Fashion

Rose Gold and Blue

Happy New Year! Well, almost. I can’t believe tomorrow is the last day of 2015, a year full of creativity, discovery, and love. Bryan and I are hosting a NYE party tomorrow night and we are in the midst of decorating and preparing for our dearest friends to arrive and make our house warm. Whether you are out celebrating at your favorite bar or gathered at a friend’s house, I wish you a happy new year sprinkled with bliss, laughter, and amazing memories (I know, cheesy, but I’m feeling all of the feels today.) Here’s to a fabulous 2016!

Xo,
Jackietara
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Outfit details:
GAP Sweater similar from Old Navy on sale!
Zara Parka similar on sale!
Vintage Satchel
GAP Ballet Flats
Stella & Dot Birdie Necklace
Stella & Dot Watch
Stella & Dot Pave Triangle Cuff
Stella & Dot Pearl Spike Cuff and Ring

Photography by Bryan Wallace

Gift a Little Sparkle

If you’re anything like me this time of year, you’re anxiously waiting for online orders to come in the mail and still thinking of cute and clever ways to wrap presents… with Christmas only 2 days away. Luckily, we can count on Stella & Dot for our last-minute shopping needs, so we can gift a little sparkle this season (even if we are a tad bit behind)!

Stella & Dot has a gift for everyone on your list, and is promising delivery by December 24th for all orders placed today! To make things even easier, I put together a little Stella & Dot gift guide while you shop stelladot.com/jackietara for all the amazing ladies on your list:

For the edgy trend-setter:
Pave Sphinx Ring
Rebel Pendant
Renegade Cluster Bracelet

For the classic beauty:
Frances Pearl Statement Necklace
Signature Engravable Disc Necklace
Deja Vu Pearl Studs

For the boho babe:
Sahara Pendant Necklace
Union Square Scarf
Aria Cuff

For the dancing queen:
Starburst Ear Jackets
Madison Tech Wallet
Deco Cocktail Ring

For the jet-setter:
Hang On Travel Case
The Getaway Bag
Icon Convertible Watch

Happy Shopping!

Xo,
Jackietara

Photography by Paul B. Jones

P is for Poncho

Once upon a time I said with 85% confidence that I would treat myself to a couple of new items for fall. Fast forward to December and I’m the happy owner of a cozy poncho. Much like a large scarf, the poncho is a mobile blanket – a form of coziness and comfort appropriate enough for daytime outings and the office. (Though don’t get me wrong, if I’m cold enough I will cover myself in a large blanket and wear fingerless gloves at the office. No shame).

Thankfully, Virginia is taking it’s sweet time to roll into winter weather, which means I get to wear this puppy well into December. After the Thanksgiving holiday I fell into a leisurely routine of slumbering, coffee sipping, crosswording, and sporting a uniform of pajamas and/or large sweaters on a daily basis, so I’m hopeful that some stylish comfort-wear will ease my transition back into the craziness that is December events. This is positivity, not delusion…

(P.S. It looks like this poncho is on sale at Old Navy, so you can join me on my cozy crusade!)

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Outfit details:

Old Navy Poncho
GAP 1969 Jeans
Stella & Dot Freya Necklace
Stella & Dot Pave Sphinx Bracelet
Stella & Dot Icon Convertible Watch
BitterSweet Hair Tie Bracelet

Photography by Bryan Wallace

These Boots Were Made for Walking [Around Town]

B and I took advantage of a rare day off mid-week and took a nice walk around our neighborhood. It was a beautiful fall day, one with an endless clear blue sky and crisp newly fallen leaves crunching beneath our feet. We didn’t have a plan and ended up wandering and walking nearly 5 miles around town.

Needless to say, we stopped for happy hour in Old Town, Alexandria to fuel our trek home. I was glad that I decided to wear these over the knee boots instead of a heeled pair. They are super comfy, add a touch of extra warmth with the height, and the purple suede adds a nice pop of color. The perfect boots for a perfect afternoon… a perfectly unplanned pair.

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Outfit details:

Unisa Gillean Over The Knee Boot
GAP Plaid Button-Down similar
Coach Crossbody similar
Stella & Dot Plume Necklace 25% off until Sunday!
Stella & Dot Icon-Convertible Watch
Stella & Dot Maylee Ring

Blanket Scarf in Baltimore

Happy Friday everyone! I’m not sure if it was the blustery weather, long days at the office, or a combination of both, but this week was exhausting and I’m more pumped than usual about the end of the week. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I should be getting excited about the festivities (what’s not to love about parties filled with endless bubbly and delicious meals?!), but right now my idea of a good time is to bunker down in my apartment with a good book and a cup of tea, snuggled up in a giant blanket.

Thankfully, I wore one of my warmest scarves a couple weekends ago when Bryan and I ventured out to Baltimore to visit the National Aquarium. It was a beautiful day, but super windy by the water, so it was blanket scarf to the rescue! I picked it up at the H&M in Union Station last year on my way to New York, and it was one my best purchasing decisions ever. I appreciate when something that I love to wear is not only fashionable and comfortable, but I can continue to wear it year to year. A big “thank you” to whomever invented this thing. Now I can take my cozy bundled up feeling with me wherever I go.

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Outfit details:

H&M Blanket Scarf
Premise Studio Blazer similar from Zara
Stella & Dot Ally Double Wrap Bracelet
Stella & Dot Icon Convertible Watch

Indigo Girl

This time of year is all about layering and stretching your summer essentials through the first chilly months of the year by adding a couple key pieces. During the summer I’m all about simplicity, avoiding heavy synthetic materials and wearing durable cottons like this white and indigo tunic from World Market.

I’m not going to lie, as much as I love “creating a new wardrobe” by experimenting with different combinations of my existing pieces, layering summer staples also comes from a necessity to stick to the budget (I know, womp womp). Fall is my favorite season – for many reasons, but very much so for the fashion trends – so I am going to allow myself to get a couple of fun new items (stay tuned for my favorite fall picks!) to throw into the mix. What are your favorites so far this season? I sense a cozy poncho in my future…

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Outfit details:

World Market Tunic
Zara Jacket similar
Levi’s Denim on sale!
GAP Booties
Stella & Dot Pearl Spike Cuff and Ring

Photos by Bryan Wallace

Thrifty

My friend Sarah and I celebrated National Thrift Shop Day by visiting the Buffalo Exchange shop on 14th Street, D.C. I was in heaven, looking through racks upon racks of lightly worn trendy clothes. With so many retail options, it’s easy to forget that there are some really great shops dedicated to recycling clothing at reasonable prices. Buffalo Exchange, in particular, boasts an eco-friendly approach with bag-less shopping and targets local customers. It also has a flair for vintage, which is right up my alley.

After trying on about 20 pieces, I landed on a versatile polka dot dress, a retro striped sweater, and the best find ever: a perfect pair of pink suede pumps with a heel low enough to wear all day. You know how much I love a pop of color, and comfiness is just gravy.

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Photography by Sarah Stuart Walters

Summer Nights

It’s official. B and I are roomies. Not the college dorm forced-to-live-with-each-other kind or the I-can’t-afford-to-live-by-myself type of flat mate, but true bonafide roomies, happy in our new apartment in Del Ray, Alexandria. I know, it’s a shock: I am no longer a D.C. resident. I really didn’t think that day would come, but here I am, happily back in Virginia. There have been a lot of changes in the last couple of weeks. A big move, and an intense shift in weather and mood. It seems like everyone is pushing for fall to come faster, and I am all aboard that train. I have loved these last few summer nights, but I can definitely use the slower pace and cooler days of September. Hello fall!

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ModCloth Top
Vintage Pleated Skirt
Stella & Dot Slim City Clutch

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Photography by Paul B. Jones

Black and White Birthday

Last weekend was my birthday – the big 2-7. It’s not the most exciting age of them all, but it does deserve a little recognition. I feel like big things are going to happen this year… big things I tell ya. To start my self-proclaimed “big year”, I decided to take the day off. B took the day as well, so we could both do a few things that we have been wanting to do, but just haven’t quite had the time or energy for, like getting a manicure/pedicure at my all-time favorite salon. I don’t know about you, but a nice mani/pedi changes my life. I could be spiraling down a deep dark hole of stress and anxiety and, an hour of pampering, a nice chat with my technician, and 20 misty nails later, emerge as an entirely new person. It’s magical.

With my fresh nails and perspective on life, B and I spent the afternoon visiting a couple of our favorite D.C. spots. We had a little oyster action at Rappahannock Oyster Company in Union Market and then took a stroll around Eastern Market. It was really nice just to be able to enjoy being outside, and each other. Not a bad way to start the year.

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ModCloth Dress
Stella & Dot Plume Necklace
Stella & Dot Pearl Spike Ring
Stella & Dot Ally Double Wrap Bracelet

Staying Cool with Dolcezza

Jackietara blog - Staying Cool with Dolcezza

I hope everyone enjoyed National Ice Cream Day as much as I did on Sunday! The roomies and I decided there wasn’t a better way to celebrate than to beat the heat with ice cream at Union Market. Dolcezza has several locations throughout the DMV, but we are lucky enough to have the factory in our neighborhood.

Dolcezza offers delicious gelato and sorbetto that is freshly spun with fresh and local ingredients and produced that very day, in addition to espresso and coffee. The combination of espresso and gelato is one of my all-time favorites, also known as the affogato. If you’ve never tried it, put it at the top of your list.

On Sunday I opted for one of Dolcezza’s sorbetto push pops. The lemon basil flavor was incredibly fresh and delicious, and – most importantly – cold.

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ModCloth Dress | similar on sale!
Stella & Dot City Slim Clutch | in new patterns!
Stella & Dot Jewelry:
Rebel Pendant
Rebel Ring
On The Mark Necklace
Voyager Cuff

Photography by Sarah Stuart Walters

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