Instagram Round up

It is no secret, I love Instagram! I was never big on Facebook, I loved looking at photos, so when my friend Jen introduced me to Instagram I was instantly obsessed! Thanks Jenny!

I have recently started an account for the blog, I have been posting #OOTD posts as regularly as I can but this snowy weather is killing me! Ugh is it spring yet? It was 60 degrees in DC this weekend, I was so sad when I saw that. I would have loved to browse Eastern Market, take a Sunday stroll on the Mall, and sip my morning coffee from the outdoor patio of a cafe, but we are New Englanders now, and most of the time I am over the moon about it.

Just a side note, Oliver proof reads my posts and he always comments that I write like I talk- lots of tangential thoughts which almost always get me off track from my original point. Which is exactly what happened when discussing the weather. I have since become acutely aware I do this, but it is me so I plan on keeping true to that :) 

Enough about snowmagedon, back to my point. Check out @passthebubblyblog on Instagram and follow along on my outfit posts that don't always make it up on the blog!

 

Third Stitch Fix

Okay it seems super quick I know- I didn't get my second Stitch Fix review on the blog right away. However I got my third fix last week and I am super happy! I feel as though this fix is much more on track with my personal style.

I did a bit of updating to my profile since my second fix, using the resources on the site to maximize my profile. I also had to do a bit of updating because I am starting a new job very soon (yay!) where I will no longer be wearing scrubs full time. I feel really lucky to have the best of both worlds, I will be wearing scrubs while I am in clinic however I will also be wearing dress clothes too.

SO this fix included some "work pieces" which definitely added more variety to the mix. I also changed my profile so I do not receive jewelery or accessories as regularly. I have so many accessories and really love buying them when I come across them so I didn't feel like I needed to get that in my fix. Considering you get five pieces per shipment I felt it was better to get clothing versus accessories I was less likely to keep.

Here is the low down on the five pieces I received this time...

This skirt is the 41Hawthorn Walt striped skirt. I really liked this but I decided to send it back because I didn't feel like it was work appropriate. The fabric is super clingy - maybe a bigger size would have been better?  I liked the look but it wasn't right for me personally.

 

 This dress is also 41Hawthorn and I loved it! I struggled as to what to do with this one, actually holding me up in checking out till the very last minute! Ultimately,  I decided not to keep it because it was a big snug on me, I actually would have preferred a bigger size in this one. It was on the higher end of what I would normally spend however I would have splurged if it had fit better. 

This sweater was easily the worst piece I have gotten in a fix and I seriously contemplated not posting this photo, but to be honest about my fix I decided to so here it goes... I think this is meant to be a "cropped" sweater however I am pretty short so on me it wasn't cropped it was just plain awkward. I also am pretty honest with myself on trends and there is no way I could ever pull off a crop top even if it were the appropriate length. It very quickly went into the return pile!!

I had requested a blazer in this fix, so I was happy to see that I got a variation on a typical blazer (for which I have several). However this style didn't work on me very well, I think the length of it was great for dresses or skirts but the flowing lapels didn't flatter my shape.

Lastly, the piece I did keep was one of my most favorite pieces!  I just realized as I am writing this that I have kept the shirt/blouse from every shipment I've gotten, but this is seriously my favorite! I love the fit, I think it will look great with a blazer for work and will transition to after work easily! Keep an eye out for an outfit post with this new piece! You can also stay in the loop with my outfit of the days posts on the blog's Instagram @passthebubblyblog :)

Overall I am way happier this time! I have schedule my next fix so that it arrives just before my birthday and requested party attire so I will make sure to keep you all posted! :)

NYE Style guides: Pants & Jumpsuits

I think when people traditionally think of NYE attire or cocktail attire they immediately think of dresses, however these options will show you that you can go all out without wearing a dress!

GiGi New York Clutch: My Friends & Family addition

I blogged about this when the sale was going on and have been using this clutch non-stop since! I have worn it for date nights, lunch dates & even to run errands!

There are so many things about this clutch I love so I am going to list them out!

1. The size- I really appreciate that it fits everything (and even more) that I need.
2. The leather is really great quality- it soft & supple, feeling very luxurious
3. The color: I love this color for the season but can really see it working year round
4. Gold details- If you have read anything about my Thanksgiving plans you'll know I LOVE gold and the zipper & monogram are the perfect accent to the piece
5. The monogram- I was super hesitant to change my name because I just loved my old initials but I love the "R" in my name now, especially because it meant I got one fantastic husband :)

Thank you to GiGi New York- you have made my go to clutch and gained a loyal customer! If you haven't checked out their site head over there now, they have amazing variety, the quality in the product is indisputable & who doesn't love the personalization option? 

Fantastic Finds: JCrew & Barbour

I wrote about Oliver's birthday briefly, mainly due to the fact that the post was published before his actual birthday & I had a few surprises up my sleeve!

We went to the outlets in Kittery, ME on Monday (his actual birthday) which he knew about. It is only about an hour from us and we wanted to check out the Barbour Outlet. We spent a good amount of time in there checking around & found him an awesome wax jacket so he was super happy! After that we checked out a few other stores. Le Creuset has an outlet store and we found these awesome salt & pepper shakers, I know so wild! ;)

We also went into Orvis where I found a Barbour jacket as well. Talk about a splurge day! I really love the jacket, especially the country pattern on the inside, it reminds me so much of Oliver's family home in the South of England.














I spotted the JCrew Factory store from across the road and could not resist. The people that work in that store are amazing! I tried on endless pairs of jeans, none of which fit. One of the women who worked there mentioned she has a hard time finding pants as well because of her height, she was the same height as me. She recommended these pants which I am IN LOVE with! 

I have never owned a pair of pants I didn't need hemmed before! I got them in black & navy, however I tried on the navy when I got home and for some reason they don't fit the same. I plan on switching them out for a different pair, maybe one with a fun pattern!

I also got this sweater which I've had my eye on for quite some time! Loved adding this to my closet!








I got to the register and could not have been happier, everything was 50% off and an additional 15%! Talk about a deal!

Faux Fur Find

If you read about my fall "wish list" you remember that I had been on the hunt for a faux fur vest for some time!

Well I finally found it, and at Forever 21 no less! It was the perfect balance of quality and price- I couldn't be happier! A friend of mine knew I had been looking and when she came across several vests at F21 she gave me the heads up- thanks Ash!

I promptly headed over and was so happy to see there was tons of variety in color, length & style! I tried on just about all of them, and fell in love with this one the moment I put it on!

I've been wearing it around the house constantly! I actually planned to wear it to dinner with friends last Saturday night, but Ashley texted to see if I was wearing mine- she has the same one and was wearing her's. I left mine at home that night, it looked beautiful on her as most things do!

I plan on pairing this with black jeans, booties and a sweater for Oliver's birthday dinner coming up soon! :)

What is your favorite fall find? How do you feel about the faux fur trend? I'd love to hear from you!



Date Night Top Knot

 If you have viewed some of my pasts posts- especially on Instagram you'll notice I am queen of the top knot. Mostly due to laziness, I have super thick hair (I know stop complaining) but it takes a lifetime to tame so I often toss it up & accessorize to the nines to compensate :)

I wore this outfit recently for date night nothing too fancy but I love getting dressed up after spending so much time in over sized scrubs!

A good pair of black pants can really transition to many different situations, these are Loft from last year, they have the perfect balance of stretch without giving that saggy look after some time. I have had them tailored so I can wear them with both flats & heels.

I paired these pants with a silk blouse- total steal from target & black leather booties with of course a gold zipper! :)

Onto the accessories- I love this necklace! A friend of mine wore it out & I promptly went home to purchase it. It is from JCrew, now on the factory site. It is super versatile (and only $27!) I have worn it with dresses, sweaters and layer with smaller pieces. I will say it is definitely on the shorter side so I often add a chain extender ($9 from Stella & Dot) depending on the neckline.

The bag is a definite go to Kate Spade piece- I love the gold chain, and cute bow on the front! It also has an awesome polka dot lining which adds a little something extra when you open to reapply a lip!

Ralph Lauren Cape Perfection

As I mentioned in my weekend recap I went shopping on Saturday with my Grandmother. She spotted this amazing Ralph Lauren Cape so I tried it on. I got mine at Lord & Taylor which is not showing online - so I've included the Nordstrom link.


















I was hesitant because being on the shorter side I was worried I could not pull off the cape look. Many I have tried on overwhelm me hanging close to if not below my knees. This cape however was absolutely perfect!

It is definitely over sized but in an obvious and intentional way. I paired this with a plain black long sleeved shirt - this one is actually from Old Navy (on sale for $9.00!) and my favorite jeans. For a more nighttime look I wore my favorite black patent leather pumps from L.K. Bennett!

Stitch Fix Delivery

I was anxiously awaiting my first Stitch Fix shipment & the day finally came! Just a quick little rundown on the Stitch Fix concept. You fill out a profile of what your style is with sizing, and suggestions of what you're looking for. You can also link up social media, I linked up the blog as well as my Pinterest for extra inspiration. At intervals you choose you receive a personalized box containing five items, you can purchase all five and get a discount or none at all. The cost is only $20/shipment which is subtracted from your total if you choose to keep anything.

It is a great concept, and I made sure to give ample examples of what I was looking for. My stylist Alissa did a fantastic job, I loved her personalized note and that she mentioned she used my blog posts for inspiration :)

Here is what I got in my first fix! 

 

I absolutely love this Polka dot shirt- it will be perfect for a holiday party on a night out- definite keeper! The pants I did love, I am not sure you can tell from the photos but they have a great texture. My two big issues with them are the fit & price. They were more than I would normally spend on a pair of pants, however I would have splurged if the fit were better. The faux fur vest is amazing, I loved it. However I did find out I love recently so I decided to send this one back. As for the cardigan- I totally get where the style idea came from but the execution just was not there. It looked horrible on me- I thought about not even posting the picture, but I wanted to fairly represent what I got so here it is! Lastly, the necklace I loved it in the box and would probably love it on anyone else but I did not like the way it fell on my chest. 

 Overall I am super happy with the shipment- I think my stylist gave me great options. I have since updated my profile and sizing so next time I will get an even better match! I highly recommend anyone to check out Stitch Fix! I've included the link so you can sign up before the wait list gets too long! :) 

Stitch Fix Referral

Personal stylists- no longer just for celebs with Stichfix!

Have you ever been trying to get ready for an event and commented on how you have "nothing to wear?" Or have gone shopping looking for something specific (i.e. my search for the perfect faux fur vest) and not found exactly what you wanted? Personally I find myself in both of those situtations pretty regularly. I often think, how nice would it be to give someone your measurements and what you're looking for and let them do the sourcing, essentially a personal stylist. Then I remember that is not attainable for my current lifestyle.

Then I came across the perfect solution, Stitch Fix! Basically how it works is that you create a style profile with your measurements, what styles you gravitate towards & what you hope to receive in your "fix".

In a time frame you choose you will receive a box of five items chosen by your personal stylist. If you choose to keep any of these items the $20 styling fee is credited towards your purchases!

You can personalize everything about your box to what you would like to see more of (jewelery, dresses, pants) to how much you want to spend on each item. Whenever you return the box with items you did not like you are asked to provide feedback as to why you did not choose those items so the next fix will be a better fit to your style!

My first Stitch Fix is coming November 12th- I've decided to see what the first box is like before I sign up for a scheduled delivery. I absolutely can't wait to receive my first fix! I hope you all check out the site. Keep an eye out for my follow up post when the box arrives.. 33 days & counting! :)

If you're interested in joining the Stitch Fix movement click here & find out more details! Stitch Fix

My "Fall Musts"

As I have mentioned before there are countless things I love about the Fall, first lets start with the attire. Every year I try to cultivate the perfect fall wardrobe, there is a fine balance as style changes year- to - year as well as the financial implications. In order to get around this I stick to "staple" pieces to add that won't change year to year. For example, the perfect boot. I kid you not when I tell you I was on a search for the "perfect boots" for much of 2010. When I found them; knee high in the perfect chocolate brown shade with a gold zipper up the back, the search was well worth it!

As last fall rolled in a new hunt began- the perfect faux fur vest. Let me tell you- the search continues! I have found a few close contenders; however the color is never "just right" its always a little to long, a little too short, too loose or too tight- not to mention the inevitable too pricey!

The things I think are a staple in any fall wardrobe are the obvious contenders, a knee high flat boot, heeled booties, colored skinny jeans or texture pant (think brown/oxblood/hunter green/reds) oversized sweaters, patterned scarves, and the perfect faux fur vest!

Here are a few things I have my eye on! :)