TGIF

It's been a fantastic week on Clara Mae James. A project that is very dear to my heart was re-born with the comeback of the Dream Catcher Series. I also announced a contributing writer and you can read more about Dina here. Yes, these moves may seem small, but I'm brimming with excitement about what the future holds for my little blog. The positive reaction to yesterday's post was amazing and I hope that you found some inspiration - I know I did.

Beyond the blog, life is Pittsburgh is shaping up nicely too. Last night, we had one of our best meals at a restaurant called Cure. We put the finishing touches on our Christmas tree, lit the Menorah and turned on the newest episode of Serial (we will talk about this more later...right now, I'm eh). Weekends, for me, have been focused on the blog and I finally got back into yoga. Next on our list is getting back to the gym, but I'm sure I'll find an excuse to get out of it - after all, it's holiday shopping season!

And speaking of the holidays, I know I'm always late to the game, but gift guides will be up soon. One brand that's topping the list is Gift Shop Brooklyn by Annie Bukhman - handmade leather goods that will make you swoon. The quality and craftsmanship is perfection and lately, I've been obsessed with the Mary Wallet. I couldn't be happier with my decision to go metallic blue and this will, for sure, be with me for every holiday party along with my new favorite lipstick from Chanel. In fact, I'm kind of digging this outfit as a holiday work party option. It's not sparkly, yet a hint of festive with the flannel and the right amount of profesh.

So anyway, be on the lookout for more of Annie's pieces along with other fun gift ideas. For my procrastinator fans who spend most of the month of December shopping for yourself (aka me), this guide is for you!

Until then, have a wonderful weekend and thank you so much for taking the time to read this post. 

xo,
Jamie

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SHOP THIS POST: Leather jacket from Zara, a few years old, but similar here and here. Turtleneck from Uniqlo. Skirt from Creatures of Comfort found at Bird last year, but into this one too for some edge and the price is right. Boots by Rebels. Wallet from Gift Shop Brooklyn. 

Born in PGH. Made in NYC.

Welcome to PGH. For me, these images paint a good picture of my new city. It's relatively small with an industrial, working-class vibe. The mostly brick homes stand close together to form tight-knit communities separated by three rivers. It's the proud home of immigrant families who settled among the hills to live the American Dream, and the signs of steel surround you - a constant reminder of the city's rich history and good fortune that put PGH on the map. 

If you could walk the streets, you'd see the collision of old and new. The elderly are out in full force living happily next to the young engineers of Google. The pawn shop stands next to the latest micro-brewery drawing the city's finest bearded hipsters. Creatives of all ages find inspiration in one another and support each other any way they can. 

I have to say it's quite refreshing and a drastic change from New York City where everything was shiny and new - a playground for the rich and young who make the poor and young feel wildly unaccomplished. Any way you toss the dice, the struggle was real. 

For once, we are experiencing this thing called "Quality of Life" and it's great. Don't get me wrong - I think about our charming Brooklyn life often, but the change was much needed and I hold the memories close to my heart. One thing that I do miss dearly about Brooklyn is the fashion. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to ask a 6-year old where she bought her leather jacket and then ask her mom where she bought her clogs. The sense of style is amazing and the shopping is absolutely the best. 

I didn't realize it until after we shot these pictures, but most of my outfit is from local Brooklyn shops or NYC-based designers. The overalls are from Courtshop, the oversized Burberry shirt is from my favorite consignment store Eva Gentry and the drawstring bag is from Baggu. The sunnies are from Oliver Peoples, but found at my old eyeglass shop Urban Optical. 

For now, Brooklyn is my inspiration, but I'm excited to explore what this city has to offer. I'm on the lookout for independent brands and designers to feature, so please share in the comments if you can. 

Thanks and talk soon. 

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Fall Transitions

Happy Monday! Can you believe the weekend is over? From the looks of social media, I can see that almost everyone enjoyed Fall-centric activities - apple and pumpkin-picking, cider drinking and hayrides. As for myself, my husband and I continued our progress to start a life here in Pittsburgh. For everyone who liked, shared, commented on my last post about this topic, THANK YOU! The support means the world to me, and as I sit down to write this, I'm reminded of something my new yoga instructor said tonight - "Life is a constant work in progress." This statement couldn't have meant more to me than it does right now. I'm in a new city with a new job, surrounded by memories of my past, fighting to move forward. But luckily, I have you guys and my family, and WIP is not so bad. 

What is also not so bad is my new neighborhood and if you can find walls like this, you know it's on the up and up. I paired this mural with my brand new outfit from Nordstrom aka the best place ever. When my boxes didn't arrive for FIVE days, I took a trip to the mall and scooped this ensemble in 20 minutes flat. You can't beat that! And guess what? It's the perfect look for Fall-centric activities, which I hope to do soon before that bandwagon takes off and we're welcoming Winter!

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SHOP THIS LOOK: Tunic from Free People, jeans from Topshop, slingback booties from Splendid, backpack from The Sak - no longer available, but love this one too!

Summer in the City

Hiya! I'm featuring one of my favorite Pittsburgh shops again today, Mid-Atlantic Mercantile. I was home just last weekend and stopped in to see if they had any sales and sure enough they did! I picked up the most comfortable pants from designer ace & jig. They are perfect for hot summer days like today. What I love about Mid-Atlantic Mercantile is their well-curated collection and strong purpose to bring quality goods to the Pittsburgh region. They work intimately with both emerging and established independent designers with a focus on ethical sourcing and sustainable manufacturing practices. If you're in the Lawrencevile hood, you have to check them out!

This is also the first time I'm debuting my new Clare Vivier clutch. Last time I was in LA, I stopped by the West Hollywood store and spent an hour trying to decide which beautiful handbag to call my own. The funny thing is that while I was pacing the store, there was a SAMPLE SALE going on just a few minutes away! I sadly missed the opportunity to score sooo many goodies, but of course my husband was happy to dodge this bullet. Despite his disapproval of the fanny pack, I already have my heart set on this one too!

To SHOP this post, click the links below:

Pants from ace & jig, top from Zara (sold out - similar here and here), lace crop bralette from Free People, clutch from Clare V. (sold out, but love this one too), sunglasses from Ray-Ban, sandals from Birkenstock. 

A few other pieces perfect for the hottest month of the year!