My Style: Graphic Jungle

If you're tired of seeing me in stripes, raise your hand. Ok, I see a few. Well, I'm sorry. Stripes happen. I can walk into anything store, and I'm immediately drawn to those white and black bars. Stripes have me brainwashed, but I'm not complaining. It's not like I'm trying to force you to like them just because I love them. It's not a conspiracy. I just have a problem. But this outfit is a new one for me. Never before have I worn stripes together. It's unheard of. What about stripes with dots? Yeah, I went there. It's bold. It's graphic. It's a jungle out there is these streets.



I was inspired by an outfit I saw Jennifer Lopez rocking on American Idol. I couldn't believe she was wearing stripes of different sizes all in the same dress. Perfection. It hugged her body in all the right places and the patterns didn't seem to compete with each other at all. I thought "Hey! If J-Lo can do it, then so can I." Ok, I may be a bit delusional because I don't have a booty like hers or star power like that either. But I've got something, dang it!


The Look
Shirt: Zara (similar)
Skirt: BDG
Heels: Zara (similar)
Sunglasses: Peter Pilotto for Target
Clutch: Merona
Earrings: Target
Ring & Necklace: LZZR Jewelry

The outfit is already banging, but the accessories are like the sprinkles on top of the icing on the cake. Yes I kept the heels basic and black, but they have a sort of suede texture that gives them extra za-zing. The copper necklace necklace and bronze rectangular ring are from latest collection by Lzzr Jewerly. Heavy metal never looked so chic. The shades I scored on sale from the Peter Pilotto for Target collection. Solid-colored sunglasses are such a bore. The polka dot clutch is also pretty sweet and adds some color so that I don't look like a really long barcode.


Super industrial buildings, street art, and one delicious dirty chai latte made this outfit come to life. Shot in around the Daily Dose Cafe in downtown LA. Awesome pics by Taryn with the assistance of Alex for 6twenty7 photography.

If someone tries to say that wearing different stripes together is a fashion faux pas, just show them this. I may look like a zebra plus a cheetah with a little bluebird in her hand, but I'm one hot Phoenix. Better recognize.

My Style: Hip Hop Heavyweight

The rivalry continues. "If I had to choose a coast..." I'd have to choose the west. New York is fabulous and all but, the cold is no joke. The weather is obviously the deciding factor. While the Polar Vortex has been beating down on the rest of the country, we've enjoyed 75 degrees and sunshine in LA. I know y'all have been California Dreaming. Don't hate! Now when it comes to hip hop, I'm definitely all about the Eastside. I love Pac with all his sexiness,may he rest in peace, but I'm not down for that much West Coast rap. Sorry, it just doesn't do it for me. I'll get to the smack talking later. On to the main event... fashion. For this round we're taking it to the streets.


"Now let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild west..." We rock big fake furs and boots. Not because it's cold outside... No, we just want to look good. Flossin'. When you think hip hop, you picture thick gold chains and an IN YOUR FACE attitude. So that's what I'm inspired by for this look. That "I don't give f***" style Biggie and Tupac rapped with. You feel it every time you listen to All Eyez on Me or Juicy. Nothing can stop you.

"It was all a dream. I used to read Word Up magazine." When I was younger, I wanted to dress like those New York hustler guys with their puffy coats and Timberlands. Now that I'm older, I can still throw a bit of that flavor into what I wear now. Playing it tough like a tomboy in my rugged boots and jeans. But then add some interesting textures like the faux fur and super shiny extensions. I'm a bad, bad girl. If you met me on the street, you wouldn't want to mess with me, but you'd want to mess with me. You know what I mean?


The Look:
Jacket: Lucca Couture(similar)
Shirt: Urban Outfitters
Jeans: Old Navy
Boots: Rag and Bone
Bracelets: R.J. Graziano
Earrings & Necklace: mine all mine

I was born on the east, but I'll live and die on the west. We can go back and forth all day about who's the best rapper and which coast is the best. But it's really about taking the good stuff from both and bringing them together. Winter coats with muscle tees. Big gold chains with vegan leather. Unbeweavable extensions with kinky hair. It all works to make me look fly.

"You know very well who you are. Don't let'em hold you down. Reach for the stars."

The Gold Standard

It's Christmas morning. Your family is all gathered around the tree to open presents. You hand your sister a perfectly wrapped box. She rips the wrapping paper off and opens the lid. All you see is her eyes lighting up and the reflection of gold on her face. No matter what it is, she's excited. That's the reaction when you give the gift of gold. For some reason, that shiny color makes people think you spent some dough on their gift even if you really didn't. Ssh. They don't need to know all that. Anyway, I gathered some of my gold faves just to give you a few gift ideas. I know the clock is running out on holiday shopping, but you can definitely grab some of these last minute...

Go for gifts that your cat or dog will approve of. Ha! Obviously, kitty loves this gold monogram mug from Anthropologie. It's limited edition and is selling out quickly online. Don't fret, you can still find this along with the black momogrammed at your local Anthro store. This AK-LA shirt is an oldie-gut-goodie. The gold ones are a little hard to come by, but Drones Clothing is still making the shirts in classic black and white. The gold glitter pomade from my friends at Free Your Mane is great for the chick who likes to get funky with her hairstyles. You see that tiny gold tube? That's Benefit's Sun Beam highlighter. That's the sample size, but it comes bigger than that too. It will give anyone's face a gorgeous golden glow. Obviously, the Tatty Devine Pegasus necklace is a killer gift. I wear mine all the time and get tons of compliments on it.

Check out some more items that made my gold list. I know that there are only a few shopping days left, but you can always find similar goodies in stores near you. There's something for everybody. The beauty conscious diva, the shabby chic momma, the no-no-notorius thug, the penny-pinching friend who somehow always has nice things. The list goes on. All of these presents are Model Liberation approved.

If you're still freaking out over holiday shopping, stop the insanity right now! Last minute gold gifts are actually easy to come by. I snatched this cute kitty zip-pouch as I was checking out at Urban Outfitters. I'm sure one of my loved ones will like this. If not, I have no problem keeping it for myself. Oops, did I say that? Just remember that when it comes to gift giving it's the thought that matters. All that glitters may not be gold, but it will sure look good wrapped inside a box.

XOXO

My Style: In His Clothes

I was cold. We were out at an event. He looked really sharp in a nice grey suit. I was wearing a very slinky dress with strappy heels. I borrowed his jacket and I still haven't given it back. It hangs in my closet, and every now and then I put it on and remember the fun we had. The jacket still smells like him... Black Orchid by Tom Ford.


I'm a sucker for nostalgia. Every piece of clothing triggers a memory. These black slacks are the same ones I wore the night we first met. The shiny wings necklace I put on the night his film made its hometown debut. I wore it for good luck. I remember he laughed so hard when I showed him this black and gold bag I got from a flea market. He said it looked like a fancy chessboard. Even this hat. We were in a beautiful middle eastern restaurant and he was snapping pictures of me. I was blushing when he said "I know all your right angles."


The Look
Jacket- Wentworth
Cropped Button-up - BDG from Urban Outfitters
Slacks- J. Lindeberg
Hat- Anthropologie
Shoes- Zara
Bag- thrifted
Necklace- Tatty Devine
Ring - Melody Ehsani
Earrings- ASOS


There's a story to go with everything I'm wearing. Just call me a sentimental fool. As the years have gone by, I'm sure I've romanticized the details a little bit. But it all helps to keep the idea of him forever in my heart.
"I am remembering... love."

My Style: American Girl

Happy Labor Day! Celebrating the last hurrah of the summer with one Big Bang! I know this isn't a holiday that requires fireworks, but I'd love to see some. Normally I'm not into wearing star and stripes together, but this shirt is so appropriate for this edition of My Style...


I found this shirt at Urban Outfitters on the super sale rack. Isn't it awesome? I have another shirt similar to this that says Everyone Loves a German Girl. Seeing as I'm not German, I figured the Amercian version was a little more fitting. The shirt was already almost perfect, but I chopped it up a little.


The Look
Shirt: Le Shirt from Urban Outfitters
Necklace: Borrowed
Bikini: My roommate's closet
Ring: Wildfox Couture

Originally I wanted to wear this shirt with a polka dot skirt, but it's just too freaking hot for clothes. So I decided to roll around on my bed in close to nothing. Just the essentials- shirt, bikini, and red lipstick. Sometimes fun style is just that simple. Enjoy the holiday, lovelies!

My Style: A Love Bizarre

Mixing prints is something I rarely do. I look at pictures of celebrities or fashion divas who do it and I think I can't pull it off. I've already got a lot going on with the freckles and all. Then I saw this crazy tribal onesie and knew that my time had finally come. Dancing in my head to a wonderful soundtrack featuring Sheila E. and his Purple Majesty, I give you a little street fair I call "A Love Bizarre."


Rompers are an easy look to pull together. You just add some accessories and you're good without too much thought. For this look, I wanted a dab of icing that would make this extra sweet. The two prints that unite on this romper are already pretty busy, so anything I added had to really pop.


The Look
Romper: Angie
Suede Pumps: Zara (similar)
Cow Skull Ring:Wildfox Couture
Bracelet: Urban Outfitters (similar)
Belt: ASOS
Earrings: thrift store find (similar)
Hat: borrowed from friend (similar)


I wanted something that felt bohemian and free. I needed an inspiration. That's when I saw the suede pointy purple pumps by Zara. For some reason I thought "that's what Prince would want me to wear". Then I picked up the cow skull ring by Wildfox Couture... suddenly everything just made sense. As I twirled in the middle of the street and the sun began to set, my earrings jingled like the coins on a belly dancer and I knew the outfit was perfect.

"The moon up above, it shines on upon our skin
Whispering words that scream of outrageous sin
We all want the stuff that's found in our wildest dreams
It gets kinda rough in the back of our limousine
That's what we are, we all want a love bizarre"