You’ve Got Style: Modern Citizen

Fashion

I have always been a sucker for work wear. I’ve long obsessed over the wardrobes of powerful ladies in the movies. Some of my favorites include Sandra Bullock in The Proposal, Rena Russo in Thomas Crowne Affair and Helen Hunt in What Women Want (throwback I know, but rent it, I promise you’ll want every look). In each one of these cases, the clothes definitely made the woman. So when I recently discovered Modern Citizen I stopped dead in my fashion-deprived tracks. I trust you’ll do the same.

This collection is the perfect amalgamation of my favorite muses. Crisp, clean, and built on the foundation of luscious neutral tones and beautiful cuts. Chic is probably the most overused adjective in blog land these days, but it really is the only way to describe these looks. They’re proof positive that the basics do not have to boring. If you pick the right silhouettes, the perfect crop or the ideal chunky knit you’re guaranteed to look pulled together (no matter what kind of turmoil is happening on the inside – read this if you don’t know what I’m talking about). This is the type of power dressing I’ve missed since going “mama.” And I think it’s time I get back in the sartorial game. There’s just something so empowering about wearing clothes that make you feel like the best version of yourself. I strongly suspect you’ll be feeling very Olivia Pope in any one of Modern Citizen’s looks and that would definitely be my best self!

For all my Bay Area babes, I have a very special treat to share with you. Modern Citizen will open its doors to the general public for its Biannual Showroom Sale this Saturday, January 23rd – a day before the sale goes online.

You’ll be able to save up to 50% off bestsellers & editor favorites along with jewelry, scarves and accessories. I think I might try to line up early for this one.

Modern Citizen Showroom Sale
Saturday, January 23rd
11 – 5 PM
2762 Octavia Street
(btwn Union and Green St)

PS – I’ve thought about bringing Monday Work Wear back. Would you be into it??

You’ve Got Style: Elizabeth Suzann

Fashion

Confession: I thought that seven weeks post baby a lot things would be different then they actually are. I thought I’d running all around town sweet babe in tow. I thought I’d have it all together – energy, confidence, know how. Instead I’m still figuring out how to fit a shower into my day and maybe gulp down one chunk of calories that could count as a meal. Another thing I thought I’d have back by now – my pre-baby closet! I’ve shed the maternity clothes, but my fully stocked wardrobe now mocks me – as it was built around a lifestyle that’s long gone. I’ve quickly learned complicated fashion choices are no longer an option! There’s no time nor energy to expend on styling the perfect look. And high maintenance fabrics like my silk prized silk button-downs? Or anything that says dry clean only?? Forget it! I need to be able to grab, go, but still look damn good – even if it’s just to treat myself to a {decaf!} cappuccino. This is where Elizabeth Suzann comes in – the line heralds itself for being “simple, utilitarian and beautiful.” That’s speaking my lady-with-a-baby language!

This collection brings uniform dressing to a whole new level of chic. I’d be thrilled to reach into my closet and grab that gorgeous jumpsuit again and again and again. And the Cocoon trench? Don’t even get me started! That jacket is perfect for every season. I’d wear it over a dress or cropped pants all summer and then layer a lush sweater come winter {or right now since Karl the Fog has returned to San Francisco}. And that knot bag – possibly the coolest diaper bag ever?? I’m dying to test one out to see! All of the line’s silhouettes are timeless yet feel very current. And the fabrics 100% machine washable. Boom!

Thank you Elizabeth Suzann for disguising great mom clothes in super chic skin. I’ll take one of each please.

What about all you power mamas out there? How did you tackle the whole baby-friendly wardrobe conundrum? I’d love to hear your pointers!!

How to Dress for Your Dream Job

Fashion

It’s a little known fact that I came to the world of blogging from a very different career path. I actually started out…in politics! Yes, it’s true!! I studied political science in college, actually went on to get a master’s degree in public policy analysis and even worked in both the United States Senate and the White House! I know, crazy right??

And while I did love a lot of things about what I was doing at the time, I ultimately walked away from working in politics for well…political reasons. And while I look back at it nostalgically, there’s one thing about the whole experience that I really miss. The wardrobe! If you live on the West Coast and work in more creative fields like I do now, when it comes to your daily look, just about anything goes. Sure that can be fun too, but there are times when I miss my days of power dressing! So when I was invited to create a look for my “ultimate dream job” as part of the countdown to Cotton’s 24 Hour Runway show {happening this weekend!}, my ideal outfit immediately sprang to mind.

I decided to recreate the look and feel of the Washington Powerhouse! In this case, I started with my trusty cotton trench coat. This baby has been in my closet for a long time {truly more years than I’d like to even admit to myself!} and I realized it’s high time she got to see more daylight. A beautifully tailored trench is going to elevate anything you wear, but I love the sense of poise, confidence and purpose I have whenever I rock mine.

As fall is my favorite time of year, I also gladly pulled out another closet must-have: a stellar sweater. This ribbed cotton turtleneck is tailored to have beautiful twists and folds that give it interesting structure and unique detail. A classic wide-legged trouser, a chic black heel and lady-like bag definitely make me feel like I could give any Washington-insider a run for her money!

Now I’m about as far from the halls of the Capitol as I can get, but putting my old DC-influenced styling skills to the test was a great reminder that I can still pull out my power look whenever I’m in need of a little oomph. You see, style has this amazing ability to communicate who you are {or want to be!} without you having to say a word…and I love what this look is sayin’! Even if your dream job is far from your grasp right now, who says you can’t dress like you already have it. Dressing the part is half the battle after all.

Of course, preparing for {or landing!} your dream job is only one of life’s major moments. There are so many others, ranging from big to small, that can leave a lasting impact. That’s why I love the concept of Cotton’s 24 Hour Runway Show. It’s dedicated to the various parts of our day to day as well as the major milestones that make up “The Moments of Our Lives.” You can see our Dream Job inspired look along with 23 others streaming LIVE from Cotton’s runway in South Beach starting at 8pm on November 7. Tune in to TheFabricOfOurLives.com or People.com to check it out!

I’m curious. What key moments would you say have stood out in your life??

original photography for apartment 34 by aubrie pick

This post is in partnership with Cotton. All opinions and ideas shared are 100% our own. Thanks for supporting partnerships that we’re excited about and help keep Apartment 34’s doors open!

No, It Ain’t $50 for T-shirt!

Fashion

Have you noticed how over the past few seasons fashion trends have taken on a major casual vibe? Sweatshirt worn to the office? Done. Boyfriend jeans now appropriate anywhere? Cool. Wearing a t-shirt as formal wear? All about it! I, for one, am thoroughly on this casual-is-cool bandwagon!! I love the idea of looking “dressed up” in a super comfy ensemble for a date night – which is exactly what I did for a recent trip to San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Museum followed by a dinner out on the town.

I simply threw on a cheeky tee and jazzed it up with a print skirt and cage sandals. I call the result “all cute, zero discomfort.” Perfect for an old married lady such as myself.

That being said, we know “trends” won’t last forever. They’ll inevitably go out just as quickly as they came in. That’s why I’m also totally in support of opting for something cute and on point, but on par with what any trendy item warrants price-wise… How’s $10 sound?? That’s what my Old Navy Holy Chic tee set me back! And I’ve already got plans to rock it around the office under a blazer {this one is 50% off!}. Boom – two looks for the incredibly crazy affordable price of one!

So don’t think you have to relegate your tees to lazy days shuffling around the house. Get a little creative and suddenly you’ve got a ton of good-lookin’ outfit options with one of your favorite staples. I certainly think we’ve got a little more time before the statement tee trend is on the what’s out list, so go ahead and stock up! Your fall wardrobe will thank you.

WHAT I’M WEARING // GET YOUR SHOP ON

> Old Navy Graphic Tee

> Nicole Miller Skirt

> Zara Sandals {similar}

> Brahmin clutch

> BaubleBar rings

> Aerin lipstick

photography by Ashley Batz

This post was sponsored by Old Navy. Check out Old Navy‘s latest fashion lineup in store or online at oldnavy.com. Opinions are 100% our own. Thanks for supporting the posts that help us keep our doors open!

Feelin’ BAD (in a Good Way!) in Black

Fashion

I really hope someone gets the meaning of this post title or I just really revealed my age with my nod to the king of pop {anyone, anyone??}. But anywho, it seems no matter when I decide to make a few additions to my wardrobe, I always gravitate towards similar things – namely anything in black! But I firmly believe there’s a difference between a fashion comfort zone and a rut, so like I’ve advised here, when you’ve found something that works, why not just go with it!

That’s why I was pretty thrilled to make some serious scores when I popped into Nordstrom Rack during my recent trip to back to my home hood, Seattle. I mean, I couldn’t be in Nordstrom mecca and not go! The Rack’s Designer Section is my kryptonite.

Thankfully, it didn’t take long before I stumbled upon this hot little motorcycle jacket by Soia & Kyo that I snatched right up! Thank goodness, as it came in mighty handy when rain arrived unexpectedly and put a damper {pun intended!} on what had been an epically lovely Pacific Northwest summer. Typical.

I also nipped a beautiful black Dries Van Noten tank. I’m a big fan of going high end for basics so you don’t have to replace them every two seconds. High quality fabrics and a great fit are well worth a little splurge. And a lovely black tank – this one has a little shimmer though sadly you can’t really see it in these pics – is the perfect piece to slip under a suit jacket or dress up a pair of jeans for a girls night on the town {at one of my fave Seattle restaurants, Radici, owned by Cassandra’s dad no less}!

You know, sometimes shopping can feel like a chore these days, but enjoying the thrill factor of a really good score makes the whole thing dramatically more fun. Especially now that you can shop Nordstrom Rack online. I just do not have the stomach for dressing rooms anymore!! I definitely cannot stop wearing my moto-jacket and feeling pretty BAD when I do!

What’s on your current wishlist??

WHAT I’M WEARING // GET YOUR SHOP ON

> Soia & Kyo Moto-Jacket

> Dries Van Noten Tank

> 7 for All Mankind Jeans

> Dries Van Noten Sandals

> Ray-Ban Sunnies {similar}

> Vintage Ring

> Aerin Lipstick in Perfect Nude

original photography for Apartment 34 by belathee photography

Thank you Nordstrom Rack for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% our own. Thanks for supporting posts that keep Apartment 34’s doors open!

MWW: It’s All About Good Jeans

Fashion

I’ve noticed women tend to pick up a variety of fairly nasty habits. Feeling guilt about what we eat, comparing ourselves to others and too often berating ourselves for any variety of perceived sins are just a few off the top of my head. I’m the first to admit I often fall prey to these mental traps too.

Another frequent lament I hear is about what we wear. Too often I hear a friend say “oh I could never wear that” or “I just can’t figure out how to wear this” and make themselves feel badly about it! I’ve fallen victim to this problem too, regularly calling my own style unadventurous because I wear jeans pretty much every.single.day. But I say no more! Instead of beating ourselves up for our natural likes, dislikes or style comfort-zones, why not simply embrace! I look good in jeans dammit. They make me feel comfortable, confident and you by no means have to look “boring” while wearing them!what I’m wearing: White House Black Market Essential Slim Jean // Maison Martin Margiela for H&M blazer (similar) // Celine heels (similar) // Zara Shopper (similar) // BR sunnies

The secret to good jeans is how you make them your own! I for one am going to officially start championing a return to the clean denim look. Yes, I rocked my ripped boyfriends all summer long, but enough is enough! When I step into an elevator I don’t really want to be wearing the same pair of jeans as everyone else packed in around me!

Crisp classic denim like the WHBM Essential Slim Fits let you walk into an important business meeting feeling put together, but also modern. You make them your own by how you accessorize them!

When it comes to rocking denim as work wear, I tend to steal ideas from the boys while adding a feminine twist. In this case, a menswear-inspired button-down and blazer give a nod to a traditional suit, without looking at all stuffy! Putting a dramatic cuff on the jeans and adding a statement-making heel is the perfect way to add some additional personality.

So, instead of feeling badly about our wardrobe comfort zones and knocking ourselves down for not feeling confident in the latest “It” trend, why don’t we try standing tall, being confident and feeling proud about rocking something we know makes us look, but most importantly, makes us feel good.

I’m going to give a go. How about you??

original photography for Apartment 34 by Aubrie Pick // wardrobe styling by Erin Hiemstra

This post is in partnership with White House | Black Market. All opinions are our own. Thanks for supporting posts that keep Apartment 34’s doors open!

How to Connect the Dots on a Monday

Bedrooms

Mondays suck- it’s a universally agreed upon fact. It’s right up there with the sky is blue and the most jealousy-ridden news of 2014: Eva Mendes is in fact, having Ryan Gossling’s baby. She just took all living hope right out from under us. There is no chance any of us are having Ryan’s first born because hey, we had a chance, ok?! But back to Mondays sucking and connecting the dots. After copious amounts of coffee, we like to exercise our brain to fully wake up. It helps get our juices flowing for the week and we do this by looking for connections in unlikely places.

Frequently, things just go together like two peas in a pod {like Eva and Ryan….le sigh} and it’s fun to look for those connections. It makes you feel slightly accomplished, like you’ve discovered a crazy scientific pattern that no one has seen yet. It’s also a preferable substitute to playing games that were invented to make you feel stupid, like Sudoku or the NY Times crossword puzzle. And besides being pretty to look at, we’re almost 100% certain that shopping Net-A-Porter for color coded lacy bras and matching them to the imaginary girl who lives in the badass room below is similar to brushing our teeth with our left hand- it’s sure to keep our precious brains healthy!

Without further ado:

We’re obsessed with this room and it’s funky flair. A leather jacket, designer skateboard {talk about a decor statement!} and nods of glamour mean a bad ass chick lives here, we’re sure of it.

Get Your Shop On:

> West Elm Souk Wool Rug
> ABJ Glassworks Cosmos Geo Group
> Steven Alan x West Elm Abstract Crewel Pillow
> The Kate Moss Book
> Calypso St. Barth Carre Stool
> Swedish Dream Sea Salt Soy Wax Candle
> Specimen Editions Cement Wood Pendant
> Calypso St. Barth Moroccan Wedding Pouf

—–

Oh look! Maybe it’s Leandra? Or some other fashionista rockin’ the dress du jour: The Shirt Dress. We’re loving the classic look with a mix of some accessories that scream “my closet is cooler than yours.” And can we talk about reinventing the shirt dress over pants? Duly noted for Fall.

Get Your Shop On:

> Belted Leather Biker Jacket
> Ray Ban Gold Aviator
> Calico Shirt Dress {great price for a piece you can wear year round!}
> Yasmine Eslami Lace Bra
> Lanvin “Me” Parfume
> J. Crew “Sophie” Crossbody Bag
> Vince “Nolan” Wedge Sandal
> J.Crew High Shine Wide Cuff

—–

And just in case you weren’t picking up what we were throwing down {we get it- it’s Monday and connecting the dots can be tough!}, this resort collection matches our color palette, so we think it belongs in this post too.

There you have it. We feel smarter already. We encourage you to take some time every Monday morning to connect the dots. You’ll be pretty proud of what you come up with! –Bianca

image 1 via Husligheter // 2 via A Love is Blind // 3 via The Polysh // 4 via Radar Magazine // 5 via Cédric Charlier

MWW: {Elevated Summer Style}

Fashion

If you’re like me, you don’t tend to put a lot of thought into our work wear during the summer. It’s the season to just race out the door in the most casual of basics. Or simply stay in a cut-offs and tee! No one really thinks twice. I’ve been sitting comfortably in that nice & easy summer wardrobe camp, until I saw this!

The Mayiet 2015 Resort Collection is inspiring me to step up my summer looks ASAP. Maiyet has become one of our “lines to look out for” since we discovered them, literally a year ago today! I love that this collection is equal parts fabulous and wearable. That was exactly Mayiet’s Creative Director, Kristy Caylor’s goal. She set out to discover what a woman would actually wear on a holiday, but I don’t need any exotic locales to take inspiration from Kristy’s designs.

My three favorite components in this collection are the proportions, the texture and the super chic color palette. I’m definitely digging my wide-leg trousers out from the back of the closet! {Is anyone else wanting to give their distressed denim a rest?? Over it!} And I might hit up the summer sales to grab a pair of culottes before that trend fades!

Finally, the collection’s dreamy color palette: shades of mint, pops of coral and bleached ivory all anchored with navy looks so sophisticated. Suddenly pairing navy and pastels feels so fresh!

While I may not be hitting the skies for a vacation anytime soon, that doesn’t mean I won’t be incorporating this “Resort” attire into my repertoire. No Riviera required. Be sure to watch Instagram to hold me to this pledge!

We were swooning over this lookbook so much that the team created a July moodboard based on the collection!

Did any Resort collections stand out to you? Don’t hold back, fill us in! And if you need vacation ideas, Palm Springs and Mykonos are two great places to start!

images via Maiyet

Mood board {from left to right}: image 1 via Heritage Auctions // image 2 via W Magazine // image 3 via Kinfolk // image 4 via Retail the Show // image 5 via W Magazine // image 6 via Simon Watson // image 7 via Style.com

Trend Spotting: {Summer’s Biggest Bag Statement}

Fashion

Today we’re kicking things off with our latest sartorial obsession. We love that there’s a new kind of bag on the streets, runways and blogs these days. Reminiscent of those cherished elementary school memories, the backpack is having a MAJOR moment!

But now the carry-all is all grown up! You can find a backpack in every sophisticated shape, size and material. These babies are just about as far from our overstuffed Jansport as we can get! Whether you’re spending thousands {like The Row’s alligator design!}, or opting for something more affordable, you’re guaranteed to find a design that fits with your lifestyle.

A sleek, minimal and structured design is perfect for the creative type who might carry the latest issue of their favorite magazine and some notebooks for jotting down ideas on the go. The sporty woman can use those roomy pockets and straps for that extra change of gym clothes that never fit in her purse. And we’re confident office gals will ditch that boring, corporate briefcase once they see how much work they can fit into this modern design!

If you’re in a hurry, the backpack is the most trustworthy portable option. Throw it over one shoulder {like these uber cool blogger babes!} or carry it on both shoulders {in the more traditional form!}- either way, the backpack definitely pumps up an outfit!

GET YOUR SHOP ON:

> White Backpack {ONLY $40!}
> Le Specks Polka Dot Sunglasses
> Sonia Kashuk Translucent Illuminator
> Muji Notebook
> J.Crew Mixed Pattern Socks
> Escentric Molecules Fragrance
> Michael Kors Sneakers

GET YOUR SHOP ON:

> Alexander Wang Backpack
> Molami White + Gold Earbuds
> Aesop Resurrection Hand Balm
> Russh Issue 54
> Ombre Yoga Mat
> Horn Sunglasses
> Zippered Brushstroke Pouch

___________________________________________________________________________

The backpack {along with sneaks!} are a crucial accessory as a sporty wave continues to hit the fashion world. And we can’t complain about the adoration to all things casual {and comfy!}.

How do you feel? Should we pick up the backpack and embrace its casual coolness or should it be left back in our school days? — Victor

image 1 via FashnChips // 2 via WhatsTrend // 3 via English Rose // 4 via Stockholm Street Style // 5 via Coco Chic // 6 via Connected To Fashion

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