Five Neutral Cardigans You Need For Spring

Cardigan: Zara (Similar) / Jeans: JCrew
Flats: JCrew (Last Season) Similar flats here and here
Purse: Chanel / Sunglasses: Sperry

Gone are the days of heavy winter jackets and in are the days of spring cardigans! I am a strong believer in investing in neutral layering pieces that can be worn year-round just like this black cardigan from Zara. Cardigans are the perfect transition piece from winter to spring or layering with your outfit for those cool spring nights. I can't wait to add more neutral cardigans to my spring wardrobe!

Here are my top five neutral cardigans you need for spring:

1. Stripe Long Open Cardigan
2. Drop Shoulder Tie Waist Cardigan
3. Oh Pretty Daze Cardigan
4. Rivington Lightweight Cardigan Sweater
5. Nightingale Cardigan

How to Wear the Gingham Trend

Gingham Top: Who What Wear (Under $25!!) / Jeans: JCrew
Heels: Sam Edelman / Purse: Chanel / Sunglasses: Nicole Miller (Similar) 

One major trending fashion pieces for this spring is gingham! This season the gingham trend is going strong and in a non-traditional way. You can find this trend from a variety of different colors - yellow, red, pink, green, white, black. And in so many different forms! Think tops, cropped pants, dresses, blazers, etc. I definitely haven't seen gingham like this before! It's really a new take on gingham with so many different colors and silhouettes - it's really easy to wear this trend! 

I wanted to keep this look simple by letting the focus of the outfit be this beautiful one-shoulder gingham top. This gingham top really piqued my interest with the tie bow shoulder which is perfect for the spring and summer! The shape of the top is also flattering with its peplum cut. I can't wait to wear this top again in the spring with some white jeans or shorts!

I linked a few of my favorite gingham tops below. Will you be wearing this trend?

The One Pink Sweater You Need For Spring

Knit Sweater: H&M / Dress Shirt: Old (Similar) / Jeans: Old (Similar)
Heels: Sam Edelman / Handbag: Chanel / Sunglasses: Nicole Miller (Similar)

Right now I am craving everything and anything spring! I am totally loving this beautiful pink loose knit sweater from H&M which is a total dupe for this $475 knit sweater from Ganni!! The thing I love about this knit sweater is that it is so versatile and looks great paired with just about anything - jeans, white jeans, shorts! (Can you tell I'm all about versatile pieces?!).

Since it was a little chilly out, I paired this knit sweater layered over a dress shirt. This knit sweater is seriously so cozy and just looks so much more expensive than it really is. I really like that the knit pattern is a loose hole pattern and balloon sleeves.

So this upcoming weekend I am heading up to Connecticut to my parents house to spend Easter with them! I haven't been back home since January so I am super excited to spend some quality time with them! Anyone have any fun things planned this weekend?

Review of Chanel Classic Mini Rectangle Flap Bag and Photos

When you think of Chanel you instantly think of the iconic Chanel Classic Flap Bag which is absolutely gorgeous and timeless. The Chanel Classic Flag Bag comes in 7 different sizes (ranging from Maxi to Extra Mini), and the Chanel Mini Rectangle is one of the smaller sizes.

Let’s chat about the highly sought-after Chanel mini bag and my experience on how I came to get my hands on this sought after mini bag!

I really had my heart on buying a Chanel bag from the Chanel store. The number one reason being that you know that the item you are getting is 100% authentic complete with an authentication card and of course, the beautiful packaging. I was initially looking into purchasing the Chanel Wallet on Chain (WOC) but I really wanted a bag that had the look and feel of the Chanel Classic Flap Bag. I love the size of my Saint Laurent Monogram Mattelasse Leather Chain Wallet which is: 8.75” x 5.5” x 1.5” so I knew I wanted a similar bag but in silver hardware. So in came the Chanel Classic Flap Mini Rectangle Bag with dimensions of: 8” x 5” x 2”. 

For material I decided to go with calfskin. It’s honestly all about personal choice and use. Lambskin is very soft but is fragile and can easily scratch.  Calfskin (or caviar) is a harder material but is durable and doesn’t scratch easily.  I went with the grained calfskin with silver hardware as it is more durable than the lambskin and not as prone to scratches. Since this Chanel Classic Flap Mini Rectangle Bag would be one I would wear out at night I wanted something that wasn’t as prone to scratches.

Here is a size comparison of the smaller Chanel Bags so you can see how these smaller bags compare to each other in size:

Now something that people never tell you is that tracking down these bags are not easy. Unfortunately in Philadelphia there are no Chanel stores and not even the King of Prussia mall has one. The nearest location is New York City but I did not want to take the chance of going all the way there and leaving disappointed. So I literally picked up the phone and started calling every Chanel store without any luck. Well in the meantime my wonderful husband had a contact over at the Chanel store in New York City! The associate had white, pink, and red in the Chanel Mini Rectangle bag but I really wanted to wait as long as it took for the bag in black. I literally waited months until the sales associate called to say that they were getting the bag and if I was still interested.

Once the bag arrived I was so excited to open it up! After opening up the box and seeing the bag in person it was definitely love at first sight and this mini bag is such a beauty. I definitely made the right decision.

The Chanel mini has enough space for all your day to day necessities. I am able to store my ID, credit cards, iPhone 7, lipgloss, and any knickknacks comfortably in this bag. Some of my initial thoughts on the bag - it’s seriously the perfect luxury addition without it being too much. The bag is built very well and is sturdy (with the pricetag you wouldn’t expect anything less). The purse has the classic CC interlocking design and a back pocket.  The bag is also very versatile. It can be worn long, crossbody, or as a clutch. Also the chain can even be wrapped a certain way for you to carry it as a shorter shoulder bag which can be used as a formal look.  I am 5’7” and the chain length of the bag is perfect for me (I believe the chain length is 23”).

Overall, I love the Chanel Mini Rectangle bag. It has a the look and feel of a bigger Classic Chanel Flap Bag but at a smaller size. I love that it’s such a versatile bag and that I can wear it many ways. The price of a Chanel bag increases each year, however, it’s definitely an investment piece!

Best Neutral Pieces for Endless Spring Outfit Combinations

Wrap Blouse: ASOS / Jeans: JCrew
Heels: Levity (Similar) / Handbag: Tory Burch Crossbody
Initial Necklace: Kate Spade / Sunglasses: Sperry (Similar) / Earrings: Givenchy

Spring is officially here and it’s nowhere near close to warm weather yet! There was a big snowstorm that came through Wednesday and we got about a good 5 inches of snowfall here in Philadelphia. Luckily I was able to work from home with my laptop and was cozy at home (for those of you who are new followers here is a little background about myself).

At the beginning of each new season I go through my wardrobe and either keep, toss, or donate my clothes (this reminds me of Carrie Bradshaw from the first Sex and the City movie.. of course minus the closet fashion show and champagne..). I do tend to wear neutral colors year-round such as white, black, gray, beige, blush so I make sure to do a refresh of these pieces.

Neutrals are so easy and simple to pair with just about anything. I love this white wrap blouse from ASOS by River Island. I like the bow wrap detail on the side which really elevates this neutral blouse. The material of this blouse is lightweight chiffon and the blouse is slightly sheer which is perfect for those spring days. I  paired this look with my favorite high rise ankle jeans from JCrew. These jeans honestly fit so well and I just love the skinny fit. These jeans don't have a gap in the waist which is soo important to us curvy women! Also, a neutral purse is always a good addition for spring.  One of my newer purchases is the Tory Burch Robinson leather wallet crossbody bag in the camel color. I know I will be getting alot of use out of it!

Let’s talk about my hair. So I always use this 1 1/4 inch curling iron by Hot Tools to create the waves in my hair. However, I had bought a 1 1/4 inch tapered curling wand by Hot Tools from Ulta a while back and realized I had never used it so I figured since I had some extra time to get ready so why not try it out? I really loved the waves that the wand created and will definitely be using it more! Also, I am really loving the half up top knot trend and it’s so simple to do! Let me know in the comments below if you would want to see a video on how to achieve this hairstyle!