Style Lush

Spring Shopping

By Tara

Because I'm getting tired of jeans and boots and tights this winter, and because I am a bit overly detailed when it comes to leaving for any trip, my sister's beach wedding in March has me packing and repacking a mental suitcase every opportunity I get. And for those times when my mental suitcase starts to get too full for me, I also have four or five partial packing lists in my purse, just so I don't forget anything.

And then, you know...there's the window shopping. Because every change in season (even a premature one brought on by a pretty beachside destination wedding) requires a little extra window shopping. 

{photo credit: nordstrom.com}

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{photo credit: dillards.com}

{photo credit: dillards.com}

{photo credit: bananarepublic.com}

{photo credit: oldnavy.com}

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{photo credit: katespade.com}

{photo credit: katespade.com}

{photo credit: katespade.com}

{photo credit: katespade.com}

Now, if I could just find that unlimited supply of money I've been looking for all my life...

Adult Hair Clips

By Jen

I am trying to become a person who accessorizes. In this quest, I've been looking at hair clips that I think I could pull off as an adult. 

{Image credit: Little Birdie Secrets}

{Image credit: Melinda Rose Design}

{Image credit: Flowersbythevase}

What do you think?  Can I pull them off or should I stick to my trusty elastic hair bands?

Black Lacquer Rings

By Leah

I woke up this morning with the phrase "black lacquer ring" in my head. I have no idea what that was about, but when I thought about it for a second I realized what a cool accessory that would be; you (or maybe just I) don't see a lot of black rings out there these days. I love that they can take on different looks--classic to funky--and go with a range of trends, from neutral or neon. I especially love the idea of a black ring in spring and summer. 

Forever 21, for less than five dollahs!

Vintage, from Elephant Caravan on Etsy ($25)

Vintage bakelite bubble ring, from Anciennes on Etsy ($35)

Taking care of your intimates

By Elisabeth

Now that we know where you can go to get your ladies fitted properly, let's talk about how to take care of these upscale undergarments to make them last for years to come.

My Nordstroms gal told me to hand-wash my bras with a gentle detergent. She mentioned one that they offered, but who in the world is going to buy detergent from Nordstroms? I was afraid to even ask how much they charge for such a thing!

She also asked if I have ever heard of Dreft. Um, ya. I've heard of it. I was told before having baby #1 that Dreft would be my ultimate friend in the laundry department with a newborn. (And you would pay an arm and a leg for it in the process!)

NO THANKS.

I think I bought Dreft once, then found All Free & Clear and never looked back. I asked the Nordstroms gal about All Free & Clear and she said that would be fine as well. Basically, no extra fragrances and nonsense will do the trick.

Our readers Darcey and Jen mentioned in the comments last week to place the bras in a lingerie bag and wash on the gentle cycle, then air-dry. So, that would be another option if you aren't able to hand-wash yourself.

I used to hang my bras off the door handle in the laundry room to dry. This is clearly a big no-no. Talk about asking your bras to lose their shape right off the bat. When you do air-dry your bras, lay them out flat with the cups facing up.

And the last thing she suggested was to only wear a bra for 2-3 days before you switch and wear another one. While this makes perfect sense, I can honestly say I wear mine for a lot longer than that. Clearly this could be the reason my old bras do not like me anymore, so I will do my best to give these new lovelies a rest.

 

What about you? Any other tips you'd like to share while handling your lingerie? Do you follow these golden rules when it comes to your intimates?

 

{photo credit: stuff.co.nz

Wooden Trays. My current obsession

by Christina

It started about a year go when I saw a gorgeous mango wood tray, I bought it, put an air plant on it and it lives on my mantle.

Then I saw a bamboo tray, had to buy it. For a bit it was on my desk as a coaster/mail sorter but now it's on my dining table as part of a really simple centerpiece.

Then, I bought another one. This time for my leather ottoman in my family room for an attractive remote holder/candle burning/drink setting surface.

This wood is just so pretty! If I could have a bamboo butcher block island that looked like the tray on the ottoman, I would. I'm done with this though. I have to be. I get obsessed and suddenly the one cool thing is everywhere in my house and it's no longer cool. I've done it with mason jars, insulators, globes, type press blocks and now these trays. Oh, and the birds. I'm officially out of surfaces to put a bird on.

Am I alone or do you get tunnel vision when you find something you love ?

Finding my very own Over the Shoulder Boulder Holder

By Elisabeth

A couple of weeks ago I went to Nordstroms to have my ladies official measured. I had asked my mother for a gift card for Christmas so I would force myself to spend good money on a good couple of bras. I deserved it and so did my ladies.

I mean, come on, after a roller coaster of three pregnancies, they might have returned to somewhat normal status, but let's just say they have lost a bit of...air, mind you. So, my go-to type of bra is a form of a push up to give my ladies that perky lift most 18 year olds take for GRANTED. (Just saying.)

In the past, I've taken myself to Victoria's Secret and had some young gal measure my bust line and hand me a handful of bras in the range she believed I was based on her glance. So, that basically left it all up to me to figure out if one of their sizes worked for me. Over the years, I have come to find out they really don't. I'm not typical. Or 18. Or have bodacious ta-tas.

Now, let me say something about being fitted at Nordstroms. If you can swing it, GO THERE. (or anywhere to get a real FIT.) The gal who helped me, Robin, put me in a few "sizer" bras to see exactly what I measured around and out in front. They weren't pretty, by any means, but we found what we needed. Funny enough, my size was the same as it's always been. It's just I didn't have the right kind of bra. A GOOD one.

The first one I tried on ended up being the one I went with. By the way, the fitting is not awkward or uncomfortable. She put every bra I tried on over my head standing behind me. Yes, there were angled mirrors, but I wasn't standing face to face with Robin with my ta-tas hanging out.

Now, these babies did cost me. $78 a bra to be exact. I got two. A pink and a black. Using my gift card helped out the final bill, but even if I didn't have it, it wouldn't have stopped me. I'm THRILLED with my new bras. See?

Isn't it lovely?

(I look just like this when I look in the mirror while wearing my new bra and just another pair of underwear I own.)

Bottom line: Get your girls measured correctly!! You may be measuring wrong OR just not wearing the right bra.

Enjoy the new you.

 

Tell me, who has had a bra fitting before? If so, what did you think of it?

 

{photo credit: Nordstroms.com}

 

 

 

My chilly toes need your advice.

By Blythe

Unless the temperature around me is above eighty degrees Fahrenheit, my legs and feet are usually chilly.  I wear socks all the time - yes, even in the summer.  And in the winter, I am always on the lookout for a way to stay warm but avoid looking like I'm headed to the top of K-2.

I have seen these fleece lined tights around, and I wonder:

Plush Fleece Lined Tights

{Photo credit: shopbop.com}

Do they feel like long underwear?  Will my cute shoes fit over them?  Will they be as warm and cozy as they are in my dreams?  Are they worth $35 plus shipping?

I've also considered trying out some leg warmers under my boots:

Boot Sock/Leg Warmers

{Photo credit: AlpineGlow on etsy.com}

But I'm a child of the 80's, and the last time I wore leg warmers I had a matching polo shirt with a popped collar and a permed bi-level haircut.  Am I going to look like an idiot if I pick up this trend twenty years later?  Will this keep my legs warm or is it purely a cosmetic fix?

Tell me, Style Lush readers, what do you know about these trends?  Are they worth a try?  And will they keep me warm?

What I bought: sweaters and scarves, oh my!

By Elisabeth

There has been a recent scarf swap amongst some fellow Twitterers and it has me wanting to go out and buy anything SCARF. As I mentioned last week, the polka dotted one I found in teal was so up my alley, I bought it for myself. (Also, the turquoise one I got for Christmas is now back in stock!)

And THEN, I found these adorable sweaters on sale for $8.50. Can we all say it together? EIGHT FIFTY! Priced down from $34.50. I bought two. The white and the gray. While I really wanted the cherry one, at the time, they were out of my size, but now it's BACK. How does this happen, btw?

As I began "researching" for this post, I came across this lovely.

It's on sale for $9.99.

It's in my shopping cart. (And... then it went out of stock while I was yapping about it. I got the navy. STILL. DARLING. Just, not as.)

I need help.

 

*Also, get FREE SHIPPING with code BLIZZARD, 1038 !

 

{photo credit: landsendcanvas.com}

 

 

How I survived running (and training for) a half marathon

By Manda

Recently I got a bee in my bonnet: Run a half marathon with Team World Vision to help raise money for clean water in East Africa.

And this past Sunday morning? I DID IT! And up next? I'm running he LA Marathon in March. EEP!

When people find out that I'm training for a marathon they almost always ask me: HOW? How do you do it? When observed with the naked eye, I'm quite obviously NOT a typical runner type. I'm more of a squishy-around-the-middle Mom Type who never gets enough sleep and always has children hanging off every appendage. Finding time to run is hard, and if you don't have what you need to get out the door it's nearly impossible (for me anyway).

I have a few tricks in my arsenal, the first of which is the beloved B.O.B. Revolution Duallie stroller.

{photo via REI.com}

We received this AMAZING stroller as a Christmas gift last year from my husband's parents. The purpose it was to serve? A carriage for our kids at one of our favorite hotspots: Disneyland. HA! That's right! I never EVER planned on actually running with this thing because that would be CRAZY! Little did I know then how many running miles I'd log while heaving ole Bob up a hill. If you've wondered if the playground hype is true, I'm here to tell you that it is! This stroller rides incredibly smooth, comfortably seats my three-year-old (37 pounds and TALL), and my one-year-old (23 pounds and precious), and can be turned with one finger. It also fits through a standard doorway, which is lucky since I take it everywhere! The only complaint I have is the folding mechanism. You have to yank on a rope-type thing behind the seats to get it to release and fold down and I can never, ever get the thing to work on the first try. Other than that, me + BOB = Love 4 Ever.

Next? Nike Plus GPS for iPhone.

 

{photo via itunes.apple.com}

If you have an iPhone that you run with anyway, this app is a must-have! I used to run with a Nike Plus bracelet that you had to use with a chip in your shoe, which was annoying because you had to keep track of both the chip and the bracelet. This GPS app solves that problem ... all you need is your phone. Just start the app, start running, and it keeps track of your distance and time (and more if you want it!). It tallies up your miles and will even report your run to Facebook and Twitter! You can also set the app to "talk" to you as you run, every mile or half mile it can tell you how far you've run and your pace. I don't run with headphones but it calls it out so I can hear it anyway! Sweet!

My Nike Dri-Fit Featherlight Running Cap.

This item is lovingly referred to as "Mama's running hat." Now listen, I know better than anyone that a white cap is not necessarily "cool" or "attractive" or "stylish." But guess what?! I got this hat for free! I also have very short hair and usually run in the morning before I've showered so I'm rocking some serious bedhead - for one - but I can't run with sunglasses either so I need to keep the sun out of my eyes too (I'm starting to realize through this post that I have issues with anything on my face while running: can't run with headphones OR sunglasses. Hmm). This hat solves the bedhead and the sun, but it also keeps my head cool. Sometimes when I can't find it I have to run in a regular baseball cap and when I do I am always shocked at how sweaty (and attractive!) my hair is when I get home.

Last but not least, my precious SPIbelt.

{photo via Amazon.com}

I need a place to stash my phone when I'm not running with the stroller. My husband picked one of these up for me at a marathon expo last spring and if I can't find it before I go running I kind of panic. It's a comfortable stretchy belt with a spandex pocket that stretches to fit any little things you need to stash while you run. The best part? It DOES NOT move when you run. It doesn't flap or creep up and it's really, really comfortable. I often forget I have it on. I wore it during my race and stashed away my car remote, cash and phone. It holds A LOT and always snaps back into place when it's empty. I love my SPIbelt so much that I bought one for my mom and sister each for Christmas this year!

So. Are you a running mom? What's your must-have running survival gear?

Jewelry Wish List

By Megan

I think my best and worst discovery of this month is the Nordstrom app for my iPhone. From the ability to browse and purchase directly from the app, to quickly adding items to my wish list, I've got a major case of the gimmes. Although, I think adding items to my wish list is temporarily sating my need for said items.

I'm keep coming back to these pendant necklaces.

There's a matching set of bracelets that I'm drawn to also, although I rarely, if ever, wear a bracelet, and I'm not really the matchy-matchy jewelry kind of girl.

These just scream summer to me, and they're making me dream of lounging on a sandy beach with a cold drink in my hand. I don't suppose the Nordstrom app can help me with that part, though.

{Photo Credit: Nordstrom.com}