Easy Breezy Street Style

Spotted: Marissa Zimmerman

Why this works: If there was ever a go-to street style look, this is it. Not only is her dress comfortable and versatile, it has a casual demeanor that says "I'm not trying too hard" but I'm actually slaying the outfit game.

Final thought: For starters, you can never go wrong with black and white. Her dress is just one of countless looks that justify that. And let's not forget about the bag,can you say P E R F E C T I O N?! Truly, the perfect pop of color. Style seal of approval? I think yes. 

About Me

Hello readers! Most of you  are probably wondering what La Vie est Belle even means. (Quick translation: Life is beautiful). For those of you that don't already know me, my name is Mariah Ricci. And to get on a more personal level, my middle name happens to be Belle, see the connection? My goal in creating this blog was to share my thoughts with you on fashion, life, and beauty. More importantly, I hope you see how these things are ultimately interconnected.

All the content you see on this blog is created solely by me, however, I do provide sources for the oh-so-flawless images and quotes I find online. My goal is to provide my readers with unique, relatable content that makes them want to return to the blog and see whats new. Pretty simple, right? Aside from discussing what I find to be some of the simple beauties of life, I welcome you into my world of fashion thoughts, and some things I consider perfect pairs.


To those of you who are actually reading this, thanks for stopping by. As always, La Vie est Belle.


XO,

Mariah




https://twitter.com/mbelle_ricci

Relaxed Summer Chic

Spotted: Marlana Ricci

Why this works: It's the oh-so-chic statement shades matched with a witty graphic tee. The combination is SPOT ON, people. Not to mention the semi-highwaisted ripped shorts are the perfect counterbalance. 

Final thought: Summer outfit goals, am I right? This look is easy to achieve. In the end, you  end up looking sophisticated, and now have "It Girl" stamped across your forehead. Without a doubt,I give this my style seal of approval.

Summertime & Lilly Pulitzer

Members of the Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, and Whitney families wearing Lilly Pulitzer in 1964

  Bright prints and classic styles. It's the one and only shift dress matched with your natural summer spirit, all wrapped up in the fabric of a Lilly. Every dress is refreshing, chic and the perfect mix of classy and playful. That is the magic of the Lilly (yes, magic). American fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer wanted her dresses to embody the "fun in the sun" vibes that came with living in Palm Beach, where she and her husband resided. Her vision of ripe fruits, vegetables, and fashionably acceptable colors made her homemade dresses a hit, and were soon being worn by former first ladies like the iconic Jackie Kennedy. 

     Not only were “Lillys” the must-have summer item in your closet, they were the start of a huge fashion phenomena. Lilly’s designs were so bold and unique that as soon as you saw one you thought, now that’s got to be a Lilly. Fashionable, classy, and fun, Lilly’s were the perfect symbol of summer. Without realizing it, Lilly Pulitzer introduced the fashion world to a different side of paradise, life through prints. Of course, the Lilly Pulitzer brand has grown tremendously since its breakout in the 60’s and 70’s, but if one tried to argue that a bright pink and yellow dress didn't remind them of pink lemonade, they might be a little crazy. Or that the crabs, seashells, and beach sketches illustrated across their Lilly agendas didn’t remind them of a beautiful island in the caribbean, they too, would be mistaken. It all screams Lilly. 

     There’s a certain amount of beauty that comes from a brand that was purely influenced by a lifestyle. Lilly Pulitzer’s life became her work when she figured out a way to replace the juice stains of her husband’s orange grove with decadent patterns that brought lively to a whole new meaning. Local socialite, mother, wife, and well acclaimed designer, Lilly Pulitzer found the niche where her life could be put into art, and as a result her legacy continues today with flashy prints, and the perfect dress for any summer occasion. Alas, happy summer. As always, La Vie est Belle. 

Jackie Kennedy wearing a "Lilly," 1960

1970 vintage Lilly pattern






image source:www.pinterest.com

                                                                                                   

The Beauty of Family

     There's no telling how many days we are guaranteed on this earth. We learn to cherish and love at a young age, in the hopes of carrying on the same morals and values that were brought on to us. If my days were limited, I would be at peace knowing I was constantly surrounded by love. Family is everything, plain and simple. My family is the beautiful, strong force I have been surrounded with since I was born. They are the laughter, the memories, and the utter joy I am so proud to say are mine. I am part of them, and they are part of me. Sometimes I wonder how we all got so lucky. 

     I am dedicating my last post to my family for multiple reasons. If La Vie est Belle is something that I wanted to represent the beauty of life, I realized I had to look no further than my family. I am the granddaughter of the world's sweetest grandparents, the niece of amazing aunts and uncles, the daughter of two incredible parents, and the cousin, sister and goddaughter of more than I could have ever bargained for. I continue to be fascinated by each of these relationships knowing they are all beautiful in their own way. 

     We are molded by the people we surround ourselves with. There's no denying that. I am molded by years of birthdays, holidays, and vacations with people I love more than life itself. When I think of my childhood, I think of Holden Beach. When I think of the holidays, I think of Christmas Eve at my grandparents. And when I think of birthdays, I think of a birthday cake surrounded by cousins that are more like additional siblings. 
      I feel so fortunate to have these memories in the back of my mind, forever reminding me of the beauty I am constantly surrounded with. Here's to more laughter, joy, and time spent with a family that makes me look forward my future days with them. La Vie est Belle. 

Coffee With an Old Friend

    As the ever wise Meredith Grey once said, "Communication, it's the first thing we really learn in life." This couldn't be more true. While driving the mainstream of our lives, we communicate in more ways than we realize. On a more simple note, there are very few people who can say they've never had a good chat with an old friend over coffee. If you haven't, I feel bad for you. And for those of you that have, you know it's one of the more simple joys in life.

     These conversations over coffee reconnect us. In the chaos of our lives we sometimes forget to stop and catch up with our old friends. Having the pleasure to sit back, and indulge in a good conversation over a rich cup of coffee is sometimes just what you need to get through the day. It's the beauty of sharing bits of our lives with others that make the coffee shop scene somewhat picturesque. You can look into any Starbucks and see people of all ages sitting together passing the time. Others sit alone, such as students, or working professionals who stopped for a quick second to get a coffee. 

     These patterns reoccur on a day to day basis all over the world, sometimes on bigger or smaller scales. As human beings, we sometimes forget that we practice the same habits simultaneously while we go about our daily lives. If we step back and look at this image from the bigger picture, we can dissect much more. The sharing of our time, our lives, and our appreciation for each other marks the beauty of the simple sit down over a cup of coffee. As always, La Vie est Belle. 

image sources: pinterest.com 

Sources of Inspiration

   
Every day we see things that inspire us. Whether it be nature, fashion, or something we read, it's easy to get inspired. A lot of the time we aren't aware of how our natural surroundings play into our daily lives. Every day I am inspired by things I see on the media. Platforms like Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook all influence how I wanted my blog to appear. Since I wanted my blog to have a worldly appearance, I went with a simple layout that focused on a unique banner. Since La Vie est Belle is a French saying, I choose a header that had a travel theme featuring the Eiffel tower.

I also wanted my blog to have a personal touch. All of my posts contain pictures that I personally chose, and are also all things I like. To make my blog appear colorful but not too obnoxious, I kept with appropriate sized images that would look natural with the post.

My design inspiration came from my theme, the beauty of life. I wanted my page to fill up with content that ultimately reflected the overall theme of my blog, which was finding the beauty in everyday things. In terms of color inspiration, I wanted a neutral background that would balance with other colors easily. I didn't want it to be hard on the eyes, or be too overwhelming for the reader.

My typography inspiration came from picking a font that would be easy to read for each post. I wanted to select a font that had a little bit of character but at the same time had a classy appeal. All of my posts are done in Georgia type font. I like this font because it is similar to Times New Roman but doesn't necessarily have the same "school" appearance.

Finishing A Race

     Whether you enjoy exercise or are more of a horizontal runner (yes fat Amy) there's no denying the satisfaction of crossing a finish line. In life, we are presented with many obstacles that sometimes make the finish line seem unreachable. It's a physical and mental struggle. Your mind wants to give up half way through, you feel like you can't take another step, and then somehow, you find the strength to keep going. To keep moving forward.

     In all aspects of life, we are uncontrollably part of a process. It's a beautiful and strange concept all in one. Without even realizing it, we are shaping who we will become by having the courage to take a step towards what we want most. To feel accomplished, even when the last leg of the race seems like it's never going to end. Legs are weak; arms are pumping with whatever power is left, to reach the line we trained so hard to cross. To say we crossed that line is the most important thing; it represents how brave you were to even try. And if you find that you didn't feel the satisfaction you were looking for, you have the option to start all over. And that is the beauty of life. Try as we might, we always have the option to give it another shot. La Vie est Belle. 

source: pinterest.com 

A Classic Movie

     The Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink, Dirty Dancing, Grease, and let's not forget Breakfast At Tiffany's-all classic movies that are iconic in our culture. There's nothing better than the feeling of flipping through channels and then whala! your favorite movie is on. We all have our own personal classic series we never get tired of, for me, I can't get enough of 80s flicks. What makes these movies so wonderful is how they represent life at a certain time in history. We see the fashion and how certain styles have re-surfaced over the years. We notice the music, like the iconic end scene in The Breakfast Club where Judd Nelson pumps his fast as "Don't You (Forget About Me)" plays in the background. Perfection. 

     Classic movies bring out the beauty of life in artistic forms. They are relatable, they relax our minds, and most of all, they provide us will killer lines to recite every time we watch them. Is it really a classic movie if you can't sit there and quote an iconic line?! That's the beauty of it; the life portrayed on the screen makes its way into part of our life without us even realizing it. La Vie est Belle.

source: pinterest.com 

A Song That Gives You All the Feels

     Emphasis on the title. It's that song that gives you all the feels, the one that seems to miraculously describe how you’re feeling phrase after phrase. You're sitting there (mind blown) wondering how is this happening. You can't help but admit that Taylor Swift song is catchy (bow down), or deny the impact The Beetles had on our culture. Music is one of the greatest gifts we have in life. It brings us together, makes us happy, and gives us the joy of throwing our head back and belting our favorite song at the top of our lungs. Ah, to live.

    We all have that one artist, band, or group that makes us look forward to experiences through music. I'm not just talking about concerts, or the unforgettable Coachella experience everyone is craving. I'm talking about how we define moments in our life through music. Think about it, isn't there that one song that takes you back to a special place, memory, or time in your life? If you were a kid growing up in the 90s like myself, we remember groups like the Spice Girls, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, you name it. Total flashback every time one of their songs came on. Music has a natural place in our life, it's always there, whenever we need it. That in itself, is beautiful. 

   The connection between life and music continues as we grow up. Our graduation slideshow, or finding the perfect wedding song, it all becomes important aspects of our life. Music is the power of one person's story relating to another, and in some way it makes the world go round. Decade after decade, music has a way of defining a generation in the most authentic way. The idea is simple, the message is what you make of it. La Vie est Belle. 

     

Tomorrowland Music Festival, 2014

Meditation at Woodstock, 1969

A Marchesa Dress

      When fashion and elegance combine, usually Marchesa is involved. The high end, elegant eveningwear is crafted by designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig. Coveted by many celebrities, Marchesa is known for their drop dead gorgeous couture gowns that make a statement at every red carpet they appear on. To me, Marchesa embodies the finer things in life. In a world where fashion has become such an extraordinary industry, brands like Marchesa make you stop and think you're staring at a piece of art rather than a gorgeous dress. These moments represent the beauty of craftsmanship, design, and putting a vision to life. Finding the beauty in something simple as a dress means understanding the beauty in the story behind it. In life, we forget that there is a story behind everything. Fashion is more than just clothes. It is life, art, and culture all in one. La Vie est Belle.

Blake Lively wearing Marchesa on the Red Carpet

2015 Collections




Emma Stone in May 2014 Vogue wearing Marchesa





Marchesa Spring 2015 Runway

A Magical Place

     It's a normal day.  You go to class, check social media, and then next thing you know you've been on Pinterest for 45 minutes staring at pictures of beautiful places around the world you'd love to see. That amazing coast, some adorable town in London, or the delicious food in Italy. Today's post is dedicated to discovering the beauty in a place that makes us feel alive. 

   When we experiene a wonderful place we also get to see parts of the culture. A lovely place such as Santorini, Greece, captures the natural beauty of the world around it. Santorini has always been a place I've personally wanted to visit for reasons I just explained. Our world is so unique in that we are gifted with the natural beauty around us wherever we travel. A place like Santorini embodies the concept of enjoying the opportuinity to explore a place where you can just live, breathe, and be happy. La Vie est Belle.

Image Source: www.pinterest.com

A Marvelous Quote

     Every once in a while something stops us dead in our tracks. For me, that something is a good quote by one of my favorite authors, F. Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was the author of popular novels such as The Great Gatsby, Tender is the Night, and many others. As one of the greatest writers in history (in my humble opinion), I have always found beauty in every element of his writing. He had a way of arranging words into magical sentences that captivated readers into falling in love with his work. 

     What I'm trying to get at here is that words are powerful. As humans we throw them around and waste them on people who don't always appreciate our time. Something as simple as a quote can change your perception on what is important in life, and what is not. Fitzgerald was a master of conveying beautiful messages to his readers. His work was his passion, and while I could sit here and post countless images containing his words, I will stick to one that embodies the relationship between life, beauty, and the power of a good quote. As always, La Vie est Belle. 

source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/469148486155107766/

Macaroons & Tea

     My first post is dedicated to what I think are two of the simple wonders in life-tea and macaroons. One might think this is ridiculous, but if life is about finding beauty in everyday things-than these, my friends, are beautiful. For all you people with a sweet tooth (me included) we all have our favorite deserts, and with favorite deserts, we occasionally enjoy a warm beverage. Coffee, cocoa, tea, you name it, it will taste fabulous with a delicious little macaroon. 

     If the macaroon gods of the world gave you one place to indulge your taste buds, they would be wise to send you to Ladurée, the French luxury baking brand. Not only would Blair Waldorf nod her head in approval of your selection, (Gossip Girl fans, I'm speaking to you) there are very few places that could provide the ultimate Parisian tearoom experience. 

     As humans, we learn to look forward to our favorite things. It's practically in our nature. We discover beauty in what we appreciate, and if we look really closely, we will find that life is full of appreciating experiences. From the first bite into a delicious desert, to the feeling of a warm cup of tea relaxing your soul, it's important to find beauty in the simple. La Vie est Belle.

The Ladurée Experience

Sources

• http://www.ladyironchef.com/2013/04/laduree-open-singapore-15-april/
• http://dolce-vita-lifestyle.tumblr.com/post/89786210108
• https://fabricantdedouceurs.laduree.com/en_int/