Style Gawking {Casual Cool}

Apparently, I'm stuck on laid back looks right now. {Maybe it's because I have a little min-vacy on the horizon. But more on that later!}

I think this may have to be my new spring uniform, sassed up slightly with a few accessories and sky-high heels, of course.



I could happily live is blazers, white leg extending trousers and the minimalist color palette for the next three months.

Who's with me?!


streetstyle via unknown {eek!}, vanessa mooney necklace, fabric & handle bag spotted on seesaw design, oliver theyskens for theory wedges, ruby olive resin ring

HELLO FROM LA!!

Hello lovely friends!! I can't tell you how wonderful it's felt to be back in my hometown of LA...

I flew in Saturday afternoon to loads of chilly but beautiful sunshine, and it's already been a whirlwind of fun! We kicked things off with a premiere party for the adorable and talented Emily Henderson's Secrets From a Stylist on Saturday night (have you watched? did you love?).

Then Sunday it was off to brunch with friends before heading to lunch at the stunning estate of Tony Duquette - Dawnridge - which I'll share more of later today.

After that we buzzed around town taking in some Oscar energy and ended the evening with a wonderful dinner at Ago, hosted by the folks at Sub-Zero. (The most amazingly delicate ravioli I've ever had!).

I've hardly had a moment to breathe and will be speaking in just a couple of hours for the Design Bloggers Conference, so I'm off to get ready! More photos and fun from la la land soon...

xoxo,
cassandra

*photography by steven chee

Monday {Keep It Easy} Workwear

On Monday mornings you've got more than enough on your to-do list , right? A major wardrobe choice should not have to be one of them.



Make life easy by pairing a classic tee and a simple trouser with a dash of one of spring's hottest colors. I'd happily take a little hit of my coral and call it good to go.

Happy Monday luvies!
*Mrs. E

images via style.com and brown dress with white dots

COCKTAILS AT SIX: THE CLASSIC MOJITO

Memories of mint overflowing my backyard herb garden have been taunting me this week...

Luckily the market has plenty to spare during these sparse wintry months! So what does a girl do with an armful of mint & a sky full of sunshine (those winter sun beams still count!) you ask? She muddles batches of classic mojitos for her & all her friends and dreams of late summer nights on the front porch!


The Classic Mojito

2 oz. golden rum
5 mint sprigs
2 dashes simple syrup
1 dash fresh lime juice
Club soda

Put the mint into a high ball glass, add the rum, lime juice, and simple syrup. Crush with a bar spoon (or back of any spoon in a pinch) until the aroma of the mint is released. Add the crushed ice and stir vigorously until the mixture and the mint are spread evenly. Top with club soda and stir again. Serve with straws! Recipe serves 1.


of le petit happy

* images via  live journal & the cocktail hour - photographer william lingwood

Happy {Homebody} Weekend

Ahhh, the sweet smell of Friday. Don't you just love it. This weekend I  want to do nothing more than lay back, unplug and luxuriate with a stack of glossies and good books.





I might rearrange my inspiration board too. It's the perfect way to hit the refresh button.

I may let myself back online to wish Emily Henderson good luck with her new show, Secrets from a Stylist. There's going to be a HGTV hosted Twitter party with Emily Henderson at 6:00 pm PT/9:00 pm ET on Saturday night which should be a ball. Hop on and use the hashtag #HGTV. I hope to tweet you there!

Oh and here's a sneak peak of what you'll see on the show.

Till Monday luvies,
*Mrs. E

images via thrifty solutions for an urban girl, toast uk and inside the loop

HAPPY ADVENTURES!

Today marks another very big turn for me in my life - leaping with faith (and fingers crossed) into the next great adventure...

I'm saying goodbye today to my fantastic job as a merchandiser at Anthropologie, which I am so sad to let go of. I'm going to miss the amazingly creative, genuine and loving girls that I've worked with for the past year so much! But, the time has come for me to refocus my passion and time on building coco+kelley into the company I know it can be! Not to mention, I'm really ready to plunge into my role as Market Editor at Rue.

It's always scary to leave behind the security of a real job to strike out on your own, but I've been here before and it was always worth it in the end. Thank you all for your love and support of coco+kelley and I can't wait to share this great adventure with you!

xoxo,
cassandra

I've Got a Crush

On tomboy chic,



On collecting colorful clutches,



On sassy cinchers,



On snugly spaces,



On lucious locks,



On shiny objects,



And on more killer color combos,



The countdown to spring is ON!

FROM FANTASY TO FÊTE: EXOTIC BOHEMIAN

Although it's still a bit early for backyard barbecues and poolside soirées, I'm craving a dose of brilliant color to break out of the winter entertaining doldrums. Camille Styles here, and today's fantasy takes a cue from the rich textures and dappled sunlight of exotic locales...

A rich palette of tangerine, cerulean & terra cotta recalls the spice markets of Marrakech, perfect inspiration for an early-spring get-together with a few good friends. Keep the bohemian vibe going by scattering poufs around low coffee tables that invite guests to stay and lounge awhile.

Continue the boho-luxe theme by incorporating a curation of interesting objets among brilliantly-colored flowers. Garlands of gerbera daisies draped offhandedly over chairs is an unexpected artistic touch.

The key to styling flowers for such a gathering is to keep it relaxed and nonchalant. Orchids cut to a shorter-than-usual length tones down any fussiness, and appear especially lush when bunched in distinctive handmade pottery.

Such a fête calls for exotic flavors that hint of warm-weather months ahead. This Greek-inspired saganaki combines grilled wedges of cheese with arugula and sweet plum. Hop over to Camille Styles to get the recipes for the rest of the exotic bohemian menu (including roasted beet salad with mint & tangerine-fennel pot de crème!)

*images: {row 1} the urban hippie, piaulin, jules bianchi, moroccan pottery {row 2} hostess with the mostess, karen mordechai, better homes & gardens, helen rawlinson's etsy {row 3} moroccan door, graham & green, karen mordechai, tulu. party images scanned from domino magazine & food and wine magazine.

Ikat, Ikat Everywhere

Some might say the ikat trend is so last year, but I for one, am still on the bandwagon!



The pillow and the top must be mine!

C+K SPONSOR: HARABU HOUSE

Oh, how I love my sponsors here at coco+kelley! Not only are they all so wonderful to work with, but they have beautiful little shops filled with goodies, like the ones at Harabu House!

I adore the mix of organic textures and natural pieces with touches of modern metallics...

The lovely little store houses everything from beautiful paper goods (like the coasters and notebooks) to luxurious new and vintage linens. Their home accents immediately give a space layers of worldly charm, which is a look we all love so much!

So if you're ready for a little pre-spring decorating to freshen things up around your home, why not hop over to the Harabu House site and do a little browsing for yourself? I'm pretty in love with the gold bowls and that quilted throw myself...

Flower Wedding Dress Accessories

Wedding gowns this time featuring a different thing, namely the existence of flower accessories mounted on the left side. There is another of our vision, because that's interest, then view this dress becomes increasingly attractive.

Style and the model is simple wedding gowns, only in part bustier ornate sewing pleated shape. Modest does not mean there are not beautiful or glamorous, but with fabric selection, design and finishing is good, it will produce a nice wedding dress as well.

Lines I Love...

Hey luvies. Thought you, like me, could use a little 4:00 pm fashion fix. Here are a few of the latest spring lines I'm coveting. Enjoy the daydream of sunnier days!

I'm digging the Califorina-cool of Heidi Merrick,




I'm craving the poppy print from Rittenhouse,



And I've gotta have the dapper color palette by Dace!

TIE ONE ON

After spending hours last night on Pinterest and hopping through other inspirational sites, I rediscovered a few things... one being the fact that some of the best pocket change you'll ever spend is on a little length of black ribbon...


Personally I prefer double-faced satin, but any pretty texture will do...

*images via pinterest

Feelin' Sweet and Saucy

I've already outed my obession with large, flowery accessories. As it turns out, they're just as brilliant on wedding cakes! But don't take my word for it. Just check out this stunning example from My Sweet And Saucy.

The SoCal queens of wedding cake really outdid themselves with this one {ps. those flowers are made of sugar!}.

What do you do when your cake is too pretty to eat?!

image via sweet and saucy shop

OLD IS NEW (AND FRESH!)

The return of retro styling is bound to have all sort of impacts on trends these days (for better or worse), but one I can I can absolutely deal with is a resurfacing of palettes like this...


From Rachel Zoe's current Missoni pillows to Gio Ponti's vintage geometric influences - old is new again.


*images: grace kelly by howell conan, rachel zoe's home photographed by richard powers, shoes via martha stewart, and gio ponti via molly loot

Mellow Yellow

In the midst of perpetual snow showers, I'm already dreaming of May flowers, preferably in a happy color like daffodil yellow. These looks from Charlotte Taylor would certainly do color me happy.


spotted on oh joy!

Check out the entire spring and fall 2011 collections here. I promise they'll brighten your spirits!

CHIC LITTLE ENTRYWAYS

Currently obsessing over fresh + fantastic entryways like these...

With tile like this you can hardly call it a 'mud room', but with plenty of storage for coats and shoes, this entry is the chicest definition of the term I've ever seen (plus, you know I'm loving the black + white stripes at the doorway!).

Love the depth a little black paint gives to this simple entryway, and the vintage accents give it great character. A vibrant orange door is so cheery and welcoming! I love how the collection of artwork in gold frames echoes the color against fresh white walls.

As a side note... I'm totally returning to black and white palettes these days. I realized that sometimes I'm too afraid to add a little black to a room, thinking that somehow it doesn't work with softer styles, but it really just adds a wonderful touch of drama! 


*images via cococozy, unknown and pure style home via creategirl

Smitten Kitchen

Is a ladder in your kitchen practical?


via that kind of woman

Unlikely. Do I desperately want one anyway? Absolutely.

Le sigh.

Hey Good Lookin'

Look what you've got cookkin': Sandwiches!

Not what you expected? I think sandwiches, though probably still one of the most common lunch foods, tend to get short shrift.


images by scanwiches via you are my favorite

But apparently there is a plethora of, at least what look like, great sandwiches. But don't take my word for it - just check out Scanwiches - a blog chronicling the deli delights all around New York City.

I think I'm going on a sandwich hunt for lunch today!

TOTALLY SPRUNG

Dear spring... Would you stop being such a tease and get here already???

I have so many wonderful goodies to adorn myself + home with when you do!

*birdcage pendant by voliere at conran shop, christian louboutin gingham pumps at luisa viaroma, stripe pillow at urban outfitters, jonathan saunders skirt at net-a-porter

SOFT ROCK

A pink music room for a rock princess?
I never would have pictured the home of Sheryl Crow to be so romantic, but I absolutely loved it. Out of all the rooms in her expansive manse, however, this little one called to me. It seems so cozy and dreamy - the perfect spot for an artist to create in.

And, let's just talk about the latest issue of Architectural Digest for a second - it is fantastic. I can't believe what an amazing job Margaret Russell and her team have done in updating the publication and giving it new life while still maintaining the look and style of the brand. Bravo to them!

Monday {Don't Mess with the Dress} Workwear

Though I trend towards pants, virtually everyday, I must admit that I get a good rush when I step out in what I know is a good looking dress.



The Spring 2011 collection from  Edelweiss by Sarah would kickstart the week! I love the perfectly placed hemline, practical pockets and spot on color palette.

If that's not enough to convince, her just debuted Fall 2011 collection is just as sassy - as you can tell from the video lookbook!




I hope you have a rockin' week luvies!

Cheers,
*Mrs.E

KELSEY GENNA: BEGONIA HOUSE

Good morning friends! I know you're as ready for spring as I am these days, so I'm pretty sure you're going to love this adorable collection I discovered this weekend - not just for the mounds of pretty little dresses and details, but the sweet, flowery shoot too!



Created by Kelsey Genna, the collection is called 'Begonia House' and is based in New Zealand. The designer herself? Yeah. She's only 19...



My favorite part of these dresses might be the stunning low backs. Nothing sexier, in my opinion! If only I could get my hands on one for my upcoming trip to LA! It would be perfect for this almost-spring weather...

*all images via kelsey genna