Stepping out in PJs...Kind Of

If you follow me on pinterest, you already know that I have an unnatural obsession with bows.  So, when I stumbled upon this dress on ASOS, it was pretty much a done deal right from the getgo.  A PJ dress with bow sleeves? Um, can we say retail kryptonite?

Although this piece is made of 100% viscose, it looks and feels like silk.  You'll seriously feel like you're wearing PJs out because this dress is SO ridiculously comfy.  It has a v-neckline with piped edging, and the fit's super relaxed so you don't have to worry about sucking anything in post-meals, ha.  Currently on sale at ASOS for $42 (originally $58), I purchased this piece in size 2, and it fits me perfectly. 

TIP:  If you don't have anyone there to help you with your sleeves, tie them before you throw this baby on!  Oh, and I forgot to tell you about my new accessories.  I recently bought this YSL bag online at Neiman as an early birthday gift to myself, ha.  They were having this kickass promo so I thought I'd take advantage.  By purchasing this bag, I earned a $600 gift card (!!!!!) Plus, I already had store credit so I felt OK about splurging!  

Here's a close-up shot of my bag!  Isn't it a beauty? I still can't get over how gorg it is.  I can already tell that I'm going to get hella wear out of it since it goes with pretty much everything and works for any and every occasion.  I think YSL and Chanel are my two favorite bag brands!  What about you guys? Do you have any fave bag designers?

 Dress:  Asos ($42) || Shoes:  Light in the Box (splurge vs save) || Bag: YSL || Choker:  J Wholesale 

Shot by the wonderful Dennis Christians.

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Another $10 Zara Find + Sipping Amazingly Gorg Lattes at Home SF

Featuring yet another $9.99 find from Zara today on SS!  I found this ruffle mini online and just knew I HAD to have it - they have a kickass return policy so I ordered two sizes because I didn't know which one would fit better. Anywho, I styled this baby with a sexy lace-up bodysuit from amiclubwear to dress things up and then wore a faux-leather moto jacket on top to up my layer game! To finish things off, I carried my YSL crossbody and threw on my fave platform heels.  I seriously can't get enough of this skirt's versatility!  Pair it with a graphic tee or tied button front for a chill vibe.  Also, a HUGE thanks to Jared Wolfe for taking these pictures.

 Other fab bodysuits that'll break necks left and right:

Moving on to my latest nom adventure in frisco: coffee + delish munchies at Home.  Guys, I don't even know where to start!  The cafe was super cute, and I still can't get over how great the name is. When I walked in, several friendly faces greeted me and welcomed me "home."  Brilliant, right? Anywho, the boyf and I hit up their cafe at 9:30 on a Monday, and it was BUSTLING.  There were tons of people there already enjoying drinks with friends + getting their hustle on.  I even saw a couple of students rushing to perfect papers, and it made me feel hella nostalgic.  

I've been obsessed with Home for months now! I stumbled upon their instagram and knew I just HAD to try their lattes and toast.  After studying their menu for a while, we decided to get three lattes and two toasts.  I wanted to get insta-worthy shots (obviously) so I went with the more creative concoctions, but everything sounded awesome, and I have no doubt they would've looked just as beautiful.  I was tempted by the lavender and matcha lattes, but I ultimately decided to order the birthday cake, cookie monster, and nutella lattes.

Anddd as you can see, they definitely didn't disappoint.  All three drinks looked AND tasted totally amazing. Although I loved them all, my fave was the birthday cake drank.  At first glance, I thought it'd be too sweet, but it was perfect in every way.  I half expected unicorns to appear and dance around me as I sipped my coffee by the window, ha.

The boyf and I didn't have time to eat breakfast beforehand so we were pretty hungry at that point.  Luckily, their toast was bomb.  They were several delish options available so it was a tough decision, but we decided to try one savory and one sweet.  I can't remember the exact names, but I'll describe 'em to y'all so you know exactly what to get.  And don't worry, there are only 6-7 options listed so it'll be obvious!  

The first one had egg, tomato and pesto and the second was drenched with condensed milk... or should I say magical condensed milk?  I mean, these were ridiculously nomtastic.  I didn't think they could top drinks, but honestly, I think I enjoyed the food even more than the coffee.  The texture of the toast was amazeballs, and both flavor profiles were out of this world.  The condensed milk was weirdly addicting - I could've easily devoured 2 (or maybe 3) of these babies!

Anywho, don't take my word for it, go and try everything yourself!  I have no doubt you'll have an awesome experience so you're welcome in advance.  And of course, my post wouldn't be complete without an obligatory fobby pic of myself shooting a peace sign so here goes, ha.

Alright guys, that's it for today! I hope you enjoyed reading my latest.  If you want to read more about my adventures, stay tuned because I'll be recapping more from my SF & Phoenix trips soon. Also, a huge thanks to Home for hosting me and my boyf.  I can't WAIT to go back!  FYI, they're opening a new location in Richmond, SF so keep your eyes peeled.

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My $10 Bustier Dress + The Cutest Macarons at Ketsourine

I don't usually like sifting through the clearance racks at F21, but every once in a while, I muster up the patience to fight through and stumble upon a gem.  This $30 dress was on sale for $10 so I scooped it up immediately.  I love bustier-anything so this was a no-brainer in my book!  It's obviously super easy to dress up, but I wanted to wear it casually so I paired it with my fave plaid top and sky-high platform wedges.  A huge thanks to the wonderful Steeze Media for capturing these images! 

Here's a shot of my dress sans top!  Everything here (other than my dress obviously) has been featured on SS before.  I'm the sensible stylista, so I'm all about mixing and matching.  Not all of us have the $$$$ to purchase new stuffs every day so it's important to know how to style various looks with pieces you already own.  In fact, I refuse to buy something if I can't think of at least 3-4 ways to wear it because it'll end up chilling in my closet and gathering dust.  Do you guys have any shopping rules or restrictions?  If yes, what are they?

Shop today's OOTD:

All smiles because life is beautiful, and I'm a giant nerd!  As I'm sure you all know from instastories, I spent a week in frisco with the bf.  He was such a trooper, driving me to all my meetings and helping me take photos of everything.  I'm a lucky girl for sure!  Long distance has been a challenge, but things are SO good.  We had a tough time in the beginning, but we powered through and everything's pretty much perfect now.  When things are right, you just know, and distance seriously means nothing when feelings are strong like this.

ANYWHO, I'm getting off topic - let's tackle noms!  I've wanted to check out Ketsourine Macarons for months now, and I FINALLY got to visit.  I was supposed to come last time, but I was here with Stitch Fix and my schedule was cray so I didn't get to - I'm SO glad things worked out this time around because their store is just as dreamy in real life as it is on instagram.  I remember seeing pictures and thinking, "hm, it can't really be that fab"...BUT IT IS! Everything's on point for reals - the decor's classy + elegant, and the macarons are to die for delish.

A huge thanks to KM for being so kind and welcoming.  There are two cookie sizes available: classic & grande. Classic costs $2.25 and grande's $3.25 a pop.  Classic flavors include pistachio, lemon, raspberry, espresso, strawberry, chocolate, and caramel.  Their signatures are as follows: pecan maple praline, thai tea latte, guava rose, early grey, and more!  

In addition to yum macarons, they sell a ton of nomtastic drinks like teas, coffee, and boba!  Here's a shot of the caramel boba my bf and I tried - we got it with whipped cream and sprinkles for funsies. For those of you interested, they also carry macaron ice creams ($5) so make sure you guys give 'em a try!  I wanted to sample their pistachio flavor, but I was already stuffed from inhaling cookies so I decided to pass.  Oh well, I guess that means I'll just have to come back next time...as if I needed a reason to, ha.

My FAVE yums from my visit though? Their adorable character macaroons.  Omg, I can't even handle how cute they were.  They had a BUNCH of different ones including Pusheen, Pikachu and Jigglypuff.  I seriously spent a good 5 minutes fawning over them through the glass, ha.  

See how excited I am? I couldn't even bring myself to eat them, ha.  I held onto my Pikachu for a good half hour before devouring him - hashtag sorry not sorry buddy!  If you live in the bay area or are visiting, you HAVE to go and try their noms.  Everything tastes just as good as it looks!

Anywho, that's it for today guys!  I hope you enjoyed my latest post.  I'm thinking about starting a new series on here or perhaps on youtube (???) chronicling my weekly adventures!  I compiled and shared a "101 in 1001 days" a while back, but I was really bad about it.  I wrote my bucket list out, but that was the extent of it all, ha.  So, I thought I'd hold myself accountable by possibly vlogging? What do you guys think - is that something you'd be interested in? Let me know by commenting below.

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Find of the Day: The Gathered Sweatshirt from ASOS ($16.50)

Alright guys, it's that time again!  I'm pumped to tell you all about my latest purchase from ASOS: a fab gathered sweatshirt with a kickass gathered front.  Made of a cotton/polyester blend, this piece is THE most stylish sweatshirt you'll ever buy.  Pair it with a high-waisted skirt like I did below to dress it up or wear it with jeans for a casual vibe.  I'm wearing a US 4, and it fits me well, but in retrospect, I kind of wish I went with a 2.  I've mentioned this before, but ASOS has a great return policy (aka free) so I recommend ordering different sizes if you're unsure about fit. 

Gig ups to Steeze Media for taking these awesome pictures - it was absolutely freeeeezing out when we took these snaps so that's why I have resting bitchface, ha.  Anywho, we shot two other outfits together so definitely keep an eye out because I'll be sharing them soon.  OH, and I forgot to ask you guys what you thought of my new instagram aesthetic.  I switched things up a few days ago and wanted to get your opinion - are you a fan of the current filter or do you prefer my older style? Leave me a comment below and let me know.

More angles of my top!  Images jacked from the ASOS website.

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Another $9.99 Zara Find: Bargain Shopping FTW

Wearing all new swag today on SS!  I centered my latest around my fab new dress from Zara - I purchased this a few weeks ago for $9.99 during an online blowout sale, and it's a do for so many reasons.  Firstly, the material feels like butter on my skin, and secondly, the mock-neck + side slit ooze sexy.  

It was nippy out so I threw on my fave bomber for warmth before accessorizing with a giant pearl statement necklace and strappy sandals courtesy of Guilty Soles.  These fabulous block heels are made of vegan suede and are available in 2 other colors:  brown and tan.  If you're a fan of fringe, you'll absolutely love these - dress them up for a fun night out with friends or wear them casually like I did here. 

Now let's take a closer look at my necklace from J Wholesale.  They carry a ton of fabulous pearl pieces online - I highly recommend purchasing their pearl strands.  I like the gold designs best because they look pretty real!  I'll be featuring them on here soon so stay tuned.

For all you fringe lovers out there (everything under $100):

Dress:  Zara || Bomber:  Charlotte Russe (similar)|| Shoes:  Guilty Soles ($39.95) || Necklace:  J Wholesale || Bag: Chanel (look for less)

Thanks to Sung Shin for these awesome pics!

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My Current Fave Work Dress from Laila Jayde

Twirling around in my current favorite work dress.  This fabulous striped number from Laila Jayde is on point for a number of reasons.  It's SUPER comfortable (which is obviously the most important) and works for pretty much any and every occasion.  I've worn it casually with white sneakers for errands and dressed it up with heels + statement jewelry for work below.

Let's take a closer look at my new necklace from J Wholesale.  If you're a fan of mixed metals, you'll fall head over heels in love with this piece.  Try wearing it with a graphic tee + jeans for a bamf casual ensemble!

Oh, and I don't know if you guys remember, but a while back, I posted about this bag - the blast was called, "The Newest Edition to my Bag Collection: The Falabella Mini" in case you missed it.  FYI, Stella McCartney doesn't use any leather or fur in her collections, and she's all about sustainability which is all kinds of awesomesauce.

Other striped dresses that'll tickle your fancy (all under $100):

Dress:  Laila Jayde || Jacket:  BCBG || Bag:  Stella McCartney || Shoes:  Qupid (similar) || Necklace:  J Wholesale

Photos shot by the amazing Sung Shin.

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Bring on the Warm Weather: My New Netted Maxi

Beyond stoked to share today's post with you guys because it's the first of several collabs that I did with the fabulous Hana Gonzalez Fernandini.  We met up at the National Portrait Gallery in DC last weekend to shoot and had a blast - we got a lot of really great shots so make sure you all stay tuned. A huge thanks to the bf for being such a wonderful assistant - his patience never ceases to astound, ha!

Anywho, I'm all about Chaser for my latest.  I've been a HUGE fan of them for quite a while now so it's always fun when we partner up.  Their clothing oozes steeze so I feel effortlessly fashionable wearing their garb. I mean, this maxi dress is seriously one of my faves, I just wish it was a tad bit smaller and shorter!  I screwed up and ordered a medium for some bizarre reason, don't ask me why - definitely pick one up for yourself in your REGULAR size, ha.

Dresses are the best - I seriously live in them during the summer!  I love warm weather because I can just throw a mini on, pair it with neutral wedges, grab my bag, and run out the door in 10 minutes tops.  I'm definitely going to be packing a bunch for my trip to Phoenix!  I'm flying out Sunday so I'm super excited!  The itinerary's BOMB - think hot air ballooning, nomtastic eats, olive oil tastings, etc. - and I'm meeting up with two of my faves (La Belle Mel and Queen Horsfall) so make sure you follow along on instastories.

Other gorg summer maxis for your browsing pleasure:

 Dress:  Chaser || Cardigan:  Chaser || Shoes:  Guilty Soles ($29.95)

Shot by the amazing Hana Gonzalez Fernandini.

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Latest Buy: The Suede Jacket from BCBG

Excited to show you guys my new jacket from BCBG!  I picked this baby up a few weeks ago at their factory outlet in Grove City, PA for $80.  It was definitely NOT a bargain buy, but I fell in love with the design and knew it'd go with my entire closet so I decided to splurge.  For my latest, I styled it with a pretty printed top from Stitch Fix and threw on my Zara skirt + YSL faux-snakeskin bag to top things off.

Anywho, make sure you guys keep your eyes peeled because I'm going to be remixing this jacket left and right! For those of you interested in purchasing a bamf jacket, here are fab alternatives from BCBG for your browsing pleasure:

Shoes:  Aldo || Skirt:  Zara || Bag:  YSL || Jacket:  BCBG || Top:  Stitch Fix

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Wearing Brights to Work: Featuring My New BCBG Dress

Happy humpday, everyone!  For today's featured OOTD, I centered everything around my fab new drape dress from BCBG.  I picked this baby up a few weeks ago at their factory outlet in Arundel Mills for $20 or so (!!!!) I'm sure as hell going to miss shopping their sales - I think they're closing within the next few days, if they haven't already [insert super sad face].  Apparently, BCBG was losing money with their factory outlets so they're moving everything online? I'd typically be ok with this, but their sales stuff is usually always final sale so I (very unfortunately) won't be able to shop their discounted merchandise online.  Hopefully they'll change their policy since stores like ASOS and Zara have such kickass shipping + return policies.

Anywho, for my latest, I styled my dress with neutral pieces for balance: a fab blazer from Banana Republic Factory, cute mary janes, and killer statement earrings.  I bought my heels years ago at Kohl's while they were on clearance, and I still can't get over how adorable they are!  I don't know if they're still "in," but I don't care - I think they're cute so I'll wear them whenever I please.  Remember guys, trends are great and all, but at the end of the day, sport whatever YOU like best.  Confidence is the secret ingredient to amazing style.  If you feel like a million bucks, you'll look it!

 A close-up shot of my earrings from JWholesale.

Other colorful dresses that are beyond adorbs:

 Dress:  BCBG Factory || Blazer:  Banana Republic Factory || Shoes:  Kohl's || Earrings:  JWholesale

Shot by the fabulous Sung Shin.

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