BACK IN THE BEST COAST

wearing: light denim H&M vest, b&w striped tee {Taiwan}, dark denim Gap skirt {Crossroads}, black suede flatforms {Free People}, black Levis belt, vintage Coach satchel {thrifted}, T400 Austrian  Crystal Necklace {c/o AliExpress powered by Alibaba}

After a whirlwind of an August, I'm back! If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I've been up and down the west coast, which-after spending some time in Seattle, Portland and LA {photo diaries coming soon!}-is truly the best coast. While classes are once again in session, I am feeling way out of the loop already; my brain is still on vacation while my body is being forced to spend time inside those teeny tiny desks. What's a gal to do? All I can say is that my daydreaming is getting way out of control.

Dressing for class has always been a tricky business. If you get too done up, people will stare. If you wear sweats, people will stare. Having been the one being stared at and the one giving the stares, I can see the reasoning behind both sides. Even so, finding the right balance between looking decent and not trying too hard is something I struggle with to this day. 

I'm starting to find comfort in dressing up basic pieces, like this denim circle skirt from Gap I snagged at the Crossroads up in Seattle. Paired with my favorite striped tee, so obviously my favorite as the seams of my right sleeve has split but I can't seem to replace it just yet, makes for a perfect outfit to sit through lectures, discussions and two jobs {it's been a looong day}. I was never a big fan of flatforms, and I bought these on a total whim, but I'm ridiculously glad I did. Not only do they elongate my short legs but they're comfy! Being flatfooted, heels hurt more than usual {I have the blisters and scars to prove} and these are the perfect substitutions, especially if I'm going to be dragging myself up and down the hills of Cal. Still not done layering denim on denim, my trusty vest added another shade of denim that contrasts the darkness of the skirt fantastically. And no outfit is complete without a little bit of bling! A subtle detail that probably only I noticed, I love how the braided detail of the necklace matches the braided belt. Denim on denim and braid on braid, that's just how I roll.

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THIS OR THAT THURSDAY {#2}

Madden Girl Jacobz     ---     Dolce Vita Oxfords in Leopard

Leopard, from my experience, is an acquired taste. Much like the taste of vodka, few like it at first, but after repeated interactions with it, some will grow to love it. While I still am not a fan of vodka, I am a HUGE advocate of leopard; I like it paired with just about everything.

Menswear is the trend on everyones' lips this fall and I am the blabbermouth spreading it all over town. I love menswear, the boyfriend jeans, slouchy tees, boy blazers, pumped up kicks and button ups, I love it so much I may as well just be a boy. While that isn't happening anytime soon, I do plan on stocking up what I can for this upcoming fall, starting with brogues.

I do love my high heels, I love the swagger they give me, I always feel like such a P-I-M-P in them. Even so, there are days where "nothing but a t-shirt on" can do the trick and, for those days, flats are just enough. Being the complete sucker I am for brogues and leopard, it's natural for me to want to combine the two but it always comes down the the question, "is this just a passing trend or should I invest a little more?"

Two pairs have been tantalizing me, one from DV and one from Madden Girls. Alike conceptually but different in how they operationalized the design (my statistics lingo is starting to creep out...), I am swooning over both. The DV features smaller spots which is great to mix match with other prints as it won't overwhelm the other. The Madden Girl pair is a bit busier and louder, but it is almost half the price. Which do YOU think will be more bang for the buck?

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THIS OR THAT THURSDAY {#1}

This or That Thursday: 7/26 : leather wallets

My indecisive mind and taste has prompted me to introduce a new feature on the blog called "This or That Thursday," a weekly installment that will allow you to help me decide between, well, this or that. Let's start with wallets. Now, I never got the whole "I'm going to drop some serious dough on an accessory that is suppose to hold said money" notion that everyone else seemed to get. Now I get it.


I'm the gal who has her heart set on the classics; the beautifully crafted and wonderfully appealing piece that doesn't need to rely on flashy gimmicks to sell, but instead, relies on the only thing it boasts, its utter simplicity. This Comme des Garçons zip up wallet in white leather, will never ever go out of style and, instead, will continue to grow in refinement with years to come. It's like that tall, dark and handsome gentleman in the lovely three-piece suit in the corner of the party, the one that everyone is secretly eyeing but too afraid to touch.


Yet, at the same time, I am also the one with her eyes set on the frivolous fun piece that vaguely reminds me of little lady bugs and watermelon seeds. The fun itty bitty teeny weeny red and black polka dotted wallet from Marni is so precious that I can't help but think about it from time to time. Perfect for summertime, this wallet has me going gaga crazy, but is this real love or just a little fling?


Help a sista out! Which would you go for?


P.S. Congratulations to Samantha Tedesco for winning the Jason Wu x Target blouse giveaway! With over 135 entries (!!!), thank you all SO much for your amazing support and stay tuned for more fun things to come! xx

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SWEATER WEATHER

wearing: H&M coated sweater, neon pink denim vest, tribal printed shorts {PacSun}, ASOS metallic brogues, leather green bag {Taiwan}

What is a blogger to do when her baby runs out of battery and she can't find the charger? Pout, tear up, throw a hissy fit or two, and order another one online ASAP. Unfortunately, shipping does not feel the same sense of urgency that I feel, thus, we're still waiting on the mailman to make my day, nay, week. Until then, this little update from way back when I had a couple more inches of hair will have to do.

Head over heels in love with the comfort of these shorts, they are quickly becoming my favorites, even over my trusty ol' cut offs. Summer vaca usually involves packing on a few lbs and these shorts are far more forgiving than my high-waisted denim. Sweaters are a must, even during the summer months here as the weather changes it mind even more frequently than I, and the coated sheen looks so good under the sun. The neon pink vest and kelly green bag adds a little color to an otherwise monochromatic scheme. Easy, easy, easy and far more comfortable than the typical t-shirt and jeans.

P.S. Don't forget to enter the blog's birthday giveaway to win a JASON WU x TARGET blouse from my closet!

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TURNING ONE {GIVEAWAY CLOSED}

My blog is one! It's hard to think that my first outfit post was posted only 365 days ago because the amazing community that fashion blogging has introduced me to has become so integrated into my daily life that I honestly can't imagine living without it. This is the longest commitment that I have ever committed (!!) and I can not be more proud of what I have been able to produce. Not only has the blog given me some amazing opportunities, but it has also brought me some of the sweetest friends I could have asked for and I am truly excited for it to continue connecting me to likeminded individuals. On top of that, through each trial and tribulation, I have learned a little more about my style, my likes and dislikes, and, subsequently, more about myself. To show my true appreciation for you lovely folks, it's obviously time for a little giveaway!

Because it IS ze bloggy's first birthday, I have decided to make the giveaway a bit more up close and personal. I am giving away my favorite Jason Wu for Target blouse (size small)! This is the blouse that I woke up at 6 AM for, stood in the freezing cold for almost an hour for, stared down bitchy suburban housewives in sweatpants for, and I'm beyond thrilled to be giving it away to one lucky reader because I love you all THAT much. Oh yeah, I went there, I used the L-word and I mean it!

To enter:

1. Follow on GFC and/or Bloglovin'

2. Comment with your email!

& that's it!

For additional entries:

1. Follow on Twitter (+1)

2. Like on Facebook (+1)

3. Tweet about the giveaway (+1)

Giveaway ends on July 25, 12 am PST.

Thank you all SO much for all of your amazing support! You guys are seriously the bestest and I couldn't have gotten through the last year without each and every one of you! Each one of your comments, likes and tweets make me smile just a little bit bigger and just a tad sillier. All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you, and here's to many more birthdays to come! Cheers! xoxo

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