Mel & Twill Capris

Another quick outfit here in Sweden featuring Mel tank top and my old Twill Capris from a few seasons ago. I like how Mel is just so easy to wear. It is an item that I think would work better with a racerback bra since I am not a huge fan of having the bra straps show. I always wear a shaper under my clothing and I found the straps peeked out now and then. Maybe that style is a fashion thing? I don't know. I just like that it is a bit longer and looser fitting. Plus, it is made from a blend that uses recycled water bottles. Cool and comfy!

I am also really happy that it is finally summer weather here in Sweden so I can wear my tank tops now! Today was almost 80F!

I am also wearing a new necklace I decided to buy. I like how it adds some color to my outfit and the piece is nice and substantial without being too fussy. Let me know what you think!

Mel in Parrot (signature color) ~ $52
Twill Capris in Khaki (previous season item)
Market Spice Necklace ~ $159

Detailed view of the necklace.
Market Spice Necklace ~ $159

Mel in Parrot (signature color) ~ $52
Twill Capris in Khaki (previous season item)

Monica Sells Jewelry?

It isn't a secret but it also isn't something I promote very much. However, it is an option! 

Some of you know that I have a wholesale jewelry account that I use to accessorize my clothing inexpensively. Anyway, I have moved my online jewelry store to Square since it doesn't cost any money to put my items up for sale there ... only when people buy stuff which is nice. Prices are higher now because I am including FREE shipping and FREE tax but I can give you a special discount code if I am delivering to you or just because I like you. 

I am open to suggestions on what to add to the store online. Tell me if you are looking for something special. 

21" Multicolor Crystal Wrap Fashion Bracelet ~ $35 

21" Multicolor Crystal Wrap Fashion Bracelet ~ $35 

21" Multicolor Crystal Wrap Fashion Bracelet ~ $35 

Polished Silver Raindrop Earrings ~ $35.10

Polished Silver Raindrop Earrings ~ $35.10

Polished Silver Raindrop Earrings ~ $35.10

Ash & Orchid Jewelry

I have a wholesale jewelry account that has a lot of sterling silver jewelry but it also has a lot of other options too. I had a website to sell the jewelry but it just wasn't working for me. Now I have added a few jewelry items to my Square account as it allows me to sell items on there without charging me money to host them. I only get charged when I sell an item which I really like. Selling jewelry is not my focus but I will do it if people are interested. Mostly I use the jewelry to inexpensively accessorize my clothing and well ... to accessorize me too!

So, let me know if there is something you are looking for as I can probably find it in the 1000's of items in my catalog. All my jewelry prices now include FREE shipping and FREE tax but I can give you a coupon code for various discounts too. Maybe you are local to me and don't need free shipping? Maybe you live in a state that doesn't add sales tax? Maybe I just like you a lot? ;) Just let me know!

Mimi in Ash (custom color) ~ $99
Steph in Orchid (custom color) ~ $80
Tamara in Ash (signature color) ~ $60

Stock photo from the catalog
18" Silver Disc + Multicolor Glass Bead Necklace ~ $98.10

Stock photo from the catalog
Silver Disc & Glass Bead Drop Earrings ~ $44.10

Monica models the necklace
18" Silver Disc + Multicolor Glass Bead Necklace ~ $98.10

Monica models the earrings and necklace
18" Silver Disc + Multicolor Glass Bead Necklace ~ $98.10
Silver Disc & Glass Bead Drop Earrings ~ $44.10 

Monica models the earrings
Silver Disc & Glass Bead Drop Earrings ~ $44.10 

Portia in Navy/White Stripe

Well lookie here! I did take photos of my outfit where I wore Portia in the Navy/White stripe and I wore it multiple ways too. The photos are maybe not the best but my photographer is still learning the best settings for my outfit photos. At least it should give you some ideas! I love all the different looks you get with just 3 items from kikaPaprika!

Here I tucked in Pippa and folded the top half of Portia twice to get a long skirt. I could have folded it one more time to get a narrower band which might have looked better?
Pippa in Shell (previous season item & color) 
Portia in Navy/White Stripe (signature color) ~ $110

Back view ... Ooops! I should have fixed the back. Oh well...
Pippa in Shell (previous season item & color)
Portia in Navy/White Stripe (signature color) ~ $110

Here I just folded over the top half one time since I am short and it becomes a shorter version of this dress. If I decide to keep it, I will hem it so it is a better length for me. The best news is I can just cut it!
Portia in Navy/White Stripe (signature color) ~ $110

Here is the back view.
Portia in Navy/White Stripe (signature color) ~ $110

Here I just added a jacket!
Daphne in White (custom color) ~ $89
Portia in Navy/White Stripe (signature color) ~ $110

Back view.
Daphne in White (custom color) ~ $89
Portia in Navy/White Stripe (signature color) ~ $110

Here is the necklace and earring set that I sell too. I get loads of compliments on it everytime I wear it. It is cheap and probably won't last long but for the price, I am not complaining too much. I tried to crop the photo with Portia but then it looked like I was naked. Not a good look!
Blake in Iris (previous season color) ~ $72
19" + 3" Gold Tone Bubble Fashion Necklace and Earring Set ~ $26.40

My new love ... Charissa!

I just can't believe that every season kikaPaprika comes out with a dress that I love even more than the previous version. This season we have a dress called Charissa and I love it so much! If you loved Alice last season then you should definitely check out this dress. For me, I almost always have to hem and alter my clothing. It is worth it to me to have clothes that fit right and most of the time the adjustment is small and inexpensive. This dress I don't have to do anything at all to. What do you think of it?

It might be hard to see in this photo but there is a matching belt that can be completely removed and worn without or with a different belt entirely.
Charissa in Peacock (signature color) ~ $99
19" + 3" Gold Tone Bubble Fashion Necklace and Earring Set ~ $26.40

Back view.
Charissa in Peacock (signature color) ~ $99

Here I just added a jacket!
Daphne in White (custom color) ~ $89
Charissa in Peacock (signature color) ~ $99

Back view.
Daphne in White (custom color) ~ $89
Charissa in Peacock (signature color) ~ $99

Pippa in Ink and Peony

We have had some great summer weather lately so it has been fun to dress in my summer line. My first look with Pippa is a basic outfit. Ink (dark navy) and white. I dressed it up with some fun necklaces. It was also my base for two scarf tying demos that I am working on posting. The second outfit is a fun summer look in Peony. I have noticed that Pippa in the stripe I wear a kika size 2 and it seems to fit just fine. When it comes to the solid colors, I find it runs pretty big. The Ink is a kika size 2 and the Peony is a kika size 0. I would probably buy a kika size 1 but I was surprised how well the 0 fit me too. What do you think?

Pippa in Peony (custom color) ~ $50
Camille in Feather Print (signature color) ~ $58

Back view

Here is the necklace I am wearing...
16" Copper Necklace with Agate and Cultured Freshwater Pearls ~ $47.20

Pippa in Ink (signature color) ~ $50
Simone in White (previous season item) ~ replace with Jenna or Elle

Back view

Vera in Marble

It took me a long time to get the Vera in the Marble print. I am not sure why though.... I wasn't super crazy about it at Runway in January when we see the whole collection and the default print I got in my sample pack was Valencia which I also wasn't crazy about. I never wore it because that print had a lot of Tangerine and that isn't a color I like. So, finally I tried on the Marble print and was surprised how much I liked it! I think it looks great layered under something else and I actually got a lot of comments when I did wear it. What do you think? 

Vera also comes in 12 solid colors too and the fabric is a really neat woven Tencel. I invite you to come check it out in person as the solid color I have is not my size. Unless I can get a model to volunteer and who wears kika size 4 or 5 (women's size 10-16) .... you won't see it in my blog. 

Here is my fellow kika consultant Daphne wearing Vera in Valencia print and it looks pretty awesome on her. Check out her blog for more photos and style tips!  

Vera in Valencia Print (sold out)
Carly in Peony Tweed (signature color) ~ $135

You may recognize the jacket I am wearing? It is a piece from last season that has been dyed into a current season color. I only have a few sizes in this color available but I also have it in Peony too. If you like it, let me know ASAP. I only have my kika trunk (items from past seasons sent to me from the kika warehouse) for another week. These items are sold at 25% off retail prices. My price below includes tax. I am not selling the piece I am wearing however because I love it! ;) 

Gracie in Imperial (trunk item) ~ $77
Vera in Marble print (signature item, limited) ~ $66
Capri Jeans ~ mine

Back view

Vera in Marble print (signature item, limited) ~ $66
Capri Jeans ~ mine

Back view

I had a hard time with deciding what necklace to wear with this outfit. I wasn't sure a long necklace over a pattern would work but I think it was okay? I was going for something with gold and I don't have many pieces to choose from. 

Vera in Marble print (signature item, limited) ~ $66
36" Gold Plated Circle Necklace ~ $36

Summer Lovin

Last week we had some incredibly warm weather that we don't normally see until August! So unseasonal but it was such a nice change. I was very happy to finally break out some of my summer pieces and flip flops! People just really loved this skirt. I love the elastic around the back of the waist so it fits very nicely. From the front, it looks like a tailored waistband. What do you think of this look? 

Loren in Peony (signature color) ~ $65
Camille in Feather Print (signature color, limited) ~ $58

Back view

I finally have an outfit where I can wear this necklace with it! I thought this color of blue would go with our Ocean color this season but it isn't the right shade. I found that it worked really well with the blue in the skirt though! I forgot to take a detailed photo of the necklace with this outfit so here is a close up on my mannequin form.

16" Copper Necklace with Agate and Cultured Freshwater Pearls ~ $47.20

Pippa, Twill Capris and Daphne

I took the Twill Capris that I wore a few days ago and paired it with one of my favorite tops ... Pippa in Stripe! I have a duplicate that I can keep in my closet so I don't have to worry about keeping it clean for my shows on the weekend. I put it with the Daphne in Ocean which is my new favorite jacket. How many favorites do I have this season? Too many. What is your favorite? 

Daphne in Ocean (custom color) ~ $85
Pippa in Stripe (signature color) ~ $50
Twill Capris in Khaki (custom color) ~ $88

Back view

Pippa in Stripe (signature color) ~ $50
Twill Capris in Khaki (custom color) ~ $88

Back view

I didn't have a chance to photograph a detailed image of the necklace I wore but here is the stock photo from the manufacturer. I really love this necklace and it goes with so many things! 

18" Jasper & Agate 14K Gold Plated Necklace ~ $78.50

Black & White

Now, I never knew I would be a fan of the Skinny Pant but I just got these new ones from kika and am totally in love! They are a Ponte knit which is new in our line. I had to look up what it is but Ponte is a double-knit interlock fabric that has stability and firmness in addition to flexibility and softness. This means it can be used in dresses, blazers, and more structured pieces and hold its shape but still maintain comfort and give. Best of both worlds, right? Most Ponte knit fabrics are made with Rayon/Polyester but ours is made with Organic Cotton! How cool and so soft too!

I wish that photographing black was easier to portray online! You just have to take my word and see these new Skinny Pants in person. 

Sometimes, it is good to go back to basics with black and white. kikaPaprika does so many different colors, people can forget that we do the classics! Who do you know that needs a basic black pant or white shirt for work? How about this combo? 

Leslie tie front cardi in White (custom color) ~ $68
Pippa in Black (custom color) ~ $50
Skinny Pants in Black (signature color) ~ $90

Other side

Back view

Pippa in Black (custom color) ~ $50
Skinny Pants in Black (signature color) ~ $90

Back view

Femme Fatale Necklace by Stella & Dot

Oval Pave Swarovski Ring ~ $55.20
Black Onyx Stretch bracelet ~ $9.60
Two Stella & Dot bracelets

Polished Sterling Silver Raindrop Earrings ~ $31.20