Luxe Essentials

Being a woman is difficult. Aside from having to birth children and remembering to shave our legs, the fashion world is constanly changing on us. There are  always new crazes people veer to and rules about what you should or shouldn't wear ( although, I think it's important to never follow and always break the rules). How's a girl to keep up?! The best way to try and get a handle and feel confident in your wardobe, is to make sure you have some wonderful luxe essentials. It's true, clothes, shoes and everything else you need can be expensive but if you make sure to spend the appropriate amount of money on a few great quality items, they will last you a long while. Even though these are luxe, all of these essentials are under $250!



Here are four absolutely indispensable items worthy of your hard-earned money:



1. Leather Jacket

Leather jackets ( or vegan leather!) are fantastic . They add an edge to any and every outfit and can be thrown atop anything. I have had my leather jacket for five years now  and it has gotten even better with age. The black leather has withstood everything I've deemed to put it through over the years, and I'm sure once you  indulge in a nice one it will do the same. There are many options these days: hooded, quilted, bike, navy, black ,white but whatever you choose make sure you truly love it so you can wear it in perfectly and have it for years.

Here are some options to get you shopping:

From top left: 1--2--3--4--5





2. Heels

Whether it's a classic black pump or strappy heels almost too gorgeous to wear, it's imperative you have a perfect , (somewhat)comfortable pair of heels you can always rely on to complete any outfit. The brands I love to treat myself to are Sam Edelman and Dolce Vita. I can always rely on them to come out with superior quality, stylish, leather heels or wedges all for a great price. Sidenote: I am usually lucky enough to find these brands at nordstrom rack or on amazon on sale! There are two essential rules you need to know before investing in a fabulous new pair of shoes. First and foremost is to make sure you will wear them a lot and can integrate them smoothly into your wardrobe. Secondly ( and most importantly) you must know how to walk in them. Practice walking around in your room if need be. There is nothing worse than seeing someone walking like a teetering drunk because they do not know how to properly walk in heels.

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3. Jeans

I am a self proclaimed jean whore. I absolutely love treating myself to a great new pair of jeans. There 100% is a difference between premium denim and jeans from American Eagle, and if you don't know the difference fork over about $165 and trust me, you will not regret it. Premium, well-made denim, conforms to your body and molds itself to you for a flattering, comfortable fit. As previously stated in this blog, my favorite brand is rag & bone. They fit my body like  a glove. Every season, they come out with new washes but my favorite are their classics. The high-rise in heritage which is a dark inky blue and in coal. I cannot recommend them enough. I also wear and love 7 for all mankind and J Brand jeans. Before investing in a pair (they are pricey!) go try on a lot of brands at a department store like Bloomingdales, to find a brand and wash you truly love.



Here are some of my personal recommendations to get you started. I own and love all of these jeans:

rag&bone coal

rag&bone heritage

7 for all mankind the Skinny in Rinsed Indigo

J Brand mid-rise Dark Vintage

4. The Perfect Bag

Whether it's a cross-body, satchel or backpack, owning a great bag is imperative to your everyday life. What else will you carry your stuff in?! Carrying your wallet, phone, etc adds up to a lot of things you need so having a functional, and great looking bag is essential. I wear a purse whenever I go anywhere and if you do the same , it's worth spending a little more to have the right size and quality bag that you love and will use frequently.

Topshop Holdall

Cambridge Satchel in Mint

Banana Republic Statement Saddle Bag

Vince Camuto Janet Bag

What are your luxe essentials? Let me know in the comments! 

Sales You Need to Shop

Sales are a constant online which is unfortunate for my credit card but great for my closet. Here are some great sales you should shop right now:



ZARA

Who doesn't love Zara? They have classic, well-made pieces along with the latest styles of the season.

Here are some of my favorite pieces from the sale:









It may be almost fall but there are still a few more warm days left for these adorable high waisted shorts.
















This sea green top is cut in a flattering shape and at only $10 how can you not buy it?

This floral printed camisole is a steal at $10 and has a gorgeous low back perfect for date nights!







This oversize sweater is guaranteed to make you feel cozy and warm on cool fall nights.















H&M

H&M is having a great sale with a mixture of summer and fall pieces. There are tons of fantastic items to buy right now like the perfect striped sweater and a great high necked black lace dress. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. Knit Tennis Top

                    2. Perfect Striped Sweater

3. Navy Shirt

4. Silk Cami

                     5. Fluffy Cardigan

6. Coral Summer Dress

                        7. Black Lace Dress

                      8. Black and White Jacket

                                     










Nordstrom Rack

Nordstrom Rack is one of my favorite stores. They always have amazing deals from clothes to shoes to accessories. This summer, they added an online store so people like me can never stop shopping. They always have tons of items on sale including a  fantastic shoe collection which is now online! Buying shoes online can be tricky but Nordstrom Rack offers free shipping and returns to help you find the perfect size. Here are some gorgeous shoes on sale now:



1. Sam Edelman Strappy Sandals

2. Vince Camuto Oxfords

3. Dolce Vita Sandals

4. Sol Sana Sandals

5. DV by Dolce Vita Boots

6. Nine West Caged Sandals

7. Joe's Leather Bootie





Will you be gettung any of these items for your wardrobe? Let me know in the comments!


Happy Shopping!

Neon: Too Bright or Just Right?

Neon is a trend that does not seem to be going away anytime soon. There are numerous ways to wear neon: orange, pink, day-glow yellow, green and blue are the go to colors. Whether you wear a full on neon outfit such as a dress or add a pop of color with a purse, your nails or a blazer, please make sure you're doing it right. You don't want to blind anyone with your outfit!

Here are some celebrities who have done it right:

Millie Mackintosh (an unfairly gorgeous reality star from England) is rocking two trends in this photo although it's hard to tell. What appears at first glance to be a neon dress is actually yet another matching outfit. I love it. The mash up of prints helps tones down the different neon colors. Take note: When wearing a full on neon outfit make sure to pair it with subtle accessories like Millie. Her black sandals, barely there jewelry and clear clutch (pretend you didn't see that aspect) go perfectly.

Eva Longoria looks amazing in neon! Who doesn't love her?! I know some people balk at the thought of watching Desperate Housewives, but if you haven't watched it stop reading and go start right now. It should be everyone's guilty pleasure show. Eva has worn tons of neon over the years and judging from these outfits, pink is her favorite which is perfect because she looks fantastic in it!The pink looks great with her tan skin. All three looks here showcase the dress which all happen to be bright shades of pink. However, just like Millie, Eva softens the pink with simple heels in neutral tones and little to no accessories. Her makeup is also not too overdone which is always important. You want people to stare at your actual face, not just how much eyeliner you swiped on that day.

Here is the always classy Emma Stone (one of my style favorites!).  You may be thinking where is her neon? Take a glance at her shoes. This is the perfect way to add a pop of color ( in Emma's case, neon blue) to your outfit. She is wearing the Aquazzura Positano pumps. Her outfit is neutrals of grey and black which makes the shoes a nice surprise and an added bonus to a nice work or dinner outfit. Also, love the new hair cut Emma!

Here are some people who are just too bright to be out in the streets:

Jennifer Lopez, I love you but what is going on here?! I am a huge J- Lo fan and jealous of her aging backwards skills, but this is not a good look. While the color looks amazing on her, it's too much pink and it makes her look like a highlighter. If she was just wearing the top or maybe the pants ( not a huge fan but to each their own) the outfit would be considerably better. I do give her props for trying to tone it down with nude pumps and makeup. And how fantastic is that ponytail?! 

Don't worry, I still love you J-Lo.

Ahh! My eyes! Hopefully your eyes are also burning at this heinous outfit Kim Kardashian was once spotted in. From head to toe it is just too much. In my opinion, Kim tends to wear things that are too tight and look uncomfortable, so it is nice to see her in something flowy, I just wish it wasn't this. The yellow is okay but the waistline of the dress falls weird on her and no one, even Seinfeld should wear puffy sleeves anymore. In addition to her dress, Kim added some royal blue extremely chunky heels. We all know a chunky heel is easier to walk in but it should look like one. This shoe looks like a cross between a wedge and a chunky heel and it makes her legs look shorter because of its bulk. I think if Kim had worn her hair down and not so tightly pulled back and some neutral shoes, this outfit could be a teensy tiny bit better.

Rita Ora, this outfit is not suitable for public consumption. What were you thinking? First of all, sweatpants are not to be worn as part of an outfit unless you are going to and from the gym or pregnant( you are birthing a child, wear whatever!). This outfit could have been leagues better if she was wearing skinny jeans instead. I don't understand why there are weird patches where her knees are, what purpose do those serve? Those gorgeous studded Louboutin pumps were made for a fantastic outfit, not a sweat suit. Christian would be ashamed of what you are wearing with his shoes.Be better than this neon sweat suit Rita, you can do it.

Here are some ways you can incorporate neon into your life without blinding your friends and co-workers:

  

Essie: Chills and Thrills polish
Adorable and affordable Forever dresses: Dress 1  Dress 2


Cute little makeup bag that can be turned into a clutch. Thanks H&M!

The always classic Converse have even gotten into neon. These dove grey sneakers have a subtle yellow lining that can barely be seen but if you want, you can roll down the shoes to show it.
Bonus: They are only $34.97 on  Hautelook right now! They can also be found on the Converse site.


What do you think about neon? Do you like a full on outfit like Eva Longoria's? Or a subtle neon touch like Emma Stone's? Let me know in the comments!