Month: April 2017

Sporty Stripes

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“Mommy these shoes have changed my life”, said my seven year old after walking a few steps outside in his new Adidas Stan Smiths.  “It’s like I am walking on pillows.  There is a cushion between me and the concrete.”  His joy over the shoes was palpable.  So I just had to get my own pair of Stan Smiths.  When I went to try them on I had trouble deciding between navy (of course) and gold.

My son wore his on our trip to Seattle even though he told me they were not a rainy day shoe.  They performed well in the rain and are easy to clean.

I recently styled my navy pair with a Indian Voile top, high-rise jeans, a striped clutch and blue sunglasses.  They are so comfortable and gave the look a casual sporty vibe.

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J. Crew Embroidered Tie-Neck top in Indian Voile

J. Crew Piper Sunglasses

J. Crew Lookout High-Rise Denim

Adidas Stan Smith in Navy

J. Crew Striped Clutch older style very similar here

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

Mani Monday – Heart Edition

Published on by thenavyleopard2 Comments

Heart on your sleeve? How about heart on your ring finger? My ninth wedding anniversary is this month. Mercury is in retrograde. Spring break and spring fever have brought a new energy (sass) to my seven year old. Some things make you feel the love while some things call on you to show more of the heart’s elixir , Regardless, more love and compassion are always a good thing.

The manicure and nail art are by Olive & June.  The color is “Organdi” by Chanel.

Items in the photos:

Fitbit Flex 2 in navyFitbit Flex 2 in navy

J. Crew Embroidered Tie-Neck top in Indian Voile

Theory Tweed Jacket

New Balance x J. Crew Star-print Jacket (on sale!)

New Balance x J. Crew Striped In-Transit Pullover

Happy Monday!

XO.

JAE

Happy Anniversary – Navy Leopard

Published on by thenavyleopard3 Comments

The Navy Leopard turns one today.  I have created over 200 blog posts and posted 4-5 times a week.  This past year I have learned a lot and even figured out some basic HTML code.  I am so grateful to my followers and I appreciate all the encouragement I have received.

My top posts are always the ones in which I am little more vulnerable either in sharing something personal like (Eight Years and Reunions, Memories and Milestones) or where I step outside of my comfort zone (Pattern Mix Hits the Gym).  Who would have thought I would do a post on active wear and that it would be my most viewed post?  (not me, when I started!).

I managed to gain weight while posting photos of myself regularly which in some ways was liberating.  Thankfully,  I managed to lose it again thanks to Bulletproof Coffee (more on that in Cocktails?).

To celebrate my year of blogging, I treated myself to a navy animal print Equipment silk blouse that I saw in @wearemidlife ‘s Instagram feed.  Jessica pointed out that she did not have that one button struggle with this style.  I had always loved Equipment’s prints but that one button (we all know the one I am talking about) never worked on me.  This is a different style and it fit! Thank you, Jessica.

I styled the blouse with my favorite AG White Jeans, J. Crew Velvet Heels, J. Crew Piper Sunglasses and my favorite new pink bag.  This was another fun (rainy) photo shoot with Amy @howtojcrew

equipment-jcrew-flatlay-navyleopard

Equipment Adalyn Blouse (on sale!) also available here and here

J. Crew Signet Bag in Fuchsia Blossom

J. Crew Pom (similar here)

J. Crew Velvet Heels (similar here)

J. Crew Piper Sunglasses

AG Prima Jeans

Chanel Rouge Double Intensite Ultra Wear Lip Color in Sensual Rose

Thank you.

XO,

JAE

jcrew-berries-stripes

Berries, Stripes and Connections

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I am counting down the days to my one year anniversary of blogging.  In fact, LinkedIn is already serving up congratulations.  There are times that blogging feels isolating.  I am at the computer editing photos, holding myself to tough deadlines, spending (too much) time on social media.  Then there are moments where a comment or an email from a reader comes through and I feel a sense of connection.  I am so grateful for the community of bloggers, instagrammers and J. Crew fans.

Amy of @howtojcrew fame and I kept missing each other at J. Crew.  We had been following each other on Instagram for a while.  It seemed every time I was shopping she had just been there or was coming later.  Finally one day, we both reached out on Instagram and we met for coffee to “talk shop”.  Then one day we actually did bump into each other in the J. Crew dressing room at the Grove.  Both of us were trying on looks from this berry collection.

jcrew-thegrove-howtojcrew

 

So we decided to meet and swap photographer duty.  My “Instagram” husband was thrilled to be relieved of his duties for a few outfits.  We have taken photos twice together now and both times it rained, but we managed anyway.

We shot these berry looks in the mist.  I love that social media which can be isolating at times actually had a connecting power in real life (IRL).

jcrew berries stripes flatlay

My look:

J. Crew Berries Popover

J. Crew Piper Sunglasses

J. Crew Striped Clutch (similar here)

J. Crew Striped Gemma Flats (similar here)

AG Prima Jeans

Chanel Rouge Double Intensite Ultra Wear Lip Color in Sensual Rose

Amy’s look:

J. Crew Berries Sweater

J. Crew Matchstick Denim

J. Crew Flats (similar here)

Here’s to connecting and friendships.

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

jcrew-leopard

Thank You Jenna

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When I started my blog almost a year ago I featured a lot of J. Crew because it was what was in my closet.  The initial inspiration for even making my Instagram public six months before was the shinyponies contest.  I feature other brands here and there, but it was the J. Crew fan community and Jenna Lyons herself that kept me going.

Thank you Jenna

Thank you for validating my obsession with leopard print.  I have always loved it.  You made it more accessible.   I have been calling it a neutral since I can remember.

Thank you for making the high/low mix so cool.

Thank you for living your life on your own terms (in the public eye).

Thank you for teaching us how to cuff a sleeve (even if I don’t quite have it).

Thank you for embracing the imperfect and making things interesting.

Thank you for the pattern mix.

Thank you for being a role model for young women, young men, boys and girls.

Thank you for showing us that any look can be pulled off with the right amount of confidence.

I look forward to your next act.  Please keep sharing your style and inspiring us all.

XO,

JAE

Mani Monday – (Negative) Space Needle Edition

Published on by thenavyleopard5 Comments

Spring Break in Seattle!  Spring Break in Seattle!  We decided to mix it up and head north instead of south for the vacation.  My son and I had a few days to explore the city and see family.  We had a great time and a variety of weather.  It was good for my Southern California born and bred seven year old to experience something different.

This week’s mani is a Space Needle set against negative space.

The color is “Liquid Mirror” by Chanel.  The manicure and nail art are by Olive & June.

Happy Monday!

XO,

JAE