Sweet on Stripes

Kate Spade dress

 

I have long had an admiration for stripes. The pattern can be serious or playful, but it is always on trend. I purchased this Kate Spade dress in black and ivory stripes for a friend's wedding this month. I'm preparing to dress it up with a pair of colorful heels and loose curls for a night of fun. I ordered the stationery below from my favorite design team, Jill and Todd of Dot and Line. I mentioned that I was after something fun to showcase my stripe obsession and they concocted this chevron delight!

 

Monogrammed stationery c/o Dot and Line

 

Guest Threads - Penelope Reprise

J.Crew sweater | Urban Outfitters BDG denim | UGG boots
Gifted leather bracelet & rings

 

My little sister Penelope was home for a short break from school recently and we spent several days together shopping, eating, drinking coffee and catching up. She attends college in Minnesota and so I relish any time we get to spend in the same city. I loved the opportunity to photograph someone, especially someone so sweet and dear to me. I featured her in a previous post last summer so it felt appropriate to do it once more. The week she was home proved far to cold for our intended shoot location and the backyard had to suffice, but when you are this lovely, the location does not seem to make any difference.

Exhibit

J.Crew coat, bracelet & tights | BCBG dress | Elizabeth and James boots

Vintage Chanel earrings | Merona watch | Vintage bag & cuff

 

Some days I have the strong desire to dress up and do something outside the normal scope of my routine. This week, my mom and I visited Omaha's Joslyn Art Museum to view the temporary exhibits - Ten Masterworks from the Whitney Museum of American Art, Route 36: Photographs by William Wylie and Jennifer Steinkamp: Marie Curie. The artworks were fantastic and full of color. I am perpetually amazed by the creativity of others.

 

For the occasion, I wore a simple, nude sweater dress with black tights and boots. The striped town coat provided a structured layer while a vintage mustard bag contributed a pop of color. We perused the galleries for about an hour before moving on to lunch at one of our favorite diners, Harold's Koffee House, where a hot beef sandwich and coffee warmed me up. I was able to focus on schoolwork for the remainder of the afternoon, but the enjoyment from a morning spent well and in good company was felt throughout the day.

Photographed by Amy Lett Rouse at Joslyn Art Museum

The glass sculpture is Chihuly: Inside & Out by Dale Chihuly

Red, Pink & Orange

J.Crew tee, coat and necklace | Urban Outfitters BDG denim | Frye boots

Gifted stole & watch | Ann Taylor hat | Mixit gloves

The last few days have been chilly, to put it mildly. Nebraska winters are full of surprises and this season has been no exception. Last week we experienced a thaw bringing with it two or three days of spring-like temperatures. Sunday saw a dip and we were back to single digits. After twenty-seven years in this climate, I am not fooled but such fluctuations and I have curated a versatile coat collection to sustain me! In addition, I was gifted a lovely vintage mink stole by someone very sweet. It is the warmest and chicest piece in my wardrobe. 

Winter in the Midwest also necessitates careful selection of footwear. I am a bit standoffish about wearing leather or suede shoes in the snow and slush, so I often stick to the same gray or black pairs. I have been dying to pull on my new Frye boots that I received from my stylish mama for Christmas and this week finally offered me a chance. Paired with a few other bright pops of color - berry lip, coral and navy striped tee and fuchsia gloves - the boots helped make a gray day bright.

Photographed by Amy Lett Rouse

Looking Forward to 2013

{Paris}

 

Hello, dear readers, and Happy New Year! It's been several weeks since my last post. Between work, school and various personal and professional obligations, something had to take a backseat. Unfortunately for the artist/stylist/writer/decorator in me, it had to be A Shot Of Style. This blog has proven to be a fun challenge for me to generate compelling content regularly. I cannot be certain how much time this semester will permit me to dedicate to this creative task, but at the moment I am planning to post once per week. This will allow me to carefully craft something of sincere interest and inspiration to my readers.

I am looking forward to a year of fresh starts and big adventures. I plan to graduate with my Masters degree in May (hurray!), launch a career which both challenges and stimulates me and have some fun! To that end, I'm planning a European holiday to Paris and Lisbon with my honey this spring. Words cannot express how excited I am to visit these two cities! If you have traveled to either and have any advice, please feel free to share. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy what you find on A Shot of Style in 2013. Cheers!

Back in a Few

{The study room where I've been spending most of my time}

Please forgive me for failing to post the last few days. Things have gotten a little hectic with graduate school and some days it's hard to keep up with everything I'd like. A Shot Of Style is my creative outlet and I love to share what inspires me with others. I'll be back to it very soon!

Thursday Threads

J.Crew blouse & jeans. Merona tank. Elizabeth and James boots.

Francesca's necklace. Michael Kors watch.

 

I spend most of my days off in jeans or similarly comfortable clothing. This high waisted flared option by J.Crew is several years old but still feels current. I selected a sheer black blouse and a multi-strand string of pearls for a mild autumn day. I had no appointments and no where to be, which was absolutely lovely.

 

Photographed by Amy Lett Rouse

Wild Horses

{Horse Head Bookends}

 

I am certain to be inspired with interior decorating ideas whenever I peruse Horchow's website. The horse head bookends pictured here are the perfect example of food for thought for a home office, foyer or similar interior. The animal bust is reminiscent of ancient sculpture while the lucite grounds the design in modern day. I can imagine these on my bookshelf, coffee table or kitchen counter (think cookbooks). Timeless decor will suit any space.

Missoni Waves

M Missoni Printed Woven-Cotton Top

 

Missoni can always be relied upon for bright colors and vibrant patterns. Case in point is this wave print top. The playful design keeps the blouse from looking too boxy and the light fabric makes this a perfect layer for any ensemble.

Men in Scarves

J.Crew Cashmere Scarf

 

Burberry Giant Iconic Cashmere Scarf

 

Banana Republic Birdseye Stripe Scarf

 

It's not often that I blog about men's style, not because it doesn't interest me but rather, I tend to be very focused on the things I would want to wear. Recently, one of my best friends, an excellent dresser himself, kindly requested I post on the topic of men's scarves. I was happy to oblige as I have an interest in all things related to style. I did a little research and discovered that the overarching themes in men's neckwear are solids, stripes and plaid. This doesn't surprise me as men's fashions appear to be dominated by simplicity and minimalism. I find this to be a refreshing diversion from some of the bright and busy designs to which I'm usually drawn. 

I ♥ Friday

{The old Wohlner's Grocery Store, home of J.Coco}

 

This weekend will be a busy one - I have a few evening engagements with friends and quite a bit of homework to do. I am looking forward to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants on Friday with my boyfriend's family. I can't wait for good wine and great company. Here's to the weekend!

Thursday Threads

{Rebecca Minkoff top. Rag & Bone blazer. Urban Outfitters jeans.

Gifted necklace. Vintage cuff. Xhiliration boots.}

I've got a cold. In my opinion, this is largely due to the stress of being in graduate school. It suggests to me that the only remedy is graduation. But I've got several months to go before that happy day. Until then I must rely on more immediate cures, like chicken noodle soup and Hall's Honey-Lemon cough drops. In addition, nothing boosts my spirits quite like a new top! I paired this one with one of my go-to hairstyles (a classic braid pinned into a chignon), comfy denim and bright red lips. If I can't feel good, then I'll look good!

Photographed by Rachel King

Stocking Stuffers

{Restoration Hardware Stocking Stuffers}

I have officially started my Christmas shopping. I realize that October might seem early to some, but I am a methodical thinker and decision maker (you could say procrastinator!). I need ample time to brainstorm, research and execute my purchases, especially when they are presents. So I was pleased to receive Restoration Hardware's Holiday Source Book in the mail this week. It has already generated a few gift ideas and got me thinking about some items I never knew I needed (such as these)!

Montparnasse Amour

{Kiki de Montparnasse Amour silk-charmeuse camisole}

 

I've been looking for a versatile camisole for many months (see here). I have found several but nothing is quite as alluring as this silk-charmeuse option by Kiki de Montparnasse. This would do well as an underpinning for my many empire waisted garments or perhaps even as a top with a pair of high waisted trousers. Either way it serves as a chic layering piece for any ensemble. 

Skull Cuff

Alexander McQueen Small Skull Cuff

 

Halloween is just around the corner, and while I haven't been an enthusiastic fan of dressing in costume since grade school days, I do love the spooky season. The things I enjoy most about Halloween are trips to the pumpkin patch (see here), festive decor (like these) and of course the candy. The Alexander McQueen cuff pictured above is my idea of embracing the holiday in the most stylish way.