east vs west style. jewel tones.

we're back! the girls and i are here with another east vs west series. there are so many great fall trends this year...some of them oldies but goodies while others are new and adventurous. this fall 2014 edition is five weeks of our favorite trends, and we're kicking it off with jewel tones.

if you're new to east vs west, it's a collaboration between six girls (three from the east coast, three from the west coast) where we showcase our favorite trends and see how location and lifestyle influence style across the states.

east

Jackie / Living After Midnite / New York

Meaghan / District Sparkle / Virginia

Tracy / TheRightShoes / New York

west

Ashley / Pursuit of Shoes / California

Danielle / Envision Pretty / California

Becks / oomph. / Hawaii

while i normally associate jewel tones with purples and greens, i have a new found love for deep rich navy blue. it all started with this beautiful wool skirt from Hutch. i love the wide stripes and [vegan] leather piping. to keep the look seamless, i paired the skirt with an equally pretty navy blouse and barely there heels from Lulu's.

what would an outfit be without accessories? i added a hint of color with this jewel tone burgundy clutch from love & sunshine and some silver jewelry like this pretty silver-tone twisted wire cuff with pave orbs from INPINK.

i love love & sunshine's carefully-thought-out coordinating linings...cute right? plus, the clutch is generously sized to fit all your essentials and can be folded over or left open (flat).

Prep It Up Navy Blue Top & Elsi heels c/o Lulu's

Clutch c/o Love & Sunshine

Piped Side Panel Mini Skirt c/o Hutch

Silver Pave Raja Cuff c/o InPink

(take 30% off @ INPINK with code: EASTVSWEST)

what color do you think of as a jewel tone?

do you like navy blue?

olive + red.

this is as fall as it's going to get around here, i'm afraid. with temps still reaching the 90s + high humidity, it's [literally] difficult to get dressed in the morning. i tried to put on a pair of jeans this weekend and could not get them up past my knees, because i was so sticky! the struggle is real!

but when it does get chilly, one of my utility jackets is always within reach. pairing an olive green jacket with red [plaid] is one of my absolute favorite combos.

p.s. stay tuned for our fall 2014 east vs. west series

debuting tomorrow!

have you transitioned to fall completely?

what fall trend are you loving?

(mossimo jacket (similar); justfab luxe boots; express denim;

shirt via local store; love & sunshine pouch)

here's a few to try:

summer to fall transition. the utility vest.

utility vest, cargo vest, surplus vest...

whatever you call it, this was probably one of the best purchases i made a few years ago. i have since [obsessed over and] purchased many utility jackets, but this sleeveless vest proved to be most versatile. it makes a great summer-to-fall transition piece because you can layer up without being too warm. so happy to finally be able to pull this one out of the closet again.

what's one of your best purchases?

do you have a summer-to-fall transition piece?

(GAP pure tee; ON vest; Nine West sneakers (similar);

love & sunshine pouch; Patty's Closet shorts)

try these:

the cowl neck sweater.

turtleneck sweaters are perfect for fall's chilly weather. i love the look of them and found this sleeveless sweater to be a great alternative for our warmer weather. unfortunately, turtlenecks can be overwhelming on petite frames and can actually make us look shorter, so here are a few easy ways to make it work:

1. instead of a true turtleneck, opt for a cowl neck. it drapes at the chest and lengthens the body.

2. pair it with fitted pants that are slightly wider at the bottom to balance the fullness at the neck.

3. or, pair the oversized sweater with shorts (if you're covered up on top, it's ok to show some skin on the bottom,

and vice versa).

4. keep the look simple and unfussy.

skip the statement jewelry and let the neckline be the focus. 

are you a fan of turtlenecks?

how do you make it work for you?

(Forever 21 sweater)

a few you might like:

[not] just for guys. the 5 panel cap.

mini-he and i have been on a hat kick lately.

between the two of us, we have acquired eight new hats in the last month (#sorrynotsorry). the latest is this floral 5-panel cap from The Union. while most hats are constructed of six panels, each panel of a 5-panel cap is made to fit the shape of the head for a slim and sleek fit. over the past few years, it has been gaining popularity and has gone from a niche market to a necessity in every guy's (and girl's) closet.

you can find 5-panel caps in a plethora of prints and textures. rock them forward or backward, up or down, curve the bill or keep it straight...but main thing? keep it casual.

The Union was started a couple years ago by three young entrepreneurs. the company releases new products every season, and they sell out fast. if you want to support a small business that appreciates each and every one of their customers, head over to their website and grab one of these hats for the guys (or girls) in your life. christmas will be here in no time!

what's your hat style?

have you heard of the 5-panel hat?

*this is NOT a sponsored post.

(The Union 5 panel floral cap;

JustFab boots (similar); Ray-ban aviators)

warm weather blues.

although it has been miserably hot and humid the past few weeks, i actually felt a chill last night. the first chill. could it mean "fall" is coming? with 90° temps still on the horizon, it's highly unlikely...but i'm hopeful.

next week is our family's big birthday week...four birthdays, three days in a row. what do you get for retired parents who [tell you they] have everything they need and an extremely picky pre-teen? i welcome any suggestions.

what's the weather like in your neck of the woods?

has fall arrived yet?

(F21 blazer, Lulu's tee; DIY denim; Nine West sneakers)

bohemian chic.

bohemian can mean different things depending on the individual. in general, the look gives off a romantic and free-spirited feeling. it's easy to say you want to look like nicole richie but difficult to execute, so make sure to tailor the look to suit your personal style.

here's the breakdown of my bohemian outfit:

(and ideas for creating yours)

1. a soft, flowy dress

(think gauzy dresses, soft flared denim, comfortable maxi skirts, denim cutoffs)

2. tie dye pattern and ruffled hem

(details - unconventional patterns, embellishments and embroidery, crochet insets, fringe)

3. cute sandals
(think open-toed sandals or slippers for dresses, chunky platforms for flared denim)

4. a crossbody bag

(satchels, sling bags, natural fabrics or colorful patchwork)

5. loose waves

(keep hair unfussy with natural loose waves or a messy bun, or throw in a braid or try a headscarf)

(necklaces top to bottom: kendra scott; capwell & co.; 9th & elm)

6. pile on the jewelry

(instead of one statement necklace, try layering several pieces in varying lengths; add a second or third ring)

i didn't do this last one because it's still hot here, but...

7. layer up

play around with proportions and lengths. a long scarf is just right over a tee and flared denim, cardigans and jackets layered over dresses, and kimonos over cutoffs.

i have a hard time finding bracelets that fit, so i have been loving jewelry inspired tattoos like these from flash tattoos. they are super easy to apply and last at least a week for me. after i cut the length to fit my wrist, i love using the extra on my fingers as rings. however, the rings don't last as long since i wash my hands a lot. good enough for a night out, though!

(dress via local boutique; JustFab bag;

Sole Society cooper shoes)

how would you rock a bohemian look?

try these:

the ankle boot.

if there is one boot you need for fall, it's the ankle boot. it's versatile and can be worn year round throughout the seasons. it works with shorts in the summer, skirts in the spring, and pants during fall and winter.

i'd normally rock this favorite button-up shirt + denim shorts combo with sneakers, but i decided to break out the boots...in the spirit of fall.

how are you rocking your ankle boots?

what is your boot style..tall, flat, riding?

(f21 shirt, DIY levis; JustFab luxe boots; love & sunshine clutch)

shop the look: