baubles and jewels

in the cross country trek, certain important items just didn't make the cut (my amazing DVD collection, favorite handbags, and my gorgeous headboard to name a few). editing down and cramming my entire life into two suitcases and a carry-on was not easy, and there was one collection that I was not (under any circumstances) willing to part with. 

I was lucky enough to amass quite the collection of incredible jewelry pieces during my time at a M. Flynn thanks to my incredibly generous (and all around fabulous) bosses, all of which came right along with me to california. while I love the look of a fun statement necklace (bauble bar makes some of my favorites- check out my picks from a past sale here), I also gravitate towards daintier necklaces and rings for day to day and bold earrings.

on top of my burea I keep a few trays to collect my most worn pieces- this one from Hudson is one of my favorites and says "as far as I'm concerned leopard is a neutral" (one of my favorite fashion sayings and a sweet gift from a friend). I tend to have a pretty basic colored wardrobe and love to wear a bold earring to jazz up an outfit or add a pop of color (especially peeking out from my long hair)- emerald green from Les Neréides Paris, bronze and clear crystal from Camilla James, pink and multi colored crystals from Erickson Beamon, and gold and champagne crystal from M. Flynn. when it comes to bracelets I love mixing metals and a touch of sparkle- crystal pavé link bracelet from J.Crew, and rose gold and enamel bangle from Henri Bendel. the three dainty rings are each sentimental and are perfect when I want to switch out from my everyday ring- gold bow ring from Kate Spade, pearl ring from Kauai, and gold palm tree from a friend. my standard necklace switches between this rose gold and diamond bar, a sweet parting and birthday gift from my wonderful bosses, or this "charm" necklace with my baby claddagh ring, a blessed Italian horn from Florence, and a vintage chain from my mom.

and on the other end of the spectrum, are my favorite statement necklaces that make the outfit and are a great way to look effortlessly pulled together (with almost zero time and effort)- gold multi strand necklace from M. Flynn, brass triangular necklace from Camilla James, pink and crystal multi strand necklace from Nordstrom, gold triangle necklace from Karen London, and gold and enamel necklace from House of Harlow.

are you someone that likes to jazz up an outfit with fun accessories, or do you tend to let your clothes speak for themselves?

xx, marissa

summer stock up sale: j.crew

while every store has started with it's fall collections, and every blogger (including this girl) has started with their fall looks/favorites, the end of summer is the perfect time to scope out sale sections of your favorite stores and stock up on summer staples for super cheap. right now j.crew has 30% off sale (awesome) and an additional 50% off select items (holy amazing!). here are some of my favorite picks for clothes that are perfect for transitioning between the hot muggy summer and cool fall, and to pull out next spring/summer for almost new pieces.

do you stock up for the next year at the end of the season?

xx, marissa

closet classics: chambray shirt

there are certain clothing pieces that should be staples in your closet (regardless of your age, career, or style), and the chambray shirt is absolutely one of them. I find myself wearing mine when I'm being super casual, and also when I'm more put together. they are insanely comfortable, and look good with just about anything that you pair it with. I've paired a classic chambray shirt from the Gap with two different looks, one for a more casual day (a weekend, running errands, working from home, or going to class) and one for a more put together day (wearing to work, out to lunch, a bridal/baby shower, first date, meeting the parents).

casual day: I love the idea of the classic chambray paired with a pair of basic black Pixie Pants from J. Crew. not only are they super comfortable, but they also look so much more put together than a pair of black leggings. perfect for errands, running around town, or for any day. I paired them with a pair of leopard mohair flats from Steve Madden that are my new obsession. I have a pair of smoking slippers that are super similar from a few seasons ago that are my go-to flat. some people may be scared off by the leopard print, but I'm a person who totally considers leopard a neutral; and a fun shoe kicks this basic outfit up a couple notches. even on a casual day, a girl can never be without a fun pop of color and jewels; I went with a bright pink Butter gloss from NYX and my favorite sparkly Pavé Link Bracelet from J. Crew.

dressier day: while I love chambray worn casual, my favorite way to wear this shirt is tucked into a high waisted a-line skirt. for this look I went with a pleated rugby skirt from the Gap in great neutral cream and tan stripes. I paired that with a perfect everyday pair of leather wedges from Steve Madden in the same neutral tan. this style shoe is one of my favorites, perfect for day or night, and can be dressed up or dressed down (and the slight wedge makes them super comfortable if you're wearing them all day for work, or out for drinks after). since the rest of the outfit is super neutral, I went with a bright orange/red Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick from Stila for a fun pop of color. a great tip if you're going out right from work and your makeup is looking a bit worn, add a fun pop of color to your lips and look instantly pulled together and chic! and finally for a bit of sparkle, because everyone needs a bit of sparkle, I went with a pair of my favorite Opal Cushion Blings from JoJo Loves You- a great neutral that you'll get tons of wear out of.

what's your favorite way to wear chambray? are you more of a casual girl, or do you like to mix the basic with something more girly?

xx, marissa

summer style: dresses

my absolute favorite aspect of summer is living in dresses. simple, patterned, bright, lacy- anything and everything. these are a few that I'm considering adding to my growing collection. I love the shape and neckline of this mermaid colored dress- something I could wear to work on a Friday, and out for drinks/dancing after. everything about this neon lace dress screams me. I love the sheer panel on top, and the fitted bottom- but the color is amazing (also available in a coral and mid-toned blue if neon isn't your thing). this simple linen dress is great for a casual option- and can be dressed up with fun accessories or thrown over a bathing suit after a day at the beach. and this patterned dress is easy and breezy, and the colors are great with a tan. perfect for an outdoor party/bbq or a night out on a patio/rooftop.

what kind of dress gal are you; maxi, mini, midi, patterned, or plain?

xx, marissa