Pretty Wings

Merideth is a men's & women's lifestyle and fashion blogger, and is also a freelance fashion stylist living in NYC. She is also a style journalist for Paste Magazine. Prettywings is her style diary, where you can find hottest trends along with her advice on style/how to/DIY, where to "Get the look for less," her daily inspiration, vintage and thrifted finds, what's in her shopping bag, or what's currently on her wishlist. Find the deal of the day and check out "What She Wore." Travel with her as she gives advice on where to stay, where to eat, and where to shop. See exclusive behind the scenes footage from her photo shoots and take a glimpse of her other lifestyle and fashion adventures that go on in her world! ◼ EMAIL [email protected] ◼ Follow @PrettyWings_XO !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");

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Keep a look out in the next week or so for news on our re-launch!

Thanks!

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What I Wore: How to Wear a Sleeveless Dress in the Fall

Fall is a great time to mix and match warm weather clothing with cool weather clothing.  Like I mentioned before in a recent post, it can be a very confusing time of year to know what to wear.  To wear a sweater or to not wear a sweater is the question!  Some days it still feels like summer, other days you know it’s definitely fall (or winter! ).  

Recently, I’ve still been very eager to wear some of my favorite dresses from the summer (especially this new sleeveless dress I picked up from Target).  So, I came up with an option on how to incorporate your favorite sleeveless summer dress with some staples in  your fall wardrobe for a ‘not too hot, not too cool’ outfit.

Where to get my outfit:

Summer piece: 

Sleeveless dress

Fall pieces:

Faux Leather Vest

Hat

Booties

Socks

-

bag 

necklace

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1:1 Kasa Shoes x Pretty Wings

I was unbelievably honored, when CEO and Founder of Kasa Shoes approached me with the opportunity to team up together.  His shoe company makes extremely soft and COMFORTABLE loafers available in a wide variety of colors for both men and women.  Made in the United States with materials from all over the world, each pair are adorned with colorful millefiori beads (see the compelling Kasa Shoe history below).  Go bold with the bright yellow or red, or grab them in a more versatile color-black or navy blue.  Prices start at $199.

What I’m Wearing:

Kasa Shoes in turquoise 

ankle cuffs

skirt

top

necklace

ring

watch

bracelet

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‘Kasa’ is a native Ghanaian word which means “talk” or “speak”. A word we chose to represent our brand's mission of storytelling through fashion.

Our story began several years ago in Accra, Ghana, where the impact of the historic Venetian millefiori bead still exists and is visible in our culture along with other remnants of trade between Europe and West Africa.

KASA shoes are designed with utmost attention to detail in an effort to merge unique African fashion with a familiar Western style.  Our design pays homage to the classic Italian loafer and is complemented by the vibrant colors of the millefiori bead.

Millefiori beads, also known as African trade beads, are decorative glass beads characterized by their mosaic patterns and bold colors. The term millefiori is derived from two Italian words, “mille” (thousand) and “fiori” (flowers). They were originally designed and produced in Venice and are handcrafted by creating flower patterns or stripes from glass canes that are cut and molded into a core of solid color under high temperatures.  

For centuries, millefiori beads were used as a form of currency in the trade of gold, ivory, and cocoa throughout West Africa by early European merchants and travelers.  Today, millefiori beads are treasured for their rich legacy and aesthetic beauty and are worn as a symbol of wealth and status.

KASA Shoes are designed in the United States and manufactured using high quality materials sourced from around the world. We strive to produce the highest quality product without compromising comfort for aesthetics.

We invite you to join us in making a statement.

LET YOUR FEET DO THE TALKING…

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Travel Diaries:  June 2015 - Amherst, MA

A few months ago, I traveled back to my parents house to spend father’s day with my dad.  For those of you who don’t know, I was born and raised in the “country”...there was nothing, in the lease bit, metropolitan about it.   Picture this: corn fields & farms, cows and their manurey stench, a town full of liberals (I grew up in the day and age when there were winners and losers, now everyone wins?!  This is not real life, except in Amherst), no street lights leaving pitch black roads, a 10+ minute drive to a store to get milk, yet it offered some of the best food I’ve ever had.  You could look at it as, ‘peaceful’.  

I just had my 5 year anniversary living in NYC on July 1st, and can’t remember what it was like to not live in a city full of life, art, and opportunity.  I sometimes wonder what life would have been like had I stayed in the small rural town.  Dubbed the “black sheep,” I somehow knew there was more to life, more to experience, a larger purpose, much more for me elsewhere.    

I say all that to say, I am super grateful to have grown up where I did.  It has always been important to escape the chaotic city (which I call my home) to go sit in the peace and quiet of my parents.  A time to relax, a time to reflect, and a time to stop and literally smell the flowers.  I truly appreciate the beauty of how different our lives are, all while loving what the small New England town has to offer...the local bakeries and coffee shops, friendly faces all around, seeing stars clear as day, and the vast lush greenery of my mom and dad’s yard.  I’ve never met someone more proud of the upkeep of his lawn (and there’s a LOT of it!).  He usually can’t wait to show me the hours he and my mother spent tending to their manicured grounds.  We got right to it.  I threw on my mom’s gardening boots and hat and spent the day being walked around the east 40 (as my dad calls it), looking at every nook and cranny they have attended to.  A cold Bud in my dad’s hand a glass of champagne in mine.    

I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I enjoy walking around their humble abode.  If you know me, I’m sure you’ll laugh.  (*Disclaimer-there was no yard work ‘actually’ done - my parents couldn’t bribe me to do when I was a kid so as the perfect father’s day gift, I pretended to).

PIcture#4 - my rendition of American Gothic

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Fall Is Near 

I love the change of seasons, especially from Summer to Fall, for no other reason than booties and over sized sweaters. However, transitioning between the two can be tricky. Mornings and evenings are much cooler than the sun’s warmth in the middle of the day, leaving you a bit perplexed as to what to throw on before scooting out the door. 

Don’t change over your closets just yet! Now is the perfect time to mix some of your fall gear with some of your favorite summer pieces. Summer flowy dresses and jean shorts are great with your favorite fall bootie you’ve been dying to wear. But don’t forget to pack your light jacket or sweater for your morning and evening commutes.

Photographer: Maxime www.mattoomanner.com

Where you can find my outfit:

hat

top

shorts

booties

necklace

bag

jacket - vintage (similar)

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love.is.love

My daily inspiration

Genesis 8:1

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30 Maxi Skirts to Take You From Summer to Fall

Say hello to your closet's most versatile staple.

**Warning!  Do not stow away your maxi skirt when the fall hits!  Keep them out, and rock them all year long.  

Choose from 30 of my favorites above, and throw on a pair of boots and a leather for the perfect fall outfit.  

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Style Superlist: Your Go-to Guide for Fashion Definitions

An ongoing list of fashion's favorite definitions.

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love.is.love My daily inspiration

H I D E 

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

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22 Wedding Guest Outfit Options for Him and Her

Wedding season is in full effect.

I have 2 weddings coming up that require two very different dresses.  One is in paradise, on the beach, and one is black tie (which requires a gown).  No dilemmas on finding something to wear to the beach wedding, because I’m a bridesmaid, but I cannot wait to find the perfect gown for the black tie!  Who doesn’t like to get super dressed  up?!  I’ve come up with a list of options for those of you who might be looking for some advice on what to wear to a beach or black tie wedding!

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Wedding season is in full effect and many of my friends have asked for advice on what to wear!  

It's always an honor being invited to someone's wedding and even more of an honor being asked to be part of the wedding party.  If you didn't make the cut being a bridesmaid or groomsmen (thank God you don't have to wear one of those God awful shiny dress thingies), but now you're stuck on what the heck to wear!  Let's state the obvious, the Bride and Groom have spent a pretty penny on throwing the biggest party of their lives, so its clear their attendee list has been very well thought out.  So to return the respect and honor, it's only right that you show up looking you're best while you witness their exchange of vows.  

In order to help you solve your wedding guest outfit dilemmas, I've come up with a list to kick you into gear to get you looking right.  My list includes options for everything from casual weddings to fancy ones, beach to black tie weddings. 

Keep in mind what time of day and where the venue is-it will help narrow down your options.  We don't want you breaking the bank on your outfit, we do know it's also expensive attending a wedding!  Don't gip the bride and groom on their gift to buy an outfit not in your budget, however, we do want you making the best dressed list.  

And we (fellow wedding guests) would all appreciate it if you would avoid the following wedding faux pas:

1) Don't go too short - don't be that girl

2) Don't try and outdo the bride/groom - but totally appropriate to make a statement

3) DO NOT WEAR WHITE (or anything in the same color family, i.e., creams, ivories, blushes, etc)

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18 Leggings That Stretch the Norm

We found 18 pairs of crazy leggings, but it's up to you if they're cool or not.

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love.is.love

Proverbs 3:5-6

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love.is.love

Psalm 27:14

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It's All Golden: Metallic Home Accessories

Add a touch of metallic flare to your home with these 30 home accessories.

My obsession with gold and brass may just be getting out of hand.  But then again, there can never be too much gold, right?  Find out some great ways to add my favorite metallic accent into your own living spaces.  

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love.is.love

Jeremiah 29:11

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The Best of Jeffrey Campbell: The Boldest Pairs from the Shoe Visionary

Since Jeffrey Campbell's aren't housed in a museum (yet), we've come up with a list for those of you who appreciate art. Well, and shoes.