21 Days of Forever 21: Day 21 *last day*

Well ... I've done it! 21 Days of Forever 21! This was my favorite outfit so I've saved it for last. I've never blogged this much in my life and I've had a fun time doing it!

Dress: Forever 21
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Scarf: My mom's closet
Sunglasses: Gucci
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis willow earrings, long slice of shell necklace in gold, acorn necklace in gold

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 20

Shirt: Forever 21
Jeans: Forever 21
Shoes: Victor Camuto
Purse: Chanel
Sunglasses: Forever 21
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis long slice of shell necklace in silver

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 19

Shirt: Forever 21
Jeans: Current Elliot
Shoes: Victor Camuto
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis medium willow earrings, tree pose necklace

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 18

Shirt: Forever 21
Jeans: Earnest Sewn
Shoes: Terra Plana
Purse: Mui Mui
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis willow earrings, long grow pendant

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 17

Top: Forever 21
Pants: Forever 21
Jacket: BCBG
Neck Scarf: Tiffany & Co.
Purse: Chanel
Shoes: Victor Camuto
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis dove cuff, acorn earrings, starfish necklace

Sail On.

I want them all. Sea Bags is a company based in Portland, Maine that takes reclaimed sailboat sails and turns them into very cool tote bags - a perfect summer accessory. You can visit their website here.

To add to this nautical inspired post, I heard this poem referenced this week, and I thought I would leave you with a thoughtful reminder...

The "Winds of Fate" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

One ship drives east and another drives west

With the selfsame winds that blow.

'Tis the set of the sails,

And Not the gales,

That tell us the way to go.

Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate;

As we voyage along through life,

'Tis the set of a soul

That decides its goal,

And not the calm or the strife.

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 16

Shirt: Forever 21
Pencil Skirt: Forever 21
Handbag: Chanel
Shoes: Franco Sarto
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis acorn earrings, tiny branch necklace

Meet The Press: The RC Project: CW 33 TV Interview

I had the pleasure of being interviewed yesterday by Roni Proter and Candice Crawford on their show, the RC Project. This was my 1st studio interview and it was so much fun! Roni and I met last year when she interviewed me for a TV segment, and her co-host Candice and I actually went to high school together, so it was such a fun little reunion of sorts that took place in a very chic sitting area that happened to be in a studio with lots of hot lights and cameras.

RC Project: Cannon Lewis Jewelry Design - KDAF

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 15

Shirt: Forever 21
Skirt: Forever 21
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis willow earrings, rutilated quartz life necklace

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 14

Shirt: Forever 21
Jeans: Earnest Sewn
Shoes: L'Autre Chose
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis silver willow earrings, silver slice of shell necklace, dove bracelet, little branch necklace

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 13

Shirt: Forever 21
Jeans: Earnest Sewn
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis willow earrings, dove bracelet, tree pose necklace

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 12

Shirt: Forever 21
Cargo Pants:
Shoes: Barney's Co-Op
Purse: Soho street vendor
Scarf: Hand-painted silk from Poland
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis amethyst marquise and amethyst leaf ring, gold grow pendant

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 11

Shirt: Forever 21
Jeans: Earnest Sewn
Shoes: Terra Plana
Handbag: Miu Mui
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis willow earrings, tiny branch necklace

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 10

Shirt: Forever 21
Skirt: Forever 21
Handbag: Chanel
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik with black and white stripes
Scarf: Hermes
Sunglasses: Forever 21
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis gold willow earrings, leaf cross, leaf ring

Concierge of Chic: Interview w/author Deborah Davis

I met Deborah at a book signing in Newport, RI. Little did I know at the time that this spunky red-head was actually a veteran film executive and an accomplished author. If you are looking for good summer reading, I would highly recommend her writing, and click here to view a full list of her books.

Cannon Lewis: What inspired you to write you most recent book Gilded, How Newport Became America's Richest Resort?
Deborah Davis: I have always been fascinated by the opulent lifestyle in Newport, and I wanted to tell the inside story of the city's long and colorful history as the playground of the very, very rich.

CL: Cannon Lewis jewelry reaches a niche audience which I would describe as "refined bohemian." That being said, which of your books would you recommend and why?

DD: Definitely Strapless, the story of the scandal behind the John Singer Sargent painting, Madame X. The book shows that what you wear - in this case a stunning black dress -- can change your life, and it paints a vivid portrait of an enthralling time in history that is surprisingly like today.

CL: As an author you have had the opportunity to act as an observer of so many people's lives through your research and interviews. What are a few of the most important life lessons you have learned from these encounters?

DD: I usually write about people who seem to have everything, but are rarely satisfied, leading me to believe that the greatest gift is not achieving success or fame, but appreciating what you have every day. It sounds like such a cliché, but I have spent so much time studying larger-than-life figures such as Madame X, Truman Capote, and the fabulously rich in Newport, R.I., and I am always surprised to see that happiness eludes them. The lesson is live in the moment, as best you can.

CL: What is one of your favorite summer memories from your childhood?

DD: Waking up very early one summer morning and playing in my Grandmother's backyard, which was a magical place at first light. Her garden seemed enormous (it wasn't, really) and was filled with hiding places -- the Weeping Willow tree, the lilac bushes, the corner where the hedges met the wall -- for an imaginative little girl and her favorite dolls.

CL: Looking back on your career as a writer, wife, and mother is there anything you would have done differently?

DD: Well, I was married at 23, so I couldn't have done that much earlier and I am happily married to the same man, so that choice was correct!. Sometimes I wish that I had started my family when I was younger, but then I might not have the two extraordinary children I have today. As for writing, I have been in training for this job my entire life. On a more practical note, when financial advisers tell you to save a little money each month for college, listen to them. Ouch. Oh, and I wish I had worn more sunblock.

CL: What are some things that you have not done yet but would like to do in your lifetime?

DD: I would like to care for homeless dogs. My win-the-lottery dream is to underwrite a country home for abandoned pets -- a place where they could find comfort, love, and security.

CL: What advice do you have for young people pursuing the field of writing?

DD: They have to learn that good writing is really about re-writing. Put ordinary words on the page and change them again and again, until they get better. And write about what interests you -- if you are genuinely enthusiastic about your subject, your readers will feel the same way.

CL: How would you describe your personal style?

DD: I went to Catholic school as a child and it must have made a big impression on me because I'm all about uniforms. Lot's of black -- in fact ALL black -- clothing with strong, simple lines, and one signature piece of jewelry that says it all.

CL: If you could have one piece of Cannon Lewis jewelry which one would it be and why?

DD: The Captivate Collection has captivated me! I love the pendants because of their beauty, their timelessness, and the great wisdom of the messages they carry. I especially like the one that says "Glean away the wheat, remove it from the shaft. Remove the comfort of the past, a new life is here at last." It is a "forever" piece -- one that would be precious and meaningful everyday, and for a lifetime.

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 9

Shirt: Forever 21
Jeans: Earnest Sewn
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Scarf: Tiffany & Co.
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis grow necklace, starfish necklace, gold willow earrings

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 8

Blouse: Joie
Skirt: Forever 21 sequined lace
Shoes: Vintage from my mother in law's closet
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis rutilated quartz life pendant

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 7

Shirt: Forever 21
Black Jeans: Forever 21
Pink silk scarf - my mom's closet
Shoe: Victor Camuto
Purse: Chanel
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis long slice of shell necklace, sand dollar dove necklace

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 6

Here I am in my Forever 21 maxi dress with Sophie. You can't see my jewelry but I am wearing the starfish necklace and long grow pendant.

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 5

I flew home to Texas this weekend and drove to a small West Texas town for my dear friend's wedding. I wore my boots, ate chicken fried steak, got bitten by mosqitoes, sweated in the heat and took in the slow pace of the town coupled by the overwhelming hospitality. I love it here - it is so quite and still that I have time to really reflect on life and family relationships. I can live anywhere in the world but there is something about Texas that will always have a part of my heart.

Dress: Forever 21
Boots: Cole Haan
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis leaf ring, window necklace, tree pose necklace

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 4

Shirt: 5/48 (Saks)
Skirt: Forever 21 black linen
Shoes: Zara navy with gold metal beads
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis gold willow earrings, captivate boulder opal necklace, tree pose pendant

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 3

Top: Forever 21 black damask lace
Jacket: Thorn
Jeans: Forever 21
Handbag: Soho street vendor - I love it! His wife makes them and he sells them
Shoes: Victor Camuto (TJ Maxx find)
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis gold willow earrings, black rutilated quartz Life necklace

The Thrill of the Hunt

So I have received some feedback. A few of you want to know where I find everything else and how I put the outfits all together, and what to do if you are on a budget. So I am going to divulge some of my secrets intermittently.

I am a scavenger. I like hunting and I like finding. If friends ask, I will always tell how much I paid for things IF I got a deal, and when I don't get deals, I don't say anything, and hope my husband doesn't notice.

I don't pay full price for basics. I pay full price for nice fabrics, soft leather, texture, artistry, craftsmanship and detail. But full price is never as fun as finding something - I love the feeling I get when I happen upon something fantastic for less. Hard to explain unless you know what I am talking about...

TJ Maxx - in the designer section I can find some good things. Also their shoes are great. It is hit or miss.
Loehman's NYC - better than TJ Maxx. I have found gorgeous silk scarves, nice hand bags, smaller RTW niche designers who I love, and Cashmere, Cashmere, Cashmere.
Century 21 NYC- also discount but I haven't had as good of luck.
Consignment - takes digging to another level, however I have scored new Phillip Lim w/tags vintage Chanel, St. John, and Dior to name a few.
Daffy's - at 34th street Harold Square NYC. I hate the location, which is probably good so I don't go all the time, however they carry beautiful European children's clothing, children's cashmere, etc. Adult clothing is lacking - so don't go unless you have children.
Sample Sales - these can be amazing.
Ebay - I have found some things, but only when I know exactly what I want and all the details on the item so I don't get scammed.

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 2

Today I am wearing:
Top: Forever 21
Jeans: Earnest Sewn - Skinny Jean w/zipper
Shoes: Zara - navy blue with gold metal beads
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis long grow pendant, starfish pendant, large willow earrings

Stealing Angels

My godsister, Caroline Cutbirth, (girl on the far left) is in an amazing country band called Stealing Angels. Their single, "He Better be Dead" just debuted on the country charts at #59 Today. You can get it on Itunes or check out their website or their facebook page. I am so proud of her. I have known her all of my life, and even though when we were little she used to give me "rose gardens" on my arms we moved past that and have had lots of fun memories together and I am so happy for her!

21 Days of Forever 21: Day 1

Dress: Forever 21
Handbag: Miu Miu
Shoes: L'Autre Chose
Head Scarf: Hermes
Jewelry: Cannon Lewis large willow earrings, long grow pendant, tree pose pendant, dove bracelet

21 Days of Forever 21 : Intro

I had a brilliant idea a few days ago. To preface this, I had a baby. My cute tight summer tops of the past are not working out so well these days, and although Core and More is kicking me into shape, I need some outfit forgiveness. After feeling drab for a few months, with the Aha moment being when I wanted to wear workout clothes for the day not because I was working out but because I didn't know what to wear, I took some initiative. I needed some major change without spending everything I have. So I went to Forever 21, stockpiled, and that night put all these outfits together with cards on the hangers saying exactly what to put together for each outfit, since I have about .00000001 minutes in the morning to think about these things with a baby and a dog. So I bring to you my challenge: I am going to wear Forever 21 for 21 days, styled with pieces from my closet and my stunning jewelry, and you guessed it - I will blog about each outfit. Daily.