Sometimes the universe brings people into your life and you know you were destined to be soul sisters. That's how it was when I first met Ali Galgano, founder of the dazzling multi-brand e-commerce jewel box, Charm & Chain.
Read MoreA good friend of mine recently said to me, “I really feel like lately you’ve just come into your own style.” I took this as a huge compliment. I’ve always been a bit of a chameleon, both in style and in life. Not that I would ever categorize myself as a conformist , but I tend to take inspiration from my surroundings and then meld with them in my own way. I definitely fell into the trap of blindly following trends around me at times and wore things that I really didn’t connect with (boring Banana Republic ensembles in high school, hipster Nike dunks in college, and ill-fitting jean skirts when I was living in Jerusalem all come to mind). I think it took me a long time to really get comfortable in my own skin and develop confidence with my own sense of personal stye. I know my style will continue to evolve, but I've realized that if I feel like myself when I wear something, that’s the most important thing. Fashion should never be about "fitting in"--it's about being honest with yourself about what you love and feel good in. What message do you want to send with your style?
Growing up, I never aspired to have a career in fashion, but it has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a person who thrives on creativity and artistic expression, I love to use my clothes and accessories as a way to reflect my mood or my current inspiration. I think the reason I gravitate towards bolder styles and excessive accessories is because I feel most confident when I connect to my inner performer. I spent my formative years singing on a weekly country music show and pursued my music throughout college. I always felt most at home on stage, entertaining an audience. I loved the music, but I think I loved the performance aspect even more. I feel like in a way, I treat each outfit I create as a performance. It is such a satisfying feeling when the clothes and accessories come together in a perfect harmony.
Jacket: Spell & The Gypsy Collective, Top: Reformation, Jeans: H&M, Bag: Vintage, Flowers: Forever 21, Long Earring: Zara, Double Ear Stud: Nasty Gal, Shoes: Gucci via AMUZE
Photography: Geremy Dubensky
I spent the past few days in Seattle with my husband. He had a conference there for work, so after my mom graciously offered to babysit, I jumped at the chance to tag along! I can't even remember the last time I spent so much time alone and it was amazing. I'm sure my fellow mamas can relate. Normally an uber ride to and from work (where I'm likely working from my phone) is the only "me" time I get. There's always something that needs to be worked on or some cutie tugging at my leg. I LOVE the hustle and bustle of my life, but I'll relish any moment of peace I get!
Because the hubs was busy with his conference, I enjoyed visiting the breathtaking Chihuly Gardens, exploring Pike Place Market (including a visit to the world's first Starbucks), a bit of shopping (found the best jeans at Abercrombie--who knew!?), catching up with a couple of old friends, and lastly and most importantly, eating take-out Chinese in my hotel robe while watching Fifty Shades of Grey on PayPerView. #BLESSED. Now we're headed to LA for a couple meetings, a little more relaxation, and to visit family and friends. Keep up with me on Instagram for the play-by-play!
These photos were taken at Kerry Park. It was amazing to see a panoramic view of beautiful Seattle. This outfit feels so 1970 Ali MacGraw. As you probably know by now, I live for a retro chic moment. This fabulous boho dress is a brand new addition to my closet. I love an easy-breezy dress to toss on and dress up or down with accessories. This frock is BCBG via Bandits Of Colour, a great private selection of discounted designer pieces based out of Brooklyn. Contact BanditsOfColour@gmail.com for shopping inquiries.
Dress: BCBG via Bandits of Colour, Hat: Forever 21, Gladiator Sandals: Penny Loves Kenny, Necklace: Erickson Beamon (e-mail me ExcessoriesExpert@gmail.com to purchase), Clutch: The Daily Shoppe (available soon!)
Like most New Yorkers, I am ready to come out of a winter hibernation filled with binge watching and binge eating to rediscover all the places I love in this city. A wonderful way to welcome warmer days is to head downtown for an afternoon in SoHo. I love the European feel of the cobblestone on Wooster Street.
In case you couldn't tell, I now think I am a cast member of That 70's Show and have zero plans to dress in any way that could not be described as "groovy." I am grateful for the return of the chunky-heeled platform, because these streets aren't exactly stiletto-friendly. A turtleneck is a great tool for layering on a breezy spring day that doesn't quite call for a jacket. I love the way a black or white turtleneck looks under almost anything from a chambray shirt to a slip dress or as seen here, with a retro crochet vest. Because your legs are arguably spring's most important accessory, make sure to invest in some self-tanner (I am a fan of Jergens Natural Glow) as those stems make their return to public.
This particular day was the last day of my rental period with this gorgeous, satin, embellished Chanel bag from Fashion Curated. I made sure to get a ton of mileage out of those special, 7 days, wearing the bag with just about every outfit throughout the week. I think it is a misconception that an "evening bag" should only be worn in the evening. Pairing a glamorous bag with a casual, day look makes a chic statement! Added bonus? You don't have to keep switching your wallet, keys, and lipstick back and forth to different purses if you're only using one! Get $25 off when you reserve a Chanel bag on Fashion Curated now through April 30th by using the promo code Excessories$25 at checkout. You can make your reservation up to 6 months ahead, so make sure to include something gorgeous from the Fashion Curated gallery when you plan your looks for your summer getaway.
Bag: Chanel via Fashion Curated, Top: Glamorous Crochet Knitted Vest, Turtleneck: Junee, Skirt: ASOS Suede A-Line Skirt, Bracelet: Stanmore Maya Ball Cuff, Hat: ASOS Felt Fedora with Sun and Moon Trim, Boots: H by Halston (from the archives of my closet), Earrings: Marlyn Schiff Drop Fringe Earring
I never really got into the whole music festival scene and now that I have kids, that ship has really sailed. In any case, I love to dream up tribal-inspired outfits that I would wear to Coachella... and then I wear them to D'agostino to buy apple juice boxes.
I nearly passed out the first time I saw this neon, hand-embroidered shearling Pia Pauro vest. Can you say excessive? After repeatedly ogling it at my office at Showroom Seven, I finally had to make it mine. You may or may not remember my recent post on the embroidered vest as a seasonal must-have. A statement vest is a great way to amp up a casual, everyday look, like this denim-on-denim ensemble. Vests are also great to layer under or over coats for those extra cold winter days.
I accessorized with a hand-painted vintage leather purse that I found at a swap meet in Chelsea my junior year of college. The purse really brings out the tribal vibe of the vest. While I love "theme" dressing, mixing vintage pieces with modern ones is a good way to keep a look fresh. As if the vest weren't bright enough, I added a neon Erickson Beamon necklace...a dash of J. Lo in the Joni Mitchell, you know?
As I was shooting these photos, a woman asked if I chose the location because of the architecture. I told her yes and she asked if I knew the history of the building. Turns out the backdrop for this Navajo-inspired post was a building that formerly housed thousands of Native Americans in the early 1900s. Wowsers.
Vest: Pia Pauro, Shirt: Zara, Jeans: ASOS, Sunnies: Ray-Ban, Necklace and Rings: Erickson Beamon (similar necklace here) , Bag: Vintage (similar here), Booties: Zara
