Neon Blush

Athletica minima

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:48:00 +0000

ASOS t-shirt, Zara skort and bag, ASOS cap, Vanessa Mooney necklace, Zara sandals

I'm sure I'll be channeling a sort of athletic vibe this entire summer- while it is the forecasted trend, I feel like it's also the natural destination for the usual black-and-white clothes wearer or for the minimalist. Whatever the case, the skort is still getting a lot of love (yeah, eye-roll or yawn totally warranted) and it made sense with a boyfriend tee and a leather cap this time around. I'm so glad the weather's cooling down about, uh, 25 degrees or so this week- I'm putting this over worn napkin fold to rest and putting on some new denim skinnies I got my hands on recently. Also sort of glad because it curbs my mega cravings for ice cream... for now, haha. Catch you guys later!

Better in twos

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:27:00 +0000

Kasil Workshop cropped skinnies, Zara sandals

When a good thing comes along, especially the kind that comes at a more affordable price, I've just got to secure my relationship with it by getting it in two colors. I had gotten the Madewell 'perfect belt' in black and brown, the ever so popular Zara skort in black and white (and even seriously contemplated on grabbing one more in blue), and a slew of other basics I convinced myself I needed more than one hue in. It might seem crazy but I rest in knowing that at least I really like the piece, ha. The latest set of twins is the YSL-esque leather sandal from Zara... one in the perfect summer nude, and one in a classic black. Found that both pairs fared well with Julep's nail vernis in "Jennifer", my current shade of preference, and figured that purchasing both colors was a well made decision. Happy feet, happy Friday!

Middle part

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Wed, 08 May 2013 23:30:00 +0000

Zara shirt, Rich & Skinny jeans, 3.1 Phillip Lim sandals, Nordstrom beanie, Vanessa Mooney necklace, Linea Pelle tote

During the short heatwave that passed by last week, I wanted nothing more than to step out, if needed to, in breathable and comfy pieces. Doing this though--at least for me--almost always results in outfit combinations that are less than stellar. I figure in times when layers are undesirable, the little details are what speaks volumes... so minutes before stepping out, while fidgeting with different pairs of denim, denim shorts, un-cuffing and then re-cuffing these Rich & Skinny skinnies, I haphazardly decided it would look much better with a middle part. Grabbed a pair of scissors and snipped it while wearing the jeans, not even measuring whether the snip was centered, nor checking to see if either slit measured the same lengthwise (see those frayed ends?). So not the expert DIY-er, ha. Anyway, kept things light and grayish with the Phillip Lim sandals (my favorite pair to wear for summer!), and added my trusty beanie when temperatures cooled.

A touch of Tarte

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Wed, 08 May 2013 00:32:00 +0000

Tarte clay eyeliner, mineral powder, concealer, and mascara

During humid weather, I like to keep makeup usage to a minimum... or at least feel like it's kept to a minimum. As I finish my previously bought makeup products, I've been slowly transitioning over to Tarte's natural line of goods. All that I've tried so far has felt light on the face and covered just enough-- really ideal for summer makeup. And as some of you may relate, many times when using natural or organic makeup products, I've felt that there wasn't enough coverage or they just plainly do not work at all. So, I'm just really ecstatic to finally settle on a brand I trust and thought I'd share with you all!

My favorite finds of the four products above has got to be the maracuja creaseless concealer and the waterproof clay liner. None of Tarte's products contain ingredients that are believed to harm your skin (parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, GMOs, sulfates, etc.) but the concealer goes above and includes pure maracuja oil--nutrient rich in vitamin C and fatty acids--which helps moisturize and brighten the skin. I've actually got a bottle of organic maracuja oil waiting to be used (finishing up the skin balancing oil from Jurlique) so I'll get back to you on how it feels to use just the oil. But back to the concealer-- it really is creaseless and lasts just about forever. It's got enough stick but feels extremely light. And as for the clay liner, ahh it's easily the best liner I've come across yet! The Amazonian clay component makes the waterproof liner smooth and hydrating, and yet with the natural ingredient it is still extremely easy to apply... which makes it no wonder why Tarte's now my favorite eco-friendly brand. But, I'm still open to discovering other great natural products/brands, do you have any to recommend?

Back to chilly

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Zara coat, 3.1 Phillip Lim sweater, Elizabeth and James shirt, Zara pants, Isabel Marant sneakers, Zara bag

Above are some of my favorite pieces to layer when our perpetual paradise weather decides it wants to be at its polar opposite... which happens to be this entire week. Conveniently the rain gods decided on coming out to play right after I've finally cleaned out some wintry pieces. Guess I'm dusting off a sweater or two. Alright, I gotta cut this really short as I've got to go run a day full of errands-- happy Monday!

Two drops of blue

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Thu, 02 May 2013 19:00:00 +0000

Elizabeth and James button-up, Zara skort, Alexander Wang pumps, Karen Walker sunglasses, Proenza Schouler PS11, Vanessa Mooney necklace

Another round of the ubiquitous white skort from Zara, this time with two drops of blue-- my go-to combo as of late. Paired the casual top and bottom with sleek pumps and my all-time favorite accessories, the PS11 and Super Dupers. Essentially the two button-up shirts are the same, except the one used as a cover is my bf's and I thought adding another touch of blue would pivot the outfit more interestingly so. Also noted, how trouble free and necessary a cover up is in transitioning between LA's fickle temps.

Insta-April 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Wed, 01 May 2013 06:38:00 +0000

Various rings from the Brooklyn flea market, Vanessa Mooney, VeraMeat, and bracelets from Jennifer Zeuner (gold version) and Vanessa Mooney

L-R: preview of my next outfit post (to come tomorrow!) wearing everyone's favorite skort and Alexander Wang 'Lovisa' pumps; having ice cream for the umpteenth time this month; me after having achieved wavy hair (woo!); and having a coffee moment with a friend visiting from Nashville

First row: all Zara; second row: Sigerson Morrison, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Isabel Marant, Alexander Wang; third row: Acne, Rag & Bone, Theyskens' Theory, Zara

I had been meaning to do this for months now but over the weekend I finally found the time to put together a bookcase I got from IKEA to display some of my shoes. Until I've completely settled on a place of my own, this will do! Do any of you store your shoes in a bookcase?

L-R: peace-out to SF right before my friend Melly and I hit the road for home, wearing a leopard print coat from ASOS and Alexander Wang 'Lovisa' pumps; mint mojito iced coffee from Philz, one of my favorite spots in San Fran; loitering in the dewy, peaceful Golden Gate Park; having yet another ice cream moment at Bi-Rite creamery

A spontaneous trip to SF was probably the best decision made this month. As implied in this post, San Fran is literally and figuratively a breath of fresh air in comparison to the congestion that we normally face in L.A.

LA is for Lovers tee from Lovers + Friends, leather shorts from In My Air, flower crown from Cult Gaia and the Super Nasty magazine from Nasty Gal

Even though I skipped out on Coachella this year, these goodies came in for that purpose. What better way to go about hot days than with a cropped tee, shorts, and flowers in your hair?

L-R: as you can see, I'm quite the matcha green tea fanatic; just hanging around, first time stepping out after having been sick for a week and a half; again, my favorite Levi's shorts (similar here); shabu shabu, so good and so pretty

Quietly overjoyed on an overcast and foggy day in SF.

L-R: the Zara skort in black, had to resist hard on getting the blue; some hair and face products I decided to move off of my counter and into an open birdcage I found at Ross (Claudelie, Bumble and bumble, Moroccan oil, and Jurlique pictured); summer weather; having another coffee moment, this time iced for me and hot for my bf Steve

Just thought I'd share some Instagrams from April now that May is here! Cheers to a new month xo @neonblush

White and oatmeal

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Mango blazer, Rachel Zoe choker, 3.1 Phillip Lim sunglasses, Chalayan Black dress, Proenza Schouler PS11, KohGenDo lipstick, Aldo x Preen sandals

With the temperature on the rise, my mind is wrapped around white everything. I spotted this dress while online shopping and I was so drawn to its off white color, the asymmetrical seams and earthy godet hemline. I was all about the body con dresses when I was younger but as I grew older, roomier dresses just seemed to be the truer sexy sort of silhouette, of course without trying too hard. Plus when you add a fitted linen blazer over it and strap on these pretty Aldo x Preen sandals, it has the right amount of desirable appeal. Pops of color from this gorgeous Proenza Schouler PS11 in cobalt and KohGenDo's nude-ish lipstick are balanced with a transparent-framed 3.1 Phillip Lim 'Orbit' sunglasses and palladium/gold plated necklace. I'm in love with the idea of this outfit and it's getting me way more excited for summer dressing than I think I should be. Oh well, cheers to a warm week! Happy Monday guys.

The perfect shorts

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:00:00 +0000

thrifted blazer, Zara t-shirt, Levi's shorts, Isabel Marant sneakers, Nordstrom beanie, Vanessa Mooney jewelry

As mentioned in this post, I have one pair of shorts that I'm absolutely smitten with-- this dark gray wash from Levi's is it. I love pairing denim shorts with blazers, with one tattered and casual, and the other silky and polished to get that sort of roll-with-it balance. I couldn't find these exact shorts but here is a similar high waisted pair from Urban Renewal.

Colors that bloom

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 23:54:00 +0000

Julep nail vernis in "Jennifer", "Emmanuelle", "Sally", "Kate", Lovers + Friends floral shorts, NARS blush in "Liberté"

Really into pinks these days (gasp) and yellow-- these two, along with green, are the colors that always speak the loudest for spring. So pretty altogether with this beautiful day light.

Neutral knits and cognac shorts

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:07:00 +0000

ASOS cap, vintage knit, Zara shorts, Proenza Schouler PS11, Zara sandals, Vanessa Mooney necklace

When it's hot and when I desperately want to lounge around in roomy sweaters for strange reasons, I opt for this oatmeal knit that I thrifted a while back. I can never tire of neutral knits--even during really warm days--and pairing them with cognac colored short shorts, a leather baseball cap, and nude sandals seems to make them passable for summer wear.

Almost summer

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Lovers + Friends tank and lace romper, Elizabeth & James chambray shirt, Sigerson Morrison boots, Proenza Schouler PS11, RayBan wayfarers, Luv Aj choker, Jennifer Zeuner bracelet

This weekend felt almost like summer with the pervasive heat - thought I'd keep things as cool as possible with white on white and a bit of baby blue. Layered my favorite billowy tank over a lace romper and added a tied shirt for some color breakage. With heat-induced lethargy kicking in the past couple of days, dressing to get out of the house felt like a chore... but keeping the ensemble lighter in color seemed to work alright. Hope you guys enjoyed your weekends! xx

A short story

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:26:00 +0000

Row 1: Rag & Bone, Ksubi, Rails / Row 2: AllSaints, Ksubi, Rag & Bone

My favorite staple for warmer days: the quintessential denim short. I own one that I absolutely love, and it was a thrifted Levi's short gifted from my friend Raneth. It's teetered and tattered to perfection, and just a bit high waisted (pictured here). I find the more that you wear and wash denim shorts, the better the destruction comes out... that is until you no longer need more destruction and should stave away from washing it to smithereens. Such is the case with the ubiquitous Ksubi 'Alberceque' shorts, which comes to you already in teetered and tattered perfection (black version here). Wish I had come across the replenished stock before my size ran out! Boo. But good alternatives to these ones are a green-undertoned AllSaints pair and the Rag & Bone 'Mila' short in black.

And if I were to tire of denim shorts, I'd go straight for the leather. This Rag & Bone 'Highclaire' short with dainty lace trimming and the nude Rails pair are like the pyjama shorts that are actually appropriate for wear outside of the confines of your abode. Comfy and gorgeous either dressed up or down, how summer dress should feel.

Re-discovering SF

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:00:00 +0000

Photos by Melly Lee, edited by me

Every year I like to visit San Francisco at least once. It's one of my favorite cities- a bit like New York but with a California vibe, obviously. San Francisco is a concrete jungle oozing with inspiration, from its skyscrapers and city lights to its lush forests and nooks of nature sprinkled throughout the city. I took a few days to SF with my friend Melly to escape the LA congestion and instead, discover new places for inspiration. Her for photography, and me mostly for style inspirations (and food).

I take notes through photos and when I revisit these photos, I look for the mood or select colors that I can transfer onto finding the next piece I'd like to purchase. When I got back from SF, I used Styloot to search for just about anything that came to mind and from there I curated a list for future reference. I used their "Create My Look" tool to rummage through hundreds of thousands of style options to find pieces that matched the mood in my pictures from SF. Pretty neat tool to organize future styling ideas and potential shopping purchases. View my inspiration boards here: one MyLoot board for must-haves and city-wear, and another inspired by what I wore in SF. As you can tell, there are lots of leather, ankle boots, and pops of earthy colors and animal print!

**Styloot was recently launched by HauteLook cofounder Carlota Espinosa and features over 4,000 brands from hundreds of online retailers that you could purchase from. Styloot offers the option of receiving email notifications for when stored items go on sale, and better yet, it's super mobile friendly. You can take photos of items or outfits on your phone, and upload them onto Styloot to receive a list of similar styles within a day.

Allsaints spring'13

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 23:25:00 +0000

AllSaints Spring/Summer'13

Basics pieced together in pure perfection. Loving the neutral colors and denim, with eyes on the short suit, the relaxed straight-leg jean (on sale!), and the destructed off-white shorts. Phenomenal!

Bit of tie-dye

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:35:00 +0000

thrifted jacket, Forever 21 top, Shakuhachi dress, Alexander Wang pumps and tote, RayBan wayfarers, Vanessa Mooney necklace

A rather gloomy non-Coachella weekend was spent decisively in a gray scaled outfit, one that involved a peek of tie-dye (Shakuhachi leather bustier goodness) layered under my favorite sheer, asymmetrical knit (from Forever 21) and my trusty utilitarian thrifted find. Whoa, that was one packed sentence. Don't mind me- I'm writing this as I'm still experiencing the effects of the NyQuil pills I had taken ten hours ago. Anyway, while I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Coachella take over my Instagram feed, I had a great weekend staying in LA catching up with friends who were still around and with some who were visiting. Thank goodness for YouTube though, I can catch Wu-Tang and Red Hot Chili Peppers from the comfort of my bed while sick.

Foundry Book I

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:46:00 +0000

Gryphon dress (from Madison), BCBG Max Azria heels, Jennifer Zeuner jewelry

I'm not sure if you've already heard of Foundry through my Instagram, but in case you haven't, I want to share a little bit about Foundry with you here. This was a photo project I've been wanting to carry out for some time now; conceptualizing it came months ago, maybe around November/December. My friend Melly is a talented photographer and we thought it'd be a great idea to bring together her skills and production knowledge and my interests in fashion and creative direction. When we finally found a block of time we could dedicate to bringing this idea to life, we brainstormed and contacted our other talented friends to help us make it happen. It all happened really fast after that, and if any of you are familiar with working on photoshoots or lookbooks, you know how it goes. I LOVE the rush, and hustle and bustle of photoshoots so I'm sincerely hoping you guys like what you will see below. We're already brainstorming for the next one, so be sure to follow Foundry on Instagram and on our website!

Blue camo

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:30:00 +0000

Zara camo shirt, Joe's Jean leather jacket, Kasil Workshop skinnies, Zara heels, Akira beanie

I am really loving the subtle blue camo! What's even better is that this is from Zara's Mens department and I think it's my newfound secret (or not so secret anymore). I've found two staple tees and because they're made for men, they're a little bit thicker and structured. And as you know, I love pairing up boyish pieces with dainty things-- like the shoes above. I'm a sucker for the contrast. Is there any combo you always seem to stick to?

Oh, and it's been a while since I've joined a competition but I recently added my Instagrammed pictures to Vanity Fair's Best-Dressed Challenge. The winner gets to be featured in the September issue, which would be so awesome! If you've got some time, please vote for my looks here! Thanks guys :)

Now and forever

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:00:00 +0000

Chanel, Adaism, Proenza Schouler, Chanel

Stomachache-inducing gorgeousness and perfection personified in bags. I'm itching for a new bag and having my eyes constantly wander to these ones is not a good thing. At the moment I'm obsessed with boxy bags so they're all I'll gravitate towards--this one from 3.1 Phillip Lim, the crazy beautiful Givenchy 'Obsedia' bag in royal blue, and this Halston Heritage purse also all do the trick... and this buttery Marni one is just spot on for spring.

Knit cape

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:26:00 +0000

Zara cardigan and men's tee, Kasil Workshop cropped skinnies, Madewell belt, Zara sandals, H&M hat, Luv AJ choker

The cape has been a thing for some time now, and up until recently I didn't realize how rarely capes were worn with less structured knits. Yeah, loose knits don't necessarily deliver that same pristine punch, but seeing as it's never THAT cold here in SoCal unfortunately I don't have a bunch of thick coats at my disposal. So I tried the cape look with a knit cardigan I almost always grab for, and I balanced the casual look with sharp, minimalist sandals.

Back to black

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Equipment blouse, Zara skirt and sandals, Karen Walker sunglasses, Jennifer Zeuner necklace

The white wrap skirt is such a staple piece I would probably splurge on an assortment of colors if they were all made available. I grabbed one in black last week and have been wearing it every other day since. I'm afraid I'm attached. I paired the structured with yet again a slouchy granny knit and went for a real easy black and white look with Zara sandals (yes it comes in black now!) and a friend's Karen Walker 'Harvest' sunnies. Opted for color in this post and retreated to the more familiar color spectrum here, heh! I'm sure transitioning into the aforementioned spring palette will take a little ebb and flow of willingness and effort.

Oh and I received a few questions about the sizing of the skort over the past two weeks and for anyone else who's still wondering, it does run big. I would suggest ordering a size down. Happy hump day guys xx

You get me

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 19:00:00 +0000

Alexander Wang pumps

Latest splurge well spent on a pair of Lovisa pumps by none other than the basic-but-sexy footwear king, Alexander Wang. I'd been eyeing the Liya when that first came out--and was really bummed when I couldn't get my hands on a pair--but it's a good thing I went with the Lovisas because I can't commit to a velcro ankle strap. Anyway, thank you Mr. Wang, for understanding me and my needs for a sophisticated but sultry looking pair of pumps. Good lookin' out!

Spring palette

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 19:31:00 +0000

Current/Elliott jacket, Zara shorts and shoes, RayBan wayfarers, Jennifer Zeuner bracelet, Zara bag

Tried last week to get with spring and lightened up my usual black and grays with caramel browns and light blue. Lush, vibrant greens and pink blossom trees are sprouting everywhere in LA and it's hard not to transition with them into lighter colors, too. This spring and summer I'm looking at blues, nudes, whites, and a bit of yellow and muted army green- with this Current/Elliott army jacket being the common denominating throw over accessory.

Criss-crossed

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:30:00 +0000

Forever21 sweater, Zara top and pants, Sigerson Morrison boots, Proenza Schouler PS11, RayBan wayfarers, Nordstrom beanie

Even though I generally conclude that they are the hardest things to style, I'm always seemingly drawn to two-toned things, whether it's on a jacket with different colored sleeves or on bottom with one color in the front and another in the back. This pant in particular reminded me of a piece I think I remember seeing from Isabel Marant FW13. So good. Oh Zara. So anyway, about the t-shirt I'm wearing underneath my trusty fuzzy cropped sweater-- the embellishment isn't something I'd normally go for, but I like how the criss-crosses look from afar. A little bit of Phillip Lim? That peekaboo dash of detail needed in an otherwise simple outfit, done.

H&M F/W'13

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny Ong) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 19:38:00 +0000

H&M F/W'13

Keeping mental tabs on those over-the-knee boots, PERFECT slouchy turtleneck sweaters, the leather moto vest, and boxy bags. And uh, everything else too I guess- the oversized blazer, the fringe skirt(/dress!), the (faux?) fur jacket. I love that the more accessible brand was able to debut a collection during Paris Fashion Week. I've been actively reminding myself to stave away from the likes because of my efforts and desires to move towards being more eco-friendly, but at the same time I'm met with an appreciation for brands that are able to make these higher-fashion designs obtainable for us average folks. Really caught in between with this collection. What're your thoughts on this?