Getting the Hang of Fall

Slowly but surely, I’m figuring out what will become my go-to Fall fashion formulas (say that 5 times fast!) I’ll be honest - deciding which trends to follow along with can be difficult. It’s funny, I was actually talking with my friend Tammy the other day - and we both agreed that while we love to implement classic pieces into our outfits, we love incorporating current trends into our wardrobe too.

I think sometimes being “trendy” can get a bad rap, but I have always been about wearing what you love. And if what you love is on-trend, who cares?! However, I’m still very much a proponent of finding classic styles you’ll wear for years.

I invested in this silk Rag & Bone dress a few years ago. It’s a classic shape, and hits me right above the knee, which is the most flattering style on me. I wear it throughout most seasons - with sandals in the summer, with a jacket in Fall and with a turtleneck underneath and black tights for winter. 

Styled here with the cutest 70's style bomber jacket from MM Vintage (which I can’t seem to stop wearing - it’s so soft on the inside too!) and these fun 90’s-inspired chokers, I can’t help but feel like a modern blast from the past. What trends are you loving right now?

Wearing MM Vintage bomber jacket, Rag & Bone dress (similar), Chinese Laundry OTK boots, Bauble Bar chokers c/o, Chanel bag via BBOS, Miu Miu sunglasses.

Explore

Probably the biggest reason we chose to visit St. Lucia was for it’s VARIETY. We knew we wanted to relax and kick back, but we also wanted a little adventure. Between snorkeling, hiking, boating, (attempting but miserably failing at) paddle boarding, and indulging in a (very muddy) mud bath, I think we got our fair share. The rest of our time was spent, in what i like to call, a state of aggressive relaxation.

At the end of our trip, we thought we’d indulge in some treatments at the Sugar Beach Rainforest Spa. This is the place of dreams, my friends. It’s where your stresses and worries come to die. Each treatment room is perched within the trees, and you’d miss it if you didn’t know it was there. 

Following our treatments, we followed a trail that I secretly hoped would have no end. Through the trees we swayed (well, Shawn snapped and I swayed), crossing over bridges that led to trees taller than the eye can see. 

I felt almost camouflaged among the weeping branches in one of my favorite tanks of all time from Free People. Airy enough to run through the forest, and roomy enough for the big lunch we had after. ;) I tried it on a whim in the new Free People location in Georgetown and fell in love right then and there. The rest is history.

Wearing Free People tank top, bralette and necklace c/o, Rag and Bone shorts, Free People espadrilles via South Moon Under, Rachelle Celine rings and gold bracelet.

Mosaic

This past weekend was one of the firsts where we didn’t have a million and one things to do…and it was kind of amazing. We spent Saturday enjoying the gorgeous weather and went to Mosaic District that evening with a few friends. They had THE cutest little flower stand that I couldn’t resist snapping a few photos under. I mean, look at it, can you blame me?!

I’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to wear this pretty silk shirtdress from Rag & Bone, so when we decided to meet up with friends, I jumped at the change to dress up a bit. And even though this is hardly dressing up, it’s definitely a step up from my usual Saturday night jeans and a t-shirt. This VASKA bag from Estiletta is definitely my favorite bag of the moment. I don’t usually play favorites, but this bag really left me with no other choice. The shape and color are beyond perfect. It’s made in Barcelona (swoon) and made of vegetable tanned leather. Just a heads up, you’ll be seeing a lot more of this pretty thing in the future.

After snapping a few pics, the girls and I went to a meet-and-greet event at the Sophie Blake pop up. Sophie is one of the most talented, wonderful people you’ll ever meet. Her handcrafted jewelry is TO DIE FOR and please don’t just take my word for it - go see it yourself (it’s over near Last Call in Mosaic.) We also got to meet the designer of the luxurious perfume company, Nomaterra, that bases their scents on destinations. I fell in love with the fresh Cape Cod scent, but was equally obsessed with the Savanna scent. Sophie Blake sells them in her shop, and it was so cool to meet Aggie, the brains behind it all. I bought the cutest studs of all time while I was there and I can't wait to show you!

Have you been to Sophie’s Blake’s shop yet?! If so, I’d love to hear what you thought in the comments below! Have a great week and we’ll see you again on Wednesday for a fun giveaway! 

On Julien: Dress, Rag & Bone (similar here and here.) Bag, VASKA via Estiletta c/o. Mules, J.Crew (on sale!) Bracelets, Hanuel (here and here) and Love Juliet c/o. Ring and earrings, She’s Unique. Necklace, Three Jane NY c/o (now A.JAFFE)

Friend Date

I’ve been on a big friends kick lately. No, not my all-time favorite show that caused me to evaluate all my relationships in FRIENDS characters (“he thinks we’re Rachel and Ross, but we’re really more Rachel and Joey…) - but developing friendships. It’s something I’ve mentioned here before, and something I’ll probably continue to mention because I think it’s one of the most important things we can do for ourselves. And maybe because I missed out on really making friends in college.

High school? That was a breeze. I attended boarding school, where I led my basketball team as captain and championed change as class Vice President. I was at no loss for friends. But when college rolled around, it was a different story. My first two years were spent at a small, private school in Tennessee where I struggled finding the right group of friends…but when I finally did, I had already decided to transfer into a state school to save on tuition. Thus started my journey again at JMU, where I made a grand total of three friends. And when I moved back home after graduation, I knew no one.

So I put myself out there. I attended a ton of networking events, started my blog, took time to really get to know the people I’d met, and invested in those friendships. Not many people start a blog to make friends and develop relationships, but I did. And now, my heart is so full with gratitude for the incredible women I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and call my friends.

I met up with one of these newfound friends last week at WK Hearth, a cute farm-to-table style restaurant in Purcellville. We both arrived in similar casual outfits (obsessed with Lauren’s blog!), gabbed about our foray into blogging and accidentally closed down the restaurant after we lost track of time. That’s how you know you’ve found a true friend.

If you’re in a place where you’re feeling lonely or friendless, get up and get out there! If you’re a blogger, head to a Blogger Scene event (where I met all my favorite people, including Lauren!) If you’re a working girl (or gal) in the city, hit up happy hour with a few coworkers! Yes, spending an evening in with Netflix and take out is super alluring, but trust me on this one. Friendships bring the best kind of joy that OITNB could never fill.

On Julien: Jacket, Achro via Anthom. Tee, Halogen via Nordstrom. Shorts, Rag & Bone (size down.) Boots, Luxury Rebel. Necklace, Jenny Bird via Rocksbox (use code JULIENXOXO for a free month of jewelry rentals!)

Photos by Lauren