HOOKED ON A FEELING

I met up with photographer Sarah Deragon for a stroll through the city on an unusually balmy San Francisco evening. Most days our indian summer gives way to the night by four to five pm, but on this rare occasion, the warmth clung to you like steam in a washroom and the chill of the sea breeze had not yet broken the crest of the hills. It was so warm, that even a scarily large fire in the Haight had seemed caused by the sun. Sarah and I met up at the bart near Castro Theater and she caught some sweet shots of me walking around in the setting sun. I love them!

Check out her work at Portraits to the People.

photography by Sarah Deragon

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ELEMENTS BEHIND THE ENSEMBLE

One of many inspiration boards for an upcoming shoot...

Alexander McQueen, Pringle of Scotland, Sandra Backlund, Bjork, Alexis Mabille and all the ethereal evocations of the forest... Check back to see who, what, when and where, and if the theme is as you guessed it!

What I see in the day to come...

And stills from this piece of Ryan McGinley genius.

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ANASTASIA SOARE BRINGS US PERFECT BROWS

Anastasia Soare — yep, the brow expert behind Kim K's recent wedding — has now created an easy way to arched for perfection for the rest of us. This new brow kit from her line, Anastasia of Beverly Hills (now at Sephora) was sent to me to try out for myself. Needless to say, I love it. The brow kit not only includes staying wax, but two duos of color pigment, brush and stencils to properly match to your own natural brows. The kit comes in blonde and brunette, and it seriously does the job it promises! I've been wearing my brows done with the kit practically every day now, and the best thing of all... the pigments double as eyeshadow! A perfect look, since the kit is already made to match your shading. Simple steps to follow, with a wonderful lasting elegance. Watch her tutorial video to see how easy it is!

Follow the video by Anastasia!

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BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

I met up with awesome photographer Paige Hermreck this weekend to test a new outfit and frolic among everything under the sun! I'd been meaning to get over to the Alemany Flea Market for-ever, and was so happy to have the time to check out all the wares. As if I couldn't have been more ecstatic to find a primo parking spot on this gorgeously hot day, I also scored a spiffy brass sculpted carnival horse! (See inset pic of me holding it.) Chester-Charles, as I have named him, will be sitting atop my desk in all his brassy glory. Paige also came away with a nice collection of mason jars and a cool pair of silvery earrings! 

As I mentioned, it was definitely warm with this short heat wave we're experiencing, but I felt breezy in an open-weave lace top and bright silky skirt. I am OBSESSED with this skirt!! Definitely watch for it to make its way into multiple outfit ideas... if you have any questions on how to bring a big colorblock of brights into your wardrobe mix for Fall — observe option numero uno, many more to come... And more work with Paige as well!

Photography by Paige Hermreck

outfit:

woven lace top | banana republic

bright pleated skirt | nine 3 two

denim jacket | levi's

lion head ring | at therapy

burmese coin ring | mariele ivy

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TSUBO AMONG THE GREENERY

It's been so beautifully warm out lately, but that doesn't mean I can't still work the layers for San Francisco Bay sub-climates! I was sent these luscious boots by Tsubo... they will be my perfect fall to winter boots this season! Mixable and durable to accent anything I wear from everyday to the snow, I can see myself adding them to so many easy outfits as an accent piece. What I really like about them is the tread on the bottom that not only cushions while I walk, but helps to keep traction in the case that I do travel this year onto icy roads (or slippery marble floors!) The color is great, very rich... and it matches so much of my wardrobe! Even if you're unsure of how to style your transition outfits with boots, these make it easy. A mix between heavy-duty and classy streetwear, I can pull them off with jeans or perhaps a bright orange silky skirt! Look on to see a great outfit for summer to fall wear with leather booties!

boots | Tsubo galvani booties in chestnut

available at Rabat, De La Sole and Noble Shoes

and www.tsubo.com

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BOCCE BALL

This is the outfit I wore playing bocce ball at one of my favorite wineries the other weekend with boyfriend's folks and little brother. My midwestern bf made the observation that bocce must be to California what horseshoes is in his home state. The objectives are similar. As in bocce, you have a ball, whereas in horseshoes, you have a stake in the ground. The team that has their ball or horseshoe closest to the stake or target ball wins the point. Multiple points also depend on the land of your throw and factor into scoring as well.

photography by Adam Knight

Bocce is a simple game, but I love it. And I prefer playing it on a traditional stone-dust court rather than some of the commercialized green ones... I like the feeling of the chalk across the palm of your hand and fingers when you pick up the ball... most likely the same (and only) reason I endured the years of gymnastics training among my other childhood sports involvements. Honestly, I went to class for the chalk bucket. It was so fun to powder up before frightfully gripping to the bars (I have a strange fear of heights — more like, nervousness being off-balance without solid low-grounded footing) and whirling around them like a bat out of hell. Let's not even talk about the balance beams...

But bocce is fun. If you are unaware of the rules of the game, I could teach you and beat you in about five minutes. The small ball — the pallino — (I always accidentally call it polenta) is tossed out onto the court, the further towards the back wall the more the challenge, and this becomes the two teams' target. Each team then tries to toss their bocci to land as close to the pallino as possible, without hitting the back wall. Hitting the back wall disqualifies your ball, but knocking the other team's ball does not. The first team to nine points wins the round.

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FASHION BLOGGERS CONNECT AT SAN FRANCISCO FASHION WEEK!

I am so honoured to have been a part of Fashion Week right here in San Francisco. Our panel of bloggers gave in-depth answers to the queries of startup bloggers and businesses alongside well-seasoned vets! It was a fun experience, and making that connection between readers and other writers alike is such a proud feeling of growth. Check out this short video of the event, featuring myself and fellow blogger beauties Mira, Molly and Amy! Thank you for hosting, SFFAMA!

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BETTS BANANAS

What would Betty Draper do?

image created at polyvore.com

...A little rummage through this poster-wife's closet. With my current blonde a-line cut, I plan on channeling her bob updos and mixing accessories that harken to her time into my Fall looks.

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TRENDYLIME HAS GONE INTERNATIONAL

JETLAG Bossanova — now another fun-filled party notched on TrendyLime's stylish belt — was held on August 25th at Harlot. With the Trendylime team's recent return from a trip out to Brazil, the idea was to bring back a bit of Sao Paolo to San Francisco. The party got underway with a performance by "Trio do Leste" led by Shmuel Daffner, founder of Batucada do Leste, tunes spun by DJ Nader and DJ Playdoughboy, and plenty of dancing, as the some 150 guests discovered their inner "sambista". A raffle was held to win pairs of Havaianas, and the first 50 guests were lucky winners of complimentary passes to Bay Club Financial District! Part of the proceeds of this party were donated to select charities in Brazil; Casa do Zezinho, and the Favela Development Project.
Were you there? I bet you wish you were! No worries, more to come. Follow the party, and TrendyLime on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/trendylime. 

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SPRINGTIME IN WINTER

image created at polyvore.com

I know that fall is coming, and yet it's only just reached summer here, but I'm already dreaming about layered wintery bliss! Fur topped in glitz with peekaboos of strawberry pink... ah, delicious.

A springtime palette in the dead of winter might just be the way I go this year.

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EÀLM IN DENIM

Happy September! This usually marks the start of our late Indian summers out here... considering that one year it was hot all the way into what some would consider "Autumn" —Halloween in Summer— I'm pretty excited that I can now start wearing all of my transitional pieces. What better to sport in the turn of warm picnicking days than my new all-denim ensemble. The jeans, compliments of Levi's, are a demi fit skinny in dark wash. I was personally measured and sized for these at the Levi's San Francisco Blogger party on Tuesday, held at their headquarters at Levi's Plaza below Telegraph Hill. We were treated to styling sessions with the staff, a trip into the vault, and some of the cutest dandy little root beer floats I have ever seen. The vault was a very cool experience, getting to see the years of history behind Levi's denim-making up close and personal is something every fashion lover in SF should do. My jacket, also Levi's, is a piece I have long waited to add to my closet. This one fits like a glove and looks polished. I was so inspired by my visit to the Levi's HQ and my new outfit, that I decided it must be captured in more ways than one. Enjoy the short film amidst the pictures!

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