PINS FOR DAYS

Two finals down, two to go, and winter break is just around the corner. The closer I've gotten to the end of the semester, the lazier my outfits have gotten. At this point I'm trying to pull off leggings and an oversized granny sweater as an acceptable look to wear on the daily. The outfit here is pretty elevated, in comparison. Adding fun pins to a baggy crewneck makes for a dressy look. Right?

I don't remember collecting pins as a kid. Does that mean I had a deprived childhood? Considering the fact that I wasn't allowed to watch anything besides Food Network and PBS until the age of 10, the answer to that question might be "yes." Nevertheless, I've taken up pin-collecting at the ripe age of 20. I know people typically use their pins to decorate a favorite flea-market find — the vintage denim jacket. I guess this is my attempt to start a new trend — pinned sweatshirts. Will it become a thing? Would you wear this?

 When it comes to accessories, I'm a bit lazy. I stick to my usual earrings, which I never take out, and occasionally add a delicate necklace or some rings. What I love about these pins is that they're fun but low-maintenance. I hate having to adjust the chain of a necklace every 10 minutes to ensure that the clasp isn't sliding up to the main gem, or twisting my rings around when the design start migrating toward the sides of my fingers. At this point of the copy I'm realizing how lazy I'm making myself seem (I've been livings in sweats, and I don't like wearing jewelry often because it's annoying to rearrange....). I just like comfort and ease, ok? 

This look is athleisure, meets childhood whimsy. The navy Theory pants I'm wearing have been a favorite since I purchased them in Japan six years ago — they're stretchy yet look extremely polished. I've also upgraded my favorite childhood sneakers (Converse) to an all-white leather high-top pair. I am a firm believer that you can incorporate sneakers into a stylish look that doesn't look overly athletic; it's all about the color and material. For a versatile sneaker that goes with any look, opt for a neutral-colored shoe (black, grey, nude, white, navy etc.) in luxe fabrics (suede, high-quality canvas, leather). Finish your favorite kicks and a pair of tailored trousers with a mock neck sweatshirt, like this one I'm wearing by UNIF. 

I'm still keen to grow my collection of pins, and would love to hear any recommendation you guys might have of where to get the best ones! I've listed some that are currently on my wishlist:

Love Letter Pin | Pink Sprinkle Donut Pin | Yeah! Flag Pin | On the Rocks Pin | Coffee Press Pin | Mendl's Box Pin | Camera Pin | Ugh Pin

Next time you grab a pin to add to your denim jacket, remember this — sweatshirts + pins = new trend. Let's make it happen.

Pins: T-Rex (courtesy of coach), LA Hands (similar here) and Peace Fingers (similar here) (both courtesy of Mr. Holmes Bakehouse), Glossier G | Sweatshirt - UNIF (similar here) | Pants - Theory | Sneakers - Converse (similar here)

REFORMED AND ALTERED

I don't know why it took me so long to realize the convenience and money-saving power of tailoring. Over the past five years-ish, my weight has fluctuated. Not slightly. A lot. Like size 2, to 000, to 4, to 8, to 2. Negative body image will do that to you. Over and over again. With my weight varying so much, shopping has become somewhat of a nightmare. I never really know what size I am, I end up hating most of the things I try on, and when my weight changes again I have to buy new clothes.  

When I was cleaning my room the other day I realized I had jeans, skirts, and dresses I had purchased sometime within the past year. Some of these pieces were multiple sizes too big, and not in the cool/oversized/boyfriend-look way. Internally crying at the thought of all the money I had "wasted" on items that no longer fit, as I stuffed them into a donation box, I had an epiphany. I could take all of these items to my local cleaners and have them altered! Not only would I avoid having to buy replacements for these items, but I could also support a local business.

Having one dress, two skirts, and a pair of jeans altered cost me roughly $70 (equivalent to half or three-quarters of a pair of jeans from Madewell). In other words, I am now obsessed with having my clothes altered. This green faux leather skirt I bought at ZARA last winter was one of the items I had taken in, and I am SO thrilled that I now get to wear it. I have a love-hate relationship with ZARA. Do I love that they always stock on-trend pieces, and that their shoes are AMAZING and very affordable? Yes. But as a "fast fashion" company, they contribute huge amounts of pollution to the environment, fail to provide workers with safe conditions, and perpetuate waste and a throw-away society. I figured that the least I can do, if I am choosing to support a fast-fashion company, is to be selective about what I buy, and to recycle those pieces in any way I can. 

When I think about it, this look is pretty sustainable. The camel turtleneck I'm wearing here is from Reformation, an LA-based womenswear brand that prides itself in its sustainable practices. If you check out their website, you'll see that on each item page is a breakdown of the environmental impact caused by the production of that piece. Not only does Reformation have a mission statement that I full-heartedly support, but they also happen to make great clothes. This sweater is incredibly cozy, and the perfect camel color. Want something soft and warm to cuddle, but can't deal with a pet? But yourself a fuzzy sweater, instead. Rest assured, I will be wearing mine all Fall and Winter.

I'm heading to New Orleans for Thanksgiving, and I have no idea what I'm going to wear. I would probably wear this outfit to Thanksgiving dinner just because it screams Fall (at least, to me), but I plan on stuffing myself with turkey, mashed potatoes, and pie until I assume a comatose state, so I figure a leather mini skirt isn't the most strategic choice. 

There is no doubt, though, that both pieces in this outfit will be coming with me on my trip. After all, it is already almost Thanksgiving, and my days to wear green leather skirts and turtleneck sweaters are probably numbered.

Sunglasses - Ray Ban | Sweater - Reformation (similar here) | Skirt - Zara (similar here) | Shoes - MissGuided

FINE WINE - DRESSING FOR THE HOLIDAYS

If my memory is correct, I've talked (complained) about LA's notoriously warm Fall weather in the past three or four posts. Rest assured, I'll be continuing that trend today. While shooting this look I was simultaneously blinded by the bright 11AM sun, and sweating through this oversized knit dress.

I was recently contacted by Hi Eleven, a brand that believes in simplicity and affordability. Their high-quality leather accessories, ranging from bags to wallets, are timeless and versatile. Trying to brainstorm holiday gifts? Look no further.

With so many color options for this mini bucket bag it was difficult to decide whether to go with the classic black, or expand my horizons. Inspired by the upcoming holiday season I decided on "wine." I am so impressed with this bag. It's beautifully constructed, feels luxe despite the relatively low cost, and is an amazing alternative to the Mansur Gavriel bucket bag I've been coveting for far too long.

My wardrobe is mostly composed of muted and neutral tones, but accessories are where I have fun with color. This bright pop of wine red is the perfect addition to a simple look, like a chunky knit sweater dress. If you wanted to further emphasize that red accent you could add a red lip, or red shoes.

Holiday dressing doesn't have to be stiff or ultra-formal. As I've said before, comfort is key. So the next time you're invited to a holiday party, opt for an oversized knit and some comfy footwear. Will many guests be dressed in black lacy numbers and teetering heels, with clutches that can't actually hold anything at their sides? Yes. But YOU will be comfortable, and YOU will be able to put anything you could possibly want/need into your bucket bag, including those irresistible hors d'oeuvres you already ate ten of but want to take back home to snack on tomorrow. 

Dress - Zara | Mini Bucket Bag - Hi Eleven

PRIMO PASSO BLUES

I apologize if the photos featured in this post are slightly inconsistent with my current appearance. If you happen to follow me on Instagram, you might have realized that my hair doesn't quite look like this anymore. 

A couple of weeks ago I decided to take a leap of faith and chop my hair to the shortest length it's been since I was a a bowl-cut-bearing pre-schooler. Oh, I also got bangs.

Though my "look" has dramatically changed, I still love these photos taken by my friend Rick Bhatia (no matter how deceiving they may be). 

These photos feel extremely moody. I hope you'll excuse the dramatics. However, this is a pretty accurate representation of what I've looked like over the past couple of weeks. With midterm season upon us, adequate sleep is a rarity. Dark circles are, more often than not, present under my eyes. Not only that, but I rarely have the energy to express any other emotion than exhaustion. It's a beautiful sight to see.

As expected, LA Fall is not measuring up to stereotypical expectations. With 80º days and slightly cooler nights, my go-to outfits have been ones that fall somewhere between Summer and Fall. These transitionary outfits usually include jeans (as do the majority of my looks), a pair of black boots (like this Jeffrey Campbell cut-out heel pair), and a semi-warm top. I absolutely love the earthy and slightly unfinished feel of this flared sleeve white top. 

This is truly a winning look, mostly because it's just a reimagined version of your classic "jeans and a white tee" outfit. Try your local flea market for a pair of distressed vintage Levis! I picked this pair up at an Echo Park boutique carrying strictly women's vintage denim, aka Heaven. One piece of advice — when you go vintage denim shopping, make sure you're dressed in clothes that come easily on and off. And tie your hair up. It's a workout. You'll see what I mean when you go and try it out for yourself.

Photography - Rick Bhatia
Top - Urban Outfitters (similar here) | Jeans - Levis, from Collection | Boots - Jeffrey Campbell

20.

Yesterday, Fall made an uncharacteristically (but wholly welcome) early appearance in the form of light showers, cloudy skies, a brisk breeze, and 60º temps. Considering the fact that this type of weather usually doesn't occur in LA until late October, I was more than happy to whisk some of my recent F/W buys out of the closet and romp around the neighborhood. 

In other exciting news, today is my 20th birthday. 20 is a bit of an odd place to be — not a teenager anymore, but also not 21...

At times I still feel uncertain of who I am, what I want to do, where I want to be in 5 years, etc., but I think at day one of 20, I have a much better sense of how I might answer those daunting questions than I did at day one of 19. 

After a tumultuous 18th year of life, 19 was pretty incredible. By taking a semester off from school, and taking time to collect myself and reorganize my wants and needs, I grew so much. None of the happiness I felt, or things I achieved, would have been possible without my best friend/boyfriend, who has always been there to encourage me and just tell it to me straight, and my family. 19 taught me to be confident, loving, and ambitious, and I only hope that I can continue to apply these lessons as I take on what 20, and the rest of my life, has to offer. 

Returning, from the tangent of birthdays and lessons learned, to the topic of this Fall outfit, I cannot contain my obsession with this Reformation blazer coat. It's perfectly boyish, yet sophisticated — a staple piece that can go with everything from dresses, to jeans and a t-shirt. One of the things I love about Fall in LA is that it's cold, but not too cold to where layering a coat and some boots over a pair of shorts isn't an option. Knits remind everyone of Fall, right? Sure, a basic cable-knit sweater is an obvious go-to, but what about something like Zara's ribbed knit turtleneck short sleeve? I am so in love with this piece. The weight is heavy, and the stark whiteness is balanced out by the simple detail of a black stripe across the sleeve hems. Another highlight of this look is the sock boots I'm wearing, which were gifted to me by Aldo last year. The multi-textural element of these boots is irresistible, and makes for a unique look that isn't over-the-top. 

I'm going to keep this outfit (and several variation of it) on loop for the rest of Fall and Winter. I guess this is what 20 looks like.

Top - Zara | Coat - Reformation (sold out) | Shorts - Asos (similar here) | Boots - Aldo