TO A TEE

As far as current obsessions go, we recently covered my full-blown addiction to hats. I am still working on getting hats out of my system, as you can see, but I did manage to go out without a hat a few times this  week, so I guess we have progress:) 

In other news, I've officially abandoned all pretense that it's not Summer in LA ( acceptance settled in somewhere around 90 degrees ), and switched to my Summer wardrobe. This of course got me thinking I should probably mention a few of my Summer obsessions/addictions/must-haves, starting with t-shirts! 

T-SHIRTS: Love them, can't live without them, wear them obsessively. Of all my Summer favorites ( and there are quite a few, believe me) t-shirts are the one thing I can never get enough of. What makes a t-shirt great in my opinion? A combination of slouchy/sexy cut, great fabric ( supper-soft ones are always appreciated ) and of course, color! The one I am wearing in today's post is from the new EXPRESS One Eleven collection and certainly represents all of the above. The not so great news is that apparently I am not the only one who appreciates super-soft fabrics and sexy cuts, because the collection is selling out really quickly. So, if you a t-shirt fan like me, check it out HERE, and check back in June for more styles. 

Next, on my list of Summer staples and must-haves are cropped jeans and especially cropped white distressed jeans. Why white? Well, can you seriously imagine Summer without a pair of white jeans? Personally  I can't!!! And of course as far as cropped length goes, I feel that it's much more versatile and works well with anything from boots and flats to pumps and ankle wrap sandals ( in other words, I don't have to commit to wearing a particular type of shoe, which is always appreciated ). The ones I am sporting in today's post are also from Express and are one of my favorite pairs at the moment. Aside from color and length, I am partial to a bit of distressing on my jeans and these happen to have a perfect amount of ripping and distressing. 

Now, what about you guys? What are your Summer cravings and staples?

EXPRESS One Eleven Nep trapeze tank, EXPRESS mid rise cropped destroyed jean leggings & black wool felt fedora hat | Chanel Boy flap bag in perforated leather | Isabel Marant Aleen Ankle boots { in brown here & here } | DYLANLEX Falkor necklace 

Thank you for reading

& keep On Smiling,

LOVE,

Annabelle 

EXPRESS GIFT GUIDE

Good morning, Everyone! How is your week going so far? 

As I have mentioned before, I absolutely love the Holiday season and shopping for gifts is one of my favorite things to do! Since I like to savor this experience, normally I start shopping for gifts fairly early. And of course this year is no exception:) For the past few months, I've been scouring though my favorite stores, making mental notes of all the cute things I find, so I could get them closer to Christmas. I know, few months seems like a long time, but as I mentioned before, shopping for gifts is my favorite thing ever! So, I would probably start shopping for next year the day after Christmas if I could:) 

Talking about favorite stores, if you read my blog on regular basis, you know EXPRESS happens to be one of my go-to places for pretty much everything. This year, I ended up finding oh-so-many wonderful presents there, so I decided to take this opportunity to share a few of them with you. 

1. Who doesn't love a cute hat? Reason why I chose this particular one is because of the slightly slouchy fit, thick knit stitch and of course that super cute pom pom! Don't know about you guys, but I am practically obsessed with pom pom hats right now! 

2. Practical and fun, cozy yet stylish, a cute scarf makes for one perfect gift! Reason why I am more than a little bit obsessed with this particular one, is the combination of colors, reversible contrast patterns and of course the oversized design! 

3. I think watches make great gifts because they are literally something a person wears every day! So, aside from being a beautiful gift, they are also incredibly practical. Love this particular one because of the sleek design and of course that rose gold finish! 

4. Four cutest lip gloss colors in one set! I really love this one because of how versatile it is! You can wear the colors on their own or layered together, go bold with burgundy or red for night or opt for a softer look with pretty pink or clear shade. 

5. Cute, comfy, and stylish, I think plaid shirts make a wonderful gift, especially if they just happen to be perfectly oversized and come in the most amazing combination of navy, cream and raspberry:)

6. Since I am a complete and total shoeaholic, it's only natural that I think a pair of perfect heels is a great gift idea! Love these particular ones because of the super sexy shape, suede finish and of course that vibrant red color! 

On me: EXPRESS Amaze sweater, high waisted black jeans legging & bead & braid bracelets | Nialaya diamond burst ring, arrowhead diamond ring, evil eye ring & fashion ring in silver 

Featured in gift guide: EXPRESS hat & scarf, red mule pumps, Analog bracelet watch in rose gold, oversized plaid shirt & lip gloss set 

Thank you for reading

& Keep On Smiling,

LOVE,

Annabelle 

COZY LAYERS

Good morning and happy Monday, Everyone! Did you have a good weekend? I am excited to share yet another post from my collaboration with Nordstrom Rack as part of their year-long campaign. 

If you read my blog on a regular basis, you know just how coat-obsessed I am, and trench coats happen to be my particular weakness. The one I am wearing in today's post is one of the treasures I found on a recent trip to Nordstrom Rack. Technically speaking, I came in to do some early Christmas shopping because they always have the cutest printed scarfs, colorful hats and statement jewelry, but as usual, couldn't resist and picked up a few things for myself:) Guess you could say I got a few early Christmas presents  for me as well! :) 

Though lately, I've been gravitating towards cooler and bolder colors like black, grey and burgundy, finding this beautiful coffee-colored trench, reignited my passion for a softer color palette (cream, tan, taupe, heather and brown). Of course, the perfectly slouchy and cozy, cream-colored knit and printed plaid scarf (More treasures from the same Nordstrom Rack trip! Must have been my lucky day!) could also have something to do with it! Why do I love this color palette so much? Well, mainly because it creates such a strong statement, especially paired with slouchier silhouettes! Also, I think it's because I have a bit of a soft spot for layering to stay warm in cooler temperatures, and wearing these colors together creates such a cozy and chic look.

What about you guys, do you share my passion for this color palette as well? 

This post was brought to you by Nordstrom Rack. 

Theory Ashling trench coat, Trina Turk turtleneck sweater { similar here }, Amicale cashmere scarf  { cute plaid option here } via Nordstrom Rack | Rag & Bone The Skinny jeans | EXPRESS hat { similar option here } | Marc Jacobs suede Trouble bag | Isabel Marant Royston boots 

Thank you for reading

& Keep On Smiling,

LOVE,

Annabelle 

CASUAL FLARE

Good morning and happy almost weekend, Everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful week! 

For all my Cali readers: I am excited to co-host a super fun event with InStyle for EXPRESS store opening in Glendale next week! Please see details below:

When: Tuesday, December 9, 6:00 - 8:00 PM.

Where: 1108 Glendale Galleria, Glendale CA 91210

One lucky attendee will have a chance to win a $500 gift card at the Glendale Store Opening event on 12/9/14 between 6:00 pm - 8:00pm! To enter, comment on my Instagram post TODAY tagging @ExpressRunway #CelebrateYou. Winner will be chosen at random and must be present to receive the gift card! Legal U.S. residents, 18+

I don't know about you guys, but personally, I am super happy flared jeans are making a come back. Aside of course from my beloved skinnies, the flare is one of my favorite denim silhouettes, mainly because I believe there is something incredibly chic, laid back yet polished about this particular style. I found the pair I'm wearing in today's post on a recent trip to EXPRESS and fell in love with the slimmer fit around the thighs and of course the super dark navy wash. As I mentioned oh so many times before, versatility is super important to me, and the dark navy wash works great with casual pieces and dressy ones. Take today's casual look for example, I wanted to create a very nonchalant denim-on-denim look, so I paired my flares with a bleached denim shirt and a fedora hat. Yet, I think they would have looked just as great worn with pointy-toe pumps and a fitted blazer. Don't you?

How about you guys, are you happy flared jeans are back in style? 

EXPRESS mid rise slim flare jeans, wool felt fedora hat { in camel here } & medium wash denim boyfriend shirt | Isabel Marant Royston leather ankle boots { also love this option in brown here } | ASH Domino chain backpack in black leather | Movado Bold crystal accent watch | Coordinates Legend bracelet | Vita Fede rings  

Thank you for reading 

& Keep On Smiling,

LOVE, 

Annabelle 

IN THE MOOD TO CELEBRATE...

Good morning, Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Well, it's here! The Holiday Party season has officially began! Kinda sneaks up on you, doesn't it! At least it did for me and Emil when we received our invite to a Holiday bash thrown by one of our best friends this weekend. 

Personally, I love the Winter Holidays! There is something absolutely magical in the air, somehow everyone seems just a little happier, the lights shine brighter, music fills the air and I feel as if I am walking on air most of the time. Oh, and the Holiday parties! Honestly, the parties have got to be the best part of this magical season! I guess I am a big kid at heart, but nothing puts me in the mood to celebrate quite like Christmas trees and music, mistletoes and those striped candy canes:) 

 

Of course, as I mentioned before, the Holiday Season tends to sneak up on me, party invites arrive last minute, which usually results in sheer panic about what to wear. Usually, but not this year! Kind of proud moment for me:) This year, I decided to stock up on a few Holiday Party must-haves well in advance. 

Speaking of Holiday Party must-haves, if I had to name my top 5, a little black dress would be at the top of this list. Classic and timeless, a little black dress never goes out of style, but rather transforms according to current trends to feel fresh and new again. The sexy midi dress from Express I am wearing in today's post is one of my current favorites. I love the neckline and especially the fact that I can wear it off or on the shoulder. I also really like the midi length, which in my opinion gives this dress a much more sophisticated and polished vibe. Another positive aspect of the midi length is the fact that it makes this dress mush more versatile. I can wear it to a day time event paired with a sleek leather jacket and booties or dress it up with strappy heels and a cute clutch for night. And I don't know about you guys, but I definitely appreciate getting the most out of my Holiday staples:) 

What about you guys, what's on your Holiday must-have list? 

EXPRESS black surplice wrap ruched jersey midi dress | TOPSHOP Ghillie pumps - sold out { similar option here } | Emporio Armani messenger bag { similar here, also love this red option } | Movado Bold crystal accent watch | Coordinates Legend bracelet | Vita Fede rings  

Thank you for reading

& Keep On Smiling,

LOVE,
Annabelle 

BLUE JEAN BABY

Good morning and happy almost weekend, Everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful week! 

I just wanted to say a quick hello and share a few images of my new favorite sweater. Aside from the fact that I love a good knit for Fall in general, this one just happens to be one of those perfectly oversized, cozy-as-a blanked perfections of a sweater in the most wonderful shade of soft pink. Since the weather finally cooled down a bit in LA this past week, I've been pretty much wearing it non stop, dressing it up or down depending on occasion. Today's look is super relaxed and casual, but I've worn it with more tailored pieces like slim-cut slacks and midi coats and it worked just as well. In fact, I have a more tailored look ft this sweater coming up soon, so let me know which way of wearing is your favorite!

ASOS cable sweater with turtleneck | EXPRESS mid rise destroyed ankle jean legging | Dolce & Gabbana Kate patent leather pumps | Chanel Boy flap bag | DVF Haley studded sunglasses | Sarina Suriano Sagittarius Astris dark grey pearl cocktail ring, Lustrous Oculous white pearl palm bracelet & Sparkling Caelum white pearl & crystal palm bracelet 

Thank you for reading

& Keep On Smiling,

LOVE, 

Annabelle