Making Tracks

With a background in children's retail and my "kid at heart" spirit, I smile when I come across a must-have, pull-at-the-heartstrings product for little ones. My recent discovery was made at the Crewcuts website. While perusing through their Vacation Shop assortment, the Kiko+ Ashiato Animal Footprint Toy Sandals stopped me in my tracks... ;) 

These Toy Sandals are offered in three designs, including the Pink Cat (pictured above), Turquoise Dinosaur and Coral Monkey. The traditional Japanese-inspired shoe silhouette, paired with the colorful footprint sole detail, are an unexpected, playful combination. 

This creative accessory will be an interactive addition to a beach or playground outing during the warmer days and months ahead. 

Time to make tracks, kiddos!

Find the Kiko+ Ashiato Animal Footprint Toy Sandals here:

http://www.jcrew.com/girls_special_shops/vacationshop/PRDOVR~04820/04820.jsp

*Please note ~ these are toys; not intended to be worn as regular footwear.

Hello Spring!

Spring officially arrives this week. Hooray! Bring on the sunny weather styles.

An accessory that caught my eye recently is shown above on singer, Lana Del Rey, via Refinery29. She exudes glamour in her dramatic, floppy straw hat. This striking look is classic, yet current, as it showcases trends of today, including stripes and the black & white color combo.

Whether lunching outside or reading at the beach, make a Spring style statement with the help of a sun-friendly accessory.

Refinery29 article featuring Lana Del Rey:

http://www.refinery29.com/2013/03/44405/lana-del-rey-l-officiel-paris?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=ldr

A comparable hat can be found at J.Crew:

http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/accessories/scarvesandhats/PRDOVR~32542/99102985164/ENE~1+2+3+22+4294967294+20~~~0~15~all~mode+matchallany~~~~~straw/32542.jsp

A Lucky Find

Top o' the morning to you! 

As I noted in my St. Paddy's theme post last year, wearing green on March 17th is a must for me because it's a lighthearted way to celebrate my Irish heritage.

Fortunately, since Emerald is the 2013 Pantone Color of the Year, there's a wide assortment of green accessories readily available this season. A favorite find that I recently discovered is pictured above ~ Steve Madden's Kstudd suede flat. Not only is the on-trend hue holiday appropriate, the stud detail makes the shoe current and classy.

With these on your tootsies, you can't help but kick up your heels and do a little Irish jig on St. Patrick's Day!

Find details about the featured shoe here (available in additional colors):

http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=91602&vid=1&pid=503575042

Classic with a Twist

My personal style motto should be: "classic with a twist." I become quite excited when I find an accessory that shares both timeless and current design details. 

An example of this is pictured above ~ Gap's Leather Stripe Tote. The clean lines, brown leather and minimal hardware make for a traditional bag. Yet, the pop of bright orange, which is in line with this season's neon trend, makes a bold statement.

So, if I am "classic with a twist," what are you?  

Click here to view this bag in additional color ways:

http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=34740&vid=1&pid=351408032

Party in the Back

The 2013 Oscars have come and gone, yet I am still contemplating one of the latest accessory trends represented on the red carpet: the reverse necklace. Both Jennifer Lawrence and Anne Hathaway (pictured above) featured the "party in the back" design. 

Maybe I am too practical or traditional, but I am not a big fan. It appears unbalanced to me. Yet, if I had to choose, I prefer Jennifer's attempt at this trend. Since Anne's necklace is not fully engulfing her back, it almost looks like a mistake. 

Although the reverse necklace is not one of my faves, it may have been a lucky look as both of these actresses won Academy Awards on Sunday... The power of accessories ;)

Additional fashion info from the 2013 Oscars: 

http://oscars.hellomagazine.com/oscars-2013/201302251334/oscars-best-fashion-accessories/

Super Bowl Scarf

Scarves rock. It's where function meets fashion. Since my wardrobe primarily consists of solid, neutral pieces (white, black, grey, denim), scarves come in handy when I want to add a bright accent color or an eye-catching print to my look.

My recent scarf find hails from H&M. As you can see, it is kind of a party (perhaps perfect for a 49er Super Bowl fiesta)! Trend-right leopard print, a geometric pattern, red trim, oh my ;) Even though there is a lot going on with this scarf design, it works. 

Picture it: pair this scarf with a black or white top & jeans. Cute, right? Gotta love the wonders of accessories. Easy, stylish and affordable.

Check out this featured scarf here (also available in additional color ways):

http://www.hm.com/us/product/07280?article=07280-B

My Namesake

Every time I pass the above photo in my hallway, it makes me smile. This Kodak moment captures my aunt, Eileen Donovan, with her studly date at her 1968 Senior Ball. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to meet my beloved namesake, but her spirit and spunk are definitely running through my veins. One way I know this to be true? The fact that she is wearing bright yellow heels with her daisy embroidered dress. This pop of color represented on her tootsies is cheerful and whimsical ~ two attributes that I aim to express through my personal style, interactions and more!

Needless to say, I am honored to share the same name as this wise woman and I am inspired to carry on her fun-loving ways every day. 

Food for thought: who inspires you?

Staying Hydrated

I thought I would mix it up & write a blog entry featuring a different kind of an accessory. As an active gal, one of my goals for 2013 has been to drink more water. Due to this, I have had a water bottle by my side on a daily basis. But, I have to admit... Only 25 days in and I am getting a bit bored with this beverage! 

Fortunately, a fellow Beachbody fitness team member recently introduced me to the ingenious water bottle, the CitrusZinger, represented in the above image (thank you, Langley!). Place half of a lemon, lime or clementine at the bottom of the water bottle. The juice from the fruit is then infused in your water for a refreshing citrus experience! Isn't that brilliant?! The product design is even on trend with the neon color accents. Convenient, healthy and trend-right. All good things.

Drink up and enjoy!

Learn more about the CitrusZinger here:

http://zinganything.com/product/citruszinger

Additional Zinger Products include AquaZinger, VodkaZinger (!) & SaladZinger: 

http://zinganything.com/shop

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

As we are now in the heart of the winter season, cold weather accessories are a necessity. These Kate Spade "Big Apple Pop Top Gloves" caught my eye thanks to the trend-right stripe pattern, whimsical pop of color, and functional fingerless glove detail with a mitten overlay. And get this... they are now on sale!

Stay toasty, my friends.

Product Information for the featured Kate Spade gloves:

http://www.katespade.com/big-apple-pop-top-gloves/PSRU0888,default,pd.html

Pantone Color of 2013: Emerald

Pantone, the global color leader, designates a specific hue for every year. They make their decision based on color influences found in entertainment, art, current events, technology and more. Recently, Pantone announced that Emerald is their color of 2013.

As you can see in the above image, Emerald has a multitude of meanings. Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, explains: "Green is the most abundant hue in nature - the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum. As it has throughout history, multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate. Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today's complex world."

Throughout this year, I will feature various Emerald fashion accessories to brighten up your wardrobe. For starters, I found a couple of Chloe + Isabel earrings, accented with a wee bit o' green, which add color and sparkle to your look. Enjoy!

Sweeping Feathers Chandelier Earrings ~ $58

Chandelier Stone Earrings ~ $38

Learn about Pantone & their 2013 color choice:
http://www.pantone.com/pages/index.aspx?pg=21055

View these featured Emerald jewelry designs & more:
http://www.chloeandisabel.com/boutique/eileencorrigan