In the Trenches.

The Steele Maiden: In the Trenches(Forever 21 Trench Vest – similar here; Free People Lace Dress – similar here now on sale!; Patterned clutch – similar here; Nine West Wedges – similar here)

Since we’re still in the trenches of Summer (and I still haven’t found a way to lay by the pool as my full time job) I’m sticking to my work uniform of late – a summery dress plus one lightweight add on…  

I usually wear this dress on it’s own (last seen here for a Summer date night) but I covered it up a bit by layering it with this sleeveless trench (last seen here) and added a pair of sturdy wedges to ground the whole look.  There’s just something about a trench coat, in any form, that makes anything you wear feel more polished.  Even in the trenches of a hectic work week.

The Steele Maiden: In the Trenches

The Steele Maiden: In the Trenches

The Steele Maiden: In the Trenches

The Steele Maiden: In the Trenches
  

Market Ready.

The Steele Maiden: Market Ready(H&M Sunglasses – similar here; Ruche Dress; Tote Bag – I love this one; Vintage beaded Belt, Red Espadrilles – similar here)What’s a girl to do when LA is uncharacteristically overcast (and dare I say it, even a little humid!) on a Sunday morning?  Well, if that girl is me, than you tie your hair up into a bun, put on a swingy little striped dress and a pair of red espadrilles and dance around the city like a ballerina…

Without the feeling that I should be somewhere soaking up the sunshine, I was free to stroll Melrose Flea Market and then head east to the neighborhood of Silverlake for lunch and a little research/shopping for my upcoming jewelry line (hurrah!).  Since I’ve spent the past couple of weekends in pretty laid back beach/pool ready attire, it was nice to return to a summer in the city type look.  This striped dress is a classic that I can already see wearing a million ways – so I can’t promise this version (paired with my favorite vintage navajo beaded belt and these skip around little shoes) will be the last you’ll see of it on the blog.  Plus it matches with my flea market/grocery store/catch all canvas tote bag – convenient, no?

The Steele Maiden: Market Ready

The Steele Maiden: Market Ready

The Steele Maiden: Market Ready



    

Seeing Clearly.


Maybe it started with schools and airports looking through our bags.. but fashion (like all good forms of rebellion) seemed to fight back and make see-through a trend instead…
And while I think that transparency is best in small doses, here’s a few stylish and affordable ways to see things more clearly.

Nest: I’d love to see these floating frames over a brightly painted (or even patterned) wall.  Fill them with simple black and white photos and let them be a graphic, yet minimal statement.

Dressed:  There’s something slightly 90’s supermodel about these to me, somehow wildly seductive but also completely understated.  I’d wear them with just a silky slip dress and a swipe of lipstick.  

The Rest: Call me nostalgic, but any closer to September and I find myself dreaming of school supplies.  While this striped, transparent number is technically a makeup case – I’d totally use it to store paperclips and erasers.  


Weekend Flashback.

The Steele Maiden: Weekend FlashbackAnother weekend, another sweet treat.  Sensing a pattern?  Aside from satisfying my sweet tooth I spent the weekend working on my jewelry designs (set to launch very soon!) and hanging with that handsome boy you see above.  Why can’t the weekends last forever? 


Smooth Transitions.

The Steele Maiden: Smooth Transitions(Clockwise from top: Topshop; Anthropologie; Need Supply; Urban Outfitters; Ruche; Free People; Madewell; Threadsence) ShoeMint Boots
It’s been well documented that I love a good printed dress.  And when it gets to this point in Summer (when you sadly know that Fall isn’t all that far off) I like to reach for ones that are still hot weather appropriate but will easily make the turn once chillier temps come my way.  Black and white is by far the best way to do that – and even better for pairing with these boots that would make everything instantly cooler.  Happy Friday!