Lately, you’ve been seeing a lot of style posts from me. I can’t say I’ve always been into fashion. It was only, just recently, that I found the whole fashion industry interesting. I love spotting trends and I love the artistic element in it like the stunning sparkly dresses we saw at Chanel or the beautiful flower embroidery at Gucci.
A few months ago, I had this idea to start a clothing line based on one item of clothing. I started spotting it everywhere. I own 20 pairs of it yet I don’t love any of them. I researched it and found out that the market for it is booming. Now, I’ll leave you in suspense. What fun would that be if I told you the whole story?
Not sure what to do next, yesterday, during lunch, I asked my mother-in-law and father-in-law for their advice. They said to check out a trade show. I hurried back to my desk and looked up fashion trade shows. It just so happens that one of the top shows is going on right now in Las Vegas.
So where am I going to tonight? MAGIC in Vegas! Let’s pursue this dream. Let’s see where it goes. Will I meet the right people? Can a girl with an far-fetched dream turn it into a reality? Who knows! Wish me luck.
Lately, I’ve been sort of a style kick. You’ll have to excuse me but most of my posts these days are dealing with clothes. One can find a lot of visual inspiration through fashion, trends come and go, it’s fun to see which ones stick. One of the trends I’ve been seeing lately (that I’m loving) is ruffles. Aimee Song of @songofstyle just sported a beautiful black and white ruffle top, but she didn’t state where it came from. After some digging, I think I figured it out – it’s from fashion brand Self-Portrait. Perhaps Song got a custom made top of the design seen above?
Whatever the case, here are some more clothes with ruffles from Self-Portrait.
Here’s how Neiman Marcus describes the brand: “The emerging London-based brand Self-Portrait has impressed style aficionados with its subtle, feminine, and contemporary designs that are luxurious yet accessible. Founded by Malaysian-born designer Han Chong, the brand produces beautiful designer dresses that are ideal for social events and parties.”
Though I love the look of high heels, on a day to day basis I’m all about flats. Comfort is key, and now that there are so many cute flats out there it’s easy to wear them all the time. I’m not sure where I got tipped off about Sam Edelman flats but they’re by far the cutest and most comfortable flats I’ve ever seen. They look like ballerina slippers, so they have that classic feel to them. Amazon is selling them in a ridiculous amount of colors. I bought a basic black pair about six months ago, they’re my go-to shoes almost every day. Just a few days ago, I decided to spice things up and get the Pink Garnet pair (see above), they’re a pretty fuchsia color. I’d love to buy them in rose gold but I can’t seem to find them anywhere.
Amazon took me to Zappos to buy the shoes. They cost about $70 but they’re a great investment given how comfortable and versatile they are.
Lately, I’ve noticed a huge trend toward products made in the color metallic rose gold. (I’m dying my hair that same color, in case you didn’t know.) I’ve seen the color pop up in fashion, home decor and even on nails so today I thought I’d bring together some classic ways to incorporate this beautifully stunning color into your life.
Cloud Dancer Flat in Rose Quartz
I have my eye on these affordable flats. They’re “super sleek and chic metallic flat with an open design and a pretty pointed toe. Padded at the footbed for an effortless, comfy step.”
According to this news article, the pom-pom trend officially started back in 2015, when Fendi created a keychains made of pom-poms and googly eyes. “It” girl Cara Delevingne was often spotted with her Fendi “bag bug” around. In the summer of 2016, the trend exploded and now, it’s been incorporated into a lot of everyday shops, like J.Crew and Asos. Sure, one search of “pom pom clothes” on Pinterest and you can see garish examples of how some companies overkilled the trend but for the most part, when done right, pom-poms are here to stay. (That’s right, I said it!) And why not? It’s playful and fun and it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Today, I thought I’d round up some sweet and subtle ways to incorporate the pom-pom trend into your wardrobe. On a side note, you may be thinking, “I could do this with some pom-poms I could buy at the dollar store!” Yes, you probably could. May these examples inspire you!
Pitusa Pom Pom Festival Dress
This white dress is lined with colorful pom-poms. Since it’s only one-size, it looks like something you could just slip on.
Aquazzura Pom Pom Flat Sandals
If there’s one shoe that does pom-poms right, it’s these found on ShopBop. Yes, they’re incredibly expensive at $735 but, then again, they’re so popular they sold out!
Pom sweater at Bleeker St. in Melbourne
Bri Emery of DesignLoveFest found this adorable pom-pom sweater at a vintage store called Bleeker St. in Melbourne. The black sweater is adorned with colorful pom-poms. Too bad I can’t find it online!
Catarzi Straw Hat with Pom Pom Trim
An Asos exclusive, this cute straw hat would look cute at a music festival, wouldn’t it? Here, I like how it’s paired with a rainbow belt.
Pixie Market Chambray Tassel Pants
Though I’d call these more tassels than pom-poms, they kind of look the same. Again, sad that these are sold out. Guess we missed the boat on this one!
Nannacay Joana Multi Medium Tote
Blair Eadie of the blog Atlantic Pacific shows off this fun tote. It looks like the perfect size, a bag you can take anywhere.
Sophie Pom Pom Earrings
These drop earrings are in a color combination I love, gold and pink. They look slightly retro, which I like, too.
Navy Pom Pom Knit Sweater
I actually own this sweater. Do you remember me mentioning it in this post? The sweater is a little boxy but I love how the white pom-poms stick out of the sweater. I feel whimsical wearing it.
After having two kids, I have resigned to the fact that I will no longer be a size six again. (Well, not in the near future. Let’s have some hope) For about three years after I had my second son, Logan, I dressed in the standard: black leggings and long shift dress with no shape. I guess you could say I was embarrassed of my body, the bulge in my belly, the extra padding in my bum. Then, one day while I was having a conversation with my therapist, and I realized that how you feel about yourself all comes from within and that you can be stylish and confident at any size. So now I buy a size 10 or a large and I’m loud and I’m proud!
Last winter, I was all about Boden. They were having a 40-50% off sale that caught my attention so I bought eight dresses that cost me from $30 to $130 dollars each. I couldn’t be happier with the quality and fit. For those of you out there who shop at J.Crew, make sure to check out Boden, too.
Alas, this post is about a new beginning. I signed up to receive a bag at thredUP so that I can sell my old clothes there that I’ve either never worn or that no longer fit. Out goes the old, in goes the new, right?
So, I checked out J.Crew today and was pleased to see that they’re having a great sale with an extra 40% off all final sale items. Of course, while I was poking around I came across some full cost items that were calling my name so I splurged on those, too. Now, by no means am I a shopaholic or a fashionista, but I do appreciate anything pretty (usually pink), bright pops of color and timeless pieces. Lately, I’ve been all about colorblocking so I’ve been picking out vibrant shoes and accessories. Here are the nine items that were either on sale or I splurged on at J.Crew.
Collection Olivia topcoat with grosgrain ribbon
I bought this coat in the candy pink color. I need a warm jacket for the winter and just looking at this makes me happy. It was hard deciding between the gray and pink one. I love that the gray one has that cool bright blue color on the backside of the collar.
Linen peplum dress
I love how this has a simple silhouette but has that feminine ruffled flair at the hip. I got it in white so that I could dress it up with bright, poppy heels.
Signet bag in Italian leather
Right now I carry a big tote bag with me to work. Granted, I need it to carry my big planner and camera but on the weekends or days off it would be nice to carry something smaller. This bag looks like it would be the perfect size and shape. Great color combo here. Eyeing the pink and the colorblock one, too. Too bad the red one is sold out.
Colette suede d’Orsay pumps
This is a classic pump but the bright blue/purple color gives it a nice modern twist.
Ryan sunglasses
I’ve been looking to buy a good pair of sunglasses that are not too expensive. I don’t like sunglasses with huge logos displayed on the sides. I’m a sucker for anything pink and pretty so these cat eye glasses grabbed my attention.
Tippi turtleneck sweater in stripe
I like how this isn’t your average colored turtleneck. The red and purple combination gives it some edge.
Lea ballet flats in suede
As much as I think heels look nice on a woman, I cannot for the life of my wear them. I’m more of a flats type of girl. With so many choices out there now, I think it’s easy to still look cute in them. I like how this pair is in soft suede and how it’s in two shades of pink. (Yes, I love things that are pretty.)
Elsie cap-toe pumps
Ok, here’s an exception to my heels rule. (See above.) This pair of shoes was the most expensive item on my list. You know when you see a pair of shoes and you just have to have them? I love the color combination, how the pink and red compliment each other. It’s fresh and modern.
The Tippi Sweater in embroidered stars
I saw this in the J.Crew catalog and loved the fact that it had embroidered gold stars. It was so popular on the J.Crew website that it sold out so I found it on Ebay instead.
For those of us who love everything in the store Design Within Reach, but can’t afford to buy from there, here’s some exciting news. Dwell recently collaborated with Target to create a home product line that’s modern but that won’t break the bank. Designed by Target and Dwell’s co-directors of product design, the 123-piece collection has prices ranging from $50 to $400 for furniture and $20 to $100 for decor and accessories. Not bad, right?
As Mark Tritton, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at Target, stated, “Many of our guests have told us they want to add a modern aesthetic into their environment, but they want it to be easy and, just as important, affordable. That’s a challenge we were happy to accept. With our friends at Dwell Magazine, we’ve created a line that captures modernism beautifully. The collection is a great complement to our current assortment – it’s stylish, high quality and the prices are great. I know our guests are going to love it.”
I love the stylized pictures Target released that show the items together. I’m a big fan of modern chairs so the lounge chair in white is just calling my name. I love how each piece is sleek and devoid of any busy patterns. The patio set is particularly pretty with gray and white seating and copper lanterns. That large planter looks so simple but it’s so elegant, too. Below are a few of my favorite items.
My sister, Grace, surprised me with a gift yesterday. I wasn’t expecting anything, in fact, when she handed me this big pink box I wondered, “What could be so heavy?” It happened to be this thing called The Happiness Planner, a 2017 planner that’s not only beautiful but inspirational!
Though it comes in a few different colors, the pink/white/gold one is the prettiest. Inside the box, you’ll find these free flowing pamphlets that invite you to reflect on your life. Here’s just a few of them:
My Goals
2016 Reflections
My New Year’s Resolutions
My Bucket List
2017 Vision Board
In 2017 I Will…
Of course, the planner itself is the best part. At the very beginning, there’s a Happiness Roadmap, several exercises to help you reflect on yourself. They’re designed to get you to think about what makes you happy and fulfilled. The goal is to plan ahead, for the next 12 months, and mindfully integrate good habits into your daily life.
Now, for the meat of it. The planner is divided up by month. You first get a general month calendar, then a month “plan” where you can set personal and work goals, and finally there’s a sheet of paper for each day of the year. At the very top, there’s an inspirational quote and then you can fill in your schedule and to-do list. At the bottom of the page, you can write what you’re grateful for and what you hope for tomorrow.
I’m a Google Calendar-type of girl but I’m going to use both of the calendars simultaneously this year. Google Calendar is great because it reminds me of all my appointments, (and I can see Sam’s) , but I’m looking forward to carrying this new “buddy” around with me to work on bigger “stuff” like goals and self-reflection.
Here’s a few things the planner is meant to do:
“You will wake up everyday thinking about things that excite and inspire you.”
“You will end each day feeling grateful by thinking about the good things that happened.”
“You will focus on making each day a good day instead of worrying far too much about the future or thinking too much about the irreversible past. Eventually you will become more mindful and live in the present.”
I was using this gradient planner until Grace introduced me to this one. You’ll get the most out of it if you set aside some time to really think about the answers to their questions. Like most things, the more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it.
It’s not often that wedding photos stop me in my tracks. Photographer Jess Barfield can be credited for taking these wedding photos that incorporate negative space. (They remind me of Max Wanger’s photos.) The unique floral installations juxtaposed on the front of the all-white barn adds a dramatic touch. Of course, the bride is beautiful in her geometric-inspired dress and her bright red lips. I love it when a bride looks modern but timeless at the same time.
Recently, Style Me Pretty listed negative space as one of the top wedding trends you’ll see everywhere in 2017. Event Design + Styling company, Bird of a Feather Events was in charge of this dreamy wedding. Here’s what they said about negative space in wedding photography, “I think we will see more and more flower arrangements and tablescapes with negative space as part of the design. We are already seeing this in florals as the Ikebana style of arranging florals is becoming more popular within the industry.”
Like many moms, I love dressing my kids. Problem is that I’m attracted to basic clothes with bright colors. Sometimes that just means pairing a plain white t-shirt with green shorts. Who knew it would be that hard to find a good, basic white t-shirt? I’ve scoured the internet for it, checking the Gap, J-Crew and Amazon for something that’s good quality yet affordable. Though I love J-Crew’s and Boden’s kids’ clothes, t-shirts usually have big graphics on them or they’re just too expensive.
Enter Primary! Launched in 2015 by two mom entrepreneurs, this website is exactly what I’ve been looking for. This online only shop has been compared to Warby Parker or American Apparel. It only sells basics but in an array of bright colors. Though I haven’t tried them on my kids yet, I did spend a good part of my morning browsing their website. I ended up buying a lot of raspberry and cobalt blue clothes.
Their website is super easy to navigate. You can read a recent Forbes article about this company and a personal review of their clothes on the website Hello, Wonderful.
Here’s their pitch:
“A Happy Revolution in Kids Clothing. No logos, no slogans, no sequins. Just awesome colors in the softest fabrics we could find, all under $25.”
I’m sold!
Here’s a few bonuses:
• Free shipping on orders $50+
• Delivery in 3-5 business days
• Free returns for 90 days
Right now get 20% off your total order by entering code FB20PCT at checkout.
Hello, I’m Alice Yoo! I’m founder and CEO of Skylar Yoo, a company dedicated to inspiring and empowering women to be bold. We sell apparel, art prints and accessories to the modern feminist.
In my former life, I was editor-in-chief of the art and culture blog My Modern Met, which I founded back in 2007. I curated and wrote about art, design and photography for more than seven years. (In fact, I published over 7,000 articles which were seen by millions of people worldwide.) I’m also co-author of a book called For Love: 25 Heartwarming Celebrations of Humanity, which is on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
I live in southern California along with my husband and my two toddler boys.
This blog is about what I love, the tough experiences that I’ve learned from, and my journey as a second time entrepreneur. Right now, I’m in the midst of a 365 day challenge, to read one book a day. If you share my passions or want to learn some cool new facts, come along for the ride. I hope to inspire, educate and entertain you!
