Cheap & Cheerful - Robert Lee Morris Soho jewelry

(Starting a new 'category' today - our 'Cheap & Cheerful' selections - when we find something inexpensive and fabulous, we'll let you know as soon as possible!)

Oh, hello goregous!

I've been in love with Robert Lee Morris (RLM) and his simple, classic silver and gold creations since the 80's.  I couldn't afford his work then, but had the pleasure of working with this 2-time CFDA award winner on his tabletop collection for Reed & Barton.  I still happily cut my cakes with his amazing pie/cake set.

Seems RLM has been busy, designing for the Olsen twin's Elizabeth and James collection and selling his business to a big company. Hello Soho - the new lower-priced line of silver-plate and gold-plate pieces of surprisingly good quality.  I am totally in love!  There are some great every day pieces that add a lot of pretty without a lot of $.  Find his creations at Bloomingdales, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, and on his own website.  Here are some of my favorites:

$30, and each bangle falls perfectly on my arm.  Bloomingdales is sold out.  I might have gotten the last set!

Image from bloomingdales.com.

$28. Simple silver.  On sale at Bloomingdales for $19.60.

Image from bloomingdales.com.

$35.  To match the bangles.  Also on sale at Bloomingdales right now for $24.50.

Image from bloomingdales.com.

How would this amazing collar look on anything black? $45.

Image from bloomingdales.com.

Love this circle, pearl pendant for $42.

Image from macys.com

Very cool cuff with hinge - on sale at Bloomingdales for $40.60.

Image from bloomingdales.com.

Didn't see this one in person, but at $65, I hope it fits the bill for a subtle, gold, chunky necklace.

Image from bloomingdales.com.

Or, is it this one, for $50 with an adjustable chain?

Image from bloomingdales.com.

And what about these cute earrings for holiday?  $28?!

Image from bloomingdales.com.

Jen fell in love with this bangle set.  $42 for all three!

Image from bloomingdales.com.

As you can see, we have some shopping to do! ~ LB

W2WW Friday Funny

We have been cracking up over this 'Sh*t Fashion Girls Say' video from YouTube, and we had to share it with you!  Yes, there are some things in here that Lisa and I have found ourselves saying (especially at :43 and 1:19 and 1:40).

Enjoy! ~ JH

W2WW Newsflash - Alex and Ani Store open in Wellesley.

The Rhode Island jewelry company, Alex and Ani, has opened a gorgeous little shop in a sliver of the old Paper Source space at 1 Abbott Street in Wellesley Center.   

If you don't know their jewelry, then check the wrist of any random high school or college girl and you'll probably see 1 to 10 of Alex and Ani's charm bangles stacked and layered. 

There are literally hundreds of charms - collegiate, sorority, football, and your basics, like initials, flowers, etc..   Something for everyone.  We particularly liked the Red Sox ones.

They make perfect little girl birthday gifts or stocking stuffers! ~ LB

All images from Lisa Bida.

What were we doing last Thursday morning?

Normally, I would be at the gym and Lisa would be at work.  But not last Thursday!  Last Thursday, we got up early, showered, texted at least 6 times about what we were wearing (including photos of outfits) and headed into Boston with a good friend to hit the Saks Fifth Avenue "Key to the Cure" Fashion Show, to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  Nothing gets us more giddy than to put on heels at 8:30am and head out the door to mimosas, brunch, and clothing!  

This is how the morning started - lovely seats, mimosas, and yogurt parfaits:

At 10:00am, we took our seats and prepared to be inspired.  And inspired we were! 

The first look was so cool - Seven for All Mankind printed jeans (and you know how we love those) with a Joie leather top, Yigal Azrouel leather jacket, and AH-MAZ-ING Reed Krakoff cuff and necklace.  (PS - Our friend purchased the necklace after the show.  She practically ran downstairs to the Reed Krakoff salon.)

The second look, featuring a Lanvin sweater, Brunello Cucinelli pant, Eugenia Kim hat and Tod's shoes, was billed as an outfit for running around with the kids - 'won't the kids think your sweater is super fun with the bugs?!'  One of us said, and I quote, "Just hanging out with the kids in my Lanvin."  Yeah, right.  In case the $1,500 beetle sweater doesn't work for 'hanging with the kids', Tory Burch has a 'scarab' sweater for $295.

I REALLY loved look 3, which included a 3.1 Philip Lim sweater and blouse, J Brand leather leggings, and Prada shoes.  I think I love it because it looks exactly like something I'd wear.  Adore.

And then there was look 4 - Missoni dress with Jimmy Choo boots and Marc Jacobs jacket.  Holy cow.  We loved it.  The entire audience loved it.  Ahhh....

Look number 7 made me go nuts!  The Carven coat had me running to the Carven section after the show.  And trying it on.  And drooling.

Look 11 was this INSANE Etro black gown.  Simple and elegant, all at once.  Jewelry at your hip.  

Look 12 featured an Aquilano Rimondi red dress.  Think of and use this red dress as your new LBD.  Loved the jeweled Dolce & Gabbana clutch they paired with it.

Lisa and our friend oh-ed and ah-ed over look 13, this Helmut Lang gown paired with Gucci studded pumps.  Saks promised that the gown was exceedingly comfortable.

The finale dress was a stunner - a Nina Ricci gown with a sheer back.  Talk about making an entrance...

...and an exit.

What a fun morning!  We hope you enjoyed our fashion show review and we hope you are equally inspired! ~ JH

All images from Lisa Bida and Jennifer Houston.

W2WW Around Town - Styling Event at Pine Straw!

Lately, our favorite go-to-for-gifts store in Wellesley, Pine Straw, has been expanding their clothing and accessories offerings.  By a lot!  And you know that we cannot stand to miss out on anything new and exciting, especially when it's down the street.

Pine Straw store owner and curator, Tracy Cranley, asked if we would like to come and be a part of their "Meet Maria Fashion Night" which will introduce Maria DiLorenzo to all of us as Pine Straw's in-house stylist.  Bien sur!  Of course!

So on Wednesday, October 23rd, from 6:30-8:30, come over to Pine Straw (466 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA) to check out their latest offerings and stylings.  RSVP to the store with an email to here as space is limited - please include your name and phone number in the email.  10% off all apparel purchases!  Lisa and I will be there and we'd love to see you!

In preparation for the event, Lisa and I spent part of Wednesday morning checking out the merchandise and trying on somethings.  Here is a sample of our favorites!  First, their scarves.  I love them all.  The Chan Luu ones are simply divine.  Check out this rainbow of color!

Near the scarves are these fabulous bracelets.  By Gawdy Baubles, a 5-pack of them is $44.  I want the brown/gray ones.  Now.

In clothing, we put together some great looks.  For the mom-around-town, stick on this Chan Luu sweater and fabulous scarf over your skinny jeans and a t-shirt.  Instant style!

For a holiday party, try this Sanctuary red leopard cami (beaded along the neckline and then down the front) over skinny, faux-sueded Sanctuary pants.  The top is $110 and the bottoms are $112 (and vegan!).

Ladies night out?  Try this Calypso beaded top over your own jeans and a Chan Luu bracelet on your wrist.

Do you need a holiday dress?  This Chan Luu one was lovely, with delicate beading and sheer overlay.  We liked the Chan Luu clear bead necklace paired with it.

Speaking of necklaces, Lisa and I think pearls are making a big comeback, and these pearl necklaces were an updated and hip way to dip your toe in that pool.  See them?  One big pearl at the end of a necklace.  So cool.

So much more to see!  Remember to RSVP to Tracy at Pine Straw if you want to stop by on Wednesday!  See you there! ~ JH

All images from Lisa Bida & Jennifer Houston.

Back in Paris?!

I took a mini-break this past weekend and jetted over to Paris for 3 days.  3 dinners, 3 lunches, 3 days to shop.  Oh wait, one of the days was Sunday, and other than in the Marais, there is no shopping to be done on Sundays.  Oh, and I was on a get-away with my dear husband, who didn't want to rabidly shop.  Not shocking.

How did I get any shopping done?!?  I consolidated the brands I wanted to look at (Massimo Dutti, Comptoir des Cotonniers, COS, Vanessa Bruno, Eric Bompard, Malene Birger) and figured that if I went straight to Galeries Lafayette, I could probably knock out a bunch of shopping in one place!  Brilliant! 

My tired husband and I arrived in Paris center on Friday morning around 9:30am, and headed straight to Galeries Lafayette after breakfast.  I was on the hunt for a couple of things and doing a little research as well.

With my research hat on, I wanted to visit Massimo Dutti, which is part of Zara's parent company.  I had seen an ad of theirs in Vogue, and liked the coat I saw so much that I started to check their stuff out online.  Price point was great, and I was really excited to see the store-in-store at Galeries Lafayette.

Unfortunately, in person, the clothing wasn't as fabulous.  It was the fabric (itchy) more than the cut of the clothing.  Maybe that's something to watch for in the future!  I'll stay tuned.

Then I put my errand hat on and raced over to the Eric Bompard section.  Yes, I love their cashmere, and this fall, I had been looking for a long, self-belted, black cardigan.  After more-than-a-little online research, I thought that the Kimono sweater was the one for me.  And sure enough, it was! (Please ignore the post-overnight-flight-room's-not-ready-ponytail.)

Image from eric-bompard.com.

Fitted sleeves, fitted at waist, and actually had an inside tie to keep the tucked flap of the sweater from shifting.  Dear husband made a face when I told him this was an investment piece, which it is.  I hope to wear it for years to come.  I had to continue my hunting there as Lisa wanted to expand her Eric Bompard v-neck sweater options; I picked up a light gray classic v-neck for her as well.

Image from eric-bompard.com.

After pawing a leopard coat in the Malene Birger section (didn't fit; was too boxy) and being disappointed with the fall lines of Comptoir and COS, I figured dear husband was running out of steam and patience, and a lunch break was needed.  I hated to leave Galeries Lafayette - the building is something else.

Over the next two days, I had some fun stops in random stores that yielded some good stuff.  While dear husband and I explored the Canal St. Martin area (beautiful!)...

... I wandered into an Antoine et Lili store.  Kind of whimsical for adults (there is a home and a kids line too), but I fell in love immediately with this cheap and cheerful, 28 Euro, silk scarf.  Totally useful!

Image from antonieetlili.com.

And later on Saturday, I found myself on rue St. Sulpice in the Vanessa Bruno store, fawning over their bags.  Again.  But for fall, they are SUEDE.  And I am a sucker for suede.  So I picked up a gray one of these. (The one on the very bottom is gray.)

Finally, I did a quick City Pharma run for Lisa's Nuxe lotion and yes, more Bioderma.  

OK, maybe I am a horder.  

I'm not sure when I might get back to Paris.  I kind of knew this weekend might come together this past summer, so I was definitely looking forward to it.  Going forward, who knows?!  Until then, I'll cozy up in my sweater(s) and scarves and every now and then, look at this photo from my run on Monday morning...

...or our walk through Luxembourg Gardens on Saturday afternoon.

À toute à l'heure! ~ JH

Unless noted otherwise, all images from Jennifer Houston.