BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

  • Interiors
    • My Home: Main Bathroom
    • My Home: Powder Room
    • My Home: Living Room
    • My Home: Dining Room
    • My Home: Main Bedroom
    • My Home: Front Porch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
    • Travel Posts
    • Travel Guides
  • Style
    • Style Posts
    • Outfits
    • The Coveted
  • Collaborate
  • About

Bauble of the Week

April 6, 2014 by jessica Leave a Comment

image

I’m thrilled to share that Gerard Yosca and I are partnering this month to introduce you to his latest collection, Bel-Air, inspired by decorative mid-century architecture. Gerard will pass along advice on styling a statement necklace, I’ll show you how I wore the Stonebloom necklace (above) with three different outfits (proof that one great statement piece is better than a handful of cheaper alternatives), and we’ll wrap things up with a giveaway. I hope you’ll stick around for the fun! (And may I suggest adding the Mini Bloom ring to your jewelry box in the meantime?)

Read more about Gerard in his “Behind the Baubles” feature. 

Filed Under: Jewelry Tagged With: bauble of the week, gerard yosca

Shopping Strategies: The Clothing-Free Month

April 4, 2014 by jessica Leave a Comment

image

Every store email, every blog post and every Instagram is another temptation to buy the next “It” item, which makes a month without shopping for clothes especially difficult for a style blogger. Heck, if you’re like me, you’re not hiding an Internet history littered with tawdry sites, you just don’t want to admit how many dresses you looked at before your first cup of coffee.

Challenging myself to a “No Shop April” was less about saving money  and more of an effort to stop accumulating stuff. I like to shop. I like to own pretty things. But lately I’ve felt like I’ve gone off the rails a bit. I just need a month to step back and reevaluate what I want in terms of general financial goals and key items to eventually add to my wardrobe.

Here are my strategies:

  1. Avoid temptation. It goes without saying that the mall is a huge source of temptation for many of us, but your inbox is an even bigger landmine. I receive hundreds of promotional emails each week touting new arrivals and promotional discounts. It’s easy to fall victim to a friends and family sale when it’s a rare chance to save 25%. My advice? Unsubscribe. Or at the very least delete the emails without opening them. If you’re serious about streamlining your inbox, Unroll.me is a startup company that lets you view how many lists you’re subscribed to, gives you the opportunity to unsubscribe, then consolidates the messages into one daily email. (I was on 488 lists.)
  2. Mix and match your existing wardrobe. This is the perfect opportunity to be creative. Pick a piece you haven’t worn in awhile and challenge yourself to wear it three different ways this month. It also makes for blog fodder that’s more interesting than showcasing new purchases.
  3. Clean out your closet. Go through your closet and take out every single item. Look over each with a critical eye. Do you wear it? Is it in good repair? Would your current self buy this piece again? If you can answer yes to those three questions, the item goes back in the closet. If not, it’s off to eBay or Goodwill. I did this in February and, honestly, I was embarrassed by how much I donated and by how much money I spent on things I didn’t wear. It forced me to be more thoughtful about future spending.
  4. Appreciate what you already own. You know that rush you get when you buy a new item? Rekindle that flame with your wardrobe. We all have items we treasure and it’s important to realize that you can’t always have the latest and greatest thing. In fact, what you own now is already pretty great.
  5. Keep your on the prize. Be honest about your reason for doing this. Are you padding your savings account? Putting away money for an expensive item? Looking to break away from unconscious consumerism? Whatever it is, write it down. Remind yourself of your end goal whenever temptation strikes. There will always be another must-have item.

Illustration by Garance Dore

Filed Under: Style Tagged With: shopping strategies

Currently Coveting

April 3, 2014 by jessica Leave a Comment

image

1. Collette by Collette Dinnigan, $270 // 2. Melissa Odabash, $190 // 3. Kenneth Jay Lane, $75 // 4. Rifle Paper Co., $34 // 5. Tory Burch, $325 // 6. Klub Nico, $169 // 7. Aerie, $30 // 8. Kara by Kara Ross, $95 // 9. Kate Spade, $206

Filed Under: Style Tagged With: currently coveting

Loving Lately

April 2, 2014 by jessica Leave a Comment

image

Lately, I’m loving:

  • The promise of warm weather, so I can break out my favorite spring shoes. I’m itching to wear these Kate Spade pumps again.
  • Iris Apfel’s upcoming sale on One Kings Lane. You know how much I adore this woman (even more so after she referred to herself as a “geriatric starlet”) and I’d love to own a piece that belonged to her. Though, something tells me that the April 5 sale will be priced above my budget.
  • Finally sending off my passport for renewal. I’m not sure if you’re allowed to smile in your photo, but I’m risking it. (The government site isn’t very clear—they require a “neutral expression,” yet some allowable photo examples show people smiling.) Hopefully it gets approved. My non-smiling expression looks pretty angry.
  • An interesting article that reinforces the principles behind The French Wardrobe Challenge.

Filed Under: Style Tagged With: Loving Lately

The French Wardrobe Challenge

April 1, 2014 by jessica Leave a Comment

image

I’ve been a little too fast and loose with the debit card lately, so I’m placing one more order to try a navy trench and a couple of white dresses to try (here and here), then I’m kicking off “No Shop April” (I tried to come up with a catchier name, but that’s the best I’ve got).* Thirty days of resisting clothing and ignoring gemstones sounds like an ideal way to get my savings back on track and continue evaluating the missing links in my wardrobe.

*I’m totally breaking this promise if I earn enough money on the blog and eBay to buy this Tory Burch scarf.

THE RULES

  1. Just five standout pieces per season. (There are two “seasons” for this purpose: spring/summer and fall/winter.)
  2. Quality over quantity.
  3. Basics don’t count.
  4. Accessories don’t count, unless you’re spending a lot more than usual.
  5. Socks and underwear don’t count.
  6. Shoes do count. (I’m not counting shoes, though.)

MY PROGRESS

Part of my Five:

  • J.Crew Factory botanical-print shorts

Basics:

  • J.Crew 5” chino shorts in navy
  • J.Crew merino Tippi sweater in heather grey
  • NEW J.Crew fit and flare dress in haven blue: Even though there’s another color option actually labeled navy, haven blue is pretty close to the navy I have in my closet. I was worried that the fabric would be too shiny for day, but it’s very subtle. It looks darling with the Sam Edelman flats I bought a couple of months ago and it has pockets. (I don’t think it’s worth the full price of $200. I paid $150, which still might be high for it. If you can snag it at $100, go for it.) It also attracts pet hair like no other.
  • NEW J.Crew lightweight merino v-neck sweater in grey: I wanted another v-neck sweater and fell for this one. It’s incredibly soft and the slightly oversized fit (I sized up to a medium) is so appealing.
  • NEW Banana Republic “Sloan” pants in turquoise: Okay, so this isn’t an obvious basic (and actually sticks out like a sore thumb on my Pinterest board), but I wear my navy and black pairs to work all of the time. I wanted a bright color to liven up humdrum work days this spring. I also only paid $10 after a discount code and two reward coupons.

Bags:

  • Coach small saffiano leather satchel in black

Accessories:

  • Eddie Borgo iridescent cone earrings (pre-ordered from Modi Operandi)
  • Randolph Engineering rose gold aviators (c/o)
  • Lele Sadoughi lotus bib necklace
  • Vintage ring from Frippery Vintage
  • Coach saffiano leather card case in peach rose
  • NEW Double pearl earrings via eBay
  • NEW Gerard Yosca statement necklace (c/o)
  • NEW Emma McKinstry long pendant necklace (c/o)
  • NEW Meghna Designs druzy ring (c/o)
  • NEW Bauble Bar pearl collar necklace

Shoes:

  • Gap striped flats
  • Anthropologie palm-print flats
  • NEW Tory Burch “Desi” printed pumps: These were a complete impulse purchase and I love everything about the mod, ’60s-style shoe. A low, block heel is practical and navy stripes are versatile in my closet.

Ordered and Returned:

  • J.Crew 5” chino shorts in white: sheer enough to see the pocket lining
  • Gap striped fit and flare dress in navy and white stripe: I wanted to replace a striped dress I got rid of during The Great Closet Cleanout that had seen better days. This dress runs at least a full size too big and the quality of the thin, unlined cotton dress isn’t even worth the $36 I paid. It’s a bummer because the cut of the dress has a lot of potential.
  • J.Crew scallop crepe dress: I tried this on in store and really wanted to love it, but it didn’t flatter my body type. If you have a full bust and slim hips, I urge you to try it on. It really is adorable.

If you’re curious about The French Wardrobe Challenge, I encourage you to peruse the archived posts. 

image

Are you taking part in The French Wardrobe Challenge this season? Let me know by the 15th of the month and I’ll link to your post below.

image

image

Filed Under: Style, The French Wardrobe Challenge Tagged With: the french wardrobe, the french wardrobe spring summer 2014

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 290
  • 291
  • 292
  • 293
  • 294
  • …
  • 430
  • Next Page »

Hello!


Jessica Hamm
Hello there! I'm a first-time homeowner updating a 1920s house in Madison, Wisconsin. I have a penchant for travel and a love of costume jewelry.

Keep In Touch

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search

Latest Home Finds

Visit Me on Instagram!

Snapshots from the past week: • Spent quality t Snapshots from the past week:

• Spent quality time with my favorite cat

• Biked for Pacificos, chips and quac, and tacos at @bandit.tacos 

• Loved how the rain collected on the Lady’s Mantle I planted last year

• Dipped my toes (quite literally) into this year’s mesh shoe trend

• Snapped a lot of Lily content

• Drove home with a new lilac in the passenger seat
Finishing our guest room has been a focus of ours Finishing our guest room has been a focus of ours this year, and the cute Teig Lamp from Schoolhouse is such a charming addition to the space. It’s named for the German word for “dough,” which is perfect for its soft, petite shape.

Find this and the other Schoolhouse items we’re using in the space here: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/bedknobsandbaubles/posts/e01ae8c9-38af-11f0-b5c2-0242ac11000b

(The lamp and circle pillow were gifted. I purchased the other items.)

 #schoolhousespringstyle #schoolhousepartner #ad
Stripes, windowpane, floral, and a single polka do Stripes, windowpane, floral, and a single polka dot of bright blue to punctuate our guest room bedding. 

#guestroom #bedding #schoolhouseliving #schoolhouse #landsend #homedesign
I’m challenging myself to get through a backlog I’m challenging myself to get through a backlog of travel photos before we book our next trip. First up, photos of the gothic York Minster. I’m not religious in the slightest but I can’t resist stunning architecture and the opportunity to climb hundreds of cathedral stairs for a city view. This one only had a single rest stop about halfway up the flight of 275 steps for a closeup view of the flying buttresses — and a waiver you had to sign before your ascent to promise you’re healthy enough to make it.
Can you hear meow? 😸 Lily is putting the phone Can you hear meow? 😸 Lily is putting the phone nook to good use.
Christmassy mornings. Christmassy mornings.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2025 · Jennifer on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in