PINTEREST IS CALLING: DECEMBER 2014

This is easier said than done, but having made the leap in the last year I am so grateful I did. Some days I feel guilty that I have so much free time and choice in what I can do that day. I am working through that guild in favor of acceptance and gratitude for this life of mine. 

Uh oh, I hear echoes of my first 2015 New Year's resolution. And so it begins!

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These shoes are the epitome of chic right now. I love the Valentino Rockstud designs and these booties are a billboard for why. Perfect proportions, just the right amount of punk rock, and the luxury of the materials used. Le sigh. Christmas present, please, anyone?

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The 90s are back! I could take or leave this latest trend, but this semi-retro chic street style lady is a nice blend without going roll-your-eyes over the top. Interesting without being a fashion cliche.

Samurai cat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

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I love the mix of colors, textures, and styles in this photo. But most of all I love the art. SO COOL.

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Can you believe this is Victoria Beckham? Me neither. Great yob. 

TheWellSet's Inaugural Street Style Review

There are two times a year that you will catch me clamoring through the slow-loading pages of fashion week street style shots. It's like sweating an addiction waiting for the next page to load. So many of what I see are inspirational and interesting in a way that my day-to-day choices are not. Of course these ladies are simply playing to their audience with their choices and not necessarily to real life limitations. That being said I'd like to kick off a new series I will lovingly call Street Style Review. 

Similar to my previous posts including the WTF Trend of the moment (remember the backwards blazer? Oh 2010, you shouldn't have.) I'd like to take a second to review some of the best and worst looks from the latest fashion weeks all over the globe. Images include NYFW, London, Paris, and Milan. You may see some of my commentary and think - wow, what a hater - well, I am no hater, but I am person with an opinion and a strong love for fashion. I just want consumers to be wary that these trends do not translate to the streets of Houston, Texas. 

All images courtesy of TheCut via NYMag.com. 

PS. We are having a lovely time in London. The weather has been just dreamy and the city is even better than I imagined. There is so much to do and see that it is a bit overwhelming. Brad and I are also still getting our sea legs with the jet lag, but I am positive tomorrow will be better. Our hotel is right next to St. Paul's and the Millenium Bridge. We are staying at the Grange Hotel. I am running A Brand Strategy from here and so far, so good. More on London with pictures later this week. Promise! For now, please follow my Instagram @aftonbailygriffin for more. 

Glamorous, understated layering at it's best. Gorgeous. 

Ah, the 90s. This outfit represents the absolute worst of that decade's trends. Sry. 

I love the monochromatic nature of this look. Understated chic without being boring. 

This to me is a literal reminder of why couture clothes should stay on the runway. She's struggling to do the easiest task ever in those sleeves. No thanks.

She manages to hit every trend on the books and only feel a teeny bit like she's trying too hard. Overall she nailed it whilst (see what I did there? London!) looking super cool too. 

There were a lot of gals that went full on underpants dance this year. Def NSFW.

I love the mix of the textures and the use of the blue pattern in two places. The culottes trend is flattering on no one anywhere, but this chick manages to make them look interesting. 

These 3 ladies were seen a lot of places and their hats were part of the shtick, but overall a resounding NOPE.

Ok, ok, this one DOES toe the line, but where else in the world could one wear this and get this legit picture?
Answer: No where but here. Ps. Is that you Brooke Candy?

Is it just me or did she run out of the house and leave a few buttons undone?
This vato look is a resounding NO. Even with those abs.

Fall Fashion 2014 Must Haves Continued: FOREVER PLAID

Vest // Skirt // Jacket // Blouse // Pants // Heels // Sandals // Toms

Happy first day of fall! 

Ok, it's not officially that day, but it is the first day it has felt that way in Houston so far. With mornings in the 50s what else could you want? To win the lottery? I'll give you that.

In keeping with my favorite shopping season of the year (F-A-L-L) here is my latest installment of Fall Must Haves. Check out my picks for fringe and gray wears here and here. 

We are counting down the days to our European vacation, but in the meantime I have a list a half mile long of to-do's before we go. I do plan to have my cell phone on me and will work the first two weeks. Not sure how much work will be getting done, but there is something to be said about working remotely - even if it is in a super distracting place. Ah, just breath! Let it go!

Work is going great. Had a blast speaking to the University of Houston American Marketing Association folks last week. Other than that we enjoyed traveling to the Texas State Fair and the TX OU game, watching a ton of fall fresh TV (hello Homeland and How to Get Away with Murder!), and just spending time with friends (we will miss you, Maz!). Hopefully your fall is going great too!

Please enjoy this little ditty by George Ezra that I cannot get enough of...

Fall 2014 Must Haves Part Deux: FRINGE BENEFITS

Moschino Jeans Vintage Fringe skirt // Stella McCartney Aude fringed satin mini dress // MICHAEL Michael Kors Fringed pussy-bow silk blouse // Etsy Goat Leather Tassel Keychain // MICHAEL Michael Kors Rhea Flat Boot // Vince Camuto Andy Flap Bag //  Steve Madden Bmocha Fringe Crossbody

Well, I promised you an update and here goes nothing! A Brand Strategy Consulting is having it's best quarter ever - not too hard considering we are just starting our 3rd quarter, but that being said I am still totally floored. Everything everyone says is true: JUST DO IT when it comes to your dreams. Of course, my business wouldn't be the same without lots of great clients with tremendous amounts of patience and vision. Especially excited and thankful for the Janet Gust Design Group's work. Their new website is the coolest site I have EVER built or seen: www.janetgust.com Please check it out. Also, pumped to welcome fashion blogger SheShe to the client roster. See her nearly completed blog remodel here: www.shesheshow.com. She's the coolest grandma I've ever met. 

Now for the big reveal: Brad and I are counting down the hours for London! That's right, we are GOING FOR REALS. We are going to be there for 2 weeks and then splitting the 3rd week between Paris and Rome. Have any recommendations? Please leave them in the comments below! Cannot wait to get out of the country and have some one-on-one time with my red-headed-wonder. He and I also just celebrated our 1 year anniversary. Can you believe it has been 1 YEAR since THIS? Me neither. Marriage is great. 

What else? Ah, I bobbed my hair real-real short. (ICYMI it's on Instagram here) Meant to go about 2-3 inches longer, but they got carried away and I just went with it. Here's to easy short hair in Europe and dealing with all of the gender stereotyping. I swear I am still cool and youthful. Damn it.

The clothes! I am loving all the clothes this fall. Fringe and gray are two of my favorite things. Happy shopping!

Fall Fashion 2014

Can you believe it is fall? Me neither. 

Exciting things afoot over here, but more on that later. 

I am trying out this new widget hat lets you go straight to the goods. Happy shopping!

TheWellSet's Top Picks for National Lipstick Day 2014

Lipstick Art via Paper Fashion

Image via

Lipstick Queen Lorde

Quote print via

Where to buy: Tom Ford // Laura Mercier // Dior Addict // Marc Jacobs // NARS

Need more lipstick info? Read these 12 Weird But True Facts on Byrdie here. Like, did you know both women and men wore lipstick in ancient Egypt?

What I'm Loving Now: de Kooning, Chloe, Merde, & More!

Chloe Giant Crystal Pendant // Bunny Pearl Earrings // Elizabeth & James Vida Ear Crawlers // de Kooning

TheWellSet Closet Clean Out SALE!

In need of some designer wares at a fraction of the price? I am cleaning out my closet and being the uber-capitalist that I am I've listed the best-of-the-best on my Ebay store. 

Click through you voyeur, you know you want to... #chanel #tomford#marcjacobs #houseofharlow #louboutins #donnakaran #bcbg #zara

Click here.

A Brand Strategy Consulting & LaurenStack.com: Who Says You Shouldn't Work with Friends?!

final website design for LaurenStack.com

So excited to be able to share a much loved blog LaurenStack.com. Lauren is a childhood friend of mine and she has always had a pension for style and fashion. She has turned that love into a burgeoning career as a stylist doing fabulous things like working with Neiman Marcus and at New York Fashion Week. 

Lauren contacted my marketing company, A Brand Strategy Consulting, about updating her blog to be as fabulous as she is. We had a blast picking out colors, headers, and fonts. It was really great to work with someone that shares the same passion for their work and is truly fearless about following her dreams. I am blessed to have clients like her and let's just say I try to keep the use of 'blessed' in check for when it's real. This is one of those times when it is totally real.

This is a great example of what you can do with a simple Blogger blog using the right tools. It doesn't cost a fortune either and makes a tremendous impact on your branding! 

I love doing projects like this, so, if you know someone that has a passion for blogging and needs a little polish to give their blog that extra oomph please tell them to contact me today! 

I have no doubt that Lauren's blog will be a huge success. Go ahead and put it on your Safari Reading List because it's going to be big! 

Fabulous hot pink color vignette by Lauren on LaurenStack.com

Couldn't agree with Amy Poehler more! One of Lauren's quotes from her Instagram @laurstack

Summer 2014 Must Have: The Maillot aka The Cool One Piece

ASOS Maillot 1 // J. Crew Panama Hat // Lisa Marie Fernandez Maillot 2 // Chloe Sandals // Mara Hoffman Maillot 3 // ASOS Tassel Necklace // J. Crew Rope Bracelet // ASOS Maillot 4 // Michael Kors Beach Bag

I am so happy to be able to select four gorgeous one pieces for you to wear this summer. The Maillot aka the cool one piece is pretty hot right now and I cannot be more pleased. B-Rad and I are headed to the white beaches of Cancun, Mexico in a few weeks for some much needed down time. I am looking forward to the relief of only needing a few items of clothing for the entire week we are there because nothing says true vacation like repeat outfits. Cancun holds a special place in our hearts because we spent a long weekend on a whim there very early in our relationship. Of course that time we stayed at a bargain resort and this time we are staying at a proper resort but it was still wonderful none the less. Forgive my inability to write interesting sentences... We went to a very fun party last night benefiting Houston's Hermann Park and really tied one on. Let's just say the night ended in the McDonald's drive thru - not proud, but hey it's the truth. 

Any who, I leave you with some gorgeous beach images courtesy of Pinterest (follow me here!) along with what is sure to be the song of the Summer by Calvin Harris to get you in the mood. 

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CANCUN! via

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What to Wear When: Spring 2014 Wedding Fashion Edit

the dress // earrings option 1 // earrings option 2 // the clutch // the shoes

It's that wonderful time of year again: spring wedding season! Thankfully there are lots of seasonal fashions that will go perfectly in any spring setting whether outdoors or in. 

I just love this Alice + Olivia silk dress with the y-back. It is so light and springy, but also not too clingy or revealing.  I would wear a delicate gold necklace for a little something, but go big on the earrings. My two choices are the Eddie Borgo tassels (so dramatic!) and the other is a throwback pair of vintage Chanels (probably clip ons?). I paired the dress and earrings with a cute beaded clutch by Kotur and wedges by See by Chloe. The shoes are perfect for in-the-grass ceremonies and receptions (no sunken heels here!) plus they are super comfortable. I love the clutch in my favorite cognac leather. It will pair well through the summer with all things warm weather. 

Quick life update - all is going well. 1 plus month into self employment and things are going great. Several meetings down with a few clients and I am pleased to report they are getting better and better. Happy to unveil the new logo for A Brand Strategy Consulting below!

www.abrandstrategy.com

What do you think?!?

So, shoot me an email soon and let's schedule a meeting to get that website of yours up on the web, not to mention locatable by search engines (SEO),  and fully pimped out with a full marketing strategy including social media. Nothing is better at attracting new business than a comprehensive marketing strategy and a strong web presence. 

Music update - listen to this song, then record the VH1 Top 20 Countdown on Saturday mornings and thank me later. Talk soon!

Must Have Shoes for Spring 2014

Tod's // J.Crew // Sam Edelman // Derek Lam

TheWellSet.com Dream Birthday | Wish List Edition

1 // 2 // 3 // 4

Why hello there,

 I am excitedly planning my wardrobe for our annual birthday celebration in Las Vegas, Nevada (aka my favorite place ever). Plus it is our first trip back since our wedding last September. While I flip through all of April's fashion magazines I slowly but surely amassed a list of gorgeous items that I would love to receive any of which for my birthday. Hint hint. Any who, seeing as all of these delectable items are also very much new to the market and would look good on the likes of any of my faithful readers I wanted to share the love. So, happy shopping!

Via

One of the non-tangible things I hope for on this day of birth is the strength and character to grow old with grace. As luck would have it this month's Harper's was the Age Issue and there was fabulous Charlotte Rampling looking more elegant and timeless as ever in her 60s (recognize her from Dexter?). So here is to a fabulous 27 and an even more fabulous 28! Don't worry friends my actually birthday is not until April 24th - you've not forgotten a thing. Over and out!

TheWellSet's Spring 2014 Must Haves

Spring 2014 is here! For many of you up north this could not have happened any sooner. With as many as six snow days in north Texas and two ice days in Houston this winter has been brutal for us normally spoiled Texans. Especially for Brad and I living in our 100+ year old-new house with little to no insulation... Hello heating bills! It's been rough. But as the days get longer and warmer (of course, as I type this I am huddled in Wichita Falls with a wet 50 degree outside temp - curse you cold front!) our propensity for that seasonal wardrobe update grows.

I have pulled together a few of my faves for you to try out with your regular staples. I love to get a few things and wear them all season. These four items are no different. Some I spent money on and some I simply scooped up at Zara figuring that next year they won't be in and therefore do not merit the investment. 

1. Large pearl necklace collar: Chanel RTW 2014 hit the runway with their chunky version of this. I love the more dainty version at Zara (buy here) and the Delfina Delettrez bracelet (buy here). Easy add on to any outfit for an instant style update.

2. #Uglypretty, normcore sandals: What is not to love about a trend that puts the comfort of the wearer first? Don't get me wrong I love heels, wedges, gladiators... You name it and I have a pair in my closet. BUT these bad boys - as unflattering and ordinary as they are - are easy slip on wonders of summer time joy. Not familiar with normcore? Read this article and laugh along with me as we dissect the overthinking of the fashion world. Har had har. My two fave pairs of normcore sandals are these by Gucci (buy here) and these by Isabel Marant (buy here).

3. Orange red, Rihanna nails: How fun (and impractical) would it be to go get some of these tallon-esque nails affixed to your digits? I'll tell you: really fun. Like role playing for your fingers. While I will probably never do this (too many bad memories of square acrylic nightmares in high school) I am still obsessed with the orange red polish perfect for the spring and summer. I especially love Revlon's Perfumerie China Flower polish. Not because of the scent (really cannot distinguish any scent from the smell of the polish?) but because of the adorable retro bottles. So amazing! And affordable. Basically the best combo. Buy them at your local pharmacy or if you a hermit order them online here.

4. Pastels: Last but not least the obvious selection for Spring (like florals) - pastels! Only these are more pale of sorts than their sibling 90s pastels of yore. I like the minty pastels the best. Especially the above blouse from Zara (buy it here). It looks great with wide leg trouser too, just saying. 

I couldn't help but draw a parallel between this spring's pastel hues and the amazingly gorgeous pallet of Wes Anderson's latest cinematic feat the Grand Budapest Hotel. If you have not seen it then please GO NOW. You will love it and your brain will thank you for all of the symmetrical stimulation. Please join me in a moment of respect and admiration for the custom Prada luggage created for the film. Ahhh. Love. Speaking of symmetry, have you ever noticed how amazingly symmetrical Wes Anderson's films are? It's a wonder!

Check out this video featuring a compilation of the most symmetrical scenes in Wes Anderson's films. Very good stuff.

Wes Anderson // Centered from kogonada on Vimeo.

That's all I have for now friends. Sorry for the month+ hiatus. I am in the middle of working something out in myself that is both tremendously exciting and tremendously frightening. How those two things can be simultaneous I am not sure, but I know that when they are combined it is exhausting. Let's just say that A Brand Strategy Consulting (check it out here) is going to go from a part time gig to help friends to a full time gig (well my new definition of full time, more on that later) to help loads of new friends that I've not met yet (please introduce me?). I've filed my LLC, requested a tax ID, downloaded Quickbooks, have a graphic designer getting my logo straight and a handful of clients I am praying stay happy. So, thanks for cutting me some slack as I do the business equivalent of giving birth. It's rough, but great. Fingers crossed for an official launch later this month,

Over and out!

Fall 2014 Ready to Wear + Pharrell Williams + Life News = Happy

You can thank Pinterest for this gem.

Big life changes coming down the pike. For reals this time too. Not ready just yet to divulge, but let's just say it is BIG. NO, no, no, I am not pregnant, but it feels like it because I am so full of joy and excitement I could nearly BURST (but not literally). 

Life has been crazy-busy (I know, isn't it always?) but it has picked up in the kind of way that you hope it will. It is time to reclaim some much needed me time and reach out to people that inspire me. You've been warned people. Expect a call/email soon from yours truly.

Musical Musings time - yes, I have seen Despicable Me 2, don't judge me:

I have been enjoying the eye-soul-fashion-medicine that is the FW2014 RTW showcase on The Cut (all images via). Here's some of my TOP TOP TOP picks from the fancy pants runways of NYC, London, and Milan. Le sigh... That saying makes me cringe, but I know no other way to express how these clothes make me feel.

Prada

It's like a red Big Bird coat/dress!

Miuccia Prada! I love you. Will you be my best friend/mentor/personal style inspiration for life?

Costume National

She's a beautiful beige crayon!

If I lived in a proper cold climate, this would be my go to goat coat.

This is probably gray wool, but it looks like sweatshirt material and I like it.

Burberry Prorsum

Oh Carla, those brows! That attitude. That monogram throw/blanket/shawl. Can I please get on with my initials?

Scarf under belt action? Interesting... Not sure If I have it in me, but maybe worth trying. Easy enough wardrobe update.

hey girl hey

Temperley London

The one dimensional embellishment on this is really making me feel good. I also love the scarf layer - so regal.