CASEY GETTING MARRIED

I've come to the conclusion that weddings are a lot like fashion. Unless it's truly your style it will never work. Authenticity is key in, it seems, everything. Whether it's a wedding, a relationship, or the clothes you wear,, if it's authentic, it'll work. Casey's wedding reflected who she and Shaun are and there's nothing more sparkly than that.

Ps. A bit of whimsy always helps, of course, so we used those carnations I was spouting about,, how pretty are they? And since we couldn't have peonies on the table we made paper ones and hung them from the sky.

PARANOIA

Today at the gym I had nothing to read so I succumbed to a parenting magazine. Big mistake. It started out relatively harmless with tips on how to turn a kiwi into a caterpillar (even as a stay at home mom I don't have time for this), then there was advice on how to make your toddler into a band member by singing to them and moving their arms around in time to the music. I get booed by both my kids when I sing so there goes that music career. But it got even worse. Product recalls, stomach pains that could be Functional Abdominal Pain, tips on what to do if you run into a grizzly bear or if you're driving and see a tornado approaching??? Oh, and did you know sometimes waiters mess up and instead of serving your kid lemonade they serve them a margarita instead?

Enough. I'm going back to VOGUE. Cellulite and wrinkles aren't nearly as scary.

IN THE MOOD

Let's face it. There are days when you just don't feel like being sparkly. You're in a mood, and not a good one, and you'd like your clothes to reflect that. There's no need to go all black but grey can do the trick. Wallow away.

Grey day by sparkleinc featuring Clu

www.lagarconne.com

www.ae.com

PROM BEAUTY

Prom soooo did not look like this when I went. Bad for me but great for the class of 2009. Today's prom girl is thoughtful, chic, sophisticated and gorgeous! Gone are the days of ringlet hair and garish blue eye shadow. These modern fashionistas are red carpet ready and just as poised. 

I had the pleasure of doing Courtney's makeup and when I was done my 4 year old daughter, Ella, came by to see her. Ever since that visit, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella have lost their allure. Forget animated princesses,, today's prom girls have the real magic.

www.stilacosmetics.com

THE FORGOTTEN ONE

Wedding planning can be tedious. It can be overwhelming. It can be expensive. But it doesn't have to be,,,, at least where the flowers are concerned. Carnations. I know you're pretty much skipping this post right about now but hear me out. I realize they're usually the flower you turn your nose up at and discreetly discard in the trash. You don't want the riff raff flowers associating with the upper crust ones like peonies and roses. However, when you use nothing but carnations, you'd be surprised just how beautiful they really are. And not only are they gorgeous en masse,, they're hearty, smell great and for under $100 you can get over 200 stems! Forget me not.

BABYFACE

So your skin doesn't look like it did when you were 10. Who's does? But what's the solution? You'd like to wear something that makes your skin even and glowy but you don't want it to look cakey, opaque or a different shade from your neck (you've tried foundations and swore to never try them again). Time to try again. Stila's tinted moisturizer gives just the right amount of coverage to even out your skin but just the right amount of sheerness to keep it looking,, well, like skin. It's seamless, weightless, and has an SPF of 15. Welcome back to 5th grade.

www.sephora.com

BABY MAMA 16 WEEKS

Summer is the easiest time to be pregnant. Just because the belly is getting bigger doesn't mean the legs are, so show 'em off. Jersey dresses are your friend during this period. So are boxy jackets and sequin sweaters. They'll add just the right amount of dress up for the shift dress for work and the jersey dress for play. 

FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T DRAW

Warning. This is a project to do only if you are seriously bored. I was seriously bored, and so, had plenty of time to cut and paste and cut and paste. I bought this incredibly generic kids' table and chairs and wanted to make it unique. I wanted to have it fit in with OUR decor not the elementary school's homeroom. Since I love fashion, interiors, flowers and all things pink I went that route. But you could pick any theme, just keep the colors in the same palette. Many snip snips out of Vogue, Martha Stewart, Country Living and BAZAAR later,, and a few pics of my daughter, and I had the materials for a brand new table set. Just paste, let it dry and then coat with a polyurethane coating that you can get at any art supply store. 

No talent required.

THAT'S THE SPIRIT

It only took 37 years and a 20th high school reunion, but better late than never, right? I'm officially a beer drinker. Given that most 10 year olds have had more sips of beer or wine out of their parents' glasses than I have as an adult,, this is fairly monumental. My issue wasn't a moral one, it was a taste one. I never met a drink I liked. Wine, champagne, mixed drinks, beer,, didn't matter. Unless they were disguised with heavy doses of chocolate or whipped cream, I wasn't drinking it. But then, a beer drinking event hosted by a fellow alum at Northfield Mount Hermon changed it all. Dogfish Head's Festina Peche. It was so refreshing, so easy to drink, I found myself confiscating the entire bottle. Yes, I realize I was only supposed to have a taste but I'm making up for lost time, okay?

If you can't get to the Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats in Rehoboth, DE then you can certainly find their specialty brews in your local liquor store. 

Cheers, class of '89.

www.dogfish.com

SHOP ON

Ever been banned from shopping at a particular store by your husband/significant other/parent? We all have at one point or another and while I hate to relay fiscally irresponsible tips,, this one just can't be kept under wraps. My neighbor, Sally, discovered while doing the weekly grocery run at Stop & Shop, that she could not only get her veggies, she could get a Macy's gift card too. Translation: statement on the credit card bill would still read Stop & Shop but you'd have an extra $20 for a new lipstick. Not to be dishonest but sometimes a girl's gotta have a new pout. And don't fret,, he's no saint. You know that new stereo system he bought was no necessity either.

 

ROPED IN

Remember that awesome knot bracelet you got every summer? The one that shrunk to your wrist after the first dip in the ocean,, the one that was white in June and brown in August? Ahh, summer. I love putting them on my kids,, my daughter wore her first at 7 months, but now, since she picks out her own clothes, the rope bracelet is no longer in rotation. Luckily there's still one family member I can control, fashion wise. My dog! Wallace, our West Highland white terrier happily obliges. Mascot recreates the Nantucket tradition in dog collars and leashes in 12 colorways. So cute. You can't knot get one.

www.mymascot.com

HEAD CASE

Time to rethink how you accessorize. Yes rings are gorgeous and so is that fabulous statement necklace you bought last year,, but let's turn it up a notch. Hair pins and hair wraps made out of crystal can seriously turn up the volume on an otherwise ho hum outfit. This is not Paris Hilton, tiara, dance on a bar time,, it's Prince William's Kate Middleton, head to the symphony, act like a lady time. Ok, so you might not be going to the symphony every day but you can still wear them with your eyelet, cotton dress or your purple, grecian, one shouldered dress. Still thinking you can't pull it off? You can. It's all in your head.

www.jenniferbehr.com

THE GIVING TREE

There's nothing better than sitting under a tree on a hot day, lemonade in your hand and a lazy breeze passing by. But if you have no tree to sit under,, what's a girl to do? How about a parasol that feels like one? Conran Usa's shady lace canopy is stencil cut to allow dappled light to shine through. What a perfect alternative. And the tree was happy.

www.conranusa.com

THE LOOK FOR LESS, USUALLY LOOKS LIKE LESS

Don't get me wrong. I love a good bargain and some of my greatest fashion finds were indeed found at Target, but dressing head-to-toe in discounted copies of high-end fashion will always look a little off, or knocked off as it were. Certain items are worth spending money on and certain items aren't. A client of mine asked if she needed to purchase a Birkin bag. The answer was NO. I have no idea why those bags start at $8,000 (if anyone can explain this, please email me as I'd love to know) and they've been counterfieted so much - and so well - that most people will assume you are carrying a fake. However; that same client asked me about buying a pair of Manolos to be paired with a jersey dress purchased at the aforementioned Target for $35.  In this case, the answer is YES, because otherwise, it's just too much cheap. 

TEA FOR TWELVE

Kid birthdays. I'm over them and I've only had one. My daughter never wanted to have any parties because she didn't want to share any of the cake. Fine by me. Store bought Cinderella cake, stuffed animals as guests, a few balloons. Done. What a difference a year makes. By the time she turned 4 she wanted a party. With real friends. 

Now I would love to be the mom who can have 12 4 year olds in my house eating cake, dropping cake, touching furniture with frosted laden hands, but I'm not. So we needed a venue that could accommodate a girlie 4 year old who likes to dress up, drinks tea and  loves cake. A lot of cake. The Wenham Tea House in MA was just the place. Little tea sandwiches, chocolate covered strawberries, tea, and a beautiful, delicious pink cake. For party favors we got little straw hats and decorated them with ribbon and flowers and voila,,, a tea party. And all I had to do was show up,, no set up/clean up required. Happy Birthday to me.

www.wthexchange.com

CONSCIENCE CLEAR

Recycling, buying organic food, using those weird looking light bulbs and using natural house cleaners. Makes you feel like you're helping the planet a little bit, right? Well why not take it a step further? Organic clothes. 

Yes, they used to be made out of hemp and worn by aging hippies. And while they may have been eco friendly they weren't fashionable nor did they try to be. But times have changed. Clothing made of organic cottons and factories blessed by the Dalai Lama for their nonviolent treatment of silkworms are cropping up and the clothes are chic, fashion forward AND sustainable. No patchouli in that.

www.bodkinbrooklyn.com

GOLDEN GIRLS

It's that time of year again. Time to  break out the gold. But instead of the usual gold jewelry,, how about spicing up your rolled shorts/peasant top with a gold metallic bag a la JCrew or some python metallic bangles by Ted Rossi? Both will add summer glow while still keeping it casual and fresh. Jackpot.

www.JCrew.com

www.tedrossi.com

THAT SHE WORE FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY

Summer is officially here. And that means beach and bathing suits! Depending on what shape you're in that could be cause for celebration or slight anxiety. Don't fret. You can still be stylish and super cute this summer no matter what that tummy looks like. Michael Kors retro yellow polka dot suit is so flattering,, well,, even if you don't have Madonna's bod you'll want to wear it.

One, two, three, four, tell the people what she wore.........

TRUCKIN'

You've heard of matching your purse to your shoes,, your your belt to your purse, your lipstick to your shirt (please don't) but what about matching your car to your house? I mean, if you live in a country house is it really a good match to have a red Ferrari in the driveway? I've decided I'd like to have my house go with my car,, or in this case, truck. I don't care about fancy and I don't care about labels. I like color and I like vintage. I like authentic. What could be more authentic than an old Chevy truck in robin's egg blue? It's functional---hauling leaves in the Fall and peonies in the Summer would be a snap. It's rugged. It matches my antique chandelier. And it only seats 4. Perfect. 

DECORATIVE ACCESSORIES

So what are some of the prettiest things you own? What has shimmer and shine? What doesn't get worn enough or looked at enough? Your jewelry. It really never has enough air time considering how pretty it is and how much it costs. It needs a stage. Pick a table, vanity, or chest in your bedroom and decorate it with jewelry. Collect beautiful dishes and bowls,, ones with sentiment, ones from flea markets,, ones from your local design shop. Just collect and fill with all the beautiful baubles you have. If you're not wearing them they can at least be part of the decor.

JEAN DAY

The day of the jean needs to come to an end. When every suburban mom is wearing the go-to outfit, i.e. jeans, cute top, heels and cute bag,, you know the look is over. I'm not saying to never wear jeans again,, but let's put them back where they belong----casual events,, cookouts,, soccer games,, running errands. But for a big night out? Graduations? Brunch in the city? No. no. no.

How about a dress, a skirt, a pant made out of something other than jean? Try it and get away from the boring jean pool.

WALLPAPER GIRL

Yes, that's Blake Lively from Gossip Girl but the real gem in this Upper East side apartment is the wallpaper. Nothing gives a space dimension, style, boldness like a gorgeous wallpaper. Chinoiserie hand painted papers from Gracie Studio in New York are as luxe as they get. Use it in a foyer or a bathroom or even a designer closet. Until next time...

XOXO

Sparkle Girl

www.graciestudio.com

BABY MAMA 12 WEEKS-LOOK 2

Going to a girls' brunch is a snap in an Empire waist GAP dress and Kate Moss leather jacket. Coach flats keep it comfy.

www.GAP.com

www.topshop.com

www.coach.com

VINTAGE PROM

No matter what town you're in,, prom is special. And next to your wedding day, finding a dress for prom is just about as important. You DO NOT want to get to prom and have someone else wearing your dress. It's hard to do these days unless you go vintage. Posh Girl Vintage has so many dresses to choose from,, you can be Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe or Lucille Ball. I love prom.

www.poshgirlvintage.com

BABY MAMA 12 WEEKS-LOOK 1

Hello Mama! With sickness gone, pregnancy gets fun. Still a tiny bump so no need for maternity wear. Old Navy jersey dresses, GAP cardigans, Chloe belts and J.Crew flats. Daytime pregnancy is a snap.

www.gap.com

www.oldnavy.com

www.jcrew.com

www.chloe.com

HATS ON

Summer is coming and so is,, thank goodness, the SUN!! But with the sun comes sunburns. But how unnecessary is that? Stay protected AND wear a hat that'll fit right in at the local beach or on a stroll down Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. Hats ON to that.

www.peterbeaton.com

GIVE 'EM THE FINGER

When your little ones act like rock stars it can be annoying. The theatrics, the stealing of your sunglasses, the off key tune sung loudly, over and over and over. But there's no sense in fighting it,, so you might as well embrace it. A good way to do this is stockpiling on rocker duds,, at least you'll enjoy THAT. Little Fashion Gallery carries an enormous amount of cool and current frocks (I only wish they made this stuff in my size) and the design house of Fashion in the Nose tops the list. For girls and boys,, this is one finger I don't mind being given.

www.littlefashiongallery.com

I'VE GOT A CRUSH

Sallow. Not quite green, not totally yellow,, not white either. Sallow. Rosy cheeks? Never had 'em,,  except after an 8 mile run in the middle of summer. But who has time for that anymore? I needed a way to get that look without exerting any energy. Stila's Cherry Crush. A stain that can be worn on cheeks and lips and DOES NOT disappear after your first cup of coffee. It's also completely sheer so even on bare skin it's undetectable. Now that's cheeky.

www.sephora.com

FREE TO BE YOU,,,,,BUT NOT TO BE ME

One of the things that makes you stylish is creating your own look. If you think about fashionistas you'll recognize that they are unique. Sarah Jessica doesn't dress like Madonna who doesn't look anything like Kate Moss. They each have a style which is part of their essence. It's ok to draw inspiration from these fashion icons, and even your friends, but simply copying someone else's style is just plain lazy. Embrace your individuality and create your own look. 

It is said that imitation is a form of flattery, but I disagree. Imitation is just a form of ripping someone off. Don't be a style thief.

COTTON CANDY

Dresses that look like cupcakes? Shoes that look like candy? What can I say? Sweet is cute. And these are adorable. It's got bows, it's got pink, it's got stripes. But somehow it manages to not look like a 3 year old on her way to Sunday school. 

Pair it with your skinny white jeans and a soft tank and you're good to go.

www.piperlime.com

www.betseyjohnson.com

BERRY NICE

I recently read an article in BAZAAR where Halle Berry was interviewed. She said a thought we all know to be true and I had to share.

 

The interviewer stated the following: Nahla is a beautiful girl---amazing, given her challenged parents. (this was obviously a joke)

Halle Berry replied: Let her be sweet because I believe beauty is as beauty does. My hope is that she is sweet and kind because no matter how beautiful you are, ugly ain't cute. 

Now that's sparkle.

SWEET FASHION

Looking like dessert is a favorite look for me,, but it has to be balanced so it doesn't get too over-the-top confectionary. Cupcake fashion can be so much fun and be high fashion at the same time when you pair it with a cropped, worn in, jean jacket or a leather jacket. Remember, no prom hair or makeup allowed. In fact, a little black eyeliner would be just the right amount of icing on the cake. 

www.betseyjohnson.com

TOMMY BOY

Wondering what to get the guy who has everything? So was I. But then I found it. The Booze Cruise watch by Tommy Bahama. I know he already has a watch but this one is sporty, colorful, waterproof and not too expensive. The perfect gift for a guy who likes to hang at the beach in the summer or for the dad who doesn't mind giving a bath now and then. Good boy.

www.tommybahama.com

CRYSTAL TIME

I can't help it. I have a problem. I'm a sucker for sparkle. Sequins? Crystals? Gems? Yes please! BUT, we're not talking showgirl here. We're talking light reflection amidst classic and refined. The Candela clutch adds just the right amount of sparkle when paired with the little black dress or the pale grey silk jumpsuit (you know you want one). No other sparkle required.

www.koturltd.com

SPRING?

If you live in New England you'll be able to relate. One day Spring arrives. The next day Winter is back. And the next day and the next day and the next. There's only one way to make sure Spring is here and stays for at least a week. Buy some flowers. Rununculas are my favorite but all flowers have charm, especially when their backdrop is still leafless. 

BABY MAMA-6 Weeks

Being pregnant does not mean you can't be fashionable. We all know this by now right? But sometimes it's just nice to get some ideas that are simple and easy to recreate at home with clothes you already have in your closet. No shopping necessary,, at least not yet. Welcome to our Baby Mama Series. We'll be styling our Mama-to-be (her 3rd, for the record) throughout her pregnancy, to hopefully inspire you and give you the confidence to pull off some great looks.

6 Weeks,, tiny bump emerging. Black workout leggings, long roomy top and old sweatshirt. Add some glitzy jewelry and sparkly flats,, great makeup and hair and you have a look. Comfortable and cute.