13 Wednesday Sep 2017
Posted in what's ringin' our belle
Tags
amazon prime, j.crew, refinery 29, shopbop, the dresslyn, yop
Avoid this Amazon Prime scam…
This site tasted Shark Tank foods and here are the results…
Via Refinery29
Crushing on this new pant from J.Crew…
Via J.Crew
A little design inspiration…
Really need to order this top…
Via Shopbop
We hope they ring your belle too!!
a&a
01 Tuesday Nov 2016
Posted in what's ringin' our belle
Tags
amazon, apartmenttherapy, careergirldailysaks, Citizens of Humanity, crossbody, curtain tips, Food52, henegy tips, j.crew, nordstrom, teesbytina, timpano, turtleneck, white jeans
This week’s belle-ringers…
photo via pinterest
A little decorating wisdom…
Curtain tips from Apartment Therapy (photo via Pinterest)
How to have a high energy day….great advice!
Via Oh happy day…how about a giant cream sandwich for dessert??
Via Saks…Yes belles, you can wear white jeans after Labor Day…
Just add a turtleneck!
Via Nordstrom…How about the perfect cross body?
Well, ring my belle!!
a&a
06 Friday Nov 2015
Posted in fashion forward
Tags
all-weather boot, amazon, animal print, Aquatalia, ballet flat, basic pump, booties, ChristianLouboutin, espadrilles, evening shoe, Gucci, Hunter, indispensible shoes, ivanka Trump, j.crew, Jimmy Choo, Muse Shoe Studio, must-have, nordstrom, pelle Moda, Rag and Bone, rain boot, Sam Edelman, sandal, shoe, Tory Burch, Vanelli, wellie
We’ve been helping a dear belle-friend get her closet in order after three moves and three years of being “unsettled” (poor dear). In the process, we realized that every belle could be reminded of what we deem to be the shoe collection top ten. In other words…the ten pairs of shoes that we couldn’t live without.
If you have ’em all, you’re a savvy belle (or a shoe hoarder…takes one to know one…just sayin’). If you don’t have ’em, we’ve given you some options so that you can fill those holes, pronto!
We started at our favorite local shoe haunt, Muse Shoe Studio, with some picks to fill every belle’s needs…and we’ve added some online options for our far-flung friends…
1. A simple black pump
Above is an Ivanka Trump design…classic and affordable…available at Muse and Amazon.
And this Christian Louboutin “simple pump” is a high-end no-brainier (its price-per-wear will make it a bargain!) Find it HERE.
2. A nude heel
A nude shoe goes with virtually everything…this Corso Como (above) from Muse fits the bill. Also available here.
And the Louboutin “simple pump” also comes in nude…just sayin’ ( at Nordstrom)
3. An evening heel
Above…this metallic, strappy Pelle Moda from Muse adds a bit of bling to your festivities.
And the Jimmy Choo “Lang” (find it HERE) is another great (albeit more pricey) choice
4. A fun print
From Muse, this Sam Edelman combines two trends that are on-point now…and won’t be “out” anytime soon…animal print and the pointy-toe flat. You can also order it from Amazon.
and we have been long-time fans of the calf-hair, animal-print “Elsie” pump from J Crew. Pretty indispensable in our book!
5. A ballet flat
The quintessential staple for any stylish belle, this Vanelli (above) from Muse combines a bit of brown with the basic black for extra versatility .
We are quite partial to this little beauty as well….may even have to get it in all three colors!! Order here now for 20%off!!
6. A sneaker/espadrille.
This fashionable flat from Sam Edelman will keep you chic and comfortable. Stop in for a pair at Muse… Or you can order here.
7. Booties/boots
Muse has an incredible selection in this category! Wish we could include them all! This basic bootie combines that of-the-moment shape with a comfortable heel-height and classic black. You can also find it here.
And we’ve touted the comfort and style of Rag and Bone booties before…but we are always willing to get preachy…the “Margot” at Nordstrom won’t let you down.
8. A sleek, all-weather street boot
We’ve sung the praises of Aquatalia boots before, belles…and we will do it again and again! This “Gael” all-weather riding boot will be a staple till the cows come home! (We’ve been known to wear ours every…single…day while on trips to NYC, Paris, Chicago…). Absolute perfection!
9. A pair of Wellies/rain boots
For walking the pups in style…or just surviving in this rain-soaked home we used to call the “sunny (hot, muggy) South”, this Sam Edelman bootie from Muse will keep you dry and happy. You can also order it here.
And the “Original Tall” Hunter boot ( find it here) is a classic…and perfect for entertaining yourself by jumping in puddles (we have experience 😉
10. A neutral sandal
Tory Burch offers great options each year. The Kieran is a favorite of the belles.
And this Gucci “Marmont” stunner…of a sandal will ring belles for years to come
Inventory time, belles!! Let us know if you have any additions. Wouldn’t want to miss out!
a&a
25 Wednesday Mar 2015
Posted in fashion forward, what's ringin' our belle
Tags
accessories, amazon, Clare V, Easter, Gap, gifts, Huffy, j.crew, Michael Kors, nordstrom, Rush Wilson, Southern Tide, Tory Burch, Urbanears, Zazzle
We are back, belles, with more eggs-ellent gift ideas…this time with a focus on accessories and the fellas in our lives (can’t forget the poor dears!).  Get ready to do some clickin’ and buyin’!
For the “techie” in your life…or really pretty much anyone over the age of 10 with opposable thumbs…a phone accessory or two would be sure to please. Put a spring-y twist on it and you have yourself a perfect little Easter treat…
This sweet little beauty is from Zazzle…and they have like a thousand-plus more options! Good luck with that decision!
And because small mobile accessories tend to “grow legs” and disappear, just about anyone would be happy seeing one or two of these amongst the jelly beans:
Find these at Urbanears
Next, remember this post on tassels? Well, how about a fun, Easter-egg-colored tassel from Clare V. to add a little sass to a spring bag?…
Perfect to nestle down in the teen-belle’s basket with all that chocolate…and peeps, of course!
And any belle would love to have this little beauty on her arm…
…doesn’t the pink just scream spring? It’s from Tory Burch (surprise)…available at Nordstrom
Or how about this on the wrist…
…the Michael Kors Golden Runway watch with a pink dial! We found it on Amazon at an awesome price! Click and see for yourself!
Now, for the fellas…we kinda like the idea of sprucing up his wardrobe with some spring-y options…and swimsuits are always in order this time of year!
For the little crowd, how about these Island Board Shorts from Gap…
or maybe this preppy little option from j crew…
And to dress him up a bit, we are loving this big-boy look…
…the Secret Wash gingham shirt, also from j crew comes in every color of the rainbow! Belles just love options!!
Now for the big fellas…maybe a little spring-y wardrobe addition or two…
From Southern Tide’s “Easter Shop”…and available for all you local belles at our fave men’s store, Rush Wilson…
…how about a snazzy shirt (or two)
…or a “not-your-everyday-ho-hum” tie? He will thank you when the ladies can’t take their eyes off!
And finally…we saved the absolute best accessory for last, belles…this might be a little something we “spring” for just for ourselves…
To. Die. For. Available at Amazon, this is the ultimate mode of transport for any belle ready to celebrate spring in style!!
Go for it, belles! Â Times-a-wastin’!
a&a
19 Thursday Mar 2015
Posted in fashion forward, what's ringin' our belle
Tags
accessories, banana republic, Clare V, etsy, food 52, Henri Bendel, j.crew, Revolve Clothing, shoes, shopbop, tassels, Tory Burch, wraps
Fringe has been a big trend, but we think tassels may even be bigger…and not for nothin’ either because they can be a lot easier to carry off without looking like you’re trying to relive the 70’s!
A few of our favorites…
In the kicks department:
Thank you j.crew! And, of course, for you girls who are afraid of heights, j.crew has a flat version:
Comfy and stylish…a win-win!
Here’s a little beauty that looks way more expensive that it is, making it virtually irresistible. From Nordstrom…
It’s no secret…we belles do love to make a statement with a shoe, and this one from shopbop surely fits the bill…and then some!
And we couldn’t resist throwing out an option for the baby belles, also from j.crew!
Movin’ on, belles…because we love a good pocketbook and tassels add just the right amount of sass…
This one from Rebecca Minkoff shows that this smart-cookie designer knows her way around a purse!
And we can’t leave Tory out! This cross-body from Tory Burch is cross-generational…meaning all the women in the family will be having hissy fits over this one.
And it wouldn’t be right to ignore the inside of the purse, now would it???
From Banana Republic…
. Awesome-ness…just sayin’.
Or how about this monogrammed little beauty (belles always love a monogram)!! Get it at Clare V…
And then there is always a phone case, ’cause the phone could use a little fashion boost, too! From Henri Bendel:
And our ears could always stand a little extra “something-something”. These two from shopbop are the perfect way to add a little pizzazz to a classic ensemble…
And, belles…bathing suit season is just around the corner, so how about adding a touch of whimsy to your cover ups???
A pareo from Revolve Clothing…
Another festive option to frolic in, also from revolveclothing
And let’s not forget that tassels can upgrade a patio, porch or party in no time flat.
Island love from etsy:
And another glorious accessory for zee home or fete from food 52:
So, belles…obviously, tassels aren’t just for loafers anymore!
Tassel on belles!
a&a
26 Thursday Feb 2015
Posted in fashion forward
Tags
altazurra, bloomingdales, fashion, forward.com, Fringe, Intermix, j.crew, les nouvelles, meli melo, neimam marcus, Net a porter, nordstrom, revolveclothing.com, shopbop, theory, ysl, zara
Fringe…it’s everywhere! You can go whole-hog, or just test the waters. But, for heavens sake, do something with this fashion moment! It’s fun, flirty, and who doesn’t want a little fringe or two with benefits??
Here are a few of our favorites from the dramatic to the conservative…a lil something for everyone. So don’t be too shy, live on the fringe!
How about a jacket or two?
budget-friendly and on-trend…from Revolve Clothing
This one is an investment…just sayin’. From Forward
This one is a must-have…it practically screamed at us from the pages of the Neiman Marcus catalog.  So we hollared right back with our credit card when we saw this lux for less…a real bargain!
Skirts are another great way to show off this trend…
The two below are from Intermix…
This suede will put a lil shimmy in your step!!
Tough and feminine
A belle loves to sashay!!
Next up…tops! The first is Theory and the second is J Crew…love!!
Gimme gimme gimme!!
Every belle can rock this look!!!!
If you want to kill two birds with one stone, (we just adore efficiency!) you can order both from Net-A-Porter.
Of course, it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t throw in a shoe or two. I mean, c’mon!! Â How about this beauty with a touch of fringe by Altazurra…
find them at Neiman Marcus
Or this next pair from Zara…
We die…from complete adoration!
And these from Les Nouvelles…
All for the well-heeled belle!
And sporting a pocketbook is a great way to try fringe without jumping right into the deep end.  Sometimes a belle likes to test the waters a bit…
Check out the Tallulah Fringe Messenger bag from ShopBop…
Perfection!!
and this boho-chic hobo from Urban Outfitters…
Well-priced, on-trend, and a pop of color…a belle’s dream!
And if this is all just too much to take in, at least try our favorite lash enhancer to really play up that “eye fringe”. You do know how to bat your eyelashes, don’t you?? Available at Nordstrom…
Fringe for everyday
BFF=belles for fringe
a&a
10 Friday Oct 2014
Posted in fashion forward, friday friend 1-1
Belles come in all shapes and sizes, but we all still want to be on-trend in the fashion department. Given that one of us is tall and the other petite, we figured we would be the perfect belles to share our favorite white shirt options for layering (you’ll need one or both of these with that new leather jacket we mentioned yesterday…just sayin’)
A tall belle often struggles with layering as tops just aren’t long enough…and if you get ’em long enough, then they look like your chuffy (part chubby, part puffy) boyfriend’s…and that, ladies, ain’t the least bit flattering. But this season, the dears at J. Crew have come to our aid. The Endless Shirt is the solution! Longer in length, slimmer in silhouette, it’s the perfect layering white shirt. Not to mention it provides a nice proportion to anyone who is short-waisted.
For our more petite belle-friends, we have you covered as well! Sometimes the long shirt, collar, and cuffed sleeves can make a petite belle look like she’s playing dress-up (fun…but hardly practical) and just plain overwhelmed. Well…not to fret…
The “drape hem” tank from Vince comes in white and black…super comfy and excellent for layering year-round…hits at the bottom of the hip on petite belle…
Get busy with the buying, belles. That leather jacket needs some wearin’!
a&a
22 Friday Aug 2014
Posted in fashion forward, friday friend 1-1
Tags
Let’s all agree that the legs just look better in heels…and sometimes we are willing to pay the price for beauty with tender tootsies and sore soles….but thanks to the kitten heel trend, we don’t need to weep for beauty anymore!!
We can be practical and stylish with gazelle-like gams without getting cranky….and no one wants to cross a cranky belle, just sayin’! So without further ado, let us introduce you to the Dulci kitten heel from j Crew
at $345, they are a bit of an investment…but the price-per-wear will make them totally worth it (a belle can always justify a shoe purchase…just sayin’)!
But…if the fall shoe budget doesn’t quite include this wild little kitten, the Dulci comes in a couple of other belle-worthy options…
How about the “bronzed brown”…
or the “deep violet”…
at a more palatable $198, these little kitties just might be calling your name!!
Time for some decision-making, belles!
a&a
05 Thursday Jun 2014
Posted in fashion forward, what's ringin' our belle
Jumpsuits…another fashion trend, and a good one at that. Like a dress, once on, there is little to consider save for a few (or more) accessories! A jumpsuit is this seasons’s answer to the LBD…only cooler! Ideal for travel as it can be dressed up or down, layered or worn on its own, the jumpsuit adds an air of easy chic .
The jumpsuit can be sleek and sophisticated, cool and casual, boho flair, tastefully trendy, and much, much more. Bonus…it’s a blank canvas for creative accessorizing! Layer piles of necklaces or one statement necklace, have an arm party, scarf it, belt it, add a cardi…or how about a cool blazer?? The options are limitless and it’s a great opportunity to experiment!! C’mon y’all, get those creative juices flowing!!
Of course we’ve picked a couple to show you. The one that both of us purchased and a third belle in the crew had to have as well is by Drew and available at The Copper Penny.
The necklace is fromJ. Crew and was 25% off!! Belles love a statement necklace that’s a bargain to boot!!
Now, as we had a little trouble finding the Drew jumpsuit on line we found a similar one at Topshop.
And a great, budget-friendly version is this one from Express.
This one gives you a little more coverage on the top and we adore the sporty “track suit” edginess on the bottom. That tassel necklace? Another great purchase from J.Crew at 25% off. We will be sporting this one everyday.
Now lest you think we are boring, we decided to throw a printed jumpsuit into the mix…with ruffles…divine we tell you. This one from our local boutique of choice Savvy. And their website is Savvygreenville.com.
With the necklaces from Furla and Kenneth Jay Lane, this jumpsuit just pops.
We love not thinking too hard when we don’t have to, and the jumpsuit sure takes care of a lot of the thinking for us.
So get a jump start on the jumpsuit action before they’re all gone. You’ll be glad you did!
a&a
08 Thursday May 2014
Posted in fashion forward, what's ringin' our belle
We love shoes…all shoes…can’t have too many…and we are thrilled to pieces about this season’s espadrille trend! They come in all shapes and price points, and color and pattern choices are vast. While we love the flat version for the comfy casual chic factor, we swoon for the dressier versions because they appeal to our passion for contrast and a touch of whimsy.
Here’s a sampling …which one catches your eyes??
These animal print ‘drilles are a neutral (animal print is our favorite neutral!). They go with just about everything.
These can be found at Shopbop. They are by Steven . ‘Nuff said.
We actually own a pair of these darlings…love the lace-up factor…and you can get them at Soludos.
We love a feminine touch…belles are girls after all…and lace is another trend that we can fully embrace! Why not sport these with your boyfriend jeans? A touch of tomboy and a dash of girly-girl adds up to the perfect summer look.
These Tory Burch are available at Shopbop but they are running out of sizes so you better get crackin’ !
And of course to take it up another notch we have a dreamy pair…but be forewarned they might break the piggy bank…but worth it…maybe…just sayin’….
Scrumptious . By Valentino at Nordstrom .
Sometimes an LBE (lil’ black espadrille) is what we are pining for and these are just what the doctor ordered.
From Topshop and available at Nordstrom . Love the leather, canvas and raffia textures!!
And where would we be without J.Crew? We belles often get a hankering for a J. Crew fix and these absolutely satisfied the craving.
Wear them with pants, jeans, shorts, skirts, sundresses. Can’t. Not. Wear. So there. Get them here J. Crew.
Belles love adornment…aka em”belle”ishments … And these fit the bill….and our feet!
From Kate Spade and you can get yourself a pair at Saks.
And lest you think we’d forget…you can always just put a bow on it! These will bowl you over….tee hee…
These beauties are from Gucci and you can get them at Nordstrom .
So there you have it…a selection that is beyond….
a&a
the RARE belle 