Author: Jessica Blanton

Taking advantage of these last days of summer with my favorite swimwear pieces!

This summer, we spent so much time at the beach and water parks that I built a small collection of swimwear. With all of them being postpartum and petite friendly, below are some of my favorite styles. These swimsuits are incredibly flattering and beautiful!

The Sidestroke
This one-shoulder style swimsuit is absolutely stunning and incredibly flattering! It comes in solid colors and also colorblock options. I adore their colorblock designs and am wearing the Lava & Hibiscus & White Sand color here. Offering great compression and support, this swimsuit is very postpartum friendly! The leg opening sits comfortably without riding up and the asymmetric open back makes it gorgeous from every angle. Also petite friendly (for size reference, I’m 5 ft 110 pounds and wearing a size 2).

The Bow Shoulder Ruched Sidestroke

The bow-shoulder swimsuit– such a sleek and classy design! It’s so pretty that I’d want to wear it as a top! One-shoulder style topped with a bow, this swimsuit is frame enhancing and hugs all the right places. It has sewn-in cups for coverage, offers great compression and is postpartum friendly. And again, I love the asymmetric open back! Comes in really fun prints and is petite friendly as well (for size reference, I’m wearing a size 2).

The Ruffle Backflip
So charming, this ruffle swimsuit pairs a deep V-neckline with an open back. The coverage is a little cheeky compared to the other two, but still feels very secure. The way the colorblock pattern sits at the high waist gives leg-lengthening effects. Also offers great compression and is postpartum friendly. Comes in really fun prints and colorblock options. For size reference, I’m wearing a size 2.

I’m a huge fan of Summersalt. Their swimwear collection offers thoughtful and beautiful designs with great options that are postpartum and petite friendly. What I appreciate most is that their swimsuits are timeless yet fun, classy yet sexy all while making you feel like your best self.

Hope you’re having a great summer and thank you so much for reading!

For this holiday season, the gift of classics that can extend for a few years is truly a gift that keeps on giving. Whether it is a gift to celebrate personal triumphs or offer respite from the pressures of the day-to-day, or a gift to someone special to express your affection in abundance, below are my favorites for this holiday and beyond.

It’s no surprise that I’m a huge fan of Senreve pieces. I have a few in my collection and I can confidently say that throughout this year I’ve carried these bags the most. With limited places to go, I’ve developed a greater appreciation for fuss-free, multipurpose, and chic creations that can complement any outfit and occasion. From trips to the grocery store, Artemis, and doctor’s appointments, these bags are robust (leaving them looking brand new for months on end), versatile, and helps me feel put together even on days when I’m in sweats.

Next to black, I find that nude tones, chestnut shades, and a great taupe color are the most timeless. To me, taupe with gray undertones is a very fresh and modern color. With it being on the lighter side, it works well as an understated winter and spring color, and equally well as a light and romantic color for summer. I’m embracing my love for taupe in a monochromatic look today. Layering ruffles with stripes, I wanted to highlight the sophisticated soft yet masculine side of taupe.

My fondness for taupe also extends to home pieces. I was thrilled to see that Senreve expanded their offerings to home decor. After moving earlier this year, I’ve kept an active eye out for chic and beautiful pieces that can add life to my apartment. This leather jewelry tray is just so fun! Great as an accent piece next to your door for keys or as an everyday item next to your nightstand or vanity for rings and bracelets. They also have incredible cashmere blankets! As you can see, I’m not the only fan of them. My kitty, Sam, is like a magnet to it! Everywhere it goes, he follows. It’s soft, warm, and the two-tone color block (mine is marigold on one side and off-white on the other) makes it easy to decorate depending on season and mood.

I hope you enjoy this styling and home post!With their beautiful bags and home decor pieces, they make perfect gifts for that special someone in your life or a treat for yourself.

Happy holidays and thank you so much for reading!

– OUTFIT –
Coat | Max Mara striped coat
Suit | Theory blazer and pants
Bag | Senreve Mini Maestra color Vegan Taupe, Senreve Mini Maestra color Vegan Pecan, Senreve Alunna color Chesnut
Gift Ideas | Senreve leather jewelry tray, Senreve cashmere blankets, Senreve silk pajama set

Embracing spring with a shorter look. Both hair and outfit!

It was warm enough to wear shorts and skirts the other day, so I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to style something more spring appropriate. A little mix of ruffles with a hint of something industrial anchored by sky blue hues.

I hope you’re having a great week so far. Colin and I have been working nonstop on a very very special project. I can’t wait to share it with you soon. As always, thank you so much for your love and support. And thank you so much for reading!

– OUTFIT –
Jacket | Facetasm jacket
Top | Amanda Uprichard puff sweater
Bottom | Marissa Webb shorts
Bag | Hermes Kelly 28
Shoes | similar Sam Edelman & Steve Madden blue pumps
Accessories | Off-White belt & Karen Walker sunglasses

Something so simple yet so chic! The classic sweater dress with a side slit. Layered for winter and also can be a great addition all year round.

I rarely wear midi or ankle length dresses, because I find it shortens my frame. Even when I bought this one, I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. Surprisedly, it’s a keeper! I love it as a day piece with tall boots and a coat. If you’re in warmer weather, it’s easy to pair it with classic pumps or strappy sandals. For this look today, I added a turtleneck sleeve scarf over the knit dress and paired it with a wool handmade coat .

I ended up loving this sweater-dress-slit look so much that I wanted to try it in black. With the Fore side slit dress , I can’t wait to style it with a pop of color next.

Before we end, I wanted to share some beautiful yet practical home decor pieces. Just in case you’re looking for holiday gifts, these are some items I love and use at home. Colin and I make tea almost everyday, so this Menu tea pot and tea heater stand are staple pieces in our kitchen. It’s so peaceful and beautiful that it makes you look forward to having tea everyday.

Both the resin box and marble planter are in our bedroom and they’re such unique pieces. The box is perfect as a jewelry box or a place for keys and essentials near the door. And since I have so many plants, I’m always looking for interesting vases and planters.

I hope you enjoy the styling and home post today! Happy holidays everyone!

Back to one of my favorite ways to add more interest and depth to winter looks – mixing prints!

I think winter dressing can be very challenging. To top it off, New York winters are brutal. Keeping warm and stylish is truly a balancing act. I find that layering and mixing prints can simplify this process while striking the delicate balance of warmth and style. Pulling out my houndstooth coat from years ago and creating a companion piece to the houndstooth midi dress – currently 50% off + 10% off with code ‘MYSTERY’ – I find that mixing similar styles of print (in this case houndstooth) in different sizes can create a much more interesting look.

Just like the coat and dress, I also ended up doubling the belts as well. Adding a thin belt over a thicker wider belt almost creates a corset-like look. This belt trick works best when the bottom belt does not have a buckle.

I hope you enjoy the styling and location today! Thank you so much for reading!

– OUTFIT –
Dress | Ann Taylor houndstooth dress
Coat | Burberry coat
Shoes | Jimmy Choo boots
Accessories | Ann Taylor thin belt & Ann Taylor houndstooth blanket scarf

Watch out Batman! There’s a new masked crusader in town! Fighting crime and rescuing kitties in pink and brown.

One of the most rewarding things about street style photography is landing at unexpected places. My photographer, Allie and I were scheduled at our usual spot in Central Park. On our way there, we saw this steam tunnel. We looked at each other, didn’t say a word, and went straight to the steam cloud. We just knew it was going to be so much fun! And it was. SO. MUCH. FUN!

Just in case you’re wondering… it’s clean vapor, doesn’t smell at all, and super warm. It was actually really cold that day and the steam cloud gave us much needed warmth. This might be my default location when the weather gets too cold!

Gotham-like and mysterious, I felt that burst of joy while shooting again. Unplanned, but this color story of pink and brown works so well against this backdrop. In all of my favorites – pink coat (also seen here with a pink suit), super soft pink sweater, chestnut leather pants, and suede pumps.

I hope you enjoy this post and thank you so much for reading!

– OUTFIT –
COAT | Zara coat
SWEATER| Ganni pink sweater

PANTS | Marissa Webb leather pants
BAG | Fendi ‘Peekaboo’ cover & Fendi ‘Peekaboo’ bag
SHOES | Manolo Blahnik BB suede pumps

Spring colors to uplift winter moods. It’s cold and dark too early now, but this mint and lavender pairing makes the days brighter.

I’m a huge fan of this particular color combination. It’s nostalgic (kind of reminds me of sorbet colors), delicate, and soft. When the weather is cold and dreary, I love adding gentle colors to winter outfits.

I can’t wait to share with you another outfit featuring this cocoon coat! Earth tones, such as chestnut and amber, pair well with purple hues. As for the mint sweater and midi skirt, the ribbed balloon sleeves add so much interest to the classic sweater silhouette and the faux suede elevates the wrap skirt, emphasizing its rich texture and feel. Not to mention, it has pockets!

I hope you enjoy this styling and a glimpse of Central Park in the wintertime. thank you so much for reading!

– OUTFIT –
Coat | Ann Taylor lavender cocoon coat
Sweater | Ann Taylor balloon sleeve sweater
Skirt | Ann Taylor faux suede midi skirt
Shoes | Old, more boot options: Marc Fisher knee high boots (just ordered these, love the Woodsmoke color!), Charles David beige boots, Aquazzura beige suede tall boots
Accessories | Ann Taylor heart lock necklace made into a brooch

Are they real?!

I posted this fiddle leaf fig tree on my IG Stories and got a lot of DMs from people asking if it’s real. Actually, one of my close friends texted me and asked the same thing. They are reaaallll! As you can see, since the pandemic I find joy and self-worth by keeping plants and cats alive. This new hobby became a real obsession. I’d bounce back and forth between working on Artemis and reading about plants. A lot of reading. Forums, garden clubs, books, YouTube videos, blogs… you name it, I was knee deep in it.

I’m a plant enthusiast, and by no means an expect. But if you’re interested, I can create a plant care post specifically about the Fiddle Leaf Fig tree. From my personal experience and what I’ve read online and in books, there are many schools of thought in regards to care for this particular tree.

I know it’s a little strange to talk about plants and not touch on plant care. But in this post, I just want to introduce you to my new green space. It’s actually my therapy space. I sit in that chair everyday with my kittie Sam, and it’s incredibly calming.

I learned a lot in the pass few months about designing with plants, and would love to share some of my thoughts with you.

Designing a Modern Green Space

1.When creating a green space, the more plants the better. When you look at that IG pic and go… whoa, that looks amazing. Usually more often, that image transports you to another place. To create that feeling, you have to see and be surrounded by greenery. Grouping plants together (which can also help increase the humidity which is beneficial for your plants) can create that transformative experience. When my fiddle leaf fig tree was there by itself, it was ok. But the space felt decorative. When I added more plants around it, the space came to life.

2.Consider vertical space. Plants that come down from above, like my philodendrons on the shelf, can help create that majestic and immersive feeling. Whenever you see a waterfall, it feels grand. It feels pulled in and as though you are part of that story. Also with vertical space, consider plants at different heights to create a canopy look.

3.Design the space around a statement piece. An accent chair, a dreamy bed, a statement table… whatever works for you. This not only is functional (a place to relax and sit, a place to find peace and sleep, a place of serenity while working), it also gives you more opportunities to interact with the plants. Because I sit in this space everyday, I observe and actively monitor my plants. I can see how wet the soil is, if new spots are developing, any bugs appearing, etc. The care becomes more interactive and meaningful.

4.Design with personal items. Instead of a plant stand, consider using a stack of books and/or boxes. Instead of using a planter, consider using a candle vessel. With my jewel orchid above, it’s in a 2.5 inch grow pot that fits nicely inside the candle vessel.

5.Don’t be afraid to mix faux with real. When lighting conditions are not ideal, consider mixing faux with real. For example in the case of my heart vase, the area is too dark and there’s really no plants that I can put in it. I still wanted to continue the theme of green in that area, so I added faux ferns. Consider experimenting and playing around with small accents of faux plants before moving into bigger items.

Please keep in mind that these design tips will be more fruitful if your place has the lighting conditions suitable for the plants you want. For example, if I move my fiddle leaf fig tree to the other side of the shelf, a few feet away from the window, it will most likely not do as well.

I hope you enjoy this post. If you have any questions about plant care or design elements, please let me know. And as always, thank you so much for reading!

Playing with new looks and autumn colors today! A palette of amber, chestnut, and golden hues.

Switching it up and taking in a full breath of autumn, both in beauty colors and style. Pulling out my rust brown blazer and shorts, and pairing them with orange creme lips and soft bronze eyes. A slight departure from my minimalistic makeup looks, I really wanted to step out of my routine and embrace fall. Not only that, I haven’t worn full makeup colors in a long time so it was refreshing and fun to play with lip colors and eyeshadow again!

I’ve always wanted to cut my hair short and entertained the thought of adding bangs. A day later, I’ll change my mind. And then… a few weeks later, maybe? No, no. This internal dialog plays out for months. Finally, the answer was experimenting with a hair piece! Now, the question is to cut or not to cut!

Just like fashion, when it comes to makeup I love mixing high and low, and greatly appreciate the range of offerings Walmart has. I’ve posted about this liquid eyeliner for years now and it’s still one of my favorites – the Stila ‘Stay All Day’ liquid eyeliner (I wear Intense Black). I’m also a fan of this Revlon ‘Photoready’ stick! I love the Nude Kiss color, and wear it as a nighttime blush color, daytime soft contour shade, and even as a lip color. This Julep palette embraces fall wholeheartedly! From beautiful copper shades to neutral colorways, this eyeshadow palette is a lovely all around versatile beauty piece.

And last but not least for fall beauty, this L’Oreal lip color in Volcanic! It’s a rich creme texture in a beautiful orange shade. To deepen the color, I layered a nude-brown lipliner underneath and added two swipes of Volcanic (blotting in between application).

The beauty of autumn comes in forms of golden leaves, cozy sweaters, and bronze orange beauty looks. A perfect blend that feels peaceful, comforting, and oh so chic! For a wide breath of autumn beauty favorites, stop by the Walmart fall beauty collection. It’s a great way to create surprise and delight moments by discovering unexpected shades and colors (like this orange one!). And I do appreciate the next day/2 day delivery option!

I hope you enjoy this beauty look and post. Thank you so much for reading and special thanks to Walmart for partnering on this post!

– BEAUTY COLLECTION –

Lips & Cheeks | L’Oreal ‘Volcanic’ & Revlon ‘Photoready 330 Nude Kiss’
Eyes | Julep ‘Grand Illusions Palette’ & Stila ‘Stay All Day Eyeliner’
Nails | Habit ’15 Santa Sangre’ & ’04 Tabou’

The magic of Central Park. This time of the year is truly indescribable. Being the best painter, Mother Nature colors the sky with gold and red tones.

We might have a few more weeks (if we’re lucky) where the foliage stays jewel tone and the weather is perfect sans coats. Comfortable cool temperatures while enjoying paint-brushed skies call for one of my favorite pairings – sweaters with boots! An easy, relaxed combo that embraces fall. Adding rose and merlot against marigold and copper colored leaves, I love how the soft pink sweater and red bag and boots gently complements Central Park’s magnificent color story.

For this look, I’m also double bagging =) I actually really enjoy this trend. Seen on Fendi and Louis Vuitton’s runway, it’s a micro bag paired with a normal sized bag. In this case, it is one that doesn’t necessarily break the bank. I love that the Milli Maestra bag looks exactly like the bigger sister version, the Mini Maestra in the same color. It’s perfect for keys, AirPods, or mini hand sanitizers. It’s just super adorable, charming, and convenient for those easy-to-reach everyday essentials.

And just in case you’re hunting for boots, I picked up these boots from the Stuart Weitzman sale. Some of their classic shoes are also part of the sale – 40% off brown suede classic pumps (these are similar to the Manolo Blahnik suede pumps), 30% off brown or nude over-the-knees boots (these are super comfortable with the lower heel), mine are 30% off sculptural mid heel red boots, and more. I can’t wait to restyle these red boots with long dresses and coats for winter, and tights with oversized sweaters for casual looks.

I hope you enjoy Central Park and today’s styling. Thank you so much for reading!

– OUTFIT –
Top | Zara sweater, similar H&M ruffle blouse
Bottom | Storets white flare shorts
Bag | Senreve Mini Maestra, color Merlot
Shoes | Stuart Weitzman croc boots
Accessories | Senreve Milli Maestra, color Merlot