On My Radar

Wearing

What I wish I was wearing for fall, courtesy of Chloe's newest campaign.

What I'll really be wearing this fall, courtesy of J. Crew. (hint order a size up in the sweater for an oversized boyfriend look)

sweater // jeans

Reading 

I just finished Who Do You Love and found it to be a wonderfully endearing love story. I highly recommend it (although admittedly I would have wished the ending wasn't so rushed.) I just started All The Light We Cannot See and cannot put it down. 

Watching

The other night while searching for a movie, we stumbled upon People, Places, Things and it ended up being one of the best movies I've seen all year! It's so witty and absolutely adorable... even my husband really liked it. The only downside is that it will make you wish you had twin girls... badly. This week we also started watching the show Mr. Robot on USA and have pretty much burned through the entire season. At first I had my doubts but after the first episode I was hooked!

Plotting

After about a decade I think we are ready to upgrade to a new dining table and chairs. Right now I'm loving the combination of an oval marble tulip table with these awesome wishbone chairs. I've used them in two different projects for clients recently, and I think I'm going to need to take the plunge and get for our home. Like yesterday.

Loving 

Every single room in this house designed by Amber, of Amber Interiors. If there was ever a case for white + wood, this is most certainly it. You can bet I pinned every single image for our someday California home. 

Living In

My girlfriend Jaimie turned me on to this amazing intimate line Les Coquines a few years back, and during our shoot was raving about this triangle mesh bra. I picked one up for myself and haven't taken it off since (which says a lot when you are talking about a bra!) It's so incredibly comfortable, but also supportive. I've already decided that I need another since I absolutely can't imagine wearing another bra again!

I want to wish you all a wonderful weekend! I can't thank you enough for how supportive you've been in regards to my new fashion content! What you saw this week was just the tip of the iceberg, and I can't wait to share more over the coming weeks and months!

Pattern Mixing

When it comes to pattern, whether it's clothing or interiors, I just cannot get enough of a good print. My favorite way to wear any pattern is to place it over another pattern. It sometimes can seem a little counter intuitive, as in "is this too much?" But, for me, the answer will always be that there is no such thing. I consider wardrobe staples like bateau stripes and leopard print to be neutrals (cue the famous line by the one and only Jenna) and I will often layer both with a bold print, shown here with my trusty palm leaf blazer.

The key to mixing prints is keeping the rest of your look as basic as possible. Here I paired multiple patterns with my summer staples, white jeans and leather sandals. Topped off with a little gold jewelry, I can't think of a better outfit for a warm summer night. The overall look is fun, bold, and perfectly put together.

Blazer (old, similar here, here, here) // Striped Shirt // Jeans // Clutch // Lipstick (color carthage) // Sandals (old, similar here) // Rings (sold out, similar here) // Sunglasses

Photos by Jaimie Baird Photography (Instagram @jaimiebaird) for Robin M. Anderson

Stepping Out Of My Comfort Zone

We all know that I have a deep affinity for interior design, but my first love will always be fashion and wardrobe styling. For years I've been helping friends and family members to organize and "makeover" their closets, and honestly nothing bring me more joy than to hear from a friend how fantastic they feel every day knowing that they have a closet full of clothes that they love, and how  something that simple can streamline their busy lives. Obviously, this translates to my own wardrobe and I am often editing what is in my own closet in an attempt to keep only the pieces I love and will actually wear.

Since the inception of the blog I've been dying to do wardrobe posts but given that 1) I'm not a model, and 2) how uncomfortable I feel in front of the camera, I've always shied away from doing so. Lately, however, I feel as though there is a void in the blog world in regards to fashion posts. Most are either done by gorgeous twenty somethings, or the clothes that are featured are either c/o (i.e gifted to them) or are so outrageously expensive that they aren't exactly obtainable to anyone outside of the fashion industry. What I've wanted to do for some time is shoot the clothes that are actually in my closet, featuring what I wear everyday (and some special occasion) to hopefully pass along some of that style and tips for you readers at home.

One of my best friends Jaimie, of Jaimie Baird Photography, is a genius photographer who has had her work featured in places like Vogue, Self, and Well + Good, along with many others. I knew that if there is anyone out there who could help me to feel comfortable in front of the camera, it would be her. A few months ago we discussed the idea of adding personal fashion posts to the blog, and luckily her enthusiasm about the idea matched mine!!! Last week we shot a number of outfits while she was in town, and the end result is so incredible! I can't believe it, but starting tomorrow I will begin sharing these posts with you all!

Every week or two I plan on featuring an outfit of the day post, and I hope you will love them as much as I do! As you can see from the post above (yes that is me, no I can't believe it either... thank you Jaimie) we shot in a very editorial way, but all the clothes featured are my own, and I hope the takeaway will be that you don't need to be a model, or have only designer pieces to look pulled together and stylish every day.

For those of you who follow me on Instagram, I'm also going to be sharing the looks through the LIKEtoKNOWit feature so if you'd like the sources from the outfits to be sent directly to your inbox (versus following the links from the blog) all you have to do is these simple steps:

1) follow me on Instagram @robinanderson09
2) register at www.LIKEtoKNOW.it
2) “like” my photos on Instagram
3) have the outfit details delivered straight to your inbox via email!

It's that easy!

I'll be sharing all the details from the photo above in a post next week, so be sure to stay tuned! I hope you all like this new content as much as I enjoyed creating it. For me this was proof that sometimes to create something great you just have to be willing to step out of your comfort zone! I could not be more grateful to Jaimie for these incredible photographs!!!

You can follow Jaimie on Instagram at @jaimiebaird, and check out some more of her beautiful work on her site JaimieBaird.com

The Best Of Robin M. Anderson

 

Right now the boys and I are some 10,000 miles in the air, heading to California for our annual trip. Thursday, my husband had another surgery to help with his ongoing pain situation and while he's healing we figured it would be the perfect time to leave a quiet house. He is now happily at home, being doted on by his parents, while the boys and I are gearing up for a marathon two weeks at LegoLand California. I have to wonder if we can beat our 14 day streak from last year? It's good to have goals, right???

Given that I'm going to be flying solo for the next few weeks, I knew there was no way that I could devote the time needed to keep the blog running, so unfortunately I'm going to be on hiatus until August 20th. Rather than leave you all empty-handed I pulled together what I like it think of as my "best of."

These a few of my favorite posts from over the years.  I hope you enjoy reading through some of the archives!!!  If you'd like to follow our Cali trip, you can follow me on Instagram where I will still be posting.  See you all in a two weeks!!! xoxo

Our Home, Before & Afters

The boys' room
The Kitchen
The Master Bedroom
The Living Room
The Guest Room
The Bathrooms

Home & Design

Favorite wood consoles: a roundup

Affordable brass lighting: a roundup

Best marble accessories: a Roundup

Favorite gallery walls: a roundup

A hint of mint
Home lust: black exterior
Forever obsessed: palm leaf print
Barn light inspired pendants
Green with envy
A painted door
Bohemian inspired home decor
Surf inspired home decor
Banquette seating
On patterned tile
Flower Power

Wardrobe Essentials 

The trench
The fisherman sweater
The denim shirt
Striped tee
The blazer
The boyfriend jean
Army jacket
The silk blouse

Fashion & Style

The capsule wardrobe
Giving them the shoulder 
8 easy summer looks
Look I'mlLoving: monochromatic sunglasses and hair
Red + White+ Blue
The denim skirt
Jumpsuits for the win
Rainy day chic
Summer swimwear picks
Black, white and neutral all over
The turtleneck
Stacked
Summer whites

Hair & Beauty

Pink hair: really don't care
4 short hair style tips
Summer hair care
The easy trick for platinum blonde hair
Do or dont? Nail art
On mascara
Winter Beauty
Skin part I
Skin part II
Genius trick for thin eyebrows
My favorite beauty products 
What's in my makeup bag


My Sister's Wedding

The cake
The linens
The bridesmaid dress
The invitations
The venue
The flowers
My little sister got married
Save the date cards

Weddings

An elopement to remember
Do or don't non-traditional wedding dresses

Food & Drink

The perfect drink for summer

6 favorite side dishes

8 favorite kale recipes

6 favorite fish recipes

6 favorite vegetarian pasta recipes

7 asian inspired dinners

8 favorite one pot meals

9 favorite breakfast (for dinner, or lunch, or desert) recipe

7 favorite summer recipes

7 popsicle Recipes 

Vegetarian Bolognese 

The weekly dinner drag

Motherhood & Family

In the picture
The end of and era
It was bound to happen
Free
Lucky
Toned Down Christmases 
Pretty in pink
Little Man, not so little
The time my kid went to overnight camp

Fertility

Here's the thing
It's going to happen
A faker
2 week wait
Back to the drawing board
The little embryo that could
Taking a month off
Back to the drawing board
It's going to happen
Chicken
Cautiously optimistic 
Pregnancy update
Maternity portraits part 2

Travel

New Orleans; the time of my life
Costa Rica travel advice
Costa Rica Summer 2015 here, here, and here
Costa Rica Summer 2014
A week in NYC
My favorite Boston and NYC restaurants
The paris itinerary 
Northern California coast
Big Sur
Fiji here, here, here, here, here
Maui

What I'm Reading

July 2015
March 2015
April 2014

Look I'm Loving: Monochromatic Sunglasses and Hair

 

The day before my sister's wedding, while my family was in town, we all made a late afternoon pilgrimage to my favorite store on the planet Warby Parker, and it pretty much became an episode of Oprah... "you get a pair of glasses, you get a pair of glasses!!!" My sister ended up picking out a pair of sunglasses that were the exact color of her hair, and ever since I've been totally obsessed with the look. So much so that I just had to get a pair for myself last week. #twinning

My Little Sister Got Married

I know, I said I'd be posting while in NYC but after an unexpected delay on our flight back, and a marathon four days, I have to admit I was a little relieved to find that in my haste I had forgotten my laptop back home. I'm now back in Boston, and I'm so excited to share with you all a few pictures from my sister's wedding. The incredible husband and wife team that my sister hired to shoot the day are still working on the professional pictures (which you know I will be sharing as soon as I get my hands on them... in multiple posts) but for now I couldn't be happier to show you some shots from the night that can be summed up in one word; magical. 

The whole day, from beginning to end was more than I could have ever dreamed of, and while there were times that I definitely questioned what on earth I was thinking planning a wedding on top of everything else we had going on, I could not have been more proud of how the event turned out. It was truly the best gift I could give to my little sister, and when I looked around at people laughing, dancing, and drinking the night away, I knew that we had truly succeeded in our goal of making the perfect evening. From the music, to the food, and even the weather (which thankfully decided to cooperate at the last minute) the night was so special and I know it's one that everyone who was there will remember forever. 

Here are a few pictures from the night that was.

On My Radar: Summer Collection by Reformation

Every few years I find myself getting "hot" for a brand...

In college it was Banana Republic (where my addiction was aided by my working in store) then in Law School and beyond I was J. Crew all day, every day (because Jenna.) Then I dabbled in C&C California followed by Theory, and a few years back I was all about Rag & Bone and more recently Madewell. Should I even mention my 6 month love affair with Juicy (specifically Juicy sweatpants?) Nah, some things are better left unsaid, right? ;) The point is, for me discovering a new brand I love is kind of like finding best friend. I just want to be with them all the time, and I'm always checking in to see what they are up to.

Right now, for me that brand is Reformation.

Forever Obsessed: Palm Leaf Print

Perhaps it's because I've been living in an actual jungle the past three weeks, or because I will always have a place in my heart for what I like to refer to as "Golden Girls chic," but whatever the case I have a palm leaf print obsession that just won't quit and every few months I find myself dreaming of wallpapering a room in my house in the iconic print.

Next house, next house, next house...

8 Easy Summer Looks... With Sources!

dress // shoe // clutch

Ahhhhhhh Summer... the season of bare legs, tanned arms, and easy throw on pieces. For me, when it comes to keeping stylish and cool during these warmer months the key is to have a few go-to outfits that are casual and comfortable, but also a little tailored (dare I say sexy?) Below I've rounded up 8 of my favorite looks for the season and found similar pieces that are for the most part affordable and accessible. The best part is that when you shop mid-season, almost everything is already on sale as retailers are already making room for their cool weather clothing. (shudder) I know people say the cooler months are the real season for stylish dressing, but I absolutely disagree. 

Summer, you will always have my heart. 

Red + White + Blue

I'm not one for thematic dressing, and rarely do so for any holiday. While you won't be seeing me in a pair of american flag hot pants on the 4th (you're welcome) I have to admit that when it comes to Summer dressing, there is nothing I love more than a crisp white button down or tee, paired with broken in denim jeans/ shorts, topped off with the perfect red lip or toenail. It's my nod to red white and blue, and luckily it can be worn long after the last firework display of the season. Below is a little red + white + blue inspiration, and a few of my favorite pieces that are currently in my own closet.

My Sisters Wedding: The Bridesmaid Dresses

I have a secret.

The reason that I volunteered to take the reigns in planning my sister's wedding is because I wanted to be the one to pick out the bridesmaid dresses.

Okay, I'm kind of kidding, of course this isn't the only reason I signed up but I'm not kidding about picking out the dresses. In fact, this was something I was very serious about. It's not so much that I cared about what exact dress I'd be wearing, but given that the wedding party consists of myself and my two other sisters, who are 12-15 years younger than me, I knew I wanted the majority say in the decision.

In short, I didn't want to look old.

Also, (and more importantly) the bride and I have very similar taste and the ease of this wedding has been in large part because if I know that if I like something, she is sure to like it... and vice versa. My younger sisters will look great in anything, and luckily for all, everyone loves the dress we picked out. Whew.

When thinking about the dress there were really only two requirements, 1) it had to be long (I'm not a fan of short dresses in weddings), and 2) I wanted it to have a airy feel to go with the overall vibe of the wedding. On our first outing we found the bridal gown right away, and thought we had also nailed the bridesmaid dresses, but after scheduling a "just to make sure" visit to BHLDN we stumbled upon the most perfect dress and just like with the bride's gown, we knew immediately it was "the one."

Behold the Annabelle.

New In The Shop: The RBG

 

After months of anticipation, I'm thrilled to announce that "THE RBG" is now available for purchase in the shop!!! When thinking about who should be next in our #BOSSLADIES series, RBG became the obvious choice considering that the benchmarks of her career have been championing women's rights and equally for all. As a former attorney, I couldn't be more proud to have her on our roster and given her unique and personal style she embodies everything the #BOSSLADIES brand is about; strong women who remain true to the themselves.

Like "THE JENNA" she retails for $35 dollars and ships anywhere for free. We care about the environment and these reusable totes are made from recycled cotton which complies with all fair wage and fair labor standards. All totes are machine washable on cold, and should be hung to dry.

Here she is next to our first #BOSSLADY! I can't even begin to tell you how awesome she is in person, and as I've been carrying her this week I've been stopped about 100 times by people asking where they can get their own! Remember each of our #BOSSLADIES totes are limited editions, so make sure to get your boss before she's gone!

I want to thank you all for your support of these tote bags. This has been such an incredible endeavor and I can't wait to keep adding to the series! 

To get your own RBG or Jenna (we have a handful left) head on over to the shop now!

The Easy Trick For Platinum Blonde Hair

 

For the moment I've given up my quest for my bubble gum colored pink locks. Le sigh.

With Costa on the horizon, and the joys that come with Summer (like sun and swimming pools) my pink hair didn't stand a chance and now that I know I can do it at home anytime I want, the desire has somewhat lessened. In short, at least for the next few months, I've given up. Once the pink washed out I decided to go back to my roots, and by roots I mean the opposite of my "actual" roots, and I'm making it my mission to reclaim my platinum blonde hair.

Giving 'Em The Shoulder

 

If there is one big trend for summer, the off the shoulder look is it. Mark my words, you are going to see fashionistas everywhere rocking this trend and I could not be more onboard. I remember wearing my skirts like dresses to get this look as a kid and as I've aged my affinity for the shoulder-less look has only grown. Something about it makes me feel like I should be drinking negronis in Positano and lets face it, for most women it's hard to find something wrong with baring your shoulders. I feel like this is the most flattering part of the female body, and baring your shoulders gives off just the right amount of sexiness, without being too over the top. I have been lusting over this top from tibi since I first saw it on the runway and even though it sold out quickly I'm thrilled to find they replenished their stock, and added new colors! 

Whether it's a dress or a top, shoulders are going to be everywhere this season and for those of you who aren't afraid to show a little skin during the warmer months I've rounded up a few of my favorites at every price point down below. Negroni not included ;)

Summer Hair Care

Considering all that I've done to my hair over the past few years it's somewhat surprising that my hair isn't all that damaged... yet.

On My Radar

Reading

Right now I'm reading this book and Can't.Put.It.Down! You thought Amy from Gone Girl was maniacal? Just get ready!

Listening 
I don't know why I am incapable of finding new music to listen to, but as a 90's child my heart lies in that decade and that decade alone. Right now I have this best of compilation from my former idol playing on repeat right now. The cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is worth the download price alone.

Spring's Biggest Trend: The Denim Skirt

This season the denim skirt is back in a MAJOR way and I have to ask... did it ever really leave? I can distinctly remember the three denim skirts I have owned in my own lifetime and I wonder how/why they were ever discarded from my daily wardrobe. 

First, there was the white one that I used to wear with boat shoes every day of middle school. Then the denim mini in high school that I would throw on over my bathing suit topped with a hoodie from a local surf company (a fashionista I was not.) Finally, there was the one I bought in law school that I wore all over Europe the first summer my husband and I were dating that I paired with a striped shirt and flip flops which I thought felt incredibly chic but looking back I'm thinking probably made me stand out as a tourist!

4 Short Hair Style Tips

A few years back I cut my too long hair into a bob, or lob, or fob (whatever it's called these days) and ever since that first snip I haven't felt the urge to go back. Sure, there are still times I yearn for long, mermaid like hair, but the reality is that a shorter cut suits my fine hair so much better and a mid-length cut is just so easy to style for everyday wear that I can't really think of a reason to ever grow out my hair again.

Now, that's not to say I don't get a little bored with my cut and right now I'm again paying the price for forgetting that I am not a layer person. However, generally I've found that there are enough ways to style my shorter length and I'm often getting asked if I just got a hair cut when in fact I usually go 6 months without one because I love the way each cut grows out. When I had longer hair I would typically just wear it in a pony tail or top knot, but since I've had a shorter length I've found that I've needed to be a little more creative with my styling. This is the downside to a shorter cut, but the upside is that I've pretty much disowned my blowdryer and the curling iron really only makes an appearance on very special days.

Below are the 4 easy ways that I've found are best for styling mid-length hair and the hair products that I just can't live without... no blowdrying necessary.

A Birthday + A Surprise

Over the weekend I turned 36 (yay!!!) and decided to take the pink haired plunge that I had been dreaming of. When the time came I had no hesitation to go for the full monty, and was more than a little disappointed to hear that the pink may not stick to all my hair. Turns out because I am a highlighted platinum blonde, and not a full platinum blonde, that to get the look I really wanted I would have had to strip or double process my entire head of hair. Between the bleach and Costa Rica I feel like my hair is already as dry as it needs to be, so I opted to just give it a go as it was and three pink applications later I left the salon looking like this.

Pink Hair... REALLY Don't Care.

Spring has finally sprung in Boston and you can't walk more than a block without running into a perfectly pink Cherry Blossom tree. As a Californian, I never really appreciated what events like blossoming trees and falling leaves can mean for your psyche. Despite a busy week and an unexpected head cold, I lately feel like I am skipping as I make my way through town...listen, the 80 degree temperatures don't hurt things either.

The cherry blossoms also symbolize that I am about to become another year older. My birthday is on Saturday and typically it means very little to me. Since it's always close to Mother's Day the boys  do something nice (i.e. ask me what I want) and we will hit up our favorite Korean Barbecue spot. I don't mind a quiet day because in all honesty I am just not a big birthday person. Usually I find myself saying that little has changed in the past year, but I have to admit this year I definitely feel older. Actually not older, but more mature.