An Indian Summer Giveaway with Aplaya!

September 8, 2014 Kelly Donohue

September 8, 2014

Los Angeles, CA.

On this Monday, I'm excited to be partnering with Aplaya Jewelry on hosting a giveaway! They are giving one of my lucky readers all three of their latest pieces: Tiki Bracelet, Arrowhead Necklace, & the Surfboard Outline Bracelet (all pictured below). If you are unfamiliar with Aplaya, it’s a local Southern California jewelry boutique that perfectly captures the lifestyle and essence of the California coast. All of the pieces are one of a kind, handcrafted with REAL seashells, and the entire collection is as affordable as it is beautiful. It’s truly my kind of shop! I have featured and worn their jewelry a bunch already this summer but since the weather has continued to stay so warm, these pieces are actually perfect for last minute beach getaways and Indian Summer weekends. In fact, wearing pieces like these actually help to keep a bit of summer alive all year long!

To enter the giveaway, just follow the instructions below in the Rafflecopter form. Open to all readers. You can also gain bonus entries by liking them on Facebook. Oh and leave additional comments below for bonus entries. This giveaway will close and be announced on Friday. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Staple This.

August 25, 2014 Kelly Donohue

August 25, 2014

Santa Monica, CA

Summer vacation may be coming to a close but that doesn’t mean your wardrobe needs to undergo a drastic shift. In fact, August and September often bring about some of the warmest days of the year. Having spent the majority of this past weekend sprawled out at the beach, sipping cold beverages, I can’t imagine that these temperatures will be going away anytime soon and that means, like it or not, you have to find ways to stretch out your summery attire for a bit longer.

I personally love the breezy, colorful clothing of this season, but I know that around this time of year, there are a lot of people who are antsy to switch over to booties, scarfs, and plaids. For all of you eager beavers out there, I have found that adding a simple staple, like this jean vest from the Gap, helps to quickly refresh your tired summer look. Not to mention, the vest adds a light layer of warmth for chillier days. Providing each outfit with an extra bit of dimension, there are so many ways to integrate a jean vest into your wardrobe.

I raided my closet to come up with three different looks for this vest, but as it is such a versatile piece, the possibilities were really endless. All of the outfits I chose are casual and comfortable and with the help of the vest, they’ve been given a bit of a facelift.

Look #1: Maxi Dress

For this first look, I paired a printed, flowy maxi dress with the fitted denim vest. While this look is hardly a new fashion trend, it’s always great to be reminded of classic pairings that work well together.

Maxi Dress: American Eagle (Similar)

Sandals: Franco Sarto (Similar)

Necklace: c/o Aplaya Jewelry

Rings: TopShop

Look #2: Florals & Stripes

I paired a striped tee with a high-waisted skirt and was able to tie the entire look together with the jean vest. In this case, the denim layer is essential to balance out the rest of the look. I’ve found that a great way to create fresh, new, stylish outfits is to mix prints with other prints, which is what I played around with here. Matching the long sleeve stripes with the bright florally skirt also creates for a great outfit for transitioning from the summer to the fall.

Purse: Kate Spade

Floral Skirt: American Eagle (similar)

Striped Long Sleeve Tee: Joan Vass via Marshalls (similar)

Sandals: Franco Sarto (Similar)

Look #3: Denim on Denim

This fun and simple denim look is improved with the addition of more denim! Once a fashion faux pas, I love playing around with mixing denims. The key is the pair different weight and washes, and keeping accessories simple. I added some stripes to this look as well but I feel it adds a nice balance.

Boyfriend Jean Shorts: Urban Outfitters

Striped Tee- Michael Stars via Marshalls (Similar)

Seacoast Canvas Sneakers: Sperry Topsiders

Get These Looks Here!

Photos Taken By: Art Voskonian

Venice Vibes.

August 6, 2014 Kelly Donohue

August 6, 2014

Venice Beach, CA.

Anyone who has spent time vacationing in Los Angeles has likely made a visit to the famous Venice Beach. Whether grabbing dinner at one of the trendy new spots on Abbot Kinney, bar hopping on Main Street, renting bicycles to cruise along the ocean, or simply heading over to check out the freaky (but mostly awesome) dancers, musclemen, and eclectic bunch of characters that camp out along the boardwalk, the overall vibe is the same. Venice brings out the carefree, laid back spirit in just about everyone-myself included. That means that whenever I have the chance to get myself over there I take it!

This past weekend, not one but two of my friends celebrated their birthday in the Venice area and so it was a perfect excuse to make the twenty minute trek over to the simple beach town. Day or night, no one ever gets too dressed up in Venice and so even if you’re worried that your beach plans might carryon into nighttime escapades, you’re pretty much covered as long as you’re wearing anything over your bathing suit.

I embraced the scene and wore a strappy lace halter maxi dress from Forever21. While it proved to be as comfortable as a nightgown, the detail and the tie up the back also made me feel quite lovely. If you’ve kept up with me for a bit, you know that there is nothing I love more than summer and so there’s also nothing I love more than a dress that reminds me of just how summery it at this very moment. Perfect for a summer getaway or simply a dinner out on the beach with your man, this dress will impress.

I paired my Venice-worthy dress with jewelry from a local Southern California boutique, Aplaya. I love working with local shops and businesses and Aplaya certainly captures the essence of the California coast, handcrafting each piece from REAL seashells! There are too many beautiful (AND INCREDIBLY AFFORDABLE) pieces to select from but if you haven’t had the chance, head over and check them out! I mean, this necklace was $12… does it get much better?

I think not!