The Scene
Last day at The Office and in L.A. for a week. Over the moooooon.

Race home and then head to the airport to catch a red-eye.

See you on the other side, my pretties :)





The Outfit
Marimekko for H&M top
Citizens for Humanity jeans

The Accessories
Tory Burch flats
Chanel bag

The Grade
Pass



















The Commentary
Another "who cares" outfit. Sorry. Without thinking, I grabbed the jeans and flats. Then I dug out the blousy print tunic - popular with pregnant women and us non-pregnant women who feel preggers. Sigh ;(




































































This Marimekko top reminds me of the pretty prints at DKNY Spring

































Marc by Marc Jacobs












































But my favorite prints so far: Marni. Love the color palette. So joyful and hopeful, girly and just plain pretty.




















































































































Never underestimate the impact a little color can have on your mood. And never underestimate how the prospect of a vacation can make your skin glow ;)

The Scene
Spent most of the day mentally packing and repacking my bag for New York. Ugh. NYC always scrambles the fashion cortex of my brain. After all, NYC is the exact opposite of L.A.: you walk everywhere, the weather is not to be trusted, and people have true individual style. Think I managed to do an OK job. Grabbed some fab scarves, flat boots, polka dots, sequins, and liquid leggings. But I just KNOW I am going to feel frumptified once I get there.

























It's the shoes. Would have loved to pack my sky YSL heels like L.A. girl Cupcakes and Cashmere did for her recent NYC jaunt. But I know myself. I will end up with a twisted ankle on a cobblestone street embarrassing Jean Bean if I attempt anything higher than a Reva flat. F to being an L.A. princess.
















































































The Outfit
Jovavich-Hawk for Target dress

The Accessories
Me&Ro skull earrings
Forever 21 belt and bracelet
Stuart Weitzman booties
Chanel bag

The Grade
Pass



















The Commentary
Threw on any ole thing today. I'm already mentally on vacation. Good thing according to the polka dotted spring Marni runway, I was already ahead of the game. Love when that happens.


























































































































The black tough chic accessories - bag, booties, bracelet, belt - were all my ode to NYC edge. Cannot wait!

Coco Before Chanel

The Scene
In honor of the new Chanel beauty that joined the family yesterday, my mom and I watched Coco Before Chanel today.































Unfortunately, it was The September Issue all over again. Didn't love it. Sure it was interesting to catch glimpses into the psyche of one of the first women to give birth to an iconic fashion house.





































How she was influenced by the austerity of a childhood spent in an orphanage and romantic visits to the shore as an adult. How she developed a style all her own - one rooted in androgyny and comfort and improvisation. How the Chanel empire started with - of all things - a few straw hats.















































But like The September Issue, Coco Before Chanel is fundamentally joyless. Not surprising. The bottom line that emerges in this movie and things I've read about Coco Chanel: she was not a particularly happy or likable or satisfied person. So often the case with great visionaries.





































The saving grace of the movie is Amelie...er...Audrey Tatou. She floats through scenes with an elan and grace few American actresses possess. She makes me wish I could spritz on some Chanel No. 5 and instantly transform into a French gamine.


























































The best part of the movie for me happened well after the credits rolled. My mom pointedly said to me, "I didn't realize Coco never married or had any children." I nodded vigorously as she muttered, "She probably would have never accomplished everything she did if she had..."

If it takes sitting through mediocre movies to get my mom to understand why I feel zero urgency to get married or have babies, I'll do it. I'll do it every weekend.










































The Outfit
Banana Republic top
Ann Taylor shorts

The Accessories
Marc by Marc Jacobs zipper earrings
Urban Outfitters head band
Chanel bag
Tory Burch flats


The Grade
B-
































The Commentary
Still too scorching hot for anything other than shorts





























































Decided to mix up the prints with a little textured polka dot top
































Particularly loving the mix of patterns Marni showed on the runway for Spring.

































Almost as much as the polka dots with leather Phllip showed































The 80s look Marc showed at M by MJ

































The unabashed girliness at Chris Benz






























And the Hitchcock-esque beauties Prabal Gurung

































But my favorite part of today's look: the braid. It really is the one Spring trend that's unapologetically girly. Well braids and polka dots.

The Scene
Met my mom this morning for brunch and presumably to help her with a few errands. Little did I know today would be the day of her annual MAJOR shopping spree. Does your mother do this: hem and haw and feel guilty about spending money on herself all year; then out of the blue, she will go absolutely apeshit, drop some serious cheddar and not bat an eye. Mine does.
































Today she started at Neiman's. Bought a Chanel purse. She was thinking black but I steered her toward a carmel/neutral color. More youthful. More L.A. It is her first Chanel bag.

My stepdad always wanted to shower her in Chanel. Have I mentioned what a gooood man he was? ;) But for some reason she thought interlocking C's were too ostentatious. I like to think her Chanel whore daughter helped her change her tune in the last 15 years.
































On the way home, I suggested stopping by the Phillip Lim store. Frankly seeing my mom get a new bag made this copy cat want one too. Have regretted not snapping up a couple that I saw when I met Mr. Dreamy Lim himself.





















































Sadly for me, the bags were completely sold out. But while I wasn't looking my mom managed to find the coat she's been dreaming of for decades. Seriously. You have no idea how hard it is finding a slightly retro, absolutely classic black coat for L.A. weather that fits a curvy petite woman with an EXTREMELY exacting eye. The minute she put it on and realized it would hardly need any alteration, she looked like she might start weeping tears of joy. So happy when she is happy. Someone who sparkles like she does deserves all things beautiful.


































After a fashionable morning it was time for a football evening. Headed to the Colliseum for our first home game of the season. YAYAYAYAYAY!


























































Mr. Diabolina did his typical tailgaiting ritual: sunscreen, beer, repeat.























































We met up with some silly boys and hot girls











































































































I love fall days like these. It's like you can smell the change in the air.






































































The Outfit
USC top and ball cap
Gap shorts

The Accessories
Vintage chain strap bag
Stuart Weitzman gladiators
Louis Vuitton earrings


The Grade
Pass

















The Scene
It may be nearly October but it has been over 80 degrees in the shade for the last week in Los Angeles. Hence the shorts and tissue-thin top







































































































































Wish I was working out more and eating less. Would have felt comfortable in my own skin today. Maybe even worn a tank.

































































Thankfully Lauragami gave me the secret to customizing old tshirts that might be a little more flattering since they aren't as huggy. God I love crafty pretty young things.




























































Especially ones in training

































Opted for a bag with a long strap. Always feels more sporty and functional to me


























But instead of leather or canvas, my straps of choice are chains ;)































Would have much preferred the latest Phillip Lim to my old $15 Goodwill find.





























Felt cute nuff at the game. Not too Ronald McDonald but nothing special. I guess football days are never really about the clothes.


































But couldn't they at least be about the shoes ;)