Rainy Day Essentials: Pretty and Affordable Umbrellas (Recommendations and Shopping Tips!)

Welcome to the last part of GSW’s Rainy Day Essentials Series! We’ve talked about rain coats and rain boots, but I’ve saved the best for last: pretty and affordable umbrellas! This is the one piece of gear that I really think you should go bold and colorful in your choice. I still like a design that doesn’t clash with my outfit or style, but I love polka dots, stripes, or pretty floral designs. Solid colors are beautiful, too.

1. Paperchase Primavera Umbrella, Staples ($17.99)
2. Polka Print Mini Manual Compact, Target ($12.99)
3. Totes Stripe Print Compact Umbrella, Target ($12.99)
4. Paperchase Secret Garden Umbrella, Staples ($17.99)
5. Clifton Rose Bloomsbury Umbrella, Cath Kidson ($56.00) **Bonus: this one has polka dots on the inside!! I own it and it’s totally adorable and well-made. Very Mary Poppins and yet on trend.
6. Elite Rain Clear Bubble Umbrella, Staples ($36.66)

I adore all of these! And the clear bubble (#6) is just too much!! As a weird side note, you’ll notice #1, #4, and #6 I found at Staples!! They’re all Paperchase, which is a beautiful stationery and gift brand based out of UK. I highly recommend you check them out.

Here are a few ideas to keep in mind when shopping for a pretty and affordable umbrella :

1. Color!!!

Color is so important—go bright! My best advice here would be: never choose black. I love seeing a bright umbrella in a sea of sameys.

2. Buy more than one

If you live in a rainy climate, buy one for the car, your purse, and one to leave in your desk at work. Umbrellas come in all kinds of sizes, from minis to gigantic, so utilize them! I have a mini for my purse, two in my car (a mini for the glove compartment and a full size in the trunk), and one stashed at work. Preparedness pays off, my friends.

3. Quality

You want to look for sturdy umbrellas. Fortunately, most umbrella makers do a good job of making high quality umbrellas. However, steer clear of ones with plastic skeletons or that just feel flimsy to you. Definitely test in the store before you buy–muy importante! If it’s difficult to open or it sticks, pass!

Unlike rain boots and rain coats, affordable umbrellas (that are pretty too!) are in abundance!! Find one that fits your style and personality.

Have a wonderful week!

May122015Sep 1 2019

Rainy Day Essentials: Rain Boots for Women (Recommendations and Shopping Tips)

I’ve been scouring the web for this roundup and I’ve come across a huge selection of rain boots for women. Many are cheaply made and pretty gaudy. As you may have gleaned from the first part of this series–rain coats and jackets— I believe in protection from the elements and protection of my cute getup for the day. The key to finding rain boots is to look for quality materials and neutral or solid colors. No crazy patterns. No lady bugs. No sunflowers. No plaid! That said, you can still find some adorable boots that fit you (and your calves!) and don’t muck up your outfit. You want to find a shapely boot (as shapely as you can considering it’s rubber) that fits well, is sleek, and will actually protect your feet.

1. Kamik Olivia Rain Boot, Amazon ($44.95) I have two pairs of these and they are awesome!!

2. Kamik Olivia Rain Boot, Amazon ($34.95)

3. Kamik Jenny Lo, Zappos ($55)

4. Joules Rain Boot, Target ($74.99)

5. Joules Rain Boot Field Welly, Target ($64.99)

The boots above fit the three key qualities that I’ve detailed below. The best part: each style has a great selection of colors! Check out these tips for buying rain boots. I hope they help!

1. Solid colors (mostly)

A small design that doesn’t overwhelm the boot could work in your favor. In #3 above, the color is neutral so the bees work well. #1 and #2 have a little smidge of color on the soles, which I find totally adorable. #5 has a fun, preppy stripe that runs along the back, which is also a cute pop of color. Very Ralph Lauren without the price tag.

2. A good length

Choose a length that is right for your height. There are a lot of boot companies that offer the smaller, shorter boot (#3 above) in addition to the standard knee or mid-calf to knee length. Think about coverage and protection as well as what style fits you best. The one thing you should avoid, though, is boots that are too high. Hunter boots, for example, tend to be too high for a lot of women and it looks a bit sloppy and can cut your legs at a weird angle. The reason I adore the Kamik brand is because the length is perfect–it hits me at my upper calf. They work well for many women and petite women will find that this brand fits better than Hunter (and is wayyyy cheaper! Boom).

4. A proportional calf circumference

This is usually where I can instantly see the difference between cheapo boots and higher quality ones. The cheap boots have a HUGE opening at the top. Crazy big. This means it often messes with your silhouette and looks clunky and clod hopperish! Look for a snug fit on the higher boots in particular. The lower styles may naturally be a tad bigger, but should still provide some shape. I can’t speak highly enough of the Kamik brand in this department as well. For those with wider calves, look here. They have a nice selection!

3. Quality is key

This is a no brainer. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get quality boots. But you’ll quickly find yourself with wet feet if you spend $15-$20 on a pair. Kamik boots can be found on Amazon for about $35-$60 depending on the style. I’ve also see them at DSW–but they’re more expensive. I suggest checking Amazon a few days as the price fluctuates. The Target boots listed above are a bit more but the reviews are all positive.

This mini-series has been so fun! I love sharing tips and ideas for these things because I practically live in them. The last part of the series is the best and most colorful–umbrellas! Coming soon–until then, have a lovely week!

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May72015Sep 1 2019

Rainy Day Essentials: Rain Coats and Jackets For Women (Plus Shopping Tips!)

Heyyyyy. I took a small respite from the blog because my mom came to visit (which was super fun and a great break). It provided an opportunity to think about the direction for the blog and how I can bring a lot of value in the form of helpful tips, projects, and good ol’ conversation to like-minded peeps. Like you. Woot!

First up! Being that it’s spring and the weather is crazy, I created a three-part mini-series called Rainy Day Essentials. As someone who expresses myself through my style and what I wear every day, and also being a Seattleite, it can be hard to find cute AND functional gear. I’ve seen many an article that showcases fashionable “rain” gear. Cute, yes. Realistic? No. What about for those girls (read: me and loads of other real girls) who have to walk multiple blocks, up hills, down hills, and on slick sidewalks just to get to my car, or work, or the mall, or the craft store in the rain on a regular basis? I need stylish and sophisticated gear that offers protection from the rain and also protects my cute outfit. So where does that leave us? At Part 1 of this mini-series, rain coats!

1: Laney Trench Coat Rain Jacket, The North Face ($179)
2. Romera Rain Jacket, The North Face ($149)
3. La Selva Rain Jacket, REI ($169)
4. Romera Rain Jacket, The North Face ($149)
All of these jackets were found at REI.com and each style offers a variety of colors!

I’ve rounded up four beautiful rain coats and jackets for women that receive an A+ from me in the protection department but also have style. In styling a complete outfit, I think it’s important that coats and rain boots don’t clash with the rest of your outfit. I’m not sure how it happened, but a lot of rain gear on the market is gaudy, tacky, crazy. My theory about this phenomenon is that it doesn’t rain often in a lot of areas, so the styles have become lax and women feel a moment of weakness when coming across daisy, rainbow, plaid, and yellow plastic rain coats and boots. I say: slowly step away. I will say that wearing those things a few times a year is okay. But rain gear is a huge part of my wardrobe, and I just. can’t. wear those things for three-quarters of my life.

If these don’t float your boat, here are a few things to look for when shopping for a rain coat:

1. Solid, neutral color

This is important. If you’re wearing this coat on a regular basis, a solid color will go with everything in your closet. However, you’ll see I included a striped coat as an option. If you can’t do a solid-colored coat, this one provides a modern style without being too bright or overbearing.

2. A hood

I don’t think I need to say anything more about this. It’s a MUST (even if you have an umbrella).

3. High quality

It’s okay to splurge on a good, solid coat (and not just on rain coats, ANY coat). It provides amazing protection and will last many years even with constant wear. Trust me, it’s worth it. The styles above range from $150-$200 and made by reputable outdoor companies such as REI and The North Face. These companies also have wonderful guarantees and return policies should something happen to it. I own the La Selva jacket from REI and I adore it. I’ve had it about 2.5 years and it still looks great.

4. Belted, trench style

Belted rain coats add style, sophistication, and also give a slimming effect. The styles above look very similar to a classic trench, yet have exceptional protection from the elements. Styles #2 and #4 above don’t have a belt, but still offer a great silhouette.

5. Longer length

I’ve been tempted by hundreds of pretty rain coats that are affordable (about $100) that hit me at the hip. But the shorter styles simply doesn’t offer the same protection–the length will protect more of your body and your outfit, and thus, keep you warmer and drier.

What are your recommendations for rain coats and jackets? I’d love to know!
Next time we’ll talk about recommendations and tips for buying rain boots! Have a great weekend!

Apr162015Sep 1 2019

Style Files: A-Line Skirts and Pattern Mixing

This week’s installment of Style Files is a Target outfit. Let’s discuss the skirt. It’s inspired by these Anthropologie skirts that have been popular over the last year or so. They’re made of a heavier elastic-y material, and truth be told, the Target skirts are 16% rubber. Yes! A little weird, but I’m willing to look past that because they’re just so adorable. I like them so much, in fact, that I have three. I also own one with black and gold stripes and one with black and white stripes that I’m sure will be making its debut soon. People call this skirt style a-line and circle due to the pouf. It has a very structured fit and naturally poufs out, which I really like because it’s very flattering and doesn’t wrinkle. And the price? $22.99. YES. I know.

Outfit: Skirt, Xhilaration, Target
T-shirt, Merona, Target
Shoes, Zigi Soho, DSW, similar
Sunglasses, Cole Haan, Nordstrom Rack, similar

I knew the second I saw it that I wanted a striped top because I’m really digging the stripes and floral trend. If the two pieces match in color, then you’re golden and usually don’t have to worry about it being too busy. I picked a color, in this case pink, and looked for a striped shirt that had the same pink tones as the skirt. Target has great t-shirts in a lot of cute patterns and colors. This one is $9.00. A white tee would be equally adorable.

GSW Style Tip: Experiment pairing stripes and florals. Look for colors that are in the same color family. Also, A-line skirts!! Depending on the style and length, there is something for everyone in this department.

Happy spring styling!

Kristie Signature

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Apr132015Apr 12 2015

Liebster Award

I have some good news I’d like to share! Gold Standard Workshop was recently nominated by two wonderful bloggers for The Liebster Award! The award is a way of acknowledging bloggers and it provides the opportunity for people to discover new blogs. Amber @ In the Loop and Mads @ I’m Looking at Me! nominated me–thank you both so much!! I think your blogs are great and I’m so happy we’ve connected!

The best part is that it’s all about spreading the love! You get to learn a little more about me based on the questions below, and then check out the bloggers I’ve nominated at the bottom of my post to learn about them!

Here are the rules:

1) Thank and link the person that nominated you.

2) Answer the 11 questions asked by the person that nominated you.

3) Nominate 5-11 blogs with under 200 followers and link them. (I’m not sure where this is measured!)

4) Create 11 new questions for the people you nominate to answer. (You can use the questions I answered!)

5) Notify your nominees via social media.

Questions

1.) What is your blog about?
My blog focuses on the idea that life is a giant workshop and that you’re allowed to experiment and create things with intention and passion. This could be an outfit, DIY stationery, or a new career. Posts at the moment focus on style tips and DIY projects.

2.) What made you start a blog?
I’ve wanted to start a blog for many years and finally decided it was now or never. I love creating content and ideas that I can share and hopefully inspire people to try something new.

3.) What is your favorite color?
This seems to change a lot, but right now it’s mint and gold. And grey. Always grey.

4.) If you could splurge on one thing without any guilt or worry of the cost what would it be?
A three-week trip to Europe!

5.) Morning or night person?
That depends. I love getting up and going to estate sales on the weekend, but I always do my best work at night.

6.) What is the most listened to song on your playlist?
Mumford and Sons new song “The Wolf.” So good! But I will say I do miss the banjos.

7.) Name one thing that makes you unique?
This is a funny one, but I LOVE Twin Bing candy bars. I think I might be the only one in the U.S. who likes them. No one I know has ever heard of them and I can’t find them in Washington. In fact, my best friend bought me a box of 36 and sent them to me straight from the factory. They were gone in less than three months [insert embarrassed emoticon here].

8.) What is your dream job?
I’m working on that right now! I’m taking business classes and working to bust out as an entrepreneur. It’s definitely related to exactly what I talk about on my blog and on Instagram: DIY projects, style that expresses who you are, and pretty paper goods.

9.) What is your favorite day in your life so far?
This is the toughest one in the group! It might be the day I moved into my cute little apartment 4.5 years ago. That’s when I realized I could support myself and be completely on my own in Seattle.

10.) Where is your favorite place to vacation?
Europe and Hawaii are at the top of my list. But I think my favorite so far was a road trip across the South that had stops in Atlanta, Charleston, Savannah, and Asheville. We called it the “Southern Sampler.” Absolutely beautiful cities.

11.) Who is someone you look up to (real or fictional)?
I look up to any woman who has her own business and is able to support herself doing something she loves. Someone who doesn’t settle and knows what is best for her well-being and success. I adore Tina Fey, Mindy Kahling, and Gwen Stefani. Girl power!

Well, that was fun! It’s my turn to pass this goodness along. I nominate:

Leanne @ C+C House
Camille @ Camille I Am
Ellie @ All the Gin Joints
Francine @ Francine’s Place
Kiki @ Color Me Kiki

I hope you have a lovely week!

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