Sequins After Work

Banana Republic Trench. borrowed Leyendecker Dress. Louis Vuitton Bag. Zara Heels. House of Harlow Sunglasses. Forever 21 Earrings.

My sister and I have decided that weekly sushi dates are a must. And dressing up for these dates is the best part. I quickly changed out of my nine to five attire and slipped on this sequin Leyendecker dress (reminds me of this Alice + Olivia number) to walk around the corner. Yes I wore sequins to grab sushi just a block from my apartment. Sure spiced up my Tuesday!

When in Doubt

 ...throw on a little bling. These dannijo  earrings (and a phone call with my Nana) instantly perked up my melancholy mood today. It's funny but leopard + costume jewelry really does wonders for the spirit! Thankfully the sun was out and I'm crossing my fingers it remains spring-like on into weekend.

San Francisco Gems

San Francisco will always hold a special place in my heart. My Great Uncle lived across the Golden Gate Bridge and it was such a treat to visit him numerous times throughout the year while growing up. My family always went around the holidays to see a play, eat delicious meals and to of course, shop. Having spent my college years and 4+ years after college living in the Bay Area I've compiled a list of my favorite 'San Francisco Gems.' 

It really is the most charming city; enjoy and remember to pack layers! 

Tourist To-Do List:

Cable Car (Ride to Union Square for shopping or to Gihrardelli Square for 

ice cream sundaes)

Coit Tower (Walk through North Beach and stop for pasta or pizza in what's left of Little Italy. Caffe BaoNecci is a favorite of both my sister and I.)

Crissy Field (Picnic while taking in the Golden Gate / Alcatraz View)

Dolores Park (Take in the amazing view and grab a burrito at El Farolito in the Mission)

Lombard Street (The world's most-crooked street)
Ferry Building (Blue Bottle Coffee, Farmers Market, The Slanted Door, Miette)
Golden Gate Bridge (If you walk across the bridge remember it's chilly!)

Optional Tourist To-Do:

Academy of Science
China Town

De Young Museum

Golden Gate Park

Haight Ashbury

Moma

Palace of Fine Arts
Pier 39

The Castro
Top of the Mark

Eat & Drink:

A16
Bar Tartine

Beretta
Delfina
Farina
Flour and Water
Heirloom Cafe
Mamacita
Nob Hill Cafe
Nick's Crispy Tacos (you must order your tacos Nick's Way)
Nopa
Ozumos
Pizzeria Delfina
Range
SPQR
The Grove (for a casual lunch)
U-Lee (Chinese take-out, known for their giant pot stickers)
Umami (sushi happy hour)
Wayfare Tavern

Bar:

Bourbon & Branch (speak-easy, you must make a reservation)

Buena Vista Bar (a San Francisco classic for their Irish Coffee)

La Lola (my old neighborhood favorite for tapas + sangria)
Ottimista (casual wine bar)
Tipsy Pig (delicious eats as well and great for groups)
The Tonga Room (perfect for large groups)

Brunch:
Foreign Cinema
Nob Hill Grille
Rose's Cafe
Tartine Bakery

Unique Boutique:

Cris (my go-to consignment / vintage store on Polk Street) 

 Street to Walk (and Shop):

Chestnut

Fillmore

Union

Sweet Treat:
Bi-rite Creamery
Humphry Slocombe (known for their unique flavors)
Kara's Cupcakes

Furry Leather

JBrand Cargo Pants. H&M Jacket. Members Only Vest. Vintage Boots. Free People Top. Alexander Wang Bag. 

 JCrew Necklace. Kate Spade and Peggy Li Ring.

When I'm in the mood to wear my "pleather" jacket but it's too cold out I layer on my faux fur vest. It keeps me surprisingly warm while at the same time not adding too much bulk. This chilly weather makes me want to pile on the layers and walk around in my Uggs. Thankfully I've learned a few fashionably appropriate layering tricks such as a vest over the leather jacket, so I don't step out of my apartment looking like an umpa lumpa. 

View by the Bay

Alice + Olivia Sweater. Joie Blouse. 7 For All Mankind Jeans. Via Spiga Sandals. Alexander Wang Bag. gifted Elva Fields Earrings.

One of my favorite views in the city is standing at Crissy Field with the Golden Gate bridge to your left and Alcatraz to the right. Any tourist or out of towner should be sure to bring a picnic to this field (if the weather permits) and take in the view. With that said, I'm in the midst of compiling a list of my favorite San Francisco hot spots (restaurants, shops, you name it) for all those who've been curious / asking. Stay tuned!

Sunday Images

Saturday night I picked up the fiance at SFO. He's only here for a few days, but we managed to fill our Sunday with quite the line up. A morning walk through Nob Hill (I love my neighborhood), brunch at Foreign Cinema (scrumptious with great atmosphere), watched the movie Limitless and indulged in kettle-corn popcorn.* Any day that revolves around brunch and the movies with my best friend is always a winner.

PS: Read my write up on how to transition cheetah prints into spring over on MissionCloset today.

*Fact: I now search out theaters that serve kettle-corn (my favorite). If you're wondering, Century 9 in San Francisco is where it's at. Plus they offer self serve candy. 

Rainy Palace

AG Jeans. Equipment Blouse. Vintage Chanel Jacket. Alexander Wang Bag. Via Spiga Sandals. Jcrew, Kate Spade, Dannijo Jewelry. gifted Peggy Li Ring.

My little sister and I decided an afternoon trip (in the rain mind you) to the Palace of Fine Arts was a great idea. Very wrong (frozen toes)! We quickly detoured and ate Indian food instead. At least we managed to snap a few photos of this Equipment blouse. I first spotted it on WhoWhatWear and then later on my friend Heather's blog. After a few tweets and emails, Equipment and Bloomingdales pulled through in the clutch. By this time it was 50% off; totally meant to be. This was my one "free-bie" in the Lent shopping diet. Now it's back to it, I promise. 

Hope you're staying dry this weekend!

Green Eats

Edamame + Salmon and Tuna Sushi with Avocado.

Kale + Spinach Smoothie (recipe here).

Currently Craving {a la Alice + Olivia}

Lauren Sleeveless Blouson Dress. Jackie Beaded Blouson Dress. Fleur Sequin Stripe Dress.

 Lauren Sleeveless Blouson Dress. Liran Sequin Bust Dress.

When asked what designer best describes my personal style I answer Alice + Olivia without a doubt. Stacey Bendet has created a swoon-worthy brand, equal parts feminine and edgy (the perfect combination in my mind). Playful sequins mixed with polka dots, stripes and leopard print screams "I'm a girl who knows how to have fun!" I'm dreaming of wearing the above glittery and girly dresses to my upcoming bridal shower and rehearsal dinner party but I am just as smitten with this maxi dress (a spring essential) as well as this leopard trench (an obvious classic). Thank goodness I'm on a shopping diet! 

What brand best describes your personal style?

Vino + The Accessories {Unwind}

My idea of a perfect night revolves around a glass of wine and great company. Saturday early evening I met up with Tara and Heather for a couple glasses of Chardonnay and Zinfandel on tap (very classy) at Unwind. I of course had to snap a few photos of the accessories on display. 

Shopping Diet

DVF Dress. H&M Jacket. Zara Pumps. Alexander Wang Bag. House of Harlow Sunglasses.

I gave up shopping for Lent this year; quite the smart decision on my part. Thankfully I purchased a few goodies via Shopbop the week prior including a flirty dress to wear to my upcoming bachelorette party as well as this Diane von Furstenberg maxi dress, to help me get through those 40 days. My 5 foot, 1 inch frame made searching for a maxi skirt that fit in the length rather difficult. When I spotted this dress on Shopbop and noticed it hit the model mid-calf, I knew it would be the perfect maxi on me. The geometric shapes and tassel belt give this silk chiffon number just the right amount of edge. 

Color Me Crazy

Midweek Inspiration: Color.

Spring 2011 is all about playing with vibrant hues.  

As seen here, I went for it and therefore so can you!

Off to paint my nails a lovely shade of blue.

Photos via: Fashion Gone Rogue, Jak and Jil Blog, Refinery 29, Stockholm Street Style, The Coveteur

Fruit Punch {with a side of Macaroons}

Equipment Blouse. borrowed Ani Lee Skirt. Banana Republic Clutch. Vintage Bracelets.

I admit, this fruit punch-esque colored outfit was a little bold for a Saturday afternoon, but it sure made me excited to wear vibrant colors this spring. I finally bit the bullet and ordered this Equipment blouse in sangria (I first blogged about it here). Let me tell you these blouses live up to their reputation. I now want one in every color. 

Staying Dry {Cheetah Style}

Zara Blazer. Forever 21 Blouse. 7 For all Mankind Jeans. Vintage Boots. Necklace Made by Me.

The drizzly weather didn't stop me from wearing my cheetah blazer (a recent Zara find). Although it's not the warmest jacket in the world, I didn't regret wearing it in the least bit. I usually stand out when sporting full on cheetah print and I used to be shy, but now I obviously embrace it! Cheetah / leopard prints make me feel confident in a fun way. I think the most important lesson in discovering your personal style and experimenting with fashion trends is to wear the colors and prints that make you feel your absolute best! 

Positive Thoughts

I'm a huge proponent for positive thinking and truly believe that if you put your mind to something you can make it happen. Hard work and positive energy pays off! That is all. ;)Happy Weekend. Leaving you with a few images from the week.

1. Pink Tulips on my desk from Anna.

2. Another day, same leopard skirt.

3. Zara Blazer that I plan to wear this weekend.

4. Pretty Heels. Perfect for spring.