Look Good, Do Good: Color by Amber

My leopard skinny bangle!

Sustainable jewelry brand Color by Amber boasts incredibly cute, unique pieces and does good in so many ways.  In addition to being a carbon neutral, zero waste company (yeah, you read that right, nada, zip, zilch), CBA also supports women, villages, and families in the developing world.

CBA’s signature pieces are made with printed materials, called “interlayers,” encased in resin made in part with plastic from recycled milk jugs.  The interlayers are either made in countries around the world by primarily female artisans, or from fabric that would otherwise have been thrown away.  Some have special meaning, like prayer leaves from China.  Plus, the company is super supportive of their artisans, providing higher than fair trade wages and giving back to each community in the ways they most need, from water treatment to getting books for kids, as part of their Full Circle program.  One artisan in Mexico, Cece, became the first woman in her family to be able to afford land after working with CBA.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of the brand’s signature “skinny” bracelets, made from the ends of fabric rolls that would have otherwise been thrown away.  They’re resin bangles that are totally made for stacking, and are super comfy and light.   They come in countless colors and prints, but I chose leopard, obviously.  

Click below for some of my other picks from the collection:

https://andreaburke.mycolorbyamber.com/shop/product/traveler-explorenecklace-map

https://andreaburke.mycolorbyamber.com/shop/product/classic-gemearrings-glassygrape

https://andreaburke.mycolorbyamber.com/shop/product/urban-1cuff-goldsequins

The brand is sold by individual stylists.  Want to snag some of these fab pieces for yourself?  My pal Andrea’s online boutique is having a major sale through January 31.  Half of her inventory is 25% off!  

Shop her boutique and learn more here.

For more deets on this cool and kind brand, check out their YouTube channel.

Happy shopping, happy holidays, and here’s to supporting women everywhere.

 

This is a promoted post.

Baby I Could Build a Castle Out of All the Bricks they Threw at Me.

I know, I know, it’s been FOREVER.

But moving on.  I love the east coast in the fall, and how awesome it feels to be walking through the fallen leaves, not too hot and not too cold in a crisp fall look.  And this dress is my favorite fall find.

I mean, look at the fringe!!!

This dress is also exceptional in that it was pulled for me by a salesperson, and anyone who knows me knows that I usually hate the suggestions salespeople make.  I am a master shopper.  I have perused the floor.  You do not know me.  If I didn’t pull it, there was probably a reason.

But then this wonderful saleslady shows me this plaid Rails shirt dress all, “What do you think about this?” and I say GIMME GIMME GIMME.  That is the moment we fell in love (me and the dress I mean.  I’m sure the saleslady is a lovely person too).

Rails is a brand known for their super-comfy, super-casual plaid shirts.  This high-fashion take on their staple was not something I expected from them, so I was very excited.  It was very reasonably priced for such a fashion-y piece and is, of course, very soft.

It’s a little straight up-and-down and maybe one day I’ll wear it with a belt, but I think I prefer to keep the accessories super minimal.  This look needed to be all about the dress, so I went with some simple faux-diamond studs and my go-to silver bangle.  Edgy stacked heels ground it.  Although it’s not shown here, I naturally carried my staple black Stella McCartney Falabella bag with silver hardware.

What I’m wearing:

• Rails dress
• Charlotte Russe shoes
• Earrings from M2 boutique
• Michael Michael Kors bracelet

And as I wear every day, my Aunt Florence’s watch.  Since I’ve last posted I’ve added a new personal piece to my every day wear, an Alex and Ani “Love” bangle I got at my internship at Girl’s Life Magazine this past summer.

Title is a line from “New Romantics” by Taylor Swift.  It’s been so long since my last post I’ve barely gotten to gush about or use lyrics from 1989.

Happy fall and happy Halloween everyone! ❤

And for once it might be grand, to have someone understand I want so much more than they’ve got planned.

And for once it might be grand, to have someone understand I want so much more than they’ve got planned. by rtlove featuring blossom jewelry

Check Out My Blog Post for Art Effect

I recently had to pleasure of writing a post as a guest blogger for Art Effect boutique in Chicago, which has a really great selection of everything from cool dresses to faux leather jackets to to-die for statement necklaces.  Check it out here.

I Dared You to Kiss Me and Ran When You Tried

I Dared You to Kiss Me and Ran When You Tried by rtlove featured in taylor swift style

Sometimes We Reach What’s Realest by Making Believe

  

As promised, a foray into denim on denim.  I didn’t really feel like I was doing denim double-duty because the chambray shirt was printed, but nonetheless this was something really different for me.

And I loved it.

I felt very streetstyle-y.  The monochromatic/monotextile (not a word, gonna pretend it is) top and jeans were a great base for louder pieces, like my ever-unique favorite Moschino Cheap and Chic jacket.  The look was multi-dimensional, because even the base, the top and jeans, had interest–the polka dots on top and the rips in the jeans that clashed with/accented the classic, sophisticated jacket beautifully.  And a pop of color in a bright, structured handbag is a must.

I like the couple pieces of jewelry I chose.  The horse pendant necklace was just the right tone of gold, subdued and not too yellow, not too loud.  And of course a personal touch, a nod to my love of all animals, especially horses.  My Kendra Scott mint earrings I got for Christmas were a perfect match to the jacket.

And nude flats, easy, perfect finishing touch with the BF jeans.  The shoes didn’t need to be another attention-grabbing element of the outfit, just something that kept it streamlined.  I have these Boutique Nine faux patent flats in 5 colors.  The most comfortable things ever, and I’m so glad it’s finally back to being flats weather!

What I wore yesterday:

• Moschino Cheap and Chic jacket
• Rag & Bone boyfriend jeans
• LOFT shirt
• Boutique 9 flats
• Aldo bag
• Express necklace
• Kendra Scott earrings
• Aunt Florence’s watch

Post title from “Ever Ever After” by Carrie Underwood from the awesome movie Enchanted.

Always feel awesome in what you wear.

xoxo

They Might be Bigger, But We’re Faster and Never Scared

Belated post of Monday’s Look.

Preppy and edgy blended together.  As you know, this blazer is a fave and makes every look more sophisticated and put together.  I have never knotted a belt the way I did here, but seeing other girls do it and wanting to wear a skinny belt but only having one that was too long (necessity is the mother of invention) prompted me to try it.  I loved the effortless, interest-adding effect.  Plaid is a contradiction in a print–it is as iconic for the punks as the preps.  Edgy silver jewelry, like this studded bracelet and my fringe earrings, played off the punky side of black and red plaid, as did my Falabella bag, but velvet slipper loafers, the belt, and the blazer nodded to the print’s preppy heritage.

I love these Marc by Marc Jacobs slipper loafers. The velvet texture makes any outfit fresh, the color is almost a neutral, and the cute little owls are awesome!  I get lots of compliments on these.   Not to mention they’re a MBMJ shoe that’s not leather!

Last time I wore this dress it ripped a bit along the bottom side seam, but I actually think it needed a slit to make it easier to walk in.  Thanks so much to my suitemate Abby for sewing that up for me!

What I’m Wearing:

• Forever 21 maxi dress
• Ann Taylor blazer and tights
• Marc by Marc Jacobs shoes
• Tasha bracelet from Nordstrom
• Akira earrings
• Necklace from Kristen
• Stella McCartney bag
• Target belt

Post title from “Change” by Taylor Swift

I Know Watcha Like, I Know Whatcha Think, Not Afraid to Stare You Down Until You Blink

I Know Watcha Like, I Know Whatcha Think, Not Afraid to Stare You Down Until You Blink by rtlove featured in selena gomez style

We Came To Live Life Like Nobody Was Watching

 

Monday’s look.  I felt so pretty!

I am so proud of this blazer/dress combo.  This is a great example of how to mix prints (though you may have heard all this before): Large scale with small, similar colors, yadda yadda yadda.  I think this combo works especially well because the color of the dress is an accent color in the jacket, making it pulled-together but not matchy-matchy.

I used accessories to pull out other colors in the jacket:  My favorite seahorse necklace to pull out the mint and my old go-to green Aldo bag to highlight the darker greens.

This jacket is a new fave.  It’s Rag & Bone and I got such a fantastic deal on it–I found it for half price at a T.J. MAXX Runway store (the Runway stores are special, they have more high designer pieces–from Tory Burch skirts to Moschino cardigans to Alice and Olivia jackets to PS1 wallets.  I even saw a Valentino dress there last time!), and then I used a store credit to cut THAT price in half.  Gotta love it.  It fits amazingly and the colors freshen a classic floral print.  I spent a good many hours on Sunday reading the latest issue of Glamour, and there was a fantastic feature on Marcus Wainwright and David Neville of Rag & Bone and their families.  They’ve each got three kids and seem like really nice guys.  Reading about the brand’s conception and heritage made me even more excited to rock this jacket the next day (and y’all have seen my amazing Rag & Bone BF jeans).

Speaking of the new issue of Glamour, I really suggest picking it up.  It’s the 75th anniversary issue and it’s full of fantastic articles.  Literally every time I turned the page there was another AMAZING story.  Just to name a few:

• Interview and shoot with cover girl Taylor Swift
• A list of the top 75 women of the past 75 years, including a timeline of Glamour covers
• A beauty shoot and interview with new it-girl Lupita Nyongo
• A piece by Jimmy Fallon on his new show and new baby
• A shoot of Allison Williams looking gorgeous in fantastic metallics
• A laugh-out-loud article describing a woman’s attempts to go one whole week without griping
• Just in time for Valentine’s Day, a collection of stories of women remembering their relationship “firsts”

Anywho, that made my Sunday all the brighter.

What I’m wearing:

• Ultra Flirt dress from Macy’s (also a great deal–I think it was like $17)
• Rag & Bone blazer from T.J. MAXX Runway
• MANGO necklace
• Bracelets from Nordstrom (I think they’re Anne Klein?)
• Betsey Johnson earrings
• Aldo bag
• Anne Taylor tights
• Madden Girl boots

Have a great week, I’ll have a romantic Valentine’s outfit for you Friday!

Post title from “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis