Spring Collection Preview

Thank you all so much for an amazing day!
I LOVE LOVE LOVVEEE my fabulous bebe family!

Spring Collection Preview

Since not all of you follow me on Facebook...

I posted weight loss before and afters... The before picture is from around 2008. I was almost 200 lbs. It was nasty. Yes. I know. But now I feel so much better about life and myself, and I found the one picture I didn't BURN from being overweight and thought it was time to celebrate.
Have any questions?
Comment Below.

March for Babies

March of Dimes is something near and dear to my heart. I have some wonderful friends who have two of the most beautiful little miracle girls.

Erin Cobb Photography

I would love for you to show your Support for Abby, Addy, and the rest of the Overstreet Family by going to this link:
http://www.marchforbabies.org/cieramariee
 Make a tiny donation. I want to raise $500 and I will do most of it myself, but every little bit helps. $2, $10, $20. Whatever you can manage I will be so thankful for, and so will you. Everyone knows someone who is the Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, or Grandparent of a premature baby. Spread the word, and Join the March.

Why Everyone Needs A Stylist

Before coming to work for bebe, I always had a passion for fashion. I spent time working in retail as a manager of a shoe store. I worked the wedding circuit for a few years, spent a little time in Jewelry. I have always been a makeup and shoe whore. Until I started with bebe I thought I shopped on my own just fine. I always put my looks together from head to toe completely on my own. It didn't dawn on me until about 2 months into my job at bebe how little I knew about my personal style. I didn't have a style. I wore a little bit of everything and that was okay with me.
Over the past two years I have grown a lot as a fashionable adult. I have worn things out of my comfort zone and I have liked it. You would have never seen me in a white lace skirt, cowboy boots, or an oversized sweater. (All for their own random reasons in my little head) Now I wear all three together whenever the mood strikes me and I LIKE it.
Anyone who has never had a personal stylist, I challenge you to try it. Someone to put you in things that might be outside your comfort zone. Someone who has spent hours upon hours looking at clothing. They know what will fit your body type, go with your skin coloring, and be appropriate for whatever occasion you might be looking for. Get rid of fitting room frustration, by having someone by your side to fetch your sizes, accessorize your looks, and show you how versatile your pieces can be.
Take this shirt for example: Totally simple, comfortable, easy to wear.

bebe

Probably you would figure out to wear this top with jeans on your own, probably figure out that you could wear it with leggings and little booties. You would put a chunky necklace with it yourself but what about outside the box?

But would you pair it with this?

BCBG Max Azria

This skirt will look fabulous with this top. Tuck in the blouse to this high waisted pop of color. You can add a belt to define your waist, and all of a sudden you have a gorgeous date night outfit. You look put together, and like you know exactly what you are doing in the closet ;) Also, as a redhead I would never wear a red top. (some rules I just can't get over) But I would rock this bandage skirt in a heartbeat.

Would you have also paired it with these shorts?

Sanctuary

I love these, obviously minus the belt and granny shoes. Put the blouse on with these shorts, a cut out bootie or strappy black sandal, and then you have a great outfit for dinner with friends, or a day of shopping. Wear the top off the shoulder, gently tucked into the front of the shorts, and a strappy leather bracelet and you have a last minute outfit you can wear for just about anything!

Does your wardrobe consist of a bunch of tops that you feel you can only wear with one or two other items in your closet? A skirt you only wear with a certain jacket. Shoes for only one dress. That's what stylists are here for. Don't be afraid. Bring the clothes you already own to bebe at Bridgestreet, and I can find you 10 other things to wear it with. :) PROMISE. Except your hammer pants. None of that.

Pregnant Women I Admire

As most of you who are my friends know, I have always been on the fence about having children. I'm not sure if it is for me. I know I have great motherly instincts, I love babies, but it is something about giving up my youthful freedoms and let's face it... my youthful body. I like the fact that Joe and I can run off and do anything we want, whenever we want, and the only people we have to answer to are our employers. It's refreshing. While everyone that we went to high school with has 1-3 children and need a sitter to go out of town we have the option to do anything at whim. It's romantic, and I love it. That's why you guys have heard me go on and on about my 5 year plan. I want to be married by 25 to have a baby if I so choose by 30. Mainly for the health of my child, because children born to parents who have been married for a significant amount of time grow up in a more stable household. The parents have taken care of most of their relationship issues by then and can focus on being better parents. Also children born to younger mothers are healthier, so while I want to take my time, I don't want to be 35 or 40 and having children. (no offense to older mothers, but you were obviously warned of the risks if you chose to get pregnant)

That being said I can say that if I do have children there are a list of women on my pregnancy role model list. Yes. I have a list. Everyone who plans on having children should have a pregnancy or parental role model. It gives you something to work towards. So here is my list, and why they are on my list.

1. Rachel Zoe
We all know by now that I worship all things Rachel Zoe. She is my all time pregnant role model, as well as role model in general. I just lucked out that she finally got pregnant and led a fabulously successful pregnant life so that I could put her on this little list! She launched a line while pregnant for goodness sake. ENVY. Not only that her full term bump was less than what I look like when I eat a big dinner. I have delicate bone structure... I can dream. Since then she has turned her little boy into a empire, designing baby clothes. Little Skyler is someone to be jealous of too. Before his first birthday he's already been to Paris Fashion Week. (hate him) and has an 80,000+ nursery. But enough about lucky little Skyler. I admire Rachel for keeping her fabulous style while pregnant, I plan on being 8 months pregnant and in 6 inch heels and (faux) fur. Oh. and vintage Chanel... Because "Chanel is everything."

2.Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham is a pregnancy pro. Mom to three boys and now a beautiful little girl, she got more graceful with every baby. Her pregnancy with Harper (who's name I love, and will probably fight Joe if we have a little girl to name her Harper) was just totally beautiful. Not only did I admire her body and style while she was pregnant... did you see that wardrobe... but I admired her and David's passion for each other. I love that David thought his wife was the most beautiful woman in the world while she was pregnant. (probably because she was) She also wore her own designs all through her pregnancy. She rocked little black dresses, skinny jeans, and leather all throughout her pregnancy, which happen to be my everyday staples too. Let's just hope if I ever get pregnant my legs stay small enough to FIT in skinny jeans. 

3. Alessandra Ambrosio

The reason I wrote this blog in the first place. Most of you in the fashion world have already seen the article about Alessandra modeling for Colcci over the weekend. Miss Ambrosio was strutting the runway proudly displaying her baby bump and she looked fabulous. This is her second baby, and the most shocking part of it all is she was pregnant while filming the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. I'm sorry. Anyone who can walk onstage in nothing but a bra and some panties pregnant and no one even can tell... You get my vote for pregnant woman of the year. Obviously she is showing a lot more nowdays, but she looks absolutely beautiful on the runway once again. This is one mommy who isn't letting her career fall to the wayside over a little baby bump. She is confident in herself and her body, and that is what sexy really is.

With that being said of course there are everyday people who we all aspire to be like, celebrities are just the references that I can make that we can all understand and relate to. But if I had to pick a future pregnancy role model I'm pretty sure it will be Dawn Cassizzi. :) All this baby talk makes me think about what my future pregnancy style might be. I'm pretty sure it will be some pretty fabulous Rachel Zoe inspired outfits... If Rachel Zoe only wore bebe everyday....

What I am Thinking While at Your Wedding....

Saturday, Joe and I went to WZYP's Bridal Fair that they put on twice a year. Joe had to go for work, so naturally I volunteered to be in the Fashion Show. I also knew this was going to be the perfect time to torture Joe with all things wedding. Which makes me chuckle on the inside because he gets SO uncomfortable. :) While walking around it brought me back to my lovely wedding consulting days, and reminded me of everything I hate in weddings. Working in the industry I have heard it all. So here are a few of my little (personal) pet peeves. Don't take it personally if this is your taste, or if your wedding was like this, I just wanted to entertain everyone with my very opinionated views of weddings.

Red Bridesmaid Dresses:

Totally acceptable... if done tastefully. NEVER acceptable if it's just because you are an Alabama fan.... Don't shove yourself in that Alabama redneck wedding stereotype.... For goodness sake. Second of all. Houndstooth is not a color. So when I used to ask brides their wedding colors they would always say Crimson and Houndstooth. I would just look at them blankly for about 20 seconds before repeating their answer like I had just been struck by lightning. OH. you mean red, black, and white.

If you dress your bridesmaids in crimson with houndstooth shoes, and have a football themed wedding cake, and play the fight song during your wedding.... you deserve at least one guest to dress like this....

And don't even think about putting a red sash on your wedding dress too.... please.

Cupcake Cake-

Stop it. Leave the cupcakes at your toddlers birthday party! If you want a cheaper approach to a wedding cake, talk to your caterer about doing a few fake layers, one layer to cut into, and then provide a sheet cake in the back. Guests won't know the difference once the cake is taken away for cutting. PLEASE stop trying to make cupcake towers into a wedding fixture. 

Ballet Flats or Flip Flops on ANYONE

I don't want to see them on you... I don't want to see them on bridesmaids. Nothing kills the elegance of a beautiful dress like flip flops. Would you wear flip flops to church? (I hope not) Then don't wear flip flops to a wedding. And the little ballet flats that look like your grandmothers house shoes aren't any better. Suck it up. Put on a real shoe. It's a wedding, if you really can't handle a heel try a very small one, or a *cringe* wedge. At least then it looks like you tried to put your outfit together.

really....

M&Ms as Favors

They were cute when they first came out. I'm so tired of your personalized M&Ms because you couldn't think of anything else.... There is so much else out there in the world of favors. OR just don't give one at all. But personally I don't want to be popping anything in my mouth with you and your new spouses name on it. If you want something personal, make it about you. Not just something with your name printed on it. I don't want your monogrammed Koozies, Candy, or anything else for that matter. I want something that makes me fondly remember your big day! Even if it's just a donation to a charity that you are both passionate about, at least it's personal!

Karaoke

Don't subject me to your drunk aunt singing "I Will Survive". Enough Said.

Dogs in the Wedding Party

Your dogs may be cute, to you. But not everyone wants your pooch at the wedding. There is hair, stench, and bathroom things to think about. Not to mention no one really wants the responsibility of puppy sitting during your big day. I don't care about a puppy ring bearer, and odds are neither will your guests. I don't care if he is in a doggy tuxedo.

There are SO many others that I could go on and on.... but here are a few. Like I said. No offense intended if you want to have or have had these in your wedding. But I am probably cringing on the inside :)