How to Shop Like a Globe-Trotting Pro

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friends! Today’s guest post is from Roshan Roghani, Vice President of the luxury body care line Camille Beckman. I first met Roshan a couple years ago, when Camille Beckman hosted a holiday pop-up shop inside Boise Towne Square. As a fashion blogger, I love to attend store openings and report on the cool things I find there, but honestly the greatest thing I found that day was a blossoming friendship with one of the nicest, most authentic, and seriously brilliant young women I have ever met.

Roshan is not just the VP of a body care company, she is a financial genius, and has taken Camille Beckman from a beloved American brand (founded by her mother Susan Camille), to an iconic beauty empire adored by local ladies and Hollywood celebrities alike, across all age and lifestyle demographics. How does she balance it all? Her mantra of Gratitude permeates every decision; gratefulness for the love and support of family, friends, and a fiance with a heart of gold. But deeper still is her intrinsic love of earth, humanity, and our connectedness. It’s larger than each of us, this petite powerhouse will tell you. And trust me, you should listen.

Despite a closet full of Chanel, Burberry, Céline, Cavalli, and a jet-set life of globe-trotting and hob-nobbing with the couture elite, Roshan is a deep soul who effortlessly walks a tightrope between humble citizen of earth and corporate power player. She’s purposefully scaled back the trappings of wealth and trend-following, and has chosen a path of “investment shopping” that I deeply admire, which means making calculated choices about the things she accumulates, based on their personal value to her.

How does she determine that value, in-the-moment and for the long run? Here, in Roshan’s words, are her tips for investment shopping:

The first thing you must ask yourself is, Do you LOVE it? You know within five seconds of putting something on if you love it. If not, don’t even allow it to be a consideration. When we have to convince ourselves to like something, we rarely end up wearing it.

Does it make you better? A lot of us hold on to things because we feel they have some value that we can’t quite place. If you don’t know why something is important to you, it’s time to get rid of it. We are often unconscious of how goods make us feel, and so we collect things to fill a void. I know I did; it’s very common and not something to be ashamed of. Nothing will make you happier than realizing this and letting things go. You can express yourself much more uniquely with a small closet of things that you truly love than a closet full of things you never wear. Things don’t make us better, but the wrong things CAN drag us down.

Do you use it? Simple. We hold onto things we don’t use waiting for that ONE occasion that rarely or never comes. We all need to learn to be okay with letting go with joy.

Value. No thing has true value because we live in a world that equates the value of something to a piece of paper. Value should not equate to a dollar sign, but rather what you feel for something in your heart. I have things from Chanel and from street vendors that are of equal value to me; there is no hierarchy. We need to stop buying to fill the void and instead buy things we love, and appreciate them in a way that does not use them to determine who we are. Your clothes are not a reflection of what’s inside, but rather an expression of what we’d like people to see. Be comfortable in yourself and have love for everyone around you; that’s all that truly matters.

Your clothes are not a reflection of what’s inside, but rather an expression of what we’d like people to see. Be comfortable in yourself and have love for everyone around you; that’s all that truly matters.

With gratitude,

Roshan Roghani
VP, Camille Beckman Companies

Follow Roshan on Instagram for Work, Creativity, and Fashion inspiration!

Nordstrom Ups the Ante on the Latest Plaid Styles for Fall!

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something about the return of Fall, when we feel that crisp morning air and hear school bells ring, that makes us reach for a cup of hot chocolate and our favorite cozy plaid pieces to snuggle up with! Plaid is timeless and classic, making it a great wardrobe staple you can pull out again and again, as the years pass. Above is my favorite plaid skirt: it’s a vintage piece from Nordstrom that I found at a local resale store! I love the unconventional color combo, and the cozy soft wool. It reminds me of my hometown, Seattle, with its’ misty fall mornings and Starbucks stands on every corner…

When Nordstrom’s August 2014 Catalog arrived in my mailbox, I wasn’t surprised to see a plethora of plaid styles throughout the pages. What did surprise me, however, is all the cool and unexpected ways Nordy’s upped the ante on this favorite fall staple! Oh my goodness, how hot and fun are these looks?? I just had to share them with you!

Here are some inspiring Fall Looks, from their August 2014 Catalog. Enjoy!

Which one is your favorite? Will you be rocking plaid this fall? Tell me your thoughts in the comment section below!

rag & bone/JEANS “The Leeds” Plaid Shirt, $264 / rag & bone/JEANS High Rise Skinny Stretch Jeans, $185

ACE Delivery Shirt, $68 / Tube Skirt, $58

TREASURE & BOND Sweatshirt, $68 / Hinge Skort, $68

TREASURE & BOND Sweater, $78 / Plaid Shirt / Boyfriend Jeans, $88

HUE Plaid Leggings, $48 / Pretty Polly Tartan Tights, $25

SPLENDID Aston Flannel Shirt, $128 / PAIGE Verdugo Ankle Jeans, $169

BOBEAU Plaid-Front Sweatshirt, $54 / NYDJ Ami Skinny Jeans, $114

RENEE’S ACCESSORIES Oversized Plaid Scarf, $38

AUGUST HAT Home Run Baseball Cap, $32

BOBEAU Lace Border Print Dress, $58

DR. MARTENS Alexandra Boot, $139.95 / STEVE MADDEN Pasa Work Boot, $109.95

BARGAIN HUNTERS: Most of these brands and looks can be found at a discount at your local Nordstrom Rack, also!!! Click here to find the Rack nearest to you.

Blogger Abroad: Vacation Style in an Ancient Castle

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Fortress, Wadern, Germany / Tank and Shorts: Express

I learned something new about myself this week: I’m a total history nerd. Seriously, I hadn’t realized it before, but being back in Germany, surrounded by buildings, towns, & monuments that are over 1,000 years old impacted me so deeply, I felt like a 5 year old girl in Disneyland! There is something so amazing to me – mystical, almost – to walk the same ground where families lived, ate, fought, slept… Real individuals, going about their days just like we do, but in a time so distant, it’s difficult to truly imagine.

This fortress was built around 1290AD, on top of even older existing structures. High atop the hills of Wadern, Germany, the breathtaking view stretches for miles in every direction. Once upon a time, this fortress was amazing. Watch my video for a 360 view of the entire thing!

Sunglasses: Kate Spade courtesy of Boise Mountain Eyewear

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Shorts: Express / Shoes: ALDO (on sale here now!)

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The Jeans I’ll Be Wearing All Over Europe

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Aubrey Brower / Makeup: Delila Gutierrez / Hair: Erin Swenson of Eclectic Style

So here’s a funny thing you might not know about me: I don’t like jeans. I get that they’re a wardrobe staple, and the biggest fashion trend since the 1960’s… But I would rather wear a dress, or a tunic & leggings, any day. Jeans have always felt stiff and restrictive to me! Of course, some of that distaste could be related to my inability to find jeans that actually fit me well. My legs are proportionately long for my body, so I usually have to go up a size to find jeans that aren’t too short, and then of course they just kind of fall off… And I’m back to dresses, lol!

Recently, denim company French Dressing Jeans contacted me about reviewing a NEW line of jeans they are launching in the USA for the first time, called LOVE Premium Denim. Utilizing Lycra and what they call “Hold-You-In” Technology, their jeans come in four different curve-conscious fits, and are designed to “flatten the tummy and lift the behind.” I was skeptical, I have to admit, but sent them my sizing info and waited.

A beautiful package arrived in the mail a few days later: my new LOVE Premium Denim “Kylie” skinny jeans, designed with a higher rise for us ladies with narrower hips, so they stay up and don’t sag down in the bootie. (Also available are the Suzanne, the Olivia, and the Jegging.) I immediately loved the softness of these jeans, and the cleverly-cut lines. See those vertical seams on the legs? Those are a visual trick of the eye that elongate and slenderize your figure!

Ok, consider me impressed… But what about the fit?

Slipping into my Kylie jeans felt very much like putting on a pair of leggings; soft, stretchy, and surprisingly comfortable! And the cherry on top: these babies are looooong! Yeah, definitely NOT putting them in the dryer, lol; they’re the perfect length. I’ve never been able to wear skinny jeans that had that little “scrunch” at the bottom, over my shoes! Seriously, I might admit that I squealed in delight, but don’t tell anyone.

Friday morning I leave for an amazing European adventure. I can’t wait to see what fashions are trending “across the pond!” My suitcase is packed, and I’m ready to go… With my new favorite jeans: Kylie skinnies that go with e v e r y t h i n g!!! Thank you for the opportunity to change my mind about jeans, LOVE Premium Denim! LOVE you right back.

XOXO,