the collection. I’m not one to run out and purchase a new head-to-toe ensemble, so I was pleased to discover Elie Tahari’s collection is filled with versatile items punctuated with subtle textures and luxe details. In short, the perfect way to update your wardrobe without sacrificing your signature look. The neoprene pieces are really the standouts of the collection and this jacket is by far my favorite item. The faux fur inset adds just the right amount of daytime glam. Check back on Wednesday to see this dress in action.

On an unrelated note, Julie Vos recently relaunched her website and I’m thrilled to style a few of my favorite pieces to celebrate the launch. I’ll talk about it more later this week, but if you’re antsy to expand your jewelry collection, use code bedknobsandbaubles for 20% off sitewide.

Jacket: c/o Elie Tahari x DesigNation | Dress: J.Crew (old; also love this one) | Clutch: DVF | Shoes: J.Crew | Necklace: c/o Julie Vos | Ring: c/o Julie Vos | Bracelet: Hermes | Sunglasses: c/o Rivet & Sway | Nails: Essie “After School Boy Blazer” | Lips: Stila “Fiore”

Bauble of the Week

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[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]G [/dropcap]old dripping along the edge of this Alexis Bittar cuff is an unexpected, gorgeous update to his signature Lucite pieces. If you’re smitten with the piece, snag it at Nordstorm to receive a free gift with your $250 Alexis Bittar purchase. The cuff itself is only $195, but this pendant makes for a pretty fabulous add-on item.

 

Budget | Fall & Winter 2014

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[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]I [/dropcap]’m abandoning the French Wardrobe Challenge this season. Don’t get me wrong, it was great way to focus on quality over quantity, but it could be a little too restricting. I found myself bypassing fun, unexpected statement items in favor of quieter pieces. I know that’s the point of the challenge, but it does suck some of the joy out of building a wardrobe. So, bring on the budget!

I’m not doing a month-to-month budget, however. I’m taking Fran’s approach with a seasonal budget. Her restrictions are in place thanks to student loans, but I wanted to adopt a similar approach because I think it’s more realistic for my lifestyle–and falls more in step with the principles of The French Wardrobe Challenge. In the past, I’ve found that a strict monthly budget led to an overabundance of cheap items because I wanted to stretch my dollar. This time, I’m going with a six-month allowance that gives me the opportunity to splurge on quality pieces to truly reinvigorate my wardrobe.

I’m still going to add each new addition to a Pinterest board to keep track of what I’m adding and how much I’m adding.

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THE BUDGET

I’ve started with a six-month budget of $1,500. I consider blog revenue and eBay sales to be “fun money” and may add a portion of that additional income to my overall seasonal budget if it doesn’t end up in my travel fund first. I’ll record any budget increases or expenditures here each month. (There will also be an annual “Tax Refund Splurge” that goes above my budget, but I’ll devote a post to that in January.)

  • $1,500 starting budget
  • + $0 added to the budget this season ($0 this month)
  • – $463.20 spent this season ($463.20 this month)
  • = $1,036.80 remaining

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WARDROBE UPDATE

Clothing:

  • Ted Baker opulent bloom skirt ($248): I’m obsessing over dark florals for fall and my heart skipped a beat when I saw this skirt for the first time. It’s my first Ted Baker item and the quality is impeccable. It’s fully lined and has a crinoline layer to keep the bottom full even after a day sitting in front of a computer.
  • LOFT scuba flare skirt in navy and black ($98.70): LOFT is a little fast and loose with the definition of “scuba” on this one. It’s not neoprene nor does it have the signature stiff flare of actual scuba fabric. That said, the knit skirt is light and flirty. It’s a good work basic that won’t look out of place with more casual attire on the weekend. It is short, though, and wouldn’t fly in a conservative office. (I also tried the beige version, but it felt a little too much like a Girl Scout uniform.)
  • Badgley Mischka mineral print skirt ($53.60): Two fancy skirts is a little indulgent, I know, but look at how much I paid! (In other words, a complete and utter impulse purchase.)
  • J.Crew “Tippi” sweater in black ($62.90): I already have a black Tippi sweater, but either it shrunk or I gained weight (or both). In any case, it’s about time I bought a replacement. It’s been a missing link in my wardrobe for far too long.

Shoes & Accessories:

  • Nothing yet!

Gifted Items:

Items I tried this month, but didn’t purchase: 

  • J.Crew lambswool shirttail hem sweater: The sweater portion of this top added bulk to my frame (and gave me the illusion of a muffin top) and the shirt part was weird and clingy. Bad news all around.
  • ASOS color block shift dress: I was so excited about this dress because it has the same shape as another dress from ASOS that I love. However, this one had the most unpleasant texture, almost as if it had been spray painted with rubber.
  • LOFT floral romper: Eh. The bottom was too tight and I was drowning in the top. Fit issues aside, it probably wouldn’t get a lot of use this fall. Bathroom acrobatics are hard enough in a romper without adding tights to the mix.

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LINK UP

Fran does a great job of linking to budget bloggers each month and I strongly encourage you to take part. I’ve also started a link up below for you to share your budget recaps here. (My plan is to post the budget update on the last Friday of each month.) Not into budgeting? Feel free to share your monthly purchase posts here too. I’m always curious to see how other people build their wardrobes!