Tuesday Huesday: Get in with the Purple Trend

Happy Tuesday Huesday!  This week I am highlighting the mesmerizing color purple.  From fuchsia to plum, purple is all the rage this season!  The varying shades of this feminine hue are bound to flatter you.  Here are a few ideas on how to get in with the purple trend.

Tuesday Huesday: Get in with the Purple Trend by anderson-mary-h featuring h&m hats

Emilio Pucci F/W 2013/2014

Emilio Pucci F/W 2013/2014

J Crew Tweed Coat, Knit Wool Sweater & Jacquard Pant all in shades of purple for Fall 2013

J Crew Purple & Fuchsia Silk Pant for Fall 2013

                            Forever 21 Disco Baseball Cap             Daniele Michetti Studded Fuchsia Flats for Fall 2013          

 Pierre Hardy Multi-colored High Heel Sandal               Diane von Furstenberg Black & Fuchsia Heel Pumps 

Elie Saab F/W 2013/2014

Elie Saab F/W 2013/2014

Elie Saab F/W 2013/2014

Now that you've had a taste of its many shades from fuchsia to plum, do you plan on getting in with the purple trend this season? Happy Tuesday Huesday! xx

The Culture of Design at Sola's Pop-up Shop

Drumroll please... The Culture of Design's jewelry will be featured this Saturday from 10am until 2pm at Sola Coffee Cafe in Raleigh (7705 Lead Mine Rd). Please stop by, see some of my latest designs and enjoy a killer coffee. I'm thrilled to be a part of this wonderful event where other local artists and designers will be sharing their work also! I'm a firm believer in supporting local businesses, artists and designers especially when this area is teeming with creative talent. Happy Tuesday, everyone! I hope to see you on Saturday! xx

Outfit of the Day: How to Make Summer Shorts Transition into Fall

Fall is here and there's no turning back now, but for those of you who still want to hold onto the nostalgia of summer, I'm featuring how to make your summer shorts transition into Fall. So, how do we outfit those summer shorts for the cooler Fall days? The key is tights! A nice pair of tights will ground them with your cozy, chunky sweaters and velvet tops. Here I've taken a precious pair of black shorts sprinkled with gold studs (that I purchased from Hallelu) and incorporated a pair of black tights along with over-the-knee boots (from Island Passage) to further reinforce this outfit's Fall-friendliness. You may want to follow suit by throwing on a pair of boots for added warmth. Thigh-high boots, ankle boots or flats - it's all up to you! I chose the dark tights and boots to complement the loud print of my jacquard jacket (from H&M) and the heaviness of my necklace (from Aqua Fedora). Scroll below for more on this outfit of the day (from yesterday - oops!) and my morning routine.

When getting dressed in the morning, I practice the following passage:
"You are the product of God's love; he restored you to his original thought. You belong to him exclusively. It is like changing garments. Now that you have gotten rid of the old, clothe yourselves with inner compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Wear love like a uniform; that is what completes the picture of our oneness." ~ Colossians 3:12,14 (Mirror Bible)
Imagine yourself each morning being clothed in love as you layer on your outfit. Love is the revelation of who you are just like your outfit of the day is! I highly recommend adopting this morning routine. It's such a positive and empowering way to start your day.

Here are a few more ideas on how to style your Summer shorts for Fall...

Are you feeling inspired to transition your shorts from Summer to Fall with the help of a pair of tights and to wear love daily as your uniform? I hope so! Happy Saturday, everyone! xx

Outfit of the Day: Velvet Crush

Happy Hump Day, everyone! Velvet is the hot topic of my outfit of the day, and I have a crush on this season's most popular textile! Velvet is taking center stage in the fashion industry as well as in home interiors because it appeals to both the eye and the touch, two highly valuable senses on which both industries thrive. This luxurious fabric yields its garment or furniture piece to both drama and reflection, saturated color and immense light. You'll find velvet occurring naturally on the growing antlers of deer (if you have an interest in nature or deer hunting). Fashion and interior designers have mimicked this texture onto clothing and furniture for its soft and enticing texture. Scroll below to catch a few silhouettes of velvet emerging in the worlds of fashion and interiors.

For my outfit of the day, I'm wearing a Free People dress decorated with damask-etched velvet in warm, Fall hues (this dress I purchased last year from the wonderful Island Passage). My incredible ankle boots (from Return Passage) and my dazzling necklace (from The Culture of Design) reinforce the lushness of this velvet dress (P.S. I ended up adding leggings to this outfit of the day for more coverage in these cooler Autumn temperatures).

Click here for a closer look at my necklace design available on Etsy.com!

Vogue

Vogue

Are you crushing on velvet yet like I am? Take a peek at this in-demand textile in home interiors... 

Ruthie Somers 

Alex Hitza

Mario Grauso

Marie Claire Maison

These fuchsia, velvet curtains act as a sultry border in this posh apartment. Can you imagine how gorgeous they would be in framing the windows of a Parisian dining room?

Ralph Lauren 

Alex Papachristidis - can you spot the turtle-shaped foot rest in this photo?

 Do yourself a favor and invest in velvet this Fall/Winter. Happy shopping and dressing! xx

Tuesday Huesday: the Magic of Metallics

Happy Tuesday Huesday, everyone!

Designers are adding a bit of glimmer to your glamour with the magic of metallics this Fall/Winter 2013/2014. Embrace the sheen of the fashion scene with head-to-toe metallics or incorporate just a hint of it with a simple belt. Balmain, Milly, Jenni Kayne and Anna Sui are a handful of the designers featuring Tuesday's Huesday. Transforming the classic top or skirt into a mesmerizing must-have with the pleasant sheen of bronze, silver and gold, this is the magic of metallics. Something so predictable becomes refreshingly and surprisingly new! Thank you for stopping by to catch the metallic highlights from the runway shows of this Fall/Winter 2013/2014. Become a follower today by clicking here! xx

Balmain F/W 2013/2014

Balmain F/W 2013/2014

Balmain F/W 2013/2014

Anna Sui F/W 2013/2014

 I'm a bit in love with these gold tights by Anna Sui - the icing on the cake of this metallic ensemble.

Jenni Kayne F/W 2013/2014

Jen Kao F/W 2013/2014

This pearl-like silver gown falls like liquid velvet. Can you say "dreamy"?


Below are a few examples of how to infuse a hint of metallic whether bronze, silver or gold into your outfits this Fall.

Prada, Christian Dior, Christopher Kane, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel

Do you plan on purchasing a few metallic pieces this Fall or Winter? xx

Outfit of the Day: Dress to Express

Another outfit of the day...whoopty doo. Why do I love fashion so much? Why do I share these outfits with you hoping to offer you daily wardrobe inspiration? 

I am intrigued by fashion and compelled to blog about my ensembles because fashion is an interactive art form through which I can communicate myself. It is not dull or predictable but rather exciting and evolutionary - a tangible and visual conversation, revealing the personality of the outfit-bearer. It evokes a sense of adventure and invites each person into a realm of creativity all of his or her own. I dress to express, and hopefully in turn, I ignite a passion within you to do the same. 

Scroll below for more on my outfit of the day!

For my outfit of the day, I've slipped into an Autumn-friendly dress with eye-catching jewel tones, a pair of buffalo brown ankle boots with gold hardware, and a gold chain necklace featuring brown and black feathers. The pattern of this dress is rather loud so I incorporate my more subdued buffalo brown ankle boots to help ground this outfit. I throw on a touch of glamour with my gold necklace that also echoes the earthiness of my ankle boots with its feather details. I hope this outfit of the day inspires you to dress not just for functionality but also to express your personality! Happy Hump Day! xx

Are you feeling inspired this Hump Day? If so, what do you plan on plucking from your closet and wearing? Don't forget to dress to express! xx

Outfit of the Day: Fashionably Vested

Happy Thursday, everyone! My outfit of the day, more accurately my outfit of yesterday (oops!), comprises an oatmeal colored vest and damask printed jeans (both from Island Passage). This layered look topped off with gold hardware clad ankle boots (from Return Passage) is ideal for Autumn's cooler temperatures that linger from night into day. With recent days feeling damp and cool, I've been drinking in the tunes of Norah Jones and enjoying Rooibos Chai Tea with steamed almond milk from Luna Caffe («check them out here). Take a walk with me in my fashionably vested outfit of the day through the fallen, crimson leaves by clicking here!

Mary Poppins, anyone? ;)

This constant drizzle cannot and will not dampen my style! I encourage you to get creative no matter what the weather is like outside. Let your sunny personality set the climate for your attire.    :)

This necklace that I'm wearing (and loving!) is one of my most recent creations and is now up on my Etsy shop!

Here's a clearer shot of my damask printed Blank jeans from Island Passage. This is one of my favorite pairs - so chic and cozy!

Have you pulled out the layers yet, or are you still battling Summer's warmer temperatures? xx