Fall Dress-Ing

Welcome to the newest section of the blog, Fall Dress-Ing!

As you can imagine, Fall Dress-Ing focuses on dresses.  Personally, I am such a summer person with my wardrobe, that I struggle during the colder months.  I feel like I reach for jeans automatically before pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I love dresses April-September, and I want to love them year round. So for this section, I am pushing myself.  And I am pushing you to get a little adventurous, experiment with your wardrobe, and put on a dress!

For the look below, I wanted to mix an ultra feminine dress with a more relaxed jacket to dress it down a bit. Also, this blog is real life.  No makeup artist or hair team helping here.  I literally got home from work after an insane day, showed our apartment tonight, threw on this dress, and put on some lipstick.  Real world.  We don't have a team of people helping us, or always have an hour to get ready.  I am trying to show you that you can pull a look together in 5 minutes and feel great. Do I think I look perfect below? Hell no.  But could I have rocked this look for a happy hour, night out my friends, or dinner date...Absolutely.

So here's to fall dressing, to looking great year round, and to being a girl on the go:

Dress: Chan Lu (old), Jean Jacket (old), Asos Shoes, Laura Mercier Lipstick in Audrey
Dress, similar here: Free People Lace Dress
Jacket, similar here: American Eagle Jean Jacket

Lastly and most importantly, there are a lot of people hurting tonight.  The east coast is suffering like they have never felt before.  Please, please, please, take a minute to check out the resources on how you can help.  We are responsible for our friends and family there, and it only takes a little bit from each of us to help rebuild.  Check out how you can help out those in need here: Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

Glamour Me Jewels Giveway

And the winners are...

For the all gold bracelet (featured on top in the photo below), the winner is Cathe Urbanski!

For all the gold and silver bracelet (featured on bottom in the photo below), the winner is Andrea Darst!

To everyone who participated, thank you!! The winners were chosen randomly, and because of the overwhelming response I will continue to do more of these in the future with the things that I love.

I cannot say thank you enough to all of you who have being reading my blog.  When I started this, I said that as long as one person read it, I would be happy. And I am so happy :) I promise to keep great content coming and please continue to give me your feedback on what you like to see the most. This blog has become my creative outlet, and I am so happy to share it with all of you.

Andrea and Cathe, if you can please email me your addresses to sevenandseven2012@gmail.com the bracelets will be on their way!

And keep shopping at Glamour Me Jewels using the coupon code below!

Save More October: Trick or TREAT

Save More October is a day early today because in the spirit of Halloween, there are a few treats for all of you!

I recently ordered a few bracelets from an Etsy shop, Glamour Me Jewels, that I absolutely love.  Etsy is an amazing, and sometimes overwhelming, place because there are so many artists, shops, and options to sort through. Not only did I have a great customer service experience with Glamour Me Jewels, but I cannot find enough ways to mix and match my new bracelets.  For the price point, they are well made and a great alternative to some of the other name brand bracelets (J. Crew, Madewell, etc) that are so popular right now.

Exclusively for the Seven and Seven readers, you can use the code INSTA10 at checkout to save 10% off any Glamour Me Jewel's purchases (perfect timing for the upcoming holidays). Here is the link to the shop, Glamour Me Jewels.

Also, as an added Halloween treat, I am giving away BOTH bracelets featured in the photo below.  They will be shipped brand new to both winners from Glamour Me Jewels.

Giveaway Information:

• To enter, please send an email with your name to Sevenandseven2012@gmail.com.
• The deadline to enter is Tuesday at 5 pm EST.
• The winners will be selected at random and announced on Seven and Seven on Tuesday night.  There will be 2 winners, 1 for each bracelet. 

Huge thanks to Glamour Me Jewels for the reader discount and for making unique, affordable jewelry for all!

Black and White, & Red All Over

White jeans...the man, the myth, the legend.  I love white jeans, not just for the summer, but for year round.  And a great pair of white jeans can carry any outfit through the seasons.  If you say goodbye to your white jeans in late August, please, stop.  You are wasting a great staple in your wardrobe.

I dare you to unpack them, slip them on, and go.  White jeans with flats, white jeans with boots, white jeans with just about anything.  Live a little (wearing white).

The two outfits below show two different white jeans looks that are appropriate for fall. I love a classic "black and white" look, as well as using your white jeans to mix in colors and prints. Use these looks as ideas, and then build your own.

This look features the new Target online collection Labwork's sweater (with removable cowl neck and faux leather sleeves, how fun is that??).  My aunt, Chrisi, advised me to check out Labwork's, and the price, quality, and overall versatility of the pieces is perfection.  You can shop the entire collection online here, Target.com. More posts on this collection to come!

(Look 1, Black and White: Item jeans, Labwork's sweater, exclusively from Target, Kate Spade flats, Tory Burch sunglasses, Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Sugar Plum)

(Look 2, Red All Over: Item jeans, Gap sweater, J. Crew shirt, old leopard pumps, Bauble Bar necklace,  Tory Burch sunglasses, and Etsy bracelets)

And if you have been reading my blog, you probably noticed the hair change. Back to the natural color after many, many years of uber blonde.  I am excited for the change, the time seems rights, and I plan to have some fun with this more "natural" version of me. To the dark side :)

Happy dressing up this weekend! Whether its a costume or a date night, have some fun with it!

Drugstore Recap: October

It's that time of month, Drugstore Recap time :) I apologize for the delay in getting this post up.  Things have been a bit crazy with figuring out our move to Michigan, but there will be more updates to come this weekend.  And, a Halloween treat is coming on Monday, so stayed tuned!

This month I am reviewing 3 of my favorite drugstore products.  I do have to caveat that one of them is strictly for readers with blonde hair (natural or highlighted), but because this is the story with my hair it's easy for me to write about.  This will not always be the case, but the below "blonde" product is phenomenal and deserved a shout out. I promise to touch on products across the board in the future, just takes a little more team to research and try.

Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo (blondes only): 
My hair grows so fast, SO fast, that the second I cut it, its already growing again.  This is really challenging if you have blonde highlights (like me), because often times my roots are growing out the second I leave the salon. My hair also tends to loose color quickly, especially if I have been in the sun or have been washing it too frequently. Shimmer lights is amazing because it truly holds your color longer and keeps it looking salon fresh during the in between periods.

The shampoo is bright purple, which helps tone out and remove brassiness from blonde or silver shades of hair. It also leaves hair silky and smooth, rather than dried out which can easily happen with highlighted hair. This shampoo is not meant to be used everyday, I typically use it every other wash, but it will make a difference in keeping your hair fresh, bright, and blonde.

($10-$15, available at most drugstores, as well as Ulta and some professional salons)

It's a 10 Miracle Leave In Spray (all hair types):
Its a Ten claims to have 10 benefits for your hair.  Controls fizz, mends split ends, adds volume, are just a few of the product values.  After having used this product for over a year, I swear by it.  Its a leave in spray that you use on wet hair before styling.  If you have tangly hair post shower, a little spray goes a long way in combing through damp hair. This products really enhances the overall quality of your hair quickly, and allows for easily styling, enhancing the life of your blow dry, and protecting your hair from other stresses (i.e. humidity). Overall, it really is, a 10.

($10-$15, available at most drug stores, as well as Ulta)

Revlon Photo Ready Eye Primer + Brightener: 
I recently purchased this product, as it reminded me of the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat pen.  Both products claim to brighten and waken your skin, and leave you looking more refreshed. The Revlon version is slightly on the pinker side, with a thinner formula, than the YSL version (see photos below).  But, the wand does leave you looking more alive and is very convenient to swipe on in the morning or throw in your bag to use mid day. YSL is really known for their version, and have been perfecting the formula for years. Their pen does come in more color varieties, but it also comes with a much higher price tag.  For a lot less, the Revlon version does the trick, and is a much more affordable option to looking more awake.

($8.99 at Walgreens for Revolon's version & $40 for YSL's version, available at Sephora)

(Revlon is the back swatch; YSL is the front swatch)

Save More October: Beautify

In the spirit of Save More October...more savings! Since I have been focusing on clothes, I decided to change it up a bit and share some cost savings love from one of my favorite beauty websites, Beautybar.com.  Beautybar is similar to Sephora and Ulta in that it offers your typical premium beauty brands, but there is a twist.  Beautybar offers brands that you will not be able to find or buy anywhere else in the US other than on their site.  They also guarantee the FASTEST shipping (when you check out it will tell you if you are in time for NEXT DAY DELIVERY, at no additional cost). Last but not least, they are consistently offering gifts with a majority of their purchases, which means you will not only end up with the item you paid for, but plenty of free samples and possibly an added bonus as well. 

For a limited time you can try Beautybar and save an additional $10.00 off your first purchase with the code  BEAUTYBAR10 (now through 12/31).

Some of the brands I recommend that are hard to find elsewhere: 

• By Terry
• Natura Bisse
• La Roche-Posey 

Happy Monday, Happy Beautifying, and a great week to all!

How Do You Wear Your Pink?

Two posts today because I have a feeling this week is going to be busy and there are more posts to come (Save More October, Drug Store Recap)

Today's outfit is all about the pink. This is the last full week of October, which has brought us changing leaves, Playoff baseball, and all things cider.  But this is the month that we also think about those who have fought, who are fighting, and who have beaten Breast Cancer. And while we should keep these ladies top of mind year round, this is really their month to shine.

So wear your pink proud this week (boys and girls), and take a moment to say a quick prayer or thought for people who are fighting a greater battle than yourself.

Just A Taste

Last night, we had our good friends, The Hallions, over for drinks and dinner.  I wanted to try something different and thought that a beer tasting could be a great way to try some of the unique, seasonal beers that seem to pop up everywhere this time of year. Throughout the fall-winter months, you see a mass producing of seasonal beers, and while I always want to try them, I never know where to start.

For our beer tasting, we went to our local liquor store where you are able to purchase individual bottles of beer ($1-$3/beer).  If you want to recreate this at home, I suggest buying the beer this way, as buying 6-packs of several beers (some of which you might not like), will be costly.

We went with all pumpkin flavored beers because this is the closest thing I can think of to grown up Trick-Or-Treating, and I genuinely like anything pumpkin flavored this time of year. Other options could be Octoberfest or Christmas Ales (in month or so)...or you could always use only locally brewed beer, or beers by your favorite brewer. 

Here are the beers that we tasted (in no order):

• Smutty Nose Pumpkin Ale
• Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat
• Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale
• Shipyard Pumpkin Ale
• Rivertown Pumpkin Ale

We agreed as a group that we had to vote on our favorites and rank them in order as went.  Things we were "tasting for": best pumpkin flavor, drinkability (could you have more than one), most unique taste, best smell. 

The results: 

Honestly, it was really fun. And engaging.  It was a great way to try new beers for little to no cost, and to hear what everyone looks for in their drink of choice. Plus, we had Cory's awesome guacamole to eat and Justin's enchiladas in the ovens (the boys really are the better cooks).  Overall it was something different to try and a fun way to enjoy staying in with friends. Now for the rankings...

1. Shipyard Pumpkin Ale (brewed in Portland, Maine)-- Best overall taste and drinkability, and the most creative bottle
2. Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat (brewed in St. Louis, Missouri)-- A very close second.  Probably the best pumpkin taste, but could be a little strong for some people
3. Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale (brewed in Golden, Colorado)-- Pretty similar to the traditional Blue Moon taste that people love, just with more spices
4. Smutty Nose Pumpkin Ale (brewed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire)-- Great smell, very drinkable, but slightly bitter
5. Rivertown Pumpkin Ale (brewed in Lockland, Ohio)-- Voted last by the group; this beer was still a good beer, but lacked the overall flavors that the others who topped it had

Your Invited To: The Peplum Party, Take Me Out Tonight Edition

Uno, Dos, Tres....

Day 3, Look 3, and all I can think of in this outfit is Journey's "Take Me Home Tonight...." on repeat.  Not really sure why?

Today's look is my going out look. You are now familiar with the featured top (hopefully not sick of it yet), that is back again to be the focal point of this outfit.  I paired the Tibi blouse (over a black t shirt) with black skinny jeans, my same black heels from the Work It Out Edition post, and a light jacket, because today is a bit cooler in Cincinnati.  I added some color with my teal clutch, and a little lipstick to brighten me up, and I am ready to go.

Now the funny part, I was really all dressed in this outfit and 100% ready to head out to date night.  But the fact that the Cardinals could take it tonight, and the fact that date night meant we could potentially miss this, I said, we are staying home.

So off come the skinny jeans and heels, and on come the PJs, but you can see that this would have been a cute outfit, had we made it out.

Of the three looks, do you have a favorite? What do you think is the most "wearable" look for this top? Let me know, I love to hear what you're thinking :)

Take Me Out Tonight Edition: Top: Tibi, Jeans: Rag & Bone, Jacket: H&M (old); Clutch: ASOS; Shoes: ASOS; Lipstick: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable in Crush

Last but not least, GO CARDS, GO!!!
(and if your new to my blog, and you hate the Cardinals, please don't hate, I couldn't help it)

Your Invited To: The Peplum Party, Driving Around Town Edition

Day 2 of 3. One shirt, 3 looks. Yesterday was all work, and today is all play.

The below look is meant to be casual, relaxed yet still put together, and fun. I paired my blouse with slouchy boyfriend jeans and botties to create a look that is perfect for Fall Saturdays, a trip to the city with friends, or just relaxing around the house.  Most people know that I am not a huge fan of sweatpants.  I think this is because I really have only one pair and I have worn them down so much that they aren't really wearable in public. Instead, I am a huge fan of loose fitting jeans and fun tops, and I think this approach to causal wear creates outfits that are much more versatile. I swear if you invest in a pair of oversized (but not sloppy) jeans, they will feel like sweats but you will still look ready for anything the weekend throws your way.

Most importantly, you can see how a great investment piece (the top) can translate from the boardroom to the farmer's market:

Candid Camera (peace sign?)

 

Peplum Party Driving Around Town Edition: Top: Tibi; Jeans: Current Elliot (old); Booties: Mango; Sweater: BCBG (high school old maybe?); Purse: Marc Jacobs (again, 4+ years)

And Day 3 is tomorrow, and it's Friday! Happy.

Your Invited To: The Peplum Party, Work It Out Edition

The first of the Peplum Party Posts (say that 5 times fast).  1 shirt, 3 looks, 3 days.

I am taking my favorite peplum blouse of the Fall, and creating unique, wearable looks, starting with the Work It Out Edition. I love the below look because while it appears sophisticated for the office, there is nothing dull about the prints and patterns at play here. I have worn this outfit to work before. And I will wear it several more times.  Because from a client meeting, to a customer happy hour, it still feels like me.  And when I feel like me, I ultimately do my best work.

To create this look at home take your favorite fall blouse, any shape, fit, or print will do, and match it with a tailored pencil skirt. Do not over think this. You do not always have to match, I promise.  Similar color palettes will match themselves without you spending hours thinking about what colors go together.

Again, I believe in this mantra, "If Item X does not go with at least 3 other things in my current closet, I should not buy it". Now, I even break my own rules sometimes, and that's ok, but the more versatile pieces will pay back their price tags in the future.

 Peplum Party Work Edition: Top: Tibi; Skirt: Uniglow: Shoes: Asos: Bag: Hand-me-down Marc Jacobs from my mom

Save More October: Girl Crush

Monday.  Things I hate about this particular Monday:

1. Rain
2. Stress
3. Anxious (is this the same as being stressed?)

Things I love about this particular Monday:

1. Blair Eadie
2. Blair Eadie designing jewelry for Bauble Bar
3. I got flowers from J!! ( BEST SURPRISE)

Let's ignore the dislikes because it is just one rainy, long Monday, and tomorrow is a new day.  And if the worst of my problems is some rain and stress, I should just stop talking right now.  So I will.

And now the loves....

For those of you who don't know, Blair Eadie is my style icon (along with my mom, my aunt Chrisi, and Barley, because she just always looks so good :) ).  I love Blair because she has the most creative take on fashion.  Some days she is preppy, some days vintage, all days (for the most part), colorful.  I have never seen anyone mix and match like she does.  And she never gets it wrong.  She takes pieces that might not work together, and to quote Tim Gunn, she "makes it work".

Here is Blair's blog, Atlantic-Pacific, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  Even if her style isn't yours, you can appreciate that she takes risks and is happy in her own skin.

And now for the savings...

Blair teamed up with Bauble Bar, an online jewelry company that is quite frankly, amazing, to create a limited line of her favorite rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.  The result: affordable, adorable, and the right statement piece for any outfit. You can view her collection here, Bauble Bar, and I suggest you browse soon because I have a feeling these pieces won't be around for long.

One last thought, Bauble Bar has free shipping on all orders, no tax, and gives you savings off your next purchase for every dollar you spend.

Here are my picks:

(Top to bottom: Butter Bauble Bib, $36, anddd I ordered it, couldn't say no; Chevron Ring Stack, $26; and Spice Wrap, $26)

To great Tuesdays for us all...because they never wrote a song about manic Tuesdays, so that is already a step in the right direction.