April Showers

Last weekend Virginia had some crazy storms & the temperature has been up & down all week.  I am hoping it settles down into a calm Spring  soon with nice 70 something days.  I am also hoping there won't be to many April Showers but just in case I have come up with the perfect rainy day look with Friday Fancies this week.

Part of being British means you should be prepared for April Showers all year round.  It also means Wellies (rain boots) & trench coat's are wardrobe staples for necessity not a fashion statement.  My Dad thinks its funny that the local college girls wear Hunters even when its not rainy. Clearly he doesn't understand fashion trends.  

Being 5'2 I can't wear knee length trench coats without them looking like they drown me, so when I saw this Burberry coat I fell in love.  The detailing is classic yet modern & the length much more appropriate for us shorties.  The Red Hunters provide a great contrast to the navy jacket & I thought the striped top was a lovely compliment to overall look without being to casual. 

Don't forget to visit {av} over at {longdistanceloving} to see lots of fashionable rain wear!

Have a great weekend!!

One Week Today

One week today I officially take the Pledge of Allegiance & become a dual Citizen!  I can't wait, the long process was definitely worth it, however I am so glad its almost over.

My family will be driving to Abingdon, VA to take the oath & then we are having lunch at the Martha Washington Hotel.  Seems rather fitting to dine in the hometown of the Original First Lady.  

The one thing I am not excited it about it picking an outfit! Part of me wants to really go all out.  This is one of the most important days of my life so far & should be celebrated.  Another part of me wants to go low key & then there's the part me that thinks I should rock the flag!

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Ok I am kidding about the flag dress even though this girl looked amazing.  Where as this lady really should get in trouble for ruining the flag!!

 I am leaning towards a classic dress in navy blue & maybe red heels.  What do you think about red might be to cheesy?

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I love the classic look of the first dress but then I love shape of the others & how fun are polka dots?  I always feel retro in them!!

Stike a Pose

I am always on the look out for fab poses that I could use as inspirations for photo/video shoots for Stella Jewelry.  So of course I love the whole concept of Pinterest & making collages in Photoshop.  However, today for the first time in months I picked up a copy Vogue & realized there is nothing like taring pages to save when your creativity is lacking.  

When I combed the pages I was inspired in a whole different way than I am online.  I felt more emotion & connection to the pieces & marketing.  I wanted to rip out all the pages I love & make a scrap book.  Just like when I was a child collecting designer ads & proclaiming I will wear that dress when I am older.  I obsessed over a Escada gown in 1998, I still remember the ad.  It was champagne with a square neckline, very Princess Diana & way to mature for my 16 yr old style.  The model was stunning with glamorous hair standing in front of a bronze wall.  Its funny the things that speak to you & how long your remember them.  I still have a love for square necklines. 

Here's a couple of my fav. shots from the April Vogue (I took pictures of the pages just so I could play with my new Frame Magic App lol).  

Chanel is always a classic, yet this ad combines edge with such timeless pieces, a perfect way to grab my attention!!

How beautiful does Kate Moss look? Shes like a gorgeous statue on the mantle. I am normally not a fan of her but she looks stunning in this spread. Kate Spade also added some edge to her ad's with pink hair with pearls & a trench!

Then there is Victoria, to me she is always perfection!!

Does anyone else still love getting inspiration the old fashioned way?

Coral Again!!

Hope everyone had a great weekend.  I saw 21 Jump Street this evening & was surprised it was so funny!! It was no Hangover but definitely a decent movie if you want some laughs! Channing Tatum in a Uniform isn't a bad reason to see it either!

 

I also spent most of my weekend craving coral pieces for my wardrobe.  After my inspiration board last week I can't get enough of the color.

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I am in desperate need of a new satchel bag for summer & swoon every time I see a Proenza Schouler.  They are the perfect combination of casual, chic & quality.  Of course all of that is reflected in the price!!  I wish I could find something similar that's not $2000.  The other pieces would add so much fun to my closet & be really versatile mixed with classic pieces.

Then there is this Motorcycle Jacket I found on Pinterest, so edgy & girly at the same time!  I'm obsessed!

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 I was so excited when I received my Birchbox this month & it included a full size Essie Luxe effects "as gold as it gets".  So of course I needed to pick up to polish to feed my color obsession!  I choose "A Crewed Interest", its a nice alternative to a classic pink manicure. 

I can't wait to try this combination tonight. 

Happy Monday Everyone!!

March Madness - Friday Fancies

With football soccer being the nations Sport/obsession in England,  the closest we came to Basketball was the Harlem Globetrotters.  Even after 13 years here I still don't know much about the game, except the Kardashian's have a thing for the players.

I however do love Virginia Tech & route for them in any type of game so I put together a Friday Fancies look I would wear had they made the Sweet 16.

Unfortunately, the school colors are Maroon & Orange, generally not a cute look. Then I found this fab motorcycle jacket & thought it was perfect way to represent the team without rocking an ultra casual hoodie.  I paired it with some great True Religion Jeans, a school 

t shirt, Toms flats & a fab satchel bag.

When I designed the earrings above I kept in mind a true Hokie Girl who wants something chic to represent their school.  I would defiantly rock them with my look. 

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend.  If you are in the Roanoke area come to Salem Saturday.  Lots of stores are having a Spring Open House, whats better than spending a Spring Day shopping locally :)

England ~ Part 2

  I love days like yesterday, days where the weather gives me the best of both worlds.  The morning had gorgeous blue skies, perfectly (& unusually) warm.  A  windows down, music up kind of day.  Then this afternoon took me back to England with sudden storms.  The smell of the air after the rain falls evokes childhood memories of running for shelter as we played outside or the miserable times I forgot my umbrella & had to walk home from school soaking wet.

England often gets a bad wrap for its weather, however it gives the little country character & in Spring it gives us this:

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Beautiful Green Grass & bright yellow daffodils are always a sign Spring is here. 

Then in late April come's the stunning periwinkle forests filed with Bluebell's.

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I was lucky enough to live near a small wooded area filed with these beauty's. I remember running through them with no cares in the world!  Ah to be a kid again.  

Hope you all enjoyed your first day of Spring!  I am so glad it time for cute shoes & dresses!  

Coral & Gold

I hope everyone had a fun St Patrick's Day, hopefully you have recovered from all that green beer.  

After seeing all that green I am kind of over the color.  So I spent Sunday looking for inspiration elsewhere on the color spectrum with gold & Coral.

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I have always been a fan of Coral, I think its perfect in summer to brighten an outfit & looks amazing with my favorite color turquoise.  Although, I haven't always been a fan of gold, it is so easy to look cheap or dated when wearing it that I tended to stay away.  However, I cannot get enough of these colors together at the moment. 

My inspiration board lead to a new bracelet design. 

They aren't quite finished yet but I'm loving the contrast of the gunmetal with the neon coral ribbon & the gold leather.

What do you think? I would love your feedback.