Lace-Up Denim

Bodysuit: Reformation (Similar) | Skirt: PacSun (Similar: 1, 2) | Heels: Target | Bag: Michael Kors

Every now and then, I stumble upon a garment that conveniently incorporates an assortment of my favorite styles into one fabulous package. This boho-chic denim skirt from PacSun is undoubtedly one of them! I love my denim skirts and am also a massive lace-up enthusiast, so naturally this piece was the ultimate match made in fashion heaven 

It was pretty chilly on the day that I shot this look, so I paired this skirt with my warm and cozy Lozita bodysuit from Reformation. It's nicely fitted and does a great job at keeping heat in, something that I definitely appreciated seeing as I was super under the weather when doing this shoot. The great thing about this body suit in particular is that it serves as a chic blank canvas for anything it's paired with. For this look, I felt that the lace-up detailing of the denim skirt stood out quite nicely against it.

I hope everyone is having a great start to their weekend!  

And The Music Keeps On Playing

Romper: PacSun (Similar) | Choker: Amazon | Bag: Michael Kors 

The festival looks continue! Here's another boho-chic look for you guys, this time with a bit more of a sleek, '90s touch via the incorporation of my wide, velvet choker. This is the widest one I own (I have three in total) and I love throwing it on when I'm looking to add a chic, dramatic punch to an outfit. Thinner chokers are great for playing up looks, but I find the wide chokers to be the ones that really steal the show. Paired with this romper, I think it adds just the right amount of sleekness to the outfit while simultaneously maintaining the bohemian vibe the rest of the ensemble possesses. After all, bell-sleeved rompers are basically a festival fashion staple. This look is also another example of the stylish cohesion that exists between '70s and '90s fashion. If you're looking for an effortless way to achieve that mix, just remember the ever-so-promising pairing of chokers and bell sleeves.

On a similar, music-related note (ha!), I saw Grimes in concert two nights ago and was absolutely blown away by the whole experience. I've mentioned this on Instagram as well, but I first saw her live at Coachella three years ago and somehow found myself even more amazed at her performance the second time around. I've always been a big Grimes fan, but Art Angels has had me hooked like no album has done in a while.  Being able to sing along to all of my favorite songs with her and watch her play practically everything by herself was a magical experience and another reminder as to why I love her so dearly. 

Coachella x The Seventies

With another round of Coachella kicking off today, it's only fitting that we address one of the biggest trends we'll be seeing on the desert this weekend: '70s fashion. Pairing this look with the boho styles we typically see at music festivals is, to put it simply, an absolute match made in fashion heaven.  And seeing as I'm a huge fan of both looks (something I've made very apparent on here), I couldn't be any more excited to have music festival season kicking into full gear! I've written a piece for Denizen Magazine highlighting a few staple pieces necessary when rocking the coveted vintage look of the '70s and would love for you guys to check it out as well. 

Read the full piece here!

Desert Vibes

Dress: Forever 21 | Heels: Target | Bag: Michael Kors (Similar) | Watch: Michael Kors

 Coachella season is in its prime, so it's only fitting that I do some breezy, bohemian and desert-chic shoots. This actually wasn't in the desert, but rather in the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Pasadena. Close enough, right? My boyfriend and I took a lovely two day trip there over the weekend and I'm very glad to have made this stop in particular. I absolutely adore flowers and plants and they had some lovely exhibits all throughout the park.

I bought this dress from Forever 21 in Old Pasadena literally the day before this shoot, so what you're seeing here is actually the first time I wore it out. It's the perfect floral, mini dress and is definitely something I personally would rock to Coachella. It's comfortably breezy, but also nicely fitted. The airy fabric is also lightweight and perfect for the spring time. Every time I associate florals with springtime, I always think of Miranda Priestly's line in "The Devil Wears Prada" (aka, my favorite movie of all time) and feel a bit discouraged. You know,"Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking." As much as I try to stay true to this ideology, I can't deny the fact that I will always love floral print and will always find an excuse to wear it. Floral dresses are some of my favorite garments to wear, and they're especially perfect during the spring and the summer. So yeah, sorry Miranda.

Whenever I wear prints, I make sure to balance it out by keeping everything else neutral and simple. A black satchel, some gold/ rose gold jewelry and nude heeled sandals acted as the perfect complements to the floral print while adding their own casual chic touches. 

Sunkissed Silk

Top: Brandy Melville | Shorts: H&M (Similar) | Heels: Target (Similar) | Bag: Michael Kors | Bracelet: The Limited 

If there is any way to instantly incorporate some luxe into your outfit, it's with a silky touch. I've been obsessed with silk lately, and was thus absolutely ecstatic when finding that Brandy Melville started up a gorgeous collection of silky pieces sold at a price point just as addicting. Because let's be real here: as stunning as silk is, we all know it's not exactly the cheapest material to get your hands on. The blouse you see here is from this very line, and I may or may not have splurged on a bunch of other items from this collection as well (....I definitely did). Golden hour, as always, was the perfect time to complement the stunning sheen of this blouse. To pair alongside this piece, I threw in some rich shades of denim and tan and some subtle hints of gold on the wrists and fingers. This blouse is also super light and airy, making it perfect for the warm weather LA has finally gone back to enjoying. For shoes, my favorite pair of nude, heeled sandals matched perfectly with the laidback yet luxe aesthetic of this outfit. 

Makeup-wise, I opted for a subtle, bronze shimmer on the cheekbones accompanied with my signature cat eye and a natural, matte lip. Contour consists of Anastasia Beverly Hill's illuminator in Peach Nectar and the bronzer from Maybellines Facestudio Master Contour kit, while eyeshadow is all from Urban Decay's Naked Palette. Lastly, lips are "Ruffle Trim" from NYX's absolutely addicting Lip Lingerie line. As mentioned in my previous beauty post, this shade is perfect for everyday use and my daily go-to! 

I've got a few more silk and denim looks planned so expect to continue seeing this pairing on here. They combine to create that luxe, California-cool vibe that I'm definitely all about, so you know I've just got to rock it for myself. 

Mad for Matte

Matte, nude lips have become a massively popular trend as of lately, and I've got to admit that I am all for it. Now if you think my style in fashion changes often, you should just see how ridiculous my makeup preferences shift. My signature lipstick looks change all the time, and I've even switched around quite a bit since the last beauty post I've put up on here! (which, embarrassingly, was really not too long ago at all.) To be honest, I'm actually feeling pretty optimistic on the look I've got down at the moment. Because believe it or not, I think that this one may actually have some longevity after all. My transition to matte lipstick has introduced me to formulas that I feel have been far more superior to the glossier ones I wore in the past. They pack a bolder punch of color, last significantly longer and match seamlessly with just about any other makeup products I'm wearing. What's not to love? The benefit of following such a popular trend is that you've got a whole influx of these products everywhere, giving you an overwhelming amount of options to select from. From drugstore brands like Maybelline and Revlon to more high-end companies like Laura Mercier and Stila, matte, liquid lipsticks are being shelled out everywhere. During the past two months, I've narrowed down this impossibly large selection to the select few that have stood out to me the most. 

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Pure Hollywood

So far, I have yet to be disappointed with an Anastasia product. I've given their Dipbrow Pomade and highlighters a shoutout on here before, and now it's time for me to shine a light on the wonder that is their liquid lipstick. This product glides on as a super smooth liquid and immediately dries into a luxurious matte. It's long-lasting, good quality and packs a strong amount of pigment for such a light toned color. I wasn't a huge fan of this shade at first as I thought it was just a bit too light on me, but it only took me a few more wears to realize that it actually rocks. Now, my next plan of Anastasia action? I absolutely must get my hands on the new liquid lipsticks shades that just recently got released.

2. Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick in Celebrity Skin 
I'm obsessed with this lipstick. Literally everything about it is incredible. The color is by far the perfect nude shade, the formula is lightweight, and the packaging itself is ultra cute. It has a faint root beer smell that makes the application process that much more pleasant and the product lasts all day.  

3. ColourPop Cosmetics Ultra Matte Lip in Chilly Chili
Top three: Chilly Chili / Last three: Limbo

If you want an amazing matte liquid lipstick for a bargain price, ColourPop is the brand for you. After having so much success with their Lippie Stix collection, I decided to switch over to the Ultra Matte line and see what these products had to offer. Unsurprisingly, they were just as great - if not better! Just like with Anastasia, the product glides on as a smooth liquid and quickly dries into a matte finish. A little goes a long way with this stuff, especially with shades as bold as these ones, so make sure you don't accidentally glob up more product than necessary. I had the rather unfortunate experience of doing so, and ended up with a giant drop of Chilly Chili on my white bedsheets. 

ColourPop Cosmetics Ultra Matte Lip in Limbo Limbo is an ultra bold and daring color. Once swipe of it and I literally feel unstoppable. I am honestly all about dark brown lipstick, and this is the perfect shade for when I want to add a whole lot of edge to whatever it is I'm wearing. Chilly Chili is similar in character, but has a plummier tinge to it. This makes it slightly more toned down than Limbo, but it's still badass nevertheless. 

5. NYX Lip Lingerie in Beauty Mark
Top three: Ruffle Trim / Last two: Beauty Mark
After falling in love with NYX's soft matte lip cream line (the shade "Abu Dhabi" is my favorite!), I figured I would try out the Lip Lingerie collection as well. This line in particular was perfect for me, as it features a wide selection of exclusively nude-toned shades in a matte formula. It was actually quite difficult for me to select only a few, and I can't even tell you guys how many swatch videos I watched on Youtube to help me narrow down my selections! After long inspection, I picked Ruffle Trim and Beauty Mark and ended up being very pleased with my results. Beauty Mark is similar to ColourPop's Limbo, as they're both dark chocolatey browns that give your look a bold, daring touch. Beauty Mark seems to be a bit more on the grayer side, leaving the final finish not as intense and bold as that of Limbo's. Nevertheless, it's a stunning color and perfect for adding some edginess to any look. And just like with the lip cream, the drying process was wonderfully quick. 

NYX Lip Lingerie in Ruffle Trim Ruffle Trim reminds me of Celebrity Skin because it's such a perfect, everyday color to wear. It's a gorgeous cinnamon pink that works with just about any look it's paired with, whether you're going out to a casual brunch or off to a romantic dinner date. It's subtle and leaves an impression all at the same time, and I definitely love that it's only $7.