what to pack for a bachelorette weekend when you're the bride-to-be

1. Marysia Antibes Bikini, 2. Aquazzara flats (on sale!), 3. Tularosa Bryce Maxi Dress, 4. Ale "All You Need Is Love" Clutch (only $33!), 5. SunnyLife Swan Floatie, 6. Self Portrait Azalea Dress (something blue for the bride, but comes in white too!), 7. Yumi Kim Date Night Dress, 8. Raye X Revolve Mia Heel, 9. Stuart Weitzman Leg Wrap Heels (on sale!), 10. Jimmy Choo Sunglasses (on sale!), 11. Ale Feather Sandals, 12. Yumi Kim Clutch (only $78!), 13. Flash Tattoos, 14. Aamaya by Priyanka Cat Ear Ring, 15. Self Portrait Serena Off-Shoulder Dress

Packing for a bachelorette is not easy! Of the options this wedding season, however, these are some of my favorites. The scalloped Marysia bikini is amazing for a bride-to-be because it is one of the few swimsuits that you will not have to worry about your tan lines in! I always get weird tan lines when I wear swimsuits with straps, and you want to make sure that you are not worrying about that for your wedding day. Also, you can re-wear it on your honeymoon!

I am also obsessed with this new brand I found out about called Ale, by the Victoria's Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio! When Victoria's Secret announced they were going to stop making clothes, I knew there would always be a void in my wardrobe. Although I am aware that Alessandra probably did not have a role in making the VS clothing line, her clothing line is slowly helping to fill that void...not to mention her pieces are very reasonably priced. Her "All You Need Is Love" clutch is only $33!

They always say that a bride needs 'something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe' as tokens of good luck. This Self-Portrait dress covers the 'something new' and 'something blue'! And maybe if one of your bridesmaids buys it and let's you wear it during your bachelorette, than it could cover 'something borrowed' too!

Last, I think that it is important to realize that your wedding is only one day. Fun and silly reminders of that are important, because it is easy to get caught up in the stress-fullness of planning. Remind yourself not to take things too seriously with a fun swan floatie, flash tattoos, or the most adorable cat ear ring!

x Kelley

Venice

Jacket - Lipsy (similar here), Shoes - Stuart Weitzman (similar here or here) and Denim - DL1961

Traveling is the best. These photos were taken on a trip I took with my fiance earlier this year! We went on a tour of Northern Italy, and particularly loved the uniqueness of Venice with it's canals, bridges, and cathedrals. The weather changed quite a bit on us since we were there in March, so wearing layers was super important. As winter is quickly approaching again, here are some tips for winter travels in Europe!

1. Pack light! You will get there and want to purchase e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. Italy has amazing shoes and leather goods. We ended up having to purchase an extra suitcase or two to bring back all our stuff!
2. Layer, layer, and then layer some more. In the morning, it is chillier and depending on the country you are in, there could be random rain storms. These photos were taken in the afternoon - hence the sans-coat look. However, I was wearing thick socks, and was wearing a shirt under my jacket.
3. Wear denim. Denim is a super durable fabric. The longer you wear this material, the more broken in/comfy it gets, which is key for travels. 
4. Sunglasses. In windier areas (I'm looking at you, France), debris literally flies everywhere. I felt like my eyes were being hit by millions of tiny rocks until I put my sunglasses on. They are a must to protect your eyes from UV rays and flying dirt.
5. Comfy, yet stylish shoes. I say stylish because it will curb your need to purchase every single pretty little heel you see. I love a comfortable low heeled boot. Mine were Stuart Weitzman, purchased via Nordstroms. Even though I probably shouldn't have done this (they are suede), I literally wore these everywhere - on cobblestone streets, in the rain, on a gondola - everywhere. Not only did they hold up amazingly, but my feet felt fine at the end of the day.

x Kell

river farm styled bridal shoot

photo credit: Sweet Tea Photography by Lisa Marie
wedding gown and bridesmaids dresses provided by Hitched Salon 

The best part about a photoshoot is the convergence of so many talented, creative, and humble people, as was the case in this styled bridal shoot at the River Farm in Alexandria. I mean, everything was just SO PRETTY! We shot these images back in June for the launch of Cheers Darling Events and Kaitlin, the Owner and Lead Designer, did a phenomenal job. I am a huge sucker for anything garden-party themed and the tablescape that Kaitlin designed made my little heart sing, and went perfectly with the gorgeous paper goods and invites designed by the super-sweet Kelly of Winifred Paper.  And the photography. Oh, the photography.  The photos speak for themselves, so I'll just say that working with Lisa Marie never feels like actual work and I can't recommend her highly enough!

Needless to say, DC's wedding vendor game is seriously strong and it was an honor to be a small part of this gorgeous shoot!

x Steph

Faux Crop Top at Dumbarton Oaks

 Zara Skirt (similar here) -- Gap Wedge Sandals (similar here or here) -- ChicTreat Bag (Michael Kors option here) -- Feline Meow Top (also in pink here, and similar here, and here)

photos by Melanie

The long days of summer are starting to get shorter, but the temperature is still very hot! One of the trends that Steph and I love for these warm-weather days is the crop top. While crop tops are amazing for hot weather, they are not as practical in the cooler months and are less versatile than regular t-shirts. So, we thought, why not make your own faux crop top out of your favorite tee? One of my favorite t-shirts is my "Feline Meow" top designed by Brian Lichtenberg. There are several reasons this makes a lot of sense. For one, crop tops are often not a one-length-fits-all article of clothing. Some people have longer torsos than others, some people have smaller waists than others, and it becomes difficult to find a crop top that is designed exactly for your figure. Tying up your favorite tee into a faux crop top is a great solution because you can tie it at a place that accentuates your figure the best, while still keeping on trend and having the option to wear it as a regular tee in cooler months. Also, should the crop top trend ever disappear, you still have the t-shirt. Having versatility is key :).

x Kell

a paris engagement

On me: Reformation Dress -- Massimo Dutti Sandals -- Lo&Sons Bag;  On him: Denim Shirt (similar here) -- Massimo Dutti Suede shoes -- Gap Corduroys
photos by Pictours Paris

It has been a whirlwind of a month! As those of you who follow us on Instagram may know, I'm engaged to an amazing man :D. After finishing up my MBA program, my sweet significant other treated me to a European getaway in Paris. Little did I know what he had planned, as he was being somewhat difficult leading up to the trip (apparently to throw me off the trail)! They say hindsight is 20-20. This is how it all happened!

One of the things I love to do when on vacation is document everything via lots and lots of photographs :). I think that photos are the best kind of souvenir and help bring me back to that moment in time. Plus, they are free! Because of this, you can often find me toting my Lo&Sons bag filled to the brim with my DSLR, alternate camera lenses, and my GoPro when traveling. The day I got engaged was no exception - clever Trey told me that there was an uncrowded bridge with incredible views of the Eiffel Tower. That was enough to get me out of bed bright and early for a quick breakfast in Champs Elysee followed by a hike to Pont de Bir-Hakeim.

I guess a photo is worth a thousand words, so I'll let the photos tell the story from here!

x Kell

^Trey said that he wanted to snap some photos of me on the bridge - I should have known then that he was up to something! He is more of a landscape photo kind of guy then a portrait person ;). One of the sneaky and extremely sweet things that Trey did was hire a photographer to capture the moments. I had no idea any of this was going on, and it probably required a good deal of coordination/secrecy. As someone who is extremely family oriented, this meant a lot to me because the memories could be shared with those who were not there with us! A big thank you to Lindsay from Pictours Paris for capturing everything! I love him.

cruise with me, baby

The wintry mix we've recently been stricken with on almost a daily basis calls for some reminiscing of warmer days.  Here's a roundup of my favorite pictures taken from our cruise in January to St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Princess Cays (a little island owned by Princess Cruiselines)!  At first I was apprehensive about taking a baby on a cruise, but it turned out to be the perfect type of vacation because we always had a home base back in the room for naps, diaper changes, etc.  It was also super cute because almost everyone we encountered would stop and play with her- which of course, she loved! One piece of advice when cruising with a baby:  opt for a mini suite with a balcony!  Getting extra space in notoriously tiny ship cabins is crucial, and the balcony makes it much nicer for enjoying room service and reading a book during baby's nap time! Another fun part about cruising: LOTS of opportunities for dress up!  Every day pretty much requires two outfits- a lounge-y beachy outfit during the day, and a nicer, dressed up outfit at night.  Let's just say I had a little too much fun coordinating the baby's outfit with mine on nearly every occasion. ;)

x Steph

suedes of grey

Grey Suede Shoes (similar here) and Cross-body bag - c/o Bishop Boutique 

I've always had the hardest time choosing accessories, and developed a habit of letting my co-blogging sister choose these complementary pieces for me, as she has a better eye for them.  However, since starting Stylesmiths, I have had the opportunity to learn about new brands and boutiques and being able to see these accouterments first-hand has improved my selection abilities.  I hate compromising between style and comfort, and thought that it had to be a zero-sum game.  However, I now know that does not have to be the case, thanks to these lovely suedes of grey.

x Kell