The Gospel According To Coco Chanel

Gray Sweater, Levis Jeans, Cathy Jean Boots

First thing’s first, my new haircut! Yes, it’s WAY shorter….but I am someone who LOVES to experiment with my hair. So I thought, new season–new hair…I mean, who doesn’t think that way?!

Green Apple Books, The Gospel According to Coco Chanel

My new haircut aside, this weekend I went to Green Apple Books and bought Gone Girl, something I need to read before seeing the movie, and The Gospel According To Coco Chanel!

Gray Oversized Sweater, Levis Jeans, Black Booties, Sunglasses, Long Bob

One of my favorite things to do on a sunny weekend in the city is read in the park, and Dolores Park is the perfect destination. Coco Chanel has amazing life lessons for ALL women and girls! Chapter three is titled, “On Fearlessness” and it begins with a quote from Chanel, “The most courageous act is to think for yourself. Aloud.”

Oversized grey sweater, Cuffed Skinny Jeans, Black Booties, Sunglasses

I am constantly working towards finding my own voice, and more importantly, having confidence in my own voice. For me, that means not being afraid to share what I think with the world. Spoiler: It’s way harder than it seems. And what do I do when things are hard?! Read another chapter from The Gospel. In chapter eleven, “On Living Life On Your Own Terms”, I found the solution to my problem.

“The answer isn’t to climb down but to rise higher.” -Coco Chanel

On Me: Hollister Sweater

Levi’s Jeans

Cathy Jean Booties

Nordstrom Sunnies

Urban Outfitters Necklace

Wish List

Two Piece Reformation

I need to invest in a versatile two piece, and Reformation has the best variety!

Levis LVC

A pair of selvedge jeans for women– LVC and made in the USA!

Levis Purse

To match the jeans, a brown leather purse from Levi’s.

Anthropologie

I have a feeling that patterned pants will be in for fall, and Anthropolgie has the best girly/comfy patterns to choose from.

ModCloth flats

I am so used to wearing black flats, but it’s finally time to step out of my comfort zone. ModCloth’s flats are so irresistible– I think I’ll start there…

Naked2Basics

Fall calls for a change in make-up. It’s not quite as dry as winter will be, but the change in seasons is still quite noticeable. That means adding a little more color to my eyes, and Naked2Basics by Urban Decay is the perfect choice.

Diary Of A Mad Diva by Joan Rivers

The recent death of this fashion icon has given me the opportunity to learn more about how she paved the way for so many women. I can’t wait to start reading!

Off The Grid

Off The Grid SF, H&M jacket, Black Pocket T-Shirt, Boyfriend Jeans, Peep-Toe Mule Heels, Sunnies, Cross-Body Leather Purse

Ahh…I love when food and fashion collide!

Off The Grid SF, H&M jacket, Black Pocket T-Shirt, Boyfriend Jeans, Peep-Toe Mule Heels, Sunnies, Cross-Body Leather Purse

Off The Grid is basically a Food Truck Fair. One of the best things about living in San Francisco is that there are always opportunities to go out!

Off The Grid SF, H&M jacket, Black Pocket T-Shirt, Boyfriend Jeans, Peep-Toe Mule Heels, Sunnies, Cross-Body Leather Purse

And going out means…outfit time! Fort Mason is beautiful on a friday night at the end of summer, but as the fog creeps in it gets chilly. H&M has the best fashion forward, yet practical jackets! (P.s. They are having a Labor Day sale right now!)

Off The Grid SF, H&M jacket, Black Pocket T-Shirt, Boyfriend Jeans, Peep-Toe Mule Heels, Sunnies, Cross-Body Leather Purse

My style is usually something simple, comfortable, and one item that adds a little bit of character. These shoes add character for me. They change a day outfit into an evening look.

Off The Grid SF, H&M jacket, Black Pocket T-Shirt, Boyfriend Jeans, Peep-Toe Mule Heels, Sunnies, Cross-Body Leather Purse

I got this quote off of my photographer’s website, and I found it quite funny. “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.”- Mr. Mark Twain

Maybe subconsciously, this is why having style is so important to me…

Black & Brown

How to wear Black & Brown

I think it’s safe to say that every fashionista has heard about “The Black & Brown Rule”.

Black and white striped dress, black stripy heels, brown leather purse, brown sunglasses

Well, here’s the deal. The rule, like many other ridiculous fashion rules, can be thrown out the window if executed correctly.

How to wear black and brown

If you’re trying to wear black and brown together, it’s most likely because the specific shades of those colors do in fact look good together. In my case, I chose a light brown purse with a dark black heel. 

Black and white striped dress, brown leather purse, black stripy heels.

Another great tip to remember is subtlety. Adding white can help create a distraction to the “clashing” colors. The black in my outfit is less severe not only because of my black and white striped dress, but also because there is a dress lending space between the main black and brown pieces.

Black and Brown

Another great distraction is adding a completely different colored jacket to the look. I chose a jean jacket to keep the dress more casual.

Jean Jacket, Black and white striped dress, black strappy heels

If you have an active day and still want to wear this outfit, try these shoes.

How to wear black and brown together

“I want everyone to wear what they want and mix it in their own way. That, to me, is what is modern.” – Karl Lagerfeld

Pool Day

What to bring to the pool.

On a day when the beach is just too crowded, make it a pool day, and ditch the make-up. Instead, use an organic sunscreen to protect you from both the harmful UV rays and unhealthy chemicals. I love bringing a chap stick since my lips love to succumb to the heat too.

Perfect hat and cover up for a pool day.

Don’t forget your shades! Anthropologie has a wonderful selection. Remember, they aren’t just for style, but to help make reading Cosmo and the new Jeanette Walls novel a little bit easier.

Shoes and summer reading ideas.

Light toned sandals, a baggu bag, and cute fedora help my bright bathing suit stand out. It was hard for me to find the perfect suit this year, but if you’re ever in Santa Cruz, Beach St. Boutique has an array of options and colors for everyone.

Bags to bring to the pool.

You might want to find a loose and lovely cover up with many colors so you can wear it with any suit, or even on a night out. The last thing to remember—water, and try adding a delicious cucumber or lemon for a nutritional twist.

What to pack for a pool day.

Ahh… All ready to go!

Summer In San Francisco

High-waisted pants and crop top combo.

Blue. The only thing you feel as you walk out towards the low and mysterious fog that casts its web over the bay…but maybe this isn’t a bad thing. Deep toned teal and navy go surprisingly well together, and you’re ready for any excuse to wear your stylish hat that you’ve been saving for fall.

Vintage hat, shades, and purse for summer.

The wind is particularly strong today, so make sure that hat doesn’t fly away. I know, it’s not that sunny, but throw on the shades anyway. The wind is powerful, but not enough to make YOU cry.

Strappy wedges for summertime.

Candid. You’re caught off guard in what looks like a modelesque pose, but rather you are trying to keep your hair calm by using your hands to remind it to ignore the humidity that this city never fails to bring. Oh right! That’s why you brought the hat in the first place…

Big Sunglasses to wear in the city.

It’s a good thing you remembered your purse, something that can hang below the waist, but also perfect to pull over your shoulder when treading through the wild city streets.

Strappy Wedge and retro hat.

A strappy wedge screams summer! You nailed it with the capris pants; the hint of ankle adds a feminine and strong touch to your look—showing everyone exactly what holds you up on those heels!

Large sunglasses for the summer.

Finally, a beam of sunlight! The sun hits your skin perfectly, which reminds me, good idea on the wide “U” cut shirt. It shows just the right amount of what you want the world to see.

Strappy summer shoe and vintage crop top.

Maybe the fog will clear up after all. You can’t seem to look away from that elegant bridge. Is it the way Big Red looks beneath the overcast sky? You think to yourself, I should probably touch up my lipstick.