Thursday, September 9, 2010

The 4 Cs. Chic, Cute, Comfy and Casual

This summer in Los Angeles has been unusually cool. We've had a very mellow summer. My typical summer wardrobe needed some versatility.

One piece that I recently added to my wardrobe is from Anthropologie. The "Craft and Creation" blouse is great for layering with a cute cardi. I initially bought the blouse to wear with jeans out on a weekend get-a-way to Disneyland. We were staying at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel to finish off our summer and I wanted to be the 4 Cs. What are the 4 Cs? Chic, cute, comfy and casual.

The weather had dramatically cooled down and it was a mere 72 degrees. This blouse/tee turned out to be perfect. I paired it with a soft printed cardi that contrasted the colors in the blouse along with my jeans and sandals. It was a comfortable piece to wear at a theme park all day, yet still added a bit of style in contrast with a plain t-shirt. When the event calls for wearing jeans, you need not return to your Junior High School days when girls wore T-shirts with phrases on them. We're all big girls now, and this is how a woman wears a t-shirt.

Upon returning home I needed another outfit for an evening out to dinner with friends on the following weekend. I then paired the "Craft and Creation" blouse with a grey and white striped skirt that was already in my wardrobe. I found the 4 Cs skirt in the South of France last spring. I adore this skirt. It's easy to wear and lined in cotton. What a gem!

It happened to be that by the following weekend the summer temperatures had returned and it was 98 degrees. The blouse held true to the reason for purchase, the 4 Cs. I ended up loving this outfit. I received many compliments by strangers on the street. What a great purchase!

Adding pieces to my wardrobe that are versatile enough to wear with jeans and skirts is just another day in my European Style Life.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Shabby Chic Clothes Pins by Parlene


It is a well known fact that most European homes and apartments do not have a clothes dryer. After staying in France for five weeks we found creative methods and places to hang our clothes. Literally, all over the apartment. On the stairs, over chairs, over doors, the bed railings, well you get the idea.


The upside to this experience was that the explosion of clothing in the house challenged my creativity. I began to think that if my unmentionables must be displayed all over the house, why not add some flair?

Decorative clothes pins are the answer! Now, when clothes have to be hung inside the house or apartment, I can enjoy shabby chic decorated clothes pins. Hmmm. Maybe I will look forward to the laundry circus each week after all. But alas, I live in California and I DO have a dryer! C'est magnifique! Even so, I have items that I never put into the dryer.

These cute and practical clothes pins actually have multiple uses.

Just to name a few...
Notes
Photos
Closing treat bags (ie. cookies, coffee, bon bon et cafe etc.)
Hanging lingerie
Seating Card Holders
Party Favors
Save the Date cards
Bridal gifts
File organization
Office Decoration

Hanging my lingerie with shabby chic clothes pins is just another day in my European Style Life.