Spring Fling.

Every year, Easter Sunday sneaks up on me & I’m left to pull out that over-worn, very tired floral number that makes me look weirdly large in areas that I’d rather not mention. I refuse pictures the entire day & usually go home feeling completely frumpy & annoyed. Thus, this year I’m prepared & hoping to prepare all of you babes to #ditchthefrump & pull together an unforgettable look that will leave you feeling confident, beautiful & focused on the true meaning of this special day & the people you’re sharing it with.

Whether you observe the holiday or not, this Sunday marks the true beginning of Spring. We’re talking cute sandals, fun dresses & all the pretty pastels. Not ready to make the switch from Winter layers, just yet? Start small. Ditch your heavy coat & opt for a denim jacket instead. Replace your all-weather boots with an ankle boot or sneaker. Add transitional colors [such as soft blues, blush pinks & nudes] to your cold-weather looks. These simple switches will ease you into the new season without stress or confusion.

So grab yourself a handful of Cadbury Mini Eggs & get ready for this week’s Master Class: Spring.

Forever Floral: Spring & florals go together like sunshine & tanning oil–there’s simply no denying it or making it go away. However, this Easter, switch it up with a bolder statement. With a larger print you eliminate the predictability of a Spring outfit, while helping hide any Winter imperfections you have yet to work off. The key to owning a floral look this Spring is finding the unusual & unexpected. Here are some of my favorites:

floral romper

Just a Touch: can’t imagine decking your entire body out in pastels & florals? No problem here. Adding just a slight nod to the changing season is really all it takes to perfect a transitional Spring look. Throw suede into the mix. Swap out heavy knits for light ones. Try a silk scarf on for size. These simple, painless changes will help keep you sane in warmer weather months. Here are a few of my favorites that give just enough credit to the times, without overdoing it.

Denim Daze: one of the absolute best parts of Spring is all the denim options that open up–white, black, green, blue, skinny, wide-leg, flared, overalls, distressed…the list goes on & on. Get creative & play up your bottom half this Easter with fun options that you regularly wouldn’t rock. Whether you’re hosting, drinking, running the Easter Egg Hunt or simply chasing after your little ones all day, denim is the perfect candidate for this specific day. Here are my absolute favorite looks for ~~Easter~~ Spring 2016 & beyond:

Fem Footwear: one of the easiest ways to get your mind right about Spring is footwear. Take a favorite pair of denim, a white tee & add a delicious shoe…you’ve got yourself a fashionista dream. It doesn’t have to be complicated; even a sneaker can be feminine if executed properly. The key to owning footwear is confidence & size. More often than not my clients come to me & don’t know their true shoe size. Ladies, you can’t rock great shoes if you’re hobbling around in them. Take a peek at some of my favorite Spring footwear finds. Wild or not, these looks are show-stoppers:

Whether you’re celebrating Easter or simply need styling direction for the coming warmer months, my hope is that today’s master class taught you that taking risks is crucial in helping identify exactly what it is you like about fashion & don’t. A single outfit can be transformative; put you in an entirely different place & time. It’s storytelling. It’s powerful. & it’s a skill that I hope to continue to instill in my clients word by word, post by post, consultation after consultation.

Keep working at it, keep taking risks & have a beautiful Sunday with family, friends & a fierce outfit.

Happy Easter, all.

Xx.

Bootie-licious

Although it honestly feels like Summer will never surrender here in California, Fall is among us & thus comes my favorite time of year for footwear. The possibilities are endless & designers can get crazy with their creations, but I’m a purist. Give me an amazing pair of booties & a warm latte & I’m set for the entire season. Serious. However, this year’s search wasn’t as peaceful as other seasons & I’m finding that some of you babes are needing some direction in this department, as well. & I’m here to help.

I recently found myself navigating many a department store for the perfect pair[s] & found my options a bit overwhelming in that “I hate this & I’m getting over needing new shoes altogether” kind of way. There were about 45 different styles, colors & shapes of booties, half of which made me look like my legs were cut off at the ankles & I magically became a witch. Hi Halloween, I’m just not that into you. Therefore, I’m here to share my story & my findings in hopes that you won’t have to encounter the same exhausting shopping experience as myself.

Let’s break down my favorite Fall 2014 ankle boots based on shape, color & fit. Here goes…

The Flat Bootie: Sam Edelman is a footwear genius; his designs are versatile & almost always a hit from Spring through Winter. He’s basically the king of the flat bootie design. The perfect example is his ever-famous “Petty-Boot” [my favorite ones yet, in cream], which seriously makes any woman’s legs look phenom in a pair of fitted denim. These babies are comfortable beyond belief, versatile from day to night & are best worn with skirts, skater dresses, & denim [both boyfriend fit & slim//skinny]. Crown Vintage came out with their own take on this same design at an unreal price point & are just as high quality as the Sams. [Take it from someone who owns three pairs of these exact shoes; they’re the best boots I’ve ever purchased.]

The Peep-Toe Bootie: a relatively controversial design, the peep-toe bootie is one of my Fall favorites. Adding an element of sexiness to an otherwise closed-off shape by opening the toe of the shoe is in my opinion, genius. It may seem counterintuitive during cold weather months to expose the foot to open air, but should you live in an element-friendly area I say take this look on full throttle. Best worn with dresses, denim & slacks, this design elongates the legs & puts the entire focus on the foot. Note: be sure to have a good mani; Winter months can be brutal on our toes & no one wants to see that peaking out the front of a cute ass shoe.

*Two of my favorite examples are these DV’s on sale at Bloomies, as well as Kristin Cavallari’s “Layla“.

The Stacked Bootie: I fell in love with this style last Fall & have never looked back. The stacked bootie is great for women on the go, as well as those who have major hips [like myself]. This shape, with it’s wider shaped heel & added stability, makes a busy-work-day-gone-night-out-with-the-girls effortlessly easy. Go for a rounded, extended toe for slendering of the legs. I prefer to keep the colors neutral with this look; greys, taupes, blushes, even blacks & creams work well, but bright vibrant colors can actually add weight to your feet & make you appear large in the ankles. Ew.

*A few of my Fall favorites: The “Conary Bootie” by DV for Dolce Vita [I have last year’s replica of this design in black & taupe & wear them for hours with no issues or pain. SUCH. A. GREAT. INVESTMENT.] That blush color…I mean c’mon. & for my budget babes, the “Flynn Bootie” by Crown Vintage [just purchased these in black 2 days ago] are amazing. The pictures do them no justice at all; they’re chic, comfortable & look amazing with dark & black denim. I plan to live in these this season.

The Moto Bootie: although not quite as popular as they were last Fall, the moto boot is here to stay. Adding a punky element to any outfit, these shoes scream “I’m sexier & more high-fashion than you can even handle.” There are many different elements & takes on this look; studded, strappy, leather, suede, chains, flat, heeled…but the moral is hardware. I do warn my clients//followers that this shoe is relatively masculine, thus it’s best worn with an ultra-feminine dress or fitted pair of denim to offset the gender neutrality. Try an all black ensemble for a hot night out. Best body type for this look: thin legs, small calves.

*My favorite take on this look are these Jeffrey Campbell “Motorama” stacked booties at Nords. I mean does it get any cooler than that?

The Oxford Bootie: so 2014 is the year I finally fell in love with the Oxford. It took me 26 years, but I made it. I never understood this look until Rachel Zoe nailed it with her “Raven Oxfords” & now I’m done for. I find that a dramatically pointed-toe style is the only I will go for, as the other’s feel too masculine & limited. This shoe is best worn with cuffed slacks, boyfriend denim, & loose-fitted dresses. Layer it with a cool leather jacket, a great handbag, & tons of feminine jewelry & your outfit will pummel everyone’s around you that day//night.

*Favorite Fall 2014 examples [besides Rachel Zoe’s] are: DV’s “Verily Oxford” & Shellys Of London “Vossi Vamp Oxford“.

Whether you’re seriously investigating the right bootie for you this Fall or just window shopping, I only ask that you TRY THEM ON. Walk around the store in them, look at all angles & viewpoints of your body in the mirror, & as always, find an outfit that enhances the shoe when test driving them. You wouldn’t actually wear boots with your new lululemons, so why would you try boots on in them? To get the full effect of a new purchase you have to be promoting it realistically.

& lastly, if you don’t feel downright beautiful then don’t even waste your time. Shopping is an investment, not a nonchalant purchase made on a whim. Make your money count & always have fun.

Happy Fall, babes. We finally made it.

Xx.

PS: Here are a few of my absolute favorite shoe shops this season: