Brr! November is here and with that brings crisp (cold?!) days and nights, the last of the leaves changing color and now falling off trees and a mix of weather from sunshine to rain (and possibly snow?) It's that time of year when layering is key and accessories shine like the golden leaves upon the trees. It can also be a bit challenging to get dressed, as the weather can vary day to day, but its not quite time to break out the winter parka.
Today I'm sharing an outfit I see as my go-to a this time of year - an oh-so-soft cashmere turtleneck sweater, black leggings, sustainable pearl and gold earrings, the most comfortable pair of flats, a cozy fleece made from recycled wool, scrunchies made from recycled water bottles and my favorite thrifted crochet bag. The perfect outfit to wear in fall!
2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! To wrap up Earth Month, I'm sharing the story of sustainable and ethical jewelry company, Boma Jewelry! Founded in Seattle in 1981, Boma Jewelry makes high-quality, sustainable and ethical jewelry at affordable prices that is perfect for everyday wear.
Minority owned, operated by women of color, sustainably minded and ethically manufactured, Boma jewelry is gorgeous, good for the planet and I am obsessed! Looking for a gift for upcoming Mother's Day, a loved one in quarantine celebrating a birthday or to treat yo' self?! Boma Jewely is the perfect choice!
The Starburst Sterling Silver Ring With White Topaz has quickly become a daily piece I reach for. Non-toxic, nickel-free and with a genuine white topaz stone, this ring is just stunning! Ethically made in a fair-wage factory by artisans in Thailand and certified 925 recycled sterling silver, I will continue to wear this beautiful piece for years to come.
The Modern Silver Bar Bracelet is also a new favorite. Certified 925 recycled fine sterling silver, ethically made by artisans at a fair-wage factory in Thailand, made with recycled silver (mine-free!), non toxic, nickel-free and hypoallergenic, this bracelet is perfect to wear dressed up or down for everyday wear.
Boma Jewelry is a company doing really great things! They are an ethical and sustainable jewelry company from my hometown I am proud to support and share their story with you.
Ethical Meets Accessible
Founded in Seattle in
1981 with a mission of filling a niche in the market for high-quality,
affordable, ethically made, sterling silver jewelry, Boma Jewelry
is non-toxic, nickel-free and hypoallergenic.
Disclosure:Affiliate
links are occasionally used throughout this site, which means I might
make a small commission if you click on a link and make a purchase.
Thank
you for supporting
Story of My Dress!
Bohème ~ "a person with artistic or literary interests who disregards conventional standards of behavior."
Still seeking a gift this holiday season for a fashionista friend or loved one who dreams of days in a hippie chic atmosphere, such as Ibiza, and prefers an alternative crowd of artists, musicians, beatniks and creatives? This gift guide is for you!
In this Gift Guide: Fashion Lover Bohème, find gifts that have that special bohème vibe for those fashionistas that move to their own beat and follow their own path. These gifts are perfect for the free spirit fashionista in your life!
Disclosure:Affiliate links are occasionally used throughout this site, which means I might
make a small commission if you click on a link & make a purchase. Products gifted are marked c/o. Thank you for supporting
Story of My Dress! All thoughts are
my own!
I can't believe it's already been almost a year since S and I got married! It's been such a beautiful year and I wake up so grateful every single day for marrying the love of my life. We just got back from our Honeymoon in the Greek Islands (post coming soon!) and we are currently planning our 1 year anniversary, eek!
I also can't believe it's been a year since we were wedding planning. For the year leading up to our wedding, planning for the big day pretty much consumed all we did from choosing my dress to creating our website to putting together a wedding day emergency kit.
After choosing my dream wedding dress, on the to do list was to choose my wedding day accessories and jewelry. One thing that was really important to me in choosing what I wore for tying the knot was choosing not to wear things I would only wear for a few hours on one day of my life and then just put in a box somewhere and maybe pull out every now and then for nostalgia.
As such, I really took into consideration what I would wear alongside my dress and made a plan for incorporating them into my wardrobe after the big day. And today, I'm sharing those tips with you!
Tips for Reusing Your Wedding Day Jewelry & Accessories Beyond Your Big Day ~
Disclosure:Affiliate links are occasionally used throughout this site, which means I might
make a small commission if you click on a link and make a purchase. Items gifted and sent for editorial consideration are marked c/o. Thank you for supporting
Story of My Dress!
This is a bit of a denim story. It's also a bit of a love letter to a customized tee and an adoration of a soft and lovely cashmere sweater. At the end of winter, with spring on the horizon, I am finding joy in beautiful pieces of clothing that are the softest, the coziest, the comfiest, of the highest quality and fit just so perfectly.
Disclosure:Affiliate links are occasionally used throughout this blog, which means I might
make a small commission if you click on a link. Thank you for supporting
Story of My Dress!
Dressed in festive cocktail attire, aka my new favorite vintage Little Black Dress, I recently had the opportunity to attend the Blue Nile Holiday Party at the Hotel Theodore Penthouse. A stunning location, the new Hotel Theodore in downtown Seattle is a place you need to add to your bucket list for places to stay; I felt so lucky to spend a few hours in their gorgeous penthouse for the party.
Drinks and light bites were provided by Ryder, Hotel Theodore's in-house restaurant. I, of course, enjoyed a glass of bubbly to peruse the beautiful jewelry on display from Blue Nile (I've shared a few of my top picks below perfect for Valentine's Day or for Treating Yo' Self!). My wedding ring and a number of my favorite pieces of jewelry are all from Blue Nile, including these oh-just-so-lovely emerald earrings (which I shared about recently here).
The party had perfect holiday photo-ready spots at every turn and the views from the penthouse of downtown Seattle were spectacular and nothing but memorable. During the evening we participated in a Blue Nile gift exchange, which allowed for mixing and mingling among the private guest list and was oh-so-fun!
Thank you so much Blue Nile for the invite to your holiday party and my beautiful gold ring, J'adore!
Still contemplating the perfect holiday gift for a loved one? Or perhaps thinking about treating yourself this holiday season? Blue Nile
will make any and all occasions merry & bright! Jewelry is truly
the perfect gift. With sentimental and sparkle going hand in hand,
you'll shine for anyone so lucky to receive such such a present!
I plan to wear my Blue Nile Petite Emerald Floral Stud Earrings
c/o to my husband's company holiday party in a few weeks and just know they will style
perfectly with the little black dress and faux fur wrap I plan to wear.
Holiday party ready!
Disclosure: Affiliate links are used throughout this blog, which means I might
make a small commission if you click on a link. This post contains paid placement and products sent for
consideration; Items gifted are marked c/o. Thank you for supporting
Story of My Dress! All thoughts, as always, are
my own!
Alki Beach is one of my favorite spots in our West Seattle neighborhood. Known for the only sandy stretch of beach in Seattle, a boardwalk, and gorgeous views of the Seattle city skyline; it tends towards a California vibe with summer weekend volleyball tournaments, sunset beach bonfires and coastal beach boutiques.
Just around the bend from the main stretch of Alki the crowds dwindle a bit (especially in summer when Alki can get PACKED) and the less crowded path is perfect for a romp, walk or jog. Marination Ma Kai, one of my favorite Seattle restaurants is on this stretch and I highly recommend the sexy tofu tacos or pretty much anything on their menu for some delicious Hawaiian-Korean cuisine. A perfect spot as a break or destination.
For a recent jaunt to Alki Beach I grabbed my favorite and oh-so-comfortable Aritzia jumpsuit from my closet (sold out, similar).
I truly believe jumpsuits are the perfect alternative to a dress or any
kind of decision related to matching or not matching; just accessorize
and you're good to go.
Disclosure: Affiliate links are used throughout this post. All thoughts are my own!
I am a firm believer in the Brunch. Whether a Sunday brunch with friends, a Saturday brunch with the fam' or a mid-week "let's play hookie" little Saturday (aka Wednesday) brunch with a bestie; brunch is always a good idea. Not breakfast, nor lunch, nor dinner; the brunch is an original with an eclectic personality.
For most brunches, my go-to outfit is a dress, sandals or mules and a favorite bag. I might accessorize with a sunhat and/or sunglasses if the weather is warm and the sun is shining, or add a sweater with a breeze.
However, my go-to outfit for brunch has not been working lately in Seattle. With a constant rain since last fall and temperatures barely crawling above 50, I needed a new go-to brunch outfit stat. With a bit of a surprise, I turned to pieces that tended towards neutral. And when I think neutrals, I typically think fall, not spring.
Well it turns out I love to wear neutrals in spring too! Neutrals are great pieces to have in your wardrobe for year-round and in no way need to be limited by season. Pairing well with other neutrals or colors, they provide flexibility no matter the situation.
For cooler temps, wind that is not just a breeze and overcast days,
layers are key. For a recent brunch with friends at Luna Park Cafe in
West Seattle, I turned to a few of my closet staples and wardrobe
favorites: a fisherman sweater from Madewell, faux leather leggings from
Zara, a MaxMara Safari Jacket I've had forever and a vintage leather
bag I found at a thrift shop on the California coast when we lived in
Half Moon Bay.
I paired these closet favorites with
a few recent additions to my wardrobe: Earrings and Necklace c/o
Rebekah J Designs, dv Kenli perforated mule booties from Target and Gap
Aviator Sunglasses. Both the Paths Between Necklace and Fortunate
Earrings are from Rebekah J Designs' fragment Collection. Rebekah J Designs is based in West Seattle and all her pieces are stunning!
One of my favorites, the Paths Between Necklace
by Rebekah J Designs, is perfect for layering with other jewelry or as a
stand alone piece. Cast in brass and hung from a 14k gold fill chain,
the necklace is a great reminder that "there's more than one route to
take you there", no matter where 'there' may be.
Another favorite, the Fortunate Earrings
by Rebekah J Design are hand carved with texture on one side and
polished on the other. An elevated take on your everyday basic hoop,
they're the perfect way to remember that "sometimes it's the simplest
things that remind us how fortunate we really are."
And as a special offer for Story of My Dress readers, you can take 20% off all Rebekah J Designs products on www.rebekahjdesigns.com! Just use code STORY20!
It's the 6 month countdown until S and I say "I Do"! And 6 months since S dropped down on one knee and proposed at sunset on a Washington Coast beach. We were out for one last end-of summer camping trip and it was absolutely perfect. Accompanied by a bottle of wine, we were enjoying a sunset beach bonfire (yes, you can really have a campfire right on the beach of the pacific ocean coast!) and breathing in that gorgeous salty fresh beach air. As the sun dipped just below the horizon, he pulled me towards the Pacific Ocean and dropped down on one knee. It was utterly romantic and I, of course, said an immediate YES!
Since it was late at night, we were out of cell phone range and on West Coast time with alot of our family in the Midwest and on the East Coast, we chose to wait til the drive home to share the news. We had over 12 hours to just savor the moment, start dreaming of our wedding and celebrate just the two of us!
Since those 12 hours, we have been fully immersed in wedding planning. Beginning with phone calls to friends and family to share the news and resulting in questions of when, where, etc. . . right away, I have realized planning a wedding really is a full time job, even if you're working with a wedding planner or coordinator! With 6 months down and 6 months to go, I thought now would be the perfect time to share 6 things I found were super important to do right away after I got engaged. And of course a huge congrats!
Happy New Year! I cannot believe it's 2017 and the year S and I are getting married! That's right, he put a ring on it! I am just loving being engaged and am currently in full wedding planning mode; seriously so excited for the year ahead. Over the holidays I took some time out from the family festivities and wedding planning madness to visit LT Denny Jewelers in Pioneer Square and play dress up with FireCushion Diamonds. Because who can resist the opportunity to play dress up with diamonds? Definitely not me!
As a lover of jewelry since the days of playing dress up in my Grandmother's closet as a child, jewelry definitely tops my Christmas list this year. From necklaces to earrings to bangles to rings, I'm doing my best to stay on Santa's nice list and hoping my stocking is full of sparkle, and gifts under the tree full of shine!
Disclosure:Affiliate links are used in this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
I was recently invited to a dinner at London Plane to welcome Kendra Scott to the Pacific Northwest! That's right, one of my favorite jewelry designers recently opened her first store in the #PNW and I am beyond excited! Kendra Scott's beautiful, handcrafted jewelry utilizes natural stones to create timeless pieces that are perfect for gifting or treating yourself! And this week is the official grand opening celebration and you're invited!
Kendra Scott's new store at Bellevue Square is seriously the stuff that dreams are made of. With a custom color bar option right in store, you can design your own jewelry from hundreds (thousands?!) of options including style, metal and stone. Or browse the new home goods line and matching jewelry sets (I am in love with the Elle earrings in tan banded agate, #wishlist!). There is also a bridal section, which I am definitely eyeing for my September wedding!
Founded on the principles of fashion, family and philanthropy, Kendra Scott operates out of Austin, Texas and was founded in 2002 by Kendra Scott only 3 months after her son was born with just $500! She began by selling her jewely door to door and quickly found success. Last year Kendra Scott donated $1M and 50,000 pieces of jewelry while working with over 1k local and national organizations! Talk about how doing good never goes out of style!
The Kendra Scott welcome dinner at London Plane was so delicious (London Plane is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle!) and we (myself alongside other Seattle women influencers) enjoyed learning a little bit about Kendra Scott, sipping bubbly, mingling and of course gazing and gaping at all the pretty Kendra Scott jewels! It was a truly lovely evening!
And now it's time for the official grand opening of the Kendra Scott store at Bellevue Collection and you're invited! All the details on the Grand Opening Party following the break, including how to RSVP. Hope to see you there!
I am all about the 70's as we find ourselves fully immersed in the season of Autumn. From laced-up shift dresses to chunky gold sandals, I am playing up that 70's style with all glam details.
Of original boho origins and 1970's inspired style, the laced-up trend is so on point for Fall with numerous ways to incorporate it into your look; think boots, tops, dresses and more. Whether exposing just a touch of cleavage or placed on the side of a dress, laced up details provide that just-so bit of allure that is chic and playful.
It's super easy to take the lace-up trend and dress it up or down. For a recent visit to the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle for some shopping and dining, I styled the TOBI Better Off Lace UP Shift Dress with a pair of Gold Chunky Sandals by Sigerson Morrison, Tag Earrings by Seattle-based Lucia K Jewelry, a pair of Miu Miu Sunglasses and a bag brought back from Italy.
As the weather grows cooler I plan to pair this dress with tights or leggings and trade my sandals for a pair of over-the-knee boots. This dress is also perfect for styling over flared denim and clogs for true 70's style and stepping out all laced up for Autumn!
I am a huge fan of ripe berry shades as we move into Fall. Hand selected by Neiman Marcus Fashion Director Ken Downing as one of the season's most important trends, ripe berry shades perfectly compliment fall florals, everything velvet, and of course all the embellishments. With fall arriving and summer slowly fading, I am just loving this All Tied Up Shift Dressfrom TOBI in Wine.
I want all thing things, it's Nordstrom Anniversary Sale time! Each and every year I look forward to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, because the deals! This year I have my eye on some pre-fall items including lots of denim, hats, dresses and a new handbag, please.
While it's nice to escape the City for a little adventure, there is also something to be said about spending the summer in the city. Whether it involves a glass of wine at the new Thomspon Hotel rooftop bar, a walk along Alki Beach at sunset, or a bit of shopping at University Village, there is just something magical about a summer in Seattle. The days are longer, the sun shines bright (most days) and the light breeze off Puget Sound calls for off the shoulder dresses, bags that pop with color, ballet flats and unique jewelry.
Seattle might seem a bit off the map for fashion compared to say LA or NYC, but truth be told some of fashion's biggest insiders hail from this West Coast City including Ken Downing, Fashion Director of Neiman Marcus, who grew up in the south end of Seattle. Mr. Downing was recently back in Seattle for a trend report and fashion presentation at Neiman Marcus Bellevue and I was oh so lucky to be invited to join him for an intimate conversation while he prepped for the presentation.
I recently had the opportunity to attend the VIP party to celebrate the 2-yr Anniversary of the Moorea Seal Belltown boutique in Seattle! As you know, I am a HUGE fan of Moorea Seal (have you seen her Pinterest?!). As such, I was so honored to be invited to the celebration and had so much fun at the festivities!
Welcome to summer in Seattle, where one day it's overcast and barely hitting 60 and one day later it's 90+ degrees! These past few days we've been hitting close to 90 and I have to admit I'm melting a bit. It was a quick jump with little time to acclimate and although I am one that adores the heat, I am struggling a bit to keep up. To help stay cool I am living in my favorite summer classics: vintage Levis denim cutoffs, Birkenstocks, and my favorite Isabel Marant top from a few seasons ago.
