And, away we go....

FINALLY, its getaway time!!!

Only for a few days but I'm outta this city & exploring a new one!!

Woohoo!!!

Super giddy with excitement, I've been packing in my mind for days now.

Packing for a vacation can be one of my favorite parts, with the anticipation building to all the different adventures that lie ahead,

creating memories...& what I wore.

It can definitely be an art form.

Figuring out where all you're going, the weather, how much walking...

Coming up with combinations of styles so each look is different but that you will only need a few pieces, 

I mean there will be pictures, you can't look the same in them all.

I like to travel with one suitcase + one carry-on.

I've never been one of those girls with the piles of bags behind her (thats embarrassing)

UNLESS, of course I'm invited to the Couture shows in Paris, 

oh but wait, I'd just shop when I got there too.

Scratch that, I'm a one bag gal!

 For this holiday getaway to Chicago, my trusty weather app is saying it's gonna be quite gorgeous, not too hot, not too chilly.

But I fear humidity though, or more so my hair fears it...

So I'm getting creative with my packing, keeping things light & flowy 

with easy to add layers, in case the evening brings cooler temps.

To keep the packing light, I'm sticking in the same color palette for easy mixing & matching, 

which has funnily turned out to be quite patriotic too (completely unplanned).

Pretty much its sundresses & skirts with sleeveless tops.

I KNOW I won't need a jacket, so I'm tossing in my navy Bell Sleeve Shrug to top off most outfits in my bag.

But, just to mix it up, I'm also bringing along my striped Convertible Shrug to play with as a scarf or a wrap. 

Stripes have become such a neutral for me, I love mixing them with other patterns!

Pops of color with some accessories, a fun straw fedora & sandals ~ I am good to go!!

Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend!! 

Send pics from wherever you're celebrating/traveling!!

Our Red & Cream Stripe jersey knit
available in the Convertible Shrug

Our Navy Lightweight Sweater knit
in our Bell Sleeve & Hooded
Ballerina Shrugs

 Happy 4th of July!!!!

Cheers ~

Carlie

Summer Nights...

Summer fun time has begun!!

Gorgeous sunny days line up one after the other, 

outdoor activities are in abundance from concerts in the park & outdoor screenings, to play time at the beach ~ day and night.

If you're anything like me, once it heats up, I want very lil touching my body so my Summer go-to style is sundresses ~ lightweight, flowy & feminine.

I find they are so easy to do casual during the day with sandals, switch to a heel & you're good for a night out!

While its been extremely hot out during the day here in LA lately, 

the nights have been a lil chilly (god bless it!).

My SOLUTION this Summer has been our Convertible Shrug in a soft lightweight knit, just enough to keep me warm but loose enough to keep me cool too!

Super easy to keep in your bag & pull out when/if needed... 

It came in perfect for date night, as I knew I'd be fine in my dress for dinner,

but afterwards as we strolled, I wrapped it around my arms & was completely comfortable.

 The beauty of this shrug is that it can be worn in a variety of different ways & create so many different looks.

The snaps let you convert it to your favorite style.

Above, I'm wearing it as a shrug, with the center snaps open

Below, with all the snaps undone, I can easily use it as a wrap, a scarf & in case the top comes down on his convertible (most likely), as a head wrap to save the hair ;)

(I love the Old Hollywood glamour vibe of this style!)

 Dress: Anthropologie  Shoes: Indigo by Clarks  Shrug: Ch*Armz

Here's even more ways you can rock our Convertible Shrug ~

We'd love to see how you'd style it too!!

Send us your pics!!

"Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak"

~ Rachel Zoe

So, what are you saying?

Cheers to a great week of style!

xo

*Also, if you want to keep up with my daily musings & adventures in dating, checkout Insights at 39 and if you love a good love story read, First Love at 37 (be sure to start at the beginning)

Summer in the City

And, if you're on the West Coast, summer has been arriving here in the afternoons. 

Lately, our early mornings have been greeting us with gorgeous gray skies!

Ahhhh glorious June Gloom, my favorite LA "season"

This is when true Angelenos master their art of layering ~

Mornings are gray & sometimes misty, usually chilly.

Afternoons are bright & sunny, warming with each day.

Evenings see the marine layer roll right back in, along with the crisp air

(perfect sleeping weather if you ask me)

So, the general option is to keep a sweater or jacket handy, which usually works out well, until you leave it in your car, the office, etc because you didn't want to carry it along 

& then sure enough in rolls the cold.

I know this cuz I do it all the time!

I've been on a kick lately of wanting my hands free & wanting to be easily mobile, so jackets are the first thing to go, I don't want it weighing me down.

But then I'm the one suffering early in the morning or late at night...

silliness...

This is exactly when Sleeves come in handy!!

I've been playing with my new summer goodies & these black attachable sleeves completed today's look :)

First, I scored this cute lil striped knit dress at Target for only $20!!! I know!!!!

So needless to say, I've been dying to wear it!

Here's play by play on the day's style ;)

Pic 1 ~ cute & casual, but a lil basic for a day of meetings downtown, plus the sun wasn't out yet...

Pic 2 ~ decided to add my black sleeves to keep me warm, because I knew I could pop them off & throw them in my back as I walked from meeting to meeting vs. carrying my blazer which I was guaranteed to ditch within an hour or 2...

Black attachable sleeves available at Ch*Armz 

Pic 3 ~ Pop of a bright color against a black & white palate and the fun begins!

If the sun ain't shining, I'll wrap it around my neck ;)

Pic 4 ~ Ditch the sleeves, keep the pop = summer in the city!

Had a GREAT day!

I'm a big believer in when you're feeling good in your clothes & owning your style, 

no matter what it is, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL

& the world takes notice!!

ENJOY YOUR STYLE!!!!

"People will stare. Make it worth their while"

~ Harry Winston ~

Dress: Merona (Target)    Booties: Clarks    Belt: GAP    Sleeves: Ch*Armz

Shop here to show your style-inality on your arms