Splurge or Save

1. J Crew {Emery Sandals $248}

2. Isabel Marant {The Caroll Sandals $1,035}

I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! How fun are these Isabel Marant sandals (Pair #2)? I have not had the pleasure of trying them on but they look relatively comfortable with the low stack chunky heel. They are all over fashion blogs and magazines at the moment. When I saw the price tag I knew I wouldn't be buying them anytime soon. Flipping through the recent J Crew catalog I came across these (Pair #1) that have a similar feel to Isabel Marant's but at a fraction of the cost. What do you think, look for less or full price?

Xxx, Steph

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Outfit Check List {Memorial Weekend}

Memorial Day weekend , for me, is the official kick off to summer. If your plans involve lounging pool or beachside like myself, there are a few essentials you will need. I love all the cute one pieces trending right now. Some are definitely not meant for laying out, so choose carefully or you could end up with a really crazy tan! A perk of the one piece is it transitions really well into an evening look. Throw a long skirt over it and some nice sandals and you're ready to go to dinner. For day time don't forget a hat, sunnies, waterproof mascara (A MUST) and lots of sunblock. Sun burns and sun spots are not an attractive look! I know from experience:) Have a happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Zimmermann halter top swimsuit
my-wardrobe.com

Mango slit skirt
mango.com

Dolce Vita miniature shoes
revolveclothing.com

Ray Ban ray ban eyewear
$255 - nelly.com

Panama straw hat
swell.com

Lancôme waterproof mascara
saksfifthavenue.com

Mixed Metal { Bracelet DIY }

I love layering a ton of bracelets to finish off an outfit. Lately, I have been a fan of mixing metals which was once considered distasteful. Not anymore! There are definitely certain pieces that work well together while others do not, so have fun trying pieces together until you find the perfect combination. My favorite layering bracelet broke, so I found similar beads and restrung my old bracelet and made several new. I love that they are silver, gun-metal, bronze, rose gold and gold so I can pair them with pretty much every piece of jewelry I own! See below for the super easy DIY steps.

Supplies:

Mixed Metal Beads (Preferably different shapes and sizes)

Clasp

Crimp Beads

Beading String

Scissors

Pliers

All items can be purchased at Michaels or a local bead shop. If you prefer shopping online, try beadaholique.com

1. Measure string to wrist and add about 6 inches of slack for clasp, crimp beads and making mistakes! I usually cut a 12" string to be safe.

2. String crimp bead on first, then one end of clasp. Loop end of string back through crimp bead and tighten with pliers.

3. Now that one end of string is secure, start stringing beads in any pattern you choose.

4. Once all beads are on (about 6.5" of beads), repeat step 2.

5. Cut away any extra string. You have a fancy new bracelet!

Orange Crush

{Denim Vest J Crew, Dress One Teaspoon, Heels Zara, Necklace Zara, Sunnies Dior, Bracelets Madewell, Gorjana, Club Monaco and my DIY bracelets-see this coming Thursday's post}

High End to High Street

There are plenty of "lust-worthy" fashion pieces I am drooling over at the moment. And because the real deal is not realistically obtainable, I have hunted down more affordable versions. High Street is a term often used in the UK for shops that are for the everyday girl....in other words, it will not leave a hole in your wallet. Below are my currents scores of the look-for-less.

Xxx, Steph

Saint Laurent Jane Sandal $795

Shoemint Shiva Sandal $79.99

Balenciaga Brass Tube Rings $205 single, $765 set of 5

Asos Tube rings $14

Publik Gold Wrap Around Tube Rings $20

Hot in Brazil {Rosie Huntington-Whiteley}

Vogue Brazil April 2013.

Styled by Luis Fiod. Photographer Henrique Gendre

In love with this shoot of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley for Vogue Brazil April edition. A perfect mix of leather, fur and sparkle to create the rocker chic vibe. Below are some behind the scene pics of the shoot.

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• Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Looks Super Cool Flying Out Of LAX

Shine Bright Like A Diamond

{Leifsdottir Blouse, Zara Tank, 7 For All Mankind Jeans, Giuseppe Zanotti Pumps, Bauble Bar Necklace, Chloe Sunnies} Good Morning! We had 10 minutes to shoot these pictures yesterday and I have to say, the flowers serve as the perfect backdrop for this blouse! How great are these colors? I also love the print of this blouse from Leifsdottir at Anthropologie. I was in need of a good neutral pair of pumps and found these on Gilt Groupe. By far one of the best sites to find designer items at a fraction of the normal cost. Have a great day friends. Xx, Steph