Where are my fellow May babies at? I am aware that I am 100% biast in saying this but May is my all-time favorite month of the year and has been since I was a wee one. There is so much to celebrate in the month of May: me (LOL), the warm weather, college graduations, weddings, fellow Taureans and more! Whether you are looking for a gift for yourself or to celebrate someone special in your life - I am sharing some items (both ones that are affordable and a bit of a splurge) that I have my eye on as a kind of birthday wishlist. Most of the products I chose are from online shopping hubs like Netaporter, ASOS, and Shopbop. Let me know what you think! I hope this makes a shopping occasion for you easier! xo
I love traveling everywhere, who doesn't? One specific thing I look forward to when traveling is coming home to Richmond, VA. I am in love with this city: the people, the food, the places, the shopping, my home, and SO many more things I can't think of right now because I am a little hungover from too much snow day fun. Honesty is the best policy, right?
That being said, I wanted to let you guys in on a really cool perfume event tonight happening at Saks Fifth Avenue Richmond at the Stony Point Fashion Park. I know I am always talking about perfume on here because well, I'm effing obsessed with it. I love shopping for it, trying perfume on my own skin, and I ESPECIALLY love admiring my collection of perfume when I add a new one. I can't help this perfume obsession peeps, I was born this way.
If you love perfume as much as I do, you will be happy to hear that Bond No. 9 New York is hosting a happy (see what I did there?) hour from 6-8 tonight, March 22, with champagne. Not just champagne but also CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES. I am already giving myself permission to break my beach bod diet for this event. Who is with me?
Hope to see you lovely people there and if you can't make it, I've got you covered with my absolute favorite Bond No. 9 perfumes linked below! xo Cath
Shopping for bedroom decor is one of my guilty pleasures. Recently you guys have been messaging me a lot on Instastories about the decor in my house and I wanted to share some of my favorite home decor pieces at West Elm right now because they are having a killer sale!
When I was doing my home decor revamp after Kevin and I got married, I didn't have a very clear vision.... but I knew what I liked when I saw it. Not exactly the most organized way to go about a home decorating project, but hey, it worked for us! What I ended up with was very similar to how I approach my closet and personal style:
I kept the big pieces of furniture (aka the ones that are a pain in the a** to move) neutral and got a little more funky with the smaller pieces of furniture and home accents. I thought of the big pieces of furniture like a build-able blank slate and the smaller pieces as accessories.
I may not have had a clear vision when decorating our place but I knew myself enough to know that my style changes drastically, often. I wanted to be smart when it came to allocating our budget for pieces in this home decorating project. This meant keeping the big pieces of furniture basic (lol) and easily updated with throw pillows and accent furniture.
That being said, I hope this insight helps you in your next home re-vamp. Don't worry, there is much more where that came from :)
I have rounded up some great picks for you guys from West Elm. There are some great duvet covers, chic side tables, palm accents, and one of my favorites - lighting all included in this roundup for you guys!
These sixty degree weather days are popping up more and more as Spring tries to make its way into our life and it's AMAZING. When I was flying back from Santa Fe, NM last week, I checked what the weather would be when I landed in Richmond and happened to notice that it was warmer than Los Angeles, California (where my alter ego lives.) Rebecca and I seem to endlessly chatter about the weather on The Crystal Press but TBH, watching the drastic changes has made it kind of hard NOT to talk about the weather - am I right?
On the same weather note, as these warm days keep popping up on our calendar - why not think about dressing for these warm days as well? This blogpost is an outfit I wear on a random warm day, without going TOO Spring oriented. A white long sleeve and backless Farrow shirt from Need Supply, wide leg culottes, and a straw bag from Need Supply Co with my (now) attached-to-my-head black French Connection hat from ASOS. Want to jazz your "Sprinter" (Spring in the middle of Winter) outfit up even more? Add some dangly earrings with a pop of color. I grabbed a blue pair and think that Anthropologie has a great selection of statement earrings.
Hint, Hint: I am LOVING these, these, and these earrings right now.
Looking for the perfect white shirt to transition your wardrobe from Winter to Spring real quick? I have rounded up a bunch of things in this outfit blogpost for you guys, as well as pieces like everything I am wearing in these photos from The Crystal Coast here:
White Shirt: Farrow from Need Supply Co. (similar here) / Wide Leg Denim Culottes: Zara (similar here) / Woven Circle Bag: Abaca from Need Supply Co. / Sling Back Black Heels: Topshop from Nordstroms (similar here) / Hat: French Connection (similar here)
Looking for a way to dip your toe into the fashionable red trend? I have found that one of my favorite ways to embrace this "like a flame" red color trend that has been engulfing the fashion world for months is with a t-shirt.
You can dress a t-shirt up, dress it down, and basically wear it however you would like all the while being comfortable and just on trend enough without spending a lot of money. I have rounded up my favorite t-shirts and graphic tees that are available right now from ASOS, Forever 21, and Nordstroms.
Shop my favorite t-shirts with a pop of red:
In other news, I am happy to be back from taking a little break from social media. I have been doing a little mind and body detox to get the year started off on the right note. However, during my social media hiatus - Rebecca and I were on the front of Style Weekly (a publication we've always ooed and awed over!), talk about a way to bring in the new year! See more about the article we were featured in called "The Influence Effect" here.
Stay tuned because I have more to say about this fabulous like a flame red trend and the New Year. Love you guys the most!
It's that time of year again - time to get party-ready to ring in the New Year in your best dress! I am into sequins in a very big way but that is no surprise to you guys. I wore an all sequin Jenny Packham gown as my wedding dress, wore sequins from ASOS last year for New Years Eve (pictured above), and just posted my new favorite sequin pants on my cathclaire Instagram. Are sequins too trendy right now? Probably. But you can't help who you love - amiright?
What are you guys doing for New Years Eve this year? It is my yearly tradition to meet my BFFs from college somewhere between Charlotte and Richmond. We have been doing Smith Mountain Lake for a couple of years and the photos in this post are examples of our time at SML last year. There is something so comforting about getting away to a remote area, getting dressed up, and hanging out! This year, I am meeting my friends in Charlottesville for the weekend before NYE and then heading back to Richmond to celebrate Rebecca's big 30! She is having a party for her 30th birthday to ring in the New Year in style. Be sure to keep up on social media to stay up to date with all of the fun!
That being said, I am rounding up some of my favorite New Years Eve options that I have my eye on, some with sequins and some without. I have seen all kinds of good pieces on ASOS, Revolve Clothing, Netaporter, Forever 21, and NETAPORTER if you want to browse for yourselves. If not, scroll down to the end of this post to see my favorite dresses and pieces for NYE! With these New Years Eve fashion tips, you can be sure to ring in the New Year in style.
We are less than a week away from Christmas. What the!
Yes, I have been watching Christmas movies basically every night since Thanksgiving (which I'm sure you guys have seen on my cathclaire instastory nonstop), but being so festive this year REALLY made time fly by super fast. Does anyone else feel this way?
1. Plan Ahead: This may sound like a no-brainer when it comes to packing tips, but if you ask me, it's even more important when packing for the holidays. Not only are you traveling with gifts so the extra space is key, but you are also probably traveling to spend time with family or friends. If you plan ahead and get clear about what you may need while on your trip, you will avoid forgetting an essential item and wasting precious time scrambling to get an outfit together or for something you need vs enjoying time carefree with your people!
2. Maximize Space in Your Suitcase: Towing gifts to your destination can take up a lot of space when packing, especially if you are flying. One of our favorite packing tips we just learned? To make the most room in your suitcase, roll your clothing. Not only does this maximize space but it also creates much less wrinkles. Doesn't that sound amazing?
3. Pick a Neutral Color Outfit Base: The Crystal Press is a huge fan of packing a neutral outfit base (think black, white, camel, navy), whether we are traveling to fashion week or home for the holidays. Packing with one main color in mind allows you to interchange pieces throughout your travels for different events without overstuffing your suitcase. Getting off the plane to meet friends for a fancy welcome dinner? Throw a blazer over your airplane get-up and trade out your flats for heels. My go-to neutral base for this trip (and pretty much always) is black. I am going to be packing everything in this outfit post for my holiday travels - these leather culottes from ASOS are the most versatile piece I own right now and not to mention super comfy. I love how they pair with this old skool Vans and also can be dressed up with black heels for a night out or church with the family
4. Keep Essential Items In Your Carry-On: If you are like me and can't seem to travel without checking a bag - be sure to use this packing tip when traveling! Holiday travel can get crazy because it is such a popular time to jet-set so be prepared. Nothing is worse than getting to your destination without your necessities and essential items and especially during such a special time like the holidays!
5. Find Your Favorite Luggage / Suitcase Brand: This is something Rebecca and I on The Crystal Press have been shopping alot for with all of the traveling we have been doing the past few years. Here are a few of my favorite suitcase and luggage brands we are shopping right now!
What do you do in preparation for New Years?
Aside from the basics of buying a new dress, I spend the month of December prepping for the New Year by crossing off last minute things on my bucket list for 2016 and dreaming up 2017. You could say that the time between Christmas and New Years Eve is crunch time for creating my vision for 2017 and that is exactly what I have been working on this week. When I say "working," I mean watching Taylor Swift music videos (I prefer the 1989 World Tour on Apple Music), drinking wine, and reading books about movers and shakers of the world to remind me of what's possible.
Who else is oh so into the crushed velvet trend? I scored these Simmi velvet booties the other day and I am very thrilled with my purchase! I love the way these boots compliment the TIJN mirrored sunnies in this ensemble. Not to mention, these Simmi booties give this ASOS black dress just the uniqueness that I was looking for. What velvet pieces are you crushing on this season?
I have acknowledged on several occasions during the life of TCP that I am a self-help junkie. While some may dismiss self help literature as overindulgent and selfish, cathclaire (that's me) thinks the complete opposite. Is learning how to show up as the best version of yourself for everyone in your life really a selfish thing? If you become better, can't you help everyone around you in an improved, better way?
(If you have any further questions about my views on the subject or about my latest and greatest epiphanies as a result of my latest book, just ask Rebecca. She listens to me babble on about all of this self-help-universe stuff just about everyday and I have to say, it's a great combination over some good Stella's vino and instagram.)
My second point in this post is that my never ending journey down the self-help rabbit hole has brought me to some very unexpected (yet EFFING amazing) places. Exhibit A: I am one step away from becoming a Reiki master. What is Reiki? I think this is something better explained with your own research (it's worth a google) because lets be honest, it freaks some people out and I ain't getting into that here. #goodvibesonly
From self-help gurus like Simon Sinek to Danielle LaPorte ( P.S her new Desire Map Planner for 2017 is OUT and awesome as expected) to Joe Dispenza and oh so many more, the common thread that this wonderful journey has made very clear to me, is that we are all connected. When I first came across this concept, it was very foreign to me. Little me couldn't understand it and therefore my brain dismissed it completely. The more I dig and the more I learn, the more I believe this concept. After all, how awesome is it to think that we are connected to Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber on some level of this beautiful Universe?
Pretty freaking awesome.
We are all connected, so give someone a compliment or a hug. Pay it forward, loves, it counts.
*My compliment goes out to Reb for taking care of me yesterday during a ROUGH Thursday. Nobody gets me like you do!*
Roan (noun): A realm of color, pattern, and texture that is never the same, never dulls, and has unlimited possibility.
Richmond peeps, have you been to Roan in Carytown? If you haven't, you need to get there. From one of a kind dresses for a special occasion to the perfect outfit for a drink at Can Can with friends, this boutique has got you covered. The eye for impeccable style and design that Hank, the owner/buyer, has is out of this world. As if the shopping experience that Hank and his team have created at Roan isn't enough, do you see this Roksanda dress I am wearing? Hank picked it out for me! I am an all-black-everything kinda girl and this dress fulfills my all-black needs with just the right amount of white peaking from the back of it.
If there is the best time to be in fashion for a blogger duo like The Crystal Press, I would have to say it is Spring/Summer fashion week in September when the weather is just right in NYC. Rebecca and I are still learning the ropes of this enchanting time of year but, boy, what we have learned so far has fulfilled dreams we've had ever since we were little girls. Before I go any further, let me just say we wouldn't have been able to go on this trip without your support so thanks for following along with our adventures from the very beginning. Yes, that was a shout out to all of the TCP + Cathclaire OG's
Speaking of TCP OG's, here is another post courtesy of J+D Photography and Roan. This Tibi skirt was made to be lived in and if you feel the same way, be sure to email info@roanshop.com to get one for yourself! The team at Roan will hook you up. And as always, if you need wedding, boudoir, or general amazing photography- contact Jada and David at J + D Photography for photos that will never, ever disappoint. Fashion week is exhausting but that's about as far as the complaints go because let's face it, there is something so invigorating about trading your daily routine for fashion runways and events full of the most inspiring people in the industry. Why yes, I did walk up to Morgan Stewart at the Charlotte Tilbury Samsung event and profess my obsession with her. A little forward, yes, but sometimes you have to go full #fangirl and see what the Universe throws back. In this case, it was a delightful conversation with someone I wanted to talk to for years and worth every bit of possible embarrassment. Reb and I will have a full NYFW round up in the next couple posts, so stay tuned but until then I just wanted to say thank you from the both of us! We are so appreciative of your support!
PS Let us know if you have specific questions you want us to answer in our NYFW roundup by emailing us at thecrystalpress@gmail.com!
Nothing says Happy Hump Day quite like a good ole soliloquy on feeling stuck, because let's face it: everyone has times when this blah feeling creeps into their life. There are different remedies depending on the stickiness of the situation, and if I had to make a comparison between concrete, quicksand (a phobia of mine since The Jungle Book), and mud - I would compare my recent sticky situation to being stuck in the mud.
That being said, I did what any person stuck in said metaphorical mud would do, and flooded all of my friends'/family members' phones with questions asking for advice. While said advice was awesomely insightful, the conversations ended with me, myself, and that still very much stuck feeling (kind of like after a shopping therapy session at Barney’s). After a couple of tries at the getting-advice-game, I came to the realization that I was trying to get someone or something to pull me out of the mud. However, this time, I needed to use my own muscles to pull myselfout.
Rebecca and I will be the first to tell you that new (Celine) bags are what dreams are made of... I mean, how can you not stare at the colors on this bag? I rarely experiment with this much color in one outfit (yet alone an accessory) and I have to say, Celine makes coloring outside of my usual all-black-everything lines a ball of fun! One of the best things about fashion is that you can mix up your outfits whenever your heart desires with a tweak or a purchase and this bag did just thought for moi (see how Rebecca styled another Celine here).
Are you looking for a new handbag to change your style up a bit for the summer? Look no further than Trendlee for a beautiful selection of gently used bags! We even have a code "THECRYSTALPRESS" for 5% off of your purchase, folks!
Black 'Lilou' Choker: Are You Am I / Ruched Sleeve Top: Storets / Frayed Denim Culottes: Zara (similar here, here) / Heels: Merona (similar here, here) / Bag: Celine c/o Trendlee / Sunnies: Illesteva Leonard (sold out, similar here)
