Happy Halloween - The 80's Are Back!

 Last night's Halloween party was a blast, especially since this is the only time of year I get to wear all my favorite things at once and still be fashionable.  Need a last minute costume idea?  Grab your favorite fashion finds, add a little sparkle (a cool wig helps too) and you're set.  Aren't the 80's back anyway?  

OR, put all your prints together and add a mask (only $2.50)...PURRRFECT!

Charm City Style - Sequins Day to Night

Adding a little sparkle somehow always seems to take a simple day outfit into evening with little effort.  This look was perfect for chilly temperatures in the morning, a quick trip to the dentist, design projects at the studio, followed by dinner with friends at night!

Leggings Saks Fifth Ave, Michael Kors sequined tunic, watch and fringed handbag, gold cuff (gift from friend), gold leather bracelet found at Sassanova, Cynthia Rowley scarf, Vince Camuto black leather boots, Tory Burch sunglasses, Wicked by Essie nails

Happy Weekend!

On our weekend agenda...Spending some much needed time at the barn (with our favorite Morgan mare) and a run through the field ourselves.  Fancy skirt and riding boots included.  

xo, stephanie

Charm City Style - Orange Crush

For the past few weeks I have been obsessing over this delicious color palette (much more Miami than Maryland I realize) however I thought I too would try it on for size...

 

Ali Ro dress (found at Cupcake), gold sequined belt (vintage from my grandmother), Michael Kors Runway Gold Watch, Stella & Dot Penelope necklace and Devi gold bangles, turquoise and gold bracelet (vintage), BCBG snakeskin heels, Michael Kors Berkley Clutch (gold), Wicked by Essie nails

Charm City Style - Painted Red

Another busy day filled with meetings (in preparation for next week's tablescape shoot), but we couldn't resist snapping a few shots while the leaves were still falling...

W118 by Walter Baker necktie blouse (similar style here), Vera Wang wide leg denim, J.Crew leopard belt, Michael Kors watch, Stella & Dot Devi Bangles, leather & gold bracelet from Sassanova, 

Foley & Corinna handbag (similar one here), sand dollar charm (a gift from my mother), 

key charm, J.Crew tall leather boots

October GIVE.A.WAY - kate spade new york

Always a fan of kate spade and their timeless example of being a true brand of COLOR.  This year we delighted in their partnership with Bella Foster as her charming and whimsical illustrations (her blog is cool too) captured some of the company's "favorite things."  This week we are giving away not one but THREE of these...

Want to see which design is inside?  "Like" us on Facebook OR post a comment on our BLOG 

and be ENTERED TO WIN! 

*Winners posted on our FB FAN page by week's end...Good luck!

GIRL ABOUT TOWN - L.O.V.E. My Job!

Yesterday was yet another busy day...pulling clothes for our upcoming holiday cover shoot with The Baltimore Sun.  So many pretty pieces and an excuse to wear fur and sequins to work!  I'll take one of each please...

P.S.  I still pinch myself sometimes and feel so fortunate to do what I love everyday and get paid to do it.  Am grateful to my mother especially...who (when I didn't make the cheerleading team in middle school), tucked a handwritten note into my lunch bag the day after try outs saying...

"Keep practicing and always keep trying to reach the goals you want."

Thanks, Mom.  It is working...xo, stephanie 

Versace for H&M

Move over Missoni for Target, there's another Italian "label for less" in town.  Yes, the rumors are true...Versace is designing a line for H&M! The collections November 19th debut (sneak peek here) is just under a month away and we can't wait to get our hands on a few of the gorgeous offerings. Heavy on prints and filled with a rock-n-roll edge, (certain pieces going for as much as $399), the clothes and accessories won't come with a typical H&M price tag. Still, the collection will cost you a fraction of the brands retail namesake. Check out a few of our faves...



Donatella Versace and H&M Creative Advisor Margareta Van Den Bosch







For those who are afraid that the studded, black leather pieces are a little too much for them, these bright dresses are great options too. The gold studs add interest and toughen things up a bit, but the cheery colors keep things girly.

At just $29.95, this fun scarf is a great way to get a piece of the collection without spending a fortune. Previous designer collections have been known to sell out fast so be sure to line up early. Which pieces do you have your eye on?

Color Splash

After a weekend full of trips to the fabric store (purchased three yards of gorgeous cream Chanel), DIY projects, and dinner with friends, we are back in the studio prepping for the week ahead.  Last week we began pulling our design concepts together for an upcoming bridal shoot for Baltimore BRIDE magazine and this week we will be adding a few more detailed layers.  We have also been swooning over Dean + Quinn's Spring 2012 Collection, think his silhouettes are gorgeous, and decided to use this color palette as the starting point of our gorgeous tablescape design.  We can't give away too many details just yet, but the shoot is in partnership with our friends at Charm City Cakes (yes, they are super cool AND have a new location on the West Coast!)...But let's just say this dreamy tablescape will certainly be good enough to eat!

Fashion for the Home - The cool turquoise paired with bright orange, crisp white and a touch of black feels tropical, fresh and modern.  Translating this bold color combo into the home would be absolutely divine.  Hand me a paint brush, please!

Green with Envy

Lately (and largely in part to the gorgeous spring 2012 collections that have been streaming down the runways), I have been drawn to everything green and everything leopard.  With that being said, I thought I would try combining the two myself...

                              * Image by Michael Clark at The Tremont Grand in Baltimore

Dress by Tracy Reese
Shoes, Vince Camuto

Welcome Christina! - GIRL ABOUT TOWN Guest Blogger - Country Weekend Get-A-Way

One day this week while reading the daily blogs, newspaper headlines and top MSN stories, I came across this delightful home covered in ivy.  Now, they say that ivy is detrimental to stone or brick (or whatever your home is made out of), but I just don’t care.  To me, nothing looks more inviting than ivy crawling up the side of a storybook home.  Where do you think this magical place is located?  I say it’s tucked somewhere in the English countryside where the closest general store is several miles away.  Wherever it is, I want to vacation there for a week.  Here are a few favorite finds I would pack for my relaxing country adventure...

         

                Essential Riding Pants                  Classic Wellies                                 Cozy Sweater

And I can't forget about this Secret Garden tote for fresh flower gathering and a cheese making kit – it is, after all, the English countryside.

Cheers,

Christina

An Illustrated Life

Girls About Town (from left to right): Lisa (my best Chica), Stephanie, and Inslee

For the past few years I have been buying my best girlfriends (and myself of course) a fashion calendar by one of my very favorite illustrators, Inslee by Design. Her calendar sits on my desk here at the office and on the first of each month I am always excited to see the details in the new month's drawing.  I met Inslee in 2008 when her notecards were featured in People StyleWatch Magazine. She was a student at Washington & Lee at the time and when I approached her about illustrating a logo for my design business she gladly accepted.  The image she created has been our company brand since that time and I have had the pleasure of working with her on several projects over the years.

In January of this year I was beyond excited (and a little overwhelmed) to open a design studio for Bradshaw Styling in Baltimore.  I asked my friend and talented photographer, Jennifer McMenamin, to take a picture of me in the new space.  I wanted to turn that portrait into an illustration that I could then use on personalized "from the desk of" notecards and this is what Inslee created...I couldn't have been more thrilled!

To see more of Inslee's work visit her online and don't forget to add her 2012 calendar to your holiday wish list.  It is already on ours!

xo, stephanie

Holiday Shopping Sneak Peek

 

Earlier this week I got a call from one of our favorite fashion editors asking us to help put together their Holiday Style Guide ("shopping for a difficult-to-buy-for family") and of course we accepted the challenge. With a November 1, 2011 deadline fast approaching we have been pouring over department store look books, fashion blogs, and of course the pages of our favorite interior magazines.

Neiman Marcus never disappoints and we found our shopping list getting a little longer...L.O.V.E. this for mom. Ashley (design assistant at Bradshaw Styling) is drooling over this little velvet number and has declared this the perfect LBD. As for me, I'll take these please...
xo, stephanie


P.S. Check back in early December for the GIRL ABOUT TOWN Holiday Style Guide!

Iconic Anniversary

Did you know that fifty years ago this month (on October 5, 1961 to be exact), one of Hollywood's most iconic films was released?  Breakfast at Tiffany's remains a modern family favorite while her fashion choices, both on screen and off, remain timeless and unforgettable.  Thank you, Audrey, for showing us what true glamour is. 


This has always been one of my favorites...
xo, stephanie

Halloween Styling

I always love this time of year...with gorgeous fall colors, festive decorations, and an excuse to put on a creative costume I couldn't be more excited!

While Halloween decor is always fun (and often spooky), there is no reason why it can't be chic and glamorous too! Interested in how-to? The creative team at Bradshaw Styling was up bright and early this morning for a WBFF FOX 45 segment on "Halloween Styling."

Inspired by these images, our interns put together this storyboard.

We had so much fun creating fashionable Halloween decor and hope it inspires you as much as it inspires us. We chose a color palette of orange, black, and gold...of course we wanted to add glitz and glam to our theme.

Here, I discuss decorating tips with our host, Patrice. This fabulous white linen found at Table Toppers in Baltimore provided the perfect textured backdrop for our festive spread.

Styling Tip #1: Think outside the pumpkin.  Use push pins to create different designs
on your pumpkin like this chevron pattern...It is a lot less messy than using a knife!

Style Tip #2: Everything looks better in glitter! Select an assortment of small pumpkins. We chose to spray paint some of these gold, applied glue and sprinkled on some glitter.
A perfect addition to your next dinner party centerpiece!

 These fun paper props by Say Cheese Paper Props are adorable and we are 

still swooning over the gorgeous florals by our lovely friends at Crimson and Clover in Roland Park. 

Styling Tip #3: Details, details, details.  Notice the gold spiders tucked in the flowers? We spray painted spider rings gold and tucked them into our cupcakes for a spooky touch.
You can even add them to your costume later!

Don't these cupcakes from Sweet Bakery Baltimore look delicious? 

(We made friends with the FOX 45 crew by leaving them behind)! 

And look who stopped by to say hello after our segment...We always enjoy seeing the lovely weather lady, Ms. Candace Dold!

MANY thanks to all of our vendor partners.  We couldn't have done it without you!

Post a comment on the Bradshaw Styling Facebook Page about this blog entry and 

be entered to win one of our jewel box treats.  The winner will be announced by week's end!