A big Thank You to The Factory and The Evans Group for the unbelievable trip to Marrakech last week – Who knew that in the streets of SOMA you could escape to the market stalls of exotic Morocco?
Voyage To Marrakech is an evening inspired by Yves Saint Laurent’s glamorous 1970’s lifestyle in Moroco to showcase their Spring 2013 Collection. An illuminated nighttime Marrakech marketplace, with cocktails, food, and music, and live photoshoot presentation, featuring live vignettes inspired by iconic YSL iconic photographs.

Stylish San Franciscans flocked to our own personal Marrakech last week to celebrate The Factory’s new collection inspired by the love affaire that YSL had with Marrakech.

{The looks that evening ran the gamut from ultra modern to vintage inspired to came-straight-from-the-office}

{Cocktails, mannequins sporting Yves Saint Laurent-inspired frocks, friends reuniting, fortune tellers…}

{And the models showed off a phenomenal Spring 2013 collection filled with sleek, shimmering fabrics, vintage patterns & prints, luxurious metallics, faux fur, relaxed silhouettes, and fun accessories}

{I wore a long-sleeved, high-neck vintage shift dress, Zara ankle strap heels, and a fabulous gold necklace from Sasha Maks Vintage}
{Check out more photographs from this event here – Just log into Facebook to view}
This was the fifth event that I’ve had the honor of attending at The Factory, check out my posts on the previous events below:
Like this:
Like Loading...
November 21, 2012 | Categories: Fashion | Tags: 2010 New York Fashion Week, Animal bracelets, Animal head bracelets, ankle boots, Ankle strap heels, Ankle straps, Anthropologie, anti-sweat shop, April Howard, April Howard Capsule Collection, black & white florals, blazer, Blogger, Blogger fashion, Blogger Street Style, Blogger Streetstyle, blogger style, Bohemian, bohemian chic, boho, boho chic, booties, boots, California fashion, Capsule, capsule collection, casual summer, Christmas gift, Christmas present, cocktail shift dress, CODE Salon, colorful jewelry, colorful vintage jewelry, Designer April Howard, Elephant, Elephant Necklace, elephant pendant, Evans Group, Factory Fashion Mixer, Factory Girl, Fall 2012, Fall 2012 Accessories, Fall 2012 clothes, Fall 2012 Clothing, Fall 2012 Coats, Fall 2012 Collection, Fall 2012 essentials, Fall 2012 Fashion, Fall 2012 Jackets, Fall 2012 Must Haves, Fall 2012 necessities, Fall 2012 Outerwear, Fall 2012 RTW, Fall 2012 Style, Fall 2012 Trends, Fall accessories, Fall clothes, Fall Clothing, fall coats, Fall Essentials, Fall Fashion, Fall jackets, Fall Must Haves, Fall Necessities, Fall outerwear, Fall separates, Fall Shopping, Fall Shopping Guide, Fall skirt, Fall skirts, Fall Street Style, Fall Streetstyle, Fall Style, Fall styles, Fall Styling, Fall trends, Fashion, Fashion Blogger, Fashion Blogger Fashion, Fashion Blogger Street Style, Fashion Blogger Streetstyle, Fashion Blogger Style, fashion collaberations, fashion gifts, Fashion Mixer, Fashion party, Fashion show, Fashion Week, Floral blazer, floral tank, Floral top, Gift certificate, Gift guide, gifts, girls night out, Gold, gold jewelry, gold necklace, high-neck cocktail dress, Hippie, hippie chic, Holiday gifts, Holiday present, holiday recipes, hot summer night, Jack Evans, Jennifer Evans, jewelry, Jewelry Trunk Show, LBD, Little Black Dress, local designer, local designers, Local seamstresses, loft space, long sleeved cocktail dress, Lookbook.nu, low boots, Market, Marketplace, Marrakech, Marrakesh, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Models, Moroccan, Moroccan market, Morocco, multi colored jewelry, multicolored jewelry, nighttime fashion, NYFW, Old school glamour, pearls, Pim + Larkin, Piperlime, Pleated mini, pleated mini skirt, Pleated Skirt, pose, Pre-Fashion Week, Present giving, Presents, Rebecca Minkoff, Rebecca Minkoff booties, red hair, redhead, Retro, retro-inspired, Saint Laurent, Saint Laurent Paris, San Francisco, San Francisco Blogger, San Francisco Designer, San Francisco designers, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco made clothing, san francisco manufacturing, San Francisco shopping, San Francisco SOMA, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco Streetstyle, San Francisco style, San Francisco Vintage, Sasha Maks, Sasha Maks Vintage, Sasha Maks Vintage Jewelry, Sasha Maks Vintage Jewelry Trunk Show, Secret Santa, Secret Santa Gift, September, Seventeen magazine, SF, SF Blogger, SF Designer, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF Shopping, SF SOMA, SF Street Style, SF Streetstyle, SF Style, SF Vintage, Shift dress, shopbop, Shopbop.com, SOMA, SOMA designer, SOMA salon, SOMA San Francisco, SOMA SF, SOMA Shopping, South of Market, Spring 2012, Street style, Streetstyle, Style, Styling, Summer blazer, Summer clothes, Summer clothing, Summer fashion, Summer nights, Summer style, summer trends, The Bristol Observer, The Evans Group, The Factory, The Factory Group, The Factory Label, The Factory Presents April Howard, throw back, Tinley Road, Tinley Road Blazer, Tinley Road Floral Blazer, trunk show, vintage, Vintage Animal Jewelry, Vintage elephant necklace, vintage gold, vintage gold jewelry, Vintage gold necklace, Vintage inspired, vintage inspired fashion, vintage jewelry, Vintage jewelry trunk show, vintage necklace, vintage pearls, vintage shift, vintage shift dress, WWD, YSL, Yves Saint Laurent, Zara, Zara Basics, Zara heels, Zara Skirt | 5 Comments
This outfit is an oldie, but a goodie!
Things have been so hectic and non-stop since the beginning of September that I never got a chance to share with you the outfit that I put together for the pre-Fashion Week Fashion Mixer at The Factory in lovely SOMA.

{You can shop similar pieces by clicking these hyperlinks: Floral Blazer – Pim + Larkin from Piperlime, Pleated Black Mini – Zara (one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe, true story), Ankle Booties – Rebecca Minkoff from Shopbop.com, Floral Top – Anthropologie, and Jewelry – All from Sasha Maks Vintage}

{You can view this outfit on both Lookbook.nu and Pose}

{Check out more outtakes from this shoot here – just log into Facebook to view}
Despite the fact that I put this outfit together over a month ago it actually looks pretty Fall-ready with the black accents and these too cute Rebecca Minkoff booties. I love wearing skirts and dresses during the Fall with layers on top and cute tights on the bottom. I’ve got a pair of black & grey skull-print tights that are in my closet begging to be worn!
Do you like printed or colorful blazers? Are you strictly a pants person once the weather turns colder or do you like to wear skirts & dresses in the Fall?
Like this:
Like Loading...
October 23, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, MCLV Style | Tags: 2010 New York Fashion Week, Animal bracelets, Animal head bracelets, ankle boots, Ankle strap heels, Ankle straps, Anthropologie, anti-sweat shop, April Howard, April Howard Capsule Collection, black & white florals, blazer, Blogger, Blogger fashion, Blogger Street Style, Blogger Streetstyle, blogger style, Bohemian, bohemian chic, boho, boho chic, booties, boots, California fashion, Capsule, capsule collection, casual summer, Christmas gift, Christmas present, cocktail shift dress, CODE Salon, colorful jewelry, colorful vintage jewelry, Designer April Howard, Elephant, Elephant Necklace, elephant pendant, Evans Group, Factory Fashion Mixer, Factory Girl, Fall 2012, Fall 2012 Accessories, Fall 2012 clothes, Fall 2012 Clothing, Fall 2012 Coats, Fall 2012 Collection, Fall 2012 essentials, Fall 2012 Fashion, Fall 2012 Jackets, Fall 2012 Must Haves, Fall 2012 necessities, Fall 2012 Outerwear, Fall 2012 RTW, Fall 2012 Style, Fall 2012 Trends, Fall accessories, Fall clothes, Fall Clothing, fall coats, Fall Essentials, Fall Fashion, Fall jackets, Fall Must Haves, Fall Necessities, Fall outerwear, Fall separates, Fall Shopping, Fall Shopping Guide, Fall skirt, Fall skirts, Fall Street Style, Fall Streetstyle, Fall Style, Fall styles, Fall Styling, Fall trends, Fashion, Fashion Blogger, Fashion Blogger Fashion, Fashion Blogger Street Style, Fashion Blogger Streetstyle, Fashion Blogger Style, fashion collaberations, fashion gifts, Fashion Mixer, Fashion party, Fashion show, Fashion Week, Floral blazer, floral tank, Floral top, Gift certificate, Gift guide, gifts, girls night out, Gold, gold jewelry, gold necklace, high-neck cocktail dress, Hippie, hippie chic, Holiday gifts, Holiday present, holiday recipes, hot summer night, Jack Evans, Jennifer Evans, jewelry, Jewelry Trunk Show, LBD, Little Black Dress, local designer, local designers, Local seamstresses, loft space, long sleeved cocktail dress, Lookbook.nu, low boots, Market, Marketplace, Marrakech, Marrakesh, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Models, Moroccan, multi colored jewelry, multicolored jewelry, nighttime fashion, NYFW, Old school glamour, pearls, Pim + Larkin, Piperlime, Pleated mini, pleated mini skirt, Pleated Skirt, pose, Pre-Fashion Week, Rebecca Minkoff, Rebecca Minkoff booties, red hair, redhead, Retro, retro-inspired, San Francisco, San Francisco designers, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco made clothing, san francisco manufacturing, San Francisco SOMA, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco Streetstyle, San Francisco style, Sasha Maks, Sasha Maks Vintage, Sasha Maks Vintage Jewelry, September, Seventeen magazine, SF, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF SOMA, SF Street Style, SF Streetstyle, SF Style, shopbop, Shopbop.com, SOMA, SOMA salon, SOMA San Francisco, SOMA SF, South of Market, Spring 2012, Street style, Streetstyle, Style, Summer blazer, Summer clothes, Summer clothing, Summer fashion, Summer nights, Summer style, summer trends, The Bristol Observer, The Evans Group, The Factory, The Factory Group, throw back, Tinley Road, Tinley Road Blazer, Tinley Road Floral Blazer, vintage, Vintage Animal Jewelry, vintage gold, vintage gold jewelry, Vintage inspired, vintage jewelry, vintage pearls, WWD, Zara, Zara Basics, Zara Skirt | 3 Comments
Before heading to New York at the beginning of September I was lucky enough to start fashion month out right with a trip to The Factory for a Fashion Mixer with the lovely Sasha of Sasha Maks Vintage.

I was beyond thrilled to wear some more amazing vintage jewelry courtesy of Sasha Maks Vintage – Oversized pearls, thick gem encrusted golden strands, and animal head bangles {see other phenomenal pieces from this shop in the collaboration series Styling 101}.

{Check out the MCLV Style: Factory Girl post for more on this look!}
The evening was fun and festive with a DJ, open bar, photographers, and a group of people ready to enjoy themselves and learn a little something about The Evans Group’s Collection Developement Packages.

My favorite part was, per usual, the oh-so-cool atmosphere of The Factory – I love the exposed brick and being surrounded by racks and racks of gorgeous clothes while I’m socializing.

Such a great start to Fashion Month!
Like this:
Like Loading...
September 8, 2012 | Categories: Fashion | Tags: 2010 New York Fashion Week, Animal bracelets, Animal head bracelets, ankle boots, Ankle strap heels, Ankle straps, Anthropologie, anti-sweat shop, April Howard, April Howard Capsule Collection, black & white florals, blazer, Blogger, Blogger fashion, Blogger Street Style, Blogger Streetstyle, blogger style, Bohemian, bohemian chic, boho, boho chic, booties, boots, California fashion, Capsule, capsule collection, casual summer, Christmas gift, Christmas present, cocktail shift dress, CODE Salon, colorful jewelry, colorful vintage jewelry, Designer April Howard, Elephant, Elephant Necklace, elephant pendant, Evans Group, Factory Fashion Mixer, Factory Girl, Fall 2012, Fall 2012 Accessories, Fall 2012 clothes, Fall 2012 Clothing, Fall 2012 Coats, Fall 2012 Collection, Fall 2012 essentials, Fall 2012 Fashion, Fall 2012 Jackets, Fall 2012 Must Haves, Fall 2012 necessities, Fall 2012 Outerwear, Fall 2012 RTW, Fall 2012 Style, Fall 2012 Trends, Fall accessories, Fall clothes, Fall Clothing, fall coats, Fall Essentials, Fall Fashion, Fall jackets, Fall Must Haves, Fall Necessities, Fall outerwear, Fall separates, Fall Shopping, Fall Shopping Guide, Fall skirt, Fall skirts, Fall Street Style, Fall Streetstyle, Fall Style, Fall styles, Fall Styling, Fall trends, Fashion, Fashion Blogger, Fashion Blogger Fashion, Fashion Blogger Street Style, Fashion Blogger Streetstyle, Fashion Blogger Style, fashion collaberations, fashion gifts, Fashion Mixer, Fashion party, Fashion show, Fashion Week, Floral blazer, floral tank, Floral top, Gift certificate, Gift guide, gifts, girls night out, Gold, gold jewelry, gold necklace, high-neck cocktail dress, Hippie, hippie chic, Holiday gifts, Holiday present, holiday recipes, hot summer night, Jack Evans, Jennifer Evans, jewelry, Jewelry Trunk Show, LBD, Little Black Dress, local designer, local designers, Local seamstresses, loft space, long sleeved cocktail dress, Lookbook.nu, low boots, Market, Marketplace, Marrakech, Marrakesh, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Models, Moroccan, multi colored jewelry, multicolored jewelry, nighttime fashion, NYFW, Old school glamour, pearls, Pim + Larkin, Piperlime, Pleated mini, pleated mini skirt, Pleated Skirt, pose, Pre-Fashion Week, Rebecca Minkoff, Rebecca Minkoff booties, red hair, redhead, Retro, retro-inspired, San Francisco, San Francisco designers, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco made clothing, san francisco manufacturing, San Francisco SOMA, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco Streetstyle, San Francisco style, Sasha Maks, Sasha Maks Vintage, Sasha Maks Vintage Jewelry, September, Seventeen magazine, SF, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF SOMA, SF Street Style, SF Streetstyle, SF Style, shopbop, Shopbop.com, SOMA, SOMA salon, SOMA San Francisco, SOMA SF, South of Market, Spring 2012, Street style, Streetstyle, Style, Summer blazer, Summer clothes, Summer clothing, Summer fashion, Summer nights, Summer style, summer trends, The Bristol Observer, The Evans Group, The Factory, The Factory Group, throw back, Tinley Road, Tinley Road Blazer, Tinley Road Floral Blazer, vintage, Vintage Animal Jewelry, vintage gold, vintage gold jewelry, Vintage inspired, vintage jewelry, vintage pearls, WWD, Zara, Zara Basics, Zara Skirt | 2 Comments
Did you enjoy the first post from the new Styling 101 series that I posted on Tuesday? It was a lot of fun to style and photograph so I hope it got you in the mood for some yacht-chic gear for America’s Cup!
With this week – and Summer – on the verge of being over I thought today would be a good day for some sun worshipping fashion. So welcome to another MCLV Style post where we will be discussing vacations. Primarily because I refuse to let go of Summer.

{Peacock Print Maxi Dress – Victoria’s Secret, Gold Sandals – Forever 21, Sunglasses – Vintage, Clutch – BCBGeneration, Gold Leaf Necklace – Vintage, Bangles – Vintage, H&M & Zara}

{You can HYPE this look on Lookbook.nu, shop similar pieces on ASOS Fashion Finder, or click the hyperlinks above to shop comparable pieces and visit store websites}

Check out more outtakes from this shoot here – just log into Facebook to view
I wish that these shots had been taken on a tropical island somewhere with waves crashing nearby and umbrella drinks chilling just out of reach instead of in my “backyard.” I use sarcastic quote marks because I live in San Francisco. Land of small kitchens and no grass. Le sigh. Clearly someone is in desperate need of a vacation, and luckily for this someone, I’m heading to New York City this weekend for the much anticipated IFBCON.
What do you like to wear when you’re on vacation? Obviously it depends on the destination, but nothing says tropical vacation to me more than a maxi, what about you?
Like this:
Like Loading...
August 30, 2012 | Categories: Fashion | Tags: All-American, America's Cup, America's Cup World Series, Americana, Asos, Asos Fashion Finder, Asos.com, BCBG, BCBG Max Azria, BCBGeneration, BCBGirls, black clutch, boat, boat racing, boating, Bohemian, boho, boho chic, bots, bracelets, Cross-body bag, day clutch, Facebook, Fashion, Flat sandals, Floor-length dress, floral, gold ring, Gold sandals, H&M, Halter Dress, halter maxi, Hippie, hippie chic, IFB, IFBCON, Independent Fashion Bloggers, Layering, layering bangles, leaf, leaf necklace, Lookbook.nu, Manhattan Street Style, Manhattan Style, Maxi, Maxi dress, metallic sandals, New York, New York City, New York Fashion, NYC fashion, NYC Street Style, over-the-sholder bag, peacock, peacock print, resort clothes, resort fashion, resort style, resortwear, Retro, Retro sunglasses, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco Street Style, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF Street Style, SF Style, Spanish retailers, stacking, stacking bangles, Stacking Rings, Street style, Style, Summer clothes, Summer fashion, Summer style, vacation, vacation clothes, vacation fashion, vacation style, Vacationing, vacations, Victoria's Secret, vintage, vintage bangle, vintage bracelet, vintage engagement ring, vintage gold jewelry, vintage jewelry, vintage necklace, vintage sunglasses., wooden bangle, yacht, yachts, Zara, Zara accessories, Zara Basics, Zara jewelry | 1 Comment
Happy Monday!
Wait – Is that an oxymoron?
Well anyway, here’s another exciting Looks of the Week post featuring some end-of-Summer looks as well as some outfits that will have you digging through your closet to find your Fall & Winter clothes. Enjoy!

I love the retro 70’s vibe of this look – From the floral blouse to the flared denim mini to the platform booties. Absolutely fabulous!

This is such a fun, well put together look. One of my favorite parts of this great mix n’ match look is the fact that she paired her skirt & blouse combo with tennis shoes rather than heels. It’s funky and original – J’Adore!

A tunic and jeans are anything but boring when The Glamourai gets ahold of them! This look is all about great fitting, flattering pieces mixed with high-impact accessories. That clutch, that necklace, those glasses – Killer!

Cute cute cute. I love that this plays on the menswear trend but is still feminine and totally unique.

KILLER! I love love love this look. From the chic black & white color scheme to the skirt’s silhouette to the fabulous IMUSTHAVE studded Celine ankle boots.

Both of these looks are killer! I love these Victoria Beckham inspired styles on Kate – Utterly chic and utterly flattering.

One thing that I truly admire is when a woman can make a menswear piece really work and look feminine and stylish. This sleeveless pocket vest is anything but a shapeless “stolen from the boys” piece, it suits her perfectly and was paired with a great pair of cropped purple trousers and fabulous accessories.

While I love a great retro dress, the accessories here really caught my attention. That bag is fabulous and I love the double cuff, such a great look if you can pull it off (and not look like Superwoman!) And my favorite piece? That vintage-style gold & pearl ring. J’adore!

One of the things that I appreciate most about Shea from Cheyenne Meets Chanel is that she really sticks to her style. All of the looks that she posts shine with her California hippie, boho girl, flower child roots. This is a beautiful example, she really shines in this flowy, Summery maxi dress.
{Click on images above to visit the original source}
Which look is your favorite? Are you still in full-blown Summer mode wearing skirts, shorts, and dresses, or have you started to work Fall items into your looks?
Like this:
Like Loading...
August 20, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, Looks of the Week | Tags: 1960's, 1970s, 60's, 60s inspired fashion, 70's inspired, 70s style, A-line skirt, all white, animal print pumps, Animal prints, animla, ankle boots, Annawii, Anouska Proetta Brandon, Best Dressed, bird print, black & white, black & white prints, Blogger, Bohemian, boho, boho chic, booties, Bow tie, bowler hat, bowtie, British fashion, British Fashion Blogger, British Street Style, British style, California hippie, California style, Celebrity fashion, celebrity style, Chelsea Jade Arnold, Chelsea Jade Loves, Cheyenne Meets Chanel, chic, Chloe booties, Clutch, Copenhagen, Copenhagen Street Style, cowboy, Cristina's Blog, Cross-body bag, denim mini, denim skirt, Dublin fashion, Dublin Street Style, Dublin Style, Dutch fashion, Dutch Fashion Blogger, Dutch Style, End of summer, Fall 2012, Fall accessories, Fall clothes, Fall/Winter 2012/2013, Fashion, Fashion Blogger, Fashion Director, Fellt Tuula, Fendi watch, flower child, flowy, French fashion, French Fashion Blogger, French style, gold ring, Hippie, hippie chic, hippie dress, Irish fashion, Irish Fashion Blogger, Irish Style, Jackie O Sunglasses, Jacquie Aiche pinky ring, Jade, jean skirt, Jeans, Jessica Stein, Jumpsuit, Karla Deras, Karla Deras for Roman Luxe necklace, Kate Beckinsale, L.A.M.B. clutch, LA fashion, LA Fashion Blogger, LA Style, Ladylike, Le Dressing de Leeloo, Leeloo, Little white dress, London Fashion, London premier, London Street Style, London style, looks of the week, Los Angeles Fashion, Los Angeles Fashion Blogger, Los Angeles Street Style, LWD, Manila Fashion Blogger, Maxi dress, Menswear, messenger bag, metallic pumps, mixing and matching, mixing prints, Mod, mod inspired clothes, Moroccan jade ring, My Dress.My High Heels.My Style, Nottingham, Nottingham Street Style, Paris fashion, Paris Fashion Week, Paris street style, Parisian Street Style, Patterns, Paule Ka, Peace Love Shea, PeaceLoveShea, Pencil skirt, platform ankle boots, platform boots, platform pumps, platforms, prints, Promotions, pumps, Raphael Falci snake, Rebecca Minkoff, Rebecca Minkoff sunglasses, Red Carpet fashion, red carpet style, resort fashion, Resort wear, resortwear, Retro, Retro dress, Roman Luxe, Roman Luxe necklace, round sunglasses, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, shades, Shea Maria, Stress, Stud, Studded, Studded boots, Studs, Style, Summer clothes, Summer fashion, Summer style, summer whites, sunglasses, sunnies, Swedish fashion, Swedish fashion blogger, Swedish Street Style, Swedish style, The Glamourai, Total Recall, Total Recall Premier, triange necklace, tunic, Tuula, Tuula by Jessica Stein, tweed bag, Tweed Handbag, twiggy, Twiggy-inspired, Two pieces, Umea fashion, Umea Street Style, vacation clothes, vacation fashion, vacation style, Vanessa Jackman, Velour Magazine, Victoria Beckham, Victoria by Victoria Beckham, vintage, Vintage dress, vintage gold jewelry, vintage jewelry, vintage pearl ring, Violaine Bernard, warm weather clothes, warm weather fashion, warm weather style, western, Western booties, White dress, Winter 2012, womens hat | 2 Comments
In my Real Girls Need Real Closets and Real Girls Need Real Closets – Accessories Edition I discussed the pieces that are worth putting money into in order to build a complete wardrobe. Today I’d like to focus on what jewelry should make it into your collection in this guest post for Sasha Maks Vintage.
Over the years you’ll invest in new accessories, update your collection, and pick up great pieces on your travels, of both the new and vintage variety. Truth be told, putting together the perfect jewelry collection isn’t something that happens overnight, it’s a long process and while your personal style may evolve over time, the basics of what you should acquire will remain relatively static. With that in mind, here are some tips and suggestions to keep in mind while you’re shopping!
Statement Necklace:
Having a dramatic and eye-catching piece at your neck is a Must. Something that’s versatile and can work as the central focus for your look at a number of events – From casual to dressy to office appropriate.

{Monet Enamel Fan Necklace 1970s – $225}

{Inspiration Board on ASOS Fashion Finder – Nonoo – Letticia Floral Shorts, Jaeger Sleeveless Silk Blouse, Suuna Black Arabella Ladies Sunglasses & COGGLES EXCLUSIVE Lorelei Black & Blue Shoes}

Summer Casual – Inspiration for this look: Olivia Palermo’s fabulous floral shorts look from Verona, Italy photographed in July of 2012. A statement necklace can be the focal point of a basic or monochromatic look, or just another fabulous piece in a fun, vibrant outfit like this one.
Cuff Bracelet:
A cuff or wide bracelet allows you to throw on a single piece of jewelry and call it a day. This acts as an understated but dramatic piece that can complete a look without a lot of effort.

{Silver-tone Wide Ridged Cuff 1970s – $135}

{Inspiration Board on ASOS Fashion Finder – Fluoro Stripe Double Breasted Knit Coat by M Missoni, Black Peep Toe Booties, Diva clutch plain black leather from Boticca, Suuna Black Arabella Ladies Sunglasses, Mixed Chain Collar Necklace & ‘Betty’ thin leather dress}

Punk Princess – Inspiration for this look: Punk and edgy are two ways to go with a thick silver bracelet, so take inspiration from Brooklyn Blonde and try something new & exciting by pairing unexpected pieces. Unique styling, like these peep-toe booties and the sleeveless trench, make a look fresh and unique and 100% you.
Evening Earrings:
Whether you’re wearing a simple suit and attending a work function or a fun Little Black Dress for a cocktail party, you need a pair of killer earrings to punctuate your look.

{Trifari Beaded Ball Drop Earrings 1960s – $165}

{Inspiration Board on ASOS Fashion Finder – Leiby Wide Leg Jumpsuit With Belt, Fatale Natural Shoes, ASOS HARLOT Stiletto Leather Sandals, Lipsy Playsuit With Scallop Edge Hem & Blue, Jade, Noir & Sand Jersey & Silk Jumpsuit}

Retro Luxe – Inspiration for this look: The beautiful & fashionable Liz Cherkasova from Late Afternoon’s fun Summertime look. Depending on the size, style, and color, dangling earrings can easily go from day to-night, the key is to pick the right outfit to complement them.
Cocktail Ring:
A one-of-a-kind cocktail ring is an absolute must have. You need a piece that is fun and flashy, that makes you feel glamorous and acts as a great conversation starter.

{Rhinestone Cocktail-Party Ring 1960s – $95}

{Inspiration Board on ASOS Fashion Finder – Emerald Sarong Knot Cocktail Dress by Halston Heritage & ASOS HYLA Strappy Heeled Sandals}

Cocktail Fabulous – Inspiration for this look: Katie Holmes’s September 2012 cover for C Magazine, photographed by Matt Jones. A fun ring is very versatile, it’ll work equally well for girls night out, after work drinks, or a cocktail party.
Personality Piece(s):
Whatever your style, whatever your taste, you should have a stand out piece of jewelry in your collection that is 100% YOU. It doesn’t matter what it is, it could be s a fabulous pair of drop earrings, or a handful of stunning bracelets for stacking, or a simple pearl necklace that you inherited from your mother.

{Left: Christian Dior Faux Coral Demi-Parure 1970s – $1250, Top Right: Snake Bangle 1970s – $135 & Bottom Right: Faux Jade Cocktail Ring 1960s – $135}
Me? I’m obsessed with classic gold vintage pieces and animal jewelry like the pieces above. They suit my classic style and act as great finishing touches for my outfits.

{Inspiration Board on ASOS Fashion Finder – Left Outfit: Cream Asymmetrical Tie Blouse by DKNY, Black Leather Exposed Zip Skirt by McQ Alexander McQueen & Reiss Lotta BUCKLE SHOE BOOTS, and Right Outfit: White Poppy Blouse by Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, Black Full Flippy Skirt by Halston Heritage & Red Bow Front Patent Pointed Court by Moschino Cheap & Chic}

Black & White Stunner – Inspiration for the look: Donna Karan Fall 2012 Ready-to-Wear & Temperley London Pre-Fall 2012. Perfect for a work party or a formal evening, the cut, silhouette, and lengths can be adjusted to suit the appropriateness of a given outing.
All jewelry from Sasha Maks Vintage – Original post on the Sasha Maks Vintage Blog
Like this:
Like Loading...
August 15, 2012 | Categories: Fashion | Tags: 1960's, 1970s, 1980's, 60's accessories, 60's fashion, 60's style, 70's accessories, 70's fashion, 70's jewelry, 70s style, 80's accessories, 80's fashion, 80's style, accessories, accessoriesdirect.com, after work drinks, Alexander McQueen, Alice Temperley, Angela Missoni, Anglomania, animal, animal jewelry, ankle boots, Ankle strap heels, Asos, Asos Fashion Finder, ASOS HARLOT Stiletto Leather Sandals, ASOS HYLA, ASOS HYLA Strappy Heeled Sandals, Asos.com, ‘Betty’ thin leather dress, Black & Blue Shoes, black & white, black clutch, Black leather, Black Peep Toe Booties, blouse, Blue, Bohemian, boho, bootie, boots, Boticca, bow heels, bracelet, Brooklyn Blonde, Browns, Buckle Shoe Boots, bug, C Magazine, Celebrity fashion, celebrity style, Christian Dior, Christian Dior Faux Coral Demi-Parure, christmas party, Cocktail Dress, cocktail party, cocktail ring, cocktails, COGGLES, COGGLES EXCLUSIVE Lorelei Black & Blue Shoes, coggles.com, collar, colored blouse, coral, court shoes, Cropped top, cuff, Cuff bracelet, dangling earrings, Dior, Diva clutch, DKNY, Donna Karan, double breasted, Drama, dramatic cuff, Earrings, Emerald Sarong Knot Cocktail Dress, Evening earrings, Fall 2012, Fall 2012 Ready-to-Wear, Fall 2012 RTW, Fashion, Fatale Natural Shoes, floral shorts, Fluoro Stripe Double Breasted Knit Coat by M Missoni, Forever 21, girls night out, Glamour, Gold, gold jewelry, gold shoes, Green dress, Halston, Halston Heritage, heeled boots, Heeled sandals, Helena Glazer, Hippie, Hollywood style, Holmes & Yang, insect, Italian fashion, Italian Style, Italy, Jackie O Sunglasses, Jade, Jade Cocktail Ring, Jaeger, jewelry, jewelry box, Jewelry Essentials, Jumpsuit, Katie Holmes, key pieces, Late afternoon, Layering, LBD, leather, leather dress, leather skirt, Lee McQueen, Leiby, Leiby Wide Leg Jumpsuit With Belt, Letticia Floral Shorts, Lipsy Playsuit, Little Black Dress, Liz Cherkasova, Los Angeles Fashion, Los Angeles Fashion Blogger, Los Angeles Street Style, M by Missoni, Magazine cover, Matt Jones, McQ, McQ by Alexander McQueen, metallic, metallic sandals, midriff-baring tops, missoni, Mixed Chain Collar Necklace, Monet Enamel Fan Necklace, Monet jewelry, Moschino, Moschino Cheap & Chic, Multi Ring Hoop Earrings, must haves, New Years Eve, New York City Street Style, New York Fashion, New York Style, Noir & Sand Jersey & Silk Jumpsuit, Nonoo, Olivia Palermo, Oliviapalermo.com, orange, oversized clutch, patent leather, Peep-toe booties, playsuit, Pleated Skirt, pleats, poppies, Pre-Fall 2012, Punk, Punk Princess, Pussybow, Real Women Need Real Closets, red, Red Bow Front Patent Pointed Court, Red Bow Front Patent Pointed Court by Moschino Cheap & Chic, red heels, Reiss Lotta, Reiss Lotta BUCKLE SHOE BOOTS, Resort wear, Retro, Rhinestone Cocktail-Party Ring, romper, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco style, Sasha Maks, Sasha Maks Vintage Jewelry, shorts with heels, silk blouse, silver, Silver cuff, Silver jewelry, Silver-tone Wide Ridged Cuff, Sleeveless Silk Blouse, sleevless trench, Snake Bangle, Snakes, stacking, statement necklace, Stiletto Leather Sandals, Strappy Heeled Sandals, strappy sandals, Striped coat, Style, style.com, Stylebop.com, Summer clothes, Summer fashion, Summer styling, sunglasses, Suuna Black Arabella Ladies Sunglasses, Temperly London, The Little Black Dress, The Real Olivia P, Tie blouse, TLo, Tom & Lorenzo, Tom & Lorenzo: Fabulous & Opinionated, Trench coat, Trifari Beaded Ball Drop Earrings, vacation clothes, vacation style, Verona, Verona Street Style, versatile jewelry, versatile pieces, vintage, Vintage Christian Dior, Vintage Coral, Vintage Coral Jewelry, Vintage Dior, vintage gold jewelry, vintage jewelry, Vintage Monet, Vintage silver jewelry, Vivienne Westwood, Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, warm weather clothes, white blouse, White Poppy Blouse by Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, work party | 6 Comments
While florals for Summer aren’t exactly groundbreaking, I thought that this floral shift dress in dark, moody purples was a fun twist on tradition for a hot summer night.

{Floral Dess – Rare from Asos.com, Sunglasses – Christian Dior, Multi-Chain Necklace – Vintage, Bracelets – JewelMint & Sandals – Vintage}

{You can HYPE this look on Lookbook.nu, shop similar pieces on ASOS Fashion Finder, or click the hyperlinks above to shop comparable pieces and visit store websites}

Check out more outtakes from this shoot here (just log into Facebook to view).
I wore this dress while wandering around Sacramento two weekends ago. The temperature was in the triple digits – sigh – but this dress worked quite well for dinner Friday night once the sun went down. And not give away the outtakes or anything, but I was chasing a chicken around this park moments before these pictures were taken… 🙂
What’s your favorite piece of clothing been this Summer? Have you tried any new trends during the season or bought any new pieces that you just can’t get enough of?
Like this:
Like Loading...
July 31, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, MCLV Style | Tags: AK Anne Klein, AK by Anne Klein, Anne Klein, Asos, Asos Fashion Finder, Asos.com, Black Sunglasses, Bohemian, boho, brights, Christian Dior, dark florals, Fair Oaks, Fair Oaks Village, Fashion, Flat sandals, Floral shift, florals, gold jewelry, Hippie, hippie chic, House of Harlow, Jackie O Sunglasses, JewelMint, multi-chain necklace, Neutral sandals, Nicole Richie, Nude sandals, nude shoes, Old Fair Oaks, oversized sunglasses, personal style, purple florals, Rare, Rare Floral Zip Back Shift Dress, Rare from Asos, Retro, retro silhouette, RewardStyle, Sacramento style, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Street Style, Shift dress, Summer clothes, Summer fashion, Summer street Style, Summer style, sunglasses, sunnies, vintage, vintage gold jewelry, Vintage gold necklace, vintage jewelry, Vintage sandals, Warm weather dressing, Winter Kate | 1 Comment
This past weekend was a once in a life time celebration for my family – My baby brother, who happens to be the only male cousin, celebrated his recent engagement. He and his adorable fiance drove (drove!!!) up from Albuquerque for a week in California which ended with three days of non-stop celebrating in San Francisco.
The festivities began Friday night with our longtime tradition, dinner at our favorite North Beach spot, Don Pistos. The chips & salsa are amazing and we always gorge ourselves on them long before the food ever arrives, the tacos and seafood specials never disappoint, and their sangria is top-notch. Which is very important in a restaurant.





Ceviche tacos, carne asada, fried calamari, fish tacos, wine & sangria, and unpictured (eaten too quickly…) veggie tacos for me.

Why do boys never tire of trying to scare you?
After leaving dinner, totally stuffed as always, we walked past Washington Square Park and headed to another fun North Beach spot, the always lively brewery Rogue which has great outdoor tables and a huge beer list.



How cute is my future sister? 🙂

I’m always exhausted on Friday nights, the week always seems to come crashing down on me riiight around 7pm, so I made my life easier and just threw on a little black dress and some killer gold jewelry for our Friday night out.

V-Neck Dress – Mink (from the North Beach boutique Annabella’s), Heeled Sandals – Ralph Lauren, Lariat Necklace – Vendome (from the Sasha Maks Vintage Jewelry Trunk Show), Bracelets – JewelMint & Vintage, and Ring – BCBG {Click on the hyperlinks above to visit sites where you can find similar pieces}
For the main event on Saturday the rest of our family joined us for brunch and bottomless mimosas at a little hole in the wall bar/restaurant in North Beach called Tiernan’s Irish Pub.




And yes, I ate sweet potato fries for brunch. Completely worth it.

Comparing bling with fabulous friends – An important part of any good outing
Most of our extended family departed after brunch wrapped up, so those of us who remained walked over to the beach at Ghirardelli Square for some celebratory bubbly and a toast with a killer view.



Fashion highlight? Realizing Sean had been wearing my little pink running socks from Victoria’s Secret with his new Banana Republic dress shoes all day…

And what did I wear for this fabulous event you ask?
Zara Zara Zara

Striped Blouse – Zara, Royal Blue Shorts – Zara, Shoes – MaddenGirl, and Zebra Print Aviators – Piperlime {You can shop similar pieces on ASOS Style Finder or click on the hyperlinks above to visit websites where you can find similar pieces}
In conclusion, it was an amazing, sentimental, crazy fun weekend, and now I feel like I need to sleep for a week to recover. 🙂
How was your weekend?
Like this:
Like Loading...
July 12, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, Fitness, Food | Tags: animal print, Annabella's, Asos Fashion Finder, Asos.com, Aviator sunglasses, aviators, Bar hopping, Bay Area, BCBG, BCBG Ring, bling, blue & white, blue & white stripes, blue shorts, Bottomless mimosas, bottomlesss mimosas, brunch, Button down, Champagne toast, Coco, Engagement celebration, Engagement Party, engagement ring, Fashion, Fitness, Food, Fort Mason, ghirardelli square, Heeled sandals, Jameson, Jean Vendome, Jean Vendome jewelry, JewelMint, Lariat, LBD, Little Black Dress, Madden Girl, MaddenGirl, Mimosa brunch, Mink, Neutral heels, North Beach, Northern California, Nude heels, paloma picasso, pink socks, Purple heels, Purple shoes, Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Shoes, RewardStyle, Rogue, Rogue Brewery, San Francisco, San Francisco Bay, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco shopping, San Francisco Street Style, Sasha Maks, Sasha Maks Vintage Jewelry, Saturday Brunch, stacking, Striped blouse, Sweet potato fries, The Factory, Tiernan, Tiernan's, Tiernan's Irish Pub, Tiffany's, V-Neck Dress, Vendome, Vendome lariat, veuve clicquot, vintage bracelets, vintage gold jewelry, vintage jewelry, Washington Square Park, Zara, Zara Blouse, Zara shorts, zebra print, zebra print aviators, Zebra print sunglasses, Zipper shorts | 1 Comment
I have to admit that I look forward to family events like a little kid on Christmas Eve, and luckily for me this past weekend was my dear Auntie’s birthday party.
The Queen’s Jubilee celebration if you will.

Oh what a night.

We celebrated with a stylish catered dinner party in her beautiful backyard which turned out to be a mini family reunion with champagne toasts & heartfelt speeches, pink nail polish comparisons, pets, pets, pets. Oh, and an enthusiastic dance party on the patio.



When the camera came out my cousins made jokes about needing to smile and look their best for pictures since they could end up on this blog. They kept shouting “blog” instead of “cheese.”
Gotta love having such an accepting & supportive family!

As it turned out all of the cousins all wore dresses to the event. From left to right: an embroidered cream strapless midi-length dress, a brightly patterned one-shouldered dress belted at the waist, and a sweet purple sundress paired with a white lace jacket.
And pink toenail polish.

Quite the stylish group of ladies if we do say so ourselves. 🙂
I wore a black & white floral Anthropologie top tucked into a black pleated Zara mini skirt, a cropped Aqua blazer, patent leather Oxford booties, and tons of gold necklaces & bracelets.
Do you like to be social over the weekends or just kick back and relax at home? If you enjoy the occasional outing, do you like to get dressed up or take advantage of being away from work to relax your personal style?
Like this:
Like Loading...
June 30, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, Fitness, Food, MCLV Style | Tags: All-black, Anthropologie, Aqua, Basic black, Bay Area, black & white florals, Bloomingdales, Champagne, Champagne toast, Chunky jewelry, chunky necklace, Cream lace coat, cropped blazer, Evening looks, Fashion, Fitness, Food, garden party, layering necklaces, Los Altos, Northern California, one-shouldered dress, Pink Nail Polish, platforms, sandals, stacking bracelets, Steve Madden, strapless sundress, Summer clothes, Summer fashion, Summer Party, sun dress, Toe Nail Polish, Vintage cocktail ring, vintage gold jewelry, warm weather clothes, warm weather fashion, Zara | 2 Comments
Last year I published a post called What NOT To Wear To Work where I discussed, among other things, whether or not a T-shirt could be considered appropriate office attire. Ultimately my conclusion was that while casual graphic and burn-out tees were out of the question unless you work in fashion-forward industries like fashion, music, or film, there were appropriate possibilities out there if you looked hard enough and styled them properly.

To make this type of look work you just need to keep the pieces clean and simple, and go for a thick, well-made shirt in an appropriate cut, color, and silhouette for the occasion.

In this case I went with a royal purple Zara Basics t-shirt with cap-sleeves paired with a basic black pencil skirt, round-toed pumps, and a vintage-inspired gold belt.

Tee – Zara Basics, Pencil Skirt – Zara, Pumps – Franco Sarto, Bracelets – JewelMint, Vintage, & Forever 21, Rings – Vintage, Multi-Strand Gold Necklace – Express, and Retro Gold Belt – BCBG
You can HYPE this look on Lookbook.nu, shop similar pieces on ASOS Style Finder, or click the hyperlinks above for some comparable pieces that you can buy.
And believe me, I’m not the only one who enjoys a good tee. Mixing high and low, like adding a basic shirt into a work or night out look, is an art form practiced by many.

A loosely fitted highlighter colored t-shirt can keep a slouchy black suit from being boring or too business-like.

Old-school denim overalls are perfect for a hot summer day and a little white tee is the perfect finishing touch.

If you’re going to work a layering look nothing beats a basic t-shirt. It’s the perfect building block!

You can even roll up the sleeves of your basic t-shirt to give it a more unique and one-of-a-kind feeling.

What better than a basic white tee to pair with denim cut-offs and a vintage style leopard print coat for a walk on the streets of New York City.

Even high-end designers like Oscar de la Renta can’t help but enjoy a good striped tee.
Source
Are you creative when it comes to building new and fun looks using your favorite tees? What do you think about wearing a T-shirt to work – ya or nay?
Like this:
Like Loading...
June 26, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, MCLV Style | Tags: ABS by Allen Schwartz, ABS by Allen Schwartz Chain-Collar Necklace, American fashion, Anna Sui, Appropriate work attire, Asos Fashion Finder, bag from Chanel, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Lightweight Wool Black Pencil Skirt, basic black pumps, basic pieces, basic white tee, basics, BCBG, BCBG Belt, BCBGeneration, BCBGeneration - Starlight Two Pack Bracelets, BCBGirls, Bohemian, boho, brights, business casual, Carolines Mode, corporate fashion, corporate style, cropped jeans, Cropped Pants, cuffed pants, cuffed skinny jeans, cut off shorts, denim overalls, denim romper, dressing appropriately, Express, Fashion Salade, Fashion Vibe, FashionVibe, faux fur coat, faux leather, Forever 21, Franco Sarto, Franco Sarto Cicero High Pumps, Gap, Gap Pure Pocket V Shirt, Gold Sparkle Belt, H&M, Hippie, hippie chic, House of Harlow, House of Harlow Sunburst Cocktail Ring in Black Leather, jean shorts, JewelMint, Layering, layering basics, leather skirt, leopard print, Lookbook.nu, LovelyPepa, Mango, Mini skirt, neon t-shirt, neons, New York City, New York Street Style, Nicole Richie, nude platforms, nude wedges, office clothes, Office fashion, Office style, Olivia Palermo, olivia palermo style, Oscar de la Renta, Oscar PR Girl, overalls, Pencil skirt, Pocket T, purple, Retro, retro belt buckle, rolled sleeves, rolling sleeves, romper, round-toed pumps, royal purple, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco style, shirt, shoes from Celine and bracelet from Efva Ettling, Shop the Look, short-sleeved shirt, skinny jeans, slim pants, Spanish fashion, Spanish retailers, Spanish style, Street style, Summer clothes, Summer style, T-shirt, tee, tee from Gina Tricot, The Big Apple, The Real Olivia P, vintage, vintage belt, Vintage cocktail ring, Vintage denim romper, vintage gold jewelry, vintage sapphire ring, Vintage-inspired belt, vintage-style coat, warm weather clothes, warm weather style, What Do I Wear?, what not to wear to work, What to wear to work, white t-shirt, Winter Kate, work, work clothes, work fashionw, work style, Workwear, workwear basics, Yellow t-shirt, Zara, Zara Basics, zip-up skirt | 2 Comments
Happy – it’s almost the end of the week – Thursday! To celebrate I’d like to share some of my recent looks so that I can show how hard I’m working to meet my June fashion goals.
I have to confess, one of my favorite parts about having a stand-up desk at work is that I can wear pleated skirts to the office without having to worry about the pleats getting squished by sitting on them all day!
It’s the little things in life. 🙂





Skirt – Vince Camuto from Bloomingdale’s, Wide-strap tank – Zara, Cardigan – H&M, Mary Jane’s – Merona from Target, Rings – JewelMint, Vintage & Juicy Couture, and Watch – Vintage
You can HYPE this look on Lookbook.nu or shop similar pieces on ASOS Style Finder or by clicking the hyperlinks in the outfit breakdown above.
When I saw this skirt I knew that it was going to be mine, I loved both the stripes and the pleats. It’s also a fun length, almost like a cheerleader skirt (which I’ve never worn.,I swear). This whole look was inspired by the brightly colored, stripe-filled Jason Wu for Target Collection. And my love of stripes, of course.

Source
I also recently made my first peplum attempt of the season. I’ve seen so many cute variations of this trend lately – from simple peplum tops to fun & wild peplum dresses – and I wanted to give it a try as well.

Source
Liz from Late Afternoon has a fabulous and one-of-a-kind style, she frequently appears in my Looks of the Week posts, and I took her peplum outfit above as the inspiration for the look that I put together below.





Floral Dress – Vintage from Belle Cose, Peplum top – Zara, Patent (faux) Leather Oxford Booties – Wild Diva, Necklace – Express, Rings – JewelMint, Vintage & Juicy Couture, and Bracelets – JewelMint & Forever 21
In these photos is doesn’t appear that my body type is ideal for the peplum trend, but I decided that it was just the silhouette of the dress I’d chosen to wear under the peplum top. Besides, as far as I’m concerned the highlight of this look is the jewelry anyway. The finger-length floral ring is a recent acquisition from JewelMint and I’m madly madly in love.
Peplum Attempt Take II




Peplum Top – Zara, Pencil Skirt – Zara, Black & White Jacket – Zara, Round Toe Pumps – Very Volatile, Tweed Handbag – Kate Spade, Necklace – Asos, and Rings & Bracelets – JewelMint, Vintage, Forever 21 & BCBG
You can HYPE these looks on Lookbook.nu or shop similar pieces on ASOS Style Finder or by clicking the hyperlinks in the outfit breakdown above.
“I’m a Zara girl, in a Zara world…” I was definitely singing Barbie Girl in my head all morning. 🙂 The pencil skirt did a much better job of complementing the volume of the peplum top than the floral dress that I chose the first day. I’m glad that I gave this another try and didn’t give up after the first attempt was a disappointment!
What do you guys think? Are you willing to try interesting new trends each season? Or do you prefer to stick to your tried-and-true personal style?
A special thank you to my friend Liz for her help with these pictures, I’m an awful subject because I’m so uncomfortable in front of the camera, and I appreciate her never-ending patience with me!
Like this:
Like Loading...
June 14, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, MCLV Style | Tags: 2012 Campaigns, 2013 Resort Collections, 50's inspired, 50's silhouette, 50's style, a little peplum does the trick, Asos, Asos Fashion Finder, Asos.com, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Ana Cardigan, Basic Peplum Top, BCBG, BCBGeneration, BCBGirls, Belle Cose, Black, black & white florals, Bloomindale's, Bloomingdales, Bohemian, boho, Braided hair, Carribean Stripe Skirt, Chanel-style pumps, Colorblock shoes, Cuff watch, Designer collaberation, Express, Fashion show, Fashion Week, Forever 21, Gap, GO International, Gold Plated Cuff Bracelet Watch, H&M, Hippie, hippie chic, Jason Wu, Jason Wu for Target Collection, Jason Wu for Target Collection Lookbook, Jason Wu Resort 2013 Collection, JewelMint, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Kate Spade Handbag, lace-up booties, ladylike handbag, Late afternoon, Liz Cherkasova, Longchamp, Longchamp le Pliage, Longchamp Luggage, Lookbook.nu, MAISON SCOTCH, Mango, Marni, Mary Jane's, Merona, Merona Mary Jane's, Mini skirt, Miss Selfridge, Molte Cose, Moschino Cheap and Chic, Mossimo, Mossimo Vena Patent Mary Jane Platform Pump, nylon bag, Office-appropriate, office-appropriate clothing, Oxford booties, patent leather booties, Pencil skirt, Peplum, Peplum top, Pleated mini, Pleated Skirt, pleats, red, Red & blue, Retro, RewardStyle, Roberto Cavalli, Round Toe Pumps, Runway Shows, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco shopping, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco style, San Francisco vintage shops, Seamless Black Tank Top, shopping online, stacking bracelets, Stacking Rings, Star scarf, stars, Striped collection, Striped mini, Striped skirt, Stripes, Style Tryst, style.com, Summer clothes, summer wear, Targe, Target, TopShop, Tweed Handbag, Very Volatile, Vince Camuto, Vince Camuto 'Caribbean Stripe' Skirt, vintage, Vintage dress, Vintage Gold Bracelets, vintage gold jewelry, vintage jewelry, Vintage watch, Wannabe Wu, Want And Afford, wantandafford.com, warm weather clothes, white & blue, Wild Diva, work clothes, work updo, Workwear, Zara, Zara Basics, Zara Pencil Skirt, Zara Peplum Top, Zara Skirt | 5 Comments
You had me at vintage jewelry…

Amirite?

I’ve mentioned The Factory in the past, I attended an opening last spring where I purchased one of my all time favorite coats, and I also joined them to celebrated the April Howard Capsule Collection this past December.

The setting is great – an airy, brick-walled loft space in SOMA, and this past Thursday it was once again crammed to the rafters with beautiful clothes. And swoon worthy jewelry.

{Oh, there were people there too. I think. I was busy.}

A special trunk show featuring Sasha Maks Vintage jewelry and all designs featured June 24th in Dior: A Life in Pictures. Shop the unique vintage costume jewelry collection that includes the best of 20th century designs by Dior, Chanel, Schiaparelli, Lanvin and a myriad of unsigned statement pieces.
Unfortunately I had been unable to attend the June 24th Christian Dior exhibit so this was a great chance to catch up on a few of the designs that I missed out on earlier. Beautiful clothing, vintage magazines and photographs, and a phenomenal layout.
I walked down to SOMA to photograph the event and browse the trunk show. And what does a girl wear to a trunk show?

{You can shop similar pieces by clicking these hyperlinks: Striped Pocket Sweater – Everyly via the seriously adorable North Beach boutique Annabella’s, Pleated Black Mini – Zara & Studded Peep-Toe Booties – Vince Camuto}

{Black & white + vintage jewelry, of course!}
After admiring the eye-candy and taking pictures, I dove head-first into the gorgeous collection of jewelry. I tried on Chanel charm bracelets, costume jewelry earrings, animal cuffs, giant enamel pendants… And then I was lucky enough to stumble upon a phenomenal tassel adorned lariat necklace designed by Jean Vendome.

It was love at first sight!
I couldn’t wait to take it for a spin so I threw together an outfit on Friday so that I would have an excuse to wear it immediately. I wanted something simple so that the drama of the necklace would be the central part of the look.

{You can shop similar pieces by clicking these hyperlinks: Maxi Dress – BCBGeneration, Nude Sandals – Vintage, Wrap Ring – JewelMint, Gold Wrap Bracelet – Forever 21 & Necklace – Vendome}
You can even check out my new necklace in this Elle Girl Japan editorial below.

Do you like to wear vintage jewelry? What’s your favorite vintage piece that you’ve collected over the years?
Like this:
Like Loading...
June 12, 2012 | Categories: Fashion | Tags: 2010 New York Fashion Week, Animal bracelets, Animal head bracelets, ankle boots, Ankle strap heels, Ankle straps, Annabella's, Anthropologie, anti-sweat shop, April Howard, April Howard Capsule Collection, BCBG, BCBGeneration, BCBGirls, black & white florals, Black pleated mini skirt, blazer, Blogger, Blogger fashion, Blogger Street Style, Blogger Streetstyle, blogger style, Bohemian, bohemian chic, boho, boho chic, booties, boots, California fashion, Capsule, capsule collection, casual summer, Chanel, Christian Dior, Christian Dior jewelry, Christmas gift, Christmas present, classic fashion, classic vintage fashion, cocktail shift dress, CODE Salon, colorful jewelry, colorful vintage jewelry, Corocraft, Designer April Howard, Dior, Elephant, Elephant Necklace, elephant pendant, Elle Girl, Elle Girl Japan, Evans Group, Everyly, Factory Fashion Mixer, Factory Girl, Fall 2012, Fall 2012 Accessories, Fall 2012 clothes, Fall 2012 Clothing, Fall 2012 Coats, Fall 2012 Collection, Fall 2012 essentials, Fall 2012 Fashion, Fall 2012 Jackets, Fall 2012 Must Haves, Fall 2012 necessities, Fall 2012 Outerwear, Fall 2012 RTW, Fall 2012 Style, Fall 2012 Trends, Fall accessories, Fall clothes, Fall Clothing, fall coats, Fall Essentials, Fall Fashion, Fall jackets, Fall Must Haves, Fall Necessities, Fall outerwear, Fall separates, Fall Shopping, Fall Shopping Guide, Fall skirt, Fall skirts, Fall Street Style, Fall Streetstyle, Fall Style, Fall styles, Fall Styling, Fall trends, Fashion, Fashion Blogger, Fashion Blogger Fashion, Fashion Blogger Street Style, Fashion Blogger Streetstyle, Fashion Blogger Style, fashion collaberations, Fashion event, fashion gifts, fashion jewelry, Fashion Mixer, Fashion party, Fashion show, fashion sketches, Fashion Week, Floral blazer, floral tank, Floral top, Forever 21, French designers, Gift certificate, Gift guide, gifts, girls night out, Gold, gold jewelry, Gold lariat, gold necklace, high-neck cocktail dress, Hippie, hippie chic, Holiday gifts, Holiday present, holiday recipes, hot summer night, Jack Evans, Jean Vendome, Jean Vendome jewelry, Jean Vendome lariat, Jennifer Evans, JewelMint, jewelry, Jewelry Trunk Show, Lanvin, Lariat, LBD, Little Black Dress, local designer, local designers, Local seamstresses, loft space, long sleeved cocktail dress, Lookbook.nu, low boots, Market, Marketplace, Marrakech, Marrakesh, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Mini skirt, Models, Moroccan, Moroccan market, Morocco, multi colored jewelry, multicolored jewelry, nighttime fashion, North Beach shopping, NYFW, Oh Land Music, OhLandMusic, Old school glamour, pearls, Peep toe, Peep-toe booties, peep-toe heels, Piperlime, Pleated mini, pleated mini skirt, Pleated Skirt, pleats, pose, Pre-Fashion Week, Present giving, Presents, Rebecca Minkoff, Rebecca Minkoff booties, red hair, redhead, Retro, retro-inspired, Saint Laurent, Saint Laurent Paris, San Francisco, San Francisco Blogger, San Francisco boutique, San Francisco designers, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco made clothing, san francisco manufacturing, San Francisco shopping, San Francisco SOMA, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco Streetstyle, San Francisco style, San Francisco Vintage, Sasha Maks, Sasha Maks Vintage, Sasha Maks Vintage Jewelry, Sasha Maks Vintage Jewelry Trunk Show, Schiaparelli, Secret Santa, Secret Santa Gift, September, Seventeen magazine, SF, SF Blogger, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF Shopping, SF SOMA, SF Street Style, SF Streetstyle, SF Style, SF Vintage, Shift dress, snake bracelet, snake jewelry, SOMA, SOMA salon, SOMA San Francisco, SOMA SF, South of Market, Spring 2012, Street style, Streetstyle, Stripes, Style, Styling, Summer blazer, Summer clothes, Summer clothing, Summer fashion, Summer nights, Summer style, summer trends, tassle, tassle necklace, The Bristol Observer, The Evans Group, The Factory, The Factory Group, The Factory Label, throw back, Tinley Road, Tinley Road Blazer, Tinley Road Floral Blazer, trunk show, Vendome, Vendome jewelry, Vendome lariat, Vendome necklace, Vince Camuto, vintage, Vintage Animal Jewelry, Vintage Christian Dior, Vintage designer jewelry, Vintage elephant necklace, vintage fashion, vintage French jewelry, vintage gold, vintage gold jewelry, Vintage gold necklace, Vintage inspired, vintage inspired fashion, vintage jewelry, Vintage jewelry trunk show, vintage necklace, vintage pearls, Vintage sandals, vintage shift, vintage shift dress, Washington Square Park Shopping, WWD, YSL, Yves Saint Laurent, Zara, Zara Basics, Zara heels, Zara Skirt | 10 Comments

Welcome back to another MCLV personal style post, I hope you enjoy these shots of some of my daily looks and of the place where the magic happens – cue the dramatic, swelling music…




I’m not going to lie, this walk in closet – along with two hall closets – was about 75% of the reason that I picked this apartment. A girl’s gotta be able to spread out. Purses need their air.

Dress: Zara, Pumps: Franco Sarto & Jewelry: Vintage


Sometimes polka dots are really the only option! 🙂 I love this mini to death, it’s fun and flirty, but the long-sleeves make it appropriate enough to wear all day long. Perfect for errands and lounging after work!

Shirt: Zara, Jeans: Juicy, Jewelry: JewelMint & Rachel Roy and Shoes: Asos.com



Clearly I love stripes just as much as I love my polka dots. Definitely couldn’t pick between the two. Sophie’s choice!
And those shoes… I was trying to find the perfect shoes to wear to an upcoming wedding and since the bride-to-be is one of the coolest chicks ever and the wedding is going to be a ridiculously good time, I thought something fun like polka dots would be perfectly appropriate. Then they arrived and I KNEW, I just knew. They were destined for this wedding. Destined I tell you.
So now I’m just breaking them in. Promise.

Dress: Zara, Shoes: Very Volatile, Tights: DKNY, and Belt: BCBG

Typical work look for me, a dress in a flattering silhouette paired with pumps,and accessories. It’s the shoes, belts, headbands, scarves, and jewelry that’s the fun part for me – I like playing with the extras and adding them to my classic basics.

Dress: Vintage, Coat: Unknown (bought it in Rome years ago) & Shoes: BCBG

Chanel pendant, Manila pearls, JewelMint, Tiffany’s & Express
I frequently tend towards solid colors, but some days I really crave color. And patterns. This look is a double whammy – A colorful, floral patterned vintage dress with a traditional looking black & white plaid coat.

Dress: Banana Republic & Shoes: Franco Sarto

Pendant: JewelMint, Leaf necklace: Vintage & Ring: Rachel Roy
I love wrap dresses – from H&M to Zara to Diane Von Furstenberg. I have a couple of these faux wrap dresses from Banana Republic in different colors and patterns. They’re comfortable, flattering, and perfect to throw on during a hectic morning when you don’t have time to put mix and match separates.
Along with my personal style snaps I wanted to share with you a new obsession that is just too juicy not to spill – Emm Kuo accessories. These handbags are just divine, I adore the classic, structured styles and the versatile but unique and one-of-a-kind colors, fabrics, and patterns. From dramatic shoulder bags to the perfect day bag to envelope clutches for every possible occasion – they’ve got you covered.
Enjoy the bag porn!





You’re welcome!

Interested in my personal rules on business wear? Check out What NOT To Wear To Work.
Like this:
Like Loading...
April 25, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, MCLV Style | Tags: Asos, Asos.com, Banana Republic, BCBG, BCBGeneration, BCBGirls, Blogger fashion, business casual workwear, Chanel, Diane Von Furstenberg, DKNY, Emm Kuo, Emmaline Kuo Ranzman, Emmaline Ranzman, Express, Forever 21, Franto Sarto, gold accents, H&M, handbags, high end bags, Italian fashion, JewelMint, Juicy Couture, Manila pearls, Rachel by Rachel Roy, Rachel Roy jewelry, Rome, Street style, Tiffany's, Very Volatile, vintage, vintage gold jewelry, what not to wear to work, What to wear to work, work heels, Wrap dresses, Zara | 2 Comments
While I originally strove for the impossible here – i.e. decent looking self portraits – I decided to give this another attempt this past week. I’ve been having a lot of fun with my fashion choices lately and wanted to share it with you guys as best I can.

Pocket tunic - Express, Pants - DKNY, Sweater - Banana Republic, Boots - Can't remember & Jewelry - Vintage (Belle Cose)
A tunic over slim pants is one of my favorite silhouettes and I adore layering vintage gold jewelry so I really love this type of look. These boots, that I got years and years ago, are my current favorites – I like the thick heel because they’re incredibly comfortable, while the buckles give them a bit of a rock n’ roll feel.

Dress - BCBG, Jewelry- JewelMint & Vintage, Wristlet - Mango & Shoes - MaddenGirl
This colors in this dress are perfect for Spring while the subtle pattern is fresh and eye-catching. Styling it is fun because of the different ways that you can go – In January I went with a bright red coat, tights, and black pumps during the 10 Day Style Challenge. These new MaddenGirl shoes are really comfortable and I’m absolutely mad about them right now.

I always feel like Inspector Gadget when I wear bucket hats! 🙂

Coat - H&M, Booties - BCBG, Jewelry - Tiffany's & Hat - GAP
A belted jacket is such a great, classic look when its chilly out. No matter the occasion, day or night, a great coat can finish your look. It gives your outfit an overall air of polish.

Skirt - Zara, Tank - Anthropology, Booties - Max Studio & Bag - Givenchy
I love pleated skirts and excitedly picked up three for this Spring season. This black one is incredibly versatile, it can be worn with tights and boots when its colder out or with sandals and a tank during warmer weather.
Unfortunately we’re still suffering through day after day of rain here in San Francisco, so despite my desire to pull out all of my Spring clothes I’m still very much in winter mode from a wardrobe standpoint.
Have you switched to your Spring clothes & accessories yet?
Like this:
Like Loading...
March 27, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, MCLV Style | Tags: 10 Day Style Challenge, Anthropology, Banan Republc, BCBG, Belle Cose, DKNY, Express, Freckles In April, Gap, Givenchy, H&M, JewelMint, MaddenGirl, Mango, Max Studio, San Francisco Fashion, Self portraits, Spring 2012, Spring fashion, Street style, Tiffany's, vintage gold jewelry, Zara | 5 Comments
Have you ever seen the bolts of fabric that are used to make the clothes that you love? Or gotten a chance to look through the black & white sketches that become your favorite pieces? Or sorted through the jars of buttons that will be sewn onto your favorite coat? A dear friend has given me the unique opportunity to witness this initial stage of the clothes making process as he works with the talented Jennifer Evans of the The Evans Group.
But, what do you do when the clothes are made? You celebrate of course! And to celebrate The Factory and CODE Salon hosted a cocktail party to show off their new collection in collaboration with April Howard.
Debuting in 2010 during New York Fashion Week at the Lincoln Center, April Howard earned praise from national press including WWD, Seventeen, and The Bristol Observer.
“My organic shapes and details are representative of discarded items, melting plastic, and rubber found around us in these urban wastelands we find ourselves in,” Howard says of her aesthetic.

So what’s a girl who loves fashion to do when she receives an invitation like this one? She gets all dressed up, finds a taxi, and drags her extremely accommodating boyfriend to SOMA for some eye candy.
Oh, and she takes LOTS of pictures.




{I mean… Gorgeous clothes, a chic salon, beautiful models and vino? I’m there!}




The clothes from April Howard’s collection of original pieces under The Factory label were phenomenal {seen above in sketches & photographs} and the young ladies modeling them were stunning. The Factory is on the ground floor and filled to the brim with sewing machines, dressmaking mannequins, and rack upon rack of clothing. While the second floor of the building is occupied by CODE Salon, a cool SOMA loft space that last night was filled with models, make up artists, hairdressers, photographers, patrons, and one hardworking DJ.

Overall it was quite an evening. As a fashion lover I can say that I was not disappointed by my first chance to get up close and personal with the photographing of a collection. A big thank you to The Factory and CODE Salon for including me last night!
{You can see my initial post about The Factory here if you’d like any additional background}
Like this:
Like Loading...
December 9, 2011 | Categories: Fashion | Tags: 2010 New York Fashion Week, Animal bracelets, Animal head bracelets, ankle boots, Ankle strap heels, Ankle straps, Anthropologie, anti-sweat shop, April Howard, April Howard Capsule Collection, black & white florals, blazer, Blogger, Blogger fashion, Blogger Street Style, Blogger Streetstyle, blogger style, Bohemian, bohemian chic, boho, boho chic, booties, boots, California fashion, Capsule, capsule collection, casual summer, Christmas gift, Christmas present, cocktail shift dress, CODE Salon, colorful jewelry, colorful vintage jewelry, Designer April Howard, Elephant, Elephant Necklace, elephant pendant, Evans Group, Factory Fashion Mixer, Factory Girl, Fall 2012, Fall 2012 Accessories, Fall 2012 clothes, Fall 2012 Clothing, Fall 2012 Coats, Fall 2012 Collection, Fall 2012 essentials, Fall 2012 Fashion, Fall 2012 Jackets, Fall 2012 Must Haves, Fall 2012 necessities, Fall 2012 Outerwear, Fall 2012 RTW, Fall 2012 Style, Fall 2012 Trends, Fall accessories, Fall clothes, Fall Clothing, fall coats, Fall Essentials, Fall Fashion, Fall jackets, Fall Must Haves, Fall Necessities, Fall outerwear, Fall separates, Fall Shopping, Fall Shopping Guide, Fall skirt, Fall skirts, Fall Street Style, Fall Streetstyle, Fall Style, Fall styles, Fall Styling, Fall trends, Fashion, Fashion Blogger, Fashion Blogger Fashion, Fashion Blogger Street Style, Fashion Blogger Streetstyle, Fashion Blogger Style, fashion collaberations, fashion gifts, Fashion Mixer, Fashion party, Fashion show, Fashion Week, Floral blazer, floral tank, Floral top, Gift certificate, Gift guide, gifts, girls night out, Gold, gold jewelry, gold necklace, high-neck cocktail dress, Hippie, hippie chic, Holiday gifts, Holiday present, holiday recipes, hot summer night, Jack Evans, Jennifer Evans, jewelry, Jewelry Trunk Show, LBD, Little Black Dress, local designer, local designers, Local seamstresses, loft space, long sleeved cocktail dress, Lookbook.nu, low boots, Market, Marketplace, Marrakech, Marrakesh, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Models, Moroccan, multi colored jewelry, multicolored jewelry, nighttime fashion, NYFW, Old school glamour, pearls, Piperlime, Pleated mini, pleated mini skirt, Pleated Skirt, pose, Pre-Fashion Week, Rebecca Minkoff, Rebecca Minkoff booties, red hair, redhead, Retro, retro-inspired, San Francisco, San Francisco designers, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco made clothing, san francisco manufacturing, San Francisco SOMA, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco Streetstyle, San Francisco style, Sasha Maks, Sasha Maks Vintage, Sasha Maks Vintage Jewelry, September, Seventeen magazine, SF, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF SOMA, SF Street Style, SF Streetstyle, SF Style, SOMA, SOMA salon, SOMA San Francisco, SOMA SF, South of Market, Spring 2012, Street style, Streetstyle, Style, Summer blazer, Summer clothes, Summer clothing, Summer fashion, Summer nights, Summer style, summer trends, The Bristol Observer, The Evans Group, The Factory, The Factory Group, throw back, Tinley Road, Tinley Road Blazer, Tinley Road Floral Blazer, vintage, Vintage Animal Jewelry, vintage gold, vintage gold jewelry, Vintage inspired, vintage jewelry, vintage pearls, WWD, Zara, Zara Basics, Zara Skirt | 2 Comments
Fashion isn’t just about what you wear, what goes on your body. It’s truly an expression of yourself that extends far beyond your clothes.
“Fashion is everything. Art, music, furniture design, graphic design, hair, makeup, architecture, the way cars look – all those things go together to make a moment in time.” – Tom Ford
And just as fashion isn’t limited to the cloth that we wrap ourselves in, inspiration can also be found in many forms.

I began clipping pictures from magazines as a pre-adolescent, not so much fashion photos, just pictures that caught my eye, things that I found eye-catching or memorable or mesmerizing.

As I became interested in fashion however, my clipping habits became more focused. And while I don’t confine myself to photographs of clothing and accessories, I’ve found that my love of fashion gives this activity more direction and purpose. I’ve found that even without context, pictures can serve a creative function.
They excite. They encourage. They inspire.

The beauty and artistry captured by a photographer can be moving, regardless of the medium. Advertisements, promotional materials, editorials, art, home decor…



I’ve found that by keeping these images available to myself I can stay out of a fashion rut. They provide new ideas and inspiration, get my creative juices flowing, and motivate me to grow and evolved. I highly recommend creating and maintaining a Look Book, a collection of images that make you smile, that invigorate you, that make you push your boundaries.
Whether it’s a physical book filled with clippings like mine are, or Boards on Pinterest, this is a great creative and inspirational outlet. Keeping pictures of looks that you like, styles that call to you, photos that take your breath away, can all be great tools to keep your approach to fashion fresh and interesting.
What’s your favorite way to get inspired?
Like this:
Like Loading...
June 27, 2011 | Categories: Fashion | Tags: accessories, advertisements, adverts, Ali Larter, Amy Adams, Ashley Olsen, bag, beauty, Birkin Bag, blazer, Bohemian, boho, boho chic, Burberry, Burberry Prorsum, Celebrity fashion, celebrity style, Chanel, Chanel bag, Chanel beauty, Chanel beauty products, Chanel bracelet, Chanel perfume, Coat, Coco Chanel, Coco Madmoiselle, corporate fashion, corporate style, cropped blazer, designer, Dolce & Gabbana, editorials, elbow-length gloves, Elle, Elle UK, Fashion, fashion advertisements, Fashion inspiration, Fashion Magazine, fashion model, Fashion photos, Flats, Hair, hairstyles, handbag, harper's bazaar, Harper's Bazaar UK, heels, Hermes, Hermes Birkin, Hippie, hippie chic, inspiration, InStyle, jacket, jane birkin, Karl, Karl Lagerfeld, Karlie Kloss, Kate Hudson, Kate Moss, Layering, Lily Donaldson, look book, Lookbook, Louis Vuitton, Louis Vuitton bag, Louis Vuitton duffle, Louis Vuitton Trunks, magazine, magazine clippings, Magdalena Frackowiak, makeover, makeup, Makeup routine, Margarite Missoni, Mary-Kate & Ashley, Mary-Kate Olsen, military inspired, missoni, Model fashion, Model Style, Models, models adverts, Nicole Kidman, office clothes, Office fashion, opera length gloves, outerwear, oversized bag, Paris, pearl collar, pearl necklace, pearl necklaces, pearls, Poppy Delevingne, Purse, Rachel Zoe, red hair, redhead, reese witherspoon, Retro, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco shopping, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco style, Sasha Pivovarova, scarves, Seine, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF Shopping, SF Street Style, SF Style, stacking, Street style, Style, Stylist, The Seine, Updo, vintage, vintage clothes, vintage gold jewelry, Vintage inspired, vintage jewelry, Vintage style, Vintage trunks, Visual inspiration, Vogue, Vogue UK, work clothes, work fashion, Workwear | 4 Comments
While every girl needs to get her hands on the basics (Real Girls Need Real Closets), sometimes its the extras that really make an outfit pop.

Case in point – Eva has a stunning figure and looked sublime in this white Dior gown, but she would not have been the talk of the town without all of her gorgeous turquoise jewelry
And while, tragically, the Golden Globes isn’t on the docket for most of us, a girl can always use some standout accessories so she makes a splash on her own personal red carpet. Jewelry 
As much as I love those little blue bags at Tiffany’s, I have to confess that I’m a huge devotee of vintage and vintage-inspired jewelry. Must be the romantic in me. I like that the pieces have history, that someone has loved them, that they’re unique and one of a kind. Gold, silver, real, costume… You name it, I love it! I have some gorgeous pieces handed down to me from my mom’s side of the family, mostly gold, and I’ve been scouring vintage shops in San Francisco for years. 

Scarves/Pashminas 
If you’ve spent any time in San Francisco you know that the weather is schizophrenic to say the least. In a city where it can go from foggy to sunny to pouring rain in the span of three hours, a pashmina is a girl’s best friend. I usually have one in my purse, one at my desk, and I never travel without one (perfect if you want to avoid scratchy airplane blankets when you fly!) 
I picked up this habit living in Italy, and like French women, Italians adore their scarves. You can wear them draped over your shoulders, looped multiple times around your neck, across your neck and hanging down in back, even twisted around the handle of your purse. Gloves 
My glove obsession is probably the result of my mother raising me on Hitchcock movies. I’ve loved Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and the rest of their contemporaries as long as I can remember. In fact, for my fifth grade wax museum I dressed up as Grace Kelly. What can I say, why would I want to be Amelia Earhart when I can wear a tiara? Driving gloves, opera length, (faux) leather, cropped, mittens, animal prints… One of my favorite and oh-so-Hitchockian ways to wear long gloves is with a boxy jacket that has 3/4 length sleeves so you can see a good portion of the glove. Add a bracelet over the glove and ta-da! 
Hats While I’m not personally much of a hat wearer, I do believe that a hat can add an extra kick to an outfit. Finding the perfect hat to suit your face shape and your outfit may be a bit of a challenge, but worth the effort if you can get it right. 
Showing us just how to pull one off, even if you’re enjoying balmy Southern California weather, I present one of my best friends, Jacqueline Koob. Unique clutch In addition to the compulsory black clutch that can be paired with anything, it’s a good idea to have a stand-out clutch to spice up an all black ensemble. 
This one is a no-name vintage clutch that my grandmother gave me. I carried it last year when I went to the San Francisco Symphony Gala and it was the perfect final touch for a sleek, classic look. 
My friend Nathaniel and I in grown-up prom mode. 🙂 The look would have been very simplistic without the fun clutch and earrings, so keep that in mind when you’re putting together a monochromatic ensemble, accessories can take it from ho-hum to wow. 
Happy hunting!
Like this:
Like Loading...
April 20, 2011 | Categories: Fashion, MCLV Style | Tags: accessories, audrey hepburn, BCBG, BCBG gown, BCBGeneration, BCBGirls, Black gown, Bloomingdales, bright accessories, California fashion, classic, classic accessories, classic handbag, classic scarves, Club Monaco, Clutch, costume jewelry, cropped gloves, Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend, driving gloves, estate jewelry, Eva Mendes, Eva Mendes red carpet gown, Forever 21, formal gown, fun accessories, gloves, gold jewelry, gold rings, Golden Globes, Golden Globes red carpet, Grace Kelly, H&M, handbag, Hat, head scarves, heirlooms, how to wear a hat, Jacqueline Koob, jewelry box, Koobtron, ladylike bag, Mango, Marilyn Monroe, Neiman Marcus, Net-A-Porter, neutral clutch, neutral handbag, old school, opera length gloves, Oscar gowns, pashmina, Red Carpet, Red Carpet fashion, red carpet style, Saks Fifth Avenue, San Diego fashion, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Symphony Gala, scarves, seasonal purse, SF Symphony Gala, shopbop, Shopbop.com, Symphony, tiered gown, torquoise jewelry, traditional, trendy handbag, trendy hats, trendy purse, vintage clutch, vintage costume jewelry, vintage gold jewelry, vintage handbag, vintage jewelry, vintage ring, Wearing hats, white gown, Zara | 8 Comments