Big orange pumpkins means fall is finally here! This past weekend we made a trip to Eastern Market in southwest D.C., which is a great place to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables and browse local handicrafts. It's also near one of my favorite places (8th St., SE) for restaurants. I was a little more dressed up than I normally would be for a farmer's market, but that was because we were going to someone's house for dinner afterwards :)

I've never put up any recipes on the blog before, but I've been trying new healthy ones and thought I'd share them with you all! After all, eating healthy is an important part of style - how else can we fit into our skinny jeans?! Just kidding :) But I have been looking for more vegetarian and vegan options as I try to cut out meat and dairy from my diet - so here is a super-easy recipe for kale I tried recently. Let me know how it turns out in the comments!



Sauteed Kale Recipe  

You will need:
* 1 bunch kale
* 1 yellow onion
* 2 cloves garlic
* 3-4 tablespoons olive oil
* 1/2 tablespoon mustard seeds
* sea salt
* 2 tablespoons lemon juice

1. Chop up the kale and throw away the stems.
2. Slice the onions into thin rings and mince the garlic. Set aside.
3. Pour the olive oil into the pan; let it heat up. Now toss the minced garlic and mustard seeds into the pan. Let the garlic turn dark yellow.
4. At this time, pour the sliced onion into the pan. Let the onions turn yellow.
5. Now toss the kale into the pan, adding the lemon juice for the kale to absorb and turn soft.
6. Stop cooking the kale when there are still some crunchy pieces left. Add sea salt to taste.

Someone very close to me is getting married soon and in honor of her upcoming big day, I give you a post on my favorite wedding gown inspirations from one of my favorite designers.

The bride-to-be is my little sister! And anyone who knows her knows how girly and playful she is.

So when designing her dress, we decided to incorporate her girly style and chose beautiful Chantilly lace to create the right look. The delicate fabric looks best in an elegant shape, so we designed a boatneck, long-sleeved bodice with a deep V-neck in the back for a little surprise. We finished the dress with a full tulle skirt with embellishment work.

We searched for examples of Chantilly lace gowns done right as well as beautiful embellishments - for inspiration. I want to share with you some gorgeous examples by one of my fave designers, Monique Lhullier. I just love her flattering silhouettes and intricate embellishment work.








Wedding pics of the bride-to-be's real dress to follow - stay tuned! :)

It's getting chilly out there! But there's a silver lining to the shorter days and colder temperatures - fall clothing! Fall is one of my favorite seasons to dress up for: tall boots, cute jackets, and of course cozy layers. This sweater from Urban Outfitters is fast becoming one of my new favorites: gorgeous cascading layers in the front and a cool reversible pattern on the inside and outside make it chic AND comfortable. I was thinking of wearing it belted, too. Maybe next time!

This past weekend we went to Fletcher's Cove near Georgetown for our soccer team's fall picnic. It has beautiful canals perfect for canoeing and gorgeous hiking trails. If you're ever in the area, you should really check it out!

Even if you're spending time outdoors, that doesn't mean you have to compromise your sense of style. I really appreciate when someone can express their individual style in different types of settings. Whether they're at a fashion show or just plain lounging around - all occasions call for different styles, but someone who can maintain their signature is someone I truly admire. Okay, enough on the philosophy of style :)

You'll notice I wore some WISCONSIN pride this weekend (it's my hometown and alma mater) - Gooo big red!

And now ladies and gentlemen, we have outfit #3 made from the same top and skirt ensemble in Tuesday's post here. This is a more casual style, layering different length vests on top of one another (which is also one of my favorite ways to update a look). The long grey vest underneath the short black one adds an interesting layer, making the whole look more casual and effortless at the same time.

Time for Outfit #2! Using the same asymmetrical top and skirt from yesterday's post, I just made some simple changes to go from sophisticated to trendy. First, I swapped out the flats for ankle-strap heels, put on a trendy motorcycle vest, let my hair down, and added accessories - a beret and sunglasses, in this case - and voila. We've gotten one more outfit out of yesterday's blouse and skirt ensemble!

Ever look at your closet and feel like screaming, "I have nothing to wear!!"? It happens to us all. We get used to pairing certain pieces together and when you're in a rush, it's easiest to just grab what you see and go. That's why so many of us fall into a fashion rut.

But if you try looking at your closet with a fresh set of eyes, you might be surprised at what you find. Start with just one piece and go from there. Take your favorite shirt. Instead of wearing it with the same jeans you always do, why not try it with a pair of leggings, knee-high socks and boots? Make it a point to try something different each day, and you will. You'll be amazed at how many great combinations you come up with.

This week, I'm going to wear one outfit three different ways. I started with this asymmetrical pleated top from our collection, and paired it with a simple black skirt. This first look is a sophisticated one, using just these two pieces and keeping it simple by emphasizing the jewelry. I chose to wear it with flats here to show how it can work for day, but throwing on a pair of heels and a clutch purse easily takes this look into night.

Remember, when wearing a top that has special details like an asymmetric neckline or a shoulder bow, it's best to wear your hair up so as not to distract from the rest of the look.