Easily Suede

Suede is one of the most popular themes for fall, and while I don't usually wear it or wear orangey colours, I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did because I love this skirt. It's soft, flattering, and bold. I've come to really like the colour because it is unlike anything I normally wear and brightens up my wardrobe. The material is also super soft to the touch, and is thin and flexible- not what I was expecting from a suede. The gold buttons down the front add another layer of detail, and this style of skirt is also becoming popular for the fall season. To keep the skirt the highlight of the outfit, I paired it with a black and white striped cop top from Brandy Melville. I also wore my black leather embellished booties to give it a bit of an edge, but mostly because they were comfy and I was doing a lot of walking that day. Overall I think it's a really cute and playful outfit! 

These pictures were taken in Centennial Park in Nashville, by Vanderbilt. I'm on the steps of the replica of the Parthenon. I'm not sure why someone thought it would be a good idea to build a huge replica of the Parthenon in the middle of Nashville, but it is quite impressive. 

Get the look:

 Top- Brandy Melville (similar)

Skirt- Zara

Leather Boots- old (similar)

The Streets of Music City

To end off the summer, I went on a bit of a road trip to Nashville, Tennessee. I was really struck by how up and coming the city is. I thought it would be kind of traditional and old-fashioned, but Nashville is becoming modernized and is growing at a fast pace. Even if you don't like country music, there is so much to do and see there. That being said, live music is definitely a highlight. In basically every restaurant and bar down Broadway (the main drag downtown), you can pop in to hear up and coming musicians. I thought that country music was all the same, but I was definitely proven wrong. There was so much diversity in sound, vocal range, set lists, and style in the musicians I heard- all of whom were fantastic. The food was also absolutely amazing. There, I again was surprised. It wasn't just good ole' country fried food but a whole range of gourmet, fresh, local dishes in such fun and quirky settings.

If you know me then you know I love rompers. They have all the ease and cuteness of a dress without the possible dangers (read: bending down). I don't have to watch the way I'm sitting or fear the wind when I'm wearing a romper, and I love it. This one gave off slightly country vibes with its diamond shaped print so I thought it would be perfect for the southern city. As usual, I kept everything else rather minimal with my natural sandals from Forever 21 that I've featured in past posts. I swiped on a coat of Topshop lipstick in Rio Rio. It's a great shade of orange-red for newbies to bold lipstick, and is surprisingly subtle. 

Get the look:

Strapless Romper- Forever 21

Sandals- Forever 21 (similar)

Lipstick in Rio Rio- Topshop 

Birthday & Brunch

 If you follow me on social media, you'll know that my birthday was last week! I turned 19 years old. To celebrate on one of my last days in California, I hit the beach with some friends. We went to Santa Cruz, about an hour and a half south of Berkeley. Between the tanning, swimming, and boardwalk rides, it was a really fun time. I wore one of my favourite brands of bikinis- Triangl Swimwear. If you don't know about Triangl, they are an Australian company who sells neoprene bikinis, the material that wetsuits are made of. I do a full review on another style of their bikinis here. Here, I am wearing the Chloe top in Malibu Blue and the Ollie Penny Wanderlust bottoms both in size small. I chose to wear the Ollie bottoms because they fit snugly and securely, don't gape at all, and were not likely to come off in the waves. I love the bright colour of this bikini, and how sturdy the material is. I never once worried about a wardrobe malfunction. One thing that has to be noted is that the bottoms kind of collect water in the bum, and you have to let it out every time you get out of the water. It wasn't a huge hassle, but definitely something to think about.

The next day, I met up with one of my sorority sisters in the city (San Francisco) for an extended birthday brunch. It was such a beautiful day and warm in SF so I decided to go sleeveless. Here, I'm wearing a dress that was a birthday present from Francesca's. I absolutely love the colour. It's kind of a periwinkle colour and is quite unique. The lace layers make it look so delicate and sophisticated, while not being over the top. I feel like I could wear this dress casually, or to a more semi-formal event if I paired it with some heels and pearls. For shoes, I'm wearing a pair of gladiator snakeskin patterned sandals from Vince Camuto. They are really comfy and I thought the white colour would brighten up my look for summer. Finally, I grabbed my favourite Longchamp Le Pliage small tote. This bag is the perfect size for me to carry my camera, wallet, phone, and a light sweater. It has quickly become a staple in my wardrobe and is definitely a good investment. 

Get the look:

Chloe Malibu Blue Top- Triangl Swimwear

Ollie Penny Wanderlust Bottoms- Triangl Swimwear

 Mulberry Lace Dress- Francesca's Collections

Snakeskin Gladiator Sandals- Vince Camuto (similar)

Le Pliage Small Tote in Navy- Longchamp