Fall 2015 Back To School Fashion Trends

Although it feels like summer just got started, fall 2015 trends are already trickling into stores. I always anticipate seeing new season merchandise arrive in stores this time of year, but I also know how hard it is to shop for autumn staples such as boots and sweaters when it's sweltering outside and all you want to do is go swimming or stay in an air conditioned space. 

Need motivation to start thinking about fall 2015 fashion? Well the fashion industry is always a step (or two) ahead, and there are so many fun trends to try for the fall 2015 back-to-school season. Pay homage to the Victorian era with lace details and prim blouses, as shown on the runways of Givenchy, Valentino, and Altuzarra. Or experiment with a new accessory - the chic skinny scarf, as championed by Clare Waight Keller at Chloé and style icon Alexa Chung. Take your cue for floor-length proportions (as modeled on the catwalks of Chanel and Dries Van Noten) by layering a duster coat over the must-have skirt for fall - the A-line mini skirt.

If you're already planning your first day outfit, or contemplating how to update your wardrobe for fall, I've selected a few of the top runway-to-retail trends that I've scouted as we approach the end of July. At prices under $130, they're both affordable and easy to wear. Win win! 



Printed overalls, $110
Denim pinafore dress, $60
Plaid top, $58
Victorian lace blouse, $52
Suedette dress, $90
Suede fringe crossbody, $52
Distressed denim, $75
Paisley skinny scarf, $30
Lug sole boots, $37.10
A-line mini skirt, $38.90
Fringe booties, $109.90
Duster coat, $125

August 21, 2015 update - See nine key fall 2015 trends under $225 on my other blog Fashion Trend Guide. 

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Blooming Beauties at Rose Story Farm

I'm a firm believer that a change of scenery does a body (and mind) a world of good. It always provides me with a fresh perspective on life and it renews my creative energy.  When I first heard about Rose Story Farm a while back, I knew I had to visit. To spend the afternoon touring a rose farm sounded like the ideal way to spend a leisurely summer day. It's something I've never done, so I placed it on my mental to-do list, allowed far too much time to pass, and finally booked a tour for last weekend. Perhaps you saw this photo I posted on Instagram.

The family-run Rose Story Farm resides on 15 gorgeous acres in a small coastal town called Carpinteria, just south of Santa Barbara. In addition to thousands of rose bushes, it also has rolling hills, lemons, avocados, apples, cute cottages, and a special buttery yellow rose named for frequent Rose Story Farm visitor Julia Child. Our tour of the farm lasted for about an hour, during which we were able to see, smell, and learn about many varieties of roses. It was the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon. 



Since this is a fashion blog, here's a quick look at my outfit for the day. Naturally, I'm wearing a rose print kimono. Not visible in the photo: my rose print iPhone case and the rose I placed in the ribbon of my hat. Obviously, I adore wearing roses!

Wearing UNIF floral robe (old, shop similar in blue/purple), J Brand jeans, Sam & Libby "Arianna" sandals, Rebecca Minkoff Swing bag, California charm necklace, and Panama hat from Target



Below, a selection of beautiful bouquets for sale outside the gift shop.









Our tour lasted about an hour, and afterwards, we enjoyed a delicious lunch on the shaded lawn. I opted for rose iced tea to go with my turkey sandwich, strawberries and garden salad. 



For dessert, we enjoyed a lemon cake (made from the farm's lemons and shaped like a rose, of course) with birthday candles for one of the tour attendees.



I left the tour feeling very relaxed, happy, and inspired by all of the natural beauty of the farm. In addition, I was lucky enough to be able to take home these stunning beauties pictured below. If you could only smell them! My favorite is the pink one on the right, which is called Memorial Day. The fragrance is rich and divine (much more intense than the roses you find in the grocery store).



I also took home some rose tea and soap from the adorable gift shop.



Here are some tips our guide Mary gave us for making sure your rose bouquets last as long as possible:

- Use a clean vase to reduce bacteria in your arrangement. She swears by denture cleaner to get her vases and glasses squeaky clean.

- Cut the stems at a diagonal to increase surface area.

- Trim leaves and make sure they don't get submerged in water to limit bacteria growth.

- Change the water often to keep it clean and reduce bacteria.

- Keep the bouquet in a cool environment to reduce wilting. Mary stores her floral arrangements in the fridge before a big event, and then mists them with water. She told us that while rose bushes like the heat, cut roses don't like the heat.

- You can expect your roses to last about five days.

My Rose Story Farm bouquet is now three days old, and is currently on my dining table. I'm happy to report that it looks healthy and is giving the entire room a beautiful fragrance.


Shop rose prints and all things rosy:

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Eddie Borgo for Target Review

As a fan of both Target and Eddie Borgo, I visited two Target stores this morning to shop and review the Eddie Borgo for Target collection. Since this collection was limited to jewelry and accessories, I didn't expect any lines or crowds, so I wandered leisurely into the first store shortly before 10am. If you shopped online last night or today, you may have noticed a lot less demand compared to the Lilly launch in April. Fortunately, both of the stores I visited weren't crowded, but unfortunately, they only carried one of each Eddie Borgo for Target item. An employee at the first store told me they had a handful of shoppers early in the morning. I observed that a few of the items were already sold out (namely, charms and wristlets). The lack of inventory was disappointing, but I managed to score my favorites.



I'll keep this Eddie Borgo for Target review concise. It's a gorgeous summer day, and the outdoors beckon! Here are the pros and cons.

Pros:

Let's talk quality. The bags I inspected in store are made well and have modern prints. I got this black one and this galaxy print one for myself. Charms are sturdy and made of a variety of materials, including resin, mesh, gemstones, and silicon.
You can customize your own jewelry and bags - fun, right? So there are endless possibilities for making each piece unique to your style.
There are lots of D.I.Y. options to choose from: backpacks, choker necklaces, belts, mobiles, slider cuffs, etc.
Earrings are nickel free.
There are lots of great gift ideas here.
There are 3D printed charms available online. 
The jewelry and mini bags work well for summer festivals.
Backpacks (this one's my favorite) serve as cute options for the back-to-school season.

Cons:

The return policy for this collection is 14 days.
Target does not ship internationally.
Some items are online only, while others are in stores only.
Mini bags and wristlets could use some interior pockets for holding smart phones, keys, etc.
The collection is not available at all Target stores. (Use the "store pickup/find in store" feature to locate your favorites.)
The prices can add up quickly if you buy many of the charms, puzzle beads, and studs.

Below, the backpack, silicon cuff, gemstones, and studs that I took home. Bonus points for the roomy interior, padded straps and adjustable buckles on the backpack.

Shop my favorites before they're all gone:

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