Legs for Daze

Hat: Vintage, thrifted| Sunnies: HERE| Earrings: Sold out, another option HERE 
Dress: Similar options HERE & HERE| Shoes: HERE

Photography by A. Robinson

As days blend into weeks, weeks blend into seemingly nameless months - I find that creating space for things that bring me a measure of joy to be especially worthwhile. Crafting my personal sense of style has always been a creative outlet for me, a tool of self-expression. Even in the midst of a whirling international crisis, a pandemic of indescribable proportions, a fragile political landscape - I lean into what I know to be true: Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faith. Mildness. Self-Control. 
Sending love & positive energy your way ❤
Until next time,
Xx

Summer Whites

Sunnies: OLD

Earrings: J. Crew, sold out; Another option HERE

Top: HERE (Currently on sale, BOGO 75% off) HERE

Shorts: HERE (Currently on sale, BOGO 75% off)

Handbag: Similar option from the same brand HERE

Shoes: HERE

With the official start of SUMMER 2020 just under 6 weeks away, my mind has already drifted to the glory of EVERYTHING that is summer style😍 Admittedly, this summer will no doubt be one for the record books - much of the world will continue to work to avoid a surge in COVID19 occurrences.  We each play an integral part. Additionally, many of us are actively grieving the loss of loved ones. Others are battling a fear of the unknown. Many have concerns about the economy, and what form normalcy may take on after everything is said & done.
That being said, thankfully the human spirit is one of resilience. Inevitably - at some point, we either consciously or unconsciously will make the choice to shift our attention towards lighter & brighter moments. 
My intention is to lean into happy moments conciously on a regular basis. Expressing my individuality through personal style has always been a 'happy medium' for me. It is no surprise that I choose to draw my attention towards colors, textures, unusual combinations, and things that in general make me feel happy to be alive.
Today's look features a classic all-white ensemble, with textural detail by way of cotton eyelet fabric, a bamboo bag, and leather mules. I can easily see this look as the epitome of summer style for the office. Not only is it cool and comfortable COTTON, but the entire ensemble effortlessly transitions to a much needed happy hour at the end of a long day. 
Enough about me! Do share what happy moments you've been leaning into during this uncertain time.
Xx

Fringe Factor

Sunnies: c/o HERE | Denim fringe jacket: c/o HERE 
 White denim jeans: Similar HERE + another option HERE| Shoes: Kenneth Cole, sold out

LETA Photography

Hey Babes!
Today's post is all about the denim fringe jacket you never knew you needed 😁 No, but seriously - if you are a collector of denim jackets, this one may catch your eye! I have more than a few denim jackets/vests in my current inventory, however, none of them boast fringe detailing! I L💖VE how the fringe takes center stage! 
I found the fit of the jacket to be a tad too large for my taste (I'm wearing a size 0XL), so I knotted it just above my waist and styled it as a crop top 😉 This offered the exact fit that I envisioned! Always remember: In fashion, everything is fair game!
Until next time,
Xx

Discover FALL

dress: HERE| belt bag: HERE| shoes: c/o HERE

Do you like camouflage prints? I do! I spotted this number online and especially liked the red floral print that is intertwined throughout. Immediately I added it to my virtual basket.
When it arrived, I was pleased that the fit was exactly as I envisioned (I'm wearing a size 1X). I wanted to style it with a thin red belt, but decided to step outside of my comfort zone and style it with a red fanny pack instead...
Full disclosure: When fanny packs first made a comeback, I was not impressed! I didn't like them when I was younger, and I'm still not completely smitten with them...However, I do like the modified version: Belt bags. So cute! The difference between the two is usually a slim, sleek design. I set about finding a red one for this dress, but to no avail. You know how it is when you are looking for something specific? You can't find it anywhere! So I settled on a  red fanny pack... Since this one was under $20, I won't feel bad at all if its time with me is brief... When it comes to incorporating trendy pieces, I opt for fast fashion stores. However for quality, classic pieces, I prefer to go high end 😉
Until next time,
Xx

Weekend Roaming

Earrings: HERE| Dress/kimono: HERE (currently less than $20)| Purse: Coach, old| Shoes: c/o HERE

BABES!!! Can you believe that today marks the last Monday in AUGUST?! This entire year has been a complete blur! I stand in disbelief that we are on the doorstep of September already!  don't want to say farewell to SUMMER yet! Nonetheless, life experience has taught me the importance of facing facts 😉 It is time for me to mentally prepare myself - summer really is almost over. The change in the weather was noticeable over the weekend, instead of soaring up near 100 degrees, it was humid and in the 80s. Per the forecast, this week we won't get past the 70s. Although I'm sure warmer temperatures will return before all is said and done, I am still ever mindful that summer is truly on its way out. That brings me to the topic of transitional pieces. This kimono makes for a great transitional piece! It's light enough for warm days, yet also functional for easy layering in the fall months. That's right, this wrap dress is actually a kimono styled as a dress 😁 
Based on the reviews of other shoppers, I sized up for this piece, which allows me to be able to wear it as a true wrap dress. Although it came with a belt, I swapped that one out for an older belt in my collection from Banana Republic. I added in olive-colored accessories as a neutralizer and hit the door! 
Over to you Babes: Are you ready for summer to end?!
Until next time,
Xx

Summer Whites

Scarf: Nordstrom| White sunnies: Old, designer pair HERE| Statement earrings: Bauble Bar, old

White dress: Eliza J., old - other options HERE & HERE| White leather slides: Halogen, old - another option HERE 

Straw clutch: Vintage, thrifted

Hey Babes!
I'm happy to report that I've finally made it safely back to the States after a series of unexpected events on the route home from Costa Rica 😥More to come on that later...
One of the things that I had on my to-do list was to go through my wardrobe and pull out items to donate/give away this month. I try to do this at least every other month, as my closet is housed in a limited space (I live in a loft), and it is necessary to prune what items I retain from working with brands. Add to that a healthy habit of retail therapy, and well - you get the picture😊 Doing this regularly also affords me the opportunity to identify previously purchased items that I may have forgotten about and or don't get their fair share in the spotlight. Today's post features one such item, a beautiful white dress (by Eliza J.) with laser cut lace overlay. I snagged it from Nordstrom last summer, on sale. I've worn it a couple of times, but not nearly enough. That will change this summer 😉 For an afternoon out, I decided to pair it with white accessories and a rattan purse that I often convert into a clutch. Because I always NEED at least one pop of color, I swiped on a new favorite pink lip stain along with pink statement hoops.
I'm looking forward to styling this dress next with black!
Until next time,
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

For the Grey of It

Sunnies: Old | Romper: c/o HERE| Straw bag: MARSHALLS| Gingham sandals: c/o HERE

PSA: I plan to LIVE in shorts all summer long! Is it summer yet?👀

If there's one thing that I came to appreciate more fully after I started blogging my personal style: MY LEGS! 

When I was down south last month one of my cousins told me my legs were juicy, I readily agreed with her 😁
Yes, my legs have come to be one of my favorite physical attributes, it's only right that I create space for them to shine! 

Until next time,
Xx

All Colors

Earrings: HERE| Top: HERE| Shorts: HERE| Shoes: HERE

Sometimes throwing a bunch of colors together just works. Take for instance, what i'm wearing in this blog post 😁 I spy white, red, green, yellow, pink, and blue! Not to mention the colors in my backdrop...

This ensemble screams SUMMERTIME to me - probably because that is exactly what I am screaming in my head 😆 
It is 90+ degrees in LA today, I am LOVING every single bit of it!!!
Until next time,
Xx

Cape Fear

Sunnies: c/o HERE| Earrings: HERE| Cape: c/o HERE (sign up for a FREE four week membership HERE) or purchase directly HERE| Denim shirt: Old, similar HERE Denim jeans: Old, same brand HERE & HERE| Handbag: Sold out, another version HERE| Leopard sandals: Old, similar HERE

This post is sponsored by Gwynnie Bee. All opinions shared are my own.

Alas, FRI-YAY has arrived Babes!!! I was talking to my grandma yesterday, I told her that I got my days mixed up. She said, 'You were ready for the week to be over' -  she was right! My schedule is a full one, time/days pass by rather quickly. Yet, as a general rule of thumb: I am always READY for the weekend! 
I've read those sappy quotes about creating a life that you don't need/want to escape from- but for me, no matter what kind of life I have, I will always APPRECIATE downtime to the FULLEST! Yes, I enjoy my secular work, as a whole I am happy and content with my life (give or take a few ups and downs). Still, there is no feeling comparable to the eureka that I feel when the weekend comes on, LOL! Time hanging with friends, an inordinate amount of time spent doing absolutely nothing (my personal fav), and lest we forget - legendary weekend naps. 
I LOVE TO SLEEP! Just thinking about it makes me feel g👀d...
Now let's talk about clothes: I can remember a time when I steered away from wearing capes. Why? I felt that they were unflattering to my frame. You see, I am a full-figured woman 😉 For quite some time this thought was promoted: 'You should never wear anything that makes you look bigger than you actually are'. I didn't want to look bigger than I was, so I discarded the handful of capes that I had, including a super cute cream colored wool cape with fox tail trim 😕...
Fast forward almost a decade later, here I am, back cloaked in a cape, thanks to my pals at Gwynnie Bee 😀 I selected this beauty for my virtual closet, you know, just to see -and wouldn't you know, I LOVE it!? Like seriously! It reminds me of a tuxedo jacket! I am thinking about purchasing it, it is a perfect fall/winter piece for Cali's version of cold weather. But if/when I do, I would size down. I found the fit to be quite generous, even with sizing down, I could still wear a chunky sweater or turtleneck underneath it.
If you are not familiar with Gwynnie Bee (also see HERE):

• Gwynnie Bee is an online women’s clothing subscription service for sizes 10-32. Shipping is 100% free + dry cleaning  + unlimited exchanges. 
• You add items to your virtual closet (from a seemingly endless inventory) that you'd ❤ to wear, they ship them to you in the order of your preference (the "My priorities" feature is LIFE), if you ❤ an item you can purchase it for a discounted price, OR you can mail it back for something that you ❤ even better! 
• Truly it is a win/win, always having brand new clothing at my fingertips without the pressure of a long-term commitment feels wonderful!

⭐You can sample Gwynnie Bee's services ABSOLUTELY FREE for ONE MONTH - sign up HERE to get started on your new wardrobe today⭐

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to ask away below!
Have a great weekend!
Xx