Polka Dots and Criss-Cross Skirt

Happy Monday everyone!

I usually associate polka dots with children's clothes. But when I saw this blouse at a consignment store near my house in St. Louis, I had to have it. Paired with an a-line skirt, the polka dots look less childish and more sophisticated.

I like playing with different textures and patterns. The soft silk blouse complements the more structured, criss-cross stitched skirt. The belt completes the outfit by breaking up the monochrome color scheme to create some definition. When in doubt, add a belt.

Thanks for reading!

OUTFIT
Top: Equipment (similar here)
Bottom: Tabitha (from Anthropologie, sold out)
Bag: Louis Vuitton (previously seen here)
Shoes: MRKT (previously seen here)
Accessories: Forever 21 necklace, Forever 21 ring, Forever 21 belt, pearl bracelet

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Happy Thoughts Only (please!)

Happy Friday everyone! This week has been pretty rough. It has been overwhelming, disappointing, stressful, and frustrating. I am not a person who likes negative energy. I hate seeing people upset, myself included. I find that the best remedy is laughter.

The photos I choose for my outfit posts is hand selected from dozens of pictures. In that stockpile of photos, I promise you that some of them are downright embarrassing. Today, I am giving you a glimpse of some rather unflattering pictures (with some commentary). Enjoy!

Uhh, like, seriously. There are like totally kids in Africa.

 This is just scary.

The foot pop is hard, ok.

EWW

Look, mommy! I'm a velociraptor!

It smells likes poop.

zzzzzzzzzzz. Sleep time.

I am such an attractive drinker.

Oh yeah, come hither.

I hope that I made some of you laugh. Thanks for reading!

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Mix and Match

I love clothes, but I can only afford so much. When I re-wear my clothes, I try to abide by two rules.

Rule #1: Two-Week Cycle. You have to wait two weeks before recycling an outfit. This roughly corresponds to my laundry habits, which is perfect. 

Rule #2: Mix and Match. The next time you wear a certain item of clothing, pair it with something you have not recently worn it with.

The pieces that I am wearing today have all been featured in past posts, except for the necklace.

When I am thinking about buying something, I try to envision how many ways I can wear that item with the clothes that I already own. You do not want to keep buying new clothes to complement every purchase. You will end up draining your bank account!

Thanks for reading!

OUTFIT
Dress: Soft Joie (previously seen here)
Jacket: Rebecca Minkoff (previously seen here)
Shoes: Sam Edelman (previously seen here)
Bag: Louis Vuitton (previously seen here)
Accessories: Ray-ban Sunglasses (previously seen here), House of Harlow necklace

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Sailboats and Denim Blues

Happy Monday everyone! 

Boba makes me so happy! Back in St. Louis, we only have St. Louis Bubble Tea, which is subpar at best. In Pasadena and surrounding areas, yummy tea houses abound- Tea Spots, Au79, Half & Half, Factory Tea Bar, etc. Even trendy celebrity hot spots like Urth Caffee have picked up the boba trend and offer drinks with boba. My favorite flavors include almond milk tea, oolong tea, and jasmine green tea.

I love jeans because of their versatility. You can wear them with t-shirts for a day volunteering or you can dress them up with some heels or a tailored jacket/blazer. Most jeans for me require hemming. But I have discovered an easy solution: ankle-length jeans.

Thanks for reading!

OUTFIT
Top: Madewell
Bottom: Siwy (similar here)
Coat: St. John (similar here)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff (previously seen here)
Shoes: Cole Haan
Accessories: Ray-ban Aviators, NARS 'Luxembourg' Satin Lip Pencil, Au79 'Green Tea with Boba' drink

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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!

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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).

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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

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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)

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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!

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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)

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