Lane Bryant

Monday, September 30, 2013

Calypso St. Barth

Last week I was introduced to an amazing brand called Calypso St. Barth. How this fabulous style nugget was able to fly below my fashion radar, I have no idea, but now that it's penetrated my force field, it's not likely to disappear. Launching in early 90's, Calypso St. Barth boasts pieces from it's namesake collection as well as carefully selected gems from luxurious international designers. 






Everything about this brand exudes opulence, but it's tamed with an elegance of ease that makes it less ostentatious. Calypso St. Barth utilizes the most luxurious materials to create amazing clothing and accessories. Stepping into their boutique last Wednesday was like entering into a virtual wonderland of bauble bliss. I was greeted by hostess Trina Small of The Baby Shopaholic and fellow bloggers Laura Nay &Lexi Felder all styled in Calypso St. Barth. One thing that amazed me about the store was the range of clothing.



Laura Nay, Trina Nay & Alexis Felder

Trina in Calypso & Moi in Custom Fafali & Jdawn


Although the boutique has a bohemian feel, the injection of ornately beaded tops, sequin dresses and glimmering jewels, makes it anything but casual. The eclectic mix of cashmere, fur, leather and many other luxurious materials was like stimulation overload. I was slightly to moderately disappointed they didn't carry plus sizes, but overall, my appreciation for the beauty & craftsmanship of all of their treasures hampered my reservations. 









In addition to offering amazing adornments for your body, you can also bedeck your home in the luxury that is Calypso St. Barth. Available in select stores and online, you can browse a sumptuous collection of bedding, furniture, tableware and art. Add some of their amazing candles into the mix and you can recreate the feel of your favorite island bungalow. 





If you are yearning to update your wardrobe with a little international, island flair, give Calypso St. Barth a try. Check them out online at www.calypsostbarth.com or visit your local boutique. I am now a total fan and can't wait to add some items to my arsenal. Special thanks to Trina Small and the whole crew at Calypso St. Barth Atlanta for putting on a great event. 

See you on the front row!

<3 Parker S. 

Laura Nay & Trina Small

Me and Tia of If I Were a Brit Girl

Trina explaining Laura's look. 

Lexi admiring her Calypso bag

Store Manager Beth modeling a fur collar

Lexi modeling an AMAZING sequin maxi and vest

Myleik of Curlbox & Eboni of The Fashionista Next Door popped in to support Trina

Posing with my blogger buddy Laura 

Saturday, September 28, 2013

#OOTD Double Denim

Happy Saturday! What are you doing this weekend? I don't have any definitive plans, but there's so much going on in Atlanta I'm sure I'll find something. It's looks like it's going to be a beautiful day, so I will definitely be enjoying it. 

Now that the weather has turned a little crisp, it's a great time to start rocking some of the latest fall trends.  One of the easiest trends this fall is "Double Denim". By this I mean, rocking two different shades/textures of denim at the same time. Whether you're pairing a light chambray shirt with dark denim or white denim jeans with a dark denim jacket, the sky is the limit when embracing this trend. 

Yesterday I decided to rock my new and already abused JCP Ikat print denim shirt (plus no longer available online) I told you about a few weeks ago with my fave dark denim Lane Bryant jeggings (similar style here). To keep my style easy yet eye catching, I paired this look with my new Iman Platinum handbag from HSN, H&M fedora (similar here) and studded Bongo ballet flats courtesy of Kmart. 





As you can see, rocking the "Double Denim" trend is easy. I wore this look to work for casual Friday, but this would also be great for shopping with the girls or an afternoon matinee with your beau. Whether you choose a printed denim or a simple chambray, a denim shirt is a critical item you need in your wardrobe. I also challenge you to add an assortment of great jeans to your wardrobe. Now that fashion has become a little more relaxed, jeans are socially acceptable at even the most conservative functions if styled properly. 

I hope you have an amazing weekend and start experimenting with the "Double Denim" trend! 

xoxo-

<3 Parker S. 


Friday, September 27, 2013

Parker x Indique

Hey Guys! If you have been following me on Instagram over the past few days, you may have noticed that I am sporting a new do. I'm proud to announce that I have joined the ranks of my fellow bloggers Gabi Gregg, Marie Denee, Trina Small & Eboni Ifi to be one the latest sporting Indique!

Indique gracioulsy gifted me with some fabulous tubes of Pure Wavy hair.  I am beyond excited and am already loving my look. It's been less than a week and I have only worn it wavy or wand curled, but as the weeks progress, I definitely plan on creating different looks with my hair.  Stay tuned for a super fun vlog that I hope to release at the end of the month showing my many Indique looks.

Until then, here are a few of my faves thus far. For more information on Indique Hair visit www.indiquehair.com . Follow my Indique Adventures with the hashtag #PureParker.

See you on the front row!

<3 Parker S.








Thursday, September 26, 2013

Turning Leaf Refresh

Last summer, Turning Leaf Vineyards released a new take on wine in the product Turning Leaf Refresh. Available in 4 different blends, Turning Leaf Refresh was created to be... refreshing. To create this "refreshing" experience each one of the wines has a signature "fizz" that offers a lighter more appealing flavor profile.



I had the pleasure of sampling all 4 of the Refresh wines this summer while attending BlogHer in Chicago. After walking around the expo hall all day, trying out the wine was the perfect way to end the day. Although I'm usually not a red wine drinker, the Red Moscato was actually one of my favorites. Each one of the Turning Leaf Refresh wines are really delicious. I also love the fact that these wines can be served over ice, as a matter of fact they recommend it.



Now don't go all wine snob on me like I'm telling you to drink it out of a red, plastic Solo cup. The Refresh wines over ice taste like you're enjoying a fun cocktail. At around $8 at bottle, these wines are like stealing a little bit of goodness. Enjoy it with your favorite fruit or add it as the base to a speciality cocktail and you have a guaranteed winner!





Whether your adventurous enough to try #WineOverIce or just need to unwind with a glass after a long day, allow yourself a little #TLT... Turning Leaf Time!

See you on the front row-

<3 Parker S.

PR Maven Kelly Ip & Moi having a blast at the Turning Leaf booth #BlogHer13

(Special thanks to Kelly Ip of Hunter PR for sending me out some delicious bottles of Turning Leaf to enjoy.)

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Two-Way Tuesday: Parker meets Olivia

Happy Tuesday! I hope your week is going well so far. Of course I'm ready for Friday! Anyway, I wanted to give you a quick Two-Way Tuesday post. A couple of weeks ago, while trolling Instagram, I ran across an adorable look posted by my Aussie buddy Olivia Miles of Wait Until The Sunset. Upon a closer inspection I realized she was wearing a fun, floral skirt from ASOS (no longer available) that I rocked earlier this summer. The way she styled was so cute, I had to share it with you guys.

In my opinion, she totally rocked it better than me. Of course the day I wore it I had been out on the blazing hot streets of New York and looked like a bit of a train wreck after having walked around all day by the time I took this picture. I styled the skirt with my #RepeatOffender denim shirt from JCP, Cayetano Legacy necklace, H&M fedora and #RepeatOffender oversized Alter Ego Clutch.


Liv, on the other hand, took this skirt to the next level. She told and amazing #ColorStory and created some awesome #PatternPlay by pairing our skirt with a black and white Ikat print top and teal blazer from Forever 21. I also love the way she winterized this spring skirt by adding the black tights, but still kept her look carefree by wearing some Crocs sneakers! 



So, what do you think? One skirt styled two ways! I hope you enjoy the rest of your day and this American/Australian Two-Way Tuesday post was inspiring! 

See you on the front row-

<3 Parker S. 

Monday, September 16, 2013

***Fashion Flash*** Rent the Runway



The world that is my runway just got a little more fabulous! After receiving a tip from a friend and doing a little "insta"stalking I was able to confirm that Rent the Runway will now offer something for us girls with curves! Beginning tomorrow (tonight if you really want to, shhh don't tell anyone I told you) you will be able to rent almost 40 styles of designer digs in sizes 14-22 from the likes of Carmen Marc Valvo, Theia, Badgley Mischka & more!

I don't know about you but I am super excited that I now can look fab in a designer dress without breaking the bank. If you have shied away from RTR because they didn't offer your size, click here to join! Additionally all my straight size ladies you can still get your rent on, too! Don't forget they also offer fab accessories that can be yours for the night. Happy Renting!


xoxo-

Parker S. <3

Carmen Marc Valvo

Badgley Mischka

Badgley Mischka

Theia

Badgley Mischka


Brahmin Brigade

When you're preparing for battle, you must be sure to have the right line up with you, a brigade if you will. Now, I'm not literally going to war, but when the world is your runway, having the right accessories in your arsenal is key. I'm sure you have gathered from my musings, I am somewhat of an "everything fabulous" junky. However, after having worked more than 10 years for a popular handbag retailer, I am especially critical about my bags.

Of course I enjoy the occasional "budget brand" fashion bag, but when I make a sizable financial investment in a bag, I always take into account 4 main factors: construction, quality, distinguishing features and warranty. Now, let's insert American accessories house, Brahmin. This line first blipped on my fashion radar about 12 years ago when I started working for a competitor handbag retailer. Like any good salesperson, I had to learn all about my competition. After doing several "not so covert" missions to other retailers, I found that I could find no fault with Brahmin products other than the fact that they were the competition.

Because Brahmin bags cater to a more distinguished palate, their previous styles were a little too mature for my tastes so I never invested in one. However, in the fall of last year I absolutely fell in love with the Brahmin Anywhere Weekender. I was really amazed to see Brahmin had begun to incorporate more updated silhouettes and colors into their line. I think I was most surprised that I actually found something that I loved by them and had to have it. It definitely seemed Brahmin was taking a step in a more fashion forward direction.



Now let's fast forward to a few months ago. Brahmin completely jumped out of the box in the best possible direction with the introduction of their new Brahmin Atelier line. Needless to say, I LOVE EVERYTHING in the collection! Officially launching for S/S13, the best way I can describe this breathtaking collection of bags is Paris meets the Upper Eastside with a splash of So-Cal. The collection is completely different from the traditional Brahmin line, however it still has the same distinguished aesthetic. With bold hues and tantalizing textures of leather, the Brahmin Atelier line is a true fashionista's dream come true. With bags priced between $345 and $795 dollars, I consider the brand to be affordable luxury.

Now I know you might think I've gone crazy for making that last statement, but you have to take into consideration that all Brahmin bags are made of the highest quality materials and are handcrafted to perfection. When you're carrying a Brahmin, it's like walking around with a mini masterpiece.  Their bags rival many other well known brands in appearances, but when you get down to quality, construction and overall value, they are in a class that I can only put a few.

Check out some of the fabulous goodies I found when I popped into the Brahmin Boutique at Lenox Square the other day. I had a blast shopping with Melissa, and the rest of the team made my visit to their boutique exciting. I encourage you to check out www.brahmin.com or to visit your closest Brahmin retailer. Every girl needs at least one in their accessories arsenal!

See you on the front row!


<3 Parker S.


#ootd info coming soon! 


Me & My fab Brahmin Expert Melissa

Brahmin Boutique @ Lenox Square

(Left to Right)  Chatham Satchel , Chatham Tote & Chatham Clutches

Brookline Satchel & Brookline Clutch

Hingham Large Satchel  <3<3<3 


Arden Satchel