nineties redux

{castor leather vest} Veda here {sweater} Alexander Wang {skirt} 3.1 Phillip Lim {bracelets} Elena Estaun, H&M {necklace} H&M

If recent runway trends are any indication, long live the nineties! Rodarte's SS14 had plaids-a-plenty, Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane FW13 was highly derivative of the grunge era, as was Phillip Lim's FW12 just to name a few. How to throwback to the nineties without looking overly nostalgic, or Blossom-era Mayim Bialik. Take thoroughly nineties concepts- hello plaid, hello shirt tied jauntily around waist... Then update the concept with modern shapes and materials. Plaid gets millenial in this sheer white Alexander Wang incarnation. Phillip Lim takes the shirt around the waist to the next level with this trompe l'oeil silk skirt with attached "shirt". Oh, Phillip Lim- the nineties never looked so good!   

surface to air

{coat} Surface to Air Prezo Parka (FW 12) similar here {dress} Rag & Bone Gayatri Arrow Print Dress {sunnies} House of Harlow 1960 {bag} PS1 

One of my favorite views in Los Angeles is from the Getty Center looking out over the 405 to the ocean.  Other impressive vantage points include Griffith Park, and Mulholland Drive. Check out that "marine layer" cough*smog*cough. An LA parka may seem to be an oxymoron of sorts, what with fairly consistent 75 degree weather and an inherent lack of seasons, but this parka from Surface to Air has been the perfect bi-coastal outer layer. Sans lining for schizophrenic LA weather and with lining for NY chill. Dual climate technology- if you can count a removable lining as technology. Fake winter > real winter. It's funny that I once braved -14 degree temps in NYC like a trooper but nowadays 60 degree weather in LA sends me into a rabid parka frenzy. I guess fake winter has turned me into a real pansy. Whether you're battling frost giants real or imagined, keep it cozy!

when in Palm Springs...

{on me} Iro Rovea dress, Chloe sandals, Chan Luu wrap bracelet {on Elise} Rebecca Taylor silk tank, Goldsign jeans {photographed at} ACE Hotel and Swim Club, Palm Springs

Elise and I are skilled in the art of fleeing the scene. Our spur of the moment getaways are legendary. Well, legendary at least to us. Palm Springs is always a nice respite from the hustle and bustle. Something about the desert is endlessly alluring. You can see stars! And cacti! Along the way we stopped in Cabazon to check out the outlets. Elise found an amazing pair of basket weave Prada ballet flats. Next stop, The ACE! It wouldn't be a trip to PS without visiting The ACE. We posed with goofy faces in the lobby photo booth, "say prune!" and then hit up the hotel's Amigo Room for fish tacos and drinks. I ordered a Pimm's cup type cocktail, it was super tasty and refreshing in the balmy heat. Who knew, apparently I love Pimms! The tasty liqueur was created by a farmer from Kent who owned an oyster bar in London and served the drink as a tonic to aid digestion originally. Good times!

fridays off the 405: Geographer at The Getty

{lace dress} Heimstone from Satine {necklace} Laura Lombardi {sandals} Chloe {bracelet} Chan Luu {bag} Rachel Nasvik Eleanor Mini Satchel, similar here

"You call me all the right words, but the right words sound so wrong..." The soulful electro-beats of San Francisco's indie band Geographer reverbed across the courtyard of The Getty Center. The perfect ambience for Geographer's dreamy mix of cello and synth. I'm a huge sucker for strings. Elise and I grabbed some PB&J's and white wine, then settled in amidst the travertine walls for an evening of sweeping orchestrals. It was practically a spiritual experience. The sun setting over LA turning the smoggy sky a million brilliant hues. Geographer's music soaring over a spectacular feat of contemporary architecture. The moment could not be more perfect, this is the sparkly dust that summers are made of! The band is seriously good. I immediately went on i-tunes and bought their album after the show. Yes, they were that good! "Verona", "Kites" and "Original Sin" are among my faves. Check out their website here and go buy their album, NOW!   

drifting away

{utility jacket} Wilfred Free Rayder jacket from Aritzia here {dress} Rag & Bone Gayatri dress {belt} Sunshine and Shadows {bracelets} Elena Estaun, H&M {necklace} H&M

the Aquarium

{denim polka dot jacket} Rebecca Taylor {Péri romper} Wilfred from Aritzia here {hat} Talula from Aritzia {necklace} Forever 21 {bracelet} House of Harlow 1960 

Is it Shark Week yet? I guess if you live off the coast of Florida or Australia then it's probably Shark Week every week. Did you know that sharks are 400 million years old? That's hella old. They were creeping around the oceans for 200 million years before the first dinosaurs roamed our fair planet. I'm a one-stop shop for superfluous shark facts. I know, I know, this post isn't actually about sharks. 

Can I digress a bit further? At a recent house party a charming British gent was flipping through the host's Netflix queue and yelled out "Sharknado" rather incredulously before breaking into ROFL laughter. Do they not have SyFy movies of the week with abomination of nature portmanteaus for names in Britain?  

Anyways, this outfit is a FlorPoDot. Okay, sounds way less cool than Sharknado. Bottom line: I like mixing prints. Florals and polka dots are pretty awesome together. BTW the floral bit is a onesie. Insert wild proclamations of romper love here. Heart emoji. Oh, and I saw a shark at the aquarium! I didn't ask him if he was 400 million years old. There's the tie-in.  

hello, old friend

{oversized cardigan} Acne Berly (AW 09) {dress} Acne Mabel (pre AW 09) {belt} Wilfred from Aritzia {boots} VPL for LD Tuttle {bracelet} Elena Estaun 

Sometimes ya just gotta show some love to AW 09. A good vintage for fun Acne pieces. This blue mohair grandpa cardigan is my go-to for a pop of color. The abstract print Mabel dress with its asymmetrical hem is always fun for layering. Both are classic enough to transcend seasons and trends, the most important factor in determining "hello old friend" status. What pieces are lurking at the back of your closet waiting to be rediscovered and taken out for a night on the town?