madewell comes to san diego + my california wardrobe dreams get bigger

I’d love to say I have a particular style, but it tends to change with every new city I live in — and in a big way. I loved dressing up in New York, where it’s perfectly normal to head out to work at 9 a.m. in a ruffle skirt, chartreuse silk button-down and ankle booties. My tops went from dressy to dressier. My jewelry ranged from big to bigger. The only t-shirts I owned were the ones I wore to bed. I once went to work in neon pink tights.

That formal/experimental attire doesn’t really work here in beachy San Diego. It’s not that I’m holding onto any sartorial past — I’m actually excited to adapt to my more laid-back surroundings — but I’m now all about tees, cuffed jeans, loafers, flip-flops and delicate jewelry.

In the past, I’d turn to J. Crew and Madewell only for the blingy jewelry, but now that simple, nonchalant, yes-I-totally-just-threw-my-hair-up-in-this-messy-ponytail style they do so well is my bread and butter — or at least what I aspire to be my bread and butter. So you can imagine how happy I was to hear that San Diego was finally getting its own Madewell! (You get spoiled in NYC when everything is at your fingertips.)

Last night I attended the opening party, where the new space in Fashion Valley Mall was feted with cocktails by Hostess Haven, food by The Vetted Table (also known as the MIHO Gastrotruck) and photo fun with Amigo Booth. (I’m starting to see the same vendors pop up at various events, which makes these could-be schmoozy events seem more like a fun community get-together.) I loved getting to see people who are now becoming familiar faces, reconnecting with an old publicist friend and scoping out the inventory. I have my eye on those sunglasses and tan-colorful sweater, which is no huge surprise because I love the way Madewell does its neutrals and brights. If my blog header is any indication, I’m a wee bit obsessed with this combo.

Let’s relive the party together, shall we?