Reunions, Memories and Milestones

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High School Graduation 1986

Thirty Years!?   Last weekend I attended my thirty year high school reunion.  I attended the ten year and did not manage to go to the twenty or twenty-five.  I wanted to, there just was a lot going on those years.  I had heard that the thirty year was the best.  At the ten year everyone wants to show what they have accomplished.  At the thirty year everyone just seems more real and that was certainly the case.   Our class had a great turnout including several people who traveled internationally.

My father has managed to attend all his reunions in Alabama (he lives in California).  That has always inspired me to make the effort.  Life is short and precious and you never know how many reunions you will have the opportunity to attend.  It is a milestone.  Facebook is great for reconnecting with classmates and keeping up with their adventures, but there is something special about reconnecting in person.  Everyone remembers and tells different stories and it is so fun to relive memories (and laugh like a seventeen year old again).  New memories are created with old friends and not just the friends you already see regularly.  My friends and I all agreed we will attend every five years.

As excited as I was to go, I still had some last minute packing and outfit selection anxiety.  I decided to go with my favorite white jeans, a fabulous sequined top that is on sale at Calypso, and my striped heels and clutch from J.Crew.  One of my classmates commented that I was the preppiest person they have ever known, so J. Crew stripes for evening wear was no surprise.

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Calypso Sequined Top (on sale!)

AG White Jeans here and here

J. Crew Clutch (sold out) but this one or this one would work and it is 40% with code SUMMER

J. Crew Shoes (sold out), but these or these would look great.

White and Warren Cashmere Wrap

Here’s  to milestones and memories!

XO,

JAE

 

Lavender on Repeat

Who knew lavender could be such a basic.  I debated buying these lavender jeans.  I wear them almost as much as white jeans.  They look great with my favorite navy blue and also work well with leopard print, so for me they are a neutral.   I have previously featured them in this post and this post. This is a look I put together for a celebration in my son’s Kindergarten classroom that was followed by a flight and a party.  Tune in tomorrow for more on where I went and what I celebrated.  Everything in this post is on sale and linked below.

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J. Crew Blazer (on sale!)

J. Crew Sleeveless Drapey Top (on sale!)

J. Crew striped flats (on sale!)

J. Crew Belt similar here

AG Jeans (on sale!)

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

Coral and stripes

The countdown is on for our family vacation on the East Coast later this summer.  I am looking forward to beach days with the kids and easy evening one step summer dressing with dresses.  I featured this dress in gingham in this post.  Here it is in coral.  It is so comfortable, but crisp and polished with the shirting details.

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J. Crew Dress

J. Crew Sandals (sold out) but these and these would work great

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

Buzzing Gingham

About a month ago I wrote about my Grandmother B in this post.  June is her birthday month (and mine), so I have been thinking about her a lot.  I decided to style the J. Crew Save the Bees t-shirt again with some Gingham.  It has been very cool and foggy, so the layers made sense and wearing bees makes me feel connected to her.

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J. Crew Gingham Shirt in Coral

J. Crew Save the Bees T-shirt

J. Crew Jeans (similar here)

J. Crew Shoes (sold out, similar here)

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

 

White and Tan

This Calypso jacket just screams summer, beach and vacation to me.  It is light and airy and I love the details.  It is part of their new summer roll out.  I styled it with my favorite AG Jeans in Nubuck and some sandals from a couple of years ago (but I have linked a similar style).  It is a great piece that plan to wear all summer long.

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Calypso Jacket

AG Jeans in Nubuck at Calypso

Similar sandal  here

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

 

Polka Dots and Stripes

This pattern mix is pretty tame for me in my favorite navy and white. The skirt is so easy to wear.  I know I will use the clutch all summer long.  The blouse, skirt, and clutch are all on sale at J. Crew.  The shoes are sold out, but I have linked another option.

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J. Crew Shirt (on sale!)

J. Crew Skirt (on sale!)

J. Crew Clutch (on sale!)

J. Crew Shoes (sold out, similar here)

Lipstick by Lipstick Queen Cupid’s Bow in Desire

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

Blue Tropics

In High School I was definitely preppy.  I loved stripes, solids and, of course, Liberty prints (as I mentioned in this post).  For a time, I worked as a hostess at the Chart House and had to wear a Hawaiian print dress. The uniform choice was not my favorite and I remember being horrified if I had to go somewhere before or after work. It turned me off of tropical prints all together.  Leave it to J. Crew to take a tropical print give it a few stripes and make it modern.  This top is currently on sale along with my favorite striped flats.

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Outfit details:

J. Crew top (on sale!)

J. Crew flats (on sale!)

AG White Denim (25% off at Calypso along with all full-price items)

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

Lunch in Venice Beach

I recently had lunch with a friend on the last day of her maternity leave.  We headed to Gjelina in Venice Beach.  Of course, I still brought my preppy Gingham vibe to the scene.  The menu at Gjelina is so amazing, you really can’t go wrong.   We had several raw fish dishes that were out of this world and even splurged on a cobbler for dessert.  It is the perfect menu to share several dishes. We arrived early and by the time we left it was very busy. It is definitely a later lunch crowd. It was fun to walk around Venice and shop after.

Outfit Details:

J. Crew shirt

J. Crew Blazer (on sale!)

J. Crew White Lookout Cropped Jeans

J. Crew Shoes

J. Crew Belt (similar here)

Everything is 30% off with a J. Crew card or 25% with another form of payment

Happy Lunching and Shopping!

XO,

JAE

Black to Basics

To keep my basics from being too boring, my go to neutral shoes are my leopard flats.  They are currently on sale at J. Crew.  I like them so much, I bought a second pair for when I inevitably wear them out (the sign of a good shoe purchase).

We are having a cool spell in Southern California.  The fog made me grab my cozy black cashmere cardigan and favorite neutral flats.

I have always loved leopard print since I can remember.  I first introduced it in my wardrobe a long time ago with some great sandals, then a belt, then a velvet leopard print bikini and then many other items.   I do not own many plain black shoes.  I think leopard can almost always replace black and add a little something.  Shoes are also a fun place to play with pattern and color.

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IMG_4943Outfit details:

J. Crew Leopard Flats

J. Crew Top (on sale!)

J. Crew Cardigan (25% off with SHOPNOW)

J. Crew Jeans (similar here)

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE