I went to Melrose the other day for the first time in a long time. (I have not excuse, living so close, but I just HATE finding parking!!) I happened upon Joyrich and was astounded by their new collaboration with Gerlan Jeans! I’m in loooovvveee!! If they had my size, I would’ve shelled out the moolah for a pencil print dress! (So I guess it’s good they didn’t have my size? haha) Across the street is a great store called Wild Style that Joyrich opened at the end of last year. It’s like a giant store of my dream closet! Super funky and crazy clothes that most people wouldn’t dare wear. This outfit today is slightly inspired by this funky style, although it’d definitely not even close to being completely bizarre.

Neon Yellow Mesh Crop Top from & Thigh High Socks American Apparel | Red Beanie & Patterned Shorts from Japan | Plaid Jeffrey Campbell Wedges from Ashbury Skies | Necklaces from Number A & Topshop

My amazing, wonderful, beautiful, kind, and… did I say amazing—boyfriend gave me a Topshop shopping spree for my birthday last weekend. (In case you don’t follow me on instagram, here’s the pic I took of my celebration with my BFFs) Because of that, and also because Topshop is having a sort of amazing sale right now, I finally realized my dream of owning this full crop top + skirt set. I don’t know why but I love being matchy matchy with these sets, and yes it’s somehow different than if this was a full on dress. I also got the amazing UNIF cross trainers  which were heavily discounted by a stroke of luck! But anyway, it’s a hot 91 degrees Fahrenheit in LA right now and I’m wishing it away!

Alphabet/Number Crop Top & Skirt from Topshop | Metallic UNIF Cross Trainers from Karmaloop | Bracelet turned Choker from H&M

I am so horrible! I left for my three month European backpacking trip without another word since Christmas! I’m terribly sorry but things happened so fast and there was so much work and packing to be done. Since I last blogged, I have been (unfashionably) backpacking through Europe: It started with 3 week trip through all of Ireland, then one week in each of the following cities…Scotland (Glasgow, Sterling, Edinburgh), London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, and now Budapest! It’s been quite the adventure and I feel so blessed to be doing it! Only three more weeks left of my trip until I have to face reality again! My next destination is a surprise though, it was sort of on a whim and I’m EXTREMELY excited to go!

But since I’ve literally been backpacking, I didn’t have any outfits to share… but I couldn’t help myself in London as well as getting a few things here and there at vintage shops through Europe. I ended up buying an extra luggage bag to hold what “little” treasures I would allow myself. ;)

Finally it’s warm enough to wear some of them! Budapest feels amazing in 55 degree weather! I never thought a native Southern Californian like me could think that 55 degrees would feel like sunbathing weather but it really has come to that after weeks of 20 - 35 degrees. But I can’t complain cause I quite love cold weather! Basically everything I’m wearing is from Topshop, hahaha. I know it’s kind of stupid of me to be so excited about Topshop in London when one literally opened up in Los Angeles in February. But I wasn’t there for the opening and oh my goodness have you seen the flagship store in London?!?!?!?!?! I think I could spend my whole life in there. I got lost quite a few times in that maze of a store!

So yeah, nothing fancy, just plain old black and white love! Hopefully I’ll be able to blog again soon but I never know! Usually I’m out wearing my ugly ole tennis shoes since walking in anything else is hell for my feet! haha

Oh, did I mention I got a haircut before my trip too?!?!! I don’t know if I like it or not. I do quite miss my long hair although I haven’t had un-dyed hair in years so it’s quite a nice change! 

I wanted to get something from Ragged Priest but only settled on a beanie, haha. I’m still going to covet it though!

^ Couldn’t help but get some POW! socks hehe. Shoes from Zara! I love loafers!

^ had to throw in a picture of me with the River Danube in the background. And the super beautiful Parliament building! Budapest is so beautiful!

Until next time (which is hopefully soon~!)

Ragged Priest Beanie, Checkered Sweater, Black and White Pant/Leggings, POW! socks all from Topshop | Loafers from Zara | Scarf from Urban Outfitters

Faux fur coats of all different colors are my newest obsession. I wish I could bring them all on my trip since I know I’ll be freezing my butt of in Europe! Boy did I take advantage of Nasty Gal’s Cyber Monday Sale with this coat… I think it’s my favorite coat as of today! I feel like I belong in the Rock of Ages in it (in a good way, haha!) I wanted the similar pastel palette one they came out with too! What did I wear this snazzy outfit to today, you ask? To to opthamologist! Now back to packing (and sneezing because of all the dust, ugh!)

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Patched Faux Fur Coat from Nasty Gal / Gray Blouse from Urban Outfitters / Oxblood Maxi Skirt from American Apparel / Sam Edelman Booties from 6pm / Black Fringe Bag from Shop Akira / Sunglasses from ASOS

I painted my nails on Monday! I always have trouble doing a complicated design on my right hand since I’m right-handed so just plain colors on that one! haha.

Vintage Top from Thrifted & Modern / Grey Pants from American Apparel / Stitched Belt & Madrid Wool Hat from Nasty Gal / Sam Edelman Booties from 6pm

Yay my musical smiley face top from Joyrich finally came in the mail and I’m totally in love with it! I found out yesterday that the owner is not much older than I am… makes me feel like I really gotta step up my game in life! haha. I wore this to a mini get together with some of my favorite people before I say adieu to to the good ole USA for the next three months! Ahhh I’m getting so anxious for Europe!

Joyrich Musical Smiley Blouse from ASOS / Ombre Shorts from Iron Fist Clothing / Fringe Bag from Akira Chicago / Studded Flats from ASOS

A few weeks ago I volunteered at an Iron Fist Clothing sample sale and it was simply amazing!! Perhaps I’m just behind on the times, but I hadn’t heard of Iron First before this… afterward I was in love. Everything at the sample sale was $10 and under!! But the greatest thing? As a volunteer I got $100 in free merchandise, so that meant at least 10 amazing items! One of which was this amazing fur coat. I know some of you hate it, and in fact my boyfriend says it reminds him of a muppet… but I’m in love with it! It’s like one of those pieces you wouldn’t initially think to buy but seeing it on someone cool like Gwen Stefani would make you think otherwise. I’m no Gwen Stefani, not even close, but I can aspire to be her, right? Should’ve put on a Bindi.

Teal Fur Coat from Iron Fist Clothing / Black Bustier from Nasty Gal / Pink and Orange Skirt from SYLK / Fringe Bag from Akira Chicago / Wedges from Urban Outfitters

There was a spike in temperature in LA yesterday, 81 degrees! Not horrible but enough to put on some shorts with a sweater for just-in-case. It’s been awhile since I’ve worn this beautiful knit cardigan. I love the mix of colors in it and I wish I had more items that were the colors of each of the flowers! The key to coordinating with such a colorful piece is making sure you reiterate the colors in it. In this case, I’ve got my lavender shorts, turquoise hair scarf, and orange JC Heels. If you look at each item individually, it’s interesting how your eye is drawn back to that same color back in the cardigan. O__O

Floral Knit Cardigan from ASOS / Light Pink Crop Tank Top & Turquoise Hair Scarf from American Apparel / Lavender MinkPink Shorts from Nasty Gal / Orange Jeffrey Campbell Heels from Wasteland

Weekends are no longer lazy outfit days anymore since daylight savings has come around. I’m working hard to post more for you guys!

Yesterday was Tavi from “Style Rookie“‘s party for Rookie Magazine’s 1st Yearbook at Space 15 Twenty! Although it was incredibly chilly (yay for actually fall weather in LA!) today I decided to finally put on my little black dress for the party. This amazing skater dress is definitely more revealing than I’m usually comfortable with wearing but I tried it on at Topshop when I was in NY this past June and fell in love! I’ve been waiting for the right occasion to wear it (definitely not at work, haha!). Oh and notice these ombre tights? I know, they’re amazinnnggg!!! I actually had someone ask me where I got them =)

Skater Dress from TopShop / Fringe Bag from Akira Chicago / Rings from ASOS / Tights from Choies / Jeffrey Campbell Heels from Nasty Gal

Earlier in the day my boyfriend and I went to the Stanley Kubrick exhibit at LACMA and it was absolutely amazing!! If you are a fan of Kubrick and in the LA area, I highly suggest you see it! The following is a photo of some costumes Vogue designed for Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Kubrick wanted everything in his movie to be designed so that it would be plausible to exist in the time era of the movie, hence Vogue designed the costumes. Pretty amazing stuff!

Kleur was at the Rookie Event tonight as well! They do amazingggg nail designs, but alas I didn’t feel like shelling out the moolah to get my nails done. One day though, one day!!

Can you guess what the title of this outfit refers to? Willy Wonka of course! The colors remind me of him—bright and wacky! I took a vintage sweater that had all these great colors, and I could’ve paired it with with a simple pair of pants… but adding the extra pink chiffon blouse really made the look interesting! Is it jarring? Perhaps. But I think it works!

Just two photos of me without glasses… I get self-conscious without my glasses on so you don’t really see this too often! haha

Vintage Plaid Sweater from Thrifted & Modern / Pink Chiffon Blouse, Grey Trousers, Green Belt from American Apparel/ Sam Edelman Boots from 6pm / Messenger Bag from Urban Outfitters