Lace & Pearls

A Seattle Style blog. Helping women who struggle with their personal style or those who just need a fashion fix!

Outfit Remix: Ruffle Pleat Cardigan

I used to be obsessed with the cardigan! I seriously had one in every material, weight, and color. One day I decided I was over them and I paired down my collection to just the essentials. I made a conscious effort not to buy another with the caveat that I only could if I needed it to complete an outfit.I used to be obsessed with the cardigan! I seriously had one in every material, weight, and color. One day I decided I was over them and I paired down my collection to just the essentials. I made a conscious effort not to buy another with the caveat that I only could if I needed it to complete an outfit.I used to be obsessed with the cardigan! I seriously had one in every material, weight, and color. One day I decided I was over them and I paired down my collection to just the essentials. I made a conscious effort not to buy another with the caveat that I only could if I needed it to complete an outfit.I used to be obsessed with the cardigan! I seriously had one in every material, weight, and color. One day I decided I was over them and I paired down my collection to just the essentials. I made a conscious effort not to buy another with the caveat that I only could if I needed it to complete an outfit.I used to be obsessed with the cardigan! I seriously had one in every material, weight, and color. One day I decided I was over them and I paired down my collection to just the essentials. I made a conscious effort not to buy another with the caveat that I only could if I needed it to complete an outfit.I used to be obsessed with the cardigan! I seriously had one in every material, weight, and color. One day I decided I was over them and I paired down my collection to just the essentials. I made a conscious effort not to buy another with the caveat that I only could if I needed it to complete an outfit.

When I spotted this gray pleated cardigan (now on sale), all of my previous commitments went out the window – I had to have it! It was the perfect novelty cardigan with feminine pleats and a neutral color palette. After bringing it home, I realized I wasn’t sure how to style it other than one way: white blouse and jeans. I  didn’t want my top to compete with the pleats or make things appear too busy.

Once it was no longer summer, I challenged myself to figure out more options for it. I literally tried on every possible option in my closet. This wasn’t too bad since I really didn’t want to style it with any other color than white or chambray.

While a chambray shirt worked, I still wanted my overall look to be soft, so I ended up choosing a white button down with very subtle stripes and gray denim. Going neutral achieved my goal and allowed me to come up with something new. The casual booties also tied everything together.

How would you style this cardigan? Share in the comments.

Shop the Post:

Cardigan: Chelsea28 (now on sale!!!)| Stripe Shirt: UNIQLO (similar) | Denim: J.Crew | Necklace: Ann Taylor (another cute option) | Ring: Happiness Boutique (silver version) c/o | Purse: Marc by Marc Jacobs (similar) | Booties: Bare Trap (major on sale!)| Lipstick: Burberry ( No. 49 – intense plum) c/o

Photos by Jenn of Hello Rigby.

Lace & Pearls – The Girl Behind the Blog

When you follow a lot of blogs, you become curious about the person behind the blog and wonder about their background and lifestyle. I thought it would be fun to share a bit about myself and what inspired me to create this blog.

I live in Seattle, Washington with my husband and our two cats; we adopted them last year when they were four months old. It is my first time being a pet owner and I love it! Full disclosure, my husband and I are both dog people, but with us both being away from home for so many hours a day, it just didn’t make sense to have a dog yet. Last fall, my husband talked about possibly getting two cats and I was tickled with excitement! I still remember the first day we brought them home. We are literally smitten with them.

My husband and I met in college and have been married for seven years this July. He was my first boyfriend, and after dating for four years, we got married. We bought our first home last March and are having a blast buying furniture, planting vegetable beds, and doing other projects. He works in Marketing & Communications as a web developer and is wise beyond his years. Seriously, is there anything this man can’t do? He’s truly the best thing that has ever happened to me and our love for one another grows each and every day.

Lace & Pearls – The Girl Behind the Blog

In college, I majored in communications and got a job at Nordstrom in their corporate office when I graduated. Before school, I worked at Nordstrom Rack full time and continued doing seasonal work during breaks. When I graduated from college,  I worked in the Brass Plum buying office as an administrative assistant. I mostly managed purchase orders and got to make sure our vendors shipped products to us on time. Towards the tail end of things, I made the transition to Nordstrom.com and worked on the front end of the site, loading images and curating style suggestions to customers.

After trying to move up in the company, I applied for work externally and got a job in healthcare. I have been promoted a few times since and am now a project manager. When I switched over to healthcare I really missed being immersed in fashion and hearing about the latest trends. I wanted so badly to have that part of my life back and so Lace & Pearls was born.

My first year, I blogged under the radar, I was scared that if people found out, they would discourage me from what I was trying to do so I only told my mom and a few family members. It can also be tough to balance work and the blog, and there have been so many times where I’ve wanted to throw in the towel, but what has kept me going are the relationships I’ve formed, getting to improve my writing skills, and having something that allows me to be creative on a weekly basis.

Well, I think that covers the basics. If you’ve stuck around this long, thank you! If you have any questions for me, please leave them in the comments. I always love hearing from you. Thanks for reading.

Shop the Post:

Chambray: Old Navy | Denim: J.Crew | Necklace: J.Crew (sold out)| Ring: Happiness Boutique (silver version) c/o | Boots: Hunter | Tote: Ralph Ralph Lauren (similar) | Lipstick: Burberry ( No. 49 – intense plum)c/o

Photos by Jenn of Hello Rigby.

Spring Trend: Ruffles + Anguay Designs

What is it about ruffles that make them so desirable? Is it the modern update that is super versatile and less structured? Personally, I can't seem to get enough of the romantic aesthetic. Whatever the reason, ruffles have come full circle and are popping up everywhere.What is it about ruffles that make them so desirable? Is it the modern update that is super versatile and less structured? Personally, I can't seem to get enough of the romantic aesthetic. Whatever the reason, ruffles have come full circle and are popping up everywhere.What is it about ruffles that make them so desirable? Is it the modern update that is super versatile and less structured? Personally, I can't seem to get enough of the romantic aesthetic. Whatever the reason, ruffles have come full circle and are popping up everywhere.What is it about ruffles that make them so desirable? Is it the modern update that is super versatile and less structured? Personally, I can't seem to get enough of the romantic aesthetic. Whatever the reason, ruffles have come full circle and are popping up everywhere.What is it about ruffles that make them so desirable? Is it the modern update that is super versatile and less structured? Personally, I can't seem to get enough of the romantic aesthetic. Whatever the reason, ruffles have come full circle and are popping up everywhere.What is it about ruffles that make them so desirable? Is it the modern update that is super versatile and less structured? Personally, I can’t seem to get enough of the romantic aesthetic. Whatever the reason, ruffles have come full circle and are popping up everywhere.

Before we get into today’s post, here’s a little history lesson. Did you know that ruffles date back to the 16th century? While you might have guessed they were old, did you know that it was men who wore them? Yep, during the 16th century German soldiers wore uniforms with ruffles very similar to those we see today.

Ruffles – How to Wear?

Since ruffles are a statement all on their own, you don’t need much to accessorize them. Simple is best. Of course, I am big on jewelry so I decided to also go with a statement earring. I did, however, keep everything else minimal (e.g., ballet flats, color block tote).

Fashion tip: Let your ruffles take center stage and wear your hair back in a classic pony or an undone topknot.

Don’t stop there! Ruffles go well beyond tops and sweaters. Now you can find skirts and dresses with this frilly embellishment too. Depending on your body type, a ruffle skirt can do wonders. If you’re narrow in the hips, add some ruffles to give the illusion of curves.

Ruffles – Where to Shop?

I have seen this trend at every retailer: Target, Zara, Nordstrom, to name a few. I picked up this sweet polka dot blouse at J.Crew and also bought it in burgundy. The silk material makes the ruffles very forgiving, especially on a larger chest.

The tote is from Seattle brand Anguay Designs. I’m obsessed with the color blocking and external pocket, plus the lining is super cute. Crystal, the designer of Anguay Designs, is launching her Spring/Summer apparel line called Unlikely on April 24th. For a sneak peek, visit her Instagram and definitely check out her site because this girl is going places. If you see something you like, use code LACEANDPEARLS to receive 15% off your order, discount is valid until 12/31/17.

Blouse: J.Crew (similar) | Jeans: Jag c/o (similar) | Earrings: J.Crew (sold out) | Ring: Madewell (on sale)|  Tote: Anguay Designs (borrowed) | Shoes: Jessica Simpson (similar) | Lipstick: Wet n Wild (Smokin Hot Pink)

Thank you Anguay Designs for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.

📷’s by Luba Kochubey Portraits

8 Wardrobe Tidying Tips That Will Change Your Life

Prep style: black blazer, stripe tee, and jeans. Prep style: black blazer, stripe tee, and jeans. Prep style: black blazer, stripe tee, and jeans.Prep style: black blazer, stripe tee, and jeans. Prep style: black blazer, stripe tee, and jeans.

This post is an update to one of my first posts. I have wanted to expand upon it since wardrobe organizing is a lifelong passion of mine.  So much so that I feel like I could have written The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying. I have always curated my wardrobe by only including the things I love and keeping my wardrobe tidy.

Back in the 90s my mom coined the term “the heap” to reference unwanted items that I got rid of. Whenever we would go shopping she would say things like “I can see that piece ending up in the heap in a few months”. Lol. Over the years, I grew tired of wasting my money and now make it a point to ask myself if I will still love it in 6 months. If the answer is no, then it has to stay at the store. I had to really crack down to avoid my hard earned cash from becoming disposal income.

Getting back to the purpose of today’s post, I have always preferred less clothing in my closet; quality over quantity. Unfortunately, in 2013 I went a little crazy with the spending. Shopping became my outlet for stress and I ended up buying a lot of stuff that I didn’t need.

I’m definitely not an impulse buyer, but sometimes I still buy things that I don’t love or use. What I enjoy most about fashion is using what you already have and incorporating some new items while finding creative ways to re-wear what you already own. You’d be surprised by the outfit combinations you can come up with when you have a limited selection. Having only the best items will save you time and eliminate the age old “I have nothing to wear”.

Now that I’ve wised up, I have even toyed with the idea of going minimal. But after much thought, I decided that full blown minimalism is not for me. I still love the idea of a capsule wardrobe or small wardrobe. With that said, here are eight tips for organizing your closet.

Wardrobe Tidying Tips

  1. Clear out your closet and begin with a blank canvas. Try on everything and throw out the items that you don’t love.
  2. Make piles for donations, stuff to sell, and another for repairs and dry cleaning.
  3. Move all off-season clothing to another closet or store it under the bed. I use containers similar to these to store my clothing and keep it dust free.

Selling Unwanted Items

  1. List your clothes on online consignment shops. I sell my stuff to ThredUp (see my post on this brand here & here) and TheRealReal (designer items only).
  2. Curate your own shop of gently used items on PoshMark. I recently became a user of this platform after hearing so much about it. If you aren’t familiar with PoshMark, it is a platform that allows the seller to list their goods (via their phone) and sell their stuff directly to the buyer. For the most part, the platform seems to work well. PoshMark does however, collect a small fee for the sale and shipping. The prepaid labels make selling easy. I would describe PoshMark as the modern day equivalent of Ebay for fashion lovers, but don’t expect to make a lot of money. I found that most buyers are looking for a deal and pay little to nothing for high-quality items. Buyers are able to bargain too. PoshMark is definitely in the buyer’s favor. Once basic fees are deducted it can be hard to make much money. I would recommend listing a few items and if your experience is good, list some more.
  3. Sell your stuff on Ebay. If you don’t mind the legwork of photography, creating listings, shipping costs, payment fees, and driving to the post office, Ebay is another good option. However, I much prefer leaving that work to the online resellers.
  4. Donate your items.
  5. Sell or trade to your friends/coworkers. It’s much easier to part with something when you know it’s going to a good home.

Now make room for the new! What tips do you have for wardrobe tidying?

Blazer: Target Who What Wear Collection | Tee: J.Crew (similar) | Necklace: Loft | Ring: Madewell (sold out)| Denim: Madewell | Shoes: Paul Green| Purse: Marc by Marc Jacobs (similar) | Lipstick: Bite Beauty

📷’s by Luba Kochubey Portraits

Rebekah J. Designs AWA Collection

Rebekah-J-Designs-1 Rebekah-J-Designs-42Rebekah-J.-Designs-34

📷’s by  Luba Kochubey Portraits

Jacket: Zara (similar) | Blouse: J.Crew Factory (similar) | Denim: Ann Taylor (almost sold out) | Jewelry: Rebekah J. Designs – necklace (borrowed), ring (borrowed), and c/o earrings | Purse: Marc by Marc (similar and only $24!!!) | Sandals: Josef Sebiel |  Lipstick: Wet n Wild (Smokin Hot Pink)

I am thrilled to be collaborating with the amazing and talented Rebekah J. Designs! Rebekah and I met at a social media event, and I recently attended her launch party for the gorgeous AWA collection.

Rebekah J. Designs AWA Story

The summer of 2015, Rebekah overcame a health scare. The AWA (the Hawaiian word for harbor) collection is inspired by her recovery and a trip she took to Kauai with her family. She is a true inspiration and a total #girlboss!

Rebekah J. Designs Jewelry

The pieces from the AWA collection are beautiful, but my favorite is the Sun necklace. It’s the perfect everyday piece. It’s hand-carved in wax and cast in brass. I like to refer to it as “wearable art.”

Rebekah-J-Designs-17

If you want a statement piece that is going to turn heads, look no further than the Lava Rock ring. #swoon. I died the first time I laid eyes on it. It’s heavy and well made. It’s such a conversation starter and wears well with a cocktail dress or a casual tee. So versatile. I feel like the coolest girl ever when I put it on.

Rebekah-J-Designs-56

The Pocket Post earrings are the sweetest! They remind me of little gold nuggets. I love the finish on them too. They are just so easy.

For the clothes I went super girly with a side of prep, (white and blue gingham). I might opt for a simple plain tee the next time around. Any other recommendations? I’m all ears. The jeans are from Ann Taylor and they are my new obsession. They are a similar fit to the AG Legging ankle jean (best jean ever) for a fraction of the cost.

Be sure to check out the AWA collection and the Luka line (Rebekah’s other jewelry collection) for more eye candy!

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