There are no shortages of chic and affordable timepieces as of late, so when MVMT reached out to me about featuring one of their watches I agreed mostly because I fell in love with this unique purple watch, and partly because I think their name is really clever. They were also kind enough to extend a 15% discount to my readers with code CHICLYDDIE15.
Of course if I'm being honest, this outfit is more about the bag, the Dip by Yuzefi which I spotted on another blogger's arm sometime last fall. First I balked at its $700ish price tag, and then I beat myself up for not nabbing it at 60% off before it went out of stock at Net-a-Porter. But then, as I always do, I set up my saved searches, and when this snake embossed version came up on eBay, I quickly snapped it up for $115.
I'm always very drawn to bags that are structural and statement making, while still being functional*. I love how the design allows you to easily switch from carrying by the top handle to the shoulder strap without needing to hook/unhook the strap or having the top handle be in the way.
I know, I'm just a bit obsessed with bags, and now I have a new designer to love, I mean, just look how cute this 'Dinner Roll' bag is!
*You know I use the term functional somewhat loosely, as long as my phone, my tiny wallet, and my car key fit, then it's functional enough!
The Rundown Wrap Blouse Banana Republic similar Faux Suede LeggingsAnn Taylor Camel Striped CardiganAnn Taylor Leather Sneakers Sperryvia TJMaxx Bag"Dip"Yuzefisecondhand via eBay Earrings Banana Republic Paperclip Chain Necklace Cote D'argent via TJMaxx similar Watch "Vibe" c/o MVMT Papercilp Chain Bracelet c/o MVMT Thin Gold RingEtsy Midi Stackable Diamond Ring c/o AUrate New York Chevron RingSashivia TJMaxx SunglassesRay-Banvia TJMaxx
Since turning 30, um, a year and a half ago, I've been on a mission to finally rid myself of the acne that has been plaguing me since 13. I've changed up my skin care routine, swapping my physical exfoliant for a chemical one, in addition to cutting down the number of times I use it to twice a week. I've tried weaning my skin off of benzoyl peroxide and using a rosehip oil as an alternative every other night. I've switched up my birth control, made a conscious effort to drink more water, and take regular make up breaks.
While my acne has never been super bad, it's always been pretty consistent. For the most part, thanks to makeup and more so the healing brush tool, I never let anyone see it here. I've actually been photoshopping acne out of my life for 18 years.
Several months ago my sister sent me an article about how a person gave up dairy for a month and their skin was completely transformed - do a quick search and you can find of number of such accounts - clear, glowing skin after a few weeks and I'll I'd have to do was ditch dairy.
But I love cheese. I mean, I LOVE cheese. I'm the kinda girl who goes into Whole Foods and spends $30 on two pieces of cheese... I can just close my eyes and think about that Mightnight Moon Gouda... Of course it's not just cheese - it's my morning coffee, yogurt, ice cream, and present in 90% of menu items in any restaurant which isn't asian. So I delayed the experiment until I could come up with a month when I'd miss dairy the least, and landed on October.
Eating ice cream out is pretty much exclusively dairy, unless you happen to live near a place specializing in vegan treats. I wasn't about to deprive myself of a single lick of my favorites over the summer, which was a big factor in my October decision. However there were still plenty of warm nights when ice cream was in order. Thankfully there was SO Delicious chocolate truffle cashew ice cream, and it tastes nearly as good as the dairy stuff. The price tag on the other hand, is a far cry from a Bryers two for $5 sale.
Cheese of course was the hardest thing to eliminate, since it's pretty much my go-to snack, and I'll put it in pretty much everything. No pizza, no mac and cheese, no salads with feta or goat, no grilled cheese; not realizing how overwhelmingly present cheese is in food dishes really made eating out an issue.
One thing I did not give up was butter. I tried to avoid it when I could, but it's butter. I wasn't about to decline a slice of apple pie because the crust was made with butter!
Now my month is up, and as for my skin, it's definitely not glowing. As usual I consistently got whiteheads throughout the month. First on my right cheek, then my left, and finally on my jawline. The last one cleared up on Saturday. A new one has not appeared... yet. The true test would be to continue to abstain from dairy and see what happens. If I went another month and didn't breakout at all, I might have something conclusive. But I ate pizza last night because I really wanted pizza. I'll see what happens. Though unlike some people who tried this experiment, I experienced no ill effects from that pizza. No stomach ache or bloating or sign from my body screaming "no! dairy is bad!" All I experienced was the deliciousness of cheese I've been missing.
And no, there are not any before and after photos, just my usual, with blemishes removed.
Mornings and evenings have been downright chilly, and there is nothing like waking up to 58° to make me want to pull out the suede culottes, which in combination with a punchy floral, rust mules, and a straw bag toe the line between summer and fall.
It's clear that the summertime allows my style to become much more playful. Colors and prints are worn without reservation, and the round rattan bag has been the anchor. When JORD contacted me to review one of their stunning wood watches, I decided to go with the Frankie style in the zebrawood and champagne, as I love the light natural shade of the wood and the gold hardware (because I love gold everything, and while I might have chosen the navy face, it's silver hardware was just not going to work for me). The unique wood watch could not be a more perfect compliment to the rattan bag, and my summer style right now. The watch is also quite the conversation piece - very few people have ever encountered a wood watch!
I really love how lightweight and comfortable the watch is to wear - also it's worth noting that this is the smaller version of the Frankie with the 35mm watch face rather than the 45mm, which is more sized for men.
This past winter I gave Sean a watch for Christmas, even though he was adamant that he was not a watch person. Well, that certainly did change and now he won't leave the house without it. JORD has some gorgeous men's watches and even offers engraving, plus they come in a gorgeous wood box with a magnetic lid, which would make for such a perfect gift - even though it's August and I don't want to think about the holiday season yet, it doesn't hurt to have an idea in the back of my mind!
Whatever your summer style may be, you are likely to find a JORD watch to fit it, and JORD is offering one Chic on the Cheap reader a $100 gift code, but everyone who enters will receive a $25 gift code! Everybody wins!
Floral Skirt Vintage Ann Taylor similar MulesMadewell Round Rattan BagAndakasa Hoop Earrings Wendy Mink similar Wood Watch "Frankie" c/o JORD Gold Wrap Ring Gift from Meg Crystal Bar Ring Upper Metal Class Sunglasses "Meteor"Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx
JORD provided me with this watch and is sponsoring the giveaway. As always, my views and opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands who support Chic on the Cheap!
Each day I do everything I can to draw positive energy into my life.
I took a little unintentional four day blog weekend, as the days have been full and my energy levels have been a bit low lately. I wish I could say it was a restful weekend, but alas it was quite the contrary.
The only reason I'm even making this post happen is because these photos are from a few weeks ago and I had the post layed out, but I just kept pushing it back for one reason or another - which is silly as it's got both blooms and Chloe, two things which will always bring a smile to my face!
It seems to be shaping up to be a very busy month, Easter this weekend, then several events, family gatherings, and celebrations. I often find myself in the position of wanting to achieve more than I can manage at once, and heaven forbid I have two events in one weekend - how will I survive? I'm trying to focus on being proactive, planning and scheduling, but sometimes it's okay to just call it a night and let things be undone. It's entirely possible I may never get the clutter in my apartment under control or have all my blog posts scheduled before the end of the weekend, but I can still try, and try to find the most happiness in life that I can.
I'll admit to having a little weakness to participating in the current trends, like the draped trench. Though for under $20, this blush coat from Zaful is a decent option to avoid making a trendy piece an investment piece.
Trench coat might be a term I use to describe this loosely; the material does have a nice drape to it, but the weight and feel are more akin to what you might wear as loungewear rather than outerwear. It is definitely not waterproof, and was not about to keep me warm on a chilly spring day. That aside, the coat certainly has a dramatic flare, and fills the void for a fun colored coat at a price point that likely won't elicit any buyer's remorse.
The Rundown Sequined Striped Tee The Limited Yoga Jeans Second Denimvia Coco & Vera's Giveaway Blush Draped Trench c/o Zaful Toe Cap Heels Me Too via TJMaxx similar Wool Fedora H&M similar Leopard ClutchClare V. c/o Shopbop Watch"Classic Sheffield" c/o Daniel Wellington Gold Bracelets The Cavernous Jewelry Box Pearl and Pave Ring Forever 21 similar Gold Circle Ring Thrifted
