Posts from — June 2008

With the official start of summer only days away, I’ve been innately drawn to punchy bright colors. Since the temperatures will be in the triple digits here in L.A., it’s only fitting that I’ll be staying cool in easy pieces such asKarta’s Jeweled Shift Dress. The faceted stone detail down the front is surprisingly subtle and the retro shape is playfully offset by a color that rivals the juiciestpopsicles. While the entire photo of the dress (including the model’s footwear) is available on ShopBop, I intentionally chose to use the cropped version so I can ask:

What shoes would you pair with this dress?

Blonde LA is one of those stores to which I dedicate entire Saturday mornings/afternoons. The drive, in itself, takes about 40 minutes (which is embarrassing enough), but then once I arrive, it takes me an absurdly long time to dissect what most would consider to be a tiny store.  Thankfully, their website is a great resource, and provides an extensive list of all of the under-the-radar labels that are offered in the store.  Though most of the pieces are on the pricier side, one can also stumble across affordable little gems like Indah’s White/Grey Tube Top, for only $56.  I love the sharp contrast in patterns between the white top and the tribal-inspired print beneath.  I can imagine wearing this over some jeans at night, swiping on some black eye liner, and throwing on some metallic flats for a low-key, slightly dressed up look.  My Saturday morning has officially been planned.

With this summer’s emergence of tissue-thin tops, one is forced to either invest in several nude bras, or embrace the bohemian trend to the fullest. I know I’ll be living in this Sienna Bra, which strikes just the right balance of feminine and sultry, with delicate flowers on black chiffon. The barely-there ruffles along the top will look amazing peeking out from just about anything, but I’m envisioning something slightly masculine like this. Best of all, this sheer little bra clocks in for under $8, so there will be plenty left over to invest in other brilliant pieces to pile on top.

I’ve long been a fan of Trina Turk, for her fantastically bright prints and drapey dresses. Every time I go to an event or a party, I love knowing that not only will the silhouette of my dress set me apart, but that the color combinations will be fresh and unexpected.   This weekend however, at her 50% spring sale, the details that I usually look for were all set aside when I spotted this Zimka 2 Shirtdress.  The crisp cotton is extremely light, so even though it’s black, it will be a great piece for summer with limitless options for accessorizing.  The slightly longer sleeves and the cinched in waist ensure that this shirtdress is far from just your average LBD.

Fridays tend to be particularly slow in my office, which is why several co-workers and I ventured over to Culver City to try out Meltdown. I’ve been hearing rave reviews for a while about this sandwich shop that specializes in fun variations of grilled cheese, which sounded right up my alley. I decided on the turkey melt, that came with brie, oven-roasted turkey, arugula and a cranberry-horseradish mustard on sourdough. Of course, we also had to try the nutella and banana sandwich on egg bread for dessert, which was just plain sinful. For that reason alone, I cannot keep nutella in my house, since I always end up spoon-feeding myself from the jar at unacceptable hours of the night.   What I did realize from this experience is how much I love the idea of places that specialize in just one type of food.  During my trip to New York last Fall, I stumbled upon Pommes Frites, a tiny little restaurant that serves french fries with about 50 different dipping sauces and I’ve been craving it ever since.  I wonder how prominent these kinds of eateries are, which is why I ask my loyal readers:

-Have you eaten at a place that specializes in one type of food?  If so, what kind?

-What type of food would you be most excited about if it were to be the focus of a restaurant?

I recently decided that the only style of jeans that truly flatter my figure is the high-waisted version.  This realization has obviously impacted the rest of my wardrobe, which is why I’ve been searching for fitted camisoles with intricate details ever since.  It’s actually harder than one would think, since the tops need to be long enough to tuck in, yet if they hit too low, they end up resembling diapers. The Lake and the Stars’ We’re on a Break romper eliminates this dilemma, thanks to the stylish drop waist and fitted bottoms.  Since I’ve been timidly wanting to experiment with the whole romper trend anyway, this is a perfect opportunity to get my feet wet. The cream-colored silk pleats down the front aren’t joined, so they effortlessly fall open, without ever exposing too much. 

EDIT:  As the lovely Jo, from Wotton Cool commented, this was actually featured in the ‘Sex and the City’ movie, only further enhancing its cool-factor.

As mentioned a few days ago, I had a pretty successful shopping weekend, filled with great deals from the flea market, and some not as great deals from a little store on Beverly Blvd. While I don’t usually spend a lot of money on seemingly simple pieces made of cotton, there was almost a magnetic pull towards Sunshine & Shadow’s Studded Jersey Skirt.  The heather gray provides such an excellent backdrop to showcase the pyramid studs that run along the pockets and thanks to its elastic waistband, it’s also really versatile and ultra comfortable.