Second Summer

No jacket or hat was necessary as I soaked up some early evening rays at the harbor. It almost felt like a second summer, even though winter has just started. When I read other fashion blogs and see incredibly chic fashion bloggers frolicking in the snow, it reminds me of how pleasant the weather is in my area and makes me grateful. As a child, I remember living in a colder part of the country

La Mimi's Feature

I'd like to thank Mimi for featuring me as the Fashion Idol of the Week. I'm excited to be a part of her stylish and informative website. Previous idols featured on the site include some of my favorite fashion bloggers, and I'm honored to share this title with them. What are you waiting for? Go check it out!

Thakoon For Target - A Quick Fitting Room Review

Without going into detail about each piece, here are my fitting room photos of the six pieces I tried on from Thakoon's GO International collection at Target. I didn't find many of the designs to be flattering on my frame, as the pleats and full, loose shapes of the garments added bulk. I found the collection's skirts and dresses to have a more mature appeal than past GO collections. In

Shopping The Collection - Thakoon for Target

There's nothing quite like a quiet Sunday morning at Target, especially when Thakoon's collection for the GO International program is making its debut. Fortunately, the holiday crowds were missing and the Thakoon merchandise looked mostly untouched as I hurriedly walked in to examine the goods this morning. (The trick in my area is to go early, before church lets out and it gets busy.) This time

My Four-Legged Friend

Fashion Trend Guide readers, meet my new partner in crime - Russell. We went for a walk at the beach today in order to soak up some sunshine and enjoy the scenery. My new red-headed sidekick may be making an appearance every now and then in my photographs, since he loves being in front of the camera. If only I could train him to operate a camera! To keep the cool sea breeze at bay, I'm wearing

Fur In The Rain

I know that wearing fur in the rain isn't such a good idea, but a bad hair day combined with cooler temperatures and precipitation gave me motivation to cover my head with a vintage sable hat I found months ago at an antiques shop. I've been waiting patiently for four months to put this hat to use. I realize that wearing fur is a personal and controversial issue, but I'm not going to defend my

The Mod Clutch

I'm always on the lookout for cool accessories to breathe new life into my wardrobe. Sometimes all it takes is a new necklace, a pair of sunglasses, or a colorful clutch to brighten up an outfit. So when I learned about Sarah Morgan's line of eenamaria handbags, I knew they'd be the perfect mod-meets-sleek addition to my handbag collection. With names like Harlem Swing and Chelsea Boi, Sarah

10 Second Timer

Why am I jumping like a giddy child? Well I'm just having way too much fun with the self timer on my new digital SLR camera. Since the amount of daylight and sunshine we have in southern California is limited these days, I'm trying to take advantage of any opportunity that I can to use it outdoors and get to know its features. In addition to that, 3 packages just arrived at my doorstep and I

The F21 DIY

Rodarte's spidery knits continue to intrigue me, so when I came upon this crochet top on F21's website, I thought it would make an ideal knit for a Rodarte-inspired DIY session. Even though I possess Topshop's deconstructed Rodarte-esque sweater, sometimes I get overly enthusiastic about a trend and buy several versions of it. (This season, I went crazy over studs, dark florals, and plaid.) At

It's Vintage

A visit to the Rose Bowl Flea Market this past Sunday yielded a few great finds: three vintage shirtdresses and a comfortable pair of black knee-high boots. Fortunately, it didn't rain, and I was able to browse languidly amidst other vintage hunters. One of the dresses I found has a blue liberty print with very girly eyelet and corduroy trim. To tone down its Little House On The Prairie vibe and

Now it's Obama's Turn... What shall he wear to his Inauguration?

Richard James Savile Row look for evening

Sean John look for evening

Salvatore Ferragamo look for day

Nautica look for evening

A Tommy Hilfiger look for day

A Countess Mara tie

With all the focus on what Michelle wore or should wear, both during the campaign and her anticipated outfit for the inauguration, we can be forgiven for forgetting what the President-elect should wear. Luckily some of the world's most adored menswear designer are on the ball. WWD.com has exclusive sketches from designers ranging from Salvatore Ferragamo to Sean John. See the slideshoe below for all the sketches of day and evening looks plus some snazzy ties. My picks are above.

Red Legs

Two winters ago if you had asked me whether I'd wear plaid tights, the answer would have been a resounding "no." But this winter, I'm bored with skinny jeans and I'm reaching for bold tights, glossy leggings, and dresses more often. Especially after returning from Europe, I'm feeling inspired to layer tights under dressier pieces in my wardrobe. Things that I would've ordinarily reserved for

The Mervyn's Mix

As more and more retailers file for bankruptcy in this dismal economic climate, I'm finding myself shopping at liquidation sales this holiday season. Ads promising 60% to 80% off are hard to resist, especially when it involves clothing. JoAnn Fabrics, Mervyn's, Linens 'N Things, and Circuit City are just a few examples of stores that are closing in my area. While I haven't shopped at Mervyn's in

For The Holidays

If I could have anything for the holidays, I'd wish for world peace and a healthy, thriving economy. I know, they're not very original things to wish for. But since neither of these things are likely to happen, I'll make do with these four items that are on my holiday '08 wish list.Images from: topshop.com, americanapparel.net, urbanoutfitters.com, talullahtu.co.uk.Deconstructed knits are on my

Harborside

When I saw how violent the wind was today, I decided against wearing a floaty dress for practical reasons. So out came the wind-proof layers: bright pink tights underneath ripped jeans, a tunic under my motorcycle jacket, and my versatile new circle scarf from American Apparel. Despite the unfavorable weather conditions and gusts of sand (and hair) blowing into my eyes, I was able to test out my

Pretty Paisley

With today's outfit, I'm making use of another great find from Bebe - a diaphanous peasant dress that I scored on sale. As a shopaholic, I'm learning that one upside to the current economic woes are great sales and lots of current season overstock in stores where I normally don't make purchases. (Shopping hint - shop often and during the weekdays for the best bargains.) This dress originally cost

Holiday Shopping - 5 Gifts Under $25

Writing holiday gift guides isn't particularly my forte, but this year, despite the bleak economy, I got into the holiday shopping mood a bit earlier than usual. In fact, I'm just about done with my holiday shopping. Having shopped at a variety of places including malls, discounters, big box retailers, and outlets this December, I've gained inspiration for a mini gift guide and I've decided to

2009 Fashion Trends

I was recently asked to be a guest speaker for a Fashion Trend Forecasting class at a community college. Since trend forecasting has always been my area of interest in the fashion industry, I was honored have the opportunity to share my experiences with the class. As part of my presentation, I constructed a trend board to illustrate what I think will be important trends in 2009. So what should

In The Aisle

The location: Fry's Electronics.The occasion: shopping for stuff I don't need.The outfit: a very Gucci-esque paisley print maxi dress from Bebe.The verdict: I'm potentially overdressed but very comfortable.The icing on the cake: The dress originally cost $149, but I bought it on sale for $39.

Installment 2 - A Day In San Francisco

Here's the second installment of my San Francisco travel feature. 8:45 am - Walk to Mama's on Washington Square, San Francisco's famous breakfast eatery, and stand in line for an hour before getting seated. Once your food arrives, smile like a giddy child on Christmas morning as you admire the French Toast sampler with cranberry orange walnut, Swedish cinnamon, and banana walnut French toast,

The Cozy Craftsman

On my way to a street festival this weekend, I passed by a captivating mid-century Craftsman cottage and thought its chipped paint and dilapidated yet cozy porch would make an ideal backdrop for an impromptu photo of my grunge and biker-inspired ensemble. The studded bag is an oldie but goodie. I've probably had it for several years, and now that studs are adorning just about everything, it's

Brit Speak

So call me an Anglophile - I'm an American who loves to wear plaid, drink tea, snack on scones, and shop at Topshop. Some of my favorite indie rock bands are from England. Furthermore, I devour endless British fashion magazines, stalk the websites of many a British high street store, and I adore Susie Bubble. I secretly think many British accents sound cool. With my mild obsession of all things

Michelle's Inauguration Ball Dress Options

Oscar de la Renta sketch for Michelle Obama and daughters

Christian Lacroix sketch for Michelle Obama

Diane Von Furstenberg sketch for Michelle Obama

Badgley Mischka sketch for Michelle Obama

Elie Tahari sketch for Michelle Obama

Tuleh sketch for Michelle Obama

What should I wear? - The question uttered by women across the world countless times. If you think you have it bad, try being Michlle Obama deciding what to wear for the most historical evening in American history and the proudest moment of your life. As daunting as it sounds, at least she has a handful of accomplished designers clamouring to design her something to wear. WWD.com has 42 sketches posted online from some of the world's most renonwed designers. View the article and sketches at WWD.com or watch the slide show below. Above are my top picks. What are yours?

Installment 1 - A Day In San Francisco

Ever since I first visited San Francisco in 2002, I became enthralled with the city's Victorian architecture, enticing water views, and non-conformist attitudes. Each trip that I make back to the city reveals new and engaging activities and undiscovered treasures. During my latest trip last month, I devoted some time browsing various thrift and vintage shops along Polk Street. So without further

Window Shopping At Wet Seal

During my recent trip to San Francisco, I captured a few store window photos from Wet Seal's display at Westfield San Francisco Centre. The mall was unusually quiet and empty, which was a pleasant surprise, as it was much easier to shoot. I almost forgot I had taken these photos, and decided to post them before they become irrelevant. Some recurring trend themes in this display include: layered

Holiday Mix

You know when you have a holiday event to attend but you're not sure what to wear and you don't want to be overdressed? You want something elegant and refined, but don't feel like making a lot of effort. Enter the perfect pair of menswear-inspired wide leg trousers and a tuxedo top with a comfy sequin-trimmed cardigan. Add some sparkling jewelry and ladylike accessories, and there you have it -

A Day In Dublin

Ireland's friendly capital is more than just bustling pubs. Follow along with me for a day in Dublin.10 am - After eating a bowl of Irish porridge (which is very filling and contains whiskey and heavy cream), head out to the George's Street Arcade, where you can browse for old records, vintage clothing, gourmet snacks, and unique jewelry.11 am - Walk north towards the River Liffey and pause on