CC Loves... Chic Stocking Stuffers!

Darlings, what better time than the holidays to spoil the ones you love (and yourself!) with little luxuries? CC shares her Top Ten tiny yet terrific treasures:

Bottega Veneta playing cards in a customizable leather case, at bottegaveneta.com.

Burberry Check wool earmuffs, at burberry.com.

Chanel La Creme Main, nourish, soften and illuminate hands, at chanel.com.

Givenchy Padlock keyring in brass, at givenchy.com.

Gucci interlocking wide open band ring in sterling silver,  at gucci.com.

Miu Miu wool and cashmere socks, at miumiu.com.

Saint Laurent Cassandre Matelassé Carré mini cube bag in lambskin, at ysl.com.

Tiffany Large Coffee Cups in bone china, at tiffany.com.

Tom Ford  Ébène Fumé Candle Bougie, an amber woody scent with notes of palo santo and leather, at tomfordbeauty.com.

Valentino Beauty Liquirosso 2 in 1 lip & blush matte color in shade 302R Pink is Punk, at valentino-beauty.us.
Which of these little luxuries do you ❤?
Happy holidays, darlings!
xoxox,
CC

Beat the Heat!

Thanks to Mai Vu of Very New York for this chic and oh-so-relevant story!

 Tips on Staying Cool (and Green) in the Summer Heat:

This summer has been a scorcher all over the country and extreme heat waves were felt from the Gulf Coast all the way to the Pacific Northwest. How do you stay cool while still being environmentally conscious and at the same time keeping your electricity costs low? We chat with Marisa Butler, environmental activist, financial advisor, and current title holder of the Miss Earth USA 2021 pageant. As someone who has dedicated her life and work to saving the planet, and also someone who lives in the very sunny state of California, Marisa was able to give us some really helpful advice on how to stay cool while going green at the same time.

Marisa Butler - Miss Earth USA 2021. Photo credit: Eva Flis

 

“The first thing I would recommend,” says Marisa, “is to check that your house or apartment is running as efficiently as possible.” This means putting up blinds or curtains to block the hot rays of the sun, cleaning out the filter in your AC, and swapping out incandescent lights for cooler and energy efficient LED lights. And just like we do to keep the cold out during the winter months, it’s helpful to check your place for any drafts and sealing leaks to prevent the cool air from escaping.

 

Another obvious tip is to use fans to cool yourself and get air to circulate. Fans use less electricity than air conditioners and can help you dry off sweat which keeps your body cool. Marisa does warn that if you live in areas of extreme heat, like Arizona or Palm Springs, that using a fan will actually make your body hotter since it is blowing air with temperatures higher than your body temperature. Anything over 100 degrees and it’s actually counterproductive.

 

A really easy way to stay cool if you have access is to take a dip in the pool. The water helps to remove heat from our skin and feels instantly cool to the touch. Even a walk by a beach, lake or stream is helpful. “I am almost always found at the dog beach at least once a week with my rescue dog Milo,” says Marisa, “I also bring a trash bag to pick up litter along the way. It’s the little things that count.”

 

For those without access to a pool or water source, an alternative way to get relief from the heat is to access public spaces. “You can go to a coffee shop to work, or even hit up the local mall for some relief and to get steps in. Remember to bring your reusable water bottle to stay hydrated if you’re doing any activity though.” says Marisa. These public spaces are already air conditioned, and you can turn off yours while away. It’s one of the most effective and eco ways to stay cool.

 

And lastly, Marisa recommends using plants to help regulate temperatures around your house. Trees can offer shade that keep out the sunlight and house plants can also cool their surroundings by up to nine degrees. Through a process called transpiration, they act as natural air conditioners that absorb water and therefore heat. Plants can also be placed by windows to absorb and block sunlight from coming into your home. What a great reason to start the garden tower or living plant wall that you’ve been wanting to do.

How do you stay cool on these sweltering summer days, darlings?

xoxox,

CC

CC Loves... Lono Sneakers!

 Darlings, CC is so excited to introduce you to LONO, a sockless, stylish, sustainable sneaker that feels amazing while benefiting the environment! 

LONO uses eco-conscious materials such as tree fiber, bamboo, algae and castor beans to create a quick-drying, breathable and odor-resistant shoe that is super stylish!

You can read more about LONO and check out their Kickstarter campaign here. CC owns a prototype and can assure you that these sneaks are fabulously fashionable and super comfy! Plus, the insole is machine washable!

LONO sneakers come in an array of lovely hues and will be available for purchase in May of 2021. CC will circle back after the launch with the website and other details, darlings! Hope you will support the brand, as CC does!

xoxox,

CC

CC Loves... Saia Yoga Mat Bags!

Darlings, as a fashionista and a yoga instructor, CC is super excited to introduce you to Saia yoga mat carriers! Saia, a female-owned company based in the UK, just launched in January of 2020 and it's already a celeb go-to! The Saia signature Emmeline yoga mat bag, finely crafted in the highest quality vegan leather with a feminine design to complement any outfit, comes in several chic shades, including CC's fave, Cherry Blossom, pictured below.

The front turn-lock opens to reveal a faux suede interior with adjustable inner straps that secure your yoga mat in place. It hosts a convenient pocket to fit your daily essentials so you can leave your home without wrestling with your handbag. The detachable cross-body strap allows for hands-free styling with an optional shoulder padding that offers the right amount of support and comfort.

Each pretty piece is crafted impeccably and finished with gold-plated hardware for a luxurious look and feel. Best of all, Saia donates 5% of all profits to female education in developing countries. Beauty and heart? A winning combo! Be sure to treat yourself and your yogi pals to one of these exquisite bags this holiday season!

Fantastic news! Saia is offering Couture Carrie readers an exclusive 15% discount! Simply use code CAT15 at checkout. Happy shopping!

Be sure to follow @saialondon on Instagram so you can keep up with all the gorgeousness!

xoxox,
CC

P.S. Special "thank you"s to (a) Kristina, owner and founder of Saia, and also (b) CC's fabulous friend Houda, who gifted CC one of these beautiful bags for her birthday!

CC Loves... This Book!

 

Darlings, CC is absolutely smitten with Trina Turk's latest book, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the designer's fabulous fashion and lifestyle brand! In addition to being a beautiful coffee-table tome, this 244-page hardcover book is packed with gorgeous color photos and delightful nuggets about Trina's sources of inspiration. 

Available at chroniclebooks.com.

Order a few copies, darlings, as you will definitely want to gift this lovely volume to your fashionable friends!

xoxox,

CC

Fab Fitness Attire

Darlings, as a fashionista and a fitness instructor, CC is super excited to introduce you to Sun Lovin' Roots, an eco-friendly athleisure line featuring playful prints and fun messages!

And Sun Lovin' Roots is giving back to the community during these challenging times, donating one face mask for every three purchased! 

All items at sunlovinroots.com.

These gorgeous leggings are sweat-wicking, squat-proof, and dryer-safe!

Sun Lovin' Roots leggings come in lots of fabulous prints, and you can even add a matching sports bra!

All of the Sun Lovin' Roots pieces have a hang tag with a smoothie recipe, to "give your body what it needs to thrive and flourish."  CC absolutely loves this message!

CC has a pair of these Sun Lovin' Roots leggings and they are super comfy and cute... perfect for yoga, Pilates, barre or WFH! Treat yourself to a pair at sunlovinroots.com, and be sure to follow @sunlovinroots on Instagram!

xoxox,

CC

P.S. A special thank you to Alex at Team Chic Execs for all the vital info and for hooking CC up with a fab pair of leggings to review!

If Money Were No Object...

Darlings, if you had unlimited funds, how would you use them?

Here's what CC would buy/do if money were no object!

Regular jaunts to NYC.

A chartered sail in the Caribbean.

A divinely decadent dinner out once a week.

A two week vacation in the Maldives.

An awesome Audi A4 convertible.

Designer Duds! 

Balmain stitched wool-paneled leather mini dress, at net-a-porter.com.

Luxurious lingerie like this Bordelle Angela dress, at bordelle.co.uk.

My Yoga Teacher Certification from Kripalu.

A week at Canyon Ranch in Miami Beach, once a year.

Some luxe luggage.

The services of a custom tailor to alter everything in my wardrobe so that it fits perfectly.

Darlings, what would you splurge on if you had the means?

Consider yourselves tagged!

xoxox,

CC

CC Loves...

Darlings, its' time to resurrect the (seemingly long defunct) tag! Here are some of the things that CC loves...

What shows/clothes/foods/sports/books etc. are you smitten with? CC is tagging all of her fellow fashionistas to post their loves!

Absolutely Fabulous! Other favorite shows include Mad Men, Sons of Anarchy, 30 Rock, Scandal and the original Beverly Hills, 90210!

AcroYoga, Pilates and Barre ~ that's CC on the lower left of that triple down dog!

Bikinis. CC has over 100, including this Sauvage Swimwear Allure bikini, at sauvagewear.com.

Blueberry pancakes. CC's dad used to make them from scratch when she was a little girl :)

Bold beauty, especially gorgeous glosses.

Chic cocktails, particularly vodka martinis with blue cheese stuffed olives.

Cool cupcakes. CC's faves are red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting... Yum!

Haute hats; oversized fedora from riverisland.com.

NYC, where CC lived for six years when she was a public high school Spanish teacher.

Pretty party dresses.

 Three Floor Blue Noise Dress ~ CC just snapped up on sale at asos.com.

Setting personal goals and attaining them; CC ran her first half marathon in October!

The New York Times progressive crossword puzzle, especially on Thursdays... it's challenging but not impossible.

What do you love, darlings?

Can't wait to see your posts!

xoxox,

CC

Wonderful Workout Wear: Style Firm

Darlings, CC is so excited to introduce you to Style Firm, a fabulous line of workout gear made in sunny Los Angeles, California.  The technology is amazing ~ here's a bit about the collection from the website:

Look better before you even start your workout with this revolutionary collection of active wear.

True performance wear with a twist - our signature compression mesh, which lines each piece, slims the thighs, lifts the butt, and flattens the tummy.

Stylish enough to be considered your "LBD" (little black dress) of workout wear, and constructed to lift, smooth and support, Style Firm Los Angeles makes you instantly look like the best version of you, both in and out of the gym.

All items at stylefirmclothing.com.

Absolute Boot Cut Pants.

CC has and absolutely adores... perfect for everything from yoga to Pilates to running to spinning.

Super comfy, ultra-flattering, and high performance!

Brisk Short.

Competitor Tight.

Modern Long Jacket.

Shelter Hoodie.

Swagger Capri.

Tell CC, darlings, will you be trying Style Firm workout gear?

CC sure hopes so!

xoxox,

CC

P.S.  Be sure to like Style Firm on Facebook and follow Style Firm on Twitter so you can keep up with all the fabulous exercise apparel!