country strong

The Steele Maiden: Country StrongI’m going to go ahead and confess something to you.  In an alternate life, I would have loved to have been a country music star.  Like picture Loretta Lynn meets the wardrobe of Rachel Bilson on the (embarrassingly addictive) show Hart of Dixie.  Blame it on the fact that I spent a good deal of time growing up with my Southern grandparents who listened to old country tunes on AM radio but I just seem to have a deeply instilled love for short swingy skirts, gingham and cowboy boots (these ones a score from a thrift store back in New York – most likely because no one else there wanted dusty old cowboy boots the way I did).  And even though these days I’m singing along to country songs down the busy freeways of Los Angeles – the look remains.  You can take the girl out of the country…J.Crew Factory Gingham Shirt // Urban Outfitters Dress // H&M Scarf – similar here // Thrifted Cowboy Boots // Bag via TJ Maxx
The Steele Maiden: Country Strong
The Steele Maiden: Country Strong
The Steele Maiden: Country Strong
The Steele Maiden: Country Strong
The Steele Maiden: Country Strong
The Steele Maiden: Country Strong




on the bright side

The Steele Maiden: On the Bright Side

  
If you’ve been following along this Fall, you already know that the temperatures in California have thrown me for a bit of a sartorial loop (it’s going to be a high of nearly 85 degrees by Wednesday).  At this point on the East Coast I’d be bundled up in my trusty camel coat, black hat & scarf, and dark leather boots.  But here in sunny Los Angeles this past weekend I finally just decided to look on the bright side and threw on my brightest cobalt (lightweight) sweater and a colorful floral silk skirt.  Then balanced the whole look with a neutral grey bag and shoes.  Speaking of bags?  This perfectly structured satchel is from the magic makers over at Sole Society and is the new shining star of my handbag family.  I usually carry vintage bags (as evidenced here and here) so when I choose to go new, I’m pretty discerning.  Versatile, structured and not too large – this one passed all my tests.  Here’s to keeping an open mind.  

Forever 21 Sweater – similar here // Madewell Skirt  // J.Crew Factory Belt // Sole Society Lisette Bag c/0 // Dolce Vita Oxfords via TJ Maxx – similar here
The Steele Maiden: On the Bright Side

The Steele Maiden: On the Bright Side

The Steele Maiden: On the Bright Side

The Steele Maiden: On the Bright Side

The Steele Maiden: On the Bright Side
(linking up with Walking in Memphis in High Heels here)



my favorite views with sunglass warehouse

The Steele Maiden: Hollywood Hills with Sunglass WarehouseWhen I first moved to California, a local advised that I would need to carry 2 things with me at all times.  A light jacket (even hot days cool off quickly at night) – and a pair of sunglasses.  The latter has proved especially true and so when Sunglass Warehouse (an online retailer with tons of options at super affordable prices) asked to team up, I was quick to jump on board.  Over the next couple of weeks I’m going to be taking you with me as I visit some of my favorite areas in Los Angeles and sharing the glasses that match with each locale.  For my first location I headed to Runyon Canyon to go hiking in the Hollywood Hills – an activity that I’ve come to love since moving here.  These mirrored Wayfarer style shades are trendy enough to fit in with the ‘see and be seen attitude’ that comes with a Hollywood hike, but still sporty enough to be reasonable picks for outdoor activity.  And the view reflected in the lenses? I think that speaks for itself. Sunglass Warehouse Mirrored Retro Style Sunglasses c/o // Tulle Jacket // Old Navy T-Shirt // Target Leggings 
The Steele Maiden: Hollywood Hills with Sunglass Warehouse
The Steele Maiden: Hollywood Hills with Sunglass Warehouse
The Steele Maiden: Hollywood Hills with Sunglass Warehouse
The Steele Maiden: Hollywood Hills with Sunglass Warehouse
The Steele Maiden: Hollywood Hills with Sunglass Warehouse
The Steele Maiden: Hollywood Hills with Sunglass Warehouse
The Steele Maiden: Hollywood Hills with Sunglass Warehouse
 
This post has been sponsored by Sunglass Warehouse – as always, all opinions are my own.  Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Steele Maiden possible.  

 

 

weekend flashback

The Steele Maiden: Weekend FlashbackWhile some weekends I stick pretty close to home, these past couple of days I felt like I really covered some ground.  Of course clear skies and sunshine always help to make me want to get out and take it all in.  For those of you wondering, the summer like weather has continued here in LA – and the city seems to be trying to conjure up the holiday spirit despite that fact that we’re all still in bare legs and t-shirts.   Although store front windows feel festive, I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to seeing people ice skate in Santa Monica wearing shorts.  Aside from my usual errands, a few of my journeys this weekend were in preparation for a really fun collaboration that’s kicking off tomorrow.  So be sure to come back then – and for up to the minute updates follow me here.  


memory lane

The Steele Maiden: Memory LaneWe had originally planned on taking these pictures by a standard brick wall but the lighting wasn’t quite right, so we strolled back into a nearby neighborhood and suddenly there it was – Fall.  As I know and love it.  Fallen leaves and colorful trees and even the air felt different.  It was like we were right back on the East Coast again.  And any time that your new shoes match with your environment it feels a bit like a fairytale, no?  To be fair, I may have been feeling extra nostalgic this particular evening because I was wearing this sweater for the first time this year.  This grey sweater, which might just be my favorite item of clothing (a bold statement, I know).  Aside from being perfect in shape and color, I found it for only $2 (100% cashmere!) in a thrift store when I lived in Philadelphia before it moved with me to New York and helped me survive several more cold winters.  But the real reason? I was wearing this sweater the night I met the boy behind the camera.  Thrifted Sweater – good version here //  J.Crew Chambray Shirt // Urban Outfitter Dress // Vintage Bag // Sole Society Heels c/o
The Steele Maiden: Memory Lane
The Steele Maiden: Memory Lane
The Steele Maiden: Memory Lane
The Steele Maiden: Memory Lane
The Steele Maiden: Memory Lane
The Steele Maiden: Memory Lane