Think Pink

Sunnies: Old, similar HERE | Earrings: Kate Spade, sold out| Sweater: Ralph Lauren
Skirt: Sold out| Shoes: Sold out; another option HERE

Photography by A. Robinson

Today's post features another goodie from my closet, a pink sweater that I found with the price tags still intact 😲 I think I purchased it 3-4 years ago, but it could be older. It's such a classic piece - I had no doubt that it would earn its place in my wardrobe over time. I love the saturated pink hue and the indescribably soft material that it is made of. This cashmere, but not quite...
For its grand debut, I decided to take it for a spin in monochrome, pairing it with complementary shades of pink 💕
The skirt and shoes are actually newer acquisitions, however unfortunately they are sold out. I look forward to styling each of these pieces again!
Until next time,
Xx

Spring Forward

top:similar HERE|pants c/o HERE ( -->Save $$ w/ code INMYJOIxSONCY)|shoes: Similar HERE|purse: ZARA

Photography by A. Robinson

Spring is officially ONE WEEK AWAY Babes, I could not be more excited! I am so over the cold, blustery, wet weather of WINTER 2018/2019 👀 How about you?! Did you survive the VORTEX??
When it comes to shifting seasons, sometimes there is the concept that certain prints and or fabrics have to be left behind. I totally DISAGREE! As an example, camouflage prints are often associated with cool weather. However, since I'm a new-ish fan of the print - I will be rocking it throughout the spring and more than likely the summer as well 😏
I updated this pair of joggers from winter to spring by adding a sleeveless top, a pop of color, and pumps. For summer I can totally see them styled with a crop top, tank top, and open toe shoes 😍
Over to you, how do you plan to transition some of your cool weather pieces?
Until next time,
Xx

Event Recap | RALPH LAUREN Women in Film Panel Event

Earrings: Kate Spade| Dress Eliza J.| Shoes: Steve Madden

Last week I had an amazing opportunity to attend the WOMAN by RALPH LAUREN Women in Film Panel Event. The panel was moderated by Lisa Ling, Executive Producer and Host of This is Life on CNN. 
Panel members included Stephanie Allain, Zoe Lister-Jones, Catt Sadler, and Sanaa Lathan.
The event was held at The Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills. The discussion centered around some of the challenges a woman faces working in the film industry and some of the progress that has been made to date. Panel members also shared the importance of women genuinely supporting one another and serving as a mentor whenever possible.  I thoroughly enjoyed the lively and informative discussion! 

Check out a few interesting facts on each of the women who served on the panel:

Lisa Ling
Journalist
Lisa Ling is the executive producer and host of This is Life on CNN, now in its sixth season. For five seasons prior, Ling executive produced and hosted Out America on OWN. She was also a field correspondent for The Oprah Winfrey Show and contributor to ABC News’ Nightline. She was the first female host of National Geographic’s flagship show, Explorer.  Ling is the co-author of Mother, Sister. Daughter, Bride: Rituals of Womanhood and Somewhere Inside: One Sister’s Captivity in North Korea and the Other’s Fight to Bring Her Home, which she penned with her sister, Laura. In 2014, President Obama appointed Ling to the Commission on White House Fellowships.

Stephanie Allain
Producer
Stephanie Allain produces award-winning films by women and writer-directors of color that make headlines, launch careers and shape the cultural landscape. In 1990, she supervised John Singleton’s Boyz n the Hood and was promoted to Senior Vice President of Columbia Pictures, where she worked for a decade bringing underrepresented filmmakers to the studio. Allain founded Homegrown Pictures in 2003 and produced Hustle & Flow, Something New, Beyond the Lights, Dear White People, among others. She sits on the board of Women In Film, is a founding member of ReFrame and teaches at the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.

Zoe Lister-Jones
Actor, Director, Writer, Producer
Zoe Lister-Jones is a quadruple threat, working as an actor, director, writer and producer, and currently starring opposite Colin Hanks on CBS’ Life in Pieces. In 2017, she released her directional debut, Band Aid, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Lister-Jones wrote the pilot Woman Up, which she will executive produce alongside Liz Meriwether and Jason Winer for ABC. Additionally, she wrote and produced Consumed; wrote, executive produced and starred in Fox Searchlight’s feature Lola Versus; and co-wrote, produced and starred in the indie comedy, Breaking Upwards. She also starred on Broadway opposite Jeff Goldblum in Seminar, and opposite Johnny Galecki in The Little Dog Laughed.

Catt Sadler
Journalist, Activist, Tastemaker
Catt Sadler is a three-time Emmy-winning journalist with twenty years of on-air experience. She is well renowned for her work on E! Entertainment where she spent more than a decade contributing to E! News, E! News Weekend, Daily Pop, Live From E! and a myriad of network specials. After choosing to leave E! over a wage gap issue and receiving an outpouring of support, Catt became a prominent voice for the Time’s Up movement. She has spent much of her energy in recent months contributing to the cause by taking part in the L.A. Women’s March and speaking at the Equal Pay Day Rally at City Hall in New York. Championing women has always been her passion.

Sanaa Lathan
Actor, Producer
Sanaa Lathan can currently be seen starring in the Netflix film Nappily Ever After, which she co-produced with Marc Platt. She can also be seen on Showtime’s The Affair playing the tough-as-nails school principal, Janelle Wilson. A truly diverse actress who has proven herself capable of winning acclaim in any genre, some of Sanaa’s film credits include Love & Basketball, Out of Time, Contagion, and the ensemble classic, The Best Man, which remains one of the top ten highest grossing African American films in history. Sanaa has also received a Tony Award nomination for her work on Broadway in A Raisin in the Sun. Next, she will be seen in the feature film Native Son, a modern-day adaptation of Richard Wright’s classic novel.

I hope you enjoyed this recap Babes!
Until next time,
Xx

Transitioning a Kimono from Summer to Fall

sunnies: TJMAXX| earrings: Bauble Bar| top: Ralph Lauren 
pants: c/o HERE| kimono: HERE & HERE| shoes: Old

Photography by A. Robinson

There's a chill in the air Babes! Seriously, I felt it just the other day 😳 I wore a sleeveless jumpsuit (what was I thinking?) and low and behold a stiff breeze came along plus a parade of goosebumps as I raced to my car O_O
Now that we've landed in October, fall-like weather is indeed expected and inevitable. Since I moved to a mild climate, I have learned to style seasonal pieces across every season.
Take for instance this bright and sunny kimono. I purchased it towards the end of spring this year from a line that was specified for summer. However due to the material that it's made from (it has a good weight to it, not heavy, but not light either), its nice long & wide sleeves, plus a medium density lining, this kimono easily becomes a transitional fall piece. 
For this look I paired it with a silk top and matching jersey pants. I love this eggplant hue, notice how nicely it pulls out the lilac flowers on the kimono?!
Until next time,
Xx

cALI cOLD

Hat: Old| Coat: HERE| Silk blouse: Ralph Lauren| Cut off shorts: DIY project| OTK boots: HERE| Clutch: Vintage| Leather gloves: Old, similar HERE

Baby it's COLD outside! Fortunately, I snagged this furry delight just in time - in fact, I plan to LIVE in it for the remainder of winter 😊 LOL! No, but seriously, I'm currently planning a trip to a COLD climate and this furbaby will most certainly be packed in tow! Who says that faux fur can't be just as warm as the real thing?! 
I ❤ the texture of this coat, and the patchwork pattern adds in a dimension of fun. Although, I do wonder why couldn't it have been designed with a collar??? 
Anywho, for its first debut in the real world, I paired it with a black monochrome fit - silk blouse, cut off denim shorts, and OTK boots (recently acquired while on holiday). 
Looking ahead, I can also see this fuzzy thriller paired with practically any pastel color, white, cream, and red - just to name a few...
What furry acquisitions have you made this winter?!
Until next time Babes,
Xx

The Perfect Overcoat

Hat: Borrowed from Hubby| Overcoat: c/o HERE (💥snag YOUR FREE trial offer💥)| Silk blouse: Ralph Lauren, another cute option HERE
Dress: Sold out| Handbag: Kate Spade, similar one HERE| Booties, old - similar option HERE

I love textural interest, this look pairs a multi-dimensional window pane print with frilly lace. My overcoat was a recent win via my weekly GB shipment. I so look forward to receiving new goodies from them each week in the mail! I added the coat to my virtual closet (another handy feature for ensuring you get exactly what you want) a few weeks back and totally forgot about it until I saw that it had shipped and was on its way to my house. When I received it I noticed that it was pretty lightweight, which meant that I could be liberal with adding layers underneath-YAY! 

I started off with a silk blouse, topped that with a lace dress, then added on the overcoat. I really like this trio! I was warm (Autumn in SoCal is mild), comfortable, and stylish 😉

If you're not familiar with Gwynnie Bee, learn more about them HERE + snag your FREE TRIAL OFFER!

Until next time Babes,

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

Set the Tone

Hat: Similar HERE| Earrings: HERE| Wood watch: c/o HERE| Duster: c/o  HERE| Off the shoulder jumpsuit: c/o HERE
Leather belt: Ralph Lauren| Peep toe booties: Steve Madden, old| Leather clutch: Vintage, thrifted

Monotone looks always give me warm and fuzzy feelings. I generously apply Iris Apfel’s famous words: ‘More is more’. Yes, less color is not more- MORE is MORE! 😎

I remember back during my very first year of blogging I shared an all orange/monochrome look that I had recently worn to the office. A reader commented that I had on entirely too much orange and that the look was distasteful. I took her sentiments in stride, thanking her for sharing her thoughts and then advising her that I would continue to style the look in exactly the same way for as long as I pleased…  A good chunk of time has passed by since then, I am now more conscious (than when I first started blogging) that others may not share my style affinity for monochrome color palettes. That doesn't phase me at all. Additionally, my style affinity is not limited to monochrome looks exclusively. I actually like a little bit of everything/every style genre. Rather than subscribing to a set formula whenever I get dressed, I simply wear what I like, whatever suits my mood. 
My secret is out! I wear what makes me feel good! 

When I learned from YOURS Clothing that I would have the opportunity to select a few items to style, including pieces from their brand new LIMITED COLLECTION, I instantly felt drawn to this pink bardot jumpsuit. The length is a perfect toss between shorts & pants, I knew that it belonged with me. Several days later I was perusing their site again, and low and behold I spotted the perfect accomplice via a matching duster. Yes it is pink on pink. Yes it is monochrome. And yes- I love how both pieces look together and I will wear them again and again for as long as I please 😍

Do share, are you a fan of monochrome palettes?!

Until next time,

Xx