October 2016

Hello again, savvy savers! Today I wanted to share with you one of my new favorite accessories, as part of my current Fall Capsule Wardrobe, my new Pura Vida Bracelets. Please note, we received the following bracelets were sent to us at no cost for review. Now, more about Pura Vida Bracelets.

For those who may not be familiar with Pura Vida, it’s best to start with their mission statement (from they’re about us section):

Here at Pura Vida Bracelets we dream to do more. That was our inspiration behind the Charity Collection. This collection was created to give back to different causes all over the world. We are partnered with over 190 charities and have donated more than $935,358 to date. We are also a member of 1% for the Planet, meaning we donate 1% of our annual net revenue to environmental organizations worldwide. We’re constantly looking to expand our charity line and we try to support as many causes as possible.

These beautiful Costa Rican bracelets help to not only keep your capsules fashionable but help to fund charities that are meaningful to our everyday lives, such as the save the Sea Turtles fund. 

Now, if you know anything about my blog, I always try to buy fair trade or portion-to-charity purchases first. I was impressed with Pura Vida’s mission statement and was proud to include their pieces in my cruelty-free capsule jewelry collection. 

Pura Vida Bracelets offers a wide selection online of individual bracelets and necklaces (which range in price from $5.00-$32.00 each piece), a bracelet-of-the-month club ($14.99/month cost) where you’ll receive 3 hand-picked bracelets (valued up to $50.00 value/month) from their current seasonal collections and their most popular styles to date, offer a selection of swimwear, clothing, and accessories (varied but affordable in price). Pura Vida also has available

Pura Vida also has available opportunities for boutiques and private, and even charity fundraisers, to sell their products by way of brick-and-mortar storefronts and pop-up boutiques.

Currently, Pura Vida ships out orders to the continental United States within 24 hours of orders being placed. For bracelet-of-the-month orders, your card of choice will be charged $14.95+tax around the 10th of each month, and your package will be scheduled to arrive around the 15th of each month.

Each shipment comes with a fun, stenciled, recyclable poly shipping bag, a note about franchise opportunities, and an invoice form.

The bracelets themselves come in a fun, natural, zero-waste linen storage bag. 

Rose Gold Mendala Bracelet in Seafoam – Value $15.00

Rose Gold Lotus Bracelet in Vanilla – Value $15.00

Seed Bead Bracelet in Sorbet – Value $24.00

Seed Bead Bracelet in Blush – Value $24.00

The bracelets were comfortable. Also, worth noting, all of Pura Vida’s bracelets are made with wax coated threads, ensuring a waterproof product and a non-fraying, easy-to-pull, adjustable band fitting. The bracelets can be worn as tight, or as loose as you want. These bracelets are made to last!

From swing dresses to blanket scarves, boots, and tunics, these bracelets will bring a youthful twist to both my upcoming winter and spring capsule wearing seasons. 

After wearing your Pura Vida items, you can tag a photo in your bracelet on Instagram with the hashtag #puravidabracelets, and then submit your photo here to receive a free bracelet!  

Personally, I think I received a clever, tasteful assortment of bracelets. I love the company’s mission statement, and the fact that their price point makes them affordable enough to buy individual pieces as well as to splurge on a monthly subscription for yourself is a bonus too! These bracelets are a real value for the quality of handmade bracelets you receive. Lastly, the design of each bracelet is modest, feminine, and are made to last, which definitely makes the worthy of my overall stamp of approval.

These are not just grown-up versions of friendship bracelets, they are lasting pieces sure to help you pull together casual looks on-the-go. Beyond this, I love the price, the value, and the presentation. This company is a keeper! 

So, savvy savers, what do you think of the Pura Vida Bracelets? I’d love to hear about it below!

Here’s to being your most fashionable self,

(Photo credit for San Diego/Costa Rica & Pure Vida, Pure Life Graphic. All other photos are my own.)

Hello again, savvy savers! It’s that wondrous time of year again when you get to bring your boots out of the hibernation and slip into cozy scarves, sweaters, and fun, flirty long sleeve dresses!

While Fall is the perfect time of the year to wear all things cozy, there are few cool weather outfits this frugal fashionista loves more than an awesome figure flattering dress. I mean who doesn’t love a dress that looks as good on as on the hanger as it does on you? A dress that is cozy and never clingy, drapes your body well, and can hide both a myriad of sins and makes you feel like a million bucks in it! For me, this season, my dress du jour is the easy, relaxed, flirty, and fun Cents of Style Remi swing dress.

In seasons past, various fashion bloggers cautioned plus size women away from the swing dress, stating its open design as being shapeless and unflattering. But as someone not only with a Capsule Wardrobe at home but as a beautiful, curvaceous gal myself, I’ve loved experimenting with the softer silhouette this dress gives me. I’m happy to have this practical piece as my new fall go-to dress. I’ve grown to not only appreciate the feel of this frock but to love the overall design of the Remi Cents of Style Swing Dress. 

So why the Swing Dress? A good Swing dress can take you from girly to glam, from funky to boho. The swing dress is more than just a silhouette, it’s like a fit-and-flare dress, that can be styled in whatever way is most inherently best for you. No doubt, this dress, a Cents of Style Swing dress, was made for me and my burgeoning Fall Capsule Wardrobe. 

Now as any frugal fashionista will tell you, a dress just isn’t a dress without the right accessories, and this dress is no exception. There are numerous ways this dress can be styled this season. From being paired with a basic denim jacket to a simple necklace duo, this dress can take you from day to evening with ease. While we all know that the right accessory can change the look of any outfit seconds, we can apply this to this Swing Dress as well. And my accessory of du jour? The classic plaid blanket scarf. 

Not only does this scarf remind me of my favorite seasonal Fall blankets, these scarves have become a versatile wardrobe staple, which will easily allow me to transition from season to season flawlessly. I also love that Blanket scarves are also as easy on the eyes as they are on the pocketbook. Sure, you could splurge on a Pashmina scarf. But with a blanket scarf, especially a blanket scarf with a vibrant pop of color, you can go from cozy to couture in moments, all while staying on a budget this season too!

What’s really awesome about the Cents of Style Blanket Scarves is that they can be worn in so many ways. And just for all my fellow curvy girls out there, I’ve put together several fun, frugal looks to show you how you can style a Swing Dress with Blanket scarves this fall.

So, let’s start with the basics. Blanket scarves can be worn as a faux Infinity, or loop scarf, perfect for what I like to call “throw and go” looks. You throw them on, loop them once, and go. Easy peasy. 

They can also be worn Pashmina-style, with the Blanket Scarf draped over one shoulder. This look will give the neck and shoulders a more modest look, which will also help you fight off the elements. 

Blanket scarves can also be worn easily with a jacket. To make a chic city look, just add a blanket scarf under your jackets collar for a softer, yet edgy look. 

Blanket scarves are also stunning when simply draped across the shoulders. A tip? A Blanket scarf can quickly take you for a fall business meeting to a casual holiday dinner party with just a few folds. During the day you can style your Swing Dress with riding boots, tights, and a blanket scarf tied in a French knot configuration (to achieve this look simply double your scarf in half and then pull the tail end of the scarf through the middle of your knot to secure the scarf in place), and later for evening wear transition your scarf to an over the shoulder number, sure to get you noticed in any room or gathering! 

And it’s worth noting that I’m currently wearing the Cents of Style Long Sleeves Swing Dress, which is available in US sizes Small-3X; noting that while my usual size 16 US, I am wearing a Cents of Style Size 2X. As you can see, the dress hits just a few inches below the knee on my 5’6″ frame and is a true three-quarters length dress. Also keep in mind that the fabric also flares generously over my hips to accentuate the full, twirly shape for most curvy girls out there. This dress is super comfy, and a must-have this season!

And now for the fun part! Currently, the Cents of Style Long Sleeve Swing Dress, available in 17 awesome jewel tones colors, is on sale for only $21.95 and FREE SHIPPING with promotional code DRESS2016 in your shopping cart. You can also pick up a Blanket Scarf, starting at only $17.95 shipped, or my favorite State or Tribe necklaces as well, starting at only shipped! 

Now, if you’re looking for some great pieces to transition into fall, the Cents of Style Swing Dress and Blanket Scarf will be all you’ll need to stay in comfort and in vogue this coming holiday season. I’ll definitely be picking up a few more things in the next couple of weeks!

While I hope this scarf and swing dress guide has helped illuminate a few of the different ways a blanket scarf can be worn this season to create a myriad of looks as well as styles, I hope that this post brings home my greater point, to invest in quality, staple pieces for your wardrobe at home.

Also, be sure to pin your favorite images, and go back to them when you need some inspiration, and be sure to share this post with a friend who loves cool weather scarves or is looking for ways to wear scarves too!

So, savvy savers, what are your thoughts on the swing dress? Is it a style you’re likely to try this fall and winter? Which of the Cents of Style swing dresses and blanket scarves is most appealing to you? I’d love to hear about it below!

Here’s to staying stylish,

Please note: This post is sponsored by Cents of Style. I was gifted the following pieces, and I selected the items and post theme myself, and all words and opinions are my own.