Fashion Favorites: Walking In My Shoes… Travel shoes that is.

#campers

What’s the most difficult thing to pack? For many people the answer is: Shoes! They’re bulky, heavy and take up a lot of valuable real estate in the suitcase. If you have multiple occasions to plan for on your journey fitting more than one pair of shoes into your suitcase can present a real challenge. So, this poses the question, what comfortable pair of shoes is stylish, goes with everything and easy to pack?

#campersinarowThe Answer is: Campers!

One of my favorite brands with many styles to choose from, I’ve been wearing Camper brand shoes during my everyday life and on my travels for as long as I can remember! I even wore a pair on my honeymoon. However, for the purpose of this particular post I am referring to a specific style, the Right.

For me, the Camper Rights are literally the perfect travel shoe! Here are a few reasons why:

  • They come in multiple colors – I usually bring three pair: black for dressier occasions, red for a pop of color and grey, because it goes with everything! However, if you check  the website you’ll find a multitude of color options.
  • They can be dressed up or down — they look great with shorts and jeans, but also with dresses and skirts!
  • They have a rubber sole and a wide toe box which provides comfort and makes walking long distances in them a piece of cake!
  • They are great on a hot day and for occasions when open toed shoes aren’t appropriate. For example, when visiting some churches or other religious landmarks they may require closed toed shoes.
  • They are easy to slip on and off making airport security a breeze and they could double as slippers in your hotel if need be!
  • They come in suede leather and leather and I’ve often worn the leather finish in the rain, though I’ll admit they aren’t the best for cold days – you might stick to spring, summer and autumn with this style.
  • And the best part, they pack flat, so multiple pair will fit in the suitcase!

I’ve literally worn these shoes all over the world, hours on end day after day for years and can’t say enough about them!

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Soft rubber soles make walking long distances a piece of cake!

Campers Around The World

#generalife
Campers at the Alhambra! Granada, Spain

Makeup To Go!

It feels like ages since I’ve been anywhere and I’m starting to get restless… lucky for me I’ve got a few trips coming up and others in the works! As soon as the itineraries appear in my inbox I’m thinking about what to pack! This doesn’t just include the clothing in my suitcase, but makeup and toiletries too!

I try to pack as light as possible, but whether I am going to carry-on or check my bags there are certain items that I like to keep in my carry-on tote, makeup and toiletries are on that list! It’s also a good idea to include a spare pair of underwear and socks too… In the event that your bags and you do get separated you will have fresh undies and your makeup bag, and you’ll be good to go no matter what!

SAMSUNG CSCWhat’s In The Bag?

I always want to feel like myself, and even more so when I’m away from home and other things are unfamiliar, so whenever possible I try to bring the items I use on a daily basis with me when I travel. Of course items over 4 oz are prohibited on the plane, so everything must shrink in size… It’s taken ages, but the makeup industry seems to have finally gotten on board. The MAC counter has a “Sized To Go” section and Nordstrom has a “Mini Must Haves” section with multiple product lines represented!

Not everything comes in convenient travel sizes, but when I can’t find what I am looking for I’ve had great luck asking for sample sizes of my favorite products from the counters I visit regularly. I love my tiny Chanel mascara and primer, and my mini eye cream!

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Eyeshadows don’t come in travel sizes, but rather than bring many individual shadows, which take up lots of room and have a greater chance of breakage I bring one small palette with many colors. Recently I picked up this fun MAC palette with lots of spring colors. I love the wide variety because I can use it for multiple occasions, both day and night. I’ve even used the pink shades, as blush and cheek highlighter, which you can see are very similar in color to the larger size blush I already own.

Here I am with day and night looks using the same palette:

While I do keep both my makeup and my toiletries in my carry-on tote I like to keep them separate. Keeping all the liquid items in one pouch and non-liquid in the other makes getting through airport security so much smoother!

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I hope these ideas are helpful! I’d love to hear some of your ideas on what works for you when packing your makeup bag or carry-on. What are your must have items?

 

 

 

Fashion Favorites: Crazy for Camouflage!

For the most part I consider myself a “stay on the path” kind of girl, a rule follower if you will, however, this is definitely not the case when it comes to my wardrobe! Where fashion is concerned I not only love to skirt the edge, but there are times when I go right over it! Head first!

Getting dressed shouldn’t be serious or stressful! Anything goes and there is very little that isn’t okay. This is the part of your everyday that should fall under the category of fun!

Camo for days…

We all have favorites, the items we gravitate to time and time again, and based on the amount of camouflage in my closet it’s clear what mine is! Don’t laugh, but I honestly had no idea. I was genuinely surprised at the collection I’ve managed to build up over the years! It’s a mix of textures, weights and styles in various shades of blue, black, desert white, pink, grey, and your standard camo green! Having all these options makes it possible for me to mix and match with other pieces in my wardrobe all year long. No matter the occasion, casual or dressy I’m covered!

What Not To Wear: All Your Camo At The Same Time!

Remember that part above where I said there is very little in fashion that isn’t okay? I’m going to suggest that unless you’re in the armed forces, wearing all your camo at once fits neatly into that little category. However, just this one time… since I’m writing this post…

“Hiding” Out in My Camouflage

Sweet Meets Street: A Mix of Styles Adds an Element of Fun!

I love to mix edgier pieces with contrasting fabrics and accessories like velvet or silk or a bit of sparkle. I’ve mixed my velvet flats with camo zipper jeans and a studded leather belt, or my other camo jeans with a fun daisy muscle tee and short booties for a more relaxed look.

Peek-A-Camo

Believe it or not I don’t always wear camo and sometimes I just want a hint of something fun to peek out from a more subdued outfit. This pink camo tank fits the bill!

Here, There and Everywhere!

Here are just a few of the outfits I’ve put together using my camouflage collection! They represent many past events and I am sure will be present at many more in the future. These include, Academy Awards parties, date nights, family movie nights, fancy dinners, school drop offs and pick ups, shopping, hanging out at home & mom’s nights out.

Remember: A Little Goes a Long Way…

New Year’s Eve! Makeup!

The holiday season is coming to a close and with it 2015, but before we say a fond farewell to this crazy year, we have one more opportunity to celebrate! New Year’s Eve!

I love makeup and I love glitter and for me no holiday look would be complete without them both. Even better why not combine the two! No matter your plans, going to dinner with friends, a fancy party, or just staying in, this look should do the trick!

The Smokey Eye

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Before getting started I give my face a once over with MAC makeup remover wipes. They are great for picking up any excess dirt or oil that may be on your skin. Next up is moisturizer and I can’t stress this enough, not only is it good for your skin, but it helps give your makeup a smooth more natural appearance. My favorites which I apply in the following order are: Chanel Le Lift eye cream, Dr. Brandt Infinite Moisture, and for daytime events, Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion which is an oil free sunscreen.

To give my skin a more even tone I apply Chanel CC Cream all over and then use a small amount of the Chanel Correcteur Perfection Concealer under my eyes and around the edges of my nose.

Next I apply the powder and blush. I really like MAC Studio Fix and use it everyday. When doing a heavy eye I go a little lighter with blush and for this look I used the Bobby Brown Shimmer Brick in Rose.

Now its time to focus on my eyes. My first step is to apply an eyeshadow paint as a base. My current party favorite is Chanel Fantasme which provides a nice shimmer! I bring the Fantasme all the way to my brow line. Next, my entire lower lid is “painted” with a dark blue Chanel shadow called Swing. To achieve an even darker look and also maintain better control of the shadow I wet the brush before applying. A little water goes a long way.

At this point my lower lid is dark blue and my upper lid is a shimmering white and I’ll need to blend them. To do this I used MAC Gesso Matte which is a white shadow with no shimmer and applied it to the middle area of my lid. I used MAC Pigment Powder in Vanilla to highlight the corner of my eye.

Applying dark shadow can be tricky and it makes perfect sense to do your eyes before completing the steps above. If you do experience a little powder fallout, a q-tip works great to sweep up any excess!

To finish my eyes I applied eyeliner to my upper lid using the Chanel eyeliner pen in Noir. If you’re not sure about using liquid liner this is the one for you! It’s just like drawing with a felt tip marker! For the lower lid and waterline I used a MAC eyeliner pencil in Black Swan which has a tiny bit of shimmer to it. I use a brush to smudge the shadow under my eyes.

Recently I discovered mascara primer and I love not only the length it gives to my lashes, but how easily the mascara goes on after using it. I am using Chanel, but MAC also has one available! The final touch to my eyes is Chanel Inimitable mascara in Noir.

Last but not least, lips! It’s the holiday season, so I felt red was in order, but again because I went with such a dark shadow I didn’t want it to be too over powering, so I toned it down with a gloss. I used MAC Luster in Cockney and a MAC lip gloss from the Cinderella line.

The Finished Look

#partymakeup

Here is my finished look! I hope you like it and whatever your plans I wish you a happy and healthy New Year!

Tis The Season… To Dress Up!

I love this time of year for many reasons, not the least of which are all the fun excuses to get dressed up! No matter the occasion for the next four weeks all events call for a little more glitter, glitz and glam! Parties, lunches, dinners, any excuse will do!

Because, it’s not exactly reasonable to purchase a new dress for every event… I have a few ideas in mind.

Idea #1: Making Something Old Into Something New

Recently when going through my closet I came across a few dresses that I hadn’t worn in ages, but I just couldn’t bring myself to donate. Since I wasn’t willing to give them up maybe I should try to wear them again? Why not see if I could refurbish them?

Once upon a time when I was dating my husband, he gave me a lovely dress for a holiday gift… and I still have it… and it (mostly) still fits! Okay, full disclosure: two kids and 17 years later I had to give myself a tiny bit of breathing room up top.

Here I am wearing the dress to the Last Call Millennium Ball in 1999 and again just last week to a celebration dinner in the city. I spent $65 dollars on tailoring and wallah a new dress! Not too shabby!

I was the matron-of-honor in my sister’s wedding 5 years ago and nice sister that she is I was able to choose my own dress. I picked up this amazing Emporio Armani at a pre-sale, not only unique, but very comfortable! It’s made of stretch wool and perfect for winter occasions. I’ve always loved this dress, but unlike the dress above this one was too big and needed to be taken in quite a bit.

Here I am wearing the dress in the wedding and I’ll be wearing it again 5 years later to a party next week! I spent $135 on the tailoring and I hope to wear it at least a few more times.

Idea #2: Rent The Runway

Lucky for me, I’ll be attending a number of fun events this season and while I am very pleased with the outcome of the two dresses above, I’d love a few more options.

I’ve decided to try renting a dress from a website called, Rent The Runway. Have you heard of it? It’s quite simple really, choose from the thousands of designer clothes and accessories, wear them to your event(s), and then return it all via UPS.

Although I have a number of friends who use Rent The Runway regularly, this will be my first time using it. There are so many fun options my fingers are crossed it’s a success!

The dress on the left is my first choice. I’ll be receiving two of them. One is a backup, on the off chance the sizing isn’t quite right. The outfit on the right is my second choice as insurance on the even bigger chance that the first one just doesn’t work at all. I get to keep both dresses for four days! I spent $120 dollars on rental fees and that includes the return shipping.

Just incase…

Things don’t go as planned with Rent The Runway… I do have a backup or a few!

Idea #3: Okay, I Did Pick Up A Few Items

My new faux fur leopard print jacket goes well with almost everything and keeps me warm to and from! Paired with a fresh new pair of black heels I’m all set!

For more casual occasions I picked up a faux leather hoodie and I love it paired with, well, just about everything!

Whatever you decide to go with, old made new, something rented or your tried and true favorites, have fun with it and enjoy the season!

 

24 Hours in Los Angeles, Hilarystyle!

#dogtown15 years ago when we moved to the Los Angeles area as newlyweds I wasn’t too sure, but a few years in it was true love, 6-ish years later when circumstances dictated a move, my heart was broken. It’s safe to say I “left my heart in Los Angeles”. I know, I know the song doesn’t go that way, but I’m rewriting it.

No matter how long between visits, or where I’ve lived since, an arrival into LAX always feels like a homecoming. Just last week when given the opportunity to fly down for the night, sans kids, I jumped on it! A little LA fix was just what I needed!

How did I spend my time? Shopping, eating and wandering around the old neighborhood!

Venice’s Abbot Kinney

The moment I landed I dropped my bag at the hotel and made a beeline for Venice and more specifically Abbot Kinney!

#abbotkinneyLos Angeles is vast and there are many fantastic neighborhoods in which to shop and eat, so it can be hard to choose, but on this particular visit I was on a mission!

15 years ago this area was still on its way up and had been for a while, but its safe to say it’s arrived! Many of today’s most sought after fashion brands have stores on Abbot Kinney, some of which are one of a kind store fronts, not to mention there are many trendy bars and restaurants to choose from.

I know you’ll be surprised when I tell you that I found some fun items to bring home! All of which will be perfect for mixing and matching with the “essential items” I already had.

Santa Monica

Though not technically Los Angeles, Santa Monica is always on our must list when we head to SoCal, we lived there for 6+ years and its like coming home. The views of the ocean and beach from Ocean Avenue never get old.

Palihouse Hotel

We stayed at the Palihouse a charming old hotel located in our old neighborhood and walking distance from the Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica Place, the beach and Montana Avenue shopping! Though old, the rooms are spacious, clean and decorated in a somewhat quirky but fun style. The attention to detail is great and the location can’t be beat!

#palihouse

Walking up and down Montana Avenue is always a pleasure with its many shops to wander in and out of. Though it’s not fancy we love to stop for lunch at Rosti, a family friendly Italian restaurant on 10th and Montana. The goat cheese capellini with marinara is the best! If you decide to check it out keep in mind you’ll need to bring your own wine.

For me no trip to Los Angeles would be complete without a meal at either Furaibo or Hurry Curry! A perfect trip would include both, but hey I only had 24 hours…

Furaibo is a Japanese restaurant located on Sawtelle Boulevard (Little Osaka) in West LA. They are famous for their Japanese style chicken wings which are my favorite, but Tim loves the fish in a bowl which is essentially an entire fried fish the bowl is the fish!  This place is one of the more popular places on the block, but it’s definitely worth the wait!

Though there were many places and people I didn’t get to visit during this quick trip, I managed to spend time in Malibu, Venice, Santa Monica and West LA. I wandered aimlessly, shopped, ate and most importantly got my LA fix!

Until next time…

Closet Essentials for Autumn! The Basics!

#fallisintheairAutumn has always been my favorite season. I love the feel of a slight chill in the air, a rainy day, the changing of the leaves and the smell of a nearby fire. Of course with the arrival of these things also come fall fashions and just in time! By now I’ve grown tired of my summer attire and I am more than ready to get back to my “uniform”, jeans, Ts and boots!

I’ve been thinking about this post for a while now, but until this past week it hasn’t really felt much like fall in the Bay Area making it hard to think about wearing cool weather clothing. However, stores have been in fall mode for a number of months now and I must admit I’ve been tempted to pick up few new items here and there…

Of course before you go crazy purchasing the latest greatest, its helpful to have some basics to build on. With just a few items you can create a multitude of outfits all of which go together and then have fun adding in a bit of this and that to dress them up or down depending on the occasion! Lately I’ve been pairing dressier items with ultra casual pieces!

The Essentials

Three pair of pants: denim, green and black.

#closetessentials

I’ve chosen a dark wash denim as it’s easier to dress up, a pair of dark green cords and a pair of black “jean” style pants with some leather detailing. All of these can be worn, with flats or boots.

Two Jackets, Two Over shirts and Two Ts

Living in California means that even when the calendar says fall we still have pretty warm days, so layering is a good idea. Basic t-shirts in black and white go with everything, but its fun to add a little interest with a graphic of some sort, that way if you do peel off some layers it won’t be boring!  I also like choices so I’ve got a jean jacket which goes with everything and for those days when it’s nice to have something a little heavier I recently picked up a utility style jacket in a camo print. The latter is turning out to be just the right weight, especially when paired with a cardigan or an open front shirt. I tend to gravitate toward black, white, and grey because everything matches, but I like a pop of color too!

A Dress!

One can’t always wear jeans and you can’t go wrong with basic black dress! I’m choosing to pair it with an open front shirt to give it a more casual look, but adding a bit of jewelry and a cardigan would dress it up!

The possibilities Are Endless

Here I’ve mixed and matched to create a few examples, but throw in some jewelry, shoes, and other accessories and the sky is the limit!

New York! Shopping!

I think I may have mentioned in some of my previous posts that I absolutely love to travel! But I also love to shop! What could be better than shopping while traveling? A perfect combination! No?!

It’s a small world and with the invention of online shopping and chain stores on every corner it’s getting harder and harder to find places to shop that are unique. So why waste time shopping in a new city when you can find anything you need or want from the comfort of the living room couch? To that I say, “Where is the fun in that?”  You see, for me, it’s not really about getting a new item, well not entirely anyway… what it’s really about is the experience, wandering the neighborhood, poking in and out of different types of shops, discovering new places  and meeting the people.

mercer-street-soho-new-yorkOn our most recent trip we chose to dedicate an entire day to shopping in SoHo, but in a city like New York there are endless places to shop and we managed to fit in the Meatpacking District and Madison Avenue on this trip as well. 🙂

SoHo is shorthand for South of Houston and it is on the list of National Historic Landmarks. The borders are Broadway west to Sixth Avenue, and Houston Street south to Canal Street. Within those borders you’ll find just about every retailer you’ve ever heard of and many you haven’t! There are also many flagship stores and one of a kind places too. You’ll find clothing, shoes shops galore, furniture, art, housewares and more! Oh and did I forget to mention the chocolate shops, amazing restaurants and hotels who are also located here! With its cobblestone streets, cast-iron buildings, designer shops and oh so cool vibe, SoHo is  unlike any other place in New York. Don’t miss it!

Keep in mind most shops in SoHo don’t open until 11:00 am, but stay open later which we discovered when we showed up ready to shop at 10:00 am on a Monday! No worries, we stopped and had a coffee while we waited…

Don’t laugh but before we’d even made it two blocks we’d already visited Orla Kiely, Fiorentini & Baker, Ted Baker, Paige and James Perse! My favorite right now is Rag & Bone, so that was our next stop and then of course we wanted to make time for, Desigual, Moleskine, Sam Edelman and Camper Shoes. We were also excited to discover a Sweaty Betty and a Miz Mooz Shoes along the way! By this time it was already 2:00 pm and although we’d made a sizable dent in our pocketbooks we’d hardly seen any of the neighborhood!

We spent a lot of time on Mercer Street, but this handy map of SoHo stores and services might help you plan your itinerary a little better! Not that there are many, but if you’re looking for a bargain your best bet is Broadway where you’ll find more mainstream shops, like Lucky Brand, Banana Republic, and Guess?!

Bleecker Street is another great shopping area… It’s actually a great street to walk down if you’re heading to SoHo from the Meatpacking district or vice versa. Although you may get sidetracked and never make it to your destination! There are many fun one-of-a-kind boutiques along Bleecker Street as well as some big names like M.A.C. and James Perse. You’ll find the famous Magnolia Bakery here and there are many great bars and restaurants as well. We used to come here a lot when we lived in Hoboken as the PATH station is nearby on Christopher Street and it’s one of my favorite spots.

The Meatpacking District is home to the Highline, The Standard Hotel and the new Whitney as well as many great shops:  Diane Von Furstenberg, Alice & Olivia, Joie, Michael Stars, Theory and Intermix and the list goes on… Also nearby you’ll find Christian Louboutin, a Barney’s Coop and Alexander McQueen. If you’re more interested in picking up a new piece of art there are a number of galleries here and often you’ll find artists selling their wares right on the sidewalk!

We not only found a lot of fun new treasures on this trip, but we met a number of really fun people along the way! In fact we had so much fun with the shopgirl in the Alice & Olivia store that we exchanged numbers! Turns out she and I both grew up about 45 minutes from each other on the West Coast! Small world indeed! Per her request I sent her a photo of me in my new outfit the first time I wore it!

Remember this is by no means a comprehensive list! New York has no shortage of neighborhoods in which to wander and shop, these are just a few of my personal favorites!