Fabric, Frills + Lace

Do you ever feel like your outfit is just 'bleh,' bland, blah, boring? I do, all the time. For instance, today I was running late, and trying to get dressed for work. All my brain could put together were these black skinny jeans from Urban Outfitters, and this tan turtleneck from Banana Republic. By themselves, kind of a dull outfit, sure. But if you spice it up with some knee-high suede boots, then it becomes a fun outfit. These skinny jeans from Urban, are tight, not gonna lie. They're form-fitting, and at times can cut-off my circulation, but I do like the way my butt looks in them. I will give Urban credit, though; these jeans have maintained their black color way better than a pair from American Eagle did. One thing I like about Banana Republic is that they have a petites section. I'm 5'3," and regular sizes tend to fit width-wise, but length-wise it can be too long. This sweater hits just right at the start of my hips, instead of belo...

I did not intend to come off looking like a school teacher, or, for that matter, a student. Yet, after looking at my outfit, that's all I can think about. The geometric print on the ModCloth dress with the deep shade of blue did not help matters. Bright yellow colors can also be associated with school buses and number 2 pencils. I'm sure all of that combined together, helped to make me look like a grade school TA. Not that I mind that look. In fact I think it made me look festive at today's holiday brunch. This all started because I wanted to wear the cool vintage sweater I bought in Shimokitazawa while I was living in Japan. Shimoks, for short, is hipster central; there are underground record stores, closet-sized art galleries, and vintage clothing stores galore. This sweater was such a good buy because it has metal buttons, and actually closes. Really I fell in love with the pattern, which I know, for some, can be hard to match with. A year later, after...

This post surfaced from my desire to wear both a plaid shawl and a long sleeve, striped shirt. About two years ago, I saw a ModCloth ad for a reversible poncho, bought the one I'm wearing in this photo, and regret nothing! Best purchase ever. Ponchos, have so many great uses; but for me, the appeal lies in its blanket-like shape. I really just wanted to be super warm on my way to work. Following my layering rule— as per my previous post —I choose a light, long sleeve black and white striped shirt from Banana Republic to go underneath. Paired with my maroon beret ( also from an earlier post ), the pair make for a cute Parisian look. While I love dressing borderline costume-y, I also try to rock a sensible style for the office, especially because I work with college students, and want to look older (haha!). The shawl helps balance the Parisian top, with a more down-to-earth let's-go-take-a-break-in-an-abandoned-cabin feel. Of course, the ModCloth lib...

You probably think of high-waisted, white jeans as the perfect summer pant, easy to match with any floral top. But the great thing about white pants, is they're also great for the winter. Think of all those Fall L.A. vibes, where it gets chilly at night, but the sun stays strong in the afternoon. Now, imagine those pants with a comfy, cable-knit sweater. Voila! You've got an unconventional fall/winter outfit. The first time I wore this outfit to work, my boss—a New York socialite—told me, "you look like the type of person who vacations in the same spots as Audrey Hepburn." Of course, I took that to mean she was calling me cosmopolitan, classy, and pretty, aka Audrey Hepburn. However, I think what my boss was ultimately hinting at was that anyone who feels comfortable enough to rock white when it's 30 degrees outside, is a fashion risk taker. Taking risks pays off. I would be lying, if I said this outfit didn't take some careful planning. The sweate...