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Live Colorfully.


While by nature, I tend to gravitate towards more neutral colors (you can find a lot of navy, white, tan and black in my closet) I also appreciate a pop of good color.  And lately, surrounded by vibrant color in nature, architecture, and nearly everywhere else I look in Southern California, I’ve begun to live life a bit more colorfully…


I’m not saying you have to paint every wall in your home, or wear it head to toe, but I promise just throwing in an extra dash of color will absolutely brighten your day.  All those color studies can’t be wrong.  Here, a few affordable ways to live colorfully.

Nest: These small appetizer plates from CB2 are just the thing to liven up your usual place settings or make a small get together feel festive.  At $2.95 each I’d keep a few in the cabinet to grab whenever you want to add a little spice to your kitchen.

Dressed:  This statement necklace from Forever21 feels bold if you’re used to more subtle jewelry, but accessories like these are popular this Spring/Summer for good reason – they are the one minute fix to every boring outfit predicament you ever find yourself in.  Tossed on with jeans and a faded t-shirt your look is suddenly elevated to model off duty cool, and paired with a floral date night dress you’re bound to leave a lasting impression.    

The Rest: Live Colorfully is the tag line for Kate Spade, so it’s no surprise that it’s recently launched sister line ‘Saturday’ lives by the same mantra.  I don’t have an iPad, but if I did, I’d stow it away in this fun case with a painterly print.  And then keep the both of them inside of a brightly colored purse.  Because, why not?


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Weekend Flashback.

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I still can’t believe that it’s the last weekend of April already.  While the passing of another month always seems sort of bittersweet, May is my favorite month and I’m looking forward to welcoming it.  This weekend, I once again reveled in the Southern California sun – and despite missing New York, a feeling I doubt will subside until I someday move back – I’m loving the everyday adventures that living here brings.  Including a morning spent hiking to reach a view that will be hard to beat, and an afternoon spent doing nothing but relaxing poolside.  Los Angeles may not be New York – but it’s nothing short of incredible in it’s own right. 

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Bottoms Up.

swimwear-bottoms-bikinis-target-topshop-bathinsuit-Aerie-h&m(All swimsuits: Target; H&M; Topshop; Aerie)

It never fails.  Every year I wait until roughly the 4th of July to realize I need a new bathing suit, and every year I fail to find one that I really love.  This year (the first in which I’m living in LA – and have practically a daily excuse to be in a bathing suit) I’m vowing to start earlier.  This weekend I’m on the search for a new bathing suit – or at the prices of some of the above, maybe two??  Happy Friday!


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Sing the Blues.

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(J.Crew Chambray Shirt; Forever 21 Vest – old; Madewell Skirt – old, similar here; Topshop Wedges – old, similar here; Vintage Bag)
I’m incredibly sentimental when it comes to clothing and because of this have the unrealistic desire for items to last forever.  Unless forced, I almost never get rid of most items (not in a hoarder type way, more in a museum archival way) but sometimes, when a beloved piece becomes admittedly too worn out I’m forced to give in.  Consider this outfit an ode to the life of my blue wedges…

Bought as a birthday present to myself (because we all deserve those right?) a few years back, these beauties paired with a surprising amount of outfits, had just the right amount of retro pin up style, and survived many a hot summer night in New York City.  Alas, hot summer nights sometimes leads to cold beers which sometimes involve rather dirty floors and even though I insisted on moving them all the way to the other side of the country, I’m now realizing they may need to be retired.  What better way to send them out in style than with a monochromatic blue look?  I balanced the distraction of a geometric skirt with this neutral trench vest (I allow one neutral ‘cheat’ piece to every otherwise single hued outfit), and matched the lightness of the wedges to my chambray shirt.  Finished off with a vintage clutch in similar shades (fun fact: this clutch is beautifully embroidered with the initial MV – I found it in a thrift store in Philadelphia and while the letters hold no personal significance I’ve become quite attached to this quirky little piece… I’m guessing you’re not surprised).
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Dress Down.


While there are about a million differences between New York and Los Angeles, one of the most apparent to me on a daily basis (besides traffic of course) may be that Southern California has mastered dressing down in a way that it’s East coast counterpart most likely never will…

As someone who admittedly is not inherently very casual (I don’t own a pair of sweatpants and wouldn’t think of wearing flip flops anywhere besides on the actual beach), this is something that I’m just beginning to wrap my head around.  And while I don’t think I’ll every fully embrace the slouchy tee and legging-ed look of some LA dwellers, I’ve been starting to add a touch of casualness to my everyday looks.  Here, dress down options for both the boys and the girls this summer.  In a washed out palette of grey, yellow and sea glass greens and blues, for him a tee shirt, tailored trousers and two tone sneakers look cool without trying too hard.   For her, a floaty floral wrap dress (with a casually dipped hem) needs little more than a cross body bag, simple stud earrings and suede heels (platforms give these an added ease).  Go on, loosen up a bit.