Stylish sneakers

Did you see the pretty sneakers featured at the Chanel Spring 2014 Couture show? As a tall girl who also has little stamina when it comes to painful heels, I love the idea of pairing stylish sneakers with an outfit.

Below are some of my favorites, but first, don't forget to enter the Henry and Belle skinny jeans giveaway (here)!

images via Vogue

Henry and Belle Giveaway!

Have you heard of Henry and Belle jeans?

I hadn't, but after one pair of perfectly fitting skinnies (I have these), learning more about the business model, and meeting some of the awesome people who work there, I am sold.

The Henry and Belle story starts with a real life Chicago couple in the early 1930s - Henry, the designer and Belle, his model and muse. It's a story founded on love, and if that weren't charming enough, Belle gave up modeling to focus on philanthropy, which remains a core focus for the company today (click here for more).

I was able to tour the Henry and Belle warehouse and meet Megan, the Director or Sales and Merchandising, in person. I loved seeing the Fall style boards (below) and the fabric samples, and Megan was a delight to work with.

Since receiving my pair of Lila Skinny in Royal (here), I have been wearing them nonstop. They are the softest, most comfortable, and most flattering pair of jeans I own - no joke.

James Roy Photograpy

And now for the really exciting part: Henry and Belle is giving away a pair of jeans to a lucky ANC reader! 

Just follow the Rafflecopter steps below to enter. The giveaway will run until Monday, January 27 at 12:00AM. A winner will be notified on Tuesday, January 28. Henry and Belle will manage fulfillment and shipping of the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Lila Skinny jeans were provided by Henry and Belle. All opinions expressed herein are my own. 

Urban flair

Just in time for your holiday shopping, items for the cool, hip city girl in your life.

Jacket | iPhone case | Wristlet | Earrings | Sunglasses | Watch | High tops | Headphones

Gifts that give back

With Christmas right around the corner, I have started - and started crossing off - my shopping lists for friends and family.

I really like the idea of buying a gift someone will love and that donates to charitable causes.

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? Have any great gift ideas that give back?

Silk necklace | Candle | Shea Butter products | Backpack | Journal | Vitamin E kit | Brave bracelet | Purse

Midnight in Paris Party

This past weekend, our friends hosted a Midnight in Paris themed dinner party, complete with classic cocktails, music from the 1920s, and a delicious homemade dinner. We stayed up talking and laughing far past midnight and I can't wait to do it again!

And thanks to my talented husband, we have great photos of the night.

James Roy Photography

Loving: Black & Gold

Maybe it's the holidays right around the corner, but I am loving black and gold pieces lately! There is something so glamorous and chic about pitch black paired with a shiny gold. Here are a few of the pieces I have my eye one.

Purse | Bracelet | Necklace | Pumps | Clutch | Watch

Favorite fall boots

As much as I didn't want to let go of summer, I do love fall for the changing leaves, cozy sweaters, and pumpkin-flavorered everything. And with cooler weather, every gal needs a great pair of boots. If you're in the market for a new pair, I highly recommend checking out the selection on Onlineshoes.com!

I first became acquainted with Onlineshoes.com when I participated in a blogger styling contest (here) and thanks to them, I have a gorgeous pair of Clark's boots (here) that have become my go-to fall boots. The site is great because it has a huge inventory of name brand, quality shoes and easy searching and filtering capabilities.

Below are few of my favorite boots for fall. The are all are available on Onlineshoes.com, so check them out (here)!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 

And if you wan to try a different look...

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Disclosure: Gift certificate was provided by Onlineshoes.com. All opinions expressed herein are my own. 

1920s Parisian Party

One of my best gals, Aravinda (of foodie blog, Linguini & Colette) is hosting a Midnight in Paris dinner party and I can't wait! She's amazing in the kitchen, so I'm excited to see the menu and a 1920s Paris is probably the chicest theme for a party ever! 

I also happen to love the movie Midnight in Paris!

via

I'm still trying to decide what to wear, but my bachelorette party dress is a big contender. The look below would be pretty perfect too, don't you think?

Dress | Heels | Headband | Lipstick | Ring | Clutch

Introducing Wantable

Have you heard about Wantable? Wantable is a subscription service offering full-sized, premium beauty products and fashion accessories.

I  hadn't heard about the company, but the good folks at Wantable offered to send me a box and were curious to hear my thoughts. Here's the low down:

How does it work?

Wantable creates a customer profile for you by asking a series of product and personality questions and then using the data to introduce you to products perfectly suited to your taste.

What's different than other subscription services?

Wantable sends full-size, premium beauty products and personalized, on-trend fashion accessories based on your personality and style.

What's inside the box?

4-5 full-sized beauty products or 3-4 boutique accessories hand-picked to match your preferences.

How much does it cost?

You can choose from a one-time purchase for $40 or to subscribe for $36. Subscriptions are monthly and can be paused or canceled at anytime, no strings attached.

The verdict?
I was impressed with the speed of delivery and the professional packaging. I also found their website easy to navigate and the style quiz thorough and fun to fill out.

My box contained 5 full-sized makeup products and 1 sample and retailed over $80. While I didn't recognize most of the brands, the products are high quality were in definitely in line with my style - the color palette in particular was pretty spot on for what I would purchase off the shelf.

I would love to see an option to receive all-natural or non-toxic products, but maybe that's something they'll add in the future?

Bottom line: if you're looking to treat yourself (or a friend) and discover new products and brands, Wantable might just be what you're looking for!

James Roy Photography

How To: Rework a Bridesmaid Dress

Thanks to savvy retailers and designers and brands who know what their customers want, bridesmaids dresses are more stylish and rewearable than ever. 

One of my very best friends is getting married this Saturday and I couldn't be happier about the bridesmaid dress I'm wearing for her wedding (here).

But sometimes, whether it's a mental block - I wore this in a wedding, ergo it is a bridesmaid dress - or the style/fabric reads a little bridesmaidsy - silk dupioni, anyone? - it can be hard to reimagine a bridesmaid dress. 

So how do you do it?

A tell-tale sign of a bridesmaid look is pretty, put-together, but not-too-flashy styling. Because who wants to out-sparkle the bride?

Shake the bridesmaid look with bold accessories. Pick pieces that that can transform a simple dress like a statement necklace, a belt, and chic shoes. Don't be afraid to play with color, pattern, and texture to give your bridesmaid dress a whole new look!

dress | earrings | bangle | nude pumps | necklace | suede pumps | belt

Fall favorites

While I'm not ready to let go of summer just yet, I do have my eye on a few pieces for fall. I'm trying hard not to shop right now, so these beauties will be going on my wishlist.

What are some of your fall favorites?

Dress | Jacket | Purse | Bootie

Walking in the BlogHer '13 Fashion Show

Image: Amy Spreitzer Windsor

Yesterday I shared a bit about my decision to walk in the BlogHer '13 Fashion Show and today I want to share why it was such  a fabulous experience.

It really came down to 3 things, really: 1) being a part of a diverse, talented group of ladies, 2) feeling the support and encouragement from our vocal, exuberant audience and, 3) kicking my nerves and insecurities to the curb and having fun!

Numbers 2 and 3 are actually related: it was the cheering, whooping, clapping and just sheer energy from the crowd that instilled confidence in me. It was infectious. It helped me relax, realize I was in a nonjudgmental, supportive environment, and it was a moment to shine.

See what I mean?

And here's the effect: that's Cristi and me walking the finale below. See the grins on our faces? 

It make me think: how great would it be if we were this supportive of each other all the time?

The cherry on top was loving my two looks! They made me feel polished, put together, and ready to rock the stage! The first look was a Nicole Miller Dress paired with a Diane von Furstenburg blouse and a python clutch from Cinnamon Boutique, and amazing white sandals with clear heels from Lori's Shoes.

The second was an incredible Wayne Clark gown from The Lake Forest Shop paired with strappy heels from Lori's Shoes and my own jewelry.

The BlogHer ’13 Fashion Show brought to you by Ulta

A big thank you to Elisa and the rest of the BlogHer staff for this opportunity! What a great experience!

Behind the Scenes at the BlogHer '13 Fashion Show

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know that I recently walked in a fashion show and it was pretty amazing. What you may not know is that I almost didn't do it.

When Elisa, one of the co-founders of BlogHer, asked me if I would walk in the BlogHer '13 Fashion Show, my inclination was to say no. By that, I mean, a very gracious, No, thank you; I am honored you asked, but I don't think so.

If you're not familiar with BlogHer, this sentence from their About page, sums it up nicely: "BlogHer is a platform for sharing great voices, stories and ideas." 

The organization operates a site where women bloggers can share posts and connect with each other as well as hosts the world's largest conference for women bloggers annually. Just to give you an idea of scale, President Obama addressed the audience via live feed during last year's conference, and this year, Sheryl Sandberg, author Lean In, was a speaker.

Even though I grew up doing theatre and have modeled before, I'm an introvert. Don't get me wrong, I like people, but interacting with folks I don't know takes energy, and considering my day job requires a lot of that kind of energy, my weekends are for recharging. On top of that, agreeing to the show meant putting myself out there 2 weeks after surgery, after 3 weeks of not working out, and well, I just didn't feel prepared.

But then I thought about what BlogHer stands for, how big of a deal it was to be asked in the first place, and that in reality, I was likely the only one who could tell my nose was still swollen and that I hadn't been to yoga in weeks. I reached out to Grace, who walked in the show last year, and she had great things to say about her experience. 

I made up my mind to stop being a scaredy cat and just do it.

And I am so glad I did! Tune in tomorrow to hear why and to see photos from the show!

Images: The BlogHer '13 Fashion Show brought to you by Ulta

inspired by art deco

this past weekend, a good friend and i were chatting about the beauty of art deco rings, which got me thinking about the style. with it's geometric shapes, clean lines, and bold colors, art deco pieces always make a statement.

below are a few favorite fashion and decor items to add a little deco to everyday life.

pillow | cuff | lamp | clutch | cape | ring | scarf

bits 'n' baubles

it's friday and a holiday to boot, so i've got nothin' but prettiness for you today. below are some of the pretty pieces i've been eyeing. i love the idea of pairing interesting, sparkly, fancypantsy jewelry with a plain tee. there's something really chic about the juxtaposition, don't you think?

                       1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

james and i are off to granite peak for one last ski trip before the weather gets warm. hope you have a great weekend and see you next week!

packing light for vacation

before we dive in, i want to say thank you for the sweet comments last week! i was sick for a week straight, but i'm on the mend.
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today's post is 100% inspired by my excitement about our upcoming vacation to the riviera maya. it isn't until may (why didn't i book earlier??), but that's besides the point. i'm already dreaming about sunny beaches, local shopping, and romantic dinners.

i'm a big fan of packing light on trips and avoid checking a bag when i can. i find when i overpack, i haven't planned efficiently and i haven't included the most versatile items. to avoid hauling multiple bags, pick pieces that you can mix and match and visualizing how you'll pair them ahead of time. for example, a staple like a neutral tank or tee is a no-brainer because you can pair it with any color pant, skirt, short, etc.

below is a guide to packing light that will give you well over a week's worth of outfit options.

now let's take a look at how we might pair some of these pieces to create several different outfits:

jeans | maxi skirt | pencil skirt | shorts | mini skirt | maxi dress | short dress | jacket | necklace | cuff | flats | sandals | sperry's | wedges

inspired by art

it's been quite a while since i've posted an editorial, but this surreal, painterly shoot has been bookmarked so long, it was time to share. it was lensed by nick knight, styled by edward enninful, and modeled by karlie kloss.

the backdrop in the first photo reminded me of an impressionist painting, with it's lovely mix of colors to represent light and movement. 

images via

since this is a fashion shoot after all, i pulled together some pastel picks inspired by the editorial below. if you're not into the head-to-toe pastel look, fear not; pieces like this sheer blouse pair well with almost anything. you can also infuse pastels into your life with makeup or accessories like makeup and shoes.

so, tell me - are you a fan of pastels? in moderation or not at all?

More Badgley Mischka...

high-low pairing

today's post is inspired by one of the write-in recommendations from my survey, asking me to explain how i pair higher-priced items with lower-priced ones. this high-low pairing is a great way to save and still follow trends without breaking the bank.

i said it before in my workwear essentials post and i'll say it again: a pencil skirt, particularly a black one, is a staple every woman should have in her wardrobe. i would recommend investing in a quality skirt and have this be your "high" item. and to keep things simple, we'll look at one retailer for "low" item in this pairing. LOFT is a favorite of mine for affordable, but fashionable tops, like this cardigan. 

now let's take a look at how we might wear these skirts and tops...

skirt 1 (50% off!) | skirt 2 (65% off!) | skirt 3 | skirt 4 | skirt 5 | skirt 6 (30% off!) | skirt 7
top 1 | top 2 | top 3 | top 4 | top 5 | top 6 | top 7 | top 8

a couple of things to keep in  mind:

the most important thing to consider when choosing a skirt is fit - you want the skirt to hug you in the right places without being too tight. my favorite fit is a high-waisted pencil skirt that hits just below the knee.

you can never go wrong by tucking in a silk camisole or shell into your skirt and topping with a cardigan. 

so, what do you think? is this helpful? what other styling or beauty advice would you like to see?

and if these options weren't enough, you can shop more LOFT tops below:

LOFT tops

wear it with: bright blazer

you might have seen my new j.crew bright pink blazer on instagram. it's no longer available, but you can find a similar one here. it's the first time that i've purchased a wardrobe staple in a bright; i tend to stick to neutrals and play with color and pattern in my accessories, but i couldn't pass this blazer up!

you can keep a bright blazer "safe" by sticking to neutrals in the rest of your ensemble. or you can play it up by mixing patterns and adding complementary or contrasting colors to your outfit. either way, choose what makes you feel confident!

so, tell me - how would you wear this blazer?

blazer | jeans | blouse | loafers | booties | button-down | skirt

on the market for a bright blazer? shop my picks below:

More Juicy Couture...

dazzling new year's style

happy monday, friends! i'm kicking off the week with a NYE-themed guest post from the lovely maya of charmingly styled. if you haven't checked out maya's blog, be sure to - i love her cute outfit posts, recipes, and graphic design. i mean, how cute is this lay out? 

I'm so excited to be taking a break from Charmingly Styled to guest post for ANC today! I'm a huge fan of both Ashley and her blog, so it's lovely to be stopping by! 

With New Years here before we know it, I thought I would share some twists on my favorite New Years looks. After the rush of the holiday season, I sometimes put New Years on the back-burner. This year, I'm making a concerted effort to plan my New Years and properly celebrate, including picking out an amazing look! 

Here are some of my favorite ideas - including mixing some unexpected pieces together for the extra "wow" factor!

First Look - Dress - Kate Spade // Earrings - Marc Jacobs // Lipstick - Avon // Bracelet - Kate Spade // Clutch - Marc Jacobs for Target // Shoes (similar) - Steve Madden

Second Look - Dress - Anne Klein // Necklace - J.Crew // Shoes - J.Crew // Earrings - J.Crew// Purse (similar) - Rebecca Minkoff

Hope everyone has a wonderful New Years Eve and celebrates in style! Thanks to Ashley for letting me stop by!

xx, Maya @ CharminglyStyled