Happy Wednesday! Today I've teamed up with athleisure brand Peony to highlight some of their newest clothing. The name of the line immediately caught my attention because peonies are my favorite flower! :) My closet is bursting at the seams, but one category I don't own enough of is workout/athleisure clothes. I own a few pairs of leggings, yoga pants, some tank tops and t-shirts, but all of them are super basic and have almost zero style to them. That's why I was so excited when Peony sent me some pieces from their fashion-forward & feminine yet totally comfortable and practical athleisure line - no boring leggings or tees here! Today I'm sharing three outfits I put together featuring my favorite pieces - let me know which look you like best in the comments below! Oh, and don't forget to take $25 off your purchase of $150 or more using my discount code AMYBRECKENRIDGE25.
I shot this first outfit at Purgatory Chasm in Central MA where my mum and I went for a nice hike last weekend. I paired the paisley leggings with the black asymmetrical tee, both of which are super soft, for a comfortable yet unique workout look. I have to say that it felt weird putting on a pair of printed leggings for the first time, but it was fun to change things up and add some pizzazz to my regular workout clothes!
We've having a blizzard up here in Boston, so I'm snowed in today and working from home! I couldn't think of a more perfect time to share some of the cozy images I've been saving on Pinterest. For those of you in the Northeast, how's the weather where you are today?
PS: Follow me on Instagram for an exclusive winter warm up giveaway, open now through tomorrow night!
As most of you probably know by now, I'm on the Board of Directors for the Miss Boston organization, which is a preliminary pageant for Miss America. The Miss Universe pageant was on last night, and even though it's part of Donald Trump's Miss USA organization which is not affiliated with Miss America, it doesn't mean I don't love to watch and take in all of the amazing dresses and costumes! Today I'm sharing my favorite National Costume looks as well as my favorite evening gowns. Did you watch the pageant? What do you think of my favorite looks?
National Costumes
Keep in mind that these are costumes meant solely for the stage, so they are supposed to be over the top and totally unique!
Miss Canada is clearly a hockey fan and a girl after my own heart. Is this costume kind of ridiculous? Yup. Do I absolutely love everything about it? Yup. It's not too often you see hockey and fashion together, so naturally this had to make my list.
Miss Argentina's costume was one you couldn't overlook! With so many feathers, crystals and rhinestones, it was ethereal and sparkly.
Miss France was obviously a favorite of mine. Love the beret, lace, beading and ribbon tied at the waist. It was the chicest costume out there for sure, but who would expect any less from the French?
I hope you all had a great weekend! I've been dying to get a cape for the fall and winter months, and I haven't pulled the trigger on buying one yet. I love that they make such a chic statement but they're easy to style with jeans and boots. There are so many cute options out there at all different price points, so I've put together a shopping list of my 12 current favorites. Let me know which one you like best and if you're as obsessed with the cape trend as I am in the comments below!
I don't know about you, but I'm on a pretty tight budget these days, so when it comes to shopping I'm trying to spend as little as possible! Fall is the time of year to layer and have fun with coats, and I've been pleasantly surprised by all of the affordable coat options that are available right now. I've put together a shopping list with 12 of my favorites of all different lengths, shapes, colors, patterns and fabrics. Best of all, each one costs less than $200! Let me know which is your favorite in the comments below!
Ever since I saw the Lou & Grey table at the rewardStyle NYFW party last month, I've been totally obsessed with their pieces. Laid-back but put together, comfortable yet chic, the new Lou & Grey line from Loft is right up my alley for the fall. At first glance it may seem super basic, but I can promise you that it's anything but boring!
There are lots of different textures and unique details that are incorporated into the pieces and almost every piece can be dressed up or down. I love feeling warm and cozy in the fall, but that doesn't mean I want to look sloppy or lazy - Lou & Grey has me covered on all fronts! Plus, the entire line is very reasonably priced and Loft always has sales going on, so I don't have to break the bank to pick up a few pieces I love.
my favorite sweater from the Lou & Grey table
I've put together a little lookbook of my favorite Lou & Grey pieces - click through to see it and let me know which ones are your favorites in the comments below.
I'm super excited about today's giveaway and I think you will be too! Sister brands Treesje & Joelle Hawkens were kind enough to send me two of their handbags: one to keep and one to give away. The bag I kept is a studded black leather bag that I'll be featuring in a few upcoming outfit photos, but the bag I'm giving away might be more fun!
It's a foldover leather clutch featuring a super shiny gunmetal silver snakeskin print that's sure to catch everyone's eye! Valued at just under $200, it's perfect for a night out on the town or with jeans and a white T and will definitely become a staple in your wardrobe. It's roomy enough to fit your wallet, phone, keys, and lots of makeup - it's the perfect sized clutch!
Although I chopped my hair off over a month ago now, I'm still struggling with finding new ways to style it so it doesn't look the same every day. I've been searching Pinterest for medium length hairstyle inspiration and have come up with a few attainable ideas that I'm hoping to try out as I continue to get used to my shorter 'do. Which style do you like best? If you have any ideas on new styles I should try, please leave them for me in the comments below!
Happy Monday and welcome to summer! :) I hope you all had a great weekend filled with sunshine. I wanted to share some of my Instagram photos to let you know what I've been up to lately.
warm weather calls for white pants and peonies!
I went to see Boston Ballet's performance of Jewels and it was fantastic!
Last Thursday, I was lucky enough to help host a fun blogger event at the Lululemon store on Newbury Street in Boston to preview their new 'Get It On' collection! This city chic collection is perfect for the girl on the go who enjoys the performance and feel of Lulu's regular workout clothes but wants a bit of added style.
The collection is extremely limited and only available in 4 stores in the US, including the Newbury Street store, so we were very lucky to be able to come in and try everything on!
I'm really excited to be sharing the new website What Goes With This? with you all today! WGWT is a fashion community for asking and giving style advice. Members ask for outfit ideas and the community gives product suggestions that link directly to stores where they can buy them. When founder Mona reached out to me and asked if I'd be interested in joining her new site as a style influencer, I jumped at the chance! I'm no Olivia Palermo when it comes to styling, but I love putting together outfits and giving shopping suggestions to my friends, so why not do so for other ladies out there who are looking for some advice as well? It's actually been kind of addicting for me - I really enjoy answering questions and styling outfits for the WGWT users!
Here are some of the looks I've styled on WGWT...
Jessica wrote: "Just picked up this amazing blush tulle skirt - I've paired it with a striped tank, a simple white tee and a knit sweater - any other fun options?!"
I responded with the following: "Tulle skirts are my favorite!! I've been pairing mine with floral and patterned blouses in addition to stripes & simple tops. Here are some of my picks!" Jessica is able to look at my recommendations by clicking on each top which will bring her to right to the website where she can get more details and have the option to purchase.
I've mentioned before on the blog how I have a love affair with Chloe ballet flats. I've been lusting over their ankle strap ballerinas for over a year now, and as much as I LOVE Chloe, I just couldn't bring myself to spend $485 on them. Luckily, I found the most amazing steal at DSW for just $60! They are nearly identical in style and didn't break the bank, so I'm really glad I went with them. :) Sometimes it feels good to save money, doesn't it??
Do you ladies ever set personal style goals for yourself to avoid getting stuck in a fashion rut? This spring and summer, my goal is to wear more bright colors and more prints since I tend to wear a lot of neutrals and pastels, and the majority of prints in my closet are polka dots, stripes and florals. When I happened upon Pepper Mayo, an adorable online boutique out of Australia, I knew my goals could be easily achieved. :) They have tons and tons of great dresses, skirts and tops in fun prints and colors, and they ship to the US! The prices in USD are really fair (I would say similar to Mango) and it's taking all of my willpower not to buy every single dress on my wishlist below. What do you think of my Pepper Mayo picks? Have you heard of this cute online shop before?
I got to meet Tuna on his tour stop in Boston! he was so adorable and the proceeds of the meet & greet benefitted the Animal Rescue League of Boston where I adopted Phoebe :)
I'm excited to be partnering with Long Elegant Legs today for a great Mother's Day Giveaway! LEL is the authority on clothing for tall women, and even though I'm just 5'4" and don't quite qualify as tall, my younger sister Jill is 6' and I know how hard she struggles to find proper fitting clothing! It makes me happy to spread the word about LEL for all the tall girls out there who face the same shopping challenges. :)
You don't need to be tall to enter the giveaway, and neither does your mum! Winners will receive a box canvas image, expertly printed from a digital photo of your choosing and a gift they can use to treat themselves – tall ladies will no doubt be interested in a $100 LEL gift card, or any TWO items from the website. Alternatively, they're offering a $100 American Express gift card which can be used for any purpose!
Summer is just around the corner, and due to some recent health issues, I haven't been able to hit the gym as much as I'd like to get bikini ready. Instead of mentally beating myself up about it, I'm going to ease myself in to my workout routine to get back on track so I can feel great inside and out for the summer! For me, exercise isn't just about making my body look good - it helps me feel happier and healthier as well. I was looking through my Pinterest boards and decided to pull together some beach body inspiration for all shapes and sizes, proving that whether you're a size 0 or a size 16, as long as you feel great about yourself you'll look fantastic as well! :)
I've been a shoe buying kick lately...I don't know if it's because I'm excited for spring weather and sick of wearing boots, but I'm constantly window shopping and browsing online for new affordable shoes to add to my wardrobe! I noticed that Zara has some great new shoes available for the spring and put together a shopping list of my nine favorite pairs. What do you think of my picks - which is your favorite?
Mother's Day is coming up next Sunday, May 11th - do you know what you're buying your mum yet? I've put together a great list with gift ideas for mums with all tastes, and almost all the gifts are under $100. Let me know what you think of my ideas in the comments below!
I had a favorite LWD once. I bought it at Forever 21 for less than $30 and I wore it all the time because it was so versatile. It was crochet lace, had cap sleeves, a scoop neck, was cinched at the waist and wasn't too short or too long. I could wear it with flats or dress it up with heels, throw a colored blazer or cardigan over it, decorate it with a statement necklace or big drop earrings - it was perfect for all occasions. And then, one night at the end of last summer, I met a certain NHL player who shall not be named and he spilled red wine all over my dress when he was sitting next to me in a bar. I've never been able to get the stain out and to this day I haven't found a LWD I like as much as that one. So, I decided to do some searching and see if I could find a new LWD for me that isn't too pricey. Which do you think I should choose?
Lately I've been re-watching all of the Sex and the City episodes and remembering how much I love Carrie's style on the show. She has inspired my personal style ever since the show started and still does! I tend to prefer her more feminine outfits {surprise, surprise!} and I've rounded up some of my favorites here today. Which Carrie outfit is your favorite? Was she your SATC fashion icon, or did you prefer someone else's style?
