We are so excited to share our Second Buy & Supply Drop with everyone!

For our Second Drop we were able to give school supplies to children at two different schools, Nata Primary and Makundusi Primary School.  

The Children were supplied with the following items:

3 Notebooks, 2 Pens, 2 Pencils, 1 Eraser, 1 Sharpener, 1 Ruler, 1 Glue Stick & Colored Pencils

Every child supported was either an orphan or only has one parent. There were 51 children who received school supplies during this drop and we are sending school supplies to another 35 children whose schools are spread throughout the area. That means that a total of 86 children will benefit from this drop. 

Bev Burden, our Giving Coordinator, said "the items were received with smiles, songs and thanks.  The teachers seemed passionate about their jobs and their students and gave a very warm welcome to the A.BARCLAY representatives!

School Supplies are not items which children receive at school and what has been provided by A.BARCLAY will go a long way  in assisting children who otherwise would not have had the materials to complete school assignments.   The kids ranged from ages 4-12. We were very impressed with the students eloquent  thank you's and our hearts were warmed by their sweet songs of Tanzania and timid acceptance of a surprising gift. It is so exciting to see A.BARCLAY love being spread across Tanzania and we look forward to the next Buy & Supply in a couple months time!"

It is amazing to see all of our work at A.BARCLAY pay off in such a special way.  We also want to thank all of our customers who make our Buy & Supply program possible.  

Many, Many, Many thanks to Bev (who did this while being VERY PREGNANT) & Grant Burden, Ann Harris & Laurian Lamatus for all of your help in coordinating this drop! 

 My favorite looks from the Red Carpet:

I loved Naeem Kahn on Nicole Richie & Jennifer Westfeldt- His pieces always feel like the right mix of jazzy & classic:

Kate Hudson always looks flawless...and she looked awesome & edgy in this Alexander McQueen:

Like everyone else.... I did love Anne Hathaway's beautiful simplicity with her hair, makeup & classic Chanel top & skirt:

It's funny...when Anne first came on the scene (think princess diaries) I wasn't sure if I was going to be a fan....but I love this girl...& after Les Miz what can she not do???

Now I am going to get a tad nit-picky...

I have a love/hate thing going on with this Calvin Klein dress on Jessica Chastain...

First of all- she is drop dead gorgeous! I love her hair, makeup, dress color etc. The only thing bugging me is the chest area..it seems too big? I don't know but something seems a little off....but overall it's a winner in my book

Kerry Washington looks FAB in this Miu Miu dress- it is simple and classic and not a huge princess dress which can look kind of dated these days..everything about it from the nude color to her classic bob is very chic.  My only deal is that I am not the biggest fan of all the sheerness...but she does look great!

I also loved how FRESH FACED Marion Cotillard & Sienna Miller looked.  I love it when women look gorgeous and yet EFFORTLESS.  If it looks like it took you hours to get ready, it's not as enchanting...I loved these women's hair and makeup!

Marion is gorge...I love how simple her makeup & hair is and that Dior dress looks amazing on her.  Love that she didn't do a huge gown.

Now I do give Sienna Miller props on picking a British Designer Erdem to make her dress and props for being bold & different and not playing by the rules of fashion (like wearing both earrings on one ear) ....BUT all that aside...this was not my favorite...

I just love that Sienna looks like she just jumped out of the shower, put her hair in a bun, threw on a bit of make up and waltzed on over to the Red Carpet.  She looks young, fresh & beautiful..

Lastly, I do love this Georgio Armani dress that Olivia Munn is wearing... She seems pretty normal & I know her dress isn't anything crazy , but that is what I like about it!  It looks like something that I might actually wear.  Simple and classic & I love the beaded bodice.

See? She looks like a pretty, normal gal, going to a black tie ball in Atlanta or Birmingham.  Right??

Anyways! Happy Monday!

 We get sooo many people asking how to tie our scarves so we are coming up with a tutorial of all the different ways to wear them.

During this process we came across this awesome video by Wendy Nguyen from Wendy's Lookbook- check it out! 

http://youtu.be/5LYAEz777AU

 We did a little Trunk Show last week in Middleburg and I had a blast.  It was my first time to Middleburg and I had no idea how beautiful it is!  Everyone there has huge, beautiful farms with horses, cow, sheep etc.  Fox hunting is also huge out there...everyone does it.  Now all I want to do is live in Middleburg and fox hunt- forget designing scarves!

Anyways- we did the trunk show at a cute little needlepoint store in town called STITCH.  

the sweet owner, Stacy, (above) not only let us take over her store for a couple of days but she also taught me how to needlepoint! I am obsessed!

my very first try at needlepointing....

Franny Kansteiner, who is the mother of Bev K. Burden our Giving Coordinator, planned the show.  Franny is an avid fox hunter and has a farm in Middleburg, where she has sheep, horses etc.  She is the owner of Gum Tree Farm, which has beautiful wool products such as capes, baby clothes, blankets etc. that are all handmade from her local organic middleburg sheep!  Franny sheers the sheep, then spins the wool and knits all these beautiful things!  

Franny Kansteiner in one of her beautiful wool capes

two customers in their new Gum Tree Farm capes

Gum Tree Farm baby clothes & another Cape

My beautiful new Gum Tree Farm wool blanket on the left and precious baby sweaters on the right!

if anyone is interested in any of her products please email me at anna@abarclaydesigns.com and I can get you in touch with Franny!

The Kenyan Collection was also a part of the trunk show selling BEAUTIFUL beaded dog collars, belts and bracelets!

I got this pretty yellow one, that means sunshine:) but they had to special order it so I have to wait a few months. But it is worth the wait!

I also got this beautiful Kenyan Collection bracelet & love it!

If you are interested in any of this Kenyan Collection you can check out their website here:

http://www.thekenyancollection.com/

and their fb page here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kenyan-Collection/120846438462

Lastly! A.BARCLAY had a great show as well!  Here are some pics:

 I've always been a big fan of loafers.....I know some of you think its a bit too prepster but whatevs I did go to Prep School in CT where guys had to wear a coat and tie and girls had to wear blazers. So gimme a break.... gotta love a little prep

Go Lions!

Anyways! I need some of these loafers for Fall:

Loving these by Charles Phillip:

AND if you'd rather spend your dough at A.BARCLAY than on some slipper loaf's then head over to the GAP.

They have some similar ones to choose from!

PEACE!!!! 

IT'S MY BDAY TMRW AND WE ARE HAVING AN ONLINE SALE ALL WEEKEND TO CELEBRATE!

EVERYONE GETS 20% OFF WHEN ENTERING DISCOUNT CODE: BDAY AT CHECKOUT!

DO IT!

WWW.ABARCLAYDESIGNS.COM

 EMMY'S BEST DRESSED: (in the opinion of moi)

 I LOVE Leslie Mann and openly want to be her- personality & looks wise... 

So of course I LOVE LOVE LOVE her look at the Emmy's

She is wearing Naeem Khan and looks stunning.  The jewelry is perfect, the fit is perf. and the color of that skirt is amazing.

She looks comfortable, sexy & chic....#1 BEST DRESSED!

I also love sweet Julie Bowen- She looked gorge in this bright dress by Monique Lhuillier...#2 Best Dressed

There seems to be a yellow theme with my winners today....

Julianne Moore looked great in this Christian Dior gown- LOVE the pop of her red hair against the yellow-

 #3 BEST DRESSED

 If you haven't hear of RED'S OUTFITTERS sunglasses you are missing out!  Some of my Atlanta friends started this company and their sunglasses are awesome!!!

Not only are they stylish and unique, they also give back to a good cause called Shallow Water Blackout Prevention.

If you live in Atlanta stop by W.Port on Roswell Rd. and check them out - and for all you non-locals SHOP ONLINE!

Below are some of my faves:

PEACE

I am a  pretty neutral gal when it comes to everyday wear, which is part of the reason I started a scarf line.  I like to wear neutrals and then spice 'em up with a fun scarf or accessory.

I am a huge Calypso junkie and shop there for a lot of my everyday pieces.  Here are some of my faves they have right now:

Susan Silk Top: perfect long silky tank to dress up jeans or leggings in the winter

Antoinelle Caftan:

 perfect for a dressier occasion when you want to stay warm and comfy!

Stitch Turtleneck Sweater:

casual/chic/warm

Tarrah Shirtail Tee:

Black on Black- sexy/chic/classic/slimming

just needs this:

Lavender & Purple Elephant Scarf:

Perfect accessory to any outfit :)

Leatherette Legging:

I haven't bought any leather leggings yet- but I am starting to see the appeal-

it dresses up an outfit for night and doesn't look as sloppy as reg. leggings can..

i'm on board

9YR Harris Bootcut Ballad

I'm a big fan of all of Calypso's AG jeans- they always fit perfectly and have a good stretch that doesn't get too baggy

I bought a pair of their Bootcut Ballad's in white in May and wore them literally all summer long...

Corduroy Leggings by AG:

A must have for fall...these leggings, boots, a sweater and a scarf..PERFECT

Fur Yali 

Lastly, I am pretty against fur because I am an animal lover...but it is hard not to love this look.... 

I'll be on the lookout for a fake version and ya'll be too!

There is much more where that came from so go check out Calypso!!! 

PEACE 

 So while I was checking out at Whole Foods on West Paces...I ran into Donald Sutherland!  I played it cool and didn't say anything and just let the woman behind him go on and on about Hunger Games etc. while I listened non-chalantly....

Anyways- he was wearing a scarf similar to the pic above but red and I really think he would love our cashmere scarves coming out this Fall- they are totally unisex.  So if you happen to see Mr. Sutherland out and about in the ATL tell him to stop by my store :)  Also, he was buying a watermelon...  hmmm...

Here is a sneak peak: