Sneakers and Plaid

DETAILS.
Cut Out Tee // Black and White Cardigan (also worn here)// Plaid Scarf // Moto Zip Denim // Chanel Bag (similar here) // New Balance Sneakers
ACCESSORIES.
Black and Gold Boyfriend Watch // Pave Bar Ring //  Gold Ring

Beauty isn’t always pain! And aren’t the very best fashion trends the ones that condone comfort? Lucky for us, the sneaker has undergone a makeover taking it from treadmill to trendy. Now a classic sneaker can be paired with almost any outfit, no matter how dressy, by adding a relaxed but sophisticated feel to the look.  I picked up this pair because I have a little obsession with plaid this season and the colors correlate perfectly.  

Below are a few more great sneaker options to fit your style:

 
Hope you all had a fun weekend! Tomorrow I will be sharing some of my pictures from Paris.
XOX, 
Christine
 
*Photos by JessaKae
xo, Christine

Style Steal: Fall Hat

What’s fall without a fedora? The hat not only masks a bad hair day, but perfectly finishes an otherwise understated look with a little bit of drama. A fedora can be a great way to seamlessly incorporate different textures and colors into your look. 

There are so many options out there this season that the most challenging part is picking your favorites! No matter what style you select, brace yourself for some paparazzi double-takes when you do this chic accessory – you might be mistaken for a serious style maven like Rosie Huntington Whiteley and Jessica Alba who have mastered the fall fedora. 
Photo Cred: thisisglamorous.com

GET THE LOOK.

Photo Cred: WhoWhatWear

GET THE LOOK.

For a fool-proof style steal, consider some of the following options for a similar effect:

 < $100

 

> $100
 
XOX, 
Christine
xo, Christine

11 Things to Do In October

DETAILS.
Wine Cardigan (under $30 – size medium) // Grey Long Sleeve Tee (sized up to medium -wanted oversized)  // Distressed Jeans (run true to size) // Black Ankle Booties (true to size) // Delicate Pave Bar Ring // Pave Square Ring // Honeycomb Stud Earrings
CODY’S OUTFIT. 
BECKAM’S OUTFIT.
Grey Hoodie // Skinny Jeans // * Photos by JessaKae
 
October through December is my favorite time of year. It’s full of holiday traditions and my favorite clothing season – sweaters and layers! Below is a list of things we love to do in October.
 
11 THINGS TO DO IN OCTOBER:
1. Pumpkin Picking – October wouldn’t feel complete without a trip to the pumpkin patch. It is one my favorite traditions – something my family has been doing since I was little and we have continued with our kids. We end up going a couple times each year because I just love the tradition. Some pumpkin patches have corn mazes and hay rides, making it a fun family destination.
2. Hello Starbucks PSL  Treat yourself to a pumpkin spice latte! If you aren’t much of a coffee person, ask for a few shots of the pumpkin spice syrup to add to your drink of choice, like cocoa or chai tea.
3. Giving Back – October 16th is World Food Day, the culmination of World Hunger Action Month. Take a moment to collect some food or donate to a local food bank.
4. Fall Polish – Break out those darker hues for your next manicure. How pretty is this color?
5. Decorate Pumpkins – The hunt for the perfect pumpkin is only half the battle – decorate your pumpkin to your taste, whether it be grim or glam.  You can see my DIY Glitter Pumpkins from last Halloween here.
6. Rock a Deep Red Lip – Although there are great lipstick selections for every season, fall is the perfect time to rock the deep red lip. Don’t let the opportunity slip by without puckering up with a classic bordeaux hue. I just got this one in brandy. 
7. Get spooked – Because no list would be complete without mentioning a good, old-fashioned haunted house. Some local amusement parks offer a kid-friendly version adopting a Halloween theme and tons of related activities during the month of October.  (Utah residents be sure to check out Frightmares at Lagoon.)
8. Fall Recipe  Bake something pumpkin. Bake anything pumpkin! (Sorry to those of you who don’t love pumpkin. I am realizing a pumpkin trend in this list 🙂 My favorite recipe  to bake in October is pumpkin chocolate chip bread. For all of the fun and not so much work, I use this pumpkin bread kit and add an assortment of chocolate chips. It’s really easy and one of my kiddos favorites. For more advanced pumpkin recipes, here are 25 pumpkin recipes to try
9. Frightfest – Personally, I hate scary movies so even the thought of a horror movie freaks me out. For a healthy dose of horror, tune in to ABC Family’s 13 Nights of Halloween. If you can handle something a little more intense, AMC’s Fearfest runs the last two weeks of October with all your classic horror flicks.
10.  Snuggle Up in a New Sweater – It’s that time of year- sweater weather! Now is the time to snag the best new trends before your favorite sizes and styles are sold out. In case you missed it, here are nine of my favorite sweaters under $50.
11. Trick or Treat – You are never too old to dress up! 
 
Some Fun Dates for your Calendar this Month:
October 14 – National Dessert Day (I’ll celebrate to that!)
October 16 – Boss’s Appreciation Day (your chance to brown nose your boss a little)
October 16 – World Food Day
October 18 – National Chocolate Cupcake Day
October 27 – National Beer Day
October 29 – National Cat Day (meow – snuggle up to those cute little felines)
October 31 – Happy Halloween!
XOX,
Christine
xo, Christine

The Animal Inspired Pieces You Need 20% off

DETAILS.
Coral Dress (wearing size US 2 (TED 0) – also loving this embellished collar one) // Leopard Heels (went half size down) // Moti Envelope Clutch (obsessed!) *ALL PIECES ON SALE USE CODE: 20DAY at checkout – TODAY ONLY

Animal-inspired pieces are the essential neutral for fall and winter. On top of adding detail and texture to a look, animal prints help balance brighter pieces to make them more transitional into the new season. I especially love the look of this pump. The cream base is lighter than a lot of the standard leopard patterns on the market, which makes it feel like a completely different print. Keep an eye out for variations like these to incorporate more animal patterns into your wardrobe. Although you can never go wrong with a classic animal print, your animal inspiration doesn’t have to end there. Go beyond the basic leopard print and add a bold faux fur statement clutch to your look. I’m in love with the oversized fur on this clutch. It adds the perfect bold contrast against a minimal look. I was laughing out loud one of my friends likes to call it my “bambi bag”. 

One of my favorite details from today’s ensemble, animal prints aside, is the embellished collar dress. I am so grateful for this trend! There is no need to worry about layering or matching other pieces of jewelry because the work is already done for you. Plus, it makes accessorizing on the go effortless – literally. I’m loving this classic black and white version and this beautiful blue midi

Get 20% off site wide at Ted Baker’s Fall Shopping Event (use code: 20DAY at checkout) Below are a few more favorites along with today’s look:
1. Embellished Collar Dress (also loving this pink one) // 2. Leopard Gloves // 3. Pink Coat
(code: 20DAY at checkout)
XOX,
Christine

* Photos by JessaKae

xo, Christine

9 Fall Sweaters under $50 You need in your Closet

Sweater weather is finally here! There is always a time and place to splurge on fall essentials, but there are so many great sweaters right now at affordable prices. Below are nine of my favorites under $50. I just ordered this one, this one, and this one.

XOX,
Christine
xo, Christine

Textures

DETAILS.

Blush Sweater // Sheer Dotted Blouse (size small) // Black Leather Leggings (size down, run big – size 0) // Black Wool Hat (medium) // Black Watch // Quilted Over the Knee Boots (runs true to size – similar under a $100 version) // Rock Necklace // Cat Eye Sunglasses // Chanel Boy Bag (similar here)

Quick post today. Hope you all had a good weekend! Today’s look is about mixing textures: dots against leather, against fur, against quilted boots. The different shapes and textures help create dimension to the minimal look. You’ve seen a lot of these pieces in recent outfits, but they are all so versatile. I’ve really been trying to focus on buying pieces that can be worn multiple ways. I just got these leather pants and they are beyond comfortable, 100% worth the investment. This dotted sheer blouse is so perfect for layering (last seen in this post) and these boots are one of my favorite fall buys so far!

Below are a few more great layering pieces:

XOX,

Christine
Photos by JessaKae
xo, Christine

6 Men’s Gift Ideas You Won’t find in Stores

DETAILS.
Grey Leopard Cardigan (size UK8 ) // White Blouse (on sale! -size small) // Nude Tank ($2 great layering tanks) // Zip Skinny Jeans (on sale -30% off) // Grey Boots (also loving these) // Chanel Bag (similar here)
CODYS OUTFIT.
Tomorrow is Cody’s birthday! I love birthdays and figuring out gifts for people. I like to mix a few store bought items with some sort of event or “non store item”. So today I wanted to share a few ideas for the non store items and celebrating his big day for every budget:
$$$  Exotic Car Racing: If your guy is anything like mine, even the thought of driving fast cars at (terrifyingly) high speeds is enough to get his adrenaline pumping. Motorsports parks are a great place to let them fulfill those dreams. In addition to letting him walk on the wild side, this gesture is a huge symbol of your faith in his driving abilities. A lot of facilities will also offer motorcycle and kart racing too. Major cities like Las Vegas, New York, and California have exotic racing options, like Lamborghinis, Porches, and Ferrari’s but staying local is great option if you are looking to save. 
$-$$$ Sporting Event: Tickets to a game are a go-to on most guys’ lists and luckily the options are pretty much endless! For those looking to splurge, a quick overnight trip to catch one of his favorite teams is one for the books. Local professional or college games can be just as much fun to attend, especially for those that want to partake in the tailgating experience. For those on a budget, you might be surprised at how affordable the less desirable seats can be for certain games. Plus a hot dog tastes just as good in the nosebleeds as it does in the front row. 
$-$$ Couples’ Massage: If your man is more the type that likes to unwind, consider scheduling a couples’ massage. The best part? You get to enjoy it too. Some massage chains have discounted introductory rates to make this gift more affordable, but also consider massage therapists at chiropractic or therapy clinics that might have lower rates. Another option that he might enjoy even more is a stay at home massage from you. Light a few candles, put on some relaxing music, and grab some lotion – and your ready for your at home massage session.
$$ Classic Shave: This might be hit or miss, depending on your significant others taste but I like to imagine a classic barbershop shave is akin to a girls mani/pedi. Research local barbershops and read reviews before you send him to a stranger with a razor at your man’s throat 🙂 
Birthday Boy’s Choice: Celebrations don’t need to be extravagant to be memorable. One of the best, and easiest, presents is to let him choose dinner and a movie. Maybe it’s you guys going out, or maybe it’s staying in cooking his favorite meal. You might end up eating wings and watching a ninja or superhero movie, but he will be happy – and really that’s all that matters.
Free – Coupon Book: Ok, in some sense this isn’t free. After all, we will end up doing some work when he’s cashing in on the coupons, but this is a great way to merge romantic and practical into one. Include IOUs for things he will enjoys, like full control over the remote for the night, a daytime lingerie shoe, or maybe a coupon for his favorite homemade dessert. This gift will be priceless – something he can’t get for himself.
 
No matter what you choose, he will appreciate you taking the time to plan something out! Below are a few more pieces I’m loving inspired by our look above.

HERS:
M·A·C ‘Viva Glam Rihanna’ Lipstick
Beige graphic animal print sleeveless shirt
‘Sunniva’ Ankle Bootie
Red Mini Pilot Bag
Cream leopard print midi skirt
HIS:
River Island MensGrey youth nation LA print sweatshirt
Nike ‘Air Max 1 Essential’ Sneaker (Men)
River Island MensBlack carpe diem print sweatshirt

XOX,
Christine
Happy Birthday Babe! <3

Photos By JessaKae

 

xo, Christine

Fall Staple Neutrals

 
FALL STAPLES.
XOX,
Christine
xo, Christine

Insta Lately.

His first international flight – Hello Paris!  Beckam’s PJ’s: YAY! Pajamas
My sweet baby boy. Will be sharing more from Paris next week. // DETAILS. Pink Maxi Dress (greyish blue version here)
The hubs and I took a weekend trip to San Fran for a few projects and the 49ers were playing the same weekend. They are Cody’s favorite team so we had to go to a game!
OUTFIT DETAILSDenim Jacket (so soft! on repeat right now) // Black Linen Scarf // Black AG Distressed Jeans (loving these) // Quilted Slip On Sneakers // Louis Vouttin Travel Bag
You can follow along daily @hellofashionblog on Instagram. Hope you all are having a great week!
XOX,
Christine
xo, Christine