I am feeling all kinds of lovey dovey vibes leading up to Valentine’s Day! Whether it is pink + red literally everywhere or hearts, chocolates or roses…there is definitely a lot of Love In The Air.
I love wearing these colors year round, but especially leading up to Valentine’s Day so I had to share a little V Day outfit inspo with this little ensemble.
I love the color red. To me it always makes a bold statement + adds a little bit of sass to any look – Valentine’s Day or not, I highly encourage every gal to embrace a little red moment.
Pink is another one of my go to colors since I am a total girly girl hehe :p This skirt is perfect for year round wear. Pair it with a sweater + boots for the winter or a camisole + blazer for the office, either way it is a must-have for your wardrobe.
Since I love a good pop of color, this red Gucci bag was a must-have for me! I actually got it on sale at the Gucci outlet near me (yes even designer bags can be snagged brand new for less) + it has become my newest fav bag because of it’s bold color + simple design.
These bow pumps are an oldie but goodie. They are from Michael Kors + are no longer available but I found some similar styles below:
I am off to Florida for a long overdue vacay! That means logging off, relaxing + enjoying some time with my boo. We are heading to Disney to celebrate my birthday + our anniversary! We are making it our tradition to head to Florida to kick off a new year and celebrate these occasions so that means I am usually prepping beginning in early January for all of the goodies I want to bring along on our trip. From colorful swimsuits to durable luggage to the perfect pair of sunnies + floppy hat, I rounded up my favorite vacay must-haves below!
It is officially spring + that means new dresses, lightweight jackets + open toe shoes (oh wait…I think I wear these year round anyways hehe :p). I love a simple dress with a denim jacket layered over it since it is such an easy go-to look, just throw it on + you are ready for anything. I wore this Tart Collections dress in Florida and it was perfect for the warm weather during the day + the cooler weather at night with a jacket over it. Tart Collection has great styles whether it is outerwear, blouses, dresses + pants and beyond (plus they range from regular to plus size and are available at Nordstrom + a few other retailers)!
I am obsessed with this dress because it is a great print for spring + lightweight. There are a bunch of similar styles as well in different color variations, prints etc.
I am also loving cork heels for spring since they are great to style with a dress, skirt or jeans + the cork style matches with every look. My go-to bag for running errands or heading out with friends is this Gucci camera bag (similar).
I am currently in total spring cleaning mode packing my current place + moving into my new place (this week is moving week) BUT I am also wanting to stock up my wardrobe for spring…not shopping while moving is so difficult let me tell ya haha :p
Luckily this outfit was put together with signature pieces I have had for years. I honestly feel a denim jacket is one of those key pieces you need in your wardrobe that will last you years! Mine has lasted me through high school all the way to now 🙂
Happy Tuesday Loves…and most importantly Happy National Handbag Day! ♥
If I got to come up with all of the national holidays, they would pretty much always center around handbags haha Honestly what holiday is better than one where we get to celebrate handbags in all their glory? Some may think my love for designer bags is a bit crazy (just ask my boyfriend haha when I spent over an hour in Chanel during our recent trip to Paris he was not enthused to say the least haha #oops – I mean come on…it was CHANEL in Paris – how did he expect me not to have a major OMGmoment? hehe :p)
In honor of this special day haha I am sharing some of my favorite bags I have invested in over the years + I am sharing my tips to purchasing the designer bag you have been lusting after (it can happen – trust me!)
The highlight of today’s post is my most recent purchase from my European excursion – my FIRST ever Chanel bag. I have literally dreamed of this moment for years + the fact that it finally happened in Paris of all places was like a fairytale moment for me haha (ok now I really do sound like a handbag addict #sorrynotsorry)
On the subject of dreaming of a certain bag, this brings me to my first designer bag tip…
1.Research + Save!
There are a ton of bags out there by a ton of designers with a ton of different functions. What I find most helpful when contemplating a big handbag purchase is to evaluate when I would wear the bag, what occasion, how often etc. When spending a pretty penny on a bag you want to make sure you get good use out of it. That’s why I typically wait a couple of months before purchasing + if my lust for the bag is still there, then it is meant to be.
I have dreamed of purchasing a classic style Chanel for years (I even set a goal for myself that I would be able to purchase one – without living out of a cardboard box hehe by the time I was 30). Why Chanel? Easy…it never goes on sale, it will always retain it’s value + other than Hermes (which is my next goal haha), it is pretty much the best of the best when it comes to an investment designer bag to purchase ♥
That brings me to this beauty…the Louis Vuitton Pouchette Metis. I have been lusting after this bag for a YEAR, yes no joke a year! When my boyfriend first got to London, I asked him to visit Louis Vuitton to see if it was available anywhere in the UK since I had been on waitlist status at LV in the US for months. Lucky enough…I got lucky in the good ole’ UK + the rest is…well history hehe and a good story!
Why was I lusting after this bag? Easy – it is a classic style that is perfect for everyday wear + because it is such a commodity to get your hands on now-a-days, it retains it’s value (yes ladies + gents, handbags are an investment :p)
This brings me to investing in a designer bag Tip #2…
2.Carefully choose your style!
This may sound silly, but this ties back to tip one…it is quite important to think carefully before picking you color, pattern or print of bag. For example, Gucci has been very eclectic lately…meaning the bags are brightly colored with funky patterns etc. Those styles are a trend, they will not be in style 5 years from now (let alone a year from now) however, a simple black Chanel bag or signature monogram Louis Vuitton will rarely got out of style since they are classic styles that aren’t ‘trendy‘ per say :p
Tip #3…
3.Bigger is ALWAYS Better!
Hey now, get your mind out of the gutter hehe I am referring to the size of the…bag! Do you ever go to the movie theater + the person at the concession stand tells asks you ‘Would you like to upgrade your combo to a large for just $.50 more?‘ 9 times out of 10 you say yes don’t ya? Why? Because it’s a no brainer, for a little amount more you get double the serving. Funny enough, that same logic applies to purchasing a designer bag.
I didn’t start buying ‘smaller’ designer bags till this last year – after I already invested in larger bags that have tons of room + functionality. Usually the next size up when it comes to designer bags varies between a few hundred dollars, so if you are iffy on whether you need the extra space or not, I always say GO FOR IT! I have never heard anyone regret going a little bit bigger + having the extra room.
Funny enough – my first job when I was 14 was scooping popcorn at my local movie theater (so I used to have to up sell everyone to a large combo haha) Anyways, with all of those up sells, I would get a $.25 commission added to my paycheck…I saved up all of those checks to purchase my first Dior bag the summer before I started high school! And that brings me to my next ‘tip’ or rather fun fact…
4.Every Bag Has A Story!
My bags always have a story behind them. I can tell you where I purchased it, why, when, etc. I usually buy one new designer bag a year + each bag is a milestone for me. For example, the Dior above was the first designer bag I purchased for myself ever.
Below is the Gucci bag I bought on Rodeo Drive when I first moved to LA…every bag tells a story, which makes them so meaningful to me as corny as that sounds…
Below are some of my current favorite bags I have purchased over the years…What is your favorite bag story?
Santa Barbara, you are B E A U T I F U L ♥ I am at a loss for words because I think I just found the city of my dreams this past weekend…Santa Barbara! With beaches + lovely harbors walking distances from some of the nicest bars + restaurants, it quickly became one of my favorite places I have visited since moving to LA. While I am always heading out to Palm Springs for some desert fun, this past weekend I decided to switch things up by heading to Santa Barbara for some beachside fun in the sun! My boyfriend + I both had never been to this great city but found a chic + quant little hotel with some serious charm on State Street (the main street hub of downtown Santa Barbara) called Hotel Santa Barbara.
I have been wanting to go to Santa Barbara for sometime now + this weekend before the Memorial Day rush was the perfect time! Being from Long Island, nothing makes this newfound LA gal happier than putting my feet in the sand + smelling that fresh ocean breeze…luckily with Hotel Santa Barbara being just half a mile from the beach, that was exactly what I did all weekend long. From discovering the two harbors ventured to by the locals which each had their own little attractions like a Maritime Museum or a Sea Center Aquarium to adorable little gift stops + ice cream shops, I was in complete bliss. It was such a nice change of pace from the hustle + bustle of LA and it honestly reminded me of home. The fact you can walk down a boardwalk without it being overly crowded by tourists like in Santa Monica, to being able to bar hop on State Street to taking part in local festivities (when Mike and I arrived at Hotel Santa Barbara, there was a car show happening out front) to live music just about everywhere, there was never a shortage of things to do + places to experience!
P.S. my favorite weekend getaway luggage is alwaysVera Bradley (shop my favorites below)
What I loved most about Santa Barbara was most certainly our hotel. I don’t know about you, but I am definitely picky when it comes to where I stay when traveling. Having a icky hotel can put a damper on the experience + ruin your trip. Luckily that was far from the case here!! I instantly fell in love with Hotel Santa Barbara from the moment we stepped into the old fashioned elevator taking us to our floor. It reminded me of the Tower Of Terror at Disney (in a good way haha…I LOVED that ride to be honest…) and this elevator was reminiscent of that in the most charming of ways.
The room itself was clean, cozy + photo friendly (meaning it had the perfect amount of light making it insta worthy all the way haha :p).
Whether you want to lounge for a bit in a comfy robe like I did or start a pillow fight (which I also did), the bed is beyond comfortable + the room is amazing quality + truly feels like a home away from home!
