This itsy bitsy daisy print is screaming for a pattern mix. Enter my Antonello Tedde clutch and striped espadrilles and we have a perfect pattern trifecta. If only I had gotten a trifecta while visiting Del Mar when I shot these photos. For now, I will stick to pattern mixing and leave the gambling to others. Del Mar is a beautiful spot to watch the races.
Denim Jacket (similar here)
Clutch (similar here and here)
Shoes (similar here , here and here)
Happy Styling!
XO,
JAE
I have stayed in the 7th Arrondissement in Paris for four of my seven trips. It’s my favorite spot in Paris (and now after his second visit, my husband’s too). The summer evening light by Les Invalides was just perfect (at 9 pm!). I pulled out some old favorites for the trip with my white denim skirt, popover and Antonello Tedde clutch. I added some new espadrilles I picked up that were actually comfortable to change into after walking 8- 12 miles a day. There are not many stripes I can resist.
Shirt (similar here)
White Denim Skirt (similar here, here and here)
Clutch (similar here and here)
Happy Styling!
XO,
JAE
Valentine’s Day is one week away. I wanted to share a few fun gift options. Last year I treated myself to this envelope clutch (monogrammed of course). There are a bunch of fun options (below) from Parker Thatch.
I styled my clutch with red and pink for a casual look.
Denim (on sale!)
Shoes (similar here, here and here)
Sunglasses (similar here and here)
A few more fun options at great price points.
Love & Kisses Clutch / Navy Lips /Love Clutch
Eye Mask/ Bucket Bag / Market Tote
Happy Shopping!
XO,
JAE
My plaid shoes get a workout from November through January and even make appearances year round. This year I have loved mixing them with camo. This clutch has been my most reached for bag as I head out the door and I have paired it with everything. I am even considering a second one with this sparkly stripe. My camo jacket that I featured here has been a fun way to mix with plaid along with my faux fur leopard coat (a bargain from Gap).
Plaid Shoes (similar here, here, here and here)
Happy Shopping!
XO,
JAE
I am ready to fall into The Gap again. I have been on the hunt for a camo jacket to throw on over everything. I spotted this jacket at The Gap and scooped it up immediately (it’s under $50 with the current promo CHEERS). Others I have considered (like this, this and this) are almost ten times the price. I love the striped details and I lost count of compliments the first time I wore it with a navy t-shirt and sneakers. I also ordered this jacket in dark night from The Gap today (the army green with leopard print was tempting too).
I styled it with a Saint James tee, denim, navy velvet frayed sandals and one of my favorite Parker Thatch clutches. I just ordered this camo clutch from Parker Thatch (it arrives tomorrow and I can hardly wait!)
Jacket (on sale!)
Lip and Cheek Color – Frog Prince by Lipstick Queen in this value gift set
Happy Friday!
XO,
JAE
This stretch seersucker blazer has quickly become my most reached for blazer. It has the perfect amount of give to make it comfortable in the shoulders while still being fitted. I styled it with a larger stripe with this Saint James tank, white jeans and a fun pear clutch.
J. Crew Shoes (older style these and these would both look great)
Chanel Rouge Double Intensite Ultra Wear Lip Color in Sensual Rose
Happy Shopping!
XO,
JAE
My birthday month has begun. I am not usually someone who celebrates the whole month, but as the years pass they feel more significant. It is a privilege to get older as I wrote last year (The Privilege of Getting Older). This upcoming birthday ends with a 9 and rather than get myself worked up for a decade birthday next year, I am embracing it now (at least that is the plan).
This is also always a busy time where my mind races and there is much to accomplish. The school year is ending which has always impacted both my family life and my career. I put myself through an annual performance review. And if you believe in astrology, the mind does race when the moon is in Gemini and we all have Gemini in us ( I happen to have a lot in my chart in addition to it being my sign).
I was thrilled to open my first present last night. The Cult Gaia Ark bag that I have been coveting for a long time. I was unsure about which size to order and went with the large. It is perfect! Get ready to see it styled over and over in my posts this summer.
In the meantime, my seven year old son snapped a few photos with the outfit I was wearing when I walked in the door, which demonstrates just how versatile the bag is. My son and husband were both concerned about the contents being visible. My husband’s late mother always told him “you never ask a woman’s age or to look in her bag”. I reminded them of all of my cute pouches.
St. James for J. Crew Sleeveless Striped Top
J. Crew Paint Splatter Jeans (similar here and here)
Prada Driving Shoes (similar here and here)
Happy Shopping!
XO,
JAE
“Mommy, come see these underground shops.” my seven year old says. It’s the last day of our Spring Break in Seattle.
“Underground? Do you mean the tunnels of old Seattle by Pioneer Square?” “No, these shops.” He points to a hallway with a series of shops outside of Shuckers the restaurant at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel where we just finished lunch. I follow him down the hallway and spot a leopard print lining in a yellow raincoat. I stop in my tracks.
Stripes. It was only two more days until National Stripes Day (a holiday J. Crew created). Truth be told, I’d stop for stripes any time of the year.
In the shop window I see a gorgeous navy and white striped rain jacket. I have been schlepping around Seattle in my perfectly functional black Marmot jacket that I picked up at Costco over 10 years ago. It has served me well, but I have been a little jealous of my son the whole trip because he has been running around Seattle in a stylish St. James navy rain jacket with soft blue and white striped lining (the same fabric as their famous shirts). I bought him the jacket in Paris in 2014.
“Isn’t that lovely?” The store owner walks over “its Saint James. It’s perfect for you” Little does she know my son has one upstairs that is a perfect match. I try it on both hoping it does not fit and wanting it to be perfect at the same time. The arms are too short. Sigh. I try the next size. It’s perfect.
“It’s only $320”
“Of course you think that is a good deal. It’s surrounded by Bogner and four digit coats.” I text a photo of it to my husband. I’m disappointed it’s the last day and we don’t have all of our photos in this jacket that would look so perfect with my son’s.
I must think about it. I make it as far as another shop that has Sugarfina candy . My seven year old starts hitting the samples hard and lobbying for multiple candies.
My husband texts back:
“Cool jacket. For what?”
“I have no decent jackets”
“Anniversary and Mother’s Day?”
“Anniversary”
“Done”
I consider the jacket and picture myself wearing it. “Mommy can I have three?” “Three what? No, you can pick one” “Really? Yay!” He settles on gummy sugar lips and we plan to share them with my nephews that evening.
I head straight back and buy the coat. I really have not had a good rain jacket for a while, besides navy and white stripes go with everything.
We run up to the hotel room to freshen up. I change my Chanel lip stain to one that will pop with the coat and off we go to catch the light rail to the suburbs.
“Look!”
“What?
“The sun is shining”. We shuffle quickly to the light rail.
“I love your darling matching coats. You look so cute” A woman says as we are almost to the escalator
“Thank you very much”
Suddenly I remember and sigh loudly.
“What mama?”
“We forgot your booster. Ugh you are almost big enough to go without it”
“We need to go get it.”
We run back to the hotel, all the way up to our floor. He grabs the room key and runs ahead to get it. He runs back with the booster. We hustle back and just miss a train.
I am exhausted from all the running. My son puts the booster on a bench near the security guard and sits down on it. We ask the security guard “how long until the next 124?”
He responds “A few more minutes. You just missed one.”
I check my watch and text my brother. We are cutting us close to make school pick up. A combination of light rail trains and buses keep coming. A few minutes later we finally see the light rail we are looking for. We hold hands and step on and find one seat for my son. The doors are painted with penguins and a sign that says “Don’t huddle near the door”. I snap a photo and smile.
At the next stop it hits me again, the booster. “We forgot your booster.” He calmly says “Again? Oh no”.
A well-dressed man is eavesdropping “You should get off and cross over and catch the train to go back for it.”
We leave the train and cross over hoping to catch a train quickly. I approach the security guard. “We left our booster seat at the University Station. Can you radio them?”
After a few minutes, we are still not sure if it is there. In the meantime he gets us on a bus back by special arrangement as we have only our train tickets.
We arrive and run over to the security officer. He is holding the booster. He says with a thick Russian accent, “Yes, it is you the lady and the boy in the stripes. A woman with a stroller tried to say it was hers right after you left. I said no that does not belong to you. You are not the fashionable lady with the cute kid in the stripes”.
“Thank you so much.”
We wait only a short time for our train. This time there are two seats together. I clutch the booster tightly. A woman looks at us, smiles and says “Your jackets are so cute.” “Thank you.” I smile back and think to myself, “Best purchase ever.”
Crewcuts Slim Jeans in Wrinkle Rinse / Crewcuts Slim Jeans in Well-Worn Wash Crewcuts Sunnies / Lookout Jeans/ Piper Sunglasses / New York Tee/ Stan Smith
XO,
JAE
the navy leopard 