It's no secret -- I love me a good statement piece and this skirt is quickly becoming a fun go-to for evenings out here in Vancouver. It has the greatest kick flare movement when you walk (think flamenco-esque) that puts the perfect amount of dance in your step.
Have a few more days up north to explore -- if you have any recommendations for the area, please send them my way! We're considering heading up to Whistler at some point tomorrow, mainly because I want top hop on a seaplane but would love to hear your suggestions! :)
As I mentioned yesterday, I'm currently up north in Vancouver and can't wait to really explore the city this weekend. So much of this (not-so-little) waterfront town reminds me of San Francisco, from the quaint neighborhood pockets and bike culture to the overall laid back vibe (I mean, West Coast is West Coast, right?) -- so naturally, I think we'll be getting along just great over the next few days.
What's up north, you ask? I'm here celebrating the launch of a new technical inspired cashmere line Kit & Ace, brought to you by a few of the same folks behind Lululemon. I've already met a lot of the creative and founding team last night and love their energy, their passion and, most of all, their commitment to quality. Oh, and it certainly doesn't hurt that their welcome present yesterday happened to include hydrangeas. #GameOver. Stay tuned for more -- but of course, you can always follow along right here on Instagram.
By the time you're reading this, I'll already be a few thousand feet up in the air (again) en route to Vancouver for a long weekend getaway (more on that later so stay tuned!). But first, seeing as how I've been packing and repacking a lot this summer, I wanted to share a few tried and true packing rules I've come to swear by over the years. Most of which, I have trial and error to thank.
So without further adieu, let's review, shall we?
1. It all starts with a sturdy, reliable bag. And trust me, I've tried my fair share of cheap versions (all of which usually end up breaking on you at the most inopportune time, like, say, running to the check-in counter when you're already late for boarding -- yep, true story). Luckily, when Kipling asked me to try out their luggage line, I was pleased to find that not only is it easy on the wallet, the nylon casing makes it perfect for expanding for extra clothes souvenir storage. Plus, their new monogram collection (I have the large Darcey here) is a fun personal spin on luggage tags (great for me since I'm usually the paranoid person at the carousel worrying where my bag is).
2. Extra magazines. OK, so I know what you're thinking. Wouldn't you just bring those with you in your carry on? My answer -- of course! But since I'm notorious for reading through all my magazines on the flight over, I like to stock up on a few glossies (and books), reserved solely for the trip back home.
3. Bathing suit. I can't tell you how many times I've gone on trips that weren't actually beach or tropical destinations and I've regretted not bringing a bathing suit BIG TIME. If there's anything I've learned in life, it's that there is almost always a hotel pool, SOMEWHERE.
4. Panama hat. I might as well call this my traveling hat. It hides a lot of hair evils on those early morning flights.
5. TSA-ready sandals. These bad boys are off in less than 1.5 seconds. Just make sure you bring some easy to slip on socks for when you go through security (not to be worn with the sandals, of course).
6. A wrap-me-up scarf. You never know when a light scarf might be needed wherever you're headed. I've used mine as a wrap, a shawl, even a blanket.
7. Comfortable statement shoes. The key pair is easy to coordinate with a lot of different types of outfits and is comfortable to walk in (read: ideally less than 3 inches).
8. Skin care condensed. I used to bring pretty much my entire bathroom counter on trips, everything from the makeup remover wipes, facial cleansers and a bunch of lotions. While it's great to keep the routine alive, it was a burden to tote around and I experienced so many awful leaks and spills. I now limit myself to bringing one facial cleansing brush and a small travel size cleanser. It's really all you need, since the brush does a lot of the heavy lifting.
9. Tinted moisturizer. Because you're on vacation!
10. Sunglass options. I have two that I swear by. A pair of aviators because they never look bad while you're traveling. And a glam, oversized black pair to hide your red eyes after the red eye.
Now, I'd love to hear yours -- what's on your travel essential list? (Plus, stay tuned next week, when I'll be sharing a few of my carry-on must-haves.)
This post is sponsored by Kipling. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting posts that keep This Time Tomorrow's doors open.
Unfortunately for me, I've never been blessed with naturally clear, glowing, oh-I-just-woke-up-like-this skin. And if we're being totally honest around here (because, hey, why not?) my skin has taken a beating the past few years during my 20s. Between working long hours, skimping on sleep and neglecting my diet from time to time (I guess those Annie's cheddar bunny snacks have finally caught up with me), it's clear to me I am in desperate need of a skin routine reboot.
My skin has always been oily prone, but it wasn't until I moved from a really dry, hot climate (Nevada) to a more damp and cool environment (hello, SF!), that I saw a dramatic difference in how sensitive my skin really can be. These days, I've set a few mini obtainable goals for my skin routine with a short shopping list to try out (including a few of the products shown above). Let's kick things off here shall we?
1. Water: Seems like a no brainer, because really, it's on just about every tip list for skin care. I'm making more of an effort lately to swap out my coffee and Diet Coke for large bottles of water throughout the day.
2. Makeup-free days: More often than not, Sundays are my down day, reserved for park adventures with Elvis, late brunch and email catch up, i.e. no makeup required. I like giving my skin a break to breathe, even if most of my makeup is oil-free and non-pore-clogging.
3. Dairy: So my general doctor and my dermatologist disagreed on this point (dermatologist didn't think it would make a difference, doctor did) but I've wanted to try cutting dairy out for a while now to see if it would move the needle at all. There are lots of theories about the hormones in dairy and their correlation with acne and I'm by no means an expert in this area -- just merely trying it out to see if it works for me. I'll keep you posted.
4. Exercise: While there are lots of obvious reasons to work out more often, if we're purely talking about skin quality here, I have to say my skin has always been clearest when I've consistently been running 3 plus miles a day. Sweat it out, right?
As for my weapons of choice? Shop my top contenders right here...
As I mentioned last week, I headed back home to Reno this weekend for my 10 year high school reunion (10 years -- I still can't wrap my head around that!). While I really had no idea what to expect for the evening, I did know I was dying to wear this pearl embellished, fits-like-a-glove McQueen dress I recently picked up on sale at Jeremy's a few weeks back. Combined with a little stud action on the shoes, I felt very me in a slightly demure meets edgy kind of way.
As for the reunion? It's funny, so many different scenes featuring a certain Romy and a certain Michele played out in my head while driving into town. Maybe everyone will hang out in cliques? Maybe unrequited crushes will have a second chance? Maybe someone actually did invent Post Its (or the figurative equivalent). But really, it wasn't quite like any of that at all -- and I mean that in the best way possible. It was great catching up with so many old friends, teammates, confidants, and yes, perhaps an old crush or two, and seeing where the last ten years have taken them. While so much has changed, in a weird way, it felt like we kind of picked up where we left off.
Although, yes, I'd be lying if I didn't admit I was slightly disappointed there weren't any dance numbers quite like this. Maybe at the 20 year reunion? ;)
1. My uniform lately (which you can shop now directly from your inbox by signing up for Like to Know It).
2. A casual Saturday outfit with these red Valentino pumps, originally featured here.
3. My Friday afternoon routine usually revolves around picking up my second coffee for the day plus fresh blooms.
4. The view heading to happy hour after work. It just never gets old.
5. I forgot how much I loved this Stella McCartney citrus print skirt. Too perfect for warm summer days.
6. The accessory edit on heavy rotation these days.
7. Recently stumbled upon my new favorite house in San Francisco -- check out all those potted gems!
8. A quiet Saturday morning alone.
9. A few girlfriends and I went out to wine country this past weekend for the Napa Valley Wine Train -- highly recommend if you're in the area! Had a beautiful dinner on a restored 1915 diner car (very Darjeeling Limited-esque) and I loved every minute of it!
As always, you can follow along right here on Instagram. Happy weekend, everyone!
It's game time, people. AKA, the annual Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is in full swing. AKA the time of year when I have lots and lots of browser tabs open (way more so than usual). While I normally go straight to the clothing section for their sale, this year I wanted to strategize around accessories and beauty products. My reasoning? They're usually the items I splurge on throughout the year because they almost never go on sale. Stocking up on lots of perfumes, NARS goodies, perhaps another watch investment and that nude Pashli is calling my name for another great work bag option. Shop my picks right here....
Growing up, I really bounced around the style spectrum a lot (as any kid should). Belle was my muse in the first grade, then there was the tie-dye phase in middle school (i.e. the lost years) and high school was all about sporty Abercrombie basics (with low-rise distressed jeans, naturally) . Given that my 10 year high school reunion is just around the corner, er, later this week, I thought it would be fun to take the tomboy basics of something I used to wear and turn it on its head with layered gold accessories, heels, peek-a-boo lace and a bold, red lip.
Confession time: What was your style like in high school?
I feel like it wasn't all too long ago I was happily belting my dresses whenever I got the chance to cinch my waist in. And now, for some reason or another my belt collection has slowly dwindled to this lonely Moschino survivor (that I nabbed at a flea market, no less!). Not that I'm complaining. He goes quite nicely with skinny jeans as he does flowy chiffon-like dresses, but I do think a few other belt contenders are in order. Here are a few I'm considering pulling the trigger for (with their flowy dress counterparts, of course)...
Vest: Alexander Wang (old, similar style here); Jeans: Abercrombie; Shoes: Valentino; Wallet: Emerson Fry; Cuff: Hermes; Sunglasses: Target (yes, Target! Look like Celine, no?); Necklace: Givenchy
It's quite possible I'm approaching an almost embarrassing collection of these Valentino rockstud heels now. The reasoning for these? Well, aside from the fact they look like modern day ruby red slippers, they were also crazy on sale at my haunt, Jeremy's, this past weekend and a few happy hour drinks had me thinking it was the right decision. My sober self happily agrees.
I was recently turned onto the designer Mother of Pearl by my friend Adelle (who's making the leap over to NYC this week!) -- and I just have to say, I'm hooked already! While the prints are totally on point (like this dress), it's the clean separates that draw me in (like this peplum top and trouser combo). All of which would look just too good with that Saint Laurent bag I've been eyeing for forever now, right? Right?
If you've been reading this blog for a while now, you know I typically shy away from anything too form fitting. Not sure what's to blame there, but it usually boils down to wanting to avoid pulling or tugging at my clothing to make it sit just right on me throughout the day. However, when life throws you a Josh Goot bustier like this guy (I mean, hello bell curve!), sometimes you have to take a few pages from TTH's book and just go for it.
Which reminds me, I now need a high slit, pencil skirt, like the one in the aforementioned link. Any leads?
Skirt: Tibi (similar style here); Top: Mason (in black here); Shoes: Charlotte Olympia (via The RealReal); Clutch: Charlotte Olympia (from a few seasons ago, but similar style here); Necklace: Anthropologie; Lips: Stila "Beso"; Bracelets: Vita Fede; Sunglasses: Target
It's been a while since this skirt has come out to play but luckily, a little closet reorganization (and RealReal consignment spree) goes a long way in making you look at your wardrobe a bit differently. In fact, I think it's high time I made this a seasonal habit -- especially when it's easy to fall into the slump of "I have nothing to wear" (which trust me, happens around here a lot), it's great to feel energized again by what you have, instead of lamenting over what you don't have.
Of course, that doesn't stop me from lusting over this dress (I'm only human, after all). It just means I weigh some of my other shopping cravings a bit differently. Ah, getting wiser in my old age, perhaps? ;)
On a side note, how adorable is this house?! It's my new favorite in San Francisco.
