Bloom Girl Blog

By Anne Benton

Pleated Leather…Same Skirt, Two Ways

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Hello Bloom Girls! I hope you all had the fabulous, relaxing, and fun weekend you all deserve! This is a classic look for fall and I love pleated leather paired with lace-up heels…so cute! These shoes are actually really, really comfortable –despite their appearance. I am really picky when it comes to shoes –I am already 5”9 tall and if I trip & fall in a pair of heels –it is not pretty, haha! Tall people go down hard! I fell so many times in middle school…I remember this one time at an indoor basketball tournament, I face planted trying to gracefully glide down the bleachers –I had two left feet for a very, very long time! I say all this because you will not find me posting a pair of shoes that I do not honestly feel most women can comfortably walk in…most women are stressed out enough to have to worry over sore feet in the evening.

Anyhow, I love this faux leather skirt because it is not too short or too long. I am pretty tall and it can be challenging to find a skirt that does not come up short on me (gotta keep it classy ladies)! When the weather really cools down, pair it with tights and closed-toe pumps or booties. Also, it is the perfect “basic” piece for your closet –you can pair almost any color with it; I will probably wear an over-sized sweater with it when winter comes. If you are in your early 20’s and growing your wardrobe, look for pieces that you can wear at least 2/4 seasons with versatility; don’t grab a bunch of trendy, “of-the-moment” items that will go out of style in a month. Investing your money in a few classic pieces that will last you –a classic trench coat, a really nice “little black dress,” a slimming leather jacket and leather skirt, and a really good pair of nude pumps will serve you well in the long-run. Lastly, a special thank you to Lauren Carnes Photography for the amazing pictures!

Xoxo, Anne


Serving Up the Suede!

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Happy Friday and “TGIF” to all of my Bloom Girls out there! You made it to the end of the week and now it is time to relax and do something for fun this weekend! I had a blast shooting with Lauren Carnes Photography on the Georgia Regents Campus today…it actually felt like fall weather this morning, which was soooo nice after this long summer we have had this year! This is a great outfit for early fall/fall September-October weather. There are a lot of suede skirts out there to choose from…this one is from Topshop and I love it because the little front buttons snap on and off and you don’t have to unbutton each one, which would take a lifetime! I love the light brown color of this one….I am not a huge fan of the darker tan ones, personally. Here are a few other options for the suede skirt: Here & Here. The Joie cotton shirt is just a really great basic top that you can wear year-round with so many different things…here are a few cheaper alternatives: Here, Here, & Here. I love this little Michael Kors Pave Rose Gold bracelet…here is a cheaper option (Kate Spade & only $48).

Xoxo, Anne

 

 


Little Black Romper

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Shoes: BCBGeneration Darron Patent Pump, Here//Belt: (Old) Similar, Here//Watch, Michael Kors, Here//Photography: Lauren Carnes, Here

Like many women, I have struggled with rompers in the past. They were out and then they were in, and this time, I was determined to find a way to make this controversial style work for me. I refused to wear a romper if it gave me the “long butt” look –after all, my favorite part of getting dressed up is feeling my best and feeling more confident, not less! So, I did what I normally do when I need to achieve a more slimming look…look for the item in the color “black.” What is really neat about this romper to me is how many ways you can change it up from event-to-event. You can dress it up with a studded belt, like this one, from Anthropologie, or for football season, you can pair it with your team color Here, or Here. These BCBG Rock Studs are a fraction of the cost of the popular Valentino rock studs Here. The Valentino’s are around a grand, while the BCBG’s are only $70!! I am so sad that the Tory Burch Thea Bucket Bag, which I am wearing, is sold out…however, she has an equally cute one Here. Don’t want to spend that much on a bucket bag–a more “wallet-friendly” option is Here from Nordstrom, and only $60. You deserve to feel confident and beautiful in everything you wear…including rompers! Life is too short to feel anything short of amazing–true beauty comes from within.

Xoxo, Anne


Easy Weekend Style

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Chambray Dress: Vineyard Vines, Here// Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell, Similar, Here// Tote purse: Tory Burch, Here// Watch: Michael Kors, Here//Makeup: Bobbi Brown Art Stick in “Cassis”, Here, and SPF 15 Liquid Foundation, Here//Photos by:Lauren Carnes, Here

Hello Bloom Gals (and guys) and happy Sunday! I am writing from lovely Swansboro, North Carolina, wrapping up a very relaxing weekend with my in-laws at their beach home here. Swansboro is a picturesque, Nicholas Sparks novel setting,  and you can’t help but unwind and enjoy the beautiful weather out on a boat somewhere! Details about the outfit –I found this chambray Vineyard Vines dress back in July and am so glad I can finally wear it out and about -it is perfect for fall, spring or early summer and is so versatile! It is soooooo comfy and you can find alternative styles Here, Here, and Here. You can pretty much style it however you like –I decided to pair it with a red Tory Burch tote, Here, and leather booties from Jeffrey Campbell (similar) Here. I found the booties at Shoes at Surrey in Augusta, GA, Here, but you can find similar styles, noted above, and these Kristin Cavallari’s, Here. The red tote really “pops” against the blue chambray –alternative styles to the Tory Burch tote are Here and Here. I don’t know about you guys, but yesterday morning, we had cooler/crisp fall temperatures and it made me really ready for fall!

Xoxo, Anne


Striped Tweed is All a Girl Needs!

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Skirt: the LOFT, Here// Top: the LOFT, Here//Shoes: Christian Louboutin, Here// Bag: Michael Kors, Here// Cocktail Ring: David Yurman, Here//Bracelets: Similar, Here//Photography: Lauren Carnes, Here

Happy Saturday!!! It was only going to be so long before I did a feature in the color “pink.” As you can tell from the pictures, I am exceptionally happy when I am wearing pink!  I was even happier when I was able to purchase this shirt and tweed striped skirt from the LOFT at their 40% off sale earlier last week for only $54!!! This is a great outfit for when it is technically “fall,” but the weather has not cooled down yet (at least in the South) and you are stuck wondering what to wear. About the shoes –every girl needs a flattering pair of nude pumps –they elongate your legs and go with everything!!! Don’t want to splurge on Louboutins? Here are a few other similar options: Jessica Simpson, Here and Here, or Ivanka Trump (love her), Here. There are also several alternatives to the pink Michael Kors: Kate Spade, Here and Here, Prada, Here. What colors make you happy!?

Xoxo, Anne


9 Bucket Bag Picks for Fall

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Bucket-Bags

(1)Patricia Nash  Here, (2) Alexander Wang Here, (3) Similar Here (4) Marc by Marc Jacobs Here,

(5) Sanctuary Here, (6) Elizabeth & James Here, (7) Tory Burch Here,

(8) Vera Bradley Here, (9) Rebecca Minkoff Here

There’s no denying that the”bucket bag” is the bag for Fall 2015. I love them because they come in so many different colors and styles –from fringe to chic leather, there is something for everyone! Plus, you can wear them cross-body style or just wear over your shoulder –super comfortable! This bag is versatile enough to wear to work and then out to dinner, without feeling cumbersome. With so many options to choose from, what style will you opt for this season? I recently purchased a classic black leather Tory Burch, which will be featured in a post next week. Happy hunting!

Xoxo, Anne


Date Night in the City!

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 Clutch: Similar, Judith Leiber//Ring:  Old (gift) / Photos: Bay Area Picture Production

A special birthday weekend in Chicago calls for a special date-night dress. Every now and then, it’s fun to get dressed up and be treated to an exciting night on the town with my honey. As long as there is enough room in a dress for me to fully enjoy my meal without feeling squeezed, I am a happy lady!

Xoxo, Anne


30th Birthday Trip

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Top: Milly / Skirt: Similar, Milly / Shoes: Similar, Gianvito Rossi

Sunglasses: Chloe / Photos: Bay Area Picture Production

I recently celebrated my “BIG 3-0” Birthday with a special trip to Chicago, IL with my husband. Where does all of the time go!!!? It seems like just yesterday that I was graduating college and starting life in a new city!  Anyhow, we had a blast exploring “Chi-town” and can’t wait to share my travel experience and recommendations with everyone very soon.

Xoxo, Anne


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