Still looking for last minute gifts for the lady in your life who has everything? If she likes jewelry which, let's be honest, most women do, find her a beautiful pair of gold earrings. I was recently introduced to sustainable jewelry brand AUrate and sent this pair of gorgeous Sensu Ear Jackets in rose gold vermeil. AUrate has everything you could want, from statement pieces to classic staples you'll wear for years to come. I have added quite a few other pieces to my wish list including this amazing Halo Diamond Opal Pendant. What pieces would you buy for a loved one?
What's great about AUrate is their mission is to offer sustainable, ethical handmade jewelry at affordable prices. The pieces are handmade by artisans in New York City, not a machine churning out hundreds a day. These earrings were $150 and would retail at most other stores for $390. This is because they cut out the middleman and sell directly to buyers without retail markups, much like Everlane, another favorite brand of mine.
The company only uses ethical solid gold from conflict-free suppliers in vermeil, 14K or 18K gold as well as white gold and rose gold. I had heard the phrase vermeil many times but never really knew what it meant. In essence, gold vermeil is a higher quality gold plated product. A base metal, usually sterling silver, is dipped into a coating of at least 10K gold to a thickness of 2.5 microns (one-millionth of a meter.) AUrate uses 14K gold to go the extra mile.
And, to make an even bigger difference AUrate donates a book to a student in need for every purchase made! So really it's like two gifts in one. Giving a beautifully made piece of jewelry to a loved one (or yourself) and the gift of learning to a student.
Enough about the companies awesomeness, on to the outfit! I styled the earrings for a holiday event but they would also work well with a simple outfit of jeans and a sweater. Also - you can wear these with any studs you want! I'll probably try them with some pearl studs or my usual diamond studs in the future for some extra pizazz.
*This post was made in partnership with Nakturnal.
Llama Jewel Sweater: J.Crew, Skirt: LC Lauren Conrad Velvet Pleated Skirt c/o Kohl's, Boots: IMPO 'Omega' Patchwork Boot (DSW), Earrings: AUrate Sensu Ear Jackets (c/o)
What's great about AUrate is their mission is to offer sustainable, ethical handmade jewelry at affordable prices. The pieces are handmade by artisans in New York City, not a machine churning out hundreds a day. These earrings were $150 and would retail at most other stores for $390. This is because they cut out the middleman and sell directly to buyers without retail markups, much like Everlane, another favorite brand of mine.
The company only uses ethical solid gold from conflict-free suppliers in vermeil, 14K or 18K gold as well as white gold and rose gold. I had heard the phrase vermeil many times but never really knew what it meant. In essence, gold vermeil is a higher quality gold plated product. A base metal, usually sterling silver, is dipped into a coating of at least 10K gold to a thickness of 2.5 microns (one-millionth of a meter.) AUrate uses 14K gold to go the extra mile.
And, to make an even bigger difference AUrate donates a book to a student in need for every purchase made! So really it's like two gifts in one. Giving a beautifully made piece of jewelry to a loved one (or yourself) and the gift of learning to a student.
Enough about the companies awesomeness, on to the outfit! I styled the earrings for a holiday event but they would also work well with a simple outfit of jeans and a sweater. Also - you can wear these with any studs you want! I'll probably try them with some pearl studs or my usual diamond studs in the future for some extra pizazz.
*This post was made in partnership with Nakturnal.
Llama Jewel Sweater: J.Crew, Skirt: LC Lauren Conrad Velvet Pleated Skirt c/o Kohl's, Boots: IMPO 'Omega' Patchwork Boot (DSW), Earrings: AUrate Sensu Ear Jackets (c/o)
It's Christmas sweater season! I love December because it means I get to wear this reindeer sweater. To keep with the Christmas theme I decided to wear it with green suede pants. And, although they're not RED red, my bag and nails are also Christmasy. Luckily everything I'm wearing - except my bag - is on eBay right now! So follow the links to get your own. You know you want this reindeer sweater! I might get another for when this one gets too pilly.
Sweater: J.Crew Reindeer Sweater, Pants: Blank NYC 'Persuede' jeans (South Moon Under), Mules: Franco Sarto "Dolly" (DSW), Bag: Etienne Aigner (thrifted), Sunglasses: Gucci (bought in Italy), Eyeglasses chain: Tinksky (Amazon)
Sweater: J.Crew Reindeer Sweater, Pants: Blank NYC 'Persuede' jeans (South Moon Under), Mules: Franco Sarto "Dolly" (DSW), Bag: Etienne Aigner (thrifted), Sunglasses: Gucci (bought in Italy), Eyeglasses chain: Tinksky (Amazon)
Three of the pieces in this outfit are old favorites. My first designer purchase, one of my first shoe splurges (that were actually a birthday gift) and my favorite jeans ever. Sadly I don't wear the Free People jeans often because they're super old and in that odd wrinkly stage that stretch jeans get to. You can probably tell in the photos in certain spots. I have 2 pairs of these because I kept buying searching for them on eBay and then one pair that's similar but not exactly the same.
The Marc Jacobs velvet polka dot blazer was my first designer purchase. I tried to find it for months after Emma Watson wore it (in a different color) in Teen Vogue. I bought it for $80 (and a second one for $20 8 years later because I needed to go up a size. I still have the original in my closet for nostalgic reasons.)
My Alexander Wang Freja boots were a birthday gift from my parents in 2011 - meaning I told my mom I wanted them and she said 'order them for your birthday!' I do love a good statement shoe that never goes out of style. There are a few of these available on eBay (originally from his Spring 2010 collection) and some other sources but you have to be careful when looking for these because AW also made a cheaper version for the H&M collection which won't be as nice/high quality as these. I linked to only the "real" ones below but you can search for AW x H&M boots and find the other version.
Blazer: Marc by Marc Jacobs polka dot velvet jacket (eBay, green one here), V-Neck Tee: Everlane, Jeans: Free People (Marshalls), Peep-Toe Boots: Alexander Wang suede Freja boot in brick red (The Outnet), Bag: Dark Purple Chloé Faye (eBay, exact bag here), Necklace: Marrin Costello
Speaking of favorites - I wore this outfit on Monday to check out the recently renovated Luna Pizza in West Hartford. Before I went my Aunt told me it's one of her and my Uncle's favorite places to go for pizza. After going myself I can see why! I'm not normally a thin crust fan, but their pizzas are delicious. I wanted to keep eating all night!
While there I sampled their meatballs, garlic knots a baby spinach salad with strawberries and three pizzas! All the appetizers were delicious, especially the salad. Lydia, Jen and I tried the BBQ Pulled Pork, White and Margherita pizzas. They were all super good. The white pizza is just mozzarella, romano, garlic, parsley, and olive oil and it was amazing. The BBQ pulled pork had the perfect amount of sweetness from the BBQ sauce and the Margherita pizza was loaded with fresh tomatoes. I finished my meal with a delectable chocolate torte. It was very smooth and really chocolatey, just how I like it! I will definitely return to Luna Pizza if I'm ever in the area again.
What I ate:
The Marc Jacobs velvet polka dot blazer was my first designer purchase. I tried to find it for months after Emma Watson wore it (in a different color) in Teen Vogue. I bought it for $80 (and a second one for $20 8 years later because I needed to go up a size. I still have the original in my closet for nostalgic reasons.)
My Alexander Wang Freja boots were a birthday gift from my parents in 2011 - meaning I told my mom I wanted them and she said 'order them for your birthday!' I do love a good statement shoe that never goes out of style. There are a few of these available on eBay (originally from his Spring 2010 collection) and some other sources but you have to be careful when looking for these because AW also made a cheaper version for the H&M collection which won't be as nice/high quality as these. I linked to only the "real" ones below but you can search for AW x H&M boots and find the other version.
Blazer: Marc by Marc Jacobs polka dot velvet jacket (eBay, green one here), V-Neck Tee: Everlane, Jeans: Free People (Marshalls), Peep-Toe Boots: Alexander Wang suede Freja boot in brick red (The Outnet), Bag: Dark Purple Chloé Faye (eBay, exact bag here), Necklace: Marrin Costello
Speaking of favorites - I wore this outfit on Monday to check out the recently renovated Luna Pizza in West Hartford. Before I went my Aunt told me it's one of her and my Uncle's favorite places to go for pizza. After going myself I can see why! I'm not normally a thin crust fan, but their pizzas are delicious. I wanted to keep eating all night!
While there I sampled their meatballs, garlic knots a baby spinach salad with strawberries and three pizzas! All the appetizers were delicious, especially the salad. Lydia, Jen and I tried the BBQ Pulled Pork, White and Margherita pizzas. They were all super good. The white pizza is just mozzarella, romano, garlic, parsley, and olive oil and it was amazing. The BBQ pulled pork had the perfect amount of sweetness from the BBQ sauce and the Margherita pizza was loaded with fresh tomatoes. I finished my meal with a delectable chocolate torte. It was very smooth and really chocolatey, just how I like it! I will definitely return to Luna Pizza if I'm ever in the area again.
What I ate:
Decided to re-wear this outfit on a warmer day earlier this week. Can you believe I'm just wearing a tee under my leather jacket? Admittedly it was a little chilly but not horrible. This leather jacket remains one of my favorite steals. I think I need to recondition it though, it's getting a little scaly! I actually found one available on eBay too! Go snatch it up, you won't be sorry!
I also decided to break out my old ring collection. It felt a little strange to wear all my rings again after just wearing my engagement ring (and then wedding band) for months. I'll definitely start bringing some back, but maybe not all of them at once like this. Not that it's bad, but I should probably be a bit more subtle now that I'm a married woman ;)
Jacket: Theyskens' Theory (Nordstrom Rack), Tee: Cullen (Rue La La), Skirt: T by Alexander Wang ruched skirt (NET-A-PORTER), Tights c/o Wolford, Boots: Eighteen68 'Megan' (Gilt), Watch: Skagen, Sunglasses: Michael Kors (Marshalls), Bag: Dark Purple Chloé Faye (eBay)
The Original:
I also decided to break out my old ring collection. It felt a little strange to wear all my rings again after just wearing my engagement ring (and then wedding band) for months. I'll definitely start bringing some back, but maybe not all of them at once like this. Not that it's bad, but I should probably be a bit more subtle now that I'm a married woman ;)
Jacket: Theyskens' Theory (Nordstrom Rack), Tee: Cullen (Rue La La), Skirt: T by Alexander Wang ruched skirt (NET-A-PORTER), Tights c/o Wolford, Boots: Eighteen68 'Megan' (Gilt), Watch: Skagen, Sunglasses: Michael Kors (Marshalls), Bag: Dark Purple Chloé Faye (eBay)
The Original:
