Sundress in November

Dress: LF // cardigan: H&M // coat: Madewell // tights: random // boots: Steve Madden



By adding dark tights and wintery layers, I transformed my favorite summer dress into a fall-worthy jumper. Woot woot! I like the idea of wearing a dress even when it's raining. As long as you have tights, you can make almost anything work! This pair, however, sprouted a hole midday. Yikes, the Courtney Love look is not right for this outfit. Oh well. :)

Here's a tip: wear longer sweaters and jackets (as opposed to cropped) with dresses for a balanced, more casual look. Since you're showing less of the dress, it's not taking center stage or making the outfit look too dressy. Plus, it's warmer!

A Spiky Situation

Blouse: Alexa Chung by Madewell // jeans: LF // belt: Aldo // shoes: H&M // socks: Madewell // necklace: Urban Outfitters // rings: NastyGal

 By now you all know about my love affair with blush-colored clothing. One of the reasons I love this little whisper of a color is because it's best paired with unexpected, louder shades which, in this case, is cobalt blue. If blush is daintily dancing ballet, cobalt blue is all-out krumping.

The next pairing within this outfit is more standard, as studs and spikes are both in the hardcore, biker babe category. Put it all together and you've got an office-appropriate outfit that still embraces your inner tough chick. I'm so glad my job doesn't require a business attire dress code! Whew, that would be a tragedy.

Today my camera ran out of battery so these are taken with my iphone, which turned out okay except you can't see the little sheer pin dot pattern on my pink socks! These higher versions are similar and are very tempting!

Stars, Hearts, and Sequins

Sequin dress: Arden B // cardigan: Madewell //shoes: Clarks // socks: Madewell // necklace: Cuffs // bracelet: Urban Outfitters //earrings: gift

What do you know, I didn't realize the graffiti on the mailbox said "babe" until I looked at these pictures! What a wonderful coincidence.

Holiday season style can be pretty predictable with its sequins and metallics that resurface every winter, but I'm not exactly complaining -- sequins are fun! But how to wear them during the day.....that can be a challenge. Enter taupe! Ugh, what a horrible word. Oatmeal? Enter oatmeal! I wore these oatmeal shoes and cardi to dial down the cocktail party vibe. Beige-y shades have a tendency to feel much more cazsh and day-time.

Cyber Monday turned out to be as uneventful for me as Black Friday. I made zero purchases! Not that I didn't peruse the interwebs of e-commerce sites. Come on, I'm always perusing. But nothing stood out to me to actually buy, which made me proud that I didn't bust out my wallet just because something was on sale. How about you guys? Did you score any choice gifts for yourself or others?

You're Making Me Blush

Dress: Target // sweater: Madewell // knee highs: Urban Outfitters // shoes: Clarks // bralette: Free People // shorts underneath: H&M // horse ring: Sugar Shack

Blush, a barely-there shade of pink, is my favorite color to wear. I love the way it combines with so many different colors - it's like a neutral! Its soft and feminine vibe can sweeten up a tough outfit or it can be ethereal for a romantic-yet-subtle feel.

And check it out - I'm wearing the knee highs again! They're so money. I guess you could file their color in the "oxblood" category, which is the "it" color of this season. Psh, I totally meant to do that. :)

Birthday in New York

Sweatshirt: vintage from Cuffs // pants: Forever 21 // Boots: Forever 21 // scarf: Urban Outfitters

I had the best time in New York. Not only did I experience good weather and explore more than last time, I also got to see a bunch of my friends who either live there or came from neighboring areas to visit! Like my visit a few months back, I spent most of my time in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn where my babe lives. I did make my way into Manhattan once (on my actual birthday) to eat both lunch and dinner at Buvette, the French restaurant where my babe works, and he treated me to a facial and massage at a spa in the west village between meals! It was the best!

All of these pictures are with my friend Eryn at Smorgasburg food market and Brooklyn Flea Market, both of which are held in the same park on two different days, and are both photo-opp-tastic. We loved trying on all the different eyeglasses and eating a little bit of everything. I actually bought some new frames which I'll wear on here sometime soon (psst, they're not the ones pictured below, although I almost got those!). 

I finally get it in a firsthand way what people mean when they describe the difference between New York and Los Angeles style. Usually it's said that people dress up more in New York and that LA is more casual and hippie-ish. Hmm, I was about to explain it in a different way, but that pretty much sums it up! New York has more of a chic, expensive look, with lots of black and amazing shoes, while LA has a lighter feel with lovely, beat up vintage shoes. I don't know, I'm no expert, all I know is it was a feast for the eyes to people-watch in the fashion capitol of America.

Eryn, the Seattlite, has amazing style! Such an all-American chick.

Almost got these!

E is for Eryn!

The pink elephant in the (outdoor) room.

Photo dorks.

Frame-bow.

Wonderfully weird street art.

Blood orange glazed donut.

Trinkets blanketing everything.

I like that interpretation of the yin-yang.

I got a kick out of our similar outfits.

American Woman

Tee: Nasty Gal // jeans: J Brand x Henry Duarte // necklace: Cuffs // shoes: Urban Outfitters

It didn't occur to me to wear red, white, and blue for Election Day, but I think the basic black and white really set off the "I voted" sticker. Ha, I'm totally stretching it with that one. :)

Finding this mural on my way home from work was a happy accident, since this iconic image of Rosie the Riveter is super American and empowering.

I'm stoked about the results and that young people are getting out there and voting! Go millennials!

Music Mondays

This morning I was listening to Morning Becomes Eclectic through headphones while in the dentist's chair trying to drown out the sound of the drill (ugh, fillings) when this song came on and transported me to a happier place for four minutes. It also made me so sad that she's gone. While Amy Winehouse's songs just don't get old for me - Back to Black  is still just as enjoyable as back in 2007 - I'd love to hear more from her. Anyway, I think Nas complements her so well in this song and I love the tinge of lamentation in her voice.

Upping the Ombre

What's nice about having ombre highlights is they allow you to touch up a lot less often than traditional start-at-the-root highlights. Since the look is grown out, it doesn't look bad when they grow out even more. However, it had been over six months since getting my balayage highlights and it was time for some freshening up. I decided to go full on ombre, but still somewhat subtle. Above are a few images I took in to Deeda Make Pretty Salon to show my stylist. I think she nailed it!

Thigh <-- High --> Waisted

Jacket: Madewell // shirt: H&M // shorts: LF // thigh highs: Urban Outfitters // shoes: Clarks

I'm all for any piece of clothing that enables me to wear my summer clothes (like these shorts) during the colder months, which is why I plan out getting some good mileage out of these thigh high socks. They're a good alternative to tights when I don't feel like getting my Zoey Deschanel on (read: she rocks a lot of tights).

My mom is definitely smiling somewhere because I'm wearing these Clarks booties. Clarks is sort of a mom-ish, sensible shoe brand, but in recent years they've geared toward making younger, trendier styles, and so I caved when I spotted these desert boots. You got me, Clarks! Your youth- designing and advertising worked on me!

So let's talk hair for a moment. I've been in search of a new texturizing/beach wave spray, because after running out of Bumble & Bumble's pricey Surf Spray, I realized I didn't want to re-purchase it because of how tangly it made my hair. In these pictures, I used Not Your Mother's  Beach Spray, a drugstore brand I'd read good things about, but I'm not convinced of its ability to.... do anything, really. It doesn't add texture or make it wavy, so do you guys have any good beach spray tips?