A Plea for Your Help:
The White Tee Edition
January 19th, 2012 By

I don’t own many t-shirts and am so picky about the fabric and fit, I can never seem to find the right one. I have one muscle tank that’s perfect: tissue thin and slouchy in all the right places, but it took 10 years to get that way: That’s right, it was a $5 tank from Old Navy that went through it’s life as a pajama top, but once it hit wispy perfection, I re-introduced it to my closet. Now, I’m getting greedy for more, but don’t have the time to distress another cheap top. I don’t mind spending over $50 on these basic white tops, because if past history serves me correctly, I’ll be wearing these for the next 10 years. Which one would you go with?

Monrow Tissue V Neck TeeWomen's T by Alexander Wang Jersey Pocket Tee

I’ll Wear It For A Decade: The White Tee Edition: MONROW TISSUE V-NECK TEE, $50.00, available at Shopbop; T BY ALEXANDER WANG JERSEY POCKET TEE, $76.00, available at Neiman Marcus.

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Love ‘em or Hate ‘em,
They’re Here to Stay
December 8th, 2011 By

You guys, I’ve actually been sticking to my work-outs, and lo and behold, the hard work is paying off. My jeans are getting baggier around the waist and the butt, but I’m not ready to get a new pair yet. So in the meantime, I’ve been living in leggings. My best friend thinks legging are everything that’s wrong with the world, but in my transitional stage, I’m kind of in love with them: I’m branching out and getting some that are in fun prints like fair isle and leopard, ones that are cable-knit (legs need warmth, too) and, really, how cute are those heart knee patches?

RACHEL Roy Pants, Fair Isle Printed Thermal LeggingsSparkle & Fade High-Rise Printed Legging

ASOS Leggings with Heart PrintFree People Cable Knit Leggings

love ‘em or hate ‘em, clockwise l-r: RACHEL ROY PANTS, FAIR ISLE PRINTED LEGGINGS, $49.00, available at macys.com; SPARKLE & FADE HIGH-RISE PRINTED LEGGINGS, $24.00, available at Urban Outfitters; FREE PEOPLE CABLE KNIT LEGGINGS, $58.00, available at shopbop.com; ASOS LEGGINGS WITH HEART PRINT, $36.36, available at ASOS.

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It’s Really Starting
To Look Like Christmas
November 25th, 2011 By

I drive by Rodeo Drive every morning on my way to work, and last week, they put up the traditional flying Santa and lined the street lamps with some truly unnecessary iridescent puffs. The decorations didn’t put me in the holiday spirit in the traditional sense, but made me really excited to buy velvet shoes for no real reason except, well, it’s for the holidays. And I’m bound to wear them somewhere, even if it is only to my moms.

OksanaRavel Velvet Party Court

it’s really starting to look like christmas, l-r: OKSANA SHOE, $199.99, available at Piperlime; RAVEL VELVET PARTY COURT, $197.67, available at ASOS.

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Need More White
Button-Down Shirts
November 24th, 2011 By

I have one white silk blouse that makes me feel semi-grown up as soon as it’s on. In typical fashion, I put said grown-up blouse into the washing machine over the weekend and now it’s warped and looks like it has cellulite. Yes, the shirt looks like it has cellulite. Every good tomboy outfit needs a white button-down and Zara’s are top notch so I’m buying these two. And in future laundromat scenarios, I will not put these into scalding hot water, followed by a high heat tumble dry session.

Zara Poplin ShirtZara Contrasting Shirt

 l-r: POPLIN SHIRT, $59.90; CONTRASTING SHIRT, $49.90; both available at ZARA.

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Shop Small:
Small Business Saturday
November 24th, 2011 By

Kicking off holiday shopping a bit earlier is a smart play in my book, so I’m going to shop on Saturday, November 26th to support Small Business Saturday. Over two million people have pledged to shop at their favorite local mom and pop stores to help boost the economy so I’ll be on Third St. in L.A., shopping  New Stone Age (thanks Marissa),  OK, and Lotta Stensson. If you can’t make it out, you can always shop some of these same small businesses online with us.

third st

Third St, Los Angeles

image via 

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They’re Socially
Acceptable Sweatpants
November 19th, 2011 By

I’ve been living in my boyfriend jeans for the past week (partially because I haven’t done laundry in almost a month). I love them because they’re loose and worn in, but even more so because they’re versatile: I’ve worn them to work (twice this week, a win for casual dress-codes), a dinner date, and on a Trader Joe’s run. The pair I’m wearing right now (yes, as I write this) are shredded to pieces with paint splatters, and though I’ll never let go of these, I need to purchase more to satisfy my inner comfort monger. And the biggest bonus? I can wear them out of the house without judgment.

Levi's Cropped Selvedge Boyfriend Skinny JeanL.L.Bean Boyfriend Jean Pant Misses

Lands' End Canvas Women's Rigid Boyfriend JeansTalbots Boyfriend 5 Pocket Jeans

clockwise l-r: LEVI’S CROPPED SELVEDGE BOYFRIEND SKINNY JEAN, $78.00, Urban Outfitters; L.L. BEAN BOYFRIEND JEAN PANT, $89.00L.L. Bean; TALBOTS BOYFRIEND JEANS, $39.99, Talbots; LANDS’ END CANVAS RIGID BOYFRIEND JEANS, $19.99, Lands’ End Canvas.

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Vintage Nike to Make My
Workouts More Tolerable
November 17th, 2011 By

I took a little (ahem, 6 month) break from the gym and paid for it. My back hurt when sitting for long periods, I felt lethargic, and couldn’t get a good night’s rest. I’m back in workout mode and it feels so good to be moving again but I wanted to create a little more incentive for myself by buying some new gym clothes (my current collection boasts rips and tears). Right now, I really like the look of vintage Nike: It’s a little bit urban, super cool and might even look better with a few holes.

Nike AW77 Team Full Zip HoodieNike Vintage Exploded Sportswear TShirtvintage nike, l-r: NIKE TEAM FULL-ZIP HOODIE, $44.99, available at Eastbay; NIKE VINTAGE EXPLODED SPORTSWEAR T-SHIRT, $27.99, available at Foot Locker.

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The NBA Lockout
and My Affinity for Mesh
November 15th, 2011 By

So, if you haven’t heard by now, the NBA lockout will continue, which means a high chance that there will be no basketball season this year. I don’t really care, but the wails of my soon to be betrothed is more than enough to keep the sport (or lack thereof) on my mind. No bother, I’m boycotting the boycott by buying a lot of mesh.

Alexander Wang Basketball Top With Cut-OutsAmerican Apparel Mesh Tank

Nike Reversible Mesh Women's ShortsVieta Isabelthe nba lockout, clockwise l-r: ALEXANDER WANG BASKETBALL TOP WITH CUT-OUTS, $395.00, available at Saks Fifth Avenue; AMERICAN APPAREL MESH TANK, $4.00, available at American Apparel; VIETA ISABEL MESH BAG, $81.95, available at Shoebuy.com; NIKE REVERSIBLE MESH SHORTS, $33.97, available at Nike.

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I’m Trying To Reel It In, But
I Need Silver Glitter, Stat.
November 11th, 2011 By

Holy shiny things, Batman! Planet Blue‘s brand new holiday lookbook stays true to their bohemian aesthetic, but this one standout image that makes me want all things in silver glitter. I’m starting with this strapless sequined dress and continuing on to the craft store. It’s gonna get messy folks (glitter, glue, rhinestones)! Sometimes I get carried away with things like this. Please understand.

planet blue silver glitter

Other pretty, silver things:

Enzo Angiolini SmilesSEPHORA by OPI Sparkle Me Silver Top Coati need silver glitter, stat, l-r: ENZO ANGIOLINI SMILE SHOES, $99.00, available at Zappos; SEPHORA BY OPI SPARKLE ME SILVER, $9.50, available at Sephora.

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Making Casual Outerwear
A Little More Special
November 8th, 2011 By

Confession: This weekend, I unapologetically blasted Holiday tunes while getting ready to go out. The next step is to watch (or re-watch, in this case) my childhood favorite, White Christmas. Betty and Judy Haynes prove it possible to look pretty despite cool temperatures in their swaths of cashmere, painted red lips, and perfect harmonies. Ashamedly, I own all of two coats and always feel a little frumpy in them so I’ve decided the only way to feel semi-decent is to throw some faux fur in the mix; I’m convinced it’s the only way I can be simultaneously warm and stylish. I bought the ASOS Quilted jacket and have high hopes for it…I’ll let you know how it goes, but I’m thinking with some pin curls, I can do Bing Crosby proud.

Faux-fur Cardi SweaterVero Moda Fur Collar Quilted Jacket

BB Dakota Bostwick Coat - Brown - MediumVolcom Pull In Rank Fur Trim Parkachanelling zsa zsa, clockwise l-r: FAUX-FUR CARDI SWEATER, $85.00, available at Victoria’s Secret, VERO MODA FUR COLLAR QUILTED JACKET, $71.88, available at ASOS, VOLCOM FUR TRIM PARK, $89.99, available at FredFlare; BB DAKOTA BOSTWICK COAT, $149.99, available at Urban Outfitters.

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Winter Pajamas So You Don’t
Wake Up With a Sore Throat
November 2nd, 2011 By

Last night, I slept with the window a teensy bit open. Like, half an inch open…I couldn’t even be bothered to close it – and totally paid for it. I woke up multiple times throughout the night freezing and tried to warm up by burrowing deeper into my blankets, only to wake up in another hour, still cold. When a sore throat greets me before my alarm clock does, I know it’s high-time to switch to something more effective. I love the look of long johns: there’s something cozy about them – probably because I used to wear them as a kid when my family would take winter vacations to Arrowhead Lake or Big Bear Mountain. Here’s to nostalgia and grown up thermals.

The Fireside Thermal Long Jane PajamaJockey Long Johns, Thermal Top and Leggings Setwinter pajamas so you don’t wake up with a sore throat, l-r: THE FIRESIDE THERMAL LONG JANE PAJAMA, $49.50, available at Victoria’s Secret; JOCKEY LONG JOHNS, THERMAL TOP AND LEGGINGS SET, $49.00, available at Macys.com.

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Wedding Planning
for The Flowerless
November 2nd, 2011 By

I don’t want lots of flowers at my wedding. Absolutely nothing pink allowed, and I promise to run out of the venue like my hair is on fire if there is monogrammed anything.  Other than those no-nos I haven’t really thought too much about a wedding, which means my brand new engagement has thrown me for a loop (can I elope in Paris like my cousin?). Elise recommended the blog, Style Me Pretty, which has so many good quirky ideas (not to mention, her own wedding which was the total opposite of cliche), so I’m taking note! I think these centerpieces are pretty:

centerpieces2Just need a couple of good mercury bowls and stands, and I’ll just be on my merry way. Who said wedding planning was hard? (I’m kidding, I haven’t even started yet).

Lazy Susan Apricot Mercury Ripple Bowl, 8 x 7-InchesAntique Style Mercury Glass Bowl with Lid Home Decorwedding planning for the flowerless, l-r: LAZY SUSAN APRICOT MERCURY RIPPLE BOWL, $56.00, available at Amazon.com; ANTIQUE STYLE MERCURY GLASS BOWL, $11.00, available at Amazon Marketplace.

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