FROM WHITE SANDS TO TUCSON

A pop of color here, a pop of color there, and my recent trip to the Southwest is a success! While I opted for a rather colorful number in New Mexico (shoutout to my freshly purchased rainbow palazzo pants), my rather simple outfit in Arizona created a nice complement to all the vibrant backdrops of old town Tucson. Overall, I'd say I did a pretty darn good job packing for this short trip...what do you think?

<<OOTD IN WHITE SANDS, NEW MEXICO>>

Hat - Primark (similar here)

Top - Korea (similar here)

Pants - Zara

Sandals - Skechers (similar here)

Hoop Earrings - Topshop

<<OOTD IN TUCSON, ARIZONA>>

Hat - Secondhand (similar here)

Off-The-Shoulder Top - Fashion Q (similar here)

Denim Skirt - Korea (similar here)

Sandals - American Eagle (similar here)

Sunglasses - Vendor (similar here)

Watch - Casio

SUZIE'S FARM (an ootd)

A couple of weeks ago my friends (Ophelia, Ashley, Annie, Sini) and I visited Suzie's Farm to pick some beautifully grown sunflowers c/o the large influx of rain we've had here in Southern California. Armed with a couple of scissors and lots of cameras, we drove down near the border to start our adventure...

Beyond the fact that Ophs lost her sunglasses among the hustle-n-bustle and my exposed legs got wrecked by the stinging leaves scattered amidst the flowers, we had quite the fabulous outing. Having a group full of photographers whose aesthetics are ~ON POINT~ also made it very fun for us as we probably spent more time taking photos for each other than actually picking flowers (needless to say, we each got a photo worthy of ~le Instagram~). 

Overall, it was a wonderful Saturday well spent before the tide of studying and endless work hours hit us full speed the following week. If you're a local or even just visiting, make sure you schedule in a trip to this place! It's well worth the $$ and the memories!

Below is the look I sported on the day of. I needed a new profile picture which is the reason I seem so dressed up for the farm environment but, hey, at least the photos came out gewd~

DETAILS:

Black Quarter Sleeve Sweater - Forever 21 (similar here)

Beige Beret - Dublin (similar here)

Suede Jacket - Rome (similar here)

Skirt - Korea (similar here)

Boots - Dr. Martens

Backpack - Vintage Prada

Bandana - Madewell 

Check out Ashley's blog post about our trip too! (She gives a couple of tips on how to prepare for a day at the farm).

Until next time, 

BRINGIN' IT BACK:

#throwback to when layering was in

I remember in elementary school, one of my favorite outfits to wear was one in which I layered a bunch of colorful tops so that each color would show at the bottom. I would even match it for the season: red, white, and blue for 4th of July and more neutral tones during the fall. Something about layers and being able to show off more than one style felt really cool to little ol' me. Now, I understand it's summer and wearing the outfit featured in this blog is kind of out of the picture for most, but I still think it would be a good source of inspiration for future ones! Slip dresses are definitely the new trend and it's especially perfect for the hot season since the fabric is so thin and lightweight. Layering this white long-sleeve under really made the dress pop and added a more "nostalgic" aspect to the overall look (shoutout to elementary school me). To make this a bit more unique, I added a beret

I bought at a thrift store in Dublin and wore my favorite Dr. Marten's to add a bit of toughness. I completed the outfit by sporting a dark lip which I believe pulled the look together. Since the weather is burnin' up, I would recommend wearing a white short sleeve under (obvs) and tie your hair up into a chic bun while ditching the boots for a pair of strappy sandals. 

What are some trends that you loved during your childhood that you think would make an awesome comeback? I mean, culottes have been pretty much the new "it" item that many style influencers have been sporting lately and I absolutely dig it. 

Thanks for reading as always and be sure to check out my latest YouTube video HERE!

Photos By: Kirk Wang

Best wishes, 

Rachel

DEAREST DREAMER

One dress, two looks

<<LOOK ONE>>

<<LOOK TWO>>

I'm here with another collab with Mint Julep! (If you haven't seen my previous blog post with them click HERE). This time around, I had the opportunity to style one of their many dresses found on the website. The Day to Dream Dress is an incredibly versatile and form-flattering lace dress that has just the right amount of detailing to give it extra personality. I really enjoyed the lace-up details on the side and especially liked the timeless lace on the bottom. The dress stops at the perfect length for me (I'm 5'7 and I received a size medium) and the thin shoulder straps allow for layering with pretty bralettes or even a long-sleeve if it's still cold where you're at. 

I wanted to give two examples of how you can style this dress. Each gives off a totally different vibe so depending on your personal style, feel free to use these looks as inspiration!

LOOK ONE:

I wanted this outfit to reflect the season so I wore my denim jacket I purchased at a flea market while studying abroad and layered a dainty long gold necklace (c/o my roomie) for simple accessories. Because I wanted this look to be light, I wore a pair of sandals and wore my favorite reflective nude-colored sunnies to complete the look. 

LOOK TWO:

This outfit is something I'd wear to a girl's night out. I wore a black structured jacket and paired it with my trusty Dr. Marten's to keep the look tough. I then added a choker with a small Saturn charm for a punk-inspired twist. I definitely would've worn a darker, vampier lip with this too!

Both looks are very different from each other, but still use one simple, yet effortless dress to pull it all off. I feel like this dress can work in combination with a myriad of different styles, especially since it's white, and can also be layered depending on what the climate is like where you're from. 

*Be sure to check out the awesome website HERE*

**If you wanted to check out the dress I'm wearing click HERE for details**

Dream On, 

Rachel
Matthew 21:22

ULTIMATE OOTD'S LOOKBOOK

A unique take on what I'd wear on the daily

My style is always changing. I get inspired by certain trends, style bloggers, celebrities, friends...you get the point. But I always manage to make it my own thing or at least try to come up with a way in which I can style an outfit differently. Sometimes, I'll wear a look based on my mood and more importantly, the weather. I decided to create a unique lookbook (using my noob-ish Photoshop skills) to present to you a few of my ultimate ootd's*. 

Mom jeans are the epitome of comfy jeans in my opinion. Sure, they may not be considered flattering for some folks but I personally LOVE a good pair of pants that look like you scavenged it from your mother's closet. The pair I own was actually thrifted, but it's original from Levi's. In my ultimate ootd the look would include a pastel colored top with minimal accessories. I'd add in a bit of black by wearing either my favorite fedora or my small Frada (faux-Prada, lol) backpack. 

Here is a look that includes all my...well, essentials. A denim jacket (preferably oversized) is a staple in my closet. It literally looks good with any outfit and it's really a timeless piece that can be handed down for many fashionable generations to come. I think I own like five, most of which were either hand-me-downs or thrifted. Another important item is a striped shirt. I also own more than one of these and that's only because I wear them SO often. A good striped tee looks good on everyone and it can be layered in a hundred different looks. Lastly, a pair of nice quality black shoes/boots is a must. I've worn the crap out of my Dr. Marten's (omg, were they ever so difficult to break into though) and I'm currently in the market for a pair of comfy oxfords. If you've got any recommendations, let a sistah know. 

Every man and every woman should have a perfectly fitted white blouse or button-up in his/her closet. A white shirt with buttons works casually and professionally. I'd put emphasis on the latter only because there have been many times where I needed to dress well either for an interview or school event and I lacked the appropriate tops to wear. In my ultimate ootd, I'd pair the shirt with a flattering pair of high-waisted jeans and wear a simple, dainty necklace. I may wear a cute little black lace bralette if I'm feeling it~

The reason why I titled this collage "all day every day" is because I would wear an outfit with the items above all day every day if I could. I mean technically I could, but it wouldn't be socially acceptable + kind of dirty let's be real. I recently bought a pair of black Teva's last summer and can I just say it is the most functional yet stylish pair of sandals I've ever owned!!! My mom just gifted me with another pair and now I'm thinking I should probably blog (or make a video) on how to style these...Anyway, another item I'd wear all the time is a windbreaker. I found a couple of my dad's old windbreakers that have the cool 80's/90's appeal to them and I've been getting compliments every time I wear them (go dad!). If I could also get away with keeping my hair tied like that every day, I'D DO IT. 

OH, and I totally forgot to mention but my Casio watch gives.me.life. Or at least it gives me an answer to what time of the day it is. A watch on my wrist is definitely always part of any ultimate ootd for me! 

For this blog post, I was inspired by Social Print Studio to show you my take on what I wear on the daily through an unconventional lookbook. With their collection of digital photo books, the site helps as a great way to bring your digital favorites to life. Take a gander at the site, you may very well end up ordering lots of prints to decorate with or keep just for memories' sake. (Hint, hint: a good idea for Mother's Day coming up!)

Catch ya later, 

Rachel 

*ootd's: Outfit Of The Day, or simply pronounced oo-tuh-duh

OPINION: SPRING W/ SKECHERS (PART 1)

When comfort meets style...

I've had the awesome pleasure of working with Skechers last year for their fall collection (check out the article HERE). I'm back with the team again with a feature on the new Cali spring collection and can I just say that these sandals are quite possible the most comfortable shoes I've ever placed my feet in?

The pair I'm wearing in this post is the Sweet Tooth design from the Indulge collection. Not only does it match well with almost any outfit you'd style for the spring, but it also provides a lasting comfort that doesn't require any breaking in. The luxe foam padding truly makes for its great quality and I was greatly pleased that the sandals offer such luxury (especially if I plan on wearing them around all day). 

Skechers definitely does not disappoint! Check out the collection online HERE and stay tuned for Part II of this series featuring another equally comfortable and stylish pair of sandals!

OUTFIT:

Top-Secondhand

Pants-Cotton On

Sandals-Skechers

Watch-ASOS

SKECHERS SOCIAL MEDIA:

Instagram: @skechers

Twitter: @skechersUSA

FB: /skechers

See ya soon!

Rachel

LET'S TAKE A STROLL:

Third wheeling your parents is basically

the best thing ever...

Here's to a great and relaxed Spring Break! I took this week off school to do nothing but sleep, eat, catch up on my shows and repeat. Of course, I spent some time meeting up with my friends and spending way too much money on food (but hey, that's what the money's for right?).

My parent's and I decided to head over to Pasadena and visit one of my mom's favorite museums: Norton Simon Museum. This museum was a much needed destination both for its galleries and for its air-conditioned goodness. From Picasso to Manet to almost everything in between, this museum has a diverse collection of art that is sure to satisfy the aesthetic needs of many people. It even has a beautiful outdoor area where you can spot a few turtles swimming around and stop to smell the flowers on your stroll. 

How was your break spent? Let me know what you were up to and if you visited any good food spots that I can add to my list!

OUTFIT:

Button Up-Mom's Closet 

Dress-H&M

Sandals-Target

Sunglasses-Urban Outfitters

Backpack-Vintage Prada

Have a beautiful day, 

Rachel