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An Accessories Expert who lives an Accessories Forward lifestyle.
February 05, 2013
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Treasure Tuesdays ~ Accessories I'm Loving

In the world of accessories, it's so hard for me to have a favorite as I'm always embracing a new pair of heels, a bracelet, necklace etc. As many of you know, as an Accessories Expert, I always lead Accessories Forward! I pick my outfits based on these gems and love the whole process of finding the perfect mix. This time of year finds me doing a number of activities within short time frames whether it's styling a client, working on my jewelry line, checking out presentations and more. It's all about an outfit that works and ensuring that accessories keep me feeling completely in my element!

Leggings and jeggings are a major component to my look and I love a great shirt whether it's a button down or tee. I love these DSquared Slim Jeans which are a great pop of color and of course showcases the colors of my brands. It's all about an ode to old school with this fab ruffled shirt by Sara Roka.

This is such a crisp look that with fabulous accessories can really make your look phenomenal. I love these Sergio Rossi Painted Python Heels which is a great way to make a number of your looks come together without a doubt!. Never one to shy away from fun bold accessories, here are my top picks! Balenciaga's Arena Giant Rose Gold City is a fabulous touch whatever you're wearing. My readers know that I have been such a fan of this brand's bags and with so many colors that are available, how can you not find a favorite! A recent fave has been Kimberly McDonald who has so many pieces that has come on my radar. I love geodes and have been rocking a few pieces from a number of designers but her 18kt Rose Gold Geode and Diamond ring is such a fab item. Arm candy is an essential and I have a number of bracelets from Charriol and love their pave bar diamond wrist love.

Complete this look by a few more dazzling details. Lucifer Vir Honestus Diamond Trofeo Bracelet is a dynamic piece that works well whether you're dressing something up or taking it to the next level. Although I'm not a watch girl, there are times when it seems appropriate - this would be NYFW as I'm always running from one show, showroom, etc to another and getting just enough time to hang out with my girls. Movado's mother of pearl watch with diamonds is perfection. Finally, my sunglasses are everything! NYFW has some early call times when I'm backstage and events go well into the night. To ensure that I rest my eyes, I'm always looking for the perfect pair and I have been in love with Tom Ford's Rhi sunglasses which bring out your inner Charlie's Angel to be sure!

February 01, 2013
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Fashionable Fridays: Win It ~ Chic & Layered

This winter season can be a challenge from surprisingly warm days to down right chilling to the bone temperatures! How do you dress for something like this? It's all about layers and great pops of color. I love a neutral palette and believe in mixing white, black and grey together. The versatility of this look allows you to go all over and throughout your day without wondering if you're appropriately dressed no matter the impromptu situation.

I love a great pair of skinny jeans and this pair from Paige Denim and add a fab white tank that can be dressed up and down by Rag and Bone is a fab look. Complete the look with a great rolled cardigan in grey from Ralph Lauren Blue Label. A fab pair of ankle boots add a nice touch to the look by Saint Laurent.

Of course, I'm all about accessorizing and love adding in fab embellishments to jazz up this look. All of these pieces have notes of silver, Mother of Pearl and quartz. Although I'm not a watch person, I do like this Michael Kors timepiece. Layer on a Chan Luu bracelet that adds in another subtle hue. I love this Mother of Pearl necklace which has a great depth of texture as a way to bring in an old world charm as well as being very modern. Finally, I love this quartz and diamond ring by Sandra Dini.

Finally, it's all about the bag - with this winter season that will soon transition into Spring, you have to have a pop of color and you know that I'm a huge fan of Linea Pelle as I love their rich leather, fab embellishments and amazing colors. This Dylan Medium Tote is a lovely yellow and I have been carrying this body style in the fall. I love that you can fit so much in here (many times I have my laptop in my bag and all of my tech goodies)! So kicking off today, you have the chance to win this fabulous bag and a winner will be announced on Feb 7th (the first day of NYFW) so that you can begin building your closet on the way to great style!

Win this great bag by visiting Linea Pelle and making sure that you sign up for their newsletter. Next follow and tweet @KittenLounge and @LineaPelle telling us what fabulous color you are looking forward to adding into your wardrobe this season and include the hashtag #LPKLSpring2013. A winner will randomly be selected!

Our win it has ended, congrats to @Objets for winning a fab tote from @LineaPelle!

February 06, 2012
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Mingling Mondays ~ Noir Glam

There are days where I love glamming it up in black! There is somethign about this that makes everyone look amazing. I'd start off with this gorgeous dress that is very whimsical by Lela Rose in tulle and silk. Pair this with fabulous Versace heels with a double platform peep toe! With the one shoulder effect of this dress, you only need a simple Mikimoto Diamond and Black South Sea Cultured Pearl Necklace which is simple but stunning. I've always been a fan of Kir Jewelry as I love their antiqued and modern look! This cocktail ring has a fabulous Mother of Pearl etched stone which adds depth to the overall look. Wearing this look means that an updo is definitely something that will enhance this chic look so that everyone can see your Phillips Frankel Diamond and Black Mother of Pearl Earrings. Finally, pop in a hue with this oversized envelope clutch by Valextra which is a fab blue/grey hue. For the modern day fairytale look, this is definitely one that you'll want to embrace.

December 27, 2011
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Treasure Tuesdays: Kimmie's 5s ~ Neutral Adoration

In our last week at looking at 5 accessories that are apart of my favorite ways to complete a look, we have to go super chic! This is perfect whether you're looking to get decked out for NYE, a gala or anything else where you need to look beyond phenomenal. Start off with a dress that definitely is a conversational piece from the moment that you walk into the room! When it comes to these pieces, there is no other designer to think about other than Donna Karan! I love this twisted jersey stretch dress which is very architectual in appearance; however, being the perfect way to look amazing in comfort. A dress like this doesn't need a lot of assistance but when it comes to true wow power, this look will look just amazing with my picks.

I don't talk about earrings a lot but I love Melinda Maria's Pod Collection Black Onyx Chandelier Pod Pave Earrings which add a textured look and a decadence as well. I'm obsessed with Lanvin's Pave Crystal & Rope Necklace which adds a regal element to the look. Slip on one of my fave designers, Stephen Dweck's Mother of Pearl cocktail ring which adds some levity to the pave and onyx portion of the look. Since you're dressing for an occasion, the shoes cap off the look of dazzle with Pierre Hardy's Circle Sandal which is a crystal encrusted suede shoe. Finally, I'm loving VBH's large envelope clutch which has a fab glimmer to it.Together or separate this is the epitome of neutral adoration.

November 28, 2011
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Mingling Mondays ~ Holiday Style in Magenta

I'm in holiday mode for sure! I have a number of fab outfits lined up that will keep me looking festive for items that are planned (like tonight's fun event at the Irish Consulate) or those that just pop up but you know that you have to make room in your day/evening to attend! It's all about color that rich and that which is subtle coming together in this fun magenta look that was created. Now I am not really someone that gravitates towards these hues; however, Paul loves me in this color which I will be wearing tonight!

I start off with Ramy Brook's dress that's easy to wear but definitely has a bit of a holiday vibe but can carry over to all seasons regardless. For me the color is definitely one that will play well against my skin so I want to get accessories that cool it down a bit so that my dress is what you see coming and going! This pendant from Miguel Ases has Mother of Pearl and as one of my fave designers, I love how he mixes his metals so that this piece is yet another great carryover. You can never go wrong with Kara Ross and I believe that my rings always have to have a lot of pop so this geometric ring is a lot of fun and who doesn't love white sapphires? Round this out with Carlos Falchi's hibiscus clutch which brings in the nude tones that we have been weaving into the look as well as providing visual texture with the pattern. Slip on Vince Camuto's Jamma shoe which is studded (you will find the need to rock this out in a number of colors as it is a great staple) so it adds the perfect amount of femme edge!

July 05, 2011
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Treasure Tuesdays ~ Statement Piece's in A Flash

As many of you know, I'm involved in various networks and one of them is being a Lucky Style Blogger (we all remember when I got to throw the super fun Lucky Magazine's Pretty Party that I hosted with Dior Beauty and Bloomingdales event in May)! Lucky Magazine reached out to me awhile ago and let me know that they had a challenge that involved me going to Michaels Art and Crafts store (courtesy of their gift card) to make the ultimate jewelry Statement Piece! Now this challenge may have been deemed unfair (but I'm an Accessories Expert so obviously I knew this would be fun) as my most dedicated Kittens know that for years I had my own jewelry line of natural stones under the label Kitten Couture which focused on necklaces. But with my new love of stacked bracelets, it allowed me to have some fun and get back into something that I find to be truly calming in the midst of filming segments, traveling and designing. I knew I should make something fab for Fourth of July to unveil it at a fun penthouse party. Below, you can see me rocking my signature Summer 2011 look kaftan which I simply paired with flip flops and my wrap bracelet. Below, you can find out how I did this and how super easy it is!

Pictured above, my boyfriend Paul, my sister and publicist Dorian and me (I'm rocking my Kaftan [Forever 21], Oversized Sunnies [Marc Jacobs], Necklace [Judith Jack] and Lizbeth [Wrap Bracelet of my design courtesy of Michaels Arts & Crafts] - Additional Accessories detailed below as they are on my other wrist)!

So my readers know I love a boho chic sense of style utilizing neutrals and a pop of color here or there. In addition, I love having lots of charms bracelets to add a little depth, whimsy and personality into the overall look. In addition, it's super important to me that I have natural pieces in my look. So a la my design days in jewelry, I created a piece that incorporated Carnelian which is a gorge orange/peach tone, Turquoise, Citrine, Mother of Pearl, Snail Shell and Agate to create a look that played with texture and can truly be worn with anything. I also opted to select stringing cord in an orange hue as well. What I love about this thread is that it is meant to be used on beading, is durable and after cutting your desired length, I find that it is best to get at least 2 additional strings of the same length so that it is more durable for the beads, especially if you have large ones with smaller ones! Simply put, this style of bracelet can be done with the beads of your choice and can be completed by tying off the ends. Moments before heading out the door you can have a fab new look without worrying about closures which can take a bit more time!

Celeb Stylist, Lori Goldstein, once told me that you definitely should rock bracelets on both sides of your wrists as it makes everything look much better. I took that advice from last September' NY Fashion Week and have definitely put it to good use! On my left hand, I can be found rocking a number of charm bracelets from Good Charma, Swarovski, Alex & Ani and so much more. But in creating this wrap style bracelet, I love that it goes around my wrist three times, wears very lightly but that I added extra string for times I want it tightened and times I don't. I also love that you can let it hang which only enhances the boho look that I was going for!

The result is a fun, easy breezy look that you can opt to wear alone as well as with a number of fun pieces! If you opt to make it longer, you can also do it as a necklace! The big take away for me in this project was that Michaels is everywhere in my hometown of Indianapolis; however, in NYC you have to go to Columbus Ave in the 90's to get your fix - but it's worth it! They've come a long way from being my destination to get puffy paints to make those cute tees. Being someone who has designed jewelry, I have my fave spots in the garment district that are meant for wholesalers; however, I was pleasantly surprised that Michaels had many of the same items within their own selection! I opted to go with a threading version as you don't need all the tools that you would need if you wanted to use flex wire; however, they did have this as well as the cutting tools, nose pliers to squeeze the findings for closures and more! You can definitely do a fun DIY project and with my $50 card, I was able to make a successful piece that will be so cute to continue to wear and plays well with my existing jewelry!

My creation plays well with my go to pieces: Ring [Virgins, Saints & Angels Ring], Silver Beaded Bracelet [Good Charma], Turquoise Bracelet and Silver Bracelets [Alex & Ani], Green and Fuschia Bracelets [Swarovski] and Beaded Bracelet [Nagicia]

Make sure you channel your style and create your own Statement Piece by enjoying this Michaels Coupon offer! They're definitely a great place to assist in making your accessory look your own!

October 20, 2009
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Treasure Tuesdays ~ Wishing For Warmth

It's so hard! When the weather starts getting chilly but I'm watching shows like the Hills, I wonder why I couldn't have decided to move to LA as opposed to being in NYC. But then I remember that NY is someplace that I could never be away from and if cold is the tradeoff, then I would need to just deal with it! The good news is, I'm able to travel so I never have to stay in the cold for too long. Thinking of LA makes me remember that I have plans to visit later on this year or as late as Feb and I love the idea of mixing an element of summer with a bit of fall. I'm obsessed with kimono outfits (yesterday I was wearing a kimono top over a pair of jeans) but if I were out an about in LA, I would love this simple Kimono jumper by Joie paired with these booties. I love that they're suede and have a bit of rocker detail. To add to that, the cuff of metal feathers is the perfect compliment and today, I'm including a Mother of Pearl, snail shell, Agate piece from my jewelry line, Kitten Couture!

I could imagine this on a day meeting with showrooms to talk about new collections, meeting with friends, heading out to dinner and more! Just looking at this look makes me want to start planning trips to leave the impending cold! Even if you're not heading anywhere, these are great pieces to begin including within your closet or at the very least, you'll want to click within the spread and check out the fab brands! For those that are fan of Kitten Couture, contact me as I have a special promo that you can use from now to the end of the month to add a little spice into your jewelry collection!

March 27, 2009
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Fashionable Fridays: Kick off Your Spring With Kitten Couture

As many of you know, I have my own jewelry line, Kitten Couture which uses natural stones and seashells. Now my pieces are for all seasons; however, now that we are officially in Spring - this is the perfect time to reintroduce you to the collection. I love having pops of color within my jewelry as I tend to wear a lot of solids and simple pieces. This is a great way to change your look and really play up many of your favorite pieces. Above, I have a piece made of Botswana Agate, Mother of Pearl, Carnelian, Tiger Eye and Turquoise. Known as Ariel, this is a great piece that brings in elements of the sea while also being perfect with the addition of neutral tones as well.

Below is one of my other favorites and is also a chunky necklace that contains many of the same pieces that are above. The Alexandra has large Mother of Pearl shells, Carnelian, Agate and Snail Sell as well. Both pieces are done as lariats so that you can choose how many times you like to wrap them around your neck and how you wish to tie them. From now until April 15th, I am offering a special deal via this site where you can receive any piece at 50% off. Simply email me and let me know your piece; however, everyone should have a great piece that stands out or is perfect for a special day. I'll keep you guys up to date on what's going on with Kitten Couture and where you can find us! In the mean time, enjoy our Spring Fling Sale from now through April 15th where each piece has been reduced for a limited time to boost your look!

Kimmie/KL As Seen On

05.01.13; Click to see Kimmie on DC's ABC 7/Ch 8 ~ Let's Talk Live Talking Accessories & Celeb Mom Style right before Mother's Day!

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Photography by Philip Friedman/Studio D


Meet Kimmie

Accessories Expert, Founder & Editor in Chief of Kitten Lounge; Co-Founder & Creative Director of Shoe Week; Co-Founder of Style Tweetup, On Air Personality, Stylist and Designer.






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As an Accessories Expert, Kimmie appears on HSN, designs, is quoted/featured in various publications talking about style from an Accessories Forward perspective! To work with Kimmie or to see project portfolio, visit her site here.



Kimmie is the Co-Founder/Creative Director of Shoe Week which launched during NYFW Sept '12 and is styling a number of shows as well as having evening leading up to our second season of shows during NYFW Sept '13.



Co-Founder, Kimmie, connects brands with bloggers in intimate event settings via Style Tweetup.



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Awards Season Oscars 2013

Hosted by Style Expert, Makeda of Glamazon Diaries and a number of expert panelists, including Accessories Expert Kimmie, they chatted about all things Oscars. Read through our commentary about the Red Carpet and view the livestream that took place on Hollywood's big night!

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