All About Glasses: Eyeglass Discounter!

This Spring/Summer season is all about accessories, my personal favorite being glasses. I've always loved sunglasses, and then (thanks to too many all-nighters reading off backlit screens in college), in my late teens I began having to wear eyeglasses. Thankfully, these days glasses are super cool and even if I didn't need to wear them, I think I would want to anyway!

When I was introduced to Eyeglass Discounter I was so impressed by the variety of discount glasses they offer! The selection includes high quality prescription glasses and sunglasses, featuring incredible designers like Prada and  Persol-- to of my most favorites, at unbelievable prices.

They also have very affordable options, and the Hipster Frames category has loads of them to choose from. The Pacific Coast Eyewear Tortoise Eyeglasses  and  U.S. Eyewear Scholar Series Boston Green Glasses (shown below) are my top picks from that category-- when I saw the prices I did a double take … it doesn't get better than that!

Here are some fun Spring/Summer outfits featuriring some pretty fabulous glasses!

Pacific Coast Eyewear Tortoise Eyeglasses , Dress, Earrings, Sandals 

 U.S. Eyewear Scholar Series Boston Green Glasses, Shoes, Dress, Clutch 

Heart Shaped Sunglasses with Mirror Coated Lenses , Dress, Earrings, Sandals  

I've been obsessed with Heart Shaped Sunglasses since the 90's when Britney Spears wore them and made them crazy popular. I still love them and lucky for me, they're back in style!!!

            Boston Green Glasses, Pacific Coast Eyewear Tortoise Eyeglasses, Heart Shaped Sunglasses 

I hope you all have wonderful weekends!!!

xo,

Grace

Eyeglass Discounter

Full Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. However, as in all sponsored posts, all opinions expressed are 100% honest and my own. 

Standfor- Talk Your Walk Exclusive PRESALE!

Hello wonderful readers! Today I have some very exciting news about a collaboration that Style Art and Grace is bringing you with the BRAND NEW shoe brand, Standfor.

I could not love the idea behind the brand more-- "every step you take has a meaning." This is the perfect way to combine art, social awareness, and fashion into one beautiful example and basically sums up what I am all about.

Each collection focuses on brining awareness to a particular global issue. The first line is "Smokeless" and it happens to be an issue very close to my heart as I have lost multiple family members to lung cancer.

Lace ups and sneakers are only becoming more and more popular for spring/summer and this is perfect opportunity to shop this amazing new brand before these shoes become available to the general public! If you're anything like me, the thought of being one of the FIRST people in the WORLD to experience this super unique, incredible new brand is incredibly exciting. 

So check out my storefront, available through April 19, and I hope you find something you love while supporting a great cause :)

Style Art and Grace Standfor Storefront

xo, 

Grace

This world premiere is brought to you
by STYLE ART AND GRACE in association with Standfor.
Our two parties have joined forces in order
to bring you this exclusive presale campaign
for the blog’s readers. 

Full Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. However, as in all sponsored posts, all opinions expressed are 100% honest and my own. 

The Oscars: Best Dressed!

My most favorite TV night of the year is The Oscars. I love movies, I love glamour, and I love guessing what some of my favorite stars are going to wear. I was actually very surprised at how many amazing dresses there were this year!! It was so hard for me to narrow down my favorite looks to a top five list, but somehow I managed to do it!

Number 5: Gwyneth Paltrow in Ralph & Russo Couture

Number 4: Reese Witherspoon in Tom Ford

Number 3: Sienna Miller in Oscar de la Renta ( the PERFECT Oscar de la Renta moment to honor his life this year by the way… this gown is so perfectly representative of him).

Number 2: Julianne Moore in Custom Chanel. Stunning.

Number 1: Rosamund Pike in Givenchy… unexpected, classic, beautiful, and a million times better than her Golden Globes look.  Perfect hair and makeup too!!

What were some of your favorites?

xo,

Grace

New York Fashion Week!!

Last week I had the amazing opportunity to travel to NYC for NYFW for the first time ever!! I am really thankful to my husband for encouraging me to go when I initially didn't think it would be possible with our schedules and new pup!

As you know, I am huge fan of Elaine Turner, and I was able to attend a party at her Madison Ave store ( so gorgeous by the way), meet some really incredible bloggers who truly have it together, and see some stunning accessories-- while sneaking a peak at the soon-to-come apparel line!

Here I am with the amazing Jenna of Lilly And Grant (check out her post featuring much more beautiful photos here), and Jessica of The Steele Maiden, and of course Elaine in between us all.

It was such an fun experience not only to meet a designer that I so admire, but also to see first hand the energy and excitement that the world of blogging can bring. Meeting people in person that you have enjoyed following and getting to know online is a very surreal experience.

Embarrassingly, and typical of me, those are the only two photos I took during my short New York Fashion week experience, but it was so much fun and I am seriously grateful for the invite and the opportunity!!

Check out this preview of Elaine's Apparel Line:

On a side note, I wanted to share a few pics of what "working from home" has looked like for me recently… our new little pup has become (what he believes to be)  my assistant in every little thing I do. He has a big personality for sure and loves to "help" me work on my laptop.

While I know I will really miss this in a few months when he is much bigger, it definitely makes getting things done a process! I wouldn't have it any other way, though!

xo, 

Grace

Sale Alert- Pink Friday!

It's that time of the year again! The Thanksgiving sales are starting early at Elaine Turner, as early as TODAY! This is a really good one too. Here are the details:

Tuesday: 25% off of all merchandise online at www.ElaineTurner.com.

Thursday: shoppers can celebrate Thanksgiving from the comfort of their homes with our Sip, Shop & Save event starting at 5pm to receive 30% off everything on the site!

Friday: guests receive a free iPad case with a $300 purchase plus more deals in store! (Houston, Dallas, NYC, San Antonio, and Nashville are the store locations).

Because Elaine Turner is seriously my favorite brand ever, and if you follow me on this blog you know I love to sing Elaine's praises, I will definitely be picking up some presents for myself and others during this excellent sale!!

Here are Elaine's favorite gifts of the season:

Bella Royal Houndstooth Clutch, White Patent Leather Wrap Chain Bracelet, Bamboo Buckle Belt in Gold Snake, Passport Cover Purple,  Olive Polished Leather Slim Zip Wallet,  Pebbled LeatherBamboo Key Fob, 

And… Here are mine!

1. Olive Mini Wallet  2. Adriana Gold Earrings  3. Madelyn Wine Hobo 4.  Nicola Saddle Bootie  5. Cheetah Ipad Sleeve  6. Nicola Saddle Bootie  

Happy Shopping!!!

xo,

Grace

What I Wore Today, 4 AM Edition!

Today I traveled back to LA for work, and our flight left the east coast at 6:50 am. To make it in time from where I live, that meant that I had to wake up at 3:55 am, try to pull myself together, and prepare myself for a five and a half hour flight (which I am SO grateful was direct, AND I was in an exit row, so I really cannot complain!).

Anyway, I am the absolute opposite of a morning person. I don't know what is more scary, the fact that I had to see 4 am, or that 4 am had to face my grumpy atitude.  I didn't feel "normal" again until we touched down in LA, and I had had 3 cups of coffee, made it through about 6 episodes of TV, and eaten a cookie.

With all the traveling I tend to do for work, I've gotten really good at knowing what works best for me for early flights or long trips. Today's outfit is a really good representation of what I love to wear for these occasions!

Starting with the bag, this is the greatest travel purse ever, and believe me, I have tried lots. This Tory Burch Soft Nylon Tote Bag (Tory Navy Geyser) was a college graduation gift from my fiancé last May, but I was able to still find it for sale on amazon if anyone is interested! It is super light weight, but big in size, with a massive zippered (really secure) exterior pocket, and another nice roomy zippered pocket in the main interior, along with two handy slots for cell phone, lipgloss, etc. It has room for everything I need and everything is secured in with a zipper which makes me feel at ease carrying it in busy places, plopping it down in the TSA scanner, and stowing it away in the plane. Not to mention, the nylon material makes it easy to wipe away anything that may get on it. It really is the best. 

I love to travel in my Nike Flex Runs (New Version) because they are lightweight, so comfy, and easy to slip on and off (although I hear you're not actually supposed to do that with tennis shoes, whoops!). Plus, the pop of hot pink makes me happy!

Layering is key for me when I travel, and I like to start with a great base. Nothing is better than the Lululemon Wunder Under Crop leggings. Nothing. They are my second skin. I am now a proud owner of 6 pairs accumulated over years and years of love for them. I still have the first pair I ever bought and they are as good as new-- that is where your investment goes with these-- amazing quality that lasts forever. They are expensive for a legging, but trust me, they are worth every single penny. Plus they have tons of fun colors and patterns now!

Next,  I like to go with a lightweight long sleeve top, like this one from Splendid. I particularly like the longer silouette when wearing it with leggings. Finally, a cosy, blanket-like sweater is key. I am notorious for getting cold everywhere I go, so a sweater is a must. This Kersh Anchor Print Sweater (found at T.J. Maxx) is a favorite as I find the waterfall style to be nice and flattering, and I love the print/colors. It also has a nice drapey neck which adds to the warmth factor.

If you ever catch me in the airport super early in the morning, I may not quite know what is going on yet, but chances are I will be wearing something really similar to this because I know it works and I always feel good in it. Do you guys have any travel outfits that you love?

Have a great Hump Day!!

xo,

Grace

Getting into the Christmas Spirit! (A little early)

With all the busyness and travel going on in our lives right now and in the coming weeks, my fiancé and I took the last 24 hours to really start getting into the spirit of the holiday season!  As I write this, I am listening to my freshly downloaded "Christmas At Downton Abbey" album and it is just as delightful as it sounds like it would be! I am currently wearing newly purchased Disney Christmas flannel Pajamas, and sipping on my first non Starbucks "home made" hot chocolate since last year, pretending it is not currently 80 degrees where I am in Florida.

Last night, we went to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom and it was our first time back there since we got engaged last January. It was such a fun night and we enjoyed every moment! Of course, we went back to the exact spot where Ben proposed and the rush of excitement hit me all over again.

Times like last night remind me how important the sharing of tradition is to me. Even though Ben and I have been together almost 8 years now, we have so many exciting new traditions to begin and experience together as we start our new lives together; the holidays are an excellent reminder of that!

Speaking of tradition, my outfit last night was full of it! Growing up, my mom used to take my sister and I to Old Navy every year for most holidays so that we could buy a fun seasonal t-shirt to wear. I always loved getting to pick out a Christmas one and that is a tradition that I haven't stopped! The shirt I wore last night, that says "Meet Me Under The Mistletoe" was my purchase last year from Old Navy's holiday tee shop. These are the ones I am eyeing for this year :

                  "You Wish"                    Pray For Snow"               "Mickey Mouse"         "Merry and Bright"

I hope you all had fantastic Mondays and are off to great enjoy a great week!

xo, 

Grace

My Non-Costume Halloween Outfit of the Day!

Just for the record-- this is the second year in a row that I haven't dressed up for Halloween!! Let it be known that despite my poor showing of Halloween spirit, I really do LOVE Halloween and have always enjoyed the concept of playing dress up and making creative costumes….there's always next year! Today I did want to share my OOTD with you because even though its not a costume, I do have a new jacket that I love. It is the 1969 Stud Denim Jacket from Gap.  I think the stud accents on it are just enough to make a statement without being too far into the rocker/biker category. As it always goes with The Gap, the denim is super soft and already worn in. 

For our evening at the movies (where we saw John Wick) I paired this beauty with a JCrew Collection White Cashmere Tee, 7 For All Mankind Skinny In Black, and my Metallic Aldo Booties ! Comfortable, laid back, and casual… just the way I like it!

I hope that you all had very happy Halloweens filled with lots of treats and no tricks! I can't wait to see and hear about your costumes!! 

xo,

Grace

My Fall Staples!

Hi friends and happy Wednesday! Woo-hoo we've made it half way through the week!! As you read this, I am probably road tripping to one of my fave places, Phoenix Arizona, for work (any opportunity to go to AZ and I am ready to go!). 

With my current job, which I absolutely am loving by the way, I get to travel a lot. When I first started, I will admit that my "light" packing skills were seriously bad.  Instead of packing three outfits for a two day trip I was leaving with 10+ (hey, this girl has gotta have her options). After a few wake-up-calls that my overpacking was more of a nuisance than a wardrobe saver, I've gotten to be really good at narrowing it down to the staples (blog post about packing light coming soon :) ). 

Anyway, today I wanted to share with you some of my most favorite recent Fall purchases. I have reached for these items day after day because I love them so very much.  Let me begin with the Ray Bans (1). I love the blue lenses because they are totally opaque (yay for privacy), and as someone who wears a lot of neutrals, I love the pop of color they add to my outfits/ fair skin and blonde(ish) hair. They are so comfortable, and I've honestly worn them every day since I bought them with my fiancé in a moment of joy in Santa Monica, CA. 

1. Ray Bans // 2. Honolulu Honey NARS lipstick // 3. NARS cheek pallette // 4. Girly Skull by P.J. Salvage // 5. Aldo Montoro Booties

Next is this NARS Nude Lipstick (aka Honolulu Honey)(2). I've been on the quest for the perfect nude for so long, and I can really say that this is it. I love a nude lip for fall and this checks all the boxes- moisturizing, barely there, elegant. Couldn't love it more. 

Also a NARS purchase, this Cheek Palette is gorgeous. It is great for highlighting and contouring, which I am a huge fan of, and also supplies three good sized blushes, each of which are very different and fun. I ran into Sephora to stock up on my favorite blush, Orgasm, and left with this instead… guess what? Turns out I like this better! 

I recently also treated myself to these incredible PJ's by PJ Salvage, which I found in Bella Beach in Manhattan Beach. I usually buy PJ's at target, but these were so worth the money, and I love the "Girly Skull" print. I feel like a rockstar in my sleep. I've also seriously considered wearing the PJ top as a "real life" tank top…. I'll let you know if  when that happens ;). 

Finally, these Aldo Montoro Metallic Booties have been my MVP shoe of the season.  After seeing them walk the runway on my favorite show ever, Project Runway, I bought them on sale and could not be happier with them. They're great with dresses/skirts as well as skinny jeans or even leggings. They are also the perfect way for me to add a bit of metallic into my fall wardrobe. 

What have been your fall fave's? I'd love to know!! Do you have any of these too?

xo,

Grace

Bridal Shower Style!

Hello and happy Sunday! I hope that you have all had great weekends-- mine has been so amazing!
I flew back to my hometown, Charlotte NC, for my Bridal Shower and it was even more special than I expected. It was hosted by my soon-to-be aunt, and my fiancé's grandmother; they (along with  my future Mother in Law) were so thoughtful in every little detail and planned such a fabulous day, making me feel so honored and loved.

When I found out about the shower, I immediately started thinking  stressing out  about what I was going to wear. Initially, I really wanted to wear a dress in an off white or cream color, but had such a hard time finding one. I began to admit defeat on that mission, and instead became obsessed with trying to re-create an Olivia Palermo Wedding separates moment. After a few weeks of searching for the perfect cashmere sweater and flowy skirt, I had an epiphany that I was being a bit unreasonable… I am no Carolina Herrera!

So, literally the day before the shower, I found myself with my mom at the Kate Spade store in Houston (best Kate Spade store EVER by the way… it is massive) with only a few hours to try and create the perfect bridal shower look. Thankfully, my mom is my best shopping partner and extremely helpful picking out things and giving advice. I tried on a bunch of outfits, but ended up settling on classic a blush pink dress, berry and glitter heels, and green and pink earrings (loaned to me by my bridesmaid, Laura).

Dress: Kate Spade  Shoes: Kate Spade (not available online) Similar Here Earrings: Kate Spade Similar

I am obsessed with these shoes! I almost bought some nude pumps to go with the dress, but the second I put these on I knew that it was just meant to be. The glitter heel matches the color of the dress perfectly and I think it gave my outfit a bit of a happy surprise element.  They make me feel happy too, and to me that is the most important thing. 

So, I didn't end up in off-white but I love how my outfit turned out, and I felt very "me" and comfortable the entire day. 

Here are some iPhone shots of the shower taken by my future Mother in Law if you can see what a beautiful job the hosts did! I am so incredibly thankful for them and our guests… it is such an incredible thing to feel supported and loved. 

Have a great Sunday night!!

xo,

Grace

The Oversized Sweater!

When I think about my style, I often get confused reconciling all the various (and to some incompatible) ways I love to dress: super girly, all black minimalism, classic, studs and leather, animal print all over, etc, etc. While I may truly love to dress in may different ways, there is one article of clothing that I love above all else… the amazing, wonderful, irreplaceable oversized sweater.

On days when I feel "off" or don't know what to wear, it is what I always turn too because it is so easy and so comfortable. I love wearing leggings underneath or a pair of skinny jeans like I did last night to dinner and a movie with friends.

Even though it is not "fall" like at all right now where I am, I think this style is perfect for chillier temps and transitioning into cold weather. Sadly, I can't find a link to the exact sweater I was wearing last night (although I am positive it is available in-store as I just got it less than two weeks ago), but here are three similar ones I also love. I own all three of these and am getting a lot of use out of them. Added bonus-- they are all under $30. That's hard to beat!

Oversized Sweater with Leather Detail, Fine Knit Sweater, Oversized Sweater

My favorite of the three is the one to the right, the Oversized Sweater, because I love this subtle leopard print that it comes in. It is also pretty light weight which is good for layering and places that are not as cold (cough cough, Florida). 

What do you think of this style? I hope you had a great Wednesday!!

xo,

Grace

Excited for Fall: Elaine Turner!

Hi friends and happy almost-weekend! Whether you are gearing up for a relaxing time at home, or planning a last minute summer vacation, I hope it is a great one.  As sad as I am about summer beginning to reach its end, although it doesn't feel like it at all, I am really looking forward to fall clothing and accessories.

I naturally gravitate towards neutral colors, especially grays, browns, and beiges, so I love dressing for fall and getting to layer my favorite neutrals together! One of my fave designers, Elaine Turner, just released her fall collection and it is inspired by the Tate Museum in London… how amazing is that?! I've never been to the Tate, but due to its incredible architecture, and vast collection of art, I would love to go. 

Here are my three favorites from the new collection. I'm really looking forward to encorporating army green/olive tones (like the Sheridan Olive Leather Crossbody below) so I think that may be top of my wish list this year. 

The Dahlia in Golden Tan Leather heels are also up there for me because they are perfect shoes for transitional weather or places that don't get super cold in the Winter (like here in Florida).

And finally, I have my eye on the Cloudy Bay Gray Leather Double Wrap Bracelet because I LOVE the grey color with the metallic gold accents… perfect for fall!

Have a great weekend!

xo, 

Grace

5 Favorite Beauty Products: High End!

When it comes to buying beauty products, I definitely prefer getting products at drugstores or Target simply because of the cost.  Whenever I go into a higher end cosmetic store like Sephora, I am sucked in by all the beautiful packaging and colors; it makes it so hard for me to resist picking up a few things!

There are, however, five higher end products that I absolutely love and consider to be totally worth the higher price because they work so well and last for an extremely long time.  I consider these five to be totally essential in my beauty/makeup routine. They're irreplaceable!

The first, Philosophy Purity Made Simple Face Wash (8oz bottle $23), is what I've used to wash my face for as a long as I can remember. The smallest amount goes a long way, which makes the bottle last forever. It doubles for me as a makeup remover, and I can honestly say it gets EVERYTHING off my face, including waterproof eyeliner/mascara, heavy eyeshadows, etc. It is super gentle, and has no fragrance. I cannot sing its praises enough… its seriously the best and absolutely worth the price. If you want to try it out without committing to a big bottle, Sephora has the small "travel" size ones available in the check out line for about $10.

Second, bareMinerals Well Rested ($18), is another daily go-to for me. I use it as under eye concealer and also as concealer for any blemishes I may have. This is hands down the best concealer/brightener I have ever used. It makes me look wide awake after even the earliest of mornings (not a morning person here). 

Next, Diorshow Mascara in Catwalk Black ($25) is another favorite of mine because it lasts forever without drying out.  Its always so frustrating to me when I buy a new bottle of mascara and its crusty and dry after only a week or two. Not the case with this one!! Its a very dark black which I love, very wet, and smells like rosewater! The brush makes application really easy and gives my short lashes an added boost of volume and length. I've been using this for about a year now, and I don't think I could give it up!

Number 4, the bareMinerals Ready Foundation (SPF 20) ($29) is my trusted do everything foundation. I used to use it in the loose powder version (also great), but have been getting the ready compact recently and am loving the fuller coverage it gives. I tend to have some redness on my face around my nose and on my cheeks, and this absolutely neutralizes it and makes me look fresh-faced in seconds. Also, because it is a powder and made of minerals, it allows my skin to breathe all day, and even at my sweatiest (I know, gross) I never feel like I have stuff on my face. The SPF 20 is an added bonus because I know I have that extra boost of sun protection. 

Finally, I received the Clarisonic Mia 2 ($149) as a gift three months ago from my fiancé, and I am obsessed with it. I use it every night and my skin feels incredibly smooth and radiant afterwards. It's definitely gentle, but the feeling of deep clean it gives is like nothing I've ever seen before. I've seen a clear difference in terms of acne trouble spots and highly recommend this to anyone who struggles with acne too. 

I hope you enjoyed and let me know what your favorite beauty splurges are!

xo,

Grace

Favorite Nail Polishes!

Happy FRIDAY lovelies!! I hope it has been a great week.

Today I wanted to share some of my absolute favorite nail polishes. Essie and OPI are by far my two favorite nail polish brands because they generally dry quickly (OPI even more fast-drying than Essie) which is a MUST for me because I am totally impatient when it comes for waiting for my nails to dry.  They also both have great/easy to use brushes… also a must for me because as you can see in the "swatches" I did, I am a bit messy at nail painting.

Here's the lineup:

E S S I E

From L to R- "Ballet Slippers" is one of my favorite neutral colors because it is a subtle pink but has a lot of white in it. " Mod Square" is by far my favorite true "Pink" color! It is definitely a bright or hot pink, super saturated with more red tones than purple. "For the Twill of it" is an amazing color because it is metallic/ iradecent so in some lights it looks grey, others a dark purple. Definitely my most favorite color for winter (although I wore it just last week!).

O P I 

From L to R- "Do You Lilac It?" is the perfect purple, not too pastel and not too dark. Beautiful lilac color! "Cosmo Not Tonight Honey?" is a neutral beige-y color made amazing. Metallic, shimmery, and gorgeous, my go-to year round.  "Princesses Rule" is a pink, but has an almost clear base with pink glitter in it. I love it by itself for a more subtle look, but it is also gorgeous as a top coat over a pink or red. "Big Apple Red" is the truest red color I've ever seen.  It is shiny, super pigmented, and just all around wonderful.

I hope you enjoyed and let me know if you have any polishes you love! Happy happy weekend!

xo, 

Grace

Go-to Accessories of the Summer!

Hello Hello!! I hope you all had a great last weekend of July! I have no idea where July went… I feel like I blinked and now it is coming to an end.  But, I am happy because I have lots of exciting things coming up in the month of August! :)

Today I wanted to share with you the two accessories I have been grabbing more than anything else this summer. They truly are my go-to items for pulling any outfit together.  They are: The Harper Cork Wedge and The Bella Patent Clutch (sadly no longer available in beige but linked here for the black).  Both Elaine Turner pieces, these two make any outfit I am wearing feel extra special and summery.

Things I love about the Harper Cork Wedges: 

• SO comfortable
• Make my legs look longer (who wouldn't want that!)
• The bamboo detail on the top
• Go with everything

Things I love about the Patent Leather Bella Clutch

• Magnetic closure makes it extra secure
• Hot pink lining
• Mirror inside!

Outfit Details: Sweater- C. Wonder, Dress- Splendid, Necklace- From Houston TX Boutique, gift from my mom, Earrings- Forever 21

What have been your go-to's this summer?

xo, 

Grace