2 Holiday Party Outfit Ideas

December 12, 2019


As we sprint toward the end of 2019, I'm sure you have just as many holiday parties as I do! Seriously, I'm not sure if I have a completely free date on my calendar until 2020. Wild!

Holiday party dressing can be stressful, especially in the age of Instagram where you want to capture all your fun outings but don't want to be caught wearing the same thing twice (or else Kate Sanders will call you out), so I wanted to share two recent party outfits I wore in hopes that it might strike some inspiration for you!

1. Sequins All The Way


Can you ever go wrong with sequins? I say, "No way!"

I wore this dress to Mariah Carey's Christmas concert in Vegas (yes, I'm still freaking out about seeing Queen Mariah in person, and yes, hearing her sing "All I Want for Christmas is You" was just as magical IRL) and love that it features larger, disc-like sequins. For all your fancy parties, go for sequins.

Here are a few more sparkling options for you:

2. The Ultimate Party Skirt


For all my friends asking about this poofy skirt, it's from H&M and it is fabulous! I love a good statement-making skirt, especially in winter when I wear black tights and boots all season long. A fun pop of color is a great way to break a look up when you're wearing a lot of dark colors, and who can say no to a bit—okay, a lot—of volume?

Finding similar skirts was a little tricky, but luckily my exact one is under $75 and just so fun. I also found some full-skirted and jacquard skirts for good measure:

What's your favorite thing to wear for holiday parties?

All I Want For Christmas Is...

December 9, 2019


As I get older, Christmas has become less about lavish gifts and more about the feeling of the holidays; of spending time with friends and family, of enjoying the crisp winter air (well, as wintery as coastal California gets), of ice skating and gingerbread baking and hot cocoa sipping.

I'm incredibly thankful to have a job where I get to enjoy a lot of perks, mostly in the form of gifted beauty and fashion products, and because of that, creating a Christmas list means focusing on those small treasures I cherish (and the one beauty PR list that doesn't send free product!).

So without further ado, here is my 2019 Christmas wish list!


1. Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V: Bronze Seduction Palette: Because Pat is the queen of iconic makeup, and this palette is absolutely stunning.

2. Le Labo Santal 26 Candle: My favorite candle in the world (Diptyque who?) From the minimal cool label to the subtle but pleasing scent, I would fill whole houses with this candle if I were JLo too!

3. elago AirPods Silicone Duo Case: Not only do people need to know I have AirPods (jk, my hair is always covering them) but they need to know which case is MINE. I currently have a lightning bolt sticker on the outside of my case, but it's starting to fall off so I wouldn't mind a pretty silicone cover.

4. Gucci Black Leather GG Marmont Card Case Wallet: Hey, I need a new wallet!

5. Rifle Paper Co. for Anthropologie Bon Voyage Passport Holder: Two days after Christmas, I'm venturing to an international locale and ready with a brand new passport. I've always wanted a cute little passport holder, and this one (with matching luggage tag) captures my essence perfectly.

6. Ray-Ban Round-frame Gold-tone Sunglasses: I've had a knockoff version of these shades for a while, but they're getting a little bent out of shape. Maybe it's time to trade in for the real thing, now that I know I like the style.

7. Anything Reformation: You know I love all things Reformation!

8. My Friend Anna by Rachel DeLoache Williams: I am incredibly obsessed with the Anna Delvey story and all things scammers and grifters. With the TV adaptation in the works as we speak, this seems like the perfect time for a deeper dive into Delvey's deceptions.

9. Fred And Sibel Susan Plaid Eyelash Pullover: is it really a Christmas wish list without at least one item of knitwear? I think not! I also see this buffalo check sweater going well with most of my closet, and I love a good green color!

What's on your Christmas wish list?

Midi Dresses At Every Price Point

November 9, 2019

Reformation dress
As a relatively tall girl—not to be confused with the 6 foot "Tall Girl" from Netflix's Tall Girl—midi dresses have become a staple of my wardrobe. There's nothing worse than feeling self-conscious about a particularly short skirt or getting frustrated that every mini dress you try on does little to cover your long legs (and wide hips). Enter: the midi dress, my new go-to style.

Midi dresses are glamorous, versatile, practical, and unfussy, making them ideal for pretty much all situations. And as someone who loves wearing skirts and dresses all year long, these dresses are particularly great because they are well suited to layering, and the longer skirt lengths provide extra leg coverage for chilly days.

Reformation dress

Lani Label dress

Anthropologie dress
I love midi dresses from Reformation most of all, because their clothes fit my body really well, but there are plenty of places to find cute midi dresses, no matter what your clothing budget.

Here are a few of my favorites!

Under $50


$50 to $100


$100 to $200


$200 and Above 

Halloween 2019: Thank U, Next

October 28, 2019

Don't Call Me Angel
Halloween, how I love thee. It's my one time a year to take my love for all things pop culture and literally wear it on my sleeve. Usually I try to dress as a character from film or TV, but this year I went the celeb route and dressed up as Ariana Grande.

I feel like 2019 has really been Ariana's year. She kicked off the year with the release of a new album, headlined Coachella (where I got to see her perform!), and is still dropping new songs with Lizzo and on the Charlie's Angels soundtrack. So it felt like the perfect opportunity to pay homage to her style—and more importantly, her iconic ponytail.

I gotta say, I have mad respect for Ari for wearing this tight, giant ponytail all day, everyday. I rocked this look for only a few hours and needed to massage my scalp and neck for a solid 10 minutes. But once I donned the pony, I felt newly transformed and really confident, so I understand why it has become an essential part of her style persona.

Here's how I transformed into Ariana Grande:


Hair & Makeup

 
Ariana's ponytail is such an iconic part of her look, I knew I had to get that right. I went for a "blonde Ari" look because duh, I'm not dyeing my hair, and found the perfect ponytail extension from Insert Name Here, aptly named "Ariana". Of course it was perfect!

I have never worn any sort of extensions before, so this was a little tricky to put on. My roommate attached the pony to my head, and we even needed a third person just to hold up the hair because it was so heavy! But still, definitely #worthit for the glorious ponytail. I even fooled quite a few people into thinking it was my real hair! 😂

For the makeup, I channeled Ariana's classic stage makeup with a strong cat eye and nude lips. For my eyeliner, I used Stila Stay All Day liquid eyeliner. To get the nude lip, I lined my lips with Maybelline Color Sensational lip liner in "Magnetic Mauve", slightly over-lining them to get that plump lip effect. Then I filled them in with Flesh Cosmetics's Fleshy Lip Lipstick in "Chew".

I also used my BH Cosmetics Desert Oasis eyeshadow palette to give my eyes an orange-nude color and sculpt my cheekbones. For the finishing touch, I added a pair of false eyelashes (my first time wearing them!) to get those big doe eyes.

Outfit


I opted for one of Ariana's out-and-about sweatshirt dress looks for my costume, which was super comfortable as well as easy to create! To be honest, I would wear this look on a normal basis, sans giant ponytail, because it is so cute and comfy.

All you need is a sweatshirt dress—I picked this one from ASOS—and a pair of thigh-high boots, which I already had in my closet. I also threw on a black choker for good measure, but you could easily wear a pretty crystal one as well. 

**

So there you have it! An easy-to-create Ariana Grande outfit! What is your Halloween costume? 

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Shiv Roy Is The Fall Style Mood

September 28, 2019

HBO

Your fall style icon is here.


If you are a fan of good television, you're probably watching Succession. If you aren't, well, log into your friend's HBO GO and correct that oversight, girl! I'm not alone in saying that Succession is one of the best things on television right now. It may market itself as a Shakespearian tragedy about a family-run media empire—and at times, it is gut-wrenchingly devastating—but it's also a dark comedy about a bunch of ill equipped, out-of-touch rich kids stepping all over one another to win the unattainable affection of their father. 

The characters may be total monsters (if you're caught up, just the mere mention of "Boar on the Floor" will make you shudder) and even the (more) sympathetic characters like Shiv and Greg have the capacity for sinister behavior, but it's fun to laugh at their incompetence. 

But even if you haven't caught up on the HBO show yet, we can all appreciate the style icon that is Siobhan Roy. The only daughter of Murdoch-esque media mogul Logan Roy, Shiv is fierce and independent. She's got a clear opinion on the world and a distinct point of view that sets her apart from her brothers, and she means business. 

HBO
Even though the Roy Media Empire is relatively "new money" in the grand scheme of things, Shiv carries herself with the unassuming chicness of a well-pedigreed woman. Her color palette is neutral and muted, with the occasional jewel tone slipping through, focusing instead on luxurious materials like cashmere and silk.

Since the second season of Succession started airing a month or two ago, I've found myself admiring Shiv's style each week. With her penchant for plaid wide leg pants, fitted turtlenecks, and cozy fair isle knits, Shiv is essentially a walking Pinterest board for autumnal style. So today, I'm breaking down the MVPs of Siobhan's wardrobe so you can get her look this season!

Turtlenecks For Days



Wide Leg Pants


Silk Blouses


Elegant Dresses


Fair Isle Knits



Shorts You Can Wear To Work

July 15, 2019


It's hot out there. I get it. We all get it.

And some days, you just aren't feeling the fussiness of a dress or skirt.

But it's hot. So pants are pretty much out of the question. What ever is a girl to do!?

I've always been a bit hesitant of shorts; I love my denim cut-offs for off-duty days, but as a tall girl with long legs and an even longer torso, finding shorts that fit all of me and don't leave my butt half hanging out is next to impossible, especially these days where I feel like your only options are Daisy Dukes or Bermuda shorts. Hello? Where is the middle ground!?

But fear not, my friends, because it appears we have finally reached a happy medium between beach day booty shorts and knee length khaki shorts that make me look like a midwestern mom. Hooray!

I found these shorts on Sunday while quickly bopping into H&M. I was immediately drawn to the color, and after initially thinking the pair was actually a skirt, I decided to try them on anyway and see if I liked them. I wanted to hate them, but I just couldn't. Here are shorts that look like a fun skirt, cover all the parts they need to cover, and are comfortable too! It's nothing short of a shopping miracle.


The best part about these shorts is that I finally found a pair that I liked, that was flattering, and that I could still wear to work. Now, I do work in a decently laid-back office when it comes to dress code, so these may not pass the test at, say, a corporate law firm, but if you can get away with rocking shorts to the office every so often, I say go for it!

Here are a few styles that you should check out if you're looking for work-appropriate shorts:

Paper Bag Shorts

A high-waisted style is always chic, and the folded waistline lends itself to work-friendly shapes. 


Bermuda Shorts

Think of these as the anti-bike short. 


Wide-Leg Shorts

Wide-leg shorts, like the pair I found at H&M, allow you to rock slightly shorter styles, especially if they're flowy and lightweight!



Do you wear shorts to work? Tell me how you style them in the comments!

Under The Tuscan Sun

June 21, 2019


After spending many semesters delving into the world of the Italian Renaissance, I was extremely excited to visit Florence, and it lived up to all my expectations.

Florence is smaller than Rome, making it extremely walkable, and if you are an art lover like I am you will find plenty of points of interest to fill your days. My mom and I spent three days here and I wish I had more time to soak up all the culture this city had to offer.

Here are the highlights of our time in Florence:

Spots To See

The Uffizi Gallery


 

As an art history major in college, the Uffizi was at the top of my list for this trip. The large museum, once the offices of Florence's ruling family the Medicis, features some of the most important art of the Renaissance, from Verrocchio to Caravaggio and beyond. 

You could spend hours in this maze-like museum, as there are hundreds of Greek and Roman sculptures (not to mention a ton of portraits) in the main hallway, and that does not even begin to cover the many famed artworks that are on display in each room.

The museum is arranged in chronological order, so you can easily see the artistic progress from the Middle Ages all the way to the Renaissance and Baroque eras. It felt like I was walking through my entire Renaissance Art History class, the text book come alive before me! 

Galleria dell'Academia


This museum is much smaller, but it is home to perhaps the most famous sculpture of all time: Michelangelo's David. I was incredibly surprised by how in awe I was, witnessing this immense sculpture in person. The David is completely ubiquitous in our culture, but it must be seen in person to work its full magic.

Standing quite tall at 17 feet, The David is monumental in every sense of the word. It is no secret that Michelangelo was a master at capturing the human form in marble, but this art work is a true masterpiece, and visiting the Galleria is worth it for this reason alone.

P.S. Make sure you reserve a time to visit in advance! They do a great job of limiting the number of visitors into the museum at a time, so that means if you try to enter standby, you could be waiting a long time! I'd recommend reserving all your museum tickets ahead of time, actually.

Pitti Palace

 

My mom and I had a few hours to kill in the morning before seeing The David, so we decided on a whim to visit the Pitti Palace, and I am SO happy that we did! 

Just a quick walk across the river, the Pitti Palace is a magnificent estate that served as the new home of the Medici family (after they outgrew the Palazzo Vecchio). With vast gardens that inspired Louis XIV's own at Versailles, this building gives you an immediate understanding of how wealthy and powerful the Medici were at the height of their power.

Inside the palace are dozens of ornately-decorated rooms that are covered with priceless artworks, sculptures, and furniture. You will get a great sense of what it must have been like to be a Florentine noble! 

The Duomo

 

As one of the largest cathedrals in Italy, the Duomo—aka Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore—is the bustling center of Florence. With an intricate marble façade and large tiled dome, it is a testament to Renaissance architecture and engineering, so you should definitely stop by to admire it!

However, I will say that the interior of the cathedral is a total letdown, especially after the exquisite excessiveness of St. Peter's. I assume that the architects of the cathedral spent all their efforts on the exterior of the building, and as a result, the inside is disappointedly plain. Save your time waiting in line to enter the cathedral and grab a cappuccino at one of the nearby restaurants around the piazza instead. 

Day Trip To Siena and San Gimignano 


 

On our last day in Florence, we took a small guided tour (about 20 people) to the hillside towns of Siena and San Gimignano, with a pitstop at a Tuscan winery for lunch!

Tuscany is beyond beautiful, so if you have a day to spend driving through the countryside and visiting a medieval town or two, I highly recommend it! Siena was especially charming and has a fun city-wide competition each year that I loved learning about (and you can learn more here). San Gimignano was much smaller by comparison but just as quaint, and it featured the best gelato shop ever.

By the end of our day adventuring through the Tuscan countryside, my mom was already planning to open a bed and breakfast at an old villa, so be warned that this gorgeous landscape will win you over!

Where To Eat


Tuscany is known for several regional treats like wild boar and Chianti wine. Do yourself a favor and try out some of these delicacies while you have the chance. It's not every day you see boar on the menu, after all! Here are the must-try items while in Florence and Tuscany:


  • Chianti Wine: the signature red wine of the region, this wine has very specific standards for production, including that you can only water the grapes with rain; no sprinklers or artificial irrigation! If you are a red wine fan, grab a nice glass of chianti (no fava beans necessary) and enjoy
  • Wild Boar: Wild boar are like deer in Tuscany—they are everywhere. That being said, they have become an incredibly popular meal in the region. When I tried my plate of wild boar, I almost wondered if I had been served someone else's dinner, because it doesn't taste like pork at all! I'd say it's very similar to short rib or boeuf bourguignon
  • Gnudi: this came at the recommendation of our bartender at the hotel; it's essentially a gnocchi (potato pasta) that is stuffed with ricotta cheese. So yeah, it is heavenly
  • Florentine steak: steak in Florence is another go-to, so if you are a fan of red meat (I know I am!) be sure to treat yourself to a delicious steak! We ended up getting pasta when dining at Torcicoda near Santa Croce, but they had a fantastic selection of steak if you are looking for a specific spot!

Where To Stay

 

In Florence we stayed at another boutique hotel called Relais Santa Croce, but while the one in Rome was new and modern, this one was quite old—in fact, it was originally a palace in the 18th century! With just over 20 rooms, the service here was incredibly attentive, and they had a delicious breakfast...and cocktails!

It was also right by one of the other big churches in town, Santa Croce, which made for another fun photo moment even in the rain!

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Stay tuned for the Milan recap, coming soon! Check out my Rome recap if you missed that HERE


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Roman Holiday

June 11, 2019


I have recently returned from a whirlwind trip to Italy and am so excited to share all my experiences with you! My mom and I left the States for 10 days and traveled to Rome, Florence, and Milan, seeing the historical sites, shopping at local boutiques, and eating all the pasta. We tackled so much territory over our trip that I'm splitting up my recap into 3 separate posts—one for Rome, one for Florence, and one for Milan—so today, I invite you to read more about our time in Rome!

Spots To See

The Pantheon


Our hotel was located right near the Pantheon, so we kicked off our first afternoon in Rome (our plane landed at noon) with a self-guided walking tour (meaning we searched for landmarks on Google Maps) and headed to the Pantheon.

Built during the Roman Empire as a temple to the gods, this structure has truly withstood the test of time, and it was incredibly impressive to see in person. With a truly colossal dome and giant opening at the top to the sky, it is an incredible architectural achievement. Standing under the dome and staring up at the blinding sunlight, it was the first of many times on this trip that I would ask, "How did people build this?"

It's also a great example of how the Romans constantly repurposed structures to fit their current needs. Once a Roman temple, the Pantheon was converted into a church with the rise of Christianity, and it still remains an active church. It's a little sad to know that many of the original decorations have since been removed and/or destroyed, but this repurposing of structures is also a likely reason why buildings like the Pantheon and the Colosseum still stand. 

The Trevi Fountain

 

The Trevi Fountain is a popular spot thanks to movies, but it is a fairly recent addition compared to other Roman landmarks; it wasn't built until the 18th century! How modern! Still, it's a beautiful plaza featuring dramatic baroque sculpture and makes for a great photo backdrop.

*Pro tip: when we visited the fountain, it was a busy Saturday afternoon and we were lucky to get as close as we did, it was that crowded! Still, my photo looks like I'm the only one at the fountain. The secret? Go to the sides of the fountain (especially the right side, if you're facing the fountain, where there are no steps). There are fewer people on the sides, and it will be easier to snap that gorgeous photo.

The Colosseum and Roman Forum

 

No trip to Rome is complete without a visit to the Colosseum. As a USC girl, this landmark was extra sweet to visit, but for true history lovers, be sure to visit the entire Palatine Hill and Forum as well! You'll be able to walk through the ruins of the forum and imagine yourself as a Roman citizen in 100 CE, and the Palatine Hill offers an amazing overview of the city.

If you didn't study the ancient Roman world in school like I did, and even if you did, I highly suggest attending these sites with a tour guide. Not only will you be able to skip long lines at these extremely popular landmarks, but you will also get key historical background that will help these monuments come to life.

For both the Colosseum and The Vacitan, my mom and I booked tours with Context Travel. Each tour is led by a high-level scholar, and they keep their groups extremely small (our Colosseum tour had 6 people and our Vatican tour had 4). I would highly recommend this company!

The Vatican

 

Whether you are devoutly Catholic or have little interest in religion, you should still make a point to visit The Vatican. Especially if you have an appreciation for art and architecture, you will find plenty to enjoy here.

For one, there is much more to the Vatican than the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. The Vatican Museum houses so much art that it is almost a little gross, thinking about how much property the Catholic Church has amassed over the centuries. But all that aside, there are great works to see, from antiquity to the Renaissance and beyond. Our tour only visited a tiny portion of the museum; I could have spent days traipsing the halls and studying each piece.


Of course, the artistic highlight of visiting the Vatican is the Sistine Chapel, and it did not disappoint. I won't lie—I don't find myself to be a religious person—but I was nearly brought to tears upon entering the chapel and gazing up at the ceiling that Michelangelo obsessed over five hundred years ago. There is so much going on throughout the chapel that it is entirely overwhelming, and incredibly beautiful.

Again, without the context of an art history major, the Sistine Chapel may be too complicated to appreciate. Before entering the chapel, our guide broke down the visual narrative of the ceiling, as well as the paintings on the walls of the room, which was really helpful for getting the most out of the visit. 

Places To Eat


Obviously I ate plenty of delicious food in Italy! Here are a few of the places we visited while in Rome:
  • Ginger: this cute little spot was right down the street from our hotel and featured healthy Italian dishes like caprese sandwiches and even a juice bar!
  • Lion: While walking back from Piazza Navona, we walked by this very chic little spot and decided to circle back for dinner. The drinks were delish, and they had a really cool deconstructed tiramisu as well.
I also ate the most delicious carbonara by the Forum but I cannot recall the name of the restaurant. I'll try to research on Google Maps and see if I can uncover it!

Also, whenever you're in need of a break, be sure to savor time sitting outside and drinking a cappuccino or Aperol spritz. The Italians know how to sit back and enjoy an afternoon break, and it's something I think we need more of stateside! 


 

Where To Stay


Our hotel, The Pantheon Iconic Rome Hotel, was—like the name suggests—centrally located near the Pantheon. It was the perfect starting point for our Roman adventures (seriously, I was pleasantly surprised by just how walkable Rome was) and was a lovely boutique hotel with attentive staff and a great rooftop bar,
_

Rome lived up to my expectations and exceeded them. I hope you get the chance to visit soon!

I also want to give a special shout out to Next Page Travel for helping my mom and I arrange this trip! There were a ton of moving parts with us visiting 3 different cities over the course of a week, and she made it so easy for us to plan our days!

Stay tuned for the Florence and Milan guides coming soon! 


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Coming Full Circle

April 29, 2019


When I was a little girl, my mom always dressed me in Laura Ashley dresses. I like to describe my pre-schooler style as akin to a Von Trapp child, with most of my outfits looking like they may or may not have been made out of upholstery fabric. In fact, I even had a dress that was made from the same fabric as my childhood duvet cover; the dress was made completely independently from the duvet, by the way, and my mom just happened to stumble upon it in a boutique.

My style has gone through many transformations since then, but it seems we have arrived back where we started, as I find myself in Laura Ashley prints yet again, now at the age of 25.

Of all retailers, Urban Outfitters joined forces with Laura Ashley for an exclusive capsule collection full of romantic floral print pieces, including a delightfully girly pink babydoll dress that caught my attention last month. With balloon sleeves, empire waist, and toile de jouy print, it had everything I was looking for in a garment.

Ultra-feminine pieces reminiscent of prairie dresses and the Victorian era are presently en vogue and I find myself embracing the unabashed sweetness of pastel colors, poofy dresses, and dainty prints. Taylor Swift is doing it—so why not everyone else, too?

It's funny to think that this dress in particular is so well suited to both 3-year-old and 25-year-old Lindsey alike, but maybe part of me always knew, even then, that this is who I was born to be: a bright spirit with a completely unironic love of all things fashion, no matter how ridiculous or feminine or frivolous.

I may experiment with hundreds more trends throughout my lifetime, but this is one I will always come back to, because it is so completely me. 




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