Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Finding The Right Foundation Garments

Foundation garments: The key to make sure your clothes fit well and look good on you. In layman's terms, underwear. However, the sad truth is that somewhere between 60-85% of women (based on the study) are wearing the wrong size. And, I am ashamed to admit, I am was one of those people.

While I understand the concept and importance of the right bra, the truth is bra shopping SUCKS. It is basically the WORST! And if you go to a big box undergarment retailer (ahem, Victorias Secret), they almost ALWAYS get the size wrong. Now you could go into a specialty store or Nordstrom, but UGH, who wants to go shopping for BRAS?!

A few weeks ago, I reached my limit with a particularly ill-fitting bra that was causing all sorts of issues with my shirt. Enter a well-timed Facebook ad for True & Co, promising a perfect fit and easy and free returns --- what did I have to lose?! I clicked through…

True & Co. starts your experience with a set of 15 quick questions about your current bra, no measuring tape necessary.




Once you've completed the survey (and signed up for a 10% off coupon (YAY!), they assign your boobs into categories based on your boob shape, not just size. And then, you're off to the races with your recommendations. Now anyone who has been bra shopping knows that no two brands are alike. A 34C in one brand is definitely NOT the same as a 34C across another. True & Co has figured out all the differences, so they suggest sizes that are brand specific. I quickly ordered 2, and waited.

A few days later, they arrived. I tried them on with baited breath (in the comfort of my own well-lit bedroom), and they fit. PERFECTLY! The quality is great (they are well known brands like Wacoal, Spanx and the like) and they come in basic and fun colors and textures. I've ordered more bras, and I wish I could tell you about the return policy, but they've all been so great that I haven't had to return a single one!

If you feel like your bra could fit better (maybe you feel like the straps are digging in, or there's a gap, or you have back fat bulges, or you've had a change in weight), I strongly recommend you take the True & Co survey. It will take you no more than 2 minutes (I promise), and will give you an idea of your perfect bra size. Even if you decide not to buy, at the very least, you will be armed with good information for your future bra purchases.

Who knows, maybe you will find the right bra that just makes your clothes look a little better, and make you even more polished and gorgeous than you already are!

Good luck, and treat your boobs right!
XO

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Summer Solstice 2015: What to Wear?


This weekend marks Summer Solstice, and along with various yoga studios that celebrate with extraordinary amounts of sun salutations (108 to be exact), there are of course, solstice parties. This year, as in every year since I've been blogging,  I will be attending the sold-out Summer Solstice at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

This year, unlike other years, I do not have a "what to wear" dilemma. As I've mentioned, I'm in my "All White Everything" phase, and so surprise surprise, I will be wearing white. I have a few different options: one is a long white and cream vintage dress, the other is a lace mini, and the third is a printed white and blue and gold with a full skirt. With either of these outfits, I'm keeping the same accessories-- gold sandals, gold jewelry, and a pop of color with my bag.

My inspiration board:


Solstice inspiration



If you're looking for more Solstice inspiration, look here, here, or here.

Monday, June 15, 2015

Scenes from my Weekend

Whoever decided that weekends  should only last two days demonstrated a serious lack of sound judgement in coming up with this decision. Because weekends and awesome, and they should be longer, damn it! This weekend I managed to fit in a lot of relaxation (read: naps) with a lot of fun, so I feel ready to tackle the week ahead.


Friday, Nick and I attended a super fun event on the GOODTIME III-- it was a white party for AIA,  which fit in perfectly with my "All White Everything" theme this summer. My white seersucker dress (in the middle) is from the Gap, and BONUS, its on sale. Amazing views, perfect temps, and great friends made for a really fun evening. Post, cruise, Nick and I stopped in at Luxe for dinner. If you haven't been lately, its worth a visit-- they have a revamped menu, and the wings are AMAZING.

Saturday was a really nice detox ride at Harness, followed by some meandering and lunch at The Cleveland Flea with Allison. Post nap, Nick and I went to Humble Wine Bar for dinner-- seriously, this place has never failed me-- some rose, some pizza--- a lot of perfect summer evening. I also reached a decision this weekend-- I'm not a fuchsia nail kinda person (even though that's what color my nails are painted right now).

Sunday was a tough day-- it would have been Otto's 7th Birthday. We hung out with Clair and Webster and spoiled them silly with a special breakfast, trip to the pet store, and fun and the dog park. It was a good way to remember Otto and celebrate his life. And then I bought myself some peonies and rose. Because I deserve both. As I type this, I'm a nervous wreck watching the Cavs in Game 5--- by the end of this week, there will be a new NBA Champion, and I really hope its us!

This week is going to be packed with activities--- Cavs games, NKOTB + Nelly + TLC, an Indians game, all leading up to the sold-out Solstice Party at Cleveland Museum of Art! Stay tuned!!

PS: If you're impatient like me, follow along on Instagram for live updates of my week!

Monday, June 1, 2015

Explore CLE: Taste Cleveland Food Tours

For Christmas last year, our dear friends Dave and Jessika gifted us a Cleveland Food Tour. Since we had been waiting for nice weather, they joined us a few weeks ago as we actually took the tour. Taste Cleveland Food Tours offer three standard tours: The West Side Market, Little Italy, and Tremont, however they offer custom tours as well. Each tour pairs local restaurants with a look at the history and architecture of the neighborhood.

I had heard about these tours in the past, but since we had never tried one before, we decided to stick with a standard tour of Tremont. Nick and I used to live in Tremont, and being an architect, Nick knew a lot about the history and architecture of Tremont, so we weren't exactly expecting to learn anything new, but in fact, WE DID! Our tour guide was very knowledgable and led us around parts of Tremont for 3.5 hours.


If I were to summarize the experience, its like a walking tour meets progressive dinner. We met the group at 4 pm in Lincoln Park, and from there, we stopped at 4 restaurants: Prosperity Social Club, Parallax, Ty Fun, and Lilly Handmade Chocolates, although the stops are subject to change with each tour. In between eating delicious food, we learned about how Tremont came to be, and some fun facts about the neighborhood as well as the restauranteurs. Alcohol was not included in the standard tour but was available for purchase, although you can do a custom tour that includes alcohol as well.

Overall, a very fun experience, and one that I highly recommend. This would also be a great gift for Father's Day, or in general a fun gift for someone who has everything. You can make your tour reservations here.

As I mentioned previously, it is a walking tour, so comfortable shoes are key. Unfortunately, I have plantar fasciitis, so walking for 3.5 hours in flats will absolutely destroy my feet. Lucky for me, I found this pair of flats that are not only cute, but offer the kind of arch support I need.
At $99 they are a little expensive for flats, but they are worth it considering I will wear them all summer with zero pain!

So there you have it-- a lot of food and a little fashion to get your week started off just right!
XO
~ Shibani

Monday, May 11, 2015

CLE Shops: Whiskey Grade

This past Friday, Nick and I attended the opening of Ohio City's newest retail offering, Whiskey Grade.  Located at 2515 Jay Ave (very close to the intersection of Jay and W25th), Whisky Grade is one of the most unique stores I've been to lately! Part biker-store, part vintage treasure hunt, this store has plenty for men and women, whether they're into motorcycles or not.

The store has an incredible industrial feel-- matte black paint, chandeliers of varying styles and sizes, and incredibly interesting design details. From the amazing skylight to the real motorcycles that are hoisted up on some pretty high shelves, to the unusual display of children's toys, to the changing room that's actually an old safe, the interiors are absolutely delightful. Masculine with a kick of feminine sass. 


As I mentioned before, the store's primary focus is people who ride motorcycles, so there's an extensive offering of armored leather jackets that will literally save your life. Also in the life-saving category, an array of very cool helmets. On the fashion side, there's a selection of t-shirts, dress-shirts and denim (jeans and jackets) for men.



But if you were to think that ladies had been neglected at this store, you would be wrong. In addition to some to-die-for leather jackets (I seriously cannot stop thinking about them), there is selection of very well priced and well curated vintage apparel and accessories.


I picked up two dresses (one of which I will wear to Solstice), a clutch, and a beaded jacket for a total of $105 (tax included!). Seriously, you cannot beat the amazing deals, and there are only maybe 1-2 of each item, so its not like you're likely to run into someone wearing the same outfit!

I am so excited about this newest addition to Cleveland's retail scene-- I know I will be visiting them frequently. For more pictures, check out Whiskey Grade on Facebook and definitely stop in the store!

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Orange You Pretty!

So, I had a photo shoot with photographer extraordinaire Suzanne Price this past Friday. More details to come soon, but I found myself very drawn to the orange + gold + cream combo for the shoot. You can view a sneak preview from the shoot here!


Orange You Pretty!

Monday, November 10, 2014

Go Back…. To the Future

Happy Monday!! Today is a BIG day because its JUMP BACK BALL KICKOFF DAY!!! Its no secret that Jump Back Ball is my most favorite party of the winter-- the thought of it really helps get me through the inevitably bitterly cold February, and honestly, helps me keep my New Years diet on track.

This year was such a great theme, I really doubted that PlayhouseSquare Partners could do better, and then they released the theme for 2015….




I mean, are you kidding me?!?!!? The possibilities with this theme are ENDLESS!!!! So, if you want to participate, you will need to get a Jump on getting tickets (pun intended), and the best place to do it is this evening at Hofbrauhaus anytime between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm. Last year, Jump Back sold out in 10 days…. DON'T WAIT. You don't want to be that person trying to find tickets on Facebook and Twitter in February.


Jump Back Ball Ticket Kickoff Pricing:
$130 Partners / $165 Non-Partners
Ticket limits apply



Public: 2 Non-Partners tickets per person
Partners*: 2 Partners tickets and 2 Non-Partners tickets per membership 

Ticket prices go up by $15 + shipping/handling on Tuesday.


And, if you bring a new, unused personal care item to do be donated to Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland you will be entered into a raffle to win:

1. Overnight stay at the Wyndham the night of Jump Back Ball
2. VIP upgrade for yourself and a guest
3. Loge tickets to upcoming performances at PlayhouseSquare

See you this evening!!

Disclosure: I was provided with one ticket to Jump Back Ball to help spread the word about the event. I absolutely ADORE this event, and am delighted to have the opportunity to support it. I thank you for your supporting this blog that allows me to do things like this! As always, all opinions are 100% my own. XO

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Rock the CATWALK (And a Giveaway)

One of the things I love MOST about Cleveland is how easy it is to get involved in the community- from volunteering for various organizations or joining a board, or being a part of a community development group-- the opportunities exist for anyone who wants to give back and get involved. If you don't have the time available to commit to something on a regular schedule, there is always the option to give back merely by attending a FABULOUS, FUN event. Rock the CATWALK is exactly one such event.

Hosted by The Women's Leadership Council of United Way of Greater Cleveland, this event is a fashion show, showcasing next season's hottest fashions from local boutiques and designers. Not only that, but the event also includes cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, and a silent auction with the opportunity to bid on items such as a Vitamix (and we all know how much I LURVE mine), A Gibson guitar, 12x$100 gift cards to Cleveland area restaurants, vacation packages to warmer climes, and the list continues…. And just in case this wasn't enough, it is being held at one of my most FAVORITE spots in Cleveland- the Atrium at Cleveland Museum of Art. If you're interested in being a part of this event, here are the details:

When: Thursday May 1, 2014 at 6:30 pm
Where: Cleveland Museum of Art
How: Tickets available here 

If you would like to take a look at some pictures from last year's event attended by over 450 people, you can do so here.

Now for the REALLY fun part. You could win TWO general admission tickets to the event by tweeting the following:
"I want to win tickets to Rock the CATWALK @UnitedWayCLE via @cleshopaholic http://goo.gl/LBt011 #UnitedForFashion" 

You may tweet once a day for additional entries!

Follow @UnitedWayCLE and leave me a comment saying you did so for one additional entry. Please make sure you leave your contact info (email/twitter handle etc) so I can reach you in the event you are picked as the winner.


Seriously, what could be more fun than giving back with fashion?! Good luck to all who enter!!! Contest ends at midnight March 30th, 2014, with the winner announced March 31st, 2014. 

Disclosure: I am receiving a pair of tickets to attend Rock the CATWALK and blog about the event. I have also received a pair of tickets to giveaway to a reader. As always, all opinions are 100% my own! 

Thursday, September 26, 2013

A Morning at the Western Reserve Historical Society

By the magic of twitter, this past weekend, Lisa and I found ourselves on a tour of The Western Reserve Historical Society(WRHS)! I am ashamed to admit that in almost 10 years of living in Cleveland, this was my first visit. I CANNOT BELIEVE ALL THE AWESOMENESS I HAVE BEEN MISSING!!

From the minute we walked in, my head was literally spinning trying to catch a glimpse of everything on display!



In the lobby of WRHS; GO TRIBE!!! 

Back in the days before I discovered the joys of jewelry, I used to LUUURVE cars. In fact, I was a little bit of a tomboy (shocking, I know!). WRHS has quite the extensive collection of vintage automobiles, and honestly, I wanted to climb inside very one!


Vintage cars are so much bigger than cars today, and yet they seem to be able to fit fewer people! Regardless, the details are breathtaking, and I almost wish that cars were designed with the same attention to detail and less plastic today! 

On the other end of the spectrum, WRHS also has an incredible collection of vintage dollhouses, and miniature displays that give you a sense of what it was like to live in the 1700s and 1800s! 



Can you imagine wearing white wigs and bonnets?

Of course the gardens are beautiful and a perfect location for a wedding, but if you decide to take your kids (or nieces or nephews), there's plenty for them to do too! There's an entire section called the KidZibits Family Education Center that allows kids to dress up and play with all sorts of toys. Even I got into the act, stirring up some fun!!


Lisa and I were primarily there to visit the Dior and More exhibit, and it certainly lived up to my expectations. WRHS has an extensive collection of designed apparel, originally worn by the high society women of Northeast Ohio, and this exhibit only scratches the surface of WRHS' entire collection.




Oh, what I wouldn't give to play dress up in WRHS' archives!! Look at all these fabulous outfits that represent so many decades!! My favorite looks came from the 20s and 60s. 

Did you know that the WRHS actually has two historical homes on its property? 


The Bingham Hanna house above has beautifully ornate ceilings and a MASSIVE fireplace (look at how little Lisa is compared to it!) 

The Hay-McKinney House below has beautifully ornate living rooms, dining rooms and a fully stocked kitchen! It totally reminded me of Downton Abbey! I could totally picture the Dowager Countess having afternoon tea with Cora while Mrs. Patmore and Daisy whip up some goodies down in the kitchen!


Did you also know that you can rent out all of the spaces shown in the two pictures above! I would LURVE to be invited to a fabulous cocktail party or dinner!!

So, if all of this WRHS talk has you wanting to visit, there are two FABULOUS fashion events that should consider attending. On October 4th and 5th, WRHS plays host to Dr. Valerie Steele, Director and Chief Curator at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. 

Her talk on October 4th, titled Fetish: Fashion, Sex & Power explores how choices about fashion relate to sex and power. The talk will be followed by cocktails. I will be attending this event, and I absolutely CANNOT wait!! Tickets for this event are available here

On October 5th, Valerie will be changing gears a little to discuss Chanel and Her Rivals. While I am sadly missing this event, tickets are available here.

What an incredible event, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at such a gem of a location!! I cannot wait to go back!!!

Disclosure: I was offered 1 ticket to October 4th event in exchange for helping spread the word about these fabulous events. As always, all opinions are 100% my own. Seriously, you MUST go visit the Western Reserve Historical Society! I regret all the exhibits I've missed in my 9+ years of ignorance!!! 




Monday, September 16, 2013

CLEshopaholic Eats: Stonetown and TownHall

What a beautiful weekend this was!! The weather was absolutely perfect, and Nick and I were lucky enough to spend a lot of it outdoors.


Clockwise from top left: The awesome sculpture garden at Edgewater, the awesome view of the city from Cove Ave, my relaxing afternoon, Otto exhausted after a vigorous game of soccer.

Saturday night, Nick and I decided to try out Stonetown in the 668 building. We are HUGE fans of their sister restaurant Jezebels Bayou (I recommend the blackened alligator and seafood etouffe), so we were very excited to see what Stonetown had to offer.  


The menu and my blackened catfish with caperberry sauce.

The good news: our food was delicious. The bad news: the service was SOOOOO slow. While the service was very pleasant and polite, I do wish that there was a little sense of urgency in getting us beverages.

Contrast that with TownHall, where we met up with the Harper's for some brunch, day drinking, and of course the Browns.  We took Otto and Clair up for brunch (yay for dog friendly locations!!), and were seated on the patio. As the game started, the manager noticed the boys straining to catch the score on TV, and promptly asked us if we wanted to move to the front patio where we could be outside with the dogs and still watch the game-- my idea of proactive customer service!! As much as I had initial misgivings about TownHall, I have to say that I really really enjoy it! Its probably not my scene on a Friday or Saturday night, but they have a really solid bar food menu, lots of beers on tap, yummy adult limeade, and great customer service!!



Puppy kisses on the patio


Nick and Wes watching the game. This was in the first half. They looked infinitely more annoyed as the game progressed.


Last but not least, I wanted to show you this awesome scarf that Nick got me as a "just because" gift from R/S Cleveland. It is possibly my most favorite scarf ever: perfect length, super super soft, and has a really fun city scene print!! Absolutely perfect for fall!! 


What's your favorite dog friendly eatery in Cleveland?


The 30-day unlimited pass to The Movement Factory giveaway ends tomorrow, so enter here

Friday, September 6, 2013

And All Good Things Come To An End

When it comes to jewelry, I have a few motto's:
Bigger is Better
More is More

That said, I can always appreciate the beauty of a delicate piece: of course there is the option to stack them, but sometimes a single piece of delicate jewelry can convey endless elegance.


The Atlas Pierced Bar Pendant in rose gold
P.S. Orchids don't smell like anything. I did not know that until I actually tried to sniff them.


Sipping on a margarita at Luxe while wearing Atlas Bar Bracelets in sterling silver and rose gold. 

A closer look at those Bar Bracelets. The rose gold version even has tiny diamonds in it!

And with that, as with all good things, my time with my Tiffany & Co. treasures has come to an end. 

A huge thank you to Tiffany & Co. and their PR representatives for allowing my this truly amazing opportunity. Also, a great big thank you to N and my dear friend Melissa for being my photographers. And last, but certainly not least, thank you to YOU, my readers, for joining me on this adventure. I had an absolute BLAST doing it, and I hope you enjoyed reading it!

We'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming next week!! 
XOXOXO

Disclosure: Tiffany & Co. lent me a number of pieces from their 2013 Atlas Collection and asked me to blog about how I would incorporate these pieces in my daily wardrobe. I have received no other compensation other than the ability to wear these pieces for the allocated time period. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.  


Thursday, September 5, 2013

Celebrate EVERY Day with Tiffany & Co

I used to be the kind of person that used to save all my "treasures" for special occasions. Then earlier this year, I read a quote (and I wish I remembered who said it) that essentially advocated (and I'm paraphrasing here): Stop saving your beautiful things for special occasions because LIFE is a special occasion.

In the spirit of this very wise saying, here's me wearing my most FAVORITE Tiffany piece!! It is the Atlas Hinged Bangle in rose gold, and lets just say that if I owned this, I would wear it ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE!!


My dress is the Gemma wrap dress from Banana Republic, shoes from Nine West (discontinued but similar to this). And in keeping with high-lo, the chunky resin necklace is from Francesca's 


As you can see above, I stacked the Atlas bangle with a cuff bracelet from my personal collection. I'm also mixing metals with some rose, gold and silver!! 
Here's a closer look at my new obsession. Isn't she gorgeous?!

So what do you think of my new motto to Celebrate Every Day? Are you inspired to wear some of your "treasures" more frequently?

Disclosure: Tiffany & Co. lent me a number of pieces from their 2013 Atlas Collection and asked me to blog about how I would incorporate these pieces in my daily wardrobe. I have received no other compensation other than the ability to wear these pieces for the allocated time period. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.  



Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Wearing Tiffany To A County Fair

Each Labor Day Weekend, the Geauga County Fairgrounds host The Great Geauga County Fair. While a county fair is not typically my thing, we have a 3-year old nephew who really wanted to see barnyard animals, so off we went. I had two major concerns for the day: (1) What is the appropriate attire for a county fair, and (2) What sort of fried cheese would I want?

Knowing that it was going to be ridiculously hot and humid, and barnyard animals = barnyard animal poop, I decided to keep in casual and comfortable with shorts, a tee, ankle height boots, and of course, jewelry. While a county fair may not be the first place one might expect to see Tiffany jewelry, the beauty of the Tiffany silver jewelry pieces are that they are absolutely casual enough to wear anywhere, including The Great Geauga County Fair!!


The Tiffany Atlas bangle in medium and narrow



The bangles again, with the Atlas lariat in sterling silver



Tiffany would be perfect on a Harley too. 


A closer look at the bangles while I play tug with Clair

As far as the second question of the day: Fried swiss cheese on a stick was definitely the way to go!!

Disclosure: Tiffany & Co. lent me a number of pieces from their 2013 Atlas Collection and asked me to blog about how I would incorporate these pieces in my daily wardrobe. I have received no other compensation other than the ability to wear these pieces for the allocated time period. As always, all opinions are 100% my own. 


Monday, September 2, 2013

The Pinnacle of My Blogging Career

OMG! I HAVE REACHED THE PINNACLE OF MY BLOGGING CAREER!!!!

It is no secret that I'm a lover of sparkly things, particularly jewelry. So, you can only imagine my absolute JOY when I was contacted by representatives from Tiffany & Co. about a collaboration to celebrate the opening of their new store on Chagrin Boulevard



The collaboration is this: Tiffany has lent me pieces from their 2013 Atlas Collection to incorporate into my daily wardrobe. If you haven't seen it before, the Atlas Collection features classic Roman numerals, as shown below- 





So for this entire week, you will see posts of me wearing these incredible pieces of jewelry along with my normal wardrobe! CUE THE SQUEALING!!




Disclosure: Tiffany & Co. lent me a number of pieces from their 2013 Atlas Collection and asked me to blog about how I would incorporate these pieces in my daily wardrobe. I have received no other compensation other than the ability to wear these pieces for the allocated time period. As always, all opinions are 100% my own. 

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Seeing The World Through Polarized Lenses

This year, N got me a pair polarized wayfarers for my birthday. I used to be the kind of person who always misplaced my cheapie sunglasses, until I realized it might have been a chicken-and-the-egg situation. Maybe I was losing them because they were under $20!

In any case, I've had these new sunnies about a month, and I absolutely LLUUURRVVEEE them! Not only are they an absolutely classic style that will NEVER go out of fashion, they really cut down on glare. Its odd, but instead of just making everything darker, they almost seem to pick up the ambient light and then gently tint everything. SO worth the premium for polarized!!!


Natural daylight vs. polarized

Now if only we had more days of abundant sunshine so I could REALLY get some good use out of them!! 

Thursday, March 7, 2013

So Ready for Spring...

Its a good thing that we're finally getting a break in the weather this weekend because Spring is definitely on my mind.  And while I'm likely to never embrace floral pants, I am certainly not opposed to a floral accent, or even a dress.....



Is it Spring yet?!?!?!??!?!?!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, February 28, 2013

All Pinned Up

I've been trying to grow my hair out for a few years, and I'm starting to get a little restless. I've done the bangs, no bangs, highlights, and I'm currently rocking ombre. While I would love to experiment with updos, quite frankly, I have no updo skills. Seriously. I can eff up a sock bun. Lucky for me, a few months ago, I ran into a hairstyle so simple, even I can do it....






Bobby pins!!!!  Seriously, how much easier can this get?!?! For a more dramatic look, just line up a few of them in a row! Best of all, this past weekend, I found these at Target!



 How awesome are these?! Adorable, completely on trend for spring with the bright colors, and best of all each set was under $5!!!!