It Was All Yellow

{vintage silk button-down via Shareen's, J. Crew skirt, Michael Kors watch, gifted pearls earrings, J. Crew shoes}

If you had told me a year (or probably even a month) ago that I would go out in public wearing yellow from head to toe, I would have laughed. But here I am, in all my mustard glory, and I am loving this cheery color.

It was obession at first sight for me with this shirt at Shareen's. I have been loving button-downs lately, as I've realized they feel equally chic with pencil skirts and jeans. But this one is so special, it's unlike any other I've seen! The handpainted flowers on it are just too cool.

Couldn't resist popping my collar.

Happy Friday! What are our big plans for the weekend? I'm planning on taking a trip to the lovely Huntington Library, checking out the Beauty Culture exhibit, and seeing Crazy Stupid Love (so embarrassingly excited for this one!).

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Sparkly Somethings

{J. Crew top, Zara pants and belt, Guess via DSW shoes, J. Crew bracelet, Michael Kors watch}

I meant to take photos in this outfit on Tuesday after work, but by the time I got home, the sun was completely hidden. I'm temporarily living at my dad's house until school starts back up again in a few weeks, and he lives in the hills of Los Angeles, which tend to be very cave-like at the end of the day-- no sun at all! I snapped these photos this morning before I ran off to work, and though they may be incredibly dorky, they'll have to do.

I have been obsessing over entirely-sequined tops and dresses since last holiday season, but for some reason never got around to buying one. My friend picked this one up for me at J. Crew, where she's working this summer (great minds, right?). I absolutely love the stripes, and the colors are perfect because they manage to be appropriate for both day and night. Thanks for my awesome shirt, Nicole! 

Wore my trusty Zara trousers- is there anything more versatile for work than some perfect-fitting navy pants?

Absolutely love everything about these shoes that I scored from DSW last summer. It may be hit or miss there, but sometimes that place is a treasure trove.

That Crazy Skirt

{Rebecca Beeson tank, vintage skirt via Shareen's, J. Crew necklace, Elie Tahari sandals, Forever 21 bangles, Michael Kors watch, Covergirl lipstick in Rapture}

I bought this skirt about a month ago at Shareen's, but was waiting for the perfectly festive moment to wear it. My dad hosted a big shindig for his girlfriend's birthday, and I figured it was just the right time to pull this bad boy out of my closet.

 I bought this skirt because it was unlike anything else in my closet. The neon color alone is new to me, but I also fell in love with the whimsical, psychadelic pattern. I debated buying it in the store for quite some time until I finally decided it was just one of those pieces I needed in my wardrobe- super special, and just a tad out of my comfort zone.

I absolutely love the way it fits- tight in the waist, with just a slight bell curve outwards. 

I wanted to keep the focus on the skirt, so I paired it with a basic blank tank and my favorite chunky gold necklace.

I had a friend from home visiting LA this weekend, and we had an absolute blast conquering the shopping mecca that is Los Angeles. We stopped by some of my favorites, and found some new hidden gems as well!
How was your weekend? 

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White Eyelet

{Milly dress,  Jessica Simpson heels, vintage purse, Forever 21 and vintage bangles, gifted pearls, Covergirl lipstick in Fairytale}

Apologies for being such a bad blogger this week! I'm in the midst of trying to move out of my apartment, and it's gotten the best of me. I dare you to think of a task more annoying then moving. I've decided that moving is the worst part of college- you have to do it four times!

I bought this dress FOUR years ago, when I was going into my junior year of high school. While shopping with my mom, she had to persuade me to buy it (rough life, huh?), because I was convinced it was much too expensive (even on sale) to justify the purchase. Turns out, four years later, I'm still wearing it. Just goes to show that oftentimes in clothing, you get what you pay for. 

I believe white eyelet is one of those fabrics that never goes out of style. Here's another eyelet dress that is just perfect.

I'm really into wearing my hair in buns right now, alternating between the ballerina style and this messier, more unkempt version.

Dear Mom, if you are reading this, consider this a giant thank you for being such a wise shopper and teaching me all your tricks! 

Do share, what bits of wisdom did your mom teach you about shopping?

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Socks and Stripes

{skirt and shirt-Forever 21, belt- Target, shoes- c/o Wanted, socks- J. Crew, sunglasses and bag- Marc by Marc Jacobs, watch- Michael Kors, pearls- gifted}

Even though we're in the middle of summer, something deep within me insisted upon my wearing socks on this particular day. My new loafers had me feeling very back-to-school. 

I don't know about you, but I am loving the current comeback of the ballerina bun. It's so easy and chic. Here's a fabulous tutorial. 

Loving my new navy loafers! I absolutely adore the tassels, and plan on wearing them next with some cuffed skinny jeans.

I'm just a little bit proud that I'm only wearing one J. Crew item in this post: the socks! 

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Red + Gold

{Urban Outfitters top (on sale for $5!), vintage skirt, J. Crew shoes and bracelet, Forever 21 bangles, Chanel Rouge Coco Shine lipstick in Rebelle}

I know what you're thinking: does this girl go ANYWHERE besides the roof of her apartment, ever?! In fact, I'm beginning to wonder the same thing myself. So let me say to you, I am deeply sorry you are seeing this backdrop for the zillionth time. I am quite bored of it myself! I do, however, have an excuse, which is that by the time my workday is over there's barely any light left, and the only place I can catch some rays for photos are on my roof. So there you have it. But let me say, after this long-winded explanation, that I will do my very best to avoid my rooftop as much as possible in the future. 

The last time I wore this skirt was for some errand-running, so I was excited to dress it up just a bit for work followed by dinner in Hollywood. All I had to do was tweak the last outfit by swapping the casual striped tank for a glitzier one and the flats for my new favorite heels, adding some glam jewelry, and viola! a new day to night quick-change outfit option.

I do have to admit...sometimes the sun is quite pretty on that roof. Maybe I am becoming just a little attached to it...

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Summer Beauty Picks

With summer in full swing, my makeup routine has shifted to accommodate the hot temperatures and easy, breezy clothing styles. Here are my current makeup picks--some are old staples, and some are new favorites.

1. Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel- Hands down the best facewash I have ever used. It's very gentle, and leaves my skin feeling super-clean, but never dry.  It's pricey, but totally worth it. 

2. Too Faced Primed and Poreless- A great primer that I use to keep my makeup on all day. Great under any type of makeup, whether its tinted moisturizer or heavy foundation. I even sometimes will put this on and then only layer powder over it- a quick fix when I'm in a rush! This magic stuff evens out your complexion and smooths flaws so that I can even get away with skipping face makeup altogether on especially lazy days.

3. Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer - I've been using this stuff for ages. It's my favorite facial product for the summer months, becuase it takes care of moisturization, SPF, and just a hint of foundation all at once. Super lightweight with just enough color to it. A must-have, in my opinion. 

4. Chanel Correcteur Perfector Concealer- The best concealer I've ever used. Until recently, I was using a drugstore option, but I never saw great results. This one stays and stays, keeping away those dark undereye circles that haunt me. 

5. Covergirl Clean Pressed Powder, Oil Control- My skin is a tad oily, so I like to keep powder on me at all times. I've never seen a point in buying high-end powder, but I'm definitely open to suggestions if you guys have a favorite! This one suits me just fine. 

6. Nars Blush/Bronzer Trio- Nars makes the best highlighters, bronzers, and blushes. This limited-time combination pack has their best-sellers (Orgasm, Laguna, and Albatross) all combined into one and is perfect for achieving that summery glow I covet! 

7. Stila Covertible Color- Another cult favorite. This product is amazing, I can't say enough good things about it. The creamy consistency is perfect for both blush and lip color, so it's a great grab-and-go product when you're in a rush. I lvoe the dewy affect it has on my cheeks. 

1. Maybelline Great Lash Big Mascara in Blackest Black- I cycle through current mascara favorites every few months, but this one is my current go-to. For a while I was using DiorShow mascara, which I love, but this one has given me almost the same voluminous, lengthening, va-va-voom-ing results for a fraction of the price. I'm not a huge fan of the original Great Lash mascara, but this new product, with its bigger brush, gives me the huge lashes I crave.

2. Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Champagne- My everyday look for eyes is just a wash of shimmery, golden-peachy color. This is my favorite product for that look. 

3. Dior 5-Colour Iridescent Eyeshadow in Earth Reflect- A dear friend gave this product to me for Christmas last year, and I've been hooked ever since. I love mixing different neutral colors for my eye makeup when I want to do something a bit more fancy than just my normal eye, and this palette has all my must-have colors: toffee, dark brown, creamy champagne, light white, and peony pink. 

4. L'Oreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner in Carbon Black- This is a new buy for me, but I absolutely love it. I'm terrible with liquid eyeliner, but this product makes it so easy to use! Cat-eye liner is easy peasy with this stuff. 

1. Chanel Glossimer in Glaze- This is the very first "expensive" makeup I ever bought years and years ago, and I still use it today. It delivers that perfect sheer pink that I adore. As easy a color as it may seem to replicate, I've never found another product that gives me as amazing, subtle color as this.
2. Covergirl Lipstick in Rapture- I had been wanting a coral lipcolor for a long time, and I finally found this one recently to my delight. It strikes the perfect balance between pink and orange, and was so affordable! It's also not too bright, so it's totally wearable for day-to-day, even beach trips.
3. Covergirl Lipstick in Fairytale- This lipstick just made its first appearance on the blog recently, but I am totally in love with it. I picked this product up along with #6 at CVS the other day on a whim, and I have been unable to stop wearing them since! For my fair skin, this is the perfect bright pink- not too neon, not too magenta, just pretty.

I'm no makeup expert, but for the day-to-day, these products work for me fabulously. What are your go-to products for summer? I'm always dying to find new favorites!

Beach Baby

{Victoria's Secret top, J. Crew bottom, Scunci headband, Marc by Marc Jacobs sunglasses, Maybelline lipstick in Rapture}

Over the weekend, I went to Laguna Beach to spend some quality time with the family (which explains my recent lack of posting). Normally I would never subject you to photos of me in a swimsuit, but since I basically didn't wear anything else for four days, this is all I got, people.

I picked this headband up at CVS right before I left, knowing I'd want to keep my bangs out of my face on the beach. And you know what? I think it's just about the best $5 I've ever spent- it keeps the hair off my face and stays on even in the wind! Plus it actually goes with quite a few things in my wardrobe. I'll definitely be pulling this sucker out for future bad hair days. 

I had been searching everywhere for the perfect high-waisted swimsuit, and took a risk by ordering this one online without trying it on. Luckily it was the kind of flattering silhouette I was hoping for: one that is not-too-tight, with plenty of ruching. While the look is definitely a tad Man Repeller, I love how vintage it feels for a fun beach day.

Hope your weekend was amazing, and that if you didn't make it to the beach (or pool, or lake, or cold bathtub) you did something equally summery.

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