#OOTD: From a Peasant Prospective (Feat. Metisu)

April 12, 2017 by Bree Fesh in Personal Style

Though spring has been upon us for some time now, and we have had our fair share of beautiful weather here in the 'Burgh lately, this latest wave of warm weather has definitely got me in the mind set that spring is in fact here to stay. And of course, that means I will be breaking out all of my summer tops, shorts, and everything floral. Needless to say I am excited, because though I do own a lot of neutral clothing, I was beginning to find the winter weather, and my winter wardrobe quite dull. So, this past Monday (You know, when it was almost 80 degrees in Pittsburgh!) I decided to cut out a little early from work and enjoy the beautiful weather along with a late lunch in the court yard of the Sewickley Hotel.

Blossoming Beauty

Due to the absolutely, gorgeous weather we were graced with on Monday, I decided to change up my office attire a bit and decided to wear this gorgeous, peasant maxi dress that I received complimentary from the online retailer, Metisu. The reason I chose this lovely dress is because though it is a bit more casual compared to what I normally wear around the office, it just screams spring, and I felt that the pretty floral pattern was a nice way to add some much needed color to Dick's Sporting Goods corporate.

The dress itself is cool and flowy, and has a nice light weight for the spring and summer months. For the most part this dress was made well, and fit me like a glove; however, I was disappointed to find out, when I went to have it cleaned, that one of the grommets was not attached properly. And though this won't cause immediate damage, due to this issue, the dress will unfortunately not hold up for the long haul due to the fraying that will occur after prolonged wear and cleaning. However, since I do really like this piece, I will wear it, until I no longer can, throughout this season.

The other things I just adored about this dress (and adds to the list of reasons why I will be sad when it comes to its demise due to a semidetached grommet) are its mid-thigh slit in the skirt and its lacy back detailing. The reason why I like these two qualities is because I love the bohemian feel each of them give this dress. This piece definitely combines two of my favorite trends being bohemian chic with a 1970s feel.

To accessorize this look, I chose to pair it with one of my favorite purses. The reason why I loved this studded bohemian goddess with this dress is that it added just an extra touch of 70s flare, due to mixing of patterns via studs and florals. It added a nice over all contrast to this look, without the two of them competing with one another.

One Last Look

Have you ever shopped with Metisu? And how are your dressing to celebrate the warm weather finally coming to stay? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a cute outfit from Metisu or just a fun spring look in general? I'd love to see it, so feel free to tag me in a post or in you Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssssst! If you love the jewelry I featured in this post, you can try Rocksbox for a whole month 100% FREE when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo". Don't know what Rocksbox is or how it works? You can learn more here!

Also, In case you haven't heard, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

Soufeel Jewelry: A Review

April 11, 2017 by Bree Fesh in Miscellaneous

As you all know from past posts, I absolutely love jewelry. From my partnerships with Rocksbox and Boho Tribe Collection, to my beautiful collaboration with Ritani, I think it is safe to say I am all about things that sparkle. However, for those of you that has been reading my musings for sometime now (I'm talking clear back to the "Wish-list Wednesday" days.) I'm sure you can recall that my jewelry box was lacking in one department, and that was in bracelets. Sure, I have a few trusty cuffs that I can wear to more elaborate occasions, but I honestly did not have many, well really any, bracelets that I could wear for everyday life. That was up until now, at least, after John and I had the wonderful opportunity to collaborate with my newest sponsor Soufeel!

Soufeel Jewelry

For those of you who have not heard of the online jewelry retailer, Soufeel, I'm just going to take a moment to tell you a little about the company and their products. To start off, Soufeel is a jewelry store that specializes in sterling silver jewelry ranging in products from necklaces, earrings, and bangles, but what Soufeel is most recognized for is their absolutely gorgeous charm bracelets. As i am sure many of you have noticed, Soufeel's bracelets look quite similar to the ever popular (but pricey) brand, Pandora, but that's what makes Soufeel so great is that you are getting the same quality jewelry (925 sterling silver) for about 2/3 of the cost, along with a year long, money back guarantee, warranty! And though Soufeel's bracelets are not exactly the same as Pandora's, they definitely hold their own against the jewelry giant, and in my opinion, their products are every bit as dazzling.

Oh So Charming

As I mentioned earlier, I received the gorgeous charm bracelet above complimentary from Soufeel, however I also mentioned that John actually designed it. I'm sure many of you are wondering how we pulled that off, and simply put, we were able to because the Soufeel rep I have been working with, Walker, was kind enough to let me pass along the budget ($150) to John, so he could make me this gorgeous piece! And I have to say John did a fabulous job of capturing the little things that have to do with our relationship, and I can't wait to to add charms to this bracelet in the years to come. (And perhaps even adding an additional bracelet!)

Needless to say, aside from John being a good sport and helping me design this pretty piece, (Which worked out that it was just in time for my birthday that is coming up in a few days, pretty nifty timing right?) I am overjoyed with the quality and craftsmanship of Soufeel's jewelry. To kick off this review, I wanted to first talk about the bracelet itself. The first thing I want to say about the bracelet is, is that the latch is very sturdy--so sturdy that at first I wasn't quite sure how to unlatch it due to the fact I never owned a charm bracelet before! However, once I got used to its design (which is admittedly tricky at first) I now can take it on and off with ease as well as not having to worry about it coming unhooked and my charms falling everywhere! The other thing I loved about this bracelet, is its rose gold latch. Though I would have been happy with a plain silver one, I just feel that the rose gold adds a nice contrast to the bracelet over all.

Like I said earlier, I personally feel that Soufeel's jewelry is very comparable to Pandora's (and for my readers who already have Pandora sets or beads, the Soufeel charms and bracelets are compatible with Pandora too!), but for a fraction of the cost, so basically with Soufeel, you are getting more bang for your buck! But, I know many people feel things like this are too good to be true, and just to show that in this case it is not, I just wanted to show you that each of Soufeel's charms (as well as their other jewelry) are 100% sterling silver, and are each stamped with Soufeel's logo along with the sterling silver seal "S 925".

Wooh! Now that I've gotten all of the formal information out of the way, I'm sure you want to see the charms that John picked out for my bracelet!

The first charm on my bracelet, is this adorable little "heartbeat charm". The reason why I love this charm is due to its subtle detailing and its quaint design. I also love the color of this charm, due to its monochromatic reds, which gives the charm a nice contrast.

Next is this "locked heart charm". The first thing that I noticed about this sweet little charm is its excellent craftsmanship. As you can see, though this charm is dainty, it is incredibly detailed and crafted with outstanding precision.

My next bead is this "red lantern charm". The reason I love this charm is because it adds a whimsical flare to my bracelet, and it also reminds me not to sweat the small stuff, and as my long time readers know, John is forever my voice of reason when it comes to panicking over minute things.

Next, is this adorable "vintage camera charm". As I'm sure many of you know from my "portfolio" section on here, not only am I a writer, but I am also a photographer, and that is something that John loves about me. So, it only seemed natural to add this bead to the bunch! This is the bead that I was actually the most pleased with, and that is because of this design's attention to detail. I loved that this charm included all the little knobs found on a film camera (shutter, aperture, the release button, even the film winder!), and that is important to me because photography was after all my first love within the arts.

Last but not least, is this "infinite love bead". Though this bead isn't as showy as the others, it holds a special place in my heart because it reminds me that even though the distance between John and I is testing at times, eventually it will all work out, and we will always have each other. The reason I liked this simple bead, is due to its light and feminine details, and rich ruby red color.

Final Thoughts

After my rave review, I'm sure many of you have already figured out that I will most definitely recommend doing business with Soufeel! I felt that the rep I spoke with, Walker, Was highly professional and easy to talk too, and obviously, I feel that my product is outstanding.

Have you ever shopped with Soufeel and love their jewelry as much as I do? Let's chat about it in the comments below, or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a Soufeel piece that you would just love to show off? Feel free to snap a picture and tag me in a post of on you Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, dolls!

Xx, Bree

Easter Sunday Style Guide

April 06, 2017 by Bree Fesh in Style Guides

Though I am not a religious person in a very least, every year I do get excited for Easter because it it one of the only holidays my entire family gets together to celebrate, aside from Christmas and Thanksgiving. Each year we have a darling brunch and watch my younger cousins hunt for Easter eggs, however the uniqueness about Easter morning for my family is that this is the one holiday the everybody dresses up. Though I tend to dress up any chance I get, primping for Easter brunch has always been one of my favorite things about the holiday, just something about it makes me very giddy. So, in case any of you are like me, and are not entirely sure what you want to wear yet for the holiday, I've put together this style guide with my top picks for Easter!

Chic for the Occasion

For this first outfit, the core piece I chose is this classic sheath dress. The reason I chose this dress is because it's classy, simple, and pretty. The reason I like this dress so much is due to its unique neckline and cool toned, floral pattern which is perfect, yet different for spring. This dress would also be a nice choice for my readers who do attend Sunday mass for the holiday, because even though it is dressy, it is a nice and modest choice for spring.

To add a bit of flare to this outfit, I decided to pair it with this lovely set of jewelry. First I paired this dress with these Kate earrings by Kendra Scott, because I liked the subtle hint of pink that they added to this look. Next, I chose this necklace by Perry Street, because I felt the cool tones of the opal played well off the dress' floral pattern. And lastly, to pull this shimmering trio together, I added this Misha bracelet by SLATE because the stones on this cuff matched the stones of the necklace, and the gold of the bracelet, played off of the gold in the earrings.

To complete this first outfit, I decided to stay true to its cooler tones, and decided to pair it with these adorable, lilac sandals. The reason I chose these sandals is because I felt that their color added balance to the outfit, opposed to if you were to pair the dress with white heels, it would look a bit disproportional color wise.

Playfully Polished

This next outfit choice is perfect for the girl whose family has a casual get together for Easter. I chose this darling two piece set because I felt the colors were fun and festive for spring! I really loved the tie detailing of the blouse and I also felt the wide legs of the pants made for a chic but fun look. The reason this set is great for a casual Easter get together, is because though it is a playful look, it is also quite classic.

To accessorize this look, I decided to pair it with these Maxwell earrings by Kendra Scott, this gorgeous drop pendant necklace, and lastly this House of Harlow 1960 moon stone cuff. The reason I chose these pieces is because I liked the pop of color that the earrings and bracelet added to this look, and I also felt the necklace would add a bit of flare to the top half of the outfit, without being too over the top due to its minimalistic look.

To further accessorize this look, I chose to style it with this pretty, studded, forest green purse. The reason I chose this bag for the look, is because I felt that it paired nicely with the two piece set, and also added a nice contrast to the over all look, making it visually interesting.

To complete this playful outfit, I chose these adorable, coral colored pumps. The reason why I thought these pumps were simply perfect for this look, is due to their low heel and cute little bows. I also liked this color compared to the pants of this ensemble as well as how these pumps play off the color of the jewelry in this look as well.

Brighten Up Brunch

Since yellow is still a huge color trend this season, as well as monochromatic styling, for this next look I decided to go with this bright yellow ensemble. To kick off this look, the main piece I chose is this gorgeous, empire waist maxi dress. Not only does the color of this dress really fit the spirit of the holiday, it is also cut modestly making it a good choice for various Easter activities. I also really love how soft and pretty this dress looks, with a touch of Grecian femininity.

Of course such an elegant dress calls for just as elegant accessories! So to add a bit of shimmer to this bright outfit, I chose to pair it with these Sophie Harper drop earrings plus this dainty gold bracelet by Gorjana. The reason I chose these pieces is because my like the style of the dress, they have a feminine and Grecian feel, which I felt complemented this look as a whole, and made the perfect match!

To put the finishing touches on this outfit, I chose to pair this gorgeous maxi dress with these cute, yellow pumps. The reason why I chose these heels is because I loved their angular design and because of their color. Even though these heels are yellow, unlike that dress which is more of a pastel color, these heels are almost neon, adding a nice contrast to the dress and also adding a fourth shade of yellow by tying in the jewelry.

Garden Party

This last outfit is for the girl who loves a classic style with some artsy flare. This dress is actually my favorite out of all of the items in this guide, and I'm actually debating on purchasing it. The reason I love this dress so much is because of its twist on the classic a-line dress. I love its fit and flare cut paired with the mesh overlay and embroidered flowers. This piece isn't only perfect for an Easter Sunday Brunch, but also for a classic spring look.

Since this dress makes a statement all on its own, I did not want to clutter it with over the top accessories. So, I chose to pair it with these simple, but stunning, lever back earrings by Kate Spade. I just liked that these gems match some of the flowers so well and that they are a great color for spring.

To finish off this artistic and sophisticated look, I chose to pair it with these simple white pumps. The reason I chose white pumps opposed to colored ones, is because I felt that a pair of colored heels would distract from the beauty of the dress and make it look a bit sloppy. So, I chose to keep this look's shoe choice simple, sweet, and classic.

How are you spending Easter Sunday this year if you celebrate the holiday, and how are you styling for it? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a cute Easter Sunday look that you'd just love to show off? Feel free to snap a picture and tag me in your post or Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree