The New Classic Accessory: Nude Shoes

i have been obsessed with nudes. now before you go there, i'm talking about the color. especially when it comes to my bags and shoes. nude was once "the hottest trend", but in my opinion is now a new "classic". nude shoes really makes sense: they go with anything and everything!

to me, nude refers to different tones, not just one color. when i think of the term, it ranges from a sandy beige to a deep cocoa-- think skintones.




if you pay attention to footwear on the red carpet, you'll notice that most actresses wear nude shoes because it makes legs appear to be longer. there is no break between the leg and shoes if the color matches your skin. nude shoes also offer us gals the reliability of always having the "right shoe" rather than having to hunt down the perfect shoe to go with that new ensemble.




of course, that doesn't mean we have to stop buying those fun, colorful shoes...

here are some examples (getting as close to your own skintone is best, but even if you're off a bit, it will still look chic):


xo

Staying Warm with Cold Weather Accessories

southern california isn't know for super cold weather, but every so often, we experience cold weather that feels downright frosty (all of you who live where it snows, please understand, i'm cold when it's 50 degrees out).

don't get me wrong, i'm definitely not complaining. it was over a hundred degrees only a couple of months ago (i don't miss that at all)! i'm loving the fact that i can wear my coats everyday and my scarves, hats and gloves are getting used. not only to keep me warm, but as a way to pull my look together.

need some new cold-weather accessories? here are just a few (ok, more than a few, LOL) of my picks you might like...


xo

i'm loving: my new statement ring

last weekend i did a little browsing at the mall with my mom and kids. mainly it was her way of getting gift ideas for our family. of course, because my mom is my mom, she ended up buying a few things.




one of those things was this amazing flower ring from a store called Cinderella. if you can believe it, it was my first time in there ever, and i was amazed at all of the fabulous accessories they carried. the ring is metal and has a huge stone in the center. i have no idea who designed this, but i love it. it came in other color combos, but i liked this black one the best.




btw, it just so happens that my hands aren't small and i have long fingers, so wearing larger-sized rings suits them well. this ring is crazy big-- it makes my other "big" rings look small, ha!



thanks mom!

xo
pics taken by me :)

Gossip Girl Style Featuring Winifred Grace and Suzanna Dai

on monday's episode of Gossip Girl, Chuck (Ed Westwick) throws a roaring twenties party to open a club in his new hotel. it was so fun seeing all the costumes and fun accessories that made the party a night to remember...

Taylor Momsen's character, Jenny (above pic, left), wore many necklaces, but it was this Winifred Grace Fringe necklace that added that extra bit of pizazz to her outfit.




Blair (Leighton Meester) chose to wear the uber-impressive St. Petersburg Necklace by Suzanna Dai.

great accessories, don't you think?

xo xo

Spotted on Gossip Girl: Be & D Garbo Satchel

part of the excitment of watching Gossip Girl-- at least for me-- is scoping out the fashion and beauty-related items on each episode.



on tonights ep, queen bee Jenny (Taylor Momsen) will be seen toting Be & D's Garbo Satchel in Black/Nickel. cute, huh?

this isn't the first time the brand has been featured on the show (tonight marks the third time already this season that characters have carried Be & D handbags-- and there's more to come!).


Blake Lively (pictured above, left) carried a Be & D Cosette satchel in Green Python while Joanna Garcia carried the same style in Navy.

tune in to see the Garbo in action-- Gossip Girl airs tonight, and every monday, at 9/8 central on the CW. check your local listings for channel and visit beandd.com to see and shop more of their handbag styles.

xo (xo)

i'm loving: my Vogue Eyewear Sunglasses

after months of practically hunting for a new pair of sunglasses, i finally bought a pair.

seriously.

to be honest, i just couldn't find any i liked (does that ever happen to you?), and i was so sick of what was available at the mall kiosks. when i did finally try on a pair that were fa-bu-lous, they were way more than i wanted to spend (sorry Versace, maybe next time-- ha!).

the other day i went to a local boutique that i thought carried sunglasses. unfortunately, they no longer did, but one of the owners recommended i check out a new place on the mall that recently opened...

inside that shop, Tonalita to be exact, i found a pair of Vogue Eyewear sunglasses that i love! they are perfect for summer-transitioning-into-fall: light and airy looking with a touch of glamour, thanks to the rhinestomes in the sides.

like them? you can find 'em online at sunglasshut.com

xo

fabulous & frugal: Forever 21 Marisella Dangling Earrings

i love chandelier and bigger, dangling-style earrings-- they give any ensemble an added punch of pizazz! i especially love finding inexpensive pairs that will add a pop of shimmer or color to what i'm wearing...

that's where Forever 21 comes in. i can always count on finding great accessories there that won't break the bank. these Marisella Dangling Earrings, for example, caught my eye on their site, so now i need to get to the store to see if i can see them in person. they seem oh-so-perfect-for-summer to me-- like i could wear them with a maxi dress and some huge sunglasses-- don't you think? ;)

xo

Max and Chloe Accessories

if you're ever in the market for a great new accessory or two, check out my new-found online destination, Max & Chloe. on this site you can find everything from earrings to bracelets and rings to pendants. different styles are represented as well, so if you love more classic pieces, you'll find those right along with the more contemporary, trendy stuff.

with many designers represented, the Max & Chloe website manages to be user-friendly and easy to navigate through. they even have a catalog program, so if you're into leafing through glossy pages of pictures, you can do that too.

the site was gracious enough to send me a bracelet (black and gold enamel, pictured above) that i would call a classic piece-- it's something i can definitely see myself wearing now and years down the road. its made by Blu Bijou, a brand that creates pieces ranging from the simple to very eye-catching & bold.

here are some examples of what they carry that are on the more affordable side (becasue i know we're all on some sort of budget these days!):



visit maxandchloe.com to see everything for yourself!

xo