Chambray & Polka Dots

Sweater: Equipment; Button-up: JCrew; Pants: Rag and Bone; Shoes: Tory Burch; Sunglasses: Karen Walker; Bag: Rebecca Minkoff

For those close to me, they know that I love two things: polka dots and pink. So this Equipment sweater pretty much fits the bill.  Normally I pair it with black, but a chambray button up with navy skinnies and tan accents seemed to fit the bill for sunny spring weather. Now if only it would warm up enough that I could ditch either the sweater or the jeans... 

Until next time,

xo 

T

Currently Craving: A Tropical Vacay

All I've been daydreaming about these days are the Maldives, Puerto Rico, Australia, Thailand... basically anywhere warm and tropical and full of beaches.  Seriously, someone take me on a tropical vacation, stat. The rain has not let up basically since January, and this California girl is in desperate need of a beach and some Vitamin D. Honestly, is there anything better than listening to the sound of the waves, while reading a good book and soaking up the sun with a nice cold drink in hand? I don't think so. Here's what I would pack on my dream vacation:

How cute would this look be for a dinner at the hotel restaurant? 

Panama hats and mirrored aviators are a must for sunny beach days. 

This is quite possibly the perfect travel outfit! I love jean jackets and legging combos for the plane, but I think it could also be super cute for exploring the local landmarks. 

I want a high waisted bikini so badly! I particularly adore this neon floral version from Australian designer Seafolly.

Yellow is the perfect summer color, and in a simple dress that work as a cover up and go from beach to town, what more could you want? Also those blue and white striped smoking flats are perfect. 

These Chanel espadrilles will be mine. They are quite possibly the most perfect summer shoe that you could ever want. Ugh! 

Until next time, 

xo 

T

TBT: Le Smoking

While menswear-style dressing was first made popular by actresses Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietriech in the 1930s, it was truly brought to the forefront of the fashion world in 1966, when Yves Saint Laurent sent a hair-bow-wearing blonde model down the runway in a slim black velvet pantsuit, complete with a matching vest, white shirt with ruffled cuffs, and a black bow tie.  Over the next several years, Saint Laurent sent several other versions down the runway, ranging from toreador-inspired to cotton for summer.  By the 1970s, they were selling out of the designer's Left Bank boutique, and in 1971 Bianca Jagger famously married Mick Jagger in a cream version. Other designers like Chanel and Bill Blass then followed suit (pun-intended), and a fashion-icon was born.

Even now, the le smoking is still an incredibly chic option for evening wear, as is evidenced by the countless starlets and fashion icons that still wear them today.

Shoes I'll Never Have favorite, Alexa Chung, brings her inimitable cool to her version of the look, with suspenders and strappy, Mary Jane style platforms. 

Emma Watson keeps it minimal with simple pointy toe pumps and little other accessories, her slicked back hair adding to the androgynous cool.  

Jessica Alba, another modern day fashion icon, takes the look the glamorous route, with tousled waves and ankle strap heels. Her oversized clutch and bedazzled jacket add to the glam effect. 

Even though it's a relatively simple look, each of these stylish ladies make it their own, letting their personalities shine through with their accessories.  Maybe one of these days I'll have an event to wear one to myself!  

Until next time, 

xo 

T

The Rain is Here to Stay

Sweater: Intermix; Shirt: JCrew Factory; Jeans: JBrand; Boots: Hunter; Bag: Kate Spade

So this is my very uninspired rainy day outfit. I thought for awhile that the rain up here in Seattle was *maybe* over, and even went so far as to put one pair of my rain boots away for the season, but it seems that that was preemptive. Boo. So I'm a little bummed, I've barely worked out in the past month, and I've been living off of Chicken McNuggets. Not my finest hour. And this is the outfit result of that state of mind! Simple and comfortable (although it's making me miss my skinny thighs... oh to still be a Californian...)

Until next time, 

xo 

T

Inspo of the Week: Cher Horowitz

Of all of the movies that pretty much defined my youth, Clueless sits at the top of the list. When I was a kid, I could essentially recite the script verbatim, and longed to have a computerized catalogue of my closet that would help me get dressed in the morning. Not to mention just wishing that I had her closet, and her white open-top Jeep! I kind of still want that Jeep, now that I mention it...

But, with the recent resurgence of 90's trends, like jelly sandals and crop tops and plaid, I got to thinking about my original fashion icon. Here are a few of my favorite looks from one of my favorite movies of all time:

This outfit defined my life for a while... I even remember buying a red version at Target for back to school shopping in the 3rd grade! 

I mean, I still dress like this... 

"But this is an Alaia!" Thanks, Cher, for teaching me about designers and the perils of hanging out in empty parking lots in LA. That came in handy in college. 

Again, I would wear this outfit tomorrow. Minus the knee socks. I'm a little old for that! 

I just realized that Mindy Lahiri on the Mindy Project is really just channeling Cher Horowitz. And I love it. 

A beret and a fluffy pencil.  This was all I wanted out of life at the ripe old age of 7. 

But seriously, can we talk about the boyfriend blazer and the white button up? Swap that skirt for some silky shorts and you have an adorable summer night outfit. 

I cannot tell you how much I wanted a white sheer button up because of this movie.  There was a girl in my math class in the 3rd grade who had one... I still hate her for it ;)

Well, I know that Cher's style has greatly influenced mine, even without realizing it at times. Who or what from your childhood has influenced your style? 

Until next time, 

xo 

T

Spring Hues

Blazer: JCrew; Tank: Vince; Jeans: Paige Denim; Necklace: Jennifer Zeuner; Shoes: Tory Burch 

I had a social event this evening, so I needed an outfit that was work week appropriate but could also translate into a cocktail hour. This is a little more on the casual side, but I like the color blocking effect I have going on with the navy blazer and the tangerine pants. Also, the patent leather Tory Burch flats and my gold monogram necklace played nicely with the gold buttons on my blazer. Also, it is Seattle, so basically you feel a little out of place if you wear heels and a cocktail dress sometimes! 

Until next time, 

xo

T

Current Obsession: Face Oil

1. Shiseido Ultimate Cleansing Oil ; 2. Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Oil; 3. Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil; 4. Lancome Remove All Deep Cleansing Oil; 5. Murad Renewing Cleansing Oil

Recently I've been getting really into oil. That sounds weird, but trust me. It all started with Moroccan Oil, which I've been using on my hair for the past few years. It's perfect for using on your ends the day after you've curled your hair and it's dried out from hair spray. 

Then, I got into body oil, which I posted about here. I've been using Fresh Body Oil for a while now, and it honestly works wonders.  My skin is incredibly soft, and it has a slight fragrance so I basically don't have to use perfume.  Aka killing two birds with one stone! 

The other day, though, I saw an add on TV for a new face oil from Garnier.  It's a cleanser that removes makeup without drying, and since I've always had problems with dry skin, I decided to try it out.  I've been using makeup remover wipes and Cetaphil face soap for as long as I can remember, and while I still use Cetaphil with my Clairisonic Mia face scrubber in the shower, makeup remover wipes have been really drying on my sensitive skin, especially now that I live way up north in the cold! 

However, given that I have sensitive skin that reacts badly to *a lot* I decided to do some research first. Beauty experts from Sephora, to thebeautydepartment.com, to Birchbox have been singing the praises of face oil. Why? Because they can give amazing results for any skin type or problem. They moisturize more effectively than creams, and can instill your skin with important nutrients and antioxidants. They can impart radiance without build-up, and they're one of the gentlest ways to remove makeup and impurities from skin. 

They're usually made from a combination of all-natural oils, or they can be a single product like coconut or argan oil. Experts recommend using an all-natural product, as synthetic ingredients tend to lessen the effectiveness of the oils. 

Finally, different types of oils do different things.  Thebeautydepartment.com recommends coconut oil for removing makeup, and wellness guru Daphne Oz just slathers olive oil all over.  Avocado oil can be calming for irritated or dry skin, lavender oil has antiseptic qualities for blemish prone skin, and oils with high amounts of vitamin C can help with discoloration, according to birch box.com

Until next time, 

xo 

T

Spring Trends: Pink!

A new season means new trends, and I have been very into the influx of pink this spring.  It might be the 90s kid in me, but all of the hot pink is making me want to empty out my bank account, and the lighter shades are perfect for more conservative situations like the office.

1. Skies Are Blue Dress - This adorable shift dress would be perfect for the office, especially when paired with navy accents, such as a cardigan to cover up the little cut-out in the back. Take off the cardigan when you go out later and you have a perfect day-to-night outfit! 

2. JBrand Jeans - I have a similar pair of jeans like this that I bought last summer.  I paired them with a flawy navy blue and white floral top with gold accents, which is probably how I would style these, too.  You could also try out navy and white stripes (my perennial favorite!), or try color blocking with a pink top in a lighter shade. 

3. Amanda Uprichard Dress - I am obsessed with this dress.  I think with cute black booties (or wedges when the weather gets warmer!) and either a boxy tweed or leather jacket to add some edge to the girly color that it would be the perfect date night or girls night out outfit! 

4. Rebecca Minkoff Bag - I have several Rebecca Minkoff bags, and I've been wanting to add one of these studded wallet-on-a-chain bags to my collection for sometime.  Then, when I saw this adorable pastel pink shade, I just about died.  I love the juxtaposition of such a feminine color with the bad-ass-ness of the studded details. Love! 

5. Equipment Blouse - It's no secret that I love Equipment shirts, and a few months ago I was out shopping with my mom when I said that I was looking for a hot pink button up.  And a little while later here we are! Half tucked with some distressed jeans and cool flat sandals or wedges and you're good to go. 

6. Joie Flats - Confession: I just bought these flats! I love the ankle strap and the light pink color is basically a neutral, right? I also love the snakeskin texture, it definitely adds to their cool quotient.  I can't wait to pair them with shift dresses and cropped skinny jeans when I get them in the mail! 

The great thing about pink is that it looks good on literally everyone, you just have to pick the right shade for you. Or, you can be like me and just where all of it! 

Until next time, 

xo 

T

Spring Transitions

Jacket: Kenna-T (old); Tank: Vince; Skirt: Rebecca Taylor (old); booties: Sam Edleman

Happy first day of spring! This outfit is one of those great outfits that you can wear now when it's still kind of chilly, and also wear during the summer when the weather gets warmer. Now, I've paired my favorite pleated maxi skirt with a simple tank and a light colored leather jacket (yay for spring!) and some little ankle booties. For the summer, I would probably just swap out the jacket for a statement necklace and the booties for a pair of metallic gladiator sandals. But if I still lived in California I'd probably be wearing those sandals now...

Until next time, 

xo 

T

Book Report: America's Queen

I recently finished reading this biography of Jackie Kennedy by Sarah Bradford, and while I have read books about her before, this one was truly the most honest portrayal of her yet. While it was a bit salacious at parts, it left no stone unturned, including some of the less savory rumors that abound about her and JFK's relationship. In other words, if someone was sleeping with someone important to this book, you read about it. However, it also paints an incredibly realistic portrait of the first lady and all of her relationships - romantic, professional, familial, and otherwise. You recognize her flaws, such as the competitive and sometimes toxic relationship with her sister, Lee, as well as her strengths, such as her love for her children and determination to raise them to be good people. There is a significant amount of the book dedicated to her work on restoring the White House to its historic glory, which I personally couldn't get enough of. You can't take the art history major out of the art history department I guess! 

The book was also very sad at some parts, as you get all the details about her sometimes disastrous relationships with men, starting with JFK and including her second marriage to Aristotle Onassis. Her several miscarriages are also gone over, but, by the end of the book, you are left feeling that all of these challenges are what made her the person who ended up as a book editor in a happy relationship at the end of her life. However, as I said before, the book really does paint a complete picture, and leaving out the sad bits wouldn't give the reader that. 

Anyway, if you're at all interested in Jackie Kennedy, I would definitely pick up this book. 

Until next time, 

xo 

T

Beginning to Feel Like Spring

Top: Mlly; Pants: JBrand; Shoes: Charlotte Olympia; Bag: Kate Spade; Kitty: P*Kitty (like P*Diddy)


It's finally starting to feel like spring here in the Northwest! People's tulips and daffodils are just starting to sprout, it has barely rained all week, and it was actually sunny! This California girl is one happy camper - so is my kitty - she's so happy to be outside and not get soaking wet! It makes catching birds much easier too, unfortunately. But, for one of the first sunshine days in a LONG time, I broke out this cute Milly top that I bought last year in New York. It's navy blue and white clover patter, along with a crisp white Peter Pan collar make it perfect for days like this. Paired with my Charlotte Olympia Kitty Flats, and a pony tail made of big messy curls, and it's a perfect it's-almost-spring look.

Until next time,
xo
T

Currently Craving: Wallpaper

If you've been to my house lately, you know that I have a tiny obsession with wallpaper.  I've done a gold and black "statement wall" in our downstairs guest room (Matt wanted it to be heavy metal themed, with AC/DC and Metallica posters, so I tried my best to make it not feel like a tour bus...) and I covered the walls in my breakfast nook with a white and light blue floral. I've also been tempted to do just about every other room in my house too, and have been looking at patterns for my bathroom, my bedroom, my living room... it's getting bad! But honestly, I think that wallpaper can add so much character and style to a room.  It can really give a room a finished and chic feel.  And, with new strippable papers, it's so much easier to apply and remove! Here are some of the pictures that inspired my new obsession (from my Pinterest page)...

As you can tell, I am in love with black and white (I'd love to do a little girls room like that! I have a friend who is pregnant and might try to convince her to let me help with the nursery...) as well as geometric patterns - but animal prints always get me too! 

Until next time, 

xo 

T