for a girl whose wardrobe hails almost exclusively from two stores (cough, j.crew and madewell, cough), i have had a blast getting to know a few new-to-me designers over the last few weeks. i have loved mixing jenni kayne’s minimalist pieces with items i already own and this janessa leone hat has quickly become my new go-to weekend chapeau (as evidenced in this post alone).

today i want to talk about another designer that i’ve quickly come to admire, carrie forbes. carrie launched her brand of hand crocheted handbags in los angeles in the late 1980’s. her pieces were sold at some of the top luxury retailers around the world. over time, she rerouted her focus to that of footwear, heavily influenced by her travels to morocco. just three years ago, she unveiled a line of hand-woven raffia shoes using a weave indigenous to the moroccan culture. her hand-crafted sandals have been featured in nearly every fashion magazine on the planet, and now that i own a pair, i can speak to their craftsmanship and unique design. they are unlike anything i’ve seen throughout my ongoing quests to find the perfect summer sandal. and despite being nearly the same color as my skin tone (#palegirlproblems), i love how their natural-colored fibers literally go with everything in my wardrobe. in a season where straw is certainly having a moment (on bags! on hats!), straw shoes are the perfect way to incorporate the trend into my everyday wear. i can’t wait to break these babies in a little more so i can take them to canada.

 

 

old navy dress (similar) || j.crew chambray || janessa leone hat

carrie forbes sandals || natalie borton necklace || anthropologie clutch

 

 

a quick note about this outfit. it’s the epitome of high/low. i bought this dress at old navy at least two summers ago for $15. yes. FIFTEEN! if you haven’t jumped on old navy’s spring dress selection yet, i highly advise that you do. they are the kings at making adorable throw-on-and-go frocks that don’t break the bank (i particularly love this one and this one from their latest collection). on the other side of the budget spectrum, my sandals and hat are definitely more of investment pieces. i will say that classic accessories are a great place to splurge a little as they’re often immune to heavy wear, fleeting trends, and they always fit.

shop the post:

similar dress || j.crew chambray || janessa leone hat

carrie forbes sandals || natalie borton necklace || similar clutch

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