Three Recent Outfits
What I'm wearing lately
I’ve long been fascinated by the why of it all: why we choose our clothing, why we wear the outfits we do, whether we follow trends or eschew them. In this column, I share three favorite outfits from the previous week, what I wore, and why I chose them. I hope you find this process as interesting as I do!
This week’s installment is a little different because the scenery is a little different! It’s been fun to flex my style muscles while we’re here on the West Coast. Here’s what I’ve been wearing…
Work day
Ann Mashburn dress | Belgian Shoes | March Hare watch | Cuyana bag | Aurate gold knot earrings | Aurate gemstone necklace
It’s not all fun and games (although our real vacation starts soon!), as I had a work event to run during our first week in town. This Ann Mashburn dress (c/o the brand) DID make everything feel like a party, however! Gingham is in this summer, though for me it’s never been out. I loved pairing this beautiful silk shantung dress with my go-to Belgians and my trusty Cuyana tote. Perfect for work in a beautiful setting, and I’m eager to wear this one again in NYC, dressed up for cocktail hour with these sandals.
Running errands and grocery shopping
Tee | J. Crew sweater (similar) | Frank & Eileen jeans | Abby Alley sling bag | Ann Mashburn sandals | Faherty belt | March Hare watch
I think the thing that surprises me the most about California is how diverse the style is. I haven’t seen this for ages—New York has felt, for the most part, dreadfully monotonous. In any case, I’m struggling to adapt here. I feel like even the clothes that I packed that felt California are dreadfully East Coast (aka white jeans. How could I see myself anywhere outside of the Eastern seaboard in white jeans without thinking I’m a New Yorker???) So I’ve been wearing these light-wash Frank & Eileen jeans with the raw hem on repeat. It seems a good balance, particularly when paired with leather accessories (belt and sandals) to give it a bit of a western edge (again, in my very uninformed mind). It’s been chilly here, don’t hate me if you’ve been having the heatwave!, so I’ve been carrying a lightweight sweater with me anywhere I go. It’s been perfect weather here, truly, and I get why people love LA.
Lunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel
Top Drawer: Iconic
Lunch with a dear friend at a place I’ve always wanted to visit: as iconic as it’s always seemed (and the food was great, too!)
I wrote a whole post about this outfit, linked above, but it was such a fun experience! Despite my statement, above, that white jeans are so East Coast on me, I did wear them and felt they fit in in this situation. As I also mentioned, LA has great diverse style, so being in a traditionally “visitor” location (aka a literal hotel) gave me a bit of a pass. I felt the frayed hem of these jeans was a great nod to what I think about LA style, and this sweater was perfect for a chilly-ish day.
So what do you think? Am I fitting in enough or do I just scream “tourist” wherever I go? Please weigh in below!