Spring Trends: Emerson Fry

It's time for spring fever but since another snow is expected, my spring fever is being filled virtually today by browsing on Emerson Fry to experience their most latest collection, which goes on sale today. If the past is any indication, expect sales to be brisk and sell outs to be many as the week progresses. Starting at the ankles (since my feet are ready to pack up snow boots for good!) I'm coveting the tie ankle sandals. They make a statement of the most simple silhouette. Which you know is my kind of shoe: killer shoes, statement shoes, outfit-making shoes… an excuse to buy shoes, yet absolutely wearable.

And what simple, yet drop-dead gorgeous silhouettes that we've come to covet each season from Emerson Fry! Whites, almost blacks and greys, but with textures such as snakeskin that add a substance, depth and versatility to what I call not minimalism, but prefer to call anti-consumerism.

Although I don't think most of you enjoyed our exploration into mesh and perforation for spring, I do admire it here. It's presented as a beach coverup and in a very loose knit (above left), which has a more mature vibe, is effortless to wear, and makes me think of the beach even if I'm in the city. Or go for a simple caftan (below), which always works, especially at brunch.

What do you think of the latest Emerson Fry collection? I'd love to hear your thoughts! xo ~kim

Black + Leopard

I love this black and leopard outfit for 2 reasons: it made me a new friend and I scored the best bargain I ever have. I could never have enough of these 2 items (or chocolate)!

I was wearing these zip, zip and zip pants while I was waiting for my son to finish his fencing lesson. And a woman who was also waiting for her son remarked how much she liked my pants. She had me at like. As we chatted, we realized how much we had in common so we made a date for lunch, shopping, and groaning about teen sons who moan about their moms (how dare they!).

Although the boots are not the latest in style, I don't care. I do care about comfort and crepe soles are comfortable, plus I want boots I can walk in that are my kind of style. And these are. Guess how much they were? (Nope, guess again.) Give up? $2. Marked down from about $98 to $2. There was 1 pair left and since Chloe passed them up, I snagged them. Not because I needed more booties, but because I could give up a latté and add to my closet. Me, who never finds a bargain!

Friends and bargains… a dream come true in black and leopard.

xo ~kim

shirt: Lavender Brown (old) - DVF similar | pants: Anthropologie (old) similar , budget similar, AG similar| purse: Goyard | boots: Gap

Cupcake Toppers

Cupcakes are the cutest of desserts: a mini cake that you don’t have to share. Because when it comes to dessert, sharing isn’t fun, it’s stealing. One thing I love seeing lately are cake toppers. They are such a cute way to add a little extra something special to a cake. A cherry on top, if you will.

However, I haven’t really been seeing anything that goes on top of cupcakes. I mean there are those cheap plastic rings that grocery stores put on top of their cupcakes, but those don’t really count. So I thought to myself, “wouldn’t it be fun to make a little something for the top of cupcakes.” And because this thought seemed rather rational compared to my other ones (ie “is a banana still edible if you spray paint the outer peel and then eat the inside?” or “if the sun was black would the sky be black or just a darker blue?”) I decided that I should make a few cupcake toppers!

The star is a classic shape, & when you make the star gold you can channel your inner Rachel Berry, from Glee, because she puts a gold star on everything she likes. Plus, I’m assuming she likes cupcakes, so we’re actually just helping the Rachel Berry cause. I also thought we could get more intricate and make a trendy leaf heart shape.

And aren’t these cupcakes just absolutely gorgeous? We partnered on this post with our fab friend Hunter, of Vivian & Me, who writes a blog about allergy-friendly food recipes. I can not wait to try out these insanely gorgeous basil infused pink grapefruit cupcakes that have a vegan buttercream frosting and candied grapefruit on top! So be sure to stop by her blog for the cupcake recipe & more amazing, mouthwatering, insanely yummy recipes (buffalo chicken dip, anyone?). And tell her we said "hi!"

Directions for toppers:

With the brand new, awesome Cricut Explore (it's on sale right now!): 1. Insert a picture of a star to your Cricut Design Space (we drew our own in Photoshop so it would look kind of rustic and imperfect). If you would like to create our heart & leaf shape, we’ve attached the file below so that you can upload it to your Design Space 2. Print it out on your paper of choice - of course we chose glittery gold! 3. Hot glue the shape to a toothpick 4. Let it dry 5. Then decorate your cupcake until it looks like a masterpiece - maybe Hunter at Vivian & Me has some tips on piping icing that we'll share soon ;)

xo ~chloe