Home Fashion

Fashion

6 Things You Can Do Right Now To Better Yourself From Home

To everyone that spent the past decade telling me I’m so lucky I get to work from home, welcome to my world. Grass is always greener, hair flip for keeping my sanity. If you’re feeling a big stir crazy, take a moment and use this time as an opportunity. Here’s 5 things you can do right now to better yourself:

6 Things You Can Do Right Now:

Outfit details: Veronica Sheaffer bow headband, Eliza J Jumpsuit, Valentino Sunglasses c/o Sunglass Hut, Lagos Apple Watch, Roxanne Assoulin bracelets, LarAllan bag
  1. Try on everything in your wardrobe, see what fits and figure out what you want to keep, donate or sell – maybe it’s time to start that @ebay + @poshmark account. Also playing dress up is really fun! The only people that saw this outfit were on the balcony with me. Balcony fashion show for party of 2 anyone?
  2. Try a new workout. @toniquemethod, @janedo, @305fitness, @dancebody, @rumble and most every other studio is creating some type of at home option. Free trials galore right now. Also @womenshealthmag is doing live workouts as well! Get in on it! Also a fun activity with kids.
  3. Make a vision board/to do list. Include big goals like create a media kit, update your resume, start a business, podcast… or in my case research the children’s book world – agents, publishers, and general people in my network I can reach out to for advice. Considering everyone for the most part is self quarantined this is a great time to DM strangers or reach out over linkedin for help. Phone calls are the new ask a stranger to coffee.
  4. Organize your taxes – I’m mostly talking to myself with this one because I need to get the ball rolling. But make that to do list of everything you’ve been trying to accomplish and take advantage of the downtime to do it.
  5. Call/FaceTime your friends and family. Text people you’d love to reconnect with and check in on them. I’ve never had a ton of free time to do this and catching up with old friends and calling my parents everyday has been such a blessing. For me this is a morning activity as I have my coffee and a great way to start my day.
  6. Enhance yourself! Take a class, Brit.co/learn (code SELFCARE) is comping all classes on their site, painting, photography, investing courses… So much to choose from! Join a book club, both Book Babes and Marie Claire have virtual ones, download a podcast, mediate (@calm @journey @headspace all come recommended also spotify has a ton for free. Take a cooking class off YouTube. The world is your oyster, or at least the internet makes it feel that way.

Ask for recommendations. I’m currently accepting all TV, podcast, and general fun/life enhancing recommendations. Leave a comment or DM me @prettyconnected, would love your advice!

Teddy Coats and Sequins

First off I can’t believe it’s February and I’m torn between wearing teddy coats and crop tops — or in this case both. But alas Global Warming… Here’s a fun transitional outfit I wore during fashion week that can easily go from winter for spring (just remove the jacket).

Outfit details: Ann Taylor Teddy Coat, Eliza J Sequin Floral Skirt, Susanna Chow Sasha bag, Yali Couture custom top + SKIMS Body Tape and Maristella Bianco Sequin ballet flats.

As a closet 34D to 34DD I’ve turned over a new leaf of going for fitted zipper in the back crop tops that double as a bra. I had a few made while in Vietnam from Yaly Couture and it’s been a game changer. I also discovered body tape after my friend Makeda from Glamazon Diaries raved about them. And as someone always on the hunt for tapes and hacks for busty women, I gave it a go with this look for an extra lift.

SKIMS Body Tape

Being recently engaged, I want to try any type of shapewear, corsets, body tapes and beyond before my wedding day. So many wedding dresses have a low back that I want to start experimenting now with what can lift me and work with my future gown.

Have any good shapewear suggestions for me? Drop me a comment or message me on Instagram @prettyconnected.

Sunday Forever x Pretty Connected Good Vibes Chain Necklace + Strap

Wearing the Sunday Forever x Pretty Connected Strap + Sunday Forever The Henry Kimono

If you follow me on Instagram you know the obsession with Sunday Forever is real. Which is why I’m freaking out to announce we have collaborated on a limited edition Pretty Connected x Sunday Forever Good Vibes Multi-use chain ($88)! My classic gold Lara Chain, adorned with Sunday Forever’s signature Evil Eye, Red Tassel, Horseshoe and Classic Spike charms. Wear it as a necklace, use it as a camera strap, bag strap, water bottle strap… and beyond!

Pretty Connected x Sunday Forever Multi-use Strap (pictured with Dagne Dover bag)

Sunday Forever also has a blog called “The Sunday Issue“, and every week they share an interview with a different muse on “How I Sunday“, catch me in this weeks issue babbling on about my favorite day of the week (HERE)!

Also because the holiday’s are upon us I should tell you that Sunday Forever is my go-to site for gifts. Their Sage and “Go Sage Yourself” lighter combo ($20) I buy in bulk and give out for housewarming’s, birthday’s and just about anything…

I literally own their entire line. I travel in their kimonos (pictured above). I spray their air detox ($12) and light their 11:11 candle when things don’t go my way. And at all times I have multiple red string bracelets with their evil eye, tassel, horseshoe charms for good luck. Like I said, I’m a SUPER FAN! And I’m so excited to be collaborating with them!

Shop our strap on sundayforever.com

Patricia Field x UGG

It’s been almost a year in the making but I’m so excited to announce that Patricia Field is partnering with UGG Australia for the launch of Nordstrom’s NYC store to create two limited edition UGG boots!

As many of you know Nordstrom recently opened their first flagship store in NYC and to celebrate they launched Perfect Pairs, an exclusive collaboration with 14 customer favorite brands, each pairing with a muse and for UGG, that muse is Patricia!

― READ ON →

Pretty Connected Accessories Launch Party

Pretty Connected launch party Sponsored by Bumble Bizz, Sunglass Hut and LeSportsac all photographed in this photo. Photo Credit: White Honey

The Pretty Connected brand has evolved so much over the past decade from when I first started as a beauty blogger/reporter 10 years ago! I was helping brands like NARS, Kiehl’s, Jurlique in marketing and grow before getting into the blogger world, with no idea blogs/social/influencers would explode to what they are now. Now we’ve expanded the content range to include fashion, travel, lifestyle and beyond and the doors Pretty Connected(™) has opened to major campaigns, magazine features, TV appearances and beyond still blows my mind. In 2014 we added, Share Your Beauty, an amazing non-profit program we started with Family-to-Family to help donate beauty products to women’s shelters and now we’re in a new chapter, my Pretty Connected accessories line.

Katya Kulyzhka + I rocking the Lara Chains + SandraD cell phone jacket. Charlie’s leash is a combination of our Jamie Strap + Lara mini chain.

Our multi-purpose straps have grown such a cult following, almost as big as our BOSS rings, which have been worn by so many powerhouses from Drew Barrymore, Patricia Field to Chloe Kim!

Alexa Luria, Ashlee Glazer, Val Greenberg showing off all the uses of our chain straps from a camera, to waterbottle and flip flop strap. Add it to you makeup case to make it a wristlet.

I recently launched with Urban Outfitters and our online store has grown so much to include bags, reusable straws and cell phone jackets, that we needed a party to celebrate and properly launch my little brand that could.

Our LeSportsac bag is packed, lets go on a Pretty Connected journey through my timeline.

Since the House of Pretty Connected (should I start calling it that, lol!) has so many parts I wanted to take guests on a journey through the Pretty Connected World and my brands evolution over the past decade! We made passports for their trip and had each gifting stations gave them as a stamp as they traveled through my story.

― READ ON →

Hudson Yards NYC Opening

The Hudson Yards opening was completely next level! The area on the West Side Highway that’s between Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea first got a subway stop last year (the 7 train Hudson Yards stop) and now a shiny new mall featuring 100 shops, including NYC’s first Neiman Marcus, 20 restaurants from some of the world’s top chefs, and climbable bee hive structure that together cost $25 billion in development!

BLVD inside Neiman Marcus

The whole affair was bougie, and massive. I need to actually go back and take it all back in, I was visually over-stimulated at the opening. Neiman Marcus stole the show for me, endless floors of luxury and displays. They also have a BLVD salon on the top floor of Neiman’s featuring an all in one beauty service from Valley Nails, DreamDry, Spruce and Bond and Pucker.

Sunday’s non-toxic manicures

My friends at Sunday’s opened their second non-toxic, vegan and cruelty free nail salon on the 2nd floor.

Lastly, I got to meet Atelier Cologner co-founder Sylvie Ganter. I’m a longtime HUGE fan of the brand so it was lovely to meet the woman behind some of my favorite scents.

Admittedly I didn’t take as many pictures as I planned to, I was too busy having fun. But I have a “Hudson Yards” reel on my Instagram Highlights if you’d like to experience the party with me.

If you’re visiting NYC, definitely add this to your to do list. 20 Hudson Yards, NYC.

The 2018 Streamy Awards with Milk-Bone CorresPAWndent, Charlie!

As many of you saw, Charlie, my little senior rescue Pomeranian got his first big job this week being the official Milk-Bone Red Carpet CorresPAWndent for the 2018 Streamy Awards!

The annual event brings together the biggest names in YouTube and social stars (we’re talking Patrick Starr, Niki Demar, Vardan Antonyan, Charo, Sofie Dossi, Nia Sioux, Paula Galindos, and so many more) for a night of celebration, and of course the award ceremony. Video above!

The Streamys historically only honor people for their great acts and content, and Milk-Bone, who uses the hashtag #dogsaremore wanted the same recognition for our four legged friends. Fortunately, the Streamys agreed so this year for the first time ever, three outstanding dogs were nominated, and Charlie and I had the great pleasure of interviewing them! Watch the video above to see!

The nominees: We had Louboutina (@louboutinanyc), the Golden Retriever who gives hugs, Pierre (@pierry_dont_care) the loving, and oh-so-fashionable French Bulldog that volunteers as a therapy dog and Todd (@toddaz), The Hero Dog that saved his owner from a rattlesnake while on a hike. And yes, I got a hug from Louboutina!

― READ ON →

BOSS Series Interview: Adriana Botti of Little Words Project on How to Grow Your Business + 15% off

Interview with Adriana Botti of Little Words Project. Use code LARA15 for 15% off any purchases on littlewordsproject.com

For most of us starting a business is scary, especially if you’re self funding. You have a great idea for a product, but bringing it to life is intimidating at best, especially if you have limited capital (say under $20k) and have the goal of expanding it into a real business. Adriana Botti started with even less that that, had no outside investment and succeeded to hit a $1 million in sales #goals year 4 of your business of starting Little Words Project. If you’re not familiar, Little Words Project is that super cute beaded bracelet brand that has positive messages on them. They are beyond uplifting and spread kindness and joy everywhere they are worn. You can also register them and wear and share them with your friends who need a little encouragement and track the journey of your bracelet from wrist to wrist. We sat down with the superstar to talk business, growth, pricing and advice!

  1. What verticals do you offer and what has been the most lucrative in growing your business?

We do everything from Facebook/Instagram sales to corporate gifting to college campus events and sponsorships for partner events. We have found that the most lucrative of them all is the collegiate ones because not only do they all buy upfront but continue to spread the word making it a really great marketing opportunity for us moving forward! 

2.Pricing. Many of us struggle with pricing. Should it be based on a perceived value or based on your Cost of Goods (COG)?

Here’s the thing- you want to do your best to price your product at a price that will serve your needs (make you a profit and keep you open for business) while at the same time matching perceived value- that’s how you know you’ve found the sweet spot price point. Every industry and company is different, but for us,

― READ ON →

BOSS Series Interview: Stacy Igel of Boy Meets Girl

stacy igel of boy meets girlInterview of Stacy Igel of Boy Meets Girl. Photo Credit: @SophieElgort

I always try to recall how long I’ve known Stacy but between admiring her work and our run ins at events the line is blurred and all I can answer that with is… a while. She’s a true inspiration and someone who has more job titles than me, and somehow does it all and manages to always have a smile and not a hair out of place. I’m so proud to call her my friend and she’s the only person I know that uses Post-It’s the way I do, in bulk. To say I admire her is an understatement and so excited to have her for this weeks boss series. So here we go…

Tell us about yourself?

I am the Founder & Creative Director of BOY MEETS GIRL®, a young contemporary streetwear brand founded in 2001.  We have also been coined as “the original give-back athleisure brand.” I am a proud mom of son @dylanreidigel. In my sleep I write a lifestyle blog, Behind the Seams™ with Stacy Igel and also co-created and co-host the #MOMSGOTTHIS podcast which was recently featured in Forbes “Podcasts Created by Women You Need to Be Listening To Right Now!” And is up for the 2018 People’s Choice Podcast Awards. Charity and giving back has always been a big focus in everything I do. I have been a chair several years for the Young Survival Coalition ILP Gala:  https://fashionweekdaily.com/stacy-igel-young-survival-coalition and I am a brand ambassador for the NSCC’s BullyBust campaign. I am also a frequent lecturer & panelist on subjects such as social media, branding & entrepreneurship.

You do it all! How do you time manage? Are there any apps/tools you use to make your life easier?

Every day I am learning. I use my Outlook calendar, I use my BOY MEETS GIRL® notebooks for meeting notes, and I recently bought a BLOOM daily planner that I am mixing into all the above to keep me organized. I use my memopad a lot, as well as EverNote and Google Docs. I also can’t forget about Post-Its! They’re all over my desk.

What advice do you have for new entrepreneurs?

Be prepared to work like you’ve never worked before.

Being a talented designer is not enough. You need to learn how to be an effective marketer, networker, salesperson, service provider, writer, stylist, merchandiser and

― READ ON →

This $20 SUSTAINABILITY IS SEXY Tee Makes a Difference

I partnered with Custom Ink, which is an amazing site that lets you design t-shirts and apparel and host a fundraiser to donate all of the proceeds to the charity of your choice. With their help I created this “SUSTAINABILITY IS SEXY” Tee. It’s $20 and I set all of the proceeds to go to Family-to-Family, a grassroots nonprofit 501(c)(3) hunger and poverty relief organization dedicated to providing food, personal hygiene products, kids literacy programs and other basic life essentials to American families struggling with the challenges of poverty.

Custom Ink is an easy website/tool to help raise funds and awareness for a cause, and get your message out. My Message: SUSTAINABILITY IS SEXY. My shirt is available in bunch of different styles, I’m wearing the unisex mens style on the site in a size XS, it’s super soft and American Apparel, but we have tanks and other styles available as well.

When I wear my shirt, I’m talking to my friends, but I’m screaming it to brands who everyday send me products buried in so much packaging that is trash. I can’t tell you how sad it makes me when garbage day comes and my trash bins are overflowing with wrappings from these packages. I get it, I’m blessed to receive so many mailers and I appreciate it but somewhere in my 10-years of blogging sending an absurd amount of landfill became trendy and it needs to stop. Listen, every blogger loves a present, bribe me with a gift, I won’t say no, but trash doesn’t count. If I can’t reuse it, I don’t want it. It’s not my personality to publicly shame brands so I’ll avoid naming names but a lot of you brands and PR agencies need to wake up because more and more editors, influencers and industry pros are speaking out, and I don’t know anyone that appreciates it. I would also like to shout out Beach House PR for their announcement that they will only be doing 100% recycled, eco-friendly mailers and boxes voice of excess packaging. Thank you for caring. 

― READ ON →
Load more
© 2017 Pretty Connected. Powered By LIVING PROOF CREATIVE