Color Day: Fuchsia and Grey

As summer draws nearer, we can't help but gear ourselves towards bright and fun colors like today's inspiration, fuchsia (aka magenta)! This is a reddish purple hue, named after the flower of the same color, looks funky and energizing when paired with orange, yellow, or green, yet chic, modern, and even a little vintage when combined with bright white or cool grey. We prefer this shade as an accent and not as a main color because all fuchsia all the time can be a bit overwhelming. Instead, keep the men in your life sane and tone down the pink/purple by basing your color palette in a classic neutral, like a heather gray, and use the fuchsia to draw attention to fun and funky details like ties, flowers, shoes, etc. 

Images from: Real Simple, HotRef, WeddingObsession, Snippet & Ink, Alamode, LittleBlackBook,

Urban Outfitters, Michelle Brusegaard 

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Sex and the City Character Inspiration: Charlotte York

As we anxiously await the release of the newest Sex and the City movie next week, we've found ourselves wondering what types of outfits are out there this season that we'd be sure to find in the closets of Manhattan's favorite fashionistas.  Today we'll be inspiring you to channel your inner Charlotte.  Charlotte York's style is classic, feminine, and sexy (although she is typically considered to be the most conservative of the bunch).  This look is easy to pull off on a budget! Take a look below at some of our picks to help you on your way to creating a Charlotte-esque wardrobe.  You can't go wrong with neutral colors, feminine detailing like bows, lace, and ruffles, and fitted, classic silhouettes!

Charlotte always looks incredible put together, which is why we could imagine her in this sweet and simple black and white dress available at Macy's. This is something that could be worn while out running errands, brunching with the girls, and volunteering at the museum.

For a more casual look (and we use that term loosely) check out this preppy and sophisticated fit and flare shirtdress with gold buttons. Charlotte always has a wonderful tan, which would look great with this bright white dress, and the belt would flatter her pear shaped body.

This strapless, pleated floral print dress would be perfect for a hot summer day out shopping with the girls. The dress is very feminine, just like Charlotte, complete with a sweetheart neckline and piping at the waist. 

 While Charlotte loves her pearl necklaces,  pearl earrings are just her style as well. These romantic rose and classic pearl stud earrings for all occasions, and at just $3.80, they're quite a steal!

Now that Charlotte has two girls of her own, playing dress up isn't always practical. However "play clothes" don't need to be boring, which is why we think this ruffled and frilly cardigan from Anthropologie would be perfect for the afternoons chasing the kids around the park.

Although being a mom sometimes means the end of tiny little clutches, Charlotte knows how to keep her style in tact (her pregnancy outfits are a clear testament to this). We think this dainty wicker and lace clutch purse from Mod Cloth is a perfect accessory for those days when Charlotte is able to take off with the girls, as it can comfortably carry her phone, lip gloss, and credit cards -- no snack packs or baby wipes included!

While channeling her inner Martha Stewart, Charlotte would look timeless in this retro, printed halter dress. Whether she's making pot roast, Sabbath dinner, or ordering take-out, Charlotte is the picture perfect housewife.

While Carrie is definitely the shoe fanatic of the bunch, Charlotte loves her sandals. We thinks this feminine and delicate "Daarling" platform pump by Steve Madden is exactly the type of sandal Charlotte would go for -- it's sexy but not too loud, just like our favorite Park Avenue Pollyana.

Stay tuned for our next post about our favorite Manhattanites!

XOXO
Jen & Saira

Gifts for Graduates

Happy Monday, dolls!  If your like anything like us, your Facebook news feed has been bombarded with graduation posts this past weekend and we're sure there are more to come!  As May comes to a close and June is fast approaching we can bet we'll be seeing "Class of 2010" splattered on every other car we see.  So, since graduation season is here and those parties are right around the corner, we've decided to kick off this week with a graduation inspired post.  Here are some gifts, both unique and traditional, to show your loved ones how proud you are of all their accomplishments and help them continue on their path to success!

For a less formal gift, maybe for a close friend or fellow grad, we like something the high school graduate can take off to college with them. Things like simple organization can be essential to college success, which is why we like the idea of giving a cute message board, like this magnetic one by SteelDreamingDesigns.  They can display this board to add some style or color to their dorm, but also use it to post important messages, dates, a course syllabus, assignments, pictures etc.

One of the biggest issues facing new college students is time management!  Combine lack of supervision, a flexible schedule, and constant socialization and you're just asking for disaster.  Help them tackle this first semester by providing them with a great calendar to organize their events and deadlines.  If your student is allowed to stick things to the walls (silly dorm rules..), then we think this re-writable dry erase wall calendar by SimpleShades is absolutely genius - practical, stylish, and unique!  We also love this for great wall decor for the office as well.

Something we wish we had back then was a Keurig!  When you have 8am classes, late night study sessions, or the mundane 9-5 job you'll need something to get you going every once in a while.  Instead of having to trek to the dining hall, find someone to give you a ride to Dunkin, or buy that crappy cafeteria coffee, we think it would have been so nice to have had one of these. Plus, not only will they get a quick, quality cup of coffee, think of the money they'll save just because you thought to give them such a practical gift!

If your graduate has a job lined up, then you can get something to help decorate their desk and add some personality and style to their office or cube! A business card holder, such as this adorable cast iron kitty cat one, is both functional and decorative. Pick a business card holder that is professional, but also reflects your graduate's personal style. For more college graduate gift options, try Gifts for Professionals.

Or, for something of a more traditional gift, how about a commemorative piece of jewelry. Those graduation rings that they give out are just down right ugly and no one ever actually wears them, you just get them to have them as a keepsake.  Instead, give your high school or college grad the key to her future with this cute charm necklace by RiskyBeads that we think she actually be pleased to wear proudly.

And, of course, the classic gift for graduations is a solid frame for their graduation photo. We love this "shadow box" available at Walmart that allows you to display both a photo of the graduate and their tassel, creating a wonderful keepsake. This gift is great for both high school and college graduates!

 

Finally, it's no surprise, there is one thing that every graduate needs, wants, and will be eternally grateful for, and that is MONEY.  High school students are pretty much broke and in the upcoming months they will need items for their dorm, plus books, and of course that little thing called tuition. And college grads are in the same boat!  They have loans looming in the distance, rent to pay, have been living off of Easy Mac for 4 years, and can't even imagine how they will afford a new, "professional" wardrobe.  Give them money and help them ease into the next chapter in their lives!  We hope they'll use it for those practical things like bills or clothes... but maybe, like us, they'll take some money and use it to take time to explore and travel the world..and that's ok, because after all their hard work, don't they deserve it?  We think so!

Oh, the places they'll go!

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Groomsmen Style

We realized that we tend to focus on the bride and bridesmaids more (because girls rule) but today we decided to talk a little about the men in our lives. It's easy to overlook the groom and the groomsmen and focus instead on the brides and the bridesmaid when creating a wedding style. While generally speaking, the look of the groomsmen is pretty simple (suit or tux), there are many ways to liven up the outfit. So today we're focusing on how to accessorize the groom and his merry men!

Who needs dancing shoes when you can wear a pair of Vans slip ons!  Sneakers add a personal touch to the groomsmen's ensemble and are super comfortable! Plus Vans (and Converse) come in all sorts of colors, so you're sure to find a pair that matches your color palette. 

Our good friend Mike just got married, and we loved how all the groomsmen had on suspenders! It created a great retro look, showcased the bride and groom's quirky style, and helped hold the groomsmen's pants on the dance floor!

In addition to the suspenders, skinny ties are a great way to create a stylish, vintage look. We love solid black skinny ties, pictured above, but you can also have them in bright colors to add a nice pop of color to the ensemble!

Or, for another great tie option, choose custom printed ties in coordinating colors.  Don't be afraid to let the groom express his artistic side and  let his personality shine through, it is, afterall, his day too.  We love these custom, silkscreened ties by toybreaker - great colors and lots of different patterns to pick from!

A cute, preppy look is dressing your groomsmen in sweater vests! It's perfect for a more casual or outdoor wedding, and creates a clean and crisp look.

You can complete the groomsmen's look from head to toe! If you love argyle, but want something more subtle,  then dress your groomsmen in matching argyle socks! The socks add a splash of color to the black and gray suits, and you can color coordinate them with your bridesmaids dresses. 

And, while some dress shirts have buttons on the sleeves, others call for cufflinks! Is your hubby to be a total geek?  These, by beadworkbyamanda, are made out of recycled circuit boards and are the perfect accessory for the techie groom. 

Go get 'em, boys!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Romantic Ruffles

One of our favorite trends out there right now are ruffles.  To fully embrace this trend you must know these are NOT the ruffles you may recall from Hello, Dolly! or the 1970's.  Instead, these modern ruffles are soft & feminine, with cascading layers of fabric that create a look that is ultra luxurious.  This trend has made its way from clothing to jewelry to shoes, bedding,  and general home decor.  Add a little frill to you life by checking out some of our favorite ruffles for this spring/summer season.

Big surprise, we love Anthropologie!  And we love this pretty little frock, with its' adorable ruffles, sweet feminine color, and fluttery silk fabric!

Get frilly feet with these great sandals by Victorias Secret! These summer sandals come in a variety of colors and have beautiful ruffle detailing down the center!

How cute!  We love this tiered, ruffly skirt from Charlotte Russe! We think this skirt is a great addition to your spring or summer wardrobe and is the perfect way to liven up a simple tank or tee!

Everyone needs a great white tank!  But, just because it's white doesn't mean it needs to be plain and boring!  Choose a rufflled tank like this one, from Express, and you'll be sure to look cool and stay cool all summer long.

Handbags have certainly not been spared from this trend!  Our favorite is this studded bag by Steve Madden. The color is soft, the frills are perfectly girly, and the gold studs add just enough hardware to give this bag a little edge.

Ruffles in the workplace?  Absolutely! The Limited  has some great options, like this pea green halter top with subtle ruffles adorning the collar.  This would be a lovely addition to your spring or summer work ensemble and would look great with your powersuit!

You'll be begging for a rain when you have this to protect you! This sweet umbrella, available at Nordstrom, comes in beautiful colors and has a great embellished trim that makes this just what we need to brave those summer storms.

And, of course, every girl needs some extravagant bedding fit for a queen.  This duvet from Urban Outfitters is the blanket of our dreams, complete with modern colors and lavish tiers of soft fabric that we're sure will have you catching z's in no time!

 

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Color Day: Turquoise & Red

Different colors evoke different emotions and selecting the appropriate colors for your space or event are often difficult. There are cool tones, warm tones, & neutrals and you usually pair colors together according to their color families. It is typical for people to select like colors and play it safe... but the rare few that are daring enough to go for complimentary colors are the ones that are sure to make the biggest impact! We love those that are bold enough to go for color combos that are opposites on the color wheel, like these shades of blue and red! The pairing of cool turquoise and warm, bright red is a bold choice for the ultra modern home, wedding, or wardrobe.

Images from: Wedding Times, Wedding Chicks, TheCakeBlog, ElizabethAnneDesigns, ProjectWedding, TheKnot, Life.Love.Lipstick, BridalPartyTees, SparklePower, RocketDog, DecadentDesigns, PartyInnovations, GraciousPaper, Rachel Jasper Design 

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Tips for the Bride: Gifts for Bridesmaids

Every bride knows that a good bridesmaid goes a long way, and a great bridesmaid is irreplaceable. Traditionally, the bride and groom give their supporting cast a little gift as a thank you for all their love, support, and hard work. How small or big the gift is depends on your personal tastes, and of course, your budget. Here are some ideas to show your supporting ladies that you appreciate their hard work in helping you plan your wedding:

Girls are to bags like bees are to honey, so giving your bridesmaids a cute clutch will surely make you the "best bride ever". Etsy seller granspasragsnbags sells a number of handmade clutches in a variety of patterns and prints, so you can definitely find some clutches  that reflect your bridesmaids' style. Plus you can fill it with goodies (think lip gloss, nail polish, jewelry, whatever fits!) to give it an extra special touch.

But if your bridesmaids prefer function over form, then try out these eco friendly tote bags by Etsy selller shopjessbecause. They come in a number of different styles and are all handmade with recycled materials. You can also fill these bags up with some large scale extras as well, such as photo albums, flip flops, picnic blankets, etc. 

A really cute gift is a set of blank notebooks, like these pocket sized journals from Elum Designs. You can select a pattern that reflects your wedding theme and colors, and write a page containing a personalized note to each bridesmaid, thanking them for their contribution.

 

If your girlfriends have a thing for baking, then a cute printed apron and heart shaped baking pan would make for the sweetest gift. Anthropologie has an eclectic variety of colorful, printed aprons that is sure to channel the inner Julia Child of any bridesmaid. 

Show your bridesmaids that they are close to your heart with this detailed heart pendant from Etsy seller wiyomu. The necklace is adorned with several charms and comes in a ribboned gift box, ready for giving. The best part is that it can be specially ordered for bridal parties, so you can get a few necklaces and receive a little bit of discount! 

For the wine lovers in the group, we love these personalized wine charms by AddieRoseJewelry.  These wine charms are made of sterling silver and are hand stamped to give them a unique and one of a kind look.  Stamp them with their names, or get creative and have them stamped with something your girl loves, like authors, artists, TV Shows, famous couples, Star Wars characters... whatever floats your boat!

Every bridesmaid deserves a little pampering after all the work they've put into making your wedding day special!  Invite them to indulge a little and take some much needed time to relax. If you are not concerned about sticking to a budget, we can bet your girls will be forever grateful for a gift certificate to a spa or salon!  But, if money is an issue, we suggest treating them to some good-enough-to-eat bath/body essentials like these, available at Sephora. 

And, finally, one of our favorite options for a unique bridesmaids gift is this modern hammered silver cuff bracelet by fellow NJ resident tfakler! On the outside, this bracelet looks edgy and modern, but on the inside you can feel free to get all lovey dovey and express your gratitude with a personalized message.  Your maids will get a lot of use out of this stylish piece and always be reminded of how much you appreciate them!

Love thy bridesmaid.

XOXO,

Jen & Saira