Trying new trends w/ sex appeal

As much as I love my staple wardrobe pieces, sometimes  a girl just needs to be on trend. Ya feel? Those are the days I turn to tobi.com.

Usually my style is really, muted. I tend to wear what I call "uniforms," and they cover about 95% of my skin. Ha! Today, I decided to challenge myself and share three currently trending outfits with, dare I say it, SEX APPEAL. Read on :D

EDGE OF NIGHT CAMI

WHOOP THERE IT IS. This cami is everything. I realized camis were trending again after reading cool-girl Aimee Rancer's post about it a few weeks ago. Mixing and matching soft, feminine pieces with hi rise denim was a perfect way for me to be completely out of my comfort zone on top (I couldn't wear a bra with this shirt, ah!!!) but still wear my regular, skin covering bottoms. 

I do love this cami, tho. It's a wonderful color for spring and though I didn't take any pictures of the back, the sex appeal is real. Trust me. Shop the entire look via the photos below.

---

ALLEY LACE UP RIBBED BODY SUIT

GUYS. I wore a body suit. WTF? I never, ever, ever thought I would be able to pull off a body suit. & I guess I didn't allllllllll the way. I probably shouldn't have worn a bra with this lace up beauty, but that just seemed like way to much exposure for me. So I donned a bralett. 

Long ago I read on a blog that body suits are great to wear as an outfit "base." They don't ride up and they look like a shirt. I wanted to test out the theory.

This look is 10,000% outside of my comfort zone but I can tell you right now, people loved it. People like my fiancé. Paired with some hi rise vintage denim, I felt like I could take on the world in this ensemble. Shop the look in the photos below.

---

CURRENT AFFAIRS COCOON DRESS

Okay... so, short dress + deep v.

I cannot pull this off.

It looks like I'm wearing a tiny night gown. Or a t-shirt. Which in retrospect is probably how I should have styled this piece......

However. If you are a little bit shorter than me, or can pose in a short dress without looking like you're the most uncomfortable person in the world...... give it a try. The look is below. 

---

What am I missing? What kinds of trends are you guys rocking these days? In other news, it's my bachelorette weekend! As I am writing to you, my friends and sisters are flying across the country to spend the weekend in Sonoma with me. I cannot wait. 

Miss you guys. Hope you're good. Sending love. xox

Photos: Jake Heath
Lip: Lipsense in Pink Champagne
TOBI clothes provided c/o. All thoughts are my own.

---

Mimalist Style & Max Comfort: A Review of Grana

My style has changed a lot over the lifetime of this blog. Maybe it's something about getting older, or – like we talked about last week – wanting to live a more minimalist lifestyle, but these days I've been trying to invest in staples. 

Before I purchase any piece of clothing, I ask myself one question: will I still want to wear this in 5 years? If the answer is yes, I consider it a staple. If not, it's probably fast fashion, and not worth my hard earned cash.

Today, I wanted to investigate Grana, a clothing company with "timeless" at the core of design. As you'll see from the link I hyperlinked above, Grana searches for the best quality fabrics, in comfort and durability. But anyone can say that. Are the pieces really timeless? Comfortable? Durable? Cute? I checked it out.....

SILK CASHMERE BOYFRIEND CREW NECK

The silk cashmere boyfriend crew is my favorite Grana piece. Per the name, it's a mix of silk and cashmere, but let me just put that in terms that are easier to feel... HOLY SHIT THIS SHIRT IS SOFT. The length of the shirt is perfect for high waisted pants, and the loose fit doesn't hang on any food baby bellies. The sleeves are surprisingly tight, but not uncomfortable. I think the sleeves actually make this shirt super unique, adding a tiny bit of form to an otherwise modern box shape. 

Would I suggest it to you? Hell yes. You could sleep in it.  But don't. Wear it to work, instead. Like me. Shop for the outfit in the photos below.

---

CASHMERE BOYFRIEND SWEATER DRESS

TBH, I was afraid of this dress. The midi length made me nervous and I wasn't sure what kind of shoes to wear with it...  Then I started asking other questions. Is it *too* loose? Do I look like a box? HERESY!

There is no such thing as too loose! Just check what super-cool-girl Kendall Chase says on that topic. 

Like the crew neck, this dress is one of the softest things I've ever put on my body. I'm not usually a dress-wearer, but when the weather is about to swing from 40 to 75 in a single day, I think this is the piece I'll grab for. 

In the saddest news of all time, Grana temporarily stopped making this dress. Maybe we can all write in and request it come back?

---

CHUNKY RIB KNIT MERINO BOYFRIEND CARDIGAN

I wear this cardigan every single week. Actually, this outfit pretty much is my uniform for work. V-neck tee, comfy Grana cardigan, high waisted jeans, modern loafers. It makes mornings very easy when you have a go-to look to grab. 

What I love about the cardigan is the warmth. It's all wool, and all cool. Rhymes. It is my most practical Grana piece. Pick yourself up one in the photo links below.

---

MERINO RIB BOYFRIEND CARDIGAN 

Last but not least, we have the ribbed open cardigan. TBH, I don't wear it that much. Usually when I'm looking for a cardigan, it's so I can stay warm in a frigid office. But this one, well it's super duper thin. And, conservative? I don't know, but I feel like I need to be teaching the ABC's when I wear it. 

Don't get me wrong, this cardigan is soft as can be. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Just a wee bit girly for my taste. If you're only buying one cardigan, I'd steer you to the chunky rib knit merino in the photos from above. Still though, this cardigan is worth linking. Check out the whole outfit in the photos below.

---

So what's the consensus? HOW DID THEY DO IT?!?!? Did Grana capture the world's softest small animals, treat them to bonbons and ice cream, or you know, pet food, until they admitted the secret to creating a perfect, cuddly, soft? I have no idea. But in the search for comfort and modern minimalist style, Grana takes the cake.

Now, speaking of cake....... 

Photography: Jake Heath
Lips: Lipsense in Carmel Latte
Grana clothes provided c/o. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

---

Summer in SF, Layered With Uniqlo

What's up, friends?! Man oh man I've been all over the country these last few weeks. SF,  Grand Rapids, South Haven, Detroit, back to South Haven, Cleveland, Cincinnati. This weekend I'm heading out to Yosemite and then back to Detroit, chilling here in NorCal for Labor Day and then flying down to South Carolina! Busy summer!

Honestly though, it's kind of nice because summer in SF is FREEZING. I'm talking thirty degree swings. Seriously, got on the plane in Cincinnati and it was 87. Got off the plane 4 hours later and it was a balmy 57.  I've never had to wear so many layers in August! 

That's what I wanted to talk about today. I got a nice little surprise from Uniqlo in the mail the other day. The AIRism Collection is made out of a really soft technical material that controls your body temperature. That means if you live anywhere but here, it can keep you cool in these dog days of summer. If you happen to be a resident of the great San Francisco, at least we can look cool under all our layers ;)

On another note, do you ever have trouble with your high waisted pant zippers? I always catch my fly down which just does not live up to the cool-classy image I'm trying to curate (ha!). Back when I was in college, someone taught me this great keychain trick. Loop a keychain into the tiny hole at the top of your zipper zip. Zip your pants up like normal, and then loop the middle of the keychain around the button of your pants before you actually button them. Bingo. You can kind of see the keychain in my pics, but it's better than having an I see London, I see France situation on our hands, amirite?

Anyway, hope you guys are having a great summer! I'll catch up with ya on social media!

xox

I did receive free product from UNIQLO while writing this post. All the opinions & text are my own. 

---

Lip Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick in Unicorn Blood / Cardigan American Eagle, similar / Shirt Thrifted Chambray Button Down, similar / Camisole Uniqlo AIRISM Line (c/o) / Denim Madewell Hi-Riser / Flats Madewell Thea Sandal in Black (on sale!) / Photos Jake Heath / Location Tenderloin / Edits Adobe Lightroom and PhotoShop 

Fashion and Art

"Fashion is part of the daily air and it changes all the time, with all the events. You can see and feel everything in clothes." Ok, I actually heard that quote from Gossip Girl. Blair Waldorf, God Bless. It's so true, though. Don't you think? Fashion is an expression of art. 

That's why this sweater-shirt is so incredible. For over a year Tahiti Pehrson and RVCA Women have been collaborating to make HIS amazing paper cuts into wearable clothing. Check out some of his work here, and then check out how crazy delicate and intricate my shirt is. Yeah. 

There's an entire unique line at RVCA inspired by Tahiti's work and it's all between $30 and $70! Plus, if you're local and scurry over to the shop on the corner of Haight and Ashbury, you might even see some of Tahiti's artwork in the back. I think it's there for a few more days.

Anywayyyyy... speaking of Blair, do you think this outfit is Waldorf-Approved? I hope so.

xox

I did receive free product from RVCA while writing this post. All the opinions & text are my own. 

---

Sweater-Shirt Tahiti Pehrson RVCA Line (c/o) / Pants Everlane Culottes / Shoes JCrew Factory Heeled Suede Bootie, similar / Lip Bite Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Eggplant / Sunnies RayBan Clubmaster in Black / Photos: Jacob Heath Nikond3200 35 mm / Location: Tenderloin / Edits: Adobe lightroom and Photoshop

The Easiest Way to Upgrade Your Lingerie

I have the ugliest underwear. I so wish I was kidding. My time and money have always been more tied up in the clothes that people actually see to invest in something as hidden as panties. But, I'm almost 26 years old, and my laundry sometimes stays a few minutes too long in the shared washer in the apartment basement. So when Underclub Co invited me to their Pop Up Event, I decided it might be a good idea to go.

Basically, Underclub is a subscription underwear mail delivery service. It searches the area for the best, most luxurious panties, and sends them to you in the mail once a month in a neat little envelope. You can order for yourself, or gift them to your friends (helllLLooOOO best bachelorette party gift ever!). You even work with a stylist so the underwear you receive are the style and fit you like best. Read a little more about it here.

Slowly but surely, Underclub will reinvent your underwear drawer. It's the easiest way to try new brands, new styles and new fits without taking a single moment out of your day. Plus, in my case, I can walk a little more casually to the washer and dryer when I'm running behind.

As my birthday comes rounding the mountain and I enter my late-mid-twenties, it might be time to invest in some grown up undies. Especially if it is only a click away. p.s. soon-to-be-bachelorettes out there, sorry if I just ruined my gift surprise... 😉

---

I received free product while writing this post.
Photography: Nikond3200 35mm / Edits: Adobe Lightroom