Valentine's Day | Opposites Attract

You know the saying, "opposites attract." There's something terribly romantic and exciting about two apparent polar opposites coming together. As if to say that love is really that powerful. Call me a romantic but I for one am a believer.

photo curtesy of ahouseinthehills.com

When you're talking fashion that is! Combining contrasting textures and opposing looks into one is what gets this fashionista-wannabe's heart racing every time. Take the gentle spills of soft fabric and pair it with the dark, hard bindings of black leather and you've got the undeniable makings of an exciting evening.

photo curtesy of http://carriechanchan.tumblr.com

Or how about opulent and heavy ornate lace.., it's feminine antique romance modernized by the casual ease of a favorite pullover. All to be stirred up again when introduced to the call of the wild...

Valentine's Day | Opposites Attract by jayandrenae 

3 1 Phillip Lim cream silk dress / Carven black jacket, $580 / Christian Louboutin ankle boots / Lanvin clutch

Jewelry: Colby June branch cuffs | Jay + Renae Collective / Rebecca Scott Clear Quartz Tear Drop Earrings | Jay + Renae   

The simple unexpectedness of it all is what accounts for half of the intrigue. Like adding a feminine bow to an otherwise masculine cut of a jacket and pairing a pale flow of silk with the bondage of black leather. It's the play of hard against soft, smooth against rawness and feminine with masculine that lends excitement to these combinations. It gets my heart pounding every time.

I do have to wonder though how much of this obsession is really a reflection of my personal life. After all, I'm married to my polar opposite. He is gigantically tall while I'm petite. He's conservative while I call myself a progressive. I love to read - he likes to play ball (any ball game will do). I tend toward the serious side and to my chagrin, he jokes even at times of seriousness. I fancy myself the creative type - he's good with numbers...is it any wonder I fill my fantasy closet with opposing elements?

So on this Valentine's Day, what contrasting and opposing elements will you add to spice up your day?

Thank You from Jay + Renae

Thank You from Jay + Renae by jayandrenae on Polyvore

Jay and Renae
jayandrenae.com

Jay and Renae
jayandrenae.com

Happy Holidays...

Happy Holidays... by jayandrenae featuring a black skirt

Madewell silk top / Juicy couture jacket / MSGM black skirt / Alexander wang shoes / Lanvin handbag

Bargain Hunting: J Crew Sale

J. Crew Collection

I have a confession to make. I'm a bargain hunter. I love getting a great deal, especially on something that suits my style so perfectly. In that respect, I may share this love with a few others out there. Now I'm not the kind of bargain hunter that scours the shelves or internet for hours for the best deals out there, only purchasing at dirt cheap prices. I find this to be too time consuming and too often, the end result is a closet full of items that don't really suit me or my true sense of style. Oh, yes, I speak from experience.  

I've wised up. The key is...know thy self. And know your closet. Then when a sale announcement from your favorite shop lands in your inbox, go hog wild! Well, in keeping with your true sense of style and budget that is. I look for quality classic pieces that will weather fleeting trends and the passage of time. And hold up wear after wear. That means great construction and quality materials..fine merino wools, cashmeres, cottons. Throw in a few mixed blends for loft and durability. Silk for the occasional ladylike item (a girl's gotta have a few feminine pieces right?). 

I also find that a sale is the perfect time to branch out...just beyond the comfort zone. Like by adding a pop of color to a closet dominated by neutrals (or vise versa). Or mixing in an unusual print to give life to all those solids. And a little spurge on a fun trendy item  or two makes for a quick and easy update to a classic wardrobe. 

J Crew is my go to when it comes to getting my bargain hunting fix. J. Crew and I go way back. To the days when factory outlets were practically nonexistent. When the retailers actually came to you. As in came to your city, rented a warehouse and advertised their giant blowout factory sale in the newspaper. Since that faithful day, it was love at first sale. And I haven't turned back, even as I wean out giant retailers from my list in favor of independent businesses with soul. Their attention to quality and construction with just the right twist on classic style has me hooked, line and sinker. Here are my current bargain favorites...

Bargain Hunting: J Crew Sale by jayandrenae on polyvore.com

Stay In and Get Comfortable…

It snowed. Not much, just tiny little windblown flakes made visible by the flash of passing headlights. But it was snow, nonetheless. Temperatures have dropped below freezing here. And there is nothing more welcoming than a steaming cup and a good read. Or attempting a novel, if the mood should strike. In bed or by the fire, snuggled under fluffy white covers.

I haven't experienced below freezing temperatures in years, except for the occasional ski trip to the mountains. So this is still all new. And a bit exciting. It's the perfect excuse to stay inside, light the fire, and put on something comfy and warm.

Stay In and Get Comfortable by jayandrenae 

1. Pebble Charm Necklace | Jay + Renae  2. Juicy Couture elastic waist pants 3. J.Crew Collection cashmere zip-front hoodie 4. TIBI racerback camisole  5. UGG Australia ugg® australia boots 6. Ethan Allen faux fur throw pillow  7.Tea mug 


Remember to sign up to receive an email when the Jay + Renae site launches and receive 30% off your first purchase!  Now that's a warming thought. 

A Cozy Fall

Cozy Fall by jayandrenae featuring Madewell

Madewell clothing
madewell.com




Fall is here. In a real way. With leaves turning lovely shades of gold, bright orange and red. Collecting on the dewy grass and crunching beneath every step. And this cold weather here in Toronto has me thinking cozy, cozy, cozy. All I want to do is slip into something soft and warm. What better on a cold Fall day than a pair of comfy boots, a soft as kitten's fur sweater and a warm scarf to guard against the wind. Throw on a furry bag over your shoulders and you're ready to head into the cold in warm style...

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Moving...Forward

Okay, it's been a bit crazy of late - getting ready for our much anticipated trip to our soon-to-be-new-home/city. Yes, I'm moving. Bye-bye beloved San Francisco. Hello, Toronto. Burrrr...as I understand it, there's actually snow there and it's not even a ski town. Even as a former east coaster, this is a bit tough to adjust to after more than a decade of perpetual fog..., I mean moderate weather.

I may just need to borrow this coat...

Photo courtesy of Atlantic-Pacific
Loving how a soft leather jacket is layered beneath an overcoat.
I may need to steal this idea for my upcoming trip...

But everything is still moving full steam ahead! The trunk show event has been finalized for March 23rd and Robert and Aston of Limestone Films will be my house guests(!) and attending to film the entire event. I feel like we're friends already!

Robert and Aston of Limestone Films
The friendliest couple I will soon have the pleasure of meeting. They will be capturing the heart of Jay + Renae on film and bringing it to life. 

I've also been working on a whole new collection to be photographed by the talented Clarissa Schneider. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at me working out the details...

Putting together the hand stamped charm necklace collection.
Finally! This collection has been on the sketch pad for nearly a year now so I'm really excited to finally include it in the Jay + Renae collection. 

Mixing gold with silver to add a layer of interest and versatility.
This new hand stamped charm collection will include the ability to customize and personalize your very own necklace. Look out for photos of the completed pieces in an upcoming post...

I hope you've enjoyed this update. Thanks for taking this journey with me. Let me know what you think of the new collection...leave your comments below!

Until next time...

xoxo

Fashion Tip of the Week

This week's Fashion Tip is: Turn those babies inside out!

Picture this. After much angst in front of horribly unflattering dressing room mirrors, you find the perfect pair of washable black pants (that translates in my book as black legging jeans). They cling to you in all the right places and drape forgivingly in all those not so smooth places. They also do a nice job of hugging your tush just right.

And they're the perfect shade of rich black.

So let's keep them that way! We don't want to repeat all that angst-ing any sooner than absolutely necessary, do we?

When it's time to wash those trusty favorite black pants (or any dark colored clothing for that matter), turn those babies inside out! Wash in cold and hang dry. Fluff in the dryer (great time to snag your trusty spray bottle) for 7-10 minutes on the lowest setting possible that still gives out a little heat. And whamo! You've just lengthened the life of those pants by 100%! (At least in terms of you wearing them as your favorite pants verses "these ratty old things"). Now that's money in the bank and more time spent strutting and less time angst-ing.

Have a tip you'd like to share of your own? Leave them in the comment section below - I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time...may you strut through the weekend in style!

xoxo                  



 

Fashion Tip of the Week

I've decided that Fridays are the perfect days for my Tip of the Week post. After a busy week of work and play, it's time to wind down. The weekend is just around the corner - a perfect time to try out a new trick before another week starts and the craziness begins all over again.

This week's little Fashion Tip is: Use a Spray Bottle.

Instead of an iron that is. So picture this. You're getting dressed and the shirt that you thought you had hung neatly in the closet is actually found under a pile of clothes that you promised yourself that you'd take care of, oh just a couple of weeks ago. You have only 10 minutes to finish getting dressed, pack your son's lunch, put your face on and change a poopy diaper. So you pull out the iron and ironing board...not!

Enter your trusty spray bottle. Mist that wrinkled mess of a shirt down with a little water and pop it into the dryer on the lowest setting (but not the air fluff - you need just a touch of heat). 5-7 minutes later while you blaze around completing the rest of your morning routine on warp speed - presto! You have a wrinkle-free shirt, hot out of the oven (dryer). Of course it will never have the precise smooth flatness of an ironed shirt, but who wants to look like a stiff board anyways?

This trick works for all manners of things - pants, cashmere sweaters, jeans (great for those stretched out pairs that you want to get one more wear out of before throwing them in the wash!) and of course any shirt of your choice.

If you haven't tried this already, prepare for an easier life - at least where ironing is concerned. Let me know what you think and share your own fashion tip with me in the comment section below!

Until next time - may you have a stylish and wrinkle-free weekend!

xoxo

Jay + Renae

The Pocket Stylist

So I promised "How To" tips and I am here to deliver! Introducing my long standing style bible:
The Pocket Stylist by Kendall Farr.

My personal style bible.
Find it here.

Be warned: this book is not for the faint of heart. If you dread taking an honest look at yourself (naked is not completely necessary, a pair of skivvies will do just fine) or your closet, then it's best that we bid each other farewell and part as friends. Because this book is all about getting down to the nitty gritty of personal style. You won't see any fashion fluff here. And I for one am all about getting the lowdown on creating a sense of true personal style. If this sounds like you, then read on!

Here's what you can expect.

• A comprehensive breakdown of style options for different body types with a simple way to identify your own body type.
• How to shop like a pro stylist using tricks and tips that Kendall Farr personally uses to style the most fashionable of celebrities and fashion magazine shoots. 
• A list of must-have basics that no closet should be without.
• How to customize a fit to work with your unique silhouette.
• How to work current trends into your existing wardrobe.
• Finding the right underpinnings to make everything fit and look the way you want it to.
• And of course, how to accessorize to create a truly personalized look. 

And all this comes straight from a pro stylist who has worked in the industry for nearly twenty years (more now, since this book's been out for a while now). You can check out her style blog here. She has styled the likes of celebrities, magazines, ad campaigns and private clients. But most importantly, she actually cares about each person looking her best, regardless of the label she's wearing or how trend-on her outfit is. She brings her years of experience in the field working with numerous clients to breakdown fashion and style in a way that is truly approachable for the everyday woman. Thanks be.

. 

I hope you glean some helpful tips from this book. I'd love to get your feedback. Let me know what insights you discover about yourself while reading it - I think you may be surprised (I certainly was)!

Until next time!

xoxo

Jay + Renae

Style Inspiration

Since I've committed to blogging about fashion tips and how to's, I decided I'd better brush up on some style tips myself! Keep in mind that the main reason I've decided to venture into this daunting area is for the simple fact that I'm desperate for a style makeover!

I've already waxed lovingly about my unhealthy relationship with a pair of black leggings on my other blog, but it's been an upward battle to keep myself from falling oh so comfortably into the yoga pants and sneaker trap. Oh how far have I fallen from the stylish days of yore (also known as the pre-baby/toddler days). The days that I didn't leave the house in four inch stilettos seam like a distant dream...

But no more. Black leggings and yoga pants be gone! I commit to making 2013 my most stylish year yet. Thanks for coming along on this journey with me.

So I did some poking around on the fashion blogosphere to help me get inspired for a more stylish year. Here is a round up of just a few that I found. All are a bit intimidatingly fashion-y but they do a fine job of inspiring me to kick my yoga pants to the curb!

Atlantic Pacific
Funiform...something I can definitely see myself trying. Minus the hat. Okay, the hat too!

Devon Rachel
Wild Thaang - adding printed pants into your wardrobe. Something I'm not sure I'll be tackling anytime too soon.

Of course the outfits I will be throwing on, I mean, putting together will have to be toddler friendly. That's always the big challenge. At first it was breast feeding,  now it's food stains, crayons, mud, snot..., you name it, it's getting on your clothes. So washable, washable, washable is still the almighty mantra, even in the most stylish year.

Thoughts? Ideas or fashion tips, questions you'd like to share? Leave them in the comments - I'd love to hear from you!