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! 

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! 

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: Maxi Skirt and Free Spirits

P o s t . b y l Ritika 

One of my favorite ways to spend some downtime is to find a beautiful, peaceful place and collect my thoughts. Nothing quite consumes me with infinite gratitude like the charm of an open space in nature, a good book and great company.

There's so much effortless, natural beauty that surrounds us each day, there are so few reasons not to bask in the warm summer sun and hear the great Pacific ocean waves nearby.

On a leisure walk back from the sandy beach, we found the loveliest and cleanest tree that offered the most generous heaps of shade with beautiful dangling branches of leaves.

Right now, I'm obsessed with maxi skirts and crop tops. They're such a great pairing for summer. The freedom and versatility of a maxi skirt is unlimited. Whether you tuck in a button down blouse, throw on a comfy off-the-shoulder knit sweater or choose, my favorite, crop top, a colorful maxi skirt is always comfortable and breezy.

top: sweetheart neckline with sheer, floral lace off white crop top, Urban Outfitters
bottom: purple a-line maxi skirt,  Irene's Story

For this outing, I chose my favorite off-white floral crop top with a sweetheart neckline and sheer floral sleeves and collar. I also paired it with a short-rimmed hat as well to protect myself from those UV rays.

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 Dreamy Dream Catcher

P o s t . b y   l   M i m i 

 

I remember the first time I was taught to make a dream catcher...
It was 8th grade Art class, 4th period, right after lunch. Of course it was also my favorite class that year. One day, our teacher told us we would be crafting our very own dream catcher. I still had that dreamcatcher until last year. Since then, I didn't know if I should purchase another one or what. So after some thought, I thought why not DIY it! Today, I'll share with you what I learned back in 8th grade, back in art class.

So lets begin today's class ;)....

. . . Materials Needed . . .
 

Tree branch or Metal/wood ring

Yarn or Fabric or String

Feathers

Beads

Scissors 

Whitecaps and a Pop of Purple

P o s t . b y    l    R i t i k a

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! :)

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!

Bringing Summer to Fall : Summer Dresses

P o s t . b y    l    M i m i  

Summer is coming to an end and Autumn is coming! I love the colder weather as much as the warmer ones. Good thing about cold weather fashion is layering! We don't need to go out and buy more clothes, we can always work with what we have and create more looks with them. So today, lets recreate some of our summer pieces into fall looks!

dress: f21 heart dotted dress . flats : target - gold

This is by far one of my most prized summer dress and I am going to show you what I do to make it fall and winter appropriate...

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

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 

Fine Foods in the Sin City - Las Vegas

P o s t . b y    l    M i m i  

 Last weekend, I had the pleasure of accompanying my sister, her boyfriend, and a few friends to Vegas for 2 days and 1 night of food adventure!

The most notable : Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris Hotel in Las Vegas . . .

Actually, Gordon Ramsay Steak was the reason we made this trip to Vegas. My sister is a food channel enthusiastic and fell in love with Mr. Ramsay. So we made it a mission to try it out. 

We made reservation 1 month ahead of time to fit in a party of 7. When we arrived 15 minutes before our reservation, we were given the option to wait in the lounge area where we can order drinks. Their HK Antioxidant is most refreshing! Tastes like blueberry lemonade! A must try! . . . 

...With Mimi From Alice's

P o s t . b y    l    M i m i  

Happy Saturdays! : )

I'm headed to Las Vegas, NV this weekend but I wanted to take time to post my pieces from Alice's that Ritika mentioned in her last post! 

Now, I have to admit it was fun playing dress up in my favorite pieces from Alice's - a boutique in Hacienda Heights, CA. From the loose light flowing blouses to lace hugging dresses, Alice brings a little bit of Wonderland to my wardrobe this Summer and into Fall.

My first piece from Alice : White and blue striped blouse . . .

 . shirt : Alice round neck blouse . jeans : TJ maxx . heels : Reflection sandal heels .

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.

One Night of Luxury: The St. Regis Hotel & Resort

On a late July weekend, I was invited to stay at the St. Regis. I invited Mimi as my guest and we spent the next 24 hours in awe of the beauty around us!

It could not have been a more stunning weekend. The St. Regis is one of Orange County's finest, well-known gems. Naturally, we grabbed our cameras ASAP and set out to capture the beauty as best we could. Here it is, from night to daylight:

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!