Sunday, January 30, 2011

{ valentine's day } Gifts for Her

Everyone can use a little bit of sweetness on February 14. After all, no boy can resist a girl batting her eyelashes in a pretty frock. And for you lovely ladies in relationships this year, go ahead and leave this window strategically open on your boyfriend's computer. There's nothing more effective than a "subtle" hint.
  1. Heart Mug, Reiko Kaneko, £14.95
  2. Franklin "I Love You" Necklace, Jess LC, $58
  3. Glitter Heart Clutch, Urban Expressions, $55 $46.75
  4. Rose Gold Love Knot Ring, Avanessi, $275
  5. Icing Atop the Cake Dress, Modcloth, $89.99
  6. Studded Chain Bracelet, Wendy Mink, $160
  7. Lace Pillow, Comfort & Samuel, £60 £48 (with code STYLOBS)

Saturday, January 29, 2011

{ winner } Taylor Kenney Jewelry Necklace

Congratulations to Alessandra of Mode Moods!

Thank you all for entering - your continued support and readership make these giveaways possible! And my sincerest thanks to Taylor Kenney Jewelry for sponsoring this giveaway!

If you'd like to partner with Style Obsession on a giveaway, please e-mail JessicaStyleObsession@gmail.com.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Friday Finds Under $50


  1. Textured Spring Sweater, Hive & Honey, $44
  2. Shell Wood Necklace, Hive & Honey, $28
  3. Stud Wrap Bracelet, Laura Costagliola, $40
  4. Leather Ruched Flap Purse, Topshop, $32
  5. Skinny Belt, Banana Republic, $45

Thursday, January 27, 2011

{ accessorize } Bold Bracelets

Given fashion's cyclical nature, I have no doubt that statement necklaces, cocktail rings and chandelier earrings will seize my attention once again. But for now, I'm captivated by the glimmer of a bracelet, seductively winking from a slender wrist.
  1. Xenolith Obelisk Bracelet, Allsaints, $75
  2. Chain Link Bracelet, Juicy Couture, $140 $70
  3. Oversized Cuff, Joanna Laura Constantine, $188
  4. Pave Goldtone Chain Link Bracelet, ABS, $125

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Currently Coveting

{a new ring to match a vintage necklace}

{sweet nothings}

{painterly stripes for the office}


{boldly belting a neutral dress}

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Tuesday Treats Under $25


  1. Date Night Ring, Kate Spade, $20*
  2. Tweed Jacket, byCorpus, $78 $19.99
  3. Beaded Clutch, Forever21, $22.80
  4. Elegant Line Earrings, Forever21, $4.80
  5. Lip Color, Clinique, $14.50
*If you're interested in the ring, definitely pick it up at this price today. It still retails at other locations for $55 and it's already sold out on the Kate Spade website.

{ bonus item }

After spotting the incredible deal on the Kate Spade ring featured above, I e-browsed Endless a bit more and stumbled across the new Kate Spade Pave Posey earrings for only $20. The stunners are $125 on the brand's website. Instant glam for jeans, tees and your little black dress is definitely worth $20. Buy them now. I did.

{ update }

Endless caught the price error on both the ring and the earrings. Were you able to score either item at the deep discount?

Monday, January 24, 2011

{ outfitted } Easy Elegance

As much as I'm looking forward to springtime brights, I'm still enjoying the neutral zone with camel-colored pants and an oversize gray sweater. I added a bit of metallic shimmer and sparkle in the accessories to keep it from feeling too humdrum; after all, yawn-worthy accessories are the last thing anyone needs on a Monday morning! How are you beating the Monday blues?

It was far too chilly to attempt an outdoor photo, even if the lighting is better.

Outfit Notes: Sweater - J.Crew; Earrings - J.Crew; Bag - Banana Republic; Pants - Banana Republic; Shoes - Guess; Scarf - Target; Bracelet - Ann Taylor Loft

Friday, January 21, 2011

Friday Finds Under $50

Given the bitterly cold temperatures tearing through the country, I should have opted for seasonally appropriate picks this week. But I can't help yearning for spring. Have you started curating your spring wardrobe yet?
  1. Maya Clutch, BCBGeneration, $48
  2. Silk Dolman Blouse, Eight Sixty, $121 $47.97
  3. Hoop Earrings, Kara by Kara Ross, $135 $40.50
  4. Swallow Pin, Aldo, $15 $11.98
  5. Olive Tie Shorts, Ruche, $36.99
Don't forget to bookmark sites like Coupon Mountain; a quick search for Bloomingdales codes alerted me to their current sale - and the Kara by Kara Ross earrings above that are on sale for a song. What are your tips for finding fabulous sale merchandise?

Thursday, January 20, 2011

{ giveaway } Taylor Kenney Jewelry

Make some room in your jewelry box, ladies. I'm excited to introduce you to your latest crush: the designs from Taylor Kenney Jewelry.

Tiffany, the talent behind the line, is inspired by natural beauty in her home state of Colorado - but it's not without a touch of gilt. Organic, rough-hewn gemstones are juxtaposed with luxurious, gold-filled accents. Are you tempted yet? Good. One reader will win the show-stopping Elsa Necklace. Details below.

The Elsa Necklace features a cascade of iridescent keishi pearls draped from a 14 karat gold fill chain. Retail value: $120

The Details
Open to everyone - even international readers! The entry period runs through Friday, January 28. The winner will be announced the following day.

Mandatory Entry
Visit the Taylor Kenney Jewelry website and tell me which item(s) you love! You must leave your e-mail address or blog URL so I can get in touch with you if you win.

For Additional Entries
Leave a separate comment for each of the following:

{ winner } $25 to ShoeClips.biz

Congratulations to Jenny of Spry on the Wall!

Thank you all for entering - your continued support and readership make these giveaways possible! And my sincerest thanks to ShoeClips.biz for sponsoring this giveaway!

Coupon Code: Lynn at ShoeClips.biz has extended 10% discount to all readers. Just enter the "welcome" at checkout.

If you'd like to partner with Style Obsession on a giveaway, please e-mail JessicaStyleObsession@gmail.com.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Awarded

The lovely Miss B over at Champagne & Macarons passed the Stylish Blogger Award to me with the caveat that I share 7 things about myself.

I attended the University of Wisconsin - Madison and graduated with a degree in English and in Journalism with an emphasis on advertising and public relations. I stayed in Madison post-graduation and each winter I wonder why I torture myself with a snow-covered life here. A sunnier location is tempting, but I love Madison summers too much to leave - especially outdoor dinners on State Street (above). The people watching is ideal.

I took belly dancing lessons and plan to enroll in another class. It's an incredible workout that helps tone isolated muscles - during just a six week course, I lost an inch from my waist. And, yes, I can undulate my stomach.

I don't play favorites. I don't have a favorite song. No favorite movie. My preferred color changes daily. And I certainly can't pick a favorite ice cream flavor. Variety is the spice of life, why limit yourself?

My day job has gotten infinitely cooler this year. I work at a local business magazine. I started four years ago doing sales support, right out of college. Since then, I've held a handful of positions with the company, including maintaining our website and managing events (my true love). We've finally hired someone to take over the Web so I can transition to events full time - and I couldn't be more excited, especially since I see event management as my career path. However, I'm pulling for a new title: Event Architect and/or Social Director.

I collect seashells. The collection is separated by location and stored in a variety of clear glass vases and apothecary jars. Each jar is a different beach and a different memory - and it's interesting to see how shells and sand differ throughout the world. I'm quite fond of the shells collected on The Netherlands' North Sea coast. These are kept in a "kleintje" (translation: itty bitty) Heineken glass.

I'm hopeless with directions. Do you remember the days before the GPS? I was the one taping Mapquest directions to my steering wheel to reference during the drive. And don't even talk to me about the days before Mapquest ... I would have never found my way home. Thank goodness for Garmin. (But I can use a compass.)

I briefly mentioned this before, but there's a possibility that I'll visit China this year. At work, we've been working on an Executive Summit to Beijing and Tianjin, China. This is an opportunity for companies to meet Chinese executives, government leaders and embassy officials. As we've quickly learned, doing business in China is all about relationships - and we've been fortunate to make vital inroads. If we can sell 20 tickets at $5,400 (12 days, all inclusive), I get to go along. Perk of being the, ahem, Event Architect. Besides, I feel like the trip is part of my divine plan - when I was a wee one, my great aunt went to China and returned with a pair of embroidered, red silk baby booties for me. It all goes back to fashion, doesn't it?

Stylish Blogger Award Rules

1. Thank and link back to the person whom awarded you.
2. Share seven things about yourself.
3. Award 10 great bloggers that you've recently discovered.


I'm passing along the karma points to the first 10 people who commented on yesterday's blog post, the ladies behind these blogs:
  1. Fashion's Maven
  2. Fashion Clocked
  3. Musings of an Offbeat Biped
  4. Chic 'n Cheap Living
  5. Jemina
  6. Janetteria
  7. Stylish Chatterboxing
  8. Statements in Fashion
  9. Petit Pooh Mon Amour
  10. Fashion Frugality

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Tuesday Treats Under $25


  1. Rhinestone Floral Ring, Forever21, $8.80
  2. Kiki Vase, Crate & Barrel, $12.95
  3. Claw with Bead Necklace, Topshop, $25
  4. Sweater Coat, Urban Outfitters, $168 $19.99
  5. Shadow Play Pillowcases, Anthropologie, $68 $19.95

Monday, January 17, 2011

{ love the look } Mix It Up

It's entirely too easy to reach for an all-black ensemble for humdrum Monday workdays. But a strategic mix of patterns can be equally chic in a casual office. Start with a billowy polka dot top tucked into a patterned skirt. A bold bangle bracelet complements such a confident pairing.
  1. Office Party Top, ModCloth, $84.99
  2. Polka Dot Cotton and Silk Top, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, $390
  3. Dot it Down Top, ModCloth, $49.99
  4. Striped Cotton Jersey Skirt, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, $290
  5. Printed Tulip Skirt, Vionnet, $1,745 $523.50
  6. Tie Waist Skirt, French Connection, $88
  7. Painted Enamel Bracelet, Kenneth Jay Lane, $75 $30
  8. Enamel Bangle, Topshop, $20
  9. Sandpiper Bangle, Kate Spade, $42

Friday, January 14, 2011

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Save or Splurge?

If you've ever dreamed of being part of Robin Hood's band of merry gentlewomen, I have the dress for you: the Unbridled Passion Dress, a forest green frock for under $70, offered by Modcloth. Although, it seems that the design may have been robbed from the richly created Pleated Silk Dress by Undercover to give the poor a wallet-friendly option. All that's missing is a bow and arrow - and a cute guy in tights. (Okay, fine, "equestrian" might be the most accurate description of the dress, but that makes it less whimsical, doesn't it?)

Would you save or splurge?

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

First Additions

With two impulse purchases in tow, I haven't exactly followed my new year's resolutions yet. However, I'm exceedingly happy with my latest conquests: a pair of heavy strappy Guess pumps to anchor flirty dresses, and Kate Spade's sandpiper bangle bracelet. Someday spring will come. What was your first purchase of the new year?

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

{ blog crawl } It's in the Bag

It's day two of the "It's in the Bag" blog crawl organized by Ashley of A Hasty Life. The rules are simple: post your bag and its swag - and give readers a voyeuristic peek into one of the post private parts of your life! There are a staggering 120 bloggers taking part! Without further ado, here's what's in my bag:

Rebecca Minkoff's Morning After Clutch is the perfect bag for me: classic, irreverent, durable, has a cross-body strap for hands-free shopping, and just the right amount of space to force me to edit my must-haves. Here's what I'm schlepping:
  1. Lauren Merkin mirror for midday lipstick application
  2. Pen for lunchtime crossword puzzles
  3. The best chapped lip remedy: Neosporin Lip Health
  4. 5 gum in Cobalt
  5. iPhone 4
  6. Rebecca Minkoff coin purse
  7. An assortment of lip gloss and lipstick from Clinique
  8. Paint chips - I'm crushing on "Calypso Berry," the darkest pink on this sample.
  9. Lauren Merkin card holder and business cards
  10. Floss
  11. Burt's Bees lip balm - and plenty of emergency hair elastics
  12. Eye drops
  13. Nail clippers from when I was a baby (perfect size for a purse!) and one paperclip
  14. Contact lens case for impromptu overnights
  15. Banana Republic wallet

Next Up: Catherine from The Life Styled on Wednesday!

Monday, January 10, 2011

{ review & giveaway } ShoeClips.biz

Shoe clips may have reached the height of popularity in the 1950s and '60s, but I'm pushing for a resurgence. Last month, I added a glimmer to a pair of simple pumps with vintage clip-on earrings. Since then, I've been introduced to the Web's shoe clip emporium: ShoeClips.biz. Lynn generously sent two pairs of clips for review (and added a gift certificate to give away!) - and I've been having an absolute blast. It feels like I've tripled my shoe collection.

Each clip's embellishment is attached to a felt backing and a sturdy clip. You'll notice that part of the clip is smooth, ensuring that your shoes don't get scratched when it's clipped on.

One of the pairs Lynn sent were the black rabbit fur clips. The little puffs of fluff easily transform a pair of simple black flats into something more luxurious. And for only $25, you can get the look of the Jeffrey Campbell Francis ballet flats for a fraction of the price.

The other pair I tried were the feather clips - an absolutely stunning enhancement to an evening shoe.

Trying the clips on different shoes - and in different places - yields unexpectedly gorgeous results. I'm quite fond of the feather pair clipped to the back of simple black pumps. It's reminiscent of the Yves Saint Laurent fur trim pumps, but much more wearable.

{ win it! }

Loving shoe clips as much as I am? Enter to win a $25 gift certificate to ShoeClips.biz!

The Details
Open to everyone - even international readers! The entry period runs through Wednesday, January 19. The winner will be announced the following day.

Mandatory Entry
Browse ShoeClips.biz and tell me which pair you love! You must leave your e-mail address or blog URL so I can get in touch with you if you win.

For Additional Entries
Leave a separate comment for each of the following:
  • Become an official follower of Style Obsession via Google Friend Connect, Bloglovin' or via Google Reader
  • Blog about this giveaway (please provide link in a separate comment)
  • Follow Style Obsession on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway (please provide link in a separate comment)
{ entry period closed }

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Window Shopping

Heading to the mall today was the worst decision I've made in a long time. Hordes of ravenous people were throwing elbows, hoping to score a post-holiday deal. I'm not sure about you, but I find glittery ornaments less appealing in January, even at 75% off. I should have stayed safely tucked away in front of the computer e-shopping. Here are some of my favorite items from this month's sponsors - and don't forget to check the sidebar for coupon codes.
  1. Champagne Gold Drops, Wendy Mink, $198 $168.30 with code
  2. Fire Bird Shoes, KM2 Shoes, $350
  3. Pillow, Comfort & Samuel, $92.66 $74.13 with code (be sure to check current currency conversion)
  4. Triple Gold Silver Rings, Wendy Mink, $55 46.75 with code
  5. Erich Black Frames, GlassesUSA, $38 $32.30 with code

In Other News

Remember last month's foray into ski lodge attire, featuring the Foley + Corinna bag I won on MyFDBlog? Amy over at MYFDB posted my outfit photo on the site today. Head over and show me some lovin'. You can also follow My Fashion Database on Twitter @MyFDB.

Awarded

On Thursday, Erin at Pursuit of Love, Laughter & Travels passed along a blog award to me - thank you!

The rules:
1. Post about your award.
2. Pass it along to 10 other trendy bloggers.
3. Link to the Trendy Blog Button.

I'm going to cheat a little bit with the rules. I'd like to tag anyone who has started following Style Obsession this month! There are about 10 of you - you know who you are! Thanks for the support! And thanks again, Erin, for passing along the award to me!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Friday Finds Under $50


  1. Dulphine Sailor-Stripe Sweater, J.Crew, $69.50 $39.99
  2. Strastosphere Black Oblong Pillow, Bed Bath and Beyond, $29.99
  3. Chain Link Bracelet, All NY, $50
  4. Nude Pumps, Michael Antonio, $50
  5. Looking Glass Ring, Kate Spade, $95 $39.97
  6. Zigzag Zipper Clutch, J.Crew, $88 $49.99

Thursday, January 6, 2011

{ inspiration board } Watercolor Palettes

Confession: I have hundreds of paint samples that I've collected from hardware stores over the years. But I'm simply being prudent; I'll have the perfect colors chosen when I finally own a home. And it seems I'm not the only one flirting with pigment. West Elm used silk pillows as their canvas for vibrant watercolor prints.

{images: biffybeans, west elm water splash pillow, west elm stripe pillow cover, watercolor & more}
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