Showing posts with label OOTD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OOTD. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Galentine's Day

 Huge thank you to Arbela Capas & Clare Ciolli for modeling!

In the words of Leslie Knope, Galentine's Day is "Only the best day of the year."  Ladies celebrating ladies is definitely way better than any ordinary Valentine's Day. So get your girls together and celebrate! 
Since Galentine's Day is just around the corner I've put together a little Galentine's Day guide for you! The best part is all of the products featured below are local! Which means you can have a fun little party for your friends and support your community in the process.




 The first step to any party is finding your party outfit! All the looks in this post are available at Retro Rosie for you to pick up just in time for your Galentine's Day party! Retro Rosie is a new boutique located in the heart of Lakewood. They specialize in pin up fashions influenced by the 1920's - 1950's. Retro Rosie is the place for Galentine's Day dressing. I mean the walls of the shop are painted blush pink, and lined with racks of full skirts and fun accessories -- it's a Galentine's Day dream! Their retro style pieces add a little wink of fun to any outfit. Not to mention they carry a wide range of sizes to accommodate gals from petite to plus size.


Never show up to a Galentine's Day party empty handed! The perfect gift for your hostess? Beautiful flowers! Lush and Lovely Floristry is the perfect place for picking up some blooms before you head to your party. They offer hand tied bouquets and a range of arrangements just perfect for Galentine's Day! Everyone loves the gift of flowers, but Lush and Lovely's work takes it a step farther and turns flowers into a piece of art. In addition to offering flower arrangement, Lush and Lovely also does fun DIY classes and workshops (they're also BYOB). What a great idea for a Galentine's Day out!



Okay, no party is complete without snacks, namely sweet treats! If you're looking for something fun and personal check out CLE Hugs and Cookies. I may be a little biased since this is my Aunt cooking up cookies from her newly licensed home bakery, but the proof is in the cookies! She creates iced sugar cookies in a variety of shapes and designs to fit any party. She is currently running a Valentine's Day special where you can buy an assortment of hearts, lips, and X's and O's to send to your gals (or keep for yourself) for only $20!


Finish your party off by blasting my February playlist! Perfect tunes for Galentine's Day!

Listen up:


photos by Clare Ciolli


Sunday, February 5, 2017

Lularoe with Nikki LoPresti

So heres the rundown; Lularoe is a company that employs independent consultants to sell clothing that is made with limited edition prints. The company was created by a single mom who was desperately trying to raise seven kids, work a job, and find time to spend at home. Since it’s creation in 2012, Lularoe has touched the lives of thousands of families across the country. 

You’ve probably heard of other companies that have the same sort of set up - consultants invest in a company with a promise that they’ll make more money they put in and with minimal effort. Well, this is where Lularoe is different. They’ve thought things through. Lularoe sells clothing, they have about thirty basic silhouettes (mostly womenswear, but they are gradually expanding into children’s and menswear) that they produce in different patterns. Each pattern is only produced into 2,500 pieces, which means each consultant has a different, unique product to sell you. So unlike other companies with the same business set up, no consultant is competing against another consultant, instead they encourage community. People shop multiple consultants to find what they want, so the wealth is spread throughout the company. I am so interested in Lularoe and the community they created. I was first introduced to Lularoe by a coworker, Nikki, who is now a Lularoe consultant (you can shop her store here). She is constantly teaching me the ins and outs of the Lularoe world. I met up with her to talk to her about her experience with Lularoe and what the company means to her.


 above + below: a peek into Nikki's basement turned Lularoe shop.


What has been the best part about your experience with Lularoe so far?
The best part so far has been reconnecting with old friends. When you become a consultant it gives you a path to make connections with people that I wouldn't have needed to or had to or had the opportunity to do before. I recently connected with an old friend from high school who I always try to meet up with but never can, and now she's always over my house shopping because she loves this stuff. And I’ve been connecting with new people too. I just had a pop up with someone yesterday who I had never met, I met her through Lularoe. And I had the opportunity to meet this new person and go to her house and build this community. 

What drew you most to the company?
The culture. The clothes I didn't really know much about at the time. I knew a girl who was a consultant and I asked her one day, “whats the hype?”. So she sent me information about how to become a consultant. My husband and I were in a transition and we decided someone needed to get another job. When we heard about how people were becoming so successful from this company we thought the numbers were made up, but we’ve seen the results. The language, the culture, and the way it is so community driven. It was impressive, because at the end of the day you’re starting your own business but you can be flexible within it. I work two other jobs, but I treat this like a business, like a job, and I’m seeing results. 

How do you define your personal style?
I do what I want. I used to be very one track mind with my style, I wanted to be very bohemian, I wanted to have a distinct style. Lularoe has really helped me accept other people’s styles. Everyone expresses themselves differently, and some people express themselves through clothes. I love seeing people go through my Lularoe and find pieces that they love and that are crazy. I never want to limit my style.

What is your favorite Lularoe piece?
Why I like Lularoe, is because they make basic pieces. But they’re genius because you can do whatever you want with their clothes. I love that different people style the pieces their own ways. Personally I’m loving the Julia right now because it has the endless styling possibilities. 


What does Lularoe mean to you?
I love the idea of being able to do what I want. Lularoe is so passionate about being able to give back to community. They give the opportunity to invest in your city, invest in your clients, create your own community. Just the other night, this lady purchased a pair of leggings but she had to cancel her order because she decided she couldn't afford them for whatever reason. And instead of being upset because I could have sold those leggings to another customer or something, and because of the atmosphere Lularoe created and because they encourage you to create this community, I sent them to her anyways. I wrote her a little note and let her know that she deserved this gift to herself. I am so fortunate that I am able to bless people in this way because they are blessing me. They're supporting my family, we take the money from our sales to pay for groceries and for our home. Lularoe has given me the chance to live a flexible and independent life. My husband can stay home with my kids. It’s been giving us a platform to speak to so many new people and give women confidence in what they wear. 

I am always happy to support local business, great brands, and most of all friends! I will definitely be shopping Lularoe in the future. Take a look below to see how I styled a few of my new Lularoe pieces!



 

Be sure to follow Nikki on Instagram too! Shop and stay updated about her Lularoe sales!

photos by Clare Ciolli

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Out and About

In Cleveland I'm pretty sure there are more gloomy, rainy days than anything else. Well, we might have more coffee shops, but I'm not complaining. Rainy days and lattes go hand in hand so today I stopped into a new coffee shop to give it a try. 


The best part about Cleveland is the community. I am so thankful to live in a city that values community over competition. Everyone is everyone's neighbor and is always willing to help and provide support for one another. Recently a group of Cleveland coffee shops got together and started a "disloyalty card". You can pick one up at a participating location and they'll punch your card if you buy a beverage. However, unlike normal loyalty cards that reward you for coming back to the same cafe, the disloyalty card rewards you for visiting new coffee shops. Take your card with you to the next location, get another punch on your card, and the fifth cafe will reward you with a free drink. How creative and fun is that?! Here is a link to a more in-depth article including participating coffee shops!


This is my go to outfit for staying cozy, cute, and hopefully being a little productive. A bulky turtleneck is perfect for staying warm throughout the day and looks casual with a pair of black jeans. I live in this Gap military style coat. It is such a great layering piece and is perfect in rain sleet or snow. 


As usual I'm carrying my FOUNT Leather tote. This is what I use for my school bag because it is so roomy but also so stylish at the same time. It fits my laptop, books, my obnoxiously large pen collection, my lunch, and anything else I might need in a school day. If you're looking to invest in a quality bag I would definitely recommend looking into FOUNT. Every bag is hand cut, design, and sewn in Cleveland. They care so much about every product they make and each bag with literally last you a lifetime. I've had my tote for about three years now and it looks just as good, if not better, than the day I bought it. 

The most important accessory for anyone to carry is most definitely coffee. We stopped over to Duck Rabbit Coffee and I loved it (they are participating in the disloyalty card). I can't wait to go there in the summer and sit outside of the garage door with an iced coffee. This place was so reminiscent of the coffee shops in Brooklyn. On the left I'm wearing a few simple stacking rings from Vera Meat, one of my favorite Brooklyn based designers. She has such fun quirky designs, and these rings always remind me of my first trip to New York City. On the right I'm wearing a gold twig bobby pin that I got at the Cleveland Flea from Great Lakes Outfitters. They mostly sell vintage clothes but they sometimes have some jewelry and other accessories.


Cleveland is so much of my life, it's my home, it's my work, it's my community. The more I write about what I wear the more I realize that Cleveland is also a part of my daily outfits. I am so happy I get to do what I do everyday. I hope you love your city as much as I love mine. 

Talk to you soon!

photos by Clare Ciolli  

Sunday, January 1, 2017

R & R - Welcoming 2017


I welcomed in the New Year this morning by waking up too early to grab cappuccinos at the only coffee shop open. Obviously, my New Year's Day look is casual and comfortable. I spent the day running errands, thinking about my new years resolutions, and making dinner at home. 


This look is pretty much my uniform, black jeans, my favorite sweater, and basic accessories. 


There is nothing I love more than being able to support local vendors. Fortunately, Cleveland has such a thriving community of artists. My bucket bag is from FOUNT Leather, a company that designs and produces all of their products in Cleveland. I'm fortunate enough to be able to work for FOUNT in production and design. You can see more beautiful leather goods from FOUNT here. The beaded bracelet on the right was also designed and made in Cleveland by On The Lookout Jewelry. You can purchase her pieces locally or order them from her online shop and support small business. My cuff was not made locally but still designed by a small jewelry designer in Brooklyn named Vera Meat.




Happy New Year everyone!


photos by Clare Ciolli 

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

What are you wearing new years?

Here comes the jackpot question in advance: What are you wearing New Years? 

There is nothing more fun than getting dressed up for New Years Eve. When I found this velvet wrap dress I had to have it. It just fit the occasion so perfectly. But, this year I have more than one party to attend, so I've styled it three ways. Take a look!

    
If you're going for an elegant look this year wear some sparkly earrings, something small and simple.  Add an equally sparkly clutch to hold your lipstick, who knows you might need a midnight touch up! And finish your look with a chic wool coat





  
I'm always carrying my little Instax camera around with me so I can take Polaroids whenever I'm hanging out with friends. This camera bag makes a great purse, and I just love this sequined jacket. Its fun pairing new pieces with unique vintage finds. Here is a similar style jacket so you can sparkle this new years too! 



 
This is the look for when you're dancing the night away. These ankle boots are such a statement, and not to mention comfortable. I threw on my favorite fluffy coat and ready to go!

So, what are you wearing New Years Eve?

photos by Clare Ciolli