Concrete Catwalk // Stripes and a Smile

 See what's making me smile today, and find more photos along with outfit details below...

Technology // Go Try It On

It's no secret that I've almost always got my iPhone attached to my hand, and with all of the brilliant apps out there, it is just a matter of fact that it makes life easier and helps me to stay connected while I'm out and about.  Every once in a while though, an app comes along that is purely for fun, and Go Try It On definitely falls within that category for me.

From the sleek interface, to the user friendly functionality, GTIO is a great way to share your own personal style and shop the looks of your favorite style icons and friends while you're on the go.  Another reason I love it is that it encourages connecting with friends to create your look, and I get such a kick out of logging in to see and give advice on some of the things that the community members are wearing and sharing.

Instead of standing in front of the mirror trying to figure out if your look works, try GTIO for yourself here and join me (my user name is Jessie Artigue!) in discovering the social side of style!

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Today's Technology post is kindly brought to you by Go Try It On.  

Thoughts & text are, as always, my very own.

In the Kitchen // Gadget Wishlist

1. // Knife block, 2. // Herb mincer, 3. //  Cherry/olive pitter

4. // Conversions tea towel, 5. // Garlic peeler, 6. // Mortar and pestle

7. // Citrus press, 8. //  Lemon zester, 9. // French bread slicing tray

10. // Strawberry corer 

Today's In the Kitchen post is quite appropriate for what I'll be up to for the next couple of days, and I'm happy to finally share with you why I was able to make my way out here to Northern California!  Mr. Pepper headed back to NYC yesterday, and I'm getting ready to enjoy a change of scenery from the last several days that we spent in the lovely City of San Francisco.  I'm actually blogging from Morgan Hill, California this morning, and am so excited to be here participating in a special Lean Cuisine Culinary Roundtable session collaborating (and eating!) with a handful of their most fabulous chefs!

Today, we're here visiting the George Chiala Farms and then later will be heading on up to Napa to sample a few of the amazing restaurants there, and will also get a chance to do some brainstorming & cooking at the Culinary Institute of America... Honestly cannot wait!

Of course, I'll be sure to document my adventures while I'm here, so expect photos (and hopefully some video) soon.  In the meantime, follow S&P on twitter and instagram for up to the moment sneak peeks of our foodie fun, and check out my wishlist above to see the items that I'd love to snatch up when I return back to my kitchen feeling inspired to create my own version of Culinary Chic!

*Layout design by Sarah Sherwood

Concrete Catwalk // Circus Scarf-print

I wish you could have seen the funny looks I was getting as I bopped down the street in Soho wearing this circus-themed hot air balloon shift dress!  When I tell people that my personal style is a head-tilting mix of vintage-inspired fun - this is exactly what I mean. :)

Keep reading for the full post, some outfit details & and how to shop the scarf print trend for yourself!

Sunday Sprinkles // Cooking up a Storm

In honor of the fun project that I'm going to be a part of in Northern California this week (more on this to come, promise!), today's Sunday Sprinkles are all about one of my favorite things: Cooking!  Take a peek at some of my latest inspiration from around the web, and feel free to share your own sprinkles in the comments...

1. // Summer rolls are my favorite appetizer at almost any Thai restaurant, and this simple how-to has me super excited to make them at home once we're back from our trip!

2. // I love coming up with unconventional ways to use certain foods, and even though zucchini bread is not really a ground-breaking idea, these banana zucchini muffins look like the perfect way to use up the extra green goodness in our freezer from last week's trip to the farmer's market.

3. // This Eating Seasonally print from Concrete Lace would be a wonderful housewarming (kitchen-warming?) gift for someone making their new space a cozy home, and it doubles as a handy reminder of the best things to buy during different times of the year.  (via Design Crush)

4. // Holy moly... When I saw the photo of this raspberry malbec sorbet, it made my mouthwater instantly, and I walked straight to the kitchen to whip up a batch of my own variation based on what I had laying around. (No joke. It's in the freezer as I type... will share shortly.)

5. // The Sprouted Kitchen cookbook is out, and I honestly can't wait to get my hands on a copy... Check out the adorable promo video that Sara & Hugh made to feature the book, and fall even more in love with the husband + wife duo behind one of my favorite foodie sites.

*Layout design by Sarah Sherwood

Event // An Unexpected Rendez-vous with DVF

Images from the @styleandpepper instagram feed... Follow me there!

Well, I had a pretty amazing night this past week, and several of you who saw snippets on instagram and twitter have asked for more details, so I'm here to dish! :) 

 Love getting my hair blown out and will def be heading back to Wonderland soon! 

After receiving a few mysterious emails from the team at DVF and an actual puzzle piece clue in the mail, the bloggers involved got to kick off the night with some pampering and champagne at the adorable and ridiculously fun Wonderland Beauty Parlor in the Meatpacking District.

Felt a little like climbing the stairs up to Oz!

From there we were whisked away to the Diane von Furstenberg Headquarters, and were all so excited to be able to view the upcoming fall collection in DVF's personal offices amidst the place where all of the action happens.  I was pre-occupied with ogling the gorgeous accessories (particularly this little number) and snapping pics of the stunning interiors, when I looked up to see Diane herself come breezing into the room.  I'm pretty sure my mouth dropped open immediately, and the entire room of a dozen chatty bloggers fell completely silent.

She then invited us to take a seat around her massive desk for a "little chat" and we listened intently as she talked about what makes her tick, where her priorities lie & how she gets that signature halo-like crown of hair that I'm so very envious of.

One of the things that struck me most about Diane was the generous and earnest encouragement she bestowed upon us, both as women and as entrepreneurs.  She asked for feedback from us several times, and I was touched by her genuine interest in each our sites and our outlook on the industry as a whole.

My favorite part was when she was kissing each of us goodbye, and I'm not even kidding you when I say that she gave me one of the best hugs I've ever received in my entire life.   If you know me in real life, you know I LOVE to hug, and I can only hope that a little smidgen of the strength and warmth that she radiates rubbed off on me each time she sweetly touched my arm or back.

Photo courtesy of BFA NYC

The night didn't end there, though... After saying goodbye, we all slipped over to the roof of The Standard where the DVF team gave us beautiful gifts from the collection, and treated us to cocktails and delicious crepes on the rooftop.  The perfect end to a magical night spent with dear friends amidst a true legend.  I can still hardly believe that it even happened, and it was definitely one of those NYC evenings that I will never forget.

Another exciting little snippet I wanted to tell you is that YOU can be a part of the fun as well:  If you'd like to have a shot at winning a $1000 DVF gift card, you can enter the fun Instagram contest that ties in to our magical evening.  All you have to do is share your own "rendezvous-inspired" moments and use the hashtag #DVFNIGHTISYOUNG (contest ends October 12th).   Feel free to also tag me (@styleandpepper), because I'd love to see so them, as well! 

Thanks for letting me share a little recap of the experience here with you, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with your own magical moments and lots of warm hugs. :) 

XOXO - Jessie

Concrete Catwalk // Spotted Shirtdress

Currently blogging from the air over Pittsburgh at the moment, and can hardly sit still because I'm so excited about our trip to San Francisco this weekend! Looking forward to lots of shopping, eating & exploring with my sweet G, but also have some great posts scheduled for you while I'm away. (Including details on this weeks rendez-vous with Diane von Furstenberg!)

See below for the rest of today's look, along with a little glimpse into my thought process & the usual outfit details... 

Travel // Headed to San Francisco!

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Good grief, I am SO excited for this weekend... G and I are headed to San Fransisco for a somewhat spontaneous little vacation, and then I'll stay on into next week for an exciting project that I'm so excited to be able to share with you soon.

In the meantime, I'm busy packing and prepping some great posts for you while I'm away (with the help of my new intern, Sarah - more on her sweet self later), and trying to get ahead on work so that I can relax and enjoy all the city has to offer!

Would love to hear if you've got any must-try recommendations for eating/shopping/exploring, and I'm so excited to find some fun new spots with Mr. Pepper.  Plus, you guys always have the BEST advice!  Feel free to email me or just leave your thoughts in the comments section, and I'll be back tomorrow with an outfit post and more details. :)

XOXO - Jessie

Concrete Catwalk // Feminine Floral

Today's look features a ditzy floral print peasant dress and a vintage doctor bag, with some chunky suede booties to keep things balanced...

Concrete Catwalk // Bright Bustier

Hoping today's whimsical little look inspires you to have some fun with your weekend wear... Full post and outfit details after the jump!  XOXO!

Elsewhere // My Hoboken on MIMI + MEG

How cute is that little angel of mine?!

After a somewhat hectic morning and a sweet hubby who decided to work from home, I decided to push today's outfit post to tomorrow, and instead I'm just dropping in to give you a quick little Hello. :)

Hate to leave you hanging on a Friday afternoon, so if you're looking for a fun read, click on over to MIMI + MEG to check out her latest My City post featuring yours truly, and the little Hudson River 'hood we call home!

Have a great weekend, Friends!

Peppery Picks // Sadee Says

Shop my Peppery Picks: 

1.) Pyramid Crystal Necklace - $325, 2.) Round Crystal Bangle - $188

3.) Sand & Surf Necklace - $450, 4.) Brishti Headpiece - $187

5.) Fossil Ring - $200, 6.) Blue Slice Earrings - $225

7.) Jacqueline Bracelet - $260, 8.) Native Fringe Necklace - $140

Today's Peppery Picks features a few of my favorite pieces from a new-to-me online jewelry shop called Sadee Says.  One of the things I love about the site (besides their gorgeous selection of jewelry and accessories!) is the beautifully done moodboards and collections that they create around each trend. 

Seriously swooning over the designer costume & glitzy bohemian collections (you're not surprised, are you?), and love that you can shop for a specific look based on the pieces that they've pulled together.

Also love this Lunar Teal Stone Necklace and the Antique Crystal Necklace for a little budget-friendly bling!  Have you ever shopped at Sadee Says?  Which of the pieces above is your favorite? 

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Today's Peppery Picks post is kindly brought to you by Sadee Says!

Concrete Catwalk // Basic Blue

I wore this look to church last weekend, but I think it could just as easily work for an office environment, and I honestly felt like I was wearing pajamas the whole time.  (#bonus!)  Comfortable is key on the weekends for me!  Click through to see my stretchy skirt, drapey blouse (last worn here!) and what just very well may be the highest heels I have in my closet...

Event // LIVE Hair & Beauty Q+A with VO5

If you follow Style & Pepper on facebook, you may have already seen that there's a fun online event happening tonight over on the Alberto VO5 facebook page that I'm going to be a part of, and I'd LOVE to have you join me!  Celebrity hairstylist Chris Lospalluto and I have teamed with VO5 to make some super-fun hair tutorial videos, and to celebrate, we're hosting a live Hair & Beauty Q&A tonight from 9-10pm EST.

We'll be chatting about everything from getting the perfect beach-y waves to fighting summer frizz, and you'll have the opportunity to weigh in with your thoughts and questions about anything you'd like to know as it relates to your lovely locks!

Be sure to like both the Alberto VO5 and Style & Pepper Facebook pages while you're there, and we're really looking forward to seeing you online tonight!

Concrete Catwalk // Polkas & Paisley

Throwing caution to wind today... Mixing crazy prints, leaving my massive mane to air dry and posing in places where we get yelled at (and literally chased down) by security guards.  Never a dull moment here at S&P! 

Check out the rest of the photos and outfit details after the jump, and tell me in the comments: What was the craziest thing you did all weekend? 

(If you're like me, and it was letting your hair air-dry, then we should probably definitely be friends.)

Concrete Catwalk // Sunflower

Mr. Pepper and I ventured upstate to New Paltz, NY this past weekend, and when we spotted this field of sunflowers that just happened to match my silky little Sunday dress, we knew we had to pull over and take full advantage.

Click through to see the full look, complete with the DIY painted heels from earlier this week on S&P-TV, along with my super-lame attempt at hitchhiking on an early-morning country road.

S&P-TV // DIY Cobalt Heels

I've got a quick little DIY video to share with you today (really more of a how-to, I suppose), and it's perfect for sprucing up the sandals that have ended up getting a little scuffed and worn along the way this summer.  Take a peek, and let me know if you try this little trick for yourself, because I'd love to share photos on our Facebook page!

As I've been thinking a lot about how much I love this black and cobalt blue trend, I decided to put together a little shopping round-up for you below, and tomorrow's outfit post features my own take on the look, along with the very heels you see in the video above.

P.S. I'm not the only one crushing on this color combo... 

Check out another sleu of blue over at The Outnet this week!

P.P.S. If you're looking for more fun video features, 
check out our YouTube channel, S&P-TV, 
and feel free to let me know if you have any other questions or ideas 
for topics you'd like to see featured on-air!

Guy Style // White Denim

Hey there, Mr. Pepper here.  I've got another dose of Guy Style for you today, and as is becoming a bit of a trend for this column, it exposes yet another one of my insecurities for your entertainment, and hopefully a little educational benefit for the style-seeking men in your life, as well.

Check out my take on white denim for dudes in the the rest of the post below, and feel free to let me know if you ever have any specific questions or requests about men's fashion that I can answer for you here in my column.

Peppery Picks // Flirty for Fall

I'm beginning to think more and more about transitional dressing to take us into the upcoming fall, and these are a few of my flirty favorites that I've seen around the web this week.  Have you started to snatch up any fun pieces for the impending autumn?  Would love to know what you're pining for and picking out!

P.S. How adorable is that compostion notebook iPad case?!  Love it.

Shop the Look:

Floral tunic - $76, Cross bracelet - $10, kate spade iPad case - $85,

Burgundy satchel - $465, OPI nailpolish in 'Monsooner or Later' - $8,

Sunnies - $185, Ben Amun necklace - $95, Reiss flats - $255, Moto jacket - $75

Concrete Catwalk // Swingy Striped Skirt

A boxy leather paneled top goes from edgy to a bit more ladylike when paired with a swing-y striped skirt and my favorite vintage booties. 

Keep reading for the rest of the pictures and the full rundown of outfits details...

Get Fit // High Intensity Interval Training

 Photo via @styleandpepper Instagram feed

Today's post is the second installment of a fairly new S&P series called Get Fit, and features one of my favorite work-outs known as high-intensity interval training, that I affectionately refer to as HIIT (pronounced 'heat').

Known for increasing both speed and strength, HIIT is a great option for when you only have a small amount of time but want a big impact, and it has proven to be a great way for me to get in some cross-training on my off days of running.  Keep reading for a full-breakdown of how I use HIIT to Get Fit, and be sure to let me know if you try it for yourself!

Splurge or Steal // Studded Ankle Booties

Studded booties: 

Splurge (top) - $1,345 // Steal (bottom) - $188

I've been daydreaming about these studded Chloe booties since the very moment I saw them a few seasons ago, but when I came across the Jeffrey Campbell look-alikes the other day, I wasn't quite sure how I felt about such an obvious copy.  I try to avoid buying knock-offs whenever possible, but in this case, there is no chance of me ever springing for the original - so what's a girl to do?

Is it awful of me to consider the "steal" version, even though I've already thought through the moral conundrum? 

Would love to know your general thoughts on knock-offs, and beyond that - are these cutie booties a shoe-trend that you'd consider trying for yourself?

Concrete Catwalk // Yellow Light

Yellow on the top, light on the bottom... check out the rest of the post below for my very first try at white jeans!

How to Style // Green Midi-skirt

So excited to be sharing a How to Style reader request today!

After the last feature, I mentioned how much I love helping people figure out how to get the most out of their challenging wardrobe pieces and my friend Genny asked if I'd be interested in helping her learn some great new ways to wear her darling green midi-skirt.  SO, let's get right to it!

One of the things that I like to remember when styling up this silhouette is that because of the full shape and high waist, it helps to keep the top part of the look a little more fitted.  As you can see from the options I chose above, none of them cross over into the tight category (although I would totally rock this same skirt with a sporty cotton ribbed tank and some flat ankle booties), but instead they drape nicely over the form.

For the finishing touches, I'd add a neutral handbag (obsessed with this two-toned clutch) and big stacks of bangles on both wrists for added interest.  I must also mention that since the fall season is rapidly approaching, a cheeky cropped sweater would also make a great stand-in when the weather gets cooler, and of course my go-to transitional leather jackets could be worn over the tops of all three looks, as well.

Have you guys tried out the midi-skirt trend for yourself?  Which one of the above looks is your favorite?

Shop the look:

Midi-skirt - $79, Crochet-collar blouse - $49, Floral tank top - $20

Contrast cutout tank - $76, Brogue heels - $33

Colorblock sandals - $148, Pom-pom heels - $141