Pretty in Pink

As you can probably tell, I have been into pink recently. Pink is girly, flirty, and bold. Every color makes me feel different. For instance, I feel slim in black, demure in navy, excited and happy in yellow, and ethereal in lavender. In pink, I feel pretty.

This dress has the classic fit and flare silhouette, which is a favorite amongst celebrities including one of my style icons, Lauren Conrad. The full body skirt makes the waist look smaller, which is always flattering.  I also like the added intricacy this dress brings with the mesh panelling. 

Thanks for reading!

OUTFIT

Dress: Elizabeth & James

Shoes: Enzo Angiolini

Handbag: Louis Vuitton

Accessories: Forever 21 rings (thanks Aleena!)

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Dinner & Dessert (L.A. Style)

I am finishing up my second year at Caltech. Over the past two years, I have been blessed to dine at many restaurants in the Los Angeles area. Los Angeles is a food mecca, so it can seem daunting when choosing where to go out to eat. To help you guys out, I have compiled a list of some of my favorite places to go for dinner and dessert. Whether you are planning a date night or a girls' night, here are my recommendations for the perfect dinner and dessert pairing.

Comfort
The Boiling Crab
Overview: This is the perfect place to go if you want to have some fun with your food and don't mind getting your hands dirty. You get to customize your food by choosing a fresh seafood, special sauce, and spiciness level. They then bring your order out in a plastic bag, which you are supposed to shake to mix everything together. You also get to wear a bib so that the juices don't get on your clothes.
Food Recommendations: 1 lb whole sha-bang shrimp medium spicy, corn, sweet potato fries
Price: Expect to spend ~$15-20.

Mangiamo Gelato Caffe
Overview: This cute little gelato shop over by Huntington Beach has some of the best gelato that I have ever tasted. It gives all the gelato shops that I frequented in Paris a run for their money. For the smallest size, you can choose up to 3 flavors. This is the perfect treat after a day at the beach.
Food Recommendations: Mango sorbetto, cookies and milk, nutella banana crepe
Price: Expect to spend ~$4-5.

Ethnic
Chakra Cuisine
Overview: This indian restaurant in the heart of Beverly Hills mixes traditional indian food with modern aesthetics. It has a great ambiance and intimate feel. You can either dine in the main dining area or choose to dine in the lounge area with your own private bungalow complete with curtains for privacy.
Food Recommendations: Scallops, chicken chettinadu, samosa trio
Price: Expect to spend ~$35-40.

Tea Spots
Overview: Located within walking distance of Caltech, this is my favorite place to go for boba.
Food Recommendations: Mango icy with pink boba, oolong tea with boba, milk tea with boba
Price: Expect to spend ~$3-5.

Trendy
Umami Burger
Overview: You have not tasted a real burger until you have tried one from Umami Burger. There are quite a few locations in Southern California, each with its unique decor and theme. I have been to multiple Umami Burgers, and each one feels like a new experience.
Food Recommendations: The Original burger, sweet potato fries
Price: Expect to spend ~$10-15.

Georgetown Cupcake
Overview: This chic cupcake bakery located on the trendy Robertson Blvd. is the first west coast branch for the Washington D.C.-based company. These cupcakes are so good that their owners have a television show on TLC called "DC Cupcakes."
Food Recommendations: Key Lime, Strawberry Lava Fudge
Price: $2.75 per cupcake

Elegant
Parkway Grill
Overview: This upscale restaurant in Pasadena is the epitome of fine dining. I am not the biggest fan of red meat, and this place does a superb job of offering a balanced menu that also includes pastas and seafood. Every dish that I have had here has been outstanding. If you ever want to splurge, this is THE place in Pasadena to do so. I am going back this Wednesday when my parents come into town on their way to China.
Food Recommendations: Tiger shrimp corndogs, fresh angel hair pasta, creme brulee napoleon
Price: Expect to spend ~$50.

Bottega Louie
Overview: By now, you probably already know how much of a fan I am of Bottega Louie. The macarons are amazing.
Food Recommendations: Strawberry, grand cru
Price: $2.50 per macaron

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Aloha:: Take Me Away

Happy Friday everyone! I am sorry that I have been MIA for a while. But as a college student, I have to put my schoolwork first. I have one more week left before finals, so the end is fast approaching. Then I plan on heading to Washington D.C. this summer to do an internship with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Seeing that I have not spent more than five consecutive days in the East Coast, this is an exciting yet terrifying opportunity. I still have yet to find housing. (yikes!)

This dress reminds me of Hawaii, which is where I want to be right now. The bold colors and pattern are reminiscent of the tropics.

As summer nears, the items at the top of my shopping list are maxi dresses. I love the way a maxi dress flows as I walk down a street or to class. And because of its length, a maxi dress always adds a touch of elegance to an outfit.

Thanks for reading guys! 

OUTFIT

Dress: Ella Moss

Shoes: BCBGMAXAZRIA (old)

Bag: Rebecca Minkoff

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Black Lace Love

I normally stay away from anything that is remotely body hugging. I just see more versatility with looser fitting dresses, especially since I associate that style with comfort. But today, I decided to venture into the body-hugging zone. Though it is not a Herve Leger-esque body-con dress, this black lace dress is the one of the few items in my closet that gives definition to my curves.

The silhouette of this dress is very simple, but the lace overlay gives it an added dimension and makes the dress look more elegant than it actually is. This dress easily transitions from day to night just by switching up the shoes. During the day, pair it with flats or sandals. Then at night, swap out your school or work shoes for a pair of heels.

Thanks for reading!

OUTFIT

Dress: Soft Joie

Shoes: Kate Spade

Bag: Rebecca Minkoff

Accessories: House of Harlow necklace, Kate Spade necklace, bracelets

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GUEST SPOTLIGHT:: Christine Wang

Hey everyone! My sister graduated yesterday and, unfortunately, I could not be with her to share her final high school experience. Here are her reflections on and styling tips for her big day.
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Yesterday I officially became an alum to my high school. It's unreal to think I became that "big kid in the church choir outfit" that I looked up to when I was younger. Of course we had graduation outside (for the first time in years) in the lovely mixture of humidity and hotness that characterizes St. Louis springs and summers. But while I sat in my seat feeling my makeup melt off my face and watching the boy's blue gowned backs darken in sweat, I realized that the mere fact I was graduating dispelled all the other dismal conditions of that day.

I chose to stick with the classics and wear a white dress on my last day of labeled adolescence and THANK GOD I did. The dress has an open back so that helped me keep cool during the ceremony. I also wore my Sam Edelman sandals because the last thing I wanted on that day was to trip over the grass in front of thousands of people. A Kate Spade bangle that was given to me by two fantastic people for graduation helped add some color to a very white and neutral outfit. 

OUTFIT

Dress: Free People

Shoes: Sam Edelman

Accessories: Kate Spade bangle

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Thanks for reading you guys and congratulations to Christine! She will be heading to Columbia University in NYC this fall.

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Mosaic Pattern and Nude Pumps

Happy Friday everyone! I just wanted to check in with y'all after a tiring week.  

When I saw this dress online, I was immediately drawn to the colorful print. I like that this dress requires minimal accessorizing, which I am always on the lookout for.

I finally purchased these Kate Spade heels that I had my eyes on. I got them in nude because I wanted to get the most utility out these shoes, and nude is the most versatile shoe color (even more so, in my opinion, than black). 

 Blaine is graduating in a month, so I got to take his pictures for his graduation announcement. This is my favorite photo from today, mostly because I managed to NOT get myself out of the photo.
(J. Crew shirt courtesy of Christine)

OUTFIT

Dress: Mara Hoffman

Shoes: Kate Spade

Accessories: Forever 21 ring, bracelets

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Boyfriend Style (literally)

 

I think you already know how much I like to go through other people's closets. This time, I ventured into my boyfriend's wardrobe. Make no mistake, I am not into androgynous style, but with many stores offering women 'boyfriend-style' clothing, I thought it would be appropriate to try out a literal version of that style. 

The heels are obviously not Blaine's– there was no way that I could have made his shoes work! It glams the outfit up a little bit anyways, which is how I like it.

I love this belt. At first I thought it was kind of creepy, but it has since grown on me. Also, I never quite understood why men's jeans have the dimensions in plain sight for everyone to see.

Thanks for reading guys!

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