My Pretty Little Obsessions 2023

It’s that time of the year again! All the sparkly, beautiful things have come out to play, and everything’s so merry and bright. I’m loving all the holiday party outfits people are rocking, and it’s a strong visual reminder to myself that life’s a party, and I should have fun dressing up however I like!

When I was a young kid, my self-confidence took a major hit when others teased me for dressing “too girly” or for wearing “too much” pink. As I grew into my early teens, I distanced myself from dressing up in more feminine outfits in fear of being bullied. I stopped wearing headbands with bows… stopped wearing pretty dresses… stopped wearing anything pink. I convinced myself that was just “me growing up into the woman I was always meant to be.” But after years of feeding myself with all these lies, somewhere along the way, I realized that I stopped feeling good about myself.

How I wish I could go back and hug my younger self tight, and just tell her to have the confidence to wear whatever her heart desired! Now as a grown adult, I’m really trying to make it up to myself by embracing all the things that truly make me feel good. This post (and really, this blog and the whole concept itself) is an homage to the little girl inside of me, twirling in the prettiest pink dress with the biggest sparkly bow in her hair. 💖

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Here are a few of my most favorite things for 2023 (both from my wardrobe and on my wishlist):

1. AINE MAIA DRESS IN PRIMROSE

I stumbled upon this brand called Aine on Instagram and I just love how soft and beautiful their designs are. I especially love the delicate bows on the front straps – such a lovely detail that complements the ties on the back as well.

2. JENNIFER BEHR MIRABELLE BOW EARRINGS

I love these Jennifer Behr earrings – they’re amazing for elevating ANY outfit. I always get compliments on them and they look gorgeous and elegant with diamond-like shine. I like wearing outfits that show off my collar bone and shoulders, and these are perfect for balancing out my overall look. And if you’re a fan of the reality TV show Selling The OC, Alexandra Jarvis wore them on Season 1.

3. JENNIFER BEHR INES SKINNY HEADBAND

When I was deciding my wedding hair accessories, I almost went with this gorgeous Jennifer Behr pearl and crystal headband. I love its understated glam that brings just the perfect amount of sleek and sophistication to any bridal look, or even for a more elevated everyday wear. Hilary Duff also rocked this on her wedding day and she looked absolutely gorgeous wearing it!

3. LELE SADOUGHI BARBOT RIBBON SLIM HEADBAND

Another closet favorite of mine is this Lele Sadoughi Bardot Ribbon Slim Headband. I love that it’s so fun and playful with the bow in the middle, and I especially love its slim profile so it doesn’t look chunky. SO adorable and SO versatile – an instant touch of glam to any outfit. I’ve already worn it to a few holiday parties this year and gotten so many compliments.

4. LELET NY KAMALA CRYSTAL BOW BARETTE

Yup, I really love putting sparkly big bows on my hair. Behold the LELET NY Kamala Crystal Bow Barette – yet another closet fave of mine. If you’re looking to add a timeless and elegant hair piece to any special event, this dreamy and sparkly bow will have heads turning.

5. LELET NY JOSEPHINE BOW

Sometimes I laugh to myself thinking about how when I was younger, I used to think pearls were for older women who just didn’t like diamonds. These days, I especially adore pearls and think they’re such a classy and elegant look for girls and women of all ages. I’m currently loving this Josephine Bow comb by Lelet NY.

6. SELKIE THE RIBBON DANCER DRESS

I don’t own a Selkie dress just yet… but I’m always stalking their website for all the dreamy dresses. This one is so beautiful, and it reminds me of the kind of dress I’d wear with a huge castle and garden in the background. Well… a girl can dream…

7. MILLA PINK TIE STRAP TULLE DRESS

How beautiful is this pink tulle dress from Milla?! And those tie straps at the shoulder are just perfection. I have something similar to this dress from their previous collection and I have to say that their dresses really look just like the pictures, but better! They photograph really well and are such fun dresses to wear.

8. LOVESHACKFANCY KAYLEN DRESS

This dress from Loveshackfancy is soooo cute! The sexy v-neckline is a little low-cut for my liking, but I adore the gorgeous crystal bow embroidery with rhinestones and pearls.

9. OCEANUS CALLIOPE DRESS

Another sparkly dress in my wishlist is this stunning piece from Oceanus! I love the crystal embellishment all over the dress and the flattering cut of the dress on the woman’s body.

9. CHANEL PINK MINI SHOPPING BAG

The highly coveted pink Chanel “Kelly” (as we’re all calling it) was high on my wishlist when I visited Europe this fall. I went to every Chanel store in the cities we visited in Italy, and they were all out of stock and had such a long waiting list, they didn’t even allow me to add my name to it (lol). This beauty is sold out everywhere in the US and at the time of my Europe visit, all the Chanel associates told me they had 0 in stock everywhere. Sigh…

10. LA FLEUR PEONIES

I like flowers, but I don’t love them enough to keep spending money on them. That’s why these La Fleur peonies are so appealing to me – they last for a few months! I can’t justify the price tag at the moment so at least for now, they’ll always just hold their spot on my wishlist.

11. LE CREUSET PINK CHIFFON

She’s gorgeous, isn’t she? Le Creuset brought back their fan-favorite Pink Chiffon color and it’s all I can think about for my kitchen. And that gold top knob pairing – just exquisite!

12. ALLSAINTS BIKER JACKET

Switching gears here… this Allsaints Biker Jacket has been on my wishlist for so long now. I love black and gold/brass contrasts on clothes and this one just ticks all the boxes for me. I just can’t bring myself to take the plunge on this beauty, but maybe one day…

13. M.GEMI THE PALESTRA DUE WHITE SNEAKERS

These super popular white leather sneakers have been touted as one of the most comfortable travel shoes… that is, within the $250+ price range. That’s over 3 times more expensive than my trusty Reeboks (that I consider as the best travel shoes ever!). They’re on my radar but I’ve read the mixed reviews, so for now they’ll just remain on my wishlist. I might try them out for some trips I have planned for 2024.

14. GLEAMING PRIMROSE TRIPTYCH MIRROR

I never thought I could love a mirror so much – then Anthropologie’s Gleaming Primrose mirror collection came into my life and things were never the same again. I have the original mirror that went viral all over social media, and I have 0 regrets getting it for myself. You can get the Amazon dupe here. I’m not really looking for a new mirror right now, but this newer gorgeous triptych version is just too cute on the vanity.

15. CRATE AND BARREL VENTANA WIDE CABINET

I haven’t done some serious furniture shopping in a while and I guess I missed this newer Crate and Barrel Ventana Wide Cabinet. I don’t need a new cabinet anytime soon, but it’s always good to keep your eyes on key investment pieces for whenever you’re ready to make the purchase for whatever purpose. I have the ever popular original Ventana cabinet and I consider it one of my most loved home decor pieces that I will bring with me no matter where life takes me to.