Take A Letter

I know we've all done the monogram deal, etc., but I like these super simple initial necklaces. Great for layering, and a chic take on the monogram. Would be great bridesmaids or hostess gifts. Find them at Bluegrass Loft. 

A Work Space

Style Me Pretty

What's your office like? My "day job" office isn't bad. I've graduated from cube life, and our HR person got me a nice lamp, so, all-in-all not bad. But, as you all may know, I have an alternative life as a style writer/aspiring designer and I really lust after a creative-office-work space. I think of what I would want it to be like, and obviously it should include a tan Céline bag. But really, things I really like: 

1. The idea of a "pin" wall, like a reality Pinterest (which is what we all did before Pinterest)

2. I like the idea of a combined workspace. The bottom 2 photos really combine desk and workspace. You could spread out pictures, or sketches and swatches. I like to be able to step back from things to take it all in.

3. I think a fabulous chandelier is critical. It is workplace glamour.

4. Chair. I think you need a great chair, and though I'm not crazy about any of these, I think that having a unique chair is a great addition. I love lucite or maybe a really interestingly-shaped, upholstered chair?

5. A MAC. A big one. I've gone to the dark side and I'm not looking back.

LoweHome 

Peonies and Brass

Decor 8

Ear Candy

ONE by Susan Hanover Crown Double Drop Earrings

This aqua color makes me dream of the water in the Caribbean. SIGH.

ONE by Susan Hanover Crown Double Drop Earrings

Tiki Time

Marysia Swim Kapula Top and Tiki Bottom

Can I just say how happy I am that Marysia Swim brought back the Tiki swimsuit for another season. I feel passionately about its ability to hold a tummy in. The fabric is the perfect combination of stiff and stretch. It's sort of miraculous? The Tiki has a matching underwire top and also comes in White, Black, Jungle Berry, and Cobalt (above). Here are some other Marysia goodies, all from Coral in Charlotte. Get your swim on. (P.S. follow Coral, and sooo many other amazing stores on The Nearby app for constant retail updates.)

Marysia Swim Haleiwa Top and Makaha Bottom 

Wailea Bikini Top and Bottom in Jungle Berry

Summer Stripes

The return of the sun has me thinking beaches, boats, and bathing suits, which has led me to an abundance of stripes. Is there anything more summer?

Images via: Froufroufashionista, sismaxina, Froufroufashionista, Fairy Tale Wishes & Dreams, BHLDN, Froufroufashionista, Froufroufashionista.

VanJean Summer Of Style!

I think the first thing you should know is that VanJean now has e-commerce.......

I know, take a moment and digest it; celebrate and fear it. They have a gorgeous site and a great edit of the in-store experience, literally anything you need all the way from flip flops to cocktail dresses. Now that you know this, you need to immediately join their new Pinterest contest "VanJean Summer of Style" to be entered to win a $500 gift card! #Squeals. It's so easy. Create a new Pinterest board entitled "VanJean Summer of Style" and use www.shopvanjean.com to pin your summer wardrobe inspiration! The contest runs from May 8-16, and a winner will be randomly selected on the 16th. Check out my board below for a peek at what I am coveting! Their website is updated often, so there will be plenty of "Pinspiration" (sorry). You can also follow VanJean AND Southern Arrondissement on Pinterest! Check out VJ owner Melissa Blanchard's blog Duchess of Devine for all things VanJean and Pout! 

Punk: Chaos To Couture | Met Ball 2013

via Fashionologie

Ohhhhhhmygosh. This is why I didn't want to start doing these posts because I get sooo passionate about them. The 2013 Met Ball was last night, and is quite often referred to as the #dressporn event of the year. Anna Wintour picks who comes, designers enlists muses, in short: it's spectacular. This year's theme was Punk: Chaos To Couture, which brings up a subject I have actively avoided because I have been working through it-punk. It's apparently back? So I'll probably keep working on that for now, but I think the important thing to remember is that you really need to re-frame how you judge the red carpet based on this "theme". You're not going to have a bunch of beautiful and delicate dresses. This forces you to look at the red carpet in a different way. You have people like JESSICA BIEL sticking nose rings on and claiming punk. (I'm totally serious. She realllllyyyy did that.)

So let me start with my dislikes:

SIT DOWN:

Solange

Blake Lively

Jessica Paré

oh, oh my gosh Kim Kardashian

Renée Zellweger

January Jones

Sad Honorable Mention

Kate Upton (visit Lainey Gossip for essentially how I feel)

Lauren Santo Domingo (how did this happen?)

Kirsten Dunst

Things I Like But Not Enough To Post

Hailee Steinfield (got it, and age | generation appropriate)

Mary Kate Olsen (sans big yellow jacket)

SJP

Goop

Christina Ricci

Cameron Diaz

Gwen Stefani

Kristen Stewart (but still...take a damn shower)

Now, important things to note about my feelings:

I have to tell you, this is secretly the moment I've been waiting for: Sienna Miller showing back up and being badass. What she has on is EXACTLY what I would have worn to this. Beautiful and sexy white dress topped with a studded leather jacket. Burberry. Insane and amazing headband (?) spikes. She's not pretending, it's just her honest take on the theme. SIGH. I also want you to know that this is not my favorite picture of Tom Ford and Joan Smalls, and NO, it's not super punk, but OOOOOMG. Tom Ford, That Dress, the Met Ball. Also not my fave shot of Chanel Iman in J Mendel, but it's a great look, this doesn't really do it justice. I cringed when I added Miley, but really, she got it; she looks young and fun and punk in Marc Jacobs. Which just makes sense. Oh. And just cause Anne Hathaway is here doesn't mean redemption. It's better though. Madonna pretty much burned it down, but how could she not. Google it. I added that adorable nugget Eddie Redmayne at the end because I want to pinch his little face and because I secretly dig navy tuxedos. (Tuxados.) There is soooo much more to see. So many more hot messes. Google. As a friend said today, "did every single stylist take the night off?" As for honorary host Beyoncé, you decide.

All below from Vogue

Sienna Miller and Cara Delevingne Punk: Chaos to Couture

Sienna Miller in Burberry at the 2013 Met Ball 

Sienna Miller and Tom Sturridge

Cara Delevingne in Burberry

Tom Ford and Joan Smalls...SWOON

Anja Rubik in Anthony Vaccarello giving some SERIOUS Debbie Harry (who apparently wore a pantsuit!)

Anne Hathaway in vintage Valentino with, duh, Valentino

Carey Mulligan, simple in Balenciaga, but her shoes are serious.

Chanel Iman in J Mendel

Nina Dobrev in Monique Lhullier

Miley Cyrus in Marc Jacobs 

Eddie Redmayne Dior Homme