A very merry new year to you all! I’m feeling so refreshed after a few days away and a night of celebrating with friends, new and old. Here’s to making 2014 the best year yet!
psst! My skirt is from the sweet Preppy Pink Shop, and you can find similar glitter mary-janes here [splurge] and here [steal].
I had something much sappier written out, but before hitting publish, I thought I’d keep those reflections to myself and instead just share some of my favorite travels + looks of the year 🙂 Here’s to remaining grateful, staying humble, and taking life’s curveballs in stride throughout 2014!
I’ve loved turning this blog into a bit of a travel guide [planning on continuing the who-what-when-where-wear series if you’re all on board!]. This year I was blessed enough to travel to Arizona | The Berkshires | Martha’s Vineyard | Nantucket | Cape Cod | Philadelphia | Bar Harbor | and Skytop, and spend summer and fall days exploring New England favorites like Newport | Rockport | Newburyport | Salem | and Wachusett… of course the lighthouses were easily some of the highlights!
Edgartown | Gay Head | Bass Harbor | East Chop
West Chop | Chatham | Cape Pogue | Scituate
Brant Point
Wishing you all a safe, joyful, and sparkly New Year’s Eve, and an even better New Year.
Since seeing O My Darlings‘s Calypso St. Barth gold sequin pants in this Glitter Guide feature, I’ve been a little obsessed with the idea of finding a pair of glittery britches! The idea of lounging around in daytime sequins is sort of fantastic to me, but New Year’s Eve would be the real occasion to show them off.
[ Marina Tee, Lilly Pulitzer, $118 ]
[ Jagger Sequined Pant, House of Harlow, $70 (sale!) ]
[ Pearlised & Metal Clutch, River Island via ASOS, $55 ]
[ Hexagonal Screw Studs, C.Wonder, $24 ]
take 40% off full-price jewelry at C.Wonder!
[ Satin Monika Heels, Badgley Mischka, $75 (sale!) ]
I’m off for a few days to celebrate the new year but will be back up and running soon enough! Where are you ringing in 2014, and what are you wearing to do so?
Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas! Taking a few days off around here to enjoy the season, but I will leave you with these fun snapshots from a mini photoshoot little sis and I did… photos by her very talented man Ryan Whitten— check out this guy’s fantastic work!
Emily:: Skirt, Jack Wills [similar] | Necklace, J.Crew [similar] | Original Gloss Rain Boots, Hunter
Morgan:: Vest, J.Crew | Necklace, J.Crew [similar] | Original Rain Boots, Hunter
Both:: Christmas Plaid Shirt, Jack Wills [similar]
See you next week! xo
This past weekend, BF and I braved the oncoming snow and took a drive down to northern Pennsylvania. We had a, quite literally, dreamy winter-wonderland weekend bundled up at Skytop Lodge, a stunning resort in the Poconos Mountains that dates back to 1925. It was like taking a step back in time… such a beautiful place with so much rich history!
[ outfit details ]
Lobster Sweater, Vineyard Vines [sold out, but hat and scarf still available] | Oxford, Polo Ralph Lauren | Jeans, American Eagle | Pearls, vintage [similar] | Snow Boots, L.L.Bean
Hello life-size gingerbread house!
Felt like I was in the Nutcracker sitting by this tree.
[ travel summary ]
who:: family, friends, or romantic getaway. we went a huge group of family and it could not have been more fun.
what:: stay cozied up at the lodge, the inn, or one of the cottages. lounge around the lodge living and game areas. ice skate. soak in the hot tub. climb to the observation deck. have milkshakes in the tea room. hike if weather cooperates. ski the bunny hill on the property, or there are other mountains within a 45-minute drive.
when:: this post only speaks to skytop in the winter [which was amazing!], but it is even more popular in the summer.
where:: skytop, pennsylvania in the pocono mountains. within a 5-hour drive of boston, nyc, and philadelphia.
wear:: not too long ago, you were not welcome in the dining room without a jacket. things have casual-ed up a bit, but still better to be overdressed than under here! #shmancy
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post script: other fun holiday things!
Check out my stocking wish list over on la vie j’aime today + this fun new feature from the team at Blog Better Boston!
These local bloggers were chosen to represent the best of the best holiday themed blog posts in Boston via Blog Better Boston’s new {hub}LINKS. They wrote about holiday fashion, cocktails, entertaining, gift guides, and more!
Show these blogs some love:
Want to be featured in the next edition? Sign up for the {hub}LINKS newsletter and submit your posts!
Ok ok, it’s technically already Thirsty Thursday– we’re a little behind here in the chaos of the holidays this week!
On Christmas Eve, I love nothing more than curling up in some themed pajamas with a mug of hot cocoa… spiked just a tiny bit if possible 🙂 Cliche much? What’s your Christmas Eve tradition?
[ wear this ]
The Debling Dressing Gown, Jack Wills $98.50
Plaid Lodge Moccasins, J.Crew, $49.50
(plus 30% off with code GIVENOW)
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
[ drink that ]
christmas eve hot chocolate from hot chocolate by fred thompson
serves 8 in regular cups or 16 in espresso cups
[ ingredients ]
1 1/2 cups dark roast hot brewed coffee
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup sugar
3 ounces Kahlua
3 ounces creme de cacao
2 ounces brandy
1/4 cup heavy cream
whipped cream or marshmallows for garnish
[ directions ]
1. Place the brewed coffee, chocolate, and sugar in a medium-size saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring, until the chocolate has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Do not boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the Kahlua, creme de cacao, brandy, and heavy cream.
2. Pour into cups and serve immediately, topped with whipped cream or marshmallows.
I gave you a peek into the Newbury Street in the pink, New England’s line of Lilly Pulitzer signature stores, yesterday, and today is all about their best offerings for party looks… just in time for New Year’s Eve! I had so much fun trying on dresses and outfits with the ITP team, and I can assure you that you will too… scroll to the bottom and you might even find a special discount code for picking out your own holiday or NYE dress…!
[ Kelp Green Pearl Dress, $358 — 40% off at in the pink! | Bella Sandal, $198 ]
This dress didn’t really scream my name on the hanger, but I fell in love with it on– flattering shape, unique color, and all of the sparkly detailing you need to ring in 2014. Thank you sales associates for forcing me to step out of my comfort zone!
[ Crosstown Clutch, $148 | Knockout Leather Envelope, $168 ]
Gold party bags in the perfect shapes + sizes!
[ Bronte Shift, $288 | Bella Sandal, $198 ]
The detailing on this dress. Swoon. Also obsessed with it in navy!
[ Elsa Top, $168 | Hutton Short, $168 | Bella Sandal, $198 ]
The idea of rocking a glittery blouse + lace shirts with heels instead of a typical cocktail dress is so appealing to me– this was easily my favorite look of the day. Staying in chilly Boston for New Year’s? Throw on some tights!
[ Knockout Leather Envelope, $168 ]
[ Bella Sandal, $198 ]
[ Syndey Dress, $358 — 30% off at in the pink! | Knockout Leather Envelope, $168 ]
Another dress with incredible details. Stunning embellished neckline that I unfortunately did not capture here!
[ Murray Dress, $328 — 30% off at in the pink! ]
This black flapper-style dress + this gold purse with tassel detail = my dream party look. Gatsby galore.
[ Downtown Leather Crossbody, $168 ]
[ Janice Dress, $188 | Downtown Leather Crossbody, $168 | Bella Sandal, $198 ]
You cannot go wrong with a little navy shift + gold party heels!
To prep you for New Year’s Eve, in the pink [all locations!] is offering shell chic’d readers 10% off a full-price item from now until December 31st! Just follow the shop on Twitter, like them on Facebook, and be sure to mention that you saw these posts! Let me know what you pick up! xx
[ in the pink ]
[ 133 Newbury Street ]
[ Boston, MA ]
[ 617-536-6423 ]
click here for additional New England locations!
In case you’ve been living under a rock (or, ok, are new here!), you know I have a mild severe obsession with Lilly Pulitzer. The clothes, the story, the brand, everything. I’ve written before about how to find Lilly for less, as it doesn’t fit everyone’s everyday budget, but there is something to be said for a dressing room full of colorful shifts, sales assistants who know exactly how certain styles fit + what pairs well with pieces, and walking out of the store with that bright Lilly-filled shopping bag.
Which brings me to Lilly Pulitzer Signature Stores, and specifically, in the pink.
in the pink is the Lilly signature store serving New England. With locations in Boston, Mashpee, Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard (you know I dragged BF to every single one of them), it’s the easiest way to shop for Lilly Pulitzer in this area. You’ll find way more of a selection in these boutiques than a department store, and the customer service is amazing, with sales associates who are experts on the brand and fits.
I stopped by the Boston location on Newbury Street to hunt for New Year’s Eve party looks [more on that tomorrow!], but I wanted to give you a little peek into the darling store first. Can you say Emily’s dream closet?
[ Janice Dress in True Navy | Downtown Leather Crossbody ]
[ Jet Zip Cases ]
[ Love the navy Marielle Sweater! ]
[ Knock Out Leather Envelope | La La Leather Tote ]
[ Call Me Wallet | iPad Case | Boarding Bag ]
LillyPulitzer.com typically has only one sale a year– the infamous Endless Summer Sale. But the best thing about shopping in a signature store? Sales all. the. time!
Always a great selection of accessories here, and not just Lilly ones! Tons of other jewelry brands, including Kiel James Patrick rope bracelets.
[ Iris Blue Mai Tai Murfee Scarf ]
Have you visited any of the in the pink, or other Lilly Pulitzer signature stores? Here’s your chance: in the pink [all locations!] is offering shell chic’d readers 10% off a full-price item from now until December 31st! Just follow the shop on Twitter, like them on Facebook, and be sure to mention that you saw this post!
Be sure to check back tomorrow as I show some of the store’s current party dresses from the Fall, Winter, and Resort lines!
[ in the pink ]
[ 133 Newbury Street ]
[ Boston, MA ]
[ 617-536-6423 ]
click here for additional New England locations!
I can’t even begin to tell you how fun this book is. Fashion–literally–it girl Alexa Chung’s part memoir//part scrapbook//part style guide is exactly the sort of piece I would want to put together if I ever had the chance to be published. I could hardly put it down over the course of a weekend, and now I’m constantly grabbing it for inspiration.
I don’t think it was until I read this book that I realized what an impact the Spice Girls, Britney Spears circa Baby One More Time, and even Wednesday Addams had on the female world. Chung is hysterically honest in her analysis of the past few decades of fashion and the effect they had on her career in the industry. And at the same time, she makes you stop and think, huh, where did my flair for flannel come from?**
But then there’s a whole lot of just plain old fun photos and sketches as well.
It really is such a fun, witty read. Pick it up for yourself or to give any gal with even just the slightest interest in fashion.
IT
By Alexa Chung
Penguin Books, 2013
$30
**My flair for flannel definitely came from my grandpa. It all makes sense now.
Right before Thanksgiving, I had such a fun the best night out with some Boston Blogger gals, wining and dining at Boston’s Pasta Beach on the waterfront. The story behind this dee-lish restaurant is enough to make your heart flutter. American girl moves to Italy. Girl meets boy. [Italian Boy]. Girl + boy marry. Girl + boy raise children in Italy but spend summers in America. Girl + boy + children cannot live without the taste of Italy here. Alas, Pasta Beach was born.
Tagliatelle agli Asparagi e Prosciutto
I’ve been incredibly lucky in that I’ve visited Italy myself twice, and while I love a good North End dinner over here, my meal at Pasta Beach was the first in years that really reminded me of the authentic Italian I tasted in Rome, Florence, and Tuscany. So fresh, and while understandably filling, not too heavy by any means. You can just taste the quality in the meals here.
I usually never opt for Margherita pizza and prefer more toppings [go big or go home right?], but this one had so.much.flavor. on its own that no additional toppings were necessary!
Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse // Creme Brulee
Bloggers will be bloggers! Lovely Smita + Rachel
It was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time, and instantly took me back to my studies in Italy. Many thanks to Susie, Gianni, and Tyler for hosting us, and Elizabeth for setting this up!
[ Pasta Beach ]
[ 30 Rowes Wharf ]
[ Boston, MA 02110 ]
[ 617-439-6900 ]
Pssst! Any Rhode Island folks here? You must also visit their location in Newport!
Read the rest of our group’s reviews here::
Alex, Literally, Everything
Ana, Scavengenius
Elizabeth, Little Moments of Happiness
Janee, Yellow Bird Yellow Beard
Rachel, Postcards from Rachel
Smita, Hogger & Co.
