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floral style

Florals for Spring

March 27, 2014 By kimwheeler No Comments

Happy weekend everyone!

Thanks everyone who followed on Facebook and Twitter and left kind comments about my Blog anniversary. I am grateful to you all and the kind words about this space.

Are you all digging the florals right now? I know I’ve written about my love of the flower before here  and here, but right now, with Spring in every little corner here in Northern California, I am feeling floral love more than ever.

I’ve been wearing this J Crew floral ‘popover’ shirt a lot. Probably too much. It goes with everything and it’s comfy and feels fresh. It’s a silk/cotton blend and is a lot more blue than it shows online. I think it’s on sale and additional now too.

I’ve been planning a few strategic additions to the ole wardrobe for the warmer months and I am considering the addition of a few more flowery items.

They just make me happy!

Did you know if you Pin and item on Pinterest from another site, it will notify you if that item drops in price? Probably I’m the last to know about this, but it’s kind of cool. It’s especially nice if you’ve forgotten all about that piece. Very clever, actually sneaky, marketing

This notification thing happened to me twice this week. Once with a Pottery Barn item and yesterday with this Tory Burch sweater…

Tory sweater HERE 

 It’s still a bit pricey for $195, but the print is gorgeous. Might be the one thing to splurge on.

 I’m really trying to buy less, and buy better. I’d rather have perfect pieces that I love than a big closet full of sales and seasonal impulse buys. Makes life simpler too.

I can see this sweater with khaki shorts, distressed jeans or a flowy white skirt, all items I own already.

Summerfield Design

Yesterday I found this beautiful space on Pinterest and I had visions of doing our tiny dining room all in floral paper.

I like that this isn’t fussy and the bare woods, glass and white walls give it that California vibe.

Also, I was excited when I found this little lovely from Zara. More affordable and think how many ways this could be worn. It’s longer and I could even see it as a beach cover-up.

I have to say blouses are now my go-to items daily. They cover a multitude of sins by skimming over you, not grabbing like a tee or sweater, and you always look more put together. Maybe this is an over 45 thing, but has anyone else rediscovered blouses lately?

But back to flowers, How adorable is this MZ Wallace Tote? It was in my Nordstrom catalog and I’m crazy about this. MZ Wallace totes are super lightweight and perfect for travel as well as your day bag to chuck everything in, like I do.

I like to get one good tote for the Spring/Summer season. Usually I’m quite rough on warm season bags as they go on travels, trips to the beach, pool, and park. They often need replacing by the next year. (I won’t even mention that particular people around here felt a Jamba Juice could be carried in my tote last Summer!)

Even the inside is the print! LOVE.

No Jamba Juices will enter if I own this!

MZ at Nordstrom

  Lastly, I realized this week I have almost no cute skirts in my closet! I don’t know how that is possible, but I need to fix that quick.

 Next week, Adrienne, from The Rich Life on a Budget and Jill from Everything Just So are having their How I Wear My for skirts, and I would love to find a floral one to wear.

I love the skirt Reese Witherspoon has on here.

She lets the skirt be the star with her simple accessories.

Reese’s skirt by J Crew.

 If you don’t know about How I Wear My, it is a spot for readers and bloggers to send in photos of how they wore or styled a particular item. It changes monthly. Very fun, so check it out and maybe even participate! Entries are due by March 31.

Just also wanted to add these darling floral pants worn by my friend Andrea, of A Della Dress’s, daughter. Her name is Helene Yorke and she’s one of the stars in a Broadway production of a Woody Allen’s, ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ play right now. I can only imagine!! They interviewed her for Broadway.com and in her photo shoot she wore these pretty Tory Burch pants.

I love the juxtaposition of flowers with tough motorcycle jacket. Very modern!
Thanks for sharing with me Andrea. Wish I could see this show. Looks like it’s getting some great reviews too. If you are in New York, and get a chance, check this show out.

Lastly, in flower chat, this is the scene here in California right now.

If you haven’t seem my Instagram, I’ve been spotting California poppies all over the place this week.

I love how they give even the most cruddy little curb charm. . .

Clearly, these are volunteers, or seeds that blow about and find a home.

Also these trees in my neighborhood are this pretty pink for about 2 weeks.

I’m trying to take in all the beauty while it’s here.

Our Wisteria has already started to drop blossoms!

 I’m hoping we get another week or so of this!

It was hard to get a photo of the whole thing.

Honestly, it’s hard to drive the car in the garage right now.

(Don’t look at our cracked driveway that is being lifted by the Giant Sequoia to the right.)

Are you enjoying Spring’s little gifts? 🙂

Hope you all find a little flower today, wherever you are!

 Kim

P.S. There is still one day left to get your Savvy Sleeper Pillowcase is you missed, with a discount! I love these beautiful cases and Dale has generously offered a special 15% discount to Northern California Style readers now through March 28.Use the code ‘NorCal’ when checking out on Savvy Sleeper Site.

Filed Under: floral fashions, floral style, Spring

Mixing Leopard and Florals

September 30, 2013 By kimwheeler No Comments

I think I’ve had a love affair with leopard or animal prints since I was a small girl. I can still remember the feel and look of a boxy leopard print tote with faux tortoise handles that my mother owned. I adored that bag and once on a train trip back East, she let me use it as my own for all my books and coloring supplies! That was in the late 1960s, but by time I went to college in the 1980s animal prints were big again and I claimed it for my book bag. All my friends coveted that vintage tote. Oh how I wish I still had that bag.

 If you read the post before last you know I was just up in San Francisco and did a bit of all shopping with my pal Adrienne of The Rich Life (on a budget). Shopping with her I found a dream blouse that was both floral and leopard from Equipment! Love! So me, since I already have a Floral & Leopard Pinterest board.  I was going to model my new blouse here, but I’m saving it to wear in Adrienne’s (and Jill’s of Everything Just So), special How I Wear My – animal print edition this week. Send your photos to them by October 1st., to be included in their fun posts of readers wearing their animal prints.

tumblr

I also love a good floral as you know from this previous post. Leopard I like in smaller doses. Women my age have to be careful not to look like too cougar or Jackie Collins, if you get my drift.

That said, a little leopard gives you some fashion cred. The floral- a bit of innocence and femininity. Perhaps that’s why the mix of the two, strikes just the right note..There’s something inherently appealing about it to me.

Look what Alice Temperley showed at London fashion week for Spring /Summer 2014 in the four photos below. Lovely! Apparently she likes the mix and we’ll be seeing more of it come Spring…

 Dresses in both have been a big hit this year, especially loved this…

Dolce & Gabbana 

 And this..

Versace

 How great does Andie MacDowell look at 55?

via sadieandstella

Leopard and floral can look so pretty in a bedroom. I’ve always been crazy for leopard rugs, but not so sure how the hubs would be.

Pinterest

The  stylish Linda of Design in My View found these online at Zara Home and thoughtfully sent me the link.  I think they would be so cute at a ladies’ lunch with a hot pink tablecloth or cocktail hour. Thanks Linda!

Don’t ask how much, (too much), but Roberto Cavalli is making a floral/leopard collection for children. Bergdorf-Goodman link here.

This look works best if one of the prints is in a small accessory counter to the other one. For example, I’ve been crazy about this floral jacket and how cute would it be paired with a small animal print wallet/clutch?

Can’t find the original link, but similar versions here.
Prada zip wallet/clutch surprising found on Overstock.com
I also got a new leopard tote with my Neimans’ cosmetic purchase. It’s actually a really chic and not your usual freebee. I’m thinking it could be cute with a rose blouse I have…
A snap of my tote which I was using as my laptop bag as I worked at Peet’s this week. (Like my new sequin converse? :D)
Are you now craving something floral or animal print for your autumn wardrobe?
I hope I’ll see some of you on Adrienne and Jill’s, How I Wear My fashion show post later this week!
 Have fun with your prints!
Kim

Filed Under: Floral and leopard, floral fashions, floral style, Leopard, mixing floral and animal prints

Gather ye Rosebuds…

February 8, 2013 By kimwheeler No Comments

Maybe it’s that Valentines’ Day is around the corner, but have you noticed all the lovely rose-inspired clothes and decor coming for Spring and Summer? I’m enchanted all over again with the romance of roses…Suddenly, I’ve got flashbacks of wistfully shopping at Laura Ashley in the eighties. Oh how I longed for all of it and could afford very little. Well, here’s our second chance.. And if you’re a twenty-something or thereabouts it’s all new for you and I say work it!
source
For this look to work it needs to be paired with sparer and more streamlined decor and brighter or deeper hues. You don’t want to get all musty, fusty great aunt with it..

I remember this spread a few years back, in the beloved and now gone Domino magazine.. No one was using chintz roses then. How about chintz on brown leather? Love!

 Fashionistas need to mix roses with more modern shapes and rougher textures to avoid the Sue Heck look…(You do watch The Middle, don’t you? Sue’s character has a time machine wardrobe straight from my high school days c.1983..I don’t know how they find the stuff! By the way, the kids in this show are hilarious.)


Stella McCartney Collection. Brighter shades and no lace here!

Toms for Spring…

From my last trip to The Ivy…sigh..Their roses are always amazingly beautiful.

My stylish friend Leasa sent me the link to these gorgeous chintz roses on snakeskin Jimmy Choos…

nordstrom

Helena Bonham Carter. The original Room With a View is one of my all-time favorites. (You can watch the whole thing on this link. The young Maggie Smith and Judy Dench are also superb in this.) Fabulous movie. 

Preen S/S 2013
Having Laura Ashley déjà vu yet? 

From the 80s Laura Ashley catalogs.. I remember dreaming about these dresses and owned one not unlike these below. No wonder I didn’t worry about working out! The one time in my life I was quite tiny and… I was wearing these? How great is the hair?

 Such a romantic time. I see now why maybe I didn’t go on many dates. I had other things on my mind like emulating Lady Diana. Did I mention I was a bit of a late bloomer?

Anyhow, the Laura Ashley brand is back and the lampshades below are part of their new home collection… Fun!
Laura Ashley
Vogue U.K.
 
Stripes pair well with chintzy florals and look hip.
Street Peeper
source
 Something about the umbrella and this entry makes me want to run off to the Cotswolds and buy a little cottage..
She’s darling…hating her!
My dream bedroom.
Not that I’m sanctioning floral pants, (especially for my age- hello 1980s Guess?), but these are pretty cute on Miranda Kerr and I’m envious of her Sophia Coppola LV bag.

J Crew
These wedges are on my shopping list for Spring. Can you just see these with distressed jeans and a lacey white vintage blouse?!! A collaboration between Tom’s and Shabby Chic they are to be out later in February…
Toms

What do you think of this trend? Been there and still love it or all new to you?
xo
Kim

Filed Under: chintz in fashion, chintz style, Domino magazine., floral decor, floral fashions, floral style, florals, Laura Ashley, Toms

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A quick chat about summer sandals and accessories. A quick chat about summer sandals and accessories. Yesterday I was at @toryburch and picked up a few pieces I’ve had my eye on for my summer capsule. All of them will be great for travel too. Tory does accessories so well and there were too many cute things. 😍

Since Cindy and I just did our Signature Style sandal posts, this clip has some tips for what to think about when choosing a sandal to your summertime closet mix.

If you haven’t checked out our posts, the link to my ‘Summer Sandal Edit’ is in my bio. And on Saturday’s weekend blog, I’ll share these pieces and some similar ones in different price points. 

#sandalseason #summeraccessories #toryburch #summersandaledit #sportsandals
On this month’s Signature Style, Cindy and I are On this month’s Signature Style, Cindy and I are talking all about sandals as it’s June… I know it doesn’t feel like it though!

I am sharing my summer sandal edit and I picked some of the best in strappy black sandals, which look so chic with white jeans or simple sundresses. I also found, some very comfortable and cute, modern slip ons as well as the new offerings in linen and other cool materials from Birkenstock. Of course, I couldn’t leave out espadrilles which are always a favorite and have that French holiday feel. 

Hop on over to our blogs and see what we’ve got for you. It’s a great time to add at anew sandal to your summer capsule and give everything an updated feel. 
As always links are in our bios and stories..
@northerncalstyle 
@cindyhattersley

#summersandaledit #sandalseason #summerstyle #signaturestyle #madewell #birkenstock #californiastyle
A little reel of the pretty @bernarduslodge in Car A little reel of the pretty @bernarduslodge in Carmel Valley. We try and get here at least twice a year for a little weekend retreat. 

It’s in the perfect location as you can enjoy all the charms of Carmel -and soak up the sunshine while you’re at the resort just up the road from the coast. The rooms, pools, gorgeous gardens, and mountain views are soothing. It’s my happy place and if you are near Carmel, I can’t recommend it enough. 

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@northerncalstyle 

We had houseguests and now a free day, but the weather has been dark and cool for this summer kick off.. 😕 Hoping you all get some time to enjoy this extra day off. 

I am thinking today of all those who gave their lives for our nation and democracy. ❤️ Their families are especially on my mind. 

#summersalad #californiatable
On the Weekend blog.. a @rails Summer capsule! I b On the Weekend blog.. a @rails Summer capsule! I brought some of these beautiful pieces with me on our weekend away in Carmel and loved how well they all work together!
More deets on the blog plus where we stayed and some pretty snaps of Carmel in bloom.

Don’t forget to visit my pals Elizabeth and Juliet too.

 Our links as always, in our bios or stories:
@northerncalstyle 
@makemineaspritzer 
@pineconesandacorns

Have a beautiful weekend .
This is a perfect time for a trip to Carmel-Monter This is a perfect time for a trip to Carmel-Monterey Bay as everything is blooming and the magic carpet in Pacific Grove is at its peak beauty! 

The beautiful flowers in the charming towns and the on cottages make it such a treat to visit. We had a fun two days and I’ll do another little reel on our pretty hotel in Carmel Valley. 

Have you been to Carmel in the springtime? It’s a bucket list item! 🌸

#carmelbythesea #carmel #pacificgrovemagiccarpet #pacificgrove #montereybay #ourgoldenstate #visitcalifornia #flowerstagram #californiadreaming
I splurged and bought myself this pretty planter f I splurged and bought myself this pretty planter for my favorite plant. This is from @beachwoodhome in Carmel which has beautiful things. It’s in the Carmel Plaza and I always love popping in there to see what’s new when I’m down there.

This plant is a peperomia plant which is so easy to keep alive! Yay. It loves to grow in cool shapes and needs just a few ice cubes here and there..

Hope you’re all having a good start to the week! 

#easyplants #houseplantsofinstagram #bluepottery #carmelbythesea #californialiving
Have you been to Tahoe in the summer? It’s just Have you been to Tahoe in the summer? It’s just magic. These are a few snaps of my Tahoe look, but on the blog I have more ideas and great pieces for you to consider when planning a summertime getaway there. 

You will find it’s very relaxed with an old school charm. Chill is the vibe and it’s all about comfort and California casual. Tahoe is all about enjoying the incredible nature and beauty up there! 

Find it all on my what to pack post with six of my friends sharing their destinations too..
Link in bio @northerncalstyle 
More on stories also!

#tahoe #laketahoe #whattopack #californiatravel #californiatrip #westshorelaketahoe #lakelife #oldschoolsummer #ourgoldenstate #californiadreaming #visitcalifornia
Hard to believe it’s almost summer, and are you Hard to believe it’s almost summer, and are you all ready for a vacation ?  I have the perfect blog for you today..a fun collaboration with six others, sharing their packing tips and outfits from their special spots in the country.. We’ve got Tahoe, Napa, Valley, Paso Robles, Santa Cruz, Florida, New York City, and North Carolina! 

These packing lists and outfit ideas plus favorite spots not to miss, make these posts savers! 

My blog is what to pack and what to wear for summertime in Tahoe- which I can’t wait for. 💙

All our posts are linked in our bios.. 
me/Tahoe @northerncalstyle 

Annie/New York City @most_lovely_things 

Juliet/Napa Valley @makemineaspritzer 

Dawn/SantaCruz @fashionshouldbefun 

Cindy/PasoRobles @cindyhattersley 

Elizabeth/North Carolina @pineconesandacorns 

Mary Ann/Florida @classiccasualhome 

See what my friends recommend to pack and do for your summer getaways! 

#packingtips #whattopack #travel #traveltipsandtricks #tahoetravel #californiatravel #ourgoldenstate
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mamas and to all t Happy Mother’s Day to all the mamas and to all those who mother and nuture! 💐I hope everyone is getting appreciated and spoiled today.. I spent some time at a lovely lunch with the family yesterday and am enjoying the garden today.. except for the hurricane winds! 

I can’t wait until my youngest Griffin is back home for a bit from college. My favorite days are the ones when we are all together as a family again.  I love being with Jackson and Griffin more than anything and they just make me laugh so much!  I feel so lucky to have very kind sons …except they make me feel so short 🤣..and I couldn’t be prouder. 💛
On the blog today.. How to style white denim!  I’m excited to partner with some lovely ladies today and we are all sharing our ways to wear the closet classic- white jeans! 

I am showing what I’ve been wearing lately and some of my favorite pairs as well as a few cool options that have come on my radar!  It’s all about finding what works for your body and choosing the right fabric etc.. 

Are you a white jean fan??

Please visit my friend’s blogs ..All our posts are linked on our bios..
@northerncalstyle - me!
@most_lovely_things - Annie
@classiccasualhome -Mary Ann
@cindyhattersley - Cindy
@sherryhdesigns - Sherry
@lavieongrand - Noelani

#whitedenim #whitejeans #whitejeansoutfit #whitejeanstyling #whitejeansforever #whitejeanseason #californiastyle
If you miss the weekend post and still need some M If you miss the weekend post and still need some Mother’s Day gifts I have some fun ideas for you.. I love market totes- especially with flowers in them, beautiful wraps, some inspiring books for summer living, and a few other little luxuries.. 

If you need some local fun, I will be a the Palo Alto @Rails store on Saturday where they are having a Mother’s Day event with 20% off and a gift with purchase! Stop by and say hi.

Pop on by my blog post for all the details and more gift ideas… 

Don’t forget to visit my friends, Juliet and Elizabeth if you miss their weekend posts too..
 Our links as always, in our bios or stories:
@northerncalstyle 
@makemineaspritzer 
@pineconesandacorns

#mothersday #mothersdaygift #giftideasforher #californialiving #momsday

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