Year: 2018

25 Dec 2018

Favorites of 2018

Favorite Style Icon: Alexa Chung

She’s not the kind of celebrity that is regularly promoting something that she’s doing, but she still manages to stay completely relevant. We love her for that. Alexa’s style is timeless and nearly everything she wears is an updated classic. It’s one of the reasons why her look feels so relatable to normal folk like us. She’ll be on our list for best dressed for years to come.

Runner Up: Laura Harrier

Favorite Getaway: Lake Powell

I could talk about my trip to Lake Powell for days, but I’m saving this for another post. Located in a quiet part in Arizona near a few other tourist destinations, Lake Powell is anything but touristy. I had been hearing about this spot for a few years now, but wanted to see it for myself. Unless you have a boat, there’s not much that you can actively do, but it was enough for me. All I wanted was a spot to lay my towel out and to be in the clear water for the entire day. It was the most relaxing part of my entire trip and I wouldn’t mind visiting this spot every year if I had the chance.

Runner Up: Palm Springs

Favorite Artist: Kacey Musgraves

It was unbelievably hard to pick just one favorite artist this year. There were more than a handful of standout women who were completely dominating in music and I hate to have to pick just one. I went with Kacey because I listened to her album on repeat for what felt like a month. While she’s known for being country and I’m not known for even liking country, I found myself pleasantly surprised.

Runner Up: Nao

Favorite Guilty Pleasure: Terrace House

Ever since MTV’s The Real World stopped being good and full of gimmicks, I’ve been looking for a show to fill that void. Terrace House on Netflix is the most endearing series I’ve ever seen. You would think that there isn’t drama, but there is; it just happens to be toned down. The series follows six individuals in Japan living together and getting to know each other while a separate cast provides commentary on what goes on in the house. If I’ve got one qualm with the show, it’s that it doesn’t make for good background noise if that’s what you’re looking for. When I watch the show, I’ve gotta give it my full attention especially because there are subtitles.

Runner Up: The Handmaid’s Tale

Favorite Item Purchased This Year: Aritzia Slip Dress

I had my doubts when the slip dress came onto the scene and my fear was that it would look too much like a night gown. My mind had changed the minute I tried this on at the store. I loved how beautiful it looked and how the silk felt against my skin. It’s quite impressive just how versatile this piece is. You can wear it alone for a spring/summer soiree to be a little bit fancier or layered with a denim jacket. During the winter, I’ve had it underneath sweaters for a more layered look. It’s amazing how many things I’ve paired this with. I hope this piece will last me a lifetime!

Runner Up: $8 H&M dress that I wore to a wedding

Favorite Albums (in no particular order):

  1. Rhye – Blood
  2. Hayley Kiyoko – Expectations
  3. Tom Misch – Geography
  4. Kali Uchis – Isolation
  5. Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour
  6. Alina Baraz – The Color of You
  7. Leon Bridges – Good Thing
  8. Shawn Mendes – Self Titled
  9. Jorja Smith – Lost & Found
  10. The Internet – Hive Mind
  11. HONNE – Love Me / Love Me Not
  12. Ariana Grande – Sweetener
  13. Ella Mai – Self Titled
  14. Nao – Saturn
  15. Teyana Taylor – K.T.S.E.

25 Dec 2018

Song of the Day

spotify:track:01GwtKZNBEs0PY2miiR9qS

Raphael Jason Zamora, Ari Lennox, Dave James – Jane Novacane

22 Dec 2018

Lost & Found

Watching this right after “Bao” for the first time was an emotional rollercoaster! I’m such a sucker for the few things that were highlighted in this short though: stop motion and cute stuffed animals. 

Lost & Found tells the story of a friendship between two crocheted animal toys that discovered each other in the lost and found bin of a Japanese restaurant. One night, fox topples over into a water fountain and the dinosaur nearly sacrifices his own life to save her. The short was directed by Andrew Goldsmith and Bradley Slabe and produced by Lucy J. Hayes. You’ll be on the edge of your seat waiting to see how this ends. But you’ll also grow to love the fox and dinosaur so quickly in the span of this short film. This story of their friendship is a powerful one. 

[Source]

22 Dec 2018

Cherry Red

Top and Shorts – Aritzia / Sweater – Oak + Fort / Birkenstocks

Kristine and Chelsea have a way of making my shopping experiences at Aritzia transformative. I’ve been shopping with them for the last five years since I moved to the Bay Area so we’ve all gotten to know each other quite well. In general, I feel like the employees at Aritzia are always helpful and attentive in helping me find the right pieces for me. They’ve been there for all of my major shopping moments: finding a holiday party dress, a last minute wedding guest dress, a new top to treat myself. Now after five years, our friendship has escalated. They know exactly the pieces that work for me before I even know it. Before I come in, I’ll give them a heads up and will have a waiting room ready for me when I arrive with the pieces I’ve wanted or they’ve picked. I’m a lucky girl and I know it! I appreciate the both of them so much! 

That’s where these shorts come into play. For those of you know who know me, you know that red is never my first choice. I’m a neutrals girl, but when I saw these, I felt some sort of way that I never felt before. They were perfect for summer. It would be challenging to pair it with other pieces. I definitely would have a hard time finding these to be work appropriate. There were plenty of reasons not to purchase them, but I did it anyways. They energized me. 

22 Dec 2018

Blog Roundup

  • How Tourists Are Loving Nature to Death [The Guardian]
  • The Long-Term Cost When Graduates Move Back Home [New York Times]
  • 25 Simple Rules For Not Acting Like An A-Hole at the Airport [Inside Hook]
  • When Priyanka Met Nick: A Love Story [Vogue]
  • Is Orthorexia the Eating Disorder for the Digital Age? [Vogue]
  • 10 Things You Should Throw Away Before 2019 [Refinery29]
  • Artist Reveals The Hidden Side of Long Term Relationships in 15 Perfect Illustrations [GOOD]
  • 100 Best Songs of 2018 [Noisey]
  • 9 Celebrity-Owned Bars That Are Worth The Hype [Vogue]
  • Rising Instagram Stars Are Posting Fake Sponsored Content [The Atlantic]
  • JoJo Has Re-Recorded Her Debut Album [Nylon]
22 Dec 2018

Snaps for a Snapshot

Who: Michelle Obama

Wearing: Balenciaga thigh-high stiletto-heel boots

Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn

If you’ve been living under a rock this week, then you may have missed Michelle Obama’s standout look that had jaws dropping everywhere. Our former First Lady donned a pair of Balenciaga boots that were so sparkly and fabulous that only she could pull off. With her recent memoir “Becoming,” just being released, Michelle Obama has been on tour across the country selling out stadiums left and right. A number of celebrity guests have played moderator including Reese Witherspoon, Oprah, and Sarah Jessica Parker (as seen above.)

It’s not the $3,900 price tags that has us loving this look so much though. It’s the fact that while Michelle Obama was in the public eye during President Obama’s run, she was constantly under scrutiny for what she wore. Now that she’s out, we love that she’s wearing what she wants on her own terms. 

[Source]