Friday Favorites: Beautiful Baubles

TGIF!  Gals, today couldn't have come any sooner.  Each and every day for the past few weeks has been packed to the rim meanwhile Ryan has been out of town these past two weeks and working every day but 3 this month.  And like every other gal, I break sometimes.  Honestly, I've broken a few times but I try very hard to stop, take a breath and say a prayer of gratitude and plea for patience. I lack the ability to sit still (if you watch my instagram stories you know I'm always doing something) and it can often be a detriment. If you're sharing my sentiments I encourage you to pause and look past the crazy to see the joy all around you! I'll end my pity party here and get on with the fashion portion of this post!

"Jewelry has the power to be the one little thing that makes you feel unique" - Elizabeth Taylor

Jewelry is NOT optional in my opinion.  The only time I'm without earrings, wedding rings or a watch is at the gym or pool. Jewelry adds the sparkle, the shin and finishing touch that makes you feel  just like a Princess.
Fact: You're never too old to dress up and feel like a Princess!

Jewelry is such a diverse element of fashion and there's a style for every gal. Whether you're traditional with a strand of pearls, minimal with dainty pieces, edgy with graphic lines, natural with stones & leather or over the top with rhinestone statement pieces your jewelry let's your personality shine!

I have a little bit of every style in my jewelry box but I primarily wear classic, sometimes vintage, shiny gold pieces and big rings! Despite having teeny tiny hands I love wearing big, dare I say gaudy, rings!

Wear what you like gals and let your personality shine!

Here are some of my favorites for jewelry ....

Gorjana

My most favorite for delicate pieces that are great for everyday and layering.
I wear these gold hoops ALL the time.

Kate Spade
I've been wearing this jewelry since college and I'll never stop! It's beautiful, unique and lasts forever.

Julie Vos
I adore the European style of this jewelry.  The bright gold and colorful gemstones are brilliant.

Honora
I'm a pearl girl forever. Classic and timeless beauties.

J Crew
I've been wearing this jewelry since college too.  From the classics to big statement pieces, they will always make you shine.

Madewell
This jewelry is chic, modern and great for all occasions.
I wear and gift this jewelry so much.

Lisi Lerch
Such fun and festive pieces!

Kendra Scott
Not only is her jewelry beautiful, custom and full of new designs but she's so very generous and philanthropic!

My wedding day pearls - vintage triple strand

Dress Beautifully in Beautiful Baubles

XOXO Sarah-Louise

Easter Dressing

Hippity Hoppity Easter's on its way!!! Totally something a Mamma would say in her sweet excited voice! But it's true gals, Easter is just around the corner and one of my favorite traditions throughout my life is the selection of my Easter dress. Easter outfits aren't just for children.  It's a time to refresh with pastel colors, pretty flowers and all the frills.

I feel like Christmas is a much bigger day in our society but for me Easter is everything! It is my MOST FAVORITE DAY of the ENTIRE YEAR - I love it more than my birthday (which is 2 weeks from today) and the 4th of July. I know that Jesus had to be born but the fact that he died a brutal death for mine and every single person's sins and rose again, well that should give you chill bumps!

I have to be honest, this is not going to be my Easter dress.  It was a high contender but naturally I want to match/coordinate with baby Vivian Louise and when I decided on her dress, which is a pale baby blue with pink accents and a pink bonnet (I literally swoon thinking about how precious she's going to be) I decided on this pink dress.

Sidenote: I'm almost finished with her Easter basket/gifts and I am beyond giddy for her to go on her first egg hunt. She runs more than she walks (just like her Mamma) so I know it will be so much fun. 

First I love eyelet lace fabric - it's not as matronly or fancy as other types of lace.  It's cotton and light and the ruffled hem midi length is just the right amount of flounce on this dress. The ruffled shoulders and sash tied in a bow add just the right feminine details. It also comes in 3 other colors.

I also want to take a moment to talk about these earrings. They were a gift from my mother-in-law while she was visiting last week. They are mother of pearl so the iridescent colors compliment what ever shade you're wearing.  Although a statement, they are light weight and just enough for day or evening. I will be wearing them so much this Summer!

Eyelet Wrap Dress | Similar Wedges | Earrings |

Dress Beautifully for Easter Sunday

XOXO Sarah Louise

Shoulders & Squares

Spring is all about shoulders, stark white and row and rows of gingham squares!

This look encompasses those sweet elements and then some.  I added a bright pop of color with turquoise earrings and several inches (without teasing my hair) in these amazing wedges.

I love the feminine details on the sleeves with delicate bow ties and ruffles!

Gingham Off-the-Shoulder Top || White Jeans || Wedges ||

  Turquoise Earrings || Sunglasses || 

Dress Beautifully in Off-the-Shoulder Gingham

XOXO Sarah Louise

The Everything Sundress

Sundresses are a staple for Spring/Summer.  Aesthetically they're feminine and pretty, functionally they're cool and comfortable. #winning

This sundress has all the elements of perfection: stripes, ruffles, bows and it's shoulder baring (apparently they're the 'It' body part).  I'm actually fine with the exposure of off-the-shoulder designs. Shoulders/collar areas are the smallest and daintiest part of a lady and it's not revealing in the cleavage department as the line is straight across.
Note: I'm NOT ok with low cut necklines or super short hem lines. #modesty

This sundress is designed to be a true off-the-shoulder, however I find the lack of arm mobility so frustrating due to the constraint around the bicep area.  Picture this, you're sitting at dinner and you reach for your glass and Snap! the elastic strap springs up on top of your shoulder. sigh Now you have to pull it back down in place.  I just feel like my arms are glued down by my sides and I can only bend at the elbow ... makes me feel like a t-rex.

Sooooo, because of the construction of this dress I was actually able to wear it as a strapless by not putting my arms through the shoulder straps. Genius if I do say so myself.  The dress is very pretty both ways so wear it which ever way suits your fancy.

I paired it with my favorite new wedges and I can't tell you gals enough how comfortable these are. AND I feel super tall which never happens as high stilettos make my feet hurt just looking at them.

This sundress will not only keep you cool in the Summer heat but it will bring the chic to any occasion.

Sundress || Wedges || Earrings || 

Dress Beautifully in a Sundress

XOXO Sarah Louise

Leather & Sweater

Talk about contrast - mixing a soft warm sweater with edgy cool leather makes for a super chic look.

Both textiles are full of texture and essential for a winter wardrobe.

This outfit also combines classic & modern with these block heeled booties and saddle cross body bag.

Pull from the extremes to create your next look and I promise the mixed vibes will have you winning in the style category!

Sweater || Leather Skirt || Booties || Handbag || Earrings || 

Dress Beautifully in Sweater & Leather

XOXO Sarah Louise

Drop it Low

Dropping it low today and I don’t mean dance moves; although I will confess I had some saucy skills out in the club during my college years!  Who am I kidding?! I’ll get down at a wedding any time!  But today I’m talking about waist lines.  Drop waist lines.  You see them all the time on wedding gowns and here lately on boho tops with a long peplum.  But a drop waist on dresses isn’t so common.  At least not since the 20’s.

Typically I wear my waist lines at the natural waist which is a bit higher than most gals prefer but it works for my body shape (and for tucking) and I find it elongates the body and I need all the help I can get!

A drop waist dress is flirty and creates a flouncy strut as you walk moving around the pleated/ruffled hem.

It’s different and unexpected.

The trick is to make sure the dress isn’t too big. Otherwise you’ll look like a big sack with no hint that there’s a body underneath.  The dress should skim over the hips – like a gradual angle from your ribs down.

I was tickled when I found this dress in a sweet shimmering peach.  I love the detailed hem with pieces of pleated fabric to add layered movement and detail.

This dress is a prime example of the importance of a racer back bra.  Gals, you must have one!  I wear mine all the time and find it not only very comfortable and supportive, but essential in dressing for cut in sleeveless garments and tanks.

I styled this drop waist dress with statement earrings in emerald green and a lace up pump for a dressier look.  You’d be equally as peachy keen in a more casual pairing with wedges. 

Drop Waist Dress: Banana Republic & Similar  || Lace Up Pumps: Similar & Here ||

Earrings: Kendra Scott || 

Dress Beautifully in a Drop Waist Dress

XOXO Sarah Louise

ALL the Pretty!

Color, color, and more color and it doesn't stop there!  This dress has print, beading, ruffles and all the intricate detail you can squeeze into one dress. Oh My!  It's everything a sundress should be, swingy, bright and pretty.  And that's exactly how I felt when I tried it on.

I shared with you gals my new movement to embrace shift and swing dresses here & here.  I must say, I'm having a lot of fun strutting around in these numbers.

There's so much detail in this dress with the elaborate print and delicate beading throughout.  You just can't appreciate it's ornate design through pictures.  I feel that this dress is perfectly pretty for day time, evening and just about any summer soiree.

Because of the array of colors you could pair it with almost any colored shoe or purse.  I chose cobalt here but wore those pink heels from this post to church and the office. To let the dress speak for itself I believe a neutral shoe and handbag would do just that.

Simply put, this dress has all the pretty!

Dress: Anthropologie ||  Blue Heels: Similar & Here || Earrings: Kendra Scott || 

Dress Beautifully in a Colorful, Printed Sundress

XOXO Sarah Louise