Carrie Bradshaw Lied

School Girl Chic

A few weeks ago I shared this look on Instagram and I was so pleased to see so many of you compare it to Clueless… I am so here for that.

I wanted to share a blog post with the full outfit details and dig deeper into this whole mini skirt + boyfriend blazer + OTK boots = school girl 2.0 chic!

As a tall gal (I’m 5’7″), mini skirts are usually a dangerous territory for me. I feel uncomfortable showing too much leg, and things tend to look a little shorter on taller girls. My strategy for incorporating mini skirts on occasion while still feeling comfortable and like myself is to add some really tall boots and looser layering pieces on top.

I love the juxtaposition of menswear with a mini skirt. You can add a touch of flirty while still incorporating elements that keep you feeling like the boss that you are. You go, Glen Coco!

photos by Christian Barnes

Can you see yourself rocking this combo? Tell me if you more of a Cher or Dion (I always liked Dion).

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Game Day Chardonnay Pairing

Aaahh, fall. In the throes of football season and finding ways to force myself to be remotely interested in it so Christian can get his college football fix.

A few ways to keep the ladies interested (unless you’re a huge football lover in which case, good for you!) – why not have a little wine tasting or pairing at home?

One of mine and Christian’s favorite things to do when we have guests over is to host our own little wine tasting. When we were in Southern California, it wasn’t as easy to hop in the car and get to wine country, so we would purchase a sparkling wine, a few whites and a few reds. I’d look up the information on each wine and the tasting notes, and then we could conduct our own little blind tasting for guests!

You could totally do this with Cupcake Vineyards’ vast array of varieties, and the best part is that you can do this no matter where you live! How fun to have a dinner party and wine tasting!? And the price point is excellent for a party tasting.

But let’s change gears to pairing. For today’s pairing, I’ve pulled out my Cupcake Vineyards Monterey County Chardonnay. This particular Chardonnay has notes of apple, lemon and vanilla with a hint of toasted almond, and is a great wine to pull out for light bites and appetizers. Hello, game day wine!

My favorite way to serve a light, crisp Chardonnay like this one is with fresh fruit and vegetables. The freshness complements each other so nicely. It also pairs well with saltier snacks like chips and dip, nuts and cheese and crackers. If you were serving this wine with dinner, it would be fabulous with any fish, grilled chicken or a silky, creamy pasta!

photos by Meg Stone

sweater | denim | earrings | wine glass | picnic basket

Are you a wine drinker or football lover? Better yet, have you tried Cupcake Vineyards before? I remember the first time I ever had it, at my friend Anna’s house in Dallas. So delicious I can remember my first sip (clearly a wine lover over here)!

Thanks so much for reading and sharing, and if you have pairing favorites, I’d love to hear! XO –

brought to you by Cupcake Vineyards

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Cozy November Favorites

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17

It’s been a while since I put together a wish list roundup and now that it’s November, it felt like it was time for some cozy inspo! I have all the windows open in our place and am fully embracing the chill in the air. Now that I’ve seen San Francisco go wild for Halloween (in a great way), I am even more amped to see how this city does the holidays!

But onto the swag, I bought this scarf (along with this camisole) from the Atlantic-Pacific x Halogen collection and it’s so cute in person. I know it will be a fab statement scarf for classic outfits, and it’s such a fun piece for fall and winter. You can wear all black and throw this pop of color on and boom – you look fab.

I recently tried these faux leather leggings and I love them. They’re lightweight, flattering and lengthening. A go-to pair for the holiday months ahead! I didn’t need gloves in Orange County but I’m wondering if this cashmere pair would be cozy rosy for SF. I love the camel and charcoal – so so cute.

I recently bought this pair of fuzzy slippers from Amazon but I’m kind of wishing I had this pair instead. They look so much fluffier and come in four colors. I love the pink!

What’s on your wish list this fall? A teddy coat? That pom pom or statement sweater? I want to hear. Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Roses Are Red

I am having such a Carrie Bradshaw moment in this dress. I love it so much!

I received this gorgeous dress in early summer, and tragically it was stolen from my front door in Orange County. The horror! The brand was so lovely as to send another… and I couldn’t get it to zip up the back. But I loved it so much that I was still determined to find a way to make it work. Enter the belted blazer!

I’ve shared a similar look on CBL before here and here, but another way to get more wear out of those gorgeous cocktail dresses in your closet is to throw a blazer or vest over it and belt your waist. The end result is chic, unique and totally different than the dress on its own.

photos by Meg Stone

Thank you so much for reading! Can you see yourself layering over a cocktail dress for a different look? I’d love to hear, and if you’re not so sure, try it out. You never know what you might discover in your own closet! XO –

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5 Must-Haves for an Ole Miss Tailgate Party

I’ve shared with you guys here that C and I met in college… at Ole Miss (also known as The University of Mississippi)! Christian loyally wears his “game day polo” every Saturday during college football season, so I thought it would be fun to share how we throw our own tailgate parties, Mississippi style, even from San Francisco!

5 Must-Haves for an Ole Miss Tailgate Party –

1 | The gear… obviously.

If you’re a guy, you’re going to have at least one polo shirt with the Ole Miss logo. Christian has literally worn the same one for almost six years! We have some fresh pieces thanks to the University’s Barnes & Noble store, who makes C’s polo shirt, my long-sleeved shirt, hat, Bailey’s bandana, the bowl and this adorable set of glasses!

2 | Snacks (preferably served in McCarty or Peter’s Pottery).

What’s a football game without snacks? I’m missing a Mississippi staple, Abner’s chicken tenders, but we’re in SF so we’re going to have to make do.

I love a spinach and artichoke dip, a flatbread, any easy bites and some fruit and veggies to make me feel better about all the chips I’m going to eat.

3 | A nod to the state…

Mississippians love anything that clearly shows where they’re from. Hint: my state-shaped cutting board. A gift… from another Mississippian of course!

4 | Something delicious to sip on, preferably in an Ole Miss glass, of course.

For a morning game I’d pick a bloody mary (extra celery stalks please!). An afternoon game might call for a cranberry cocktail/mocktail or beer. And of course, anything and everything is an option for an evening game.

Even if it’s just sparkling water with lime – the key here is to make it special. Throw in some garnishes and grab a linen cocktail napkin!

Bonus points if you have a Hotty Toddy napkin!

5 | A good attitude because to be an Ole Miss fan means you have to handle a little heartbreak.

Maybe everyone feels this way about their alma mater, but when you are in the same conference as a team who has casually won the national championship 16x, you have to have thick skin.

Where did you go to college? Do you share the same alma mater with your significant other?

If you have any game day or tailgating traditions – I’d love to hear. Thanks so much for reading and sharing, and of course… Hotty Toddy! XO –

brought to you by the University of Mississippi

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Accessories That Sparkle

Hold on, let me put on some sunglasses because I’m blinded by Vahan Jewelry! Honestly, I can’t get enough. I was recently introduced to Vahan’s pieces, and when I saw these bracelets in person I was amazed at how much they sparkled.

With the holidays coming up, my opinion is that it’s never too soon to start dropping hints. I love the idea of committing to a brand that aligns with your style and letting your family or significant other know that “adding to your collection” is always a welcomed surprise.

Over time, you could collect a beautiful story of meaningful pieces that still compliment each other beautifully. Vahan has absolutely gorgeous pieces, and for me, their bracelets are the real show stoppers. How glam are they here, stacked together? I can’t get enough of these bracelets, especially this one!

photos by Meg Stone

necklace and pendant | bracelet 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | ring | hoop earrings

blazer, also love this one and how gorgeous is this one!? | denim | similar blouse | sunglasses | similar bag

Are you a fine jewelry kind of gal? Do you like receiving jewelry as gifts and have you ever perused Vahan‘s pieces? I’d love to hear what you think!

Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –

brought to you by Vahan Jewelry

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Chocolate Protein Bite Recipe

A week or so ago on Insta-Stories I mentioned that I was going to make Christian some protein bites so he could have something quick and easy for weekday mornings. I’ve made him homemade granola bars before (very old post about them here), but he reminded me I had made some even smaller protein balls before and he was right!

I polled the girls on Instagram to see if they wanted me to share the recipe and the answer was yes, so here we are. Shall we?

Ingredients:

1 to 1 and 1/4 cup oats (I use 1 and 1/4 but try 1 cup first and check your consistency to see what you think!)

1/2 cup peanut or almond butter

1 tablespoon flax seeds

2 table spoons chia seeds

1/3 cup honey or agave

1/4 cups milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips

1 tablespoon chocolate protein powder (if you don’t want to buy a whole container you can use cacao)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients together, roll into bite sized balls and store in your refrigerator for at least an hour before eating. I will make them the day before and let them chill overnight.

I used this recipe as a foundation but added less flax seeds and more oats. They’re under 200 calories and have almost 6g of protein, so for Christian they’re a really handy morning option. He asked me to make them again so I think we’re heading in the right direction.

This recipe is also really similar and adds vanilla extract which sounds delish!

Thanks so much for reading, and if you have a homemade granola or protein bite recipe you love, I’d love to hear! You can check out more recipe and food-related posts in the food & drink category of this site – XO –

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Fall Fashion | Office Edition

As someone who spent many years abiding by office dress codes, I always want to provide some office inspiration to help CBL girls feel comfortable, confident and conservative both in and out of the office.

If you search “office appropriate,” you’ll find many outfits that I thought would work for corporate gals. This look would be another one to add to that list! Just because you have to follow dress codes doesn’t mean you can’t look fabulous and incorporate some seasonal trends.

This cashmere sweater dress is a part of one of the new fall styles from Polo Ralph Lauren, and I already know it can be styled so many different ways. I consider a classic silhouette and fit like this one to be timeless and extremely versatile. It looks chic on its own. If you want to mix it up, you can also belt it with a blazer or sweater! You could wear booties, sneakers or boots with this dress also.

I wanted to show you guys how to pair it with and without a layering piece to show a glimpse of some of the versatility. And it must be mentioned that I’m so in love with this blazer for fall. SO schoolgirl chic and I am here for it.

Don’t forget you can always belt outerwear. It’s a great way to mix things up while still giving yourself that hourglass silhouette!

photos by Meg Stone

Do you work in a conservative office? Would you wear something like this to work? I’d love to hear what you guys are looking for in terms of outfit inspiration so I can make sure to provide it.

Thanks so much for reading and sharing! XO –

brought to you by Polo Ralph Lauren

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Friday’s Five

– the most gorgeous tote from Leatherology (styled here and here – the perfect travel bag!) –

– new heels that feel very Carrie Bradshaw –

– a new Clarisonic that includes a facial and eye massage that I am SO INTO –

– a Lula + Bailey sweater from Le Lion that you know I am so into –

– the most gorgeous chocolate lipsticks from my Aunt Re –

Happy Friday gorgeous gals! We have had a beautiful stretch of weather this week in San Francisco, and it’s been nice to appreciate something considering there is 3 weeks of apartment reconstruction going on directly above us… I’m not going to lie, it’s been anything but peaceful (but thank GOD for these!).

I’ve chosen to take on the challenge of forcing myself to get out more, walk the dog an extra lap, say yes to the spontaneous lunch or take on a few of those errands I’ve been putting off. So there’s that! Trying to find any silver lining here –

I must mention the two pieces I’m over the moon in love with this week – this tote and this sweater. Can you even!?

We have a project to shoot this weekend that requires a little drive, so I’m looking forward to a day trip and some serenity. There’s no construction going on during the weekends and I’m sooooo grateful for that time to recharge! I can’t believe we’re approaching some of the last days of October. It feels like the time is flying by. But let’s be honest, it’s not over until I eat a couple more handfuls of Halloween candy.

Hope you lovelies have a great weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by – XO –

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Black Wide Leg Trousers

Happy (almost) Halloween! Funny enough, we shot these photos two weeks ago and I was specifically looking for any Halloween decorations. This particular house was all decked out, and a week later, all the houses on the block followed suit. Now the whole neighborhood is a Halloween wonderland!

I haven’t had a great pair of black pants in many years. Probably since I left my corporate life. But this pair is too good to be true. The wide leg is the perfect amount that can be dressed up or a work staple, and the high waist is perfection. They make a statement on their own!

A tip – when wearing all of one color from head to toe, try to play with textures. Here I paired leather, lace, sheer and sleek pants for a multi-textured ensemble that makes it interesting and unique, even though it’s all one color.

photos by Meg Stone

Thank you so much for reading…. and Happy Halloween! xo –

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Styling a Leather Vest

A few years ago I bought this leather vest from a consignment shop for $40. $40! I was elated! I thought it had every element of cool, and I just knew it would go with everything.

Flash forward two years, and I’ve worn it twice. It drives me crazy when that happens! You find a gem of a piece, thinking it will be a new staple, and then it sits unused.

Not today. I layered my masculine moto vest over a more feminine, floral, flowy maxi dress. You can belt it on the outside or let it flow (I photographed both ways so you can see the difference), and now I’m wondering how many other maxi dresses I can layer this bad boy over.

I am always telling y’all to play dress up in your own closet. I go through my closet top to bottom 3-4x a year. I know… that’s a lot. Keep in mind my closet is a large part of my job, so it’s almost like going through your work desk. BUT, doing so forces me to reevaluate my wardrobe – what I’m wearing/not wearing – and challenge myself to style things in new, interesting and exciting ways.

AND the best part? It’s like going shopping. Except you didn’t spend any money and are utilizing the pieces you already have. I know I’m always preaching this, but VERSATILITY is everything when you’re adding new pieces to your closet. In my opinion, if you can’t wear something multiple ways, really stop to think if you need it at all.

Let me know if this is something you guys would want a full post on – we could totally take a deep dive into closet clean outs!

photos by Meg Stone

dress, also available here | vest – Truth & Pride (consignment steal), similar styles here (60% off) and here | booties | belt, loving this jumbo version and love this look for less – would also be great with this one or this one | sunglasses – Céline, love these dupes | lipstick in 102 Sweet Song

Do you have any pieces in your closet that you have figured out how to style quite yet? I challenge you to pull them out and play dress up. Mix and match, try it with numerous different pieces until you find something that inspires you.

There’s no reason you should have fabulous pieces that are left unworn! Style them up, sister!

Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –

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High Waisted Cropped Jeans

Blue jean baby! You might remember these jeans from this post, but they are the pair I can’t stop wearing as of late. I loved the cropped element which looks so fab with heels, and they are high waisted, which is the only kind of jeans I’ve been wearing the past few years.

Why? Because once you high rise, you don’t go back. I love that a higher waist jean really highlights a woman’s waist and hips – embrace your curves! Trust me, try a high waisted pair of jeans and tell me how you feel once you put your lower rise pants back on.

Some other high waisted Levi’s I’m in love with here and here, and you can find my size guide for Levi’s ladies here!