The California Voice

A.L.C. dress via The Dresyln. Unif coat. Stella & Bow earrings, cuff, and ring. Giles & Brother nail cuff. Beso Beso by Luka pyrite cuff.

Let me tell you about The Dreslyn.

The Dreslyn is the elegant, savvy voice aptly repping the West Coast in the world of luxe e-com. Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Brooke, the inspiring founder of this new online site that aims to put California style on the map. Their refreshing point of view on sartorial cataloging (see pinboard inspiration) keeps the shopping experience interesting and beautiful, while still casual, conversational, and cool - and that's something we're so not used to seeing in the usual e-retaileres. They carry our favorite chic designers like A.L.C., Carven, Helmut Lang, Rachel Comey, and others that perfectly embody the laidback West Coast vibe. And the best part is that they're based right in downtown LA, in a gorgeously decorated office space no doubt, so their home lies where their heart is. 

I was beyond thrilled when I visited their office to find that they carry the A.L.C. Rolston Dress, which has been on my wish list for forever and most other places have sold out of my size. I mean I have been obsessing, coveting, and googling everyday (even when search results completely stay the same) to find this dress and it was just the luck of a my lifetime to be able to bring this dress home and feel the success in holding something I've been dying for. I wanted to style this dress with a structured winter overcoat, but I just couldn't bear to hide this dress from sight. It deserves the spotlight in all its simple glory. 

Check out The Dreslyn, and you'll be hooked. 

P.S. they're having a 25% off Friends and Family sale! Use code: WITHBENEFITS

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Work Escape

Left on Houston sweater. Piper Gore pants. Sam Edelman shoes. ShopLately cuff. Wednesday Collection ring via StyleSays. DIY Line & Dot clutch.

My personal favorite reward of working from home is getting to work wherever I please. I can pack my laptop and go sit down at Bottega Louie for some macarons at 10AM in their beautiful cafe or go to the Starbucks in downtown Laguna Beach to work while overlooking the wide ocean and enjoy the peaceful lack of tourists. But an even simpler spot I frequent is just the courtyard right outside my front door. It's a fresh and easy escape from the desk in my humble-sized room that doesn't get much natural light (which doesn't work for a total sun worshipper). So most mornings I step outside and welcome the crisp air and the fresh smell of Autumn and say hello to my neighbors, which is nice when the most personable contact I get is through the computer during the week.  

And so these mornings require the comfiest of wear and my Sam Edelman slipper flats are the perfect relaxing pieces for my feet. I love the chic studded detail and the fact that it's super cushioned inside, so my feet feel like they are tucked into pillows. At least they get to still stay in bed while I work. 

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Sunday Funday: Ordinary Life

(images via fashiongonerogue)

Vanessa Moreira shows us the ordinary, cozy life while looking unreal doing them.  

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cherry

LAST NIGHT dress.

I'm just a sucker for cherry red. 

I don't wear bodycon dresses often, but the unique curves of the neckline and the hot fox mode that comes with this dress got me hooked.

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JustFab DIY

Left on Houston sweater. Line & Dot shorts. CC Skye cuff. Phillip Lim for Target bag. JustFab boots.

( L-R )  SwellMayde. Melanee Shale. Good, Bad, and Fab. The Penelope Times.

Last month, my favorite DIY'er Aimee of SwellMayde hosted a super fun event at the JustFab headquarters where we studded our own pair of boots for Fall. It was my first DIY ever, so it was naturally daunting for me in case I horribly disgrace a beautiful pair of boots.  But I really didn't have anything to worry about as Aimee was such a great teacher! To prepare myself, I looked at pictures of studded boots from everywhere for inspiration; in the end, I kept it simple with gold accents accentuating the structure of the boot and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out on my first try! 

It's so easy that I'd do this again in a heartbeat. Check out Aimee's detailed tutorial here on how to stud your own boots and don't forget to check out each of my dear blogger friends' looks with their personalized JustFab DIY's!

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Instagram Mondays

1. Exploring colorful buildings, wearing Three of Something shirt, Lulu*s shorts, Opening Ceremony flats and CRAP eyewear.

2. The magical teepee in Malibu for the Urban Remedy daycation

3. Enjoying a fresh, raw lunch with Urban Remedy

4. My staple travel flats by Sam Edelman

5. Thanks to Erin Condren for this amazing personalized life planner

6. Just me and my catfriend

7. Wearing RVN on the Tacori red carpet

8. My favorite local getaway

9. My closet trophies

10. Fulfilled my bibimbap craving

11. Werk

12. Me right now

13. Can't forget my first job ever

14. Mad plaid

15. Getting out of the house is a simple indulgence in Opening Ceremony and Madewell

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Mad Plaid

 UO dress. Kelly Wearstler necklace. Michael Kors boots. Chloe & Isabel bracelet.

After oogling at the mad mix of printblocking and plaids on the Spring runways, I just couldn't wait to get my hands on them now. As always, I could rely on the good findings of Urban Outfitters sales to fix my cravings. I grabbed this UO x Rag Union dress made from vintage deadstock plaids at 50% off its sale price recently and it's hands down the best $30 I spent this year. Plus it gave me the excuse to finally pull out my Michael Kors boots that's been sadly sitting on the shelf since last Christmas, seeing the light of day only once before. I'm promising the showstoppers more showtime this season. 

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