Up Your Mind Up: Eight Moons

With another Monday in our midst and Mercury in retrograde since April 20th, I need all the positive reinforcements I can get. Usually this takes the shape of a big ole' glass of vino and saying my prayers at the end of the day , but being the firm believer in there-ain't-no-such-thing-as-happenstance and the big zodiac fan (have you checked your May forecast yet?) that I am, I always welcome new hypotheses for my mood and its mysterious ways.  

So I considered by interest officially sparked when I learned of Eight Moons, a jewelry brand whose designs are premised on the notion that when placed near the body, certain gemstones can draw out negative energy. While I had previously heard of crystal healing therapy, I admit I hadn't given it much thought. Luckily there are others that (for centuries) have and believe in the ability of crystals to assist in releasing mental, physical and spiritual blockages. Yes, it's one of those things that doesn't have any scientific evidence to back it up - but (if you think like I do), don't most of the best things reside in that gray, unprovable domain where the rest of life's mysteries hang out?

The stones are powerful - if not for their metaphysical properties, for their simple, organic beauty. Rose Quartz is associated with love, Citrine & Moonstone with focus and success, and Amethyst and Smoky Quartz with dispelling negative energy. The variants in color created by the shadows and grooves of each crystal are something only the likes of Erdem, Gucci, and H&M (say what?!) jacquard could emulate - hence, the outfits du jour. 

My take on the whole crystal craze? It's a don't knock it 'til ya try it sorta thing - if only because in the case of Eight Moons, trying it means you get some beautiful and eclectic pieces to wear. Not to mention we could all use some extra love, clarity & good vibes. Today, I'm getting by with a little help of Citrine & Moonstone - my mind is positively centered and focused on the goal: happy hour in T minus 3. 

Amethyst & Smoky Quartz Necklace - Eight Moons// Tortoise & Lilac Sunglasses - Kaleos// One Shoulder Top - Rosie Assoulin// Skirt - Erdem// Lucite Earrings - Anthropologie// Rose Quartz Necklace - Eight Moons// Pink Sunglasses - Kaleos// Peplum Top - Ann Mashburn// Green Beaded Earrings - Bibi Marini// Jacquard Pants - Gucci// Citrine & Moonstone Necklace - Eight Moons// Gold Cat Eye Sunglasses - Kaleos// Strapless Dress - H&M

Stripes I Do Adore

Stripes: one of the few things in this world that make me as happy as Fridays do. This leads me to my next upcoming dare-to-dream project: reading for leisure. First in queue is Michel Pastoureau's biography of the print itself, The Devil's Cloth: A History of Stripes, which chronicles how our favorite pattern evolved from the uniform of transgressors to the attire of individuals who (in Pastoureau's words) are "free, at ease, refined."

My inner literature-major-who-has-a-pashun-for-fashun gets a kick out of learning the reasons behind what we wear and why we wear it. Not to get all Miranda Priestly on you, but knowing such info can elevate an outfit from something trivial to a representation of the cultural forces at play at a given time (whether we are aware of it or not). We've all had those reflective moments when we look back at photos and ponder, "WTF was I thinking? If all your friends wear brazilian jeans and bandage dresses when they jump off the bridge will you do the same?!" Well I for one appreciate when someone answers those questions for me, and when they do so in beautifully written prose, that's all the better. 

In the intro Pastoureau writes: "The stripe doesn't wait, doesn't stand still. It is in perpetual motion (that's why it has always fascinated artists: painters, photographers, filmmakers), animates all it touches, endlessly forges ahead, as though driven by the wind." Well you know what else doesn't wait? The frickin' weekend. So go forth and be free, at ease & (somewhat) refined. 

Striped Crop Top - T by Alexander Wang// Red Pants - Creatures of Comfort// Striped Crochet Dress - Self Portrait// One Shoulder Ruffle Top - Petersyn// Mango Skirt - Isolda// Stipe Jumpsuit - Frame Denim// Off the Shoulder Tie Top - Lovers & Friends// Stripe Culottes - Johanna Ortiz

May the Fourth Be With You

I can get behind any holiday - even Star Wars Day. This is especially true during a work week like the current one, where all this gal is craving is a vacay to a galaxy far, far away. Did you know George Jetson only worked an hour a day, two days a week and still managed to support a family of four (five if you count the maintenance fees associated with Rosie the Robot's upkeep)? There's still hope for the future.

Until then I'll be needing all the revitalizing forces I can get. Friday, come soon enough, cannot. 

Kaleidoscope Top - Roberto Cavalli// Galactic Clutch - Charlotte Olympia// Silver Pants - Isabel Marant// Sequin Star Heels - Chiara Ferragni// Moon Earrings - Christie Nicolaides// Navy Celestial Dress - Beach Riot// Rocket Purse - Tsumori Chisato (available at Sloan Hall)// Grosgrain Heels - Gucci// Golden Velvet Dress - Misa Los Angeles// UFO Purse - Charlotte Olympia// Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Book Clutch - Etsy// Velvet Star Clutch - Kayu// NASA Jacket - Alpha Industries// UFO Sequin Skirt - House of Holland// Star Mules - Sandro// Star Burst Earrings - Christie Nicolaides// Star Jumpsuit - DVF// Rocket Clutch - Charlotte Olympia// Silver Star Heels - Loeffler Randall

#OneLoveGivingDay: Honoring Yeardley

On this day, seven years ago, I lost a great friend and one of the most beautiful, joyful people I've had the blessing of knowing to relationship violence. Yeardley was a year ahead of me at UVA and I still vividly remember her unique and infectious laugh, the way she lit up any room, and the feelings of excitement mixed with pinch-me-pride I had whenever we spent time together - it's the feeling that can only be understood by someone who befriends the cool, older girl in the sorority that also happens to be a star on the lacrosse team that also happens to be gorgeous, outgoing, and welcoming in every way. It's that "I'm so happy I'm friends with this person slash still can't believe I am" feeling and it was unjustly too short-lived, as it was replaced with the mind-blowing devastation of losing someone too special, too soon.

Yeardley's soul and memory live on with those who were lucky enough to know her and through the One Love Foundation, an organization working to put an end to relationship violence through its ongoing efforts to educate and empower campus communities. It has been nothing short of inspiring to watch One Love grow and succeed in mobilizing young adults to become more mindful and demanding of what is acceptable and healthy relationship behavior. I include myself as a data point in its impressive statistics, since I was unaware in 2010 of how commonplace and destructive relationship violence is and can be.

So today, I'm honoring Yeardley by participating in #OneLoveGivingDay and encourage you to do the same. There simply aren't enough Yeardleys in the world and we can't afford to lose them. 

You can donate here and shop items from the One Love store here. 

Painting Beta Bridge on 5/3/2011. 

Painting Beta Bridge on 5/3/2011. 

Q: What Say You To a Cinco de Mayo PoSt? A: Sí, Señora!!!

In this case, the señoras are Laura Nell Burton and Christin Gish of Cloche Designs, the new boutique-service lifestyle brand in which I've finally found my obsession-over-details soulmates. The creativity, beauty and love that Cloche infuses into each of their projects (see for yourself here) is unlike anything I've ever stalked-from-afar before. Need some serious occasion inspiration, amped up tablescape aesthetics, or wowza-I-want-to-be-a-hostess-when-I-grow-up motivation? Follow their Insta and prepare to be awed as you #getyourclocheon (and to swap that dress-you-don't-need on your wishlist for some china-you-didn't-realize-until-this-moment-you-need-so-badly).

When Laura Nell & Christin reached out to me with the idea to create a collage styled for their upcoming Cinco de Mayo project, my reaction was a little bit of this, this, and this. It was hard not to get carried away while scheming what to dress-to-impress to an event that is sure to be planned with the utmost devotion to detail and commitment to theme (which just so happens to be my fourth fav holiday, y'all). Their big reveal won't come until later this week, but (unlike those mature mavens) I just couldn't wait another day.

So in sum, things I'm looking forward to include (but are not limited to): margaritas, maybe one day blossoming into a hostess-with-the-mostess & (until then) making some more cobloges (can I make that a thing or is that too Gretchen Weiners of me?) inspired by the motif-magic crafted by the masters at Cloche. 

Red Sombrero - Amols'// Peplum Crop Top - Elizabeth & James// Gold Tassel Earrings - Indian Summer Collection// Stripe Palazzo Pants - Viva Aviva// Green Bucket Purse - Aranaz// Red Mules - Kate Spade// Crystal Flower Earrings - Shourouk// Green Strapless Dress - Milly// Beaded Clutch - Anthropologie// Rainbow Heels - Charlotte Stone// Green Sombrero - Amols'// Chili Pepper Earrings - Auden// Stripe Dress - Asos// Margarita Clutch - Kent Stetson// Embroidered Mules - Tory Burch