Laced Up

Top, F21.  Dress, Jill Stuart.  Tights and shoes, Urban Outfitters.

This Thanksgiving, I took a little vacation from Los Angeles and a little vacation from blogging!  I spent a week in upstate New York relaxing, eating, playing Charades, and exploring Syracuse.  Traveling from LA to Syracuse required a lot of outfit planning and I had a rough time whittling my wardrobe down to a week's worth of essentails.  But I had an idea of what kind of activities I'd be doing, what kind of weather I'd be experiencing, and how much I'd be eating (I had to bring lots of stretchy pants!), so I packed my suitcase accordingly.

 

Here's how I made my final selections:  I tried on some cold-weather looks, took pictures of my favorites, and set out to pack based on those photos.  Seeing the outfit laid out head-to-toe in front of me (shoes, jewelry, bags, etc included!) ensured that I didn't forget anything back home. 

 

Of course once I got to Syracuse and didn't have my extensive closet at my disposal every morning, I panicked.  (Side note: I was meeting 20 members of my boyfriend's extended family, so that's why I was extra focused on dressing to impress!)  That panic led me to mix-and-match my preplanned outfits in new and creative ways, and I came up with this little number!

 

 

 

After eating a week's worth of Thanksgiving treats in just a few days, I was worried that some of the looks I brought with me might not be full-stomach-friendly.  This Jill Stuart dress was the perfect dress to over-eat in:  it fits tight around my waist but balloons out over my tummy and hips. I had already worn it early on in the trip, though, and didn't want to repeat outfits!  To switch it up, I stole this lace top from another outfit and layered it underneath.  I was so glad to have packed such versatile pieces, and I'm going to make sure I pack clothes that can work double-duty on my next trips!

 

Here were my orginal looks:

 

Dress, Jill Stuart.  Jacket, F21.

Top and Jeans, F21.  Boots, H&M.  Belt, Zara.

 

Fashion Tips from "Laced Up":

 

1.  If you're packing for a long trip and are worried about how to choose outfits, start planning early!  Taking photos of your outfits beforehand and packing from a visual really takes some of the pressure off.

 

2.  Think of new ways to wear old pieces.  Maybe you've bought a top to go with a specific pair of pants, but explore how else it can be worn.  It could look amazing layered over a minidress!

 

3.  Having an "I have nothing to wear" day?  Turn that panic into productivity!  Open yourself up to new creative possibilites and I'm sure you'll find that you do, in fact, have something to wear.

 

But the biggest lesson I learned this Thanksgiving week is that who you are is more important than what you wear.  I had the most amazing time with my man and his family, and they loved me even when I had to change into my shlubby sweatpants after stuffing myself with stuffing! 

 

 It sure was nice to hear them ooh and ahh over my outfits every morning, though- and that makes the time I spend getting dressed up so worth it!

   

 

 

 



Comfy Cozy

Jacket, vintage.  Dress, Marc by Marc Jacobs.  Clutch, F21.  Boots, Joie.

There is a common misconception that fashion = pain.  This feeling is justified in some cases; high heels generally aren't the most comfortable things, and the torture devices known as Spanx have become a necessity due to the popularity of bodycon dressing.  But fashion doesn't have to hurt! 

It's so easy to slip into sweats and a tee-shirt on days off, but I knew I could find an outfit that was comfortable, cozy, AND chic to wear on my day off this week.  Enter the tent dress!

I found this Marc by Marc Jacobs dress at Wasteland a long time ago.  I almost didn't bother trying it on- even though I loved it, this dress is a size XS (which I definitely am not). I convinced myself that it could work anyway, and I was so happy that it did!  

 The dress has two layers: a plain black slipdress topped with a lacey purple overlay.  This doubled-up feature creates a lot of texture, so the piece looks styled even though I just threw it on.  Just as comfy as sweats!

While I find a swingy tent dress to be comfy, I don't necessarily think this style flatters my body.  To balance out the volume of my dress, I chose a boxy vintage jacket.  The bottom of the jacket skims the top of my hips, creating a slimmer shape amidst the billowy layers.  To top it off, the fur collar kept me cozy and warm while I was running errands! 

I love that the jacket added two more textures to the look:  I mixed silk, lace, fur, and a woven fabric.  To throw a few more into the mix, I added over-the-knee leather boots and a faux leather/suede clutch.  Texture is an oft overlooked way of adding intrigue to an outfit.  As an example,  you could be wearing head-to-toe black but if you've mixed monochrome leather, lace, and denim your look is on a whole other level!

Here's an up-close look at my texture details:

Fashion Tips from "Comfy Cozy":

1.  Challenge yourself to find comfortable ways of dressing that still feel fashionable.  When you feel good, you get more done- it's a fact! 

2.  If you're shopping and you find something you love, try it on!  Even if your mind tells you that it's the wrong size or it won't be flattering, you really never know until you try.  You could be pleasantly surprised!

3.  A boxy jacket streamlines your figure.  Wear one over a flouncy dress to temper a volumionous skirt, or even over jeans and a tee to balance out wide hips.   

4. Spice up your look by playing with texture:  a silk cami under a leather jacket, a tweed blazer over a denim buttondown, etc.  The unexpected mix is just plain cool!

Here's to being creatively comfy!

Collar ID

Shirt, Forever 21.  Skirt, DVF.  Shoes, Zara.  Bangles, F21.

 Whenever something in my life changes, I feel like I need a full wardrobe makeover to go with it.  I recently let my favorite hair stylist Matthew chop my locks even shorter than he did last time, and my short, swingy hair has opened up so many new sartorial doors!

When deciding what features I want to flatter as I get dressed every morning, I usually think about how to play up my waist or my legs.  I wish I had known earlier that accentuating my neck and collarbone would make such a huge impact!  Pretty detailing on a shirt's collar draws all the attention up towards my face, and there are tons of different ways to try out this trend.

A few weeks ago I assisted on the set of a 60s-themed photo shoot, and this Forever 21 lace top was on the wardrobe rack.  After staring at it in between shots, I decided that I needed it in my life and bought the top the next day!  I've worn it countless times since, and I get so many compliments on the punky/pretty mix of fabrics. I paired it with a favorite gold tiered DVF skirt to play up the sweetness of the lace, and added simple black pumps to finish off the look.

Dress, H&M.  Shoes and Bangles, F21.

Soon after my collar obsession started, I spotted this amazing dress at H&M.  The swingy, asymmetrical skirt is the perfect foil for the silver studded collar, and studded suede booties gave it a badass, rocker feel.   

The best part about the embellished collar?  No need for jewelry or accessories.  I added a few bangles to this look to break up the all-black ensemble, but earrings or a necklace would just be excessive.  

And just because I've been away from blogging for so long, I'm going to include a THIRD collar-ful outfit!

I was definitely one of the crazies that lined up at Target at 6AM this Sunday to buy up the adorable Jason Wu for Target collection, and I ended up getting all of the pieces I wanted and then some!  This red shirt wasn't on my must-have list- but once I tried it on, the simplicity and versatility changed my mind.  I have a feeling this red silk top will soon be on constant rotation in my closet!

Shirt, Jason Wu for Target.  Skirt and shoes, Zara.  Collar, Alexis Bittar.

I paired it with a simple black pencil skirt from Zara, and then topped the look off with le piece de resistance- my fabulous lace collar from Alexis Bittar!!  This collar/necklace hybrid has been taunting me from the cases of Alexis Bittar for months, and I scooped it up as soon as the AB 50% off sale hit.  It manages to be simultaneously elegant and punky, classic and fresh.  I am going to wear it over absolutely everything I own!!

Now that I know how a cool collar can transform an outfit, I'll be on the look out for more pieces that utilize this trendy trick.  I can't wait to share more collar-crazy looks with you!