blogger party!

F21 tank, BDG cardigan, Levi's jeans, Wanted boots, Marc Ecko bag, thrifted scarf

A couple weekends ago I attended a picnic in the city with some other Seattle style bloggers! The crazy rain was getting to me so I showed up in a bunch of cozy layers and staple pieces of my wardrobe: boots, favorite jeans, and a scarf.

Everyone else showed up in nothing but color, perfectly contrasting the dreary day.

Jenn, Lindsay, Carolyn, Jean, Julie, Me, Irene, Kimmie

Good fooooood, good company, good photos! I picked up Julie to go to the meet-up together...and the hour that followed was the most fun I've had getting lost. (Seriously, we drove from the University District through Downtown through Sodo over a full sixty minutes...)

Oh well, it was nice to have a good friend with me. We all had such a great time! And yes. The cupcakes were as good as they look. Yummm.

sale away

My collages and moodboards tend to include luxe designer pieces that come with a luxe designer price tag, but realistically I shop for things that won't cost me three-months-worth of groceries. Sale could be my middle name.

Anda and Masha by Selima ($134), Juicy Couture ($32)

Headpieces are one of my favorite summer accessories, and I love these two different selections on sale at Revolve Clothing. The hat still may be a bit of a splurge, but when you consider the huuuuuge discount...yeah, my mind just works like that.

BB Dakota ($37), Sauce London ($43)

Always on the hunt for the perfect summer dress, I love this muted floral print with pretty little buttons up the back. The light floral tee is like my dream top; two qualifications are 1. perfectly floaty and 2. off-the-shoulder, which gives this tee a perfect score.

See? I can shop smart. It's not all runway and Barney's.

Thakoon, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Antik Batik

Wait, how'd those designer handbags get in there? Sorry. I guess it's an addiction. At least they're on sale?

field trip

Vintage dress, H&M blazer & sunnies, Marc Ecko bag, random sandals, F21 + vintage jewels

This post is random in a few ways. Random #1: I found this gorgeous field down the street from my house, and I had no idea it was here. Random #2: I always had this preconceived notion that that I hated everything Marc Ecko. But then my mom and I found this bag, fell in love, and each paid for half. We take turns.

Random #3: I've had these sandals for several years and still wear them. They were like $20, but they're so comfy and molded to my feet after so much wear. Random #4: I bought these sunnies when my sister and her husband took our car on their honeymoon with both of my Ray-Bans inside. Love the vintage shape!

You know what else I'm loving? Fridaaaaaaaaays. You?

at sunset

Lately, I've been swooning over Shopbop's killer summer pieces. I'm always impressed with their buying team, season after season!

Marc by Marc Jacobs, Leyendecker, Robert Rodriguez

My favorite way to accessorize these dreamy pieces is taking a cue from long summer nights in beautiful, vibrant sunset tones.

Click for details

Marc Jacobs bangle, Chloé sunglasses, House of Harlow ring, Tory Burch flats, Love Quotes scarf, Lanvin coin purse

Nothing better than late nights dining al fresco with a cool breeze ruffling the fringe of your scarf. Summer has officially begun now, and I hope your summer solstice yesterday was one to remember!

To see more photos from my day trip to the coast, check out my

guest post

on The Fashionography!

by the seaside

H&M blazer, vintage sweater, BDG jeans, Cut n' Paste bag, vintage and F21 rings, Seychelles sandals

I got this blazer what seems like ages ago in Minneapolis! I think this is only the second time I've worn it because I was stuck on how to style it, but after I saw Dylana wear hers a few different times I was inspired to pull it out of the closet.

If you saw this photo, you'll notice that these are the shoes I wore in my sister's wedding! They are one of my favorite new pieces, perfect to dress up or down. This day was warmer than I thought it would be, making my blazer and sweater combo a little overkill, but at least my feet were perfectly dressed! 

There were so many people out walking the streets and dining al fresco, which was a true sign of summer. I hope to take more day trips to the coast! I love living in the most beautiful state ever :)

booking it

F21 sweater, LNA Slant skirt

Let's just say I have two new favorite places in Seattle, the library and Sweet Iron waffles! The Seattle Library is ten floors and the some of the most amazing architecture in the city. Julie and I had a blast shooting photos between the shelves of the silent library, but outside was noisy with the hustle and bustle of the city.

Sweet Iron waffles deserve their own paragraph. We both got the banana brûlée waffle, and it was beyond expectations! Caramel sauce, creamy bananas, crispy sugar bits under a dollop of whipped cream...dah. I almost ordered another one to go.

Anyway, this skirt was one thing I ordered when I saw it on sale at Shopbop, and I have tried to work it into as many outfits as possible during the week. You guys know much I love comfortable clothing, and this is the softest material around. Perfectly breathable, it makes black wearable for summer! And I love the asymmetrical hem.

GUEST POST

on Stefany's blog! One of my favorite outfits I've ever worn.

Check it out here!

Happy weekend! Feels like I've been waiting for this one forever ;)

friend of mine

Friend of Mine, an Australian label, is honestly my dream closet in the flesh.

In their own words,

"basics-with-a-twist"

"Feminine edge with a relaxed look"

"A simplistic thrown together style"

Designed by Teale Tablot and managed by business partner Letitia McLean, the line is tailored-casual, while still holding onto a bit of rock-and-roll aesthetic. I don't know how it's possible to find a brand where every piece is something I need want, yet somehow, Friend of Mine fits that description perfectly. Check them out at Shopbop or their website!

In the meantime, my little sister has started up her blog again, now with beautiful photos thanks to my little Canon! Stop by and say hey, I knoooow you'll love her!

And thank you all so much for the super sweet comments you have been leaving!

trending

How do you know when trends have become staples? When you find yourself reaching for the same thing day after day and never wanting to wear anything else? 

This is how I've become with maxi dresses and skirts. Maxis are not a new trend, but they're a favorite!

Halston Heritage, T-Bags, DAY Birger et Mikkelson, T-Bags, Bird by Juicy Couture

I love wearing my basic tank dress day-to-day, but as a little extra I paired it with a white crochet piece layered overtop.

 Thrifted crochet top, F21 maxi dress

Two trends I remember: skinny jeans and gladiator sandals, which have now made their way into daily life! Two phases I never got into: harem pants and denim-on-denim. Some fashion phases are here to stay, but some are soon forgotten.

I love it. It keeps things interesting.

dear Seattle

We like the sun. Keep it up.

F21 tank, Karen Kane cardigan, thrifted belt, random shorts, TOMS shoes

I caved. I was feeling uninspired with my wardrobe, and before I knew it I was on an emergency trip to Forever 21 and H&M. One of the items I picked up was this basic striped tank, which I have already found about a zillion outfits for. I think blogging is supposed to help you figure out ways to reinvent your own wardrobe, but you know how it gets. It was an emergency.

Anyway, I now have an interview posted on Fashion Questions! Feel free to take a look and read through if you want to know a bit more about me. You can read the interview here. Thank you so much to Alissa for the opportunity!

I am spending today in Seattle with Julie! Gah, that girl knows how to edit photos! ;) have a great weekend, all!

beautified

Readers have mentioned they wouldn't mind a beauty post from me, so that's the plan today! Recently, I met notable make-up artist Jilladair Carlson at her studio and was introduced to her outstanding make-up line, Jilladair Cosmetics.

Pressed Mineral Foundation in N3

Without getting preachy, many beauty products contain animal parts that girls probably don't want to be using or ingesting through lip products. All of Jilladair's products are certified vegan; Jilladair herself followed the creation of her products from development to release with the highest standards.

 

Eyeshadows in Oxidize, Bunchie, Eyes Closed, Beige Mist, and Brow Shadow in Golden Brown

I love the products I picked out from Jilladair's collection, but I have to say my favorite product is the pencil eyeliner! It does.not.smudge without soap and water (or eye makeup remover). I went from a 99¢ liner to this, and could not have noticed a bigger difference.

Ultra Waterproof Eyeliner in Meteor

I have never worn lip gloss, but loved trying out Jilladair's all vegan colors. Her formula is paraben-free and lasts for hours! I purchased a powder foundation, eyeshadow palette, and eyeliner and can't wait to choose more to add to my mix of beauty brands.

Enjoy browsing her website, www.jilladaircosmetics.com to find your own can't-live-without beauty products!

SPECIAL DISCOUNT: For my readers, you can use the promo code zipped at www.jilladaircosmetics.com and get 20% off your orders for the rest of your life! That's amazing, generous Jilladair for you :)

P.S. Since many of you have asked, here is an outtake from my sister's wedding :)


Jilladair Cosmetics is not sponsoring this post, and I purchased the items with my own money. This is an honest review!

white + warren

I constantly gather inspiration from readers, fellow bloggers, and friends through the Web, and my latest discovery is the gorgeous line White + Warren.

Their pieces absolutely define simplicity, but the silhouettes and textures are so luxurious that I seriously believe it can make any outfit look high-end, even if you're pairing one of their sweaters with thrifted shorts and ten-dollar sandals!

White + Warren sweater, Topshop shorts, Chan Luu bracelet, Bimba & Lola bag, Jessica Simpson ring, Miss Me sandals

The summery blue sweater provides lovely color contrast with the washed out shorts, creating the perfect beach look! Simple statement jewelry and metallic sandals set it off without being too fussy (which is exactly what you want to avoid during the laid-back summer months!).

Pretty sure my next investment will be by White + Warren. One of the best feelings is finding a piece for your wardrobe that you know you'll wear all the time!

down in the city

Told you guys I was scarf obsessed! These shots were taken around one of my favorite areas in downtown Seattle, around 6th and Blanchard. I had lots of fun taking shots of my sister and her friend who was here for the wedding. It was her friend's first time in Seattle, and I'm always so excited to show off my city to a newcomer.

Can't thank you guys enough for the well-wishes to my sister and her new husband, they mean so much to all of us! The wedding was flawless, we could not have asked for a more perfect day. Snapped a few behind-the-scenes shots with my camera!

Happy happy happy happy happy. The forecast this weekend is SUNNY! Yay, Seattle! Hope yours is too!

something borrowed, something blue

Today is all about romance.

Light flowy pinks and ivorys, bright fuschias and reds, lovely laces and shiny satins are all things that come to mind when meshing fashion and romance. All in the form of a little dress, of course!

Markus Lupfer, Tibi

Tibi, Issa

The perfect accessory can only be a bouquet of your favorite flowers, via the Delicatessen.

Or perhaps a great pair of heels? I love how neutral tones lengthen the leg, but all of the incredible textures available add such a great layer to any look. 

 Vince Camuto, Calvin Klein, BCBG Generation

And why all this talk of romance?

I am walking in my sister's wedding today, happier than ever.

xoxo