Stark Raving Chic

"Mummy, can I have more coffee, please?"

"Briana! We have company, don't you want to introduce yourself to our guest?"

"Hi, my name is Bree, and I want to be a paleontologist when I grow up and my favorite dinosaurs are brachiosaurus, liopleurodons, and my most favorite is stegosaurus!"

This is the conversation that took place in my family's living room while we were having a home visit from my soon to be teacher, Sister Colleen, to evaluate if I would be a good fit to attend kindergarten at Mount Gallitzin Academy. Luckily, for five year old me, tippy cup in hand, Sister Colleen was also an avid coffee drinker, and loved my enthusiasm. Though I have since then left my aspirations of being a paleontologist behind, I have to admit that I still find dinosaurs fascinating (yes, stegosaurus is in fact still my favorite), have a mild coffee addiction, and am as outgoing as ever. As you can imagine from the story above even when I was little, I was never the least bit shy or backward.

One thing I have learned since childhood though, is that my Myers–Briggs Type Indicator acronym "INFJ" (standing for Introversion, Intuition, Feeling, Judgment) can seem a little deceiving. Considering to those who do not know me well probably see me as anything but introverted. From playing piano recitals starting at the age of five, competing in horse shows at the age of eight all the way through tenth grade, and performing at dance and voice recitals--or anywhere really--since the age of two and twelve respectively (Fun Fact: I still do both and am kick-ass at karaoke.), it's safe to say I'm not at all afraid of the spot light.

However, though I am incredibly friendly, talkative, and adapt easily in social situations, I truly am an introvert at heart and honestly prefer to keep to myself when I am not obligated to be around others. I am also a very private person, and only share important things in my life with those closest to me. Not that I dislike people, I am honestly just rather self contained (as my my best friend Sage puts it: "Bree is basically just like a cat.").

Charmingly Chic

Now, you are probably wondering what this story and explanation have to do with my blog, and more specifically this post, right? Well, firstly, in light of the new year and my blog continuing to grow, I've decided I want to occasionally share a bit more about myself with all of you considering many of you have been around awhile, and others are brand new. (If this happens to be your first time visiting Stark Raving Chic, hello!) I also thought it was a good idea to tell this story because as you can see in the photographs above, I have been styling a beautiful gold necklace with my name on it, along with three chic bangle charm bracelets, which I received from my sponsor Soufeel Jewelry. So, I thought it was only natural to share a little about myself along with how I styled these pretty pieces.

Before I get to the styling for this post, I'm first going to review these pieces from Soufeel and explain why each of them mean a little something to me. For starters, though I was never a Sex And The City fan, I have to say while I was growing up I always felt a bit left out because neither my nickname or full name were ever spelled right on those trendy trinkets and jewelry, but like my dream of becoming a paleontologist, I got over it. However, I have to say when I was contacted for my now second collaboration with Soufeel, I was quite tickled at the opportunity to actually get a necklace with my name spelled correctly. Not to mention, this necklace is definitely more upscale than the $0.25 name necklaces we used to find at Claire's. As mentioned earlier, the best thing about Soufeel's name necklaces are that they are 100% customizable, so no matter how uniquely your name is spelled, you can always hop on this trend if you wish. Next, the material this necklace is made of is 925 sterling silver, plated in 14 carat yellow gold. The shine is absolutely beautiful, ever since I have received it and began wearing it I have gotten loads of compliments, and the necklace is also light weight and comfortable for everyday wear.

The other items I received from Soufeel are these three stacking charm bangles. The bangles I chose include a feather, owl, and an origami elephant, and though these three charms may seem random, the reason I chose these three specifically is because they each represent things important to and/or about me. Such as my ever evolving quest for knowledge, my free spirit (Which in itself insights a little mystery even for me!), and my incredibly determined personality. The bracelets themselves are very well made and fit just like any other bangle. They have a moderate weight to them (similar to that of an Alex & Ani bracelet) but are still comfortable to wear daily. And like the necklace, they are made of 925 sterling silver.

The outfit I chose to style my new name necklace and charm bangles with, is this pretty but casual winter look, which I wore to meet up with a friend for a coffee date. For the top half of my look, I chose to wear a simple black metallic thread sweater from Loft, because I felt it added a nice contrast to my gold and silver jewelry. And though it was very cold, I chose to wear my favorite Pendleton wool skirt (seriously, I've had this skirt since I was in ninth grade--I'm now 24) because even though it doesn't look it, it is actually quite warm which makes it a great piece to have around in the winter, especially if you're like me and are already getting tired of constantly being in jeans and long underwear!

The makeup I chose for this look includes my bareMinerals Bare Pro liquid foundation, Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow in "647-Undress", NARS Jubilation Blush, and NARS Bette lipstick. The reason why I chose these warmer shades for my makeup palette is because I felt they added a nice offset to the cool tone of my outfit. And even though it has been freezing here, I still felt the need to have a little bit of a more summer-y glow, perhaps wishful thinking that it might bring on some warmer weather on my end.

Last but not least, though I generally switch up my kicks in every post, while Pittsburgh is in a deep freeze you guys will be seeing these boots more often than not! I have to say, aside from being stylish, these Michael Kors boots are incredibly comfortable and warm. So, though I am sure many of you already have scored your winter boots, but in case you haven't, I totally recommend these babies.

One Last Look

How have you been styling and accessorizing during this crazy cold front? I'd love to hear about it, so let's chat in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Love my Soufeel Jewelry as much as I do? Well you can snag some of your own now during their post holiday sale, and get an additional 15% off when you use my promo code "Breefg115" at checkout!

P.P.S. Having trouble finding all the goods you see here and on my Instagram? Fear not! I am a member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

As you all know from past posts, I absolutely love jewelry. From my partnerships with Rocksbox and Boho Tribe Collection, to my beautiful collaboration with Ritani, I think it is safe to say I am all about things that sparkle. However, for those of you that has been reading my musings for sometime now (I'm talking clear back to the "Wish-list Wednesday" days.) I'm sure you can recall that my jewelry box was lacking in one department, and that was in bracelets. Sure, I have a few trusty cuffs that I can wear to more elaborate occasions, but I honestly did not have many, well really any, bracelets that I could wear for everyday life. That was up until now, at least, after John and I had the wonderful opportunity to collaborate with my newest sponsor Soufeel!

Soufeel Jewelry

For those of you who have not heard of the online jewelry retailer, Soufeel, I'm just going to take a moment to tell you a little about the company and their products. To start off, Soufeel is a jewelry store that specializes in sterling silver jewelry ranging in products from necklaces, earrings, and bangles, but what Soufeel is most recognized for is their absolutely gorgeous charm bracelets. As i am sure many of you have noticed, Soufeel's bracelets look quite similar to the ever popular (but pricey) brand, Pandora, but that's what makes Soufeel so great is that you are getting the same quality jewelry (925 sterling silver) for about 2/3 of the cost, along with a year long, money back guarantee, warranty! And though Soufeel's bracelets are not exactly the same as Pandora's, they definitely hold their own against the jewelry giant, and in my opinion, their products are every bit as dazzling.

Oh So Charming

As I mentioned earlier, I received the gorgeous charm bracelet above complimentary from Soufeel, however I also mentioned that John actually designed it. I'm sure many of you are wondering how we pulled that off, and simply put, we were able to because the Soufeel rep I have been working with, Walker, was kind enough to let me pass along the budget ($150) to John, so he could make me this gorgeous piece! And I have to say John did a fabulous job of capturing the little things that have to do with our relationship, and I can't wait to to add charms to this bracelet in the years to come. (And perhaps even adding an additional bracelet!)

Needless to say, aside from John being a good sport and helping me design this pretty piece, (Which worked out that it was just in time for my birthday that is coming up in a few days, pretty nifty timing right?) I am overjoyed with the quality and craftsmanship of Soufeel's jewelry. To kick off this review, I wanted to first talk about the bracelet itself. The first thing I want to say about the bracelet is, is that the latch is very sturdy--so sturdy that at first I wasn't quite sure how to unlatch it due to the fact I never owned a charm bracelet before! However, once I got used to its design (which is admittedly tricky at first) I now can take it on and off with ease as well as not having to worry about it coming unhooked and my charms falling everywhere! The other thing I loved about this bracelet, is its rose gold latch. Though I would have been happy with a plain silver one, I just feel that the rose gold adds a nice contrast to the bracelet over all.

Like I said earlier, I personally feel that Soufeel's jewelry is very comparable to Pandora's (and for my readers who already have Pandora sets or beads, the Soufeel charms and bracelets are compatible with Pandora too!), but for a fraction of the cost, so basically with Soufeel, you are getting more bang for your buck! But, I know many people feel things like this are too good to be true, and just to show that in this case it is not, I just wanted to show you that each of Soufeel's charms (as well as their other jewelry) are 100% sterling silver, and are each stamped with Soufeel's logo along with the sterling silver seal "S 925".

Wooh! Now that I've gotten all of the formal information out of the way, I'm sure you want to see the charms that John picked out for my bracelet!

The first charm on my bracelet, is this adorable little "heartbeat charm". The reason why I love this charm is due to its subtle detailing and its quaint design. I also love the color of this charm, due to its monochromatic reds, which gives the charm a nice contrast.

Next is this "locked heart charm". The first thing that I noticed about this sweet little charm is its excellent craftsmanship. As you can see, though this charm is dainty, it is incredibly detailed and crafted with outstanding precision.

My next bead is this "red lantern charm". The reason I love this charm is because it adds a whimsical flare to my bracelet, and it also reminds me not to sweat the small stuff, and as my long time readers know, John is forever my voice of reason when it comes to panicking over minute things.

Next, is this adorable "vintage camera charm". As I'm sure many of you know from my "portfolio" section on here, not only am I a writer, but I am also a photographer, and that is something that John loves about me. So, it only seemed natural to add this bead to the bunch! This is the bead that I was actually the most pleased with, and that is because of this design's attention to detail. I loved that this charm included all the little knobs found on a film camera (shutter, aperture, the release button, even the film winder!), and that is important to me because photography was after all my first love within the arts.

Last but not least, is this "infinite love bead". Though this bead isn't as showy as the others, it holds a special place in my heart because it reminds me that even though the distance between John and I is testing at times, eventually it will all work out, and we will always have each other. The reason I liked this simple bead, is due to its light and feminine details, and rich ruby red color.

Final Thoughts

After my rave review, I'm sure many of you have already figured out that I will most definitely recommend doing business with Soufeel! I felt that the rep I spoke with, Walker, Was highly professional and easy to talk too, and obviously, I feel that my product is outstanding.

Have you ever shopped with Soufeel and love their jewelry as much as I do? Let's chat about it in the comments below, or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a Soufeel piece that you would just love to show off? Feel free to snap a picture and tag me in a post of on you Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, dolls!