Travel: Weekend Getaway? Ladies, Pack Your Bags!

Summer is the time of festivals, concerts, road trips and beaches. Warm summer nights, frozen fruity drinks and great music all pull you closer to that goal of using some of your hard earned saved up “vacation time”. Don’t feel guilty thinking about your Christmas ticket home, or the 4 weddings you were invited to this year…just pack your bags and go! After all, you deserve it!

Of course when you travel you will connect with old friends--so you want to look your best. But that dreaded feeling hits you when it is time to pack, right?

Have you ever gotten somewhere and either under or over packed? I know I have! It is funny that for a 2 day trip some need a suitcase that rolls! I'm guilty--but now I can pack for up to 3 weeks in that same bag (and I have, trust me)

With that being said, here are some tips that have simplified my packing and kept me looking effortlessly chic:

1. M&M: When packing for a weekend getaway you always have to be organized and make sure that what you pack can be paired with multiple pieces—this way you can mix and match and create combinations that suit you. Try not to get stuck in “this comes as an outfit” mode— break it up!


2. Layers—seriously! Whether you are going to Costa Rica, or North Carolina you will need to pack a few layers just in case! A light cardigan, wrap, or blazer will keep you like the girl scouts—prepared (and stylish).


3. Versatility—bring pieces you can dress up or dress down depending on the occasion—if you choose right, the same dress could be used for the beach, dinner or for a night of dancing! You never know what could pop up when on vacation, so arm yourself with the right tools—a funky sandal, cute heels and of course some jewelry of choice!


4. A nice book (see blog) be it a travel book, a self help book or a novel—bring something just in case—and besides, you will gain a little culture while tanning your toesies ;)


5. Keep the foundation of your ‘fits (skirts, dresses, tops) basic, so you can spruce things up with accessories—remember that a colorful scarf can change a whole outfit!

6. Use lightweight and easy to pack fabrics--they will take up less space, and won't require ironing or any fuss-- try jersey, linen, or even seersucker

Okay, that is all for today. Have some fun in the sun (and get ready for fashion Fridays)!

Love,
Rose

Fashion Fridays: Inspiration, Abstract or Concrete?

A huge part of fashion is inspiration. Inspiration can come from anywhere—and for the most fashionable/fashion forward people, it rarely comes from what you see in a magazine--so don't limit yourself. Scenery, city life, photographs, people, colors, sunsets—you name it. Hell my best ideas come while I’m asleep—essentially what my subconscious held onto from the most inspirational part of that day!

There is so much beauty in the world to take in that sometimes you just have to find what makes you smile—and use that for inspiration. I know people that are inspired by the color yellow—and others that are inspired by a picture of Janet Jackson. I personally am inspired most by the beach—and for summer I usually start there. I love the colors, the people, the relaxed nature of the beach and the free flowing energy (probably why I got engaged on the beach).


I’m also inspired by the 60s…and that movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s—I’m in such awe of how formal yet casual people seemed to be back then, darling! I’m still trying to master Holly Golightly’s charm…


What YOU have to do is figure out what inspires you? What do you absolutely love? What makes you happy? Infuse that into what you put on everyday and you will love yourself that much more (and get compliments!)

Pause.

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Okay that’s the first half of the Fashion Fridays blog (2 for 1 since I didn't post one last Friday)…the next half is for those who absolutely need to have a visual, or a magazine reference as abstract thought may not be your forté…


Something that I have found to tie in with my beach-y inspiration is something called resort wear. Resort collections have gotten widely popular only very recently. I know when you hear “resort” you think affluent or snobby—and that is exactly where these collections got their start. This is also why some designers call their collections “cruise-wear” or the “summer” collection instead, to avoid the connotation and to appeal to the masses.


Resort is like a pseudo season that is in between the traditional fall and spring. I found 2 very informative articles and will share both for you to contrast. One is from a year ago and talks about the history of and how Resort collections came to be. The other, from New York Magazine, (dated last week) talks about how the market has been flooded with Resort collections this year, and how designers are trying to stay afloat to keep up with the Jones’s…


Cynthia Rowley Resort 2010




Here is the first article from FashionPeddler.com dated July 28, 2009:

Fashion Peddler.com Resort


Okay, that was a YEAR ago, now check out this one, just published last week: by New York Magazine

Resort Report 2011: Fashion Experts Answer Ten Big Questions, Like ‘Why Does This Season Exist?’

One last tip for this week. Don't feel compelled to buy designer clothes, or to spend your hard earned money on garments that are outside of your budget. Designer items will go out of style/season just as fast as Forever 21 and H&M will, so use these designer looks as "inspiration" and be sure to stay within your clothing allowance (splurge on quality [and timeless] staple items though)! Case and point, I bought this --> vintage lace shirt (never worn) from the thrift store for $7 last summer, and it looks almost IDENTICAL to the one shown in the 1st look on Philip Lim's...

Food for thought...

happy spending (or saving!),

Love,
Rose