Hawaiian Wedding

Dress: Anthropologie | Shoes: Steve Madden | Bag: kate spade new york (similar here and here) | Bracelets: David Yurman | Watch: Michele

I returned last week from a trip to Hawaii for one of the loveliest weddings I've ever attended. It was my first big family event with my new in-laws as an official part of the family, which made it even more special.

Although it had been drizzling on-and-off throughout the day, the mist made the setting feel so pretty and romantic. The event was cozy and intimate, and the forty guests had traveled from all over the world to be there with the bride and groom.

Another part of this wedding I loved was having the chance to contribute some of my lettering to the decor. I made several chalkboard signs with menus and seating chards, a few paper signs, and teeny place cards for each guest. Seeing my calligraphy "in action" was such a thrill, and it was nice to try my hand at a different size, medium, and scale of lettering project.

For attending the wedding, I chose a colorful sheath dress from Anthropologie Petites that felt island-appropriate, but not too kitschy or overwhelming. The dress' sheath silhouette with an interesting twist--the asymmetrical hemline--kept the look streamlined and up-to-date.

More from Hawaii and a few photos from my wedding will be coming up in the
next couple posts, so stay tuned!

x, Tam

Work Outfit: the Shirt-under-Dress Look

Shirt: BCBG | Dress: LOFT (similar here) | Shoes: Stuart Weitzman | Bag: Reed Krakoff | Bracelets: David Yurman | Watch: Michele | Earrings: Vintage

Today I'm sharing a simple work look that puts a favorite sheath dress to work as a grown-up, chic rendition of the classic schoolgirl-style jumper.

I don't often wear this type of structured collared shirt with my suits because of their tendency to quickly become untucked and unkempt-looking when I'm constantly moving around a courtroom (yes, you really do have to stand up every time you make an objection or speak at all, then sit right back down). Under a dress, however, it's a non-issue, and with the sleeves rolled down and a blazer on top, the whole look is very professional and put-together.

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P.S. I am linking up with Mix & Match Fashion this week for her What I Wore to Work Linkup.

In Black & White

Top: ASOS | Skirt: ASOS | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Shoes: kate spade new york | Bag: 3.1 phillip lim | Necklace: Ann Taylor | Bracelets: David Yurman | Watch: Michele

Quick post today as I'm just getting back into the swing of things after attending a destination wedding in Hawaii last week. I did a whole bunch of lettering work for this event, and it was awesome to see the results in action (see my Instagram feed for photos of my work and the amazing scenery).

Skipping back to the outfit I'm wearing in these photos--let's talk about crop tops. Love them or not, they seem to be everywhere. I actually own a few, but you'd never be able to tell since "crop top" for most people means "yay, a top that comes down to the top of my skirt/pants and not below my butt" for me. I thought I might be able to find one that looks a little more "cropped" on me by buying a petite-specific version, but the ASOS top I'm wearing here seems to be more of the usual. Although I thought about returning it, the scoop back really sold me on this one. I loved the way it looked with this checkered midi-mini hybrid skirt.

Have any of you found a good petite-friendly crop top (that is at the same time not a glorified bra)? Please share if you have!

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Petite-Friendly DVF

Dress: Diane von Furstenberg | Shoes: Stuart Weitzman | Bag: 3.1 phillip lim | Necklace: Ann Taylor (similar here) | Bracelets: David Yurman, Ann Taylor (similar here) | Watch: kate spade new york

I've always been a fan of wrap-type dresses (I last wore one here), and I loved the idea of someday owning one by Diane von Furstenberg, the creator of the original classic wrap dress. After seeing how pretty and flattering Jean's DVF pieces were on her, I decided I'd take advantage of DVF's Friends & Family sale and try one for myself.

I chose the New Julian Two Mini for a couple reasons. First, the shorter length would make it less likely that the dress would need to be hemmed to more flattering proportions. Second, the description on DVF's website indicated that this particular style ran small. Third, the wrap style makes the fit a little more adjustable if it's not quite perfect. My hope was that that combination would make for a petite-friendly fit, and it did. I was very happy with the length and overall fit, and the silk jersey is very comfortable. I also liked that the wrap stayed put around my chest all day--something that isn't always the case with this style--making it work-appropriate for a more casual day at the office.

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En Provence

Tee: J.Crew (similar here) | Skirt: Zara | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Bag: Coach | Necklaces: J.Crew, Brian Gavin | Bracelets: David Yurman, H&M c/o | Watch: Michele

After a week in Paris, we hopped on the TGV train again and sped down to Avignon in Provence, where we rented a car and drove over increasingly narrow roads into the Luberon, a beatiful valley with amazing food and wine and the loveliest little villages.

We stayed in Bonnieux at a pretty little bed and breakfast, Les Terrasses du Luberon, where our hosts helped us find all the best local markets, restaurants, and sights. Compared to Paris, it was slower and more relaxed, and we couldn't get enough of the warm, sunny weather.

One of the little towns we visited was Gordes, one of the most beautiful villages in France. It's built into a hillside with lots of winding stone streets, and it looks out over the Luberon valley, with its cherry and olive trees, vineyards, and fields of lavender.

Lots of cobblestone streets and dirt paths meant I was carrying my Manolos (or just leaving them in the car) and sporting my Matt Bernson flats the majority of the time--but I ended up wishing I had brought proper hiking shoes, too. There were so many great trails and walks in the area that would've been lovely to wander--they'll have to wait until next time!

I was still pretty adventurous in my ballet flats, though, which is good since most of the streets in these quaint villages looked like the photo below. We were constantly marveling at the way cities and villages were built with no thought to the automobile (obviously, since it didn't exist when they were built). It was so interesting when compared with I am used to at home in the U.S., where even the oldest cities have been overhauled and remodeled to accommodate cars, cars, and more cars. These cozy little streets and old villages made me feel like I was in a storybook!

We made a stop on our way out of Gordes at the gorgeous 12th century Abbey of Sénanque, where the monks have been growing lavender and producing lavender products for nearly a century. Although the lavender doesn't bloom until June, there was a hint of dusty purple at the tips of the plants--I can't imagine how gorgeous it must be when it's blooming. The Abbey is still a functioning monastery today, and the monks have taken a vow of silence, so the stillness and peace there were overwhelming. It was one of my favorite parts of our Provence visit.

Hope you've enjoyed my travel-centric posts for the last couple weeks! This is my last France post until we get our wedding pictures back--can't wait to share those with you. Hope you have a great weekend!

x, Tam

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