Getting Ready for Valentine’s Day

Hello lovelies! I know, I know, it’s been ages. My life has been more than a little full and the last year had a number of both challenges and blessings. So, we’re gonna’ start the new year off with a post for your upcoming Valentine’s Day (or, if you’re like me, Singles Awareness Day 😊).

Now, I’m a big fan of sassy, slinky, dresses- so this little number from Express was a must-have for me!

I typically pair this with either strappy black heels (I chose some by Steve Madden), or if you want a pop of color, I’d go with some red or burgundy heels!

Because of this dress’s clean lines, I’d suggest either a simple lariat necklace or a fun blingy bracelet or cuff, and definitely some linier or chandelier earrings.

Wishing you all a happy Valentine’s Day!

xo

Beach Days

I can't tell you how long it's been since I had a Girls Day- but it might have been around the same time as my last post (AKA- way overdue for both, lol)!

So, I've been a tad bit busy: aside from working a full-time job, I also started teaching a college writing class, have been working on getting my book published, and planning a vacation to see one of my best friends (really my heart's sister) in Boston! Which is why time has slipped away and I find myself facing the last half of the year and thinking, "Holy wow! Is it July already?!"

I'll keep you all posted on when the book will be published and where it can be purchased (major retailers including B&N), but more on that later. Today we're focussing on the essentials: time with your friends, laughter, and sunshine!

My friends are spread all over Southern California, so getting together can be a bit of an adventure, but it's one that is always worth it :)

Our latest adventure took us down to San Diego, where we shopped, laughed too hard, ate like queens, caught up on the latest in each others' lives, and stopped for the essentials (coffee and the beach).

Beach days can be a bit tricky, so I always recommend going prepared. I wore my favorite sapphire romper from Angl, paired with a pink cami (for that pop of color), a bit of bling, sunnies, my stand-by black clutch, and black leather flip flops. However, I also took my favorite light blue paisley bikini, wrap-skirt cover-up, and beach towel just to be on the safe side (as it turned out, it was a bit too cold to go traipsing about in my bikini, so it stayed in the beach bag).

OH! And before I forget: notice that I suddenly have a tan?! This is basically impossible for me in real life- BUT I've been trying sunless tanner, and I have to say that the Loving Tan 2 hour express in Dark is a game changer! I'm absolutely in love with this product and will write a more extensive review later :)

Our first stop was 2Good2BeBakery! If you're gluten-free, vegan, or have special dietary restrictions, I would highly recommend this place! It's absolutely phenomenal! And their lavender lemonade is perfect on a hot day!

It's no secret: I'm happiest at the beach :)
OOTD:
Romper: Angl
Cami: Buckle
Necklace: Swarovski
Sunnies: Bvlgari
Black clutch (not pictured): Asos
Flip-flops (not pictured): Nordstrom Rack

 I mean, come on!!! Look at that perfect sunset!

These two ladies are such sweet and godly women! I am truly privileged to call them my friends! 

(Also, they're willing to put up with my sassy, laughable, ways!)

(And don't mind our beach hair- the wind was fierce that day, lol!)

Our final stop was one that no Girls Day would be complete without: dessert :)

We stopped at Cheesecake Factory and I spoiled myself with their mocha, vanilla, Jesus-smiled-it's-so-good, coffee!

Garden Weddings

I LOVE Garden Weddings.

And I love dressing up, especially when there's a theme or look to be achieved! That's when I get excited! I look at my closet, try to convince myself (usually unsuccessfully) that I don't need to do any shopping to create my fashion statement, and then start brainstorming ideas.

This is one of the rare occasions where my obsession for Fit-n-Flare dresses was entirely justified :)

At the time of the wedding, I was still sporting my Audrey Hepburn pixie cut, so I knew my makeup would be a simple kitten flick with black eye-liner and a bold red lip.

The rest of the outfit was surprisingly easy as well!

Now, I do believe that you get what you pay for when it comes to fashion. I'm of the mind that I'd rather save and buy something that's high quality and will fit me perfectly, then just purchase something cheap that looks better on a hanger than it does on me.

I find that this is especially true in the dress department.

Dress: Maggy London Floral Fit & Flare

Sunglasses: Tiffany & Co. (Garden Collection)

Quilted purse: Target

Shoes (not pictured): Ralph Lauren (simple black ballet flats)

Earrings: I'd suggest sticking with either pearl or diamond studs, but that's just me :) 

Not Short on Style

Living in California means it gets hot. REALLY hot!!! Triple digits is the norm, and I think we all want to stay cool without feeling like the only options are cut-off shorts and tank tops. 

One of my favorite go-to looks is a pair of dark denim shorts and a light weight button up! In this case I decided to add a little pop of color by throwing on some aviators and my red, white, & blue Sperrys.

Necklace: Swarovski 

Pin strip button up: BDG

Aviators: RayBan

Belt: American Eagle

Denim shorts: Miss Me

Boyfriend watch: DE Timepieces 

Shoes: Sperrys

Fringe Tote: Rebecca Minkoff 

Sisters in SoCal

One of the most beautiful and fashionable people I know is my heart's sister, Chase! After being away from each other for two years, she and her husband have joined us on the beach and I couldn't be happier or more blessed to have them here! Drew and Chase are two of the most loving, down-to-earth, and musically talented people I know! I'm pretty sure that Drew can play every instrument known to mankind, and Chase's voice is out of this world!!! Hearing them perform is a real treat! Their voices are beautiful, resounding, and perfect together. They have a wonderful band called The Silver Lining, and if you have the chance, go check them out at their SoCal debut! 

Moi et ma soeur! 

Floral Notes

It's no secret that I love fashion and combining different elements to achieve whatever look I want. The important thing to remember is that you can change your look EVERYDAY! This particular look is from a photoshoot I did in the South. I chose a floral feminine tunic (it was listed as a dress, but I'm about 5'8" and very leggy, so on me it's definitely not long enough to be a dress!), over a deep teal long sleeve, dark skinny jeans, a wide statement belt and trooper boots. I love looks like this because there's are elements of the rustic Southern life I grew up around, but it's also sweet and girly. 

Dress/Tunic: Altar'd State

Long Sleeve: Altar'd State

Statement Belt (not pictured): Altar'd State

Skinny Jeans: Miss Me (Buckle)

Trooper Boots: Steve Madden 

Hello Loves

 It's been ages! I do apologize- I've been absurdly busy! However, I do have a classy start to our summer! As you know, I love all things vintage and classy, and that definitely includes this super cute olive swimsuit by Esther Williams! If you like this look, please feel free to check out my Instagram and also look up the wonderful photographer, Maria Longhi! 

Swimsuit: Esther Williams 

Floppy Hat: Any retail store

Sunnies: Bvlgari

Model life

I grew up knowing exactly what I wanted: to act, write, and direct. It was simple. It was love. It was me. 

As I grew up, my dreams didn't change, they only took on more life and purpose! I ended up getting a BA in English from a prestigious university, developing my skills as an author because I knew that between acting and writing, that writing was the skill that I needed to further. I wrote and published, edited and came up with fresh content, but it was when I moved to Southern California that a dream that I never even gave utterance to took shape. 

Modeling.

I've never seen myself as beautiful. Never. I'm lean, but in a healthy way. Tall, but not a six foot runway model. 

Basically, I figured that there was no chance, and no point in even trying.

I had no idea how wrong I was!

I did one or two modeling shoots when I lived in the South, and always with a photographer that I knew and trusted. Once I moved to SoCal... My modeling became a fun new adventure! 

Keep an eye on my blog for photos from old and new photoshoots!!! 

Model's Day Off

Everyone needs a day off, including models! And while I love relaxing in a pair of yoga pants as much as the next girl, what I really love to do on my day off is let my inner sassy gal out! So, I let my wardrobe bring it with pieces that are equal parts style and attitude! 

From head to toe:

Makeup: Inspired by Lisa Eldridge's "Parisian Look" which can be found on her YouTube channel.

Black lace jacket: Forever21

London tee shirt: Forever21

Sunnies: Rayban New Wayfarers

Black leather skater skirt: ANGL

Black leather purse: Jessica Simpson

Black stilettos: You can pick up some classy stilettos just about anywhere, but I happened to find these online for an amazing price! Leave a comment for more details!

Nike Dri-Fit Shorts Review

I've never reviewed a product via my blog before, but there's a first time for everything :) 

Okay, as most of you know I'm a runner, and one of the things that can make or brake your workout is the equipment; in this case, my running shorts. Since I live in SoCal, it's extremely important to stay cool and dry, especially during our summers! When I left for my run this morning, it was already in the upper 80's, and when I finished it was well on it's way to upper 90's. Now, thankfully, we don't have the humidity that I grew up with in the South, but dry heat still takes a toll on your body and your running gear. By the end of my run, the shorts were a bit damp from all the sweating I had done, but they weren't by any means soaked. The material did a fairly good job at keeping my legs cool and dry. Which brings me to my next point: the shorts didn't trap any heat! A life-saver in these temperatures! Yes, my body was hot, but the fabric let the heat escape as opposed to trapping it.

Now for the fit! I honestly think that the fit is my favorite part!!! As a woman and a runner, I am always on the lookout for shorts that aren't so short that they expose/nearly expose my booty. I seriously can't stand it when shorts are so short that I have to worry about my bum getting fried on a bench when I sit down! Thankfully, these Nike shorts fit perfectly! They're the perfect length! Short enough to provide full range of motion, and long enough that there's no chance of being cheeky! They are a little snug when I first have to pull them up over my runner's thighs, but after that they're great!!! Plus, the waistband of elastic is strong enough to keep your shorts in place even when they're loaded down with a phone or step counter. There's also a zipper in the back that is perfect for stashing your key.

So, I would definitely recommend these Nike Dri-Fit shorts! Not just for running! They would work for pretty much any workout, indoors or out!

Comicon 2015

Okay, I realize that this has nothing to do with my typical fashion/ootd posts, but come on! I got to go to Comicon!!! 

Now, I have never been a comic convention, let alone San Diego's Comicon, but it was amazing! 

I took my little brother (by little I mean he'll be 27 this year) for his birthday present, and we had a blast!!! Yes, it was crowded, but everyone kept moving so I never felt like I was trapped or stuck in the press of people. The costumes ranged from tossed together to exquisite! The artistry of the merchants and the attendees was top notch! 

Food and parking were a bit pricey, but overall it was absolutely worth it! My brother and I made it a point to visit NerdHQ, Weta, WoW, BBC, and Funimation. If you get the chance to attend SDCC, I would highly recommend it! 

Baseball caps and errands

I don't know about you, but I LOVE baseball! I root for a select few teams, but the Giants and the Angels have my heart! I grew up spending my summers at the ball fields with my brothers, watching and playing baseball, consuming sunflower seeds and popcorn. It was life. Beautiful, slightly sunburned, clean-hitting, crisp-pitching, life. So, to this day, watching and playing baseball is a family event, and as a result, I own more than a few baseball caps. Wearing a team cap is sometimes difficult, because we hate hat-hair and the bad hair days that we tend to reserve our baseball caps for aren't usually days we enjoy. 

So, here's how to rock a baseball cap and be proud of it! 

I usually save this look for days when I won't be at work/at a photoshoot, but I still want to feel summery and cute. 

I paired my Bermuda shorts with a simple heather gray t-shirt. Add your favorite lace up sneakers (most use Chucks, I prefer my PF Flyers), your baseball cap of choice, some simple stud earrings, and voila! You've got an easy, cute, summer-ready outfit! 

Much love darlings!!! 

Baseball cap- Lids

Shirt- American Eagle

Bermuda shorts- Miss Me from The Buckle

Sneakers- PF Flyers 

Rainy day inspiration

Rainy days always seem to signal loose jeans, sweat pants, and hoodies. And there is nothing wrong with that! I just like to dress it up a little bit no matter what the weather 😊 We've recently had a bit of rain in SoCal (shocking, I know!) and I wanted to take the opportunity to enjoy something a little less relaxed. 

For this look, I paired a muted amethyst  top with a leather jacket and herring bone skater skirt, black tights, and booties. Now, if you're a fellow "Elementary" fan, you know that this look is largely inspired by Lucy Liu's character Dr. Joan Watson, whose wardrobe is always on point! I've been watching since the show first aired, and I LOVE it!!! Not just for wardrobe ideas, but because the episode and overarching plots, acting, and character development are all superb! Go check it out on CBS!

Glasses: Prada

Leather jacket: The Buckle

Top: The Buckle

Skirt: Angl 

Tights: Target 

Booties: Modcloth 

The Little Things

This is just a personal post, because sometimes it's nice to just say, "Hi! How's it going?" Life has been nothing short of interesting, which is good, because I can't stand being bored (my great great Gram used to say that "Only boring people get bored!" So I have strived to never be boring :). That said, I can definitely find enjoyment in the little things :) This week, my friend and fellow model, Ruby, turned 25! So, to celebrate we went to a little French bakery in SoCal! The crepes and pastries were phenomenal! And it was just so nice to take a quiet moment to catch up, laugh, and enjoy good food :) 

So, remember to make time for moments to just sit back, breath, and laugh with the people you love!

Classy Hat Act

Every time I wear a hat (and I do mean LITERALLY every single time) women of all ages stop me and tell me, "Oh! I LOVE your hat! I wish I could wear cute hats like that!" Gals! You absolutely CAN wear cute hats :D It's simply a matter of finding the right style and fit for YOU! 

Now, I want to encourage you to not chicken out! Don't give up and slap on a ball cap (even though I love baseball caps!). Find something fun! A fedora or a floppy hat! Maybe something knit or a cute beret! But there are two important things to remember when you're shopping for a cute hat: 1. Trust your gut! If you like it on the hat rack- try it on! And 2. Hats are not one-size-fits-all! No, seriously! Find your hat size! If they're always too big or too small, then find a store where they carry actual sizes! Sometimes that means visiting a real hat shop, and sometimes that means checking out a high end retail store. 

Another hat-wearing tip to ensure you feel confident: when you start wearing a hat, keep the rest of your ensemble simple and maybe stick with a neutral color palette (at least until you're comfortable and confident in your hat game ;D ). 

Most of my hats come from known retailers: The Buckle, Target, or Forever 21. But my favorite hat-maker for the past year has been Janessa Leoné! If you haven't seen her gorgeous hats, then go check them out! Like- nowish! 

One of the reasons that I love her hats, is that they are classy, elegant, have clean lines, and are truly works of art! They come in gorgeous colors and really have a very fine, lady-like, appearance and quality.

Here's an easy way to rock your cute new hat! 

In this photograph, taken by one of my favorite LA-based photographers, Bruce Cooper, I'm wearing a simple black dress from H&M, grey ballet flats from The Buckle, and a wide-brimmed, floppy, black hat from Target :) 

So take a chance and try something new! You never know how adding one, simple, accessory can add a little confidence and class to your day! 

Until next time lovelies! Xx

The Right Fit

Okay, so we all go through it. No matter what your body type or height. We all struggle with one thing...
Finding that perfect fit.

You know what I'm talking about! That once-in-a-blue-moon, fits-like-a-glove, article of clothing!
And once you DO find something with that perfect fit, your jaw drops, your eyes bug out, and you think to yourself, "OhmyGOSH! It fits ME! It really fits me!"

You know, we don't have to search and scrounge around for that fit, but we do it because we feel like it's the only option available to us.

But it's not :)

The simple answer is this: find a tailor.

No! For real! I avoided going to a tailor for the longest time because I thought that it would be stupid expensive and what would be the point anyway.

Um, do you want your clothes to fit you, I mean REALLY fit you? or not.

Okay, so the first time I went to a tailor, it was because I was managing a store and I was sick of my blazer looking baggy and my favorite French-cuff shirt being too boxy. So I got the name of a lady from one of my friends and timidly drove to her home (not all tailors operate out of shops, some do all their work from home, but do your research before you go, and always trust your gut). She was one of the kindest women I'd ever met! We made friends almost instantly, and she had me go into the bathroom and change into the pieces so that she could pin according to what I was looking for. She asked me questions to determine my fit preference, and then she took the pieces and I drove home.
Less than a week later she called me and let me know that the pieces were finished. So, I drove back, tried on my newly fitted clothes and...

Ohmygosh! They were perfection! We're talking, "Dannnnnggggg girrrrlllll!!!" looks good. I paid her (plus tip) and set up my next appointment to bring back some evening dresses in need of a little love.

Now, the cost of a fitted shirt can be as low as $10 but it can also get a little astronomical if you're not selective. My tailor only charged me $10 a shirt, which is great, but always do your research and don't pay them until you have your finished product and you've tried everything on. Most tailors WANT you to try it on anyway, because you're they're walking billboard! If you don't look good, or that fit is off, they're the ones who won't get more clients.
If, however, you have an experience like mine, and you LOVE the fit and the tailor is simply amazing, then ask them for some business cards to give to your friends. And for Pete's sake, do not forget to tip! There are certain people that you always want to tip (and tip well) in life: your hair stylist, your barista, your waiter, and your tailor!

Until next time lovelies Xx

Tough Love

Fashion, to me, is a beautiful, playful, artistic vein. I think there are vast numbers of people who possess it, but have tamped it down or completely shut it out. We're so creative and fearless when we're children and we can finally dress ourselves, but over the years people get into our heads and tell us what looks good and what doesn't. What is acceptable and what isn't. 

But it's always according to someone else's standards of beauty as opposed to our own beautiful creativity and expression. 

You were created as a beautiful individual; so why try to look like everyone else? You are a vital and important person with a vital and beautiful role in this world! Only you can fill that role! No one else is equipped to be you. So, go forward confidently and don't be afraid to try something new! 

One of my favorite looks that would have been deemed "unfashionable" up until a few years ago is pairing my trooper boots with a cute sundress! I just think it's sweet and adorable :) It's a look I like to think of as Tough Love. The perfect blend of strength and sweetness ^_^ 

Here's the list of items I used to create this look, and remember to use the hashtag #wardrobe2thelookingglass if you decide to recreate this outfit! 

Jacket: Charlotte Russe

Dress: Altar'd State

Boots: Steve Madden 

Sweet and off to Work

As a lady, getting ready for work can sometimes be a little boring. Suits and pencil skirts are fine, but a little variety is always a good thing. This particular outfit works for a slightly less dressy office, a casual Friday, or your trip to the library! 

Simply pair your favorite black skinnies or straight leg trousers with a button down shirt and add a cute neutral sweater vest! You can rock heels or flats, just make sure that they're either black or that they match whatever neutral color your sweater vest is! Personally, I love to wear my black stilletos because they really help to dress up the outfit a bit more. For jewelry, keep it simple and classy with either diamond or pearl studs, you can also add a simple pearl necklace; I tend to pass on the necklace. 

Here's the complete list of clothing items I used to achieve this look :) If you like it and recreate your own version, use the hashtag

#wardrobe2thelookingglass 

Shirt: pinstripe button down from BDG

Sweater Vest: Dark Gray from Banana Republic 

Trousers: black skinnies from H&M

Heels: black stilletos from Victoria's Secret 

Accessorize like a Fashionista!!!

It's the little things that tie an outfit together, and we all know that there are few things that really make you feel like you're on top of the world like the right pair of sunnies! The trick is simply this: if you change your shoes, then you should change your shades! If you're going out and are dressed to the nines, it seems a little silly to wear a crummy pair of sunglasses. For example, wear your sporty glasses for your run or your trip to the ball field, but maybe go with something a bit dressier for your little black dress or a cute pair of aviators for your favorite jeans and bohemian top :)

I'll post a quick blog later about which styles of shades are a little more versatile than others!

First glimpse!

#mornings are for #scones and #sketching #coffee and #contemplating

And this morning is off to a great start! The secret project is underway! Keep your eyes peeled for more fun photos and updates! I'm so excited for y'all to see what's in store!!!