Tag: shopping

Midas had the golden touch.
Dorothy had the Ruby Red Slippers.
I have Elephants.
Luckiest of them all? You bet.

Elephants are not only lovable, grey, and equipped with great memories, allegedly; they’re good luck! (If saving elephants and fighting ivory poaching is something you care about, check out Save the Elephants) So when you walk on good luck, what does that make you? The Luckiest of them all.

I can’t promise that these mules will change anything over night. However, I love the elephant carving, I love the classic shape, and I love the little jolt of luck I feel. They go great with this classic sweater and jean combo, but go great with shirts, skirts, little black dresses, anything that you can think of. Or at any time that you might need a little bit of luck.

These jeans are from AYR, and you’ve seen them a lot lately. They fit just perfect, have just the right amount of stretch, and just the right amount of distress. (See them here, here, and you’ll see them more in the future. Sorry, not sorry) I also have a thing for grey-sweaters, t-shirts, dresses, pants, shoes, anything. So this cashmere number, with the V neck and seams showing, is one of my go-to’s!

Let’s chat about this necklace (you’ve also seen it here. Sydney made it, it’s black diamond and onyx, and I love it. Wearing it across my body (with the choker wrap) somehow feels edgy, yet the classic lariat lends itself to every sort of styling. You can find Syd on Instagram @aireheartbysydney or her pieces are for sale at Elaine Kim. This necklace, and the love I get from Syd and Elaine are also pretty lucky, I hope that they are the same for you!

Though I love elephants, consider them lucky, and love these shoes, let’s chat luck. Is luck something that happens? A result of being prepared? Anything you can control? I do think that the harder you work, the luckier you are. I also think that luck is something that maybe you can’t control. Luck in the form of elephant shoes also can’t hurt. What do you think about luck?

Shop my picks below!
XO RA

Top ten things to happen during your day? Someone compliments your outfit.
Top five things to happen during your day? Someone asks where you got it.

(And Ladies, let’s play for the same team here, if someone asks where you got something–or even if they just compliment you–be a sport and tell them. It’s a compliment! And when we’re all stylish, we all win!)

These things mean so much, especially when you love what you’re wearing, and I have a big policy here that you should love what you’re wearing. Another policy? I believe in investing in quality pieces that not only look amazing on you (gaining compliments) but last for years. (Isn’t the name Investment Piece amazing?!?1) (And yes, those are Gucci loafers). But wanna know yet another policy? I believe in faking it (in moderation, never in the bedroom, and only when it comes to amazing fashion).

Loves, let’s get real, we can’t buy all luxury all the time (or if you can and would like to adopt me in any way, I am available). And wearing head to toe designer can be a little stale. I love the mixing of high and low fashion, I think it’s fresh and modern. Another policy? (I promise, I’m not in Congress). I hate knock offs. I really have an issue with directly copying someone else’s design, the artist in me can’t handle it. but I understand that desire to have something specific, and I get wanting that asthetic. My solution/compromise? A “cheaper” item with that designer feel. Not a knock off, but a “in the spirit of”, if you will.

This jacket? HM. (Seriously, they have some amazing stuff right now!). I love that it’s bold and just Gucci-esque. I love that it goes great with my Gucci. (And my new fave AYR jeans). I love that it makes me feel polished and that it feels like pjs. I love that it’s a fake, but not a fake.

So, how do we fake it? We find something that we love. We pair it with things we love. We rock it proudly, even if it’s a “fake”. And we share our secrets.

How do you fake it?
XO RA

You made the plan: the lists, the time, the place. You got excited, you have the dress, you invite people to your after party. Best laid plans are the best because you’ve thought of everything!

Then, it happens. And by it, I don’t mean your best laid plans. It rains. Or someone cancels. The dress rips, you have a headache, Mercury is in Retrograde. It happens–that thing that puts your best laid plans to rest.

That was my story this past weekend. Here’s the thing loves, I’m a planner and a procrastinator, I have firm plans and I play it by ear, I’m really regemented and yet I can bend all the rules–there’s a reason I have a thing for juxtatipositions. But this weekend? I had best laid plans. I was going to shoot this dress with a hotel background (though I have to admit, I’m a fan of the early Autumn, backlit look), I was going to clean out my closet (my next opprotunity to do so is in November), and I was going to work ahead (as I have a lot going on in the next few weeks).

Wanna know what I did? I got some shooting in (and while it was not to my best laid plan, I’m happy with them), I watched football (a lot of football), and I got some work done (but I’m by no means ahead). My best laid plans? They were laid to rest. Quickly, quietly, and without a quarrel. And while I had in my head these “perfect” plans for my weekend, I have to say I’m aok with my non-best plans working out. I got to rest. I got enough done. I made plans for the future. That’s all ok with me. Isn’t that the beauty of best laid plans? When they get laid to rest, our second (or third or fourth) plans get their chance to shine.

Now that we’re up to speed on my plans that didn’t happen, let’s chat about this dress! Vintage Laura Ashley, and it makes all my little girl princess dreams come true. (When I was 4 I had this amazing pink Laura Ashley that I wore around, for days at a time, sometimes with a crown. I still feel like that’s a valid look) This dress has all the great requirements for a floral dress-the skirt flares, it still shows your waist, it’s both a stand out and a staple. It would be great at a wedding, cocktail party, or maybe just a Monday. And while I thought that perhaps I had outgrown the famed Laura Ashley florals and gowns, there’s something sweet and a little edgy here that I just felt drawn to–I’m not sorry.

Of Note: This dress is vintage, I found it on Etsy if you care to search for your own Laura Ashley. I did link similar dresses below, if you like your florals modern.
Sea of Shoes stoked my love of Vintage Laura Ashley, and her collection is something to check out.
I realized in writing this post that last year about the same time, I wrote about this amazing floral dress as a good bye to fall. I don’t know if great minds (yep, still my mind) think alike, if this is repetition or tradition, or if this is just another example of best laid plans–but with dresses like these, I may not overthink it!

Shop my picks below, and I’m wishing all your best laid plans work out!
XO RA

She walks into Starbucks, dressed to the nines, and though your hair looks Drybar perfect today, you automatically feel like a 7th grader with broccoli in her braces. She doesn’t seem to notice anyone else in her haze of perfectness. Feel like that will never be you? Me either.
Let’s chat about dealing with Insecurities

Imagine wearing whatever you like, whenever you like, and feeling amazing in it. How do we get there?

To be honest, I’m not sure. My body is not something I’m always comfortable in. I work out 6 days a week, eat clean, and there are times when I have abs and times when I don’t. I fantasize about not worrying what I look like, just throwing things on, and feeling secure all the time. My insecurities won’t let me.

I mean, they do sometimes, but let’s be honest sometimes they don’t. I love this unique way of tying a white button down. But there are shots I’m not confident to show you (this was not an abs day, and as a human when I bend, my stomach moves, sometimes over my clothes). I spent days thinking maybe I should reshoot, or look into those retouching services. But, as much as I want to portray a perfect, super secure, super Instagram worthy life and outfit to you–this is who I am.

So, how do I deal with my insecurities? Probably not well. Let’s be frank with each other, dealing with insecurities is hard. One day it’s super easy. One day it’s super hard. I wish that I had a magic wand and could tell us secrets, but I can’t.

If I could, I would easily make our insecurities go away. We would see ourselves for the beautiful and amazing creatures that we are. Wine would make us lose weight, for real. Calories wouldn’t matter. Gucci shoes would be a lot cheaper than they are (ok, that’s not an insecurity, but if we’re dreaming, let’s shoot for the fences).

I’m still waiting on magic wands and affordable Gucci shoes, so I will share what I do know. We are beautiful. We are worthy. And if you love an outfit, it doesn’t matter than your stomach moves with your body. Also, if you fake that you can deal well with your insecurities, you can be that woman in Starbucks (at least for a minute, we can do anything for a minute).

The best way I know how to deal with insecurities? Amazing fashion. So, let’s chat about that!
I saw this way to tie a white button down on Instagram and had to try it-using the top button, button down as far as you like, then pull the sides back, tie, and twist up. I love it with a pencil skirt–and I love a classic pencil skirt in a great bold color. I like to think that these wedges balance the fact that it’s fall and it’s 90 degrees outside, they may not.

Even when I looked at these pics that sparked my insecurities, I loved wearing this outfit. I felt good in this outfit. Isn’t that what matters.

Side note: Maybe choosing to feel good is the best way to deal with our insecurities. What do you think?

Shop my picks below:

XO RA

There’s smoke in the distance, danger in the air, and someone in distress. People are waiting for a hero to swoop in and save them. Then out of the blue, flies in a hero with a cape to save the day. Superwoman? BatGirl? No, it’s you! You are able to be your own hero and it saves you!

One of the best pieces of advice that I think we can get in life is to be your own hero; or as Nora Ephron put it, “Be the heroine of your own life”. It can be cliche, it can be Pintrest-y, but loves, it can be true. We are conditioned to think of heroes as these big, larger than life characters, that often have super powers, and save people from life or death situations. And yes, we are also conditioned to think of teachers as heroes (and they are!), but we don’t watch movies about them (the fact that we should is a post for another type of blog).

So, what does it mean to be your own hero? Does it have to be big? What if being your own hero simply means showing up for yourself? If day in and day out, you can manage to be kind to yourself, you can manage to work to give yourself what you need, and if you can stand up for yourself: you are a hero. None of that is easy. We work to be able to do that for ourselves, and here’s the thing: I think that’s heroic. No one but you can take care of you, and showing up for yourself (and others, if you’re able), is something to be proud of! In fact, you deserve a cape!

I don’t think it’s a secret that I’m a fan of capes (see here, here, and here, with more under our search bar!), but this cape is a little different. I found this fun number in the little girl section of Target (pro-tip, there’s a chance you fit in kid’s clothes and that’s not something to shy away from), and I fell in love. The colors, the star, the length. Cheeky? Yes. But what hero isn’t a little cheeky at times? I’ve worn it over my swimsuit at the pool, and out for dinner. It’s a showstopper, and makes me feel good. And that’s some heroics I can get behind.

And these jeans? Some of my new faves for fall! I broke down and tried AYR, an affordable but luxurious line from a JCREW alum, and they are amazing–I’ve lived in them! The perfect amount of stretch, they hit me just right, and this wash goes with everything!

Real talk? A hero cape may be a little much for you, maybe you don’t want to wear a big star on your back, but because you’re a hero, I think you deserve something to celebrate that. What does that mean to you?

XO RA

Shop my picks below:
Including these exact pieces!

Loves, Equipment is one of my favorite brands: from the softest silk you’ve ever felt to amazing cashmere to dresses and seperates that are effortlessly chic, there’s something for everyone. And if you’re in the market for any of those things, you’re in luck! This weekend is Equipment’s Friends and Family Sale, where everything is 25% off (some restrictions apply). I’ve linked some of my favorite pieces below, you can find yours here!

Happy Shopping!

XO RA