GRACE MINI DRESS (For Love & Lemons)
Credit: Thea Novak
THE FACET (Nixon)
CADAUDDA HEEL SANDAL (Aldo) – Formal Option
ZARA BOOT (I like these here)- Casual Option
ROUGE LOUBOUTIN NAIL LACQUER (Sephora)
Well I am living in California at least until September when my
program at FIDM in Los Angeles is complete. It has been a ride and a half. The
best way I can describe it is that it is similar to getting on a new ride at a
theme park; you just hold on tight and see what happens. It has been exciting,
exhilarating, and scary all at the same time. I have experienced so much
already, learned so much at school, and met some amazing people. I can
truly say that I love it.
A lot of people
ask me why I chose to go to fashion school in LA rather than Milan or Paris or
of course, New York…well, there is something about the energy that comes from
the west coast that blends so well with my spirit. Something that was
undeniable for me from the very beginning. This place puts me in a state of
mind to be inspired. But from a professional standpoint, studying
and living in LA allows me to maintain a creative edge by affording me the
ability to curate my own vision; a vision that is free from the uniformity, pressures
and influences existing inside the belly of fashion.
For my first post while living here I have decided to highlight two
great California-based brands: For Love & Lemons and Nixon. For Love &
Lemons is based in the Arts District in LA, just a stone’s throw from my
apartment downtown. The company’s aesthetic is said to derive from the “sun-soaked
Lemonade Stand Days” (…whatever that means to the young BFF designers). However, most of us who know the
ready-to-wear brand associate it with intricate lace patterns and a nearly-nude
aesthetic. I am wearing the Grace Mini
Dress in black in this shoot.
However, what I love most about Love & Lemons is the ‘Skivvies’
lingerie collection. They have bralettes that look amazing peeping out of low
cut tops and dresses. I have the Bat For Lashes Bra in black. While the prices
are a little steep, I bought this piece during one of their many 40% off sales
(posted on Instagram @forloveandlemons), so wait until then (if you
can)!
Nixon is a California-based brand that focuses on watches and
accessories. I have always loved their strong and youthful watch designs and
the brand’s strong connection to surf and skate culture. But above all, I love
the good quality. If you are going to drop $200 to $500 on something, it better
look good and work well, and Nixon provides just that. Nixon continues to take
the watch market by storm with a recent ad of the FACET in all gold (watch
shown) in the pages of the December issue of Vogue. Way to go NIXON!
