OVER-THE-KNEE AND THROUGH THE WOODS

last tuesday, mitch and I were able to get our first real whiff of the new season. and yes, I realize its already mid-november. there were falling and changing leaves and even though the temperature stays a tepid 82-degrees all year long, that day called for boots. and jeans. and scarves. nestled in the smallish mountains (or largeish hills, depending on how you look at it), sits this little nature reserve that is probably my most favorite place that exists within our island paradise. and after many a week of not seeing that charming, darling husband of mine, we felt it was time for a little walk. we stopped to play in the streams and, pretty much, just acted like children for a solid hour and a half and it was absolutely lovely, let me tell you. about as lovely as those amazing over-the-knee boots.

now, let's time out while I tell you a little bit about the makers of these boots. back in july, I ordered this really cute pair of shoes from a company called shoemint. they were orange (and you know how I love orange!) and strappy with a block heel. pretty much perfect. and the best part about them is that when you sign up with shoemint, they give you a $40 credit! so I ordered them. but, like a dunce, I totally forgot to type in the discount code (for some reason I thought it factored in automatically) and so it charged me the full amount. I figured I didn't have much to lose. the worse that could happen was that they would tell me 'no,' so I called their customer service line. the girl I spoke with was so friendly and personable that I really wish she and I were everyday pals. she fixed my blunder and refunded the $40 and even sent me a self-typed email to keep for my records--kind of a rare treatment in this day and age. and what's more, I really kind of adore that orange pair of strappy block heels. 

and so, here I am sharing that loving experience with shoemint and now, this gorgeous pair of over-the-knee boots. I have always wanted a pair to wear with skinny jeans, and I couldn't wait to break them out! they really are everything I dreamed they would be. and maybe a little more? because they are so soft and pliable. I thought they might sort of start to ache behind the knee and that is not the case at all with these boots. and it doesn't hurt that they make my legs look about half a foot longer--a really big plus.

^^ I'm not quite sure why we thought this was so funny, but we really got a kick out of it. maybe because there was no fruit to be found anywhere near by ^^

shirt :: h&m

sweater :: rw&co (old, similar here)

jeans :: guess (old, similar here)

scarf :: zara (sold out, other color)

boots :: shoemint c/o

and how has your week begun? as I write this, I'm borderline on the verge of tears because today is the day we put those extraordinary parents-in-law of mine on a plane. I tried everything in my power to get them to stay, but alas...adult life is calling. we had such a wonderful visit and I may or may not go into a state of mourning by which I sit and binge on pita chips whilst watching the rest of gilmore girls' season six. you can call me pathetic if you want to, but I really will miss them. have a great day, you guys!

one more little thing :: today is the last day to enter this little spectacles giveaway, so be sure to enter by 11:59 pm atlantic!

love, arielle

**a big thanks to shoemint for sponsoring this post!

EMBRACING THE BASICS

top :: smart set ( canadian, similar here ) ; jeans :: current elliott ( sold out, similar here ) ; shoes :: steven by steve madden ; lipstick :: givenchy rose dressing ; nail polish :: essie 'bikini so teeny'

before mastering that concerto on the pianoforte or winning that crucial game of volleyball, we all had teachers who stressed the basics. and I dare say, clothing isn't all that different. however, contrary to how we felt during those hours upon hours of piano practicing, these basics are anything but boring. this white-shirt-and-jeans ensemble is a fun, upscale rendition of the old classic. those current elliott stiletto skinnies are so comfortable and versatile and I've pretty much been rocking them in some way everyday since they showed up in my mailbox. and these steve madden stilettos are a definite must this year. both were at the top of my 'most wanted' list. and if you've looked back in my archives, then you've probably noticed an oversized white button-up ( or two ) lingering on some inspiration board or another. I grabbed mine in three sizes up and this one is just light-weight enough to rock in the caribbean. 

as you can probably tell, my messy hair challenge is nothing short of, well, messy. as healthy and low-maintenance as my hair is this summer, I will definitely revere the day I can take my curling iron to these unruly locks once again. how far away is labor day? 

I hope all of you have such a fantastic thursday! I swear, if it wasn't for the blog, I would have no clue what day it is most of the time. now, go practice practice practice ;) or rather, shop shop shop!

love, arielle 

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

dress :: bcbg c/o opera ; bag :: valentino red c/o opera; shoes ::banana republic (mine, old; see similar here)

upon first moving to the island, I was captivated by the mall down the street from where we live. mostly because of the word 'mall' and partially because they have a soft pretzel stand. it was then that I came across the store, opera. I swooned over all of their couture collections, which consist of dvf, ted baker, bcbg, the lovely tory burch, and many, many more. when I first contacted opera about maybe collaborating, I had no idea how fun they would be to work with. the girls are so inspiring and have such amazing tastes. they do the shopping with you suggesting things that you may not have considered before, but certainly should have! this white dress is elegant with a bit of a flirty edge and can be worn to dinner or drinks (if you're into that sort of thing). perfect for a night out in the caribbean. and I don't think I can say enough about this bag. you hold something like this, and you just know that it is more than a utilitarian case for holding your phone or your favorite lipstick. you hold it and you know that it is a work of art. feel free to drop by the luxury fashion show this saturday featuring many of opera's haute collections. you can find more information here.

hope to see you there and happy friday!

love, arielle

**this is a sponsored post. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

SOFT PALLET

dress :: j.crew factory (pssst, it's on sale!) ; cardigan :: old navy ; flats :: j.crew factory (sold out, see similar here) ; watch :: marc jacobs; polish :: opi let them eat rice cake

I am well aware that neons are making a comeback. but as I went to pull on a brightly colored blue cardi, I paused. it just didn't feel right for this charming little neighborhood. when I was young, I always pictured myself moving back home and setting up fort in one of these adorable little town homes. of course, life doesn't always work out the way we plan. but that didn't stop me from wandering the neighborhood pretending that I lived in the house just around the corner. as for the outfit...the j.crew factory store is sort of my arsenal for dressing impeccably on a medical student's budget. the blush pink cardigan, though not made by j.crew, speaks femininity. the lace frock, a bit of whimsy. and the gold heel on the shoe, a bit of flare. all while the soft pallet conveys elegance in a way that neons just can't express. 

hope you have an amazing tuesday!

love, arielle