and my tip of the day for fashion and life in general is…

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Jessica

holiday outfit inspiration

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Jessica

over the past few years, it seems like i’ve been drawn to cream and pink and gold/bronze when it comes to holiday wear. this year, i added some maroon in the mix. one of the best things about having a general color scheme for the holidays is that it makes packing very easy if you’re leaving town, and then you can mix and match your different pieces depending on the occasion.

it’s all about having fun – pairing old pieces with new ones and keeping things interesting with a variety of textures. fur, sequins, lace – i love it all!

here’s a silly little “lookbook” of what i’ll be wearing this holiday season. please ignore any fashion mishaps [ribbons sticking out, etc., which i've already discovered upon reviewing these photos] and my bedhead. [note to self: that model-messy look doesn't work on me...] i went for bare legs in these photos, but i think tights or boots or over-the-knee socks would have looked so cute with these dresses.

i hope this gets your creative juices flowing and helps with some of that last-minute packing!

and some additional accessories, just because i adore them:

xoxo

three outfits, captured.

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Jessica

i’ve never been a fan of the notorious iphone self-portraits in the mirror; however, i’ve had to adjust my thinking lately when taking outfit photos, because there are just those times when a.) i don’t have time to set up the tripod or b.) the weather and/or lighting is bad. not to mention that i don’t have a doting hubby or boyfriend to be the photographer, so sometimes my little apple gem of a phone is the easiest way to snap some self-portraits and document my ensemble.

here are a couple shots of a few of my favorite outfits this season:

{a faded denim shirt with pearl snaps, black jeans, vermillion wedges, a big flower ring, and paper crane earrings made by a friend of my mom’s}

{light faded jeans, a black shirt, a striped black-and-white blazer, metallic boots, a bright floral scarf, my great-grandmother’s monogrammed gold pinkie ring}

{skinny jeans, a lacy tank, a sheer cream tunic, a maroon “bubble necklace,” gold flats with big patterned satin bows}

…oh, and here’s that ring again. it has a habit of appearing on my finger all the time.

;)

that is all.

rainy saturday.

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Jessica

the rain came just in time for my lazy weekend.

now that i finally have a big balcony that overlooks something other than a parking lot, i can sit out there and watch it come down. it is such a lovely thing.

yesterday i had lunch plans with my mom and mimi but decided on a whim to take some outfit photos before i met up with them. i don’t have much experience with outfit photos, nor do i have anyone to take them for me, but i wanted to give it a shot.

the lighting was bad, but it was fun! it’s something to work on.

and i think it’s sort of a rite of passage to take outfit photos with the notorious “blogger bun,” right? ;)

after the camera playing, i met the girls for a delicious lunch and then we went antique shopping in the arts district before they had to head back to mansfield.

i enjoyed the rainy evening in my cozy little apartment.

maybe we can do it all over again today?

xoxo

autumn and mint.

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Jessica

august is approaching quickly, and i’m definitely ready to be in autumn mode. warm colors, scarves, pumpkin-everything, cool weather [although let's be honest here...the fall weather won't hit texas for at least another two months. if we're lucky]. makes me think of school days. good thing i’ll be starting culinary school – i’m not ready to give up that student card just yet!

today i wore a black-and-flower-patterned skirt to work that breathed autumn, and I balanced it out with a still-summery mint-colored stone pendant necklace, perfect for this time when i’m ready for fall clothes but summer is lingering. when you live in a place where it’s over 100 degrees every single day for months at a time [and sometimes longer], you know what i’m talking about. i got both the skirt and the necklace from buffalo exchange, and I paired them with a lace-trimmed cream-colored shirt that i’ve had forever.

the ring i wore was my grandmother’s…when i bought the necklace, i didn’t even think about how well it would go with that fun vintage ring. add some casual brown leather flip-flops and a little brown-berry color to my lips, and i was ready for the day!

xoxo

recipe for the perfect summer outfit

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Jessica

…with a little help from pinterest.

{sincerely, jules}

{hello fashion}

{seams for a desire}

{nette nestea}

{fashion kills}

{mogi-mogi}

{seams for a desire}

{the library}

1. mix and match:

bold southwestern-style patterns

short [but not tight] shorts

printed scarves

boho anything

2. pair with large sunglasses and some fun jewelry

3. carry a neutral-colored handbag

4. throw on your favorite pair of summery shoes -

sandals, wedges, or flats will do.

5. to complete the look,

dust face with bronzer and stick to nude makeup

and keep hair hassle-free -

maybe a bun, a braid, or some natural waves.

{cape cod collegiate}

see?

wasn’t that simple?

xo.

V-Day Dresses

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Jessica

With February 14th a week away, I decided to post a few Valentine’s-Day-worthy dresses that I’ve found. Yes, wearing pink and red for holiday is cliche, but also necessary (at least in the opinion of a true V-Day fan). It’s fun to plan an outfit for the occasion whether you have a date or not! Here are some favorites, depending on which direction you want to go:

Classic…