Horse Equipment

When: Monday, half in the dark picking out clothing black seemed to work on all counts.

Equipment Investments

I wasn't kidding when I said I loved most anything with a horse stamped, drawn, painted or knitted onto an item of clothing or accessory.  This blouse is no exception having stalked it for a while through The Outnet, Saks Off 5th, Equipment and Neiman Marcus online until the price finally dropped to below $100.  Equipment is one of those brands that exceeds at providing a high level of quality in all of its silk blouses, pajamas and dresses.  You really can't go wrong purchasing one.  

Sizing in Equipment is true to size except for the slim signature shirts, which run small so order a size up from your usual.  Apparently "slim" mean you have no hips and lets face it, 99.8% of women have hips, so I am not sure why they are made this way.  So it goes though.  If you don't want to spend $258 on an Equipment blouse there are several options for you online, Saks Off 5th, Neiman Marcus Last Call and Hautelook, which is owned by Nordstrom.  I hope you take the time to seek out some of these alternatives to the full price items.  Happy shopping!

Blouse: Equipment Slim Signature Horse Print via Saks Off 5th, $87/$258 Similar order up one size

Jeans: BDG High Rise Grazer (old) via UO, $20/$58

Shoes: Kork-Ease Paulette Pump via Nordstrom Rack $58/$130

Necklace: UO $10

Masterpiece

Evening 

When: Last Tuesday, as I was determined to wear a skirt due to  the summer fading away so quickly.

Takin a Fashion Risk

Sometimes taking a risk on what you believe to be a masterpiece means you're going to run into a few naysayers.  Such was the case when I posted this garden top and floral skirt combo on Facebook much to my friends amusement.  The comments were lively and ranged from "you're nuts" to just plain "no" and "were you drinking while styling?"  I can truly say that this combination to me felt like a masterpiece.  

With the crazy busy blue green mix on top matching the same hues of sparsely placed flowers amongst the stripes it worked.  Why?  Simple really, color and size.  The blue/green is present in both the top and skirt which makes the two compliment each other.  As for sizing in print mixing two pieces should never be the same size, one must be larger than the other to create balance.  Start small if you want to try print mixing and remember it all comes down to how amazing you feel when you wear your creation.  No one else's opinion matters more than your own.

More print mixing here, here & here.

Top #1: Hugo Guinness for J.Crew "Masterpiece" Linen Tee similar here, $15/$39

Top #2: Clover Canyon via Nordstrom Rack, $5/$225

Skirt: Rags Consignment, $40

Flats: Valentino Rockstud Ballet Flat via Nordstrom Rack, $170/$795

Bracelet: J.Crew (old) $20

Thankful

When: A while ago, can't quite remember since Summer (if you can call it that) is passing to quickly.

Thankful the the week is coming to a close and the weekend means sleeping in, drinking coffee while in my pajamas and enjoying a hopefully warm day near the mountains.  There aren't any lessons to post today on how or what to wear what you wear.  With all the busyness that surrounds our daily lives it's nice to step back and acknowledge something you find joy in each day.  This can be anything really that makes you smile.  Look out the window in the car as a passenger and notice what is beautiful or has changed in some way.  It's amazing what you will see.

Here's my happy point!  The street before I arrive home has no traffic, I can hear the breeze as it rustles through the trees and the small stream trickling down its path.  I close my eyes and coast on my bike, down the middle of the street, until I feel the bump in the middle of the road and then I keep going, eyes closed feeling the sunshine on my face until I think I might run into someone.  It's the ultimate letting go point and it feels wonderful.  You should try it sometime:)  

Horse Heaven

Horse Heaven by sparklestyleshine featuring white tops

Horse Heaven Again!

If you follow the Facebook page you will know I had a slight crush on the navy Gallop Sweatshirt above. So much so that I regretted not buying two of them last September before they sold out at J.Crew.  The new version is the J.Crew Factory copy of the J.Crew original, which means that it is  a lower level of quality than J.Crew produces for its mainline store. That being said it is still on the top of my wish list for this Fall.  There are so many horse print items out now especially through J.Crew Factory and I love the detailed scallop horse print that was done on the Charley sweater above (right) as well. 

A note about buying J.Crew Factory clothing versus J.Crew, there is a difference in quality and fit.  Factory items tend to run small and straight, so going up a size is typically normal.  This means that shirts tend to be narrower around the hips if you wear them long, shorts and pants do not have as much give for curvier bodies either.  The quality of the Factory items allows for a lower price point, but if you are looking for J.Crew items to add as staples to you wardrobe look out for their frequent 30-40% off sales online and in the store.  You won't miss out!

P.S. I told you I loved the sweatshirt! I even wore it jeeping:)

Surf Stripe

When: Last week when I was feeling extra colorful.  Orange is such an underrated color you know.

When I bought this J. Crew Surf Stripe top, the second time I visited it in the store, I was intent on pairing it with a deep, orange, flowy maxi skirt that still has yet to be worn.  What I discovered though was that the teal color matched my Hudson Supernova jeans perfectly and the earrings I handmade from a broken jade leaf necklace, found at an antique store.  After matching the jeans and top together it seemed to still be missing a key piece.  The orange bubble necklace I had picked up for $5 with my friend a couple weekends ago made the puzzle complete.

Now you could say the coral shoes were overkill, however if you're going to go as far as I have already, why not?  Nude shoes, which would have worked, tend to make your feet disappear which looks odd.  I could have worn a black pair as well, but it would have looked a little to dark without toting around the handbag all day as a complimentary color  point.  All in all if you're going for a color statement stay within two main colors with a neutral base, such as the cream on the top here.  And one last item, if you love what you have created, own it and be proud of your color creation!

Top: J. Crew Surf Stripe, $25/$78
Jeans: Hudson Harkin Supernova Crop via Nordstrom Rack, $50/$180
Wedges: LK Bennett Maddox in Coral via NR, $325 similar lower heel here
Bracelet & Earrings: vintage
Bubble Necklace: Charming Charlies, $5/$20

Fall Slate

When: Last week, mother nature couldn't decide between Spring and Fall so this is what happens.

To be completely honest I've been disappointed with Summer's performance this year, its been somewhat lackluster.  Skipping out on the days when the thermometer erroneously reads 120 degrees on my dashboard when in reality it's 99.  Yes, those days never arrived here this year and that my friends is why I continually default to jeans.  Sad as it is it's come to this.

Not all jeans are created equal and for that reason finding the right weight to wear in the summer can be a bit tricky.  It's a fine line between comfort, thickness and breathability.  Oddly no matter what kind of white jeans I have tried, all seam to be the perfect package for summer.  Looser fitting jeans, boyfriend or straight leg cropped can also work particularly well, if they aren't a normal weight jean.  Skinny jeans which are a medium weight may work in the summer, look for ones with a bit of stretch in them that breath.  All to soon we'll be back in them for another 6 months and then Summer will return again and hopefully get its act together.

Jeans: imogene + willie 'Lucy' in Slate, $50 (amazing sale)/$$195 

Top: J. Crew Merino Tipped Side Panel Sweater, $20/$89 go up a size for looseness

Shoes: Kate Spade Metro Wedge, via Nordstrom Rack, $99/$358

Scarf: Oscar de la Renta, via an Estate Sale, $3 (yes, 3 dollars!)

Earrings: NR, $15

Sunglasses: Kate Spade 'Albertine' via NR, $60/$120

Newsprint

When: Last Friday, which is usually a fancy it up kind of day for me since it's almost the weekend.

We can thank my Mom for this lovely top which she picked out while we were shopping together at a Nordstrom Rack in her part of town.  It is the perfect old meets new classic that could be paired with a variety of skirts, pants or shorts for many years to come.  When I tried the top on I was surprised at how easy and comfortable it was to get on and wear and it was at that point I stated reading the newsprint.  Fascinating I tell you.  I also enjoy that it plays with type in a large and small way and how the large font gives the newsprint a place to fit in.  The size I am wearing above is a small, but it could definitely fit a medium as it has room for someone with a larger chest than I.  All in all I love this top, and I love that my Mom was able to pick it out for me.  

Top: Nic + Zoe Newsprint Top, gift from my Mom via Nordstrom Rack, $36/$128

Pants: J. Crew Minnie Pant, $54/$79

Pumps: Valentino Rockstud Caged Pump via NR, $250/$995

Sweater: Nic + Zoe via NR, $20/$144

Bracelet: Kate Spade via NR, $25

General Flats

When: Last week sometime not exactly sure when, but all I have to say is this was an easy choice.

What's not to love about dresses in the Summer?  They are lightweight, breezy and best of all they are one piece, which means there is no guess work in trying to figure out what top to pair with what bottom that coordinates with those shoes.  Whew, lots to think about there.  But for those days that your brain is out to lunch before you've had breakfast, dresses are the key to looking pulled together when well, you just aren't.  The only real decision you might have to make is on the shoes and my general rule for dresses is this:

Long Dress/Skirt: higher heels or boots.

Mid-length Dress/Skirt: Usually a mid to high heel/boots.

Short Dress: Flats or low and I mean low heel.

Rules can always be broken however if it looks questionable to you it's probably not the right fit.  Choose a shoe you ultimately feel amazing in and you won't go wrong!  Have a great weekend.

Dress: Trina Turk (old) via Nordstrom Rack, $49

Flats: Kate Spade 'General' Flats, Free w/Nordstrom Notes ($82)/$258

Bracelet: Kate Spade "Oh La La" Bracelet via NR, $25 similar here

Earrings: Textured Gold Hoops via NR,  $10