Guest Blog: What’s Her Secret Hosts

Our good friend Jen Gonzalez from What’s Her Secret gave us a hand when we hosted a Lunch Bunch with the wonderful ladies of the Junior League of Miami. Read on for styling advice and even a hostessing idea or two!

Take it Away Jen!

     Last week I had the pleasure and privilege of showing the lovely ladies of the Junior League of Miami how to remix closet staples through clever styling (more on said clever styling later). Hosted by the stylish Sheffield MacIntyre at her local Back In Style showroom–which is nothing less than a treasure trove of vintage awesomeness–I got to play with fabulous frocks and talk about what I love best, making pretty!

     And while I’ll absolutely share my styling tips (again, more on that later) I just have to show you some of Ms. Sheffield’s serious entertaining ingenuity! (Shameless self-plug: Check out my Pinterest board of the same name.) I just loved how she stayed true to her brand by seamlessly integrating various vintage finds in a modern way. And I was so inspired by her feminine and floral table settings full of nostalgic charm:

Sheffield added cheerful splashes of color using vintage melamine trays, which are also durable and inexpensive. These are ideal for spring-time entertaining outdoors. Don’t they just beg for picnics and barbecues? There are tons on Etsy, of course, and here are some modern options, too.

Idea-to-steal alert!

Isn’t this clever? A paper bag trimmed with fancy-bordered shears has all the appeal of a trendy chalkboard tray–at virtually no cost!

Another great idea to steal: Vintage frames become an elegant way to display what’s on the menu with a little paint and a marker.

As you can see, Sheffield has a great eye. Visit her showroom (or shop online!) and you’ll see how that translates to an expertly curated collection of vintage wonders.

As for those styling tips I mentioned…

You’ll have to check in for my post, Rethink the Standard. To tide you over on the fashion front, here’s what I wore. (Sorry for skimping on the outfit pics. A girl doesn’t have much time to pose when she’s working!) How cute are the backs of my shoes? Caged and gold…right? [Enthusiastic squeal here.] By the way, the shoes are Rachel Rachel Roy Marula Pumps. Found on sale, naturally.

Skirt: Leopard print on silk, vintage. (Thanks, Alyssa!) Similar: Giambattista Valli & Ann Taylor. Belt: Thrifted for next to nothing at the Red White & Blue Thrift Store. Similar: St. John & Asos. (I’m OBSESSED with gold belts. One can never have too many!) Blazer: Donna Ricco. Similar: J Brand & Asos. Ring: Asos (Thanks, Jen Z.!). Similar here & here. Necklace: La France in Ybor City (You need to go to there!) Pumps: Rachel Rachel Roy. Similiar: Stella McCartney & Jeffrey Campbell.

The Junior League of Miami aims its volunteer efforts at the empowerment of Miami’s women, children and families. To learn more about the Junior League of Miami’s current projects, click here.

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