Leopard Coat and Leather Leggings

Jacket: Sheinside, old (last worn here)

Top: Zara (also worn here)

Pants: J Brand

Boots: Chinese Laundry (splurge here)

Bag: Burberry Prorsum

Sunglasses: Dsquared2

You guys, I finally started (yes, started) Christmas shopping and this is what I wore.  It's been cold and windy and rainy, so walking around outdoors shopping requires appropriate gear.  While jackets/layers are a huge year-round thing here in L.A., it's pretty rare that you need anything heavy, which is why this leopard topper is perfect.  I searched high and low last year and finally picked this one because it wasn't furry (I actually hate the furry leopard ones) and didn't have too many details going on (belts, hardware, zips, or studs AND leopard? no thanks.)  I would have paid way more for this, but luckily found it for like $40 on sheinside.com.  Speaking of which, I hadn't visited the site in a long time, but in searching for a similar option for you guys (sorry I couldn't find one, ugh) got sucked in for a while...and then didn't buy anything.  Oops.

Tribal Fringe Cardigan in Black and White

Sweater: Nasty Gal (on sale!)

T-Shirt: H&M

Jeans: BlankNYC

Boots: Rachel Zoe "Nevana"

Sunglasses: Fendi

I've been living in this sweater because temps have dropped and it feels like a nice warm hug.  And, even though it's a little busy and tribal prints are not my usual jam, I think the black and white reigns it in and gives it some sort of taste, even when worn over black pajama pants to drop my kids off to preschool (yup I sure did leave the house in loungewear aka pajamas.)  I went a little out of my comfort zone here and am pretty pleased with the results.  

I wore this particular outfit to dinner with a friend at The Wallace in Culver City, which we chose only because it's in the middle of us (she's a west-sider and I live east of Fairfax).  I knew it would be convenient and based on the website it looked cute inside, but I didn't expect to be so wowed by the food.  Everything we had was so good.  Actually, I've been to a few places in downtown Culver as of late and I'm really impressed - much less of a scene than West Hollywood and real quality restaurants in a cute and bustling environment.  I guess going out of my geographic comfort zone can pay off too.

Olive Midi Dress

Dress: H&M (also worn here)

Sweater: Sheinside (similar here)

Boots: Sam Edelman "Louie"

Bag: Vintage Louis Vuitton

Sunglasses: Prada

Quick post because I am literally buried in vomit (sick kids) emails (work) and papers (addressing 5 million holiday cards - will share the photo shoot results soon!).  This past weekend we headed out to Malibu Country Mart.  There is nothing country-mart-ish about this place, unless you think stores like John Varvatos and Kitson are country.  The name is definitely misleading.  Anyway, we had a really nice, relaxing afternoon with the kiddos decorating holiday stockings, getting their faces painted (they refused to wash it off for 24 hours, and I indulged them) shopping, and playing on the playground.  Unfortch, my little one contracted an ear infection almost immediately after this (why are playgrounds and human beings so disgusting?  At times I feel like the earth is one giant petri dish) so needless to say it's been a rough week, sleep-wise for us.

On the way home we pulled over on the PCH because the kids wanted to build sandcastles and get their feet wet in the ocean.  The ocean was way too cold so I didn't allow anyone's anything to get wet, but it was hard to resist playing in the sand with them.  Even in this dress and these boots.

Night Moth

Sweater: H&M, recent

Pants: J Brand

Boots: Chinese Laundry, old (similar here)

Clutch: Michael Kors

Sunglasses: Marc Jacobs

Earrings: Vintage Chanel

Lipstick: M.A.C. "Night Moth" lip pencil & "Media" lipstick

Supposedly, wearing super dark lipstick makes your lips look thinner.  I'm not too sure about that, since mine still look pretty gigantic here, and I feel like the bold color calls attention to them even more. You see, I have a major complex about my lips, because I still picture them during my awkward stage, over braces and crooked teeth, before I was allowed to wax or thread anything at all.  Let's just say no one escapes childhood without some battle scars and this big-lip complex is one of mine.  Over time I've learned to kind of embrace them and just live with it (no choice, really).  I even paint them in bright colors sometimes, although I swear I feel like this when I do.  They've actually become as much of an accessory as anything else - paint them pink and it's like hi, summer!  But paint them a moody dark brown and this outfit is instantly winterized.

Combo top

Jacket: Zara, old (also worn here)

Top: Zara

Jeans: Current Eliott "stiletto"

Shoes: Alexander Wang

Clutch: Gucci

Necklace: Vanessa Mooney

This past weekend we left L.A. for the first time since moving here in June, and headed out to Santa Barbara, which has to be one of the most scenic places on earth.  I'm not sure how many towns you can visit in the continental U.S. where perfect weather meets ocean, sky, mountains, and palm trees all at once.  Oh, and amazing food and wine thanks to the tens of tens of infamous wineries in the area.  I was so inspired I actually rode a BIKE, guys.  Like, not the stationary kind that you ride to lose weight (I should probs get back on that too) but the real, beach cruiser kind.  After an afternoon of boozing and cruising we headed out to dinner at The Lark, and this is the outfit I wore.  The suede jacket came in handy because it actually got chilly in the evening, plus I'm looking for any reason to wear fringe now that the seasons are changing.  I like how black suede fringe can pretty much fall-ify even the summeriest of summer tops like this one.  More from Santa Barbara coming up soon. 

Hi-low mix

Crop Sweater: Zara (similar here)

Hi-Low shirt: BCBG (also worn here)

Pants: ASOS (also worn here)

Shoes: Zara (love these, similar here)

 Clutch: Ebay, old (luxury version here, other options here and here)

Sunglasses: Fendi

I've been lacking outfit inspiration lately but I think I'm back now, or will be soon.  Between the opening ceremonies for the Olympics tonight (can't wait to see the recap of those sick uniforms and costumes guys) and NYFW being well underway, I should have enough fodder to make a whole bunch of new outfits with shit I already own over the next few months.  What? Inspiration is everywhere.  Sometimes I just get too tired to look.  TGIF!

Oxblood Leather in L.A.

Suede Fringe Jacket: Zara (also worn here)

Leather Pants: Rag & Bone (also worn here)

Boots: BCBGMaxazria "Wane"

Bag & Sunglasses: Chanel

Scarf: Louis Vuitton, old

I recently visited my younger sister in L.A. and forced asked her to take these pics since my trusty other half wasn't with me.  Can I just say, if ever there were a more perfect place to own a pair of leather pants, I don't know it.  L.A. weather is just cool enough during the day, and chilly enough at night to make them appropriate all day long (not that it stops me from wearing them here in Florida anyway, just an observation).      

Chucks + Fringe

Suede Jacket: Zara

Dress: Target (old)

Shoes: Converse Jack Purcell

Bag: Gucci

Sunglasses: Chanel

When I bought this dress it had no slit, so I took some scissors and made one.  As much as I love Pinterest, and the occasional furniture DIY, I realized through my trials and tribulations with my sewing machine that when it comes to anything more than a simple hem, ain't nobody got time for that.    Anything more ambitious than this slit, and I would probably have ended up here.