Its Gettin' Hot...But I Have Coat Envy

Like most of the nation, I too, am obsessed with SCANDAL!  Olivia Pope is one of the most amazing characters on television...I have not admired a fictional character so much since Claire Huxtable.  She is poised, confident, determined and most of all...sharply dressed.

Every episode, I find myself saying "I love that coat!" 

With that said, here are some of my favorite "Pope Coats"

The keys to a "Pope Coat" are the following:

1. FIT...A perfectly tailored coat will bring you one step closer to achieving the classic look.  Even if your wallet doesn't allow you to invest in the most expensive pieces, you can always find a bargain at lower end stores and take a trip to your local tailor.  Now you have a coat that looks as expensive as Ms. Olivia herself.

2. NEUTRALS...For a more sophisticated look, opt for a more neutral color palette.  This means, creams, grays, blushes, and blacks.  These colors are ALWAYS in style and are flattering for all shapes and sizes.  So if your budget allows, go ahead and spend a little more for an investment piece...you will have it forever.

3. WHAT'S UNDERNEATH...Don't create more bulk by wearing chunky garments underneath your perfect coat.  Instead, wear thinner layers to keep warm.  

Here are some of my favorite coats inspired by Kerry Washington's hit character.

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

THE ROW

RED VALENTINO

If you were curious about those most fabulous gloves...try these on!!

MIU MIU

Attack of the Black....Kitchens

I have been in my house for a little over a year, and now, I finally have time to think about how I could turn it into a home.  I have finally decided how I am going to remodel my kitchen...

All Black Everything!!!  

Some people are afraid to go black, especially in a kitchen, but it is actually very chic and as timeless as a white kitchen.  What I love about these kitchens are the simple lines created.  No paneling, no ogee edge counter tops, no fluff!  Just pure minimalism and function at its best.

   

 

However,  if minimal isn't your thing...try going Hollywood Glam!  You get the chicness of the black and the glitz at the same time!

A Hint of Mint

I have recently decided to step out of my comfort zone when it came to my nail color. I am typically a neutral gal and on occasion, I will throw in a berry tone.  But I was feeling adventurous and decided to go for a mint green.

Needless to say, I LOVE IT!  I have gotten so many compliments and wonder, what have I been so afraid of all these years!?!

With that said, here is today's blog inspiration!  MINT!

It is such a beautiful color that works with many skin tones.  Plus, it is light and airy and will surely keep you looking cool during the hot temps!

The Klismos

Lately, I've been obsessed with a particular chair...it's so fabulous, it can easily stand alone.  Its the KLISMOS!

A brief history from my favorite source, Wikipedia: 

The klismos chair  is a type of ancient Greek chair, familiar from depictions of ancient furniture on painted pottery and in bas-reliefs from the mid-fifth century BCE onwards.

The klismos was revived during the second, archaeological phase of European neoclassicism. Klismos chairs were first widely seen in Paris in the furniture made for the painter Jacques-Louis David by Georges Jacob in 1788, to be used as props in David's historical paintings, where the new sense of historicism required visual authenticity.

 It would be hard to find a French klismos chair earlier than the ones designed by the architect Jean-Jacques Lequeu in 1786 for a decor in the "Etruscan style" for the hôtel Montholon, boulevard Montmartre, and executed by Jacob; the furnishings have disappeared, but the watercolor designs are conserved in the Cabinet des Estampes. Simon Jervis has noted that Joseph Wright of Derby included the tablet of an approximation of a klismos chair in hisPenelope Unraveling Her Web, 1783-84 

In London, early klismos chairs were designed by Thomas Hope for his house in Duchess Street, London,^[9] which George Beaumont had described as early as 1804 as "more a Museum than anything else";klismos chairs were illustrated by Hope in several variations in Household Furniture and Interior Decoration(1807), the record of his semi-public house-museum. Klismos chairs in their purest form furnished Hope's Picture Gallery (pl. II) and the Second Room containing Greek Vases (pl. IV), but the swept legs featured in variations on the classical theme illustrated in other plates. Henry Moses' illustration of genteel company playing cards seated on klismos chairs appeared in Hope's Designs of Modern Costume 

These days, one can find a number of reproductions of this classic piece!  Below are some of my favorite versions:

Michael Taylor

Scala Luxury

If your pockets won't aren't deep enough to get these beauties, have no fear!  West Elm makes a beautiful version!

West Elm

Style is available at any price point!  So be sure to introduce this classic piece into your decor...I promise you will not regret it!

The Eyebrows Have It!

I always wondered how some girls just seem to have the most perfect eyebrows, and no matter what I do...I can never achieve that polished eyebrow look!

Pinterest has been the answer to this girl's prayers!  There are so many tutorials on how to tame your bushy brows or add volume to ones that are lacking a certain "oomph"

This pin was the most helpful and helping me achieve my desired look!

After LC helped me shape my brow, another pin helped me define that shape

Check out this favorite mentioned in InStyle Magazine!  This nifty kit is key in creating the best brow!

ANASTASIA'S BOLD & BEAUTIFUL KIT

Here are a few of my favorite celeb brows...if these girls are known for nothing else...their brows

will go down in history!

Orange You Glad Orange Is In?!

In the past, red was the go to color when people wanted to add a pop to their ensemble.  It was the best way to stand out in a crown.

Now, red is out and ORANGE is in.  Not just any orange, but the iconic "Hermes Orange".

The color orange radiates warmth and happiness, combining the physical energy and stimulation of red with the cheerfulness of yellow.

Here are some great ways to brighten up your everyday life with a pop of orange.  Get out there and get noticed!

HERMES

This throw should be a staple in every house hold.

I absolutely love the look of a barn door...and it doesn't get any better than an orange one!!!

LOUIS VUTTON

This is by far, my favorite bag this season!  A twist on one of LV's classic bags.

ROLAND MOURET

Devil in a blue dress?  Heck no!  Look hot as hell in this form flattering garment!  

Another thing that is great about orange, its an amazing neutral!  It goes with absolutely everything.  Don't be try these bold color combos!

Get Out and Lounge!

This summer season, take advantage of the warm weather and move all of those fabulous parties outdoors.  

At the beginning of the season, many manufacturers have sales on all of their outdoor furniture.  So use this opportunity to update your outdoor furniture (or in my case, actually get some) and create an oasis on your patio!

Here are some of my favorite looks this season

DEDON

WEST ELM

CRATE & BARREL

No outdoor lounge area is complete without the perfect grilling station.  Williams-Sonoma is my go to for all things grilling!

The literally have everything you need to grill (except the meat & veggies)...but they have everything else covered!

So now that the kids are out of school, take advantage of the longer days and spend them outside!!!