Sights & Bites: July 19th, 2015

In my opinion, it is so important to get out and explore the area you live in. Wherever you're from, there must be something you haven't yet seen or someplace you haven't yet been to. I am a regular shopper at flea markets. My usual go-to is the Melrose Trading Post, but this past Sunday my friend Mackenzie and I ventured into downtown for the Artists & Flea. Flea markets always have so many unique treasures and they are my go-to destination when looking to buy jewelry. You can always find trendy yet inexpensive costume jewelry or you can find local artists that design more higher end stuff. I like the idea of supporting local vendors and paying less for what you get. 

After shopping around for a bit in the heat, we got really hungry and went on a search for some food. We first stepped into Daily Dose cafe, which was situated in an alleyway with a menu that featured good coffee and vegan options for Mac. After finding out the restaurant had closed just as we walked in, we headed West to check out Gracias Madre. I've seen this restaurant on social media way too much and so has everyone else I guess because they couldn't seat anyone else for the night due to too many reservations! Since we were starving at this point and already in WeHo, we found a parking spot at Zinque and ordered immediately. We ended our little excursion at Kippy's in Venice for some dairy free ice cream, which was super yummy. 

Next time, I will try and document the whole day for you. More photos from this day can be found on my Instagram account here. I like posting more lifestyle posts, so expect more soon!

xx Michelle

Repeat

ROMPER: Urban Outfitters // SANDALS: Pixie Market (more styles here) // SUNNIES: Urban Outfitters // BAG: Zara // WATCH: Daniel Wellington

This blog of mine is very enabling. I often use blogging as an excuse to shop and buy more items to wear and then feature on here. Well, as someone who is trying to build up her savings account this summer, I have been doing my best to utilize the wardrobe I already have. It's easy to constantly buy new items to feature in looks, but it is more realistic to see how I consistently wear and style pieces over and over. Rompers are such a summer staple for me because depending on the style, they are versatile and so easy to wear. This romper (previously featured here) has a small polkadot print pattern that is neutral in color. I can definitely dress this one up or down, depending on where I am wearing it. For a non-fuss summer look, I paired it will some cute gladiator sandals (previously featured here). Accessories were kept minimal, as usual. 

Hope you enjoy and have a lovely week! 

xx Michelle

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Little Black Romper

ROMPER: Topshop // BLAZER: thrifted Topshop (recommendation) // BOOTIES: Forever 21 // SUNNIES: Quay // WATCH: Daniel Wellington // NECKLACE: flea market find

Just like the little black dress, the little black romper is just as much of a closet staple for me. I actually featured this romper last summer styled a bit differently here. This time around, I paired the romper with a boyfriend blazer and my favorite black booties. I think the deep v cut on the romper contrasts the blazer and makes it a not-so-business casual look. For further contrast, I wore these statement sunnies by Quay. To accessorize, I wore my typical jewels + watch combo while carrying my vanilla latte. If you follow my instagram account, you would know that I have a love affair with really good coffee. Living in Los Angeles, I truly have become a coffee snob and it makes my day to find a good coffee shop in Orange County with quality espresso. So long to the days of sitting at Starbucks, it just doesn't do it for me anymore. 

I hope you are having a fun and adventurous summer - I'm currently working on adding a bit more adventure to mine. Maybe I will share some soon? 

xx Michelle

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Resort

TOP: Zara // SHORTS: Topshop // ESPADRILLES: Target // BAG: Zara // SUNNIES: Toms // WATCH: Daniel Wellington // JEWELS: flea market finds

Red orange is quickly becoming a favorite color of mine. Essie Clam Bake and MAC Lady Danger had already done it for me, but then I found a Zara favorite on sale in a similar hue. I have already featured the white version of this top here and I just love the simple and easy feel of it. Paired with denim shorts and my espadrilles (Chanel vibes via Target) I had an easy look that is perfect for summer resort life, sans the resort. I always love a structured bag and the small size of this one is perfect for street roaming in Europe this coming fall. Have I mentioned that I will be studying abroad in Florence, Italy for fall 2015? I cannot wait to experience something so entirely different and I am excited to see the content I will put out while I am oversees. That is all I have to say for now! Hope you enjoy.

xx Michelle 

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Cool stuff: I have followed JacksGap for some time now and I just felt so inspired watching his One Week In The Philippines film.

Another Grey Sweater

Apparently, I like grey sweaters. Although the weather in LA doesn't necessarily require a turtle neck, I still enjoy sporting this trend. What I particularly like about this sweater is the slit up the sides, which pair oh so nicely with my Topshop "Jamie" jeans. I have had a hard time taking these jeans off me lately; they are so comfortable and the slits on the knee add the perfect amount of "undone" to any outfit. I wore this outfit to class so I paired it with my trusty high tops. As for accessories, I wore my furry bag from Nasty Gal and my new favorite Daniel Wellington watch. 

I wanted to talk to you guys about the term cruisin'. I have recently coined this term as my motto of the new year, it meaning just doing what you love to do without expectations of yourself or others. Well, the idea of cruisin' sounds great to me but I am beginning to question my capabilities of just being able to cruise. It is my natural instinct to over think something that really shouldn't matter so much to me. Maybe I should have attempted this cruise before I even made the commitment. To be honest, as I am typing this I am thinking about how the fact that I am even discussing this defeats the purpose of this whole cruise concept in general. I'll be sure to touch base with you later about how I get along with cruisin' this year. So far, I am not very successful. 

xx Michelle

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Songs I am currently into: Promise by Ben Howard. Money Trees by Kendrick Lamar is cool too. There is a slight contrast between these two songs which may signify what kind of mood I have been in lately. 

From My Sister's Closet

For those of you who didn't know, I have two sisters who are equally interested in their closets as I am. So, I thought I would do a post on an outfit entirely borrowed from them. Well, then I got some new shoes. So, with the exception of the shoes and the bag, this outfit is from my sisters' closets. I couldn't tell you how many fights we have gotten into over the years over clothes, but the point I wanted to make with this post is that everyone's own personal style changes the way you can wear anything. 

The dress was borrowed from my younger sister and is just a simple stiped t-shirt dress purchased from Target. Does anyone else love finding great clothing items at Target? Next, I added this light wash vest from my older sister's closet. Denim vests are the perfect item to add to an outfit in the summer because they are lightweight and easy to style. Remember when I mentioned how much I wanted the orange/red reflective Ray Ban aviators? Well, my older sister bought them. Therefore, I borrowed them to add some color to this primarily monochromatic look. All jewelry was borrowed from my sisters, as well. The shoes are my new mules recently found at H&M. What do you guys think about the mule trend right now?

These photos were taken at yet another cool location in Orange County, the Anaheim Packing House. It is basically this giant room with unique places to eat and succulents hanging left and right. Hope you guys enjoyed this one! 

xx Michelle

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Sheezus photography. 

Cutouts & Tan Lines

Something big has happened this summer, something so strange and new to me that's changed the whole way I view myself. I have always accepted myself as a perpetually pale person, until now; I have actually gained a tan. Now this a tan that is subtle compared to most summer tans, yet so obvious to me. Just to clarify, I obtained this tan while wearing sunscreen and no, it is not fake. 

Now onto the outfit. I purchased this dress from Nasty Gal at the beginning of summer, but I have been stumped on what bra to wear with it until now. I would like to thank my trusty sticky bra for making this look happen. These awesome sandals are a recent purchase from Pixie Market, and they are actually a lot easier to put on than you would think, thanks to the zipper in the back. I find outfits harder to style in the summer due to the heat, which makes layers completely impossible. That's where my appreciation for these gladiator sandals come in, for they are just an amped up summer staple. 

I shot these photos at one of my favorite spots in Orange County, The Lab in Costa Mesa. We ate lunch at The Gypsy Den and I scored an All Saints sweater at the Buffalo Exchange there. If you are looking for unique shops and restaurants, I recommend this "anti-mall" as they call it.

I would like to give a quick shout out to the band Tanlines, which I have been listening to while writing this.

Hope you enjoy! xx Michelle

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photos by Carly. 

Check out this post on Teen Vogue Fashion Click here.