Tag Archives: Style Blogger

The Spring Trend Event 2016 Presented by Neiman Marcus

I love this time of year because it’s when Neiman Marcus at Fashion Valley is ready to present their Spring Trend Event. Each spring and fall, Neiman Marcus presents their picks for trends for the seasons in a special fashion show presentation for invited stylists and bloggers, perfectly styled by Alex Yanez. The presentation included a sumptuous lunch, which was Lenten perfection (meaning no meat) as it fell on Ash Wednesday this year. I’ve included all the looks from this year’s presentation, and I will highlight my favorites. Not only is this a wonderful luncheon that includes fabulous fashion, but it’s a time to catch up with some of my favorite stylist and blogger friends.

Women’s Spring Trends 2016

These Gucci lace-up gladiator heels gave me the feels, completely.

All of the contrasting florals were still pulled together by the colors pink and fuchsia.

The Fendi Mini 3Jours with that Micro Baguette was so much fun together!

I seriously need those wide-leg cut-out culottes. NEED.

Why yes, I could add yet another bomber jacket to my collection, especially THAT one by Alice + Olivia.

I finally just got my lace-up flats, so I think I can replicate this outstanding mixed-lace outfit.

The Moschino purse that some of my blogger buddies said that was so me. I agree!

Menswear Spring 2016

The red embellished bomber jacket and the bow-tie with the military influenced jacket definitely elevated these outfits.

Chloe looking as adorable as usual! (The Stylish Bisou)

With Paulina of Lil Bits of Chic and Laura of Laura Neuzeth

I don’t see Jade of These Days nearly enough!

My outfit details: BCBG cape sweater, Blank jeans, Jimmy Choo shoes, vintage Chanel purse (purchased from Portero), Love Tatum ring and bracelet, Warby Parker glasses.

The beauty presentation featured Le Metier De Beaute, and our lovely gift from Neiman Marcus was the Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe, valued at $125!

Thank you again to Neiman Marcus at Fashion Valley for inviting me, I had a great time as always!

Fashionably Late: January 2016 Events With San Diego Style Bloggers

I guess I’m doing fairly well with documenting events lately, especially since I’m only two weeks behind in posting them (yikes)! I attended a couple of events to help support my fellow San Diego Style Bloggers: Girls Night Out at La Femme Chic Consignment Boutique and the 2016 Style Refresh Party at Bliss 101. I’ve got a couple more events to catch up for January, which I will post up before the end of the week. In the meantime, please enjoy my recaps of these fun events!

Girls Night Out With with Tiffany of Glitz and Glam by Tiff at La Femme Chic Consignment Boutique

Gorgeous model/blogger Tiffany hosted a Girls Night Out at La Femme Chic!

La Femme Chic is located in Solana Beach, and they specialize in combining high-end chic with affordable pieces. You can find lovely Chanel and Christian Dior purses next to well cared for Madewell and H&M items. My kind of consignment store!

All of the displays in La Femme Chic are so gorgeous!

I found my opera coat! I fell in love with the ones Carrie Bradshaw wore on “Sex And The City”, and I have been looking for something similar to what she wore on the episode “Anchors Away”. I found that gorgeous vintage one picture above, and at such a great deal!

2016 Style Refresh at Bliss 101, Hosted by San Diego Style Bloggers

Bliss 101 is located in Encinitas, and they specialize in all things having to do with art, home and body.

Bliss 101 helped to host San Diego Style Bloggers (SDSB) for a meet up. They provided sips and snacks, in addition to a DIY project!

Our DIY project: a decorative lamp made with re-purposed wine bottles!

SDSB Event Coordinators Jen of Sprinkles on Sunday and Kali of In Spades; blogger Aylin of Stylin’ by Aylin; and SDSB Local Business / Designer Spotlight Contributor, Devon of Seventeen Dresses.

A mix of bloggers and patrons all participating in the DIY project. And I finally got to hang out for a bit with Laura of Laura Neuzeth; it’s been awhile since I have seen her!

Thank you Bliss 101 for a wonderful evening!

Moto Mania

I have been on the hunt for a classic moto jacket for the better part of a year now. I didn’t want anything fancy, just a simple moto jacket like the ones Depeche Mode used to wear (check out Alan Wilder’s in the picture below). I had a great faux leather one (post here and here), but my search began after it started to wear in the shoulder area. I was deciding between a more affordable faux leather one and a real leather one, but I didn’t want to keep replacing the faux one due to possible wear. Imagine my delight when my husband surprised me at Christmas with this wonderful, absolutely classic real leather moto jacket by BCBGeneration. I searched for months to find what he found in one evening, simply by chance. But it’s definitely no accident that my husband’s years in retail have helped in finding exactly what I wanted!

Check out Alan Wilder’s jacket; classic, no? (Photo courtesy of The Place)

I’ve always loved black paired with navy blue. It’s almost monochromatic, but with just a slight bit of contrast.

Outfit: BCBGenerations Moto Jacket (no longer available); Forever 21 houndstooth sweater; Madewell jeans; Naughty Monkey suede boots; Warby Parker “Simone” glasses in Blue Coral; Tahari scarf; Beret from Paris; Love Tatum Rings; “Adelaide” crossbody purse c/o Kipling (Fashion Valley)

Thank you SO much to Kayde and the fantastic folks at Kipling in Fashion Valley for my lovely Christmas present!

(Outfit photos by Deon Chen)

My First Fashion Subscription: Rocksbox!

I must say, I’m very new to this fashion subscription box game. I’ve seen reviews from my blogger friends on beauty boxes, and I even know an actual fashion box stylist. But this is my first time trying it out, and what better way than through Rocksbox! I’m a sucker for a great accessory, and with Rocksbox, I can review three pieces of jewelry and decide to purchase them or send them back for another three pieces as curated by my stylist.

Here’s how it works: I became a Shine Insider by filling out a survey to help the stylist who will be assigned to me to determine my style and jewelry preference. I can also choose items for my “Wish List” that could be added to my box. Soon after, I received my first box with the Urban Gem necklace I chose, along with a set built around my necklace by my stylist, Eleanor: adorable Gorjana earrings and amazing rings by CC Skye. I have to tell you, I have been getting a lot of use from my Rocksbox pieces, wearing them altogether as a set or with jewelry I already own (the CC Sky ring paired perfectly with my Love Tatum one). If I absolutely love a piece, I simply keep it and purchase it on my account page, and then return the rest of the pieces!

I can’t believe I haven’t tried this before because it really is very easy and so convenient! First of all, I really enjoyed the personalized touch. Upon opening the box, I was immediately greeted with my name on the card with the description of the contents of the box. Each piece was carefully wrapped in its own individual jewelry bag. Very explicit instructions are included on not only how to return the jewelry with the packaging and shipping label provided, but also on how to care for the jewelry, just in case you want to return the items you don’t want.

I actually purchased the Gorjana “Cress Shimmer Studs” that Eleanor chose for me, and used my Shine Spend, which brought the price of the earrings down to $20! I then returned the rest of the jewelry in the original packaging, with the shipping label provided. I’m excited to see what Eleanor has planned for me next, especially since I made some additions to my “Wish List”.

Would you like to try out Rocksbox, courtesy of moi? Any Second Now readers can use code any2ndnowxoxo when prompted on the Rockbox site to try it out for one month! If you love it, then it’s just $19 a month thereafter to get unlimited access to rent some great jewelry!

FTC Disclosure: I received a complementary 3 month subscription to try out Rocksbox. Although I did receive a complementary subscription, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

New Dress, New Year!

It’s the first week of the New Year, so why not start with an outfit post? During the Thanksgiving break, my mother-in-law treated me to a fabulous afternoon tea at The Tea Lounge in the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas. I’ll detail the tea itself in a separate post, but I felt the occasion warranted me to wear this dress from Voodoo Vixen’s latest Fall/Winter 2015 line. It has a wonderful flocked houndstooth print (one of my favorite prints), with a lovely open collar, giving it a completely retro feel. Since it’s a bit chilly in Las Vegas, I finally got to use my faux fur tippet, which worked well with this vintage inspired dress.

Guess what? If you like what you see on Voodoo Vixen’s site, Any Second Now readers can use code any2nd20 to get 20% off your purchase!

I also had to take a picture of my nails because they are my new favorite “go-to” nails in a pinch: I did my nails in under 15 minutes! They’re the latest by Kiss, and I purchased them the day before at CVS, but you can’t tell that I just glued them on a short time before we headed out the door. What I really love is that they come in a new shorter length, so they’re pretty and practical.

Outfit: Tiger Lily Flocked Flare Dress c/o Voodoo Vixen; Enzo Angiolini Coadi Houndstooth Pumps; Oasis Faux Fur Tippet; Kate Spade necklace, earrings and bracelet; “Tippi” glasses by Lookmatic (no longer available in black)

(Pictures 1 & 2 taken by Diana Chen-Rhodes)

FTC Disclosure: I received product in exchange for a product review. Although I did receive product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide Part 1: FashionMIA Favorites!

My Fashionmia.com Faves! by any2ndnow on polyvore.com

Can you believe Christmas is next week? And yes, I’ve famously left some of my shopping until the last-minute. If you have as well, I’ve come up with a list of great outfit gift ideas for the fashionistas in your life through FashionMIA: Modern, Irresistible, and Affordable women’s clothing. I’ve listed my five favorite outerwear pieces and seven favorite dresses from their site, ranging from casual capes to stylish coats and cute shifts to fabulous frocks worthy of New Year’s Eve. The best part: everything pictured is under $50 each!

Part two of my last-minute holiday gift guide will hopefully appeal to fashion and music lovers alike, stay tuned!

Ja-Vie: A Comfy, Stylish & Practical Pair of Ballet Flats

As a blogger, I’m finding out more and more that Instagram is a great place to not only connect with other people, but to discover new and emerging brands. I discovered Ja-Vie ballet flats through a like on my Instagram, and decided to look into these very innovative, yet stylish flats. I’m a sucker for anything houndstooth, so I was excited to see this lovely ivory & black pair.

Ja-Vie ballet flats differ from any other flat I’ve come across. They are made with a jelly outsole, leather cushioned insoles providing comfort and support, and a knit “sock” lining. The leather insole can be removed and the whole shoe can be machine washed (just make sure to use a mesh laundry bag to protect them)! Plus, the price point of $68 is great for any budget. The result: practical comfort and style, which is great for a mom on the go, like myself!

For my outfit, I decided to really play up the 80’s factor, because I have loved houndstooth since I was a teen. I remember I had a houndstooth skirt from The Limited and houndstooth leggings from Express that I wore over and over with everything. I had a hat just like the Topshop version I’m wearing with this outfit, and I also had a leather moto-jacket back then as well. I guess my love for the 80’s doesn’t just stop at music!

Outfit: Topshop hat; Forever 21 faux leather jacket (old); Madewell jeans; Milly purse; Love Tatum necklace (bought on sale at Simply Local); Wendy Brandes rings; Depeche Mode 5 icons sterling silver & leather handmade wrapping bracelet by Little Treasure by Mir; “Mona” glasses in Fuchsia Sunset c/o Spy Optic; Flower Design bracelet in Steel Silver c/o Bittersweet; Ivory/Black Houndstooth flats c/o Ja-Vie

(Outfit photos by Rholnna Jiao)

My latest hair color: “Oil Slick” by Salvador at Kelly Cardenas Salon in Hillcrest. It’s the brunette’s answer to Unicorn Hair! I think this is my favorite color so far!

FTC Disclosure: I received product in exchange for a product review. Although I did receive product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Oh, London!

I love London. Anyone who is a regular reader of my blog knows I’ve been to my favorite city three times, and one of my recent trips was chronicled right here on this blog (there are several posts that can be found in the “World In My Eyes” section). So of course when I saw this adorable midi-skirt on Chicwish called “Oh London”, I just had to get it! I wore it to the Del Mar Races recently, because it seemed like the perfect place to wear it: a bright, beautiful day where this skirt could be seen in all it’s British glory! Wearing a simple palette of all black allowed this skirt to speak for itself, and to answer the question most asked about this skirt (other than where did I get it): yes, it has pockets!

A close-up of the fabulous Chanel cassette tape necklace I bought from Designer Vault (I’ve covered a couple of their events here and here). If you want authentic vintage Chanel, I highly recommend Designer Vault!

Isn’t my hubby handsome? (This photo taken by Tanya of La Bella Tanchi)

Outfit: Chicwish “Oh London Pleated Midi-Skirt“; Sheinside “Black Lapel Split Long Sleeve Pockets Blazer“; Forever21 tank top; Enzo Angiolini Coadi Houndstooth Pumps; Vintage Prada purse; Chanel cassette tape necklace from Designer Vault; Bonlook glasses & sunglasses; Kate Spade bracelets

Fashion Week San Diego 2015 Wrap Up

I know it’s been a little while since the Fashion Week San Diego 2015 runway and trunk shows, but I’m posting this wrap up to also announce that the winning designers will be hosting a “Mini Day of Fashion” at La Plaza in La Jolla on Sunday November 22, 2015 starting at 11am. There will be a brunch, a meet & greet with each of the designers: B.JASH.I, Tasanni, and Territa Torres; plus you’ll be able to shop their runway looks at 15% off garment prices. I’ll be there to support these talented ladies, and I hope to see you there, too! My wrap up of Fashion Week San Diego below includes highlights of night 1 of the runway show, the trunk show, and photos of the pop-up shop. Enjoy!

FWSD 2015 Runway Show Night 1

QUYNN Atelier

Sharlene Borromeo of A’Doreus with model Summer Nicole. That dress was so beautiful up close!

Alber Rezko Jewelry Designs with Nolan Dean Fashion. Lots of drama!

Nolan Dean Fashion

Tasanni’s final runway walk

With my fellow bloggers & stylists. After the show, I had a great time having a late dinner and chatting up a storm with writer Courtney Hartmann (bottom right).

My outfit for the evening, as taken by Jenna of Lucky Little Mustard Seed for her blog post “FWSD ‘Runway Show’ Style“. She so graciously named my outfit as one of her favorites of the evening (*squeal!*)…so just for Jenna, here is a shot of my United Nude shoes (below).

Outfit: Forever 21 sleeveless trench; H&M jumpsuit; Kate Spade necklace & bracelet; Vintage Prada bag; “Mona” glasses c/o Spy Optic

FWSD 2015 Trunk Show

With Sharlene of A’Doreus. I would love to wear a dress from her collection!

With Heather of The Stylish Bisou & designer Nikki Marie. Very cool retro styles!

My favorite dress of Tasanni’s runway show!

Another favorite by Lady Lane Desgins. I mean, how absolutely gorgeous is this gown!

A final picture from the trunk show, and beautiful models Leah Brown and fellow San Diego Style Blogger contributor, Tiffany Williams of the blog Glitz and Glam by Tiff

FWSD 2015 Winning Designers Pop-Up Shop at La Plaza in La Jolla

Beautiful dresses by B.JASH.I Couture

I love this little set by Territa Torres. She’ll be making a longer version of the top for off the runway!

Designers Marcie Bain (B.JASH.I); Fatsani Chikwana-Dogani (Tasanni) and Territa Torres

I took Dominic with me to visit the winning designers of FWSD 2015 at their pop-up shop in La Jolla. I bought a couple of items from B.JASH.I and Tasanni. I’ll be sure to feature them in a future blog post!

Had to include this picture of me with the designers, because it was taken by Dominic!

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