Golden Hour in Malibu

Last weekend I went to dinner at the oft Instagrammed Malibu Farm, a restaurant situated on a pier. The view was lovely, especially as the sun started to set, and if you've followed my blog for any length of time, you might know that docks during golden hour are my most favorite time and place for outfit photos.

When the sunlight catches my hair and ignites it bright gold, it might be the only time I don't mind my frizzy flyaways.

       

The Rundown
Black Tee Shirt Banana Republic
Field Jacket J.Crew similar
White Wide Leg Jeans Gap similar
Leopard Loafers Franco Sarto via TJMaxx similar
Camera Bag "Palma" ONA

Tortoise Earrings Loft
Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Crystal Bar Ring Upper Metal Class
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color "Caviar Bar" Essie

Disable your ad blocking software to view this content.

Linking up with Style on the Daily

Unstoppable Style

I've mentioned the dire parking situation in Los Angeles, it's been one of my least favorite things to deal with. Last week when I was meeting up with Jessica in the Arts District, I circled looking for street parking for fifteen minutes to no avail. Determined not to spend $10 to park in a lot I drove a bit further and found a $5 lot. Now I just had to walk half a mile (not exaggerating) to the spot where we were getting coffee!

Thankfully, I'd chosen to wear the new slingbacks Vionic sent me, as I know I can rely on them to provide comfortable and supportive footwear. The soft kid suede needs no breaking in, and the low heel provides just enough height while still being walkable. I always appreciate a comfort footwear brand that doesn't compromise on style.

After Jessica and I had our coffee and I recovered from the stress of parking, we set out to take outfit photos with some flowering bougainvillea - it had been at the top of my Los Angeles photo bucket list, and I was delighted we were able to make it happen! Sadly, I fear not too many more of my dream photo shoots will get crossed off my list this trip, as I finally booked a flight home and this will be my last week in L.A.!

      

The Rundown
Black Maxi Dress Gap similar
Plaid Blazer H&M similar
Nareen Block Heels c/o Vionic
Black Straw Bag Zara
Tear Earrings Etsy custom design via Bonanza Studio
Gold Plated Disc Necklace Matteo via TJMaxx
Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Diamond Chip Ring c/o Crown Jewelry
Chevron Ring Etsy via Silver Canyon Jewelry
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color "Caviar Bar" Essie

Disable your ad blocking software to view this content.

 Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Fall

Vionic provided me with footwear for the purpose of this post. 

Spring Essentials

When I'm home in Connecticut, I often feel like I get jipped when it comes to spring. Most of the time I'm still in heavy sweaters and furry coats all through April - even into May! I know I'm hardly alone in that struggle, so I'm taking this moment to showcase all my favorite pieces that should be spring essentials, even if they might not work for the actual spring weather some of us experience.

The blazer. I love blazers, even though I haven't been in an office setting which has required them in years, they still really pull a look together. They dress up jeans, make for a casual topper over a fancy dress, and I just equate them with polish.

The Cropped Jean. Typically by the time it's finally warm enough for me to consider cropped jeans, it's probably warm enough for bare legs and then you know I'm opting for bare legs. However in a perfect spring weather world, the cropped jean is the happy medium. Still keeping you warm, yet letting you show some skin.

The closed toe shoe which isn't a boot. Yes, I put my feet through cold freezing hell wearing ballet flats, or mules, or pumps, when I should have on sherpa lined boots instead, because much like the cropped jeans, it often feels like once it's warm enough for shoes like these mules, I could just be wearing sandals.

So there you have it, Californians get to enjoy more of what I would consider perfect spring weather than I ever do, even though it's still technically winter.

What are your spring essentials? Realistically, optimistically, or somewhere in between?

       

The Rundown 
Silk Floral Cami Joie via ThredUP similar
Rust Satin Blazer Banana Republic similar
Jeans "Tomboy" M.I.H. via The Outnet
White Mules "Bianca" Target
Black Straw Bag Zara
 Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Alphabet Necklace c/o Gorjana similar
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry

Gold Herkimer Diamond Ring c/o Lumo

Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color "Caviar Bar" Essie

Disable your ad blocking software to view this content.

Linking up with

Jeans and a Teacup's Flashback Friday (one year ago today)

Wind Blown

I tried to be smart (ish) packer for this California trip, choosing lots of similar colors, trying to be minimalist about shoes and bags, only bringing one hat, and avoiding pieces that I'd likely wear just once, or at the very least convincing myself that I might style a floral maxi dress twice in a two month span.

I also didn't plan too many specific outfits, deciding that things would just come together naturally, however, this is one of the outfits I'd had in my mind since December. And I choose the wrong day to wear it.

On Saturday we planned to visit the Getty Museum, and with visions of grand white marble steps floating through my head, I decided to wear this outfit, and things went downhill (or uphill, whichever you prefer) from there. First it was overcast and rainy, then the sun came out, but the wind picked up; temperatures stayed stubbornly low, and we learned that when the weather is poor, the only thing to do in Los Angeles is go to the museums, so an abundance of museum goers made photos challenging.

These are not the photos I'd imagined, but they are the photos which encapsulate my chilly, wind blown, day at the Getty Museum, and perhaps now I'll feel more compelled to style this dress again sooner than later.

     

The Rundown
Floral Shirtdress H&M
Rima Fringed Cardigan Anthropologie similar
Nude Mules Target similar
Waist Bag "Wendy" Rebecca Minkoff
Wide Brim Fedora Goorin Bros. via ebay similar
Circle Earrings c/o Grand Avenue Jewelry
Half Moon Necklace c/o Happiness Boutique
Rhombus Charm Necklace c/o Happiness Boutique
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Nail Color "Caviar Bar" Essie

Disable your ad blocking software to view this content.

 Linking up with Style on the Daily

Fair Weather Floral

I feel like I shouldn't have to pretend that it's warmer than it is, but alas, I am. I get the feeling that everyone in Los Angeles is dressing like I would if I were in Connecticut, yet as I scroll though my Instagram feed, I notice all my CT friends out there freezing for the sake of spring fashion posts.  Thus, 55° and sunny is nothing to complain about.

I love this J.Crew dress, the colors felt so perfect for the fall when I paired it with leopard, while the bright teals and purples smoothly transition into spring with the simple addition of a white shoe. I'm really happy with these white Target mules. I've been reaching for them non-stop, because they have a low enough heel to be walkable, and are neutral, but still make a statement. They are on clearance for $14, so if your size is in stock, you probably can't go wrong.

      

The Rundown
Floral Dress J.Crew x Abigail Borg similar
Denim Jacket Gap similar
White Mules "Bianca" Target
Black Straw Bag Zara
 Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry

Gold Herkimer Diamond Ring c/o Lumo

Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color "Caviar Bar" Essie

Disable your ad blocking software to view this content.

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Fall

Friday Five Under $50

I recently had a sponsored Instagram post pop up in my feed featuring a blogger wearing a denim shirtdress. I have no idea who it was, didn't check to see if the dress was shoppable, and went along with my day. But the denim shirtdress resonated with me, and thus became the catalyst for this under $50 look.

When shopping for shirtdresses for myself, I have a pretty hard rule about pockets. It was something I picked up from the days of "What Not To Wear" and Stacy and Clinton always recommended that if you had a larger bust, it would be best to avoid any bulky pockets in that area. It makes sense, right? But also presents a challenge with denim dresses. While I wasn't completely sold on the sleeves of this one, it looks like just the right shade of blue and has very unnoticeable pockets.

My favorite part of this look is the bag - I now know that beaded bags are the new straw bags and this round one is so cute! At $49.99 it just made the cut, but for that price you could probably be convinced to add another bag you don't need to your closet.

Gold Disc Necklaces, $8 at H&M
BlankNYC Short Sleeve Denim Shirtdress, $30 at Nordstrom Rack
Universal Thread Woven Mules, $25 at Target
Beaded Wooden Bag, $50 at Mango
Loop Wrap Belt, $20 at Gap

L.A. Winter Uniform

As much as I thought being in a different climate for winter would break me of my winter dressing habits, it has not. While I try to keep things on the blog varied and colorful, what I post is mostly what I'm wearing on the weekends, while on the weekdays I stick to the timeless combination of jeans, top, and jacket.

When I started this blog I wanted to be the girl who wears heels to the grocery store, and admittedly, occasionally I am. But now that I'm older and wiser, while I know nothing will replace how great a pair of heels can make an outfit look, I'd much prefer to do my grocery shopping in flats. The blog alone used to motivate me to always be putting in the extra effort into getting dressed each day; now some days I go to yoga in the morning and never get out of the leggings.

When I was packing for this trip I was so terribly aspirational. I don't know where I thought I'd be wearing all those outfits, but I had visions of so many looks and photo shoots. I fear I will be bringing home a lot of unworn or under utilized pieces, as most days, it's jeans, a top, and a jacket for me.

       

The Rundown
Swiss Dot Blouse Ann Taylor similar
Plaid Blazer H&M similar
Jeans Banana Republic
Leopard Loafers Franco Sarto via TJMaxx similar
Black Straw Bag Zara
Circle Earrings c/o AUrate New York
Evil Eye Necklace c/o Belcho similar
Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx

Disable your ad blocking software to view this content.

 Linking up with Style on the Daily