And just like that.. we’re off! Well actually not just like that. After my half marathon on Saturday I came down with a stomach bug on Monday that left me hanging on for dear life right up until Tuesday night.. with a 9:30 AM flight on Wednesday that we had no idea if we’d even make. So really Adam should be writing this ‘What’s in my Suitcase’ post because he is in fact the one that packed every last thing as I dictated to him from what felt like my death bed. Miraculously, I am on the mend now and we managed to make this morning’s flight bound for LA and Palm Springs. Suffice to say more than ready to spend a few days in the sun and watch one of my very dearest friends get married.
Be sure you’re following along on Instagram (and IG stories!) to get snippets of our trip as it happens and in the meantime – here’s almost everything that’s in my suitcase. From a bold yellow one shoulder dress just begging for a margarita to pool-ready sandals and shades to the chicest printed trousers and an essential wide brim hat. I packed more color and fun into one suitcase than my wardrobe has seen in months. Can’t wait to share all the full looks with you soon! Until then – consider this my out of office.
After seemingly months of being drawn to nothing but neutrals – I’m suddenly craving rich, vivid color. Since it’s officially spring now (feel free to catch up any time now weather), I think it’s officially time to indulge. First up on my radar – marigold yellow. Try wearing this color – in a breezy eyelet top, swinging pom earrings or cool suede sneakers – and not feeling happy.. I dare you.
I recently picked up this embroidered detail blouse and when I went to find it online for you all realized that it had quickly sold out (the one shoulder version or dress version are still available though). After searching ‘stripe off the shoulder top’ to find something similar, approximately 1 million cute options appeared. It’s worth stating – this look is having a major moment. Since I’ve already got this one, I’m not sure that I can indulge in another, but you all should take full advantage of the plethora of affordable options. Here – just a few:
Each year, Pantone dubs a particular shade their color of the year and for 2017 they’ve named ‘Greenery’ – a bright, lush shade of green meant to represent the comfort and reassurance of nature during an otherwise tumultuous political and social climate. While I typically don’t wear a lot of the color green I love the thought behind the shade this year and whether it’s bringing in more live plants to our apartment (these little pots would be cute in a row) or adding small doses mixed with neutrals in my wardrobe (this shift dress does a great job at mixing in other colors), I’m definitely going to be finding ways to incorporate the hue. Below – a few top picks.
While I definitely have fun switching up my costume jewelry to match the trends of each season, the pieces that I wear on a daily basis – and are easily the most meaningful ‘fashion items’ that I own – are all fine jewelry. From a custom-made ring that spells out my last name in precious stones to a thin gold band passed down to me from my favorite great Aunt, there are pieces that I’d be devastated to lose. Fine jewelry, unlike almost any other wearable item, just feels so incredibly sentimental and long-lasting.
Which is why it’s important to protect it – and where Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company comes in. Accidents can happen no matter how careful we are. My late grandmother infamously threw away her own un-insured wedding ring and I once helped a friend search through gravel for hours after losing a brand new diamond stud earring that she’d yet to insure… and we never found it. There’s really no excuse for not having jewelry protection. Jewelers Mutual offers repair/replacement (including worldwide travel coverage!) for all types of jewelry and watches whether it’s been lost, stolen, damaged or just plain mysteriously disappeared.
So now that you know how to protect it – comes the fun part. Shopping for it (or hint, hint.. sending this post to someone who needs a little extra guidance in shopping for you!). Below, a few handy tips to picking the perfect fine jewelry gift this time of year. PLUS! Enter here for a chance to win a $1,000 jewelry gift card + other great prizes in the Season to Sparkle Sweepstakes from Jewelers Mutual.
To me, the wonderful part of fine jewelry is that it manages to feel timeless yet can be so tied to a particular moment or milestone. Avintage Hermes watch to celebrate a successful year of business or a sapphire studded ring to mark the addition of a new baby to the family. Pieces that will grow with you but will always call to mind special memories of when you first received them.
When looking for myself or for gifts I always look for that extra sentimental factor. I just got these Zodiac element studs in 10karat – one Air sign for Adam who is a Gemini and one Earth sign for my Taurus self to wear as a mismatched pair that represents us as a couple. And I gifted a stack of these sterling silver number rings to my sister on her wedding day (510 for her May 10th anniversary). Symbols, colors and stones are all great ways to add an air of personalization. Aside from that – I look for classic silhouettes that won’t feel aged or go out of style, yet still have details that make them feel modern. These natural pearl studs with minimal gold settings or this abstract diamond cluster necklace are both great examples.
Happy shopping! And don’t forget to add on Jewelers Mutual coverage to really make it a forever gift!
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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
