the ultra-cheapy lbd

Happy Friday! Today we're talking about the LBD because, well, it's Friday. If you've got fun weekend plans with your girls or your man, the LBD might be in your future. And the best news for all you bargain shoppers and deal hunters? This one won't break the bank. It comes in at UNDER $20 {$17.80 to be exact}. "But Courtney," you might say, "if it's under $20, there is no way it is made well." To which I would answer, "You're probably right." Let's be honest, we all know the quality of Forever 21 doesn't rival Neiman's or Nordy's, but we also know that sometimes we need to grab that cheap little number for a certain occasion, and this fits the bill.

You can dress it up or down, layer with a cardigan, blazer or vest into the fall and add tights and boots in the winter. It's a year-round dress with a flattering cut at the shoulders and high neckline, and although it's a shift dress, it's fitted enough that you won't feel the need to belt it.

One of my favorite go-to statement pendants, the Stella & Dot Phoenix pairs perfectly with this neckline. It also transitions seamlessly from summer, to fall, to winter to spring.

Top it off with a leopard clutch and your favorite heels or booties, and you're ready to go!

 I'll be transitioning this LBD into the fall, so stay tuned for more versatile ways to wear it from season to season!

Wishing you a fun + stylish weekend ahead, whatever your plans may be!

spotlight on :: Kendra Scott Jewels

It's almost the weekend {yay!} so let's have a little fun. Today I'm spotlighting one of my favorite new brands, Kendra Scott. You've probably heard of her jewelry and seen her famous and unique pieces around town. She's done a great job with her branding; her designs are recognizable and coveted. Let's call her the Tory Burch of jewelry, shall we?

I have found myself accessorizing with her jewelry almost every day. The Rayne tassel necklace is the perfect addition to any of your blousey tops, and the Harlow is the perfect statement piece. Kendra Scott bangles have become my everyday stacking pieces. Oh, and can we talk about the earrings? I could go on and on.

One of the main things I love about her pieces is the TONE of the metal. Many golds can be too yellow-y or overly brassy. Her gold pieces are just the right tone and hue to compliment most all skintones.

THE RAYNE

The Kendra Scott 'Rayne' tassel necklace comes in way more colors than I can count and is the perfect staple long necklace. Every woman should have two types of long gold necklaces in their closet :: neutral + a pop of color. This rose quartz rayne has become my go-to neutral, while I swap between the magenta and neon yellow for the perfect pop of color.

THE HARLOW

The Harlow is Kendra Scott's signature statement piece. I love the way the stones fall on your neck; it is the perfect size and length and is sure to add that extra something to any outfit.

THE DANIELLE EARRINGS + JORDANA BANGLES + CASSIE BRACELET

How 'bout these statement earrings? I love this pop of pink as it pairs well with an array of cool tones in your closet. You can even add these to an all black outfit for a dramatic effect. Not to mention these bangles have become my favorite new stacking pieces. Add to your watch, wear by themselves, or stack with other bracelets, like the Cassie.

You can now shop all of these Kendra Scott goodies if you're in the Atlanta area. Head over to her dreamy store at The Shops Around Lenox and pick yourself up some treats. Be sure to tell them Courtney from LifeStyled sent you!

Another piece of advice? Go ahead and sign up for their email list to receive notifications on events, specials and sales.

nordstrom anni sale :: my favorite picks

It's that time of year again... the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale {Early Access} is here! For those of you who know about this sale, you know why there is a line forming outside of the doors at 10am on the first day. And for those of you who don't know about it, that should pretty much sum it up. During the Anniversary Sale, Nordstrom marks down TONS of fall {and more} clothing, shoes, and accessories before the fall season starts; great deals and huge savings! I shopped this sale with three clients yesterday and came up with a list of my favorite items. So today you're in luck; I'm sharing it with you!

Keep in mind, you must have a Nordstrom Card {credit or debit} to begin shopping the sale early access now, both online & in stores. It does not open to the public until July 18 {yes, they actually have all of the merchandise into a secret tent that you may not enter without a card}, so you still have a week! You also earn double points when you shop this sale early access. But hurry - things go fast. If you find something you like in stores or online, buy it...YESTERDAY!

Keep in mind: these items are all things that I have seen in person and tried on myself, or had clients try on. So without further ado, here are my Nordstrom Anni Sale faves ::

So run on over to Nordstrom or access the sale online; you will be glad you did. And remember, the sale opens to the public on July 18th. Happy shopping + happy weekend!

made in america :: part one

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a Happy Fourth of July and a relaxing weekend. Our beach trip is officially over, and I am still refusing to accept that it's back to the real world. Anyone else? So in honor of the great U.S.A., we're kicking off a series highlighting some of my favorite brands and products that are made right here in America...

Today for part one, I'm highlighting a fun little company based here in Atlanta that makes beaded tassel jewelry :: Just Peachy. Rachel with Just Peachy Blog is a fellow fashionista and her lovely tassel necklaces were a welcomed addition into my casual wardrobe! These are so easy and fun to throw on with anything from a tee, to a basic dress by adding some bright colors & some tribal flair.

This  beaded necklace with hints of coral and lavender paired perfectly with a basic navy + white striped tee.

How about this citrine green paired with fuchsia accents? Two of my favorite bright colors combined into one. Perfect for pairing with chambray and much more. {paired here with chambray LOFT romper}I am also loving Rachel's other tassel necklaces {like this peach tassel below}, some of which are available in her ETSY shop. {custom orders welcomed}

LIFEstyled loves supporting local businesses and products! If you have any suggestions or own a business yourself, we'd love to hear from you!

Stay tuned tomorrow for part two of our 'Made in America' series, where I'm sharing my new favorite beach coverup and many more fab items from a fun Chicago company!

my FAVORITE go-to necklace

Happy Friday, y'all! Today let's talk about my favorite necklace. This necklace screams my name every time I open my jewelry box, and it's no wonder why. It's versatile, neutral, fun and sophisticated. Enter, the fabulous, timeless and perfect PEGASUS.

I'm not kidding when I say I wear this several times a week. And with a not-so-cheap pricetag, I have TOTALLY gotten my money's worth. It goes with everything, from day to night, from casual to formal.

See? I told you I wear it all the time ::

...the Pegasus really has it all! If you're looking for the perfect neutral and versatile addition to your jewelry wardrobe, look no further. I can promise you WON'T regret it!

Wishing you all a happy, stylish weekend ahead! Until next week...

spotlight :: Peter Pilotto for Target

Happy Wednesday! I hope all of you had a fabulous Memorial Day weekend with family and friends. Thank you to all of the men and women who sacrifice for our freedom!

Today, as I'm getting back into the groove of things, I'm highlighting the Peter Pilotto for Target line. These edgy, bold patterns are perfect for summer and only need minimal accessorizing. Here's a Peter Pilotto dress I scored on clearance for $11.88. And now, all of the Peter Pilotto line is now on clearance on Target's website so you can score some great deals!

Here are some summer favorites {for CHEAP!} on the Target website ::

So there you have it... The bold & spunky Peter Pilotto line for Target, all at clearance prices! That's a way to try a new fashion statement without breaking the bank. And, stay tuned for this Peter Pilotto look to be featured on Style Under 40.

Tomorrow, I'm talking about the summer sweater!

Until then - stay stylish,

spotlight :: addiction jewelry

TGIF and Happy Memorial Day weekend! Today I'm spotlighting a new favorite jewelry line of mine :: Addiction Jewelry by Nazy Rad. I love stacking these beaded bracelets that are all the rage and can now be found in Bloomingdale's! These coral, gold and citrine bracelets are now my go-to ::

Here's a kickstart to your long weekend! Addiction jewelry {already discounted on their website} is offering an extra 20% off exclusively for LIFEstyled readers! While their new site is under construction, simply visit and browse HERE and enter the code "LIFESTYLED" at checkout. Code valid through next Sunday, June 1st.

Here are some of my personal favorites ::

Happy Shopping and Happy Weekend!

Until Tuesday,

spring chic :: the shorts + blazer look

Many women wonder how to dress up their shorts in the summer. Shorts can be thought of as more of a daytime staple, but they can be dressed up and taken into nighttime just as easily as a pair of pants or a dress! One look I am loving is the shorts + blazer combo :: the ease and comfort of shorts, paired with the polished look of a blazer. What could be better? Here is how I did it with my favorite LOFT chambray blazer and a pair of fun patterned shorts. The key? Choosing a lightweight blazer for the maximum breathability. Bring it with you and throw it on when you get chilly!

My LOFT blazer is sold out online, but you can still find it in stores. Here are some other great summer blazer options ::

 Statement Necklace {now on SUPER sale!} ::

Unfortunately, my patterned shorts are oldies from JCrew several seasons ago and I refuse to part with them. But here are some patterned shorts options available now ::

Until Tomorrow, style lovers!

Photo Credit :: JNelly Photography

www.jnelly.com

Instagram :: jnellyphotastic

tuesday's trend alert :: neons

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend with friends and family. The weather was absolutely gorgeous {here in Atlanta, at least} and my hubby and I had such a relaxing weekend, our first in awhile without any set plans or places to be. Aren't those kinds of weekends so nice & refreshing?!

Tuesday's trend alert highlights bright neons and how to wear them. NEON is a scary word. It means bold, bright and sometimes obnoxious. But what you pair neon with is key. Here are two of my favorite neon outfits I've pulled out for spring thus far ::

And, a few favorite neon accessories ::

So don't be afraid to brighten up your wardrobe with a little pop of neon! As long as you're balancing it out with a complimentary color or neutral, you can rock it with confidence.

Don't forget, the LIFEstyled GILT CITY deal expires on Thursday, April 24th! That means you have two more days to take advantage of the one-hour wardrobe consult offer or get your Wardrobe Revamp at a huge discount! I would love to work with you in your spring wardrobe. You can check it out HERE

Until tomorrow!

Courtney

working girl wednesday :: pretty in pastels

Hey all you working women :: the week is almost over! Today we're highlighting a spring trend that you can take with you into the workplace, pastels. Pastels are girly and flirty and even better with your sunny spring tan! Colors like lilac and periwinkle can compliment your neutral tones and patterns alike, and give you a sunny alternative to your duller colors that have carried over from the winter months.

Here are some of our favorite pastel trends that you can add to your workwear wardrobe ::

So add some pretty pastels to your workwear wardrobe this spring to brighten things up!

Stylishly Yours,

Courtney