DRESSING WITH CONFIDENCE

Good morning, Everyone! Hope you day is off to a great start! I am very excited to partner with bebe to talk to you a little bit about what makes me feel confident and what dressing with confidence means to me. I think that dressing with confidence has very little to do with wearing the latest trends. It's really about feeling good about what you're wearing. For me, that feeling came from finding my personal style, knowing what I like and finally understanding what works best for me! The latter, was a lesson learned through trial and error, because frankly, no matter how much I love certain styles, I could never pull them off! That's totally fine though, there is plenty of fish ( other style options ) available! Once I found myself and realized what it is that makes me feel most comfortable, that's when I was really able to express myself with confidence. And really, I think it's the same for everyone! When you find your style, discover what makes you feel good, that's when you can start dressing with confidence!

If a had to describe my style in a few words, I'd say polished femininity is what comes to mind first. I guess I'm a bit of a girly girl after all:) Though I don't exclusively wear uber feminine pieces, in fact I'm a big fan of jeans and jackets for day-time, I love to add a bit of a feminine touch to all my looks. For today's day-time outfit, that little bit of femininity comes from paring wide-legged trousers with a blush-colored trench coat, a few sparkly rings and a coil necklace.

Night-time looks are no exception and today's outfit is a perfect example of that. A pretty lace-trim pleated skirt, paired with a waist-enhancing vest and a pair of cute ankle boots. Clean, polished and girly! Finishing touch, a fun clutch and a pretty choker necklace!:) 

What about you guys, what does dressing with confidence mean to you?

bebe front slit trench coat, high-rise wide-leg trousers, rope handle tote, smooth coil necklace, lace-trim pleated skirt, long fitted vest, eyelashes clutch & metal and pave ring set 

PARIS ADVENTURES : STOLEN BAG & GETTING BACK HOME

I was actually reluctant to share this story with you guys at first because generally speaking, I like to reserve this site for good things only. But upon further consideration, if it might serve as a cautionary tale and possibly save someone from finding themselves in similar circumstances, then at least something good will come of it!

So, as I am writing this post, the Loewe bag pictured is no longer with me. It was stolen roughly half an hour after this shoot. My friend and I came to a cafe, I placed the bag on a table next to me, turned around to move the chair closer to the table we were going to sit at and when I turned back, the bag was gone! The first thing I remember is being in a state of complete shock, that ugly wave of panic running down my spine and complete and utter inability to accept what just happened. I am not exaggerating when I say that I say I turned around for 3 seconds at most. In fact, it happened so quickly that it took me a while just to realize that my bag was stolen. Like an idiot, I obsessively kept looking for it under the table and on chairs, thinking maybe I placed it somewhere else.

It took me a while to regain what I would call a normal brain function, it was difficult to speak and my hands were shaken a little, but once I did, the grim reality set in. Sure, I mourned the loss of the bag, but though I quickly cancelled my credit cards, locked my phone and scheduled an appointment to replace my driver's license, I've made a crucial mistake of carrying important travel documents with me. Those of course were now gone with my bag and the prospect of getting home to LA was looking a bit grim.

I saw the first ray of sunshine when I realized I left my passport in my room, which by the way was a complete and total fluke. I was changing bags that morning and simply didn't take it with me! And so, after consulting with US Embassy, because I had my passport with me, I was able to get home alright.

Thinking back on what happened, I still find it difficult not to blame myself and imagine scenarios where I didn't put my bag down or turned around a bit more quickly or did something differently and my bag would still be with me. But that's the worst part of when something is stollen from you, isn't it? You blame yourself! Yet we should not! The blame lies completely with a person who, took something from you, fully realizing I'm sure, how divesting the outcome would be!

So, since this is rather a cautionary tale than a whiny story:), I'd like to end this post on a good note, saying that I'm back in LA safely, thanks to US Embassy in Paris and the nicest gentlemen at US Customs, planning on leaving all my important documents in a hotel safe from now on and thinking about my next trip to Paris! Because, nothing, and I say absolutely nothing, will ever ruin going to Paris for me! :)

DIOR blue denim ankle boot | ADRIENNE LANDAU Mongolian lamb fur jacket | CO Ruffled crepe blouse | FENDI crystal 52mm tipped cat eye sunglasses | FRAME cropped slim-leg jeans { similar here } | LOEWE small Puzzle bag & trip-color leather knot key ring | ELIZABETH COLE geometric earrings | RACHEL ZOE Set of 5 rings | JULES SMITH crystal claw ring | VITA FEDE Grape crystal ring 

PARIS FASHION WEEK BLUES

Just wanted to say a quick hello and share a few images of my second look for Paris Fashion Week. As you well know, blue is one of my favorite colors and with this look, I wanted to play with various shades of blues and grays. Though I think blue works well with pretty much any color imaginable, I especially love the way it pairs with gray. I think it's a very soft combination, which allows blue to be the focal point of the look. What do you guys think?

I LOVE MR MITTENS Textured knit cardigan, the Ribble beanie & Billie scarf | R13 jeans { similar here } | LOEWE small Puzzle bag & trip-color leather knot key ring | ISABEL MARANT Danae leather ankle boots | RACHEL ZOE Set of 5 rings | JULES SMITH crystal claw ring | VITA FEDE Grape crystal ring 

PFW LOOK 1: GUCCI DIONYSUS

Always happy to be back in Paris, even if the weather is misbehaving in the most bizarre way like going from sunny to rainy and snowy all within a span of 15 minutes! :) Originally, this outfit was supposed to consist of a blouse, blazer and jeans, but I ended up adding a trench coat last minute to make it a bit more weather appropriate:)

Today's look is really a combination of all my current favorites! I am absolutely obsessed with these cropped slim-leg jeans from Frame at the moment. Though I am definitely still a fan of skinny jeans, lately I've been gravitating towards this particular fit more and more. Perfect for pairing with cute heels, I also love they way they work with cropped jackets and tucked-in shirts. For this look, I paired them with another favorite piece - a military inspired jacket from Isabel Marant! Aside from the fact that I am usually in love with everything Isabel Marant does and jackets happen to be my particular weakness, what attracted me to this particular one, is rich detailing and of course the military inspired vibe! So good with jeans, it works equally well with midi skirts or slim cut pants! Basically the possibilities of wearing it are practically endless, and of course you know how much I enjoy that!

Last but not least is the Gucci Dionysus bag! It was love at first sight the moment I saw it! Rich, colorful embroidery combined with classic Gucci canvas and uber versatile shape! I mean, what's there not to love!:) Though this bag is certainly a statement piece, it actually pairs absolutely flawlessly with every outfit imaginable. From dressy to casual, it adds that perfect finishing touch to an outfit and makes even the simplest of looks a little more dazzling!

ETOILE ISABEL MARANT Milford Navy Suits jacket | FRAME cropped slim-leg jeans { similar here } & blouse from PRE-FALL 2016 collection | VALENTINO Tango pump | THEORY Oakland B trench coat | GUCCI Dionysus embroidered GG canvas shoulder bag | RACHEL ZOE Set of 5 rings 

GARDEN BLUES

After being stuck in bed for almost a week ( battling a massive flu ), venturing outside, even for a little while, feels like a treat. Funny, but you really get a perspective on things when life's little pleasures become temporarily unavailable. All of a sudden, sitting on a park bench, reading your favorite book while sipping hot tea and basking in a glorious California sun, makes you so happy, you can barely contain yourself... I guess nothing works quite like a good old break from everything courtesy of a massive flu to make a workaholic in me face what's really and truly important:)

REBECCA TAYLOR Pickstitch embroidered jacket | TOPSHOP Fase flats | L'AGENCE Jane top in ivory | ZARA boyfriend jeans { similar here & here } | CHLOE Marcie mini leather cross-body bag | ADORNMONDE rings | DIOR So Real 48mm sunglasses

FUZZY

I hate being sick! I really do! Aside from all the wonderful things that you normally associate with a flu, like body aches, fever and chills, what I hate about it the most is being stuck in bed! I start thinking about all the things I have to do and get really worked up about not being able to do any of them:)

Well..., I woke up Thursday morning feeling a bit funky! Kinda tired, kinda achy, basically not feeling like myself at all! By mid day, I was full on sick. I spent the last 4 days alternating between trying to sleep ( cause I don't know about you but I seriously can't sleep when I'm sick ) and binging on Netflix because my overprotective mama-of-a-husband won't allow me to do any actual work:) I am of course extremely grateful to him for taking care of me, but I don't know if I can handle spending another day in bed!!!!:) So, if you have any tips for getting rid of a flu faster, I would really appreciate them! :)

P.S. Since we haven't shot any outfits in the past few days, I found this older look we shot a few weeks ago to share with you. Hope you enjoy!:)

ESSENTIEL ANTWERP faux fur bomber { similar here } | AYR The hi-rise skinny pants | EUGENIA KIM Mimi pom pom beanie | GIVENCHY Laura chain-trimmed ankle leather boots | CHANEL bag | Adornmonde bag charm { similar here & here }