31 Bits - Fashion for Good

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Every time we make a purchase we are choosing to support a person or a group of people. How cool is that?! Our money and what we value changes lives. Whether your are buying local, from a large corporation or from a socially conscious business you aren't just consuming you are supporting.

There are many brands that I love, but one of the companies that I love the most is 31 BITS. They create fashionable jewelry that supports women in Uganda. Not just supports, but they change their lives by offering healthcare, education and skills to support and sustain women. Doesn't that just make you want to donate your money let alone buy awesome jewelry?!

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You get both with 31 BITS.

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They just released their new collection for fall, and I'm in love. Just thinking about fall makes me happy. In fact, 31 BITS and I are partnering to bring you the latest fall fashions through Pinterest. Follow along and see what what trends we think are hot this year. Knits and boots are two of my favorite things this fall.

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You can also check out a fun Q & A where I share some of my favorite things about being a stylist, my top fall trends, and where I see myself in five years.

BIG thanks to Frances Vintage for this awesome maxi dress, clutch and rings. They also have awesome fall style coming into their store as I write this post. Go visit!

Amazing photos by Kym Ventola.

Get the look: sweater (a gift from my mom), maxi dress, clutch, bracelets, earrings

KT Jean Designs Styled

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Whimsical, warm, beautiful, natural...These are the words that I would use to describe Katie Jean's Spring 2014 collection of dresses, separates and robes. If you love metallics, lace and chiffon you HAVE to check out her shop!

Katie recently moved from Phoenix, AZ to Brooklyn, NY, but just as she was driving to her new home she had Kym Ventola photograph her spring collection. You would never be able to tell that this was shot in the fall. It always feels like spring in AZ as soon as the weather cools down. I love the warm tones of the beautiful sunset mixed with the light, airiness of the collection.

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I had the chance to style and accessorize her dresses with lovely pieces from Anthropologie. It was as if I was playing dress up with dolls again. Meilan Mizell from FORD did an amazing job modeling. Her joyful spirit and sweet heart is so evident in these images.

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Her hair and makeup was done to perfection by Paige Ashcroft. I got to work with Paige on Frances' lookbook, and I was so glad to work with her again. Katie's sister, Amy Hanen, is not only is my babysitter but a brilliant photographer in her own right and assistant to Kym Ventola. She made sure that everything was what her sister would want since Katie was on her way to NY when the shoot took place.

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It makes me love my job even more when I get to work with such wonderful people. Go check out Katie's shop, and start dreaming of spring!

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Four Eyes

A little fact about me is that I have had glasses since I was six years old. I started out with the big plastic purple frames that I picked out myself. I thought I was SO cool! I was a weird kid. I also thought headgear and braces were really cool. You can only imagine how I looked sportin' that triple threat. Ha! Over the past decade I've left my reading glasses in their case because, truthfully, I can get along just fine without them. A couple of months ago I purchased some awesome Firmoo glasses. My friend Stephanie has the same pair and I fell in love with them one day on a photo shoot. These glasses have no prescription in them, but I just think glasses are cool. I always have and I always will.

Would you ever wear glasses just for fashion or do you think it's silly?

Beautiful photography by Kym Ventola.

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Nick & Kelli Styled

Nick and Kelli are two of the most gorgeous people on the planet. If they ever have kids I know they will be models. I had the chance to style them for an engagement session with Kym Ventola last month. Because Nick lives all of the way in Yuma, Kelli and went shopping together for his clothes as well as hers. It was a very successful shopping trip ending with two outfits for each them, which is really my goal every time I style a couple for engagement photos. Have two outfits each gives my clients a chance to show their personalities in a casual and dressy way. Not to mention, if one outfit doesn't translate as well on camera they have a backup. Check out the beautiful photos below captured in Northern Arizona.

Katie Jean Sneak Peek

I love when I can help small businesses flourish. There's something inside of me that gets SO pumped to tell the world about someone's creative ability. I suppose that's the PR person in me. Last month, I had the chance to lend some styling skills to Katie Jean - a fashion designer who specializes in handmade womenswear. She is SO talented. I wanted to wear everything that I put my hands on. She has recently relocated to Brooklyn, New York and I'm so excited to watch her design business explode. Just check out this sneak peek of her spring collection captured by Kym Ventola to see exactly what I mean.

More to come...

Photography by Ventola Photography Assisted photography by Amy Hanen Makeup and hair by Paige Ashcroft Modeling by Meilan Mizell, FORD RBA Fashion styling by AVE Styles