[Keep It 100] Burn Your Bra: Bralettes Are The New Black

 

Life back when I was a little kid felt so much simpler – parents helped with the meals and laundry, my biggest concern was whether to play four square or tether ball at recess, and wardrobe choices? Easy as pie.  Inundated with the Hollywood scene and celebrity , I always looked forward to when I was ‘old enough’ to wear certain things: dress like those fancy ladies on TV and in the movies, dazzle in designer choices- and finally fill out more than a training bra. You know, a bra with underwire and uumph, pushing out daisies from our chests like the first day of Spring. Besides shaving my legs, it was the milestone that my friends and I were truly waiting for: all my friends older sisters and the teenagers on swimteam had bras, while we were flat-chested and full of wonder on when we’d actually become a ‘woman’.  Fast forward 18 years and I wish I never traded my training bra for the real deal – for multiple reasons.

For one second, lets do some personal little show and tell with me, myself and I.  Ladies, stop me if you’ve felt this way before:  you’ve been looking fly all day in a cute outfit, you’re proud of shape and showing off your wares, and then it hits you – your shoulder blades sting and your chest can only swallow the shallowest of breaths.  Dipping, ducking, dodging and diving your way to the closest restroom, you reach under your shirt and feel the jagged etches that your bra straps have etched on the small of your back – only to leave a rough, red effigy of where the bra sat, sturdily holding up your hooters.  Nine times out of ten, this is when I just say fuck it, take my bra off at the club or music festival and stuff it in the bottom recess of my purse – that tenth time, I’m tossing it in the trash to burn – proverbially speaking, of course.  The last time this happened was at Beyond Wonderland back in March.  I remember romping through the fields debating if beer would help the tightness in my breath while I watched while girls in pasties prance around me without a care in the world.  They were free, their tits were free – and I couldn’t wait to join them.

The Perks of Going Braless

Now, you might be saying – “Oh, hell no, you won’t catch my girls sagging….”Well, I hate to burst your boob-bubble, but in studies of women that don’t wear bras – it’s been shown that their natural lift is better than those who wore them for their entire life. As it turns out, there are tendons and ligaments surrounding our breasts, and the more they’re engaged – the more terrific our titties become.  So, let your body do what it knows how to do! Let your caged birds sing: free your breasts and allow them get a proper workout in by just hanging out.  The end result is your pair will be perkier, and you’ll be happier.

Last year, I started the slow conversation of my undergarment drawer after Danny pointed out that I technically didn’t need to wear a bra, less some redeaming amount of chest coverage.  Fast forward to 2016 and I own maybe one bra with underwire that I actually never wear and continually debate if I should donate or not. I can take the deepest breaths, and I don’t feel pressure on my chest; my back feels long and healthy instead of constricted and I don’t have any pain around my shoulders.  Unlike bras, bralettes have thin or lacy straps, don’t have molded cups or contain any wires; they’re lighter, more airy and have minimal but excellent support.

A day worthy of celebration – October 13th is No Bra Day, and while a few months out – we can certainly start today. I’ve found that unlike their sturdier sister with underwire, bralettes aren’t just more comfortable – they can also be a lot less expensive, depending on where you pick your poison from.  Some of my favorites are from Urban Outfitters – they’re incredibly affordable have literally all the colors and styles you could dream of, and then some!  Other retailers with great bralette and bandeau selections include American Eagle’s Aerie Collection, Abercrombie + Fitch (say what you will, but I worked there for three years and enjoyed myself) as well as Forever 21 and Victoria’s Secret,   which as all the ladies know can get pricey but the good news is the pieces have longevity.  Join the revolution, burn your bra – and come to the bralette side, we have cookies and they’re comfortable.

 

[My Favorite Blings] Nature Inspired Necklaces and Resin Jewelry

Wire wrapped gems and bracelets that shimmer,
Nature inspired necklaces and earrings that glimmer;
Geodes, crystals, flowers and butterfly wings –
These pieces are some of my favorite blings.

Bold or delicate, colorful or simple – jewelry is more than just a statement, an extension of the personality.  Somehow, between the ease of online shopping somehow and the social circles that I found myself floating around, but over the past few years my affinity for unique jewelry has been on the rise. I have this uncanny urge to collect anything that sparkles or twinkles  even more so if I can wrap it around my neck, wrists or fingers.  Sure, a lot of your favorite department stores will have wonderful pickings but I prefer the handmade variety, vintage pieces and one of a kind finds.  Blame it on my eye opening trip to Arizona’s Gem and Jam Festival and the heady events I’ve been frequenting lately, but my tastes have shifted from large statement pieces to smaller, nature inspired pieces like wire wrapped crystals, sparkling geodes and flowers in resin.

Locally around Los Angeles  there are a few great places to try and scavenge – like downtown’s Santee Alley, Venice Beach and the Melrose Trading Post in West Hollywood.  But, after enough hunting and pecking sometimes those places feel as redundant as department stores with their wares.  Truth be told, my personal preference is ETSY – they have a wonderful collection of handmade, custom wears and there’s something so nice about supporting a small business.  I spent a lot (read: too much) time searching, and wound up with some stellar pieces and lust worthy shops.

Over the Moon

My latest piece is undoubtedly my current favorite, a crescent moon paired with the technicolor twinkling of a Madagascar Sunset Moth.  Yes, it’s a real wing, but fear not – because Chrysalis Studios sources all of their pieces in an eco-friendly manner from local butterfly farms and sanctuaries.  An entirely handmade line, each and every piece is uniquely beautiful and captivating.  Ps. Check out the dreamcatchers, they’re fantastic!

Chrysalis Studios: Website | ETSY Store

Make a Wish

Earlier this year, I saw a story floating around the internet on the beauty of flowers embedded in resin jewelry and naturally – my first reaction after oohing and aaahing, was to snag myself a piece…or four.

WonderFox Jewelry:  ETSY Store

The ScrappinCop:  ETSY Store

Dandelions are dandy, but I fawn over flowers – this necklace is no exception to the rule.
Just K Jewelry: ETSY Store  

KayeBird Jewelry: ETSY STORE

Wrap Me Up

Last, but most certainly not least – I’ve built a little obsession over wire wrapped crystals and gems.  And when they look like this, could you really blame me?

  

HighWireWrappin’: ETSY Store

What are some of your favorite jaunts to peruse for jewels?!

[Thursday Trend] Lusting for Leggings

17 Fall Activities All Basic Girls LoveFall in Los Angeles; it’s when scarves, boots and a sweater goes flawlessly together, PSL’s head back to the menu, the tree’s have embarked on their seasonal metamorphosis and the roads are clogged with kids heading back to school.  I’ve never considered myself much of a fashion aficionado but over the last six years in this city, I’ve really honed in on my personal style. And much to my surprise, as of late – that’s included leggings.  Now, until a few years ago – I considered leggings a passe idea reserved for ballerinas, yoga devotees and all you can eat buffets; but thanks to an impromptu dressing room encounter, they’ve gone from a wardrobe-won’t to absolutely necessary item in my closet.  Every color, design, fabric, texture…with pockets, studs, zippers, the works; you could basically say that I’m in lust with my leggings, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Here are a few of my favorites as of late – including a few I’ve bought for myself and my favorite suppliers.  Fall into a pair!

Nasty Gal

Little bit of glitz, little bit of glam – and a whole lot of sex appeal.  I have a healthy love of all things Nasty Gal – and that includes their plethora of leggings. I don’t have a whole lot of their clothing in my closet, because let’s be honest…I’m a baller on a budget and there are other priorities than loading my closet with the latest and greatest fashion (that’s what my Pinterest board is for).  Then I go back and buy it months later if I still love it =D

Nightwalker Tie Me Up Faux Leather Pant - Halloweird

 

 

 

Blackmilk

Sleek, sexy, shimmery patterns and form fitting cuts – I’ve been obsessing over Blackmilk for years now and one of these days, I have my own pair….promise!  Until then, these can satiate my taste…

Aurora Skye Neon Purple Leggings - glows under blacklight!

 

Barbie Spewed On Me Leggings - LIMITED

Target

For a super inexpensive alternative to splurging, head over to Target! These are quite literally the cat’s pajama’s, less than $20 and I cannot wait to wear them out!

 

 Urban Outfitters

They’ve been a favorite store since High School and I simply can’t see them going out of style; well, my sort of style at least.  I can’t wait to get a hold of these guys…

Kimchi Blue Ballerina Legging - Urban Outfitters

 

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[Weekly Dose of Wisdom] Dedicated to Oscar de la Renta

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Though I’m not the biggest into fashion, I can almost guarantee that every woman in this country – if not the world – has had at least fleeting dreams of walking down a red carpet donning an Oscar de la Renta gown. How do I know this? Because I most definitely have and I’m far from what I’d consider “girly”.  When I found out last night that he’d passed away it got me thinking of the photo shoots I’d done in the past, and his exquisite, elegant and feminine sense of beauty, style and grace. I wanted to pay homage with a few quotes of his that really resonate with me – as well as some of my favorite dresses of his. We’re missing a fashion icon on Earth, but I promise that Heaven has never looked so stunning.

 

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[Doing it Right] A Night Out with the Bev Cen + Klout

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past few years in LA – it’s that there’s a very real power behind social media.  It’s an idea shared by many, especially the beautiful minds over at Klout.  I touched on the company a bit last year – almost a year to the day, if you want to get ironic about it! So here’s a refresher if you don’t feel like time traveling through my page:

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Klout aggregates your social relevance  by measuring your reach across multiple platforms, including – but not limited to – Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, FourSquare, Youtube, Instagram, Tumblr, Blogspot, WordPress; ‘m sure you get the picture.  Then it spits out a score from 1-100 based on how influential it thinks you are.  How does this benefit you, you might ask? Well – Perks; Klout Perks if you want to get specific.  From small things like a $5 McDonalds Giftcard to care packages with Crest Toothpaste, a To Go Container of Scope and a $10 Wal Mart Gift Card, Klout rewards us social media whores connoisseurs in kind for our hard work and cult like devotion.

Last night I was invited to an event at the Beverly Center with fashion aficionados from far and wide.  They were diving into photo booths, digging through goodie bags and frolicking through the mall with some of the hottest in the fashion and blogging industries.   The purpose?  The Beverly Center “Show us Your Style” Challenge.  The entrants –  submitted pictures of their hottest fall fashion for under $125 and the winner was gifted a $1000 shopping spree to the Beverly Center.  And thanks to Klout, selected people with scores of 65 and up were invited to rub bows with the best of ’em.  The event was hosted by three of LA’s hottest fashion and lifestyle bloggers: Shea Marie of Peace, Love, Shea , Chriselle Lim from The Chriselle Factor and last but definitely not least Liz Cherkasova who pens the Late Afternoon.  Now, I blog about lots of things – life, laughter, my love of music, cats and photography – but clothing and accessories, eh – not as much! So it was fun masquerading around under the guise of fashion blogger all night.

They had a live DJ,  yummy specialty made cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcakes, delicious sangria thanks to Pavan Liqueur and some awesome swag to take home.  Thank you a thousand times over to the lovely staff of the Beverly Center and Klout for throwing such a classy event, a day later and I’m still feeling truly honored to have been a part of it.

Swag bag, what!

More coupons and gift cards; can't wait to go back to the Bev Cen!

More coupons and gift cards; can’t wait to go back to the Bev Cen!

Forever21 Goodie Bag with Gloss and Tweezers

Forever21 Goodie Bag with Gloss and Tweezers

New journal; love the binding!

New journal; love the binding!

Thursday Trend: All That Sparkles

Trust me when I say this: I have no clue how to be trendy.  If you don’t want to take my word for it, you should talk to my best friend.  We met the first day of Freshman year and have been relatively attached to each other ever since.  It wasn’t one of those “We hung out off and on and then slowly our friendship developed things” – it’s the platonic equivalent of love at first sight. We used to compare notes on poetry and boys; but when it came to fashion, I definitely took a back seat.  Eventually, and somewhat jokingly, she told me “Amanda, if you don’t match…we can’t sit together at lunch.”  She may as well have said “…and on Wednesdays, we wear pink.” but last time I checked I didn’t live in a movie.

Joke or not, what she said definitely nestled itself somewhere deep in my brain because now that I’m older (and somewhat wiser) from my nail polish to the trim on my boots, I match all the damn time.  The downside of trying to fit the trends and be relatively on top of being a 21st century chic chick is in my early 20s, I spent a rather ridiculous amount of time, money and or energy trying to fit the latest “trends”;  trends from the magazines, movies and runway that honestly have little to no place in my closet.

So I took a step back to re-evaluate who wanted to be, and the type of young lady I’d like to evolve into.  Sounds silly, but (a) there’s absolutely nothing wrong with dressing for success – be it career-wise or personal; and (b) it becomes a positive feedback loop!  A while back, I wanted to streamline my growth – I wanted to feel sexier, more mature, more sophisticated – so that’s how I started dressing.   Low and behold, the fashion must have seeped into my pores and into my veins, because while I looked the part I acted the part!  It’s a glorious cycle that I’m glad I discovered.

I think what strikes me is the originality of the items that I love – if I’ve seen it duplicated, I’m already over it before it hits my closet.  But every now and again, I seem to get these genius – and very specific – cravings for fashion and as of late, jewlery.  Sometimes, its for a delicate necklace in a specific metallic shade – and other times I get my mind set on clothing in daring, yet possible, colors.  I used to go shopping often – maybe a little too often – and what I’ve found, especially on Melrose, is that most shops are carbon copies of the others.  But a few, like Essex, have a great turnover for new threads and necklaces.  One of my favorite finds that I mentioned briefly yesterday is the Melrose Trading Post; it’s a great (and incredibly inexpensive) place to check out handcrafted jewelry and vintage duds.  Last, but definitely not least, don’t forget about my favorite treasure chest – your local discount stores!  What’s being another season behind the trends if you don’t even follow them, right?!  So, let’s get down to it – these are a few of my favorite blings.

Faux Sapphire Ring from Shanghai
Leather Wrist Wrap from Melrose Trading Post

ChiChiMe has the best Bangle Sets!

Amethyst Gradient Fox from Shanghai

Eggplant Corduroy Pants from J Brand (on sale at Nordstrom Rack!)

Riding Boots from Target
In love with the metal zipper embellishment; I will wear these to the ground!

Flower Bullet Necklace from Melrose Trading Post

Snaking around my fingers; found at the Melrose Trading Post

Thursday Trend: Pastels, Floral Patterns and Prints that Pop

All around the country, people are getting excited that Spring has sprung and in just a few week’s they’ll happily be transitioning into Summer with their floppy hats, skimpy swimsuits and color pop pieces; conversely, in Los Angeles, it’s just another Thursday. The great thing about living in a city that essentially says “fuck it all” to keeping seasons is now I have a “fuck it all” feeling about the seasonality of clothing.  Buying coats in the Summer and bikinis in the Winter? Drooling over pastels in the fall and enjoying rustic wine colors in the Spring? Judge Me!  Stores like Marshalls, Ross, and outlet stores like Nordstrom Rack and Sak’s: Off 5th are perfect if you enjoying ballin’ on a budget as much as I do. My new bottom line: if I like it, I buy it.  If you don’t like my wardrobe, you can go ahead any buy me a new one 😉

The thing was – for the last two and a half years that’s almost exactly what I’ve had: the same damn clothing assortment.  It’s enough to drive a chameleon crazy – and truth be told it had!  So over the course of the last year and with the assistance of some continually cathartic closet cleaning, I’ve forced myself to go through my finest and most favorite things and then bid them adieu by taking them to the local Goodwill – this has left a considerable amount of space in my closet!  Thanks to my love of things that bling, colors that dazzle and cuts that compliment – my wardrobe is looking fierce and I’m ready for all the pool parties, picnics and play dates that Summer has in store!

Things I’m a huge fan of right now, in now particular order:

High Low Skirts 

I don’t know why this trend has taken me so stinkin’ long to get on – something about having legs, and the words “high low” scared me off the bat and now I very much wish it hadn’t!  These skits are all kinds of adorable and can take you from work to engagement party to playdate in the quick switch of a shirt!  My favorite thing right now is wearing a bold print with a solid color tank; so cute, right?!

Floral Print High/Low Skirt by Three Ena
Color Pop Tank by Love On A Hanger

Floral Print

Every which where in Los Angeles there are flowers blossoming, blooming and scenting the city with their succulent aroma.  One of the interesting things about LA from a botanical point of view is most of our plants, flowers and trees are imported – what this means for us is year round blossoms, vibrant colors…and allergies.  But, I digress! I went for a walk the other day and was enamored with the amount of pastel petals on the ground – and had an epiphany: if the flowers looked great as on the sidewalk, they’d surely look just as good on my body!  The skirt above and this shirt below are two of my favorite finds…even some of the crop tops I’m loving have some floral patterns!

I’ve also realized that with the cut and shape of tops lately – there’s one rule to abide by in stores: TRY IT ON!  A lot of things look better on (though, I’m sure our male friends would agree to disagree with that) than they do on the hanger, so make sure you respect the garb and show it what you’re working with.

Crop Tops

These little tops are perfect for adding a pop of color or a little bit of extra coverage; perfect  if you have an oversized or sheer top that flows, or even to wear by itself with a high low skirt or even (gasp) a pair of high waisted shorts at a pool party.  These are the Layering Queen’s wet dream – the possibilities are endless!

Crop Tops (bottom left, clockwise) – Love on a Hanger, H I P, Victoria’s Secret

White, Cuffed Denim Shorts

White – it’s like, the official color of Summer, right? Perfect for between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends but for me, it’s about to become an essential part of my denim rotation.  White shorts are white hot, and the cuffs add a bit of Nautical / East Coast swagger to the closet.  Bottom line, these shorts can brighten up any outfit; besides, you weren’t planning on wearing those rugged jean shorts again this summer, were you?

True Religion on a discount; thank you Nordstom Rack!

Sunglasses…In Living Color

Every girl should have to pairs of sunglasses – a classic black that can go with every outfit and scenario, and a fun pop of color that can liven my favorite basic Friday happy hour uniform – a blank tank top and jeans!  Dress ’em up with a dress or dress them down with flip-flops and some cutoffs – colored sunglasses are in for the win.

Cole Haan Shades