Travel Essentials

Apologies for the delayed post. A lot of things have happened in the past couple of weeks and I needed to take a small hiatus from blogging. One of the things that I am excited for is that I will be going to Europe for the first time! I will be traveling to London for my for my birthday and during London Fashion Week from the 15th - 22th  of this month! I am extremely excited, but also anxious at the same time (for those who know me, this is nothing new.)

In preparation for my trip I have been shopping like crazy. I picked up some items that were essential to my travel: a selfie stick (don't judge,) a good book, and of course, the September issue of Vogue. While I am in London I definitely plan to explore and document my experience and outfits along the way! 

Stay tuned!

Pre Fall Favorites

Coat: Nasty Gal (sold out, but find similar style here), Dress: Phlo 

This past week I visited the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. I have always wanted to tour and shoot here. It is best known for its architecture, which is quite fascinating. I didn't get a chance to go inside, but there is so much to explore surrounding the building. 

There are different views of the city and areas with seating and foliage that disguise the grittiness of downtown. 

Now that it is August, Fall is creeping around the corner so I am in pre-fall fashion full gear! Suede is a trend that I've been noticing for the upcoming season. I prefer it over the typical leather because it's softer and not as stiff. This faux suede frock is the perfect pre fall piece. It is actually a maxi dress, but I manipulated the fabric to make it midi length, which I felt was best suited for my height in heels. 

Camel is a popular color during this time of year and one of my favorites to wear. It acts as a nude against my skin tone. Trench coats are alsot one of my favorite Fall styles.  I am a sucker for a stripe print, and this coat added the right touch of graphic detail. 

Photos taken by: Aja Hitomi

Canadian Tux

Denim Shirt: American Apparel, Denim Skirt: American Apparel, Crochet Bralette: Urban Outfitters (sold out, find similar style here), Shoes: Privileged (red sold out, but other colors are available), Sunglasses: Disclothesure 

A few things that Canada has given us Americans are: Drake, Justin Bieber, and the classic denim on denim trend known as the "Canadian Tuxedo." This classic look is one of my favorites and usually includes denim staple pieces that every woman should have in her wardrobe. Any denim top or bottom can be worn to achieve the "Canadian Tux." However, the more traditional way to wear this outfit is with a denim button up shirt and jeans. I decided to wear a skirt simply because it is Summer and it is hot! You can easily put your own personal style into this ensemble. I chose to play on the Canadian origin and add a Patriotic touch with the red, white, and blue bralette. The red shoes and lip added the right touches of color to tie the whole "tux" together.

Concrete Chameleon

Cropped sweater & short set: PHLO, Shoes (sold out, but find a similar style here): Steve Madden 

It is still summer and pretty hot in LA. However, I can't help but gravitate towards wearing neutral tones and knit pieces. Fall is my favorite season for fashion and it cannot come soon enough! Cropped sweaters are one of my choice essentials. A knit short and cropped sweater set would appear to be an oxymoron ("Is she hot or cold?") However, seasons rarely exist in LA. Beanies and boots are sported year round. The time of year does not effect the style in this city. 

This outfit is sporty and chic, so it can be dressed up or down. I am a huge fan of styles that are versatile such as this one because I can get a lot of wear out of it. 

Photos taken by: Aja Hitomi

White, Black, and Pink all over

Sweater: Nasty Gal (Sold out, find similar style here), Pants: American Apparel, Faux Leather Pouch: Forever 21

Even though it is the middle of Summer, I cannot resist a good knit sweater (especially if its pink.) Pink with white and black has always been one of my favorite color combinations.

 I love the striped trimming around the collar and cuffs, which happened to coordinate well with these black and white striped trousers from American Apparel I bought a while back. Oversized looks can be tricky because they tend to be unflattering. However, there is no denying the comfort of this silhouette. Fashion doesn't have to be constricting and contrived.

Unfortunately, I do not remember where I bought the sunglasses from. Luckily reflector shades are popular this summer so they are not hard to find. I am loving shades that have reflector lenses; it adds a hint of flashiness to any outfit. 

Summer Pick: The Perfect Palazzo Pant

Glasses & Bag: Topshop, Tube Top: American Apparel, Pants: Sushe & Shrimp

By now, it's pretty clear that I love a good patterned piece. So, I was pretty excited when I was gifted these colorful palazzo pants from the online boutique Sushe & Shrimp! Not only do I like them because of the print, but they are also very comfortable. These can be worn with any style top, from fitted and cropped, to loose and relaxed. I chose to wear a simple white tube top and accessories that complimented the colors of the pant. The heels I wore were unfortunately not shown because the pants were a tad long (or I'm just too short.) This is my first pair of palazzo pants, but definitely not my  last time wearing them. I love the ease of this silhouette and how they flow when walking in them. Overall, these bottoms are perfect for the Summer season!

Secret Garden

Dress, Earrings, Shoes, and Purse: Nasty Gal

One of my favorite places to visit back home in Maryland is Brookside Gardens. It's a beautiful oasis of flowers and greenery with pathways to walk and observe. I came here to shoot this classic white ribbed asymmetrical dress from Nasty Gal. Unfortunately, the flowers were not as fully bloomed as they would be in the Spring. I typically get nervous about wearing white because of how easily it gets dirty. However, I love the cleanliness of an all white look.