Last Look

Jeans in the Myles wash courtesy of Talley NYC.

Bespoke Blue Jeans

Bespoke. Made to order denim. It's a real thing now and man does it feel nice. I used to think a pair of jeans was an unremarkable item in your closet, something you could literally go out and find anywhere. But after being sent a pair from Talley that were literally made after my order was placed I don't think I can ever make that same silly inference again. It's not only the fit very precise but it's the entire feel and tensile strength in the very fibers that feels more premium than other denim brands of a comparable price point. I chose to get the Myles because I wanted a pair of super-slim jeans that were hyper-fitted from the hips to ankle so I can tuck them into boots. Currently, they only offer one inseam choice, but it'd be great to see that type of customization be expanded over time. The jeans I chose delivered on the hyper fit but also in the site's promise for a quality feel. Not only do the jeans have a compression fit that has a crazy slimming effect, but they don't seem to lose shape. How do I know this? Because I wore these while driving up the I-5 from Los Angeles to San Francisco this past weekend. That drive was brutal, to say the least. We hit some unexpected traffic mid-way and it was stop and go for about three hours. I will admit these jeans aren't for self-designated "fat" days, but I suspect that is purely a cause of me choosing the most tightly fitted cut. 

I'm frankly considering ordering a black pair with my own hard-earned money this time. (I'm kind of kicking myself I didn't request them in black to begin with, to be honest!) Or maybe something with a little bit of a trendier, looser fit, like the Edison high-waisted crop. 

WEARING

TALLEY NYC jeans in the Myles wash (wearing a size 26 / they run unforgivingly true to size) thanks to Talley NYC

J.CREW tux shirt

SUPERGA sneakers

CELINE sunglasses

A Minimalist Statement

If it's the weekend, chances are I'm wearing something like this. As much as I like getting dressed up I save that struggle for the weekdays when I actually show up to the office and the potential of seeing clients is high. The weekends are a different story; I am running for groceries, cleaning my house for hours, and popping in and out of the house for recycling center runs and generally doing things normal people do. The tricky thing is I don't want to look like I've completely given up, outfit-wise. This is why I go for two main themes: comfort and cleverness for any given top or bottom article of clothing. Take this top, for example. It's not only comfortable, but it's crisp and has a peculiar little vent detail that gives the illusion of a cropped shirt layered underneath the white one, and when the wind blows the back layer flows much like a trench coat vent would. It's a minimalist statement that I enjoy and makes me feel dressy without all the fuss of actually being dressy.

WEARING

KAL RIEMAN top (medium, c/o)

J BRAND leather leggings (26, runs large)

CELINE sunglasses

VANS shoes (7US)

J.CREW jacket (old, XS, runs large)

MANSUR GAVRIEL clutch

PS: In the editing process for this post I realized I should definitely smile more — or even smize. Just know that I know that you know I look like a major grump in most of these. If I had a time machine to retake all of these with a happier face I definitely would! But that remains our mutual wish, friends.

Last Look

LXLS coat (c/o), ZARA dress, MANSUR GAVRIEL mini bucket bag

A New Way

I've been a long time fan of Tictail as my favorite platform to sell my designer clothes, shoes, and accessories. I've been using them for over a year now to help clean out my closet, but it turns out there's a lot of other people selling designer items and even quality custom pieces that I've completely been missing out on, too. Shops like The LXLS stand out in particular because of its highly curated inventory. They seem to carry everything I love to wear: lots of different monochrome textures, minimal tailored pieces by Ann Demuelemeester, Alexander Wang, and even their own impressive in-house line. This recent discovery is really key to my shopping habits because I think fashion can get too spendy, with each new season encouraging everyone to buy fast and move on to new trends quickly. It all amounts to a closet full of clothes that don't fully speak to my personal style, and to make it worse, those pieces are usually crafted from cheap materials and often poorly constructed.

So my new approach this past year has been to put a hold on impulse spending, and research some new ways to find my closet staples. My goal is to search unexpected sites like The LXLS or other resale sites for something specific, like a black sleeveless shift dress, armed with an open mind, the flexibility to tailor a piece down to my size, and the discipline to stick to what works truly works for my body and overall style.

LXLS coat (c/o Tictail), ZARA dress, MANSUR GAVRIEL mini bucket bag, EVERLANE loafers

Happy Glasses Indeed

MANDALYNN swim top (M),  HAPPY GLASSES sunglasses (c/o Tictail), J. CREW hat, ZINKE bottoms (S)

See? I told you I'd work a post in there every now and then. Now that fashion week is over and we're all pretty saturated and well-versed in the same photos of the same events from New York, we can all re-focus our eyes to other topics — like this vacation! Basically, it was an awesome time because it was a great opportunity to spend quality quiet time detached from the world on a pretty little island, pondering how one person can be so lucky to witness a place like Turks and Caicos with a loved one. I've been there a handful of times and am convinced each and every time that it exists to me only as a fluke, a big massive joke from nature. I spent my time reading books, sleeping by the ocean, snorkeling, and drinking fruity cocktails in plastic cups whilst bobbing in the ocean. I didn't even have to worry about accessories because my pals at Tictail outfitted me with these rad circle sunglasses from Happy Glasses.

In short, I highly recommend a trip there next year. The cost is about the same as any Playa Del Carmen-Mexico place if you book early. So do! 

PS: This is a great time to mention that Tictail just launched their mobile app. So you can shop my stuff and other cool things from wherever you are. Even on your phone poolside in Turks and Caicos. ;) You can download it here from the App Store.

Final Answer: Rib & Hull

Rib & Hull Heirloom tote in Oxblood (c/o)

There are very few bags in my wardrobe that are able to pull the double-duty of work horse and travel buddy bag. Rib &Hull totes are just that. They literally take the everyday beating of taking them to work and hauling them around town with legit heavy things, like laptops, shoes with pointy heels, and lunch glassware. I know I've talked about perfect leather totes for daily use a lot lately, but hear me out one more time because I use these two totes 90% of the time.

So, backstory: A few weeks back Rib & Hull contacted me to check out their bags after a much talked about debate on my blog over my search for a high-quality leather tote. I had never heard of Rib & Hull before and decided to give two of their totes a try because I was an open minded shopper. I did eventually purchase the Everlane Portfolio Petra—and it's beautiful!— but honestly don't use it as often as I'd like to because it just scratches so easily with my commuting abuse from the East Bay to San Francisco. So enter Rib & Hull, providing me with two totes in two sizes and two colors to decide which one I liked best. After a week of literally using both daily (the Heirloom tote and the Heirloom carryall with the best invention ever, a freaking zipper) I emailed Alexandra (one of the founders of the company, and my contact at Rib & Hull) and basically told her I was in love with both. 

That's how much I love these totes. I fan-girled hard over them and I'm passing down this knowledge to you because I feel like I have the best combination of totes in my closet. Bottom line: for a work horse tote, that does everything you need it to, takes a beating and looks great. So go for it, put that heavy laptop in it, and don't be so precious when placing it on the floor for a moment to squeal-hug your friend at a bar. It can take it.

Blue Tortuga

Free People Tortuga Boots (c/o), DYLANLEX necklace, ZARA top (M), AG JEANS (26), MANSUR GAVRIEL mini bucket bag

Ankle boots are a tricky thing for me. They're a relatively new adventure in my closet because I rarely even look to them when I'm getting ready in the morning. But this past week was more exciting and inspired because I've teamed up with Free People to showcase how I would style a pair from their newest fall collection of boots. I took a little bit of a risk here choosing the navy blue ankle boot instead of my usual black shoe, and I have to say I couldn't be happier with that decision. It turns out styling a dark, rich colored boot is the same as styling as a neutral black or brown boot. Since the design of the Tortuga boots are rooted in vintage moto style, the wrap-around leather buckles and matted dark hardware are masculine touches that bring a familiar tomboy aspect to my outfits. I'm actually surprised how easily they worked into what I already wear, despite the monochrome nature of most of my closet, which makes me wonder what else I could infuse a little bit of unexpected color to. 

The Modern Boho

RIB & HULL tote (c/o Rib & Hull), MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA boots (38 EU), ANTHROPOLOGIE dress (Small), KATHLEEN WHITAKER cuff, KAREN WALKER sunglasses

I've always liked the whole boho thing. Every time I get inspired by it I picture Sienna Miller in some adorable mini dress with booties or wild hair. So I decide to try it every now and then and like it, except for the fact that going full boho with an outfit wasn't ever truly natural to my personal style. "But it's all about balance!" I think. And even though I'm terrible at math (but amazing memorization) I know the logic should be this: if the dress is overtly boho, then you should balance the equation by wearing something on the opposite spectrum entirely. Like Maison Martin Margiela boots, for example. They're just the right mix of futuristic and manly to offset such a wild-child dress.  

Dr. Hauschka

I play favorites with my skin care. My face, hands, and décolletage get a disproportionate amount of product love compared to my torso, legs, and feet. It's because the upper parts of my body are the ones that I see the most, and also the parts I expose most readily to the world. So my thought is why not spoil it a bit? Now this is not to say I'm too good for Lubriderm, Cetaphil or other drugstore staples, but I believe the top half of me deserves something a little more special. In this case, special means it must work very well at doing what it promises, smell fantastic or not at all, and is preferably derived from natural sources and processes.

I've been wanting to try something new for the summer to mix up my routine a bit and was lucky enough to be able to work with Pharmaca to find a new addition to my routine. I've been reading a lot about Dr. Hauschka on other blogs like Into The Gloss and decided to give Rose Body Moisturizer a try after the reviews on Pharmaca seemed to be glowing as well. Ever since receiving the bottle I've been applying it on after my shower, mostly on my chest, shoulders and arms while my skin is still a little damp. It helps make my skin soft and smooth, which is impressive because my skin is prone to really annoying dryness. Even though it doesn't smell exclusively of roses the fragrance is lovely and floral, but not overwhelmingly so. I'l probably end up trying some more Dr. Hauschka products, most immediately by upgrading to the Rose Body Oil just in time for the drier winter months. 

Mosey over to Pharmaca if you'd like try Dr. Hauschka or other natural products for your routine. They're having a 20% off sale, FYI!

Dr. Hauschka Rose Body Moisturizer c/o Pharmaca

All Black Details

CAMEO dress (c/o Adela Mei) (size S), ALL SAINTS jacket (size 4), CARVEN collar, VINCE leggings (size XS)

Off With Her Heard

CAMEO dress (c/o Adela Mei) (size S), ALL SAINTS jacket (size 4), CARVEN collar, VINCE corduroy leggings (size XS)

It's nice that it only took my mind months to figure out how to correctly articulate the runway trend of of wearing pants under dresses without completely feeling like one of those toddlers who choose to wear their entire mismatched closet at once. Although it's hard to tell from a photograph, the pants I'm wearing are a super-tight corduroy, which is a nice texture contrast to the dress's jacquard feeling material in real life —plus, it's much warmer than tights, you know in case you find yourself in San Francisco during our freaking summers. It took the right dress and the right cut to make it all click mentally. It turns out a voluminous drop waist like the one in this Cameo dress is a good way to balance out any sort of pant, as long as it is more slim fitted or simple than the volume up top.