Carefree Cruisin' in Ocean Turquoise

P o s t . b y l Ritika 

top: flowy button down | H&M, bottoms: denim shorts | F21shoes: turquoise thong sandal | DV | jewelry: chained mid ring | F21

Hello and happy summer! :) What's a more simple, cathartic and enjoyable way to enjoy summer than a good ol' fashion bike ride? Mimi and I decided to rent cruisers for the day and peddled along the sand in Newport Beach. Wind in our hair, sun kissing our skin and the smell of the salty ocean breeze makes for a picture perfect summer beach day! 

For our bike and beach day, I decided to keep it easy and breezy with an off-white, flowy tunic, and paired it with a pair of denim shorts. I love adding a burst of color during these bright, sunny seasons. The turquoise sandals (on sale at Nordstrom) made for a perfect pair for peddling! 

Whitecaps and a Pop of Purple

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Hello there! I'm excited to share photos from a fun outing with my friend 

and very talented photographer Ann Nguyen of Lost & Found photography! 

To take advantage of our unusually hot winter, Ann took me to this beautiful, hidden gem of Orange County called Victoria Beach .

It's a secluded little cove with stacks of rocks, a pond and a big ethereal castle tower. How unusual for SoCal!

Notice how the tips of my hair are a bit wet? 

Just before we started taking photos, a big wave came and splashed me!
Luckily, the water felt great on this gorgeous, hot SoCal winter's day. 

Apparently, this happened to Ann during a previous shoot as well...

...so, if you're thinking of checking out Victoria Beach, bring a bathing suit! :)

How to Avoid Looking Awkward in a Midi Skirt

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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

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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!

Festival Food & Fun: Outside Lands 2013

 P o s t . b y    l   R i t i k a

Every year, the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco turns into a huge 3-stage concert venue as the setting for Outside Lands!

 Three days of nonstop concerts, uphill jaunts, favorite bands, new bands, picnics, exploring the whimsically-decorated park, bearing the port-a-potty situation, winning a few prizes, Wine Land-ing and dining at highly-rated gourmet food stands.

In order to truly relax and enjoy the park, it's important to come prepared! The weather is a grab bag of every temperature -- so dressing is no easy feat. 

It's slightly warmer in the day, freezing at night and downright sweaty in the crowds.

Luckily, I was prepared since this was my second year attending.

Here are some helpful hints for next year's festivities :)....

Helpful Hints

* I wore many maxi skirts (LOVE them) with leggings (this trick saved me!). *

* I loved wearing flowy, breathable and danceable outfits *
* Lots of warm layers is a given. *

* Comfy, warm shoes (we must have walked 10 miles this weekend) *
*Bring your own 1-liter of water per person
*Renting a locker is really smart! Buy it online early (they go really fast) to store big jackets, hats, etc.
*Come with snacks to avoid spending too much money from vendors
*Check out the games to get free stuff, like free food from on-site vendors
*Sprint users: prepare for terrible cell service! :)*

Festival Food

Outside Lands' food is no ordinary street food fair. All of the vendors were tasted, tested and approved. It's quite a coveted spot for chefs and foodies alike!

potato &  garlic pesto pizza from Spicy Pie, gourmet pizza

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

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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!

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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!

Frances Ha is a Simple, Gorgeous Film

P o s t . b y    l   R i t i k a

image from Pop Sugar 

Here at Love Jadore, we love to admire and appreciate the simple things in life. This appreciation of simplicity is exactly the feeling I got after watching the film Frances Ha, directed by Noah Baumbach. It's about the life of one stunted mid-20's woman and her best friend Sophie in NYC.

This summer, there have been so many big, anticipated movies hitting the theater--so many that I think Frances Ha, a smaller indie film has been slightly overshadowed.

The starring actress plays the role of the lost millennial flawlessly. She's relatable, but doesn't adhere to the cookie-cutter millennial stereotypes that you often hear (self-absorbed, entitled, etc.). Frances Ha is much more real and granular than that. It's about the real conversations we have with our best friend...the real challenge that comes along with our tech-driven generation...the real fear of missing out as life speeds forward. Writer Britt Julious at WBEZ.org agrees and says Frances Ha gets millennial women right.

I loved it not just for its story and dialogue but also the beautiful cinematography. Baumbach shows us riveting, romantic landscapes of Paris and New York -- all in black and white.

It's gotten rave reviews from many critics (91% on Rotten Tomato)...even though it's not exactly a blockbuster hit like Despicable Me 2 or Iron Man 3 (ugh sequels). The brief last scene sent a joyous chill down my back as Baumbach symbolically explains the significance of the film title. It sums up the sentiment beautifully, yet simply.

Here's the preview + some beautiful cinematic scenes you have to see!...

Latest Obsession of Summer Whites!

P o s t . b y    l   R i t i k a

I love wearing whites and bright yellows this season. Here in SoCal, we had a nice, sunny dry heat this weekend. Lots of fun times exploring downtown cities and celebrating birthdays outdoors (water guns and all). It's kind of strange, but wearing white somehow adds a touch of confidence for me. 

It's uplifting, clean and really stands out on my dark skin. Same goes for yellow!

I've only made three purchases in the past two months (go me!): plain white tee at Gap (on sale), plane white long sleeved t-shirt from Old Navy -- both of which are so versatile -- and these pairs of white Nordstrom sandals (perfect for the office!). 

A few of my favorite, eye-catching whites at the shoppes I've been eyeing:

Suit Jacket at Mango $109.99

Found on Pinterest -- Can't find the shop, but cute white inspiration

Prepping for Summer: Unique Beach Style

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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.

Juice Party! Carrot, Orange & Ginger Juice

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I'm in love with juicing! The savory naturally sweet taste of fruit juice is better than any other drink you could buy! Add some ice and there's really no reason to splurge on a pricey Frappucino or smoothie. And the right energy-boosting ingredient makes me way more energized than caffeine. (Also, check out Mimi's recipe for homemade Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade!).

I came across this recipe courtesy of Free People's Healthy Juice Recipes. According to the Free People food blogger, carrot's beta-carotene is great for skin and eyes. Oranges, of course, pump up your immune system. And ginger gives you more energy!

Personally, I'm not a huge ginger fan -- but I wanted to see how it might blend with orange & carrot. I loved it! Just be conservative if you're not a huge fan of the spicy kick. Adding ice is a must, especially on a summer day!

The portions that Free People's blogger included is great for 3 people. I used half of the suggested portion size and that yielded 1.5 full glasses:

Ingredients

Half a bunch of carrots

2 medium-sized oranges

quarter-size ginger root

Starstruck: 'Seinfeld' Lives On in NYC

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I recently traveled to the Big Apple this past weekend -- it's my second time visiting, but I always (without fail) feel giddy, eager and in awe of all that NYC has to offer.

There's always something to see, do and feel in the big city. It's the only city I've been to so far that leaves me starstruck. So many great film, television and novels have made dozens of NYC spots uniquely famous.

As a huge Seinfeld fan...I'd love to share with you some of the spots in the city I visited that were made famous by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David. Traipsing through these places made the show come to life!

Tom's Diner at 2880 Broadway is the inspiration behind Seinfeld's diner set!

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, 

Exploring Salt Lake City's Treasures

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Since Utah is heavily associated with Mormanism, a lot of people think there's not much to the community than that. After all, it's the Morman Mecca. Recently, I visited a couple of my friends over in Salt Lake City and was pleasantly surprised to find just how much the city had to offer (regardless of religion)!

When my dear friend Christina N. and I explored the streets of Salt Lake City, I discovered several amazing, not-so-hidden treasures of the city, including gorgeous architecture, art and quaint shops I couldn't help but fawn over. 

Come let me take you on a journey with me to the most beautiful corners of Salt Lake....

The jaw-dropping Cathedral of the Madeleine

Peggy Olson's Fashion Evolution in 'Mad Men'

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“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.

Pinsperation: 5 Lovely Thoughts

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Good Tuesday to you all! This week, I wanted to share some of my absolute favorite musings, quotes and reflections found on Pinterest. Whether you've had a rough start to your week or simply could use a rejuvenating perspective, remember that...

Pinned from Proven

SPRING BREAK! 5 Road Trip Tips & Tricks

P o s t . b y    l   R i t i k a

Image found luxandlillies.blogspot.com

Spring Break is the perfect opportunity to get on the road, de-stress and embark on a mini journey! It has been nearly two years since graduation (whoa..time flies). While it's true that I no longer get to enjoy a week of pure, carefree spring break bliss, I love planning blissful getaway weekends here and there. 

Just last weekend, my cousins and I traveled from southern California to the Bay Area for my cousin's wedding reception and loved every minute of it!

Having returned from such a long road trip, I thought I'd offer up some must-have tips and tricks that I love or wish I knew about before! Whether you're planning a trip across the country, getting ready for Coachella, or just a getaway weekend to a nearby neighborhood, whatever you do, don't leave home without...