Easy Breezy

This week seems especially long, with deadlines looming, extra cups of coffee, and not enough sleep. Daydreaming today about an easy breezy weekend, filled with effortless style, togetherness and abandon.
(1,2,3)

Confessions of a Book Nerd

It's no secret that I'm a Fitzgerald fanatic. Seriously, I'm so overcome with love for Fitzgerald in every form that I considered named my dog both Gatsby and Fitz. So if you, too, are a lover of Gatsby, of Zelda and Fitz's turbulent, romantic and chaotic lifestyle, or ole Fitzgerald's lyrical words themselves, heed my oncoming advice with utmost seriousness (ready for it?) :

Go and buy The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. 

Right now. 

(And try to savor it, and not devour it as I did.)

This novel details the life of Ernest Hemingway and his lovely first wife, Hadley Richardson. A marriage based on love at first sight, breathless romance, and total infatuation quickly evolves as the couple takes off for Paris during the jazz age to befriend the likes of Ezra Pound, James Joyce, and the Fitzgeralds themselves while encountering scandal, infidelity, and the chaotic undertones of the era. While fictional in tone and attitude, McClain's writing depicts every aspect of the Hemingways lives, taking details from real-life love letters, biographies, and Hemingway's own work to paint a canvas that spans six years and then some from Hadley's perspective. And don't even get me started on her beautiful language, which is pure art in itself.

I can not say enough how much I loved this novel. I actually forced it on my friend Michelle, who shares the same taste as me, knowing that she'd tell me if my opinion of this book was a little biased.
She finished it in a day and a half.

"I wish I had died before I loved anyone but her."

- Ernest Hemingway

I suggest buying the hard cover copy, seeing as you're going to want to re-read it 1,231 times and don't want it to get ratty. Plus, it's a lovely cover on a bookshelf.
xoxo

Precisely

via

For Fall: Staple Blouses

As I mentioned Friday, I'm on the hunt for my fall wardrobe, looking for great pieces that translate easily from work to play. One thing that's on my radar is pretty blouses for a tucked in, polished look that can be flirty and girly...

or sophisticated and sexy...

... work-appropriate

or date-night appropriate...

or casual and just plain pretty.

I absolutely adore each of the outfits above, and did a little online perusing to see which designers and stores would be my best bet to score similar blouses (and if I found a pair of faux-leather shorts or that adorable high-waisted red skirt along the way, I wouldn't be mad.)

 Vero Moda Lace Insert Blouse

Silk Blythe Blouse

Leopard print tunic

Daniel Rainn Polka Dot Top

 Forever 21 spotted top

Also, a warm welcome to all the new followers! I'm not sure how you found me, but I'm glad you did. Let me know what you think, and I hope you'll keep coming back.

xoxo

(top five images from my "Style Seeker" pinboard)

Monday Mantra

And here we are as a new week has snuck up on us again. After a long and gloriously exhausting weekend filled with sun, visiting, live music, and tasty treats, it's time to settle into real life once again, relishing in the calm and and simple.
Happy Monday lovelies.
xoxo

Happy {Fall Shopping} Weekend

And here we are again, with the weekend on the horizon. I pushed my pencil skirts to the side this morning in lieu of rolled up boyfriend jeans with a pretty silk top, statement necklace, and chunky wooden heels. Our office attire is "beach chic", so as the weather channel tells me that clouds are on my horizon all weekend, I'm hoping to spend some time on the hunt for fall finds to add to my wardrobe. And even though an Indian summer is most surely in our future here on the coast, you have to start early to find the things you want for fall! On my radar? A brown leather skirt. Cropped cigarette pants. A cape coat. A fur vest. Long sleeve silk tops. And I need new shoes. Got any ideas/suggestions for me? Leave a comment!
Happy Weekend lovelies.
xoxo
(photo)

Dear Target,

Seeing that if I happened to have the extra $2950 laying around that would purchase me this uber-fabulous lucite trunk by Serge de Troyer, I would probably opt to spend it on clothes, a vacation, or obsessive amounts of candy/chocolate/fro-yo, I have a proposition to make.

How about designing a much less expensive but just as chic replica of the glam piece? And decoristas worldwide would continue to kiss the ground you walk on.
You know you want to.
xoxo,
Ainsley

Inspired By: M Loves M

I was browsing through some of my daily reads today and stumbled across this outfit post on M Loves M that I happened to miss:

 I'm a big fan of the adorable Mara, as she documents her life as a new wife on her blog. She's cute, creative, and has a knack for making what's old new again. I find lots of fun and functional ideas in her outfit posts, and this one above literally stopped me in my mouse-scrolling tracks.

Hello Audrey Hepburn meets bombshell. The classy meets sexy look is hard to pull off equally (obviously making it my favorite combo). Don't you love the demure jacket and chiffon shirt coupled with the metallic gladiator heels and siren-red lips? Because I do. So much, in fact, that I went on a little internet binge to see how I could add a similar look for fall to my closet. Behold:

 ASOS striped collarless jacket for a taste of Audrey

 J.Crew silk Lucinda blouse in 'spicy gold' for a pop of color

High-waist capri for a retro feel.

A few necklaces piled on for bedazzle via here

Some seriously show-stopping shoes

and last but not least, the Ray Ban Jackie Ohh glasses for the icing on the cake

Voila. Thanks, Mara, for the outfit inspiration!

The Reason

 DKNY's PR girl (who if you don't read, you absolutely should) is onto something here. I sit here daily and talk with you about style. I'm sure some who know what I do as a blogger, or what we all do as blog readers, don't understand our devoted interest to the topic. I'm sure some don't understand how we can roll out of the bed and spend happy, meticulous time piecing together this skirt with that blouse and those heels/necklace/earrings/blazer/sunglasses. But we know why. It makes us feel good. And no, we aren't being shallow.

When I walk into my office and I'm put together nicely and I know it, watch out day, I'm getting stuff done. I'm going to get that publicity. I'm going to write that article. I'm going to network effectively and build strong relationships. I'm going to voice some killer ideas. Because I've got confidence on my side and those new shoes I just found online for a steal that I absolutely had to have because they went together so nicely with my new cropped cigarette pants helped me get it. 

My friends and I tease that our motto is "Fake it 'til you make it." But it's so true. Bad day? Fake a good one. It will make it get better. And if you're wearing a ratty pair of jeans and a tank that should have been thrown out years ago, my guess is you're not going to feel much like "making it." But if you're as put together as a J.Crew ad (or whatever your personal taste may be), my other guess is you're going to know it, be happy about that, and perform better in whatever setting you're in. When you care about your appearance, it translates into caring about your work. If style is about expressing yourself, what does the outfit you're wearing out today say about you? Your look translates your first impression for others. And no, I don't think we should judge books by covers. But I mean, if the covers are nice, it's a heck of a lot easier to be drawn to them.

So that's it, that's why I love fashion. I'll get off my soapbox now. I have some shoes on a Wishlist online anyhow that I need to go sort through, and an article or three to write.

xoxo

(all photos via my Pinterest)

Let's Do It

After a sunshine-filled weekend, it was rather hard rolling over to the coffee this morning, furthering the need for this print in my office space.

Happy Monday lovelies, xoxo