Sunday Chronicles: Pop Up

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Loves, I’m super excited to announce that I’m hosting my first pop-up in Fort Worth this week! I will be styling and profiling with the lovely ladies of Beehive and AAVintedge (and ModMelrose) on Thursday, Sept 15 from 4-7pm
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We will have snacks, drinks, and amazing style! I hope that you can join us! And tell your friends!

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Concrete Details:
Investment Piece Pop-Up at
Beehive Ft Worth
5122 Camp Bowie Blvd
4-7pm

Wishing us a week of styling and amazing shoes! XO RA

Pasquale Shoe Repair

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As a self-proclaimed shoe lover, I can tell you there is no better investment than taking care of the things you love. Yes, I mean shoes. And yet, no matter careful you can be with a thing you love, there’s always a time when you need professional help. Yep, still talking shoes. From heel repair to re-soling to stretching, there’s absolutely no one I trust more with my treasures than Pasquale Shoe Repair

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They are Christian Louboutin certified and I have never had them treat me or my shoes poorly. They’ve fixed heels, redone soles, added grips. They even brought shoes that other cobblers had ruined back to life. In short, I can’t explain how much I love them. They are the essence of quality, and yet the prices are not high.

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While they are located in LA, they have a mail in option (and will send the shoes right back to you!) and it’s completely worth it!

Here’s to keeping our treasures treasured! XO RA

Find Pasquale here

Dress

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There’s something about a dress–or should I say the right dress. It can change your mood, stop a room, and I personally don’t think it’s going too far to say it can change your life. And in my vast experience, you know the dress when you put it on. Yes, there may be things you like, you need, but when you put on a special dress you know it. Now here’s where I deviate from most opinions–I don’t think dresses, special or not, need occasions (special or not). I tried on this vintage gem at The Kit Vintage and knew; the way it moved, the way it fit, the way it made me feel. And Robyn, the owner, knew it too! (That’s the magic of a great dress) She asked what occasion I could wear it to; and I just smiled and said “Oh, I would wear this to dinner”. Because loves, anything that makes you feel great, that brings you joy doesn’t need an event or an occasion. I’m a big fan of us letting ourselves be joyful–and if that means people look at your great dress, then let them look!

XO RA

Details:
Dress: Vintage, find one at The Kit Vintage
Shoes: LK Bennett, old, similar here
Shoes: Jcrew, old, similar here

White No More

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For some, today is a hard line in the sand sort of day. They out up their white, their linen, their summer and turn their attention to fall clothes. Some ignore this fashion rule of the past, proudly wearing their white, their linen, their summer clothes until it no longer feels like summer. My mother is in the first group. I,however, fall somewhere in between the two.

I love fall–and sweaters and boots and coats. I agree that in sub 60 degree weather linen won’t do you much good. And that, while white has a place, mid-November is not the time for a summer-like outfit. But loves, the high today is 90. Septemeber is often the hottest month in LA. And this hard line in the sand can seem a little like self punishment. So, I have a compromise! What if, instead of a hard line, Labor Day was the beginning of our transition? What if we wore white and linen and summer-like clothes while it still feels like summer, but we slowly added long sleeves, sweaters and boots? What if September was the time to cross to fall, and what if we let that season change happen, rather than force it on ourselves?

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So, this is my promise to you. Yes, there will still be some summer outfits. But here, we will slowly transition into fall, and you’ll find just as many cool-weather like options. We won’t force anything down your throat, there will be no hard lines, we will all just support each other as we wear things we love that are weather appropriate. Deal? Deal.

Hope your Labor Day was Labor-less and that today is not one of recovery. And if you’re still wearing white, we salute you!

XO RA

Details:
Shoes: A Detacher
Top and Pants from Garment Modern

Happy Labor Day!

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Loves! I hope the last long weekend of summer is treating you well. I hope there are beaches and bbqs and friends. I hope your white is bright and your linen doesn’t wrinkle too much. We are off- soaking up the last of summer and welcoming in football season. We’ll be back Tuesday and we’re bringing fall with us!

Wishing us a week of easy transitions and amazing shoes! XO RA

Pink YSL

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Loves, I may have an obsession with Pink YSL pieces. But is it problem if I don’t plan on doing anything about it? This jacket is just perfect–I love the cut outs, the bow, the buckle. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen, so when I saw it at one of my faves, Recess LA, I had to have it. It’s a versatile piece, could be worn with dresses, skirts, slacks; but I love that it went just as well with my $8 Target Tank Top and jeans. That’s what I call a great investment!

Happy Long Weekend! XO RA

Details:
Jacket: Found at RecessLA Protip-for their best online shopping make sure you’re following their Instagram!
Jeans: Mother
Shoes: Stuart Weitzman
Tank: Target

Where to Shop: Beehive

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Loves, one of my most fave boutiques has become Beehive (they have locations in Austin, Houston, and Ft Worth, Tx as well as online here). Besides super on point,affordable clothes, everyone who works there is just a dream. The store calls itself the Hive, and I love being a part of it! The store itself is cool and inviting (I’ve spent more than one afternoon there), and the clothes!

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Here’s what I love: you’ll find on trend, fun pieces, some pieces that are inspired by other collections–but no knock-offs. The collections, accessories, and space have a fun attitude; like the cool girl at school but everyone is invited to sit with them!

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You’ll find great pieces that are stand out, pieces that make you smile, and the girls will feel like friends! I love this boutique so much that their pieces have found their way into my weekly rotation (loves, my closet is big, this is a big deal) and I go to the store simply to hang out! Check them out on Instagram or make your way there-I promise you won’t be disappointed.

In fact, if you’re in FW Septemeber 15 come by the store! I will be there hosting my first pop-up! There will be drinks, deals, more than one vendor and styling by me–more details to follow!

XO RA

Falling Forward

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Loves, how is it that it’s the last day of August? Are you ready for fall? And how can we be when it’s still 100 degrees??? While I’m running around, trying to calm myself, I’m trying to add some fall elements to my wardrobe. And while I loved the off-shoulder trend this summer, I LOVE that it carries over in a blazer like this! These jeans just make me smile (missed the video on how I made them? Got you here). So while I may look like I’m falling forward, I’m hanging onto the fun of summer!

Happy last day of August! XO RA

Details:
Blazer: All That Admiration Blazer, sold out, similar here and here
Jeans: Madewell
Shoes: Steve Madden

Le Garage Sale

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I have to admit that my main experience with large “fair” type shopping has involved only Vintage fairs, sample sales or antique fairs. So when I happened to be in Austin for Le Garage Sale, and I was promised it was akin to Barney’s Warehouse Sale, I knew it needed to be on my list of “must-do”. I think the idea is brilliant: get all of the local boutiques in one place, and everything they sell is on sale! It gives the customer a chance to get to know smaller retailers, and you get great deals!
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I only spent a couple of hours at the sale on Sunday–and managed to come away with amazing pieces, and spent less than $250! I got a chance to see boutiques I didn’t know (and some I know and love) and got to shop with friends!

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I even got to make new friends at the booths! Some pro-tips: Some booths restocked throughout the weekend, making multiple trips valid. The space wasn’t so large that it was completely overwhelming so you could do more than one pass through; though some booths had limited stock so if there was something you had to have, it’s best to buy right away. And most importantly? Have Fun!

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And while this pic is awkward, I promise I had fun!

I’d love to know: have you been to Le Garage Sale in Austin? Does your community have something like this?

XO RA

Follow Le Garage at here

Sunday Chronicles: The Class by TT

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Loves, I am a bit of a work out junkie. It’s how I process and “work out” a bunch, how I like to start my day, and makes me feel good to see what my body can do (amongst many other reasons). And as I’ve gotten wiser, not only do I enjoy a physically changellening workout, I want one that speaks to the world beyond the gym as well. I like hearing the messages of “yes, I can”, “be brave”, ones of positivity and working towards my dreams and letting things go. I work out not just for my body, but to remind myself that all things are possible. So, it seemed to be a natural fit that I would try “The Class” by Taryn Toomey. I first read about her on The Coveteur, and loved what I saw. Her class seemmed the perfect balance of a barre type class (which as an old dancer I’m addicted to) and the spiritual message I love. And when I had the chance to take a class with Taryn in LA, I jumped on it!

I have to be honest, while driving to the class I was a tad bit worried that it would be a little “too” meditative for me; I even wondered if I had time to fit in a run if I needed it. Loves, I didn’t need it. I got all the spiritual talking to I needed–I also got my ass kicked. Yes, you’ll shake your body out and work on breathing, there’s also 5 straight minutes of jump squats, a full song of a side lunge/squat combo, a song of leg raises (PS both of those are per side), and you warm up your abs with 5 mins of mountain climbers (with Taryn letting you know you can all the way through). It was fantastic.

It’s the type of class that really stayed with me, and not just because I was sore for days after. Some of the messages that Taryn said throughout class hit home for me. The top ones:
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“You can do this, simply because You CAN do this”
We all know we can do things. We know the power of thoughts, we believe in ourselves, we visualize our dreams. However, I know I can be guilty of using the word “but” when I do all of those things. And I bet you are too. “But” is easy, it feels real, and it seems valid. The great thing about this statement? It cuts through the BS. You can do this because you can do this. Period. So you do it. Or if it’s something that you don’t want to do, don’t do it. Simple.

“Forgive yourself, forgive others, forgive yourself again. That’s the cycle”.
I’m a self admitted perfectionist. And when things work out the way I plan, I can get caught up in blaming myself-for not seeing it coming, for not doing more. What hit me about this is that when we’re told to forgive, we often forget that we (ourselves) are also in need of our own forgiveness. I don’t know many happy people who are not compassionate to themselves. Forgive yourself. Forgive others. Forgive yourself again, for good measure.

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I’ve been following “The Class” on Instagram (she has videos of single exercises!) and great little blurbs like the one above. I find them to be energizing–and true. I had such a great time at the Class, I love how much it stayed with me, and I can’t wait to get back!

What have you been loving this week?

Wishing us all a week of balance and amazing shoes! XO RA

Follow the Class on Instagram @theclassbytt and find them online at Taryn Toomey