Have you ever had a handbag that stopped you while in your stiletto heels?
The Florentine Toscana Front Pocket Satchel stopped me, literally.
I had said before that I was going to not get another handbag for a little while because I am focusing on saving and achieving that nest egg.
While at work and in a public area of the building, I had walked by a lady standing at a counter when I noticed her Dooney and Bourke handbag. Being a Dooney fan, I stopped and said to her that I really liked her bag. She turns to me and says, “Oh you mean my Dooney?!?” I said, “Yes, the strap is really different.” She told me that was one of the reasons that she purchased the Florentine Toscana. I knew by seeing the bag in person I had to add that bag to my wishlist.
Designer notes from the Dooney and Bourke website:
“Luxurious Italian leather and signature Dooney design elements combine for a collection that is truly exceptional. Inspired by one of Dooney & Bourke’s original styles, the Front Pocket Satchel speaks to our legacy of crafting and designing timeless, iconic shapes and features a variety of carrying options.”
The bag on the Dooney and Bourke site retails for $568.
Would you believe that this bag requires no creams, lotions or leather cleaners? To take care of the bag, all you need is a cloth.
The bag is soft but durable, sturdy but elegant. I received this bag as a Christmas gift and I must say it’s the gift that keeps on giving. This is an all-season handbag that has become a work horse in my wardrobe closest. I gave a full review of the handbag on my Youtube Channel.
I styled the handbag for an updated chic look. It is very classy with town and country vibes.
It’s my birthday month, the official day is May 11th. However I celebrate the whole month. I wanted to give you the details on what my hubby surprised me with while we were on vacation. He surprised me with a Gucci Women’s 39″ Swiss Made Quartz Leather Watch Necklace with sleeve. He would give me a gift each day of the trip. I had been looking at this necklace for a while; but was ruling it out because of the price. Little did I know that my husband was secretly doing some research to get it for me at a great deal.
When I first saw the watch being offered on Evine last year, I knew I wanted to add it to my watch collection. I liked that it was a leather necklace and not a traditional time piece that you wear on your wrist. It is a unique piece that you don’t see everyday. You can tie the leather cord at any length that you want. It can be long or it can be short. The sleeve can be pulled upward to reveal the timepiece; or you can wear it down and covering it. It is an understated couture piece. The Gucci logo is to the black of the sleeve. You would have no idea that it was Gucci unless you saw the back or you were already familiar with the piece. It is a piece that I will treasure for the years to come. It is, no pun intended, timeless.
Who says time has to be always at your wrist? Pretty limiting if you ask me. Gucci decided to break the rules with this design, moving the timepiece from your wrist to your neck! This 1932 timepiece is as fashionable as it is useful hanging from a 39” leather cord. Tied off at the end, it’s simple to undo so you can find a length that’s perfect for you!Follow the cord down and you’ll find a soft leather sleeve featuring “G. Gucci” and the year the brand began – 1921. I know, a watch called 1932 that’s been labeled 1921? Just another way Gucci side-steps your expectations. Speaking of the unexpected, slide the sleeve up to reveal a stylishly simple square leather watch case. Sporting a not-at-all complicated dial featuring stick hour markers and matching hands, it’s a nice and clean read every time. A leather tassel swishes below for some added flair that’s sure to garner attention.
More details about the necklace, from EVINE.com
Movement: Quartz
Movement Country of Origin: Switzerland
Case Measurements: 25mm
Thickness: 7.5mm
Bezel: Fixed
Crystal: Mineral
Crown: Push/Pull
Necklace: Leather
Necklace Measurements: 39″ L x 5mm W
Water Resistance: 3 ATM – 30 meters – 100 feet
Weight: 1.5 oz
Watch Country of Origin: Switzerland
Additional Information: Comes in Gucci watch box with warranty. Cord can be re-tied.
I styled the Gucci watch necklace with a Dujour Denim ruffled jacket, black short sleeve modal top, floral pants by Denim and Company for QVC, and red Jambu shoes. My Handbag is by Patricia Nash. My eyeglasses are by OTTICA.com.
Spring has Sprung, but it still feels like winter here in the Show-Me State. No humidity right now and temps have been in the 20s and low 30s in the morning hours. I work near the park and I see runners wearing only bra tanks and short shorts and it is only 32 degree temperatures. I also see people wearing no jackets or coats and it is 29 degrees! Maybe they they are cold tolerant.
The weather has been all over the place, so I find myself dressing differently every day. I cannot come out wearing next to nothing or only a light jacket. I still want to dress warmly; but look colorful like its spring. In this picture below, the temperature peaked out at almost 60 degrees, but the morning started out at only 32.This Michael Kors dress came from Macys. I bought it when my hubby and I were in San Francisco a few years ago. The cotton/spandex fabric stretches and is very comfortable. There are silver metal zippers in the from and in the center back. I layered the dress here with a pink cardigan sweater. Since it was quite cold, I wore tights and my Marc Fisher knee-high boots. My handbag is the Dooney and Bourke Florentine Toscana Leather Satchel that my hubby bought me for Christmas last year.
Jtwisdom striped dress
And what was great about this outfit is that the dress is so versatile that if i take off the sweater it can be worn as a jumper. The dress flares out into A-line and is very slimming. The lines in the dress go horizontal the side stripes really cinch in the waist. The look is still bright and youthful without looking to trendy.
Jumper look
Jewelry
If I am not wearing jewelry, it feels like something is missing. In this outfit, I am wearing a gold-clad Lire bracelet that I purchased on clearance from QVC. The Lire bracelet is still available for only $49.98, you can watch the video presentation here.
Lire Bracelet
As a stylist, I can say that just because it is spring, it really depends where in the world you are located to see how you should dress. I know most people in my area want it to be hot; but I am actually enjoying the cool weather and finding different ways of making my winter attire colorful and feeling like spring.
It was 72 degree on Thursday and but I still feel that I have to wear a jacket, sweater or both. It is not officially springtime yet; and yet even in the spring, it still can be cold. At the local park I have seen people wearing all kinds of attire; from shorts to tank tops. It is still chilly out there. I just don’t know what to say about that.
At work, I never know what the temperature may be. It can be cold in one office and more mild in another room, all at the same time. I need to be dressed for the temperature changes, so I dress in layers.
I really like a modern turtleneck that is not bulky. It looks smooth underneath sweaters and jackets. Macy’s is my go-to place to for these turtlenecks because they have such a wide array of color. To add a pop of color to the turtleneck I chose my pink cashmere cable knit sweater that is also not bulky. However, cashmere is a natural fiber that will keep you warm. I find that most of my cashmere is vintage because it is hard to know where the cashmere is sourced from and if it’s sustainable. I saw an article on Fashionista,“Three Ecofriendly Cashmere Labels to Watch.” The article highlights three eco-friendly companies, including White and Warren who reclaim cashmere by going through the recycling process of unworn cashmere. There is no governing board over what is sustainable, so there is still more work to do. All cashmere is not created equal. Take a look at this other article from Fashionista, “How truly ‘Responsible’ is your Responsible Cashmere”.
JT Style FIle
Vintage cable knit cashmere sweater: Macy’s
Turtleneck: Macy’s
Skirt leggings (one Piece): Legacy
Tights: I have had for a couple of years
Boots: Clarks
Handbag: Dooney and Bourke
Spring is almost here and the days have begun to get much brighter and less bitter than the past few months. It is the time that those massive coats go back in the wardrobe and we start to brave showing a bit of wrist once again.
One of the most fun seasons in the year to dress for is the spring because it is all about bright colours and floral patterns. There are thousands of items to choose from and this can make it almost impossible to choose that ideal outfit for the day.
JTwisdom
Go For Color Gone is the season for white, red and black… spring is about bursts of plenty of colour and happiness. Spring is the season where plants and flowers come back to life and this reflects in the fashion trends we see throughout. Bright accents of colors like pink, yellow and blue can work amazingly with skinny jeans and boots, and if it is warm enough a tea dress is ideal. Pastel colours like mint and peach are also popular at this time of year, and you can find them used frequently in cardigans and t shirts.
Don’t Forget Neutrals Due to all of the colour you are about to throw into your wardrobe, it is important to also have some neutral clothing pieces to work with and Pair alongside the bright colours. A simple pair of white or grey jeans, a white or black t shirt, even a pair of grey boots can be instrumental in creating the perfect outfit for this season.
Layer Up Layering is a technique which is used by many people to add multiple textures and plenty of character to an outfit. You will want to dress for the chilly temperatures as well as look stylish during the spring. One way to do this would be wearing a vest, cardigan and leather or denim jacket layered together for an effortlessly stylish look.
Light Fabrics Once the heat begins to increase a little, you will want to make the most of thinner materials such as chiffon and linen. Light and breezy is exactly what you will want during the spring to cover you but still provide the ability for the skin to breathe.
Patterns Like we have already mentioned, floral patterns are your best friend during the spring. Flowers are the focus of this season so if you can add a floral touch to your outfit you will instantly scream spring. Think floral skater skirts, graphic tees and even embroidered jackets.
Show Some Skin You don’t need to instantly take all of your winter clothes and cut off the sleeves or stitch it up higher: but spring is about showing a little more skin. Try wearing three quarter length bottoms or tops, short sleeved t shirts and linen shorts for comfort. You can make the most of the rising heat by letting your skin out to breathe, it will feel much more comfortable and help you to look like the perfect spring fashionista.
The place where I work implemented a new branding with a new logo. I have polo shirts with the old logo that I need to recycle. I was inspired to make three headbands. Today, we had a contest to see who could come up with the most creative way to recycle the old logo shirts.
Below is my hubby and I about three years ago, wearing the polo shirts. We worked on the 4th of July and was celebrating the holiday when we came home.
JT and hubby in Polo shirt
I searched Youtube to find a simple and easy to follow DIY plan for making the headbags. This is the one that I found that I wanted to try.
I used a rotary cutter to cut the shirt into six 1 to 1/12 inch strips on my mat. The cutter worked pretty well but you can also use scissors. The polo shirts has a little more fraying so the rotary strip was easier to maneuver over the fabric. The polo material stretches and creates a tube after it is cut. The video is easy to follow and after I went over the steps a couple of times to make sure I was following the process. I finished the back of the headband with a glue gun and I sewed the seams by hand.
Sewing_Finished_Seam
And this is the finished product. A colleague liked the design, so I gave one of them to her.
Three_T_Shirt_headbands
Well I didn’t incorporate the logo into my design because I don’t think it would look right and it wouldn’t be as versatile, so I didn’t win the contest. Oh well! However, I feel like I did win because these headbands are well made and they can be worn in a lot of different ways. If you like wearing headbands while working out or you want to keep your hair off of your face, give these a try because they super easy and fun.
Learn More About JT
Bubbling with Elegance and Grace started out as an outlet for my passion for fashion but has evolved into a place for me to teach, collaborate, and inspire. My hubby has since joined the team and we have been digital creators for 13 years. We are thankful for those who believed in us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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