the must-have leopard clutch

Happy Monday! I'm taking a break from house renovations to tell you about a must-have in your closet. I have been eyeing this Clare V. clutch for some time now, and it's no secret that I have a slight {okay, large} love affair with leopard. I think that every woman needs to have a pair of leopard shoes, a leopard belt and a leopard clutch in her closet. It's the new neutral, y'all! Two of my favorite worlds collided :: Athens + leopard. Athens has such a special place in my heart and Heery's is one of their most fabulous stores. They've been an Athens staple and are celebrating their 30th anniversary soon! Now Heery's is carrying Clare Vivier {among other fabulous brands}, so I had the perfect excuse to pop over to Athens for a Last Resort dinner {duh} and a new clutch.

This clutch goes with EVERYTHING. It's perfect for dressing up, down and in between and the material is SO soft.

1) Casual with pattern mixing :: leopard is perfect for dressing up a casual tee + jeans and mixing with patterns like stripes and polka dots. {striped tee from Nordstrom Rack, Forever 21 neon rhinestone bib necklace , Paige denim + MK watch} -136-160

2) Dressing up with your LBD :: the perfect pop of pattern for your simple go-to LBD. {Little black Forever 21 shift dress + Stella & Dot Phoenix pendant}-228-250

3) Everything in between :: Whether it's a night out on the town or lunch with friends, the leopard clutch can go with you wherever your heart desires; from hot pinks to neutrals, work to play. {Kendra Scott neon yellow Rayne necklace} -112

Have I convinced you that you need this Clare V. leopard foldover clutch yet? For all you thrifty shoppers - I promise it's worth the investment. You'll find yourself reaching for this slice of perfection every time you leave the house.

So if you're in Athens, pop over to Heery's downtown and snag one! They'll be available on Heery's website soon, and for now you can purchase HERE if you can't stand the wait.

 

the linen blazer

Happy Monday! It's almost August which means we'll be starting that summer to fall transition in just a few short months. Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing style tips and suggestions to help you do it seamlessly and in ways you may not have thought. Today I'm talking about the linen blazer. Blazers can often be hot and heavy, especially your basic black. Transition your top half from season to season with a lightweight linen blazer; your bottom half can follow suit {see what I did there?!} when the cool is here to stay! Try a linen blazer in a lighter color; like a chambray, chartreuse or poppy red.

DSC_8375I love my sunflower yellow blazer {last season from LOFT} but I also love something about the collarless jacket. It adds a little bit of femininity and less structure to it, so it's perfect for taking from work to play. This one fits the bill, and this color is great on every skin tone ::

LOFT Cropped Linen Open Jacket

The linen blazer is perfect for throwing on during those in-between hot and cool months with a pair of shorts and a tank or even over a dress / skirt for work. How about a datenight?DSC_8404Roll your sleeves up exposing the inner lining for a more fun, casual and easy look. I love a good patterned blazer, like this one from Anthropologie ::

Anthropologie Southmark Blazer

How about a simple chambray? It's more casual for those of you who don't see a need for a blazer in your wardrobe. It can act as more of a lightweight jacket while giving you the polished look of a blazer.DSC_7839Try it in a light wash or dark wash depending on your preference, like these ::

GAP Ponte Twill Blazer

Eileen Fisher Linen Chambray Blazer

Anthropologie Quilted Chambray Blazer

So throw on your linen or lightweight blazer to help you make the transition from summer into fall; whether it's on a cool night out or in the office. And, stay tuned for more seasonal transition advice and tips in the days and weeks to come!

work it out

WORK IT OUTTGIF! I'm here to beg for forgiveness re :: my blogging hiatus... Things have been crazy busy for the Clymers because we just BOUGHT A HOUSE! {yay for no more renting, a house of our own and a fur baby (dog, of course) joining our family very soon!} I'll keep you updated with photos and progress as we go through the closing process, renovations and move-in, but now you know the reason behind my lameness. It's a pretty good excuse, right?

Today we're talking workout wear. I don't know about you, but when I am exercising regularly I feel SO much better; more energy, sleep better, and an all-around better attitude. But the cherry ontop of staying in shape is looking stylish while doing it. Don't lie... you know that new pair of shoes or Lulu top is a major motivator to get your butt in the gym!

I'm sharing some of my favorite pieces to keep you stylishly in shape ::

New Balance Mesh 711 in Neon Yellow

I recently purchased these babies and LOVE the bright citron color. They are also super lightweight, comfortable and airy.

I absolutely love Nordstrom's Zella brand. Everything is comfortable and flattering, and it's a fraction of the price of Lulu Lemon. Not to mention the cute colors and patterns!

Zella Girl 'Freedom' Space Dye Leggings {on super sale now!}

The charcoal color of this leggings is perfect for those of you who want a swap from basic black. It is still dark enough that it hides imperfections {bulges, cellulite, dimples and all that other fun stuff that we women love to deal with}

Zella Girl 'Tumble' Tank

I love the built-in bra in this top because, let's be honest, who wants to worry about a separate sports bra? SO last year.

Zella 'Essential' Jacket

This is called the 'Essential' Jacket because that's exactly what it is. The ruching down the front provides the ultimate figure-flattery and it creates a perfect hourglass figure. This is especially essential as fall approaches!

ALO is another great workout brand with unique styles. I love anything with an open or drapey back and these fit the bill ::

ALO Cinder L/S Top

ALO Vapor Top

So work it out in style; you'll be more motivated and feeling refreshed in no time!

going nautical

Summer is here, the Fourth of July is around the corner, and the nautical trend is isn't going anywhere! I'm headed to the beach tomorrow {yay!} which makes today the perfect time to talk  about going nautical with your look this summer; when done right, nautical is timeless, classic + chic. Not to mention the perfect amount of preppy.

Here's how to get it right ::

  • Start with cool blue stripes. A thinner stripe can go horizontal or vertical, but if you go thicker, make sure it's vertical for slimming reasons.

calypso-69

Old Navy Cap-Sleeve Chiffon Blouse

  • Add a warm accessory or statement. Yes, you've got the BLUES, in essence, but don't go too crazy with it! Add some contrast with another color, particularly a warm one if your stripes are cool.

nautical stripes

get the look :: Kate Spade York Avenue Small City Duffle

  • Don't be too matchy. This is more of a *life rule* that just happens to also apply to the nautical trend. Don't match your shoes to the exact blue hue in your blouse. Don't do the matching earring / necklace set. Don't be afraid to add something bright and bold into your nautical look, like neon, or play around with complimentary colors.

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Kendra Scott Rayne Necklace in Neon Yellow

 So there you have it, nautical done right! This summer, pair your nautical with any denim; from white, to dark, to coral or mango.

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Wishing you a happy Fourth of July week ahead! Tomorrow, we'll kick it off with our Beauty Giveaway, just in time for your sunny weekend plans. If you haven't entered, now is your LAST CHANCE! Click here and leave your comment to enter.

stay stylishly patriotic this 4th of July!

The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and today I'm bringing you some outfit inspiration to stay true to the red, white & blue in style! Whether you're headed to a backyard barbecue, the lake or beach, or a fireworks show in the park, you can ditch the Old Navy flag tees from 1990 {yes, you know what I'm talking about! Don't act like your family of 4 never did the matching Old Navy tee move on the 4th of July...}

How about pulling the colors together in a simple, non-cheesy way? Not only are these pieces great for your 4th celebrations, but they are classic staples that will remain versatile in your closet for the rest of the summer ::

 

Courtney summer-98-2

 

Courtney summer-3-2

Courtney summer-108-2

 Here's how you can get the look ::

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Stay cool, stylish + patriotic this 4th of July!