The Row's New Handbag Line

I'm not the biggest Olsen twin fan, I mean they design some lovely clothes, but I'm not always thrilled with their personal style choices.  Sometimes it just looks like they throw on anything (and sometimes everything) from their closet.  I guess it's sort of a free pass when pretty much everything you own is a luxury item, people call that "eclectic" and not "crazy" - ha!  It still weirds me out that I can tune into Nick at Nite early in the morning and catch them as babies/toddlers/little girls on "Full House" - that makes me feel so darn old.  That being said, I'm actually kind of digging what they wore to the CFDA awards this past Monday night. 

Love the color mix and the texture mix each wore, both looks just work for me.  Take note of the bags, they are from their new super-luxe (read: bags that are made from exotic materials that cost and arm and a leg) bag line from their super-luxe label The Row.  The bags are gorgeous and have that understated elegance that I love.  Here are a few examples:

Classic Shoulder Bag

Day Luxe Alligator Bag

Metal Frame Lizard Bag

Doctor Bag

Twin Mini Ostrich Bag (get it? One side is one skin, the other is a different one, so it's like two bags in one. It's actually a pretty darn cool idea!)

Check out the rest of the bags and the interview with the Olsen's from Harper's Bazaar here!

Top image via The Cut, all other images via Harper's Bazaar

I Want This! - Jess LC Lake Shore Navy Clutch

I'm sure you all know by now that Jess LC has a brand new handbag collection in addition to the gorgeous jewelry.  Well I'm in love with the clutch above.  I love how classic and chic it is and how it can be dressed up or down!  Best of all, it's made in Chicago - yay!  Check out the full collection of bags here.

Lake Shore Navy Clutch - $60

Image via Jess LC

Friend Friday - Vacation

Linking up with Katy at Modly Chic again this week for FBFF.  Today's topic is packing for a vacation.  Sadly, I'm not taking a vacation this Summer (boo hoo) but for the questions today I'll pretend I am ;o)

Source: ohjoy.blogs.com via Jenny on Pinterest

1. When it comes to packing for vacation what’s your mantra?
Less is more!  I try to pack the most versatile items I have so I can get more bang for my packing buck.  This is especially important when you fly now because of all the checked bag charges.  I struggle with packing lightly, I tend to want to take more than needed (especially if it's a car trip), however the older I get, the less crap I want to haul around.

2. What are your must packs?
My large black pashmina that I use as a wrap and a blanket, comfortable shoes, a large, chic handbag that can be used for hauling things as well as a purse, and last but not least I always pack at least 2 more pair of underwear than I think I will need.

3. What are you happy to leave behind?
Cooking and cleaning!

4. Any packing secrets that help you get everything into one suitcase?
Pack super versatile items in neutral colors that you can mix and match!  Also, keep shoes to the minimum, I try to pack a max of 4 pair depending on the travel situation.  Oh and rolling clothes does help fit more into a suitcase.

5. Beach reading… what are you taking with you to read in the sand?
I'm super behind in reading books.  Right now, I'm smack in the middle of Bringing Home The Birkin by Michael Tonello and I love it!  Next up is either The Help and Water For Elephants (those are the last unread downloads on my old Sony eReader) - I'm so not up to speed on current literature.

Don't forget to check out everyone else's answers here!
Book image via Amazon.com

My Five - Oscar de la Renta Fall 2011

Oscar always shines, his collections are so beautiful and ladylike.  This collection is no different, lovely fabrics, sparkle and lots of pattern.  Please note that cobalt blue is still sticking around, which I love.  Here are my (more than five - eek) picks:

Images via Style.com photographed by Monica Feudi

What I Wore Wednesday!

Okay, I'm slowly getting back to "normal" after the move and starting the new job.  I'm not 100% caught up with my online stuff, but I'm getting there.  By the way is anyone else having issues commenting on some blogs?  Some blogs I can comment normally with my Blogger ID, others make me "anonymous" - so bizarre.  I'll chalk it up to Blogger being a super pain these past few weeks because I have no other excuse.  Anyway, here are some outfits I've worn recently.  I wish I could say I've been in real clothes more than yoga pants these past few weeks, but with unpacking and moving I basically lived in the dreaded yoga pants - ha!  Again, I'm linking up with The Pleated Poppy for WIWW - click here to see what everyone else wore!

Tunic - Tory Burch

Jeans - Gap (via Platos Closet)

Tank - Target

Wedges - Kors Michael Kors

T-Shirt - Target

Pants - J.Crew

Shoes - Gap

Necklace - Giveaway win from the lovely Ms. Givens over at Trend Wisely (Thank you! It's gorgeous!)

 Here's a close up - the big beads are pink with little beads in between that are a golden color.  This necklace sparkles and shines and I LOVE it!!

 This was the outfit I was wearing when I spent the night at the Atlanta airport.  I took this picture before I left when I was trying to figure out some outfits to wear (so excuse the wrinkled pants and the chopped off head)

Tunic - Michael Kors (sample sale score!)

Tank - Target

Pants - Old Navy

Shoes - Tory Burch

Necklace - House of Harlow

Top - Old Navy

Jeans - Gap (via Platos Closet)

Shoes - Toms

Necklace - Made by my Mom

T-Shirt - J.Crew

Skirt - Barneys New York

Shoes - Coach

 This skirt is so much fun (and it's lightweight and easy to wear, perfect for today when it's supposed to be around 100 degrees!).  Here is a closeup of the water can print.

Friend Friday - Hair Care

Oh, heck yeah, I'm behind (again), but I have a good excuse - second week on the job and two business trips, one of which involved an unplanned stay at the Atlanta airport Thursday night.  Thank you weather.  I slept a grand total of 1 1/2 hours between Thursday and Friday and those 1 1/2 hours were spent on a bench in Terminal A (don't be jealous).  Worst part was I decided to not take my laptop because it was supposed to be a quick trip.  Joke was on moi.  And no, there weren't any rental cars to be had and I have a dumbphone so I was internet-less and I don't recommend that at all.  In the meantime here are my answers better late than never.  Thanks again to Katy and check out what everyone else had to say here!

Source: beauty.about.com via Jenny on Pinterest

1. How often do you get your hair cut?
Not as often as I would like.  I used to do it every 6-8 weeks, now I'm lucky to get it cut every 4 months.

2. Do you go to the same stylist each time, try someone new, go to the cheap hair cutting chains or live it up in a salon?
I try to stick with the same person.  I had the BEST stylist when I lived in Westchester, NY - gosh, she rocked.  I've yet to find one I like here so I'm still shopping around.

Source: beauty.about.com via Jenny on Pinterest

3. Do you color your hair? How often? What’s your natural color?
Yeah, totally color my hair.  Again, I used to do it every 6-8 weeks when I got my hair cut (the good ol' days as I refer to them).  I color my hair myself now to save some coin and I aim for every 8 weeks.  As for my natural color, I haven't seen it since I was 18, but I think it's a mousy brown/dark blonde - I have noticed some *gulp* grey hairs as of late.  Not happy.

Source: fashionison.com via Jenny on Pinterest

4. The one thing you always do to keep your hair looking great is:
Well, I have to say keeping on top of cutting and coloring, that always made my hair look amazing.  My hair hasn't looked really good since I got pregnant (hormones), so I'm still trying to figure out what will make my hair look like it used to.

5. What hair trend do you love and wish you could rock?
Anything stick straight.  Never can pull that off, my thick hair will not cooperate at all for that sort of thing.

Friend Friday - Outside Influences

Source: vogue.it via Jenny on Pinterest

A quick update, we are knee deep in moving and I started my new job so needless to say things are crazy.  CRAY-ZEE!  I thought I was so on top of my game last week with some posts ready to be written and then the whole Blogger insanity happened so those never materialized.  I finally was able to recover the draft of this post that was supposed to go up last Friday.  Oh well, welcome to my life right now.  Hopefully by June things will have calmed down and blogging will be a bit more regular.  In the meantime...

I'm joining (a bit late) Katy at Modly Chic for Friend Friday!  Today's topic is outside influences.  Don't forget to head over and check out everyone's answers here!

1. What magazines do you subscribe to?
I'm a magazine-a-holic, I just love them.  I get:
Vogue
Harper's Bazaar
Lucky
Self
Real Simple
InStyle
Health
Conde Nast Traveler
Marie Claire
Coastal Living
I think I'm forgetting some.  Luckily I get a bunch of these for free with airline miles so I'm not totally blowing the budget.

2. Do you watch any fashion TV shows?
I used to watch more than I do now.  I make sure to catch "The Rachel Zoe Project" when it's on and that's about it. 

3. Beyond blogs, what websites do you frequent for fashion inspiration?
Style.com, Vogue.com, Pinterest, various retailers sites.

4. Advertisements play a huge role in forming public opinion about a product or brand… what ads do you like and why?
Hmmm, one ad campaign that always stood out for me was the early 90's Donna Karan one with the model being sworn in as President.  (I've snapped some photos of these ads from my inspiration books since I couldn't find them online - will post later).  For ads out now, I always love a good Target ad and Bottega Veneta's ads.  Hermes print ads are nice, but I adore the fun illustrations they use on their emails and website - so cute!

5. Do you own any fashion books?
Um, yeah, lots - so many.  I blame this on my job because I do use these books a lot for inspiration, color, etc.  My favorites are Haute Couture, The Vogue History of 20th-Century Fashion (published in the late 1980's, this is where I saw my first Birkin - which was then referred to as a "large Kelly-bag". So basically a Birkin before it was a Birkin.), The Fashion Book, Fashion in Colors, Diana Vreeland.