Thanks to all of you ladies who entered our Stella & Dot handbag giveaway this week! A big congratulations to JESSICA CLARKE on winning the fabulous Stella & Dot Lafayette Cross Body Bag!! {You can thank my hubbie who drew your name out of a big bowl full of entries!}

Stay tuned for another fun giveaway soon. Have a fabulous weekend!

Stylishly yours, Lauren

If you are looking for some cute, “non-cheesy” Valentines gifts for a special lady in your life, here are some ideas guaranteed to make the recipient feel loved!

Anthropologie Shadowy Heart Posts, $28. A girl can never have too many pairs of studs.

Deux Lux Resort Wristlet, $36 {available in four color choices}. Love the nautical feel of this little wristlet…perfect for tossing in your beach bag this summer!

Philosophy ‘Sweet Talk’ Candy Hearts set, $22. Candy-scented toiletries? Yes, please! {And calorie free, too!!}

Pottery Barn LOVE Votive Candle Set, $38. So pretty.

Stella & Dot Ever After Necklace, $49. {available in both gold and silver} A simple and versatile heart necklace…my favorite heart necklace I’ve ever owned!

Stylishly yours, Lauren

I am giving away the versatile, practical and ultra-stylish Stella & Dot Lafayette Crossbody Bag , pictured below {retails at $148}.

Here’s how to enter::

1. Receive ONE entry for “liking” my Facebook Fan Page called  Stella & Dot by Lauren Lefevre, Independent Stylist. {leave a comment that you did this.}

**make sure that you are becoming a fan on this specific page {click here to get there},

not just the general “Stella & Dot” fan page in order to be entered! **

2. Receive ONE entry for sharing my Stella & Dot Facebook Fan Page with your Facebook friends, by posting this link on your profile. {leave another comment}

3. Receive ONE entry by commenting with your favorite piece from the new Stella & Dot Spring Collection. {leave another comment}

4. Receive TWO entries by blogging about Stella & Dot and linking to both my Facebook Fan Page and my Stella & Dot e-boutique {www.stelladot.com/editbylauren}. {leave another comment and a link to your blog entry.}

Each person can earn up to FIVE entries, total! I will draw a winner next Friday, February 3rd, and post the winner both on this blog and on my Stella & Dot Facebook Fan Page.

Have a fabulous weekend! Lauren

P.S. We would love to host more frequent, fun giveaways on the Edit by Lauren blog! If you are a small business owner or know someone who is, who offers a fashion, beauty or children’s product {or just something stylish!} please email Lauren at lauren@editbylauren.com about offering a giveaway being featured on our blog.

I recently “pinned” the below ensemble on Pinterest {my new addiction/obsession!}. This outfit inspired me about a look I would personally wear and made me want to run out and purchase some fun colored bottoms for the upcoming season ::

Here are some colored pants and jeans to consider incorporating into your wardrobe. Any of these would be a great transitional pant between the end of Winter/early Spring into Summer. The practicalliy of these pants {especially if you get a cropped pair or a straight leg that you can cuff} is that they will look pair well with anything from a jacket, long sleeve blouse in cooler whether to sleeveless top or short sleeved tee in warmer months.

Pilcro Straight Leg Ankle Chino {$88}. I am LOVING the coral color and style of these pants. I envision them with a printed or metallic flat for casual wear or dressed up with a cute heel or wedge. And if they fit anything like the Pilcro Cord Leggings I purchased this Fall, they are ultra-flattering and comfortable.

Wit and Wisdom Colored Skinny Jeans {$64}. If you are hesitant about a bright hued pant, this mint shade is fun yet muted.

Not Your Daughter’s Jeans Skinny Jean in Aquamarine {$104}. For a serious dose of color, similar to the Pinterest picture above, these are perfect. {Added bonus:: NYD Jeans are infamous for flattening the tummy and lifting the rear! Gotta love that.}

Last but not least, the Hudson Skinny Leg in Cherry Red {$154} is a fun pop of pink for those of you who are not afraid of color!

{Can you tell I am drawn to the pinks, corals and teals when it comes to these pants?!}

I’d love to hear your thoughts, fears and/or experiences with colored jeans/pants! Please comment and share.

Stylishly yours, Lauren

Every season, Nordstrom’s exclusive brand “Halogen” releases a fabulous fitting, affordable, quality cardigan in a wonderful selection of colors. In typical fashion, this Spring’s newest Halogen Three-Quarter Sleeved Crewneck Cardigan {available in 10 great colors} does not disappoint! This is an easy-to-wear cardigan that will become an everyday wardrobe staple. And, with a $46 price tag, you can pick up more than one guilt-free!

Stylishly yours, Lauren

{Good thing I didn’t have time to try them on, or else I might already be the owner of one…or all…of these sandals!}

The TB Criss Cross Sandal::

The TB Elastic High Wedge Espadrille::

The TB Contrast Elastic Espadrille::

I’ll take one of each, please! {It feels like Spring weather for the most part here in Austin…can you tell I’m ready to start shopping for Spring?!}

Stylishly yours, Lauren

A few of my absolute favorites::

The Bianca Tassel Necklace. Mixed antiqued and shiny 12k gold plated brass chains are anchored within 12k gold plated facets and drop to a perfect swinging tassel. This necklace can be paired with SO many different looks, as demonstrated by the below pictures.

The Serenity Stone Drop Earrings. Green is going to be a leading color for Spring fashion making these earrings a “must-have” in my book. Whether your hair is blonde, black, brunette or red, these semi-precious dyed jade drops will add a gorgeous pop of color around your face.

The Serenity Necklace. I’m pretty positive this beautiful statement necklace is going to be my “go to” for Spring and Summer! The combination of turquoise and mixed dyed jade is stunning and I love how this necklace pops off a simple white top as well as how it mixes with color, as shown in the below pictures.

Capri Chandelier Earrings. Corals, oranges and red tones will also be key colors for Spring. These earrings are all you need to add a dash of color to any outfit.

Luna Wrap Bracelet. If you love to layer your bracelets like I do, this is a perfect addition to your collection. Triple wrap bracelet of woven faceted glass beads in white bronze and satin gold finishes suspended on brass box chain to create instant layering. Can also be worn as a necklace.

Interlock Cross Necklace. This is the perfect delicate cross necklace in my opinion! Designed by celeb-designer Maya Brenner, this necklace is so pretty and unique! In fact, Kelly Ripa wore this necklace on her show today!

Campari Necklace. Talk about color! Multiple strands of acrylic coral beads are interspersed with gold accents to make an attention-grabbing accessory that has the power to turn any tank, tee shirt or dress into a knockout look.

Stackable Gem Rings. These are ridiculously gorgeous! Four bands of geometric black diamond Czech and glass stones unite on a shiny 12k gold plated brass band to make a “WOW” statement on your hand!

Oh, and the necklace pictured with the rings here is the Zahara Bib…a-mazing!!

The list of “favorites” could go on and on, since there are SO many irresistible pieces in this new collection. View the entire new collection here.

If you would like a copy of the Spring Collection Look Book, email me at lauren@editbylauren.com and I’ll gladly pop on in the mail to you! Also let me know if you are interested in hosting a trunk show at your home, office or even virtually to earn hundreds of dollars in free jewelry! I’d love to send you more information.

I’d love to hear your favorite piece…please comment and share!

Stylishly yours, Lauren

A fabulous, “go-to” signature accessory. It amazes me how many women underestimate the power of a great accessory to literally transform their wardrobe. I hear women say all the time:: “I can’t afford to spend money on jewelry, I need to spend my money on clothes.” The truth is that a single statement necklace or one fun pair of earrings can recreate what is already hanging in your closet!

If you are budget-conscious, I highly recommend treating yourself to one new piece of playful costume jewelry for the new year…something you absolutely LOVE. If you are an earring girl, try a pair of statement earrings like chandelier earrings with are both on-trend and highly-versatile. Or, if you are not afraid of a bold accessory, try a statement necklace in a color or metallic that you adore. If you are more conservative when it comes to accessorizing, select a unique delicate necklace that becomes your everyday go-to piece. Any of these three selections can be paired with anything from jeans and a tee shirt to a cocktail dress and everything in between. Over time, you’ll be amazed at how many more outfits you feel like you own as you collect a great selection of jewelry. And even if you have just one or two pieces of jewelry you adore, you will be amazed by how this little investment adds a pop to the simplest of outfits and becomes the conversation piece of your outfit while you are out and about.

A few examples::

1. Chandelier Earrings.

Chantilly Lace Chandelier Earrings

Signature Clover Chandelier Earrings

2. A Statement Necklace.

Casablanca Bib Necklace

Marchesa Necklace

Leona Pendent Necklace

3. A delicate necklace.

Panther Pendent Necklace

After Midnight Necklace

Infinity Charm Necklace

Stylishly yours, Lauren

We are so excited to be featured on Daily Candy Atlanta today! Check out this not-to-miss offer to get your wardrobe in tip-top shape this New Year!  Or, this is a great gift idea, too! {Note that this offer is valid for new clients only.}

Thanks, Daily Candy, for the love! Lauren & Courtney

An assortment of well-fitting tees, tanks and layering pieces. These are pieces in your wardrobe that need to undergo some serious evaluation. Especially your white tees and tanks, as they become yellowed and worn out over time. First, make sure you have a variety of cotton tees, tanks and camisoles in neutral colors {ie. white, ivory, black, brown and gray}. These are year-round building blocks of your wardrobe that you will wear in all sorts of ways from layering under sweaters and jackets to wearing alone with a pair of jeans and a fabulous accessory. I recommend trying on each and every layering piece you own to make sure the length is long enough {preferably coming close to your hips}, the material is still in shape and that the fit is still flattering. It’s amazing how tees and tanks have evolved {for the good} over the past few years and how pieces purchased a few years ago are often dreadfully short compared to newer cuts. Remember that a longer fit elongates the body {therefore more flattering}!

Once you have a dozen or so essential tees, tanks and camisoles, you will will be able to create all sorts of new looks. You can often find these pieces at great prices. However, avoid the urge to stock up on mediocre fitting tees, etc. just because they are on sale. Remember that when a store basics like these wind up in the clearence section of stores like Banana Republic, Gap, J.Crew, etc, it’s not always, but often because the tops aren’t fitting customers well and thus not selling. Just like the jeans, less is more. Better to have two white tee shirts that you love than a handful of “just-okay” ones.

Stay tuned for the #3 essential coming tomorrow…

Stylishly yours, Lauren