box bag: part dos

as promised, i wanted to do a full review of the box bag from zara now that i have it. i have been on the hunt for a small shoulder bag because quite honestly my larger bags are giving me scoliosis. that might be a little exaggeration, but that's how it feels sometimes. haha. the bag is 6 x 6 x 2 inches, so its the perfect size clutch to grab for running around the city or a night out. the inside has a zippered  pocket in the middle of the bag, large enough for a lip gloss and phone. i was impressed by the quality of the leather and metal since the bag was such a steal. i will definitely be taking this bag with me everywhere this weekend! 

creativity

oscars 2012

my single favorite look at the oscars was nina garcia in jean paul gaultier couture. the LBD LBG seemed to be a theme this year, but none of the styling could compare to ms. garcia. (ladies, peep toes and sandals, or anything showing a toe or two, is not appropriate oscar attire. it's the OSCARS!) the minimal jewelry and simple hair made this look effortless elegance. 

laura mercier

when it comes to lipstick and lip gloss i don't like anything thats too heavy or sticky. i have been wanting to try a lip stain, and finally i did. i went with laura mercier's lip stain in scarlet (a classic red), and i love it so much i have been wearing it everyday. it has a satin feel to it, and it leaves an effortless polished look, without being to overdone. perfect for on-the-go, i can just throw it in my bag, and put it on my lips for instant color.   

a pop of color

i've been struggling with what to wear to the office that is work appropriate, but that doesn't include a black blazer or pants. this weekend i'm hoping to pick up a couple new pieces that aren't black, (i'm officially cutting myself off) so that i can incorporate more color into my work ensembles. outside of work i wear color in almost every outfit, but for some reason when it comes to what i wear to work i struggle with incorporating fun colors, without feeling like it's too much color. i thought this look above had the perfect pop of color, while still being sophisticated and work appropriate. i think the key is straying from black blazers, which are difficult to pair with a colored blouse or pant because it tends to read too harsh. this is where the camel colored blazer comes in!

19th floor

victoria hagan is one of my favorite interior designers at the moment. i reference her work quite often, and i find all of her projects inspiring, like these images from a  19th floor new york apartment. i love the dark office and living room, and the art work found throughout the space. the navy office with the large painting and mustard yellow sitting room are my two favorite rooms, because of all the different pieces in the room that somehow all work together. the two rooms tell a story, i can imagine the owner being an art collector, who travels around the world picking out paintings and one of a kind pieces to add to the space, from lamps to leopard pillows. 

box bag

i just ordered this box bag from zara, it hasn't arrived yet, but i can't wait to get it in my hands (or on my shoulder). i will do a full review on it once it arrives. happy four day work week! 

floral print

i stumbled across this wallpaper print and i think it would be perfect for a powder room or to cover the top of a glass or antique desk. a print can be a perfect solution to a room that doesn't have a lot of color in it. whether, it's a pattered pillow, chair, or wall, it's important to pick the right pattern. i recommend picking something with color, but not too much color, something that is classic and timeless. 

you can go farther

once upon a time, we believed the world was flat- 

that beyond a certain point, there would be no where to go. 

and though we now know the world is round, 

we still fear falling off imaginary edges, 

too often thinking there's only so far we can stretch, 

so hard we can push. 

the most dangerous limits are those in our own head. 

when you feel you're at your edge, look again. 

you can go farther.