Q: What should I wear to a Napa wedding? A: How do you take your grapes?

I was recently popped the question of what to wear to a springtime wedding in Napa. For the record, I do not play hard to get with such proposals - the answer is usually always a resounding YES! so feel free to pepper me with some here. 

Also for the record, I've never been to Napa. And while I continue to ride this confessional train, I might as well add that I'm no vino connoisseur neitha'. My knowledge of Napa Valley can be equated with my knowledge of the Parent Trap, and I'm fairly certain my dependable inability to tell a cab from a merlot from a pinot would make a Grand Sommelier question whether my taste buds and sense of smell are functioning at all. BUT that's not to say my sophisticated mastery of the language of wine (red, white, pink & bubbles) can't be put to good use somehow (besides the nightly I-just-got-home-so-'Ima-pour-me-a-big-one ritual).

So having just really impressed you all, I'll leave you with these four different looks, each styled so that the curtains match the cup. Even if you gotta whisper "I'll just take the house wine, porfavor," you can still look like you know what you're doing - fake it 'til ya make it, baby.  

Metallic Earrings - J. Crew// Silk Organza Off the Shoulder Top - J. Crew// Skirt - Zimmermann// Woven Clutch - Ted Baker// Pink Suede Heels - Alexandre Birman// Beaded Bon Bon Earrings - Rebecca De Ravenel// One Shoulder Dress - We Are Kindred// Cage Sphere Clutch - Asos// Denim Pearl Heels - Stuart Weitzman

Flower Earrings - Ken Samudio// Floral Dress - Nicholas// Red Bucket Bag - Rebecca De Ravenel// Velvet Ankle Tie Heels - Gianvito Rossi// Green Agate Earrings - Bauble Bar// Pink Lace Dress - Nicholas// Leopard Clutch - Serpui// Gold Heels - Zara

Red White & Wood

Why are Monday mornings always as brutal as they sound? The first day of the week rightfully gets a bad rap - and when they follow a weekend of shenanigans I feel no compulsion whatsoever to defend the underdog of weekdays (sorray hunny bunny). This past weekend's antics led me to Richmond, VA to celebrate a friend's wedding at the Commonwealth Club. Much like many of the old, historic social clubs in my beloved college state, the Commonwealth Club gives off the breeding-ground-of-Presidents-of-yesteryear vibes: dark wood, mahogany smells, classic American decor, framed portraits of the Founding Fathers and their all white male posse, and an "if these walls could talk" aura of an impressive red brick building that's been around since 1890.

And while it's too early in the day/week to get on my soap box about how this Club needs to (srsly) get with the program and quit its current "only-gentlemen-allowed" policy (tell 'em boy, bye), I do feel compelled to say this: the female reception attendants (my posse) gave those red brick walls life, our heels gave the wooden dance floor the best beating it's ever had, and our beautiful bride made the dudes in those framed portraits wish they were back from the dead. So this post is dedicated to the ladies, who wear and thrive in the red, white and wood much better than (or just as good as, since #hashtag equality) the rest of them, darling. 

Leaf Earrings - Asha//White Dress - Reformation// Red Flower Clutch - Etsy// Cork Heels - Stuart Weitzman// Wood Sunglasses - Panamera// Red Top - Marques' Almeida// Flower Skirt - Sea// Round Straw Purse - Free People// Red Pearl Heels - Stuart Weitzman// Feather Earrings - Lizzie Fortunato// White Crop Top - Asos// Striped Culottes - Tanya Taylor// Raffia Tote - Folk Fortune// Wood Heels - Vince

Wardrobe of the Weekend Warrior

I’m not FOOLin’ anyone today - while I may spend my waking hours day dreaming-up outfits for my fantasy glam life, the reality is when I’m not in work clothes I’m a walkin’ talkin’ athleisure flauntin’ machine. So today’s post is about keeping it real and giving the brands that help make my weekends feel easy-breezy-lemon-squeezy the credit they deserve. 

Honorable mentions go to Sleepy Jones, which get me jammin’ in ma jammies (ain’t nothin’ like a sofa par-tay), Outdoor Voices, whose work out gear must be made of magical fibers because they do all the tightening and lifting work for me (spin class full today? that's just too, too bad), and All Birds, the sneaks made of wool that make me feel like I’m walking on a cloud (both literally and figuratively). I wear the aforementioned on repeat, sprinkle in the rest pictured below, and keep the liquid elixirs on rotation all. weekend. long. 

Stripe Pajamas - Sleepy Jones (Top, Bottom)// Orange Throw - Biscuit Home// Orange Shoes - Llani// Slouchy Tee - Eberjey// Workout Leggings - Outdoor Voices// Sneakers - All Birds// Corkcicle Canteen - Define Body & Mind// Flower PJ Top - Sleepy Jones// Coral Mug - Anthropologie// Gingham PJ Shorts - Sleepy Jones// Silk Slippers - Kumi Kookoon// Black Dress - Nordstrom// Monogram Tote - The Daily Edited// Black Shoes - Llani

Venezuelan Shoulder Dusters: Katherine Cordero

Maybe it doesn't surprise you I'm a big fan of big earrings. And maybe you're thinking another pair of 'em is the last thing the both of us need (we're all in this together, amiright?). But maybe, just maybe, you haven't heard of Katherine Cordero, the Venezuelan artist/jeweler who is taking the Miami ear candy scene by storm. With Frida Kahlo as her muse and the magic of mythology as her inspiration, Cordero is designing creative, hand-made statement pieces that will make your ear lobes feel like they're the life of the fiesta (which is exactly what they deserve after rocking work-approp studs during your weekly 9 to 5).

Since her website is currently under construction (fear not, I'll Paul Revere the news once it's up and running - the party earrings are coming!), I sent my sister to a Camila Canabal trunk show in Miami last week to get the scoop (I ain't too proud to beg). Miamians can also visit Cordero's Wynwood store (deets below) to get their hands on the one of a kind shoulder dusters. So maybe a pair of fun earrings is exactly what you're in the market for after all. And maybe, just maybe, you need some evil eyes to ward away the haters that tell you differently. 

 

Pops of Pink & Barragán: a Mexican Barbie Dream Closet

Speaking of Contemporary Mexican art and the upcoming festivities at Art Pace's the Happening next week, I forgot to mention that one of this year's honorees is Eugenio López, President and Founder of Fundación Jumex Arte Contemporáneo. Much like golf, there's not much wisdom I can impart on the ins and outs of this genre. But being that the par-tay is themed on our contemporary artists and architects making magic south of the border (and that I surround myself with really cool, in-the-know peeps to make up for said lack of expertise), I've recently been schooled on the fascinating work of Luis Barragán - and I went full-frickin'-throttle on this notorious Mexican architect and engineer. 

Barragán is regarded as having revolutionized modern architecture in Mexico with his use of bright and vivid colors - but what really sparked my interest were his pink walls (cue the wails from the Barragán-thesis-writers), as they are essentially a Mexican Barbie Dream House aka my dream house (see more pics below). Recognized by UNESCO in 2004 as part of its World Heritage list, Casa Luis Barragán and its creator are the inspiration behind today's post - because no Dream House is complete without a fully stocked Dream Closet. Barragán has been quoted as saying “the ideal space must contain elements of magic, serenity, sorcery and mystery,” and I'll argue the same can be said about the ideal wardrobe (with a heavy emphasis on the sorcery part).

Earrings - Mignonne Gavigan// Clutch - Ana Mari Ortega// Flower Heels - Sophia Webster// Sheer Tulle Top - Paskal// Pleated Metallic Skirt - eBay// Off the Shoulder Gown - Markarian NYC// Silk Top - Emerson Thorpe// Pink Culottes - Tibi// Necklace - Lizzie Fortunato// Neon Stripe Clutch - Clare V.// Pom Pom Heels - Loeffler Randall

Casa Luis Barragán, in Miguel Hidalgo district, Mexico City.