Friday, April 19, 2013

Macaron Fix

Most of my friends know that I am addicted to French macarons. These delicate, yet filling, colorful desserts are the best things since sliced bread. I usually go to Lette in Old Pasadena to get my macaron fix- I cannot get enough of the Sweet Wedding Almond-flavored one! Today, however, I went to Bottega Louie in downtown Los Angeles to meet up with my friend, Sarah, who was in town visiting USC, for lunch. Located at the intersection of 7th and Grand, Bottega Louie is a posh and beautiful restaurant known for its desserts, in particular the macarons. It was recently named the most popular restaurant in the country by Yelp.
 from left to right: pistachio, earl grey, raspberry, strawberry, strawberry

from left to right: grand cru, grand cru, chocolate orange, lemon, vanilla

My favorite flavors are by far the strawberry and grand cru, though the other flavors are equally delightful. 
In addition to the desserts, Bottega Louie serves up some delicious lunch and dinner food. I ordered the Tagliatelle Bolognese, which hit the spot. I am a sucker for pasta dishes, and this one did not fail to disappoint. I especially enjoyed the meat sauce.
I just love the vibrant colors of the macarons!
It was great seeing you, Sarah!

Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Splurge or Save


It's that time of year again. This warm (finally!) Cali weather has got me thinking about the beach, which naturally makes me think about swimwear. The past few years, I have bought colorful swim tops and bottoms. But this time around, I am looking for an all-black ensemble. I am a fan of Vitamin A Swimwear, and this braided ensemble is definitely an eye catcher (you can find it here and here). But for those who are more into buying quantity over quality, which is something that I would usually advise against except when it comes to swimwear, Forever 21 is my go-to store (you can find it here).

Monday, April 15, 2013

Cascading Lavender

Happy Monday everyone! This past Saturday, I attended ASCIT formal. It was held on top of Mt. Wilson, so I was hoping for panoramic views of Los Angeles. However, it was foggy that night so it instead felt like we were above the clouds. Also, the stars were the clearest I had ever seen them in California. It was magical.
A month ago, I was looking for a dress for formal, but I did not want to buy one. Then I remembered Rent The Runway, a website where you can rent designer dresses for a fraction of the retail price. This site is perfect for me because I am a one and done kind of girl when it comes to formal dresses. I will definitely be renting more dresses in the future.
After much browsing, I decided to rent this lavender dress by Badgley Mischka. This dress came straight off the runway from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. I was drawn to the intricate neckline and pastel color.
Before the dance, my girlfriends and I decided to get our hair done. I had been wanting to try the Drybar ever since it opened in Pasadena a few months ago. Contrary to what most people think when hearing the name, the Drybar is a blow dry bar meaning that they wash your hair, blow it out, and style it. I wanted "Old Hollywood" hair, and it turned out just like how I had envisioned it (ask for Stephanie- she's amazing!). I had so much fun with this experience and highly recommend it.
Thanks for reading!

OUTFIT
Dress: Badgley Mischka
Shoes: Enzo Angiolini
Accessories: Forever 21 leaf ring, monogrammed bracelet

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Taste of India: Elephant print and structured blazer

Nothing is more versatile and absolutely necessary for college and beyond than a blazer. Most college students spend their summers interning at a company, institution, etc. If you want to impress your coworkers, a blazer is the way to start. 
I love this elephant print! 
Thanks for reading!


OUTFIT
Top: Joie tank (similar here), Rebecca Minkoff 'Becky' Jacket
Bottom: Elizabeth & James (similar here)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff (previously seen here)
Shoes: Mrkt (similar here)
Accessories: Ray-Ban sunglasses (previously seen here), Forever 21 ring, bangles (from India)

Monday, April 8, 2013

Splurge or Save


For the past few weeks, I have been going back and forth over whether to splurge on a pair of pointed-toe heels (they are making a comeback this season). I am in lust with these Kate Spade New York 'Licorice' Pumps, but their $298 price tag is making me hesitate. I will probably wait until they go on sale before snatching them up. In the mean time, these BCBGeneration 'Cielo' Pumps are offered at a much more affordable price. They are even on sale!

Friday, April 5, 2013

Grayscale: Lush blooms and tulip skirt

Happy Friday everyone! 
Thanks for reading and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

OUTFIT
Top: Ann Taylor
Skirt: Anthropologie (previous season)
Shoes: Cole Haan
Bag: Louis Vuitton (also seen here)
Accessories: Forever 21 ring, Ray-ban sunglasses (also seen here), MAC 'Redd' lip pencil, MAC 'Russian Red' lipstick, pearl necklace (a gift from India)

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Big Bang Theory: fashion inspired by the show (sale edition!)

I love sales and coupon codes. However, there are some brands (I'm looking at you Tory Burch) that are always excluded from the discounts. That is why Bloomingdales' Friends and Family Event is the perfect time to snatch up regular-priced items at a discounted price. Bloomingdales offers 20% off almost everything from now until April 7 with the code FANDF. 

One of my favorite shows is the Big Bang Theory. So, I have created a few outfits inspired by the women of the show using ONLY sale items. In addition to the the Bloomingdales sale, J. Crew is offering 30% off all sale items through April 7 with the code SUNSHINE. Enjoy!  

1. Penny

This outfit would have normally cost $528, but with sales and discount codes, I got it down to $225. That is a 57% discount, a great deal considering that there is a Tory Burch bag in the mix.

2. Amy

This mostly Bloomingdales-selected outfit can be purchased for $183. That is 48% less than what it would normally have cost.

3. Bernadette

This is such a cute outfit for the springtime. Normally, this outfit would have cost $327, but you can get it now for $185- a 43% discount!


Thanks for reading!