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

Summer Staples and Back to School

It's almost time to go back to school, where did the time go? But since the summer is nearly over, I thought I would share some of my season staples. Every girl needs a pair of plain high waisted shorts. They are like the peanut butter to your jelly in the summertime- classic, comfortable, and a go-to choice when in a pinch. While I have blogged another pair from Naf Naf, I wanted a pair in a lighter wash. This pair is from Brandy Melville. These have become one of my favorite pairs of shorts because they are slightly longer in the back so they cover your whole bum. They're slightly distressed and frayed on the edge giving them a casual Cal look. 

The bralette has become one of my favourites these past few months. I wear it with jeans, shorts, skirts, under other tops- you name it. The strappy detail on the bust is super cute and unique. The material is also really soft. I threw on a simple grey cardigan because with Berkeley weather, you never know if it's going to be sunny and 75 or cloudy and misty. Finally, I slipped on a pair of black slider sandals. They're comfortable, easy to wear, and recently back in style. 

With the fall approaching, so is fall recruitment! As you can see from my tote, I'm a member of Pi Beta Phi, the first fraternity for women in the United States. Going Greek has been one of the best decisions of my college experience, and I encourage every girl- even if you don't think you're a "sorority girl"- to at least go through recruitment to keep your options open. If you want to see more posts focused around Greek life, let me know and I would be happy to share my experience!

Get the look:

Cardigan- Abercrombie & Fitch (similar)

Bralette- Brandy Melville

Denim Shorts- Brandy Melville

Sliders- Forever21 (similar)

(not at) Coachella

So while I sit inside studying for finals and the sun is mocking me from the library window, I'm bombarded by pictures on Facebook and Instagram of people at Coachella- a music festival in the Californian desert. I also see all my favorite brands coming out with new lines of festival clothing, so I decided to use this as inspiration for my next post. One trend that popped up a lot at Coachella was an all white look, probably to show off their Californian tans that I am sadly lacking here in Baltimore. For my look, I paired a white knit halter style top from Brandy Melville with off-white denim destroyed high waisted shorts. I absolutely love the cut of this top, it's so flattering and trendy right now. Plus, the material is really soft so it is also really comfortable. I picked high waisted shorts so I wouldn't be showing too much skin, and denim is super durable and would survive a long day of partying. For the shoes I picked, I like the "caged" look since it allows your feet to breathe, and pointed toes are super popular right now. I accessorized with a white flower crown (because Coachella = flower crowns) and a copper and turquoise bangle for a tiny pop of color.

Get the Look:

"Sofia" top- Brandy Melville

Destroyed Denim Shorts- Urban Outfitters

Flower Crown- Unknown (similar)

Copper and Turquoise Bracelet- handmade (similar)

xx Danielle