Tuesday, 28 July 2015

Southern Collective and Co-ords










 




This past weekend definitely felt like summer, so I decided to break out some fun prints to go with the sunny weather. I've wanted to get my hands on a co-ord for forever, they're so cute and easy to throw on when you can't decide what to wear. You can also wear them as separates too so they're versatile! I got this set from a store in the UK called Southern Collective Clothing (hence the title of the post) whose clothes are all handmade, but unfortunately they don't sell this style anymore. There are still loads of shops where you can get matching sets though, like TopShop, Missguided, and New Look. The material is not stretchy but is still comfortable since the shorts fit loosely. The top is cut in an on trend way, with a slight high neck. I also really love the colours in this set, I don't usually wear yellow but I'm starting to warm up to it.

I've paired it with minimal brown strappy sandals from Forever21. They go with just about anything and slip on in a minute so they are my go-to summer shoes. I also decided to debut my new Longchamp Le Pliage, another staple. I have the small tote in Nylon in the colour navy. I think it's the perfect size and holds all the essentials. It's a classic and can be worn all year round. I've also wanted one of these for the longest time, they are definitely worth the hype! It also folds up and snaps for easy traveling.

Get the look:

Stay sunny,

Sunday, 12 July 2015

Triangl Swimwear Review- Poppy


 In the past year, Triangl Swimwear has become one of the most iconic and popular swimsuit brands in the world. Everyone wants to get their hands on one of their brightly colored neoprene bikinis. Since they are quite pricey, I did a lot of research before buying one and fretted incessantly about the size, style and fit of the bikini I was going to get. I finally settled on the Poppy style in the color Flamingo Fling.


Let me start off by saying that I am no model. Obviously the bikinis look amazing on bronzed, toned, tall bodies lounging on the beach like they haven't a care in the world and eat nothing but celery. I am not 5'10" with legs that go on for days and wanted to show what the swimwear looks like on a normal girl. I'm a little on the short side but have pretty normal proportions and fit in standard size small or size 4 clothing.


The style:
First off, I love this bikini. The colors really are as vibrant as they look on the website, and help bring out your tan. The bikini is also really comfortable. I was skeptical that the neoprene might be too thick and stiff for a bikini, but it is surprisingly soft and easy to move around in. I like how sturdy the material is, it won't ever sag or stretch out like some other swimsuits, so it is a good investment. I love the color scheme of mint, pink, and white in this bikini. I was concerned that the colors would be overwhelming, but they really work well together. I was also not sure how I would like the mesh detailing on this version of the Poppy and almost went with another color, but I'm glad I didn't. The mesh is hardly noticeable but does give an extra dimension and texture which I like, it doesn't look cheap at all.


The fit: 

My main concern was the fit of the top. Since I was getting the Poppy bikini which has under wire cups, it had to fit perfectly to prevent gaping. I feel with the other Triangl bikinis that have triangle shaped tops like the Chloe or Ollie styles, there is a bit more flexibility in fit. For reference, I am a 32A sometimes B and I ended up getting a size small. The top does fit pretty well, the band length is just right. The cup size is fine for me, but I feel like I could have gotten an XS if I wanted a more push up effect. There is no padding in the bikini, although the under wire does a good job of lifting, and the neoprene is thick enough to essentially be padded. Triangl has recently updated the style to have adjustable straps which helps the fit.

Another thing I was worried about was that the bottoms would fit like a diaper, as some other reviews said that the bottoms often would have a bit of a roomy fit in the bum, but I don't have this problem at all. The bottoms fit perfectly around my hips and provide good coverage in the back without looking like granny panties. I wear a size 26 in jeans and shorts for reference and I got the bottoms in size small too. If you need a larger top and a smaller bottom, or vice versa, you can mix and match sizes on the Triangl website which is super helpful since I know a lot of girls have to wear different sized bottoms and tops. If you are worried about sizing, Triangl has a live chat on their website 24/7 and they will give you advice on what is best for you.

Overall:

This bikini is beautiful. Hands down my favorite bikini I have ever owned. It is high maintenance though, you need to hand wash it after every use and always keep it laying flat, or else the neoprene will crease. I would splurge and buy an original Triangl and not a dupe. The fakes that I have seen do not fit as well, do not hold their shape, and simply are not as good quality.









Hope you're having a great summer!

Get the look:
Poppy Flamingo Fling Bikini- Triangl Swimwear




Saturday, 4 July 2015

4th of July!















Happy birthday America! While the USA's independence is a reason to celebrate, most people just use it as an excuse to day drink and tan. Suddenly everyone, including previously unpatriotic Americans, dig up some red, white, and blue clothing to join in the festivities. The weather today in Berkeley is perfect (as always) and there is definitely a sense of camaraderie in the air, so pour yourself some wine, throw a few burgers on the grill and watch thousands of dollars go up in flames (literally) in the form of fireworks come nighttime.

Today, my outfit consists mostly of American Apparel pieces, as they are the largest clothing manufacturer in the USA and don't use sweatshops overseas. The Nylon Tricot Figure Skater dress is super popular at the moment and really flattering. To give myself some white, I wore a pair of simple plimsolls that are comfy but classic. Finally for some red and stars, I snagged a headband in a Francesca's sale and put on bright red lipstick for another pop of color. 

Get the look:

Wednesday, 1 July 2015

Travel Tuesdays

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I have been in Beijing, China (i.e. land of no Google, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat) so I haven't been able to get on Blogspot. I had a great time working at the US Embassy in Beijing, but the time came to come back stateside which meant I had to travel.











I am always amazed to see the women who travel in stilettos, skinny jeans, and crop tops. How do you deal with the feet swelling, cramped seat, and cold air con on the plane dressed like that? While I try not to dress like a total slob when I travel, there's no way I'm squeezing my feet into my favorite pair of Steve Maddens. While I love fashion, comfort is still my number one priority. Leggings are the perfect hybrid between comfort and style, so I paired a basic black pair with a soft, slouchy logo tee. For shoes, I picked a pair of flat over the knee black leather boots from Vince Camuto. The leather is flexible and keeps my feet warm on the plane (plus they are heavy so wearing them keeps that weight out of my checked bag). I also kept a cardigan in my bag to throw on while flying. 

For my hair, I always plait a side braid when traveling. You end up sleeping in a lot of weird positions in that tiny airplane seat, which can really knot up your hair. Plus, loose hair gets in the way of taking backpacks and sweaters on and off so a neat side braid is a great way to keep it out of the way and tangle free.


Happy travels!