Oh how time flies…I can’t believe Christmas is just a week away! Decorations are up, presents are wrapped, groceries have been bought + I am ready for a relaxing and festive week with family to lead into an exciting 2020.!
Whether you are keeping the holidays low key or going all out, this is one of my favorite times of year to reflect on everything that happened over the past year and think ahead to what will make the next year to come even better.
One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the festive apparel…green and red will forever be my favorite holiday color scheme + every time I put it on I instantly feel holiday cheer!
It’s funny usually the holidays seem more magical and festive when you are a kid as opposed to being an adult but over the past few years, the holidays have always been magical for my boyfriend and I. We are super into decorating, venturing out to see local Christmas lights + shows, seeing Disneyland decorated for the holidays + watching every holiday cooking show Hulu has to offer haha :p
One of the parts I love most about the holidays is the time to be close to family and enjoy traditions. Something I learned over the years is that those moments occasionally change as you enter different stages of your life. The holidays with my family were nice but the holidays with my boyfriend are even more joyous and we create our own traditions that we can’t wait to pass down to our family one day…crazy to think but it’s what makes the holidays even more exciting!
Are you excited for the upcoming holidays? What are your Christmas traditions?
I didn’t think it would be possible to combine some of my summer favorites into fall but…I did it. I love wearing pastel hues year round (dark colors aren’t really my thing…they have their time and place don’t get me wrong but right now…I am loving some lighter colors to embrace the fall season so here we are! I am loving this dress from Red Dress boutique and ladies you must get it! It comes in a variety of colors and it fits pretty true to size – plus you can style it a variety of ways season to season.
I styled this dress with a white Gucci belt. I searched high + low for this beauty and finally scored it from MyTheresa! I discovered MyTheresa and instantly fell in love because there is FREE shipping and NO TAX since they are based in UK.
I also tied the look together with the trendy hairband of the moment…pearl ones! I stocked up on these ones from Amazon + they are great to style with any look so I bought them in every color to mix and match.
I am OBSESSED with this floral Gucci bag. I scored it on major discount and have been wearing it ever since. It’s a great size and with the pop of floral it makes it a great bag to make a statement with whatever look you are wearing. In terms of an investment, this bag is definitely worth it since it is sturdy and amazing quality!
I have been on the hunt for white boots and I finally found some cute ones with this pair. If you are still on the hunt for great fall boots, be sure to check out my Fall Boot Guide HERE.
If ya’ll know anything about me, you know I LOVE some good designer goodies. Ever since I was a teenager, I began my handbag obsession, saving up for designer bags like Gucci, Dior, LV etc + as I got older I moved on to Chanel, Hermes + more. Recently I have been also stocking up on designer shoes like Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Stuart Weitzman + more. While I love designer must-haves, I learned that sometimes buying brand new in store isn’t the most cost effective so I am sharing my secrets with ya here!
First up, SHOES! So I have scored tons of designer heels, boots + more all for 40% Off or MORE! How?? Easy, research baby. I search the SALE section of my favorite sites that have all the designers I love + keep an eye out for certain styles I am lusting after or staple pieces I can interchange with various outfits etc. I found that investing in classic pumps, sandals etc that are nicely constructed really last a while PLUS they are easily repaired from your local shoemaker or one of my go-to shoe + handbag magicians, PurseRehab! They can fix ANYTHING! From resoling your shoes to fixing fabric damage, stains etc…such a must-have if you are a designer lover like me so you don’t worry about messing up your higher end pieces.
While certain staples like the Manolo Blahnik Hangsi Pump may not go on sale brand new from certain retailers, a great option is to search for them ‘New with Tags‘ from eBay Fashion, Poshmark, Yoogi’s Closet, FashionPhile, The Real Real + more! These second hand retailers often have shoes + bags in MINT condition and you can usually save on shipping, tax or snag them under current retail price AND they are all GUARANTEED AUTHENTIC (make sure you 100% verify the seller)!
When it comes to buying second hand designer goods here are some things I look for:
Box, Authenticity Card / Papers, Dust Bag
(these are helpful to verifying the shoes or bag are REAL + AUTHENTIC, plus they are helpful when going to resell in the future if that is something you are interested in doing)
Condition
(examine the photos very carefully, look for discoloration, damaged threading, piping etc, marks, tears etc…while these aren’t deal breakers, they do contribute to quality factor however you may be able to use these hiccups to your advantage + simply go to a place like PurseRehab to repair those issues at a relatively low cost making the items look BRAND NEW for less!)
Compare Costs
(just because you find a Chanel for a killer price doesn’t mean that is the best deal out there, search the serial number of the item – any reputable seller should have that or the full product name for you to do a quick search + compare pricing, condition etc from other sellers)
Whether you are searching for brand new pieces at a trustee retailer like Net-A-Porter, Saks Off Fifth etc or want to score a deal at a second hand luxury site, either way you are sure to find some amazing + unique finds at a fraction of the retail cost, perfect for avid collectors or first time buyers if you are trying to save a little!
Guys, I am a girly girl at heart. I love a feminine moment, a flowy dress, chic pumps, diamonds, glitter + most of all? TULLE! My struggle? Wearing tulle as a grown woman without looking like I am heading my my own ballet recital haha While I embrace being a kid at heart quite often (especially at Disney hehe :p) for everyday life, work, special occasions etc, I try to keep my inner kid in check + be a boss babe. Since I love wearing tulle but don’t want to look too childish I set out on a mission to make tulle chic by styling it with the right extras + I think I nailed it! Breaking it down below ♥
I love this tulle dress. It is so versatile to style for special occasions like parties, date nights + more but I always felt it wasn’t a dress to wear everyday but that all changed when I styled it a little differently.
I paired this tulle dress with a moto jacket, think ballerina after hours hehe :p I tied the look together with a Gucci pearl belt because why not, right?!
You can never go wrong with adding this Gucci belt and moto jacket to your wardrobe. You can intermix these pieces so many ways + they are just so fun to wear!
I always love a good bag + this Gucci mini bag is perfect for any occasion. May look small, but it fits EVERYTHING you need for a night out!
If you are still looking for the perfect bag to invest in, this is definitely a great one to start with.
As for my shoes you can never go wrong with a signature pair of black patent leather pumps like these.
I hope ya’ll are having a happy + healthy 4th! We are BBQing, hanging by the pool + heading out to watch some fireworks later on this evening (honestly fireworks is my favorite part of the 4th of July besides celebrating America’s independence + birth of this great country hehe :p). Isn’t it crazy to think this amazing country all started on this date in 1776 with the Declaration Of Independence? I don’t know about you but I am a little bit of a history nerd + thinking back to what made America America is beyond cool. We have come such a long way, accomplished so much + have really made America the country everyone wants to be apart of which makes me proud to be an American each + everyday!
I love this country. I love everything about America. The ability to accomplish your goals, make your dreams come true + be whoever you want to be without anyone telling you what you can or can’t do. It’s the country of the entrepreneur, the hard worker, the patriot + the go getter.
To celebrate America’s Birthday, I opted for a fun red, white + blue patriotic look starring this fun American Flag tee from Pink Lily boutique (I’ve been loving their patriotic collection lately). I paired it with a simple red skater skirt from Amazon, this skirt is so flattering + comes in so many fun colors!
I accessorized with a fun red bow headband, I have been loving headbands lately + rounded up some of my favorite hair accessoriesHERE (ICYMI hehe :p)
My bag is a red Gucci because I am all about collecting investment bags that have a POP of color. I have been collecting neutral designer bags for years so now is finally time to add some pretty colors to the collection like red, blue, pink, yellow + more! I rounded up various red Gucci bags below since my current style is no longer available.
For my heels I had to add a little BLUE to this ensemble with these blue ankle strap heels. I love a chunky heel + any shoe that adds some color to any outfit. Just a great pair of heels to brighten up any outfit for work or play.
