Happy {Kick Your Heels Up} Weekend

Wowza. It's the end of September. Can anyone explain how that happened?! I think it is high time we try to sloooowwww this puppy down.

As the temperatures continue to cool and the nights grow a little longer, it does feel good though doesn't it? 

This weekend we'll be exploring yet another new neighborhood, seeing some family and indulging in  much needed downtown. How about you luvies?

If you're looking for something to keep you busy, here a few fun things from the week:

~ I've tumbled head over heels for this tumblr
~ I have totes on the brain
~ A new reason to join team Kelly
~ The new Matchbook Magazine debuts Monday but you can get a sneak peak now.
~ Martha Stewart Living picked some favorite finds, including one of mine {omgomgomg}
~ I shared my style essentials with the dazzling Camille
~ There have been a plethora of bloggers' events this week & it's all been captured on the Apartment 34 Facebook page

And before I go, here is your third installment of Noteworthy Newbies. I'm particularly smitten with this week's picks:

Noteworthy Newbies 3.0
~ Hip Hip Gin Gin
~ Life's Little Gem
~ In the City with Crystalin
~ Ryzenbergon On
~ Thunder in Our Hearts

Till Monday luvies,

images via here and erin ever after

Bag It Up

What puts a smile on your face more than a fabulous new bag, right? They can kinda make your day.

How about snagging a one-of-a-kind bag designed by fashion legends like Simon Doonan, Donna Karan or Diane Von Furstenberg? Now add in having all proceeds from your bag go to fighting a rare skin disorder that afflicts kids. You must be smiling now. You get this trifecta with Barney's Hung On U - a line of customized bags currently on auction at Charity Buzz.com.

You can pick between an awesome array of takes on the one-shoulder canvas tote - 20 different celebrity designers created a bag. The only tough thing is picking which one to bid on. Don't worry, you've got until October 12 to decide!

Check out this video and then head over to Charity Buzz to learn more!

Happy making a difference luvies!

I've Got a Crush {No. 45}

You know, I never stopped to count how many crushes I've collected since starting this series and low and behold, this is the 45th installment! I hope you like these crushes as much, if not more, than the previous 44 because right now I have a major crush....

on sleuthing out covetable shoes,



on wrapping my neck in wearable art,




on mad manicures,

on gold accents,

on sweet seats,

on cobalt blue,

on mouth-watering branding,



on showin' a little somethin' sheer,

on fashionable vignettes,

And on sage advice.

Cheers luvies!

 



Wedding Wednesday {You've Got to Keep it Separated}

Buying a wedding a dress is one of the toughest choices a girl can make. The options are endless and most often overwhelming. The perfect dress can seem so allusive, like that needle lost under mountains of hay.

That's why I was rather intrigued by new wedding dress concept from BHLDN {you know, the Anthro bridal line that launched last year}. They're now offering a variety of separate wedding-worthy tops and skirts that gives a bride an awesome array of personal choice.

I'm particularly smitten with the corset top. What's more fun than embracing some subtle sexiness on your big day?!  The the variety of skirts available let you choose between flirty and fun to full-on bridal glam. Or, better yet, go for a mid-celebration wardrobe change - the ultimate in bridal indulgence!

If only this level of wedding dress personalize was available when I was dress hunting.

To see the full range of choices available to you, check out this saucy little BHLDN video. Even if you're not in the market for a wedding dress I promise it will put you in a good mood!

4:00 PM Fashion Fix {Stop Motion}

The litany of fashion month images that continue to rain down make my heart go pitter-patter, but none more so than the work of Ms. Jamie Beck.

She must have scored the best seat in the house at the S/S 2012 Oscar de la Renta show because her pics are awe inspiring. The way she captured each look in full motion allows you to really feel the heart and soul of the clothes. They're no longer "looks," they're living breathing works of art.

Thank you Jamie for giving us a different perspective.

Sartorialist actually had a great commentary on this concept recently. You can check it out here.



Time to Give a Rug Away!

The moment is here! One lucky reader is about to win an area rug of their choice thanks to the generosity of RugsUsa.com.

Whoops, made you look! Head over the Apartment 34 Facebook page to find out who it is!

A huge thank you to everyone for entering. There are going to be a lot more home decor happenings around here - as Ms. Caitlin alluded to today, we just secured our new home in San Francisco - an awesome urban loft!

I cannot wait to start decorating and I'm going to need your help along the way luvies! More detail on that coming up quite soon. Stay tuned...

Lamp Love: Taste the Rainbow

There's nothing so sweet as a lamp that adds a pop of colorful eye-candy and character to your space.

That's why I'm loving these beauties from Mod Pieces. They are total treats. Each one seems to have its own individual personality. I'm particularly smitten with the saucy red and black pair. They give off a bit of feisty flavor, don't you think?!

And if you're looking for another tasty decor morsel to add to your home be sure to enter the giveaway for a free area rug courtesy of RugsUSA.com. You can get all the details here.

A winner will be chosen at random later today!

It's Time to Have Fun: Rue Magazine is Turning One!

It seems like only yesterday I was in New York City saying congrats and good luck to Anne and Crystal for launching their crazy idea new venture called Rue Magazine. Now a full year has gone by and I feel privileged to call the Rue girls dear friends. I couldn't be more excited to toast to their success at their One-Year Anniversary party in San Francisco tonight.



Rue is a juggernaut shaking up the world of design publications and we're all better for it. The Rue girls are creating an amazing outlet for bloggers, photographers, stylists and designers who might not otherwise get noticed. And they're connecting their readers to the land of interior design that used to be off-limits. They're also brazen, talented, confident young women who took one of the biggest leaps anyone can in life and they are still standing after all the ups and downs that launching a new business can bring. For that alone they deserve huge praise.

I want to personally thank the ladies for inviting me to style a feature for the magazine (my debut styling and modeling experience - ugh - scary when I look back at it!) and for including me in their original cast of Rue Bloggers. And I have to say an extra-special thank you for giving me an excuse to get all dolled up on a Monday night!! Of course I couldn't resist sharing a little fantasy outfit inspiration:

get the look: roland mouret dress, christian louboutin clutch, ysl cuff similar here, isabel marant earrings, lanvin wedge similar here

We are going to have a ball! Happy Birthday Rue.

Love,

 

images via breakfast at toast pinterest

Monday Work Wear {Easy Being Green}

The best thing about the September fashion season is the street style eye candy that swarms around the shows. It provides countless sources of sartorial inspiration. I'm particularly smitten with the great pops of green that have been cropping up all over the place. Even though we have Jil Sander to thank for bringing this shade to the forefront a year ago, it still feels fresh, fun and bold.



I think fashion editors might have missed the memo about the it color for fall! I'm certainly adding a piece or two of green to my fall shopping list. Here are a few options that I'd love to inject into my regular rotation.

get the look: chiffon dress, satchel, cape,  emerald cuff, oscar de la renta ring, lanvin dress, marni chain necklace  pour la victoire slingback

Do you have a signature color for the season luvies? Whatever shade you decide to don, I hope you have a bright and shiny week.

Happy Monday!

street style via veronica loves archie and gary pepper vintage

Happy {Fall Headfirst into Fall} Weekend

Where does the time go? It's all flying by so quickly I can hardly keep track.

Suddenly a new season is upon us.Who knew?! Since settling in San Francisco life has been a {wonderful} whirlwind of blogger events, meeting great friends, jumping into a new job, exploring the city with my husband...and the list goes on and on and on. It can all leave a girl feeling a tad overwhelmed!

 

 

Luckily, my bestie is headed into town tomorrow and I know she can relate. This weekend we'll be laying low because come Monday it's the one year anniversary celebration for Rue and immediately following the lovely Grace is coming to town. So much for trying not to do everything!

 

 

In the meantime, here are a few bits and pieces from the week that you might have missed:

~ These are some great survival tips

~ This LA home rocked my world

~ She's got big news to share

~ I made my street style debut!

~ Danielle shared fall favorites, including mine

And if you're in the online shopping mood may I introduce you to Apartment 34 sponsors Swell Caroline and Ruby Lane. Statement necklace for only $38?! Don't mind if I do!!

Finally, before I sign off for the weekend, I'm just tickled to bring you my second installment of Noteworthy Newbies. The response to the first round was so fab.  Just to remind, these blogs may not be new, but they're new to me and I'm lovin' em! I'm quite confident you'll love them too.

Noteworthy Newbies 2.0

~ The Chriselle Factor

~ A Note on Design

~ Veronica Loves Archie

~ Honey and Jam

~ Gary Pepper Vintage

Till Monday luvies!

image by will davidson via aubrey road, edited by me

Boy Meets Girl

Another of my favorite s/s 2012 trends is the mix of menswear inspired and utlra-feminine looks that went down the runways.

It validates my continuous addiction to trousers and pushes me to finally try a truly girly dress! What style do you prefer luvies?

looks by paul smith, tracey reese and nanette lepore via style.com

Wedding Wednesday {Bea-u-ti-ful}

Beautiful: pleasing to the senses or mind aesthetically. When I spotted this definition it so spoke to what I love about stellar wedding style.

It's explains why scrolling through wedding sites for hours still puts a smile on my face, more than a year after our own nuptials. So I thought I'd share just a bit of wedding beauty to please your senses and your mind this afternoon.

Enjoy!

images via ruffled shop, jose villa and elizabeth messina

You're Invited: Join Us at Chloe Rose

Update: head over to the Apartment 34 Facebook Page to see all the fun we had!

There's a party this Thursday and you're invited! If you happen to be in San Francisco I hope you'll stop by Chloe Rose Boutique ~ Caitlin graciously worked with Chloe's owner Marissa to put together a party that will celebrate both the shop's one year anniversay and my arrival in San Francisco! I couldn't be more thrilled to be included in such a fun night.

To appropriately mark the occasion, we'll be sporting some of our favorite Chloe Rose looks and providing anyone who stops in with individual personal styling. I can't wait! 

To get ready for the big night, we had to get to know the store's merchandise - which means shopping!

We had a ball oogling the sweet dresses, flowy tops, hot denim and gorgeous accessories that line the store walls. Marissa has a great eye ladies, I'm tellin' ya. It was nearly impossible to narrow down our favorites. Here are a couple of the top contenders.

You like?

In order to see our final outfit selection you'll have to come to the shop tomorrow evening. If you are in San Francisco, I do hope you'll drop by. There will be sweet treats, bubbly, special prizes and a photobooth {my fave!} to enjoy. Space is limited so be sure to RSVP!

And don't worry if you're based elsewhere - plenty of pictures will be taken and we will be sure to share the fun.

I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night luvies,

images by caitlin flemming

And the Winner Is... {The Daylight Giveaway}

It's the moment you've been waiting for ~ someone very lucky is about to win a gorgeous piece of original art. But before I announce the winner, I just had to share how I'd use Laura's painting in my home, in her wonderful Love it / Live it fashion of course.

serendipity rug, 1 oly mirror, 2 vintage lamp, 3 harpers bazaar book, 4 mcoy jewel box, another option here 5 west elm glass bottles vases, 6 kartell chairs, 7 vintage cane console,

I'd want to display her work as the focal point of the first thing that welcomes you into a home - the entryway. It's the perfect place to set the tone for the rest of your house.

The bright color palette of the piece let's you play with fun fresh shades that will really grab any guest's attention. Building on the base of an eye catching area rug, {don't you love how perfectly it reflects all the paintings' colors?!} I'd keep the rest of the space lighter with a white console table and pastel accessories. Mmmmm,  I can see it now...

Ok, ok, I know you just want to know who won the giveaway right?! Without further ado...the winner is....being announced over on the Apartment 34 Facebook page!

But wait - before you go, don't forget about our suprise. And it's a good one - ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!! I am giving away one colorful rug from RugsUSA*, like the Serendipity Rug shown above {sadly, the Serendipity Rug is already out of stock!}.

One winner will be chosen next Tuesday, September 27. Here's how you enter:

• Show RugsUSA some love and Like them on Facebook
• Leave a comment on this post about which rug you'd choose and why ~ be sure to include your contact info if it's not in your profile
• Tweet this giveaway for an extra chance to win

Are you as excited as I am? I sure hope so. A huge thanks to Laura and RugsUSA for being so generous to Apartment 34 readers.

Good luck luvies!

*Winner will have the opportunity to select a rug of their choice dependant upon price and availability

Taste Treat: Love it, Live it

In honor of our Daylight giveaway later today, I'm trying my hand at Laura's amazing column that she's dubbed Love it/Live it.

Flipping through the 2012 spring collections I immediately thought of the piece Laura is giving away to you. She certainly seemed to be in sync with the sorbet trend  dominating the runways. Her painting Sunset and Jonathan Saunders collection are a match made in heaven, wouldn't you agree luvies?

Now, be sure to check back at noon today ~ not only will you get to see the next iteration of this love it / live it {yes, there's more}, but we'll announce the giveaway winner and a very special surprise! Trust me, you won't want to miss it.

See you soon!

 

Monday Work Wear {Spring into Fall}

Fall may be upon us, but the Spring 2012 collections already have visions of sugar plum color palettes dancing in my head. Luckily there's no need to wait six months to infuse your wardrobe with the look. Take a cue from collections like 3.1 Phillip Lim and Paul Smith, who paired the sherbet hues with something every girl already has in her closet - black {for spring, who knew!}. The combination is equal parts refreshing and bold.

james perse tee

lanvin skirt

reiss bootie

nixon watch

zara belt

carven bag

equipment blouse

vionnet crepe pants

the row bag {splurge alert!}
zara pumps
belt similar here

The pale + black combination is an easy update to the basics you already have in your closet: the trouser, the neutral pump, the brown belt. And I know you have a punch of color left over from summer. Bring it all together and voila! While Bordeaux may be "the" color of the season, this look will make you the forward looking one in the crowd.

If you still need to add a piece or two to your closet check out the new Apartment 34 sponsor ShopKempt. I'm lusting after their Laurette Pocket Blouse and the Addison Shoulder bag! Serious style for a realistic budget. I like.

I hope you have a fresh start to your week luvies.

Happy Monday!

Apartment 34 is now accepting fall sponsors! If you would like to reach thousands of style-savvy readers, email apt34blog {at} gmail {dot} com for more details!

3.1 phillip lim and paul smith images via style.com

A Little Sunday Something

I'm totally smitten with Kate Bosworth in this video for Vanessa Bruno.

Makes Blue Crush a very distant memory!

LØV from Vanessa Bruno on Vimeo.

Happy {Nesting} Weekend

Awwww. Friday. There's a crispness in the air. Leaves crunched under our feet as we walked the pups last night {I would have Instagramed it for you but it was already dark!}And we've been in San Francisco for a full month now - can you believe it?!

I'm in the mood to hunker down and be a bit domestic this weekend.

I see some baking, cafe sitting and magazine browsing in my immediate future. What about you luvies? What is your favorite thing to do this time of year?

If you're looking for something to keep you busy here are a few fun bits and pieces from the week:

~ Jamie's chronicle of NYFW is over the top amazing
~ Joy is looking so happy and cute
~ Bonnie's tumblr makes me salivate
~ Joanna invited me to drop by to play
~ Zara kicks Target's butt. Hands down.
~ There's a hot hot sale happening at DNA Clothing down in Venice this weekend
~ Laura is gifting one of you a piece of original art. Have you entered to win yet?!

I also wanted to start a new Friday feature ~ Noteworthy Newbies {yes, i'm addicted to alliteration}. This will be a weekly list of five blogs, while not necessarily new, new to me and in my humble opinion, completely fabulous. Here is the first edition!

Noteworthy Newbies 1.0
~ Design Me Daily
~ Sweet Thing
~ Bancroft and Ivy
~ Note to self
~ The Fresh Exchange

Here's to a lovely and leisurely weekend!

Till Monday luvies,

images via wit + delight, destined to design and pinterest

I've Got a Crush {Fall Favorites}

On simple, yet head-turning style,

On sultry spaces,

On smelling sweet,

On staying structured,

On keeping it classic,

On a reminder to look to the heavens,

On accessorizing your accessories,

On taking each day one breath at a time,

And on already looking forward to spring!