Tag Archives: Fashion Blogger

This Is Kit And Ace

A couple of months ago, I was invited by fellow blogger Vanessa Balli to her private Kit and Ace blogger party at Kettner Exchange. If you haven’t heard of Kit and Ace, it’s a brand created by Shannon and JJ Wilson, wife and son of Chip Wilson, founder of lululemon. Their stores (both online and brick & mortar) feature clothing that is sophisticated yet relaxed, which is at the very heart of athleisure. At Vanessa’s private event, Erica Hecht from Kit and Ace showed tops made of Technical Cashmere™, “a machine washable fabric engineered from cashmere and technical fibres, with added stretch”. We were each given a garment to take home, and I absolutely love the luxurious feel of the heather grey Prevost Sleeveless Turtleneck I selected (pictured in the outfit at the end of this post).

The night was simply lovely, hanging out with beautiful blogger friends having great food, relaxed (and often hilarious) conversation, lots of Periscoping and of course learning about Kit and Ace. Thank you Vanessa for inviting me! If you want to check out Technical Cashmere™ for yourself, Erica has opened up pop-up shop at The Forum Carlsbad, fully stocked with fantastic Kit and Ace clothing (I’m definitely stopping by). In the meantime, here are some pictures from our fun-filled night at Kettner Exchange, cheers!

Delicious food and drinks at Kettner Exchange, along with a fun card game!

Technical Cashmere™

Bloggers having fun!

From left to right: Erica (Kit and Ace representative); Camilla (Navy Grace); Nichole (Topknots and Pearls); Lucy (Lucy’s Whims); Nikki (stylist, The Vault by Nikki); Vanessa Balli; Moi; Maria (stylist, Savvynista); Jenna (Lucky Little Mustardseed); Paulina (Lil Bits of Chic); Ayana (Thrifting Diva)

Outfit: Prevost Sleeveless top c/o Kit and Ace; UGG “Camya” sequence boots; Lovestitch cardigan (purchased at Miss Match Boutique); Paige jeans

Mid-Century Modern Outfit

I know the term “Mid-Century Modern” applies to furniture right around the period between 1945-1970. However, I feel that maybe outfits can be put into the same category. I love “retro” looks, which I consider anything from 1950’s to the 1980’s, and this shift dress from YOINS – Your Inspiration definitely fits the bill. Of course, accessorizing with anything Kate Spade puts the “modern” in “Mid-Century Modern”. I wore this outfit to my great aunt’s 100th birthday celebration recently, and she is such an inspiration. I think she would have worn something like this!

My great-aunt, Dionisa Bermudez Ancheta: Photo 1 with me and my husband and son; Photo 2 with my mom and aunts from Canada.

Outfit: Dress c/o YOINS – Your Inspiration (yoins.com); earrings, necklace, all bracelets, small ring and purse by Kate Spade (purchased at the main store and outlet); large ring by PASHN by Survi; Enzo Angiolini Coadi Houndstooth Pumps; “Tippi” glasses by Lookmatic (no longer available in black); in top picture, prescription “Keiko” sunnies in Roxy Noir by Bonlook

All outfit photos by Deon Chen

FTC Disclosure: I received product and was asked to review the product in return. Although I did receive product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Testing Out Warby Parker’s “Home Try-On” Program

At the beginning of September, I shared Warby Parker’s new fall 2015 collection (post here). Recently, I used their “Home Try-On” program to see which of my favorite fall collection picks would look the best on me. I posted my looks on Instagram (which links to my personal Facebook page), just to see what my friends, family and followers thought. It’s great because you have five days to try on the glasses, make your selection (I chose to take it to social media), then return them right in the same package they came in (a return label is enclosed). So simple and easy!

My choices: 1) “Caspar” in Jet Black; 2) “Percey” in Scarlet Tortoise; 3) “Simone” in Blue Coral; 4) “Holcomb” in Pearled Tortoise; 5) “Simone” in Tea Rose Fade

The votes were pretty clear: “Simone” in both the Blue Coral and Tea Rose Fade were the winners (even Warby Parker themselves commented on Instagram). My sister took pictures of me and my niece having fun with the “Home Try-On” samples. I think it’s a great way to ensure you choose the right Warby Parker frames, just for you!

“Simone” in Blue Coral

“Simone” in Tea Rose Fade

FTC Disclosure: I did not receive product or payment for this post, and I purchased both of the glasses in my final selection from Warby Parker.

Sip + Style with Bzees x Athleta

Towards the end of September, I attended a fantastic event where Bzees teamed up with Athleta to present a “Sip + Style” at their UTC location. In addition to delicious sushi by Blue Ocean, dessert by Frost Me Gourmet and wine by California Fruit Wine, bloggers and influencers enjoyed a fun photo boot and then were treated to a lesson on how Bzees are made and “athleisure”. If you are unfamiliar with the term, think of it as the clothes and shoes you go home and relax in after your rigorous work out. It really was a great night because not only did I get to hang out with some of my fellow bloggers, proceeds from the evening’s purchases were donated towards the San Diego Autism Speaks Walk, in support of Autism Tree Foundation. To continue the good work, Bzees will be donating $5 from every pair of shoes sold using code OLIVER to the Autism Tree Project. Thank you Bzees, Athleta and Be Social PR for a wonderful night and for my first pair of Bzees!

Beautiful and delicious creations by Blue Ocean!

Brian from California Fruit Wine had a lot of fun that night!

With Camilla of Navy Grace & Nichole of Top Knots And Pearls

With Nancy of Oh Daisy Love & Amy of The Blushing Pink

A collage from my Instagram (@any2ndnow)

Bzees are quite possibly the most comfortable shoes I own. They are extremely light, and the foam on the inside make my feet feel like they are surrounded by a pillow!

(Photos 1 & 2 courtesy of Be Social PR)

FTC Disclosure: I received product as a thank you for attending the event. Although I did receive product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

GQ + Glamour Lookbook Live Fall Events Recap

Back on September 17, Janice and I attended the GQ + Glamour Lookbook Live VIP runway show event at Fashion Valley, which was a prelude to their Lookbook Live event that Saturday. The evening started off with appetizers and cocktails over by Neiman Marcus, followed by a fantastic runway show in Center Court. The evening then ended perfectly with dessert and champagne at Tiffany & Co. I’ve always enjoyed these events at Fashion Valley because they treat bloggers as wonderfully as they treat any member of the press, allowing us to have front row seats to ensure we capture the event in the best way possible to share on social media and our blogs. I’ve included highlights of both events, as I attended the Lookbook Live event with Dominic. Cheers!

I fell in love with this cape during Nordstrom’s presentation. The collage above is from my view, and the larger picture is from Fashion Valley’s Facebook page, where you can see me on the left, looking a bit stunned at how beautiful that cape was!

The UK punk rocker in me ended up matching the runway with the strong presence of red plaid. Nordstrom, Hugo Boss and Bloomingdale’s all showing some version of this fall staple (and that’s my Forever 21 skirt and Altuzarra for Target booties in the top left corner of the collage).

Wine and bordeaux are perfect fall colors. Also, that faux fur vest, cropped pants and patent leather heels with the long necklace by MaxMara add interest and texture to an all black outfit.

I simply died and went to footwear heaven at all of the shoes in the Salvatore Ferragamo collection. Oh yes…

My two favorite menswear looks: The top look from John Varvatos and the second look styled by Alex Yanez for Neiman Marcus. Both are an edgy spin to classic looks, incorporating a boot, similar to Doc Martens.

Desserts, champagne and little blue boxes at Tiffany & Co.

It really was such a fun evening spent with fashionable San Diego Style Blogger friends, both old & new! Click here to go to my Instagram account, where all the lovely people in the picture are tagged.

The actual Lookbook Live event was fun and interactive, with style experts from GQ and Glamour magazines.

More San Diego Style Bloggers (and Dominic)! Click here to go to my Instagram account, where all the lovely people in the picture are tagged.

I love this picture of me and Tiffany of Glitz and Glam by Tiff!

My outfit: Cassette Tape print romper by Neon Rose (from ASOS); “Mona” glasses c/o Spy Optic; London Underground cuff c/o Design Hype; shoes by Matiko; unknown name brand fedora

Me and my brooding boy…I think I got him to crack a bit of a smile eventually!

Thank you to Curator PR and Fashion Valley for inviting me to such a wonderful series of events!

Fashionably Late: Remaining August 2015 Events

I really did try to get my event posts up in a timely manner. But the end of summer and beginning of fall is a very busy time for fashion, so attending the events and then posting them up became quite the endeavor for this fashion/lifestyle blogger! Here are the rest of the August events I attended, so that I can move on to September (now that it’s almost October)!

Kiehl’s LifeRide for amfAR Wrap Party Recap (August 15, 2015)

The riders arriving to Kiehl’s at Fashion Valley

Kiehl’s raised $250,00 for amfAR!

Food and drinks provided by Soda & Swine and Juice Saves, so yummy!

I brought Dominic, and he had a great time!

With fellow San Diego Style Bloggers Paulina of Lil Bits of Chic, Vanessa Balli, and Alessandra Gonzalez

Order Up San Diego/Pacific Beach (August 20, 2015)

OrderUp is an online and mobile food delivery service, and their focus is to provide delivery from restaurants customers truly want. My husband and I attended their launch in Pacific Beach at Backyard Kitchen & Tap.

(Photo courtesy of OrderUp Pacific Beach’s Facebook page)

The appetizers at Backyard Kitchen & Tap was fantastic!

Great to see Ayana of Thrifting Diva again!

(Photo courtesy of OrderUp Pacific Beach’s Facebook page)

Thank you to Colette of Contour PR + Social for the invite!

FWSD Culinary Couture (August 29, 2015)

“Fashion Week San Diego is back for its 2nd Annual Culinary Couture held at the fabulous Harrah’s Resort Southern California and we’re ready to take your tastebuds on the trip of a lifetime!

This exclusive, invite only event takes you on a culinary trip around the world in true Fashion. From Europe to Asia, South America to North America- Fashion Week San Diego will help you explore the world’s top fashion capitals through cuisine and cocktails. – FashionWeekSD”

I had such a great time at Culinary Couture. The food and presentation were fantastic. Thank you for the invite Fashion Week SD!

1^st Course Bangkok

•Presented By Executive Chef David Abella, West Steak and Seafood•

2^nd Course Monaco

•Presented by Executive Chef James Montejano, La Valencia•

3^rd Course Buenos Aires

•Presented by Executive Chef Julian Quinones, Sheraton Carlsbad•

4^th Course San Diego

•Presented By Executive Chef Marc Therrien, Omni La Costa Resort and Spa•

5^th Course Tokyo

•Presented By Executive Chef Jon Palsson, Harrah’s Resort Southern California•

6^th Barcelona

•Presented By Executive Chef Jon Palsson, Harrah’s Resort Southern California•

What I wore: Dress from Irene’s Story; Enzo Angiolini Coadi Houndstooth Pumps; Bodhi purse; Stephanie Kantis earrings c/o Neiman Marcus; “Mona” glasses c/o Spy Optic

The New John Varvatos Store at Fashion Valley

I was invited last month to preview the new John Varvatos store at Fashion Valley prior to their public grand opening. I became familiar with the brand because it’s one of Matt Goss’ favorite stores in The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas (though this blog post), and the management at John Varvatos love him as well (they spoke very highly of him when I was asked about how I knew about their brand).

I noticed immediately the edgy, rock infused style. The store is rugged and music permeates everything, from the pictures on the walls to the clothing displayed on the tables. The light fixture upon entering is impressive, and I like the hidden cash registers. It has a different effect on the whole store, allowing every bit of space for the clothing and shoes. I know the store is menswear, but that didn’t stop me from buying something from the John Varvatos USA line, which was the Bowery Graphic T-Shirt. It’s way soft and has a very cool and simple design. I also purchased a book by John Varvatos called Rock in Fashion, which is what this store embodies. Congratulations to John, his crew and Fashion Valley on this fantastic new location!

If shoes could grow on trees…

Who doesn’t love a wall of shoes?

Great decor throughout!

The “Bowery Graphic T-Shirt” I purchased is located under the “New York” white shirt above.

I want that Tiger hoodie next!

Guests of the preview enjoying the new space!

Doesn’t this book look right at home with all of our records?

Our gift, c/o the staff at John Varvatos, which I promptly gave to my husband, of course!

Warby Parker’s New Fall Collection for 2015!

Glasses are very much a part of my style, just as much as the shoes I wear or the purses I carry. Imagine my excitement to be able to preview Warby Parker’s new 2015 Fall Collection, which launches today! Warby Parker is a family owned business, and they pride themselves on being able to provide stylish yet unique glasses at an affordable price, which is evidenced so well in their new collection. Plus, they have a wonderful “Buy a Pair, Give a Pair” program, where a pair of glasses is given to someone in need for every pair sold.

If you like what you see below or with any of their frames, Warby Parker also has a “Home Try-On Program” where you can try five pairs of their glasses for five days before deciding which ones you want to purchase. For those of you in the San Diego area, they are also opening a retail location at Westfield UTC on September 19th, so you can see the collection for yourself in person.

I am loving the beautiful autumnal feel of each of the frames in the new 2015 Fall Collection, which inspired me to create some fall style boards around my favorites. Cheers!

Caspar in Jet Black

Not so black & white by any2ndnow featuring a mini skirt

Percey in Scarlet Tortoise

Get it in Red by any2ndnow featuring Oscar de la Renta

Simone in Tea Rose Fade

Burberry Love by any2ndnow featuring fringe booties

Sunny Essentials: Strolling at Seaport Village

Strolling at Seaport Village by any2ndnow featuring a turkish beach towel

Salt City Optics challenged select bloggers to create a board expressing what we think would be our “Sunny Essentials” for the summer, and where we would use them. I’m a big fan of all of our local sites in San Diego, one of my favorites being taking a leisurely walk around Seaport Village. I like to take walks in the late afternoon to early evening during the summer, right when it’s still light enough to throw a blanket down on the grass and bathe in the glow of the sun, but cool enough to enjoy the breeze while watching the sun dip into the horizon. I’m lucky to live in a city where shorts and sunglasses are the standard, nearly all year round!

If you would like to purchase a pair of prescription sunglasses from Salt City Optics (like those awesome “Mulholland” ones by Spy, pictured above), use the code SUNNY20 to get 20% off at check out. Cheers!

Topshop zipper hoody
topshop.com

Strappy tank top
modcloth.com

Madewell summer shorts
madewell.com

Converse rose shoes
$81 – office.co.uk

Rebecca Minkoff canvas handbag
shopbop.com

Turkish beach towel
dianesbeachwear.com

Sunglasses
saltcityoptics.com

Seaport Village San Diego Upstart Crow
attractions.uptake.com

Monkeying Around at Kipling’s Fashion Valley Grand Opening!

I took my family to the grand opening of Kipling’s first full price retail location in the San Diego area at Fashion Valley. As I’ve mention previously, my mum is a big fan of Kipling, and really only carries their brand of crossbody bags, totes, and backpacks. After getting to know the company, I can see why!

Our tale is a fun one that dates back to 1987, when three designer pals in Antwerp, Belgium stumbled upon a happy accident on a loom and discovered crinkled nylon fabric … and voila! A world of bright and colorful bags and accessories were born. Playfully dubbed Kipling, after the clever little spirit of the monkeys in Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book, our story came to life and has been an inspiration around the world ever since. – From the official Kipling Website

The new store is bright, colorful and fun just like their bags! I know my mum loves the utility of Kipling’s purses in their signature crinkle nylon. She never has to worry about her purses getting wet or having stuck zippers, and is never lacking for easy style.

It was a change of pace for me to bring more than just my hubby or son to an event, but it made for a fun late afternoon with my family. Be sure to visit Kipling’s newest location at Fashion Valley, cheers!

My favorites: The metallics

No detail was spared! How cute are the decorative elements on the tables?

Dominic and Mei-Lin are enjoying the sounds of the DJ

Grabbed a quick picture with one of my blogger buddies, Vanessa of Fashion Mixtape!

It was fun bringing my family to an event, and of course my mum couldn’t leave without purchasing a new Kipling backpack (which earned her the free gift with purchase)!

My new little pouch c/o Kipling is so cute!

Remix this:

Remix this:

Remix this:

Remix this:

Remix this:

Remix this:

Remix this:

Remix this:

Remix this:

Remix this: