The Inbetweeners

It's the time of year again where you don't know whether to wear a heavy jacket or a pair of shorts. While the weather can be frustrating, this means that you can use both your winter and summer wardrobe at the same time. That new cute cardigan?? Layer it over your favourite summer top you don't want to say goodbye to just yet. 

In this outfit, I play off cooler colours for the fall with my olive top and black boots, but still keep it light with my wrap mini skirt and the sheer, flowy material of the blouse. If you know me, you'll know that I love open or low back clothes, which also made this top perfect. The skirt is a nice balance of being a summer length but a sturdier more fall-like material and print. To keep my legs from being too bare, I picked a pair of black over-the-knee riding boots because it's fall and I'm typical. 

Get the look:

Olive Blouse- Forever 21(similar)

Wrap Skirt- Brandy Melville (similar)

Boots- Vince Camuto (similar)

Pink Plaid Lipstick- M.A.C

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

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.

Black riding boots- Vince Camuto (similar)

Leggings- Aerie

YSL Logo Tee- no brand (similar)

Happy travels!