what I wore: dress – vintage dianne ricco for nieman marcus, sandals – lovely people, shades – gas station, earrings – vintage from mae’s

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My mom, brother – Asher, dad, aunt, uncle & his wife traveled to Charleston, SC to see my other brother – Hampton graduate last week. We had an amazing time. Charleston is such a fun/beautiful city and it’s about 9 miles from a lovely little place called Folly Beach, which happens to be one of my favorite locations.

Our room with a view

I forced the boys into a little impromptu photo shoot.

I love to see a good looking couple. I always tell the other half of my couple that we need to look like we are going to the same place. That doesn’t mean we must coordinate or even compliment. It’s just a succinct way to remember if we’re going to a cocktail party, I shouldn’t look like I’m headed to the opera and he shouldn’t look like he’s going to a baseball game. We’re going to the same place, no matter where that is. Here are some good examples from my pinterest board of the same name.

Olivia Palermo and her beau seem to do an exemplary job of this…

And here’s one me & the other member of my stylish pair

Girls notice. Promise you. Case in point: Ryan Gosling in Crazy Stupid Love. Yes he looked amazing, but more than that, I wanted his entire wardrobe for Ro. And he was on board! Attention to detail is something I think some guys have a hard time with. They don’t automatically think things like “should this jacket have a pocket square?” or “should I layer a sweater over this thermal?”. But oh what a difference it makes.

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Boys, next time you dress to impress, ask yourself this question: What would Ryan wear?

Gi

images via pinterest – the best invention ever!

I love this editorial. It looks like a honeymoon, which sounds lovely right about now. The soft palette and gorgeous swimwear has me ready to jet to Acapulco (where this was shot) right now.

Shot in Acapulco. Photographer: Pasquale Abbattista, Stylist: Kathrin Seidel, Models; Sophie Holmes & Lucien Thomkins for Elle Germany May 2011 via DJA

As you know, I love a well-dressed man (here, here, here, here, here). I’m loving these blazers for all occasions.

via TFS

Today is April 27th. That means our wedding is exactly four months away. I hyperventilated a bit when I realized. In honor of that and of the royal wedding (of course) I thought I’d share some of my wedding inspirations. If Kate Middleton forsakes Queen Victoria’s jewels for flowers in her hair I will never forgive her.

anything vintage or meaningful

a jewel-encrusted gown

a stunningly simple setting for the ceremony

shoes that sparkle

a ranunculus boutonnière

on a classic tux

sneaks at the reception

all the girls in light, feminine hues

flowers in her hair

honeymoons in far off places

a little new orleans flavor

all photos via The Window Shopper (wedding)

via GQ

For our wedding, the guys are going to wear tuxes. Robert and I both love a classic tux. He wants to look as much like James Bond as possible…and I’m somehow totally ok with that. But, I can’t help perusing the ties and bowties that are out there and wondering if we shouldn’t customize it somehow. Maybe he could wear a solid black bowtie while the groomsmen wore a black bowtie with white polka dots? What do you guys think?

A sweet little piece of trivia about me: my grandma Susi was a fantastic seamstress. She would make a bowtie for my papa to go with every dress she had. Isn’t that lovely?

Click the ties for the source. I found an incredible website: The Tie Bar and they have a wealth of any sort of tie one might need. They are super affordable.

As the weather warms and the flowers bloom, I find myself attracted to preppy classics. There’s just something so fresh about clean lines and bright colors. I’m not going so far as to tie a sweater around my neck but I do have a certain fondness for madras and seersucker. I tend to veer towards the Jackie Kennedy or Kathryn Hepburn version of prep rather than Lilly Pulitzer. How about you?

Sources: Matchbook Mag, Prep Perfection, A woman of casual elegance, Nautical stripes and critter skirts, Just Madras, Pink Preppy

The Essentials from Mr. Porter got me thinking about what every guy has to have to survive Summer and look fly doing it. Here are my recommendations. Bonus – the best men’s style sites: Valet Mag, Kempt, Gilt Manual, A Continuous Lean, Mr. Porter Journal, oooo

Casual Jeans

A Summer Blazer

A Bowtie

A Straw Hat

Swim Trunks

Boat Shoes

Shorts

Sunglasses

Chinos

A White Tee

Flip Flops

Now, if Summer would just get here.

Sources: pictures are linked to source.