Author: chelseawp

Liven Up your Wardrobe with {Faux} Leather

As the days of November steadily fly by, I continue to get creative with textures. Fall is my favorite time of the year. Yes I happen to love apple cider, plaid and the cute sweater beer koozies I pull out for football games, but I also love accessorizing with layers!

Since the weather in San Francisco is pretty mild, it’s necessary to occasionally take a step back from the typical textures of chunky sweaters and fur, and focus on the lighter layers. One of my go-to textures that adds glamour and the feel of fall is leather. It’s great for when the weather is too warm to bundle up, but you’re craving texture.

I love dressing my leather pieces down by pairing them with plaid or plain v-necks. Check out the fun leather products I pulled together below. These are great pieces to pull out for the holidays or even just a night out. Share your favorite in the comments below and click to shop!

Statement Jackets:

H&M Mixed Media Leather Jacket     Forever 21 Paneled Leather Jacket

Fun Gloves:

Target Leather Gloves Mango polka dot gloves

Delicate Tops:

Nastygal Leather Top Forever 21 Paneled Leather Top

Short skirts:

H&M Leather Wrap Skirt Zara Leather  Skirt

Moto Jackets:

Forever 21 Moto Jacket Forever 21 Mixed Media Leather Jacket

Falling for Fringe

I used to associate fringe with summer, but those days are over. I no longer reserve fringe for coachella and days at the beach. Fringe is now for all seasons and all occasions, I even dress it up for special occasions!

My favorite take on the trend for fall is leather fringe. I am obsessed with the Forever 21 jacket and the Nikki Rich Fringe Top below. The leather adds a dressy, warm, fall element to the trend. And how fun is that pop of yellow fringed clutch? It’s definitely a statement piece and is the perfect accessory for that little black dress hanging in your closet.

Hoe do you feel about fringe for fall? Do you have a go-to fringe piece in your closet? Share in the comments below!

Layer with Fringe ($28-$98):

Forever 21 Fringe Blazer  Missguided Fringe Jacket  Nastygal Fringe Jacket

Fancy Fringe ($30-$48):

Forever 21 Fringe Dress   HM Fringe Dress   Nordstrom Fringe Dress

Separates, but Fringed ($20-$72):

Forever 21 Fringe Skirt   Nordstrom Leather Fringe Top   Topshop Fringe Skirt

Hands-On Fringe ($35-$40):

ASOS fringe clutch   ASOS Fringe Tote   HM Fringed Crossbody

Holiday Must Haves | 2014

The holiday season is upon us and I couldn’t be more thrilled! I love all the fun textures, patterns and warmth that comes with this fabulous season. Nothing beats getting dressed in my coziest layers and enjoying some warm hot cocoa by the fire. To help everyone get as excited as I am about the holidays I pulled together some must haves for the upcoming holiday season. Nothing screams holiday like faux fur, fair isle, plaid and reindeer prints- Enjoy!!

holiday must haves 2014

Forever 21 Fur Vest ($45) / Target Ear Muffs (On Sale for $10) / Sole Society Mini Backpack ($40) / Old Navy Patterned Socks (On Sale for $8) / H&M Jacquard-knit Sweater ($35) / Forever 21 Over-the-Knee Boots ($40) / Forever 21 Fair Isle Leggings ($18) / Forever 21 Shaggy Socks ($4) / Old Navy Buffalo Check Flannel ($22) / Forever 21 Plaid Scarf ($11) / Nordstrom Chalkboard Tumbler ($13) / Old Navy Strappy Ankle Boots ($40)


Mint Tweed

mint tweed 1This past week, I decided to go for a more polished look with this mint green tweed jacket. I kept it easy by pairing it back with simple timeless pieces like a black tee and my selvedge Levi’s. My favorite part of the outfit is the Naya Tahlia Metallic Oxfords. I got a great deal on these from Hautelook! They are definite statement shoes and are actually super comfortable! Although I was going for a menswear inspired look, I wanted to spice it up with all these metallic accessories to give a fresh, feminine look.

mint tweed 2

mint tweed 3

mint tweed 4

Mint Tweed Jacket- Similar moddeals ($10) / Gap Black Scoop Tee (On sale for $12) / Levi’s Selvedge Boyfriend Skinnies ($62) / Naya Tahlia Metallic Oxfords ($119) / Candies Quilted Handbag ($15) / Simply Vera Vera Wang Multi- Strand Necklace ($25) / Yoox Silver Glitter Belt (On Sale for $59)

Fall Layering Piece: The Quilted Vest

I’ve been looking for a budget friendly vest for awhile now and finally stumbled upon this quilted one from Old Navy. Although it’s thin, this vest is the perfect fall layering piece. I love the olive color, but you have to be careful how you style it so you don’t start looking like a lumberjack!

Olive Quilted Vest

That’s why I chose to pair this vest with some über-feminine pieces. By styling olive with soft blush, it immediately softens the look up. I also layered it with a delicate sweater, my scallop clutch and some gold accessories which immediately brings up the sophistication level. What’s your favorite fall layering piece? Share in the comments below!

Olive Quilted Vest

Olive Quilted Vest

Olive Quilted Vest

Olive Quilted Vest

Olive Quilted Vest

Forever 21 Blush Textured Sweater ($20) / Old Navy Quilted Vest (On Sale for $25!) / Levi High Rise Skinnies ($88) / Chase & Chloe Booties ($30) / ASOS Scallop Clutch ($23) / Guess Statement Necklace ($45) / Michael Kors Tortoise Runway Twist Watch ($225) / kate spade bangles


October RocksBox Review

The mailman came and I have a new RocksBox to share with all of you!

How it works- It’s a monthly subscription costing $19.99/month. First you create a style profile, which basically consists of a quick survey of what jewelry types, metals, etc. you prefer and a gallery of pictures where you can pick your favorite items. From that profile, three styles are picked just for you and delivered in cute little boxes wrapped up with a ribbon. Now for the fun part, you can wear the jewelry as much as you want and just as easily send them back whenever you want! There’s no timeline, you can get as many or as little boxes as you want a month. As soon as you’re ready to send them back, you drop them in the mail and three more will be sent your way, almost immediately! Fall in love with one (or all) of the items? No prob, keep it! You get 20% off the retail price of any piece in your box to add to your personal collection.

Below is my stash from October’s box:

October RocksBox Review

 


Charlene K Mini Raw Stone Pendant Necklace in Black Agate (retails at $83, member price is $66)– I love this long pendant necklace. It’s a long gold chain with a beautiful black agate stone pendant. The black stone not only makes it edgy, but also versatile! It goes with a ton of items in my closet and is unlike anything I currently have in my collection. I realize I’m starting to get quite a collection of gold necklaces, especially pendants. But, I get a ton of use out of them. They are great to layer and can be dressed up or down!

 

Margaret Elizabeth Chrysoprase Pave Studs (retails at $108, member price is $86)– These studs are stunning. I usually focus my statement jewelry on my necklaces, but every now and again I love to wear beautiful earrings. The mint color is on trend and compliments so many pieces in my wardrobe. And the gold pave setting complements the mint perfectly and makes the studs look very high end! Because of how nice they are, I will probably only be able to get a few uses out of them with how casual I normally dress, but I will definitely make them count!

 

Gorjana Mila Hexagon CuffGorjana Mila Hexagon Cuff (retails at $65, member price is $52)– This is the second piece of jewelry I’ve received of Gorjana. Just like the last Gorjana necklace, I can immediately tell it’s great quality and has some weight to it. This cuff is a ton of fun and is different from any other bangle I own! Instead of the simple circle shape, it’s actually shaped like a hexagon. What I love most about this cuff is it’s adjustable! This makes it easy for me to wear with any of my other bangles.


Loving my loot this month? Check out last month’s jewelry at September RocksBox Review. Or are you ready to get your own Rocksbox? Click here to get one month of RocksBox for FREE! What do you have to lose?

October Birchbox | 2014

October is here and it’s time for me review my newest Birchbox products!

If you aren’t familiar with Birchbox, it’s a company offering a subscription to receive monthly samples of beauty products (They offer boxes for both men and women!). I love it because it’s a mini treat to myself once a month and it’s a great, inexpensive way to get introduced to new brands and products. As an added bonus- it makes a great gift for the girl (or boy) who has everything!

Below is what I found when I opened my October Birchbox.

October Birchbox


Let’s start with the clariSEA Rapid Detox Charcoal Exfoliant: Face. I was a little taken aback when I opened this sample- it was just a jar of grey powder! This all natural product stated you could mix it with either your favorite cleanser or water before applying it to your face. I chose to start with water so I could get an idea of what this exfoliant does on it’s own. I have to admit, applying it was a little messy for my taste… I mean imagine scooping powder out of a jar, mixing with water then trying to get it on your face. It’s definitely tricky, but it did it’s job! It’s a strong exfoliant and even left my skin a little tender after using it just once. Although the exfoliant felt a little extreme, it left my face feeling smoother than ever! If you end up trying out the product I’m sure you’ll have smoother skin, but due to the roughness, I suggest using it only a few times a week.

Next up is the Perlier Intensive Nurturing Body Balm. I love this balm! Although it’s thick and creamy, it didn’t leave me oily or greasy! It not only has a great light scent, but it also absorbed quickly- no need to wait for it to dry before getting dressed. Although it’s fabulous as a full body lotion, I especially recommend it for those extra dry spots like your elbows and feet. You’ll definitely get your bang for your buck with this balm!

Lord & Berry Paillettes Eye Pencil was the next sample I tried out. This little pencil packed a lot of punch! It was super easy to apply, even using my tiny pencil sample! The main focal point of this eyeliner is the glitter. To be clear, it’s not shimmery, it has actual chunks of glitter in it. This look was a little extreme for me, but it could be fun to use on a night out. I think it’s safe to say I won’t be purchasing the full sized product, but I’ll enjoy having fun with the sample!

Now onto the Number 4™ Clarifying Shampoo and Number 4™ Reconstructing Masque. I’ve gotten Number 4 products in my box a few times before and have not been disappointed yet. Although these samples didn’t disappoint, I wouldn’t say they “WOWed” me either. The scent was nice and it left my hair feeling soft and healthy. But for the higher price point they charge, I expected more. There are plenty of products out there that give just as good results for a better price.

Lastly, I have the Jouer + beautyblender® Perfectly Primed Collection. Of this collection, I received the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint. This tint was a little different than the other tinted moisturizers I’ve received in my boxes. It went on smooth, applied very evenly and I found the coverage to be a little heavier than most creams I’ve used. Although I appreciated the extra coverage, it dried with a matte, powdery finish that felt a little too mature for me. If you are like me and prefer a fresher, more natural look this tint is probably not for you!

And that’s it! That wraps it up for this month’s Birchbox products. Have you heard of any of these brands or tried any of these products before? Tell me about them in the comments below! Craving more beauty reviews? Check out last month’s post, September’s Birchbox- Unboxed.

Cool & Cozy

Fall in San Francisco is all about slowly transitioning yourself from summer into fall. Although September and October are technically fall months, we’ve had some of our warmest days of the year in these months! It doesn’t seem like Mother Nature is quite ready to embrace fall, but that doesn’t mean I’m not ready!

Cool and Cozy 1

In this type of weather, I’ve learned the best way to embrace fall without breaking a sweat is to mix your fall wardrobe with summer pieces. That way I can wear my new sweater and booties from Old Navy that I’ve been dying to wear and not have a heat stroke! I chose to pair these with my go-to chiffon skirt I got this summer, but a pencil skirt, a midi skirt or even cut-offs would work too!

Cool and Cozy 2 Cool and Cozy 3 Cool and Cozy 4

Old Navy Marled Sweater (On Sale for $18) /  Pink Chiffon Maxi- similar at DailyLook ($72) and Urban Outfitters (On Sale for $52) /  Old Navy Booties (sold out!)-  similar Simply Vera Vera Wang (On Sale for $48) and Target Buckle Ankle Booties ($35) /  Metallic Crossbody-  similar Ivanka Trump ($118) and Forever 21 ($18) /  Target Statement Necklace ($20) /  Wanderlust + Co X Ring– from my RocksBox! ($29) /  Forever 21 Cat Eye Sunglasses ($6)

Modern Pieces to Update your Living Room

Living in San Francisco, I’ve learned to appreciate minimalism in home décor. Since apartments are so compact in the city, it’s important be selective in your furnishings. I personally love to find pieces with dual purposes. It’s great not only to get the most bang for your buck, but also to keep your apartment from getting too cluttered.

That’s why I love the pieces below, all of which can be found at modani modern furniture. Each piece really adds function and style to a living room. The sofa doubles as a fold out bed, perfect for visitors! The stackable suitcases are not only a stylish accent piece, but can be used for storage as well. And my favorite of all, the statement mirror, not only makes the room appear larger, but also works as a focal piece for a wall. If you are in need of some home inspiration, I suggest scoping out one of modani’s stores! They have them in all of the major cities and opening one soon right here in San Francisco!


Are you looking to update your home decor?

  • Try sticking to a neutral palette- Black and white pieces keep a home looking sleek and modern.
  • Choose a printed item to be the focal point of the room- I chose this graphic rug to be the attention getter.
  • Get stylish storage!- Nothing is more of an eyesore than clutter piled in the corner, find accent pieces that double as storage.

Modani Living Room Pieces


Modani Statement Mirror (On Sale for $290!) / Modani Alix Chandelier (On Sale for $290!) / Modani Lina Safari Rug ($890) / Modani Storage Suitcases ($290) / Modani Onyxia Sofa Bed Black ($740)


Game On!

With the World Series continuing into the weekend, I already know my next few nights will be jam-packed with Giants festivities. I love showing spirit during the games, but not at the expense of style. I think it’s important to dress up the traditional team apparel, especially when the games fall on weekend nights.


My advice for taking your team gear to the next level:

  1. Pick one item with your team’s logo on it. I suggest hats, they are the easiest to dress up and down and can match back to a ton of things already in your closet! (You can’t go wrong with a baseball hat or a beanie- they are both on trend this fall!)
  2. Choose some girly items to pair with your team gear. Find a dress, skirt or even a lace top to wear with it. Any feminine details that soften the look will immediately transform it into night!
  3. Lastly, add some layers! Denim, leather, camo- any will work! You could even go further with the sporty look and wear a baseball or varsity jacket!

Check out my look below! I love the wool texture of this Giant’s hat. It’s perfect for fall and still screams Giants! (Don’t worry if you cheer for another team! They have a TON of cute team hats, with nearly every style, for every team!!) I chose to dress it up with a faux leather skirt and a hooded denim jacket. Now I’m ready for whatever this weekend throws at me! (Hopefully the Giants are too!)

take me out to the ballgame

Forever 21 Hooded Denim Jacket ($32.90) / Kohl’s Apt 9 Essential Stripe Tee (On Sale for $14.40) / Old Navy Strappy Ankle Boots ($42.94) / Everlane Twill Snap Backpack ($65) / Fanatics SF Giants Hat ($33.95) / Kohl’s LC Lauren Conrad Faux Leather Circle Skirt (On Sale for $34.99)