Hello, Framboise!: Manolo Blahnik

Showing posts with label Manolo Blahnik. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Casual Neutrals

Long cardi + destroyed denim + Chloe Drew bag

Long Cardigan: Leith (no longer available, but this one is a good substitute in regular + petite sizing)
Denim: J Brand | Tee: Topshop | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Bag: Chloe (available at Nordstrom or Farfetch, where I got mine)
Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Necklaces: Roberto Coin, Gorjana c/o | Watch: The Horse

We had such gorgeous weather in Denver this past weekend. It was perfect for a coatless afternoon stroll and some patio drinks (of course, it got pretty chilly as soon as the sun started to go down). I jumped at the opportunity to wear this long cardigan again (see how I styled it last here). Its length makes it look awkward with a winter coat over it, so it hasn't gotten much wear outside the house while the weather has been colder.

I added this pretty Chloe bag to my closet last week, and I love how it instantly elevates any outfit I wear with it. Ihe neutral gray color is seasonless and easy to pair with pretty much anything. I went back and forth a bit before settling on the medium size, which is just right for my long wallet plus my other essentials. I'm thinking of doing a full review like I did for my Pashli--let me know if you're interested in seeing one!

Thanks for reading! Hope you're having a great week!

x, Tam

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Overalls for Fall

As a petite person, I'm always wary of styles that make me look too young or babyish. I've been hesitant to try incorporating overalls into my wardrobe, especially since the last time I wore a pair was probably in elementary school. I recently found this pair at Topshop and decided to give them a try, especially since the fit was slimmer and more sophisticated than many others I've debated ordering. I was pleasantly surprised by how flattering they were right out of the box and decided to keep them.

If you're still waiting to hop on the overalls train, I'd recommend this pair--it's less expensive than many other available options, and the quality is good. My only piece of advice/word of caution is that if you're my height (4'11") or taller, go for regular sizing rather than petite. I'm wearing the petite size here, and you can see that the straps are all the way extended. I have a short torso, and even with the extended straps, the top is still a bit snug on my shoulders. As I wore these, they stretched a bit, but I think I probably would have been more comfortable ordering the same numerical size in regular sizing. I haven't tried washing them yet, but I plan to wash in cold water and air dry since any shrinkage would probably make them unwearable.

In styling these overalls, I intentionally choose more feminine and elegant accessories for a more grown-up, chic look. I liked the contrast of bright stiletto heels with the more casual denim and tee. I'm hoping this won't be the last time I get to wear these teal suede shoes this year, but it looks like Denver will see some snow later this week (I think I'm equal parts excited and bummed about the prospect!).

Hope your week has been wonderful so far!

x, Tam

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Weekend White Denim

Summer may be on its way out, but I am definitely not giving up wearing my favorite white jeans anytime soon. I just replaced my previous much-loved pair of 7FAM skinnies (I just looked, and they appeared in about ten posts!). I'm loving my shiny new pair and have been wearing them too much to hand them over to the tailor just yet for hemming. The upcoming weekend weather forecast is promising highs of up to 90, so I am looking forward to savoring the last bits of summer while I can.

Hope you're having a great week!

x, Tam

Monday, August 31, 2015

End-of-Summer Bright Accessories

For a date night this weekend, I mixed this no-nonsense utility romper with some fun accessories: teal Manolos, an vibrant, vintage silk scarf of my mom's (a pen pal from Japan sent it to her nearly 50 years ago), and my favorite coral purse, which never seems to photograph the true color it is in person, which is a lovely, vibrant coral without too much red, pink, or neon mixed in there.

As of this posting there were still a few sizes of the utility romper I'm wearing available, but it seems like they might be going fast. In case you miss snagging one in your size, here are a few other rompers at Anthropogie that have a similar vibe:

Hope you enjoyed this gorgeous weekend! Thanks for reading!

x, Tam

Shop the rest of the look here:

Friday, January 30, 2015

Black / White / Weekend

Last weekend was one of the best I've had in a while--two of my very best friends who live much too far away came to visit, and we hit up about half the restaurants on this NYT What to Do in Denver list. I probably gained several pounds between Sean's amazing home cooking and brunch at Lucile's and Root Down, and an unreal dinner at Acorn at the Source. Hope you had a lovely week!

Happy Friday!

x, Tam

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Midi + Crop

Quick outfit post today--hope you're having a great week!

x, Tam

Monday, June 30, 2014

Work Outfit: Bright Accessories for Summer (with a Manolo Blahnik BB Pump Review)

Jacket: Arden B. (old) | Skirt: Banana Republic (old, but similar style here in my favorite Sloan Fit) | Blouse: Ann Taylor Factory (recent, and with a lovely flutter sleeve detail) | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Bag: kate spade new york | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik BB Pumps (available via Saks or Nordstrom) | Lips: NARS 'Yu'

I'd been regretting missing my opportunity to take home a pair of Manolo BB Pumps when they were last on sale after Christmas (although I did end up grabbing the Carolyne Sling-Backs, which I love and have been wearing a ton). When they were back on sale at Saks recently, I decided on a suede pair in a fun aqua color for summer. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to make them work for the office, but as long as I keep the rest of my palette fairly neutral, I think a bold, summery color fit right into my seasonal work wardrobe.

The Manolo BB's, named after screen siren Brigitte Bardot, are an incredibly flattering shoe, and I found them to be surprisingly comfortable, especially for shoes that are narrower (my feet are not narrow!). Most of the higher-end department stores sell them in a wide variety of colors, heel heights, and materials. You can also design your own BB Pumps at Neiman Marcus. So far, I've stuck to purchasing most of my higher-end shoes on sale, but it's hard to tune out the siren call of the customizable BB's!

Note: I normally wear a 35-35.5 in this shoe brand. I was told to size down despite my wide feet, and the 35 ended up being the better size for me as this style seems to run a little long in the footbed.

Although I generally try to stay away from accessories that are too "matchy," I loved how this turquoise bag and shoes looked together. With gray and beige in my suiting separates, and my subtly-printed blouse with its hints of turquoise, coal, and lavender, I thought the shoes and bag took the look up a notch.

One word of caution: when opting for bright accessories at the office, make sure the design of those accessories is clean and simple, like I did here with a sleek pump and classic structured satchel bag.

Work Outfit--Pops of Turquoise + Manolo Blahnik BB Review

I'm very excited it's a short week this week! Hope you all had a lovely weekend and that my fellow Americans have fun plans coming up for the Fourth!

x, Tam

Friday, May 2, 2014

En Provence

Strolling through Gordes, Vaucluse, Provence

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

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

A Day in Champagne

From Paris, we took a day trip to Reims, the biggest city in the Champagne region. We headed out early from Paris on the TGV, the high-speed train system that reaches speeds of about 200 mph, so what would've been a two-hour drive was a quick and comfortable 45-minute train ride. I loved taking the high-speed trains throughout France and would definitely recommend traveling this way in Europe.

Our first stop was the cathedral in Reims, the place where French kings were crowned for centuries; it was absolutely gorgeous.

After wandering around the city and seeing the cathedral, we went to a couple of the big champagne houses for tours and tastings, including my personal favorite, Veuve Clicquot. It was so interesting to learn why the Champagne region is the perfect place for champagne-making (lots of moisture, temperate climate, and chalk soil). We loved touring the cellars and seeing how they've made champagne for centuries. Oh, and the tastings were pretty great, too.

For this day of wandering around, sightseeing, and journeying into champagne caves, I decided jeans and my trusty leather jacket would be best. It was chilly underground, so I was glad I had layered a blouse and thin cardigan under my jacket and brought a lightweight scarf (which conveniently doubled as a blanket on the train!). I again wore my favorite Matt Bernson flats for most of the day, and changed into heels when we stopped at a restaurant to eat.

Hope you enjoyed these--photos from Provence are next on the schedule!

x, Tam

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Paris in Bloom

In my last post, I mentioned that we really lucked out with the weather in Paris. I could not believe how warm and sunny it was on several of days we had there--definitely did not need the rain boots, turtlenecks, and heavy scarves I packed. Luckily, I was a typical nervous bride and kept checking the weather forecast multiple times daily before we left, so I threw some warmer-weather items in my suitcase, too. The skirt I'm wearing is one I picked up from ASOS last year and love for travel. It's super-comfortable, doesn't wrinkle, goes with almost everything, and takes up very little room in my suitcase.

We spent a lot of time the first couple days we were there looking for flowers. After reading a few blogs and talking with my photographer, I decided I would order my bouquet once I got to Paris. I checked out a bunch while we were wandering the city, including the ones at the big flower market on Île de la Cité. Parisians take their flowers seriously, and they definitely did not disappoint! Below is a rare photo of my now-husband (on one of the chillier days) checking out the selection at the market.

Not far from the flower market, we found this little cafe, Au Vieux Paris d'Arcole, which had its own set of charming florals--as this was the beginning of the growing season, they didn't have the full complement of flowers and vines they have in the summer, so they supplemented the lilacs with some faux chickens, lambs, and tropical birds.

Even on the grayer days, the city was just as charming. I love the typical architectural style of Paris, and it's so much more enchanting when streets wind around and buildings, sidewalks, and intersections aren't perfectly straight. (And yes, while it's delightful to wander, it can be maddening to be lost when you're trying to get somewhere--we found this app and this one, both usable offline, to be lifesavers when trying to navigate the Metro and the streets.)

We ended up finding pretty blossoms even when we weren't looking for them--the two photos below were taken at a park in the St. Germain neighborhood, where there were piles of pink petals carpeting the walkways and more floating in the air whenever the breeze picked up.

I'm wearing heels in these photos, but I definitely did not walk any great distances in them. If you ever run across me in person, you'll probably discover I almost always have a change of shoes in my bag, and I didn't deviate from that in Paris. I love the put-together look and extra height that heels give me, but I usually put off throwing them on until I arrive at my destination. For commuting and sight-seeing, I love my Matt Bernson flats, and I wore them consistently throughout our vacation (they're also on sale in select colors right now--for reference, I go half a size up from my usual).

Hope you enjoyed this set of photos--more to come soon!

x, Tam