shop local :: handmade jewelry from exquistry

 jewelry is the perfect way to transform

any outfit--add a necklace, bracelet, 

earrings, broach, and/or rings to elevate the look of

your clothing. incorporate a statement necklace

and you instantly change your look. 

jewelry is a wonderful way to re-style

items in your closet and express your personality

by adding a unique 'pop.'

while i own a decent amount of 

jewelry, the majority is inexpensive, costume-

like jewelry that i could take or leave.

i have a few sentimental items and several

gifted pieces that i wear daily (including

a necklace passed down from my grandma,

charm bracelets from my mom, and a new

friendship ring from one of my girlfriends).

over the past few years, i have enjoyed finding

local designers that craft quality, handmade

jewelry that i can mix and match with 

other pieces in my closet.

disclosure: a special thank you to amisha, owner of exquistry jewelry for

providing me with the beautiful, handmade necklace in today's post.

i recently met amisha, designer and creator

of exquistry jewelry, online. amisha is

based in seattle, washington, and her sweet and

genuine personality radiate via email :) i hope

to someday meet amisha in person!

amisha is incredibly artistic and was

born into a family of creatives. she learned

to sew at a young age and began making jewelry in 2011.

 amisha feels most inspired by her indian heritage

(she was born in and spent most of her 

childhood in india) and vibrant colors.

she strives to combine fashion with color

and art, and i think this is prevalent within all

of her hand-crafted pieces.

 today i am styling exquistry's peach rose gold

swarovski pendant necklace. this bohemian-inspired 

necklace has hand-sewn beads and a light-weight clasp

for ease of wear (i often struggle with getting

clasped necklaces on and off--this clasp is great!).

because of amisha's passion for color,

i was inspired to pair my necklace with one

of my most colorful dresses. i think the two

work well together!

photos by jenn from hello rigby

dress: j.crew, jacket and heels: thrifted (via value village),

purse: halogen (thrifted via seattle goodwill), bracelet: nordstrom,

necklace: c/o exquistry jewelry (exact here)

happy friday, everyone! 

if you're looking to update your jewelry, 

i highly recommend visiting amisha's website.

she has several other necklaces and bracelets

that i am lusting after.

xoxo.

protesting cold weather attire

^^^ 'protesting' may be a bit harsh,

but as stated in this post, i am not ready to

box up my summer attire! ^^^

is anyone else wishing for another day (or week)

of summer-like weather?

disclosure: asa of lace and pearls jewelry graciously gifted me the

necklace i am wearing in today's photos. i am thrilled to support my talented friend

and business owner! as per usual, all opinions are my own.

this summer, i fully embraced all things ruffled, as 

well as the prominent one-shoulder trend.

both are fun, flirty, and incredibly easy to wear!

i picked up this ruffled, one-shoulder dress

towards the end of summer at the boutique evereve and

was fortunate to be able to wear it a few times.

despite cooler temperatures, i plan

to style this dress with my denim jacket and

tan mules or brown ankle booties.

how do you typically style and transition your summer

favorites (after summer, of course)?

a one-shoulder dress requires chic accessories!

my white fringe bag, delicate rings, and a gold,

necklace complete this look. the necklace i am wearing 

is designed and handmade by one of my dear

 friends and fellow blogger asa of lace and pearls.

asa dreamed of designing jewelry for the past several years and 

is getting ready to launch her collection (including

necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and later, rings).

 you can follow along and

see other gorgeous handmade pieces here!

it is no secret that i am a sunshin lovin'

girl at heart. however, in preparation for fall, 

i decided to say goodbye to my color-treated (and very dry)

blonde hair! this weekend, i had my stylist,

sharell katelynn tone and trim my hair. we previously

toned it at the end of august (a light brown) 

and added warmer, darker tones this time. i could

not be happier with the results!

and now, i fear it is time to dig out my rain

boots, cozy sweaters, and other fall attire. the weather

has officially taken a turn in seattle. while

i hope to continue styling some of my favorite summer 

pieces, my flannel and oversized sweaters are 

calling out to me!

photos by chelsea macor photography

dress: evereve, purse: tj maxx, flats: nine west, 

necklace: c/o lace and pearly jewelry, rings: forever 21

i hope you have a wonderful week.

please keep your fingers crossed for warm(er) 

and dry weather!

xoxo.

how to wear shorts in the fall

i know i have said this before, but summer

is my favorite season! there is something special about

the bustling city - people out walking, biking,

and enjoying time on the water; farmers markets;

traveling to our family cabin; of course, summer

fashion can be a great deal of fun, too! 

although fall has begun to make an appearance

in seattle, i am determined to hang on to some of

my favorite summer clothing items. i am not ready

to put my sandals and shorts away. just

hang in there, summer. i need a few more days weeks

of sun (and i have a few outfits i would like to wear)!

disclosure: asa of lace and pearls jewelry graciously lent me the necklace

i am wearing in today's photos. i am thrilled to support my dear

friend and talented business owner! as per usual, all opinions are my own.

despite my pleading, i think fall weather is

around the corner; while i love jewel tones, knits

and layering, and anything plaid, i am determined

to re-style a few of my favorite summer pieces

in the coming weeks. first up?

these adorable floral shorts from zara!

shorts are an essential in every woman's summer

wardrobe. after labor day, i typically pack up

my shorts and exchange them for leggings,

jeans, and other cool-weather styles, but not this year!

here are a few simple ways you can wear shorts in the fall:

1. add tights

black, grey, colorful or patterned tights are a quick 

and easy way to add warmth and excitement to your

outfit (i.e. your shorts).

2. grab heels or booties

looking to dress up a pair of black shorts

(while also making your legs appear longer)?

heels can do this! booties are a casual alternative 

and pair perfect with any fall look.

3. add a blazer or structured jacket

i recently pulled out my navy, denim, and black

blazers. i have a green bomber jacket from last

season that will pair well with casual shorts (such

as the floral pair i am wearing today). 

a structured jacket of any color, fabric, or 

print will go well with darker-colored shorts.

4. grab a chunky sweater

your favorite knit sweater? structured

shorts with booties (or tights and ballet flats)

are a fun way to style shorts in cooler weather.

photos by chelsea macor photography

top: tj maxx, shorts: zara (exact here),

rings: forever 21, purse: nordstrom, 

flats: madewell, necklace: c/o lace and pearls jewelry

earlier this week, i spoke of my passion for

supporting local business owners and creatives.

today, i am thrilled to be wearing one of my dear

friends' designs, (and fellow blogger, asa of lace and pearls)

'lace and pearls jewelry.' asa and i have been

friends for more than two years, and i have to say, she is 

one of the sweetest and most hard-working women

i know! she juggles a full-time job, blogs,

and maintains her beautiful social media platforms.

recently, asa also began making jewelry.

asa's designs are handmade, and each piece

is crafted with exquisite detail and care. i am wearing

 the lariot pendant necklace, and i cannot wait

to style it with other tops and dresses.

asa's website will be launch soon, but in the

meantime, be sure to follow along here for updates

and new designs!

do you wear shorts in the fall?

if so, how do you style them?

xoxo.

i'm a fan, a simon g. fan!

one of the things i most enjoy about blogging, is the creative

process that takes place behind my blog. being a fashion and lifestyle blogger is

 more than simply snapping a few good photographs, writing copy, and hitting 

the 'publish' button on my computer screen. 

it is a process that requires innovation, diligence, research, as well as

writing and editing, maintaining a professional relationship with 

brands, and of course, representing (and staying true to) yourself 

on your little corner of the internet. 

between brainstorming potential content, photo shoots, writing and 

editing, publishing one post takes a great deal of time. however, i greatly 

enjoy every aspect of the creative process; in fact, if i could blog full-time, i would!

additionally, i love the thrill and challenge that often accompanies coming up 

with new content to share with my readers. today's post, for example, is different

from my usual outfit post. instead of a new dress or pair of shoes, 

i am styling two diamond engagement rings from robbins brothers, 

the engagement ring store.

the first robbins brothers store opened in 1995 in fullerton, california. 

they now have 15 locations in texas, arizona and washington (our

local stores can be found in downtown seattle and bellevue). 

while i am not engaged (a girl can dream!), i simply could not pass up 

the opportunity to borrow and style a few diamond engagement rings on my 

blog. the rings i am sharing are by designer, simon g. 

'in simon g.'s modern workshops, the most innovative designs 

are born and then developed into superbly crafted, award-winning 

pieces of jewelry.'

source

simon g. 18k white gold halo diamond engagement ring

simon g. 18k white gold diamond engagement ring

#RobbinsBrothersRings #ImASimonGFan

photos by elizabeth kathryn photography

simon g.'s diamond engagement ring designs are absolutely stunning!

i was drawn to the more classic, halo styles and love how seemingly bold, 

yet delicate both engagement rings (and the accompanying wedding band)

felt on my hand.

simon g. (short for simon ghanimian) began setting diamonds upon
moving to the united states. while striving to earn and save money to
attend college, he sold his jewelry door to door.
simon now works with designers all over the world, and his unique,
hand-crafted jewelry and engagement rings are sold in over 900 locations.
simon's passion for jewelry design is seemingly tangible -
just try on one of his pieces!

^^^ wedding season is in full swing around here! ^^^

i have had the pleasure of attending five weddings this summer
(with two more on the calendar!) and have several newly engaged friends.
love and friendship and engagement rings are on my mind -
i greatly enjoy celebrating the love a couple shares at engagement parties,
bridal showers, and of course, the actual wedding ceremony.

all this talk of true love and marriage has me scouring the robbins brothers website.
if you are planning (or hoping!) to get engaged, the staff at
 robbins brothers are kind, supportive and knowledgeable about engagement and
wedding rings. and of course, be sure to try on some of simon g.'s gorgeous
engagement ring styles!
xoxo.

**this is a sponsored post. robbins brothers graciously
lent me the above rings to share in this post. all opinions
are my own!

the 'awa collection' launch party

two weeks ago, i had the immense pleasure of attending the launch party

for rebekah j designs' new awa collection; and party, it was! the event was hosted  

by chesney schmidt of all the flutter and 

chris guillot of merchant method. it was held at the bemis arts building -

the space is gorgeous and allowed for an open, but intimate setting. 

i was finally able to meet rebekah, founder and creator of rebekah j designs, 

in person! not only is she incredibly genuine and kind (and gorgeous!), but the 

excitement she possesses for her jewelry is seemingly palpable. i loved trying on the many 

necklaces, rings and bracelets (some of which are pictured above). 

^^^ chris guillot (right) introducing rebekah's new awa line! ^^^

^^^ so many friends, family, and bloggers in attendance to support rebekah! ^^^

rebekah spoke briefly about her excitement for the new line as 

well as the inspiration behind it. i loved learning more about her family and

her desire to use jewelry-making as a creative outlet. 

delicious eats were provided by andrea manca's wedding cakes and manca's 

catering, as well as cupcakes from lulucakes vegan cupcakes. 

my sweet tooth was very happy after enjoying one (or three!) of these beautiful cupcakes!

photos by elizabeth kathryn photography

'water has always had the ability to reconnect me when i feel lost.'

-rebekah j designs

the awa collection was born after rebekah took a trip to hawaii with her husband and 

daughter. the sunsets, white sand beaches, and gorgeous scenery can be

seen in the shapes and styles of the awa line. you can read more about the inspiration

behind the awa collection on rebekah's blog here.

and in case you missed it, be sure to check out my earlier

collaboration with rebekah j designs on my blog here.

i styled the ocean necklace, eclipse bracelet, and stud earrings with a cropped 

white blouse and my favorite skinny jeans. i cannot wait to pair the pieces

with different dresses and tops this summer!

congratulations, rebekah! and thank you for including me

on your special day! 

xoxo.

here comes the sun

all this sunshine and warm weather has me daydreaming about weekends 

at the cabin, picnics on the beach, enjoying ice cream cones galore, and of course, 

digging out my summer clothing; rompers, ripped denim shorts, birkenstocks - 

i'm ready for you! 

i am a warm weather and sunshine girl at heart. while i love the gorgeous

colors of fall (when the leaves begin to change in seattle, the colors

are indescribable!), but summer is my season. especially when i am near water! 

i love water sports and grew up tubing and water skiing, but i am equally 

happy sitting beside the lake with a good book in hand. 

the jewelry i am wearing today, pieces from rebekah j designs new 'awa collection'

are water, or ocean-inspired. when i first put on the 'ocean' necklace, i 

immediately pictured the sun setting over the water. it brought me back to 

family vacations to hawaii, sunset walks, and barbecuing by the lake (and now that's 

seemingly all i can think about!). 

the 'eclipse post' earrings and bracelet pair beautifully with the 'ocean' necklace.

i wanted my jewelry to really pop with this outfit, so i kept everything

else relatively simple. a white, off the shoulder top, my favorite skinny jeans, 

and red espadrille sandals for a bit of color. 

hair, makeup and photos by elizabeth kathryn photography

top: topshop (old; similar here), jeans: american eagle (similar here), 

espadrille platform sandals: nordstrom rack (borrowed from my girlfriend; similar here),

necklace: c/o rebekah j designs (exact here), earrings: c/o rebekah j designs (exact here),

bracelet: c/o rebekah j designs

when rebekah, local designer and creator of rebekah j designs, 

first reached out to me, asking if i would like to collaborate, i immediately said, 'yes!' 

the 'awa collection' is inspired by a family trip rebekah took to the beach. 

my family and i took a trip to hawaii this past winter, and we greatly enjoyed

the time together and of course, the ocean views!

rebekah's passion for designing jewelry and warm, kind-hearted spirit can be seen 

in each of the pieces; it made styling the earrings, bracelet and necklace quite easy.

rebekah is hosting a launch party on thursday, may 19th

to celebrate the 'awa collection.' i cannot wait to attend and would love to see you there.

for all my seattle friends, click here to rsvp!

xoxo.

**this is a sponsored post. rebekah j designs graciously 

sent me the jewelry pictured in this post. all opinions are my own! 

how to wear statement jewelry

jewelry is the perfect way to add excitement or a pop of color to your outfit.

whether designer, vintage, or costume-like, it can be used to highlight your features and 

bring life to an otherwise simple look

(i.e. your favorite plain tee, chambray blouse, or shift dress).

combining both bold, statement jewelry and more delicate, feminine pieces

is often the final touch when pulling together my outfit. 

is it possible to wear too many pieces? can you mix silver and gold? 

necklace or earrings (or both?)? 

i've put together a few tips and tricks for selecting jewelry that compliments your outfit!

to accessorize this otherwise all-white look for spring,

i chose two large, statement rings and a dainty midi ring (i can't get enough of my

midi rings as of late, but they take a bit of getting used to -

initially, i always felt like they would slip off my fingers!).

i often wear several bangles or a colorful bracelet, but instead paired my bone

and brass ladder necklace from pryme jewelry. 

the beauty of statement jewelry is that you often only need one piece

to make your outfit stand out! 

1. choose one item to start with (such as the

black ladder necklace in my outfit), and mix and match other pieces to accompany it.

2. less is more. if you're wearing a statement necklace, don't also wear

dangly or chandelier earrings. instead, grab your favorite studs.

3. keep it simple. bold, colorful necklaces are a great way to brighten up

your chambray dress or that solid-color blouse in your closet.

4. consider the neckline. crew neck, off the shoulder, v-neck and strapless tops

and dresses are perfect for shorter, statement necklaces or longer, detailed pieces.

the neckline won't clash with the necklace; rather, the necklace is used to accentuate

the clothing. tops with collars or detail close to the neckline

will often clash with a bold necklace.

5. check your hands. if you're wearing a large ring, remember it will draw

attention to your hands, and subsequently, to your fingernails. 

i am a bit of a manicure addict (shellac, i love you!), but an at-home nail

painting session will do the trick. chipped polish takes away from the beauty of your ring.

6. don't be afraid to mix and match. silver and gold? vibrant colors?

yes, please! mixing colors, with some moderation, will accentuate

and add some fun to your outfit.

photos by jenna lynn photography

blouse & sweater: lika love, jeans: kut from the kloth via lika love (exact here),

rings: lika love, necklace: pryme jewelry via lika love (exact here),

flats: frye thrifted (via goodwill)

some of my favorite places to shop for statement jewelry?

lika love, francesca's, old navy, nordstrom, and of course,

i always make sure to browse the jewelry and accessories when thrifting!

where do you shop for jewelry? do you have any guidelines or rules

for pairing different pieces?

xoxo.