February was a truly wonderful month of reading. I read nine books total, and would heartily recommend all of them. In Her Defense and The Force of Such Beauty were my favorites (they both received an A+) but truly, every single book on this list is worth the read and that is not something I say each month!
Betting on yourself. A buffalo chicken dip that is sneaky high in protein. A great piece about female art collectors. Spring’s colorful gemstone trend. Everything we know about the upcoming Audrey Hepburn movie. How to be a more confident solo traveler. Winter thrillers to add to your reading list. Luxury hotels to have on your radar, an interview with Kristin Wiig and Rose Byrne, and the silk scarf trend. Plus the usual shopping links, recipes, and more . . . enjoy!
This month’s wish list is such a fun one, with finds from friends peppered in. My sister sent me this beautiful hairpin and I can’t stop thinking about it: truly . . . wearable art! And in Carly’s latest “up next edit, she called out these shearling-lined flats. They feel like a “need” to me. Equal parts chic and cozy. Meanwhile, I’ve been patiently waiting for my Carelli Bambi jacket to arrive. Hopefully it gets to me before it’s too warm to wear. Such a chic piece!
I’ve also peppered in a few home finds. This martini shaker is cool as hell, I need these malachite steak knives, and this velvet chair with matching ottoman should arrive this week. The perfect little reading setup!
I love a pop of bright color to brighten up a drab winter day. I’ll keep the rest of my outfit simple so that the one bright piece can really shine. In this case, I was inspired by Lindsay Sword’s newsletter and a round-up of blue and red outfits (so much fab inspiration). One look in particular really stood out to me (red pants and a pale blue oxford). I’ve had these red La Ligne pants for a few years now and was inspired to pull them out and pair them with a chambray shirt. The La Ligne Colby pants are a wardrobe staple for me. I have several pairs. They no longer make the red cotton pair I am wearing, but they did the red in a crepe jersey, which I like even better. If you are new to their brand, you can use GRACE10 for 10% off your first purchase.
I talk about texture a lot (best way to keep a more neutral outfit interesting!!!). Right now, shearling and pony hair are two of my personal favorites. Look at the above outfit: if I were wearing a simple wool jacket, it would not have the same oomph. It’s all about interesting textures. This coat is sold out pretty much everywhere now Hampden still has it in a 40/8, which is what I am wearing! Styling note! In a recent newsletter, Leandra talked about wearing her collarless jackets almost as a top. And as a part of that, she wore her necklaces over her coat. It’s such a small tweak but I really love it. I layered just one chunky necklace over my own jacket, but Leandra really mixes things up–styling longer layers, a few necklaces at a time, etc.
The Stripe is a lifestyle blog for the stylish bookworm. Since its first post in 2010, it has aimed to be a daily source of inspiration for the modern woman. Written by Grace Atwood, The Stripe aims to leave you feeling like you just had coffee with a great girlfriend: savvier, more confident, and always learning something new.
