Maine Girl

I spent my Memorial Day RELAXING.........right after I brought some clothes to a local consignment shop for my fabulous client. Trust me, I didn't work too hard. I really wanted to finally finish the book "Water For Elephants" that I had begun reading about 3 months ago. I swore that by the time the movie came out I would have finished it, but I couldn't wait to see it and I am a scatter brain reader. Meaning I never can just read one book at a time from start to finish. I usually have a couple going on, not to mention the fashion books and magazines, the blog reading and writing, movie watching, being the assistant manager at "the boutique" and not to mention all the daydreaming I do! I could probably write a book! It would mostly be a book of quotes and thoughts that I think since I can't seem to get them all organized. The list goes on and on. But that is life! And I have to say that life has been very good to me :) So as I was saying. I coul...

  What I wore: Mixit jacket Talbots cami Banana Republic skirt Talbots  brown weave peep toe pumps Silpada jewelry   What I like about this look: This look made me sort of feel like a cross between a stewardess and an actor on the tv show Mad Men. But that is what is cool about fashion. You can dress in a "costume" every day! I love the fit and the high waisted-ness of this jacket as well as the gathered shoulders. It was actually something I found at Goodwill! It is just one of those pieces that I knew I would wear a lot and I can wear it many different ways. And the fact that it was $2 . 50 made me feel very proud :-) The brown pencil skirt I am wearing made this look sexy without being trashy. It is long enough (just to the top of my knee caps) so it looks respectable, but the slit makes it not so matronly. I decided to pull my hair back in a chic pony tail and go with a larger hoop style earring. (I love these copper and silver beauties...

This seasons cut out oxfords have really caught my attention. How chic would these ones on the right by Miu Miu look when worn with a pair of super cute cuffed shorts like these ones pictured on the model to the left from Talbots?! My favorite open oxfords are these pink ones pictured below from Rag & Bone.  “It’s a play on the traditional wingtip brogue,” says Rag & Bone’s  Marcus Wainwright  of the inventive cutout shoe in arresting bubblegum pink he designed with partner  David Neville.  “But this version feels light and looks  playful and edgy with dresses and shorts.” {quote is courtesy of Vogue.com} {Rag & Bone}  Just when we thought that sandals were our only choice for summer, along came open oxfords to keep us looking a little more current and just a tad bit edgy ;) 

  What I wore: Talbots origami linen blouse Talbots straight leg jeans rolled up Clarks wedge sandals JCrew lavender beaded bracelet sterling silver filigree heart earrings from TJMaxx What I like about this look: I have to admit that this look took a little getting used to. It was extremely casual feeling. I am all for casual, but I felt like the top was too big for me and not that flattering. However, I LOVE the color of the linen top and I adore the ruffles. I tried tucking the top in, but the jeans I wore were just a little too low on the waist to keep the top tucked in. I think I will try wearing this top again but instead of wearing it with jeans and making it super casual, I will wear it with a black high waisted pencil skirt tucked in with a pair of super cool heels . I also may consider bringing it to my seamstress and have her take it in a little bit to make it more fitted.  What do you think of this super casual look?

{Valentino} I remember wearing chokers in the 80's with my Nirvana t-shirt. That was my 1st thought when I heard that chokers are making huge a comeback for fall 2011. Back then my look was a little goth/grunge/trend setter/trying to find myself. As we all know, everything comes back into style. Chokers were popular in the 1400's for goodness sakes! The WAY WE WEAR  the styles that come back is what we need to pay attention to. Even though there will always be a place in my heart for Kurt Cobain, I will never wear a Nirvana t-shirt ever again in my life because I no longer feel the need to let the world know what bands I like. However, I can picture myself wearing a really gorgeous choker this fall. In fact, I am looking forward to it!  Here are some looks that will inspire you to maybe just try on a choker: (notice how chic these ladies look!) {Pucci} {Chanel} {Bottega Veneta} {Vena Cava}

Gretta Garbo Yes ladies, cufflinks have been worn by women for quite some time. It is one of those elegant looks that just never go out of style. So get it out of your mind that cufflinks are just for men. You just need to purchase a blouse that has the double button holes on the cuff, like the one by Pink Tartan in the photo below, and then you can interchange the cufflinks as you please! Here are a few of my favorite cufflinks right now:  Top left: David Donahue  knot cufflinks Top right: Paul Smith  striped cufflinks Bottom left: Jan Leslie small ladybug cufflinks Bottom right: Kali black sapphire cufflinks Wearing cufflinks can be so beautiful on a lady. Keep your hair and make-up ultra soft and feminine to balance the look.   Think Tom Ford (above) or Yves Saint Laurent (below.) Below are some more looks with cufflinks from the past and present to inspire you.

What I wore: Talbots satin twist neck top Talbots voile pleated skirt Talbots braided leather belt Sofft patent pumps Silpada jewelry What I like about this look: This look makes me think EXOTIC. This shade of green that Talbots calls "fern leaf" reminds me of being lost in a tropical rain forest. When creating this look I was going for the illusion of  a one piece dress. I like the way the skirt is sheer with a cotton lining. Even though I am wearing all one color, the sheerness of the skirt makes it not so solid looking. I chose neutral accessories with a pop of color on my lips. ( Thanks to Maybelline's color sensational lipstick in coral crush .) I also think that more color like adding a coral pump would have been nice. Except I don't have a coral pump.......We can't have it all! But we can work with what we've got and make it great! Right ladies?! What do YOU think of this look?

Summer is here!! Well, I call it summer anyway. In my mind summer starts when the temp reaches 60 degrees and ends when the temp reaches 40 degrees in September or October. You have probably stopped reaching for the Uggs and have begun wearing open toe shoes, or at least I hope you have;)  Have you scheduled your pedi yet? I have been known to do my own pedis and manis, but once in a while you just have to treat yourself. It is especially nice to give yourself this treat at the beginning of sandal season. {Gwyneth Paltro looking stunning as usual. She opted for a matching and very natural color for her manicure and pedicure. I love this!} I don't know about you, but when I go to the salon I can never make a decision on what color I should have my manicurist apply! I always arrive 10 minutes early because I know it will take me at least that long to decide. The other question in mind is, should I match? Or should I choose two different colors but of th...