winter

Moody Rock Creek Park Shoot with Lissa Ryan Photography

I met Melissa Dorn of Lissa Ryan Photography two Decembers ago on a styled shoot in Annapolis, MD that ended up being featured on Style Me Pretty. It was a magical day that completely opened up my eyes to the world of styled shoots. I immediately fell in love with the energy, dedication, and passion that is involved with bringing a styled shoot to life, much like an actual event. There is a freedom with styled shoots, though, that typically doesn’t exist for “real” weddings. An uninhibited kind of creativity that comes hand in hand with limitless possibilities.

Ever since that day I have gotten more involved with styled shoots, collaborating with amazing and talented vendors (or “friendors”, I have recently heard them called) ranging from photographers, florists, designers, and planners throughout the greater Washington, DC area, and making friends along the way.

Melissa and I have worked together on other styled shoots since our first one together two years ago (one to be published at the end of March on Magnolia Rouge – stay tuned!), but I was eager to work on something more personal with her. I love Melissa’s work with film photography, so we settled on a date in late February to do a little shoot in Rock Creek Park. It was the end of a rainy weekend, so the overcast sky and surging creek lent themselves to a moody winter atmosphere. I hope you like them as much as I do!

Xoxo,
Jackie Tara

Fuzzy Hat

I think spring is just around the corner (I better not have just jinxed it!), but winter had to rear its ugly head one last time a couple weeks ago. It was a beautiful snow, though, and B and I went out for a snow walk to Bon Vivant Cafe + Farm Market – one of our favorite local spots – for lunch. They have super fresh ingredients from local farms that go into delicious salads and sandwiches. I love their tuna salad, and Bryan swears by their Terragon Chicken Salad sandwich. So, so good.

Late in the winter season my mom stumbled upon a great sale at Restoration Hardware. She snagged some super plush towels, a faux fur hot water bottle sleeve, and this fuzzy hat. Because she’s the best mom ever, she decided I needed one of my own and I absolutely fell in love with it. It has flaps that can cover your ears from the cold or can be tied up neatly on top. It’s been a total life saver these last couple of blustery days. It’s so warm I would challenge winter to another Snowzilla, but I think I’ll concede this time. Winter, you win, but don’t get too comfortable – pastels, fringe, and florals are movin’ in!

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Outfit details:

Restoration Hardware Faux Fur Hat on sale!
Stella & Dot

Photos also taken by Bryan Wallace

Winter Hues

If you’re reading this, congratulations! You survived the Jonas Winter Snowpocalypse (disclaimer: I wrote this on Friday afternoon as everything outside turned white). If you’re not an East Coast-er, you might at least be aware of the snowy weather we are experiencing over the weekend in Washington, D.C. I’m slightly jealous of anyone who is enjoying temperatures above 20 degrees, but I’m also grateful for a lazy weekend at home (let’s see if I’ll be saying that come Monday – hah!). I tend to get a case of cabin fever now and again, but I attempted to be proactive and lined up a bunch of activities for myself, i.e. Netflix.

January was off to a busy start in the event planning world. If you didn’t know it, approximately 43% of engagements happen over the holidays between November and January, with December holding the title of “most popular month to get engaged.” January isn’t quite over, but a slow February is just around the corner. Hopefully I can get there in 2 feet of snow…

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Outfit details:

H&M Dress similar
Miss Sixty Wool Coat
Anthropologie Hat
Gap Booties similar from Old Navy
Stella & Dot Chiara Necklace

Photos by Bryan Wallace

Masquerade Wedding Styled Shoot

I’m so excited to finally share some gorgeous images from our Masquerade Wedding Styled Shoot from December 2014, now featured on Style Me Pretty! Our amazing team of vendors created a magical, whimsical setting at a private home on the water in Annapolis, MD., and Melissa Dorn of Lissa Ryan Photography captured the (cold) wintery day beautifully, both digitally and on film.

Jenna Shellhammer of Pop the Cork Designs organized a flawless day of vendor collaboration, from a beautiful invitation suite to hand cut leather masks, beaded gowns, and intricate bouquets. Not to mention the talented stylists who transformed B and me into blissfully happy love birds on our “wedding day.”

View the full feature on Style Me Pretty

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Enaura Bridal Gown
Jaclyn Jordan New York Bolero and Veil
La Gartier Garter

Hair by PSC Hair Artistry
Makeup by Luxury Brown Beauty
Floral Design by Petals and Promises
Coordination by Pop the Cork Designs

Photography by Lissa Ryan Photography

Winter White

I found this awesome graffiti wall on a Saturday morning run around Theodore Roosevelt Island with my beau. As we ran by, I told myself that I would have to come back to do a shoot there. I mean, how could I not? I love my city and it never ceases to amaze me. There are always new places to explore, and one of the best ways to discover those hidden gems is running. I’ve never been a “natural runner,” but I have taken to it again lately after a long 6-month hiatus. I’ve been going running with a couple friends, and although I can’t speak a word while I run (one of these days I will build up that pesky lung capacity!), it’s so much nicer to run with a buddy.

True to my word, we came back to the island. I’ve been taking the new “white is now acceptable after Labor Day” fashion rule to heart and shamelessly wearing white whenever possible. And before you flash that judgmental smirk, let me explain. White just never gets old, and black and white is too much of a classic combination to force into hibernation during the winter. I wore this dress back in August, and decided to style it with a long-sleeved gingham shirt, tights, and boots for a warmer look. Dresses with shirts underneath are my new favorite, and a white dress in December is just a bonus.

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Gap Dress old | similar on sale!
Old Navy Gingham Shirt old | similar on sale!
Vintage Short Boots
Stella & Dot Link Necklace

Photography by Paul B. Jones

Layers of Comfort

It is getting pretty darn chilly in this neck of the woods. D.C. has already experienced it’s first “real” snow storm this year, and it’s not even January! It was only a couple inches, but enough to shut down schools for two days and to give me a snow day away from the office. December is a crazy time of year. It’s holiday party after holiday party, leaving me in a daze of splendor, excitement, and exhaustion all mixed together. I do love it though: the garlands, wreathes, sparkling lights, and happy guests enjoying time with colleagues and friends lift my spirits on long work days that quickly turn into work nights. And repeat.

My lack of sleep and desire to stay warm frequently results in those days when all you want to wear is all of your least form fitting clothes, a style I have deemed “grandpa chic.” There’s just something so cozy and comforting about throwing on your significant other’s most loved sweater, a vintage jacket, a warm pair of pants, and boots. It’s hard to justify wearing anything else!

Wearing: denim collared button down: Madewell // men’s knit sweater: Express // vintage jacket: Liz Claiborne // mustard pants: Anthropologie // bib necklace: Eastern Market vendor // hat: Gap

Photography by Teddy Wolff

Jackietara

Leather + Fur

Recently I’ve seen two of my favorite things, faux fur and leather, being paired together. D.C. has been dull, grey, and misty in the last couple of weeks, so extra layers this time of year is a plus! I’ve also been purposefully mixing in bright colors lately with my standard black and grey wardrobe. It’s so easy to dress drably in this damp, cold, and depressing weather, so keep a few brights from your summer/fall wardrobe handy! These layers were perfect for a walk around downtown Annapolis – the sun never made an appearance, but I was plenty warm. Unfortunately, I don’t think the weather is getting any warmer, but thankfully there are plenty of cozy ways to help me cope.

Wearing: leather jacket: Zara // faux fur vest: Costco // scarf: Target // purple leather bag: Kate Spade

Photography also by Teddy Wolff

Jackietara

A New York State of Mind

There’s just something about New York in the fall that makes me feel all tingly inside. Work brings me to New York twice a year, but it’s the November trip that gives me the warm and fuzzies. Twinkling lights delicately outline branches on the trees along 50th Street all the way to Rockefeller Center, people briskly walk from store to store with loads of shopping bags in tow, and vendors line the streets on chilly Saturday mornings to sell fresh fruits and vegetables to eager customers. One of my favorite things to do during my free time on Saturday is to walk through bustling Chinatown. After a delicious dim sum brunch at Nom Wah Tea Parlor on Doyers St., we hit the streets to explore with friends. Not too long after, we were happy owners of 2 lbs of fresh bok choy and hot cups of freshly brewed coffee from Roasting Plant.

Wearing: aztec sweater: Urban Outfitters // mustard knit scarf: Zara // cognac leather boots: Frye