Category Archives: spring

spring splurge: shopbop friends & family!

shopbop-friends-and-family

Well friends, I had a little #lifehack story planned for you today, but then this hit my inbox…and really, could I let a Shopbop friends & family go by? Of course not. So, life hack later…spring wardrobe now!

I’ve been on a shopping binge the likes of which my closet hasn’t seen in ages – I’m in one of those life phases when my closet just seems entirely, completely wrong all of a sudden. I’m ready for a serious wardrobe reboot, and I’m starting with more than a few of these:

Now, tell me what you’re buying, won’t you? My shopping itch still isn’t quite done being scratched.

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elsewhere: the tropical vacation edition

chaize

| Image via Christian Chaize |

Phew! One of those weeks, my friends…remind me to tell you the one about trying acupuncture for the first time and finding myself immobilized for two days. I guess I’d better stop calling it “hocus pocus nonsense” at this point.

But. In case the weather’s getting you down, I have a couple of pieces of news that might help you do a little tropical vacation daydreaming. First, I’ve updated my Maui travel guide after my most recent visit there earlier this year. It was amazing, as always, and I found loads of wonderful new things to tell you about! So, head right over here for that.

And since you’ll need something cute to wear, I also updated my 100% foolproof “How to Pack for a Tropical Vacation” story. New product links where necessary, and a couple of minor modifications, but honestly, this bad boy is tried and tested by me (and by a lot of you!), and every time I stray from this list, I regret it. Bookmark it and save yourself a whole lot of grief when you’re ready to hit the beach.

And because I’m starting to officially get the itch for spring, I’ve put a few of the newest things I’m dying to add to my cart on my Shop SMC page (since I’m still mad at Pinterest). Is it possible the fashion universe has finally heard my plea for grown-up hemlines? Check out all my current coveting there…and a few extras right here:

Have an absolutely wonderful weekend, friends. Do something special for yourself, would you? Take someone you love out to brunch, sit on a park bench and read a book, or open the “good” wine. You’ve earned it!

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currently coveting: midi skirts for spring

First of all, friends, I’m so sorry for being woefully delinquent a bit absent lately. If we’re pals on social media (oh, please say we are…a girl needs a little validation now and then), you’ll probably have gleaned that I have a pretty fantastic trip coming up in a couple of weeks. Paris and Florence! And truth be told, it sort of has my brain in a vice grip. I’m making packing lists (which I’ll be sharing), coordinating guests to hang out here while I’m gone, and trying to make sure I have my must-visit list of stores in order before I leave. So, just hang in there…your patience will be rewarded with loads of pretty pictures and some great travel guides, I promise.

For now, though, can we talk about how excited I am that midi skirts are in style this season? Not that I so much care about what’s “in style” if I love it and it looks good on me, but I very much care about what’s “available for purchase”, and if something’s in style, you can find it just about everywhere.

So, why the midi? Read on

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currently coveting: grayling jewelry’s spring collection

Every season, I swoon over the gorgeous gems my dear friend at Grayling Jewelry cooks up, but she launched her new spring line today, and she’s really outdone herself.

 grayling jewelry, grayling jewelry spring, portland jewelry designers, turquoise and gold jewelry, local designers, portland jewelry

I’m painfully torn between the Venus Necklace, which would go with absolutely everything:

venus necklace, grayling jewelry, via shopping's my cardio

And the newest incarnation of their classic Variability, this time in gold and turquoise, which is so lovely and versatile, I just can’t stand it!

variability necklace, grayling jewelry, via shopping's my cardio

What’s a girl to do but buy both?

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off the rack: the spring styles that actually made it into my closet

As I think you know by now, I’m a big believer in finding ways to make trends work for me, instead of having to change my wardrobe and comfort level to suit the trend. The truth is that I’m at that point in my life where I know what I’ll wear, what flatters me, and what belongs in my closet. And I worked hard to get here! Sure, I find a piece or two to push the envelope just a bit every season, but overall, running blindly after every trend that struts by just isn’t my thing.

To wit, I thought you’d like to take a peek at what I’ve actually been buying so far for spring. Ready for a little stroll through my closet? Read on

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cheap thrill: chevron maxi skirt

I’ve seen two different itinerations of this chevron maxi skirt in the last two days, and stopped in my tracks both times. (In fact, in one case, stalked the wearer across an entire shopping center. Not sketchy at all, right?) Fashion-stalking is always a sign something good’s happening.

Honestly, it’s a toss-up between these two options, the grey/black and the cream/black combo, though I’ll confess to generally raising my skeptical eyebrow (the left one, in case you were wondering) whenever something hails from Victoria’s Secret. But then again, they knock it out of the park occasionally, so who am I to judge?

Whichever road you choose, it’s a no-brainer to style, and a great piece to get mileage out of now but still be able to wear all summer. And it checks in at a very budget-friendly $60.

Victoria’s Secret foldover maxi, $58 / Hive & Honey foldover chevron maxi, $59
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off the rack: spring’s best tee

For all of you who loved the idea of that Eileen Fisher tee I was yammering on about last summer, but weren’t loving the oversized fit or the matching price tag, let me introduce what I think might be this spring’s best tee, from Calypso St. Barth:

Isabel v-neck & Jami crew neck tees, $65 each

It’s still not a bargain, but this is a tee I’ll live in, I can already tell. I nabbed one in navy yesterday, and am seriously considering heading back for a few backups while they’re on sale. It’s linen like the EF tee I love (I am fast becoming the world’s leading evangelist of linen tees), but with a considerably more trim (yet still relaxed) cut. It comes in a crew or v-neck style and a rainbow of colors, and clocks in at $65, a steal compared to its pricier big sister.

Oh, and if you want to buy yourself a whole drawer full, do it before 3.31 – they’re doing a spend/save promo that will get you $50 off $200. Use code SPR2013FB online, or show this coupon in-store.

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this just in: equinox steals at cardigan

I love a parade sale. Almost as much as I love the siren song that is the spring equinox! So when my lovelies at Cardigan by Lynne Hiriak emailed to let me know that all of their newest women’s sweaters are 50% off today in celebration of the advent of spring, how could I possibly keep it to myself?

Sorry, what were you saying? I was busy frantically hitting “add to cart” on that fantastic Blythe tunic. Is it too much to buy it in all 3 colors?

Use code CHIQUINOX through Sunday 3.24 to score this killer deal!

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