silverlake + sandro

{dress} Sandro Remini mesh yoke tunic dress {sandals} Loeffler Randall {sunnies} Karen Walker Number One in Crazy Tortoise

Silverlake is one of my favorite 'hoods in LA.  It might be the closest doppelgänger you'll find out west to my New York neighborhood, the L.E.S and East Village.  Both have that hip, artsy vibe with vintage shops, tons of artisan organic cafes, and coffee spots lining the street.  Granted it's easy to poke fun at these "hipster" standards, but when you're just out here livin' life there's something to be said about a nice cup of coffee, and a corner succulent shop.  Not only did Forbes name this THE coolest neighborhood in the U.S. (I'm still unsure of the criteria used to determine such things..."cool" is subjective, no?) but all of my NYC Lower East Side friends who have moved out to LA have settled right here.  Maybe it's the urban legend surrounding nearby Echo Park Lake, supposedly once a favored dumping ground for...well, severed heads.  That sort of gritty edge is untouched by any level of gentrification, or sump pump.  "What a lovely park!"  "Remember when people used to dump heads in the water?"  "Oh."  To set the record straight, I'm pretty sure that was all urban myth.  Pretty sure.  The public restrooms in that park are still worthy of a fright though.  Speaking of the dirty "g" word, gentrification- the area was also once subjected to real estate developers who wanted to turn the reservoir into a hipster resort.  Yeah, that happened.  They wanted to call it "Hipster Beach".  Sooo glad that never saw fruition.  We're in LA folks, there's a real beach just due west.  You will have to cross the 405* to get to it thought, which I know for many is a deal breaker.  (*Inside LA joke, the 405 divides the east and west side fairly far to the west, westsiders often refuse to go east of the freeway divide and well eastsiders loathe going too far west.  What?!  We're ridiculous in this city, that's already been established.) 

Here I am going off on my Silverlake tangent and forgetting to even talk about this look.  Here's a wrap tunic dress from Sandro.  It has a perfect black and white pattern reminiscent of those composition notebooks we all had in school that we scribbled bored musings and doodled little hearts into.  Yeah, those books we were supposed to be taking chemistry notes in but instead divulged our deepest darkest secrets and sketches into- that composition book.  These cut out bootie style sandals from Loeffler Randall give the elusion of a more substantial shoe, since it is fall, but in LA it's still summer.  Sometimes you have to just pretend to be seasonally appropriate.  

a blazer for every season

{silk battle blazer} Rag & Bone in black and white floral print {jade blouse} Babaton from Aritzia {black shorts} Zara {double date bag} KARA from Opening Ceremony

Summer slowly beginning to fade from long humid nights, to shorter days with a hint of chill gently grasping at our sun bronzed skin (or in my case still pasty skin).  Transitional dressing starts invading our thoughts when school supplies start appearing on the shelves at CVS and August seems like it just won't last.  Granted in Los Angeles, transitional dressing means throwing a light jacket in the car just in case.  I'm a big fan of blazers.  Linen blazers in summer, wool blazers in winter- there's a blazer for every season.  This silk number from Rag & Bone proves my point.  Casually unstructured, a bit oversized and made from a lightweight silk, it's the perfect transitional piece. In summer thrown over an origami folded blouse from Babaton, with shorts, and later in the fall over a thin sweater with a pair of denim.  The abstract line drawn floral print and classic black and white makes it season neutral.  Important in LA where there are technically no seasons.  Walking around my old neighborhood in New York's East Village, this blazer fits right in with it's slightly tailored slightly insouciant vibe.  It's also coast neutral. I mean, it is black after all.  When in NYC embrace the black wardrobe even in summer!  

beach lace

 

{crochet lace tunic dress} Etoile Isabel Marant {white pumps} Zara {sunglasses} Karen Walker Number One in Crazy Tortoise

Nothing like a black crochet lace number from Etoile Isabel Marant to give you that swimsuit cover-up, California surfer girl goes Upper East Side vibe.  It's laid-back but not without attitude and a touch of elegance.  I'll just stand here on this life guard shack in Marina Del Rey and day dream of wearing this tunic over a neoprene bikini post surfing in Panama.  Granted I'll have to brush up on those surfing skills if that will ever happen, and well, learn more about Panama...  

pool party style

{fig. 1} Jonathan Simkhai halter top (Intermix Exclusive) and 3x1 Denim Avenue C Gaucho Shorts {fig.2} Tanya Taylor pinwheel print Katelyn Dress {fig. 3} The Seea Leucadia bikini bottom and Chicama cropped rash guard top with Karen Walker Number One Sunglasses {fig. 4} Tanya Taylor dress {fig. 5} Rocksbox jewelry subscription - Perry Street bracelet {fig. 6} Tanya Taylor dress {fig. 7} pool party essentials - Rocksbox jewelry, Boxed Water is Better, Karen Walker Number One sunglasses, The Seea Chicama top {fig. 8} Forever 21 palm tree clutch, Illesteva polarized sunglasses, Perry Street bracelet from Rocksbox {fig. 9} Tanya Taylor dress and Adidas Adilette slides {fig. 10} Topshop crop top and skort, Wilfred by Aritzia Tali linen blazer {fig. 11} Rocksbox - Perry Street bracelet and Gorjana ring {fig. 12} sneakers by Superga

It's no longer the early aughts, but for some reason every time you open the door Nelly's iconic summer anthem "Hot in Herre" starts to play *so hot* *in herre* because let's face it, it's flippin' hot out herre.  Time to hit the pool with all of your friends and frenemies, it's pink flamingo floatie and inflatable swan time!  If you, like me, suffer from Bikiniphobia (an irrational fear of swim wear) don't fret, there's options guys!  Check out the above looks for pieces that will keep you looking and feeling cool poolside.  I'm particularly fond of the neoprene-like Tanya Taylor dress, wetsuit/dress hybrids are kind of the best thing ever.  

Accessories may seem like a pool party don't but just because you're hovering at the edge of a large body of chlorinated water doesn't mean you shouldn't look fly.  Just remember to remove said jewelry before diving in.  RocksBox the Netflix of jewelry recently named me one of their It Girl style influencers.  I've been having way too much fun adding items to my wish list (queue) and unlike Netflix a Rocksbox subscription actually encourages you to leave your house.  Everytime you return a box, another magically appears via USPS fairies filled with sparkly treasures.  What's not to love?!  Guys, you even can get a trial month free with this very special code that I share with you now - "yoitshannaxoxo" so get on over to www.rocksbox.com and get your summer bling!

crystal cove

{linen stripe dress} Line & Dot {fisherman sweater} Demy Lee from Steven Alan {baseball cap} Saturdays Surf

Crystal Cove is a magical place.  A tiny beach destination near Newport Beach- yeah, that Newport Beach...the one from The OC, that fabled berg which gave us Mischa Barton drama galore and the precursor to The Real Housewives- those "Newpsies".  Crystal Cove is far less dramatic.  Tucked away on the coast, there is a collection of quaint seaside bungalows which were once used as film sets and are now vacation rentals.  The house from Beaches is here (my inner Bubbe loves the Bette Midler) it remains as a museum.  Sadly some of the bungalows are in various stages of decay, see the second photo.  Hopefully one day they'll be restored to their former glory.  Imagine all of the stories, the make-believe, the imaginary lives that unfolded here for the silver screen.  I love the east coast feel.  Can't you just picture the Lobster rolls, and clam bakes!  A visit here is the perfect excuse for a bit of west prep.  A striped linen dress and fisherman sweater for when the ocean breeze kicks up.   

the lost shore

{irish fisherman sweater} Demy Lee from Steven Alan {gingham dress} The Reformation Cyrus dress, similar here and here  {black robe coat} The Reformation Sabel coat, similar here {over-the-knee boots in black leather} Dolce Vita, similar here 

Wearing black over-the-knee boots is an easy way to add edge and a bit of extra warmth to winter-ready your favorite dress. Let's face it, sometimes waiting for warmer weather to break out the dress you wore that time when everything in the world felt just perfect, and nothing could go wrong- will ferociously whittle away at your patience. I love the almost leather legging look of pairing sky-high boots with a longer dress or skirt, giving the illusion that the boots go on infinitely (or at least thigh-high) beneath that silky frock. Opposites attract, leather and delicate fabrics should always go together.

beach preppy