Category Archives: Style + Beauty

Style + Beauty

prints-piration

March 6, 2013

Our living room wall will soon be filled with paintings and photographs from our travels, but there’s a lonely space above my bedroom dresser that’s just asking for some sort of art. I teeter between something feminine versus something totally neutral (see tropical fruits print above), but I do know I want a piece that complements our white- and turquoise-colored bedroom.

A part of me just wants to paint something on my own, but I couldn’t help but fall for these seven prints. No matter the outcome, it doesn’t hurt to window shop for now, right?

1. I like that Jessica Durrant’s Pink Peacock Feather is simple with a twist. Blue feathers are so been-there-done-that; this one is fiery hot pink — my favorite color!

2. But then I started looking at Jessica’s other works and fell in love with this “Chevron Tunic” portrait, too. I generally shy away from those overly feminine prints (i.e. a Chanel perfume bottle or the red Louboutin soles) that make women think they’ve inherited Carrie Bradshaw’s life, but this one feels different. I don’t know if it’s the blue color or the dripping paint or the fact that she’s wearing winged eyeliner just like I always wear, but this is my favorite of the group.

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Style + Beauty

inspired by california fashion

February 15, 2013

“I see you’ve got your whole…New York thing going on,” is what a San Diego native said to me during my first week here. We were at a party/networking event, and I was wearing my favorite Forever21 trench with studs on the lapels along with a fancy purse and dangly earrings. My hair was also slicked back; perhaps that was the giveaway. I’m clearly still clinging to much of my New York style (i.e. streamlined silhouettes, statement jewelry, black anything), but between walking around town and reading my favorite SoCal blogs, I’ve recently been inspired to embrace my new environment.

As sad as I am that my heels will probably never again see the light of day, I’m excited to try something different — more casual, still polished. To help my cause, I’ve been taking style cues from the aforementioned bloggers above:

— Sarah Sherman Samuel is the beautiful face behind Smitten Studio Online. She’s a talented graphic designer but could easily moonlight as a model. I really dig that pink maxi skirt.
Sincerely Jules blogger Julie Sarinana has that California cool I’ve rarely seen done so well. I particularly love her ability to mix feminine pieces with cool sneakers.
— Sarah Yates of A House in the Hills has a bohemian, hippie-chic aesthetic that matches her Palms Springs habitat just perfectly. This bright yellow number is one of her dressier looks; it’s like a jolt of sunshine.

Of course my eyes have also been wandering to some online window shopping. Take a look at my picks after jump and tell me which one I should buy first!

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Style + Beauty

working from home and dreaming of fancy office supplies

February 6, 2013

I’ve never worked from home, but now that life has taken me down the path of a freelance writer — at least for the time being — I can roll out of bed, change out of pajamas (and into my harem pants from Thailand), and get to work within a matter of minutes. That said, I’m used to getting dolled up for the office, interacting with other people and viewing my home as a no-work zone, so it’s going to be an adjustment.

What’s not going to be an adjustment is being able to decorate my workspace however my heart desires. (The desk we got off Craigslist is a wee bit small for Eaman, so it’s mostly mine. Whoops! Not really.) This has meant an inordinate time drooling over beautiful workspaces on Pinterest and coming up with a few supplies I’d like to see at my desk once my wallet gets a little fatter.

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