Flowers are great, but they don’t last a long time. So instead of giving your Mom a Mother’s Day bouquet, why not give her flowers in a new way?

I’m obsessed with the Lesportsac EveryGirl Totes and I think the small tote is fresh and springy in the new Jardin print. Way better than a bouquet and your Mom can stash all of her goodies in it for years to come.

Not in the mood for a handbag? Why not help her make a statement with the Betsey Johnson Flower Girl and Frog Ring. You guys know I love a great cocktail ring and this one makes a sweet statement. I adore the little frog nestled in the center with a little heart on his butt. How adorable is he?!

Two more fresh and fabulous ideas for your Mom. Enjoy!

I have a thing for links. I don’t know why but I love long linked necklaces and bracelets. When I saw the J. Crew Mixed pavé cable link bracelet it was instant love. It comes in two versions, this one and an all gold with crystals version. I really like the contrasting metals in this version. It makes the links pop and distinct.

This chunky bracelet would be a perfect accent to a little black dress. No earrings needed, no necklace, just a big bold statement on my left right. Love it!

Oh, hello Friday, my old friend. How I longed for you this week. I’m going to be honest AofA ladies, I’m exhausted and I couldn’t be happier that it’s Friday. I’m going to spend some time looking through all of the images from London and Milan’s Fashion Weeks and probably go back through NYFW too…this is what I consider relaxing. So what’s on my mind for today’s Friday’s Fabulousness?

My original inspiration was the very iconic Lulu Guinness Union Jack Snakeskin Lips Clutch. You guys know how I love a Union Jack motif and this clutch is icon (there’s also a Swarvoski crystal version apparently but I have yet to see it on her site!). Seeing as how this clutch is £395.00 (so times that by 2 for the US price) I thought I needed to set my eyes on something more reasonable for this Friday.

Thankfully Aldo Shoes can provide me with a much less expensive alternative with their Fornes, lips necklace. If you’re too afraid to rock a red lipstick in real life, why not just buy the bold lips to wear around neck? And you get to save hundreds of dollars! HA!

Have a fabulousness filled weekend my friends!
dwj

I know this might sound crazy, but I want pierced ears. I had my ears pierced when I was 6 and shortly after my ear piercing I formed keloids on the front and back of both of my ears where they were pierced. My mother took me to the dermatologist and I received steroid injections in the keloid site, but I’ve been terrified to get them repierced again (I keloided in two other places from when I had chicken pox at 11). But why do I want my ears pierced now?

Because I have always secretly loved earrings and right now I’m seeing a lot of great ones.

I love a peace symbol (I think in another life I was a flower child) and these Lucky Brand peace symbol studs are my kind of stud. They’re just perfect, the right balance of silver, gold and sparkle, while your earlobes still say, “I am all for peace and love, man.”

And if I want a little everyday glamour, I’d wear the Fossil Glitz Feather earrings. A little bit of boho bling that’s a bit unexpected. I’m not asking for much, just two perfectly formed holes in my ears so that I too can make a statement with studs or turn heads with my big, blinged out chandelier earrings. I just want to be like everybody else, is that too much to ask?!

So if you’re a Dermatologist and you read this blog, can I get my ears pierced again? Will it work the second time around? Can this girl ever wear real earrings?

dwj

Welcome to the inaugural post for How To Accessorize. Okay, I’m kind of lying because I did one in April about how to accessorize an outfit for a wedding, but you probably forgot about that one, didn’t you?

Today’s example is how to accessorize a day dress, and to look and feel like a lady. This outfit was from last Saturday when I went to afternoon tea at the Mayflower Hotel in downtown DC. Can I say if you want to really feel like an adult go to tea at a fancy hotel. At the Mayflower there was just something about having your own personal pot of wildly fragrant tea and little finger sandwiches and deserts that made me feel like a grown up – and a responsible one at that! HA! Who knew tea could do all of that?

So for the day I decided to go with a great day dress. This is a little black and white cotton dress I picked up at TJMaxx for $25. I always suggest that you have a simple a-line dress that looks great on you for those occasions when you need a “lady dress” like high tea or going to the theater during the day. People don’t dress up anymore and they should, I try to look my best whenever I can. I decided to pair my dress with peep toe high heels, a great hand held clutch and a brooch. Nothing says lady to me like a great brooch. You know your grandmother and your mother have one in their wardrobe stash and you should too. A great brooch can add a bit of character and color or sparkle to any outfit. Most of my brooches are bugs like dragonflies or bees and this particular sparkler is a Swarvoski crystal dragonfly. I love it!

For the makeup, I decided to go simple but add a punch of color. I used Bare Escentuals matte foundation to give my skin a soft and smooth matte finish, just a little bit of Bobbi Brown bronzer on the cheeks instead of blush and I decided to make my eyes the focus. I used Sephora eyeshadow in a gorgeously vivid green and then swiped on Chanel Glossimers in Unity to keep the rest of my make simple. I also wore my Burberry watch since it’s very slim and sleek and I tend to wear it when I’m more dressed up than my normal jeans and t-shirts.

So what would you have paired with this dress? Do tell…

For ideas on brooches and high heels that go perfectly with a lady dress scroll below.