Wardrobe Diaries: Neons and Neutral

When the neon trend first debuted in 2011, I was skeptical. I just could not see the appeal in wearing safety vests if you will. There are so many great aspects of the 80's just waiting for a resurrection, but did we really have to bring back the fluro? Well that was what I thought until I saw Christian Siriano's SS12 collection of casual tees paired with floaty neon maxis. All of a sudden I didn't hate it, in fact I rather loved it! Neons were transformed 80's sporty chic to a dreamy nonchalant vision and I was enthralled.

Since then I've found myself always opting for neon accessories when the option exists. A little neon accent goes a long way. I'm especially fond of teaming it with monochrome looks or in this case, basic neutrals. The neon blue druzy necklace and acid neon sandals sit on either end of the torso balancing each other out. Instead of the eye being drawn to a particular statement piece, the dress and jacket take center stage as a result from being framed by the pops of neon.

What about you? Are you a head to toe neon kind of gal or do you shy away from this bright bold trend?

{ wearing: muuba leather jacket similar here also loving the lace version . madison marcus wrap dress also loving this maxi wrap gown . clair vivier foldover clutch . prabal gurung for target sandals . druzy necklace thanks to INPINK use code CAMO30 for 30% off all jewelry }

Inspire Me

I did have a fun little recipe post all primped and ready for today when the most amazing thing happened while I was out at lunch. There I was minding my own business walking down the street when I gazed into an unknown boutique window and saw the most beautiful scene. Crouching on the floor was this lovely lady with hair cascading down her black, dressed in all-black with leopard print shoes trimming away at the hem of this beautiful lemon yellow dress. For a moment I stood transfixed, in front of me stood a scene that embodied everything I ever imagined couture tailoring to look like. The tailor ever the bit as chic as the garment she was working on in a setting even Ms Francis Elkins would approve of.

The boutique in question turned out to be Snowball Maison de Couture. A mother and daughter team who dreams up exquisite frocks and hand-made accessories. Now if only I had an event to go to... Click here to visit their e-boutique.

In My Suitcase

This week I have been quite absent from the blogosphere. The kids and I are about to embark on a four month trip to Australia so things have been a little hectic in this household. My wonderful sister has kindly traveled 30 hours from Melbourne to Nashville (yes, that's how long it takes!) so I wouldn't have to fly alone with the kids. We depart in less than a week, yikes!

Instead of my usual friday's fancies this week I thought I'd share with you a few outfits I've packed in my suitcase. I choose classic pieces that could easily be mixed and matched together. I also stuck to the 5 piece rule, where I choose only 5 pieces from each category. This helps me be extra selective and ensures that I don't pack. Plus, it's a good reason for me to do extra shopping at my destination.

1. Outerwear
This is my favourite category of clothing. I've packed all my classic go-to pieces here. My classic trench coat, leather jacket, denim jacket, blazer and my all time favourite houndstooth cape.

2. Pants
I've tried to be as diverse as possible with my pants selection. Again, adhering to the 5 piece rule. In my suitcase I have my black coated jeans, floral ankle jeans, distressed skinny jeans, red ankle pants and a pair of sweatpants.

3. Bottoms
Along with pants I also included an array of skirts and shorts. My picks are, black leather skirt, floral midi length skirt, chiffon shorts I bought in Australia the last time, denim shorts, and my pink highlighter skirt.

4. Tops
With tops, I tried to keep things simple and neutral picking out pieces that would work well with all my outfits. For instance, the sleeveless stripe blouse, classic white shirt, silk purple blouse, chambray shirt and a black ballet tee. I won't lie, sticking to 5 tops was incredibly difficult, I may have to make an exception so I can add a few basic tees and tanks.

5. Dresses
I love wearing dresses, they are the easiest way to look put together. It's probably against my better judgement to leave behind all my maxi's, sundresses, casual dress and only bring with me special occasion pieces. Out of everything in my closest I decided to pack my feather cocktail dress, a stripe tweed dress perfect for weddings, a deep red dress for date nights, a corporate looking dress and a black leather dress with lace sleeves.

6. Sweaters and Cardigans
Okay so I probably don't need the sweaters, but if I'm going to be taking outfit photos at my destination, it's better to have some on hand just in case. In my suitcase I have a white cable knit, black knit, and pink stripe knit. I've also packed a mint cardigan and a black peplum cardigan.