Fashion blog from an Atlanta marketing guru who loves dressing up for work. My style is feminine, chic and fun. Get online shopping tips and info on favorite products.
This Maeve dress from Anthropologie boasts a beautiful array of Christmas colors, and is really helping me get in the spirit of the holidays. The weather has been so nice the past few days, it doesn't feel much like Christmas -- and it's just a week away! I didn't even bother with a jacket when I left home for the office this morning. The high today will be 61 degrees!
I wasn't sure I would like today's dress on, because the sleeves are a bit puffy, but somehow it works! I love the combination of the long sleeves with the shorter skirt, too!
My sister, Gail, is in town with her son, Max, so instead of my usual lazy weekend, I was going, going, going all weekend long. I especially loved getting to spend time with Max, my adorable little nephew whom I only get to see a few times a year.
Other highlights included seeing my dad sing at the annual Johns Creek Christmas Gala Holiday Pops event, and attending the new production of The Nutcracker at The Fox Theatre.
With my Dad and sister, Gail, on December 15, 2018, at Johns Creek United Methodist Church
I fell in love with today's dress as soon as I saw it, and was so excited when it finally went on sale. From the ruffles to the bow tie to the fit and flare silhouette, it's totally me.
You can find the dress at Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom and the Ted Baker website. I'm wearing a size 1 for reference. (Ted Baker sizing goes from 0-5, so check the size guide for help, and remember that European sizes tend to run small.)
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik Suede Bow Tie D'orsay Pumps (no longer available)
As Seen on TV!
Veronica recently sported the dress on a Season 3 episode of Riverdale (see preview below), Eve wore the dress on The Talk, and Zuri Hall did a segment of E! News in the dress. It's been quite popular, probably because it's so cute!
Today I'm wearing my first dress from the Sandro brand!
Sandro is a French brand, and I'm really loving the pieces in the latest collection. I got a great deal on this dress on Black Friday at Saks. The brand combines feminine touches -- like the collar in today's dress -- with sophisticated silhouettes and quality craftsmanship.
I love the details on the collar, and you don't often see navy blue and black together. When I saw the dress, I just had to have it!
You can still buy the dress at Saks, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's, and I'm wearing a size 36 for reference. The dress runs a little small, so if you're between sizes, order one size up. (Sometimes the conversion to U.S. sizes doesn't match up exactly.)
Shoes: Jimmy Choo Baxen Chain Fabric Peep-Toe Wedge Pumps (no longer available)
Somehow, the end of 2018 is almost upon us! Chapin just celebrated his 42nd birthday -- I threw him a small dinner party this past weekend, complete with dark chocolate cake and lots of wine -- and our house has not one but TWO Christmas trees this year. I love the holiday season, even though I spend most of it stressed out.
Chapin and I have both been working so much lately, too; I can't wait for the last two weeks of the year when things will slow down a bit.
Since it's December, I should not be surprised by the weather -- Sunday, it was 70 degrees and sunny, and today it's 45 degrees and sunny. That's Atlanta weather for you.
Outfit of the Day
Today's dress is one I bought a few months ago but haven't had a chance to wear yet. I love the ease of this dress, and it's so flattering!
These sandals come in white and black, and are partly see-through. Neiman Marcus also had a glitter version of this shoe, but it is currently sold out. If you bookmark the page and check back periodically, though, some select sizes may come back in stock. I've bought quite a few things from NM that way!
Bloomingdale's also has a good selection of SJP shoes. There are so many styles I want in the latest collection!
I love how a designer can take just a normal dress and make it look like new again -- just by adding little details. In this case, Alice + Olivia has added a feminine collar and sleeves to an existing dress design, elevating the overall aesthetic.
Wow, it's hard to believe the long Thanksgiving weekend is over already. Chapin and I had a wonderful time visiting family in Fairhope, Alabama, where we had beautiful weather on Thanksgiving Day and a delicious feast, complete with turkey, stuffing, Brussels sprouts and more fixings!
My two nephews, Grayson and Finn, are getting so big, and we had fun chasing Norman and Wally around my in-laws' backyard (I adore the lemon tree you can see behind me), playing Bocce Ball and Villainous, and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and National Dog Show.
Superman: The Movie
I also saw my own parents when we returned to Atlanta. I met up with them yesterday to take in a Sunday showing of Superman! It's back in theaters for a limited time to celebrate the movie's 40th anniversary. It's one of my favorite movies, and when I was little I thought my dad looked just like Clark Kent. The movie originally came out on December 15, 1978, when I was around seven months old, so I never had a chance to see it on the big screen. It's still such a fun movie to watch.
Outfit of the Day
Although we had decent weather over the weekend, the temperature in Atlanta has fallen, so I'm trying really hard to keep my teeth from chattering in today's photo. The wind was blowing so hard!
Fortunately, I chose to wear this gorgeous black sheath dress from Rebecca Taylor today, which is made of a heavier material than many of my other dresses. I love all the detail that went into the making of this dress, from the high neck to the fluttery lace cap sleeves to the scallop edge at the hem.
Today's dress is another example of how you can create an optical illusion in fashion. Your eye really goes to the shoulders, and the wide angle on top tapers down to make the waist seem even smaller.
Today's dress is a shift dress, a type of dress that I don't wear too often because of it's propensity to make me look too boxy. A shift dress, by definition, doesn't really have any definition -- it's simply a layer of clothing designed to hang straight down on your body, giving off the impression that your body is a column.
It's opposite would be the sheath dress, which hangs on every curve.
Since I have curves, I tend not to buy too many shift dresses. Since this shift dress from Shoshanna was on sale for under $50 (original price: $398), though, I wanted to at least see how it looked on my frame.
I actually like the overall look, which is a little different for me. It's an interesting design, with the bell sleeves, large in volume, beautifully contrasting with the shapeless main form of the dress. Plus, the color is gorgeous; this cranberry hue works with every skin tone, and is one of my favorites.
Shoes: Stuart Weitzman Soundtrack High Heel Sandals in Currant (no longer available)
You may have noticed that I didn't post any outfit pics last week, and that's because I just recently had my eyebrow microblading touch up appointment at Brows by Milly. I had to endure another ten days of trying not to get my brows wet or sweating too much, which is hard for me with my workout routine. I'm glad to be getting back to normal, even if it is just in time for Thanksgiving.
I don't normally gravitate toward all white dresses, but I adore the Shoshanna brand, and I liked the mix of lace and cotton in this particular design. Plus, I got the dress for a steal! I paid around $50 for a dress that retails for $360! I love my deals.
Tomorrow, I will be going back to Brows by Milly for my touch-up microblading appointment. Now that I know more about the overall experience, I'm actually looking forward to it! It's been so wonderful to wake up and have eyebrows.
It's been an incredibly busy few days in our household!
We celebrated Halloween on October 31st by dressing up as a family. The theme: The Wizard of Oz! My husband is always an incredibly good sport about dressing up in whatever costume I throw at him.
Dorothy: Michele
The Tin Man: Chapin
The Lion: Norman
The Scarecrow: Wally
We have to take about 50 pictures just to get any good ones of the boys. Norman is the worst because he's always looking around instead of at the camera! Chapin likes to say that he has the worst case of FOMO he's ever seen. (FOMO = Fear of Missing Out.)
Aren't these boys the cutest?
I also made this sugar cookie cake to take to my office Halloween party. I dyed the frosting green to go for a "slime" motif, and added some black bat sprinkles, googly eyes and candy corn for decoration. I am so not creative when it comes to decorations -- think the Nailed It! Netflix show -- but people seemed to like what I did. Go figure!
As my Dorothy costume was way too short to wear to the office, I recycled an old Halloween outfit: The Cat in the Hat! I love this costume because it's so easy and incredibly cute. All you need is an all black outfit, and you just add the hat, gloves, necktie and a little cat makeup. (I used an eyeliner pencil to give myself a black nose and whiskers.)
The following day, November 1st, Chapin and I also celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary, which also marks exactly 19 years since our first date in 1999. We went out to a very nice restaurant here in Atlanta, Bacchanalia, and had a wonderful dinner. Here we are all dressed up!
I took this dress to Paris but never had a chance to wear it. I'm glad to be wearing it now for such a special occasion.
The Bacchanalia staff was incredibly accommodating, since as you know I suffer from Celiac Disease. The chef modified recipes for me and our waitress helped me narrow down the choices. Here is a sampling of what we enjoyed on our date night:
Now we have the weekend ahead, and Chapin is taking me jewelry shopping on Sunday for an anniversary present. Yippee!
Somehow it's almost the end of October. Halloween is just a few days away, and Thanksgiving just a few weeks away. (It's early this year -- the 22nd!) Fortunately, though we had a cold spell in Atlanta, the weather is warming up again, and we'll see temperatures in the 70s again this week. Hooray! It's much easier to wear dresses when it's nice outside.
October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so I'm getting in my hint of pink while I still can. I've scheduled my first mammogram for next month; I turned 40 this year, so it's time.
I know several breast cancer survivors, but no one actually related to me has ever developed the disease. That's NO EXCUSE for putting off a mammogram, though. They are so important for early detection.
This particular sheath dress comes in a variety of different floral patterns. I prefer a print with smaller objects, like the tiny flowers on this dress, as they won't make you look too wide. (Beware some prints with loud colors and large objects, as they can add to your size.)
I find this silhouette so flattering that I actually have it in two versions. The other features a black and rose print that I wore when I visited my sister in Chicago a few years ago, when her son was first born. I haven't actually featured it on the blog, though. Oops! Stay tuned.
Shoes: Jimmy Choo Henna 100 Leather Open-Toe Ankle-Wrap Pumps (no longer available)
Is a fashion designer the modern era's version of a magician? Maybe. The industry is known for crafting clothing and footwear to make you look thinner and taller, to hide flaws and accentuate assets.
Take today's outfit. I'm actually wearing a dress with an "illusion" neckline, and pumps designed with partly clear straps to make the legs look longer.
You can still buy the dress on RueLaLa.com and Bluefly, which have the same owner and thus the same inventory and pricing. I also found this similar Shoshanna dress on Amazon, and a chic LBD (also with an illusion neckline) on Bluefly.
The dress is just beautiful, and in person you can see the sparkle in each thread and the clear amount of detail that went into embroidering every flower, butterfly and golden petal. It's probably a bit fancy for the office, but I wanted to wear it!
I have seen these sandals on almost every Hollywood A-list star, from Jennifer Lopez to Gigi Hadid. The sandals retail for $395, but I decided to treat myself this month when People offered $100 off any order on the Tamara Mellon website. You can still get the discount through the end of this month (October 2018); just add the code PEOPLE100 at checkout.
Tamara Mellon co-founded Jimmy Choo in the 90s, and the Frontline Sandal has really boosted brand awareness. The clear straps on the sides are designed to make the legs look longer; do you think they do the trick?
I'm not new to the brand. I have one other pair of sandals from Tamara Mellon that I bought several years ago.
Overall, I'm really happy with today's look. Fashion may weave a sort of magic in today's world, but there's no illusion about feeling beautiful.
Most of the clothing I showcase on this blog is in the form of a dress, but every so often I throw in something different -- like a jumpsuit.
I love a good wide leg jumpsuit. It feels so freeing to wear something that isn't glued to my body, and I like the jumpsuit because it seems made for the office... It's like wearing a chic form of a power suit.
One tip to keep in mind when shopping for a jumpsuit: make sure it's easy to get on and off. I have one jumpsuit in my closet that I can't wear to the office, because it has so many buttons in back, there's no way I could get out of it to go to the bathroom. You'd think designers would keep that in mind when working on their creations! Sheesh!
This jumpsuit, with the zipper in front, is fortunately super easy to work. It was a gift from my Mom... thanks, Mom! She's terrible about feeding my fashion habit. ;)
Where to Buy:
You can still buy the jumpsuit on the Trina Turk website, but even with my good Google sleuthing, I couldn't find the jumpsuit on any other shopping site.
If you like today's look, however, check out these other wide leg jumpsuits, all in a similar style -- and all from the Trina Turk brand!
Shoes: Stuart Weitzman Strutting Platform Sandals (no longer available)
I've had these sandals for years, and I still love them!
These Stuart Weitzman sandals are also my tallest sandals, so I often wear them with maxi dresses and jumpsuits. Even after getting the length altered, I still feel so short!
The dress is available at Nordstrom in the same black and white color scheme I'm wearing, or at Dillards in a beautiful Aubergine color (select sizes only). You can also check out this similar design on Amazon. Nordstrom Rack has a wide selection of Eliza J dresses as well, many with the bell sleeve design, and all available at great prices.
Note on Sizing:
I was so happy to see that Eliza J also sells dresses in petite and plus sizes. If you like the brand, you should be able to find something that perfectly fits your body. That's kind of rare these days.
I'm wearing a size four, but probably should have sized down; the dress seems to run a little big.
I really debated what shoe to wear with this dress, since I had so many options. You could go with black/white, red or really any color of the rainbow. I finally settled on these Kate Spade pumps since I had not worn them in quite awhile, and I like the way they complement the overall design aesthetic.
What do you think? Did I choose wisely?
Today also marks two weeks since I have started on a low carb diet, and I have to say -- I miss my processed foods! Cereal, crackers, Halo Top... Chapin is taking bets on how long I last. Ha! I miss all my sweets, too, although I am loving this low-carb brownie that mixes up in just a few minutes. Definitely share your favorite low-carb recipes in the comments.
Today's dress is one I found while shopping at Anthropologie with my mom and sister last month. It's a super cute dress, and extremely comfortable, and has just been marked down even further online! It's now only $50! The material is a little heavy, so it's absolutely perfect for fall in Atlanta. Since it's black and white, you can add any color jacket when it's chilly outside.
This picture today also marks the first time I've been photographed with my "new eyebrows." The color is still coming in, so I am filling in the gaps with makeup now that my ten days have passed. I may need to go darker with the color next time. What do you think? Do they look natural? The skin is still a little tender, but overall, I'm so happy. I know I'm still early on in the process, too, so things are only going to get better.
I also want to add that it's been really nice to share my microblading experience and get so much positive feedback. Just a few people knew I was getting the procedure done beforehand, and everyone was so wonderfully supportive and encouraging. Thank you!
I recently went to Brows by Milly in Atlanta for eyebrow microblading, and I wanted to share my experience and advice about the whole process.
During my research, I found a lot of information online about microblading, and to be honest, some of the stories scared me so much I almost didn't show up for my appointment! But now, with my first microblading session behind me, I can honestly say...
I'm so glad I did it.
It actually took a very blunt friend of mine saying that I absolutely "had to do something about my eyebrows" for me to realize that my thinning eyebrows weren't just something I was noticing -- other people were noticing the issue, too.
Read below to learn more about how I decided microblading was for me, and my overall experience with Brows by Milly in Atlanta. The Problem: Thinning Eyebrows
My eyebrows have long been an issue for me. During the 90s and early 2000s, I was committed to waxing and tweezing my eyebrows into thin strands that rested in perfect lines above my eyes. That look quickly went out of fashion, and by the time I was saying 'I do' to Chapin in 2003, I was desperately trying to grow my eyebrows out -- and having limited success. I was only 25 years old.
My mom struggles with thinning eyebrows, as do other female members of my family, so I'm thinking maybe it's a hereditary issue stemming from my (mostly) Italian roots. Despite trying to grow them out, my eyebrows remained thin... and just kept getting thinner as I got older.
(From left) My mom, middle sister and me - May 2014 - Age 36.
Trying to Fix the Issue -- Naturally and Unnaturally
I have always loved makeup, but I guess because when I was learning to apply makeup I didn't really pay much attention to my brows, I didn't buy my first brow tool until I was well entrenched in my 30s.
I just never really thought about it.
Keeping up this blog, and taking daily pictures of myself, helped me see myself in a new light. Around 2014, I realized that from far away, it looked like I didn't have any eyebrows at all, and up close, you could barely see them.
I knew I had to try something to get them to grow.
May 2015 - Age 37 - This picture highlights my sparse brows at the time.
From coconut oil to castor oil, wands and serums promising to help grow my strands, changing my diet... nothing worked. NOTHING WORKED! My eyebrows remained as thin as ever.
That's when I started trying to get creative with my makeup. From far away, it looked... okay. Up close, though, I felt like my eyebrows were drawn on, and it morphed into an issue I was starting to feel really self-conscious about. Even when I would run a 5K or see people out and about in more of a "make-up free" setting, I still would not leave the house without some kind of makeup on my sparse brows.
Eyebrow Makeup Obsessed
Over the last few years, I've been trying to find ways to draw in my eyebrows in the most natural way possible. Here is just a sampling of the products that made their way into my eyebrow arsenal:
I don't even want to add up the cost of all those products!
And while I thought I was doing a decent job filling them in... obviously I wasn't. That's when I started looking into microblading.
Investigating Microblading
Many people don't even know that microblading exists, as it is relatively new to the beauty scene. Basically, microblading is a series of semi-permanent tattoos that mimic the look of eyebrow hair. They are not permanent -- the marks don't go as deep into the skin's layers as they do when getting a permanent tattoo -- but they will still last up to one year.
Most beauty magazine and bloggers have covered microblading in some form or another, so when I started my research, there was plenty to read and understand. You can't let the research scare you out of having microblading -- like most things, there are a few horror stories out there -- but you also can't be ignorant of the risks.
Why Microblading
Microblading is a committment, so you have to really want thicker eyebrows. If that's the case, you have to go to the RIGHT place with the RIGHT technician. Microblading is, at its core, an art form, so don't just go anywhere. Be confident with your decision to get microblading, then be confident once you choose the right place for the procedure.
My Microblading Advice
I'm not an expert on microblading, but I do have some advice to share:
Do Your Research:
First, you have to decide if microblading is really the right option for you. If you feel self-conscious about your brows like I did, I say go for it. But the decision has to be yours and yours alone. Don't let anyone else talk you into (or out) of it.
Narrow Down the Location:
I had a lot of microblading options here in Atlanta. I narrowed it down to two places -- one I found on my own and one that my dermatologist recommended. You may want to even ask friends for recommendations, maybe even put something out on Facebook. Most likely someone you know has had this procedure! Whatever the case, once you've done your research, just focus on a few places so you can really feel confident in your decision about where to go.
Get a Consultation:
Most places will offer a consultation, but it's not mandatory. Even though I had to pay for my consultation at Brows by Milly, I'm glad that I did. I asked a lot of questions, felt more at ease about what I would be signing up for, and viewed the location in person. I'm not sure I would have just signed up for microblading without taking that first step.
Read Reviews:
One of the biggest reasons I decided to go with Brows by Milly was the reviews. I couldn't find anyone who had a bad experience there. I would have to drive almost 50 minutes to get there, but I didn't care -- I felt confident I was going to the right place.
Review Before and After Photos:
I was concerned that my brows, being so sparse, wouldn't look natural with microblading. I found several Before and After photos showing women with similar looking brows, and the After photos always amazed me. Yes, I know that photos can be Photoshopped and altered, so I looked for videos, too. The Brows by Milly Instagram page had so many photos, it was easy to see the team there knows what they're doing!
My Personal Microblading Experience
I read everything I could about what to do before and after microblading, so I did not have any caffeine the day of the procedure. I was extremely nervous, and almost decided not to go to my appointment. But -- usually -- when I make a decision, I stick to it, so that's what I did. (I told a lot of people I was doing it, so I think that made it a little easier to stay with my decision.)
So, now for the answers to some frequently asked questions about microblading:
Does It Hurt?
A little... definitely not as much as I thought. I have sensitive skin, and an especially sensitive brow area -- I constantly sneezed when I used to pluck by brows -- so I was expecting some intense pain and discomfort. But I sneezed just once and generally found the pain to be very tolerable. After the first ten minutes, they put some numbing cream on, and once that happens, it's smooth sailing. My eyes did water constantly, though!
Did You Wear Makeup the Day of the Procedure?
Yes. I had an afternoon appointment, so I worked in the morning and was in full makeup when I arrived. They will sanitize the area they are working with, so don't worry about that!
Who Was Your Technician?
My brows are by Niki Marques, the sister to the famous Milly. She did an amazing job and really put me at ease when she saw how nervous I was on the day of the procedure!
How Does It Look?
The short answer... fantastic!
Photo: Brows by Milly/Instagram
What Happens Next?
After the procedure, you basically can't get your eyebrows wet for 10 days. No sweating or wetting! That has maybe been the hardest part of this whole experience. I can't take a shower like normal and I can't run or workout. Ugh!
What Do Your Brows Look Like Now?
Here are my brows on Day 8, and they still look wonderful. At this point, I hadn't experienced any scabbing or peeling! Note: I'm not wearing any eyebrow makeup -- you actually can't for the first ten days!
Most people haven't even noticed; they just think I have natural, beautiful brows!
By Day 9, I had started to see more scabbing and the pigment coming away in more places. Check out my video from Day 10:
How Often Do You Have to Get Microblading Done?
In about a month, I will go back for a touch-up, and then I just need to go yearly to keep up the work. I will definitely be doing that.
How Much Does It Cost?
Microblading is not cheap, especially if you go to a reputable place. You should budget about $650 for everything, from the consultation to the main appointment to the touch-up. The cost will go down for regular appointments, but you can expect about $450 per year. To me, it's worth that for the peace of mind and confidence I feel right now.
And if I don't want to keep it up, all I have to do is stop going, and the color will fade from my brows.
Now all I'm asking is... why didn't I do this sooner?