fashion Archives - Page 33 of 76

Springtime Green

March 6, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Monday, friends! Today, I’m continuing my love for this year’s Pantone color of the year. While shopping my closet, I discovered this tunic that I bought back in the fall of 2015. It’s one of the famous Lush tunics from Nordstrom and while the solid colors are on constant repeat in my work wardrobe, I completely I forgot I had this green patterned tunic in my closet…perfect for this year’s color of the year!

Jeffrey Campbell perforated wedges outfit

Tunic: Lush {old, see the entire Lush tunic selection HERE — on sale for under $30!} | Jeans: similar HERE | Hat: Tobi c/o {under $25!}| Bag: Sole Society {also HERE} | Wedges: Jeffrey Campbell {updated style for this season HERE} | Bracelets: David Yurman HERE | Lipstick: Kim KW & YSL #200

It’s funny. When I bought this tunic, I figured it would make a great tunic for late summer and spring {if you have been following around for awhile, you may remember when I styled it HERE with flared jeans}. But, after all this talk of the Pantone color of the year and seeing the tunic hanging in the back of my closet, I thought it could easily be paired with white jeans and beige accessories. And when I saw THIS hat from Tobi, I knew it had to be added to my collection. Not only is it perfect for styling as we head into spring, but will be fabulous in the fall, too.

I hope you all had a great weekend! It was absolutely freezing here. Shooting spring outfits when the weather decided to drop for two days is no fun! Today marks the first day of our two week no carbs and no sugar diet. If you know me, you know this is going to be ridiculously difficult for me. I love all carbs: pasta, bread…you name it. I was busy with some serious food prep over the weekend which will hopefully make the weekdays easier. Once these two weeks {which I’m sure will go SO slow!} are over, I’m going to recap the results and some of the recipes and food plans we followed. Although it’s going to be difficult, I’m looking forward to the challenge! Have a great week, friends!

This post is linked up with: B Loved Boston | Fizz & Frosting | More Pieces of Me | Lipgloss & Crayons | Start the Week Stylish | Still Being Molly | Pink Sole | Fashion Frenzy | October Fashion Series | On Trend Tuesdays | Style Me Wednesday | Layers and Lipstick | Mix & Match Fashion | Twenties Girl Style | Stylin in St. Louis | Living in Color | Pumps and Pushups | Thursday Fashion Files | Rachel The Hat | Fashion Friday | Friday’s Fab Favorites | Daily Style Finds | East Coast Chic | Friday Favorites | Casual Friday | My Refined Style

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Spring Trench & Blush Pink

March 2, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

The season of trench coats is officially upon us. Although I love wearing trench coats {I got mine last spring, but you can find this year’s version HERE} in the fall, it seems so much more appropriate as we head into spring. It’s the perfect layer for a cool, spring morning and it’s styling possibilities are endless. And since blush has been leading the way as my spring color crush, I can’t think of a better way to style this classic trench.

Trench Coat: J.Crew {from last spring, this season HERE} | White Tee: Nordstrom | Jeans: Old Navy | Scarf: J.Crew {blush is not available, but almost identical color HERE} | Blush Pumps: Ivanka Trump | Bag: Sole Society, other colors HERE {under $60!!} | Earrings: BaubleBar, sold out {similar blush stone HERE} | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Lipstick: Snob & Turkish Delight

The classic trench is a staple in anyone’s closet. Since the time I was in middle school I had some type of trench coat in my closet! One of the reasons it’s such a classic is because it is so versatile. You may remember when I styled it casually with a striped tee and black jeans HERE, slightly dressed up with a dress and Hunter boots HERE and most recently in the fall with black jeans and a leopard bag HERE. In the past, I have always gravitated to more neutrals like black and white when styling this trench. But, with spring on the horizon, I decided to pair it with blush for a fresh and soft look.

If you have seen my last few posts, I’m sure you have noticed my obsession with blush lately. For me, there is nothing like blush pink in the spring and with all the warm weather we have been experiencing, it has allowed me to push my blush start date up! I have to tell you, I’ve been wearing these blush pumps constantly. There are so many things to love about this pumps besides the gorgeous color: the thicker heel for comfort, slightly pointed toe isn’t too harsh on your toes and the heel height. I have typically come to expect a “break in” period with most shoes I buy but I have yet to experience that with these! Obviously, I’m infatuated with them, so excuse the fact that you’ve been seeing them a lot recently!

I hope you all have a great weekend! Any plans? Nothing much for us, we are looking forward to a weekend at home and catching up on cleaning and errands. It was 80 degrees yesterday and there is a chance of snow showers tomorrow. Talk about crazy weather! See you back here on Monday, friends!

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Marching Into Green

March 1, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

green outfit inspiration for march and spring

Since “greenery” was announced as the Pantone color of the year, I’ve been looking forward to incorporating more of this springy color into my wardrobe. Whether it be accessories, jackets, shoes or home decor, shades of green can be found everywhere this spring and I couldn’t be more excited.

When it comes to accessories, I love statement stone jewelry pieces, such as THIS ring and THESE drop earrings. Both pieces can instantly dress up a look all while being perfectly on trend with the color of the year.
Speaking of color, doesn’t it seem like the shades of green are endless? From THESE rain boots in a mint color to THIS scallop skirt in teal, there is a shade for everyone!

What are your favorite green pieces for spring? Have you added any green pieces to your wardrobe? Happy March, friends!

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Floral Bell Sleeve Blouse

February 27, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Monday, friends! Another week means another floral on ABM! Although florals in the spring are by no means a new, hot trend, it is one of the things I look forward to most when picking out my spring wardrobe. However, bell sleeves are a hot trend for spring and the sleeves on this floral blouse are just about perfect.

Floral Bell Sleeve Blouse: cabi c/o | Black Cropped Jeans: cabi c/o {from the fall 2016 season, similar HERE} | Sunglasses: Le Specs {under $60!} | Bucket Bag: Mark and Graham c/o | Espadrilles: Marc Fisher | Watch: MICHELE | Ring: David Yurman | Lipstick: Angel & #200

I first saw THIS blouse when cabi was teasing the new spring line on Instagram a few months ago. I instantly fell in love with the bell sleeves, but who wouldn’t? Fittingly named the “la-di-da blouse”, I love the darker floral colors, perfect for transitioning to spring. You can easily pair this blouse with black pants or jeans on these cooler spring days and white jeans as the warmer temperatures begin to arrive. And speaking of colors, I had originally planned to pair this blouse with blush shoes {since I’ve been all about the color lately: exhibit A, exhibit B} but since I wore this outfit to dinner last Friday and the temperatures we virtually summer-like, I went with my favorite espadrilles from last spring. Needless to say, this blouse can be paired with both blush and orange accessories, as I did here.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Just a funny story about these pictures. I was heading down to my parent’s house Friday after work and we had planned to photograph this outfit right when I arrived. Just to make sure I made it before sunset, I left work at 2:30pm, giving me plenty of time to travel the 60 miles to their house. Unfortunately, route 95 south had different plans. I should know by now that 95 is bad no matter what time of the day, but especially on a Friday afternoon…when the temperatures are in the upper 70s. Thankfully, I did make it with a little daylight to spare, but it was a long, stressful drive with some serious road rage on my end! haha!

Have a great start to the week and see you back here tomorrow for a make ahead lunch or dinner recipe you won’t want to miss!

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Floral Ruffle Top & Navy Blazer

February 23, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy almost weekend, friends! Don’t you just love these short weeks? Today I am sharing two of my favorite pieces from cabi’s new spring collection and I couldn’t be more thrilled. If you aren’t already excited about the new season ahead, this floral ruffle blouse and navy blazer are sure to get you in the mood!

Floral Ruffle Blouse & Navy Blazer: cabi c/o | Jeans: Current/Elliott | Monogrammed Clutch: Mark & Graham {suede version HERE} | Shoes: Ivanka Trump | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Earrings: Kate Spade | Lipstick: Snob & Turkish Delight

Don’t you just love when a piece of clothing “calls your name”. That might sound a little crazy, but can anyone else relate? We all strive to find that piece of clothing that is the epitome of our style. Whether it be a jacket, a pair of jeans, an accessory, or in my case, a top. I’m always a sucker for a good floral print, but add pink and specks of gold with a ruffle around the top, you pretty much have my ideal top. And although you can’t see it from these pictures {it’s been warm, but not quite that warm yet!} this top is actually a cold shoulder style. Hold. The. Phone. The exposed shoulder with the draping just makes this top all the better. Needless to say, I cannot wait to style it with white jeans and my hot pink high heels once the temperatures get a little warmer.

Since it is still February, I paired this fabulous top with the classic, with a hint of fun, navy blazer. Navy blazers are one of my go-to layers as we transition to spring — I also love styling the blazer with a colored pair of jeans or even dressed up for work. And although this blazer is a classic, I love the element of fun: striped ribbed cuffs! This unexpected detail makes the blazer anything but ordinary, yet it still gives off that classic vibe.

To complete the look, I went with my hot pink monogrammed clutch {because I carry it just about every chance I get!} and THESE gold smoking slippers. I instantly became obsessed with these when I first saw them online — they are also available in hot pink, royal blue, black and a bright chili color — and knew that I had to have them. It was tough to pass on the pink, but I have quite a few pairs of pink flats and figured the gold was more of a neutral and would go with more things in my closet. Originally, I was concerned about the width — I have a wider foot and the toe box looked SUPER pointy. But, I’m happy to report that they are true to size and no width issues here. These flats are quickly becoming a favorite in my closet — I wore them twice over last weekend!

I hope you all have a great weekend! Any fun plans? See you back here on Monday!

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Spring Break Inspiration

February 22, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

Now that we are approaching the end of February, I think dreaming of warm temperatures and tropical vacations is completely appropriate. And since I don’t have any warm weather vacations planned in the next month or so, I will have to live vicariously through those that do and make wish lists in the meantime!

There is something about the recurring spring nautical trend that I just love. Not only is it a great way to kick off spring, but it also works well for vacation style. Two pieces dictated today’s color palette: THIS dotted navy dress and THESE adorable slide sandals {how cute are they?!}. Blue has never been my favorite color, but I do seem to be attracted to it as we head into each and every spring. Here are a few of my favorite spring break essentials:

I don’t think there is anything more vacation appropriate than tassels. Granted, I wear them pretty much all year, but there is something so fun and colorful about this trend that makes you instantly think of a warm weather getaway. I love the way THESE tassel earrings add just about every shade of color to an outfit, along with THIS bracelet set. Whether you are sitting by the pool or headed out for dinner, both of these accessories instantly dress up a look.

Gingham, ruffles and bell sleeves! Since these are three of my favorite trends for spring, I wasn’t going to miss a chance to share some of these cute pieces. I bought a gingham dress last year {you may remember it from THIS post} and I’m so glad to see the trend is still going strong. The fact that there is a gingham swimsuit makes my heart skip a beat! And an off the shoulder style?! It’s too good to be true! If you caught Monday’s post, you know that I have officially jumped on the bell sleeve trend and I couldn’t be more excited about it. THIS dress not only has short bell sleeves but also polka dots. I’m sold! Last, but not least, I love the subtle ruffle around the hem on THESE shorts. It would look so cute paired with a white shirt and sandals for a casual vacation look.

Speaking of sandals: how gorgeous are THESE gold gladiator sandals? Also available in tan, these fun sandals would be the perfect accessory for shorts, skirts and dresses from vacation to spring and all the way into summer. Although they are a little on the expensive side, I think that both the gold and tan colors would work with so many pieces in your closet, you might be able to justify the price 😉

Do you have any spring break or vacation plans in the next month or so? Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful Wednesday!

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Printed Bell Sleeve Blouse

February 20, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

cute spring outfit - A Blonde's Moment - @rachmccarthy7

Happy Monday, friends! Spring is in the air here in Northern Virginia and I couldn’t be more excited! After enjoying 70 degree temperatures on both Saturday and Sunday, it’s safe to say I’m in a spring state of mind and will be severely disappointed if we get any snow in the next month or so! Now, on to today’s springy look…

printed bell sleeve top - A Blonde's Moment - @rachmccarthy7

madewell printed blouse - A Blonde's Moment - @rachmccarthy7

bell sleeve printed spring top - A Blonde's Moment - @rachmccarthy7

casual spring outfit ideas - A Blonde's Moment - @rachmccarthy7

le specs cat eye sunglasses - A Blonde's Moment - @rachmccarthy7

blush stone earrings - A Blonde's Moment - @rachmccarthy7

rose gold stacking ring - A Blonde's Moment - @rachmccarthy7

spring outfit ideas - A Blonde's Moment - @rachmccarthy7

blush pink pumps - A Blonde's Moment - @rachmccarthy7

ivory satchel handbag - A Blonde's Moment - @rachmccarthy7

cropped flared jeans for spring - A Blonde's Moment - @rachmccarthy7

Bell Sleeve Blouse: Madewell {runs small, size up}, also HERE | Jeans: cabi, fall 2016 style {similar HERE} | Bag: Sole Society, also HERE | Pumps: Ivanka Trump | Sunglasses: Le Specs | Earrings: BaubleBar, sold out {similar stone HERE} | Ring: Kristin Perry Accessories c/o | Bracelets: David Yurman cuff, link| Watch: MICHELE | Lipstick: combined Kim KW & Snob, Turkish Delight gloss on top

I wore this look on Saturday to The Blog Societies Workshop in D.C. I wanted something comfortable for sitting in for a few hours and something casual, but not too casual, and fun for a blogger event. I spotted THIS peplum blouse with the bell sleeves online and instantly knew it would be great for wearing as we transition into spring. I loved the blush accents in the print and was excited for the opportunity to wear THESE blush pink suede heels again {they are incredible comfortable!}. I actually purchased this blouse in store on Friday {nothing like waiting until the last minute!} and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to try it on. I found the sleeves to run extremely small and went up a size for a better fit. I think the larger size also helped with the length which is a constant problem for me when buying tops.

Since I was looking for something a little more than casual for the event, I paired the blouse with the cabi cropped flared denim from the fall season. Although the jeans are no longer available, I linked a super similar pair above and HERE. I have been loving the cropped and flared trend and especially looking forward to this style in the spring. I’ve had my eye on a few lighter wash cropped jeans to add to my closet, too! Lastly, a spring outfit wouldn’t be complete without THIS faux leather satchel. I mentioned this bag in last Wednesday’s post as an amazing save option for the YSL designer satchel. I carried this bag for the first time this weekend and I have to say I’m obsessed! Plenty of space, zipper closure, interior pockets and with a price tag of under $60, you just can’t beat it!

Just a quick thank you to everyone who filled out the reader survey last week. I cannot thank you enough for your input and I’m looking forward to implementing some of your suggestions! As for the winner of the $25 Nordstrom gift card giveaway — congratulations to Lisa F! Thank you to all who participated!

Have a great start to the week, friends! Thanks for dropping by!

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The Girl Behind The Blog

February 16, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Friday Eve, friends! Today’s post is a little different from the ones I usually share and something that I have been meaning to compile for a while. With so many new faces around the blog, I wanted to share a more personal post: the girl behind the blog.

Having an online life is funny: you can read blog posts everyday and feel like you really know someone without having met them in person. I have “met” so many wonderful people and friends through A Blonde’s Moment, but I’ve actually only met about a handful in person! If you aren’t in the blogging community, I’m sure this sounds absolutely, positively insane!

My goal for ABM is to create a little spot on the Internet where anyone can come and find inspiration — whether it be fashion, food or anything else — and have a virtual friend to bounce ideas off of. I feel like I may mention some personal things, like weekend plans or other things I am up to, but there is still a lot that you probably don’t know about me. Needless to say, as a virtual friend, it’s time that we get acquainted! If you would like to play along, tell me something I don’t know about you in the comments section below!

Ok, here we go!

Why did you start a blog?

A Blonde’s Moment started off as a way to keep up with family in Ohio. We were living outside D.C. and it was an easy way to share what we were doing, what I was cooking and what new clothes I had found. My day job is spent working with legislation (more on that later) and ABM is a creative outlet that allowed me to share and express everything I love, including fashion, food, cooking, exercise and anything that happens to be pink. Yes, A Blonde’s Moment is my creative outlet. I know, how many times have you heard that from a blogger? It really is true though!

I took a Web 2.0 class my senior year of college to learn all about “the wave of the future” aka blogs and social media. It counted towards my English minor and my friend and I often referred to it as “Facebook class” because it seemed like such a ridiculous class to have in college! Obviously, I regret that comment! It’s ironic how things have turned out. If you would have told me that today I would be using what I learned in that class 7 years ago, I would have thought you were crazy. And if I could count the number of times I have said “I wish I would have started my blog in 2010” I would probably be in triple digits by now.

Where did the name “A Blonde’s Moment” come from?

I will never forget the moment I thought of my blog’s name: I was driving home from work, stuck in traffic (welcome to Washington, D.C.) and brainstorming ideas. I had always felt there was a lot of repetition and similarities in so many of the blog’s names, I knew I wanted something different. I wanted this space to be a place where I could share anything and everything and really did see the opportunity as a “moment” of sharing. And if you notice the placement of the possessive “blonde’s”, I like to think this blog is a place where I can share all my moments, whether it be fashion, food, beauty, or anything else. I have always hated the reputation blonde’s get and by using this name, it was a positive spin on a not so positive saying. Although, I can’t say I’ve never had a blonde moment 😉

What is your full-time job?

As a political science major in college, I knew I was going to move to the Washington, D.C. area as soon as I graduated. Thankfully, I was able to find a job and moved just outside the city the summer after graduating. I work as a legislative analyst in Arlington where I spend my days reading, interpreting and summarizing each state’s laws, regulations and recently introduced legislation. You can see why I needed a creative outlet!

Where are you from?

I grew up in a small town in Ohio, I went to college in Pittsburgh and now live in Northern Virginia!

phone case | watch | bracelet | ring

Who takes your pictures?

My husband takes the majority of my pictures and when he is too busy with work, my mom takes them. They are by no means professional photographers. It’s been a learning process for all three of us, with lots of reading and watching of YouTube videos!

Favorite food?

Avocados and pasta, and sometimes together.

Current exercise?

I love running (I’ve run three half marathons!), Pure Barre and recently started BBG. Let me tell you, I like to think of myself as a pretty fit person, but BBG is no joke! I will be sharing my experience in a fitness post in the coming months.

similar cardigan | similar hat

A few fun facts:

I’m an only child.

My husband and I grew up in the same town (he’s 4 years older), 5 miles from each other, but only met when he moved back to Ohio from D.C. to run for State Representative. I had just completed my sophomore year of college and was in Ohio for the summer, volunteered to help on his campaign and became his campaign manager. He likes to say that he lost the election but won me haha!

I played Division 1 tennis in college (GO DUKES!) and hold the record for most wins in school history.

Ella is our cute, 15 pound puppy that we treat like a human. She will be 5 years old in March and is a Maltese/Yorkie mix.

I was 23 when my husband and I got married. We were married on May 21, 2011 — the day the world was supposed to end haha!

I can’t live without coffee. The darker and bolder the better, and no cream. Unless it’s a cortado 😉

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Thanks for stopping by! I will be announcing the winner of the $25 Nordstrom gift card in Monday’s post. There is still time to fill out the reader survey and enter your e-mail for a chance to win — you can fill out the survey here.

Spring Favorites: Splurge vs. Save

February 15, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

Splurge vs. Save is back and today it’s all about a few of my spring favorites. I always love sharing my finds in this series because I’m the first to admit that I love a good deal. Don’t get me wrong, I think there are definitely times when splurging on the more expensive item is ok, but when there are so many good, and cheaper, alternatives out there, it’s hard to pass these up!

Let’s jump right into these splurge vs. save finds! Here are a few of my very favorites:

Off the shoulder tops and tassels are here to stay! When browsing any store or website, they are everywhere and I can’t say I’m upset about it. I love the blue and white pinstripe on both of the OTS tops, and with the exception of the price tag, they are virtually identical. Can you believe the splurge version is almost $200 more! And speaking of a huge difference in price, when you compare the two pink tassel earrings, the splurge is a little more vibrant than the save but it’s also over $300 more! As I mentioned, I’m all about investment pieces, but personally, I don’t think I could justify a pair of hot pink tassel earrings for over $300 — even if they are the most perfect color of pink! These save earrings are a great, more affordable option.

Moving onto the shoes. First up, the Valentino rockstud ballet flats. I think I have wanted these flats for as long as I can remember, but for me, they seem a little too trendy for the price tag. But, I recently found THESE that are virtual clones of the designer style, at a fraction of the price. For those that are familiar with the designer rockstuds, this save option also comes in several of the same colors. As for the espadrilles, I bought THIS save version last summer and wore them all the time. Not only do they look cute with shorts, skirts, dresses and jeans {basically anything in your closet!} they are super comfortable with the platform style. This year, the designer style does have a scallop edge {how cute is that!} but with the $500 price difference, I think I can skip the scallop edge!

Last, but certainly not least, THIS YSL satchel. I have loved this bag for a few years now — the style, the color, clean lines, everything about it. I figured it was something I would just have to lust over, especially with it’s high price tag. A few weeks ago, I discovered this amazing save option and knew I had to have it: it’s super similar in color, size, shape and it’s priced below $60! I actually already ordered one for myself and it just arrived the other day. I have to say that I’m impressed with the quality and can’t wait to take this spring-perfect bag out for a spin!

There is still time to fill out the reader’s survey from Monday’s post if you would like to. I am giving away a $25 Nordstrom gift card to one lucky reader who completes the survey!

You can fill out the survey here.

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday! Be sure to stop back tomorrow for a little bit of a different post that I’ll be sharing here on ABM. As always, thanks for reading!

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Blush Pink Coat & Reader Survey

February 13, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

With Valentine’s Day tomorrow, there’s no better time for a black lace dress and blush coat and accessories. I wore this outfit to dinner on Saturday evening for a night out in D.C. and felt perfectly festive for celebrating the holiday a little early.

Blush Coat: cabi, old {similar style HERE} | Lace Dress: C.Wonder, old {similar HERE} | Clutch: Mark and Graham, sold out {similar version with red HERE, similar style HERE} | Pumps: Ivanka Trump | Earrings: Panacea, sold out {similar HERE & only $14!} | Sunglasses: Le Specs | Lipstick: Snob & Turkish Delight

I have had this blush pink coat for a few years now and find myself constantly wearing it. Not only do I love the color, but it’s hard not to be completely obsessed with the bow detail around the collar. And when I found THESE blush pink pumps, I knew that they would be a perfect match for this coat and I would be able to wear them a lot as we head into spring. With the pointed toe and chunky heel, it’s a super comfortable pump that would even be ideal for extending wearing at work!

Although my plan was to post this the first of January, 2017 is already getting away from me! I have created a reader survey that I would be so appreciative if you filled out. There aren’t too many questions and be sure to leave your e-mail at the end of the survey: one lucky reader will win a $25 Nordstrom gift card as a thank you for your input and following along!

You can fill out the survey here.

Thanks so much for dropping by and thank you for filling out the survey. I will keep the survey up until the end of this week and announce the gift card winner in next Monday’s post! Have a great start to the week, friends!

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