How I Bundle Up for the Holidays

As the weather gets colder, my mind turns to creative new ways to layer and bundle. Quite honestly, this winter I realized how sick I am of the whole “tights under a dress” bullshit. First of all… it’s the holiday season and no one wants that tight waistband bullying you into passing on yet another fudge brownie. Not to mention how it looks. Even if I slap on my sexiest pair of heels, opaque tights will still somehow always remind me of my tired third grade teacher. 

So if you, like me, are over the dark, Spanx-like, sausage-casing labeled as tights… I offer you a sexy yet warm solution… thigh-high wool socks. Pair them to a sweater dress, add combat boots, and a wide brim hat and you’re in business. It’s the perfect, edgy-yet-sophisticated way to keep warm while still showing a little skin. 

Most LIKELY To Succeed

I always find it hard to put together an outfit that is classy and fashion forward enough for a business meeting, yet sexy enough to make me feel my best on a night out on the town.

But with this incredibly versatile, burnt orange, body-con staple from LIKELY, I went from business to pleasure seamlessly. Paired with a blazer, statement jewelry, and over the knee boots... it's the perfect ensemble for a crisp, clean-cut day at the office. 

For a night look simply drape the blazer over your purse, apply a knockout lipstick and let the dress hug your curves in all the right places. It's honestly the dream dress. It's available online at LIKELY.nyc as well as at Bloomingdales and Revolve.

My Burning Man: Galactic Chameleon

One of the biggest things I’d been looking forward to about Burning Man, was the radical self expression, combined with the unique and widely-accepted concept that “anything goes”. I knew there would be jaw-dropping art displays and installations, and I wanted to contribute to the community visually through my passion and love for costumes, makeup, and design. 

I based my design concept on an amazing day I’d spent, just a few weeks earlier, at the wild and mystical markets in Marrakech. It was in those dusty back alleys of the souk, that I came across a merchant selling all kinds of intriguing spices, herbs, and remedies. I noticed he had some sort of pet lizard, and upon closer inspection I realized it was a Chameleon. 

I was beyond fascinated with this desert creature. His eyes could spin independently in any desired direction, his nimble feet could casually adapt to any surface, but my wonder and imagination started churning as I watched this alien-like creature change the color of his skin as he adapted and reacted to the environment around him. 

This was the foundation of my vision for my first Burning Man. I would become a Galactic Chameleon. A foreign creature coming from a dark, mechanical, colorless world to the Playa. A place where I knew nothing and would begin merely reacting and responding to my environment (deep I know but it helped me creatively and mentally prepare for the adventure). 

The wigs I found, and the costumes I made revolved around this philosophy of transformation and adaptation. I wanted to go from a hard, black, machine-like warrior to a white & silver futuristic goddess. I started with all black and slowly transitioned color in. I based my transformations on the color of my wigs, and loved the added benefit of protecting my real hair from the nasty elements of Black Rock City. It was an experiment that challenged both my creative limits as well as my social boundaries and barriers. This concept of adaptation and evolution played a key role in what I took away from my first burn. 

Just a disclaimer: As you can see from the images above this post is about my outfits and what I designed and wore to Burning Man. An experiential guide on what to pack, what to expect, and my experience as a whole is coming after this… Xx

Seeing Cerulean at Coco Maya

Last week I had the pleasure of joining The Yacht Week in the British Virgin Islands as a host blogger on their spring break route... Mornings were brought in with reparative beach yoga, afternoons filled with sailing, swimming and grilling, and evenings watching the sunset from beautiful beachfront restaurants with breathtaking views and incredible food.

This series was shot by the incredible Michael Vanarey, a resident photographer for TYW, before the all-white evening party hosted at Coco Maya on Virgin Gorda. 

For this party, I decided to mix my salty tousled beach hair, with the clean lines of a body-con bandage dress. I then added a statement gold metal choker that I am completely obsessed with. I found it a few days before my trip and absolutely love how quickly it can elevate a simple outfit, to create a look that is classy, with a bit of edge.  

To keep my crazy ocean hair somewhat tame... I use unrefined coconut oil, and then apply Oribe Split End Seal on the ends to help keep it moisturized, healthy, and smelling amazing. 
More about my Yacht Week adventures to come! Stay tuned... Xx

Rockabilly Sweetheart

After a long summer spent in barely-there bikinis and ultra femme sun dresses... I was wholeheartedly craving a more rebellious wardrobe for fall. I love mixing and matching feminine pieces, like this monochromatic tribal miniskirt, with a more masculine vintage band tee. I then added classic aviators, a clean white purse, and a gold septum ring to complete this badass look. The combination creates a chic rock n roller aesthetic that easily transitions from day to night.

Sunglasses: Ray Ban Top: Vintage Skirt: H&M Heels: Givenchy Nose Ring: Etsy Bag: Brahmin

Soaking Up the Sun: Four Seasons Jumeriah

Reporting live from the pool at the Four Seasons in Jumeirah Beach… where I am lazily absorbing my daily dose of vitamin-d, working on my tan lines, and sipping on an avocado smoothie. Sounds like a hard day on the job... no? I am, however, also currently pitching a few new travel articles from my summer abroad... so there is a lot of research and editing going on from my side of the chaise lounge. ;)

I was inspired by the lush and tropical surroundings this morning at breakfast so I opted to match the scenery. My reversible bikini, that I bought from the San Lorenzo store in Malibu, could not have been more on-fleek for the occasion. I loved that I honestly got 4 bikinis for the price of one. Which is of course why I wore the bottoms on the green and the top on the printed side.

My sunhat was an incredible find, bought only a few weeks ago at the main marina in Newport, Rhode Island. Fear not… I will be posting all about that fabulous trip once I am back in the states.

I stayed hydrated all day with orange and cucumber infused water... Which was incredibly refreshing, especially since I often get bored of drinking plain-o-janeo water. I would've loved to have taken a photo of my avocado smoothie but it started losing its form rather quickly due to the extreme heat, so naturally I inhaled it to insure it didn't go to waste ;).

Lastly, as a lover of the sun and a total beach bunny... I always bring some form of SPF wherever I go. I absolutely love the smell of the Korres walnut and coconut oil spray that’s factor 20 and I secretly love that I end up smelling like a crispy coconut macaroon after a long day in the rays.

Xx

Paisley in the Park

I fell completely head over heels for all kinds of 70's prints this summer. So when I saw these flowy, wide-leg, high-waisted paisley pants while shopping in London, I near passed out. 

I actually found them in the Tall section, and while I'm 5'9" which is relatively taller than average they were SO LONG on me! They didn't make the same print in standard lengths so I just made a pact with myself to always wear enormous platforms to keep them off the ground... a very thematic styling demand and well worth the ankle twisting. I've worn these pants with off-the-shoulder crops as well as full length blouses tied in the front. 

Today I was feeling this more classic cropped turtleneck from American Apparel. I loved pairing this with a more tribal style necklace and my mountain warrior hat (that I bought tipsy at an apres-ski party on the top of Powder Mountain, Utah). This was the perfect outfit for my morning meetings while smoothly carrying me over to one very happy hour. Happy Friday everyone! Xx

Hat: Westerlind Top: American Apparel Necklace: H&M Pants: Topshop Bag: Celine Heels: Mark & James by Badgley Mischka

Bikini Diaries: Holy High Leg

As an avid beach bunny and a swim fit model for Victoria's Secret, bikini's quickly become my second skin in the summertime. I'm always looking to spot the newest trends and hottest ideas for my runway in the sand... 

This summer on the beaches in St. Tropez, Ibiza, and Cyprus I saw a whole lot of leg. A sea of one pieces stretching over high hip bones... begging for a quickly adjusted tan line, and a pit stop at the local wax salon.

Deep plunging backs emphasize the shy and sexy coverage. In pops of neon as well as sassy graphic this once known, back in the 80's, as a French cut suit is heating up beaches from the Med to Hawaii.