jill milan


Casual New Years Eve outfit

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Pictured: Sunglasses: Chanel / Lipstick: Chanel Melancholie / Earrings: Kendra Scott / Necklace: Tasha (on sale!) / Sweater: H & M / Jeans: Gap / Handbag: c/o Jill Milan (on sale!!) (vegan!!) / Bracelet: Kendra Scott / Nail Polish: Chanel Vamp / Shoes: Valentino

 New Years Eve for me, over the years, has gone from full blown formal party, to casual New Years Eve for me. When I was in my 20’s and single, my friends and I used to wear sparkling dresses, and attend parties or events to ring in the New Year. Now, as a Mother of three, I keep New Years low key by either spending it with family, or attending a casual house party.

It can be hard to navigate that fine line between over dressed party attire, and too casual, daytime attire; when putting together a casual  New Years Eve outfit. I was thrilled when I found this sparkling sweater at H & M, Santana Row. It is a basic v-neck sweater with side slits that can be worn with jeans, leggings, or a slim black skirt. I decided it was perfect for the holiday season!

In addition to being perfect for casual holiday gatherings, I plan to wear this sweater on Christmas, and also as my casual New Years Eve outfit to celebrate 2016! It is a thin sweater, so it is easy to wear in a heated home with a simple tank top underneath. Love that!

As we head into 2016, I want to share with you my New Years Resolution! Now this may sound cliche, and I guess it kind of is, but my New Years Resolution is to lose fifteen pounds.

I never shared this struggle on the blog when it happened because this blog was still a hybrid online magazine slash blog. Now that I have transitioned it to my personal fashion, style, beauty, and runway report blog, I want to share with you more personal aspects of my life.

In 2012, I was sick and placed on bed-rest following a miscarriage, for three months. I was depressed sitting on the sofa over the beautiful, warm summer months. While my children played in the pool, I sat on the sofa inside watching them. The only time I got up from bed, or the sofa, was to sit at my desk and write a blog post.

Bed rest was difficult for me. I am used to working out at the gym five days per week, playing tennis with my friends, swimming for fitness and fun, and running around with my children. So, to ease the pain, I ate ice cream. A LOT of ice cream. Well, thirty pounds in three months later, I was on a mission to regain myself.

I counted calories, and worked out diligently. I lost the thirty pounds and was back into a size four. It was fabulous! Then, in the fall of 2013 I started homeschooling my middle child. She has ADHD, DMDD, Dyslexia, and a 170+ IQ. Needless to say, a traditional public school is not the right environment for her.

There are schools out there for kids like my daughter, but they all start at sixth grade. So, I decided to homeschool her until sixth grade, at which time, we will decide where to send her for school, or if we should continue homeschooling her.

She is extremely artistic and would like to be a fashion designer when she grows up. She already has a sketch book, and a business plan!

Since I started homeschooling my daughter, I have not been a regular visitor to the gym. Instead of five to six workouts per week, plus tennis and swimming, I am down to three workouts; if I am lucky. Due to this change in my activity, I have gained fifteen pounds, and gone up to a size six. I believe most of this weight is in my thighs. Ugh!

In my quest to get back to my normal weight, I will be talking about fitness routines, and fitness gear here on the blog in 2016. This will not reduce the amount of fashion, style, and beauty posts I publish each month. The fitness articles will be in addition to my current content; and an added bonus!

If you are working on losing weight, or you are a fitness guru, I would love to connect with you! Please let me know in the comments below or on social media. Thank you so much for all your support over these past few years, and I look forward to bringing you the trends from the runways, beauty reviews, and Silicon Valley style, in 2016!

Thank you for reading, and stay fabulous 😉


Jill Milan wallet review

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Pictured: wallet c/o Jill Milan in berry vegan suede

Jill Milan has launched a fabulous collection of wallets; just in time for fall! This collection of wallets is made from a luxurious, and sturdy, vegan fabrication called Elitis Microsuede; which mimics suede. Love them!

The wallets are long, continental style wallets which can also double as a slim clutch. The exterior is microsuede and comes in Blue Iris, Berry (my love!), Teal, Orange, and classic Black. The interior is dark grey, microsuede and organic cotton.

Jill Milan’s wallets offer a zipper closure; which is handy and secure when using the wallet as a clutch. It also helps keeps small receipts and coins in their place.

The interior offers several compartments, and plenty of credit card slots. My iPhone fits comfortably inside one of the compartments, as well as a small set of keys.

The fabrication on Jill Milan’s wallets is made in Italy, but the wallets are made right here in the United States. Love that!

I absolutely adore my Jill Milan Wallet in berry. I have had it for a little over one month, and have been using it everyday. It holds my credit cards, with extra slots to spare, and has enough room for my iPhone, cash, coupons, and receipts. I’m in love!

Jill Milan has also launched a collection of coats and jackets made from vegan fabrics for the fall season. I am in love with the pale pink coat! You can view Jill Milan’s outerwear collection online here. The outerwear is available for pre-order until October 1, 2015 at discounted pricing. Prices go up October 2, 2015.

Of course, for fall, Jill Milan also has a fabulous collection of handbags; what the luxury vegan brand is known for.

In addition to new handbags from Jill Milan, her “New Canaan” clutches are on major sale right now. I have one in green and adore it. These prices are amazing, grab one while you still can!

To learn more about Jill Milan, and all of the luxurious vegan products the San Francisco Bay Area based brand has to offer, please visit JillMilan.com.


Hailee Steinfeld wears Jill Milan at VMA’s 2015

jill milan disc clucth red carpet

Pictured: Hailee Steinfeld walking the red carpet on August 30, 2015 at the MTV Video Music Awards. She is wearing a spring Stella McCartney jumpsuit and carrying a Jill Milan clutch from the spring 2016 collection.

Hailee Steinfeld was spotted on the red carpet Sunday night carrying a fabulous handbag by Jill Milan. Hailee’s handbag was a golden clutch know as the “Disc Clutch.”

The Disc Clutch by Jill Milan is part of Jill Milan’s spring 2016 collection. The clutch is not yet available for sale, making Hailee Steinfeld’s VMA look extremely exclusive.

“Hailee looked wonderful Sunday night, and the Disc Clutch was a great complement to her Stella McCartney jumpsuit,” said Jill Fraser, founder and CEO of Jill Milan. “The Disc Clutch’s clean look went well with the lines of the rest of her outfit.” Ms. Steinfeld was styled for Sunday’s event by celebrity stylist Karla Welch.

Hailee Steinfeld’s Disc Clutch by Jill Milan is handmade in Florence, Italy. This beautiful handbag is made entirely from fully recyclable Italian stainless steel. The clasp is also the Jill Milan logo; offering a discreet closure. Love that!

As with all of Jill Milan’s handbags, Hailee Steinfeld’s spring 2016 Disc Clutch is 100% vegan. This makes her entire ensemble vegan friendly. Stella McCartney is also known for her animal-free designs.

Jill Milan’s Disc Clutch will be available for sale in the spring 2016 season. The formal, evening box clutch will be priced at $1700. When it is available for sale, Jill Milan’s Disc Clutch will be online at JillMilan.com.

Also spotted on the red carpet:

Iggy Azalea was seen at the 2015 VMA’s wearing a sparkling ring by BaubleBar with her all-white look while performing with Demi Lovato. This fabulous ring is priced under $50 and offers a gold-tone metal with sparkling details. Iggy Azalea’s VMA ring can be found online here.