Beach, Bikes, and Backpacks

P o s t . b y l M i m i 

top: urban outfitters  skirt: forever21  wedges: target backpack: thrifted

My favorite 3 B's in one post! Ritika and I went beach cruising! Summer in California heats up really fast and what better way to enjoy it than to go to the beach and enjoy the cool air! 

Shop Review : Keeping Cool in Sammy Dress's Hot Crop Top

P o s t . b y l M i m i & R i t i k a  

 

Hello and good day to you. :)  

We recently had the opportunity to try out a piece of clothing 

from SammyDress.com and we are delighted to share our experience with you!

Sammy Dress is a wholesale online clothing store that offers really cute, trendy pieces. One of the first things you might notice from their website is just how jaw-droppingly low their prices are.

Some items are even as low as $5...seriously!

Of course, there are a few downsides to Sammy Dress as well. The company is based in China, so keep in mind that international shipping time will be longer than domestic websites. 

Still, it's definitely worth giving it a shot if you're not on a tight deadline. 

Their collection is pretty diverse, from sultry clubbing attire to cute colorful day tunics. 

We opted to try on their "Sexy Hollow Out Slimming Crop Top" in white (it comes in black too). We dressed it casually for a daytime, relaxed look. The same top can easily be paired with your favorite high-waisted skirt or shorts for a night out on the town as well.

The fabric was pretty thick and can be worn without a bra because there's built-in padding. 

This crop top only comes in one size, which luckily fit both of us. 

Carefully look at the measurements listed on their product page before you buy. It didn't seem like this crop top would fit every size...so it's worth double checking.

Overall, it's a decent quality cute top at a wonderful price! 

Summer Styles : Hints of Bohemian

P o s t . b y l M i m i 

Summer's solstice is just around the corner and California is heating up for it. In preparation, we created casual summer looks paired with our current favorite trend - Bohemian - for those long warm summer days.  

dress: white lace-lined cardigan: light pink lace  boots: brown suede booties accessories: flower pendant, tassel necklace, rings & midi-rings

For my look, I paired my favorite lace cardigan with a white laced lined dress and some drown suede booties for a casual look. Topping off the look, I mixed in a flower pendant and gold tassel necklace along with some rings.   

Yet the main things I love about this trend, has got to be the effortlessly tousled hair and its carefree nature.

DIY Bow Hairwrap or Headwrap

P o s t . b y    l    M i m i  


Headwraps or Hairwraps, are my favorite hair accessories to wear during the weekends, after work, or just when I'm feeling lazy! They can be found everywhere and I especially love the ones found at UO and small boutiques. Instead of shelling out $$ for each different pattern I loved, I tried making my own headwrap!

If you like the headwrap I wore above, lets DIY!

 . . . Materials needed . . . 

Fabrics: 
 Fabric  -  4"W x 24"L (Or an 1"-2" longer than size of head)
 Fabric  -  4"W x 16"L
Elastic  -  2" 

Scissors

Sewing Kit / Sewing Machine

Lets get started....

Photo Diary : Maui in November

P o s t . b y    l    M i m i  

Hi! Its been a while! :)

So, time travel with me back to the start of the winter - November 2013. I started off winter by chasing the summer sun to Maui during my vacation...

How to Avoid Looking Awkward in a Midi Skirt

P o s t . b y    l    R i t i k a

Midi skirts are tough to style. They're in that awkward length between maxi and pencil-skirt...grazing your calves.

Midis come in all sorts of fabrics & styles, from high-waist, circle, ethereal, a-line and more!

According to the Daily.Uk, "Asos has just reported a 200 percent rise in midi sales on this time last year." Wowza. I'm all for midis...in magazines and style blogs midi outfits always look both classy and trendy.

But unlike the easier, classic cuts (pencil-skirts and maxis), the awkward length of the midi length skirt can unintentionally highlight your shins (not the most flattering feature).

Pictured on the left is my attempt at styling a midi skirt. I'm wearing a thrifted Free People midi length skirt and a black crop top from Urban Outfitters with a pair of sandals (this was taken at Malibu, pier, where sandals are green lit year-round!).

I like the way the flowy skirt contrasts the tight-fitted, short top...

Springing into Fall with Floral Leggings

P o s t . b y    l    R i t i k a

Last spring, the feature on 3 Ways to Wear Floral Leggings was part of a mini-challenge to discover a brand new element in wardrobe and style.
I took an item I'd never choose myself and styled it to my unique liking. Seriously, it's an amazing exercise to expand your fashion palette.

On the hanger, the floral leggings that inspired my challenge are pretty bold.
Maybe even a little hey-look-at-me!

But to my pleasant surprise, trading in the good old classic black legging for a floral print gave my look a zesty splash of change. And that's what spring is all about.

Paired with a muted top, patterned pants are incredibly striking, yet flattering. Why stick to the plain, boring leggings or jeans when you can switch it up with punchy pants?

My favorite way to style floral leggings is #3 in my post: Wear it Flirty: Chiffon Top. 

blue rayon crepe tunic // bongo floral leggings // target's metallic silver sandals

We SoCal folks can still sport our favorite easy summery sandals, breezy tunics and leggings for at least another few weeks or so. Mother Nature seems to be taking her time with fall.

I usually prefer floral patterns in pretty pastels, muted colors and finer prints with an ethereal vibe. These leggings, gifted by my mom, have enormously bold patterns and colors that truly made my eyes shift at first.

 Hence, I'd never choose them myself!

Styling with the Stars - {Griffith Observatory}

This past weekend, Mimi & I escaped a bit of the high heat wave in SoCal by making a trip Griffith Observatory, which sits on a slope of Mount Hollywood overlooking the LA skyline and infamous Hollywood sign. If you're (ever) in the LA area, this is a must-see, free and gorgeous attraction! 

We couldn't get enough of the clear, scenic views from the hilltop. 

It's awesome to be able to access so much knowledge and a unique perspective,

 thanks to this grand spectacle. 

In fact, this was the primary purpose of building this particular observatory. According to brochures, founder Griffith J. Griffith (yea, an interesting name!), "believed that astronomy and observation could alter perspective, and by doing so, could improve people's lives."

Lace blouse: Free People (thrifted at Crossroads) / High-waisted shorts: My Story (thrifted at Crossroads) / Booties: Lucky (Hautelook) / Sunglasses: Anthropologie 

Ritika's Favorite Finds from Alice's

 P o s t . b y    l   R i t i k a

In my post "Korean Fashion is Dainty, Detailed and Divine," I mentioned a small boutique in Hacienda Heights named Alice's. Mimi and I wanted to do a collaborative blog post that showcases some of our favorite finds from her shop. As mentioned before, she travels to Korea every few months to bring back all of the latest Korean trends. A lot of her collection is detailed and feminine.

Here are my two outfits! The first is a dress I'm saving for breezy autumns and warmer winter socal days. It's pretty warm with full sleeves and double layers. Love the polka dots and fabric. The second is just the white top with a very detailed sleeve.

Check out Mimi's outfits to be posted tomorrow as well!

The Legends of Summer: JT & Hova

P o s t . b y    l   R i t i k a

The Legends of Summer: Justin Timberlake and Jay Z at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena late July was the best concert I've ever been to thus far! My first time at a stadium concert venue, the crowd totaled around 60 thousand. And everyone, I mean everyone, was insanely connected by their love for these two musical geniuses.

Skirt: Crossroads original/ Netted white tank: Cotton On/
Sandals: Target/ Crossbody bag: Urban Expressions via Hautelook

Fashion note: Black maxi skirts are so popular right now. I saw so many girls in line wearing maxi skirts and black seemed to be the color of the day! The half sheer version I wore was breezy enough for a perfect for a hot summer day in Pasadena. Maxi skirts are pretty versatile...I saw stylish girls pairing them with grungy band tee's, tanks, crop tops and even oversized light sweaters.

JT & Hova started off together with their latest Holy Grail track, then did individual short sets of their all-time hits and then came back together as one for Suit & Tie.

Ritika & Mimi's Crossroads Photography Contest Entry

Recently, Mimi and I entered our first photography contest ever: The Crossroads Photography Contest 2013.  We were one of thousands of entries from around the world. Although we didn't win, the best part was letting our creativity run wild. Mimi and I came up with a few artistic visions and it was blast bringing them to life. Check out some our photos from our shoot and some behind the scenes photos as well!

Korean Fashion is Dainty, Detailed and Divine!

P o s t . b y    l   R i t i k a

Molangg Tumblr 

Lately I've been inspired and intrigued by Korean fashion. I started fancying their style ever since I stumbled upon a brand new quaint boutique called Alice's in my parent's hometown of Hacienda Heights, CA.

The owner, Alice, is very cordial and explained that she takes a trip to Korea once every 1-2 months to handpick new trends, styles and accessories and display in them in her store. I just loved everything. The clothes are so much more intricate than a typical American Forever 21 or even Nordstrom. It's pricey, but I think it's worth it.

You can find clothes here that no one else will have -- from dresses, maxi skirts, flannel shirts, tops, t-shirts, blazers and everything in between! The style is actually very similar and cohesive. It's very girly, preppy, detailed, whimsical and chic. Korean styles are also perfect for smaller frames (though Alice stocks for larger sizes mostly!).

I loved the collection so much that I insisted Mimi check it out. And she loved it too! In fact, we're planning on an upcoming collaborative post showcasing our awesome finds from Alice's. It's so new that it doesn't have a proper Yelp page yet. I'm going to change that!

Until we get a chance to get together and create a mini fashion show for you all, here are some of the similar Korean styles I found around the web. Note the intricate details!

 Hye-Jun Tumblr

I love the brown, black and white mix of neutrals.
It's probably one of the few black dressed I'd ever wear in the summer!

Prepping for Summer: Unique Beach Style

P o s t . b y    l   R i t i k a

It's not  quite summer...but here in SoCal, we're already feeling strong summer rays! In order to prep for the upcoming season, I wanted to share with you my absolute favorite beachy look:

This summer outfit is breathtaking! I'm so inspired by this outfit found on Pinterest here, found first by my friend Smriti. Unfortunately, I'm not quite sure who to credit this photo? The Stylet.ag link fails to take me to the correct page. If anyone knows the proper credit, please do let us know. 

The high slit white skirt + low-cut one piece black bathing suit works so well together. It's different than the 100+ bikinis you'll see on any given beach on a sunny day. Yet it's still very sexy. 

The belt adds a fun, stylish touch as well! 

Here are cute, affordable pieces to replicate the look.

DIY Bow Hair Tyes and Clips

P o s t . b y    l    M i m i   

Latest obsession:  Bows! From wearing them in my hair to tying presents in bows! Not only are they great accessories for girls of all ages, but they also look dashing on most guys with collared shirts! There are so many ways to dress up and dress down bows that makes them so versatile and fun to play with.

Today, I wanted to share my this obsession with you guys through a small DIY! ...So, let's get started!

 . . . Materials needed . . . 

Fabric scraps (at least 5" x 7")

Scissors

Glue Gun or Sewing Kit

Hair Clip or Hair Tye

3 Ways to Wear Floral Leggings

P o s t . b y    l   R i t i k a

One of my favorite things about my mom is that she is absolutely clueless about fashion. It's really cute and funny how she'll pick out something totally random to unintentionally mismatch something because it's on sale. 

It's one of those problems I can look back and laugh at now. And although I've been supporting and cultivating my own wardrobe for years...she still enjoys buying an item here and there just for kicks (despite any resistance). 

The best part is that it's almost always something I'd never pick myself. 

For instance, recently, she brought home a pair of floral leggings. Although I am legging-obsessed (leggings = pants all the way!), I'd never actually buy a pair of floral leggings. They're loud, bold and a little too look-at-me with giant floral, colorful print.

She found this particular pair in the junior's section of Sears. It's safe to say, they are in style. My mom's picks are a fun way to challenge myself to style something I'd never normally wear.

After doing some meticulous fashion research, here are three ways I plan to sport my new floral leggings:

1. Dress it Up: Blazer

Oasis shirt, / Topshop boyfriend blazer / Floral print pants, / Tory Burch platform sandals / Colorblock handbag, 

Things To Consider Before Ombre-ing Your Hair

P o s t . b y    l    M i m i   

Ombre is one of the hottest hairstyles for the spring and summer time. It brightens up ones face and brings depth and dimension to your hair. And since it is spring, I decided to try out this trendy hairstyle myself. Below are a list of things I thought that everyone should consider before trying out this hairstyle.

• Beginners problem:
  If you've never dyed or bleach your hair before, to get the best result you should consult a hairdresser. I've dyed and re-dyed my hair for years and years now, so I understand how and what these chemicals will do to my hair. For beginners, going to a salon and getting it professionally done will ensure you get the results you dream of.
  
• Ombre = Bleaching hair:
  Whenever you are changing up your hair color, you are adding chemicals to your hair, which in turn will damage your hair. To achieve the ombre effect, bleaching and/or lightening your hair is required, this will damage your hair. If you don't want to damage your hair, you should reconsider trying out this hairstyle.
  
• In for the long haul: 
  You should always consider if a type of look is age, work, and school appropriate. Bleaching your hair means stripping your hair of its natural hair color which means it is permanent. Therefore, you should consider if it is okay to have this hairstyle in your current environment.
  
• Different Shades of Ombre:
  Not everyone has the same color hair or skin tone, therefore decide how light or how dark you want your ombre to be depending on your skin tone. Also, picture the type of ombre you want, is it the subtle type, or the more dramatic type? Whichever one your consider, know that it'll work for you and your skin tone beforehand. 

Now, check out my personal experience down below. . .

Copy that Cat: Zooey Deschanel

P o s t . b y    l    M i m i   

Everyone has their own unique signature look, that when perfected, makes their best features shine. Zooey Deschanel, in my opinion, perfects her signature look with her vintage girly-girl outfits and quirky personality. What I also admire and adore about her, is her outlook on styling and saving; She discovered her signature looks by hitting up thrift stores and now created online community for virtually anyone to contribute tips, tricks, DIYs and more, to "inspire a smile" at HelloGiggles.com about fashion and life.

In this edition of Copy that Cat, I created 3 looks inspired by Zooey:

a. mint green cardigan b. peter-pan collar blouse c. santeen shorts d. peep-toe heels

.

Her quirky personality shines through her unique style from head to toe. This outfit is perfect for those casual spring and summer days.

Peggy Olson's Fashion Evolution in 'Mad Men'

P o s t . b y    l   R i t i k a

“I don’t think anyone wants to be one of a hundred colors in a box"

These are some wise words from Peggy Olson, who has come a long way since she first made this bold remark in the first season of Mad Men. It was a memorable moment. When all the women in the office were given the opportunity to pick a shade of lipstick as part of an ad campaign research, Peggy was the only one who didn't scour the colors to grab one--any one. She declined.

"They don't have my color," she said defiantly, but respectfully.

It was arguably at this point, when she first voiced her unique opinion that allowed her to chart her own course from being an ordinary secretary of season one to a high-powered ad woman of season six.  

Her sensible wit, determination and unabashed courage helps her truly evolve as a woman both in her career and personal life. And as we're getting into season six of the show, I couldn't help but notice that Peggy's wardrobe evolved right alongside her. 

Let's take a look at season 1:

Season 1

Remember this Peggy? This totally captures innocent, fun-loving Peggy of season one (remember her hook-up with Pete?) This waist line isn't at all flattering on Peggy. It makes sense, at this point, even she didn't know her potential quite just yet. 

The Bold Bubble Necklace (& Variations)

P o s t . b y    l   R i t i k a

The bubble necklace has been extremely trendy in the last year or so...it makes a statement and adds a burst of color to any outfit. I absolutely love the bubble necklace -- but I can understand the slight apprehension that some fashion bloggers have expressed about this particular trend.

Some stylists worry that the necklace loses its punchy, "wow" factor when all too often, there are three other women wearing the same original J-Crew bubble necklace (found much cheaper here) in a given fashionable room. Not much a statement then is it?

Still, if you love the look -- keep its popularity in mind. If we think about how to personalize this trendy piece in a way that looks different than everyone else -- the bold bubble necklace can be a unique look. Here are different variations of the bib-style bubble necklace:

First off, here's my current obsession:

This three-toned bold color from Fashion Love can dress up any plain tank or dress. It's somewhat similar to the original J-crew bubble necklace with a shorter, multicolored, more delicate string.

Spring Styles: 5 Must Have Handbags

P o s t . b y    l    M i m i   

Handbags by far are my favorite accessories by far. They're versatile and can add personality to any outfit without looking over-done. Below are 5 different types of styles I find indispensable this spring.

1} Color : Bright Pastels

Pastels, in my mind, is always in. For this spring, bright pastels are a must have. It adds a pop of color to any  boring outfit.

marc jacobs q mini

2} Second Look : Statement

I absolutely adore anything that catches my eye for a second time. If it makes me turn my head, it must be something unique. Whether it be the color, shape, print, or style, a statement handbag is a necessity.

chanel 2013 two hoop handles