Warby Parker #SeeSummerBetter

I have been hearing about this eyeglass company,  Warby Parker.  First my son ordered glasses from them, and then a co-worker highly recommended them.  I thought I would visit their website, one of these days.

I had cured my severe near-sighted-ness several years ago with lasic surgery.  Although I hate to admit it, I should wear glasses for reading, and my distance is slightly less than 20-20.  I do have a pair of expensive designer glasses that have "progressive" lenses.  Since the lens size is so small they spend more time in my purse or on top of my head.

Needless to say, I was casually shopping for a new pair of frames.  As fate would have it,  I received an email from a representative from Warby Parker, asking me if I would like to participate in their summer campaign by posting about them in this blog.  (By the way, as an MBA in Marketing - great social media concept guys!)

This blog is a my creative outlet to write about things that inspire me.  My favorite topics are travel and fashion.  Sometimes I even share information about a product that I love.  I keep this blog authentic, and only post about products that truly impress me.

Before I committed to anything, I visited the Warby Parker website.  This is a great concept.  You select 5 pairs of glasses, they ship you the samples, and you have time to decide which pair you like.  Coming from somebody who spent countless hours at the eye doctor's office trying to pick a pair of frames while fighting for a little mirror space, this concept appealed to me.

The thing that sets Warby Parker that stood out to me was their program "Buy a Pair, Give a Pair".  Warby Parker donates a portion of their sales to a non-profit which reaches out to men and women in developing countries how to give basic eye exams and sell glasses in their own community.

That's my story, and this is why I decided to participate in their #SeeSummerBetter campaign.

Which pair would I choose for me?

 Ames in Graphite Fog caught my eye right away.

 So fun!  

and Marcel in Plumb-Marbelwood.  

They match my dress after all.  

But then there is  Piper in Jet Black.

So Classic.

Maybe all 3?  #SeeSummerBetter

Would you create you own uniform for daily wear?

So many decisions to make in the morning choosing at outfit is sometimes the most daunting. What if you selected one outfit to wear everyday.   Would you be able to do that?  Coming from a Catholic school background,  I was quite used to doing that.  But once I was done with high school I was excited to be able to make my to make my own fashion choices.  

Some mornings it takes a lot of work to decide what to wear, and so many things to think about once I get to work maybe it would be a lot simpler just have a uniform to wear to work.  Men do it with the khaki pants and a polo shirt.  How simple is that.

I have heard that many successful business people wear very simple clothes to work to free their mind up to make decisions during the day.  Maybe we should think about saving our most creative outfits for the weekends. 

I was inspired by this article in Business Insider.
http://www.businessinsider.com/woman-wears-same-work-outfit-matilda-kahl-2015-4

My Obsession with Lace

Nobody really knows when lace was first introduced, but it is believed to date back to the early 16th century, possibly originating in Venice.  

Lace has survived into the modern era, as in this vintage Dior lace dress.

Lace is modern and chic.  Sexy yet classy.  

From left to right, Versace lace gown, Versace lace jeans, and Elie Saab Spring 2011 Couture prove that lace has a timeless quality. 

I have to admit, I am obsessed with lace.  

Dita von Teese Looking Gorgeous at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week 2015

Dita von Teese was sophisticated and gorgeous at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week 2015 last week. 

Dita von Teese arriving at Elie Saab show in a beautiful black with lace dress by Elie Saab with Palter DeLiso black pumps.

Dita von Teese at Jean Paul Gautier show wearing Jean Paul Gautier pared with those beautiful Palter DeLiso black pumps. Proving that the perfect black pump can go with anything.  

Elie Saab - Paris Haute Couture Week 2015

I love Elie Saab's designs, usually.  But I have to admit I am disappointied with his Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2015 collection shown last week at Paris Haute Couture Week.  

The colors are usually bold, and the fabrics rich, and the cuts are daring. These colors are dull, and the material reminds me of my grandmother's curtains, and the high necklines?  

Not all of Elie Saab's designs were as disappointing as the ones shown above.  These are a few that are somewhat edgy and more of what I admire about his designs.

The two designs below are my favorites from the Spring-Summer 2015 Haute Couture collection because they are reminiscent of his bold designs that reflect strong women with a sense of style. 

To understand the statement piece that are Elie Saab, here is some designs from previous collections. 

Look fabulous in every picture

With the holidays right around the corner, we will be taking lots of pictures!  Of course we want to look well rested, thin, and gorgeous in every single one of them.

For tips on how to look fabulous in every picture, follow the link below for tips from StyleList.

StyleList.com

You will thank me when you see yourself in pictures!

Green is the New Black?

This fall one of the hottest colors on the runway was Emerald Green!  Toss away the sweet summer pastels and get ready for the bold colors of fall.  This fall one of the hottest colors on the runway was Emerald Green. 

Source:  http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/falltrends/photos/0,,20832910_20828947_30176413,00.html

From Left:  Christian Dior, Bottega Veneta, and J. Mendel  

I like this bold fashion color from the Fall 2014 collections.  Not only is it a great alternative to the fall staple of black, and let's face it, hardly anybody looks good in grey.  

Helping a Treasured Friend

The Krewe of Alegria's central mission is to be "Goodwill Ambassadors to the Tampa Bay Community" by giving back to the community that we live in and love.  

When one of our treasured members, Jeanne, was faced with the heartbreaking diagnosis of cancer, we all knew we had to mobilize a campaign to help her and her family.  

Jeanne is an officer with the Krewe of Alegria.  As the driving force behind our 501(c)3 charitable organization, Kickin' for Kids, she has been responsible for donating thousands of shoes to children in the Tampa Bay Area.  

With this vision in mind, one of the members of The Krewe of Alegria, Michelle Vrooman-South, created the medical fundraiser website to allow people from all over the world to donate money to help our member cover medical and living expenses while she is undergoing treatment.

Statistics from the American Cancer Society:

The American Cancer Society's estimates for colorectal cancer in the United States for 2014:

• About 96,830 new cases of colon cancer
• About 40,000 new cases of rectal cancer
• About 50,310 deaths from colorectal cancer

Not counting skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in men and women in this country. Overall, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 20.

If you would like to donate please click on the link below:

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/jeanne-s-parade-of-support-to-beat-cancer-/233734

All monies collect will go straight to Jeanne.

source: 
cancer.org

Tribute to my Father

Although my mother taught me how to act like a lady, it was my father who taught me how to think like a man. My father taught me Algebra and how to change a transmission, shoot pool and play poker.  Thanks to him I think for myself and am not be taken for a fool.  My father taught me how to find some humor in any situation no matter how grave the circumstances.  
     My father reveled in being the smartest person in the room and was always challenging everybody's intellect.  His gift for sarcasm was legendary.  He loved to challenge friends and family to a game of pool and or a battle of wits.  Everybody always came away from a conversation with him feeling a little more informed.  He was a brilliant man who loved to gather facts and information.
    My father was a member of the greatest generation. His parents were immigrants from Slovenia who settled in a coal mining town in Pennsylvania.  They had a chicken coop and grew their food in a garden, not because it was organic, but because they had to eat during the Depression. After graduating Valedictorian of his high school class, he worked one day in the coal mines along side his father and brother.   Deciding that the coal mines were not for him, he joined the Army.  He served in the South Pacific during World War II and rose to the ranks of Staff Sargent.  
     After returning from the war, he went to Pitt University on the GI Bill and studied chemical engineering.  He married my mother, and settled in Cleveland.  
     My father taught me the most important lesson in life. The things worth having do not come easy.  I miss my father's humor, insight and intelligence every day.  I hope I carry a little of that with me, and I can only hope he is looking down proudly from Heaven.
     I love you Dad.  I know the angels are playing a polka for you in heaven.  Happy Father's Day.

Artistic Expression

I have been painting wine bottles and giving them to friends as gifts.   After much coaching from them, I decided to sell my wine bottle creations.   

I am selling my wine bottles.  I chose Etsy because it was easy to post you item, and I am hoping it will get plenty of exposure.   

Pictured is my first Etsy listing. It is hand-painted wine bottle.  The are shades of dark plum, to light purple.  The blending of shades is ombr-inspired.  I added crystals for shine. 

There are many more styles to come!  

If you would like to order one go to my Etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/JacquelynZalar?ref=l2-shopheader-name or email me at JacquelynZalar@gmail.com

The wine bottle is $15 plus shipping.