Venita Aspen’s Blue Off The Shoulder Dress at Patricia’s House

Southern Charm Season 8 Episode 4 Fashion

Venita Aspen looked simply gorgeous in her blue off the shoulder dress at Patricia’s house. My favorite part about this dress is that the brand name is Sleeper which means this dress is probably comfy af. My least favorite part about it though is that it’s unfortunately sold out. BUT it’s still available in white and of course we have our Style Stealers that you def shouldn’t sleep on.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here to See Her Sleeper Dress

Click Here to Shop it in White

Originally posted at: Venita Aspen’s Blue Off The Shoulder Dress

Naomie Olindo’s Pink Satin Floral Dress at the Birthday Party

Southern Charm Season 8 Episode 4 Fashion

We promise the only ‘F word’ you will see in this post is floral. Because we are obsessed with Naomie Olindo’s pink satin floral dress. The dress is absolutely gorg, but the most beautiful thing about it is that it’s under $50. And the link for it is under this photo, so hurry so you can get all f’ed* up!

*floraled (duh )

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here to See Her Dress at L’Abeye (Where Naomie’s is From)

Click Here to Shop Additional Stock

Photo Credit: @levabonaparte

Originally posted at: Naomie Olindo’s Pink Satin Floral Dress

Venita Aspen’s Pink Pleated Dress at Her Birthday Party

Southern Charm Season 8 Episode 4 Fashion

Screw the ‘birthday suit’ I want the birthday outfit! After seeing Venita Aspen’s pink pleated dress and adorable blue velvet sandals I’m hooked. It’s a bummer I’m just seeing this because my birthday was on Wednesday and all I wore was sweats. But honestly it doesn’t even need to be your birthday to rock this look because it’s cute for any occasion. So go ahead and give yourself a lil present by shopping it below.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here to Shop Her Crosby by Mollie Burch Dress

Click Here to See Her Antonio Melani x Nicola Bathie Sandals in Emerald

Click Here for Info on Leva Bonaparte’s Look

Photo Credit: @levabonaparte

Originally posted at: Venita Aspen’s Pink Pleated Dress

It’s been four months since we’ve seen any new products from Harry Styles’ Pleasing beauty line, which seems like a lot longer than it is. But it’s Harry Styles. We can never get enough. That’s why we’re so excited Pleasing’s Hot Holiday collection is coming SO soon. Don’t worry — it’s not giving off Christmas vibes in July. This is your summer holiday on the Italian coast. Whether that’s actually the plan this summer or not, a girl can dream.

Hot Holiday features four new shades of the biodegradable, 12-free nail polish inspired by summer: Beach Ball (a deep ocean blue opaque gloss), Nonna’s Sorbet (a yellow opaque gloss), Harry’s Chair (a seaweed green opaque gloss) and Wet Bottoms (a high gloss, clear topper for a wet-look finish). We’re truly obsessed with these names. Each is meant to be worn alone or you can layer them for a more unique look.

Pleasing.

The Pleasing Polish Set retails for $65 for four shades, plus you get cute beach-y decals to adorn your nails. Beach Ball and Nonna’s Sorbet shades are also sold individually for $20.

Pleasing.

Joining the polishes are two new skin and body products and vacation-ready apparel items. You read that right — more clothes are coming! How excited are you and how cute are the campaign images from this collection?!

Pleasing.

Let’s talk skincare first. There’s the The Pleasing Spritz Probiotic Soothing Tonic ($25 at Pleasing), a calming face mist infused with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, Maris aqua, Euglena gracilis extract and bitter orange flower oil. Like the brand’s other skincare products, it’s vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog your pores).

Pleasing.

Finally, there’s the Everybody Oil Matte Moisture Glow ($45 at Pleasing), a hydrating body oil with a matte finish. It contains ingredients such as chamomile, jojoba, evening primrose oil and buckthorn berry to
help your skin glow.

Pleasing.

The Hot Holiday collection launches July 19, with apparel coming July 26, on the Pleasing website. You can also grab the collection at one of the many IRL pop-ups happening. Check the Pleasing Twitter account for details!

Ellen hunched over the saddle like Quasimodo, hanging on,
for dear life, to the saddle horn with one hand and the back of the saddle with
the other, as Toni (her horse) trotted rapidly to keep up with the front of the
herd.

The long line of 23 pack horses and riders stretched
out over the rolling hills, the slopes full of heavy bushes reaching skyward.
Ellen’s body was jarred hard over the rocky ground. There was a lot of
trotting.

At times, a grizzly sow and her cubs would appear,
their curious gazes upon us. We were, perhaps, the first horses and humans
they’d ever seen.

A Conundrum

Ellen was miserable. As soon as she got off the plane,
she told our guide that she was “terrified of horses.” At 65, a skier and
hiker, she had decided to sign up for two full weeks in the remote Northern
Canadian wilderness – by pack horse.

No roads, no hotels, no nothing. Just hard, long days
by horse. Camping, crossing rivers, hiking.

Every single day was the same: catching, haltering,
bridling, riding, and catering to our horses, sometimes in heavy rain,
sometimes in stark cold; climbing and descending steep rocky hills on foot with
these massive animals right on our heels.

Most of these horses were Percheron mixes. For the
uninitiated, Percherons are drafts, a breed like the massive Budweiser
Clydesdale, bred to work.

They have tremendous stamina, sweet natures, and can
go forever. That’s what you want in a horse taking you and your food and tent
supplies for miles into uncharted territory.

But not if you dislike or are terrified of horses.

Not surprisingly, Ellen got herself badly injured
almost immediately. After swinging herself up behind the saddle (I am still
stumped as to how someone does this) she slid off Toni’s rear end.

Toni got blamed for bucking her off (which she hadn’t,
being a placid horse), and Ellen was placed on another sweet horse that needed
steering. Ellen did nothing of the sort.

She let the reins lie on the horse’s neck, so when
Vern faced a tree going up a steep slope, he chose to go under a branch that
gave him room, but not Ellen. Vern wasn’t being mean, but Ellen was nothing
more than weight on his back giving him no helpful instruction. 

So off she went. Not the horse’s fault, but the fall
rendered Ellen invalid for the remainder of the trip.

Do We Know Ourselves, Really?

This isn’t a slam on Ellen, but it does beg the
question: why would anyone knowingly sign on to a grueling trip that they will
likely not enjoy?

In Ellen’s case, she signed up for a non-forgiving
adventure in the remote wilderness knowing she had to deal with horses each day
– and she didn’t even like them. She ended the trip not
liking them any better. If anything, she seemed to resent them even more.

Ellen had some experience camping, but over the course
of the two weeks we spent together during my month in the Muskwa-Kechika
wilderness area, I learned that in all her travels, her husband had been the
true athlete and adventurer.

Without the safety he provided, Ellen was getting some
harsh feedback about her abilities. Or lack thereof.

This is no way to have fun. Nor would I wish this kind
of experience on anyone. I am the first to encourage people to go forth and
adventure but there are some common-sense guidelines that you and I need to
take into account before we plan a trip. 

The Guidelines Are There for a Reason

What are your real abilities and limitations? Do you know what you can’t do? Has anything changed about your physical competence, i.e., injuries, or disability?

Have You Read the Small Print About the Adventure?

For this trip, we were admonished to learn how to
ride.

I train on horses nine months out of the year or else
I’m on an extended ride like this one. This is what I do well. I can’t ski
worth a piddly which is why I would never in a million years sign up to
heli-ski down some remote mountain.

I don’t belong there, and I would be a liability – if not a danger – to the entire group.

Do You Have an
Overblown Notion of Your Physical Capacity?

The ego is a tender thing, and it’s hard to admit that
we may have lost a step.

However, to sign on to a trip that has significant physical demands, which are beyond your current capacity (and you aren’t willing to own to that), or you aren’t willing to put in the time to get in shape to be able to do that trip, is to put the group and the guides at risk.

“I don’t go to the gym,” Ellen said with great pride
early on. Unfortunately, that was obvious. 

What Is Your Real
Motivation for Taking on This Adventure?

Did a friend talk you into it despite your
reservations? Are you trying to prove something – to yourself or others? No
matter what the motivation, at some point it makes a great deal of sense to
reveal your why. Sometimes you find out your why makes no sense and could possibly
lead to trouble.

Can Others Rely on
You –
or Are You a Burden?

Finally, you and I have a responsibility to the others
in the group, the guides and crew. To knowingly go on an adventure for which we
are not prepared emotionally or physically is not only dangerous, it dishonors
the hard work others put in to be on that trip.

The other riders in our group had either been on a
previous trip with the same guide, taken riding lessons, or both. They were
ready. Ellen wasn’t.

Her conduct wasn’t fair or respectful to the group. It
also sucked valuable resources out of the crew’s time when they had a huge line
of pack horses to manage, other people to watch, and constant repairs to make.

Know Your
Limitations

Knowing when to stand down is as important as having
the courage to say yes to a challenge. In fact, in some ways, it takes even
more courage.

At some point, you and I have to admit that we may not
be able to do X anymore. Just because we have the time and money doesn’t mean
that any given adventure is a good idea. We also need to respect our
limitations. 

Most folks who adventure are in the 50 to 70 range.
But not all adventures are equal. Many are gentler, with a soft bed and warm
bath waiting at the end of each day. If that’s more your speed, eschew the
wilderness and enjoy the journey.

How do you evaluate your current physical abilities?
Would you go on an adventure that seems to be a larger bite than you can chew?
How would you handle a situation that takes you beyond your limitations? What
advice might you have for those who want to try something daring, but are not
sure where to begin? Please share your thoughts below.