The key to packing for your summer trip is versatile separates.  Opt for pieces that can serve many purposes, dress up or down and are easily paired with other pieces.

Miranda is a good trip essential.  Being a shirt jacket, she can stand on her own with walking shorts or cropped jeans, but for a more relaxed look Miranda can be paired with a knit tank top and worn with her zipper open.  A blogger wore her in the open style when she featured Miranda.

Brightly colored denim is a great look right now, we’ve anchored our Acne pair with Miranda in Military and softened the strong hues with a Felina lace trimmed camisole in white.

Do you already have in mind the specific pieces you’ll be packing for your summer trip?  If so, let us know what will be in your bag.

Last year on the Carissa Rose blog:

Swimwear – the emotional buy

Two years ago on the Carissa Rose blog:

Carissa Rose Silhouette Types

Three years ago on the Carissa Rose blog:

The Back Band of your Bra

Ingredients for the dressing:

• 1 c. olive oil
• 1/2 c. red wine vinegar
• appr. 2 tbl. italian seasoning – more or less to your liking
• salt and pepper and lemon squeeze to taste

Ingredients for the salad:

• 1 8 oz package feta
• 1 package shredded slaw
• 1 bunch of green onions
• a bunch of cilantro leaves

Directions:

1. Mix the dressing together and let stand for about an hour, or as much time as you have, so the flavors can meld nicely.
2. Mix the salad in a large bowl and cover with the dressing.  So simple!

What I love about this salad is that the left overs are fresh for 1-2 days after being doused with the dressing.  Most salads get too soggy to eat as a left-over.

Some brands are iconic for the colorful use of prints.  The shirt below is by Dolce & Gabana, they do prints so well. Did I buy the printed top?  No.  Yes, my eye is drawn to the prints, but my pragmatic wardrobe-building mind says no.  The cost per wear is less simply because a large scale print or dramatic colored print is so darn memorable.  People will remember you wearing it and so its’ wearing must be widely spaced in your style schedule.

What about you, are you investing in the bright floral prints of Spring 2012?

Last year on the Carissa Rose blog:
Moms and What they Mean

Two years ago on the Carissa Rose blog:
Highlight the Positive

Three years ago on the Carissa Rose blog:
They come in all Shapes and Sizes

Its from Nordstrom.com and they’re selling the jeans which are Not Your Daughter’s Jeans (noone in our group has worn them, have you?  If so, tell us what you think) and are very good looking in this picture.

You could switch this combination pairing Norah Exposed Zip Tunic in Smoke with a pair of cobalt skinnies.

I’m going to give this a try with my grey straight leg jeans and Norah in Blueberry. How are you incorporating the bright colors into your wardrobe this spring?

Last year on the Carissa Rose blog:
Mrs. O What to Wear for your Body Shape

Two years ago on the Carissa Rose blog:
The Power of your Wardrobe

Three years ago on the Carissa Rose blog:
Proportion is in the eye of the Beholder

Ingredients:

• Oreo cookie pie crust

• 1/2 gallon coffee ice cream (Blue Bell is king around here)

• ganache (recipe here).

Directions:

• soften ice cream in fridge for about 1/2 hour
• once softened, spread the ice cream into the pie crust.  One 1/2 gallon will fill two crusts.
• freeze for about an hour before spreading cooled ganache over top.

This is so refreshing in the summer months and isn’t over the top sweet since the coffee cuts into the flavor nicely.

Everywhere this season peplums are showing up on celebrities.  Most recently, Kate Middleton converted a suit into a peplum dress by buttoning the jacket over the dress and belting it.

And on the red carpet young(er) stars are wearing the peplum in a color blocked style, whether classic black and white or shocking pink.

I prefer my Miranda Peplum Shirt Jacket with trousers that are cut close to the body. Skimming ankle jeans paired with platform pumps is an on-trend look also.  She feels so ladylike, stylish and secure.  Basically, I love Miranda.

Last year on the Carissa Rose blog:
A Queen like no other
Two years ago on the Carissa Rose blog:
Standing up Tall
Three years ago on the Carissa Rose blog:
Books on Boobs

To get into the nautical feel for the up coming spring trends, Vanessa will be your best friend, pair her with a pair of full cut navy trousers and add a cute nautical touch with a red belt. Take it up a notch with a pair of red heels accessorize with some gold necklaces, and you are ready to hit the seas or the streets. You can turn any stripe into a nautical look with the right accessories.

We’re pairing Vanessa Banker Blouse (french blue stripe) with full-cut navy trousers. These are from Lafayette 148 and are available at Nordstrom’s.

Whether you tuck in the blouse, or leave her un-tucked, we’ve brought some red into the outfit with a skinny red belt. If your waist is not its smallest where the pants hit you, then leave Vanessa un-tucked and anchor this belt at your high waist. Your waist will be nipped and your legs appear to go on forever.

And finally, complete the outfit with peep-tow bow topped kitten heels. This ensemble really reminds me of Diana Vreeland. I can just see her wearing it while vacationing in the Mediterranean.
To help jump start your new nautical outfit, please enjoy 25% off all stripe styles on CarissaRose.com with code NAUTICALSTRIPE for the next two weeks, until March 27, 2012.

Last year on the Carissa Rose blog:
What does your profile say about you?
Two years ago on the Carissa Rose blog:
A cotton tank top?
Three years ago on the Carissa Rose blog:
Bra Makeover

Maybe its our aversion to shapewear, resorting to only wearing it in a do-or-die situation.  Or just a really fat day (or week, or month).

Christian Dior is a commonly known designer now, but he first became known with his New Look.

The sculpted effect of the New Look was achieved by rounded and sloping shoulders (no inset shoulder seems found in most button-down shirts and jackets), cinched waist and a full hip.  The wearer looks like she has a tiny waist (this was helped with her underpinnings).

When we first launched 3+ years ago, one of our two shirts we had was the Carissa Shirt.  We adjusted the pattern for a subsequent production run and with that adjustment the shoulder line became large, too wide for a lot of women.  But, that wide shoulder line sure made the waist look small, especially combined with the bell shaped hem of the shirt.

The Carissa Shirt has been updated with the fit issues corrected and is now Sabrina (and Olivia) and no wonder she has sold out the fastest.  She sculpts the body so marvelously, no shapewear is required.

Last year on the Carissa Rose blog:

Quizzical Contest Winner

Two years ago on the Carissa Rose blog:

Carissa Rose White Shirts on TV

Three years ago on the Carissa Rose blog:

Jump in the Water

1. To grow our customer base by introducing more women to CarissaRose.com
2. To test the market for our new line of Structured Knit Tops, they are pictured below.  Henley with woven collar, placket and cuff and V-Neck with vertical seaming on bodice.

We are really happy with the video, it was our second attempt to capture the energy of our team and essence of our story.

We value your participation in our project. Please watch the video, make a pledge and share our story with your friends and family. I bet they snicker when they watch it.

If you’re lucky enough to live in proximity of a Central Market, then you know that everything available there is beyond delectable.  We polished off the jar of Hatch Chile Pepper Dip over the course of the next week by spreading it on crackers, pasta, eggs and tortillas.

The store bought dip reminded me of a dip a friend use to bring as her stand-by party fare contribution.  Today I’m calling it Roasted Red Pepper Dip and its equal parts delicious and versatile.

ingredients:

• 8 0z cream cheese
• 1 can rotel 

directions:

• put both ingredients in a heavy bottom sauce pan
• heat over low heat until combined into a smooth dip consistency (no lumps of cream cheese)

You can jazz up Roasted Red Pepper Dip with tobasco, garlic or cayenne pepper.  Even add some onions or jalapenos.  Your guests will love it and wonder what you put it in to make such a sultry and seductively savory dip!