Friday, May 31, 2013

What's Playing: Capital Cities


Capital Cities just came out with a new album and I am LOVING it. 
The pop band is based out of LA. I love their upbeat music and clever lyrics. It's the perfect rhythm for the summer months. Put the album on for an patio cocktail party, I would recommend margaritas as the beverage for the evening. 

The video below is my favorite song on their album. 

Safe & Sound


Check THIS New York Times article for more information on the album available June 4th. 

Safe & Sound
Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast
Kangaroo Court
I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo
Center Stage
Farrah Fawcett Hair
Chartreuse
Origami
Lazy Lies
Tell Me How To Live
Chasing You
Love Away

If you haven't a chance yet, I would love for you to read yesterday's post!

Have a great weekend, toodles!

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Thursday, May 30, 2013

As The Road Takes A Turn

(1)

Why hello Twirling Clare readers:

It has been over 2 1/2 years since I've been sharing all of my favorite things and inspirations on the site. I have LOVED finding so many creative and beautiful images and ideas to share with you. It has truly brought much joy to my life and I hope you have gotten even a fraction of the amount of pleasure out of my little musings, as I have received in discovering them. 

I started blogging as a way to channel my creativity in an outlet separate from school work, extra curricular activities, and all of the other stresses from college. It bloomed into quite a project, almost a life portfolio, with a strong readership and many opportunities granted to this little girl with lots of big dreams for nothing short of a charming lifestyle. 

I have been able to plan fabulous parties, wear beautiful dresses, cheer with many glasses of champagne, read countless books, become a dog walker extraordinaire, finish school a tinsy bit early, tour throughout europe, write for magazines, and connect with inspirational men and women both via blogger world AND daily life. 

No longer am I a college student twirling her way on benches at the local bar or along the cobblestone streets of France. I am off on a new adventure! Where this one's headed and what it has in store, I am not entirely sure. But that's part of the fun, right? 

I am starting work next week at a PR firm in Cincinnati. I will be exploring trends beyond the fashion and lifestyle pages; and I am eager to blend both my creative yearnings and cultivation of intellectual stimulation. In addition to work with the PR firm, I will be working on a couple of other projects that aren't completely set in stone yet.  I will continue to work with Matchbook, sharing fanciful facts each week on some of our greatest icons of years past. 

In the past year or so, I have noticed so many blogs taking one of two paths. There are many that I refer to as "me" blogs. These sites have pictures of beautiful bloggers in their #OOTD (outfits of the day) or images of their latest outings and activities. I have never had much interest in sharing my life on my blog and save for a half dozen or so recaps on my travel adventures this past spring, I have kept my personal life and closet out of twirling clare's whimsical inspirations.
Other blogs take a "consumption" direction. The latest styles, sales, wish lists, and fashion must-haves are all the rage! I have always enjoyed putting together outfits and staying up on the trends and feel that my occasional weekly look can give credit to wardrobe crushes. One of the primary reasons I am not a frequent consumer poster is because I don't buy that many "headline" pieces. I have had clothes for years, some of my outfits since high school...and shoes since junior high! I have loads of clothes from my mom, grandma...and I adore vintage shopping. I am not going to promote "buy, buy, buy", because, frankly...I'd be false advertising!!

I have enjoyed walking on my little line in the middle. Sharing my occasional life updates and items fit for a twirler's closet, but most importantly, I want to share the little things that can inspire you. There is something unique, clever, and intriguing that I try and capture in each of my posts. If it's a quirky or colorful theme, an interesting combination of pictures, a fabulous outfit, a style icon, or a divine party...I want them to impact you in some fashion. Life is filled with wondrous and beautiful things and I try to channel them in a distinct way, modeling the elements of a charmed life. 

I intend to keep sharing my inspirations with all of you. I am not sure both the content and/or frequency of my posts, but I will keep working to make them as festive and celebratory as they have been in the many months since I started my little blog. 

I do love to keep up on all of my social media channels and frequently tweet, tumble, instagram, and facebook away on my supplementary twirlingclare accounts. I would LOVE for you to join me as a follower on those sites so you can see the same voice, on a different platform!

Since I am on such a transitional track right now, I am keeping all suggestions, opinions, and feedback on the blog open to change, new direction, and smooth sailing. Please let me know what you think!

This is not goodbye or farewell by any stretch of the imagination. The time has come for me to acknowledge that I am working on choosing the "fork in the road" to take.
 I am certain my life might be an entire drawer of utensils, so there will be many more soup spoon curves, carving knife pokes, and forks to choose. I look forward to keep you updated on my life journey and hope that you can continue to join along. 

Thank you, and as always, toodles!

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Tuesday, May 28, 2013

summer sun with the girls

Remember:
endless colorful summer sun dresses
ghost in the graveyard
sun-kissed highlights
catching fireflies
morning swim practice, afternoon tennis lessons
summer reading lists
punchy lilly pulitzer shorts
blueberry pie
road trips to summer lake houses
sparklers
daydreaming about being a mermaid while dolphin diving in the pool

To be a girl in the summer again...








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Friday, May 24, 2013

Memorial Day Weekend

I thought these spreads captured by the Kiel James Patrick brand, including a "kick off to summer" video, were perfect inspiration for the weekend. 
The lifestyle line is frequently a source for many of my blog themes as it balances youthful and celebratory playfulness with an element of classic and traditional preppiness. 

Check out more about Kiel James Patrick, Sarah Vickers & crew

Wishing you a blessed and appreciative Memorial Day Weekend & an unofficial welcome to summer!
Toodles!









Video (produced by Brooks Brothers):


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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Sunny Yellow Interiors

Hello, everyone! I'm so happy to be here with you at Twirling Clare with a guest post from Arcadian Home blog, a fantastic place to find lots of interior design inspiration including great decorating ideas for everything from fabulous kitchen lights to colorful decorative accessories. 

 Today, I've gathered images of eight spaces in all sorts of styles that show just how lovely and inviting sunny yellow rooms can be. I hope you enjoy! Thanks for letting me share! ~ Mari

 Shall we go glam with the first sunny yellow room? Golden stripes on the drapery panel and chair backs are beautiful with lemony yellow inside the stately chairs and on the rug. It's such a pretty feminine look.

 This sedate, but sunny, bedroom has a wonderful coastal vibe with its louvered ceiling and waterfowl prints. The intricate shape of the headboard and ethnic patterned textile on the footstools add a slightly exotic feel to the space.

 I return again and again to admire this brilliant yellow bedroom. I love the cheerful array of patterns on the bed and of course the massive display of painted blooms on the wall.

  Sunny yellow brings this pale contemporary space to life. Touches of black join the mix for a great modern look.

  Base cabinets in sunny yellow are beautiful in this chic kitchen. Creamy glass-fronted upper cabinets are just right, allowing the yellow and white backsplash and lower cabinets to shine. How perfect is that tiny modern pendant light hanging in the corner?

  Wow! Now this is a big pop of bright yellow, but it looks quite stunning framed with thin black borders. It's a great spot for a black and white clawfoot tub.

  Opposing walls of lemony yellow and deep raspberry work beautifully in this pretty living space. This color blocking of walls is a creative idea that warrants exploration.

  Sunny walls give this eclectic living room a vibrant jolt of golden yellow as a vibrant background for pale yellow and watery blue furnishings. Tall white contemporary floor lamps flank the curvy blue sofa.
Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

 What do you think about these sunny yellow rooms? Leave us your comments below and be sure to stop by our website for more home decor, lighting and interior design inspirations!

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

tretorn

One of my favorite shoes to wear during the summer months are tretorns. The classic shoes are a staple for any preppy wardrobe. I love wearing mine with white (or blue) jeans and classic khaki shorts. 
The Tretorn brand has expanded to include more mod designs of sneakers, slip-ons, and rainboots. 
These classic sneakers are my favorite; and frankly, I don't think sneakers have ever looked so cool! 









Buy YOUR pair:

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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Black + Blue

Black and blue never looked so good!
With Memorial Day weekend just days away, summer fever is in the air. I love this classy color combination of black and blue with the necessary gold touch. 
Perfect to wear for a dressed up family cookout or to meet-up with friends for dinner + drinks at some point during the holiday weekend. 

Shop the look:

Monday, May 20, 2013

atrium pose

Wishing you all a happy week! I hope you are all feeling rested and rejuvenated after the weekend. 

I came across these pictures all separately over the past few months and thought they looked perfect paired together. I am envisioning an airy hallway or room...decorated to one's tastes. I love the outfit sported by the occupant, polished to a tee, with their interior space and special havocs. Nothing says "this is home" better. 
How would you pose in your special space?







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Friday, May 17, 2013

swing time

Riding back and forth, high in the sky. 
Not a worry in the world. 
It's simply twirling with company...
a chair at your back to take you on a journey to touch the clouds.








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Thursday, May 16, 2013

the classic stripe

The shirt was originally worn by French fisherman in the late 19th C, hence its quintessentially French heritage and association. The shirt has graced the likes of Coco Chanel, Pablo Picasso, Brigitte Bardot, and has remained an iconic style staple. One of the legendary wardrobe "must-haves", it can too easily become designed, just a little off (in my humble opinion).
Look for a slightly oversized/boxy feel, boat-neck, horizontal stripes in navy or worn blue. Pair as you wish...but nothing is more regal than your classic chinos, boat shoes or espadrilles, with sunglasses and a worn ball cap. Grab your L.L.Bean tote and one of the sail boats at Newport will be waiting for you. 







Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Guest post: House of Fraser takes the Maxi Dress

While up at OWU for graduation, the maxi look was EVERYWHERE. I don't have a maxi dress, but own several skirts and I definitely was not the only one sporting the trend. 
Alice, from House of Fraser, was so kind to contact me a couple of weeks ago asking to guest post for the blog. When we decided on maxi dresses for the topic, I couldn't have chosen a better theme...particularly in the wake of the styles I witnessed this past week. 

Enjoy her suggestions and have fun organizing your summer wardrobes, toodles!


How to wear a Maxi dress
We all wish that we had the “perfect” body shape, but it’s our differences which make us unique. Therefore it’s important to feel comfortable in our outfit choices so we can embrace the bodies that we have.
Luckily for us girls, this season’s hottest trend is the maxi dress, which looks fantastic on any shape or size. However knowing which style of maxi to wear for your shape can be difficult for many women. This is why I have chosen to write this post, to give everyone a few simple tips for picking the right outfits for our shape this summer!   

Pear
As a pear-shaped woman your strengths are your slim arms and narrow shoulders, so you should show them off as much as possible! This means when you are picking your maxi dress for this summer, you should opt for either a strapless, thin strap, or halter neck style maxi to show off your gorgeous assets. To slim down your hips whilst showing off your curves, opt for a maxi which pulls you in at the waste and floats out for a beautiful Grecian feel.
Pear: Jennifer Lopez



Hourglass
Lucky hourglass ladies can show off their slimmer waist and curves by nipping in their maxi around the middle. Use a belt or choose a figure-hugging style in bold colours to accentuate your fabulous waist and hips. Bigger patterns have the ability to hide your shape, and as hourglass shapes are lucky enough to have such a fantastic silhouette you don’t want to hide what you have, yet flaunt it.
Hourglass: Holly Willoughby



Boyish figure
If you have a straight-up-and-down kind of body don’t panic, you are not alone! With the likes of Alexa Chung, Kiera Knightly and Kate Hudson in the same category, the ‘banana’ shape can be an incredibly easy shape to dress. The best way to show off what you have is to invest in a selection of waist belts. Maxi dresses can look fantastic on this figure, as long as you nip in the waist; this will create curves in all of the right places. You also want to show off what you have by wearing a skirt which floats, this again will put focus on your tucked in waist and generate a curvier, fuller figure.
Boyish figure: Kate Hudson




Apple
To all of you apples out there, your best asset is your neckline and bust, so when picking a maxi dress make sure you choose something with a strong pattern or detailing around the neck and chest. Remember, you don’t want a dress with an A-line skirt as this can give the illusion of a bigger stomach and hips. Choose an empire line to slim out your proportions and balance out your shape.
Apple: Queen Latifah



For more Maxi inspiration visit we love: Maxi dresses

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