Style

Back in January, I wrote about my first Rocksbox and how this subscription box works. Since then, I’ve received 4 more boxes and this has become one of my favorite subscription boxes to receive! I don’t own many pieces of jewelry and my taste changes regularly, so Rocksbox is great because it allows me to select and try different jewelry. Here are some pros and cons:

Pros:

• Ability to add pieces to a wishlist, and each month at least one of those pieces will be sent
• Extremely fast delivery. For example, when I send a box back, as soon as the tracker gets scanned, Rocksbox will immediately send a new box out. It’s possible to get 2-3 boxes in one month!
• $10 credit added to the account each month (expires in a month so you cannot keep accruing)
• Amazing customer service
• Super convenient

Cons:

• Only receives 3 pieces per box. This may be plenty to some people, but I would love to receive 5-10 pieces in a box because it’ll allow me to layer and combine
• The inventory seems to be from past season because whenever I search online for specific pieces, they are usually out of stock or replaced by new colors, especially the Kendra Scott pieces
• Limited brands. I think there are only a handful of brands, and only a couple well-known ones. I wish it carries more brands and variety
• The discount to purchase jewelry is not great–about $10. This amounts to ~15% off. Since all of these pieces have been worn by other people, I would rather spend an additional $10 to purchase it brand new from another retailer

Here are the three pieces I received this month and the cost to purchase:

• Perry Street Patrice Necklace $54 – Gorgeous statement necklace and I love the lilac stones. I don’t own any statement pieces, so it was fun to try this out
• Gorjana Taner Bar Mini Studs in Silver $32 – Pretty stud but I already have something similar
• Kendra Scott Elisa Silver Necklace in Platinum Drusy $52 – Love love love this! I wore this almost every day and thought about purchasing this from Rocksbox since it was slightly discounted and I have a $10 credit. However, there were some imperfection on the stone and I prefer to purchase this new, so I purchased a rose gold piece directly from Nordstrom

If you want to give Rocksbox a try, you can use coupon code emilybff1121 to receive a free month!

Dress: Eliza J // Shoes: Aldo (now 33% off!) // Purse: Louis Vuitton // Sunglasses: Versace 

I just got back from a wedding in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. It was a nice short break from school and Chicago winter. Since the wedding was on the beach at the Hard Rock Hotel, most of us stayed at the resort. It was one of my first vacations where I did not get a chance to explore the town since the resort was all-inclusive with lots of activities and restaurants. However, we went on a boat ride on our second day and got to see a little bit more. Punta Cana is absolutely stunning with beautiful white sand and blue ocean!

Since this was my first beach wedding, I did quite a bit of online research on what to wear. In most cases, the outfit cannot be too casual or overly formal. Beach weddings tend to be casual, but that doesn’t mean shorts and flip flops unless instructed by the bride and groom. Certain fabric will work better, for example satin or silk would look odd or too formal at a day-time beach wedding. Since it’s on the beach with the ocean in the background, I thought a maxi dress would be perfect because it’s romantic and flowy. This Eliza J dress immediately caught my eyes–it came a bit too long so I had it altered before the wedding. I would recommend wearing flat sandals since heels and wedges are hard to walk on and annoying when you get sand all over it.

I’m back in Chicago with two more weeks left of winter quarter. Life is crazy busy right now and I just need to survive the next two weeks! I am looking forward to Spring!

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Last month I wrote about my first shipment from Rocksbox. You can read about the company and how it works here. You can also try it for free with coupon code ditchtheheelsxoxo

I received my second box last week and I love all the pieces because I tend to wear dainty jewelry more often. The first item is a Sophie Harper Pave Dagger Pendant necklace in gold. It has very small cubic zirconia and goes perfectly with many outfits. At first glance, the Gorjana Joplin Bracelet in gold doesn’t look that special, but I love the look when it’s worn. The three strands and the tassel in the end are very beautiful. The House of Harlow 1960 Meteora Stud Set in gold goes with both the necklace and bracelet. I love the complementary pieces in this month’s box!

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Happy Friday! I received my 10th fix from Stitch Fix a couple days ago. Yes, the lighting on the pictures above look different because the sun set after I changed out of my first outfit! What a difference that makes, and that’s why it’s so difficult taking pictures during the winter months! Anyways, Stitch Fix is a personal styling service and I receive a box from them every other month. You pay a $20 styling fee, but that is credited back if you keep at least one item. You pay only what you decide to keep. If you decide to keep all the items, you will receive a 25% off the entire purchase. Here is my review of this month’s box and my decisions:

MAK Nadira Pullover Sweater $58
When I first pulled this from the box, I thought “Another black sweater?? I have like 5 of these already.” But I fell in love after I put it on. It’s super soft and very flattering. The knitting is very well done and I love the little holes. I also thought the pricing was very reasonable.
Decision: Keep

Bay to Baubles Jay Tassel Pendant Necklace $34
This is a fun, stunning necklace. I was on the fence about whether to keep it. Although I love it, I didn’t think I’d wear it often. I was worried about the quality and thought it might go bad after a year. I personally would rather spend more money on quality jewelry that will last years and years.
Decision: Return

Market & Spruce Chaimbers Cowl Neck Knit Top $48
The fit was great and it’s an easy piece to style, but it didn’t really stand out to me.
Decision: Return

Papermoon Brianna Aline Skirt $68
Fun color and perfect fit, but I didn’t love it. It also wrinkles easily and I’m not a fan of the slit in the front!
Decision: Return

Market & Spruce Wilco Solid Quilted Vest $68
Super soft and lightweight, but I already have 3 vests at home that I never wear. I also thought the pockets were strange–it’s super uncomfortable when I put my hands in from the top and it looks unnatural. Why would they make the pockets like this?!?!
Decision: Return

I decided to only keep one item from my box. After deducting the styling credit, I had to pay an additional $38. I love the sweater and wore it already! I also went into my online profile and updated the price points on item pieces I want to receive. As mentioned above, I prefer higher quality jewelry, so I increased my price preference for that. I also increased the price preference for dresses and left a note for my stylist to send dresses in my next box since I’m counting down to Spring/Summer!

It was 20 degrees F / -7 degrees C out today so I almost froze going outside for this picture. The struggle is real for fashion bloggers in cold climate!

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I recently received my first Rocksbox and I’m excited to share a coupon code with you so you can get your first month free. Just go to rocksbox.com and use coupon code ditchtheheelsxoxo

What is Rocksbox?

• Rocksbox is a premium jewelry subscription that carries upscale brands such as Kendra Scott and Gorjana
• For $19/month, you will receive 3 pieces of jewelry valued at ~$200 and you can swap them out any time you want
• You can add items to your wishlist and each month you will receive at least one item from your wishlist
• Each month, your account will be credited $10 to spend toward jewelry. If you fall in love with a piece of jewelry in your box and would like to purchase it at a discounted price, you can apply this credit toward the purchase
• Shipping is free and prepaid

January Rocksbox – My First Box!

The sign-up process was extremely easy and I added several pieces to my wishlist. I received my first box about a week later. I was pleased with the box and packaging. Here are the items I receive and my thoughts:

• Kendra Scott Danielle Earrings in Rose Quartz – Extremely pretty but a little too big. I’m not used to big earrings and couldn’t tell the size based on the online picture
• Slate Nikki Necklace – I love the length and it was very easy to pair with different outfits
• Perry Street Crystal X Ring – My favorite piece from the box! Beautiful and goes with everything

I wore the pieces for a week and debated whether to keep the ring or not. In the end, I sent all three back because it was only my first box and I wanted to see a few more pieces. If I change my mind about the ring, I can always add it to my wishlist and get it back again to purchase.

I really like this subscription service because I don’t have many jewelry at home and this is a great way for me to learn what I like and to try out different pieces. I was extremely please with my first box and I cannot wait to receive my second one. If you want to give this a try, you can get your first month free with the coupon code ditchtheheelsxoxo

Let me know what you think of Rocksbox!

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Sweater: Madewell (similiar 1, 2) // Headband: Echo // Gloves: Club Monaco (final sale) // Pants: Madewell (final sale) // Boots: UGG 

Yes. It is cold out. The temperature is pretty much a daily conversation at school these days. I feel bad for the classmates experiencing extremely cold temperature for the first time. Growing up in Minnesota has taught me a thing or two about surviving long cold winters. Here are a couple of tips:

• Hibernate! Plan your schedule strategically to limit the amount of outside exposure. This quarter I have all of my classes stacked on Mondays, Wednesday, and Thursdays, so I’m able to stay home if there are no meetings or get-togethers during other days of the week. If you work full-time, run your errands after work so that you can Netflix and chill on the weekends.
• Ditch the heels. This is common sense. The streets will be icy, so there is a high chance of slipping and falling. Get a pair of UGG or SOREL.
• Bundle up. Winter accessories–hats, scarves, gloves, leg warmers–are a must! Down jackets are amazing–super light yet extremely warm. Forget about looking good. If it’s super windy out, all you will see are my eyes while the rest of my face is wrapped up.
• Plan a vacation. The winters will be long, so plan a getaway to look forward to and pray that your flight won’t be canceled due to weather.

Let me know where you live and how the winter is going for you! I hope all of my east coast friends are staying warm and safe.

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