Brilliantly Blonde

I was in the checkout line at Urban Outfitters the other night drooling over this girl's hair in front of me. After creepily staring, I luckily caught the blonde bandit before she got away and asked where she got her hair done in the city. Turns out her salon is right around the corner from my apartment and I scored an appointment this Saturday. Although her hair looked great, I'm cautiously optimistic, as always, given I've endured many a hair debacle throughout the years, including but not limited to: a second-grade bowl-cut, the college Keith Urban special and blue streaks in my most recent dye-job-gone-wrong in January.

Here are a couple of my favorite blonde highlights and styles. If all goes as planned, I'll walk out looking exactly like any one of these lovely ladies in terms of hair, body, clothing, career, etc. etc. 

{pic sources: unknown, This is Glamorous, a lovely escape, Cupcakes and Cashmere, Vanessa Jackman}

xx,

Shanelé

Pretty Pretty Princess

A co-worker sent me a link to New York Magazine's compilation of Kate Milddleton's looks throughout the years. Dressed up, down or all bundled up...she always looks darling [in a British accent]. I'm sure we'll all be tired of hearing about it when the time comes but I could not be more excited to see who/what she's wearing at her nuptials next month.

xx,

Shanelé

If I had it my way...

I would be wearing this today:

Photos from Vanessa Jackman

I've tried really hard but cannot find ONE thing wrong with Amanda Weiner's look after the Louis Vuitton show at Paris Fashion Week. I want it all.

xx,

Shanelé

Black & White Weekend

{vanessajackman.blogspot.com}

{my iPhone @ Club Monaco} 

{my iPhone @ Club Monaco}

Some black and white photos from a thankfully rather uneventful weekend. Hope you all had a good one and an even better week.

xx,

Shanelé

Happy Pill

Walking up the subway stairs after work and out into the world last night, I was convinced I was in hell...which was perplexing because isn't it supposed to be down, not up? Things must have gotten flip-flopped. The journey home took me double time as I tip-toed ever so gingerly to ensure I didn't slip and break my wrist (this happened once upon a time in a NYC storm), my umbrella turned inside out 6 times, all the while getting pelted with a wretched mix of rain, sleet, snow, etc. Needless to say, I spent the entire 4 block / 20 minute walk muttering curse words and wondering why I passed up that job in Santa Monica last year to move to New York.

After getting home and a glass of vino rosso down the hatch, I decided I had to make light of the 'spring' weather we are experiencing and not complain like I just did in the preceding paragraph. Luckily little miss BEE had a link to {my style pill's} blog on her post. Not sure where I've been...well, I take that back. I've been in The Cubicle, where they have stripped us of any and all things fun (i.e. blogs, Facebook, Twitter -- blocked, blocked, blocked). How have I not seen this blog before?? As much as I wish I could turn the snow spigot off and the sun dial WAY up, I have found solace in Christine's winter outfit posts, which have opened my eyes to a whole new world of wardrobe combinations. Here are some of my favorites that I plan to emulate ASAP:

Her 'How to wear'(s) might be my favorite. Love seeing all the outfit possibilities in one post:

Amazing pops of color and effortless layering:

I have a lot of these items so added the below to the 'Outfit Inspiration' folder:

Although this isn't classified as winter-wear, it's just too perfect not to post:

I only allowed myself an hour of browsing before closing the computer for bed but fully intend to take a deeper dive this weekend.

xx,

Shanelé

So long, Mr. Sunshine

Denim top - Zara
Shorts and bag - H&M
Jewelry - Vintage
Shoes - Marc Fisher from Macy's
Lips - Mac in 'Snob'
Nails - F21 Orange Sherbert

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the conclusion of the Miami outfit post series, I wore this last Tuesday to stroll down Ocean Drive on our final night in the Sunshine State. This was my first opportunity to wear these shorts I got a while back at H&M. I paired this Zara denim shirt, a staple in my wardrobe, with them to toughen up the extra girly light-pink and lace trim on the shorts. 

As of Wednesday, I'm back in New York...and back to the grind. This tan is fading much to quickly, which could be a good thing because I've received multiple looks from people on the street like, 'eaasssy Snooki.' I just glanced at the five-day forecast and refuse to believe my eyes: snow on Wednesday? Tell me it's not true. Happy Monday!

xx,

Shanelé

Second First Date

Dress, Earrings and Ring - Forever 21
Watch & Clutch- Vintage
Belt - H&M
Heels - Payless ($5)

Monday night there was a Moët sponsored White Party on the Ganesvoort rooftop, which I [clearly] wanted to go to for the free drinks. Therefore, this white Forever 21 dress came in handy for the first time. I built the look around SJP's SATC 2 outfit, on a budget of course -- in case there was any question if those Payless beauties were Louboutin's.

The always cooperative boyfriend, who chose a navy Black Keys t-shirt for the white party, made the unanimous decision that we would go to dinner at the nearby Mr. Chow before, which we both knew would result in a food coma immediately following and no white party. I didn't really put up a fight given a) I love food and b) this was where we went on our first date, although in Beverly Hills and not Miami...So, it made for a special rendezvous. With that, I will leave you with a pic of our private cabana that the Maître'D set us up with after recognizing the Mister from the Chow's in NYC. Note: He would kill me if he knew I posted this, especially with that extra cheesy smile...but that's what he gets for not following. 

xx,

Shanelé

Sun Flower

Dress and Sandals- Forever 21
Jewelry and Belt - Vintage
Straw Hat - My boyfriend's mom's closet

I wore this outfit [minus the straw hat] Sunday night to a low-key dinner at Miami Juice. I wasn't sure about this dress when I saw it at Forever 21 a couple weeks ago...but for less than $30, why not? Once I put it on, it was too comfortable to consider returning and I had no problem falling asleep on the couch in it 15 minutes after returning home from dinner. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to transform it into a high-waisted maxi skirt as well. Cheap. Comfortable. Versatile. Looks like it's going to be the perfect addition to my spring / summer wardrobe.

xx,

Shanelé

Black and gold...and red all over

Dress - H&M
Jewelry and clutch - Forever 21
Heels - Michael Kors

After a late night out Thursday and an unhealthy amount of sun Friday, I wore this outfit out to my favorite hotel and sushi spot in Miami, The Delano. For the hefty price of $15, I have most definitely gotten my moneys worth out of this dress and the sleeves were necessary to thwart the sunburnt chills Friday night. These Michael Kors heels are one the most comfortable pairs of shoes I own and couldn't have been happier to dust them off for the first time in almost six months. 

xx,

Shanelé

Bringin' the Heat

Sweater & Booties - Zara
Jeans, Jewelry & Purse - Forever 21
Belt - Urban Outfitters

In Friday's post I mentioned my intense affinity for the sun. My boyfriend / photographer shares an equal obsession for NBA basketball. Although it cut into American Idol, I figured I would bite the bullet at go to the Heat / Lakers game with him last Thursday night. The issue I always have with attending sporting events -- what on earth to wear? I unfortunately left my Muggsey Bogues Charlotte Hornets basketball jersey at home in Illinois [yes, I actually had one of these in grade school that I wore with a white turtleneck AND matching shorts...WHYYY???].

I wanted something that wasn't too dressy, although in typical Miami fashion girls were in skin-tight mini skirts and 6-inch heels, yet nice enough to meet a friend for drinks at the Viceroy Hotel afterwards. Therefore, I went with this crocheted Zara sweater, blue jeans and these comfy lace-up booties. Happy Monday!

xx,

Shanelé

Parisian Sheek

I've only been to Paris once and it was over five years ago.  It was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful 

places I've ever been but what I liked most: the fashion. The Lonny Magazine has a new feature on Ines de le Fressange's book Parisian Chic: A Style Guide due out April 5th. Until then, I will leave you with the 10 ways to dress like a Parisian. 

My top three are numbers 7, 8 and 10 but I really like the underlying message here: don't overdo it. We've all done it...and you know when you see it: curly up-do, fancy dress, bedazzled in gaudy earrings, necklace, bracelets, rings and [god forbid] a tiara. The high/low looks this list describes has been mastered by one of my biggest fashion icons and creative director at J. Crew, Jenna Lyons, seen here. Whether she's in army pants and a sequin top or boyfriend jeans and with fancy heels, she always looks awesome.  And I need her closet.

xx,

Shanelé

Orange Sherbert

Dress - Urban Outfitters
Necklace worn as bracelet - Anthropolgie
Belt - Zara / Flower Pin - H&M

Shoes - Marc Fisher (from Macy's)

Nails - Forever 21 Orange Sherbert

As I mentioned in Wednesday's post, I'm on a post-college spring break trip in Miami. To say I'm obsessed with the sun could quite possibly be the understatement of the century. Unfortunately, I'm much less tan than I envisioned to be in this post given I no sooner got my beach chair set up yesterday and the dark clouds rushed it and the thunder rolled. But that didn't stop me from breaking out a sun dress and bright nail polish.

I ordered this Orange Sherbert nail polish from Forever 21 a couple weeks ago and have been DYING to get it on. Something about nail polish colors that share names with my favorite foods gets me every time (i.e. Essie's 'Marshmallow') and for $2.80, less than you would spend on a pint of sherbert, it was too hard to pass up. Each time I look down at my hands now it's hard not to smile...and eat my fingers. I then built the whole outfit around a 'rainbow sherbert' theme with the pink Urban Outfitters dress (on clearance from last season), orange nails and minty green jewelry.

xx,

Shanelé