outfit inspo.

being that i live in southern california, the 'winter' here isn't really a typical winter.  by winter what i really mean is the low temperatures are around 50-60 degrees.  and to us californians, that is freezing.  so with that being said, it brings me to what i am loving this fall and this winter: oversized sweaters, shorts, booties/wedges/heels. 

images taken from some of my favorite bloggers: fashiontoast, stylescrapbook, somethingnavy, atlantic-pacific, & song of style.

done done & done.

xx.

fresh look.

tired of an old jacket?  looking for a quick outerwear update?  inspired by the sleeveless trench coat trend, i have decided to update one of my older jackets into a vest.  since i love olive green so much and basically use it as a neutral, i figured this jacket would be the perfect piece for this DIY project.  i simply removed the sleeves of the jacket and sewed the new seams inside so that any sign of DIYing was nonexistent.

jacket before:

start with a jacket, preferably a thin one so that sewing it back together isn't too tough.  take a seam ripper and rip the seams where the sleeves would be.

pin the seams together in a line where you will sew along the new armholes.

when done sewing, make sure the seams are around the same width as the original seams.

ta da! finished project and new vest to the wardrobe.

can't wait to wear this bad boy!
honestly, this project was so easy and can be done to really anything that has buttons down the front (i'm thinking a chambray button up will be the next project).  adding a little update to a wardrobe never hurt anyone - have fun!


xx.

the chic traveler.

for quite some time now i have been wanting the perfect cover to an essential accessory the passport.  drumroll please.... annnnnnd i give you - the passport cover.  found in a variety of different materials and designs, i typically like the simplicity of leather, and it truly gives your passport that classy look.  below are several of my favorites that i have had my eye on.  

audrey passport wallet.

marc by marc jacobs supersonic passport wallet.

tory burch robinson passport holder.

kate spade portola valley passport holder.

tiffany & co passport cover.

python leather passport cover.

as the time comes closer to an upcoming trip i'm going to be taking, the want for one of these keeps getting stronger.  i do have to say that the tory burch one is definitely my favorite.  i'm thinking maybe an after christmas sale, perhaps?

happy (& chic) travels!

xx.

wish list

since thanksgiving is over, i feel like i can say that the christmas season has officially begun.  starting with the craziness of black friday, and even more craziness of cyber monday, i'm sure it's safe to say that we have all created a christmas wish list.  below is my lust list for this year.  i know i'm dreaming big, but a girl can dream, right?

1.) madewell striped cashmere cabin sweater.

2.) sony cybershot 14.1 megapixel camera.

3.) jcrew crystal burlee bracelet.

4.) jcrew resin colorblock necklace.

5.) forever 21 button stripes top.

6.) christian louboutin book.

7.) house of harlow 1960 'tilly' studded clutch.

8.) dannijo rima bracelet.

9.) jcrew classic pave link bracelet.

10.) dolce vita lujan riding boots.

11.) bb dakota janika faux fur vest.

12.) cc skye pave diamond pyramid stud earrings.

here's to hoping...!

xx. 

gobble gobble.

happy thanksgiving to everyone out there. I am thankful for so much in my life I could go on for days, but will spare you all. I hope everyone is spending this wonderful day with family and loved ones. Cheers to all!

xx.

holiday gift guide

with the holidays quickly approaching, i can't help but get in the mood. seeing christmas commercials and holiday decorations at stores all around really puts a smile on my face. i always find myself leaving the christmas shopping to the last minute, and this year i am determined not to. these next two months are going to be extremely busy for me with school, but i'll manage to crank out my christmas shopping (thank goodness for the internet!).

whether shopping for a friend, family member, or even yourself, we all know how expensive the holidays can be. below is my holiday gift guide for gifts under $30.

1 - colorful geo scarf. $10.80.

2 - 'rising star' palette. $29.00.

3 - glitter bow cross body bag. $22.00.

4 - golden stripe bracelet. $29.50.

5 - embellished woven top. $24.80.

6 - glitter iPhone case. $25.00

7 - accordion skirt. $12.95.

8 - pleated headwrap. $5.80.

9 - secret shapes bracelet. $28.00.

10 - envelope clutch. $24.95.

11 - compagnie de provence scented candle. $30.00.

12 - sequined knit top. $24.80.

so enjoy the christmas music, sip some hot chocolate, and click away!

xx.

the cape.

with this cool weather finally among us, it has really got me thinking about outerwear for the fall and wintertime. as i live in southern california, outerwear only has a few uses throughout the year, since the low temperatures are usually around 50 degrees. nonetheless, this brings me to my new obsession: the cape. also known as the updated, structured poncho. seen on many runways and celebrities, the cape has made a heavy appearance this fall. ranging from different materials to style variations, the cape is one of those pieces that i truly enjoy. below are several of my favorites for this season.

zara - fantasy knitted poncho.

surface to air - shetland tyrol cape.

american apparel - the wool cape.

french connection - military cape.

zara - crossover cape.

as i have mentioned before, i am definitely welcoming the fall weather with open arms... and absolutely love this time of year. christmas is just around the corner! :)

xx.

nailed.

loving these nail art trends for fall...from sparkles to geometric shapes.. the options are endless. get creative, use different colors, and explore. below are several of my recent favorites.

images via refinery 29 & cupcakes and cashmere.

my favorite is definitely the third one down - the blue ombre'd into the black. love that look!

enjoy!

xx.

lusting for leopard.

my love for leopard will never fade. it's one of those versatile prints that can be paired with solids or can be placed with another print for some pattern play. for fall, i have decided to steer clear from the typical leopard ballet flat, because in all honesty, we've seen that time and time again and i'm ready for something new. so here i present the new and improved leopard flat - the modernized loafer. i am pretty thrilled with the designs below and can't wait to rock them this fall.

dolce vita nariko.

sam edelman alvin.

steve madden madee.

topshop madison loafers.

house of harlow kye flats.

i am also really excited because i just purchased the above house of harlow flats and am absolutely in love. i will definitely be wearing these all the time as soon as the weather finally cools...eventually. how is it that it has been 104 degrees in the middle of october? i guess that's southern california... ;)

xx.

tom binns DIY.

newest obsession? DIY jewelry.

for some time now i have been super obsessed with tom binns' colorful, neon, rhinestone jewelry. while the designs are fabulous and the style is too... the price isn't quite as fab. thanks, but no thanks tom binns. and then it came to me: what an easy DIY. so i put two and two together... and boom! a little nail polish went a long way and i love the fact that i was able to create your own color scheme and designs.

inspiration:

my DIY:

i started with clear rhinestone jewelry (you can literally find at any antique store) and a couple coats of nail polish...easy peezy!

xx.

olive love.

what trend i'm sooo into right now? olive green.

utility jackets, chiffon shirts, olive green skinnies, oh my!

olive juice.

xx.

a&o.

alice & olivia. in looooove with their fall collection and this video. the clothes, the vibe, the accessories, the styling...sign me up!

xx.

missoni madness.

the chevron design & infamous zig-zag: we all know it & love it.

remember a little over a month ago when i brought up the amazingness of the missoni x target collection? well according to that, today was a big day in the fashion world. many woke up in the wee hours in the morning to log online to target's website for these items. some casually strolled through the store at 8:15 and saw what slim pickings were leftover from the initial rush. and others, like myself, just gave it a shot at 7:30 and decided to wait until doors opened at 8am. the rules were 'no pushing, running, shoving, and you can only take three items of the same thing'. and we were off. the shoes, bedding, & blankets were the first to go. i managed to do pretty well in store this morning, getting the sweater and scarf i wanted, but luckily came up on a few extra unexpected items.

circle scarf.

cosmetic travel carrier.

t-shirt.

the sweater i had my eye on.

an unexpected coat.

drinking glasses.

truth is, i probably could have spent much longer there, but the items were almost completely sold out by 8:45, so i decided to leave and possibly try my luck online. my luck continued because i was able to purchase the picture frames i wanted and the black & white bikini as well. will post on those once shipped to me!

xx.