J.Crew Wants You To Embrace Your Inner Nerd

...and I'm OK with that. Here are a few prime examples from their Holiday catalog...

1// Rock the socks girls. ROCK THEM. I especially like the striped pair here. {I've forever loved stripes... and socks. Both together =  rock-a-doodle awesome.}

2// Ski sweaters are no loger just for the apres ski or ugly sweater parties. Throw one on over a dotty dress. And socks. Clearly.

3// This MIGHT be my favorite part of the whole entire catalog. Cardigan around the waist?? I'm all about this {just let me pile on some friendship bracelets... oh, wait...} Talk about nerdy chic.

4// Remember back in the day when you used to flip through the LL Bean catalog and long for a pair of their flannel lined pants to get you thought the cold winter weather? {Maybe that was just me. Also - that was when I lived in California... I don't tolerate cold well...} Now it can be a stylish reality - just add sequins. 

5// This is just cute. Heart sweater - what's not to love? 

xoxCrissie

Thoughts on Starting Over

It was a hard choice - leaving my first blog to start this one. {OK and technically it wasn't even my first blog. That honor goes to a livejournal gem full of emo poems and musings on college life... I'd share if it weren't so embarrassing...er, I mean awesome.} Anyway - point is, it was hard to leave bug&Bear because I had a start there, a foundation that I'd build over a few years of posting. But it didn't feel like me any more - I wasn't excited about it. So I made the change.

And for the first few days I felt lost. Like I'd made a mistake, hadn't made the switch perfectly, like I'd somehow let everyone down. And then a few things happened...

#1 - I started reading the lovely Ashlina's fab e-book: Secrets of Style Blogging Success {do yourself a favor and read it!}

#2 - Bri put up this post over on DesignLoveFest 

#3 - and I realized that I am not the only one who goes through this, we all start {and start again} somewhere.  

From these amazing ladies I'm taking away a few lessons which I will try my very best to apply here.

Lesson 1 - Be Consistent: This one is the hardest fo me... something about anything resembling a routine bores me {yes, yes, I'm a Gemini.} So I'll keep it fun AND consistant - maybe not a post every day but a least a few every week! Sound good?

Lesson 2 - Be Concise: This blog is about fashion and style - my style. That is what I will focus on, that is what you'll always find here. {OK and maybe once and a while other things that I really, really like.}

Lesson 3 - Be Yourself: Another one that's hard for me - silly, I know, but true. It's scary to put yourself out there in such a public way. Scary to voice an opinion that other's might not agree with. But without me, my blog is nothing but pretty pictures {which are nice, sure, but I'm more fun than that...}


So here is my promise to you all - I will do my very best to be consistent, concise and {above all} be myself.

Thank you for putting up with my musings on the state of my blog! What tips do you have for all the bloggers out there?

xoxCrissie

image via anna aden

Chic of the Week #2

I had a little bit of a struggle with this one, but in the end there were 3 reasons I decided to name Miss Lively my Chic of the Week.

#1 - I am absolutely OBSESSED with Elie Saab's Spring 2012 collection.
#2 - Consider the outfits worn by others to the opening of Gaga's Workshop...
#3 - Girl looks GOOD.

What do you think? Did she pull off the look?

xoxCrissie

Dressed Up (and down!)

One of the things I love about this time of year is all the holiday party fun! Searching for the perfect dress is always a good time - wouldn't you say? Should I splurge this year, or bargin hunt? Or maybe even rent...??

Here are some options in high and low priced versions... I kind of love them all... which would you wear?

1/2/3/4/5/6

xoxCrissie

Want Want Want

Happy Monday chicettes! It's the beginning of a short work week followed by one of my favorite long weekends of the year - I love a Holiday devoted to food... {mmmmm and pie...}! Is everyone else super pumped for Thanksgiving {and Thanksgiving outfit planning!}?

Here are just a few things I'm lusting for this week... sheer dots from Madewell, snake skin touches from Mango & Zara annnnnd a little glamour via Dannijo!

a/b/c/d

What are you coveting this week?

xoxCrissie

Chic of the Week #1

I can honestly say that I never expected to praise Kristen Stewart for her fashion sense. Let alone feature her as my very first Chic of the Week {read: my pick for best dressed...} 
And on the day that Breaking Dawn comes out? I'm about to puke on myself.
BUT - can you blame me?? Someone taught the girl how to dress! {Or gave her a stylist's phone #... whichever..} Really, how glam does she look?? Simple up-do and smokey cat eye? Stunning J Mendel dress? Sure the slit is a little high - but hey, she's got some pretty killer legs...I'm not complaining.

What's your vote on this one? A rising star of chic? Or just a lucky pick? 

xoCrissie

photos via celebbuzz

Dream in Neon

I want to dream in orange and pink... {with stripes and chevron - bien sur!} Who doesn't? 

1/2/3/4

xoxCrissie

Black/White/Beautiful

Sometimes there's nothing quite as stunning a a black and white photo... they can be deep and dramatic...

...or cute and fresh!

But always chic.

xoxCrissie

PS - Thanks for visiting my NEW home! What do you think? {you can follow along on tumblr too!}

*images via FGR

Gorgeous Gwyneth

When I saw this glittering green Elie Saab number walk down the runway I didn't think there was anyway it could be more stunning. OH - but then Gwyneth put it on. Seriously, it's like it was made for her - which makes me a little mad...because really, why wasn't it made for ME? I could use a floor length green gown - you know... to spice up Tuesdays at the office... 

1/2/3