Style Clouds | Catherine Nicole

A Clutch for Your Purse

Posted by catherine on Friday, March 1st, 2013

It may sound redundant, but if you find yourself sifting through your 3 go-to purses/diaper bag/reusable grocery bags trying to find your headphones or favorite lipstick, than the ol’ bag within a bag trick is really quite useful.

My favorite on-the-go items…

1. A notebook and pen for grocery lists and brilliant thoughts. Mine is hand-sewn by Anibella Ink & Paper
2. Petite-fit Ray-Ban Aviators. These are very hard to find in stores (and are apparently $50 more now), but they’re great if you have a peanut-sized head like mine.
3. Phone and headphones with a microphone, for when you just need to talk and drive.
4. L’Occitane Vanilla or Shea Butter hand cream. Anyone who’s used this knows.
5. Benefit’s Hello Flawless powder cover-up. This stuff is not cheap, I’ll admit, BUT it’s foundation, powder, spf, and shine-proof.
6. Lipstick or gloss. Santa put Revlon’s ColorStay in ‘Fashionista’ in my stocking last year, and I’m totally impressed.
7. A wallet. Obviously. A thin one helps tame the bag within a bag within a bag urge.

Yes, the closed pouch (from Natural Life) really contains the exact same items shown in the open photograph. (I hate when blog posts make everything so pretty for photographs and not real life).

Druzy Amethyst and Turquoise Cuffs

Posted by catherine on Wednesday, February 27th, 2013

So, I’ve been a little delayed in bringing these fellas to you, but I think they’re worth the wait. Dress it up for a Cleopatra, Egyptian-like feel, or style it casually for a bohemian gypsy vibe. Or just get one and decide later!

Help us spread the word by pinning it!

The Pixie That’s Side-Sweeping the Nation

Posted by catherine on Saturday, February 23rd, 2013

This side-swept pixie is THE hair trend of 2013 as far as I’m concerned. It’s bobbing its head up everywhere and saying, “I’m rockin’, cute, confident and have a great stylist”. DO NOT get this done by someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing.

Anne Hathaway

Carey Mulligan

Miley Cyrus

michelle williams hair
Michelle Williams
lena-dunham-hair
Lena Dunham
elisha-cuthbert-hair
Elisha Cuthbert
ginnifer-goodwin-hair
Ginnifer Goodwin
rianna-pixie
Rhianna
keira-knightly-pixie
Keira Knightly
Mae-Whitman-pixie
Mae Whitman

In case you remember us writing about pixie do’s in the past, you can compare here to see the side-sweeping difference in the 2013 model.

Recap:

I’d like it to be known that I had a super cute side-swept pixie from 2001-2006. Yes, yes, I’m a visionaire like Madonna in the 80s.

Fashion’s Most Classic Shade

Posted by catherine on Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

Just ask Bogart, camel is always in and always classy. And if you’re going to invest in a nice piece, you can’t go wrong with this timeless neutral.

Twist & Tango , $130 / Burberry cashmere wool coat / Colorful jacket, $290 / Massimo Dutti straight pants / rag & bone . shoes / Via Spiga / Colorful shoes / Alexander McQueen wallet / 3.1 Phillip Lim zippered tote bag, $1,050 / Topshop bag

___________________________________________________

Obviously, you need sexy statement jewelry to go with your camel, and obviously it should come from <<HERE>>. Blue tones and naturals go especially well.

1. Amy Earrings in Lapis / 2. Rose Quartz Gemstone Ring / 3. Fiona Shell & Gold Necklace / 4. Teardrop Amazonite Earrings

That’s all for now.

Google Glass and Other Posts to Read Today

Posted by catherine on Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

Let me scour the internet for you and bring you a variety of what I’m reading this morning. I’ll start with the most amazing.

A look at GOOGLE GLASS

THE MOST INNOVATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES 2013 From Fast Company

ELSIE’S MUDROOM ORGANIZATION from A Beautiful Mess

You Don’t Need A Lot Of Degrees To Get A Job Saving The World from Fast CoExist

15 Tried-And-True Beauty Products That Chicagoans Swear By from Refinery29

Colorful Annie Earrings Now Only $48

Posted by catherine on Friday, February 15th, 2013

It’s sort of the every day version of those amazing emerald earrings Angelina Jolie wore to the Oscars- only they’re lighter, a lot more casual, a fraction of the cost, and a totally different silhouette. So, not at all the same. BUT, they both provide the pop of color that makes the look. Also, my design inspiration seldom comes from other jewelry and in this case it did.

Welcome to our 3 crisp new shades, Ink, Rosy, and White.

And now, these stunners which only yesterday were $78, are just $48! Why you ask? Because I love them and want more people to be able to love them too!

The Big Gem Show

Posted by catherine on Thursday, February 7th, 2013

Equipped with my dorky backpack, comfortable kicks, and hand-sanitzer, I’m read to dig my hands into colorful, faceted strands of gems.

With pop-up tents, crowded warehouses, and hundreds of shows in open hotel rooms, I’ll be ploughing through Tucson in a two-day, grimy, luggage-less business trip. It will be quite the juxtaposition from the Fashion Markets.

amethyst

I’ve always wanted to get one of these huge chunks of open amethyst

Let the inspiration-hunt commence in all its overwhelming glory!

You never know what you’ll find. Check out these Lapis Lazuli belts with bells. Belly dancing, anyone?

Whaddya say, folks? Any specific stones you’d like to see more of on CatherineNicole.com?

The Annie Hall Phenomenon

Posted by catherine on Tuesday, February 5th, 2013

What is it about that goofy, gangly character and her clownish wardrobe that knocks us off our heels and onto our flats, hats and every other boyish article of clothing? From Coco Chanel to Catherine Hepburn to Diane Keaton, we’ve always admired the confidence that a woman in menswear radiates.

Early Adapters: Comtesse de la Falaise, Coco Chanel, Marlene Dietrich, Catherine Hepburn

The Annie Hall Phenomenon

There’s something mysterious about the woman who can pull this off. Partly because she reveals a lot less than her flirty, bare-legged friends; partly because she makes her own rules.

Get the look

Yves Saint Laurent yves saint laurent / Scully black vest / Zucca relaxed fit pants / Leather slip on shoes, $95 / J.Crew beach tote / Reiss / Black Bear Two-tone Bands Woven Silk Tie

Can you pull it off? If you go for the full Annie Hall, maybe not. The high waisted pleat front pants + clown tie + baggie shirt may be a little dowdy if not executed properly. But I’m sure you’ll find your own spin on the gentleman’s silhouette.

La Pirata

Posted by catherine on Sunday, February 3rd, 2013

When I was younger and cooler, with a pixie cut and living in Spain, my friends called me La Pirata. Skinny jeans, boots, head scarves, layered necklaces… that’s pretty much what I’ve worn every day for the last 10 years. Scarves as belts, vests, and silk high-waters have also made their way in the snarl. No eye patches or continental cocked hats (yes, that’s the official name of the pirate hat, and yes, I spent a good 5 minutes on the nomenclature hunt).

Pros of this look:
(1) it’s comfortable
(2) It looks effortless (though accessorizing this mush can be a timely task)
(3) You don’t have to shave your legs
(4) Your don’t have to wash your hair
(5) You look artsy

How to rock a head scarf like a pirate…

If you’re feeling tough, add a vest…

If you’re feeling free and easy, layer it loose…

Cons

(1) I’m sure the husband would prefer a skirt sometimes
(2) It’s a little artiste-presumptuous to wear a trademark scarf every day unless you’re famous.

Nonetheless, feel free to steal my look…

Velvet shirt, $110 / Denim waistcoat / True Religion skinny leg jeans, $260 / Steve Madden lace up boots / Shell Fiona Necklace Catherine Nicole / Nepalese Turquoise Ring Catherine Nicole / Silver Braided Cuff Catherine Nicole / Brass Chevron Cuff Catherine Nicole / Marina Necklace Catherine Nicole/ Layla Earrings Catherine Nicole / Aspinal of London silk shawl / Linea Pelle vintage leather belt

Soft as a Baby’s Behind

Posted by catherine on Thursday, January 31st, 2013

If it’s good enough for me, it’s good enough for my baby, right? Uh, probably not. I try to read labels but, like most non-pharmacologists, I can’t decipher what chemical romance makes my skin smooth and sterile-smelling. That is, until I stumbled by happenstance into the semi-affordable and quasi-natural world of baby products.

My baby-care beauty regimen developed something like this:

Instance #1: I run out of eye-make up remover and used one of my son’s baby wipes. Equally effective, a lot cheaper, and I always have them in my house (hopefully).

Instance #2: I run out of my fancy sulfate-free salon shampoo and realize that my baby’s shampoo probably doesn’t have sulfate or any other nasty crap in it.

Instance #3: I’m dousing my child in natural baby oil and later notice that my hands are extremely soft and moisturized.

You see the pattern? Baby products are often pretty natural (or they would quickly be recalled), relatively affordable, and they have to work- because no mom has time to screw around with butt rash or eczema.

Here are some favorites: