New York

I just got home from New York and like always, that city left me wanting more. Being there at Christmas time made it even more magical. And Blogshop....can't say enough good things. Angela and Bri are such fanstatic, talented, stylish ladies and I feel so lucky to have been taught by them. My Photoshop skills improved about a million times and I had so much fun! I can't wait to implement everything that I learned into my blog.

images by Angela taken at Blogshop

PS Don't forget that my holiday table giveaway ends tomorrow around noon. Check it out here to enter!

Holiday Style / No. 1

I thought it would be fun to feature different Christmas aesthetics, each festive in their own way. This is the first in the series - for simple yet sophisticated holiday enthusiasts.

outfit / fair trade reindeer ornament / tree in jar / berry branch card holder / organic wreath / feather wrapping / snowflake lantern

Simple and Elegant Styling

A modern day Breakfast at Tiffany's meets Sounds of Music? There's probably a much better film association that I could make, but it's late, and as much as I'd like to be, I'm not much of a film buff. Even still, I'm enjoying bookmarking more and more fashion styling and photography that catches my eye. This particular shoot was photographed by Alasdair McLellan and styled by Suzanne Koller. So well done.

images

Gold Sparklies

I'm not sure what's gotten into me, but I'm all about sequins and glitter right now. I usually don't gravitate toward a lot of sparkle but I guess times are changing. Here are a few things that have caught my eye recently, and just in time for the holidays!

Ban.do  / Anthropologie  /  pillow / flats / garland / lights

2 Little Things

here and here

Eccentric Styling

This girl is sort of creepy which makes the styling of these photos all the more amazing. It's time I added a little bit of edge to this little blog of mine.

Photographs by the very talented Silja Magg.

To you and yours...

Why yes, I was a cheerleader in high school.

This Thanksgiving I am incredibly thankful to the following.

1. God. For everything. All the good that I get to enjoy, and all  the bad from which I can grow and  learn. / 2. My parents. For their love and support. For pretending like I am the most talented person on the planet, even though I know it's not true by a long shot. / 3. All 4 of my siblings who double as my best friends. / 4. Kelli & Erin. Since your move to Southern California my life hasn't been this fun since, well, ever. / 5. Apple. My iPhone 4S has seriously changed my life. / 6. Melissa & Brian. For checking off one of my New Year's resolutions by making me an aunt in 2011. / 7. Too many designers and bloggers to name. You all give me daily inspiration to be a better and more interesting designer and blogger.

shirt / final touch
dress / h&m
socks / I've had them so long I can't remember
heels / nordstrom / classiques entier

A Fun Thanksgiving Ensemble

I know this little outfit probably wouldn't fly in a lot of cold weather places this time of year, but in honor of celebrating my first ever Thanksgiving in Southern California, I thought I would put together something a little less bundled up.



1. top / 2. blazer / 3. pants / 4. heels / 5. bracelet / 6. necklace / 7. scarf

Rainy Day Attire

So Cal is a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to fall, but things are really starting to shape up around here. Which is good because let's face it, it's almost winter. It rained all day, it was freezing, and it was overcast. Yay fall! I played in the rain and took a couple of photes.

Wait my shoes are cut off...take another one.

Much better.

coat / thrifted
sweater / Piko 1988
jeans / Hudson
tights / Urban
boots / Born Crown

Zara / FB

From the November look book. 

The colors are perfectly fall and I love the mix and match of patterns.

snagged from Zara's facebook page

Vintage Dress

I have been reading design blogs for a while now. About a year ago I started to get really bored with reading post after post on pretty rooms or pretty clothes by famous designers. It is fun to read and write about the latest and greatest, I do it too, but lately what I have found the most inspiring is seeing what the bloggers themselves have created - whether that be a craft project, a room, a meal, a photograph, or an outfit. Even if it isn't my style, and even if I don't necessarily love it, I still find those posts the most fun to read. 

I have been prepping and planning to do more of that here on my blog. I realized one day that as an interior designer, I'm not going to be able to post new projects every day, or even every week, as projects take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years to be completed. This means that I have to do more blog specific designing. As a result, I am working on styling shoots just for my blog and going all out for dinner parties (stay tuned for Thanksgiving), showers (see my sister's baby shower here), and friends' weddings (new posts coming soon), and also work on my photography and painting skills (actually, I don't think I can call them skills yet, more like hobbies that I'm not very good at). This way, not only do I get to share more original creative content on a regular basis, but it keeps my creativity flowing; constantly pushing me to try new things.

All of this brings me here, to my first style/fashion post. I have friends who borrow my clothes on a regular basis, so even though I get bored of my closet frequently, I guess there must be some good stuff in there. I don't consider myself a fashionista, but nonetheless, I LOVE clothes, almost more than furniture, and I always find it interesting to see what people are wearing. 

dress: vintage (picked up on 4th street in Long Beach)

shoes: dolce vita

shirt: quiksilver

glasses: chanel

photos via my iPhone

Glamping

My best friends and I are really into extending birthdays into the weekend, and for mine we decided to go camping. It is one of our absolute favorite things to do together, even if it is just for one night at a campsite 40 minutes away.

I'm new to this term called "glamping", a merging of glamorous camping. It isn't something that I've done before, or realistically probably ever will do. I generally sleep in whatever tent has room for me in a sleeping bag on the ground. Showering is rare. However, we do always manage to eat some pretty gourmet meals (bbq chicken and strawberry spinach salad with Dutch oven peach cobbler for dessert).

However, if I ever do become a glamper, this is what I imagine...

I would sleep in a place like this...

And I would definitely be wearing something like this...

In all seriousness though, I really do think a pair of duck boots are in order this season. Happy glamping!

one, two, three, four, five, six

Fall Boots

Fall means that even though I shouldn't be spending money on new boots, I get to buy them anyway. The possibilities for these little guys are endless.

Addicted to Stripes

 I wasn't kidding when I said that striped shirts fit my style to a T. I bought another one today. It might be time for an intervention...

pinterest

Me as an outfit

This one little outfit sums up my fashion style to a T. The not-super-fitted black & white striped shirt, the slightly ruffled skirt, the booties, the bun on top of her head that makes it look like she doesn't care, but really she does, I love it all. This is definitely something I would wear to work, for a night out on the town, or just hanging out at home. Although, I'd probably throw in my tortoise-framed glasses and a gold flea market watch (that doesn't work), and change the black shoes to light brown, just so that it's not so perfect.

from The Podolls