Oh, Louis

Hi beauties,

I got back from New York City on Sunday and want to share a little (big) purchase that I made while I was there. I had an amazing time exploring the city, and will have another post coming later this week dedicated to that portion of the trip. My dad and I must have walked up and down Fifth Avenue at least seven times during our stay and on one of our last treks down the shopping street, we stopped in the flagship Louis Vuitton store and I made my first purchase!

Granted, it was a very small purchase (that came with a rather big price tag). But I am happy that I took the jump and bought it. I think the LV key pouch can be used in so many ways and for various purposes. I've already replaced my Ted Baker wallet with this little beauty!

I purchased the Louis Vuitton Key Pouch in Damier Ebene (it is also available in Damier Azur and Monogram). The exterior is made of printed, coated canvas and the interior is made of leather. Mine was made in France (yay!). The key chain part can be placed inside the pouch to make it a regular coin purse. The key pouch comes wrapped beautifully in a LV box with an adorable little dust bag. It was $190, and since I bought it in New York, I paid 9% tax instead of 7%. Oh, well.

I'm so excited to own a Louis Vuitton, even a small one. I'm glad I am able to share my first LV purchase with my lovely readers. I hope you found this post helpful if you are considering purchasing a Louis Vuitton key pouch. Thanks for stopping by!

Spring into Summer: Summer 2013 Essentials

Hi lovelies!

I have gathered from various sources all of this year's trendy summer essentials. Trust me when I say that once you start scrolling, you'll want to get your hands on some of these items as fast as you can. I've divided this post into several categories to help organize the products. Let me know what your summer essentials are in the comments below and be sure to tell me if this post gave you any new ideas!


Bags:

Rebecca Minkoff 'Metallic Affair' Handbag

MARC BY MARC JACOBS 'Too Hot to Handle - Mini' Leather Drawstring Crossbody Bag

kate spade new york 'BOURBON STREET JENNIE'

Rebecca Minkoff 'Mini M.A.C.'

Watches:

MICHAEL Michael Kors 'Parker' Chronograph Watch, 39mm (White/Rose Gold)

MICHAEL Michael Kors 'Parker' Chronograph Leather Watch, 39mm (Pink/Gold)

MICHAEL Michael Kors 'Preston' Chronograph Bracelet Watch, 43mm (White/Gold)

MICHAEL Michael Kors 'Parker' Chronograph Leather Watch, 39mm (Orange/Gold)

  Bracelets:

Henri Bendel 'DECO STRAP BRACELET'

Henri Bendel 'THE SPENCE 5 WRAP'

Henri Bendel 'IBIZA BRACELET'

Henri Bendel 'WHITNEY WRAP BRACELET'

Henri Bendel 'EMPIRE STATEMENT BRACELET'

Other Accessories:

Steve Madden 'Stripe Mixed Floppy Hat'

Tory Burch 'Slim Brigitte' Cosmetics Case

Pinch Provisions 'Ms. & Mrs. 'Good Luck' Mini Emergency Kit'

kate spade new york 'carmine street' coin purse

Fendi '59mm Sunglasses'

Stella McCartney '58mm Cat's Eye Sunglasses'

kate spade new york 'gingham iPad mini folio'

kate spade new york 'harrison street - darla' french wallet

Shoes:

DV by Dolce Vita 'Maeve' Boot

Gucci 'Hollie' Wedge Sandal

Callisto 'Tiara' Wedge Sandal

DV by Dolce Vita 'Jannis' Sandal

DV by Dolce Vita 'Pasco' Sandal

Unfortunately, the flat coral sandal sold out before I could link it! Here is a similar style by the same brand: Restricted Seattle Sandal

Nail Polish:

Essie 'Summer Collections' 2013 (Mix of Resort and Neons)

Zoya 'Stunning Summer' 2013 Collection

Butter London 'Poole Nail Lacquer'

Essie 'Neons 2013' Summer Collection

Fragrance:

Marc Jacobs 'Daisy Eau So Fresh Sunshine'

Marc Jacobs 'Honey' Eau de Parfum (Releases July 2013)

Juicy Couture 'Viva La Juicy & La Fleur' Rollerball Duo (Perfect for a beach bag or travel!)

Victoria's Secret PINK 'Beachy Body Mists' Summer 2013 Collection

Candles:

Voluspa 'Goji Berry' Japonica Candle Tin (my all-time favorite candle)

Bath & Body Works 'Market Peach' 3-Wick Candle

White Barn 'Honeysuckle' 3-Wick Candle

Bath & Body Works 'Mahogany Teakwood' 3-Wick Candle

Entertainment:

FRENDS 'Taylor' Headphones

Pretty Little Liars 'Summer Premiere'! Second half of Season 3. Amazing fashion.

All of the books above are being released (or have already been released) as movie adaptions in 2013. I've read all of them except for 'Beautiful Creatures' and 'The Great Gatsby'. 

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks (movie released 2.14.13)

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (movie released 2.14.13)

The Host by Stephenie Meyer (movie released 3.29.13)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (movie released 5.10.13)

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan, sequel to 'The Lightning Thief' (movie releases 8.16.13)

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (movie releases 8.21.13)

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, sequel to 'The Hunger Games' (movie releases 11.22.13)

 Beach Reads:

Lighthearted novels with a summery lake or beach setting. I've read all of the books above.

The Summer I Turned Pretty, It's Not Summer Without You, and We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han (trilogy)

Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols

Beach Blondes, Spring Break, Tan Lines, & Sun-Kissed Christmas by Katherine Applegate (Summer Series)

Music:

Music is such a personal thing, so of course your summer music is entirely up to you! However, I suggest: Lana Del Rey's 'Born to Die - The Paradise Edition' (includes both albums) and Justin Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience. Check them out! 

Well, this post has taken me the better part of five hours so I hope you enjoyed it and found it helpful! Be sure to share your thoughts with me either by commenting below or tweeting me @fashion_amour. Also, be sure to follow me on bloglovin' or through one of the other buttons in the right sidebar. 

Thanks for reading,

Martha 

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day by fashion-amour featuring a lacy dress

I hope all of you lovelies have a wonderful day tomorrow celebrating yourself or loved ones! 

xoxo,

Martha

Fashion Faves: Book Edition

Hello lovelies,

I love to read, and there are so many great books with style and fashion tips out there, so I thought I would share my favorites with you. Maybe you'll pick one up and be inspired! Or you might learn a few new tricks. Either way, all of these books are great guides for shopping, organizing, determining fit, and more. Some of them even have advice on getting your foot into the fashion industry.

1. Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty, & Everything Glamour
by Rachel Zoe with Rose Apodaca

This book is full of amazing tips on everything from accessories to tailoring to traveling essentials. It contains a hair and beauty section, and has special pages with insight from red carpet celebrities and high-fashion designers. I look up to Rachel as a person and as a stylist, and she has great opinions and ideas. The suggestions are both helpful and useful, and both a home decor and event planning guide is included. I highly recommend this book!

2. Lauren Conrad Style
by Lauren Conrad

I think this book is a great overall guide book. It includes recommendations for different events and occasions, weather types, and trips. It also includes a fit guide and style pairings and tips. It contains a small beauty and hair section as well. It has a little bit of everything and I loved reading it!

3. The Teen Vogue Handbook: An Insider's Guide to Careers in Fashion  
by Teen Vogue

Live like you work in fashion. A must-read for anybody interested in fashion. From aspiring designers, stylists, editors, and photographers to fashion obsessives who want behind-the-scenes secrets about industry stars and tips on how to live a creative life.

4. Seventeen Ultimate Guide to Style: How to Find Your Perfect Look  
by Ann Shoket and the Editors of Seventeen Magazine

Seventeen's Ultimate Guide to Style is all about teaching young women to cultivate their own unique style. The book draws advice from the magazine's editors, real-girl style experts, Hollywood stylists, and celebrity fashion icons. Its chapters explore seven timeless fashion vibes: Classic, Edgy, Girly, Glam, Sporty, Artsy, and Boho. Each section breaks down all a girl needs to know about mastering the look and giving it her personal twist. Throughout its beautifully illustrated pages, the book also provides young women with endless ideas to maximize their wardrobe, stretch their dollar, and make everyday basics work in hundreds of ways. Seventeen's Ultimate Guide to Style is an indispensable resource for young fashionistas everywhere.

5. Harper's Bazaar Fashion: Your Guide to Personal Style  
by Lisa Armstrong and Meenal Mistry (Editor)

Through fabulous photos- including a gallery of gorgeous celebrity shots, from Kate Moss to Michelle Obama- Harper's Bazaar Fashion helps readers express their personality, create a “uniform” they can build on, and choose the right pieces to put a distinctive stamp on their wardrobe. Harper's Bazaar Fashion both inspires by exploring iconic moments in the history of personal style and instructs by offering the rules of dressing for every occasion from the office to an island getaway.

There are so many great guide books that I didn't mention in this post, but if you have any suggestions, be sure to let me know! 

xoxo,
Martha

Back to School Supplies Tips!

Hi everyone!

Today I'm going to talk about back-to-school! Yes, it's that time of year again, and while school supplies shopping isn't exactly what we would like to spend our last days of summer break doing, hey at least it's still shopping, right?! Personally, I find it exciting, but I know many people don't, so I thought I would give you some ways to help yourself enjoy it more.

While you may think that this topic doesn't really go along with the theme of fashion, I beg to differ. My favorite thing to get for the new school year (besides clothes and shoes, of course), is a bag! Whether this be a pencil bag, new makeup bag, or school bag, there are so many types, styles, materials, and colors to choose from that you can definitely find one to meet your needs and compliment your style.

I carry two different bags to school. The first is because I have to, the second is because I want to. My JanSport backpack has served me well over the years because it is very practical, durable, and can hold quite a bit of stuff. This is the bag I use to carry my various binders, notebooks, and textbooks to and from school. My second bag is a Longchamp Le Pliage tote bag in the color Bilberry. This bag is waterproof, roomy, and holds all the things I need throughout the school day. I carry this tote from class to class. I keep my reading book, pencil bag, "makeup bag" (I don't wear makeup to school, so it holds things like bobby pins, lotion, hand sanitizer, etc.), my planner, and yes, even an umbrella. I personally find it very helpful to carry two different bags because I can keep school essentials in one and personal essentials in the other. (Keep in mind that my backpack stays in my locker throughout the school day.)

Another way to make school shopping more fun is to look for colors and patterns on supplies that make them more unique and exciting to use. For example, I picked an agenda that is bright and happy looking, which will motivate me to use it more. You can apply the same principle to any of your supplies, whether it be binders, notebooks, textbook covers, even pens and pencils!

My last tip for you is to get creative! DIYs are so much fun and can really make your supplies unique and stand out. Make collages and use packing tape to attach them to your notebooks and binders, decorate your backpack, and personalize your planner. There are quick, easy ways to make simple-looking supplies extraordinary. You can express yourself through your supplies by letting your creativity and uniqueness shine through, just like you can with your style.

I hope these tips were useful to you and good luck with the new school year! (If you're still in school, that is!) Happy shopping!


xoxo,

Martha <3