Stripe It Up

Dress: HERE (similar HERE & HERE)| Earrings: ZARA| Bra: HERE| Purse: Coach| Shoes: Old

I think I've already made it quite clear how I feel about stripes ❤
This striped beauty dress came by way of a recent package from Gwynnie Bee. It is a true wrap style dress. The neckline plunges into a deep v shape, I seized the opportunity to wear one of my fabulous bras from elomi. They have the best designs and the support is simply incredible! In my opinion the sachi design was specially made for a low v-necks 😊 I added a hint of pink by way of lipstick X earrings. Finally I headed out for a day of errands. BTW- don't you love the unique hem on this dress?! Don't forget to sign up for a trial Gwynnie Bee membership HERE!
Until next time,
Xx

The Season of Sandals

Sunnies: Nordstrom| Dress c/o HERE| Bangles: Assorted| Handbag: Vintage, thrifted| Sandals: Nordstrom Rack

The unofficial start of summer has begun. Yes, the season of sandals has arrived 😌 Due to the fact that I live in a mild climate, over half of my personal shoe inventory is made up of sandals. Lace-ups, slide ins, ankle straps, you name it - I have it. However, there's something very special about the sandals that I am wearing in today's post. Although they may not look unique, the story behind them is quite interesting 😀
It was a late weeknight, I decided to stop in one of my favs, Nordstrom Rack, you know - just to see...
As I perused aisle after aisle, rack after rack, I didn't see anything extraordinary that caught my eye. The store was due to close in a few minutes. As it would happen, I spotted this pair of sandals. I wasn't enthralled with them particularly, but I thought that they'd make a great pair of 'nude' sandals. It can be a challenge to find 'nude' shoes that actually match my skin color... I tried them on and the fit was good. I finally checked out the price, and what do you know, it was marked at 1 penny! Well, that pretty much sealed the deal. I wasn't going to leave them in the store! I get to the register, and the cashier is just as astonished as I am. She says that the shoes were supposed to be canceled out and removed from the sales floor, but since they weren't - they were mine to keep. I do believe this is the cheapest pair of shoes that I have ever gotten! And that says a lot - I love a good deal! Here's to summertime Loves, may it be full of fabulous sandals 😘
Until next time,
Xx

Code RED

Dress: c/o Eliza J., other options HERE & HERE| Red statement necklace: HERE
Straw clutch: TJMAXX| Suede sandals: HERE + cute ones HERE

Hey Babes! Today's post features yet another example of a LRD (see previous example HERE). LRD? 
What's that? Translation: Little Red Dress 😉 Strong emphasis has often been placed around having a LBD (little black dress). We get it, having at least one is a necessary closet staple. However I want to draw attention to the value of having a great fitting LRD: 
1- It can easily be categorized as a Happy Dress (see more about that HERE)
2- It's a head turner for sure
3- The right shade of red looks great on every skin tone
There you have it! In my opinion, a LRD is an equally important closet staple. 
Over to you, are your rocking LRDs this summer?!
Until next time,
Xx

Signs of Summer

Sunnies: HERE| Top (HERE) & skirt, almost sold out, they may restock soon👀

Purse: Old| Shoes: ZARA, two seasons ago

Dear all,
The official start of summer is less than one month away. I seriously need for the weather to get with the program! I am so ready for insanely hot (no humidity please), sunny days 😍 In the meantime, I will continue to play dress-up in everything that is reminiscent of all of the glory that summer brings - i.e. today's palm print drenched coordinate set topped off with faux fur and pom poms 😏
Until next time,
Xx

Daytime Sequins

Top: Dress worn as a shirt| Skirt: HERE| Sandals: Old| Handbag: Coach, old

Much of the globe was swept away in total enchantment of the royal wedding this past weekend! It was like watching a real-life Downton Abbey episode play out in modern day era ❤  I freely admit - I am a HUGE fan of Downton Abbey! How about YOU?! I hated when the series ended, but currently enjoy watching it on repeat via Amazon Prime ... Nonetheless, I've digressed 😏 
Whose outfit did you like the best at the royal wedding? There was something for everyone: pastels, floral prints, and HATS! The hats were absolutely BEAUTIFUL!  I was a bit partial to Amal Clooney's look 😁
Yes, wedding season is here, there are no shortage of options when it comes to deciding what to wear. Dress separates are available in an abundance, take for instance what I am wearing in today's post. I like to imagine that I would have loved to wear something similar to what I have on in today's post to the royal wedding (had I been invited), topping it all off with a custom made hat of course! 
This tulle skirt is the epitome of feminine allure, featuring beautiful clusters of yellow sequins trimmed in green in the shape of flowers. Despite having a lining it's a bit sheer for my taste. No worries! I opted to wear a matching midi-length dress as a top 😉 I kept my accessories to a minimal, pulled my hair back in a classic ponytail, and added a bold red lip.
Until next time Babes,
Xx

The Gingham Game

Hat: HERE| Dress: HERE| Rattan clutch: Vintage, thrifted| Gold boots: Old

My ❤ for gingham print hasn't subsided. I've had gingham in practically every size - small, medium, and now supersize 😁 Needless to say, my favorite feature about this dress is: the print...
What's your favorite print to wear?
Currently on my wishlist are gingham prints in red (preferably in a fabulously frilly off the shoulder top), pink (perhaps a coordinating top and full midi skirt), and yellow (hmmm, the possibilities are endless). 
The gingham game is in full effect, my goal is to master it 😉
Until next time Babes,
Xx

Beach Please | Part 3

Sunnies: Old| Romper: c/o HERE| Sandals: Nordstrom, old| Clutch: Vintage

TGIF Babes!!! Today's post is my final installment of my blog series surrounding my recent day at the beach. Check out the swimsuits that I wore in part one HERE, and part two HERE.

An ideal, easy to wear beach piece is a romper. Oftentimes we opt for a dress, but really a romper is just as practical. It's super easy to take on and off, and makes for a perfect cover-up over a dry swimsuit. I wore this romper to the beach, and to an oceanside dinner after the beach 😍
Sidebar: I also shared another instance of wearing a romper to/from the beach when I was in Tulum a few months ago on Instagram HERE . If you aren't following me on IG yet, please do! I often share additional looks there, along with snippets on my stories from travel, shopping excursions/deals/steals, and blogger events here in LA ... take for instance yesterday😏
Back to today's post: I noticed something very interesting while at the beach. A majority of the people there were busy trying to capture the moment, or should I say attempting to capture the beauty of beach, but very few were actually sitting back, being still, and truly taking in all of its magnificence. In fact, we were hard pressed to find places to shoot my swimsuits and this romper as practically every single inch of the beach was occupied, with other people taking pictures (some professional photographers) or on professional photo shoots. 
It made me think about the hard balance that I try to strike as a blogger --> knowing what I want to capture versus what I want to enjoy. I made a promise that I would return to this beach soon - on another nice day, with no cameras, and really make an effort to truly take it all in, in real time. You see, I believe that there are a multitude of wonderful moments in life that aren't absorbed as they should be, because instead of fully experiencing them in real time, to the fullest extent possible, we try to capture those moments for a future memory, usually in digital form. However I have learned that the best time to fully experience any given moment is now, while you are in the grip of it ❤ The memories that a genuine moment creates, these last for a lifetime. 
For instance, during our hike back up the cliff towards the car, we stopped on a landing of sorts for a breather. While there, we took a moment to look out over the ocean, and at all of the beauty that surrounded it. 
It was a PERFECT day. The clouds danced beautifully across the sky, the ocean tide rolled in and out with a rhythm of its own, and just beyond the shore - there was an otter or sea lion family. We couldn't tell which one because of the distance, but the one who we assumed was mom was quite massive in size, she stayed further out to sea. All six babies, well they swam and played all the way up to the shore, unbeknownst to probably all of the beach goers. We watched them for about 15 minutes. It was wonderful to see. I did not try to take out my phone or camera to capture them playing. 
This was something best experienced in the moment.
Until next time,
XO

The Landing Stripe

Earrings: J. Crew| Top: ZARA, old| Pants: c/o GB, learn more + sign up for a FREE trial membership HERE
Shoes: Sold out, another option HERE |Clutch: Kate Spade, old| Bangles: Purchased in Kenya

When this pair of pants arrived in a recent shipment from Gwynnie Bee, I didn't think I would like them. I hadn't realized previously that they were pull on pants without a zipper or button closure. However, once I tried them on, surprise - surprise- I liked them! I l❤ve that my Gwynnie Bee membership allows me to step outside of my normal style preferences without any commitment to make a purchase! 
Having the ability to try on items prior to styling them is very important to me. My body shape appears to be unique to a number of designers. This is why I prefer to shop in-store...Nonetheless, the quantity/variety of styles available online simply cannot be ignored. 
When shopping online, I try to select the size that will fit my body the best. I try to ignore size numbers for brands/designers that I am not familiar and instead pay more attention to precise garment measurements, when available. I also take into account material along with the actual design of the item. I'd rather a piece be too big, versus too small. Sometimes when I'm in a crunch for time, I'll order two sizes and send back the one that doesn't work. 
I styled this pair of pants simply, adding a puffy sleeve cotton white blouse and pops of yellow via accessories.
Until next time Babes,
Xx

Beach Please | Part 2

Earrings: Old| Bikini top: c/o HERE| Bikini bottom: c/o HERE| Sarong: c/o HERE

Check out the first post in this series, Beach Please | Part 1, HERE
As promised, here's another look shot during my recent excursion to the beach! My favorite type of beach day involves laying out in the sun for hours on end, enjoying a bit of solitude, occasionally reading, snoozing, and engaging in thought provoking conversation. Did you notice that I did not mention getting in the water? Haha! The weather has to be extremely hot (usually it is hot in the city, but cooler at the beach) or the water temperature quite warm for me to anticipate frolicking in it. The pacific ocean surrounding Los Angeles boasts a cool temperature almost all year long - I rarely anticipate getting in it. While taking these shots the waves were crashing against the shore continuously, I tried to avoid getting wet but it was impossible.
With such a wide array of swimwear now available in my size, I love taking more than one suit with me to the beach. When I take a beach/water themed vacation, I can totally take a different swimsuit to wear every single day. You can probably guess that when it comes to travel, I am not a light packer...
I really like the color and floral print of this suit, it is bright, summery, and pretty. The fact that a matching sarong was available truly added a golden cherry on top. Sidebar: I am considering wearing this sarong over jeans...👀
Fashion is all about having fun!
Stay tuned for the final post in this series: Beach Please | Part 3!
Xx