It's Not Coachella. It Is Avett Brothers.

Maybe a four-day music festival just isn't your scene anymore. It's certainly not mine. While my Bonnaroo hankerings have wained, a good show is still something to be enjoyed...and something for which we must plan outfits. 

Luckily Coachella inspiration has started to grace the front pages of many style sites and blogs. It's perfect timing for those of us attending the Avett Brothers show here on Friday as part of the North Carolina Azalea Festival. Today's outdoor venue inspiration comes from queen of the boho scene, Kate Bosworth, and hottie with a body Rosie Hutington-Whiteley. If I can manage to look one-tenth as good as they do, I'll be satisfied. 

image via/Top/Earrings/Mint Green Cuff/Pyramid Cuff/Horseshoe Bracelet/Spiked Leather Wrap/Denim Shorts/Booties

Why you should consider Rosie's look:

1- Booties at an outdoor concert are an invaluable asset. They push those of us under 5'5" up high enough to hang with the rest of the gang but are still comfortable enough to stand up and shake it for two hours. Plus, they keep your toes clean in the midst of spilled beers and dropped nachos- whether you are tall or short.

2- Shorts and a long-sleeve shirt are a rare sight in North Carolina. It's either hot or cold here so we're either in jeans and a fleece or shorts and a tank top. But rolling up your sleeves while the sun is still high is much more comfortable than pulling a Huckleberry Finn and hoisting up the hem of your jeans. When the sun goes down and the chill sets in, you'll be happy to have a long sleeve...not so happy to be sweaty in jeans.

3- Denim shorts are your best friend at an event like this one. You certainly don't want to be manhandling a purse so pockets are key. Denim is also indestructible so say the mood strikes you and you need to gator on stage, you're in good shape- your jeans shorts will stay on and wash well.

image via/Anorak/Dress/Necklace/Rain Boots

Why you should consider Kate's look:

1- We are talking about North Carolina here. A shower could pop up at any minute and the weather man is calling for them on Friday. Looking chic in the rain is as easy as your wellies and a jacket. Just make sure the layer you wear underneath is lightweight and comfortable because you'll be otherwise constricted.

2- A pile of fun necklaces is a no-brainer and looks cute layered beneath the jacket. Be careful not to pop yourself in the face though as you jump up and down. 

3- My plea for pockets and closed-toe shoes again: You'll be so super duper happy to go hands-free and keep your cell phone, camera, cash and keys contained in one or two sturdy pockets. You'll also be happy to go home with clean feet unless you consider dirty toes part of the experience.

Sunglasses in the rain optional.

Are you going to any outdoor shows or festivals this year? Hopefully some of these style tips will help you no matter where you are or who you're going to see!

Peekaboo

via Entertaining House

What kind of coffee table do you use in your home? I'm in need of a new table- one that I can kick my feet up on, place drinks, withstand dog slobber...in other words, I need something not too precious. I find myself gravitating toward lucite. How do you feel about it? 

Pros: 

Lucite is pretty much invisible. 

Keeping the look light is key in a teeny tiny living room like mine. 

Lucite seems to look best mixed with more traditional pieces. 

Good thing since my living room furniture is fairly trad.

The space underneath the table ends up being perfect for storing magazines, hardback books and ottomans. 

Unexpected storage is huge when space is at a premium. 

Best of all, lucite tables come in a wide range of prices. 

You can buy a small side table for $70 or a fancy trunk for $1000. I'll go for the $70 option...

via Cottage Living

 via Bijou Boheme

 via Sanity Fair

via Sam Allen

Cons: 

Since lucite is so hot right now, I dare call it trendy.

Will I look back at these photos in 10 years or even 5 years and be over it? 

Just like glass or wood, lucite can scratch.

Another reason why I wouldn't invest a bunch in this type of table.

Big dogs wag big tails, knocking over perfectly placed accessories on low tables.

Should I stay away from a coffee table all together until I have a bigger house?

Those are all of my crazy thoughts. What do you think? How do you solve the small room/big dog/need for table space dilemma? I'm all ears!

Vermillion Spring Fashion Show

Wes Gordon top and pants 

Forget Punxsutawney Phil and his shadow. Do you know how to tell if it's officially spring? Vermillion's Spring Fashion Show. 

On March 9, beautifully made, expertly styled pieces made patrons- virtual and present alike- swoon as they paraded down the store's runway. Vermillion's annual fashion show is an event not to be missed and certainly a place anyone can find extra special pieces to make your closet sing. There are so many great looks to choose from so I thought I'd share with you my favorites. Get ready to break the "thou shalt not covet" commandment.

Jason Wu leather bodice dress and The Woods earrings

A.L.C. leather jacket, Proenza Schouler tank and shorts, Rag & Bone booties

Proenza Schouler top, skirt and bag with Balenciaga wedges

Figue jacket, Carven skirt, Loeffler Randall heels

While I regrettably had to miss this event, I did visit Vermillion a few weeks ago. Let me tell you, there are even more gorgeous goodies available now. All of the most swoon-worthy designers- Carven, Lela Rose, Loeffler Randall, Zac Posen, just to name a few- hang at the ready to fabulously update your wardrobe. Those magenta Balenciaga wedges (Look Four) are to DIE for. Hellooooo tax return...

If you have questions about any of these pieces or other products, make sure you contact Vermillion...or me. But be warned: I'll tell you to just buy it.

all photos by Andy Tenille Photography  

Wednesday's Look For Less: Gingham Button Down

Honestly, I'm not into gingham right now but I AM into buffalo check...or so I thought. Do you know the difference between gingham and buffalo check? Apparently gingham is the smaller plaid usually created with red and white or blue and white while buffalo check is usually much larger in scale and created with broader color spectrum, namely black. Who knew?! So you may have a buffalo check tablecloth but a gingham shirt. Lesson for the day!

via Vogue UK

At any rate, I thought my gingham phase had ended when I gave up hope of ever becoming Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz." (Still looking for ruby slippers, I'll admit.) But small gingham prints are so fresh this spring when paired with liberty florals and spring's new denim interpretations. Now that's a horse of a different color.

These two tops are darn near identical. Can you even guess which one costs more? The shirt on the left can be purchased at C. Wonder for $68. The option on your right rings up for $49.95 at the Gap. Admittedly, less than $20 difference is not the grandest of savings. HOWEVER, Gap is offering 25% off your entire purchase with the code GAP25. Now we're talking! Suddenly the $50 shirt is just over $35. Excellent.

Still not convinced? CHECK out the way these gingham tops are styled.

via Gap

via NuSophisticate

via Tumblr

The styling each of these photos shows why gingham will be a great print to own this spring and summer. Remember, though, the look we want is more fashion forward, less Daisy Duke. (Toto optional.)

Suit Yo'self

via Pinterest

via Atlantic-Pacific

via BIB Communications

Are you loving springtime suits these days? I don't know if my new adoration for coordinated pieces is because it's been a freezin' cold spring or because I'm about to hit 3-0 (27 days but whose counting?) but I can't get enough of the matchy-matchy two piece...and I ain't talkin' bikinis. (Thank goodness!)

Suits these days don't have to be corporate. There are floral short suits, Chanel-inspired tweeds and, yes, even double-breasted eighties-inspired goodness. It's an easy way to dress in the morning- just add tee shirt/tank/button down, killer accessories, an amazing bag and you're good to go! Take a look at these unexpected yet perfectly polished options for spring.

T by Alexander Wang blazer and shorts

Joie blazer and shorts

Troubadour jacket and skirt

While I haven't taken the suit plunge yet, it has crossed my mind. Remember you can always buy these pieces one at the time to save a little dough and enjoy wearing one now and the entire ensemble later. Do I happen to have an example? Why, yes!

I predict many more photos of me wearing this jacket in the future...

Happy spring suiting! 

Porch Pondering + Weekend Snap

I hope you all had happy and joyous Easter weekends! If you had Friday off, like I did, then I hope you found yourself having fun and doing what you enjoy with the folks you love! On Friday, my beau and I started painting the front porch. The floor badly needs repainting after five years of dog claws, boot stomps and heel piercings but you can't paint your floor until you paint everything else. So we started with the ceiling. These are just a few sneak peeks until the big porch reveal but...

 I chose the Olympic paint color Morning Cloud for the ceiling. We were going for a sky blue but the house being a blue-gray itself, our choice had to have a dose of gray in it. Though the ceiling is a bit more of an overcast sky blue, it looks sooooo much better than it did before. Of course, now the rest of the molding and posts need to be repainted and then the floor will follow. All in a day's work...

The revamping of the porch has me pondering the need for a porch redecorating. How do you arrange your front porch? Originally I thought I would just add a rug and a Chippendale bench. I already have a black rocking chair and an iron table and chair set. But then I started wandering around the Internet and...

Outdoor Furniture/ Rug/ Floor Color/ Ceiling Color

I am suddenly in love with this very neutral color scheme against this very graphic print and certainly the fabulous furniture from Lane Venture. Wouldn't it be nice to have a real outdoor living space you could enjoy before the temps turn sweltering? 

It's just a thought...until the big porch reveal, I leave you with a few other shots from the weekend. Hope you had a good one!

Ab fab floor lamp from the Rogue Vintage booth at The Eclectic 

Lacquered goodness from the Rogue Vintage booth

Sunrise at the Easter service on Wrightsville Beach

I could get used to going to church like this...

Start Your Week With Saturday

Kate Spade New York recently debuted its casual, less expensive line Kate Spade Saturday. While the market seems over saturated with econo lines and high low collaborations, Kate Spade Saturday is one new label that actually looks equally as luxurious and as well designed as its more expensive counterpart. I have yet to meet these beauties in person so I can't speak to their quality with certainty just yet but I adore all of the fun prints, casual cuts and chic accessories at great prices. 

Scoopback Dress

High Waisted Shorts

Jump Around Necklace

New pieces from the Kate Spade Saturday collection are added to the site every- you guessed it- Saturday. Last night I noticed an email introducing the new spatter paint collection below, which inspired today's post. I couldn't pick just one item to show you- you need to see them all! I think that tank might have to become mine...or the crossbody bag...or the pillow cover...

Splatter Paint Collection

With our not-quite-spring weather throwing me for a loop (I wore all black TWICE last week in protest), an outfit like this one below would be the perfect transitional collection to get us over the hump to summer. It's bright and cheerful yet you won't freeze in the morning and evenings when it's 30 degrees outside. Ay caramba. 

Sunglasses/ Necklace/ Chambray Tank/ Clutch/ Jeans/ Flats

Cruise on over to the Kate Spade Saturday site to check out more. There are so many adorable options, you won't be able to choose!