Happy National Stripes Day!!! This blouse is an old style from Rebecca Minkoff (searched high and low!) but I rounded up some of my favorites for you! Hope everyone is having a lovely holiday weekend!!
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STRIPES
NATIONAL STRIPES DAY
WHAT TO WEAR - SPRING HOLIDAYS
featured
I can't believe Easter is only two days away and its already April! Time is flying! Dressing for Spring holidays and events can be tough because the weather is so unpredictable in April and May. I always suggest investing in a pretty Spring coat in a neutral color that is versatile and can take you through till the warmer months. I've been using this trench a lot and I like that I can wear it during the day with my sneakers or throw it over a dress. And its on SALE! If you're looking for something a little dressier, this one is very pretty and here's a similar one also on sale and available in all sizes.
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GET THE LOOK
LOCAL LOVES
I'm so excited about this post! If you follow me on Instagram you know I love sharing and supporting my favorite local places. I feel so lucky to live where we do and I love discovering new shops and restaurants on my own and as a family. Right now we basically take our kids everywhere with us on the weekends. I'm sure that will change once things like sports, swimming, etc. start but I'm taking advantage of the time we have now to explore our community! If you're local or visiting Fairfield County I hope this guide is helpful and I would LOVE to hear your feedback.
PS I'm a HUGE tea fan (always unsweetened) - hot, iced, loose leaf, so I included my favs if you are too!
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Caffeine + SHOP
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Kirby & Co - Luke and I love popping in for a macaron. Once you try one you'll never go anywhere else! Kirby owner Elaine has curated the ultimate assortment from hostess gifts to the perfect pair of date night earrings at every price. If you visit tell her I said hi!
Fred - I love this boutique! Their new location in Westport has a coffee bar and offers snacks for shoppers on the run. They carry some of my favorite brands: SEA, Mother, Rebecca Taylor, and Misa to name a few and their one-on-one experience is personable not pushy.
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Eat + SHOP
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Terrain - When I walk into terrain I immediately feel like I've escaped. With or without the kids its a calming place for me which might seem strange because it is ALWAYS busy. The garden cafe is one of my favorite places to meet girlfriends for lunch (I had Harrison's sprinkle there) and during the summer we love to take the kids there for dinner outside on the patio. Insider tip: Make a reservation! I actually love using open table. Favorite Tea: House Tea with a Splash of Lemonade!
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The Drawing Room - We used to live around the corner from this gem and I can confirm (through countless visits) that it is baby/kid approved! Meet a friend for traditional tea, scones, and finger sandwiches, but remember to leave yourself enough time to shop the art gallery and home boutique. Insider tip: They're closed on Mondays! Favorite Tea: Hot Mama Iced and Ginger Citrus Peach Hot
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The Perfect Provenance - Perfect is definitely the right name for this place! Nestled on a little side street off of Greenwich Avenue you'll feel like you're walking into a European townhouse filled with home decor, women's and men's apparel, and delicious food. The chicken salad is my favorite! Favorite Tea: Iced Solstice Sun
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Browne & Co. - This was one of the first places I "discovered" in Darien. I'm a HUGE fan of eating and shopping (surprise, surprise) and the prepared salads and sandwiches here are always fresh. Pro tip: They make family dinners that are amazing! Our fav is the chicken and mushroom stew. I just add chick pea pasta at home and it feeds the four of us! Favorite Tea: Iced Green
WELLNESS
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Organachs Farm to Skin - I discovered Organachs when Harrison was about three months old. Before it I had been ordering almost all my products online. I love being able to try, feel, smell before I buy and shop owner Siobhan is so knowledgeable. Everything in the shop is natural and organic! More details on my natural skincare routine here and here.
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Inner Light Going into inner light for the first time I had no idea what to expect. I'm not a huge "traditional" gym sauna fan so I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. Now I'm officially addicted. The infrared sauna is great for inflammation and overall its a very relaxing experience. Leave yourself time to enjoy a cup of tea before or after your session!
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To and From - I've only had two manicures here but all the products used are chemical-free and toxin-free and I loved the experience. Its a short walk from Kirby and Co if you want an afternoon treat!
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weekending
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Stone Barns + Blue Hill Market - Exhale! Thats how I feel the minute we pull onto the farm. I grew up about 15 minutes away from the property so it always feels like I'm going home. I could write a whole post about my love for this place. With kids or without its a great destination for a day getaway.
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Grace Farm - We stumbled upon Grace Farm for the first time last month and loved it so much we went back the following Saturday! Their Saturday drop-in art classes are creative and relaxing and only $5! The grounds offer everything from a delicious cafeteria, state of the art basketball courts, a curated library, and a tea room. A must visit!
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Grab and GO
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ROOST/Ada's - If you follow my Insta stories you know I'm a regular! Roost recently opened and is the sister restaurant to Ada's. Their selection is perfect for the family on the go looking for both healthy and kid friendly options. Favorite Tea: Iced Tropical White
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By The Way (Gluten Free) - If you're looking for a gluten free cake this is the place! We've used them for a couple of celebrations now and they do not disappoint. Your non-gluten free guests will never know the difference:)
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Organic Pharmer - My favorite spot for vegan and gluten free options on the go. They're smoothies are creative, tasty, and healthy. My whole family loves their soups and hummus and their made-to-order avocado toast is a must!
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CASUAL LACE
SHOP THE POST
You can never have enough ivory lace blouses (I say to myself every time I open my closet or go shopping) hehe! I was rounding up some of my favorites for an Easter separates post and decided to switch gears. Wearing this blouse for a special occasion is simple: tuck it into pants like these or into these. I also love this silk pair! BUT I also wanted to show it in a more casual way because these days versatility is everything. I love the ivory and olive combination in these pics but this top would also be pretty with a denim jacket or with colored blazer. Happy Monday!
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lace blouses
SPRING JACKETS
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Spring? Are you there? Sitting in my hotel room in New York City and hoping this is the last nor-easter of 2018! I love Spring and I love good old fashioned East coast Spring weather when its in the high 60's low 70's and a little jacket is the perfect compliment to your silk maxi dress or jeans. I've had this one for about 6 years now and I couldn't find the exact version but this one is almost identical (blue threading instead of black). Its been on so many trips with me, twice to the West coast and the ideal transitional piece for your wardrobe.
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spring jackets
its the little things
treat yourself to something small and celebrate spring
UNDER 100 - GETTING BACK TO THE GYM
what I'm wearing
Three years and two babies later I'm finally ready to head back into the gym. When I was pregnant with Luke I pictured myself 8 weeks post-partum - jogging around the park pushing a Bob stroller with one hand and an iced tea in the other. A girl can dream!! Well that never happened and now I'm a little embarrassed to admit how long its been since I really exercised. Hence the inspiration for this under $100 roundup. Slight disclaimer today: these sneaks and this pair of wireless headphones are under $150 but I wanted to include them because they were a recent purchase (gifting myself for Mother's Day) and I LOVE them both! Is my gym journey something you would like me to share? PS tagged my favorite 100% natural deodorant above!
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shop the post
5 MINUTE MAKEUP
Hi friends! If you told me last year that I would be posting about makeup I would have laughed! Up until a few months ago my routine consisted of a motley collection of samples I received at the Saks beauty counter, in event gift bags, CVS mascara, and a Laura Mercier foundation stick that I swear by. Even for photoshoots I would throw on a little extra blush and bronzer and be on my way! I don't have a ton of time in the morning (who really does?) so I always kept it really simple. It wasn't until I met Siobhan from Organachs that I starting thinking about refining my products and more importantly switching to natural and organic products. After she introduced me to the Kjaer Weiss line it seemed so obvious. "I would never use a product containing any of these chemicals on Luke or Harrison, so why would I use them on myself?...EVERYDAY!". After a super simple makeup application I was hooked! I'm definetly a makeup rookie but here are a couple tips that I've learned so far:
- Be cautious when trying new products. I made the mistake of trying multiple things at once and after I developed a rash it was hard to figure out which product it was from
- Beauty Hack: Apply face oil before applying foundation especially if you use foundation all over (which I wouldn't recommend) It will prevent your skin from looking cake-like or dry and will give you an overall dewy glow!
5 minute makeup
step 1: apply face oil
step 2: foundation
step 3: apply cream blush
step 4: apply bronzer
step 5: fill in brow
step 6: mascara
favorite makeup pouch
THE WEDDING GUEST
Wedding season is just around the corner and with my sister's nuptials fast approaching in the early Fall, I've been on the hunt! Wedding guest dresses are probably my biggest request when it comes to special event styling. People often love themselves in white or black dresses so when they need to purchase something different, it can be overwhelming. My favorite is the blush trend for wedding parties and guests. If a bride is ok with everyone in colors similar to hers, it makes for a beautiful photo! My bridesmaids all wore black which paired well with the backdrop of New York City, but a neutral monochromatic story would be my top choice today. Here are some other wedding guest dress tips:
- I always say you don't have to rule black out but make sure your dress has some style to it. For example, find one that has is a one-shoulder, has a asymmetrical hem, or is textured. I love black satin for a city wedding
- This style would make the perfect bridesmaid dress for a garden wedding
- Black tie doesn't mean gown anymore. A midi dress or very dressy cocktail length is completely appropriate. If youre still unsure but are not close enough to the bride and groom to ask (AKA your husband's boss is getting married) you can always reach out to the venue. White tie = full length gown!
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SHOP THE POST
FLORAL
SLEEK
PATTERN & TEXTURE
BLACK
PAPER BAG PANT
I know what you're probably thinking..."I love these pants but they wouldn't look good on me!" (ok maybe you're not thinking that but if you are) you're wrong! This high-wasted style works on all shapes and sizes and is best styled to a blouse or t-shirt tucked in. I also linked short styles for summer and am especially loving this pair! And these for under $50 (size down).
PS I took these pictures outside my absolute favorite hair salon. If you're local Maison d' Alexandre is the absolute best. Alexandre cuts my hair and Beth does my highlights!
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SHOP THE LOOK
PANTS
SHORTS
TAILORED BLOUSE re/done
SHOP THE POST
Closet staple alert! Whenever I look at white crisp collared blouse I always think about Carolyn Bessette. One of my style icons for sure and known for her classic elegance, she infamously paired a button down with a black maxi ruffle hem skirt to create the ultimate black tie look. I love her!! You can't go wrong with investing in this style and the addition of the sleeve detail only makes it that more chic. I rounded up some of favorites below and any can be paired with jeans or dressed up with a skirt or dress pant.
- I love the sleeves on this under $100 style. I also like this one for the same price!
- This is not a button-down but the pleat on this sleeve makes it perfect for day or night
- HERE is the link to the slides I'm wearing...they're on clearance right now and under $50!
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GET THE LOOK
SPRING FEVER
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SNOW DAY and I'm sitting here imagining myself walking down a warm Charleston street in this pretty dress, straw bag in hand filled with flowers! LOL one can dream! This dress almost made it into this week's lust list but it just didn't fit! A great price point though for this style and quality. I also found this style for under $100 IF you can go without a bra (I wish!). AND these white sneaks are so cute for spring/summer and also under $100. Love the jute sole!
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also loving...
A CHIC SPRING TRENCH
SHOP THE LOOK
So I am such a planner! I wish I could say I was one of those spur of the moment people who can drop everything, book a flight to the islands, and be sitting on a beach with a cocktail in hand 10 hours later. I'm sure my husband wishes that sometimes too! One of my best friends is like that and I always envy her spontaneity. I have been trying to be more "un-planned" lately. This weekend we decided to go to our favorite farm and I thought to myself..."Maybe I should call to make sure they're open?" but then decided no, I'm just going to go with it. So we all got in the car super hungry and when we arrived it was CLOSED (insert crying emoji)! We had to act fast with a disappointed 3 year old in the back seat asking where the ba-ba's and cows were and ended up in a cute little town close to where I grew up. After the loveliest lunch we walked to a bakery for dessert and I thought to myself I couldn't have planned a better afternoon. Moral of the story: I need to try the go with the flow attitude a little more often...and I'm working on it!
So this trench is everything! I love it styled with ivory jeans and flats but it also makes the perfect topper for work or an evening out. I have a similar on from about 10 years ago which I have ended up bringing to almost every wedding we've attended in the Spring/Summer/early Fall. My pumps are old Zara but I found this similar pair in this closet-staple color!
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OFF-DUTY STRIPES
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Happy weekend everyone! We had a serious storm in CT yesterday. It was a mix of snowy rain that lasted long into the evening and the wind was CRAZY! The skylight in our kitchen is leaking and we had to cover it with a tarp while we wait for the replacement to arrive/be installed. I was so scared it was going to blow away and the leak would get worse! Driving around today we're so lucky we didn't lose power.
You might remember this sweater from a look I posted a couple of weeks ago. As a stylist, I always want to make sure that the pieces I'm suggesting to my clients are versatile and can be worn back to many different outfits. I love a pretty striped sweater for this reason...pair it with your favorite blue jeans or dress it up tucked into a navy silk midi skirt like this one. Also if you're looking for a new field jacket like the one in this post I found this one for under $59....a STEAL!!!
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get the look
stripes
field jacket
SHOPBOP SALE
TOPS
DRESSES
denim
Rounded up all my favorites left in stock from the shopbop sale! I learned my lesson during their Thanksgiving sale to make a favorites section this way when the next sale happened I knew exactly what I wanted! There sales sell out so quickly!
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STEAL VS SPLURGE
splurge
steal
Who doesn't like a good deal? The inspiration for this post came from this pair of slides! I ordered them and can't wait to see them in person (also praying they're comfortable)! The splurge version of the shoe was actually from last Spring and sizes still available are very limited. I was so close to buying this shoe last summer when we stopped by the Goop pop-up in East Hampton! While researching this post I also found this bag which is a square version of the steal bag above.
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SHOPBOP SALE
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I was just thinking to myself, "I could use a good sale right about now!". Happy Tuesday friends! Shopbop sales are my FAVORITE and there are so many great pieces for Spring. Save up to 25% off and don't wait because their sales go fast and items sell out quickly! Use code GOBIG18 at checkout.
- If you're looking for a pretty neutral dress from Spring/Summer you'll love this one. Dress it up or down:)
- I love this pajama brand and this set is perfect!
- This basic white blouse is a great staple and under $100
- Love this pair of sunnies...this blush color is on trend for spring. Check out this steal version too!
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CASUAL WORK WEAR EDIT
SHOP THE POST
Last month I asked my readers what what they wanted to see more of on the blog and so many of you asked for outfit ideas for work. There are a hundred ways to break this one down but I decided to start with a casual office look because I believe it can be the most challenging. Lets break it down: you don't have to wear a suit, but you need to look professional, no denim (ignore that I'm wearing black jeans in these pics!), and you want to look sophisticated and chic all the while not wearing anything too revealing. Like I said, its a challenge! I always tell my husband he has it so easy - casual for the guys means a nice pair of khakis or dress paints and a button down or a nice sweater. Hi answer is always that his options are boring at which point I have to agree.
So I've rounded up options for every budget and my advice is to make investments on timeless pieces that you can wear over and over again...like this twist on a classic and this ivory silk blouse. High/low dressing is at its finest in the office and mixing a Mango pant with a pair of investment pumps is the perfect solution to creating 6 months worth of outfits on a limited budget. Also this silk bow blouse is perfect and a must for any working girl. I love it because you can throw it on with a pair of jeans after work and head out for a date night. Lastly, if you're going to splurge on prints go for plaid!
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investment pieces
blouses & jackets
Bottoms
under $150
blouses & jackets
bottoms & dresses
HOW I GOT INTO BLOGGING + UPDATE YOUR WARDROBE
GET MY LOOK
Hi friends! You may have seen bloggers posting their 5 things you may not know about me over the last couple weeks. Personally I loved learning more about the ladies I follow and after I did it on my Instagram stories I realized there was an opportunity to share these things with my blog readers as well. I receive a lot of questions on Instagram about how and why I started my blog so I wanted to share that too!
I officially started my blog in January of 2011 (see archives!). Frank and I were dating and living together in New York and I was working for Ralph Lauren. I loved it! At the time many of today's biggest bloggers were just starting out...my favorites were Man Repeller and Atlantic Pacific. For 9 months I blogged almost everyday! Looking back some months there were 32 posts! I can't even imagine that today. People ask me why I stopped and I laugh out loud (at myself) - I felt like I was too busy! I guess its all relative but I had a fast paced job, a boyfriend, and a social life and it just felt like I couldn't keep up. The follow up question I always get is "do you regret it?" and my answer is no. Seven years later I love the perspective that I have. I've been working in the fashion industry for almost a decade and I have a passion today that I don't think I had then. The funny thing is now I REALLY have no time! But I also really love what I do and I want it. Kids or no kids you have to love having a blog, creating content, styling, etc. because the hours are long and the majority of the time its not glamourous. So here we are today - THE GIRL LOOK BOOK is my third baby, my creative outlet, and my passion poured into pictures and posts. I think its also important to say that my favorite part of blogging is YOU! The readers...I live for your feedback, commentary, suggestions, and questions...so keep them coming!
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Update your wardrobe with these three pieces
TRANSITIONAL COAT
NEUTRAL DENIM
THE UPDATED EARRING
Get the look
PRE SPRING
Early spring on the East coast is one of my favorite times of the year. Sometimes you get lucky with a few sunny and 65 degree days when you can wear long sleeves and layer with a scarf or light jacket. Am I the only one who gets so excited by a layered look? LOL. No but seriously, I'm talking about San Francisco weather (one of my favorite US cities) cool with a side of sun. The best!
- These suede and raffia sandals are the perfect heel height and color. I have a similar pair from Ralph Lauren that I still love after 5 years. Worth the investment especially if you don't wear high heels. Love them paired with this dress:)
- This cream wrap sweater is the perfect transitional piece. It comes in 4 colors and is a steal at under $60. I also love this blouse version, same price!
- On another note, these $32 hoops are the best. I bought them last summer and they quickly became a staple. I love how light and understated they are.
- This shirtdress!!!!!
- The perfect spring statement earring
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PRETTY PINK COAT + THE SEASON'S ULTIMATE HANDBAGS
Happy Friday! I'm so excited that I'm able to get three posts up this week! Its finally starting to feel like I'm getting into a groove after all the holiday madnes and I love it. This outfit is one of my favorites! Individually, every piece is versatile and together they represent my style and a whole: classic striped sweater, chic reversible coat in the prettiest blush pink and grey, cool ripped jeans, and a statement bag (in grey!). Also these Chloe heels are probably my favorite pair of shoes that I own. I thought about buying them forever because they weren't inexpensive, but they are so comfortable and I love that they give me a little extra height.
So now on to the topic of handbags. NYFW just wrapped up and there are so many new styles out there. It can be hard to commit to a new handbag especially if you're investing in one and are not someone who changes your bag often. My top pick for the season has to be this one. The shape is something I've never seen before, I love that it can be worn on your shoulder or cross-body, and the colors they're offering are so unique. Check out this one and this one too. Also, stylist tip, the cost of these bags is sure to go up by next year and their under 1k price tag is only based on the brands newness.
SO I've rounded up some of my favorites for the season below: Spulrge, Steal, Under $500, and for the beach. A happy holiday weekend to all!
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SPLURGE
UNDER 500
STEAL
SUMMER
