His & Hers Inspiration - Liz Miller

I'm incredibly proud and excited for my cousin Liz Miller, who's about to graduate from Kent State University with a degree in Fashion Design.  Last week during Kent State's Fashion Week her capstone collection won Best in Show!!  Of course, I wasn't surprised.  Her pieces are so uniquely designed and so beautifully constructed ~ such as the phenomenal hand-knit cape pictured on the far right below ~ Best in Show was destined for Liz.  The entire collection is downright impressive and inspiring... and I want every piece!!

Congratulations, Liz!! xo

{Five} of Our Favorite Things

I've had a fantastic week.  After spending last weekend in sweet home Chicago, I traveled down to Ohio to spend a handful of days with my family ~ something I always look forward to and time I always cherish.  The {His} had to stay behind while I traveled, so I'm looking forward to heading back home today to be with my man again.  Just in time for the weekend too, and a nice low-key one at that.  We hope you've had a wonderful week and wish you an even better weekend!!  Here's just {five} of our favorite things from this past week...

{ although it was absolutley FREEZING...
we spent a fun afternoon with friends at Wrigley Field... 
and in some pretty incredible seats ~ Thanks, Kes!! }

{ attending the Sugar Ball with this not-so-motley crew ~ 

you can see our full looks {here} and {here} }

{ tea time with my parents at Cambridge Tea House ~ an adorable little spot in Columbus }

{ wearing my grandmother's jewels ~ including this pretty little peacock }

{ dining at Third & Hollywood ~ the delicious restaurant where my cousin's a chef!! }

Hers - Festive Formal Attire

As you know from Tuesday's post, last weekend the {His} and I gussied up in our festive formal finest for the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center's Sugar Ball.  I have a penchant for party dresses, so I always love pulling together looks for any formal fete.  But since this particular soiree called for "Festive Formal Attire," the {His} and I enjoyed the opportunity to have a little more creative freedom with our evening wear {you can see the {His'} look here}.  I pulled one of my very favorite finds from my dress archives ~ an open-back, tiered, tissue-layer dress that I scored several years back at H&M.  It's a dress I don't get to wear often, but one I always look forward to digging up and the Sugar Ball's request for festive formal was the perfect opportunity!! 

{ Hers }

Headband: J. Crew {also love this set of three}

Dress: H&M {similar style available here}

Clutch: Club Monaco {similar style available here}

Shoes: Chinese Laundry {similar style available here}

His & Hers Inspiration - Left My Heart In Paris

In discovering Nichole Robertson's blog and book which provided inspiration for Monday's post, I also stumbled upon another Tumblr of inspirational French faire.  Left-My-Heart-In-Paris.tumblr.com is an endless source of chic eye candy and my latest favorite spot on the interwebs for style inspiration.  Here's just a handful of the beautiful imagery gracing it's pages...

{ images via Left-My-Heart-In-Paris.tumblr.com }

His - Festive Formal Attire

This past weekend the {His} and I gussied up and joined a couple of our friends at the Sugar Ball supporting the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center.  The event was held within a gallery wing of the Merchandise Mart.  A very fun location and even more fun event, but we're always up for a dressy evening out with friends especially when it's doing some good.  The invitation said "Festive Formal Attire" so we spiced up our formal looks with some unexpected choices.  The {His}, for example, paired a classic black tux with a less formal button-down and cognac wingtips, which I thought came together rather handsomely.  He was a dashing date indeed.

{ His }

Tux: Hugo Boss Black {available in suit form here}

Shirt: Original Penguin {similar available here}

Watch: Bell & Ross {similar available here}

Shoes: Grenson {available here}

His & Hers Inspiration - Paris in Colour

As if we needed another reason to fall in love with the magical city of Paris, Nichole Robertson's recently released book Paris in Color is a beautiful take on the city as a kaleidoscope of colour and inspiration.  I instantly fell in love with the imagery, which provides a visual tour of the city from a polychromatic perspective.  You can read more about how this project came to be {here} and see a compilation of some of Robertson's lovely captures below...

{ images via Miss Moss }

{Five} of Our Favorite Things

Happy Friday!!  It's a rather gloomy, chilly morning here in Chicago, but that's spring I suppose.  We still have a handful of weeks of unpredictable chills before we finally arrive on some true spring-like days.  I hope it's a bit brighter where you are today.  Here's to a wonderful weekend and just {five} of our favorite things from this past week...

{ Dosing another Sunday away ~ see first post about Dose Market {here} }

{ this adorable vintage-feeling jumper I scored at Dose }

{ spotting this sweet message inside our neighborhood mailbox }

{ a delicious homemade iced coffee treat }

{ catching up with my cousin over dinner at Gilt Bar }

Hers - Lotty Dotty

I should never have let my parents quit dressing me.  They, of course, know me and my personal style better than most and, on top of it, have some serious fashion sense of their own.  Case in point, see pictures posted {here} and {here}.  Well, the ladylike handbag and adorable dotty jeans pictured below were both selected for me by my dear sweet parents.  And those aren't the only pieces you've seen me sporting... but, you'll just have to guess on those...

{ Hers }

Blouse: Rugby Ralph Lauren

Pants: AG Polka Dot Ankle Stevie {available here} 

Bangle: Bungalow {in Columbus, OH}

Rings: JewelMint

Bag: J. Crew {similar style available here}

Pumps: Zara

His & Hers Picks - Cherry Red Beauty

In Monday's post I revealed my recent beauty crush for cherry red.  These days I'm craving a pop of this color in barrettes, lips, and nails against a palette of jet black.  So classic, retro, and dramatic all at the same time.  So yesterday when I came across Tommy Ton's street style shots from the Fall 2012 shows, I instantly added this look to my inspiration board...

{image via Style.com}

...another adorable cherry red countenance I'd love to recreate!!  Luckily, it's as easy as one, two, three ~ 1. bobbies 2. lips 3. polish.  Here's my picks for easily recreating this cherry red crush...

1. Red Enamel Bobby Pins, $3.50 {available in an assorted pack here}

2. Essie Too Too Hot, $8 {available here}

3. Essie Geranium, $8 {available here}

4. Revlon Hot Coral, $7.19 {available here}

5. Revlon Certainly Red, $6.39 {available here}

His - Rainy Day Blues

We had some serious storms blow through this past weekend.  Luckily the afternoons were fairly dry, while evenings were accompanied by heavy downpours and a light show in the sky.  The {His} sported a palette of navy blues as he accompanied me to Dose Market on Sunday, which so appropriately matched the rainy day navy bluish sky.

{ His }

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban {available here}

Button Down: Steven Alan {another favorite here}

Bracelet: Hugo Boss {another favorite here}

Khakis: J. Crew {similar}

Blue Suede Shoes: Walk-Over {available here}

His & Hers Inspiration - Jet Black + Cherry Red

I'm currently craving the stark combination of jet black plus cherry red ~ in particular, a bright, cherry red lip juxtaposed against jet black hair and garments.  The perfect red pout is just ever-so-chic and I love it paired with a simple, dark palette.  Something I'm inspired to try more often these days.

{ images via Pinterest }