This past season, Stila Cosmetics invited me to cover some of the madness that is backstage beauty prep at a few of their NYFW-partnered shows. There's something so great about the energy before a show -- it's truly addicting. Models running to and fro, iPhones not far behind. Hairstylists dashing after them to fix fly-aways. Makeup artists perfect the eye palette on their wrist. And the occasional celebrity waltzing through. It's maddening and oh so fun. Here are a few of my favorite moments backstage, starting first with Trina Turk...
Sunkissed inspiration shot...
And on to Rebecca Minkoff. I loved this red head gal. I think I snapped her as she was complimenting my dress (seen here), which just about made my day.
You know what they say...it takes a village...
Taking hair inspiration notes: loved the piecey, undone ponytails.
And finally, Alice + Olivia! The show itself was at the McKittrick Hotel (or perhaps better known as Sleep No More) and the storyline did not disappoint. The collection was a spin on old fairytale favorites, Cinderella, Snow White and Rapunzel to name a few. And the makeup was just as whimsical and theatrical as hoped. I chatted with Sarah Lucero, Stila's lead makeup artist before the presentation, and she shared the eye inspiration was actually that of toy dolls that open and close their eyes when you prop them up. How unique!
Stay tuned later this week for details of my favorite shows.
My guy and I took advantage of our three day weekend and trekked out on a little day road trip down Highway 1 -- our sights set on Santa Cruz. After an exhausting, cold (but oh so worth it) trip to New York last week, I was more than happy to bask in some sweet California sun with two of my favorite guys and an epic playlist on repeat. We got lucky at one point because there was quite a large crash further up the road we were travelling on but my guy was keeping track on the Car accident news so he knew about it before we hit the traffic. We took a slight diversion to miss the traffic and the rest was smooth sailing. If I didn't know any better, I'd say Elvis was ready to stay in Santa Cruz -- he's quite the little surfer bum.
Even though this was one of my more casual outfits for fashion week, it was probably one of my favorites. This camel coat has made numerous appearances on the blog, but I think I love it best with a turtleneck. Slightly understated but the fur stole helps funk things up a bit.
I happened to wear this over the weekend for a light show schedule and serious wine-and-girlfriend catch up time once the snow settled in.
On an unrelated note, I'm thinking about putting together another hair tutorial (it's been a while since this one). What do you guys think?
I'm admittedly not much of a pink and hearts kind of gal for most of the year, but I make exceptions for Valentine's Day. Especially when it comes in the form of a cheeky little accessory (hello heart-shaped clutch!).
Dress: Christopher Kane on major sale!; Jacket: Alexander McQueen (similar style here); Fur stole: Otte; Boots: Givenchy; Bag: Chanel; Sunglasses: Celine; Lips: Stila "Beso"
I may or may not have stalked this dress obsessively until it went on sale. It's a little crazy (OK, velvet, neon florals and mesh scrunched sleeves? Yeah, a lot crazy). But....I love it.
Wore this for a handful of shows at Lincoln Center and, perhaps what I'm more excited about, the Broadway show "Commons of Pensacola" with SJP herself. It's arguably hard to see her as anyone aside from Carrie, but she's incredible on stage. As is Blythe Danner. Heather and I have made it our mini-tradition to always see a Broadway play when we're in town together, and I'm so glad we haven't missed a chance yet.
Jacket: Alexander McQueen (scored on MAJOR sale at Jeremy's, similar style here); Dress: Proenza Schouler (also on sale, similar style on sale here); Tights: Target; Shoes: Sigerson Morrison; Bag: Chanel; Sunglasses: Celine; Necklaces: Jennifer Zeuner; Lips: Stila "Beso"
The past few days, I've been in the thick of NY Fashion Week madness. There's something about staying up super late to pack, flying in at an ungodly early hour (and surviving an interesting car ride in pouring rain to SFO) and hitting the ground running the minute I arrive, that I just love. I'm so incredibly grateful (and honestly blown away) by these opportunities. And, besides, a little concealer under the eyes goes a LONG way anyway, am I right?
I'm out here with my fashion partner in crime, Heather, snapping away on Instagram. You can follow along right here.
Side note: I'd have to say this is quickly becoming one of the most Instagramed Vogue covers to date.
I'm a sucker for the month of February. Top reasons include:
1. I do love a good snow storm, i.e. the perfect excuse for staying in, snacking on comfort foods and enjoying movie marathons. I secretly wish we got snow (any snow!) in San Francisco.
2. My birthday is on the 19th.
3. Fashion Week (er, month) takes over.
4. Hello, Valentine's Day!
This Valentine's Day, I've partnered with Pandora and Reeds Jewelry for a bracelet giveaway (a sweet little surprise for yourself or for someone special!). Simply build your own custom bracelet here using their design tool, Pin your creation on Pinterest and follow the steps on their official entry page here. One lucky winner will receive a bracelet valued up to $500 so best of luck! And if you're in need of a little bauble inspiration, I've designed a few myself for you to check out. Happy designing, love birds!
This post is sponsored by Pandora and Reeds Jewelry. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting posts that keep This Time Tomorrow's doors open.
Currently en route to NYC and just the thought of bare legs is making me shiver. And yet, I'm still really looking forward to catching the West Village looking like this.
There's nothing more beautiful, in my opinion, than naturally radiant skin. (Confession: It's usually one of the first things I notice about anyone -- guy or girl!) And while I wish I could say I'm one of those girls, blessed with glowing, dewy, blemish-free skin -- let's be real. I don't get enough sleep. I drink way too much caffeine. And I like the occasional cocktail (or two) after work. My skin takes a beating on a semi-regular basis. So if you happen to be one of those aforementioned glowing-skin girls who enjoy all of the above, you can probably stop reading now. Go enjoy that perfect skin of yours already!
If you're still reading though, welcome. You feel my pain. And like me, you've probably tried a lot of foundation and cover up products. Some good. Some bad. Some you thought were really good until you checked yourself out in your rear-view mirror in horror at how cakey it really looked in daylight. Sigh.
This is where airbrushing comes in. A few years back, I actually had a makeup artist at a shoot use an airbrush on me for my foundation and blush application and I was in awe of the results (so light and breathable!) but convinced I'd never be able to realistically afford the set up myself. Little did I know that sites like Our Good Living Formula had a whole list of affordable airbrush products that are all perfect for at-home use! I didn't realize how many people used them and was convinced they were just used at photoshoots and film sets! This time around, I'm excited to partner with TEMPTU, an at-home airbrush system which is surprisingly easy on the wallet (you can take home their starter kit for roughly $100).
The true test though? That came down to how easy or not easy the system would be for me to use. With spring beauty trends on my mind (namely Prabal Gurung's s/s 2014 look around a clean, natural face with bold brows and an equally bold lip), I put together my first official foray into video tutorials (with a lot of help from my good friend Alex Grant!). We had a lot of fun putting this together for you guys and let's just say, if this girl can get the hang of airbrushing -- I'm convinced anyone can!
Want to try it out for yourself? Head on over to FashionIndie, where you can vote for my look! Those who vote, will be entered to win an all expenses paid trip to NYC to receive a beauty makeover from the artists at TEMPTU. Good luck!
This post is sponsored by TEMPTU. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting posts that keep This Time Tomorrow's doors open.
Blazer: Ted Baker (similar style here); Dress: Mary Katrantzou (at a fraction of the cost via The RealReal); Boots: Givenchy (similar style here); Bag: Chanel; Sunglasses: Celine
Lots to do this week before I head out to NYC for Fashion Week. Remember when I said I was attempting life sans caffeine? Well, I'm definitely cheating this week. (Whoops!)
Dress: Marissa Webb (top and skirt version here and here on sale!); Shoes: Christian Dior; Bag: Proenza Schouler; Sunglasses: Celine; Lips: Stila "Beso"
Most days, my morning meetings start around 8:30 or 9, which makes my morning hustle and commute that much more interesting to pull off (read: with traffic, it generally takes 2.5 hours to get to work). Yikes. This tends to result in a few things.
1.) I'm getting pretty darn efficient at dressing in the dark lately. Good or bad? I'm not sure.
2. ) I rely heavily on a rotation of quirky work dresses that I can mix and match with different heels.
3.) Dry shampoo is a godsend. Day old curls are usually the best anyway, am I right?
4.) Lipstick can work wonders, even if you're still fighting yawns.
5. I'm trying to skip my normal caffeine routine and opting for a green juice of some sort. It's been difficult adjusting but I think I'll end up feeling more energized in the long run.
I have a confession. While I would love to admit the man friend and I have regular date nights out, it's actually pretty tricky for us to pull off. Between both of our work schedules, long commutes and now a puppy (wow, my first world problems), I'm pretty happy just to plan a quiet evening in, making dinner together. But when it does happen? Well, I'd be lying if I didn't admit I love the idea of pulling together a few new flirty separates, throwing on a bright lip and hitting the town. I mean, who doesn't?
I recently partnered with bebe (the mecca for flirty date night dresses) to showcase my date night style. Now, admittedly, I'm not usually one for body con silhouettes, much to my boyfriend's dismay, but I do love how this crop top and pencil skirt combo feels very me. The black and white pairing, the long sleeves and the sliver of skin, in my opinion, are all a nice balance of my personal style with a dash of sex appeal. Let's just say, the man friend approved. And so did I. Win, win.
As for my ideal date night? Last weekend actually sets the bar pretty high, so I'm glad my dear friend Lydia was available to help us capture it. Being the miracle workers that they are, my guys' parents happened get us tickets for TheBook of Mormon (which you probably don't need me to tell you, has been sold out for months). I'm a big Broadway show lover and always make a point to catch a performance whenever I'm in New York. My guy, on the other hand, doesn't mesh well with musicals. And he's a musician. Go figure. Luckily, when musicals involve the two creators of South Park, he's on board.
Before heading to the theatre, we popped over to Maiden Lane at Union Square for dinner and drinks. Living in such a foodie town has definitely spoiled us and when we get the chance to head out for dinner, I love researching the best restaurants Lynchburg for us to try out.
And as for the cable cars? Something I'm trying to embrace this year is acting more like a tourist in my own town, especially on our date nights together. It's fun rediscovering your own city and even more so with someone you love.
I'm curious -- what's your ideal date night? Any fun traditions?
This post is sponsored by Bebe. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting posts that keep This Time Tomorrow's doors open.
Meant to share this holiday party look from last month much sooner. A little LBD with a twist (in this case: feather fringe) can go a long way, don't you think?
Can we just talk about this sheer crop top and midi skirt combo by Karla Špetic? Absolutely obsessed. Good thing we're having an unusually warm winter here in California.
This past weekend, someone asked me just how long I had been blogging. An awkward pause followed because I honestly couldn't remember and soon after I had to do a bit of digging on Blogger to figure it out (answer: coming up on five years, eep!).
During my archive search, I stumbled upon a slew of old outfit posts, some good, some silly and some I wish I could forget (but the internet won't let me, ha, you cruel mistress, you!). There were a lot of experiments (don't regret 'em!), a lot of shoddy DIYs (I'm just awful at DIY and I've finally accepted it) and a lot of fine tuning for what I think is slowly becoming my true style today. I now know what works on my body (and what doesn't!), what I feel best in and what I ultimately want to start investing in since I know I'll have it for years to come. Don't get me wrong, I do love me a fast trend from time to time (peplum, anyone?) but as I get older, I'm now trying to make more conscious and intentional decisions when it comes to pieces that have staying power. True classics.
As a frequent Chanel bag borrower, long time admirer but never an owner ('always a bridesmaid'...yadda yadda), I've been on a mad hunt for the perfect starter Chanel bag. I knew I wanted something vintage, classic and timeless, perhaps even a bit understated and just right for transitioning from day to evening. Luckily, the folks over at Portero are the bag experts and via their "Find It" service, they introduced me to a small lineup of quilted beauties, each more beautiful than the next. You may remember, I mentioned in this post I was actually more drawn to a 2.55 design, but when Portero suggested this slightly smaller, full flap lambskin one, I loved how refreshing it looked. #GameOver
It's funny -- I always claim to be more of a shoe gal, but this recent turn of events may shake things up a bit. 🙂 Oh, and if you're on the hunt for a bag yourself, check our Portero's video here as to what makes a classic bag, a classic.
I partnered with Portero for this post. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting posts that keep This Time Tomorrow's doors open.
Been searching high and low for a good pin stripe piece to add to my wardrobe. I love how this particular jacket serves double duty as both a chic menswear piece but also a pretty cozy wrap around blanket. Win, win if you ask me.
Every few months or so, I go through uniform phases that usually revolve around a particular type of item in my closet. You've all seen me abuse my leather jacket, then printed pants with matching blazers were my jam and now, I seem to want to pair a graphic tee or sweater element with everything. This Ily Couture sweater, arguably has served me well (it did help me nab Bill Cunningham's attention after all) and, of course, there's my Rodarte X Opening Ceremony shirt -- but I'm now looking to beef up my collection, particularly to pair with more full midi skirts (like here) and pencil skirts.
Dress: Prabal Gurung; Shoes: Valentino; Clutch: Vintage; Mask: The Midway on Etsy; Lips: Stila "Beso"; Earrings: Forever 21
When life gives you the opportunity to dress up and don a mask for an evening -- seriously, how can you say no? While this is a bit belated, I wanted to share what I wore for this past New Year's Eve as it was one of my favorites to date. You may have spied on Instagram that the man friend and I headed to the symphony hall here in San Francisco for a masquerade ball to ring in the New Year. Part of what I love so much about evenings like that (aside from the excuse to wear this lace veil-inspired mask) is just how diverse the crowd can be -- young, old, those who waltz and those who rock a mean "Harlem Shake". I'll definitely remember our evening for years to come so thank you, fine folks of San Francisco for reminding me why I love this crazy city so much. And thank you, Dan, for a wonderful night -- I know I've already said it, but here's to 2014!
I haven't thrown on a pair of Converse in years (read: middle school) but I rather liked the kickback effect it has on a simple weekend outfit. Plus, I was able to dart around our new City Target much easier. Hey, it's the little things that count.
Can we all just take a moment to appreciate these booties? I'm so proud of my dear friend, Dina, for going after her dreams on this one, mainly because it's so inspiring to see the people you care about go after what they want but also, I'd be lying if I didn't admit I have some selfish reasons as well (I'm already eyeing this pair I have on here in a few other colors). Perfect for Fashion Week, no? 🙂
If you're just joining now, you can see how I styled a few of her other designs here and here.
You might have already spied these on Instagram the other day -- but say hello to my new friends! There's no better season than end of season sale season, if I do say so myself. I scooped these up on The Real Real recently, but I do know you can find them here and here, for fractions of their original price. Happy shopping and happy weekend, friends!
In the spirit of new beginnings (and reflections on the past), I wanted to take a moment today to list out a few of my goals for 2014. Admittedly, I haven't done this ever on the blog before but I routinely do it for work (each quarter actually) and find that it's so effective in keeping things on track, in perspective and at the forefront of everything you do. This past year was incredible and 2014, in all it's shiny, untouchable newness, well, I have a pretty good feeling about you!
1. Spend more time disconnecting. From social media. From work. From distractions. And spending more time in the moment with loved ones.
2. Read more. I really miss having my nose in a book.
3. Travel. Often. And visit at least one new country this year.
4. Start running again. I'd like to get back to 3 miles a day.
5. Pick up a new musical instrument. Right now, I'm torn between piano and guitar lessons.
6. Redecorate (but if we're being honest, I should say, finish decorating) our apartment.
7. Take time to go on bike rides with the man friend after work.
8. Sign up for dance lessons.
9. Redesign this ol' blog of mine. She could use a little design love, don't ya think?
10. Cook a meal (from scratch, or almost scratch) at least once a week.
For those of you who follow along with me on Instagram, you know my pup, Elvis, and I love going on weekend hikes. Given that the weather was just so down right beautiful yesterday, we ditched our original afternoon hangover plans (as we were actually in a relatively hangover-free state) and headed out to Fort Funston to soak up some of the first sunset rays of 2014.
How did you guys kick off the first day of the year?