asymmetry.

another great basic with oomph-worthy details...loving the asymmetrical hem on this green top from patty's closet. this fall is all about earthy, muted colors. while i usually love bold rich jewel tones for fall, these toned down colors make just as much of an impact with their soft and romantic vibe.

a few pictures below from our adventures around the east side a couple weeks ago. it's currently pouring with flash flood warnings, and it's supposed to get worse throughout the day. tgif.

what color will you be rocking this fall?

halona blowhole...east oahu, hawaii 

looking toward sandy beach.

(patty's closet top c/o; love & sunshine clutch,

happiness boutique necklace, jessica simpson shoes)

hello again.

just dropping in for a quick hello. i didn't intend to take a whole week off from the blog, but it was nice to slow down and enjoy the holidays. i had a nice christmas spending time with family and friends and look forward to ringing in the new year. there are a lot of changes at work and at home, and i'm a little anxious to see how everything plays out.

this cowl neck sweater from Oasis has been my absolute favorite sweater as of late. it's so soft and comfortable and just warm enough for the chilly weather we've been having. and you can't see it well here, but this long sparklepop necklace from my POPSUGAR Must Have december box layers perfectly over the neckline.

what was the best gift you received this year?

(oasis sweater (on sale!) c/o; american eagle denim shorts;

love & sunshine bag; converse shoes)

*     *     *

if you still need inspiration for your holiday party outfits, check out the latest holiday edition of east vs west style.

a week of high-waisted shorts. kimono.

i have to admit...i wasn't always a fan of the kimono. they're usually floral and they're usually styled in one of a couple ways...over denim + a crop top, or over a dress.

but let me tell you why: it works. something about the proportions - the length of the kimono, the high-waist and shortness of the shorts (or dress), the midriff bearing crop top - it just works.

i first tested the waters with a long leopard print kimono that i won in a giveaway and paired it with a dress. here i'm pairing a shorter kimono with these high-waisted denim shorts for an easy, casual look. you are guaranteed to have all the pieces in your closet already - tank top, denim shorts, sneakers/sandals/slippers, and lots of jewelry.

have you embraced the kimono trend?

how would you style it...out of the box?

(Deb shops high-waisted shorts & kimono;

Sole Society bucket bag; Ray-ban aviators; Nine West sneakers)

a few you might like:

east vs west style. boots.

boots, boots, boots! another fall favorite that needs no introduction. i love the mix of styles here from stiletto booties to knee high boots.

when i selected this outfit weeks ago, we were experiencing unusually warm and humid weather. so i opted for shorts instead jeans. then on the day of shooting, we were hit with hurricane ana's non-stop rain. perfect weather for the outfit (and the would-have-been-jeans), not so much for photographing it.

east

Jackie / Living After Midnite / New York

Meaghan / District Sparkle / Virginia

Tracy / TheRightShoes / New York

west

Ashley / Pursuit of Shoes / California

Danielle / Envision Pretty / California

Becks / oomph. / Hawaii

this mixed media sweater is the second basic black sweater i added to my wardrobe this fall. i have been wearing it constantly because it is thin and slightly oversized, perfect for throwing on over denim like these Dittos misty cutoffs.

and this cozy beige infinity scarf kept me super warm. it was like being wrapped up in a blanket.

photographing in the rain was a total fail...the umbrella was not a wanted and intentional prop! plus, my hair was starting to frizz, haha.

luckily, i happened to snap a few photos of the outfit last week as part of my 'week of' series. i hadn't received the scarf and shorts yet, but at least these photos are clear and free of rain!

love the mesh details at the shoulders.

wearing from Sole Society:

Andie boot in black

Montana Braided Bucket Bag

wearing from NYDJ:

Mixed Media Sweater

wearing from Lulu's:

Dittos Misty Distressed Cut-off Jean Shorts

Cozy Beige Infinity Scarf

wearing from Taudrey:

Silver Tiffany Bracelet

in case you missed it:

east vs west . jewel tones

east vs west . leather

east vs west . oversized knits

a week of high-waisted shorts. monochromatic.

the high-waisted short is something i usually steer clear of. i have a shorter torso, and high-waisted bottoms usually accentuate that. i bought these high-waisted denim shorts for mini-she (she wears them well), but decided to take them for a spin before passing them on. i'll be styling these shorts for this 'week of'.

this look combines textured and patterned blues for a seamless transition through the waist. while i like the clean look of the front [of the shirt] tucked in, leaving the back untucked helps to elongate my torso.

luckily, i took these photos last weekend. this weekend we were hit with another hurricane-turned-thunderstorm, and it has been raining non-stop since friday. last night i was able to step out for a little me time to go to a fun wine tasting party. the cool rainy weather was perfect for this outdoor get together.

how was your weekend?

do you wear high-waisted bottoms?

(BaubleBar ring; Capwell & Co. necklace)

we tasted four reds and four whites, guessing the aroma, body, taste, etc...

...and my friend and i won. love the cool merlot bottle.

(Deb Shops high-waisted denim shorts (on sale!);

J.Crew shirt (on sale!); Sole Society boots; JustFab bag)

quick hello.

just dropping in to say a quick hello. i had a race on sunday which left little time (and energy) to take photos for the blog. i do my best to plan ahead for those weeks, but you know how that goes...so bear with me during the week following my races. 

the second week of east vs west is coming up tomorrow - check back to see what trend we're rocking. plus i have a neat giveaway that's perfect for the upcoming holidays and a recap of sunday's race. stay tuned!

how are you today?

olive + red.

this is as fall as it's going to get around here, i'm afraid. with temps still reaching the 90s + high humidity, it's [literally] difficult to get dressed in the morning. i tried to put on a pair of jeans this weekend and could not get them up past my knees, because i was so sticky! the struggle is real!

but when it does get chilly, one of my utility jackets is always within reach. pairing an olive green jacket with red [plaid] is one of my absolute favorite combos.

p.s. stay tuned for our fall 2014 east vs. west series

debuting tomorrow!

have you transitioned to fall completely?

what fall trend are you loving?

(mossimo jacket (similar); justfab luxe boots; express denim;

shirt via local store; love & sunshine pouch)

here's a few to try:

a week of summer whites. textures 01.

with summer officially over, we had a big blowout at the beach house this weekend. some friends are in town, too, so it was one big slumber party. mini-she cooked for us all weekend...chocolate chip banana pancakes + bacon + eggs for breakfast, steak + sauteed onions for dinner, snicker doodles + homemade ice cream for dessert...the eating [and drinking] never stopped. plus, the weather was perfect for the multiple trips we made to the beach. we also escaped the heat for a quick trip to the movies (if anyone saw disney planes fire & rescue, windlifter was definitely my fave).

with your summer skin a few shades darker, lighter clothing shades amplify your glowing skin. so we're bidding summer farewell with a week of summer whites. when wearing all white (or all black) use texture to add interest to your outfits.

are you (or your kids) back in school?

what will you miss most about summer?

love these bic flame disks! a super easy alternative to charcoal that was perfect for making s'mores.

peace out, summer!

(patty's closet top; express denim;

justfab shoes; thrifted top; inpink necklace)

try the look: