A Casual Look for the Holidays

The Holiday season means lots of time with family, friends... and deciding what to wear.  Just because you're entertaining, or going to someone else's shindig, doesn't mean you have to pull out the dress and cable knit tights.

It's all about layers, textures, and adding some jewelry to tie it all together.

This is the outfit I wore on Thanksgiving Day, prior to eating an unhealthy amount of turkey, stuffing, and three types of pies.

I started with a go-to heather gray t-shirt layered over a white tank.  I then wore a Chambray button down, left open, with a faux fur vest.  Dark Jeans rolled at the bottom were paired with argyle socks and sherpa lined suede wedge booties.

To top it off, I wore my grandmother's vintage rings with my bold wood bracelet, and my layered beaded bracelet on the other arm.  I layered my other grandmother's gold necklace with my Turquoise and Wood Beaded Necklace and Multi Tribal Wood Necklace.

...And Wallah!  A polished look that is comfy, casual, but still put together and festive!

{Target Gray T-shirt, White Tank, Chambray Button-Down, and Faux Fur Vest; Hudson Jeans; Vintage Socks; Black and White Photos in background courtesy of my talented dad, Michael Marks}

BIGGEST SALE EVER!!!!

Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday.... 

THEY ARE ALL FINALLY HERE!!!  

And to show just how extra-specially thankful I am this year for my family, friends, and all of you, I'm having the biggest sale ever!!!

Visit my Etsy shop today, November 26, through Monday, December 1, and receive 30% off with coupon code: THANKFUL

That's right, 30% off!  That's big!  Get all of the lovely ladies on your list something they'll love!  While you're at it, get some jewelry for yourself, too!

So what are you waiting for?!  Go!!! 

www.etsy.com/shop/rebeccamarksdesign

Something Old, Something New

My little brother got married a few weeks ago in the lovely Fredericksburg, Virginia.  Anyone that has a younger sibling understands how weird it is when they get hitched.  Not weird in a bad way, just weird that they aren't little anymore.  You have been protective of them all these years, and now they're all grown up.

For their wedding, his wife asked if I could take her mother's veil from the early '80s and make it something more modern and simple for her to wear on their big day.  The veil was a lace cage headpiece with pearl details.  Lightweight tulle with a lace trim was attached for the veil, as well as a tulle blusher.

Kristen, the lovely bride, decided she did not want to have a blusher and wanted to keep the veil in it's original state.  However, the cage headpiece had to go.  She wanted to somehow incorporate a piece of the lace from the headpiece, but in a much more understated way.  We decided to keep it simple and create a small comb that rest at the back of her head.  The veil would be attached, and we would use some of the original pearls in the comb.

First, I removed the veil and blusher.

I then removed a section of the lace and reattached a section of the pearl trim.  The original headpiece was made with pieces of lace laid over horsehair fabric, which is used to keep the shape and stabilize the lace.  Because of the age and construction of the headpiece, I had to piece together bits of horsehair from other areas.  

It then looked like this.  I reshaped the wire at the bottom and removed a section of the side.  I used the original clear plastic comb and reattached it to the top of the new hairpiece.  I also applied the loose pearls in random places so it did not create an obvious pattern.

The final product?

{first and final photos courtesy of Tait Photography}

www.taitphoto.com

For those Stylin' Little Girls

Baubles and beads aren't just for us big kids!  My daughter already loves putting on mommy's bracelets, rings, and scarves.  (That's my girl!!!)  So why not get your little girl, niece, grand-daughter, or any mini-buddy a pint sized accessory to brighten her day!

www.etsy.com/shop/rebeccamarksdesign

I Said I'd Never Move to New Jersey

I am currently parked in a lot that sits beside a beautiful lake in Spruce Run National Park.  Random?  Here's why...

As you may or may not know, I'm from Virginia. I was born in Maryland, but moved when I was two, so Virginia was what I always called home. And while I don't live there anymore, it will always have a piece of my heart. That being said, growing up, I always thought of New Jersey as kind of a, well, trashy place. Hey, I can say that. People from New Jersey think that Virginia folk marry their cousins... Also not true. As I was saying, I always imagined New Jersey to be like the show "Jersey Shore."  I said I'd never date anyone from there and I'd definitely never live there.

Never say never.

I now am married to an amazing guy born and raised in New Jersey, and have lived here for the last six years. And I don't think I'll be going anywhere anytime soon seeing as how we just bought a house about 2 1/2 months ago.

Anyway, the reason I'm telling you all this is because today I took an unplanned drive through the middle of nowhere. Surprisingly, there's a lot of that in New Jersey. Who knew. To know me is to know I love taking drives off the beaten path to find new and unexplored territory.

My drive began with a trip to the grocery store but a minute away from my turn, my 13-month-old daughter fell asleep in the back seat. Based on the fact that she has given up on naps for the past week and a half and desperately needed one, I decided to let her sleep.

I passed my turn and wandered down a two-lane road into the town of Hampton. It's not far from where I live, but I've never really driven through. It was especially beautiful because all of the leaves are changing and people have out, as my dad would say, their festive Halloween hazarai (yiddush for junk).

A nap and inspiration for jewelry!  Perfect!

The Holiday Decorations are Already in Stores!

After running a few errands in the last week or so, I have come to realize that the holiday season is just around the corner.  Trick-or-Treating hasn't even happened yet, but the fake snow and ornaments are out in stores.  Crazy.  And just as soon as Halloween passes, you'll be sitting around the table for turkey and thinking of all the gifts you have to buy for family and friends for the holiday season.  So before that panic hits and you're completely stressed out, let me help!  I've been working on the perfect holiday pieces for you and your lady friends!

Apple Picking, Pumpkin Patches, and Scarecrows...Oh My!

Just because you're running around with all the Fall Festivities, doesn't mean you can't add a little extra something to your ensemble.  Dress up your favorite weekend T-shirt and Jean combo with a bold Autumn-inspired necklace.  Change into some cute flats (no, not your running sneakers), and you instantly look polished, from the hayride to date night!

Don't forget, use code FALLINLOVE for 20% off your entire purchase from my etsy shop! www.etsy.com/shop/rebeccamarksdesign