The Stylista Diaries

Burnt Pink

2012-02-09T06:04:00.000-08:00

Sweater: Old Navy/ Necklace: Maya Brenner/ Ring: BCBG/ Watch: Michael Kors/ Jeans: Levi's/ Shoes: Zara

I decided to wear this sweater again (previously seen here), but this time, sported it with my bright blue shoes. I just love the color combination and the relaxed feel of the rolled skinny jeans, even though my boyfriend commented that my sweater was reminiscent of this. Regardless, I love the basic stripe of the sweater paired with the fact that the color isn't super conventional. I would like to think it's a bit more fashionable than Freddy's attire--and a lot less scary.

Fresh Faced

2012-02-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

Since my cosmetic bag was stolen, I had to resort to buying a whole new supply of make-up. Even though I love keeping things consistent, I decided to stop by at Sephora and ask them to revamp my make-up "wardrobe." I had a good time trying out all these different products and finally settled on buying the following items. My look has definitely become a lot more natural and dewy, and it's nice to keep my product count under 10, unlike my past make-up routines here and here. What's your make-up routine?

These are definitely my top 3 favorite products:

1. Tinted Beauty Balm by Too Faced (pictured in Step 2), which is a good light foundation. It doesn't give it a "cakey" appearance and evens out my skin tone very nicely. It lasts 18 hours, and I don't feel the need to reapply. It acts as a dual primer and foundation as well.
2. Stila's Waterproof Brow Color Marker (pictured last in Step 3). Yes folks, it's an eyebrow marker. And, it works. It makes my eyebrows natural and just shades in the parts that need some help.
3. Ole Henriksen's Sheer Transformation moisturizer (pictured first in Step 1). I was on the market for an anti-aging formula (I need to protect my skin from wrinkles!) and this was the immediate go-to. I was told that if you feel the need to use moisturizer immediately after you wash your face, then it's not working. I put a little dab of this stuff after washing my face and it's so smooth and refreshing.

Crewcuts

2012-02-07T06:41:00.000-08:00

It's not a secret that I am absolutely in love with J.Crew. When I went to their store over the weekend, I was quickly drawn to their kids clothing line, Crewcuts. Designer Jenny Cooper sure knows how to dress kids, making them fashionable just like their adult counterparts. Long gone are the boring onesies and over-sized cartoon apparel. These kids are definitely strutting to school in style. I was perusing online and decided to style three looks for girls and boys; I definitely enjoyed putting these looks together and can't help but wish I was a kid's stylist. Everything is just so much more adorable when it's miniature!

Dinosaur

2012-02-06T06:57:00.000-08:00

Top: Ambiance/ Necklace: Forever 21/ Shorts: Levi's

It was such a lovely day in the city that I dressed like it was summertime. I have been craving animal print tops, and when I saw these dinosaurs on this flowy blouse, I knew I had to have it. I paired it with my geometric-esque necklace and I was off to the grocery store to buy ingredients for my appetizers for the Superbowl party that I attended yesterday. Hope you all had a great weekend!

Color Explosion

2012-02-03T11:07:00.000-08:00

I was window shopping the other day and the Gap store totally caught my eye. I loved the intense color explosion and before I knew it, I found myself having multiple items in my hand, ready to check out. However, a sad reality suddenly hit me-I had just spent literally hundreds of dollars at Sephora; and thus, these items had to go back. I am currently loving the mix and match of neon basics. The next item on my wish list? This brightly colored yellow tote above, perfect for running errands on a sunny day. Check out the Spring Gap collection here!

Game Day

2012-02-02T12:03:00.000-08:00

With the Superbowl this Sunday, I have been on a mission to find the perfect appetizer to bring to a party. I wanted to stray away from my go-to dish of a baked crab and artichoke dip and found this recipe on the Food Network. I love the idea of bite-size macaroni and cheese cupcakes. However, instead of vegetables and chicken, I'm going to go the All-American route and keep it simple with ham and loads and loads of cheese. How much more American can you get?

Fear

2012-02-01T15:01:00.000-08:00

I have always been a bit naive, and always had that sense of "it would never happen to me." Since I live in a nicer area of San Francisco, I let my guard down. I parked in a parking garage for less than an hour and upon my return, my window was smashed and the contents inside my car were stolen which included my beautiful Michael Kors watch and camera that I have used for this blog. In the end, they are all just physical things, but I have a strong sense of attachment to these items as they have significant sentiment to me. I feel incredibly vulnerable and scared, but I know it will all be ok eventually. Has anything like this ever happened to you? How did you overcome it? What are your fears?

Dot.Dot.Dot

2012-01-20T06:11:00.000-08:00

Top: Old Navy/ Tank: Forever 21/ Jeans: Levi's/ Shoes: Nordstrom/ Watch: Michael Kors

I finally jumped on the polka dot trend and picked up this sheer blouse from Old Navy this past weekend. I love the detailing of this top--the smocked neckline and the ruffles down the front are simple yet it still maintains that flair of chic. I can only imagine pairing it with a sequined skirt to add that extra sparkle for a weekend dinner. Happy Friday to all!

Techie

2012-01-19T17:28:00.000-08:00

Damask/Rebecca Minkoff /DANNIJO /Chevron/Tory Burch

Plum Street Prints | xoxo Love/ Marc by Marc Jacobs / Amazon.com/Plum Street Prints | Links/ Dannijo Stache

I am a google Android lover/user myself, but I am contemplating on switching to the iPhone just for these fabulous cases (well, and for the Instagram too). I love personalizing things (#4), and the idea of a chevron pattern with my initials just sounds like a ingenious idea in and of itself.

Geometry

2012-01-17T06:22:00.000-08:00

Sweater: Old Navy/ White Button Down: Forever 21/ Necklace: Forever 21/ Jeans: Levi's/ Shoes: DV Dolce Vita/ Rings: H&M/ Bag: Prada

One of my besties visited me from San Diego and we had the greatest weekend--we explored various neighborhoods and definitely overate, but it was well worth it. On Sunday, we ate at Farmer Brown in the Tenderloin. The bacon, biscuits, fresh yogurt, and the fried chicken were absolutely delicious. I highly recommend it. The atmosphere is definitely more hipster, but I didn't have a problem with my preppy Sunday attire, offset with my tribal-esque geometric necklace that I can't stop wearing.

Menswear

2012-01-16T06:12:00.000-08:00

The Inspiration

The Look

Chambray Shirt: Levi's/Necklace: Forever 21/Pants: Macy's/Shoes: Elizabeth and James/Watch: Michael Kors

There is no rhyme or reason as to how I pick my outfits in the morning. Sometimes I just put something on and if I look in the mirror and think "Yup, this is it," then it's decided. I generally like to believe if you feel good in what you're wearing, then other people's opinions don't really matter. I don't know why I put this little number together, but I guess I was in a menswear inspired mood. I decided to add my fringe necklace underneath my collar for that extra flair of femininity.

The Ring

2012-01-13T06:06:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting this ring for over a year and I can't stop searching for it on the internet. I don't know why I'm praying to the "sale" gods, hoping for a price reduction. $250 is pretty steep for a fashion jewelry piece, and I can't bring myself to take the plunge. I was reading my blogs, and found this website called La Dama, and I found the greatest thing ever--a version of the ring. Could it be?! I squealed in delight when I saw the $30 price tag and before I could blink, it happened to make its way into my virtual shopping cart. I remembered my New Year's resolution of saving money and not spending it on "unnecessary" things. I am trying to be good, so we'll see how long this resistance lasts. Happy Weekend!

Blue

2012-01-12T06:04:00.000-08:00

Coat: Banana Republic/ Dress: Old Navy/ Boots: Nine West/ Necklace: Forever 21

I have been on the hunt for basic tights, and what better place to get them than at Nordstrom? My last pair were so old and ripped, that it was time to invest in another. It's funny how something so basic and simple inspires the way I dress. I've been wearing these boots with skinny jeans, and it was time for me to switch it up. I paired it with my basic black dress, threw on my newly acquired fringe necklace, and added my cobalt blue coat for some extra color.

Submarine

2012-01-11T06:22:00.000-08:00

Coat: Anthropologie/ Top: Forever 21/ Shorts: Levi's/ Tights: Nordstrom/ Booties: Nine West/ Wallet: Kate Spade/ Bracelet: Piperlime/ Watch: Michael Kors/ Necklace: Forever 21

As mentioned in my previous post, I received this amazing coat for Christmas. My favorite part of this coat is the unique collar; you can essentially style it any way you want. I have had these Levi's shorts for a while, and since it hasn't been too terribly cold in the city, I decided to wear it with tights and booties, and voila: shorts in the winter! The side buttons, corset detailing, and speckled fabric appearance on these shorts make it that much more special.

Chartreuse

2012-01-10T00:06:00.000-08:00

1. Marc by Marc Jacobs crystal stud earrings, $48

2. Burberry Prorsum beaded evening dress, $2,995

3. SHOUROUK butterfly earrings, $360

4. John Lewis Scarf, £14

5. Clu jersey dress, $96

6. Vince stretch pants, $195

7. Lanvin ballet flat, £320

8. Marni leather handbag, $625

9. Missoni tweed coat, $1,368

10. TIBI ball gown, $396

I spent my weekend window shopping at Neiman Marcus, and I was in love with the bright splashes of color that was showcased around the store. Even though it's January, our California weather has taken an unexpected turn and it's sunny as can be. Spring is just around the corner, and I am currently craving some chartreuse into my wardrobe; I received a beautiful chartreuse coat for Christmas, and I can't get enough. I love the mix between the yellow and green, and I can't wait to hunt for more bright pieces to spruce up my black and gray palette.

Changes

2012-01-09T12:55:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posts, but I wanted to stray away from adding posts until my new blog redesign was complete. For the past month, I have been working with Danielle Moss, whose services I sought out when I was getting a little tired of my amateur blog template. Long gone are the days where I had to google html codes and figure out how to implement miscellaneous add-ons. For your reference, my social media buttons are now on the top right hand side of my blog. There is also a navigation bar right underneath my new banner, where you can find out my daily reads as well as find me in other social media outlets such as pinterest and chictopia. I am so excited for these new changes and hope you enjoy them too!

Love,
Victoria

Boyfriend Attire

2012-01-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

Don't you hate it when you have an outfit in mind, and in theory it seems like it would be well put together, but upon trying it on, it's just a disaster? Well this outfit is the opposite. I know the idea of denim on denim seems like a country-western cliche, but trust me. It's so fashionable. I have discussed the denim on denim trend several times on this blog, but I simply can't get enough of it. I have gotten my boyfriend to slowly convert to Levi's--first with the jeans, then to the Chambray shirt, and recently, I purchased him a denim tie. Very bold, I know. If you're feeling a little too fashion forward in this outfit, you can break it up by wearing a nice lightweight sweater over it, to give it a more dressed up feel, without having it be so "Garth Brooks." For added color, I love the idea of having fun socks, and these Marc by Marc Jacobs ones are just the perfect touch.

Left to Right: Levi's Workshirt, Levi's Denim Tie, Marc by Marc Jacobs Socks, Brooks Brothers Sweater, Levi's Jeans

Raise Your Glass

2011-12-30T11:05:00.000-08:00

Although I feel that New Year's is the most overrated holiday, I do find it important to take a moment to recap the year and to be thankful for everything. 2011 has been incredible. I had the opportunity to travel to Hawaii for the first time, enjoy Mexico for one blissful week, celebrate several weddings, embark on a new job opportunity, and run in five races (one which included the San Francisco Half Marathon), just to name a few. Life is good, and I am so grateful. I can't wait to see what 2012 brings! Wishing you all a great 2012 filled with happiness, success, and love. Cheers!

Notations

2011-12-30T05:15:00.000-08:00

Now that the season of gift-giving is officially over, it is important to send out your thank you cards! I must admit that I am one to forget to show my appreciation, but I am getting better at it. It definitely helps when you have cute cards to send out, especially ones that reflect your personal style. Upon browsing Target, I found several options that are definitely fashionable yet affordable. Now, get to writing!

1. Multi Thank You Card, $30

2. You can use photographs from your wedding as cards as well

3. Thank You Notes White/Black Damask 100ct : Target, $20

4. Thank You Cards Blue Green Lattice 10-ct. : Target, $3.99

5. Communique Thank You - Brown (20ct) : Target, $8.99

6. Thank You Cards Bouquet 10-ct. : Target, $13

7. Thank You Cards Linework 10-ct. : Target, $2.49

8. Thank You Cards Caring Tree 10-ct. : Target, $3.99

Favorite Things of 2011

2011-12-29T11:10:00.000-08:00

Just like Oprah who lists her most coveted things of the season, I have decided to post some of my current favorite things, that I actually own, some old, and some new. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you would have read that Santa was quite good to me this year. He must have understood my new favorite color of the year: orange. I can't get enough of it. So vibrant. So fun.

My new love for Essie nailpolish

My Tory Burch card case

My Kate Spade wallet

My Tory Burch Clutch that matches above card case

Old Vintage Dior clutch from the 80s.

Old Reliables: Blue Jewelry

Dainty Necklaces that are so me: "V" necklace and a California necklace

My favorite statement necklace from J.Crew

Michael Kors in Rose Gold. Can't go wrong.

Fairmont

2011-12-27T09:04:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas! These were taken Christmas Eve at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.

{Top: Anthropologie, Sequined Skirt: Forever 21, Shoes: Kelsi Dagger, Clutch: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Ring: BCBG}

Presents

2011-12-22T06:16:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love shopping for Christmas gifts and seeing people's faces when they open them. All our wrapped gifts are sitting in a corner waiting for them to be opened Sunday morning. Even though I always have a set budget for myself, I can't help but buy my loved ones things I know they will enjoy and are simply amazing. Below are some snapshots of some early Christmas presents from some very dear friends. They know me too well--I love my accessories!

Red

2011-12-21T15:34:00.000-08:00

I was so unsure about this top. After all, my mom bought it for me and just handed it to me. I was afraid that it would be a little too boxy for me, but once you add some heels, and one of my favorite necklaces, it gave the outfit a little more dimension. Sometimes the little things make such a difference.

{Top: Forever 21; Necklace: Ambiance; Jeans: Levi's; Shoes: Nordstrom}

Accents

2011-12-19T06:56:00.000-08:00

Snapshots of some of my favorite accessories...

1st collage: My new cobalt blue Marc by Marc Jacobs Clutch, and my snap wallet from RTH

2nd collage: My current rotation of jewelry.

RTH

2011-12-16T14:55:00.000-08:00

When I worked with one of the merchants, she always raved about her friend and Levi's alum Rene Holguin, who is the founder of RTH. She always toted around his leather pieces, and I knew I had to have one. Not only do his pieces smell incredible of rich leather, but the craftsmanship is just so intricate and beautiful. Although his store is a little trek (in LA, to be exact), our Levi's stores carry some of his pieces. I picked up one of the smaller leather snap wallets below in a buttery yellow ($60), and I'm officially in love.

*images from rthshop.com*