xoxo

image source.

hello loves, i’m still here! well “here” meaning in spirit on the blog and in person probably somewhere driving around lost in kc, frantically shouting out addresses to siri in hopes that she’ll talk me through getting un-lost {which i’ll admit, she has been surprisingly good at… so thank you, siri, my new BFF}. many of you have asked how things are going. thank you so much for being the sweetest readers ever– it means more to me than you know. to answer your question in a nutshell: i’m adjusting and so far, so good. by nature i am not great with change, so it takes me longer to adapt than it might others. the good news is i am not regretting my career change and that says a lot. getting settled in a new city is a whole different story. my cousin megan has been kind enough to let her home be my home while i’m on the hunt for a place of my own, and i am extremely thankful for her warm hospitality. more on everything later, but in the meantime i wanted to remind you that while you’re relaxing this weekend, remember it’s also the time of year for legendary memorial day weekend sales {perfect timing to prep for summer}. here are some of my favorite sales for you to enjoy {i will not be participating due to my spending freeze… don’t ask. it’s too sad to think about.}

standard style: if you are local to kc, please come in and see us! we have amazing markdowns on shoes, dresses, tops, and accessories, and we have some of our designer collections at an additional 20% off. just a little reminder to shop local when possible! also, we don’t discriminate… there’s a sale for the men at baldwin too.

shopbop: great sale. some of my picks: McQ alexander mcqueen tote // belle by sigerson morrison daisy crisscross sandals // ash cool wedge sneakers // elizabeth and james vincent croc trim jacket // jean-michel cazabat evengelina ankle wrap pumps // joie marciel printed dress // mara hoffman cutout midi dress // milly mirrored python pencil skirt // nanette lepore 15 minutes dress // rebecca minkoff nilson sunset nylon skirt // tibi tuxedo blouse // rag & bone classic newbury booties with perforated panel.

piperlime: up to 40% off. some of my picks: jenni kayne shawl blazer // milly piped strappy dress // rebecca minkoff stone bomber jacket // rachel zoe jannis s/s sequin dress // trina turk slugger ponte jacket // kate spade new york vivien stripe dress // parker wide stripe top // tibi pleat skirt // tibi silk color block dress // vince suba leather jacket // trina turk breene dress.

j.crew: $30 off $150, $50 off $200, $75 off $250 using code SHOPNOW. some of my picks: keeper chambray shirt // collection cafe capri in single stripe // piped foulard shirt // vintage denim jacket // minnie pant.

nordstrom: half-yearly sale, up to 40% off. some of my picks: rag & bone lorie windowpane dress // 3.1 phillip lim silk t-shirt dress // helmut lang glossy twill bomber jacket // gryphon ex-boyfriend vest // halston heritage asymmetrical pleat dress // MSGM stripe tweed shift dress {don’t forget to explore shoes and bags too!}.

piper: if you are local to omaha, a little birdie told me that there will be a sale going on at my bestie’s boutique. go in and see her {and her adorable baby bump too!}.

enjoy your memorial day weekend!

xoxo

tutu: alexandra grecco / t-shirt: american apparel / boots: jean-michel cazabat / gloves: the ross bennett collection.

this announcement has been a long time coming, but the pieces have finally fallen into place. i’m taking a big leap of faith: leaving my legal career behind me after nearly four years to dive head-first into the fashion industry. i am so excited to say that i’ll be working for the coolest company around: standard style / baldwin in kansas city. it seems like a natural fit, and i can’t wait to get started. the bittersweet part is moving away from omaha for the first time {aside from lincoln for law school}, but i’m so blessed to have my family, friends, and miss sophie only a short drive away. i will officially be on the move to my new city on may 15th. i have every intention of keeping this little blog alive, as well as continuing to work as a freelance stylist. the best part is that omaha is just down the street {… or interstate} so i can easily come back into town for projects. if you would like something from standard style {who wouldn’t with brands like these?}, i’m your girl. and of course, if you’re in kansas city, please stop by and visit me! i may not be able to update the blog for a little while during this transition, so bear with me. i promise i will be back as soon as possible. in the meantime, you know where to find me on social media {links via the icons on the upper right-hand corner}. i truly cannot thank each and every one of you enough for your love, support, and encouragement. without you, the last chapter and the next chapter of my life journey would not have been possible. my dear omaha, you will always be home. i’ll be seeing you very soon.

xoxo

boots: hunter / dress: zara {old, similar here, here, or here} / shirt: gap {old, similar here} / socks: missoni for target / sunnies: target / jewelry: michael kors, j.crew, kate spade, banana republic {similar here} / lipstick: mac impassioned / nails: essie armed and ready.

we have had quite the rainy april here in the midwest, so my snake-print hunters i ordered while i was in new york for fashion week {my excuse was i “needed” them to get around the city during snowstorm nemo… but they didn’t quite make it to the hotel until after the worst of the snow} have proven to be very useful. in fact, i think the rest of my shoes were feeling pretty neglected all during the month of april, as i clearly showed favoritism to my hunters. in a matter of hours, the weather has gone from sunny to raining {even sleeting, hailing, or snowing} so these boots were my little lifesavers. on the day we took these photos, it was raining on the way into brunch but sunny on the way out. at least midwest weather is interesting, right? now that it’s finally turning into spring, i can appreciate it a bit more. now may, let’s see those flowers.

xoxo

source here

okay, okay… thanks to shelby of glitter and gingham, lacey of a lacey perspective, and meaghan of district sparkle who all tagged me in their “5 things” posts, i’m jumping on the bandwagon that has swept the blogging world. i do this a bit reluctantly because i try to keep my blog {fairly} focused on fashion… but i do enjoy learning random facts about my favorite bloggers so hopefully you don’t mind learning five random facts about me. if you already know me well, these five things probably won’t come as a surprise at all…

1. i’m a longtime dancer and a recent yogi. i have danced almost my entire life and to this day {at the old age of 28 in the dance world} i still take modern and ballet classes. dance has always been a form of expression for me, and i love communicating through movement. lately i am really getting into yoga. i am so fortunate to have supportive yoga communities to be a part of in omaha– i especially love one tree yoga for bikram and lotus house of yoga for all other types of yoga. it’s definitely therapeutic for me, mentally and physically, and i don’t know how i’d survive without it.

2. i’m a literature nerd and love literature-based films. i was an english major and while i don’t read as much classical american and british literature as i used to {meaning hardly at all}, i love seeing films made from these novels {like anna karenina, pride and prejudice, jane eyre…}. one of my very favorite novels is the great gatsby. i wrote quite a lot about it during my undergrad days, and i could talk for a long time about the character of nick carraway and his role as narrator so feel free to get me started on that topic if you’re a fellow lit nerd. obviously i cannot contain myself waiting for the remake to come out. baz luhrmann, you better have done f. scott fitzgerald proud.

3. i’m a lawyer. guilty as charged. specifically, i’m a judicial clerk, which means i don’t practice per say but rather i work for a judge. most of you probably know this already, but it’s always one of the most shocking facts to people who i meet in the fashion blogging and styling context. i usually get, “i don’t see you as a lawyer at all!” which i choose to take as a compliment. it’s no secret that law is not necessarily my passion {seriously, life would be much easier if it were} and i’m hoping that a career change is in my near future– but i have endless admiration for my lawyer friends who work so incredibly hard. i have to say, being a lawyer will always be a part of me. for example, i don’t like to lose an argument. look what you did, law school.

4. i dye my hair. but who doesn’t these days, right? my natural color is significantly lighter than my dark brunette. but i don’t have much choice, because i’m convinced law school started to turn my hair prematurely gray. again, thanks a lot law school. my hair stylist says that i’m often only one shade away from black, which i don’t quite believe– is it really that dark? for me the darker the better. you won’t see me as a blonde anytime soon. or sporting a grey streak a la stacy london {not brave enough for that, but i do admire how she rocks it}.

5. i’m a believer in serendipity/signs. one of my favorite movies has always been serendipity and not because it’s a cheesy christmastime movie, but because of the idea that life is full of fortunate accidents but there are also signs that point you on the right path. i do believe what’s meant to be will be, but you have to follow the signs along the way to get there. i also recently started reading my horoscope… and quickly decided that has to stop. i know my friends got really sick of me talking about mercury being in retrograde, the monster moon, etc. and i started to freak myself out preparing for the forecasted bad days. however, i have to say i’m a true gemini {both the good and the bad}… i’ll stop the over-sharing there.

whew, i made it through that! now you know a little more about me, for better or for worse. i hope you’ll still be my readers :)

xoxo

peplum top: tinley road // shirt: gap // denim: black orchid via piper // booties: jean-michel cazabat // bag: michael kors {similar here} // jewelry: kate spade, stella & dot, j.crew {similar here}, banana republic {similar here}, michael kors, j.crew // lipstick: mac impassioned.

happy monday my readers! it’s about time for an outfit post, don’t you think? just like everyone else, this season’s black and white trend is one that i can’t get enough of. to be perfectly honest, i sort of wish i gravitated toward color a bit more, but neutrals have always felt most me– there is no color that makes me feel more confident, comfortable and pulled together than black. the best thing about this trend is that it’s really not a trend at all, but a timeless color combination that can be interpreted in endless ways {there’s the grey area}. it’s a perfect way to set a neutral yet strong background scene for a specific element of your outfit to shine, for example a pair of shoes. on that note, please allow me to introduce my new babies, an end of season barney’s warehouse sale score: my jean-michel cazabat zoulu booties. maybe the only good thing about this less-than-springy weather we’re experiencing in omaha is the fact that i can wear these fall/winter boots for a while before they have to be tucked away until next season.

p.s. this peplum over button-down shirt combination was inspired by my friend lacey’s post here… must give inspiration credit where inspiration credit is due!

xoxo

photography: hooton images // makeup: lashes and love // hair: kontempo. // styling: sequined silver lining // wardrobe: piper // accessories: inez gill.

xoxo

spring jacket inspiration for this layering weather…

spring leather:
1. club monoco ramona jacket
2. rag & bone the jean jacket with leather sleeves
3. swildens itself leather jacket
4. zara leather jacket with ruffle detail
5. RD style pastel vegan leather moto jacket

patterns and prints:
1. maison scotch baseball fit retro jacket
2. zara rustic combination linen coat
3. free people trapeze prairie jacket
4. zara short jacquard cardigan
5. haute hippie dropped lapel blazer

military inspired:
1. rag & bone M15 moto jacket
2. zara combination leather parka
3. free people festival jacket
4. kelly wearstler ornamented linen jacket
5. maison scotch lightweight army jacket

ladylike pastels:
1. bb dakota adams sharp shoulder jacket
2. zara double-breasted linen jacket
3. alice + olivia tweed box jacket
4. addison rivington jacket
5. ark & co. emma blazer

happy spring!
xoxo

if you draw a line down the center, i’ve given you two options with 4 potential pairings within each side. if you take away the line, each dress goes with each jacket for a total of 16 different pairings. how’s that for math on a friday?

options for look 1
1) dress 1: diane von furstenberg jeannie leather combo dress: i adore this DVF fit and flare dress in pale leather, which is perfect for spring. this flattering silhouette feels edgy in leather, but white keeps it feminine, fresh, and seasonal. the black and white trend is all the rage but thankfully is also timeless. this is a staple investment piece that will truly never go out of style.
2) dress 2: alice + olivia leopard shift dress: for women who would prefer a shift dress as opposed to a fit and flare silhouette, this alice + olivia is a perfect staple with a flirty open back, ideal for day-to-night as the back can easily be covered up when paired with a jacket. the tweed fabric is certainly office appropriate. leopard is a neutral, and a great option if you’re ready to embrace a pattern because it will go well with so many items that are already in your closet.
3) jacket 1: joie danica b. leather jacket: quite possibly the perfect neutral leather jacket in a casual, sporty bomber fit. again, leather is a staple investment piece that you will wear forever. this jacket looks so striking when paired with black and white… or any other color or pattern for that matter.
4) jacket 2: joie carver basketweave blazer: for a slightly more formal office-appropriate option, this is a sophisticated tweed jacket. the frayed-edges give it a hand-constructed, more casual feel. this jacket can easily be worn open or closed, giving you even more variety. this is another piece that you will get so much use out of as it can be paired with everything from a dress to a t-shirt and denim.
5) jewelry: house of harlow 1960 double sunburst pendant necklace: a versatile option that looks great with nearly everything and can be worn multiple ways. the quintessential simple yet statement necklace.

options for look 2
1) dress 1: theory nikay b dress: such a flattering, playful, fit and flare dress in a classic stripe. stripes are a huge trend, but thankfully are also a classic way to bring parisian flare to your wardrobe. as you’d expect with theory, the cut and tailoring on this dress is superb and fashion-forward, with an unexpected drop seam in the back. another perfect day-to-night dress for spring and summer, which can even be layered in fall and winter.
2) dress 2: joie marciel printed dress: joie has given us some truly beautiful options for SS2013. this dress has a bit of a looser silhouette, which gives it a more casual vibe making it incredibly easy to wear. this dress will be the one you reach for first, since it’s just as appropriate for a stroll through the market as it is for a night out. the polka-dot print is subtle yet sophisticated. it’s a simple dress, but one that can be styled in so many ways.
3) jacket 1: nanette lepore bombtastic jacket. i am completely in love with the print of this statement jacket by nanette lepore. the bright foliage in spring hues with an unexpected subtle stripe on the back is definitely eye-catching. this jacket is excellent for the pattern-on-pattern beginner. it’s very romantic, but in a classic, tailored silhouette that is office-appropriate. even though it’s a statement piece, this jacket is surprisingly versatile.
4) jacket 2: joie empire silk bomber jacket: another gorgeous option from joie, in an on-trend pale mint julep hue. the silk fabric makes it more formal, and the bomber shape makes it casual– which results in a completely versatile option for your wardrobe. a soft, beautiful, unique piece that can go with anything from a formal dress to a t-shirt.
5) jewelry: house of harlow 1960 white sand sunburst stud earrings // house of harlow 1960 rid pebble cuff // house of harlow 1960 finespun cuff // house of harlow 1960 vertical sahara sand ring: house of harlow offers beautiful, timeless, delicate yet statement pieces that you will treasure for years to come. they are gorgeous without being loud, and have a precious feel. i love mixing yellow gold and rose gold– there’s really no need to “match” your jewelry. throw silver pieces in too if you want. these all look great together or individually.

i hope this gives you some styling ideas for day-to-night options this spring. the black and white trend is so easy to work with– just bring in some neutrals and patterns and you’re set. now all we need is spring weather, and we’re good to go. happy weekend!

xoxo

floral headband: c/o inez gill // dress: asos {similar here or here} // vest: skaist-taylor NM + target {similar here} // shoes: zara {old} {also love these or these} // bag: alexander wang // gloves: ross bennett collection // jewelry: j.crew {simlar here} // lips: mac rebel.

photos: lydia hudgens.

i’ve been dreading this post because that means it’s the end of my re-living NYFW through my blog. now i’m officially back to reality. like with all surreal experiences, i didn’t realize how life-changing NYFW was at the time and it’s only in retrospect that i truly appreciate it. no matter how many NYFW’s i attend in the future, i will never forget my first time. of course, there were moments that i was completely overwhelmed and wanted to break into tears {ok, and probably did… 10 days in NY doing IFB and all of NYFW is a LOT}, but those moments were absolutely, without a doubt worth it. not only did i get to witness the most inspiring, unbelievable fashion i have ever seen in person, but i learned so much about the fashion industry {and blogging in particular} than i could have any other way. i came away from the experience a stronger, more confident, more passionate person– and even more in love with fashion than i was before. added bonuses were falling in love with this city, and meeting some of the most memorable people i could have ever hoped for. so… this is not goodbye, just so long. i’ll be seeing you new york.

xoxo