I Want Candy!

I love candy, all kinds.  While chocolate will almost always be a good way to get to my heart, arm candy is another.  I love the new trend of layering, layering, and layering of bracelets.  Use all kinds of materials, metals, beads, leather, cloth, thread.  This is such an easy trend to get on board with and even easier to get “right”.  Even my kids love to play with bracelets, adding more and more until their little arms are laden down with jingly goodness.  Who knew my kids could be so on trend, without even trying? Sometimes,  I even let the kids pick out my bangles for me, although their picks can get rather creative.   Here are some of my favorite arm candy “flavors”:
This first assortment is from Stella & Dot as seen in real life, which means my sister wore them out one night when we met for happy hour)  The bangles from Stella & Dot are always super cute every season and provide a crap-ton of options for mixing and matching (Yup, crap-ton is a technical fashion term.  I have decided).

Bracelets via Stella & Dot

This next photo is a group of bracelets I picked up at a cool little pop-up shop in Hudson, Wisconsin called Sundar Imports.  I got a cute fistful of bangles for fairly inexpensive, plus Sundar Imports is a fair trade business.  Fashionable and globally conscious, that is a win-win for me!

Bracelets via Sundar Imports

Lastly, this is my absolute favorite layering piece in my own collection.  This rare bracelet is made of straw and pipe cleaner, by the finest craftsman in the land, my five year old.  I wear it with most of my bangles, especially at the request of its creator.  I am obsessive over this piece to the point where I become unsettled if it falls off and becomes misplaced.  Sometimes, I have been spotted at work, crawling under the racks looking for it.  It truly is my most treasured bracelet and layering piece. 

Bracelet via my oldest  <3

Seasons Change.

It is that time of year.  Nights are getting longer and cooler (hopefully).  Back to school shopping is in full swing and the Great Minnesota Get Together, the State Fair, begins in less than a week.  I am becoming torn between two seasons.  Well.....kind of.  Not really.  I am completely ready for summer to end.  Yes, I know this makes me a complete nutter to most people but it is my least favorite season.  I long for the days of layering thermals, snuggly sweaters with skinny jeans and boots.  It is worse when you are surrounded by adorable fall clothing all day long.  I have been living in September/October since July.

On the bright side, my customers are finally moving into fall shopping mode!  That  means I get to dress people up in my adored fall ensembles all day long.  We are having a good time figuring out how to make this transition from summer into fall together, giving us all the chance to start wearing our favorite fall pieces starting now. 
Yes, I know I should be saving my “back to school” clothes for later, especially since I have hidden my daughter’s new school clothes and let her cry over the skinny jeans she was dying to wear to school already in August (Evil Skinny Jeans and Yoga Pants – taking lessons from Evil Joy, perhaps?).  However, I am the mom so I make the rules, and I say that I can start wearing my fall yummies right now.
At this point, I am sure you thinking, get to the point: how are you incorporating fall during the middle of August.  It is easy.  With a little help from my friends (i.e. the stylists I work with at Hot Mama), we are all finding new and different ways to bring sweaters, jackets, fur vests, boots, layers into our summer wardrobes.  Add a pair of boots to a skirt or shorts (see photo below).  Layer a scarf over a T-shirt for an extra splash of fab during your back to school shopping excursions.  Toss a fur vest over a lightweight dress for a little extra warmth and style at night.  Add a snuggly sweater or sweatshirt to a pair of shorts for running around the playground with your kids.  Throw on your skinny jeans and roll them up to wear as a crop on days that are not blazingly hot (or be like me and do it any day it strikes your fancy.  Screw the thermostat).
 

 

My Hot Mama Stylist Models!

Emily (left)

Sweatshirt - Lavender Thymes

Shorts and Bracelets - Hot Mama

Socks – DSW

Boots – Nordstrom's

 

Leah (right)

Scarf and Skirt - Hot Mama

Boots - REI

So start pulling out your fall gear and find creative ways to make it transitional during this change of seasons.  I know I am.  Thankfully, fall will be here before we know it! 

Rawr!

It is time I admitted one of my sad addictions.  I luv me some animal print.  I can't stop myself from drooling over every piece of animal print that we get in the store, be it reptile or leopard.  The girls I work with may think it is an obsession but I like to think I am getting back to my primal instincts. To be perfectly honest, I envision myself as a 80 year old lady, wearing a leopard print velour jumpsuit and way too much eye makeup; playing random poker games for quarters (and most likely cheating like my grandma did <3).  Even my daughters (ages 3 and 5) are currently begging for more animal print in their fall closets.  What can I say? Like mother, like daughters!

So how does a mom wear it everyday?  Well, that is an easy question to answer.  Treat it as the neutral  it actually is.  You can add little pieces with a shoe, belt, purse, or a scarf to add a little extra something to your ensemble.

Mom's shoe:  Me Too

Kids' shoe:  Gap Kids

Or you can go bolder by choosing bigger pieces like a shirt or jacket.  I have this leopard print dolmen sleeve top by Jolie, which is super soft and comfortable.  It looks great with a pair of jeans for schlepping around with my kids, yet was cute enough to grab a drink with my friend Marta after work!

Shirt:  Jolie

(via Hot Mama)

For the more adventurous ladies out there, go for animal print denim, which is VERY hot this fall.  Personally, I am holding out for a pair of reptile print skinny jeans from Sanctuary.  They WILL be mine.  Oh yes, they will be mine.  I have big plans for them, having created several outfits in my head while at work, often testing them out on my unsuspecting customers and myself.

Shirt : Michael Stars

Jeans:  Sanctuary

(both via Hot Mama)

So figure out what your inner animal style is and let it show.  Grab that animal print you have secretly been ogling and run with it.  Let yourself be bold, be adventurous, be RAWR!