Ladylike in Place des Vosges

Place des Vosges is probably the prettiest square in Paris with wonderful little secrets hidden in ever corner. The architecture here is beautiful with pink bricks, and even in the cold, the grass is still very green. Here I am wearing a tweed grey chain-lined jacket, which I found at a boutique in the Marais, over a white shirtdress with a flouncy skirt. For accessories, I paired my Chanel classic quilted black bag and black patent Repetto flats, keeping it "ladylike." 

Chanel in Edinburgh

Karl Lagerfeld has done it again. Each season, each collection, he amazes me with his talent to take any style from any person, any part of the world and interpret into Chanel. Going from India last year for his Metier d'Arts show, to a completely different era in Edinburgh this year, Karl brought Scottish quilted skirts, plaid prints and what may be considered stuffy blouses to "Chanel life." 

Below are some of the looks from the show.

Quick snap for November Day

Here I am ready to go for the day in black stretch riding pants from Zara, which are so comfortable when you are running around all day. The on top I'm wearing a white blouse with lace detail, also from Zara, and a (super-soft!) maroon jacket from H&M. My boots are Michael Kors. 

To the Country

This weekend, I went to the country in the Normandy region of France with some friends. It's really nice to get away from the city and escape. I could finally see real fall colors on the trees. I'm wearing a navy peacoat with gold hardware and a black trim that I bought at the Sandro stock. The boots are Tod's and the fabulous hat I found in the house of my friend. 

Dress for rent

This amazing dress I "rented" from a friend's sister. She made this great new concept called "Rentez-Vous" where girls come together at a party and bring a few things that they wouldn't mind letting someone else "rent" from them for 2 weeks. We all borrow our friends clothes, but you know when sometimes you dont get that cardigan you wear everyday back or something spills on one of your favorite shirts. With "Rentez-Vous," the renter puts a "cautionary" down on top of a small fee for dry cleaning, etc. And not only that, but girls can come together and socialize over shopping through each others clothes! 

I saw this dress and loved it instantly! And I only paid 7 euros for it! The dark green is so great for the fall. But the flared shoulders and studded top part is what makes it a show-stopper. I will miss it!

Out to Lunch

Black and white as per usual, but it doesn't look like the typical "black and white" combination. Here white, or cream, on top and black on bottom, with a red pop from the bag. The blazer is cream linen I had tailored for me when I was in Shanghai. The ankle strap flats, which are actually jelly ones by Fendi with the signature Fendi buckle, are great with shorts or a short skirt. I love this outfit for ending summer. 

Mulberry Spring 2013

Every look from Mulberry's spring collection was sublime to me. The colors- burnt orange, soft pinks, mint green, navy - were so beautiful on leather and silk. Oh and the accessories!  Floral and studded bags and sandals and booties in florals as well! I fell in love with this collection immediately. It is so feminine! What more could a girl want? 

The show also brought some very stylish A-list girls. 

Denim and Chambray

Chambray is not only for shirts, but skirts too. I like the combination of a denim jacket with a full chambray striped skirt, making a menswear trend feminine. For an edge, all black accessories, including a silver sparkle Miu Miu belt with black trim, and clear round sunglasses. 

In a little more than one week, I will be in Paris starting an internship at a fashion magazine! I will update the blog with all my findings soon! For now, I am watching the new collections from New York and London and soon Milan from my computer.

Calvin Klein RTW Spring 2013

New York designers reinvented spring like I haven't seen in a while with their spring 2013 ready to wear collections. I was especially taken with Francisco Costa's week closing. Known for his simple cuts and timeless elegance, Costa proved that less is more. Starting with a pin-up look  to peplum, the collection had a very feminine sex appeal as well as elegance for a perfect harmony. The mix of fabrics gave quite a gaze, blending smoothly, like a white lining to black mesh. 

Now, it's on to London! 

Street Style: So cool in stripes and polka-dots

 

I was just browsing through one of my favorite blogger's Kamel Lahmadi's Style and the City's iPhone application and came upon these photos. Kamel always captures such natural and stylish women with their own true style. I love these of Joanna Hillman! She makes the striped tweed jacket and shorts set even better than it already is with a pair bright red polka dot Miu Miu platforms. Like she isn't naturally cool and chic already, Joanna puts together an unexpected combination for a very cool outfit. 

Mint tweed dress

As summer is coming to an end, I have to take advantage of the lighter summer colors. For a trip to the art museum, I wore a mint tweed dress with gold studs going down the middle of the top part, with two-toned flats. I love how Chanel can take tweed into so many different forms, it really inspires this outfit. 

Dress: Zara ; Flats: Prada ; Bag: YSL 

Voyager: Shanghai

This summer, I took my first trip to Asia - to Shanghai to be exact. Before arriving, I had an image of the city as very fast and chaotic, like New York or Tokyo perhaps. But in fact, it has a very relaxed feeling. The fashion there is quite loud at times, with some of the craziest shoes I have ever seen. My favorite area was the French Concession, where there are many cafes and boutiques and you can walk along the tree lined streets. One thing I was very worried about before coming was the cuisine. But there was quite a range of great restaurants and cafes from Italian to Japanese, and one I probably ate at 20 times was the Wagas cafe with a range of sandwiches, salads, and small entrees. On top of that, massages were $15! Way to de-stress! I also had the chance to hike the Yellow Mountains (which is where James Cameron got inspiration for Avatar)! It is truly breathtaking. 

Enjoy the photos!

It Girl: Alexa Chung

She became famous from her own MTV talk-show "It's On with Alexa Chung." But when the name Alexa Chung is said, her killer sense of style is what really comes to mind. Original and fresh, it is. Often sports Breton striped shirts, Chanel flats, cute jumpers, and not to forget the Mulberry bag named after her! The fashionista and socialite attends all the happening parties and events, like Louis Vuitton's Shanghai Express this past July. She was made muse for French contemporary brand Maje for this Fall's campaign, which can be seen in the magazines now, and now is said to launch her own clothing line very soon! I can only imagine how amazing the pieces will be. 

Maje Fall 2012 Ad campaign 

At the Louis Vuitton Shanghai Express event

Attending a Valentino S/S 2012 show in Paris

in Valentino dress and clutch, Charlotte Olympia "Kitty" flats

At Coachella Music Festival in Palm Springs, California

Carrying the Mulberry "Alexa" bag

I do not own these photos.

Chanel's Black Jacket

Chanel's classic black jacket is really the ultimate essential for your wardrobe. The black tweed is so versatile; it can be worn from day to night, breakfast to dinner, whatever the occassion, and works for many styles. And as not many people can afford a Chanel jacket, it is nice that many different less expensive labels have made their own version, whether your price range is under $100 at Zara, or $250-600 from brands like Isabel Marant, Theory, or IRO, surely one can find their own black tweed jacket. Elle US did an editorial on the jacket in six ways. Read more to see Elle's way of wearing it. 

Easy summer easy

Summer is here, meaning heat and humidity. So, finding light fabrics, like cotton and linen is ideal for beating the summer heat. I took this American Apparel white breathable and light lawn shirt (over a white cami) flowing over a pleated pair of pastel blue shorts for a easy summer look. The shoes are wonderful, black suede t-strap with a snakeskin heel. 

Shirt: American Apparel

Shorts: Club Monaco

Sandals: Dolce Vita

Beach cover-up chic

With summer kicking into full gear here in Charleston, it is time to hit the beach or lounge by your favorite hotel pool. Covering up appropriately is important, because surely there will  be lunch or after-drinks. This is a photo Alistair Guy took of me in 2010 for Elle UK coming back from the beach at Portals Nous in Mallorca. I stole the top from my mom and tied it to show some (appropriate!) skin with a pair of basic canvas J.Crew shorts. The orange canvas tote is a perfect bright color for the beach. Since this is 2010 and it is now 2012, I would probably opt for a more rounded sunglasses though. Otherwise, this outfit is great for covering up from the beach/pool. 

I do not own this photo. 

I found this photo recently of my friend in a town in Italy. The photo is amazing. It looks like it is from an editorial in Vogue. The flowy linen dress and the way she is standing, relaxed and enjoying the summer beauty. It also is in a lovely vintage style from a 1970's Italy perhaps. The old building, villa or whatever it may be, fits perfectly with everything about her. It is so pure. 

May has begun and it is almost summer! I can't wait for all the travels and wispy dresses and lounging by the pool this summer! 

Isabel Lucas Street Look

I haven't posted in a while, as I have been finishing my semester! I found this look that Isabel Lucas wore recently, and I love it! It is so simple and fresh! I love the mixing of prints; the prints are subtle enough that they do not clash. The white polka dot top with black polka dot skirt is genius! Black and white are always great together, then add the polka dots for a fresh spin. Then she added a small scarf around the neck and bird printed Miu Miu mary-jane flats. Normally I would think with so many prints that the look wouldn't work and just be too much, but this works so well together. I will want to sport a similar look this summer for sure! 

Spring green tweed skirt

Since spring is in bloom, I bought some nice new spring color items, like this green tweed skirt. This outfit is quite girly. I like the pep in the skirt. Tweed is definitely a favorite look of mine, in any color. I like the ladylike charm of this outfit. 

Tones of Blue and Grey

It got a bit chilly recently, so I brought my suede booties back out! I like to wear one color in different shades together; I think it looks really nice how they compliment each other.  So here I wore different shades of blues and greys which can be mistaken for each other frequently like with my booties. The scarf I bought in Istanbul at this amazing little shop full of every color scarf in a beautiful woven silk. I bought so many!! I love that the silk can be very nice for evening and still worn during the day. 

Fashion Icon: Olivia Palermo

Olivia Palermo is a great style icon to me. She is always impeccably dressed, with the best jackets, best accessories. I am always inspired by everyone of her looks! 

 

Pastel blue sweater jacket

I hope everyone had a nice Easter! 

Here I am wearing a pastel blue sweater jacket that has nice sparkely stripes with a confetti-like frayed trim. I bought it in Madrid at BDBA, which is store with very bright and very girly clothing and accessories. Most of it is too girly for me, but they do have nice things. This sweater jacket is great for a nice spring outfit, especially with pastels so in style this spring! The jeans make it more casual, but I also like to wear it with a skirt if I go for dinner or work. I am wearing my silver ballerinas as well. 

Inspiration

Retro Glamour

As promised, here are the retro pictures taken in Santa Monica. I love these photos!