sandals for spring

sandals for spring by laurenmaunder featuring ankle strap sandals

Valentino ankle strap sandals / Marni open toe shoes, $530 / Loeffler Randall cheetah print shoes / Loeffler Randall ankle strap sandals / Kate Spade low heel shoes / J.Crew j crew shoes / Schutz peach shoes / Vince strap sandals / Tasseled cap / Rebecca Minkoff strappy shoes / J.Crew haircalf shoes / J.Crew slip on sandals / Steve Madden studded shoes / Decorating shoes / Old Navy pull on shoes / Old Navy vegan flat

what's in my bag

in just a few short days i will be headed on the trip of a lifetime.  three weeks of vacay from sf--> london --> johannesburg and throughout south africa to safari, wine taste, roam all up and down the coast and even shark cage dive. i am beyond excited to take this trip and in preparation i've cooled my packing anxiety by coming up with my must-haves for the long journey.  

1 kindle - the plan is to get a ton of my must-reads done on our insanely long travel time (don't worry i've got my mac backed up with scandal, true blood and walking dead just in case...)

2 an adorable passport holder i found on etsy (also love this kate spade one)- not only does it protect your passport, there is also a slot for cash, plus the bright color makes it easy to find in any bag

3 nike frees- i wanted a pair of simple black and white running shoes that were light enough to carry around with enough support for a long day of walking and cute enough to wear with anything!

4 noise canceling headphones- not only are these frends headphones gorgeous, the sound quality is nothing short of amazing, blocking out all of the busy airport and plane noise 

5 neck pillow- i'm not normally one to travel with a pillow, but this petite pillow is small enough to throw into my bag and worth the space in the amount of pain it will save my neck and back after all that plane time (over 25 hours of flight time!)

6 longchamp- by far my favorite travel bag of all time; the medium size tote is perfect for fitting all of my travel essentials and big enough to use for weekend trips

7 face wipes- one of the worst parts of travel time is the dive your hygiene takes... 12 hours trapped on a plane?? having these guys handy at least allows me to wipe off my makeup and feel refreshed

8 kiehl's lip care- i always love kiehl's products and lip balm is a MUST spending so many hours in the dry airplane air 

while most of the things i purchased to prep for the trip were strictly carry on essentials, i snagged a few other items i'm excited to throw in. this mikoh dress for laying out or exploring and these adorable dv 'cymbal' heels; i wanted a little something cute other than my sneakers for wine tasting and going out so they were a must, but the low heel keeps them casual enough for my surroundings and comfortable after a long day on my feet exploring. i think this is the earliest i have ever packed a bag for any trip i am that excited! less than a week until i'm posting from half way across the world!

knit sweater + distressed pants

a cozy knit and distressed jbrands paired with a fun leopard printed clutch and polished booties make for a favorite weekend look.

{oversized clutch + cozy knit}

{spikes + nails}

sweater, VINCE

pants, JBRAND

booties, REBECCA MINKOFF (on sale! love these too)

clutch, CLARE VIVIER

watch, MICHAEL KORS

cuff, CC SKYE (c/o rocksbox)

rings, BAUBLEBAR (similar here)

shades, RAEN

all in the details

i'm obsessed with this leather sleeve blazer i scored at the a+o winter sale... the leather is so soft and adds the perfect balance for work or weekend. that  total steal in my book and polishes up any outfit. a tiny touch of leather on the hat brim adds a quirky tie in while the waxed denim skinnies pair perfectly with a plain white t and booties.  

{favorite combo: skinny jeans + booties + blazer}

{leather sleeves + wax denim}

{i fell in love with this hat from zara- fabric top with a leather brim- love!}

{leopard calf hair + spike rings}

{oversized clutch}

top, GAP

pants, JBRAND

blazer, ALICE & OLIVIA (scored on major sale!)

booties, REBECCA MINKOFF

clutch, CLARE VIVIER

hat, ZARA

shades, RAY-BAN

getting back to the backpack

no longer is the backpack strictly a school accessory. along with a few chic updates, we've seen backpacks come back in a big way. retailers are keeping up with the trend by creating luxury packs in a variety of bold colors and fabrics, from creamy colored leathers to spotted calf hair, and quilted nylon.  these modern updates have created a quasi purse versatile enough to sling over your shoulders or carry all day as your favorite handbag taking you from work to weekend.

my walk to work alone is a worth trying out the trend. no more stuffing my purse to the brim or toting it all one side. finally a carry-all befitting of my office wardrobe and cute enough to take me out to lunch or happy hour with friends. enough said.

shop these and more here:

opposites attract

polished blazer meets distressed painters pant for a beautiful match up. leopard calf hair pumps and bold red lips for a chic top off.

{tucked + belted}

{aviators + blazer}

{sparkly studs + red lips}

{up close + personal with a power print heel}

{gold elements}

{from where i stand}

blazer, theory

top, gap

pants, jbrand (old, similar style)

heels, report signature

purse, rebecca minkoff

belt, merona

shades, ray-ban

necklace, earrings + bracelet, baublebar

watch, michael kors

ring, gorjana &griffin (c/o rocksbox)

lip, stila

cozy knit + silver pumps

these metallic jcrew pumps have become my new neutral go to to spice up a casual outfit. they match anything; perfect for a party dress, and low enough heel so they don't feel too dressed when paired with jeans. i kept it cozy for a sister coffee date in a cable knit sweater, ripped denim and jcrew silver heels. also, check out the adorable third wheel that joined us for the day!

{red nails + red lips}

{cuffed denim + metallic heel}

{hi-lo sweater detailing}

{casual crossbody}

{one last snap with the photographers little helper}

sweater, vince (also love)

jeans, madewell

heels, jcrew

bag, rebecca minkoff

shades, ray-ban

watch, michael kors

lips, stila

xo,

sale sale sale

it's like cyber monday all over again.  online shoppers rejoice as tons of steals are popping up to meet the last minute holiday rush.  shop great deals just in time to get your last minute xmas gifts, nye outfit, winter closet staples, etc.  i mean, kate spade 75% off?? yes, please.

a few more favorites you can scope today:

saturday: 25% off sale (i've been obsessing over these adorable oxfords)

piperlime: 50% off party chic

rebecca minkoff: like their facebook page and get up to 50% the cupid bag (the plum is gorgeous)

jcrew: 30% off entire site

banana republic: up to 50% off sitewide

gap: 40% off sitewide

asos: 25% off sitewide

tory burch: up tot 50% off

happy shopping!

xo, 

let's talk shop

alright... so i've been on major hiatus these past couple weeks. between work and out of country travel, i have been too distracted to give this baby the attention it needs. but i'm back in biz, still full from thanksgiving, and ready to get my black friday/cyber monday on.  here's a roundup of my favorite shops offering online steals for you to peruse while you digest your leftovers and muse over what percentage of your bank account should go to xmas gifts or your closet...

BFxCM deals:

madewell 25% off entire purchase now through sunday

jcrew now through sunday 30% off entire purchase

joie spend to save up to 30% off

alice and olivia 25% off sitewide (loving this maxi and this mini for dressing up)

rebecca minkoff spend to save up to 30% off through monday (+ special bf specials like this number!)

revolve clothing up to 75% off

baublebar up to 35% off

tory burch spend to save up to 35% off until monday

shopbop spend to save up to 25% off through monday

piperlime 25% off sitewide, plus 40% off sale through (finally picking up these metallic heels i've been eyeing)

xo,

-- 

the wax pant + moto jacket

two of my absolute favorite trends this season: the moto jacket and wax coated denim. both trends work year round in the city and are easy to dress up with a silk top or down with a simple tee like i have on here. check out styling and other picks for wax-coated pants and moto jackets below!

i love the moto trend for an updated leather jacket, always a key staple in a city wardrobe

love the variety of styles and colors wax-coated pants come in these days; they are a great way to get the leather look for a lower price... i'm obsessed with the zip pockets and ankle on these!

tee, gap; pants, madewell; jacket, rebecca minkoff; booties, rachel comey; watch, michael kors; necklaces: house of harlow, maya brenner, baublebar; cuffs, spike cuff and jf x baublebar; shades, ray-ban

shop these and similar items here:

xo,