Green. Some think it’s a tricky color. I’m of the opinion that it’s a great color but finding your perfect shade may take some experimenting. It could be relaxing, sometime daring but always fabulous nonetheless!

And who says you can’t mix green with other bright colors? Blue and green is one of my all-time favorites. But here I decided to push the line a little and introduced a complete opposite – red. The key, as with everything in life, is proper balance. Make green your shining star, add small pops of red and voila!  you have an outfit that’s almost conservative in style but super modern and chic  in terms on colors. 

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At this day and age of fashion, when last century’s style rules and establishments are thrown to the wind, one may wonder when is it appropriate to wear certain wardrobe staples. And are there still any style rules to abide by?

Tuxedo jacket, for one, is something that our parents and many generations before them would’ve never even considered wearing to anything other than a black-tie gathering. It’s also been a predominantly male attribute, slowly creeping its way into female closets in 1900s. And now no one blinks an eye if you, a girl, would wear it in the middle of a day paired with jeans and colorful heels. Some may find this type of style rule-braking discomforting as it goes against all norms and statuses. I, however, love it!

Break a few rules and make some new ones while you are at it this weekend, would you?
Happy Friday everyone 🙂

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Has anyone ever considered the fact that a red shoe is really an ultimate accessory? I would argue that despite a common notion of “black” being the go-to color for footwear, red should take its place or, at least, get the winning second.

Black is the easiest color to match – yes; but when it comes to spicing things up and adding interest to an outfit, what can be better than a touch of red on your feet and your lips? And if you are a neutral tones admirer – even better! Add a pop of red to awaken the color palette, and it will elevate the whole outfit from a “nice” to “WOW!”

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Lace skirts are certainly making another come-back lately (whether they ever left is another question). They come in all sorts of colors and styles – from flirty see-though full skirts to fully-lined maxi numbers. But my favorite is the ever-stylish pencil skirt. The contrast between classic business lines and the elegance of lace always adds a bit of flirtiness to the put-together look.

The question that I’ve heard multiple times, though, is whether it is actually work-appropriate. So here’s my take on it: see what type of a lace it is. If the fabric is really delicate and intricate, it may be more appropriate for evening functions than an office. Also, check the situation with the lining, a bit of a see-through on the knees may be okay but keep it tasteful, not risqué.  

So the skirt that I found meets all my work requirements – it’s tasteful enough and doesn’t reveal too much skin; the lace is pretty but definitely not the lingerie-type; and the colors are playful but not crazy.  Pair it with a simple chambray shirt for a more casual look or with a white button-down for a sharper style, and you are good to go!

Happy Monday!

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Those of you that follow us on Instagram have already been privy to my new B&W beauty called Brahmin Duxbury. It was one of those “I’ve got to have it!” moments when I first saw it in the store. And, really, can you possibly go wrong with a black and white bag? For bright color lovers, like myself, this is a perfect piece to balance off crazy color-mixing. And for those of you that prefer muted or monochrome looks, this handbag is sharp enough to serve as an accent in your outfit.

Ideally, a perfect outfit to showcase the bag would’ve been an all-black look, but since I [almost] never wear black, I had to compromise. And luckily, another one of my great finds from Etsy came in very handy. I’m talking about the crochet black lace necklace that I absolutely adore! It immediately elevates any top, no matter how simple, and adds an elegant touch to the whole look, doesn’t it?  (BTW, the seller has a lot of beautiful pieces that I saved in my favorites.)

To avoid an overload of black & white I’ve added red lipstick (not optional in this case) and army-green skinny pants. Enjoy my not-so-crazy-this-time color mixing 🙂

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I think I’ve checked off a few of the spring’s must-haves with this look:
– denim on denim: DONE!
– platform shoes with chunky heels: ABSOLUTELY!
– smart spring layers: YUP!
– cropped trench in oh-so-popular-this-season dusty pink: GOT THAT!

And even though I’m never the first in line for the trendiest pieces, I do occasionally enjoy playing with bits of season’s favorites and try incorporating them into my wardrobe. I much rather prefer to use trends for inspiration, and don’t follow them blindly. After all, even Yves Saint Laurent himself was of the opinion that “fashions fade, style is eternal”. So be smart about it, follow the fashion industry wisely and always stay true to your own style!

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With the spring making a rather shy entrance this year, I’ve taken it upon myself to brighten things up. And if you think my color mixing is crazy, look at hydrangeas I so conveniently found on the street, they look perfectly balanced and well-coordinated. So why not take an inspiration from the nature? 😉

And please pardon the crazy hair – I was fighting a losing battle with Chicago wind again.

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You’ve probably seen both, Elena and I, wear a lot of clothes and accessories from Anthropologie. If you have, you wouldn’t be surprised to learn that we love the store! And while the website is nice enough, going to an actual store is an experience in itself! It’s like walking into a eclectic lounge and a chic boutique at the same time. The effort they put into decorating the space is phenomenal (make sure to scroll to the pictures)! And, believe it or not, all stores are different and unique in their own way, so try to visit as many as you can.

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Our spring has been a bit of a rollercoaster so far – snow one week, 75F degrees the next. Despite an occasional heat streak, an average day remains chilly, though. And even when the sun is out and you are lucky enough to catch some of its warmth, the air still carries the crispiness of an early morning, burning your air passages with coldness when you breath too much of it in.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I would say it again – layering is key! A vest is an all-time favorite go-to outer layer of mine when it comes to a warmer but not quite warm weather. This particular vest grabbed my attention the moment I saw it online. I like how the traditional edginess of a leather moto jacket is offset by a femininity of an almost pastel color.  And the quality of real leather is superb! Now, I can see a lot of you starting to imagine a crazy price tag, which an original $295 would certainly qualify for. But I am a bargain shopper after all… So check out the link below for a REALLY nice surprise, but be aware that size selection is already limited.

Happy spring shopping! 😉

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On one’s birthday it is only customary to look at the past years and analyze yourself: explore your accomplishments, study possible mistakes and achievements; and put together a wish list of  to-do’s for the near future… I am not going to do that. Not that I don’t do any of these things, but because I don’t think Monday morning is the right time for my “wisdom” and deep philosophical thoughts. Let’s save it for Friday or Saturday night with a few glasses of wine 😉

What I will say is this… I realize more and more that I am still getting to know myself as my likes and dislikes change over the years (…sometimes it’s hard to keep up!) I like knowing my comfort zone but appreciate when someone pushes me outside of it and encourages me to explore new opportunities. It’s important to stay true to your style but continue to explore new trends and play with variety. One of my worst fears is becoming boring and predictable. So I can only hope that no matter how many years pass, I will still be chasing my ever-changing self while remaining true to my values.

Happy Monday everyone!

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