Tag Archives: alexis bittar

nordstrom anniversary sale: my haul

Psst…Looking for details on the 2017 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale? I’ve got the scoop right here. |

Haul collage
Trina Turk coat | Halogen urban sketch tee | Pure Amici cardigan
Franco Sarto boots | Freida Rothman earrings | C.O. Bigelow rose salve | Deborah Lippmann Polishes

Well friends, my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale haul this year was…um, injurious. Mostly to my UPS driver, who undoubtedly has some serious back issues after lugging this stack of boxes up my stairs. (And there are more scheduled to arrive tomorrow. This is why I shouldn’t shop after wine.)

Since the Sale officially opens tomorrow morning (technically, that’s tonight at 12:01 AM Pacific for you night owls/diehards), I thought now was the perfect time to give you my rundown of the best (and worst) of my haul this year! Read on

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what a stud: 12 stud earrings perfect for summer

Statement earrings have been around for so very, very long, and my ears are ready for a break. This summer, I’m feeling the urge to regress – all the way back to stud earrings. Remember those? They’re perfect for warm weather, of course: no muss, no fuss, and no aching earlobes at the end of the night. And I don’t know about you, but when the temperature climbs, I’m spending 80% of my time with my hair in a ponytail, a situation in which those big dangly earrings simply will not do.

The trick, of course, is to keep it more edgy than twee, or you risk channeling your 8-year-old niece or your 80-year-old grandmother. I’ve been on a mad hunt for the perfect studs this summer, and I’ve found a few that hit my sartorial sweet spot (without breaking the bank). Read on

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currently coveting: alexis bittar necklaces

I’m bored to tears by my jewelry box this week, friends…it needs some shaking up. And honestly, the only reason I haven’t already nabbed myself one of these Alexis Bittar necklaces is that I just can’t make up my mind.

Alexis Bittar Necklaces, via shopping's my cardio

Trapezoid Necklace / Miss Havisham Collar Necklace Rose Gold Station Necklace

Which is your favorite?

{PS…even more lovely Alexis Bittar picks over on Shop SMC}

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steals & deals around the web

A few lovely little markdowns have crossed my path this morning, friends…thought you’d want a heads-up.

Any killer deals on your radar today? Share with the class!

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trend to try: boho glam

{Editor’s Note: Erin’s back with a look at one of the trickiest trends there is: boho. How to pull it off without looking like a hippie schlub? It’s a tricky business. The key is to glam it up and be wary of proportions, and Erin’s got a can’t-miss strategy to make it work for anyone…yes, even you.}

Altuzurra, via Style.com / Rachel Zoe, via Style.com / Hermes, via Style.com

Erin ~ The bohemian, free-spirited look is shown so often that it has become less of a trend and more of a type of style. However, this season has a little twist on the classic flower child look. It’s a little less Woodstock and a little more wealthy gypsy with a dash of urban sophistication. The look is characterized by rich leather, fur (faux or real), layers of luxe fabrics, and gold accessories. This is definitely a look for maximalists, so don’t be shy with the layers or the accessories!

For the weekend, start with a maxi dress in an autumnal palette. This is a great way to stretch your wardrobe and bring some of those summer sundresses into fall. A long necklace and patterned scarf bring in a bit of happy chaos to give that bohemian feel. Heeled booties lend the outfit a bit of urban edge and the tweed blazer adds polish and texture to make the look feel current.

Modern Lit Lecturer Blazer, Modcloth, $45 / Harness Heel Boot, Dolcetta by Dolce Vita, $98 / Plaid Shirt Scarf, Free People, $48 / Crystal Spear Necklace, Alexis Bittar, $155 / Paisley Maxi Dress, Eighty Sixty, $99

To take the boho look from 9 to 5, try pairing contrasting textures of rich fabrics. Gold jacquard pants contrast with a silky blouse, and the small diamond pattern plays well with a simple feather print, creating a harmonious mix of textures and patterns. Layer a black vest and bangles over everything to bring the outfit together and add an extra dose of boho cool. I personally love the look of cropped pants over a calf height boot or ankle booties, but this look would work equally well with a wedge heel or a classic black pump.

Darling Elizabeth Tunic, ASOS, $60 / Trinity Gold Jacquard Cigarette Pants, Reiss, $265 / Mighty Black Leather Zip Boots, Topshop, $90 / Sleeveless Wool Vest, Lord & Taylor, $60 / Art Deco Bangles, Tinley Road, $18

Lastly, for a night out, pair a jewel-tone dress (merlot is particularly on trend for fall) with a fur vest. A pair of chandelier earrings adds a touch of gypsy glimmer; after all, it is a girls’ night out. Tassels and fringe are standard for a boho look, but instead of a predictable pair of fringe boots or a bag, add just a touch with a tasseled skinny belt and keep the boots classic for a more sophisticated look.


Tassle Hem Faux Fur Gilet, Topshop, $110 / Timber Jersey Dress, French Connection, $138 / Emina Boot, Libby Edelman, $127 / Gala Chandelier Earring, Banana Republic, $45 / Skinny Waist Belt with Tassel, BCBGeneration, $24

This trend is a great way to get some extra mileage from your closet by making unexpected pairings. Mix glamorous, special pieces with your casual weekend wear, mix patterns and textures, combine floaty summer pieces with heavier fall clothes, and when in doubt, always layer on one more thing!

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all in the details: alexis bittar wafer earrings

{Editor’s Note: Kate knows what I like. Those earrings! That tunic! I’m obsessed. Sadly, I better move fast – the earrings are selling out everywhere!}

Understated, but striking if you take a second look. Occasionally this is how I think accessories should best be described. It’s a conclusion that I came to when I was recently chatting about the addition of a couple of Alexis Bittar pieces to my own collection over on AnonymousChic. These  white and gold wafer earrings from Alexis Bittar caught my eye, and certainly fit the bill when it comes to being characterized as light and chic.

Gold Wafer Earring, Alexis Bittar, $150

These earrings are simply stylish, and still stunning – a way to heighten the look of an outfit without going overboard. They tread the line between casual (the colour and hammered gold) and dressy, which gives the impression of having put in a little extra effort.

Given the classic style of the earrings, I would either mimic the simplicity (white button-down and jeans) or use them to counter a print. In this instance, I’ve opted for a neutral printed tie-waist tunic from Tory Burch paired with easy navy shorts. Once autumn arrives, swap the shorts for slim cut navy pants or skinny jeans for a seamless transition. When wearing patterns let the colours influence the remainder of the outfit – picking up on accent tones (navy and white) or the base colour of the print (a deep blush-nude taupe tone).

Hana Tunic, Tory Burch, $295 / Cotton Stretch Shorts, Brooks Brothers, $49

The rest of the details should play into similar tones, colour palettes, and style (both in terms of the pattern of the tunic and the simplicity of the earrings), creating a cohesive theme. When pairing accessories with a longer earring, skip the necklace and use one bold item on the wrists.  Start with oversized sunglasses, and then pair a gold watch with a navy bracelet. Use basic nude flats to ground the outfit, and a structured bag to balance to balance the casual nature. If you’re really feeling like highlighting these excellent earrings, pull your hair up into a messy ponytail, otherwise refined beachy waves will keep the outfit from looking overdone.

Oversized Sunglasses, Michael Kors, $66 / Gramercy Crystal Watch, Kate Spade, $250 / Medium Crystal Detail Bangle, Sequin, $28 / Shirley Flat, Elie Tahari, $195 / Classic Satchel, Cambridge Satchel Company, $120

This tunic would always look great, as it’s a well-designed and interesting piece all on its own. What takes it from being a great top, to being an all-together stylish outfit is how the rest of the pieces complement it. Often with style, it’s all in the details.  ~ Kate

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friday finds: mother’s day edition

this year has been a little tricky for mother’s day gifts for me.  with my nana gone, i’ve been trying to come up with something extra special for my mom this year. and while i did come up with something i think she’ll love (can’t tell, of course…it would ruin the surprise!), i thought i’d share my runner-up ideas with all of you!

Picture 20

as i said, i’ve been a little bit more sentimental than usual about moms this year, so i loved the idea behind this book before i even saw it.  photographer jeannette montgomery barron decided to share her memories about her mom by photographing some of her most memorable outfits and using them to tell the story of her mom’s life, and the result is my mother’s clothes.  it’s incredibly touching, and the photos are beautiful.  i imagine giving this to my mom with a photo of her stylish self pasted into the front.

if your mom leans more heavily toward the martha stewart side of things, jo malone’s candle collaboration with farrow & ball is absolutely sure to be a hit.  they’ve paired their five most popular fragrances with limited edition containers from the famed paint company, and the result is a candle that looks utterly perfect and smells divine.  my favorite is the lime basil & mandarin, but pomegranate noir is also pretty wonderful.

alexis bittar is offering to personally sign a piece of jewelry for your mom this year, if you buy from their website by may 4 (include code ‘LOVEMOM’ and her name in the comments when you check out).  their signature lucite bangles are so perfectly timeless and chic, they’ll be the perfect update to her wardrobe, no matter what her style. and prices start at $55, so you should be able to grab something on most any budget.  the styles i’ve pictured above are my personal favorites for mom…clockwise from left, buy them herehere and here.

while i was out shopping with my dear friend jocelyn when she was in town last weekend, i came across this moleskine recipe journal ($20), and my heart skipped a beat.  it would be perfect for anyone that loves to cook and experiment, but what a perfect gift for your culinarily-inclined mom!  now she can write down all of her “top secret” recipes for you, and tape all of those recipes she’s torn from magazines and newspapers to the pages.

if you’re set on sending flowers (and really, what mom doesn’t love flowers?), i happened on these stunning sugar cookies from miette, one of my favorite pastry shops in san francisco.  they’ll ship anywhere, and i think they might be even prettier than actual flowers.

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alexis bittar may have restored my faith in humanity

it’s not often that my faith in humanity is (temporarily) restored…i tend to have a pretty pessimistic world view.  but the crisis in haiti really does seem to have brought out some amazingly selfless gestures from literally every corner.

i know that thousands of shops, designers and organizations are teaming up to help us donate, and they’re all wonderful for doing it.  but the effort at alexis bittar really caught my eye for its utter and complete generosity.  for the rest of this week (through 1/22/10), alexis bittar is donating a huge 100% of his online proceeds to the haiti earthquake recovery effort. 100%!!  i think it’s absolutely amazing of them, and have decided it may be time to show my support by splurging on one of their signature lucite bracelets, which i’ve been lusting after from afar for some time.

Picture 2Picture 3

hmm…or maybe a pair of earrings…yum!  if you’re short on cash (aren’t we all), it’s worth mentioning that their sale section (and each and every thing pictured here is on sale, by the way) just dropped to 50% off, with loads of under-$100 choices.  so now you can be a good samaritan, a bargain-shopping genius, and impeccably stylish all at the same time.

a huge virtual hug to alexis bittar for going the extra mile!

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