Bold Accessories: The Bib Necklace

The "Bib" or "Statement" necklace has been very big this season.  This is not the easiest trend to pull off and  some choices are a bit over the top for just general, everyday wear. A bib necklace is a large necklace that is most easily wearable with a plain t-shirt or dress.  These necklaces are typically either brightly colored, heavily beaded, and/or made with interesting textures! If you would like to take advantage of this fun trend while it's still popular, here are some relatively safe choices for bib necklaces for a variety of occasions.

This piece, available at The Limited, would be a beautiful one to add to your work ensemble.  For Spring, we'd like to see this paired with a pretty pale pink colored top, some khaki pants or a cute pencil skirt, and some strappy sandals!

This necklace is by Brooklyn Rehab, who's pieces we think are seriously fabulous!  This is one of our favorite finds when it comes to the bib necklace!  It may look plain, but the texture and nautical inspired look make it very intriguing. This necklace is extremely unique and the neutral, natural color makes it wearable with just about any sundress, t-shirt, or other casual wear. (P.S. We're gearing up for summer, so if you like nautical inspired items, check back in the upcoming weeks for our upcoming nautical themed post!)

We love anything from Anthropologie, and particularly this simple, muted, 2.5" blue beaded bib necklace.  This necklace is super chic, has a lovely vintage flair to it, and has just enough sparkle to make it perfect for work or a fancy occasion, but still easily wearable for a casual day out.

Our friend Jen, over at LandAndLaboratory, designs fun and completely one of a kind pieces from buttons of assorted colors and sizes.  These necklaces certainly make a fashion statement and look super cute with a coordinating top and jeans.  Choose one of her great color combos or request a custom order to create your very own color scheme to suit your style and wardrobe.

  This Lucky Brand Bib Necklace and its bright colors is absolutely gorgeous!  We think this necklace is just perfect for a summer day and would look absolutely stunning with just a simple white tank or cotton dress, or wear this to jazz up your summer work attire!

This lilac, plum, and white necklace is by Etsy's MissBettyLou.  We love the color purple for this season and think this soft floral peice would look so cute with a pretty sundress or gray top and jeans.  This necklace would be sure to make an impression..one that says you are a bold, beautiful, and fun loving girly girl, which is our very favorite kind.

Happy accessorizing!

XOXO,
Jen & Saira

Save the Dates!

Save the Date cards are traditionally sent out a few months before the wedding to notify guests about their wedding day. They tend to be more informal as compared to wedding invitations, and are a great way for couples to express their unique style. Ranging from pretty and sweet to funny and kooky, here are some of our favorite one-of-a-kind ideas for Save the Dates:

Buttons are a fun and cost effective way to spread the word about your upcoming wedding! Zazzle allows you to design your own buttons by uploading your own images and choosing the pin shape and size. Or you can always invest in a button maker, and create buttons for every special occasion! 

A popular Save the Date is to take photo booth pictures! The best part is that you don't necessarily have to go to a professional to do this -- just run over to the boardwalk and bring lots of quarters, or get creative with a digital camera and photoshop! You can then have the photos printed on magnets, or just make copies and create a makeshift frame out of cardstock.

Magnetic Save the Dates are very popular, as the fridge is often the unofficial message board in most homes. But to make your Save the Dates stand out, you can go for something more creative like this lego Save the Date. This is definitely a more detailed undertaking, where you need to design and search for your own prototypes. However the end result is pretty spectacular, as you get something very fun, unique, and personalized.

For music lovers, these faux concert posters and tickets make a great Save the Date notification! All you need is a printer and some cardstock, and you're set for a unique way to show your guests that your wedding is THE event of the year. 

Of course you can always send out Save the Date notecards, but personalize it by reflecting your personality! We love this mock Spiderman comic book Save the Date, which reflects the bride and grooms' love of comic books -- and each other! 

A super cute (and functional) way to announce your upcoming wedding is through Save the Date bookmarks. You can make them as detailed or simple as you like, and your guests will use them years after your actual wedding date. Of course, this process is a little more involved than the other "ready to order" options, but if you are creative and are willing to give it a go, then this is a great option. 

Happy planning!

Jen & Saira

Dress Shop: Mellow Yellow

We love all shades of yellow: banana, sunshine, lemon, mustard -- you name it, we'll wear it. So it's no surprise that it's one of our favorite summer shades. A cute yellow summer dress is all a girl needs to stay cool and look hot. Here are some of our favorite styles that are sure to make you sizzle:

Available at Nordstrom, this bold printed empire waist dress is such a fun, sweet look for the warm weather! The dress is casual enough for a summer bbq, but still pretty enough to wear to an outdoor wedding. And if you're wearing it out on a cool summer night, top it off with a white cardigan and a strand of pearls to channel your inner 50s housewife.

This lightweight shirt dress by Volcom is casual and flirty, just like summer love. There's a delicate drawcord at the waist to give it a snug fit, and the straps are optional if you dare to go bare... shouldered, that is. 

Who knew that a giant flower adorning your chest could be so attractive! We both fell in love with this Maggy London piece while dress shopping for a friend's wedding, but we must warn you, it's definitely only for the small chested. But if it fits, oh my! It's such a lovely, unique dress that is part-Greek goddess and and part beach babe, culminating in a fresh and charming look just right for summer weddings. 

And if you love a giant flower, then this taffeta dress by Arden B is right up your style alley. This sweetheart tube dress is very bold and outgoing, but we know you love the attention. When you got it, flaunt it!

We love this two-tone dress by American Apparel, and trust us, it will look much better on you than it does on the floppy hatted model. Grey and yellow are one of our favorite color combinations (but of course you know this already) and is a perfect look for the summer. But a word of caution: you must either have a fabulously tight stomach or a mean pair of spanx to pull this look off without sucking in your tummy all day. But if the dress fits... 

You'll make quite the tasty treat in this brocade lemon yellow sheath dress. We love the eyelet neckline and the piping on the waistline, but most of all we love the color! Plus we think you could definitely sneak this into your work wardrobe by throwing on a blazer and matching pumps. Available at Macy's.

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Color Day: Rainbow Sherbet

Yum! This bright color combination is reminiscent of a delicious Spring/Summer treat, Rainbow Sherbet! Lemon yellow, combined with tangerine/peachy shades of orange, and a pale, rosy pink would be sure to give your home, party, or wedding a warm and jubilant feel.  We can bet these refreshing shades will energize you, make you think happy thoughts, and make you want to smile. 

Images From: Blogspot, LogUK, BestBuyCandy, Alfred Angelo,Martha Stewart, ZCache, BetsyWhite, TheKnottyBride, SumthingBlue, Flickr, ProjectWedding

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Sandal Shop

Sandals are a summer staple. Wearing them with jeans, skirts, dresses, shorts, it's a nice way to enjoy the breeze between your toes (noone likes sweaty feet!!) and show off your pedicure!  But, finding the right pair to suit your style is not always easy, so here are some of our favorite picks for the season to give you a few ideas of what is out there:

The closed toe leather skimmers from Urban Outfitters are Saira's pick. They're a mix between ballet shoes and booties, but are perfect for strolling in the warm weather. Plus the warm cognac color looks great with a summer tan.

We love gladiator sandals, but some of the ones out there are too intimidating! This pair available at Delia's come in salmon and golden yellow as well, and are just so cute without  being too overbearing. You'll get some interesting tan lines, but isn't that what summer is all about?

The "Sawyer" sandal by Report is Jen's pick for a perfect and versatile sandal.  They are the ultimate girly sandal with the dainty straps and ruffled heel ad come in 3 great metallic colors.  They would be casual enough for a stroll on the boardwalk or a good game of mini-golf, but the metallic sheen makes them easily transitionable for a night out! 

  

Studded detailing is very "in" right now and we just adore these white, studded sandals by Mossimo.  They are delicate and feminine but the studs give it that little extra flare and attitude that we love. These would look great with a floaty floral skirt and tank and the price cannot be beat - they are just $14.99 at Target!

For a more delicate look, try these strappy gold sandals available at Swell. The straps tie up around the ankle, making you into an instant Greek goddess. Plus these sandals are 100% vegan, so you can look good while saving animals with every wear. 

And no one would be complete without a great pair of black sandals!  We recommend this pair of strappy gladiator sandals by Steve Madden. We said it before that sometimes gladiator sandals can be a little over the top, but we think these are simple and sexy enough for the every day Aphrodite, yet tough and supportive enough for the likes of Achilles.   

Happy trails!

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Power Suits

Every girl needs an outfit that makes her feel like she could conquer the world.  The "Power Suit" is just that!  A power suit is not really a specific kind of suit, but it is a suit that you feel powerful in, something that makes you look strong and makes you exude confidence when you wear it.  The key to looking the best in your suits and feeling the most confident is to have a suit that looks like it was made just for you, so don't hesitate to take that skirt to the tailor for a hem or to get that jacket taken in a bit in the back... it will really make all the difference in the world.

Take a look at a few of our suiting selections, but remember, a well tailored suit is a powerful suit, regardless of brand, style, etc.  And, remember, ladies, buttoning your jacket approprately is very important to how you will be perceived.  If in doubt, follow the ASN Rule = Top button = Always buttoned.  Second button (on a 3-Buttoned Suit) = Sometimes, if you feel like it.  Bottom button = Never!!

We also would remind you that the pieces you choose to accompany your suit are almost as important as the suit itself.  So go for that bold printed top, the ruffly yellow blouse, and that chunky bracelet (see our cuff bracelet post for some ideas) -- they will only make you feel even more confident and beautiful.

 

This suit, from Express, would be great as your "basic" suit for interviews, meetings, etc. We opted for this sort gray shade because a good rule of thumb for interviews is to wear gray or dark blue, and not black, as it can come off as looking too severe. Another rule of thumb when picking your interview outfit is to go for a skirt suit (pictured above). Most career counselors state that employers, especially old, out of touch men, have a preference for women in skirts. But if the feminist in you finds that to be a bit uncomfortable, then go for the pants. The power suit is all about making you feel confident, so if wearing pants will do the trick, then by all means, ditch the skirt!

 

Our favorite power suit is a well-fitted slack suit, because it's bold, sexy, and is sure to get your confidence vibes flowing.  Plus when you think "power suit" you're probably thinking black, and for good reason -- they look strong and chic, and basically everyone looks good in black!  We like to pair our suits with feminine tops, which help to soften the color and make it a bit more subdued.  The above suit, by Nine West, is a great example of how to pull of a black suit by combining it with a flirty blouse!

Or, check out this other great option for a black suit.  This look is very fashion forward, pairing a black cropped pant suit from J. Crew with a casual t-shirt, bold accessories, and interesting shoes! Because the suits are sold as separates it makes it easy to find the proper size for your body type.  Plus, you can choose different jackets (two or three-buttoned), pant styles, or you can opt for a sexy pencil skirt! 

Now we know spring is here and summer is just around the corner.  None of us want to be schlepping off to work in our black or dark gray suit on an 80 or 90 degree day!  Luckily, there are some great suiting options that are perfect for the season, like this tan suit from Talbots.  With the white shirt and fun necklace, this suit looks fresh and crisp and will take you through Spring and right in into summer.

These suit separates by Ann Taylor are also perfect for the spring and summer, and are a bit more playful. The jacket can be worn with black slacks (as shown on the model), but can also be paired with the  matching skirt to create a very classy, Jackie O-esque ensemble.

Pinstripes are also a popular choice for the power suit. This charcoal, pinstriped suit by Calvin Klein would be a great interview suit. The pinstripes are very subtle, and charcoal is another one of our favorite shades to wear when interviewing. Plus, it's available at Macy's for an incredibly low price (as far as suits go), so it's definitely a business savvy investment.

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Spring Flowers: Tulips

Here is our first of many floral inspirations.  One of the most common flowers that come to mind when you think of spring is the tulip. They are a beautiful spring flower and come in a variety of bright, fun colors as well as the traditional white. With long stems and simple blossoms they are the perfect flower for any modern springtime fete. Here are some great bouquets and centerpiece that feature tulips:

This centerpiece from www.weddingbycolor.com is a beautiful and elegant display of this spring flower.  These tulips have their stems cut short to create a low centerpiece and are loosely placed in the vase to give them that "just picked from the garden" look. The off-white tulip is a classic, clean and romantic choice for a modern, formal affair.

Here we have a modern spring bouquet featuring white tulips. The long stems and single flower design make this very modern and minimalistic and the flowers themselves have a look that is very clean and bright! Plus, we love the contrast of the black ribbon!

We are in love with these gorgeous purple tulips (and the cute favor box!).  This is another great choice for the modern spring wedding.  First of all, the shades of purple and glowing candles are beautiful and the centerpiece looks great with the contrast of the bright green stems!  But, what we are really enjoying is the height of these flowers and the square vase they are placed in - it creates great drama!  This is one wedding we would have loved to attend!!

Looking for something a little more on the frilly, girly-girl, traditional side?  Then we would suggest something like this pale pink bouquet of parrot tulip. Parrot tulips have kind of ruffly looking petals, as opposed to the very smooth petals of regular tulips, which is what gives this bouquet its light and feathery look.

This vibrant bouquet of tulips paired with cala lilies would be perfect for a fun and unique spring wedding.  The long stems are beautiful and elegant, but this bouquet is a bit more casual as it has that loose stems and casually tied bow.  The bright pop of the cheery yellow and bold orange is sure to be a show stopper!

XOXO,
Jen & Saira