What I'd Wear If Only We Lived in NYC

This past weekend, the hubs and I went in to the Big City for the day. *one of the great perks of living in CT*


We had originally expected to take this trip with one of our favorite couple friends, Alicia and Josh from down in Baltimore. When they couldn't make it, we cancelled our plans too.


After a rough Friday, Andrew woke up on Saturday and decided we needed to get out of dodge for the day. So away we went.


NYC is probably number two of my favorite cities of all time (It's a close tie with Salzburg, Austria), and every time we are there I'm inspired to try out new outfits. Here's the problem...I live in the "Mid-West" of the East Coast. Not a ton of high fashion in Bristol, CT. *shocker!*


So when we go to New York, I make sure to push the envelope a little bit. This trip I went for a little bit of the exposed bra at the back of my tank.


This post will highlight things that you can get away with in New York that most people would just look at you funny almost anywhere else...

Country Chic in the City by sarahkeck86 featuring wayfarer sunglasses

Summer dress, $24 / Frye boots / Linea Pelle Collection leather jewelry / Ray-Ban wayfarer sunglasses, $195


I don't have this exact outfit, but I love to wear my boots like this with dresses or shorts during the summer. I wore my boots with shorts when I went back to Michigan in March and I was constantly asked if I was too hot, if I wanted a different pair of shoes, anything but "hey, that's really cute together!" That would not happen in the Big Apple.

High Fashion by sarahkeck86 featuring michael kors jewelry

Cut out top / Skinny fit jeans / Christian Louboutin high heel / Hermès handbag / Forzieri gold diamond earrings / Michael Kors jewelry / Eyewear


I also get the urge to go extreme high fashion. You know, wear a lot of black, sunglasses that cover most of my face, the whole New York thing. I love black, but in most other places this seems a little drab or too fancy for everyday occasions. Not in New York I tell you! It's part of the uniform! And I love it. 


So while I can't quite get away with these looks on an everyday basis, there are the couple times a year when I can escape a little from the hum-drum everyday fashion and change things up. 


Happy Shopping!

The Attack of the Humid Weather

Like I said yesterday, the weather has been a little cooler, but that hasn't stopped the humidity from just hanging in the air like a wet towel. It's pretty awful. 


So this post is to give you ideas on how to dress to keep yourself from suffering the heat. 


Dress in flowy fabrics. Keeping your clothes from being too clingy will promote airflow around your body to keep the humidity away. 


Stick with dresses or skirts. 


Check out these outfits that work great in the humid weather...

Beat the Humidity by sarahkeck86 featuring long shirts

NSF silk shirt / H&M long shirt, $9.38 / Skirt, $70 / Green shorts / Talbots ankle wrap sandals / Faith ankle strap sandals, $39 / Jane Norman summer shoes, $20


I love these pieces! And what's also great about them is that they will transfer great into fall! 

Look of the Week: Cornflower Blue Jeans

It has been a while since I did a look of the week.


*gotta love a busy work-week and a small vacation*


But I am back and this week it hasn't been as hot outside so I got the chance to break out one of my favorite pieces, my colored jeans.


I took another page from InStyle and paired these bright jeans with a neutral. I have put them with bright tops before but have found that it's a little too much.

Jeans: Nordstrom's Rack
Top: Paper Doll
Shoes: Aldo
Bracelet and Necklace: Vintage
Watch: Toy Watch

I think the jeans make enough of a statement to keep the rest in white. But what do you think? did it need to have a more fitted top or a belt to accent the waist? 

Happy Shopping!

Home Again, Home Again

Hello dear readers! I am back from my long weekend vacation to visit my grandmother, parents and sister in Virginia. 


It was much needed. Living so far away from home can be tough. 


I figured I would share with you all this very special place that has been in our family for three generations and will be the place where my parents retire and possibly where Ruthie or I will retire. It's my favorite place to go in the summer.


Enjoy!

The view from the front porch as a storm was going thru the valley

The family home

A beautiful creek runs along behind the house

Original barns up the road

Sneak attacked a quick family shot

I got a lot of good feedback from all my outfits from last week's post! After today I will get back to the fashion side of things. I hope everyone else had as fun this past weekend as I did!

Happy Shopping!

Leavin' On a Jet Plane!

I'm headed to Virginia to visit my family this weekend! I'm very excited but I will miss having my husband along with me. *work*


I love to travel, but I am a notorious over-packer. Well, NOT this time my friends! 


But I decided to show the outfits I'm packing. A mix of the tried and true and new mixes! 

This is my "city girl goes country" look. I'm excited to bring all of you guys coverage from the weekend! 


Happy Shopping!

Wednesday Obsession: Necklaces, Bracelets, Earrings Oh My!

I'm on a real jewelry kick these days. More so than clothes actually! This Spring and Summer have seen the outbreak of statement pieces. The bigger the better! Metal, enamel, or wood, these pieces come in all forns. My favorite happen to be the enamel pieces.

Triple Clover Pendant
baublebar.com

Spearmint Bauble Bib
baublebar.com

These are just two examples. I came across this site when a friend Tweeted about it. I'm still cursing her for introducing me to this very dangerous site!


What's so amazing about statement pieces is that they really add a personality to an outfit. It is also a great way to add color. Color is so big right now but can be a little intimidating for people to dress in a full-color look. So adding small pops like jewelry really helps!

chichime.com

chichime.com

Maybe necklaces aren't your thing? I have also recently discovered this site that sells bracelet sets! It can be a little pricy but when you think about how much it would take to put them together piece by piece, it could be even more expensive. 

So these are just a couple of things that go really well in your closet for the coming season! 

Happy Shopping!

Changing Things Up: What You Might Not Know About this Blogger!

I'm going to try something new. I'm going to try a link-up. This really isn't what my blog is usually about, but I would like to get to know some new bloggers. So here it goes!

1. How long have you been blogging? And what got you started on blogging? Has your blog changed?

Well with this blog, only about a month and a half. But my husband and I have a movie review blog that we have been working on for 6 months. I love to blog! Check out the other blog here.
2. Did you go to college? If so where, and what did you study?

I did, I went to Central Michigan University. I studied Public Relations with a minor in Journalism which has really come in handy with this whole blogging thing!

3. Where have you traveled?

Oh man, a lot of places: Italy, France, Spain, Austria, Mexico, Canada, most of the East Coast of the U.S., L.A., New Mexico and I plan on ever expanding this list. 

4. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy?

A trip to the British Isles. That is definitely on my bucket list.

5. What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?

Burping, I know it's a bodily function that can't always be helped, but it bothers me when people burp loudly in public. The sound of dogs licking the floor. Those are really the only 2. 

6. What is your favorite movie?

An absolute impossible question to answer. I'm always finding new movies that I love more than the last, but three of my favorites would be the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Dork, right here!

7. What is your drink of choice; wine, beer, or liquor. Or Water, Soda, Tea?

Yes please! Love tequila, red wine, flavored beers, soda with lime, hot and cold tea and LOTS of water!

8. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time?

Reading, I don't get to read as much as I'd like but when I do it's so relaxing!

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?

Zara in NYC

10. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? Or present.

Sounds stupid, but I hit a curb while driving in my old car with guy I was crushing on at the time. I totally blew out a tire. I was mortified. He had to change the tire too! *Awful*

11. What day would you love to relive again?

The day that I met my husband. I would have actually talked to him the first day instead of waiting like a month.



He's pretty awesome

12. If your life was turned into a movie... what actor would play you?

Kate Beckensale. I like to imagine that I'm actually a British Bombshell.

13. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?

Ice Cream shops. All thru High School and College. I'm a connoisseur.

My College Job- Loved it here!



14. Show us a picture from high school or college.

Austria Junior year of High School- Still friends with these lovely ladies!

15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?

Greek Isles, for like a whole month. Private villa, access to a yacht, the works.

16. Show us the most current picture of you or you and your family.



It's just us two right now, and we are having way to much fun to change that anytime soon!



17. Where do you see your life 5 years from now?

Who knows! Probably living in a new city and I hope to have figured out what I want to do when I grow up ;)

One Look, 3 Ways: Colored Jeans

I love colored jeans right now! They are the thing to have in your closet this summer and going into the fall. But because they are so brightly colored, they may be a little daunting to purchase. You might not know what to put with them or think that they are only for casual ware. So here are three looks that take these jeans through all walks of life!

Office Look by sarahkeck86 featuring silver jewelry

Weekend Look by sarahkeck86 featuring a panama hat

Date Night Look by sarahkeck86 featuring pocket tanks

These are just three ways, there are so many more ways to wear them. So get creative!

InStyle Inspiration

I love InStyle Magazine. I always seem to find great ideas in that magazine!


Well, 2 months ago the issue had these fun little tear outs in it!

I keep them hanging on the inside of my closet door just in case I need some inspiration. 

And today I got the chance to use one of them! 

I focused on the navy blue neutral color when I found this fantastic skirt at GOODWILL! I took a page from Amy this week and braved the never-ending racks of baggy jeans to find that one special piece!

I went with the bubblegum and navy combo to bring this outfit!

Shirt: H&M
Skirt: Nine & Company
Shoes: Steve Madden

I have been looking for a pleated skirt forever and I finally find the perfect one and it was only $2.50! How could I say no?!


So how did I do with the inspiration?

Look of the Week: "Casualizing"

This week has been hot. 


Not quite as hot as this past weekend, but warm enough to not feel comfortable in pants. So I dug this dress out of the closet. I wore it for my bridal shower last year but hadn't had a chance to wear it since. 


I decided to through a casual twist to it for work yesterday. 

Dress: Paper Doll
Vest: Levis
Shoes: Forever 21
Necklace: Baked Beads

By throwing the vest with the dess, it accented the waist and the flat shoes dressed it down a little bit.

(FYI: menswear shoes are another closet staple for this fall. These were super cute and only around $10. Fashion forward without breaking the bank!)

So what do you guys think?

Tuesday Guest Post: Salvation Amy

Hello readers! Happy Tuesday to you all! 


I am so excited to bring to you a new type of post today, the guest post! When I first started this blog, I contacted Amy, a super awesome girl that I went to high school with. She has this unique style and an even cooler way of finding that style and I wanted to share her knowledge with all of you.


So I had her write up a guest post on one of her fabulous finds. Enjoy!

Striped red and white vintage dress (without belt): $18

It’s always a great idea to support your local businesses, but sometimes that can get pricey. You don’t always have to choose the upscale one-of-a-kind retailer on Main St., you have to dig a little deeper. Local secondhand shops are AMAZING places to find rare vintage pieces that will leave your wallet intact and a smile on your face. 

I decided to visit One Girl’s Treasure, one of my favorite local resale stores, in the heart of East Town which is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  I found this vintage to die for red striped dress and crossed my fingers in hopes for a perfect fit and the rest is history! There’s something about the tailored fit at the top and the flowing bottom that was reminiscent of a 50s French style. I instantly wanted to eat a baguette; I’m not going to lie.  The dress did not come with a belt; however I snagged the belt from another vintage red dress I had previously purchased.  Add a pair of your favorite shades and you’re set to go!

One tip about vintage shopping is that you are going to find holes, rips, or missing buttons on at least a few of the items. Don’t be alarmed, this is something that can be quickly fixed either by hand sewing or taking the item to your local alterations business. I did find a rip in the back of this dress where the fabric meets the zipper seam towards the back of the dress, but luckily it can be easily fixed in less than five minutes by hand stitching! 

Isn't she fabulous?! And she also has a blog of her own check it out! http://salvation-amy.blogspot.com/

The Curse of the Dad Jeans!

Oh yea, you know what I'm talking about. High waisted, stone washed almost always worn with white tennis shoes. 

blog.tinaadamsconsulting.com

Ugh I'm shudder just to look at it!


Whether it is your father, brother, son or husband that wears these it is time to stage an intervention!!!


For many men, these jeans are just comfortable and they have had them since the 90's so they just don't care and have a little bit of a hard time separating from the "Dad Jeans." 
So I am here to tell you it's time for the man to get rid of those jeans. It ages anyone that wears them about 10 years, and NO ONE wants that.


A couple of tips that will change things up without totally overhauling the man's jeans wardrobe:


Instead of going with the light wash, go for a darker jean. The look nicer, can be dressed up or down and above all are slimming.

J. Crew Relaxed fit in dark wash

Now, depending on the shape your your "Dad Jean" victim you can go for a little bit of a skinnier jean. If your man is a little on the larger side I would stick with the relaxed fit. Here is an example of the skinnier jean though.

J. Crew 484 slim-fit jean in black

I love this look and think that men look super sexy in them. So it's time to get rid of those awful "Dad Jeans" and replace them with the "Sexy Man Jeans," creating a man that you wouldn't be embarrassed to be seen out in public with!

Look of the Week: Fourth of July Edition

Hello Readers!


I hope that everyone's holiday was a lot of fun! 
It was so weird to have the holiday in the middle of the week so I was a little reluctant to blog on my husband's rare day off. 


But I am back on the hunt for new styles to showcase!


So here is the Look of the Week! 

Top: Old Navy

Shorts: Tommy Hilfiger

Shoes: Aldo

This is what I call my Ballpark look. Ketchup and mustard! These are my favorite shorts, so comfortable and aren't too short.


So enough for today! Tomorrow I'm going to change it up with some men's looks! 

Tuesday Obsession: Blazers

I just want to start off by saying that I love blazers. I think they are just about the most amazing thing to have in your wardrobe. They dress almost any outfit up and they come in such a range of colors, styles and prices imaginable!


Blazers are a great piece to have instead of a bunch of different sweaters. They hold their shape so much better and they just look nicer. Check out several that hang in my closet:

BBDakota

BBDakota

H & M

esquire

Forever 21

I have a couple others but they are currently being held hostage borrowed by my mother. 


So while it may seem like a no-brainer on how to wear blazers, I'm going to trow together a couple of outfits that I have that maybe ways you haven't seen before.

See? There are so many applications to wear blazers, from fancy to casual. Warm weather to cold and everything in between! 

Fake It Till You Make It

This saying can be applied to a lot of things in life.
But there are certain times when it applies to fashion most of all.


We have all had those days. The ones where all you really want to do is throw of sweats or yoga pants and a big ole T-shirt and call it good. You might even venture out of the house in such a get-up.


STOP! Don't turn that key just yet!


Do you really want the entire world to know you feel bloated, having a bad day or just didn't want to go the the grocery store? If your answer was "yes" then there really isn't much I can do to change your mind. But when those other grocery store patrons and mall-goers are giving you a wiiiide berth, don't say I didn't warn you!


It doesn't take much to get ready, actually the exact amount of time it takes you to put on those sweats.

Grocery Store Get-Up by sarahkeck86 featuring super skinny jeans

All it takes is throwing on a pair of comfortable jeans and a fitted tank. Pair with a brightly colored sweater and a delicate necklace, grab your flats and you're out the door! 

You really don't need to even put on make-up or do your hair if you're having a really rough day, but as long as you don some structure you are good to go.