As told by Jessica Steele. Based in NYC.
If I was going to attend Coachella, this is what I’d wear. Instead though – we went to Palm Springs a week before the floral crown wearing crowds descended for the trendiest music festival of the year, because frankly all those crowds and all that fanfare freak me out. So this is about as festival style as it gets for me.
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Continue reading “FESTIVAL STYLE: ROMPER AND ROUND CROSSBODY BAG”
Honey, I’m home! One of the things I was most looking forward to about Palm Springs was scoping some of their famous mid century mod homes. Known for their one story ranch style, minimal lines and bright pops of color the houses here feel like nothing I’ve seen anywhere else. So naturally.. I dressed to match.
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I’m one of those rare people who loves packing for a trip. From the moment I book those flights I start mentally putting things in my suitcase. A week before the trip and I’ve got small piles everywhere in our apartment of potential outfits, just ready and waiting to hit the road with me. This black and white palm print maxi dress was one of the first pieces I had set aside for Palm Springs. And it turned out just as perfect as it was in my suitcase dreams.
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Continue reading “ACE HOTEL PALM SPRINGS: PRINTED MAXI DRESS”
If you’ve been reading The Steele Maiden for a very long time than you know that 5 years ago Adam and I packed up his car, drove cross country and landed on the West Coast for a year and a half in the sun. So this trip back was a sweet little trip down memory lane. One of the closest beaches to where we lived was Santa Monica and we spent lots of days and nights on this particular stretch of sand.
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I’ve already shown you what I wore on our trip to Maine (here, here and here), but I’ve been bursting to tell you more about all of the great things we saw and did. Oh and ate. Without further ado.. my fall travel guide to coastal Maine.
While I’ve been to Maine in both Summer and Winter as a kid, I had never been in the peak of Fall and now I don’t think I’d want to go at any other time. The middle of October (depending on the weather that particular year) is going to allow you peak leaf peeping and temperatures that are crisp but not yet truly cold. This trip is best enjoyed by car as so many of the towns are just a short 20-30 minute drive from one another. Allowing both scenic coastal drives and multiple stops within a single day. We saw most of south/mid-coast Maine in just 3 1/2 days. I suggest starting at Nubble Lighthouse just outside of Ogunquit and ending with Bar Harbor and Acadadia National Park.
While it probably goes without saying, you’re going to eat Lobster while in Maine. And it’s going to be gooooood. It’s offered in nearly every variety but as you pop from town to town a lobster roll from a seaside stand is an experience not to be missed. We loved the Clam Shack in Kennebunkport and Red’s Eats in Wiscasset. But don’t think your dining is going to stop at lobstah (as the locals say). We were pleasantly surprised by the amazing food options we found throughout our trip. Standouts include an unforgettable dinner at Earth at Hidden Pond outside of Kennebunkport (make reservations in advance and request a seat near the fireplace!), Duckfat (don’t miss the truffle fries) & The Holy Donut (their chai tea donut was possibly the best donut I’ve ever had) – both in Portland. P.S. While you wait for your table at Duckfat, walk over to Shipyard Brewery for a quick beer flight of local craft brews.
One of our favorite activities while exploring Maine was touring the coast’s lighthouses and sightseeing all of the gorgeous historic homes. We checked out Nubble Lighthouse near Ogunquit and Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth (the cliff walk nearby was another favorite activity!). While we spotted beautiful homes in almost every town we stopped through, the houses in Kennebunkport and Wiscasset were some of the most charming I’ve ever seen. Look closely for the door markers on the homes to see the year in which they were built and often times the name of the original owners.
Admittedly I didn’t do much shopping while we were on this particular trip, but Kennebunkport was dotted with cute boutiques and Portland had a strong small shop vibe that I loved. My favorite stores downtown were Portland Dry Goods (think luxe lumberjack for both men and women) and K Colette for home goods with a chic nautical-inspiration.
Have more questions about what to see or where to go? Feel free to ask below in the comments or contact me directly here.