Tag: fashion

Old Navy Spring Haul

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The blogger has returned! After almost a one-year hiatus, we are back! We decided to take a break to focus a little more on our careers, and while I have been blogging somewhat regularly on Blush and Lipstick, I knew Sassy Sweet SF needed some love, too. What better way to kick off our so-called re-birth than with a spring haul?!

Spring is right around the corner and with the weather here in the Bay Area getting warmer (it’s around 80 degrees here in Marin County), I knew it was time to up my wardrobe game and get some spring and summer essentials. On this gorgeous day, I made the trek to my local Old Navy (they send me text messages when they are having a sale) and started to browse. While this is a slightly smaller haul, I ended up purchasing some great statement spring and summer pieces that will last me a few years. Spring + floral = lifetime guarantee of chicness.

Almost everything purchased was around 40% off at checkout. Oh how I love Old Navy.

Pintuck Swing Blouse in Navy Multi (Originally $29.94, Sale $20)

Classic V-Neck Sweater in Palomino (Originally $24.94, Sale $16)

Relaxed Shirred Blouse in Night Flight (Originally $29.94, Sale $18)

Fit & Flare Cami Dress in Green/Black and Classic Open-Front Cardi in Blackjack (Dress: originally $29.95, sale $23.95; Cardi: $22.94)

Mid-Rise Everyday Khaki Shorts in Cinder Smoke ($22.94)

There’s my haul! I’m excited to wear these items during spring and summer (and potentially Palm Springs next month!). Do you shop at Old Navy? I’d love to know your seasonal staples! Leave a comment below.

Xoxo,

Leigh

 

 

 

 

Fashion Show To-Go

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I love fashion as much as the next girl, so when I had the opportunity to attend a fashion show, I jumped at the opportunity. Last Friday at the Marin Country Club in Novato, CA, my mom and I saw the latest spring trends at the Curbside Couture fashion show. What is Curbside Couture? Essentially it is a fashion show to-go. Leah-Marie, founder and CEO of Curbside Couture, curates a mobile fashion show right in front of your business or home, featuring local designers. While this one was indoors in a banquet room, the show normally takes place on a truck bed, but still has the glitz and glam of a traditional fashion show.

Leah-Marie had everything planned out perfectly: an “L” shaped runway, drastic lighting, catering, swag bags, vendors showcasing their goods and a solid turnout. The show started at 7 p.m., but doors opened an hour before so people could shop and nosh on some food. Some of the vendors were Carolina Boutique (Novato and Mill Valley), In Her Shoes (San Rafael), Salt Point Sparkling Cocktails (Mill Valley), Ash + Ames and others.

The show itself was amazing. Half an hour of completely different looks (clothes from Carolina Boutique, shoes from In Her Shoes and jewelry from Ash + Ames) and good music. It was fun to see the new trends for spring, then being able to shop them afterwards. Here are a few snaps I took during the fashion show.

If you like the idea of having a fashion show come to you, reach out to Curbside Couture. Be sure to let me know which look is your favorite in the comments!

xoxo,

Leigh

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Oscar de la Renta Exhibition in San Francisco

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Earlier this morning, I had the pleasure of attending the press event for Oscar de la Renta: The Retrospective exhibition at the de Young museum in San Francisco. When I got there, let’s just say I channeled my inner Carrie Bradshaw when she was rummaging through her closet in the first Sex and the City movie (or in the wedding dress scene of the same movie) and appreciated every de la Renta piece that I saw there.

If you are able to recognize de la Renta on the red carpet, but don’t know a lot about the late designer and how and why certain things influenced his work, do make your way to the de Young museum to check it out (exhibit opens March 12).

Walking through this world premiere exhibition of de la Renta’s work is truly an experience one should partake in. It includes more than 130 pieces produced over five decades and is divided into sections: his early work, including Spanish, Eastern and Russian influences; day-wear and evening-wear influenced by gardens; and ball gowns and red carpet gowns.

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During this press event, I listened to a Q&A with former American Vogue editor at large, André Leon Talley, who was a close friend of de la Renta’s over the years.

Here are a few things I learned about Oscar de la Renta while walking through the exhibition:

  • De la Renta was born in the Dominican Reublic in 1932 and after training in Spain at Balenciaga and working for Lanvin-Castillo in Paris, he moved to the United States to work for Elizabeth Arden.
  • De la Renta took part in a fashion show that pitted American designers against their French counterparts and his show, different than what most had seen until that time, granted de la Renta a standing ovation. Side note: he played Barry White’s “Love’s Theme” as the runway song.
  • De la Renta’s designs reflect his dedication to making every woman “feel wonderful about herself” at any shape and size.
  • He drew influence from European history (18th century France), the Golden Age of Spain, Chinese embroideries, Indian textiles, Japanese woodblock prints, traditional Russian fabrics and more.
  • De la Renta was an avid gardener in both his Dominican Republic and Conneticut homes leading to him to have botanical themes in his work, including: floral-printed silk taffetas, appliquéd flowers and soft ruffles.

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Who knows when this exhibition will make its way back around to San Francisco again, so if you have the time to see it, do.

If You Go:

When: March 12 – May 30, Tuesday through Friday, times vary

Where: de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr in San Francisco

Cost: Prices vary (click here) $30–$50

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Do let me know if you end up attending the show and tell me how you like it!

xoxo,

Leigh

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BarreWear

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I am super proud of myself. I have taken seven barre classes and am loving every minute of it. Each class is different and challenges me in a different way. I feel my core getting stronger and that strength is resonating through the rest of my muscles. It’s super convenient for me to stop by Pure Barre San Rafael on my way home from work at least four times per week.

But even with feeling proud that I am sticking with these barre classes, I’m not 100% on my game mainly because I have a limited closet when it comes to workout/gym clothes. Sure, I have a couple pairs of comfy yoga pants and some baggy tees that I bought from Target ages ago, but I see people in my barre classes in cute pants and tops and I have to admit – I get a bit jealous of their barre style.

I’ve been posting barre related photos on my personal Instagram account and last night a clothing account called Life By Lexie followed me. Not knowing who this company is, I of course tapped on the profile and fell in love with the posts. Life by Lexie is a site full of barre and yoga related tops and sticky socks! Another cute site that Veronica shared with me yesterday is called BarreSocks. They don’t just sell socks, but tanks, tees and sweatshirts related to barre.

Here are some of my favorite barre related clothing finds:

Live, Love, Barre, Life By Lexie ($40)

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This is My Barre Shirt, Life By Lexi ($40)

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I Can & I Will Graphic Tank, Target ($13)

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B is for Barre + Brunch Sweatshirt, BarreSocks. (On sale for $49)

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Pony Tee With Strap, Pure Barre ($38)

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Supermodel Capri, Victoria’s Secret ($59.50)

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Don’t Tuck With Me Sticky Socks, BarreSocks. ($13)

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These are just some of my favorite. Target has a great variety of graphic tanks that’d be really cute in a barre class, too.

I’m always looking for cute barre class gear, so let me know if I missed your favorite brand!

xoxo,

Leigh

The Softest Sneakers You’ll Ever Wear

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I’ve been in the market for some good walking/traveling shoes, but just hadn’t found exactly what I was looking for – something comfortable, yet stylish as well. And with an upcoming trip to New Zealand fast-approaching, I needed to find something soon.

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I was browsing Facebook last night and saw this picture (above) of a pair of sneakers that looked like they were made of sweatshirt material. I knew I had to investigate further, because who wouldn’t want to wear sweatshirts on their feet, am I right?!

Well I was close – these runners from Allbirds are made from superfine merino wool, sourced from a small farm in New Zealand and spun in an Italian mill. So it’s basically like wearing an expensive sweater on your feet (that’s actually not that expensive) and regulates temperature and wicks moisture at the same time. The sole is made from a proprietary blend of low-density foam called EVA (super light-weight) that is mixed with a special rubber to increase friction so you don’t slip in the rain. But what’s even better is that the shoe is machine washable so it’s super easy to keep clean and looking brand new.

New Zealand sheep

I love the concept of creating an innovative fabric from a naturally occurring resource. The merino has a carbon footprint that is 60% smaller than typical synthetic materials used in shoes, and the wool is ZQ-certified, which means it meets stringent standards of sustainable farming and animal welfare. In other words, no sheep were harmed in the making of these shoes.

So I jumped online this morning to order them, and chatted with Joey (one of the founders) to make sure I was ordering the right size. I usually wear a 9.5 (sometimes 10) in sneakers, but since these shoes have a bit of stretch in them, he recommended I try the 9 first. And get this – he said if the 9’s were too small, they’d ship a pair of 10’s to my hotel in New Zealand to make sure I’d have them on my trip. How about that for great customer service?!

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I can’t wait to take these out on the road and put them through the true travel test in their own land of origin. I’ll be sure to write an update on my experience with them. What do you think about these sneakers, would you give them a try?

xoxo,
Veronica

Oscars 2016 Best and Worst Dressed

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Well fashionistas, it’s the end of awards season. The Oscars bring out the stylists’ big guns, and we expect full-on Hollywood glitz and glamour. The stars didn’t disappoint, and I was glad to see a couple of risks on a night that many play it safe. Here are my best and worst dressed picks below.

BEST DRESSED

White dresses had their moment this year, as well as plunging necklines.

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Brie Larson in Gucci – Such a beautiful and feminine dress. The sheer fabric along the bust created the perfect balance of sexy and classy, and the belt really pulled the whole outfit together and added a wow factor. I was also in love with her hair and want to try the pulled back look with simple twists on myself sometime.

Olivia Wilde Valentino Haute Couture – I think there will be some mixed opinions on this one, but I had to put her on the best dressed list purely for the gorgeous back detail on this dress (I’ll call them “wings”). The architectural pleats are modern and chic, and the choker is on-trend (they’re supposedly making a huge comeback).

Naomi Watts in Armani Privé – I just couldn’t get over the colors of this dress as she walked down the carpet – simply stunning. She took a risk and it definitely paid off. The only thing I would change is to give her a simpler, more modern necklace – the one she has on is a little prissy for this dress.

Charlize Theron in Dior Haute Couture – A beautiful woman in a bright red dress with a plunging neckline…do I need to say more? Simple and stunning.

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Priyanka Chopra in Zuhair Murad – I like that she went in a different direction with the white dress trend and chose a beautiful white lace/beaded accent with a sheer underlay dress. She accessorized with huge diamond earrings and rings and an edgy belt that all went together beautifully.

Saoirse Ronan in Calvin Klein Collection – I wasn’t sure about the mismatched earrings at first, but when I heard the story behind her jewelry and dress (she chose the green to honor Ireland, both the subject of her film and her home as a child) I got on board with the overall look. The color of green she chose is stunning and the dress fits her well.

Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell – One of the only women to show up in pants. I love the architectural structuring around the bust. I’m still not a fan of her hair (wig?) and makeup, and wish she would just go with something more natural looking. When you see her grouped with other women like this, you can see how her hair and makeup never looks as natural and effortless as other starlets.

Cate Blanchett in Armani Privé – I can guarantee this dress will have some mixed feelings as well (like Olivia Wilde’s dress). But you can’t deny how perfect the color is on Cate. I also appreciate how different this dress was from everything else on the carpet. I wish the appliques on the shoulders were less pronounced, but other than that her look is perfection.

WORST DRESSED

When it comes to worst dressed, the Oscars don’t tend to be as shocking as other awards shows, as everyone tries to bring their A-game. However, there were still enough ill-fitting garments and what-were-you-thinking dresses (looking at you Heidi Klum) to compose a worst dressed group.

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Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton – The color is fun on her, but many said it was reminiscent of Belle from Beauty and the Beast. I think that hi-lo hem is a little overplayed, and the whole thing just felt too princess-y with all of the glittering crystal accents and accessories. It made her appear much younger than her 27 years.

Kerry Washington in Atelier Versace – A little too dominatrix for the Oscars. The straps at the top look amateur with the unflattering neckline, and I don’t think the black accents on the white skirt are flattering on her.

Whoopi Goldberg in Dames of New York – I appreciate her making the effort and wearing a dress (as she’s usually in pants), but the neckline is not flattering on her body. It’s based on a dress that Bette Davis wore in All About Eve, but it just doesn’t work well on Whoopi. The black color is also too severe on her – a bright jewel tone would have been so pretty.

Heidi Klum in Marchesa – By far the worst. It looks like a nightmare bridesmaid dress that always ends up in movies (you know, the ones you would never think anyone would actually make their friends wear in real life). The flowers, the awkward billowy one sleeve, the unflattering poufiness of the layered tulle skirt…the list goes on. Just bad.

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Mindy Kaling in Elizabeth Kennedy – This dress isn’t the worst, but the bust area just looked so tight and constricted on her. It also feels a little matronly for an actress still in her 30s. But I love the pop of blue with the otherwise simple black gown.

Andra Day in SAFiYAA – The bust on this dress is so ill-fitting it’s not even funny. Why is it so droopy? What is going on in there? The dress is also way too long and needed to be hemmed, as it’s pooling at the floor.

Reese Witherspoon in Oscar de la Renta – Though the color is beautiful, I’m not a fan of what’s happening in the bust area – the ruffles make the whole area look lumpy. Also, the hip area seems to be pulling and doesn’t look like it’s fitting properly.

Emily Blunt in Prada – There is nothing wrong with a pregnant belly on the red carpet, but I’ve just seen it done much better than this (ie – Chrissy Teigen in Marchesa). The style feels like a high school homecoming dress to me, and the light pink with the empire waist makes it all a little too cutesy for the Oscars. Not the worst, but she could have done better.

Well, that’s a wrap! Did I miss any of your favorites or least favorites?

xoxo,
Veronica

Pop Physique Releases Capsule Collection

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My favorite go-to workout class, Pop Physique, has expanded their clothing options from just graphic tees and tanks to now include a signature capsule collection of workout clothing.

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From left: The Pop Sweatshirt ($68), The Pop Sports Bra ($42), The Pop Varsity Tee ($52)

This first capsule collection, “designed in LA with New York in mind,” contains 7 items that “tells the authentic story of the modern woman.” I really like the fact that they’ve kept it very chic and streamlined – mostly all black, with pops of blush and beige. The addition of mesh panels in several of the pieces gives the collection an edgy, urban vibe.

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From left: The Pop Legging ($70), 100% Organic Cotton Distressed Tank ($48), The Iconic Bodysuit ($110), Pop Carryall ($65)

Pop Physique has been gaining in popularity (counting such celebrity clients as Trina Turk, Selena Gomez, Kat Von D and Diane Kruger), so it’s a natural progression to now include workout apparel that can be worn to class (SoulCycle comes to mind as another class that has done this successfully).

If you haven’t tried Pop Physique before I highly recommend it! It’s a one hour ballet barre-based class that utilizes the principles of dance to create long, lean lines and tight, compact muscles. I took Pop classes religiously for the 6 months leading up to my wedding and had fantastic results.

What do you think of their capsule collection? Would you purchase any of these pieces?

xoxo,
Veronica

Packing for a Beach Getaway

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I’m super excited – tomorrow I’m leaving for a 4-day trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico! It’s a quick weekend getaway, so packing shouldn’t be too hard. But it’s still always the thing I agonize over – what to pack, and making sure I’m packing the perfect outfits.

The weather there should range from the high 70’s during the day, and cool down to the low 60’s at night. I have lots of different activities planned during the day (sailing, snorkeling, exploring the town, cooking class, pool time) and nice dinners planned at night, so I’m taking that into consideration and throwing in a couple of nice dresses. In the end, this is the clothing list I came up with:

  • 2 swimsuits (so I don’t have to wear a wet swimsuit)
  • 1 beach coverup
  • 3 dresses (one for each dinner)
  • 4 tank tops (one for each day during the daytime)
  • 1 pair linen pants
  • 1 lace romper
  • 1 pair flip flops (for the beach, pool, and water activities)
  • 1 pair leather sandals (my most comfortable sandals for daytime)
  • 1 pair nude wedges (for dinner)
  • 1 light cardigan
  • 1 beige clutch (to go with all dresses)
  • simple jewelry
  • and of course pjs and undergarments

Packing list

I plan on wearing another pair of comfy pants on the plane that I can also wear during the day there, as well as a light cardigan that can be worn at night when it cools down. I’m sure I’m slightly over-packing, but I like to have one or two extra pieces just in case I feel like wearing something else that day. Packing tip: Try to pick a color scheme, so that items can easily be mixed and matched. You can see I’ve stuck to a blue palette, with black and white thrown in.

What do you think, am I missing anything? Do you have any packing tips to share?

xoxo,
Veronica

Smart Leggings for Online Jean Shopping

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I love shopping online – the convenience, the wider range of sizes available, no lines to wait in, and the ability to do so at 10pm in my pajamas while watching The Bachelor. However, the one item I’m always most hesitant to buy online is jeans. Unless I’m reordering the same size, style, brand as something I already own (and even then it’s still iffy), chances are about 90% that I won’t like them and will end up returning them. Sizing is horribly inconsistent in women’s clothing, changing drastically from brand to brand, and making online shopping for something as fitted as jeans almost impossible.

So when I first saw an ad for these “smart leggings” I was immediately curious and hopeful. Could this actually be the solution to online jean/pant shopping for women? The company is called LikeAGlove, and the leggings use embedded stretch sensors to take measurements all up and down your legs (waist, upper and lower thigh, upper and higher hips, and inseam). After getting the measurements, the leggings send the data over Bluetooth to a free app, which then searches through thousands of jeans to recommend pairs that will fit. It sounds so simple!

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The Info: The leggings are one-size-fits-all. Fit hips/waist of up to 60″ (150cm) and inseam of up to 55″ (140cm). You can pre-order them now for $79 here, to be shipped this Spring (their website says Q1 2016).

I also think they’d be a great way to track weight loss! It’s hard to always measure yourself in the exact same places to track inches lost, and these would make it super easy to get accurate measurements.

What do you think about these? Would you buy them?

xoxo,
Veronica

 

 

Styling Kit Essentials

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Today I’ll be spending the whole day running from appointment to appointment pulling fabulous clothes and accessories, prepping for a big fashion shoot I’ll be styling tomorrow. Last night I spent some time looking over my styling kit to make sure I’d have everything I could possibly need, which made me think it would make a great post for aspiring stylists or for those that just like to be prepared (I use many of the things myself on a regular basis).

styling kit essentials

{Kit Essentials}

  • Double-stick tape and Hollywood Fashion Tape – Double-stick works great for lighter jobs like holding straps in place, hemming pants, and sticking a collar down. HFT is a stronger tape that can keep a low neckline in place, hold a strapless dress up, close a gap in a button-down shirt, and help keep pockets closed.
  • Binder clips (in a variety of sizes) – These will almost always be necessary to pull a loose shirt or loose pants tighter on a model.
  • Silicone CoverUps – Great for use with sheer tops and swimsuits, as well as any lightweight fabrics that you might need a little more “coverage” under.
  • Lint roller – Pick up stray lint right before the shot.
  • Shout wipes – You never know when an emergency will call for getting lipstick or food off of clothes (but hopefully it never happens!).
  • Painter’s tape – The norm for taping the bottom of shoes so they don’t get scuffed during shooting (this tape is easier to remove than most). I’ve actually found black painter’s tape in art supply stores that is even better if the bottom of the shoes might be visible in the shot.
  • Sewing kit with safety pins – Just in case a seam needs to be sewn last-minute, and pins can be used for jobs the binder clips are too large and bulky for.
  • Hanging jewelry roll – Easy for organizing jewelry and keeping it all in one place (also good if you need to stay on the move during the shoot).
  • Seam ripper – Can be used in a pinch to cut off tags and loose threads. And less likely, can be used to rip open seams that might have been sewn into sample garments by previous stylists.
  • Steamer – Used throughout the shoot to keep all of the garments wrinkle-free. Perfect for use on embellished fabrics that you wouldn’t want to iron.
  • Clear garment bags – Essential for moving clothes to the shoot location and keeping them all clean and organized. I like the clear bags so I can easily see what’s in each bag.
  • Tag gun – If tags need to be removed for a shot, you can easily re-attach them with a standard tag gun and clear standard fasteners.
  • Shoe horn – I have an extra long one that has come in very handy when trying to squeeze model’s feet into tall boots.
  • Hand warmers – These quick-activating packs keep models warm on a cold shoot and are good for warming up cold hands for close-up jewelry shots (no cold blue hands!).
  • Paper towels and tissue – For the obvious: cleaning up spills, dirt from shoes etc.

Stay tuned in early March when I’ll share the shots from the shoot! Did I miss any of your favorite styling essentials?

xoxo,
Veronica