3 ways to wear it

This is my favorite romper. I couldn't decide how to wear it, so I styled it 3 different ways.

1. girls' night in

Don't need to go too fancy, since I'm probably just going to spend the night drinking wine, chatting, and solving the World's problems. I went for a light sweater, a cute pair of flats, and used a little clutch to carry just the necessities.

2. girls' night out

For going out, I paired the romper with a thrifted white top. If it wasn't so warm, I'd go for a blazer or my moto jacket. When I go out, I like to bring a shoulder bag, as I'm less likely to set it down and forget it. Black wedges make the outfit a little dressier and are much easier to walk in than pumps.

 3. lazy sunday

weekend wear by fleur-d-elise featuring a chambray romper

I tried 3 different times to take photos of this version of the outfit and ended up with one usable photo! So instead I took the opportunity to make a set featuring similar items that are available in stores. This version of the outfit is perfect for lounging around the house, but still looks put-together enough to be worn to the farmer's market.

Look #1: Vintage chambray romper (similar) - American Apparel headband - H&M striped sweater (similar) - Sam Edelman flats (similar) - H&M clutch

Look #2: Thrifted top - Cooperative canvas wedges (similar) - Vintage Coach bag - Thrifted cateye sunglasses

Look #3: Thrifted top -Forever21 glasses - Harrod's tote bag - Vans Classic Sneakers

Jewelry Primer & Friday Fashion Facts

I don't know about you, but I love vintage jewelry. It usually has more character than brand new stuff and is, quite frequently, more affordable. The best places to find reasonably priced vintage jewelry is at garage and estates sales and thrift stores. Costume jewelry is just fine and dandy (the above pieces are nothing more than base metal and glass), but sometimes you want a higher-quality treasure. The trick is knowing what you're dealing with. 

I have the advantage of calling a coin and antique dealer "Father", but not everyone is so lucky to have a family member who will give them free appraisals (or free jewelry). So I've compiled a list of the basic jewelry marks you will find on finer pieces. You need a keen eye, since the markings are frequently very tiny and are usually punched in the metal in inconspicuous places

Silver (most common & most affordable)

925

.925

"Sterling"

"Sterling Silver"

Gold (In order of  highest to lowest quality)

24k or 999

22k or 916 or 917
18k or 750
14k or 585
10k or 417 or 16

Platinum
I'm not as familiar with platinum and rarely see it at thrift stores or garage sales. If you want to learn about it, this article from eHow is very useful.

When you get into really old or really fine jewelry, you may start to see hallmarks and stamps alongside the codes. These vary widely depending on maker, country of origin, etc. I recommend getting a book of hallmarks if you're interested in learning about them or have some pieces that are hallmarked.

Update: My dad emailed me and said I should also recommend you bring a small magnet with you when you're shopping for vintage jewelry. Test any pieces you find, because sometimes even stamped pieces can be fake. If it sticks to the magnet, it's base metal. Just make sure to keep the magnet away from your bank cards!

Friday Fashion Facts
The numbers stamped on jewelry usually refer to the percentage of gold or silver they contain. For instance, sterling is marked "925" and is 92.5% pure silver.


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8 Summer Beauty Must-Haves

summer beauty by fleur-d-elise featuring a lip care

From left to right:

1. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 in Coral
Did you know your lips don't contain melanin? That said, I can't stress enough how important it is to wear lip balm with SPF! Try Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment to add a bit of color and hydration to your lips, while protecting them from the sun.

2. Clinique Lash Power Mascara Long-Wearing Formula
This long-lasting formula is pretty water resistant and can withstand rain, tears, humidity, and sweat. Perfect for any summer activity!

3. Alba Botanica Natural Hawaiian Sunscreen
Alba Botanica's Hawaiian line is one of my all-time favorites. All the products smell wonderful, are made from all-natural ingredients, and are reasonably priced.

4. NARS Nail Polish
I never really need an excuse to buy new nail polish, but if you're looking for one, here it is: It's summertime and you've got not only your fingernails to show off, but also your toenails. Paint 'em with a pretty color.


5. Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder
Can't cool down? Well, with this powder, you can at least fake it. It provides instant relief for red, flushed cheeks, and continues to provide redness relief all day. Plus, it's a light neutral color that works on anyone and won't clog your pores.

6. Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner
I like to put this toner in the fridge, then use it as a skin refresher on sticky-hot summer days. Swipe it on with a cotton pad. Great for sensitive or sunburned skin!

7. Kiehl's Deluxe Hand & Body Lotion in Coriander
This is one of my favorite scents. Herby yet clean, so it doesn't smell too hippy-dippy. I wear it a lot in the summer since it's pretty light and doesn't get too strong smelling when it's hot out. It's also lightweight and soaks in easily.

8. Apple Cider Vinegar
OK, so this one isn't shown, but I probably use it more than anything else! It's a great hair rinse and leaves your hair super soft, especially when rinsed with cold water. It's most important use, though, is sunburn soother! It calms and cools and the acidity stops the burning, which means it actually helps your sunburn heal faster!

Recipe: Veggie Wraps

As promised, here is a recipe using the bean spread from the post published on July 1st. 

By omitting the cheese and using the right tortillas, this recipe can also very easily be made vegan. If you don't swing that way, it's at least vegetarian.

P.S. By now, you probably all think I'm a vegan. I am not. Nor am I a vegetarian. I do, however, live by the idea that humans don't need meat everyday. I also have a lot of vegetarian/vegan friends, and find it easier to start with a veg recipe and then add animal parts/products when desired.

Ingredients:

4 burrito-sized whole wheat tortillas

1 large tomato, thinly sliced

1 medium bell pepper, thinly sliced

½ cup sliced olives

1 small onion, thinly sliced

2 cups leafy greens, any kind you like

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

4 tsp balsamic vinegar

Red pepper flakes, to taste

Directions:

Note: You don't need to follow this to a T. Use as much or as little of any ingredient as you like.

1. Start by spreading about 2 to 3 tablespoons of bean spread on a tortilla. 

2. Place 3 slices of tomato on top of the bean spread, followed by 4 to 5 slices of bell pepper.

3. Next, add a layer of onion and sprinkle with red pepper flakes, some Parmesan, and 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar.

4. Add a 1/4 cup greens and the olives.

5. Roll and enjoy!

Note: 

I made kale chips for the first time. They were so good! I used this recipe, with the addition of lemon juice and red pepper flakes.

I made a delicious discovery when making these wraps. My arugula went bad, so I decided to try beet greens in the wrap, and boy! are fresh beet greens delicious! They're really tender and kind of sweet. I highly recommend trying them in this wrap or in a salad.
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Leopard-print sandals + striped mini dress

 There's nothing like a new outfit. The denim vest is Diesel, but I bought it at Buffalo Exchange. The dress is Forever21 and was under $14, so I bought two. The other dress has green stripes. I think they'll be great for layering come Fall.

 I think I'm most excited about the sandals, though. I bought them on the Chictopia Chic Shop. I rarely buy anything by mail order, mostly because I prefer going to stores and actually handling clothes before I buy them. I just think that experience is more enjoyable than waiting for something to come in the mail. Also, you never know if the thing you ordered is gonna be the right fit. The worst though is when the item looks very different from the picture online!

 These sandals, however, look even better up-close than they do online! I absolutely love them. They're comfortable, the perfect size, and have a great pony hair-like texture on the toe straps (it looks like real hide, but the site says it's fake). I bought the only pair on Chictopia, but you might be able to find a pair on Chicwish.com

 I hope you all have a great weekend!

Forever21 striped mini dress (similar) - Diesel denim vest (similar) - Vintage tote bag - FGYZ leopard print sandals (similar) - Forever21 sunglasses (similar) - Revlon nail polish duo in Hot Hue - Forever21 bracelet & vintage hammered cuff (similar)

In Photos: Fourth of July

Hope all of my American readers had a lovely holiday. Here's a recap of my day.

My dog was freaked out all day.

I can't even begin to tell you how much fruit I have consumed this summer.

 Pool toys

 Grilled fruit always sounds like a good idea, and it looks pretty, but really it just gets mushy.

 My mom's homemade hot dog buns and Sweet-Hot Relish from Martha Stewart.

Summer Fruit Pie. Recipe coming soon :)

 We're number one!!

Look of the Day: rock & wool

You will rarely see me in shorts. Especially ones this tiny! It's important to balance them by covering up on top and keeping things relatively casual.

Good rule of thumb: if you're wearing micro shorts, don't show any cleavage, and stay away from high heels. A summer wedge would work, as long as it's under 4 inches. Anything higher looks tarty. Your inseam shouldn't be shorter than your heel.  Of course, if I was one of those lucky ladies with legs for days, I might say something different ;)

All the necklaces are vintage, except for the one with coral colored tube beads. I made that one :) Michael Kors has one that's really similar and made of real coral.

I don't know if you have the same problem as I do, but simple black flats can be so hard to find! Well, I finally found a good pair by Steve Madden that don't cost a ton. I'm hoping Nordstrom will carry them so I can go try them on. Hopefully they're comfortable, because my favorite pair are starting to get holes :(

Vintage wool jacket (similar) - H&M metallic clutch (similar) - DIY shorts (similar) - Forever21 cat eye sunglasses (similar) - Vintage coral necklace (similar) - Dorothy Perkins t-shirt (similar) - thrifted black flats

Recipe: Emerald City Bean Spread

 All my best recipes are usually the result of trying to find a way to use up something before it goes to waste. In the case of this bean spread, it was tons of organic basil and an avocado that wasn't quite ripe. This recipe is vegetarian (and can easily be made vegan), full of green goodness, and, to top it all off, delicious! You can use it as a sandwich spread, a filling for wraps, or serve it as a dip at your next Fancy Bean Dip Party... Oh, you haven't heard of those? They're all the rage here in Seattle!

I kid. We have regular, get-as-drunk-as-possible-without-calling-in-sick-in-the-morning parties. Just like everyone else.

 OK, time to be serious.

So there are two variations on this recipe: vegan and vegetarian. The ingredients are as follows.

 VEGETARIAN Ingredients

1 cup dry white beans, soaked overnight

3 cloves garlic

As much Basil as you want and/or have

1/2 medium avocado, cut into chunks
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 small zucchini, grated

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tsp lemon zest

1 Tbsp parsley, fresh or dry

1-2 tsp coarse sea salt

For VEGAN:
Skip the cheese, reduce the olive oil to 1 tsp, and use a whole avocado

Directions:

1. Place the soaked beans in a saucepan with one clove garlic, a dash of salt, and enough water to cover the beans by an inch. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook until tender. Don't let the water boil away! Add more if needed.

2. Once the beans are soft, drain any remaining water and rinse the beans under cold tap water.

3. Throw the beans and all the remaining ingredients into a Cuisinart or blender.

4. Blend until smooth and delicious-looking. Like in the picture below.

 5. With a spoon, do some sampling. Did you add enough salt? Does it need lemon juice or more balsamic? At this juncture, you can be the judge.

6. Serve (or store in the fridge)

Note: This is one of those recipes that tastes even better the next day, so it's prefect for making in advance of a party or when prepping lunches for the coming week.

In the next few days, I will be posting a simple recipe using the bean spread, so keep your eyes peeled!

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