the Perfect Jumpsuit for Wedding Season

With Wedding Season quickly approaching, I want to share how to switch-up your go-to wedding dress.  My go-to happens to be any Little Black Dress (remember this outfit).  The jumpsuit is a perfect substitute -- you can maintain that level of dressiness but with a added twist.  There are SO many options to choose from these days -- black + white, illusion sleeves, even halter. 

I actually wore this Topshop jumpsuit paired with a fur vest back in January to a post-Holiday party -- yes, I'm just getting around to photographing it now.  But the beauty of this piece (a very similar option here) is that it can be worn almost year round.  The floral print allows you to wear it in the Spring with sandals, while the orange hues make it perfect for a Fall Wedding, or pair it with a fur vest and black patent leather pumps for a Winter wedding or Holiday party...  The possibilities are endless.  

xo

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outfit details

jumpsuit: TopShop (sold out), almost identical here  //  heels: Candies (last seen in this post), similar here  //  purse: Clare V  //  shades: Ray-Ban Aviators

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a Weekend Wedding at Wentworth by the Sea

Wentworth By the Sea

Delicious cappuccino at beautiful Salt Kitchen & Bar 

Escort Cards I designed on custom cut birch wood logs

My cousin Lisa was married over the weekend in beautiful Portsmouth, NH.  I am beyond excited for her and her husband Ryan as they start the next chapter of their lives.  It was an amazing weekend full of love, laughter, parties and a bit of over-indulgence.  

For this winter wedding, I opted for this rich burgundy colored dress with sleeves and delicate lace collar details.  (I actually got this dress last year for Christmas and had only worn it once.  I usually love any opportunity to buy a new dress for an upcoming event [see post here] but sometimes its better to dig deep into the closet - you're bound to find something perfect for your occasion.)  To keep the look a little bit lighter and since the temps were in the 50's, I decided on nude tights instead of black.  This dress with beautiful lace details really speaks for itself so accessories were kept to a minimum with a simple black leather clutch, black pumps and a black fur vest (just incase).  

I worked with Lisa & Ryan prior to their wedding, designing invitations, wedding programs, weekend itineraries, table cards and escort cards.   I'll be sure to share those details in a later post.  Stay tuned!

xo KJL

LINKING UP WITH: STYLIN IN ST LOUIS  //  JENNA MARIE  //  MICHELLE  //  TREND SPIN  //  JESS  //  OH HEY GIRL  //  STYLELIXIR //   Sydney Fashion Hunter  //  

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outfit details

dress: Topshop (old), similar  //  heels: Nine West  //  purse: Tory Buch (old), almost identical  //  fur vest: Forever 21  //  

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Wedding Wear: Part II - the Great Gatsby

  

(but first, let me take a selfie)

Here it is, Part 2 of my Wedding Wear series (if you missed it, see the first post here).  

Amy and Phil's wedding was entirely different than the first of the series.  Amy describes the wedding theme as "glitz & glam, drawing inspiration from the 20's / Great Gatsby".  When Amy first told me that she was going for a "Gatsby" theme.  I was so excited!  

For one, I worked with Amy to create/design several features for her big day: wedding programs, various graphic quotes to be framed throughout the venue, escort cards (more on all this stuff in a separate post coming soon).  And secondly, I was excited to "go all out" and really embrace the theme.  I told Amy from the get-go that I was going to find a headpiece to wear - which to me, is a signature of 20's fashion.  Who doesn't love a good theme as an excuse to have fun and dress up?  As long as Amy was on board - and she was - I was going all out.  

I knew exactly what I wanted for the head piece, the hard part was finding the dress.  I knew I wanted something beaded, something 20's inspired with a lot of bling.  I stumbled upon this dress at Nordstrom (though not in my size), and to my disappointment it was completely sold out!  Luckily, I was able to find it on Amazon (amazing, right?).  I wanted to pair the dress with long black pearls, but had zero luck finding what I was looking for.  So I borrowed some long, white pearls from my mom and paired them with my long faux pair.  (In the end, I think the white pearls worked better than black would have.)  I finished the look with black studded pumps and of course, red lips.

The wedding was a blast, I can't wait to share more!  Stay tuned.     

Linking up with: Fizz and Frosting  //  rheaetcetera 

Outfit Details

dress: Adrianna Papell Beaded Cocktail Dress, similar here  //  heels: French Connection "Ellis" Pumps (on sale with L&T Friends and Family)  //  necklace: various, similar here  //  headband: Charming Charlie, other similar ones here + here  //  clutch: old, similar budget friendly here + here

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Spring Shower

If you caught my last post (Wedding Wear), you know Wedding Season is upon us.  But with Weddings, come Bridal Showers.  Which poses yet another important question, what to wear?  Here are some of my pointers:

Outdoor/Backyard Shower:  Don't get it twisted here ladies, just because a Bridal Shower is at someone's house, be it a family member or bridal party member, does not mean casual attire is acceptable (I'm talking jeans or sweats), nor does it mean the event will be casual!  When deciding what to wear, shoes are key.  Pick a printed, colorful spring dress, and pair it with some flat, leather sandals (like these babies), or a chunky heel/wedge sandal (cause we all know grass and stilettos do not mix).  Dresses are my go-to, but a great pair of printed pants or jumpsuit would do the trick.  

Hall/Restaurant:  Step it up a bit.  You're not dressing for the actual wedding here, but keep your look semi-formal.  Dresses (fit & flare, midi or even a shirt dress tied at the waist) are always a great option.  Or find a matching skirt set, like this set for under $82 total, or this one from the Loft (top // skirt).  I always gravitate towards black + white, and add pops of color and pattern with my accessories.  Strappy sandals or studded pumps are a great way to make a simple outfit look a bit more dressy.  

When in doubt:  In all cases, try to avoid an all-white ensemble, that's for the bride-to-be.  Take cues from the shower invitation.  In most cases, you can get a sense of formality.  Rather be over-dressed than under-dressed.  When in doubt, ask!  You will need to RSVP regardless, am I right?  It's a great point of discussion, especially when you are RSVP-ing to someone that you've never met before.  

I recently attended an outdoor, backyard shower.  I snagged my dress from BCBG nearly 2 hours before the shower (crunch time!).  I knew the color was perfect for the outdoor setting, plus I already had some chunky heeled sandals to go with it.  I threw on my colorful orange purse and green aviators to help pull out the many colors of the dress, and voila!


Linking up with: Trend Spin  //  SFH  //  What I Wore  //  oh Hey Girl!  //  Tucker Up  //  because shanna said so  //  the Pleated Poppy  //  Penniless Socialite  //  Sincerely Jenna Marie  //  Fab Friday Favorites  //  Thursday Favorites  //  

Outfit Details

dress: BCBG Jeanna Crewneck Long Sleeve Dress, similar style here & summer halter style here  //  shades: Ray-Ban Aviators in green flash  //  purse: Nordstrom Rack (last seen here), similar here under $35! //  heels: F21 Faux Leather Slingback (I want all the colors!)

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Wedding Wear: Part I

Well it is official, wedding season is officially upon us.  And if you're anything like me, my schedule is jam packed with wedding events and festivities.  Don't get me wrong, I love it all.  But it always leaves me with one important question: "What am I going to wear?"

I have to admit, I love any excuse to buy a new dress (see here & here), especially for an upcoming wedding.  But with the frequency of weddings year after year, I have to ask myself, is buying a new dress every time really practical?  Answer: No.

Therefore, my theory in re-wearing a dress is to style it differently from that last time your wore it: new jewelry, a new clutch, new shoes, even a different hair style.  Accessories can transform any look.  Adding these different touches will make your dress (and your look) feel entirely new.  

I put my theory to the test this past weekend at Billy (my cousin) & Susan's garden themed wedding. I last wore this pink Topshop number to Beth & Paul's wedding, in the Fall of 2013 (see here).  In that look, I paired the pink dress with black + gold accessories.  This time, I opted for new fun + floral pumps, that I could justify buying since they were on sale for under $50!  I finished the look with my go-to leopard clutch and a turquoise necklace (borrowed from my mom).   

I have another wedding this coming weekend, so stay tuned for more Wedding Wear looks, including a Bridal Shower look and my graphic design work for both weddings!  

Have a great week!  

Link Ups: Trend Spin  //  SFH  //  Who's Wearing What  //  Tucker Up  //  Oh, Hey Girl  //  the Pleated Poppy  //  Because Shanna Said So  //  Classy Yet Trendy  //  Fab Favorites  // 

Outfit Details

dress: Topshop (old), similar here & here  //  pumps: Kendall & Kylie Madden Girl, similar floral heels here & here  //  shades: Ray-Ban Aviators  //  purse: Clare V. Foldover Clutch, more budget friendly leopard option here  //

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Boston Sports Themed Table Numbers

Check out my new Esty listing for more information or to purchase.  The table markers are totally customizable to the teams and players of your choice.  

Finally getting around to sharing these Boston Sports themed table numbers I did for a friend's wedding (a year and a half ago).  Anywho, Beth enlisted my help with the table numbers for her wedding.  The overall theme was an attempt to incorporate one of the groom's, Paul's, favorite things - sports, better yet Boston sports - Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox and Bruins!  The project morphed from simple photo sized player jerseys in acrylic frames to complete authentic-looking (down to the fonts!) cutouts stemming from actual hockey pucks & baseballs, and hand painted wooden basketballs & footballs.  The most challenging part of the project was finding new baseballs in October.  Needless to say, we all were thrilled with the outcome.  It was certainly a group effort but well worth it!