Easy Rider

It's getting cooler and rainy in SoCal! Time to bust out my arsenal of blazers!!! I'm pretty happy about this weather. It's getting me in the holiday spirit. Vince Guaraldi Trio Christmas album commence! 

Is this look Equestrian inspired? Maybe. According to the heavy breathing greasy guy that passed me in the Post Office parking lot, definitely. He was all, "Hey! Where's your horses?!?" and I was all, "Up your butt and around the corner, wise guy!".... J/K. I only think to say zingers like that AFTER I've gotten in my car and am driving away.

But I don't blame him honestly. I mean, the boots....the riding pants....the scarf under the collared shirt....sometimes I'll put on things that look waaaay to costume-y, but if I make the individual pieces a little off beat, it's just "inspired" and not a "costume" in my book, mmkay? For example, the pattern mixing and the shirt that says "Shanghai" in script all over it....those are enough for me to not look too much like Jackie O in her horse-riding period. 

And yes the black bra under the sheer-ish shirt was a conscious style choice. I'm still not sure if I regret it.

Boots, Shirt, Blazer, Silk Scarf: Vintage, Bow Earrings: Vera Wang for Kohl's, (Use the promo code TENBLOG for 10% off on Kohls.com thru Dec. 23) Riding Pants: American Apparel, Ring: Gifted.

Denim on Denim on Dots

I've been laying low since Thanksgiving. Working on photos...trying to keep my house clean...watching Sons of Anarchy...trying to figure out how I'm going to conquer the world (still working on that one). I've also been considering doing another wardrobe purge and having a side walk sale.....yeah, I'll get right on that. 

ANYHOW.....

Whenever you wear stuff from Free People don't you feel just like one of those Free People models wandering in a desert/woodland area/decrepit house with your perfectly messy side braid in the Free People Catalogs?!? Yeah, me neither, but we do our best to incorporate these whimsical pieces into our wardrobes, don't we? I got this patterned chambray shirt on sale there (which is the only time I purchase something from Free People), and it took me a minute to figure out how to wear it....then it dawned on me: pattern mixing....DUUUUUUUUUH.

I decided to wear it with these champagne satin pumps that I've never worn but have had since I got married. I'm trying to wear more basic pumps with denim lately....because that look is gershdern adorable and super easy. Add them to an otherwise low key outfit, and they really pump it up! (See what I did there?) Why I am just now catching onto this simple trick is beyond me. Note: This trick doesn't work as well with 4-5 inch platform stilettos. The goal is to mimic the after version of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. So get yourself a really great pair of classic neutral i.e. black, nude, leopard pumps with about a 3 inch heel, and watch your wardrobe traaaansfoooooooooooorm!!!!

The delicate leaf necklace is my homage to all those woodsy Free People catalogs......whose exact ascetics will never be attainable in real life, but sure are pretty to look at.  

Jeans: J Brand, Chambray Shirt: Free People, Glasses: Cole Haan, Bag: Lula B's, Shoes: Nina,

 Necklace, Polka Dot Shirt, Bracelet: Thrifted.

Brick and Sasha

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Ever since a quick trip to Dallas I've been off my game. Furthermore, my new camera was out of commission for a few days. I'm back now though. Until the next post, here's some adorable puppy photos I snapped back home. 

Nights at The Knightons

At least once a week Jonathan and I find ourselves up in Topanga Canyon at our friends Zach and Hang's house. Somehow they've created this refuge. It seems to be the place where everyone gathers...where dudes watch football, where anybody goes if they need a place to stay, and we're mos def going there for Thanksgiving.  They are so welcoming... I don't know how they do it, cause when people come over to my house I get streeeessed and just stare at them until they see themselves out. (Not really)...I really do wonder how they do it though.... Let's speculate...maybe it's because it is an amazing cabin/treehouse/hobbit hole! Also they keep a half asian baby up there, so that's a big draw.

Any random dinner party up there is likely to contain (but is not limited to) the following:

1. A delicious home cooked meal by Hang, who is for lack of a better word a mofackin' badass... typically I just stand there why she bounces around me in the kitchen all like "ohhhhh what are you gonna go with that??" or "can I microwave aluminum?" J/K! They don't have a microwave (pssshhht omg I know)...

2. White Wine Spritzers. (Cue Ned Flanders yelling, "WHITE WINE SPRITZER..spritzer......spritzer")

3. Drunkles. AKA Drunk Uncles (which I'm pretty sure is copywritten/trademarked so don't even try).

4. Cheese

5. Bathtime with Talula in which we name every character from Yo Gaba Gaba. 

6. Crack Cocaine (jk)

7. Dog Farts...which Zach claims are ruining his life, but I think he's being dramatic. 

8. LOADS OF LAUGHS Y'ALL.

9. A fire in the fireplace

10. Dinner around the table....by candle light. 

Oxblood, Ram Head

I suppose I was going for an old victorian west feel with this outfit. I find that era of fashion in the western United States to be so fascinating. The women took the European style of the time and transformed it into this beautiful and a bit more functional amalgamation. The leather, the gloves, all the delicate buttons, THE BOOTS....I could go without wearing a corset though.....ever...(please take this moment to notice the badass cowboy hat ring Jonny found for me at Buffalo Exchange).

This polka-dot low bow blouse is one of my favorite things I've ever found at a thrift store. It's timeless, soft and a perfect deep navy color. Is anyone else pumped about this Oxblood color trend happening lately? (Although I'm pretty sure Oxblood is the same color as human blood, but that name doesn't seem to have the same alluring aspect...not that Oxblood is alluring....errrr, you know what I mean).

Also, I found this Ram head necklace at a sidewalk sale in Venice. I'm always happy to find animal pieces. I have a whole collection of little totems, as you might recall from this post. 

Also worn in this post, a very special hat stolen from my very special husband gifted to him from a very special friend. To that friend: Thank you for equipping my man's closet with a great piece....that I can steal from him. 

Shirt, Jacket, Belt: Thrifted, Ring: Buffalo Exchange, Bag: Vintage Coach, Hat: Gited, Boots: Born (similar)

Boys, Boys, Boys

Pleased as punch I've got plenty of honorary California brothers. I needed more fart jokes in my life. 

Grace

So, my lovely and talented friend Emma decided to do something really brave: tell a particularly personal story via short film. It's called Grace. She found an actress, Teneale Clifford to play herself (Emma) at 14. She asked me to help with wardrobe, and shoot some stills for the film. I was glad to do so seeing as I just got MY NEW CAMERA FINALLY OMG. We spent the last day of the shoot in Leo Carillo over looking the Pacific Ocean. 

What charmed f*$king lives we lead.
Here are some of the shots.

Thinkin' Thangz Thru

I've been thinking a lot about my expression of creativity since I've moved to California. It isn't what I imagined it would be before I moved. I have copious amounts of free time, and the ratio of keeping myself busy with bullshit to art/creation/writing is shameful. I'm one of those people who beats myself

up for lounging around, and my guilt has reached maximum capacity.

I will say most of my creative energy is going into bloggish things, and yes putting clothes together is a form of artistic expression....but blogging is weird, and things get muddled. When it comes to posting pictures of yourself over and over again there is a fine line between practicing it to an end of inspiring others and trying to make yourself look a certain way in other peoples' eyes. (i.e. stylish, pretty, busy, important and all the rest of the total bullshit). I guess the line isn't that fine actually, but it can get blurry. I've come to the realization that only writing posts on outfits and shopping is completely dishonest, because it is unfulfilling to me. It supplements my creative fulfillment, sure, but it does not complete it.

(I'm not saying other bloggers who only post outfits are dishonest, just saying when I do it it feels untrue.)

I suppose in a nutshell, since this page on the internet it one of my main creative outlets (wait, what?), it should probably be more well-rounded. Expect a few more posts on photography and other happenings. 

Before I forget I should qualify that I've been in a bit of a funk lately and this post was written to the musical stylings of Monica.

Don't judge me. 

I looked through a photography processing book today and got inspired to go out of my comfort zone as far as post goes. This is what came out when I started messing around with photos at my computer. (Not the Monica video, but the first image in this post, duuuuuuuuh!) 

I had the opportunity to shoot some behind the scenes photos and stills for my friend Emma's short film. I will do an entire post and show the pics in a few days, but that is where these 2 sandwiched images are from.

I can dig it. 

Oh Jonny......'s Closet

Oh Jonny's closet, how I love thee. His t-shirts are one of my favorite parts of my wardrobe (what's his is mine, and what's mine is mine and all that)...If you've got a brother, husband, gay besty, straight male besty, or boyfriend I highly recommend raiding their dressers and closets to supplement yours. T's are the most obvious choice. They always look good with skinny jeans, are easy to layer (here with a chambray shirt), are comfortable and most importantly slash cute-ly are sentimental. Jonathan says he likes it when I wear his shirts, cause when he puts them on again they smell like me. DAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW barf, I know. 

Also, (obviously) I'm going to talk about this fringed leather jacket. When I moved to LA, a black leather jacket was on the top of my list of staples to add to my wardrobe. This one is vintage, and get this: IT WAS ONLY SIXTY DOLLARS....which is a mofackin' asinine price in LA. So cheap! I found it at Ragg Mopp Vintage in Silver Lake. 

One more thing. I'm pretty sure that when it comes to layering the stripes, chambray and leather combo is fail proof. 

Jacket: Ragg Mopp, Tshirt: Obey Clothing, Chambray Shirt: F21(similar), Boots: Rocket Dog, Jeans: UO, Necklaces: Aldo, Cuff: Garage Sale