Girly Style, All Grown Up

April 27, 2015

Los Angeles, CA

For a spring look that’s ultra-femme, try working a swishy tulle midi skirt into your wardrobe.  Set aside for dance recitals and Carrie Bradshaw highlight reels, this grown-up tutu skirt is making a serious comeback this season and while it’s not the easiest number to pull off, I’m going to show you just what you need to make it work. 

Because it’s already so girly,  try pairing  it with a more basic, textured top like this slouchy chambray Cloth & Stone button-up I found at Marshalls. For finishing touches, I’d stay away from delicate, floral or whimsical pieces.  You’ll notice I went with chunkier booties instead of pointy-toed flats and a bold statement necklace instead of dainty layering necklaces.  It creates contrast and allows you to achieve a more polished, adult feel. 

That being said, with a piece this lovely,  it's impossible not to end up with a look that’s perfectly ladylike.

Chambray Top: Cloth & Stone via Marshalls (Similar here) 

Booties: Chinese Laundry

Tulle Midi Skirt: Francesca's (Similar here)

Statement Necklace: Baublebar (Similar)

Shop This Look: 

Photos By: Danny Fung

Kick Back... It's Labor Day!

September 2, 2013

West Hollywood, CA

First off, Happy Labor Day! I hope that you have been enjoying this long lovely weekend and that you are soaking up the last bits of summer. 

I’m definitely in denial about the fact that my favorite time of year is quickly coming to a halt.  However, here in Los Angeles, it feels like we are in the peak of summer.  The weather has been warmer than it has been ALL YEAR!  I am capitalizing that because it’s pretty serious (I might melt away over here) and I want that to come across loud and clear.  Sometimes I exaggerate…well, exaggerating is a strong word.  Embellish would be more accurate.  Sometimes I’ll say something like “that plane ride was INSANE! We literally almost crashed!”….when in actuality there were probably just a few bumps at take-off.  But… I have to say, this tidbit is 100% free from exaggeration.   I slept with ice packs on my face last night… seriously.  I actually woke up by taking a cold shower and it was AMAZING.  On a walk to get frozen yogurt yesterday, my friend and I walked into 3 air-conditioned stores along the way just to cool off.  That’s the level of heat I’m talking about here.  Now, I’m sure it doesn’t help that I don’t have a/c in my apartment, which is by the way not a great idea if you plan on living in Southern California, but that’s besides the point… the point is - it’s hot in LA. Very hot. Muy caliente.  It’s as warm as it ever gets here. Period.

Thus, I’ve spent the majority of my weekend cooling off with friends and enjoying what’s left of summer.  On Saturday night, I attended an outdoor screening of The Graduate at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.  It’s the kind of thing you just can’t do in the winter. Now while I realize that watching a movie amongst a bunch of ghostly tombs may sound a bit odd, I can it assure you that… it is… a tiny bit, but it’s also a lot of fun (and that’s coming from someone who is definitely one of those easily scared types).  For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, it’s essentially an L.A. community summer event, much like the Hollywood Bowl, dedicated to showing classic films in an unorthodox location.  Trust me, on a warm summer night, there’s not a whole lot better than picnicking outside, watching Dustin Hoffman in his prime, and singing along to Mrs. Robinson.  It’s warm, jacketless nights outside like that one, like that really make me appreciate the heat. 

Today, I am headed to a cookout in West Hollywood and I thought this adorable dress from Tulle would be just perfect! It’s a great color, it’s light and airy, and it has a wonderful retro feel to it- just perfect for this Labor Day Heatwave.  Oh and I got the black ballet flats this weekend at Steve Madden. They were having their Scratch and Save Sale and so I ended up getting these for a bit of a steal. Yahoo!

Dress: Tulle

Ballet Flats: Steve Madden

Enjoy yourselves today, perhaps go out and do something unconventional, but most importantly, absorb that everlasting summer sun!

Photos today by: Jennifer Biswas

Backyard Bungalow

August 13, 2013

West Hollywood, CA

With the help of a lovely little website called, airbnb.com, an adventurous friend of mine, has been house/apartment hopping all over town this summer.  Though I personally have not used the site before, the concept behind it is pretty simple: it’s a place where you can rent out your home to perfect strangers while you are out of town (and vice versa).  Now if you’re thinking, “Well, that sounds pretty sketchy”- I have to admit, I was right there with you, but after seeing some of the places that she has been able to call home this summer, I’m a changed woman! 

From a three story Venice beach house, to an artistic loft downtown, she is now settled in this adorable townhome in West Hollywood.  Complete with a quaint backyard garden, fire pit, and enough room to entertain guests on a warm summer night, what more could you really ask for? A washer and dryer maybe? Well, you’re in luck because it has that too! Needless to say, my friend is a genius.  While she’s been living in affordable and exciting new spots, stockpiled with amenities, the rest of us Los Angelinos have been schlepping our dirty laundry to the laundry mat every month and looking for street parking at night. (Well, maybe that’s just me).

Regardless of your current laundry situation, it’s probably pretty easy to imagine why my girlfriends and I have quickly decided to make the most of my pal’s amazing casa of the month.  Impromptu backyard hangouts and “garden parties” as we like to call them, have become the norm.  It’s peaceful, beautiful, and it’s honestly the biggest backyard I’ve had access to (in LA) in quite some time.

So there you have it, adventure pays off yet again.  Now the only thing left to do is figure out how to convince the owners to never come back;)

This light blue dress by Tulle with an adorable scalloped neckline, is perfectly classic for all things summer- especially backyard garden parties.  It's both sophisticated and casual and I absolutely love the pockets (I can never get enough of a sundress with pockets).  Best of all, it is completely fitting for backyard gatherings at my pal's current "home of the month".

Dress: Tulle

Necklace: Ruche 

Heels: Aldo (Similar) 

Photos today by Jennifer Biswas.