devorelebeaumonstre: the leather satchel co. giveaway!
Covet or Leave It: Retro-Inspired Shades
I wish I had a nose bridge. I constantly dream of wearing sunglasses that don’t have nose pads. Something different than aviators and, well, that’s all. Just aviators. That’s pretty much all I feel comfortable wearing. Otherwise, I’d have sunglasses that rest on my cheeks which makes me feel completely goofy.
Even with the hesitance, I have found myself falling in love with various shapes and sizes, pads or no pads. Gone are the days where I played it safe and went with something typical.
I think I might have to make a pit stop at the sunglass store soon.
From top to bottom: Juicy Couture, $120; Marc by Marc Jacobs, $98; Ray Ban, $150
Verdict: 
Monday Morning: Nixon
I received a Nixon watch a few years back and wore it to it’s inevitable death. It was lightweight, comfortable, unique and gold.
Recently, I purchased the Michael Kors Runway watch. You know… the watch that everyone and their mother has. I love the watch but in retrospect, I probably should have done a little more research before I jumped the gun. I would have rather had something a bit more unique and a watch that isn’t as popular as the MK one. My mistake, but mark my words, I will purchase a Nixon watch soon enough.
From left to right: Nixon ‘Capulet’, $160; Nixon ‘Spur’, $300; Nixon ‘Monopoly’, $200
Bownanas!
I have never been a fan of bows unless it was being used to wrap a gift. Lately, however, I feel myself taking a liking to them on accessories and other things. It’s just enough to add a very cute, flirtatious, and feminine touch to your outfits.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever warm up to the idea of having a bow anywhere on my clothes though. Just sayin’.
Clockwise from top left:
Christian Louboutin Clou Noeud Slingbacks (from the Fall 2010 collection, so they’re no longer available. But I wanted love them so much I wanted to post them anyway!)Stolen Girlfriends Club Bow Ring, $180
Kate Spade ‘Bourgeois Bow’ Ring, $65
Marc by Marc Jacobs Mini Bow Studs, $38
Joules Wellies, $100
amarouse Red Bow Bandeau Set, $85
To Infinity and Beyond!
(Title as quoted from Mr. Buzz Lightyear himself)
Behold the snood, a.k.a infinity scarf, a.k.a wraparound scarf.
Snood. Snood. Snood. Who’s genius idea was it to come up with that name? If it hadn’t been for TopShop a couple of years ago, I would have never been able to guess that.
Anywho, when I posted the gift ideas, I listed the infinity scarf (a.k.a snood) as a great gift to buy for someone else but shortly after realized that it’s probably something you’ll want to pick up for yourself as well.
I bought mine at Goorin Bros, a really awesome hat store that my husband is seemingly addicted to. It was cold in Brooklyn and I was not dressed the part so I snatched it up and put it around my neck before even checking out. The one prior was from ASOS which didn’t last long enough to even suffer through it’s first New York winter. Sadly enough, the snood count is down to a mere 2 after the death of the ASOS one. They come in so many different fabrics and colors, it’s nearly impossible to have all of the variations that I want.
Needless to say, go buy one. Not only is it comfortable and warm but it also serves as a head prop when you’re traveling! Score!
Clockwise from the top:
Navy Grunge Jersey Snood,$32, Topshop
Gasper Snood,$90, All Saints
Maria Popcorn Knit Infinity Scarf,$75, Goorin Bros.
Here to Infinity Scarf in Scarlet,$32, ModCloth
French Connection Yakkity Yarn Scarf,$53, Amazon
Maria Infinity Scarf in Grey,$98, Otte
Monday Morning: Baublebar.com
If it’s not obvious, I’m neck deep in my “gold jewelry” phase where anything that hangs from my ears, wrists and neck is gold. Eventually, I’ll veer towards silver again but that may be awhile from now (if it ever happens).
Last week, I stumbled across Baublebar.com and it immediately caught my attention, not only for it’s design and the large, beautiful hero images but the prices. Due to the excitement of wanting to share it here, I haven’t done the research I probably should as some of their pieces resemble nOir’s line. Aside from that, they have enough jewelry on there to cater to a large range of tastes and occasions.
The Cure for Chilly Legs
I have a confession. I’ve been binging not on food, but on tights.
The weather has drastically dropped in the last few weeks here in Austin. Because of the higher temperatures during the day and the dips at night, I’ve added tights to my arsenal. I’m not a huge fan of them because they seem to dull everything down, but sometimes a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do to stay warm.
If you aren’t a fan of tights either, I might have a solution that will help make compromising not so bad.
Suspender tights. Sexy, playful, feminine and versatile.
1. Pretty Polly ‘House of Holland Super Suspender’ Tights, $34 at Nordstroms.com; 2. Bow Suspender Tights, $15, ASOS.com; 3. Heart Suspender Sheer Tights, $15, ASOS.com
Wear them under shorts, skirts, sweater dresses. Need some inspiration? Check it.
Raw Crystal Rings
These rings are made up of (from left to right) raw black hematite, quartz, smokey quartz and amethyst crystals and are all gorgeous, unique and make quite the statement. With the price tag of anywhere between $450 and $1,700, I might have to keep dreaming while I stick to my cheap, disposable Forever 21 rings.
Monday Morning: Time for Leggings!
It’s been a little chilly around here lately which means the leggings have come out of hibernation.
Pairing the right top with leggings is never an easy feat for me. I find myself scrutinizing every angle and millimeter of fabric to make sure I don’t have any oopsies that you’d want to avoid with leggings, such as wedgies and camel toes.
There’s a very narrow space between a top that is long enough and a top that is on the threshold of being too long and making you look like an unfashionable, conservative school girl. At that point, you might as well take them off and wear stockings.
The poster girl for leggings? Lauren Conrad. The girl never gets it wrong.
So, here are some examples of do’s and please don’ts:
It’s only by coincidence that all of the tops are white. But, I do love the leggings + blazer look. It’s laid back enough for McDonald’s, but is trendy and sexy enough for Nobu. The tops are long enough to barely brush past the hips.
There are so many things wrong with these outfits, but let’s just focus on the main subject here.
1. This is an example of a top being too long. The leggings become unnecessary and could have been easily replaced with stockings, or completely removed all together.
2. The upper body is fine but she should have kept the other 1/4 of her leggings. I don’t think there should be any reason why someone should wear 3/4 leggings. I mean, really?
3. Remember folks: Tight on tight is never right! Let’s face it. You can’t wear a tight shirt with tight leggings unless you’re trying to echo a spandex leotard.
4. Echoing my statement above. Tight on tight. Cheap on cheap. It just doesn’t look good. At all.
Be Inthavong handbag patterns
A friend of Anthony and I’s, Be Inthavong (formerly of Be&D), ventured on his own and launched a new collection of handbags called “The Heritage Weave Collection”. Each bag is handmade with fabric weaved of leather and silk, which were intricately woven on custom built looms by artisans in Laos. The craftsmanship of each bag is stellar and the result of this unique weave is soft, supple, yet durable.
Last winter, Be expressed that he needed design help with his new line, Be Inthavong. I thought it’d be a great opportunity to do something I’ve never done before. I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy feat because I’ve never done anything that would be physically produced before nor have I created any repeat patterns that would be created into plates and pressed onto leather. Up for the challenge, I wanted to help and the pressure was on.
It took me a couple of weeks and a few iterations, but we were able to finalize his logo and move on to the patterns for the plate maker. With help from one of Anthony’s friends, Kaelea, who I knew was a fashion pattern guru, I was able to learn how to create a fashion pattern. Awesomeness!
A few months later, Be called me over to his studio and for the first time, I was able to put my hands on what I helped create: handbags that were lined with the patterned leather. I was quite floored when I saw the results.
The bags have been picked up by high end boutiques across the world, from Dubai to Las Vegas. Every time I walk by them in stores, displayed in their bright plexiglass cases, I know my heart will jump with joy knowing that I was able to help create the pattern in these beautiful handbags.
Style shown: Be Inthavong, The Heritage Weave Collection, “Bobo”
