Aspiring Kennedy: wear

Showing posts with label wear. Show all posts

The French Camel

There are tons of reason

I'm excited to get back to France,

but I can't deny that

the refresh to my style

won't be a big one.

I've been wearing the same clothes

for a realllly long time...

pretty much since we last were in Paris.

Not that I'm waiting to

dump beaucoups of cash

in the haute couturiers of France...

But simply because I'm so inspired

by the effortless chic style

of the women in Paris.

I need to absorb some of that...

because the look I have is

miles away from chic.

It's more....

wrinkled and snagged.

One item I do have ready

from our last life in Paris

is my camel coat.

photo by noah darnell

This piece is perfect for Paris

in so many ways.

It's dressy, but quiet.

It's warm, but allows layers.

It's casual, but cleaned-up.

It's one of my favorite souvenirs I've ever bought.

It makes me feel 40% less of an impostor
and almost like a local
wandering through places like the Luxembourg Gardens.

_________

In the post-Christmas sales,

there are some more great tan coats

currently up for grabs.

Check my picks below

to update your look

with items that are tres cheap.

(Well, at least, at great sale prices.)

*images original to Aspiring Kennedy

FOURSALE: Chunky Knit Scarf (Mini)

Yesterday, Viola & I needed some fresh air

after two days in the house

per doctor's orders to stay home

and avoid risking another infection.

I was booooored.

So, I threw on her coat, bow and scarf

and headed out to get some sunshine.

We lasted about 4 minutes

until she started trying to eat leaves

and my neighbor came up to chat

telling me all about the terrible flu

her family is passing around to each other.

(Cue Lauren inching back up the steps towards the door.)

But before the leaves and the plague debacle,

I got to snap a few pics of Viola

showing off her new Christmas scarf

that Tyler's mom made her.

And promptly posted to Instagram.

(Naturally.)

. . . .

And then my inbox got flooded

with emails asking where it came from.

So, I called up my mother-in-law

and asked her to be the next foursale

for this little old blog.

And, since she loves us, she said yes.

So here you go:

The cutest baby scarves you ever saw.

They are no-fuss and super cute.

The wooden button is easy to fasten
anywhere you like on the scarf.

Go getcha one

and channel that
Baby-sitting-on-some-steps-in-Notting-Hill look.

And if you don't have a nino,

you can get one in adult size

to match the one she made me.

It has three wooden buttons and can button into tons of combos.

I'll be wearing the crap out of mine this spring

in the frigid Paris winter.

A few notes:

Since my mother-in-law will be making these by hand custom for Aspiring Kennedy, please allow 10-15 business days for your order to arrive!
US shipping only. If you live outside the US, just email me and we can get you sorted with one, too! lauren@aspiringkennedy.com
I love babies in scarves.

*images original to Aspiring Kennedy

a good year: my addiction to wine.

The holidays are the perfect time

for writing cards expressing sentiment,

picking out the perfect gift for your loved ones,

baking a beloved family recipe...

and, of course, wine.

image via

Whether it's mulled wine in a Christmas market,
sparkling wine toasting to the year at close, or

for many people, as the cure for too much time

spent up close & personal

with relatives you'd rather not be related to...

But this year,

can I suggest it

as the antidote for
a humbug holiday attire instead?

Thanks,

because that's exactly
what I'm about to do.

My crush on this wine-stained obsession

started when I bought (via ebay)

my first pair of Lanvin flats.

Since then,

it seems to be popping out at me

at every flick of the magazine page.

It just seems perfect for this time of year...

paired with glittery gold accents

or muted with a toned-down olive or camel,

it's just a good staple to have in your closet

for the winter months ahead.

Before your head starts to get fuzzy

from all this wine babble,

let me just leave it with some quick pics.

... and I'll finish my Ocado food order

for our Thanksgiving lunch tomorrow.

Pack Your Bags: Serengeti Safari with Sanctuary Retreats!

Most of the time,

these Pack Your Bags series

offer my inside knowledge

of how to travel

to & from different places.

But today,

I'm just telling you what to pack

if you were headed on a

safari through the Tanzanian Serengeti

with Sanctuary Retreats...

I'm packing my unlimited-Mary-Poppins-of-a-bag
stuffed full of everything that I'd love to have with me.

* * *

Why leave it at a packing list?

Because there's nothing else you need to worry about.

When you travel with a safari outfitter like that-

they take care of all the other details.

When my dad turned 50,

he took our family on a safari

through Kenya & Tanzania.

I'm tempted to label the experience as

"once in a lifetime,"

except I have hopes of repeating it

someday with Tyler.

So I'll just leave it at "amazing" for now.

If you're planning a honeymoon, getaway,
or just looking for an experience of a lifetime-
Sanctuary Retreats will offer you options
that will leave you drooling
more than a lion over a zebra carcass.

* * *

You can also take a peek at my #virtualsuitcase
that I "packed" on Pinterest with Sanctuary here.

*this post was sponsored by Sanctuary Retreats.

The Perfect Duo: An Aspiring Kennedy's Love Story

You know how blogs always

have contests and giveaways

to win this or do that

and we run you around the interwebs

liking and tweeting

like it's going out of style?

Well, today

I'm that girl.

I've been drooling over DUO's boots

the last few weeks

and when I saw

their giveaway for a free pair,

I decided to join the fun

and enter the giveaway...

Which requires me to tell our love story

here on this little blog.

Have you ever heard ours?

Guys...

it's good.

We have one that would make

Cinderella and her shoe-toting tale

feel a little insecure.

Okay, fine...

maybe not.

Maybe it's not universally perfect,

but it was the perfect fit for the two of us.

Kinda like DUO,

because you can custom size

your boots to fit

in the ankle & calf...

and honestly, how amazing is that?

Their new collection
has me dreaming of tromping
through wet London streets
without the fear of frozen toes & wet feet.

(Editor's Note: My current boots are cheap and terribly made.)

It's almost as good of news

as the day I told my family

I had broken up with my boyfriend

and was going to marry Tyler.

To which they practically replied

"Tyler... who?"

So go get a cup of tea or coffee

and find a place that's really cozy...

this might take a while.

The Prologue.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Happy Ending

Plus, you'll get to see awkward pictures of me from college.

* * *

If you want to enter the contest

(and I can't really blame you),

check out the details here.

Homeward Bound

Every time Tyler and I have a free night,

I always ask for the same thing:

Can we lay in bed and watch a girly movie?

I don't think it has ever actually happened...

but if I have to fault Tyler for one thing

I guess ignoring this request

in lieu of getting Thai takeout and Arrested Development
isn't too severe of a mark against him.

Plus, he does the laundry

so I pick my battles.

I loved being pregnant for the very reason I was entitled to hibernate. I wished for bedrest!

So while my aspirations of lounging in bed
a la Charlie's grandparents
as they wish him well for the chocolate factory
have yet to win out,
I could win big
with a lineup like this
for our next night in.

Too bad I couldn't find

Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia to add to this lineup...

because that always join this house party.

What's your "normal" for a slacker night in?

Iceland Gets Cozy (ASOS Edition)

In a perfect world,

each trip we went on

would allow for me to

buy a fitting wardrobe

with the perfect outfits

to compliment our changing settings.

I'd be wearing chambray & Lanvin in Paris.

You could find me in Missoni & leather strappy sandals in Como.

Spain would warrant unlimited Massimo Dutti & cool wayfarers.

But that's not the world I live in...

because if it were,

Tyler & I would have raided the ASOS site

before leaving for Iceland.

They just do Scandinavian really well...

and, oh yeah, affordably.

Oh well.

Who could complain with a view like this?

Not this (hand-me down wearing) girl.

*image via aspiring kennedy 2012

A Few Of My Favorite (Blings): Viola Edition

My friend, Meg, is Australian.

We met her & her husband at Oxford

while our boys studied in the same "programme,"

and we all eventually ended up working in London after graduation.

We both also had baby girls.

She teaches me silly words that Aussies use

like arvo (afternoon) & bub (baby).

Meg is extremely creative

and loves to bake & throw parties-
as you might have seen from my instagrams this weekend.

But most importantly to this blog post,

Meg makes Viola some of the cutest headbands.

I begged her to put some on my site

so that anyone that had asked about them

could finally get some...

And, of course, like good friends do

I asked her to discount them. ;)

(And, like good friends do, she humored me & agreed!)

These are my three favorite styles that she makes.

The first two are made with fabrics from Liberty London-

only my favorite shop in the world.

For as busy as they are,

I think they somehow go with everything.

The third is probably my very favorite...

with it's (handmade) over-the-top glittery gold bow.

You can also choose what color band you'd like from:
navy, pale pink, grey, white
& grey chevron

Suri Cruise only wishes she had worn one of these as a kid.

So, for this one time only, you can buy them directly

from Aspiring Kennedy at a heck of a deal.

So here you go...
each style has a limited run,
so get 'em while they're hot.

You can also check out Meg's Etsy shop for more styles & goodies.

***

In the meantime,
I hope your weekend was killer
and that the week ahead is even better.

*images via MegMade

Aspiring Kennedy: Summer Style

I won't claim to be fashionable...

I just shop with two main goals:

1. To find what fits my body

2. To find it on clearance

Even though those two driving forces

are what guide me to building my wardrobe,

I do pay a lot of attention to what others are wearing...

and I do think I have a good sense for what works

and what is (and should be) a fleeting trend.

{Editor's Note: Though to be honest, I do love some trendiness.}

Maybe that is what building a great look really adds up to:

2 parts of timelessness + 1 part of trendy accent = Well curated outfit.

Who really knows....

Either way, this is what I'm feeling for this summer....

which looks perfect for the amazing weather we are having here this week.

Non-stop sun?

I feel like I'm dreaming.

It's never felt so good to sweat.

What pieces- timeless or trendy- have you added

to your summer look?

Getting Cozy Around Here: HUSH Giveaway

I have to work really hard

not to spend 100% of my life

in pajamas.

It's definitely an intentional effort that I have to make on a daily basis.

I have a cute Ted Baker silk robe

that I wear so much

during my periods of working from home

that my husband refers to it

as my "day gown."

But this isn't about me.

It's about one of you scoring a posh pair of pjs from HUSH.

{Do you know that in the UK they call them "pyjamas?" Funny, huh?}

Well, they do.

And another thing they say here

is that HUSH makes some

bomb-diggity pyjamas & nightwear.

{They also make cute every day clothes, too.}

Now one of you will get to say it

where ever it is that you live, too.

They offered to give me a pair to check them out

but I'd rather one of you good people

get to enjoy them.

I don't need thanks....

just maybe someone to make me coffee

and wash my beloved robe

every now and then for me

to keep me from becoming the stinky kid.

Oh and while you're in the middle

of your online break from the day,

check out the pinterest boards

I made with a little inspiration from the HUSH line.

A "WEEKEND AWAY" board that left me dreaming

of a quiet cozy cabin (or you know, small chateau in France)

full of lazy mornings, sunlight, big mugs of coffee

brought into wake me in bed....

and some cozy PG pajamas/pyjamas to live in.

"CITY BREAK" with a quick roundup of everything fabulous

about a weekend away in a great city...

Paris, NYC, London, wherever.

Nothing like a quick recharge in the electric environment

of an amazing urban setting. Right?

And of course, "PRETTY. HOT. | Beach Style"

which lends itself more to clambakes in Hamptons

than it does to bikinis in Mexico.

But then again, that should be no surprise to you...

this is Aspiring Kennedy, after all.

Good luck & enjoy!

*Winner will be selected July 8, 2013 at random.
*Entries will submit emails to HUSH email list.

Zoe Karssen Speaks My (LOVE) Language.

d'accord | paris, texas | madame | oh la la

I'm a little fancy.

I'm a lotta casual...

I'm also a total wannabe Parisian.

So it's no surprise

that these French-themed tee shirts

by Zoe Karssen

are speaking my language.

Pretty simple,

a little bit pricey...

but, undeniably, a good addition

to your summer lineup.

Oui, Oui.

Splurge of the {Weak}

I'm cheap.

You probably know this about me by now.

It's one of those traits that I'm proud of

when I get something awesome at a low price,

but also hate when my friends roll my eyes

as I gawk about the price of something.

For example,

I love that I get to birth two children

here in the UK for absolutely nothing

through the NHS program.

It warms my heart in way that's hard to explain.

I can't help it.

My mother is cheap.

My husband is cheap.

The financial perimeters

I've always worked in

have been set tight.

Cheap people like myself

typically find our thrills

through sales and discounted merchandise

{Hello, Gilt Groupe & Luxury Link!}

But when I find full-price merchandise

that is amazing and at a good price...

...well, I kind of lose my mind.

So this week, I have two great finds for you.

They aren't discounted or on sale...

not that I have any problem with those two qualifiers.

These items are both full price...

and they are really awesome values.

______________________

PULP HOME

LANCELOT MIRROR

Most homes need several cool mirrors splashed throughout it.

In our 800 sq ft flat,

we have five hanging up.

The only problem is-

most mirrors are really expensive...

or they are the same ones all your friends have

from Z Gallerie or Target.

I love how unique this is

and that you could totally steal the attention

of a hallway or powder room

for just $165.

When you sign up for their mailing list,

you get 10% off your first order,

so the price is even better.

A-THREAD

FLORAL SHEATH DRESS

A dress for $33?

I don't even feel like you can get a dress

at Target for that price these days.

To me, this dress feels like something

Anna from Rifle Paper

would whip up if she was on Project Runway.

Plus, 5% of your purchase goes to a charity of your choosing,

so that makes it even more awesome.

____________________

So happy shopping, friends.

I already have that cute dress coming my way

with plans to wear it over my post-baby body

at a certain friend's Greek Isle wedding this summer.

Now it's your turn to share in the online shopping shame.

Have a great weekend!

Sunglasses Shop- GIVEAWAY!

I love getting readers cool stuff

just for reading my blog.

I feel like it's some sort of party favor

that I can offer

for your time spent here.

So when Sunglasses Shop

offered me the chance to give one of you

a pair of sunglasses from Kate Moss's collection for Vogue

{you know, the one that Mario Testino shot the ads for}...

I got pretty excited.

All of the collection is very Palm Springs inspired...

and, if you're like me,

it will leave you dreaming of being perched

in a sunny lounger by a pool

while men in white uniforms bring you colorful drinks

with giant kebabs of fruit anchored to the edges.

image

Entering is easy.

Here's what you can do

for your chance to win

a pair of your very own sunglasses

from Kate Moss's line for Vogue Eyewear.

REQUIRED:

Visit this link to Vogue sunglasses to pick which style & pair you would like to win.

{Yes, you can pick whichever pair of the Vogue line you want!}

AND

"Like" Sunglasses Shop on Facebook, telling them you came from Aspiring Kennedy.

Leave me a comment below telling me which pair you would choose
and that you've "liked" the page.

______________

That's all you need to do

and we will select a winner at random January 15, 2012.

Open to all followers of Aspiring Kennedy

who are residents of the UK & US. No cash value.

One winner will be selected via random.org.

*images by Mario Testino

Souvenir Style: Paris

It's amazing how quickly we as humans adapt.

This is true for so many situations,

but I've been thinking about it

with regards to fashion this week.

After traveling a bit,

I've come to understand

that the fashion seen in cities around the world

is a mainly a result of the climate and lifestyle.

England's crazy weather = layers, lighter coats + messy hair.

France's chilly winter = bulky scarves + warm wool coats + slim pants to offset the bulkiness

Italy's sunny beaches = as little as possible to achieve the most skin surface area to tanning

{You get the idea.}

So while I'm now back in Dallas

wearing glittery shorts, enormous necklaces & wedges,

I'm dreaming of getting back to the cooler climate

and the simpler look that I fell in love with in this spring in Paris.

one | two | three | four | five | six | seven

Something about this look

leaves me dreaming for a morning like I had this spring.

Just a normal day... running errands throughout town....

grabbing treasures from the nearby boulangerie....

walking a bit further than I'd anticipated...

and feeling like, yes, this was the life.

Where have you traveled that captured your heart (and fashion)?

My (Awesome) Monogrammed Purse

Last week, I posted about the 4th of July

and how we celebrated at the Mayflower Pub...

In the midst of all the patriotic kumbayah we were passing around,

a lot of you asked about the purse I was sporting...

and I'm so glad you did as I've been waiting to tell you all about it.

Yes, this purse does have my initials on it!

And yes, it's totally awesome!

(Oh wait, you didn't ask that question did you? Oh well. It is.)

My buddy, Beth, got one for Pulp Design

and I went bonkers over it.

Like, I emailed the company, GiGi New York, right then & there.

My own bag arrived just in time for my June trip through Milan & Paris.

Not only is it modern & pretty,

but it's also a great traveling accessory.

It poses well with you in touristy photo-opps,

.... it's functional design makes it ideal for holding small adorable children,

.... it behaves well during Chinese foot massages,

... and it sticks by your side when you are headed to the US Embassy,

your shoe slips off on the Metro platform & falls below the train,

and you are forced to walk with one barefoot up the Champs Elysees to buy a new pair.

{Editor's Note: This is a very real story that I can not retell without crying/laughing.}

I ~~absolutely~~ might have an awkward strong affection for this purse.

Thank you GiGi New York for making something awesome

that I can also (and maybe most importantly?) put my initials on.

If you'd like to stay in the loop with this cool company

(who is the sister brand to one of my all-time favs, Graphic Image)

you can follow them in these cool places:

Twitter | Facebook | Mailing List

*all images original to Aspiring Kennedy

** these images are all from instagram: aspiringkennedy

*** this bag was sent to me by GiGi as a product for review. All opinions are my own.