outfit

Shopping List: 9 Red Summer Dresses I Love

June 23, 2021 by jessica Leave a Comment

Outfit Details: Grace Atwood x The Drop dress | Tory Burch mask (other styles) | Birkenstock sandals | Paravel backpack (similar) | Chimi sunglasses (available in black) | Aurelie Gi rings (learn about the brand here)

Admittedly red is not one of my favorite colors, falling somewhere near purple for least-loved. However, nothing can beat the fiery hue when you need a jolt of color. I picked up this dress last fall (and it’s surprisingly still available in a few sizes) and hadn’t worn it outside of a Zoom call up until our trip to Charleston in April. I have a renewed appreciate for the color and found myself browsing for other red dresses recently. Here are nine of my favorites:

A dress with a classic fit-and-flare silhouette.
Pair this cute mini with white sneakers.
I adore the smocked top of this eyelet dress.
This cotton voile option would be pretty over a swimsuit and out for cocktails.
This dress has the prettiest woven striped detail.
Ruffled straps add interest to an otherwise simple maxi dress.
A tiered cotton dress that’s perfect for the hottest days.
A long-sleeve option with a plunging neckline.
While it’s a splurge, you’ll wear this tunic dress each summer for years.

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Love Delicate Layered Jewelry? Here’s the Brand You Need to Know! (Plus, a Discount Code!)

April 23, 2021 by jessica Leave a Comment

If you’re a longtime reader, you know that I my love of jewelry runs deep. I am a self-proclaimed magpie and I can’t resist adding new pieces to my collection regularly. Lately I’ve been drawn to classic, elegant pieces that are subtle and sophisticated on their own, but can be layered with statement-making gems.

I was recently introduced to a brand called Aurelie GI that specializes in those wear-with-everything pieces. It’s a U.S.-based jeweler that offers 14K gold pieces handcrafted with recycled precious metals. (Whenever we can marry style with sustainability, I’m on board!) The collection includes rings, earrings (both pairs and singles), bracelets, necklaces, and pendants (like this sweet “Mama” pendant just in time for Mother’s Day); and there are items studded with diamonds and semiprecious stones.

I chose the Effie oval band for its unique organic design and the textured Regalia band. As you’ll see below, they’re perfect for layering with one another or wearing on different fingers while mixing and matching with other jewelry items in your collection. If color is more your speed, the brand also has beautiful turquoise items like this stacking ring.

I’ve been wearing these rings nearly each day since they arrived three weeks ago and I’m impressed with the quality. I had a thin gold band years ago and it didn’t take much to bend it out of shape. These, however, are solid and the quality does support the price point.

And, while we’re on the topic of price, you can save 20% with code Jessica20 through the end of 2021!

Dress: Anthropologie (true to size; I’m wearing a medium)
Bag: Gucci (see what fits inside here)
Sneakers: Nike (also available here)
Rings: c/o Aurelie Gi (this one and this one) – Plus, save 20% with code Jessica20 through Dec. 31, 2021!
Bracelet: vintage (I adore this bracelet, though!)

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This post is sponsored by Aurelie GI.
As always, I only work with brands I truly love. Thank you for supporting my blog!

Casual Elegance for the Holidays

November 26, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

My family isn’t one for glitz and glam, and while I love dressing up for the holidays, I’ve spent many years being the overdressed one at those occasions. I’ve begun to embrace a more casual approach to holiday dressing that still feels special, which is why I’m in love with this Garnet Hill cashmere sweater that the brand sent over in preparation for the holidays.

Cashmere is an inherently luxe fiber, so you’ll feel festive even when pairing it with jeans and ballet flats like I did here, especially if you add an oversize accessory. (My Lele Sadoughi earrings are my absolute favorite pair when I want something eye-catching.) This particular sweater is even better for the holidays because of its generous, swingy shape that allows you to indulge in all of the holiday sweets! Just half-tuck it into your waistband to give it some shape. It can easily be dressed up with a pair of lace pants and heels or given an edge with faux leather leggings. There’s also a very good chance that it’ll become your favorite lounge piece with a pair of sweats. One word of warning, though, it runs large due to the a-line shape. I’m typically a size 8 and I’m wearing a small here, but I probably should have sized down to an XS.

This is actually my third cashmere piece from Garnet Hill and just like the others, the fabric is supple, incredibly soft, and densely woven. I think their cashmere pieces are some of the best you can get for the price point, especially today during the brand’s cashmere flash sale where you’ll save 40% on select items. I love this beautiful turtleneck sweater, and I use this cashmere wrap on all of our international plane rides. If you need a gift for the guy on your list, I’ve purchased these cashmere socks for Dave for the last two years and he loves them. (They won’t be as durable as your run-of-the-mill pairs, but they’re an affordable luxury gift. We line dry Dave’s pairs to extend their wear.)

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Thanks to Garnet Hill for partnering on this post!

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Falling for AuRate Gold Jewelry

October 15, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

As I get older, I find myself drawn to unfussy, classic pieces that withstand the test of time — and honestly, those have really been the foundation of my closet and the items I wear over and over again. Take this Tory Burch coat, for instance. I added it to my wardrobe back in 2015 and I look forward to chilly weather every year so I can wear it again. The Prada sunglasses were my first designer pair and I still reach for them weekly. The bag? Well, we all know it’s something I’ll keep in my closet forever. That’s not to say that I haven’t made some sartorial missteps when curating my closet — I’m sure taking a look through the archives here will turn up some gems — but narrowing down my style and considering the longevity of each piece is not only a fiscally responsible decision, it’s a sustainable way to shop. Long gone are the days of hitting up the mall to find a cheap “going out” top and a bauble to match, only to add them to the donation bag a few months later.

One brand that has quickly made its way into the “classic-pieces-I’ll-keep-forever” category is AUrate. I introduced you to AUrate earlier this year, but I wanted to put the jeweler back on your radar this season when we’re all looking at making bigger investments in our wardrobes and starting to think about gift-giving and receiving. AUrate is a lot like Warby Parker or Everlane in that the brand seeks to create more transparency in their industry by cutting out the middle man to bring direct-to-consumer fine jewelry at fair prices without sacrificing quality or style. All of AUrate’s pieces are handmade in New York City by experienced jewelers and are guaranteed for life.

When I browsed AUrate’s collection with my own wardrobe in mind, I knew I wanted to go with a gold necklace. I have a few dainty options, but nothing that bridged the gap between a luxe piece of jewelry and an easy-to-wear everyday piece. This 14k gold bar necklace nails it. I put the necklace on immediately when it arrived two weeks ago and I’ve been wearing it every day since. It’s a moderate investment at $220, but it’s one of those perfect pieces you’ll treasure for years.

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Thanks to AUrate for partnering on this post!

My Favorite Dress in Austin

June 4, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

This dress was undoubtedly my favorite thing to wear in Austin, so much so that I wore it our first full day in the city and then again another afternoon. I bought it last year from Urban Outfitters and the cotton dress is so breezy and, better yet, doesn’t need a bra. It’s amazing how much cooler you feel once you ditch a thick layer of foam! Now, I realize that not everyone is able to pull that off (it’s one of the perks of having a small chest), so I put together a roundup of some of my favorite pro-bra and anti-bra dresses from the retailer below. (I don’t know about you, but I never think to shop at Urban Outfitters until I need an inexpensive summer dress, and they’re a gold mine of hot-weather frocks. This one is my favorite of those linked in the widget below because of the pretty green and white pattern. I’m also a fan of this one.)

Urban Outfitters dress (old; similar, love this one) | Tory Burch tote (old; I wasn’t able to find a similar one, but it’s the “Kerrington” style if you’d like to search on eBay.) | Sam Edelman sandals (also love these) | Wendy Mink earrings (c/o; similar here and here) | Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses (old; similar)

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