spring

spring by brittgary featuring ankle tie wedge sandals

casual

casual by brittgary featuring ballet flats

fleurette

fleurette by brittgary featuring a loose sweater

travel casual

travel casual by brittgary featuring green flats

mint

mint by brittgary featuring a high neck dress

Fun Summer Accessories I'm Loving...

Chunky bead necklaces and wedges - Ah. I'm in love. Take a look at these beauties below...aren't they perfect to spice up a classic, casual look? As I get older, I'm realizing that my style is morphing into one that consists of classic clothing pieces that I know will last, that I can dress up/down, and that are versatile. Along with that realization, I find I that I am willing to spend more money on fun accessories such as bold jewelry, funky handbags, and shoes galore.

{Photo Credits: 1 + 2 Anthropologie 3 + 4 Elva Fields}

Check out these espadrilles. These are great if you want to dress up your look up instead of wearing flip flops with a sundress to a neighborhood barbeque or cookout. So fun!

{Photo Credits: 1 Jessica Simpson 2 Michael Kors 3 Kate Spade}

These don't have to break the bank either. I got this great, neutral pair of shoes below from Old Navy for $30! I can wear them with anything. Yes, please.

{Photo Credit: Old Navy}

A Classic Silhouette

Since last Fall I have been working in the event planning industry, along with my day-job. I started as an intern with Merriment Events while I was in college, and have now continued working with Courtney as an event assistant when she needs my help in Richmond. Since living in Alexandria, I have applied for a weekend internship with another wedding planner up here, and I will be working on events throughout the summer and into December with RitzyBee, along with working a few weddings in Richmond for Merriment} Working weekends, along with my 9-5 weekday job, will make for a busy few months coming up, but I am looking forward to continuing my work in the wedding planning field, which is where I would ultimately like my career to be someday. I read quite a few wedding blogs and I get so much inspiration from the beautiful photographs and ideas that brides have to make their wedding unique and creative. Here is a trend that I'm currently loving...

Silhouettes were highly popular in America from about 1790 to 1840. This traditional form of portraits was created by cutting thin black cardboard in the profile shape of a person's facial profile and mounting it on a white or neutral background. The invention of the camera ended the reign of silhouettes as the main form or portraiture.

Today, classic silhouettes are making a comeback. I think it's a beautiful way to capture the essence of a couple, and an alternative to using a traditional monogram as the theme throughout the wedding details. Here are some of my favorite images that showcase silhouettes...

Cornhole boards for lawn games at a backyard wedding
{Source: Katie Stoops Photography via Merriment Events}



{Source: Martha Stewart Weddings}

{Source: Ashley Brockinton Photography via The Bride's Cafe}

{Source: Love Me Do Photography via Ruffled Blog}

{Source: My Sweet & Saucy}

New Do for Spring

I am beyond ecstatic that it is officially Spring! Who isn't? I'm ready to thaw out, open up my windows, go to outdoor concerts, and spend happy hours socializing with friends and co-workers on outside patios - hallelujah! This weekend I also ran across the beautiful cherry blossoms blooming in downtown DC when I spent Sunday morning strolling through the outdoor market. Last year I didn't move to DC until August, so I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing Spring in the city yet. I'm looking forward to taking my camera out to capture some of the seasonal changes that are taking place around town. Speaking of changes...I have a hair appointment this Friday {with my love Jerod who I've gone to now for 10 years!} and I'm thinking about a little change myself. Right now my hair is this length, or a little longer...and it has been for a couple years at this point...but I think I'm ready for a major snip snip {meaning more than just a trim, nothing overly drastic}. I'm also planning to get a few lighter highlights since it was a little darker for the winter months. Bring on the scissors and foils!

Summer '10

Here are some photos I've been drooling over for inspiration. I like the ashy blonde look, not brassy yellow, and I definitely don't want to go above the shoulder. I trust Jerod and I know he'll make my highlights the perfect shade of ash blond so they still look natural, and I know he'll give me an edgy/stylish cut with the length I ask for. What do you think?

{Source: Photo Blog}

{Source: Pinterest}

{Source: Carrie.org}

{Source: Coveted Canvas}

Somewhere between all of these perhaps? Haha, clearly I'm not completely sure yet, but I'll bring these into the salon for Jerod to see what I'm thinking about...Carrie Underwood and Kate Bosworth's styles are my favorite from above. Can you tell I'm a little excited about this?! My friends have mixed reviews about me cutting my hair so far, but I've pretty much decided that it will happen...I want a fresh new do to celebrate the end of gloomy, cold, snowy days and the entrance into gloriously long days of sunshine, random thunderstorms, sundresses, cookouts, patio-sitting, flip flops, and the list goes on....

P.S. Sorry about no Travel Tuesdays again, I haven't been travel-inspired lately but hopefully with a few trips coming up in the next few months, the bug will bite me again

In Living Color

One of my best and most talented friends, living in Brooklyn, NY and working at a fabulous design firm, texted me last week with some very exciting news. Her company was doing a pitch for Kate Spade's team and their new ad campaign! How exciting {still waiting to hear the details on how it went - but I'm sure they did great}. This leads me to my next point...

I'm currently so so inspired by Kate's Spring ad campaign: Live Color Fully. I had heard a bit about it before last week, but when I heard the news, I popped over to Kate's site to check it out a little further. They're calling it a "Colorful Collaboration." A new color will be released each month and they are working with artists to create a set of limited edition prints and short films designed to be released as each month's color is revealed. January was red and February was pink - I can't wait to see what March is (I'm predicting green or yellow?) I think all this gloomy winter weather {and knowing that the end of it is now in sight} makes me all the more inspired by all the bright colors for spring popping up all around me.

Check out these photos for some weekend inspiration - it will give you an instant mood boost, guaranteed.

These next photos are part of the ad campaign for Kate's new fragrance Twirl - aren't they magical? So chic.

 

Photo Sources from top: 1. Behind the Scenes 2. ExtraOrdinary 3. KatieEvans!
4, 5, and 6. PR Starworks

Style Crush

One thing I love about fashion is the little details of an outfit that make it stand out. I'm big on neutral outfits with bold and bright accessories. Whether it be a bright shoe, a patterned scarf, a few chunky bracelets, a long, bold necklace, or a great studded bag, you can dress any outfit up to make it unique. I bought a pair of fabulous gold disk earrings with aqua, white, and green details at Forever 21 ($3 - yes $3, score!) a few weeks ago, and I can't stop thinking about the outfits to pair them with. To update your spring wardrobe, I suggest stocking up on some of these beauties...

                                                                     *Source* Anthropologie

                                                              *Source* South Moon Under

                                                                 *Source* Anthropologie

                                                                 *Source* South Moon Under

                                                                  *Source* Anthropologie