sole society – Page 2 – A Double Dose

5 Things I Learned This Month

October 29, 2019

lifestyle and fashion blogger alexis belbel wearing a neutral sherpa vest from sole society with a tan long sleeve shirt and ripped jeans from abercrombie with a taupe satchel bag and pointed booties from sole society | adoubledose.com

Can’t believe it is almost halloween, and NOVEMBER! Time is flying by! That means, you all will be looking for comfy, but cute outfits for Thanksgiving coming up. This outfit is actually perfect for it because it is neutral and dressy casual, if that makes sense!

This sherpa vest is the highlight of this outfit, AND, even better, it is r e v e r s i b l e! We love that you get two uses out of it! This comfy and cozy vest is from Sole Society, as are these great neutral booties and this neutral satchel bag. All of their fall and holiday pieces are soooo cute, and we love that they are all under $100, so they’re budget-friendly.

We love that this satchel bag can be worn on your arm, shoulder, or crossbody! It also goes with everything, as do these great booties. They are more pointed in the front, so they are more flattering on your figure. We have size 7 in these booties for reference.

In addition to this outfit, I wanted to share some things I learned this month, since yes, we are allll always learning, right? I am sure some will resonate with you!

Try new things, even if you don’t want to

I struggle with this a lot. Most of the time, I pretty much know what I like and don’t like, but it is good to be willing to try new things, even if you are 99% sure you won’t like them. For me, it’s been saying yes to activities, food and drinks that I wouldn’t typically eat often, and going out with friends for drinks. You may not love it, but at least you tried it, right?

Be open to what life brings you

Life is crazy and works in mysterious ways. That’s the tough (and also cool) part about life. You have no idea what is coming, so you just have to roll with it and take on each day and what it has to bring. I am such a planner, so this is a tough one, but it is kind of cool to know you have no idea what is to come, good or bad!

Lean on friends and family

In the last year, I feel like I have grown in a lot of ways emotionally. I know 100% that I couldn’t have done that without leaning on my friends and family. I see my friends often and really open up to them about my thoughts and feelings, and obviously, with my family as well. It feels good to open up to people you’re close with.

Be patient

I have probably written about my lack of patience wayyy too much, haha. Really, I am so impatient, and it is kind of a problem, but I am learning to work on it. I would be lying to you if I told you I don’t want to find “my person” and be in a serious relationship, but I also want it to be the right person, so I am learning to be patient and focus on other areas of my life, and that will come.

Listen more, and talk less

I feel like so many of us feel like we need to always have something to say in a conversation, when really, sometimes we just need to listen. A lot of times that is all someone wants. You just need a good venting session sometimes, am I right?

{ Pointed Booties | Sherpa Vest | Tan Shirt | Ripped Jeans | Satchel Bag | Sunglasses | Name Necklace | Evil Eye Name Necklace | BRACELETS: David Yurman Cable Bracelets here , here, and here and Cartier Love Bracelet | RINGS: David Yurman Ring here and here | WATCH: Apple Watch and Watch Case and Leopard Watch Band }

In partnership with Sole Society.

Fashion

How To Style A Skirt For Fall

October 14, 2019

lifestyle and fashion blogger samantha belbel wearing a black lace up mini skirt from amazon with a camel v neck sweater, leopard fringe scarf from sole society, black wool hat, suede boots from sole society | adoubledose.com

We are finally experiencing fall weather, so wanted to show how you can wear some of your favorite skirts for the cooler temps. We gathered up some of our new accessories from Sole Society like these suede boots (also come in grey!).We are wearing size 7 in these boots.

Pair with boots

The easiest way to wear your favorite skirts for cooler temps are with some suede boots, like this pair, or some OTK boots. You could also wear booties with a skirt.

Add a jacket or sweater

We love pairing a moto jacket, cardigan, or a v-neck sweater like this camel colored one with a skirt.

Add tights

We aren’t wearing tights with this look, but you can wear your favorite black or colored tights, or some sheer textured ones.

Wear with winter accessories

We paired our favorite winter accessories with this look to bring it all together. We love this neutral satchel bag and this leopard fringe scarf from Sole Society. We are also wearing this black hat with the cutest leopard trim.

{ Leopard Fringe Scarf | Neutral Satchel Bag | Suede Boots | Black Hat | Black Skirt | Tan Sweater | Sunglasses | Curling Iron | Nail Color | Lip Color |BRACELETS: David Yurman Cable Bracelets here , here, and here and Cartier Love Bracelet | RINGS: David Yurman Ring here and here and Gold Bar Ring| Michele Deco Watch | Initial Necklace | Name Necklace }

In partnership with Sole Society.

Fashion

Things You May Not Know About Me

September 30, 2019

Can’t believe it is the last day of September! Fall is flying by, and before you know it, it is going to be the holiday season. CRAZY! We had the start of the Jewish new year last night, so we had the yummiest food! I (Alexis) wanted to share this fall look with you all from Sole Society, and some facts you all may not know about me, since it is fun to share sometimes!

This striped cocoon sweater is a great fall piece to have because it is not too heavy, but can keep you warmer in the cooler evenings and temps some of you all may be experiencing. It also comes in solid colors as well.

I paired it with these suede booties that are great for fall, and come in three colors! I have size 7 on for reference.

If you all are looking for a good black wide-brim hat, this one is super cute, and matches everything. Also, love that it has a leopard trim around it. I love this neutral tote bag because it matches everything and can be used every day or for work.

Two black pieces you will get so much use out of are these black skinny jeans (wearing size 25 short), and this black silk cami (wearing size s). You can mix and match these with so many things!

I found these fall pieces at Sole Society, which is our go-to spot for booties and bags! All are under $100, and great quality! Some are vegan, too, if that is important to you.

And, now for my facts:

I was born in El Paso, Texas, and lived there until I moved to Austin, Texas for college at The University Of Texas At Austin.
I am mostly European (according to my genetic testing), but both of my parents were born outside the United States. My mom was born in South America, and my dad in France.
I am SUPER petite, only 5’1″.
Growing up, I was super shy and reserved, and even now, there are times I can be more quiet, which is funny considering what my job is.
I did gymnastics growing up, and after I stopped doing that, I rarely worked out, until my last few years of college, and now it is my lifestyle!
I used to have cavities every time I went to the dentist growing up, so I was TERRIFIED of the dentist for the longest time. I am not anymore, haha.
I majored in Management Information Systems in college, and loved learning about how technology and business work together. The coding aspect, not so much!
When I was in school, I would study for HOURS. I never felt felt “fully-prepared” for exams, and was not one of those people that could just look it over, and be ready for a test.
I do not like public speaking, and in high school, I tested out of it my senior of high school, so I could avoid it. Then, I went to college and had to take two specific speech classes, in addition to other speeches I gave in other classes.
I didn’t get braces until my sophomore year of high school. Luckily, I only had them a year!
I had always wanted to break a bone growing up so that I could have a cast, and never got my wish until I broke my foot a couple years ago. I didn’t know it was broken, but once I finally went to the doctor, they put me in a boot and then I didn’t want to wear it. Long story short, I healed fine, luckily!
The beach is my happy place. I would love to be able to wake up to the ocean every day.
I am TERRIFIED of bees. If there are any near me, I will move far away, or scream.
After my job at Ernst & Young (EY), I became a personal trainer with my sister, and we trained clients at their homes or apartments.
Between Samantha and I, I can be more opinionated and outspoken.

{ Suede Booties | Black Wide Brim Hat | Stripe Cocoon Sweater | Taupe Tote Bag | Black Silk Cami | Black Skinny Jeans | Sunglasses | Name Necklace | Evil Eye Name Necklace | BRACELETS: David Yurman Cable Bracelets here , here, and here and Cartier Love Bracelet | RINGS: David Yurman Ring here and here | WATCH: Apple Watch and Watch Case and Glitter Watch Band }

In partnership with Sole Society.

Fashion

The Best White Jeans

August 29, 2019

fashion and lifestyle blogger alexis belbel of a double dose wearing white ripped jeans for petites from abercrombie, a white lace cami from express, a pink wrap sweater from sole society and a grey tote bad and grey booties from sole society.

We wear white jeans all of the time, and we love finding new ways to wear them. This pair of white jeans is so comfortable and stretchy, so you will never be uncomfortable in these. We also love that these have a small hole in one of the knees, so it is not too many rips, but the perfect amount!

For reference, we are size 25 short in these, and these are marked down often, so they’re a no brainer! We wear these with casual outfits, and also dress them up.

For this look, we paired this super soft cardigan wrap from Sole Society that can be worn to work as well. It is seriously so soft! We paired these grey pointed booties and this grey tote bag for accessories.

We love these grey booties because they’re pointed, so they’re flattering and make your legs look longer. We have a size 7 in these for reference. You can wear these with leggings or dresses, too!

This grey tote bag coms in a few other colors, and is a great carry-all bag. It can be used for work, travel, or just every day. This one is under $70, so it is a great buy!

All of these cute accessories, which are perfect to transition into fall with, are from Sole Society. We love their booties, which are almost always under $100. Their bags, especially this tote bag, are vegan. They really have the best pieces that will last you years!

{ Pink Cozy Wrap | Grey Tote Bag | Grey Booties | White Lace Cami | White Jeans | Sunglasses | Name Necklace | Evil Eye Name Necklace | BRACELETS: David Yurman Cable Bracelets here , here, and here and Cartier Love Bracelet | RINGS: David Yurman Ring here and here | WATCH: Apple Watch and Leopard Watch Band }

In partnership with Sole Society.

Fashion

How To Decide What Is A Want Vs A Need

August 15, 2019

fashion and lifestyle blogger samantha belbel wearing a python print kimono with an ivory bodysuit and distressed girlfriend jeans with pointed blush velvet loafers from sole society

We are all about splurging for a nice piece, but sometimes, you may be on the fence if you should really bite the bullet, and save up for that big purchase, or if you even truly need that item.

We wanted to share some tips and kind of talk through some of that dialogue, and what we do when we are making decisions like that. Of course, we all want the newest, and nicest things, but we think sometimes they’re either not for us, or maybe not the right purchase, so let’s dive in, shall we?!

Budgeting

First off, let’s say there is something you want to splurge on, but don’t have the budget to purchase it. We love scouting second-hand stores or retailers to find the brands or pieces you want.

Some places we suggest are:

eBay
Craigslist
Poshmark
ThredUp
Local thrift or consignment stores

Plan For Big Purchases

Obviously seems like a no-brainer, but if you are going to make a big purchase or investment, you want to do your research. We always read up on whatever we are buying, and see where we can get the best deal. For example, when we buy a bag or a piece of jewelry, we will look at it several times in person and online, research pricing, saving money on taxes, etc.

You also want to make sure you budget for it. If you have a lot of expenses coming up like buying a car, moving, getting married, etc, you may want to hold off on making a purchase for clothing or bags, especially if it not a necessity.

Seems kind of silly, but there have been times where we have turned down buying something we really wanted, and waiting for the right timing when we had more spending money, etc.

Needing Vs.Wanting

Okay, this is a big thing, and something we all probably struggle with at some point. There are SO many things that we probably don’t ever need, but we want so badly. Fortunately, most of us have the necessities that we need to survive, especially when it comes to clothing.

When it comes to wanting, there is always going to be something. With constant advertising, social media, word of mouth, etc, the pressure is real. You have to really check in with yourself and perform almost an interview with yourself on if it is an item you maybe don’t “need”, but want to have, and that the item will be worth the investment.

Some things we like to ask ourselves are:

“How often will we wear it?”

There are a lot of pieces that are really cute and fun, but when you really think about it, are you truly going to get good use out of it? There are several pieces we have purchased over the years that seemed like a great idea, but then were worn maybe once or twice. Of course, we have stuff that we have gotten SO much use out of.

“Will it go out of style/is it too trendy?”

Trendy pieces are tricky because in the moment, they seem like they are “in”, but before you know it, they aren’t that stylish anymore. Our recommendations for trendy pieces is to find a look-for-less option, that way when it goes out of style, you haven’t spent a ton of money on it! We suggest checking out Shein, Forever21, or H&M.

“Is it because YOU actually like it, or you have seen others with it?”

There can be so much peer pressure with everything, and it comes with fashion, too. Think about the pieces you want, and really evaluate if you truly like it, or have just seen a ton of other people with it, and you want to “fit in”. Of course, that is normal and how society works, but when you’re making a big purchase, you want to be sure YOU are the one who wants the item.

“Do you already have similar items in your closet?”

We all convince ourselves that we could use another pair of jeans, or another pair of neutral sandals, but chances are you probably own something that is very similar in your closet. However, if you do own something similar, and you seem to wear it a lot, it may be worth the purchase!

“Does it flatter your figure?”

This is actually pretty interesting because often times we see a bag or a trendy jacket on someone else, and think it would be SO cute on us. However, sometimes if you are petite, like us, that oversized bag or cardigan may look silly on you. Just some food for thought!

Speaking of needing vs. wanting, you MUST have this python printed kimono from Sole Society. You can wear it over a bodysuit with jeans, like how we did, or dress it down over a swimsuit! You could also wear it over a black pencil skirt or slacks and really dress it up.

We paired it with these blush velvet loafers, which are SO cute, and classy. This laser cut tote bag is perfect for any outfit, and literally will match anything you put with it. Such a good bag! We love that Sole Society has so many affordable, but versatile pieces that you can wear for years.

{ Python Print Kimono| Velvet Loafers | Laser Cute Tote Bag | Ivory Bodysuit | Girlfriend Ripped Denim | Sunglasses | Curling Iron | Nail Color | Lip Color |BRACELETS: David Yurman Cable Bracelets here , here, and here and Cartier Love Bracelet | RINGS: David Yurman Ring here and here and Gold Bar Ring| Michele Deco Watch | Initial Necklace | Name Necklace }

In partnership with Sole Society.

Fashion / Personal

Dating Update With Alexis

July 22, 2019

lifestyle and fashion blogger Alexis Belbel of A Double Dose wearing white jeans for petites, a white silk cami, grey shawl/cardigan, suede peep toe booties and a tan crossbody round bag from sole society

Feeling like being really raw with you all, and opening up like I have in these posts. To be honest, I (Alexis), have been having my moments where I feel down and frustrated with being single. As I shared in this post , it can be hard to be the single sister.

I know Samantha has been there, and was single for years before finding Taylor, but I just want the same thing. I have chatted with many of you all who are going through the same thing, and can relate on so many levels. The truth is, no matter how many people you have surrounding you and supporting you, nothing can totally change the way you are feeling.

Not that I am old, but at 28, I thought my life would look a lot different, and I am totally okay with that. I just thought that I would be married, or at least already with my “match”. The truth is, it doesn’t always work the way we plan in our minds, and since I am quite the planner, it has been difficult for me to not be able to control this situation.

As frustrating as it is, I am really takin this time to embrace this period in my life where I can be totally selfish, have tons of alone time, and be picky about who I want in my life partner.

I have learned so much about myself already. Dating just sucks. Plain and simple. Of course, there are times that it can be great, like anything else, but often, I am just frustrated. It can be a full-time job, with no reward sometimes, which for the perfectionist in me, can be difficult. Between spending time swiping for matches, making small talk, going on dates, etc, it can be a rollercoaster of emotions.

Then, after all of that, realize you’re not a good match with them, get “ghosted”, or it just fizzles off. Can you tell I am frustrated and a whole mix of emotions?! haha.

I decided to share this stuff with you all, or whatever is on my mind, because 1: it is a therapeutic, and 2: I know a lot of you all can relate to this. Just know you aren’t alone in any of this. So, I wanted to share some things I have been doing, or trying to do help myself as I navigate this stage/phase of my life.

Make Friends/Make Plans

This has been a big one for me. Of course, living with Samantha, it can be easy for me to just hang at home, especially when her and Taylor are here, but I know I need to be out and making friend and being social (more on that in this post). I have been back on Bumble BFF, taking workout classes, and am going to try and get involved with volunteering for a charity. It does help a lot with what I am feeling, and being social just makes you so much happier!

Be Selfish

As everyone tells me, this is the one time you will never get back. I will never have this much alone time and quality time with myself to do literally anything I want to, when I want it. If I want to go get a manicure at 9 PM, or binge watch my favorite girlie shows until 12 AM, I can do that. Not that you can’t with a guy in your life, but it is all a balancing act that I see people in relationships having to play. This is also a time I have been taking to read all the inspirational books, quotes, and more!

Be picky

I know there are mixed feelings about this. We talked about in this podcast episode, but for me, I feel like if you are choosing your life partner, you need to be picky. Of course, some people have limits on their standards, but after dating a few people that I learned a lot from, I feel like I know what I want and don’t want, and that is really what dating is all about. You are fine-tuning, until you find your match. I am trying to be better about being more open-minded, but I do have quite the list going of standards 😉

You should totally be picky because if you don’t think you’re worth it, then who else will?

Speaking of dating, this outfit is perfect for any kind of date– not too dressy, but not super casual, and it shows the perfect amount of skin. We love this grey cocooon cardigan to transition into fall because it is super soft, and it matches everything. You can wear it with shorts, jeans, or pair it with a skirt or dress for work!

We paired it with this silk camisole (such a staple!– wearing size s) and these white jeans that come in a shorter length for petite girls, like us. For accessories we put on these suede peep toe booties and round crossbody bag from Sole Society. Both are great fall transitional pieces, and can be worn so many ways. The bag you can wear crossbody, on your shoulder, or in your hand, and it will match everything you wear.

The shoes are also great because they can be worn into the fall months with jeans and sweaters! We have size 7 for reference in the “honey” color. Sole Society has so many great things to wear as we start preparing for fall clothing (even when it is triple digits out, haha!) We love that almost all of their items are under $100!

{ Grey Cocoon Cardigan | Tan Round Crossbody Bag | Suede Peep Toe Booties | White Jeans | Silk Camisole | Sunglasses | Name Necklace | Evil Eye Name Necklace | BRACELETS: David Yurman Cable Bracelets here , here, and here and Cartier Love Bracelet | RINGS: David Yurman Ring here and here | WATCH: Apple Watch and Leopard Watch Band }

In partnership with Sole Society.