Fashion Week Finale Series-Sunday

So, New York Fashion Week is over.  Another week of clothes, jewelry, makeup, and overall fashion craziness is gone until the fall fashions are shown during the NYC Spring Fashion Week.  BUT I have a treat.  Each day this week I am going to feature a Runway Ready look for everyday, occasions, work, etc. that will feature both exclusive designers and affordable designers, as well as everyday staple pieces that can be found everywhere.  Also, each look will feature handpicked selections from my Chloe + Isabel by Kristy collection.  Here is the first Runway Ready look for you!

Since today is Sunday, and here in the South we always dress up for church, football, everyday really.  I wanted to do a special fall runway ready look that can work for Sundays out, church, work, or whenever you want to get dressed up.

This look features a gorgeous neutral Alice + Olivia dress and Valentino shoes and bag.  For the makeup, I chose to go with MAC, Marc Jacobs, and Dior for berry and neutral colors--VERY HOT for fall.  The necklace featured is the Color Code Plum Three Row necklace from Chloe + Isabel's Fall Botanica Collection.  The ring is also from the C+I fall collection and is the Le Rococo Statement Ring in the gorgeous plum/berry color.  The earrings are a great everyday essential--the Pave Hexagon Hoops.  These complement the statement ring and statement necklace without going too overboard in the jewelry department.

This first Runway Ready collection is to die for and will be a hit anywhere you decide to go this fall.  For more information on the jewelry featured visit Chloe + Isabel by Kristy.

I'm Finally Back!

Hello to all my fabulous readers! I'm finally back.  Lots of changes have happened in my life in the past several months.  I've posted a few times but not much.  But I am back again to stay.

You may have noticed that I moved my blog back to Blogger from WordPress.org/GoDaddy hosting.  For you techies and bloggers out there, here's why.  I got tired of paying for hosting monthly.  Yes, it was only $9, but I'd rather have a few Starbucks drinks than pay for hosting.  I chose to move back to Blogger because it's (to me) more customizable.  Sure, WordPress.org blogs are plenty customizable, but Blogger is a tad easier and I can throw in more HTML and CSS without having to work around things and pay for blog designs.  With the right online tools, I can design my own very easily.  So, in a nutshell, I liked the way Blogger looked and I can customize it to my liking much easier than I could with WordPress.

New Video! Mulberry Postman's Lock Agenda

There is an upcoming post on my Mulberry Postman's Lock Agenda (tomorrow, hopefully!).  But until then, I wanted to make sure you could check out my video on my YouTube channel that I just filmed detailing the agenda.  Enjoy!

Review: GRACESHIP's New York Laptop Bag

Stylish & chic aren't usually words you apply to laptop bags.  They're usually chunky, ugly, and not something a Southern Belle or a city chick would be caught dead carrying. Even the usual "ladies" bags aren't anything to write home about. It's just impossible to find a great laptop bag that would work for a stylish modern woman that doesn't cost a fortune, right?  Wrong!  Finally, there is a designer who knows exactly what to put in a laptop bag for the chic modern woman.

You may remember the SOAP network's show Southern Belles: Louisville that premiered a few years ago.  The show followed five women from Louisville through love, heartbreak, and new ventures.  Now one of the show's stars, Emily Gimmel, has taken her career to a new place with the development of a chic and affordable line of ladies' business totes with the label GRACESHIP.  With three great bags already available and one (maybe more!) on the way, Emily is well on the way to becoming the next name in women's accessories.

The bags--the London, the New York, the Chicago, and the in-production Hong Kong--all take their names from some of the most stylish cities in the world.  I mulled over which bag to buy for months when I heard that they were being developed. I could not decide between the New York and the London bag. Even when production had begun and bags were being shipped, I still couldn't decide which bag was for me.  Ultimately, I (of course) chose the New York bag.  I mean, come on, Southern Belle, City Style?  How could I not choose New York when it is the ultimate CITY!  (I will say that I do still LOVE the London bag, though!)

I waited patiently for my bag to arrive once I placed my order.  Finally, it was here!  I opened the huge cardboard box, and inside was a gorgeous black laptop bag that would make New York women and Southern Belles alike swoon.

Smooth material with gorgeous gold hardware makes this bag a chic addition to any business

woman's accessory closet.  Big, but not too large, the bag will fit a laptop or tablet up to 15.4" leaving plenty of room for necessities such as your wallet, documents, iPad if you are using the center for a laptop, and planners.  Both interior sides of the bag have zippered pockets and one side boasts two pen holders, a phone holder, business card holders, and a key clip to make sure you don't lose your ride.  The center laptop/tablet area is padded on both sides with a magnetic strap to hold in the precious cargo.  It is very secure and even when I carried the bag open and not zipped, nothing even attempted to fall out.



The bag can be carried a variety of ways due to its smart design of having two long handles to use carrying it by hand or on the shoulder as well as a long removable shoulder strap if you want to carry it that way.  I have used both and find that if I am also carrying a purse, the long strap works best, but if I am just carrying the bag, the two shorter straps work great.

The bag is just big enough for me to carry my important documents with me in addition to my planner, laptop, charger, iPad, iPhone, and several other things.  I've gotten lots of compliments on it since I've carried it, and I can't wait to take it to meetings or lunches with friends, clients, or anyone!  Since the color of the bag is my favorite (black!), it goes with every outfit, which is key for any fashionista.  There isn't anything that I dislike about the bag, and now, I just have to keep myself from buying all of the styles!

Chic, stylish, & affordable, GRACESHIP's bags are something every woman should add to her collection!

Happy shopping, belles!

For more information about the bags or to purchase, visit GRACESHIP's site.

GRACESHIP's New York Bag Video

Q & A with Hadley Hartz, a True 'Southern Belle'

One of my favorite reality shows that I've seen was the show Southern Belles: Louisville that aired on SOAPNet in the summer of 2009.  I loved it because it was filmed in Louisville (my second home and where my mother-in-law & sister-in-law live) and because it seemed so much more real than shows like the Real Housewives series and similar shows.  If you watch the show, you can tell that the girls are all very real and are great people.
After starting my 2nd master's degree this year, In one of my classes we were asked to do a Q & A interview.  I thought about who I could interview, and one of the first people who came to mind was Hadley Hartz from the show.  I knew she had started her own fashion blog recently, and I thought she would be the perfect person to interview.  I wasn't sure if she would be able to do an interview with her busy schedule, but I was so surprised and thrilled when I got an email back immediately saying she'd love to!  So we set up a time to talk and here is the awesome interview I did with Hadley, and I can say that she is awesome, too! And here is the interview!  Enjoy!

A few years ago Hadley Hartz was just a regular girl in Louisville, Ky.   She was working as a personal assistant for a local film producer when she was given the opportunity of a lifetime.  She was asked to be one of the stars of the show “Southern Belles:  Louisville” along with Kellie Frey, Shea Johnson, Emily Gimmell, and Julie Smith.  When the show ended in June 2009, Hartz had been able to discover what she wanted in life through her opportunities on the show.  Now a professor at Jefferson Community and Technical College, the 29-year-old has expanded her resume to include fashion and beauty blogger.  The blog is called Hadley’s Reality, and through it Hartz has seen even more doors open for her.

Q.  How did you end up as one of the cast members of the SOAPNet reality show, “Southern Belles: Louisville”?

A.  While the show was holding casting calls here in Louisville, my boss and I went out with one of the show’s producers, and he made the comment that I should have my own TV show.  A few months later, he called and said that ABC/Disney wanted me for the show, and I thought he was joking.  I was so surprised!  I did the interview with them and was added to the show.

Q.  What was your experience as part of the cast of a reality show?

A.  It was actually a lot different than I expected it to be.  It was not as intrusive as I thought.  They just asked what they could film each day, and they pretty much stuck with that.  Filming did take a little longer than I thought it would at 8 months, but it was a great experience.

Q.  Do you still keep in touch with the girls from the show?

A.  Definitely.  In fact, I just had lunch with Kellie the other day.  I see Emily a lot, too.  Julie moved to LA, so I don’t get to see her anymore, but Shea, Kellie, Emily and I are still here in Louisville.

Q.  How has your life changed since the show?

A.  Being on the show actually opened up a lot of doors for me.  It was interesting to see yourself on TV through a different set of eyes.  I finally saw that I wanted to pursue teaching, and it helped me realize what I really wanted in life, especially in a man.  Now, I’ve got a really great guy, and I love him.

Q.  How did the show help you decide to start your blog Hadley’s Reality?

A.  Being on the show helped me become better known here in Louisville and in other areas, too.  I was constantly getting questions about what I wore on the show, my makeup on the show, and things like that.  Eventually, I thought that instead of just constantly answering questions individually, I would make a website so that everyone could see what they needed.

Q.  You always have really great fashion finds on your blog.  How do you determine which ones you want to post on there?

A.  Believe it or not, it’s actually pretty random.  I love finding the great discounts at the vintage and thrift stores, so I’m always excited to share a great deal with everyone.  I think there is an art to vintage shopping and I love sharing that with everyone.

Q.  Do you enjoy shopping at the vintage and thrift stores more than department stores and boutiques?

A.  Absolutely.  The other stores are great, but for the price tag, I think about how many clothes I could have at a vintage store.  I remember buying a dress for the show that was around $500, which is probably the most expensive outfit I own.  I always look at it and think about how many other things I could have gotten.

Q.  What are your favorite fashion items to shop for?

A.  Purses would be number one.  You can get a great leather purse for around $4 at a vintage store, and if you bought the same one in a department store you’d pay $50 or more.   The items I’d pick next would probably be belts, long skirts, and high-waisted pants.

Q.  What would you say your favorite outfit is?

A.  My maxi dresses are my favorite because they are a whole outfit by themselves.  You can dress them up or down, and they go so easily from summer to fall with the right accessories.

Q.  You also blog about makeup and beauty products.  What are your favorites in those?

A.  I love having a tan, and I always go for the faux tan instead of tanning beds.  I used to go to a local tanning salon and get the spray tan, but then I discovered a product by L’Oreal that is a gel tanning product that is great.  For makeup, I am in love with Bobbi Brown products.

Q.  What is your day-to-day makeup routine, and how do you switch it up for nights out?

A.  There is actually a huge difference from what I wear to work and when I go out.  At work, I normally don’t wear much makeup, and my hair is usually up.  I want to make sure I look clean and sophisticated since I teach at a college. But at night, I go all out.  I usually wear my hair down and curled, and I always make sure to put on great makeup.

Q. What are your top fashion and beauty tips?

A.  Definitely number one is dress for your body type.  We all can’t wear the latest fashions, and we shouldn’t try.   If it looks good on you, then wear it.  If not, don’t.  Also, always wear heels to look taller and thinner.  And when you are taking pictures, always do a “skinny arm” pose.  Put your hand on your waist or hip where your arm is away from your body.  You’ll look thinner all over.

Q.  You obviously love fashion and beauty.  Do you think that you will ever pursue a career in beauty and fashion instead of teaching?

A.  I love teaching, but teaching doesn’t necessarily let you make big bucks.  I’ve always wanted to open up my own vintage store like the ones I shop at on Bardstown road here in Louisville, but I’ve always been nervous about it.  But recently, someone approached me about starting my own purse line, so I’ll be working on that soon.

Q.  That sounds like a great opportunity.  Have you gotten started on the purse line?

A.  I actually already decided on a name for it—Haute Little Mess.  I am planning on selling them locally in Louisville first, then branching out online, and finally my own store.  I’m really exited about it.

Q.  Do you have any final tips for other fashion and beauty bloggers?

A.  I see so many blogs where people write what it seems like they think other people want to hear, but I find that if I’m truthful about everything I write, people enjoy reading the post more.  Be true to yourself, and you’ll definitely be successful.

Thanks so much again to Hadley for letting me do the interview!  Good luck with Hadley's Reality & Haute Little Mess!

Ready, Set...POSE!

Do you ever wish that you could window shop from your phone?  Ok, technically you can do that by just browsing the Saks or Neiman Marcus website on your phone.  But what if you could go shopping with your girlfriends in NYC or LA while you are in Nowhere, Noplace and normally shop at Bob's department store?  Or just simply see if someone agrees with your opinion on an outfit or accessory before you make the mistake of purchasing something you will regret later?

Well, in the age of social media technology, you can.  No, this isn't a new Facebook game or a trending tweet.  It is a unique iPhone app with the appropriate name of Pose.  It is a photo based fashion app where you can share stylish finds, fashion, beauty, & more with tons of friends.

So how do you Pose?  It's easy!  You sign up for an account, then you can start snapping photos of your fashion & beauty finds, and you upload them to share with your network, which can include other people on Pose as well as your Facebook & Twitter friends.  You can also just keep them private if you want to keep a record of your purchases or wish-list items.  Once you share the item, it has its own page where friends on Pose can "love it" by pressing the little heart on the screen or share it via Twitter, Facebook, or email.

The interface is great and is quite stylish itself & you can see your current feed, which includes your network of Pose friends.  You can also touch to discover which will lead you to either Posers (the most stylish shoppers handpicked by Pose), popular poses, and featured poses based on the recent poses you have "loved".

Pose seems to be a mix of a photo-based twitter mixed with Foursquare since you can actually post the

store name, brand, item, & even price, which are pulled based on your location using the iPhone location tracking.

The only downfall to this is that many retail stores, especially the high end ones such as Louis Vuitton &Dior, discourage taking photos & have been known to ask you for your camera or phone until you are finished shopping.  This might not be as big of a problem when it comes to clothes, since you can snap a pic in the dressing room mirror.  But I don't see this issue getting too out of hand; in fact, I'm sure many stores will end up using it to their advantage.  So head on over to the App Store & start Posing!

Disclaimer:  The above app was downloaded by me for my own personal use.  I am not affiliated with Pose, Apple, or any other companies mentioned.

Business Casual: Work Wear Today

How many of you wear jeans to work?  Flip-flops? Tennis shoes?  T-Shirts?

In the past few years, the term "business casual" has come to mean something completely different than it has before.  You can walk in to any given office on any given day and see employees and sometimes even bosses wearing the most casual clothes of the business casual world.  We all like to be comfortable when we work, right?  But how comfortable is too comfortable?

For a few years, the business world has seen a drop in dressing up for the office.  Jeans, untucked shirts, and even flip-flops have become the staple office-wear, but times, they are a-changin'.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I enjoy my jeans on designated casual work days, too, but there is a time and a

place for everything, and employers are beginning to see the light.  Recently, many offices have begun to crack down on the dress code at work.  From jeans to casual capris, clothes worn in offices are drastically changing.  Some employers are even hiring image consultants to tell you what not to wear.  Women are now being seen more frequently in business suits, dress pants, blouses, and the like.  But, just because your dress code may be changing, that doesn't mean you have to dress like you are the definition of frumpy!

So, what is the "new" business casual that is making a comeback?  here are some dos and don'ts of what to wear in the office but still maintain style:

DON'T wear jeans, jeggings, or even the nicer looking "denim dress pants."  More than likely these will be frowned upon even if they might have a dressy look.

DO opt for a great looking and comfortable pair (or three) of black pants.  Black pants are a must-have for any working gal from an executive to a professor.  You can pair them with a cute (but appropriate) top during the day while still keeping up with the latest styles.  White pants also work, but make sure you are fitting them to the time of year!

DON'T wear a skirt that is too short or a casual material.  Too short skirts look unprofessional no matter how cute you think your legs may be.  Denim skirts, while dressy at times, still give off the air of being a tad too casual for the work day in the office.

DO grab a nice top of (or right above) the knee pencil skirt.  Any color will do, but I recommend black simply because you can play it up with fun tops and accessories that are still work appropriate.

DON'T wear tank-tops, no matter how many times you layer them, or low-cut tops, even if you don't have a lot of cleavage.  Bearing too much flesh can look very unprofessional and make you seem like a less than adequate employee or employer.

DO grap some cute cap sleeved or even sleeveless (if permitted by your office) tops to pair with dress pants or a nice skirt.  There is not necessarily anything wrong with asserting your constitutional right to bear your (bare) arms!  Get a comfy material such as silk or satin or a light cotton so that you are still comfy.  You can also always layer these with a jacket or sweater for a layered look.

DON'T wear accessories that are too flashy.  Tons of necklaces, bracelets, and rings can distract you and others from what you need to be doing--work!  There are plenty of cute accessories out there that are work day appropriate.  My favorite accessories are necklaces and bracelets that you can layer with one another, such as thin bangle-type bracelets.  Put on a few for work and then add the others for a night on the town. Accessories make an outfit if they are done correctly!

DO make sure you find the right clothes for your profession.  Use your own discretion combined with whatever your employer says is or isn't appropriate.  And if you are the employer, be conscious of what your employees wear.  You want to represent your office the best you can, and your employees should want the same.

So, grab some girlfriends from the cubicle next door and head out to shop 'til you drop for a great work outfit!