Stripes for Spring!

image credit: urbanoutfitters.com 

There's a whole slew of trends this Spring that I just cannot wait to sport. So let me begin with the first one - stripes! We all know stripes can be a scary thing, but they don't need to be. They're a fun way to spruce up an outfit. You can wear stripes from head to toe by sporting a long maxi or just add a striped scarf to a little black dress. And it's not just about horizontal stripes. There's going to be an influx of vertical! This might come as a relief to those of us who believe horizontal stripes make them look on the bigger side. So get out there and shop for those stripes - black ones, white ones, colored ones, vertical ones!

image credit: dvf.com 

Creativity: It's A Family Thing

With winter still lingering around, wouldn't you want to get your hands on these stylish, hand-made goodies? They're made by my creative cousin, Meredith and boy does she know how to crochet! Can you believe she taught herself? Well, not entirely. She had a little help from her mom, but figured most of what she knows on her own. As a graduate student, she doesn't have much free time, but making these keeps her...sane? If you want one of your own, let me know! 

The King's Speech

photo credit: www.frocktalk.com 

Last night I saw The King's Speech and I was wowed by the awesome costumes. Helena Bonham Carter not only rocked her roll as the queen, but rocked her outfits with style and class. Perhaps it was because she had a little help from costume designer, Jenny Beavan. From what I've read, Ms. Beavan faced a lot of challenges when preparing for this movie including time and money. It's only a guess, but those are pretty important components when finding the perfect costumes for a movie, right? With the small budget for this film, Ms. Beavan did one hell of a job recreating the time period through the outfits the actors wore. Coats, furs, hats oh my! And the long layered pearls! I would die and go to heaven if these pieces were to magically appear in my closet.

We shall see if Ms. Beavan wins the oscar! She's got my vote!

Taking Risks

In light of the Golden Globe awards that are currently taking place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, let's take a look at the fashion. My focus is not on the best or worst dressed, but rather those fearless woman who decided to take a fashion risk. Two actresses who challenged the fashion gods on the red carpet were Helena Bonham Carter and Olivia Wilde.

Image credit: www.popeater.com 

Can't decide what shoes to wear? Wear two different shoes! Ms. Carter is a genius and not only because she's wearing two different colored shoes - she's wearing Vivienne Westwood. You go, Helena! 

Image Credit: www.theinsider.com 

I LOVE this combo. Go big or go home is an understatement for Olivia Wilde's dress and shoe combo. If I were going to a party as big as the Golden Globes, I would be wearing a dress this big. Oh, and her shoes are absolutely amazing. 

And the winner goes to....

Back to the show! 

To Infinity and Beyond!

If you are a dear follower of mine, you should know by now that I am a lover of leopard. And if you are not, well I am. So when I got this Henri Bendel leopard infinity scarf for my birthday, you could imagine how excited I was to add it to my wardrobe. Not only is it my favorite print, but it's 100% cashmere. Winter, bring it on! Whoever came up with the idea of the infinity scarf is kind of a genius. 

There is one thing I must share with you about leopard, even though I love it dearly. If you're going to rock it, make sure not to over do it! There is no need to dress head-to-toe in it. Just pick one leopard item.  Whether it is a scarf, shoes, or a top own the leopard, but keep the rest of your outfit simple. Stay away from other prints and patterns so your leopard pops or roars - whatever you prefer. 

Now, I must go pick out some outfits to go with my new scarf! 

I think I've died...

...and gone to heaven! My dear friend, Lindsey, sent me a link to this weird European website. I clicked on it and let out a gasp. I. Have. To. Have. These! If these don't qualify as pure amazingness in shoe world, I have no idea what does. 

Just imagine if the lipstick really worked! 

Ode to Coco

"I don't do fashion, I am fashion."

Straight from the goddess of fashion herself, Coco Chanel knew a thing or two about looking good. Her signature style made her an icon among the fashionistas of both her time and throughout history. She is known throughout the world for her ability to transform the ordinary in to extraordinary. She is fashion.

So why is Chanel so meaningful to me? I shall tell you. I grew up smelling Chanel No. 5 on a daily basis. My mother, who passed away over twelve years ago, would spray it on herself morning, noon, and night. My mother was the perfume and the perfume was her. She would never leave the house without it and everyone knew when she walked in the room. Like myself, my mother had a passion for fashion...hmm maybe that's where I got it from? I'll tell you about the times I would play dress up in her closet another day.

As you can see from above, the perfume wasn't the only Chanel goodness my mother loved. Sadly, I can't remember her wearing the scarf all that much, but I'll consider myself lucky for having ownership of the magnificent piece of silk.

Both Coco Chanel and my mother were influential people in their own ways. One introduced the little black dress and one helped me become the person I am today. So who has influenced you?

Obsession: Michael Kors

Okay, so I'm not obsessed with Michael Kors (although, he's on of my favs), it is my father who has a fondness for this great American designer. I suppose my love of fashion has rubbed off on my musician-turned-lawyer father in the past twenty-two (almost twenty-three) years I have been his daughter. Recently though, he has really out done himself - wearing Michael Kors almost head to toe. My dad and I have been through a lot together and I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for his unbelievable support. Nothing makes me happier than knowing he is walking around this city in style. I'd like to think my dad looks to me for fashion advice just like I look up to him for life advice. 

Just take a look at his amazing collection of MK shirts and ties...and this is just a sample! If anyone knows Mr. Kors, tell him he has a fan named Mel! 

This Season's Must Have

It's December (I know, crazy!) and we know what that means. Time to pull out our sweaters and scarves to make it through the cold weather? Perhaps. But there's something else this season that you must not live without - a sequin mini. I searched high and low for one that I could actually afford and found this little number for less than $30. Now if that's not a deal, I'm not sure what is. You can dress this mini up or dress it down. It's all up to the fashionista within. For a dressed up look try adding a lace top, pearls, tights and pumps - you could go all out with red or leopard ones! If you want to try a more dressed down look pair it with a tee tucked in, tights, flat boots and a leather jacket. Whatever mood you're in, you'll be prepared for this holiday season in your sequin mini! 

jcrew.com

charlotterusee.com

Michael Kors at Nordstrom.com

Black Friday

We all know about Black Friday - the day when the fearless shoppers rise before the sun and get their holiday goodies for low prices, but is it worth it? For some, it may be, but for those of us who would rather enjoy their shopping experience, it may not be. As for me, I'd love to save a buck or two, but I'm a much happier person when I get my beauty sleep. Of course I made it to the mall on Friday, but at the lovely hour of 10AM. My cousins and I made a great team when it came to the long check out lines. One of us waited in line while the other two got shopping. It worked out quite nicely. Yes, the mall was incredibly crowded, but we stayed calm and our feet lasted us for a good four hours. I would say that it was a successful trip - oh, and we even bought a thing or two!

A great holiday dress I found at Buffalo Exchange! 

Now who's looking forward to Cyber Monday? That would be me! Let me know if any of you fashionistas know about some great deals.

And for those of you who kicked Black Friday in the butt, I truly commend you. I don't really know how you did it after stuffing yourself silly with turkey and potatoes. Will you please share your secret with me?

Destination: South Coast Plaza

Up until this past Saturday I had never been to South Coast Plaza - can you believe it? It's the third largest mall in the world and it's just an hour away. Yet,  I had never been. Well that has all changed, people. I was an official South Coast guest this Saturday and boy was it an experience. Aside from the rain and the almost obnoxious amount of people it was a beautiful mall. If only I had an unlimited amount of money, I would have been a kid in a candy store. Sad little me had to stick to window shopping - the windows of Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Dior, and so many more. It was a mall among malls - one of the most glamorous I've ever seen. Now, I must go prepare myself for Black Friday!

photo credit: wiki.ocregister.com

Boutiques.com - The New Personal Stylist

There's a new kid on the block - the virtual block. It's called boutiques.com and it's like having a personal stylist at your fingertips. It's a bit different from the online sample sale boutiques we all know so well like RueLaLa, HauteLook, Ideeli, and Gilt Groupe - these are great for those of us with busy schedules and tight budgets. But boutiqes.com, launched by Google just days ago, is the ultimate online shopping experience because it is tailored to your likes and dislikes. I set up my account this morning by going through questions about the styles, colors, patterns and designers I am fond of and not so fond of - and voila! My very own boutique was created and I got browsing. I'm not sure if it's me - but the site seems to be a bit overloaded. There's A LOT to look at and very high end prices. From the enormous amount of designers to the celebrity pages - I'm definitely going to need more time to explore. In the meantime, you should take a look and tell me what you think!

Color Me Amazing

If this isn't pure amazingness, I'm not sure what is. This make-up set, from Nordstrom, is filled with over 150 eye shadow colors, blush, bronzer, eyeliner, and brushes. Oh, and hours of fun! I'm almost too scared to mess it up because it's just that perfect. You know I'm all about the fashion, but when something like this comes around, I have to let all of you know about it. 

Don't you remember when you were little and played dress up? I sure do. I would tear my mom's closet a part and made sure to experiment with every color lipstick known to man. I'd prance around in heels that were 5 sizes too big, wear skirts that were too long and perfume that aged me. I had the time of my life - it makes sense where I got my love of fashion from. Now, I must go play dress up with my new make-up set! 

Westfield Style Tour

Thanks to my amazing Aunt I was able to get back stage access at the Westfield Style Tour at the Topanga mall. And not only did I get a mini makeover and personal style advice, I was able to meet Stacy London from TLC's What Not To Wear. Ms. London hosted a fashion show where she had some great tips for this season. It's all about kitten heels, leopard print, cinched-belted sweaters, and long skirts. So get shopping, people!

Here's a super cute outfit that one of the stylists picked out for me - I would have totally picked this out myself! 

Walking on the Wall

When I was in New York almost a month ago, my cousin, aunt and I were walking down the street to MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) to see the Matisse exhibit. But before we made it to the entrance of the museum, there were street vendors to stop and check out. Duh! It's New York City! Well, I was automatically drawn to this little Asian lady that was selling these photos (pictured above). Can you not see why I was attracted to these? Hello! These photos scream my name in every way possible. I would even go so far to say they are the essence of my being - okay, maybe that's a little much. But these shoe pictures really express my stylish personality. And I shall tell you why.

Not only do I love a hot, red stiletto BUT there's a matador at the bottom! Who cares? Well, during my Junior year of college, I studied abroad in Spain for four months and had the most eye opening experience of my life - which included a bull fight. I was able to experience a new culture on so many levels - even the fashionable level. (I'll save that for another time). Oh, and they have a platform. What could be better?

You must know by now that I am obsessed with all things leopard, so you must also understand why I love the leopard shoe. Enough said. Plus the little man on the toe of the shoe is wearing a great coat. Hmm I wonder where he got it...

And lastly, who can go wrong with a great wedge? Not I, so bring on the zebra wedge! And the little man is reading a newspaper, which I envy. But let's pretend he's reading Vogue and we'll all be happy.

Now, I must go find the perfect place to hang these photos. And if you see these shoes in real life, please let me know!

Happy Halloween DIY Style!

Happy Halloween my lovely followers! I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful weekend we're having (at least in LA) - with the weather and gorgeous costumes. I know deep down we all love halloween - it's one night we can be anyone or anything we want and no one can say anything about it. It's okay to wear skirts that are too short, tops that are too low cut, make-up that's out of this world, and shoes that are way too high.

Story time: I think my favorite halloween was when I dressed up as a Dalmatian from 101 Dalmatians. I don't remember which one I was, but does it really matter? At eight-years-old I had a bit of an obsession with dogs. So who couldn't blame me for wanting to look like a cute little puppy.

I've always been a big fan of this holiday. This year I decided to skip the halloween stores and I DIYed my costume! For those of you out of the lingo loop - that's do it yourself. I was inspired by a peacock that I saw in Hawaii over the summer. And from that day I knew I was going to be a peacock for halloween. Because when else can you dress up like a bird? I may have spent a bit more than I would have liked, but it was well worth it!

Here's what I used:
1 black tutu purchased online
a black top I found at Buffalo Exchange
1 1/2 yards of peacock feathers
fishnets
four extra feathers for the hair

Here's what I did:
I measured out 4 strips of the peacock feathers to fit on the shirt. Then sewed each strip on by hand. And voila, a peacock!

I hope all of you have a wonderful evening and be safe! Let me know about your favorite halloween and what you dressed up as!

Hangin with Beautylish!

This past weekend I had the pleasure of hanging out with the Beautylish team at the JW Marriot in Downtown, Los Angeles. Their LA Day of Beauty was a great networking event for the beauties of this great city we live in. From well-known beauty YouTubers to experts from the hottest make-up companies, there was something for everyone! There were make-up artists giving mini-make overs and nail artists giving mini-manis - and even mini cupcakes! So if you're a make-up guru or want to be one check out Beautylish.com!

Let's Talk Make-up

You all know I love fashion, but deep down inside I have a secret crush on beauty and make-up. I love having my make-up done. Who doesn't? There's just something about having someone use their creativity to make you look your best. 

Now for story time: When I was 13, my aunt took me to this fancy shmancy make-up studio to learn how to apply make-up correctly. She thought it was important to learn from the professionals - and that is exactly what I did. To this day, I still use the same tips and tricks I was taught that day. And my favorite is to NOT use an eyeliner pencil. Instead, I use an angled eyeliner brush and apply a dark shadow - such as dark blue, purple or black. It creates a softer look and is great for smokey eyes. 


Putting on make-up may be a daunting task for some of you. But trust me - spending five minutes on your face can really make a big difference. Even if you just use a bit of lip gloss, a dab of blush and a wisp of mascara, you'll look like a million bucks! Have fun with it. Explore colors, products and techniques. So if you're wondering what's in my amazing Trina Turk make-up bag, check out Beautylish! 

Golden Links of Love

This Fall it's all about the accessories - the gold accessories to be exact. And who doesn't love a little gold in their life?  So, when I saw these bracelets featured in this month's Vogue (the Bible), I may have thanked the all mighty fashion gods. And there's more to it than just a simple gold bracelet - it's gotta have the links. It's a statement piece for your little black dress or that addition that brightens up your t-shirt and jeans. Your gold bracelet will definitely be an investment, but will be an accessory you will have for many years to come.

In fact, my gold links of love originally belonged to my grandmother. The bracelet was a gift from her husband, my grandfather, who also had an eye for the good stuff. Grandma Miriam complained the first one he brought home was too small, so he went back to the store and bought her a bigger one. She was a  big fan of her jewelry, but this bracelet eventually got too heavy for her to wear - can you believe it? She stopped wearing it, but wouldn't give it up. My mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was a little girl, had her eye on that bracelet since her father brought it home. She asked to have it, but my grandma was also stingy at times and would not let it go. After some convincing by my aunts, my grandmother finally gave it to my mother for her to enjoy - even though it wasn't long enough. The women in my family have always been on the cutting of fashion - and who knew the bracelet my grandfather bought years ago would be in style today. Now the bracelet belongs to me and it's more than just a bracelet - it's my golden links of love. 

Faux Fur Fab

If you know me, you know I love leopard print. And if you don't know me, well, now you know. Ever since I was little girl, I was a little obsessed with the spotted print. In fact, the leopard coat pictured above was a present I got for my tenth birthday - and it still fits! It's from Gap Kids - can you believe it? Lucky for me, I'm already prepared for one of the hottest trends this Fall - I'd like to call it Faux Fur Fab.

Some of you may find it difficult to pull off a fur coat - even if it's faux. My advice: try a fur accessory instead. Yes, the purse above is from my own wardrobe as well. A dear friend of mine (actually, the same person who gave me the coat) thought I just had to have that bag - and boy, was she right! And, the best part of it all - it was on sale. If I can remember correctly, the original price was $140 and came to about $30! (Thanks, Macys!) Accessorizing is a great way to stay within a budget when you want to keep up with the fashion must haves. This fall, go get yourself a faux fur bag, vest (which I've seen tons of), or even a headband.

You can even give your home a faux fur accent like the pillows I have pictured above. I've been playing around where they look the best, but for now they look great on my maroon comforter.

So this Fall (even though it still feels like summer in Cali), be BOLD. Add some faux fur into your life and bring out the inner animal within. Don't lie. I know you know it's in there somewhere. So when you're out shopping this weekend - just remember Faux Fur Fab! Oh, and let me know if you find any good deals!