Style Lush

Nylons with Open-toe Shoes?

By Jessica

Recently, I was watching the Today Show and one of the items that Bobbie Thomas covered in her segment has me really intriqued. It's a pair of almost invisibly sheer nylons that are designed to be worn with open-toe shoes.

 

Essentially the toe bed area of the nylons look like a flip flop design with a small strip of fabric the goes between your big and second toe and allows for your toes to remain uncovered while your legs reap the smoothing, vein-disquising benefits of ultra sheer nylons. They are also part of this brand's naturals line which means that they are treated with a special finish that provides a "cooling sensation" interesting, no?

{Photo from: Pretty Polly UK}

Jack Rogers Navajo Sandals: Which Heel?

By A'Dell

Last year at about this time, I was flirting with the idea of buying a pair of Jack Rogers Navajo sandals. I've been eyeing them for YEARS and even though our readers encouraged me to try them if I like them, I chickened out.

NOT THIS YEAR!

I'm going for it, and I'm pretty sure what color I'm going to get, but this is the problem with buying an item that is so beloved by so many: waaaaaay too many choices. Jack Rogers come in a pretty impressive variety of iterations, for what is a pretty simple shoe.

Flat, $105

Mid Wedge, $136

Mid Cork, $178

Hi Wedge, $148

Straw Mid Wedge, $188 (Actually, I don't care for these AT ALL, but in the interest of showing all the styles....here you go.)

Jelly, $68

I think I'll probably end up with the mid wedge, in a silvery platinum color. They're such a classic style and if I've been thinking about them for a few summers then it's probably time for me to buy a pair. But, I have to admit, I reallllly like those green and white jelly ones, even though they're ridiculouly impractical for $70 shoes. ($70!)

{Photos from: Zappos.com}

Diaper Bags for Dads

By Lauren

My little sister had her first baby last month, a gorgeous little girl. She's currently enjoying her maternity leave, but this summer she'll be heading back to work, and her husband will be stepping into the role of stay-at-home dad.

They're still on the hunt for the perfect diaper bag for him. I couldn't resist splurging and getting my sister an adorable bag that she can carry to work (half off of the outlet price at the Kate Spade outlet last fall, woo!), but dad needs a bag, pronto.

Here are some handsome contenders that fit the bill for style and function:

Diaper Dude Messenger I in Grey Pinstripe, $65

Diaper Dude Messenger II in Grey, $98

Skip Hop Via Messenger in Black, $80

Columbia Baby Backpack with Ripstop Trim, $139.99

Scout by Petunia Pickle Bottom Satellite Sling, $99

And one tremendous splurge, in lovely distressed leather:

Scout by Petunia Pickle Bottom Rubicon Rucksack in Distressed Black Leather, $271

{Photos from: diaperdude.com, skiphop.com, amazon.com, petunia.com}

Stuff I Love: Cost Plus Outdoor Pillows

by Elizabeth

I'm smack in the middle of de-suckifying my backyard, and it's full of fun things like paying someone $450 to drill a drainage hole that should have been put in a wall to begin with and trying to keep the world's most annoying dog off of new sod.  Shiny new throw pillows for furniture I haven't bought yet is SO not in the budget, but sometimes you just need to take a break from overpriced cement drilling estimates and do some window shopping, am I right?

I ALWAYS love the outdoor stuff at Cost Plus or World Market or whatever we're calling it now, and this year is no exception.  I have tremendously innapropriate feelings about all of the following throw pillows. And (in my mind) they're going to look just AMAZING next to that $450 drainage hole. 

The Indonesian Fruit Pillow is my FAVORITE

But I also have special feelings for the Bali Striped Lumbar Pillow...

...and the Yellow Ikat pillow would look so great on some dark brown adirondack chairs, especially if I end up buying the yellow outdoor dining chairs I have my eye on at IKEA.  

But first, we drill. 

{Photos from: costplus.com}

 

Personal Style Rules

by Christina

After a few years of watching fashion shows and being a slave to sale stickers and clearance signs, I decided it was time to make my own set of rules to keep myself looking my best and from wasting money. There is something about a discount that makes me do stupid things.(I'm looking at YOU sale room at Anthro! And the red sticker at Target. Danger!) So after spending some time purging my closet and trying on a lot of my own things I came up with my rules. Not yours or Tim Gunn's (love you, Tim!), mine, for my body and my lifestyle.

No pants above the ankle bone- a tiny crop is good but no more.

No shorts.

No paisley, plaid or dots.

No pastel pink or peach.

No red lipstick.

When it doubt, wear a heel.

If the model or mannequin doesn't look thin in it, neither will I.

No blond highlights.

No cleavage. (date night and swimwear excluded)

More is more- layer with items and with color.

Skirts must be just above the knee, no longer, no shorter.

Colored shoes make my heart happy.

So, how about you, do you have your own set of rules? If you do, share one or two, I'd love to hear them. And, if you don't, this may be a good time to think about it. Consider what makes you feel your best, what colors make you happy, what washes you out, or what mistake you make over and over. You'll look better and spend your money on items that you'll wear more often!

Easy-Bake Ultimate Oven...for the iPhone

By Tara

A couple of weeks ago, my two-year old and I took a little road trip to Florida to crash my parents' spring break trip. And it was a fantastic time...except for the part where I was responsible for driving the five hours from the beach to my house, with just a toddler for company. Enter, the iPhone. Or, as it's known around my house in times of need, the electronic baby-sitter.

Specifically, the free Easy-Bake Treats app.

I first downloaded the app in a fit of nostalgia for myself, but Brigid has LOVED it for months, now. She will spend endless minutes baking cakes, cookies, and cupcakes, which she then decorates for me, my husband, or one of our dogs to eat. Because, yes, you even get the option of eating the treats when you're done, complete with chewing noises.

And it's a lot less messy than the actual oven, if I correctly remember my childhood messes. It's a win, all around!

{photo credit: iTunes}

Simple Wall Clocks

By Sara

My three year old has recently become obsessed with numbers and telling time. Everywhere we go he's asking what time it is and trying to locate a clock. His most favorite thing to do is tell me that the clock we have in our kitchen isn't a real clock because "it doesn't have numbers, Moooooooommm" aka it has roman numerals. I've tried to explain that roman numerals ARE numbers but one doesn't attempt reason with a three year old. So I've been doing a little clock shopping and have found some great options that will help satisfy his clock-craving and my decor at the same time.

Too Cool for School Retro Modern Wall Clock, in Orange, $19 

(also available in Black or Chartreuse)

 

Dome Wood Wall Clock, $30 (and non-ticking!)

 

Silver Wall Clock, West Elm, $59

 

Bai Designs Cyber Wall Clock, Silver, $24

Howard Miller 'Easton' Wall Clock, $39

It was surprisingly difficult to find wall clocks with ALL the numbers as well as ones that didn't cuckoo. Perhaps one of these lovelies will show up on my doorstep and make my son happy as well as keep ME on time. 

Fun for Spring: Yellow Bags

By Rebecca

I saw a girl in the airport the other day with the cutest yellow bag and promptly became obsessed with finding one of my own. Do you ever do this? See someone with something that you suddenly need? I do it all the time, and airports are target-rich environments. They are also rich with college students who apparently rolled out of bed and drove to the airport in their pajamas, but what are you gonna do. People-watching in airports can be... interesting.

Here are a few yellow bags that I found in my search. And just think, if you brought one of these with YOU to the airport while wearing YOUR pajamas, no one would notice, because they'd all be looking at your cute yellow bag. Bonus!

First up we have this darling, reasonably priced option from the Gap, the drawstring hobo bag. This is a great bag that could double as both a purse and a pool bag. Love it, love the price ($39.95).

Then, on the higher end of the scale, we have Anthropologie's Buttercup Tote ($128). I love the cutouts in the leather and the neutral straps. Plus, it's a really bright shade of yellow, which is a nice contrast to some of the cobalt blues and saturated reds that are out there right now.

And finally, if money were no object and I wasn't worried that I might get tired of yellow at some point, I'd probably get this gorgeous Steve Madden tote. Not gonna lie, folks, I've got a fever, and the only prescription is this bag! However, it's $198. Admire it with me, would you?

What do you think about yellow bags -- would you carry one this spring?

{Photo credits: gap.com, anthropologie.com, nordstrom.com}

 

Reader Question- Storing Cleaning Tools

By Jen

A lovely Style Lush Reader sent in this question:

I submit this question with the caveat that clutter is neither stylish nor practical. That being said:

What ideas do you have for storing various brooms/mops, the Swiffer, Shark steamer, mini-vacuum, ironing board, regular vacuum, etc in a convenient but discreet place? My coat closet, though conveniently located near our wood floors, is NOT cutting it – handles are twisted in coats, the hats/scarves/gloves are mired in dust. It’s embarrassing.

Thanks, and keep up the great work! Love this blog!

Kimberly

I had this problem too!  I kept everything propped up in corners and it kept falling over.  (And sometimes, clonking me on the head.)  One day, I was at Lowe's or Home Depot (I don't remember, I pretty much consider those two stores to be interchangeable), browsing the customize-your-own-closet section (yes, this is what I do for fun sometimes) and I saw this:

{Image credit: ClosetMaid}

Their picture isn't great (why do people continue to insist on photographing white things on a white background?) but it is a wall mountable hook/holder system specifically designed for things with handles.  I mounted mine right in the garage, directly by the door into my house.  For me, that is very centrally located and I can just open the door and pull down what I need. 

Here's mine, with my various things that have handles stuck on it:

{Image credit: Me}

You can see that I still have my steam mop leaning in the corner there, but that is simply because I have been too lazy to tie a pretty ribbon to the handle so that it can hang up too. 

That ought to take care of your brooms, mops, Swiffer, and Shark steamer.  For your ironing board, they also sell little ironing board holders in the same section of the hardware store.  (I get around the problem of storing my ironing board by never ironing anything.  Seriously, if it needs to be ironed, I donate it to Goodwill.)  These holders are really great about pulling the cleaning clutter off the floor and getting it out of the way.  It will install nearly anywhere- behind a door, on a closet wall, or in your laundry room? 

The vacuum cleaner presents more of a problem, since you can't really hang those up on a wall like you can everywhere else.  I'm hoping that once you move everything else out of the closet (or onto the closet wall), your vacuum will tuck nicely into a corner.  (Another thing I did was to declutter our coats and move all our hats and scarves to boxes on the coat closet shelf.  But that is another post all together...) 

I hope this helps!  Let me know how it goes. 

Currently Coveting: Morse Code Bracelets

by Leah

I think I'm in love.

I saw one of these morse code bracelets by Coatt on Whoorl a few months ago and might have left the browser page open for an hour so I could conveniently look up from my work and gaze at them lovingly every few seconds.

They're customizable by material (gold fill, silver, 14K gold), length (preset increments from 6.5 to 20 inches), color (black, pink, maroon, gray, emerald, red), and of course message (up to three letters). I don't know if I'd choose my son or husband's initials or if I'd just go with a word that makes me happy. Like "joy" or "awe." Or "tea" or "ham."

Are we allowed to have Mother's Day wishlists?

{Photo from: coattonline.com}