Good enough for Beyonce

You guys, these jeans are reversible. Mind boggling, I know. Also, the care instructions indicate I should "wash" them in the freezer by placing them in there for 24-hours. Quick synopsis: two sides of glorious fabric, made in LA, fits like a glove (yes, the sequined one made famous by MJ) and Queen B wears them. That's functional celebrity fashion and I am in l-o-v-e. 

I styled these with a solid colored sweater that I snagged at a sample sale while working in NYC earlier this month and my new Jeffrey Campbell boots. Black boots have monopolized my shoe collection for far too long so, I got all adventurous and assertively purchased these bone booties last week. Hashtag, no regrets.

You may have noticed my fascination with Jeffrey Campbell's adorable shoe boxes on Instagram. If you don't already, follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter using the links on the right. Thanks for reading and for supporting me through the beginning of my blogging days.

Reversible Legging: Bleulab; sweater: Free People (available here, similar here, necklace: Forever21; ring: random boutique in Palo Alto; shoes: Jeffrey Campbell via Nasty Gal)

Oscar Gowns: metallic & white

I was a huge fan of all of the sparkle on the red carpet tonight. Jennifer Hudson, Meryl Streep and Naomi Watts are just a few of the celebrities who blew me away with their old Hollywood glamour spin on modern gowns. There's something very elegant about metallic sequins paired with unique custom cuts ala Naomi Watts in Georgio Armani Prive. 

I don't think your night at Oscars is a good time to take fashion risks which is probably why I am drawn to gowns like Charlize Theron's. White hot, elegant and complements her new buzz cut nicely. I adore simplicity, but would have loved to see a bigger statement earring with this gown. After all, there are no tendrils in the way.

Her words to Ryan Seacrest on her bold new 'do,

'It's the most freeing thing, I highly recommend it. I think every woman should do it.'

Speaking of things 'everyone woman should do' I applaud Jennifer Lawrence's back jewelry. Just like Jennifer, this trend can not be stopped. 

I don't mind a bit as I have been on the hunt for hanging back jewelry since 2011 when I fell deeply for a borrowed necklace I wore at my wedding. 

Interesting side note: the generous friend who furnished my lovely wedding day accessories has also been our photographer at every G rated life event to date. What a gem, right? She took the photo below of my husband and I in San Francisco right before we tied the knot.

Photo by Christa Scott

All other images courtesy of Bella Sugar, Digitalspy and Stylefrizz

I left my heart in San Francisco

My friend Julia of Ms. Blonde Bangs was kind enough to feature me on her blog yesterday as part of a series in which she covers style across the US. (You'll notice that all of her friends look like they stepped right off a catwalk both because their natural beauty and stylish ways.) As such, I was completely shocked, humbled and honored when she asked me to be a part of her series. 

Bay area style is challenging to represent in one outfit, especially considering the diversity in the bay area. But there are a couple 'guidelines' about SF style that I consider cross-cultural:  

• DON'T wear jeans 
• DO wear oversized sweaters to hide the delicious brunch that any self-respecting local would consume
• DON'T wash your hair. 

So what did I do? I wore an over-sized knit by T Alexander Wang that I found at Nordstrom Rack. To add some girly sophistication to a rather androgynous knit, I wore it with a bow peeking out from underneath, courtesy of a Tory Burch blouse which I also found at Nordstrom Rack. 

*Editorial Note: I swear to you, I have the ability to shop elsewhere, but the Palo Alto location is a veritable hotbed of designer deals.  Also worth noting: they know me by name, which is how I know I've hit rock bottom. 

Sweater: T Alexander Wang (cool boxy sweater by same designer here, killer deal on similar sweater here); pants: no name; boots: coach (similar splurges here and steals here); blouse worn underneath: Tory Burch (similar blouse by same designer on sale here)

Grapefruit and Avocado Salad

I'm willing to admit that I might not have a bright future in food photography, but I make no apologies for what I'm showing you here. (Despite what you may think, these photos were not scanned from a disposable camera.) 

This refreshing salad is akin to the most satisfying, guilt-free sweet tart you have ever eaten.  

Its mix of healthy fats and blood-sugar balancing flavonoids are not the only redeeming qualities; I love it because it requires no cooking at all. Just prep. About 5 minutes' worth.

 Ingredients:

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 ripe Hass avocados
2 large red grapefruits

Directions:
1.) Place the mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until the vinaigrette gets hazy.

2.) Cut the avocados in half, remove the seeds, and carefully peel off the skin. Cut each half into 4 thick slices. Toss the avocado slices in the vinaigrette to prevent them from turning brown. Use a large, sharp knife to slice the peel off the grapefruits, then cut between the membranes.

3.) Arrange the avocado slices around the edge of your most beautiful platter. Arrange the grapefruit segments in the center. Spoon the vinaigrette on top, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and then, eat it! 

Recipe adapted from Food Network

I, I got a new life...

Getting older is totes lame. Your late teens and early 20s are spent in a martini-induced haze and the most stressful aspect of your life is being punctual to yoga class. As you transition to your mid 20s, however, suddenly you've got bills to pay (hopefully you're off Mom and Dad's payroll), negotiations to win and your sparkly Tom's have lost their luster.

For example, I turned 25 and gave away all of my 5-inch heels thinking, if my wardrobe became more sophisticated, perhaps I would too. I remain determined to develop my 'adult' sense of style without abandoning the things that make my inner-child squeal....namely, heels & glitter. 

The gold heels pictured were my Christmas present to myself, as J.Crew threw a sublime sale wherein everything in the store was 30% off. Huzzah! The beanie was a Christmas present (hand-made by my Grandma).  

Pumps: J.Crew (similar here); shirt: J.Crew (similar here), denim: J Brand (which BTW, I practically stole from Nordstrom Rack during a recent sale...similar here); bracelets: J.Crew and BaubleBar)

Style etiquette for female wedding guests

Hello friends!

BethanimalPrint had a makeover! I was already sick of the old design so, I spent my Friday night making it look like this! Let me know what you think in the comments below.

In other news, 

I had the opportunity to write a post for my friend Ashley of Oh Wells Instead Of What Ifs this week. I met her about 10 years ago during sorority rush back when gMail was still invite only and I ate whatever I wanted without gaining a pound. Ashley has been at this blogging thing for over 2 years now and is one of those girls who really was just born with glitter in her veins - her blog is all the proof we need. 

With so many of my friends getting married and attending weddings this year, I just had to share my guest post with you all!

                       

Planning a wedding is no easy task. For the better part of a year, a bride-to-be (BTB) will tend to menial tasks like booking travel for third cousins, choosing in-season organically grown flowers and silently weeping over seating arrangements.

Luckily, unlike the BTB, your most daunting task is finding something to wear. Your outfit can pay your respects or silently communicate that you are a selfish heathen that should never leave her cage. If you prefer to pay tribute like a lady, use these helpful rules on wedding guest style etiquette:

1. Do review the wedding invitation for guidelines as to the formality of the affair. While it is obvious you should never attend a wedding in a crop top, you wouldn't want to be at a black tie affair in a sundress. Ask someone close to the bride if there is no indication of dress code in the invitation.

                         

2. Do not be too trendy. The couple is likely to keep these pictures forever. You don't want to be tortured by your past (anymore than you already are) because denim skirts are momentarily “in.”

3. Do not show guests how loose your morals are with your clingy clothing. Single men at weddings are going to pay attention to you even if your toned abs are not glaringly obvious from 25 yards away. A better way to get his attention is to offer to get him a drink.

4. Do not wear white. Every time you see a white dress you like, buy it. Wear that thing to YOUR engagement party, engagement photo shoot, bachelorette party, bridal shower. Luckily, the light spectrum invented colors like emerald and blue that look good on every tramp out there. Double lucky, merchandise in these hues will slap you in the face (in a good way) before you can even park at the mall.

5. Do wear lipstick. Lipstick allows you to distinguish which glass of wine is yours, can make your teeth look whiter if selected properly and allow you to get away with less eye makeup.

6. Do not pile on the eye makeup. You will cry and then look like an idiot with mascara running down your face.

7. If you are not masochistic enough to dance for hours in high-heels, do bring a sophisticated pair of flats to change into. NOT Flip-flops which are kind of gross and will definitely make your well-planned ensemble look cheap. Black ballet flats are a great staple to have.

Dress: Milly (similar on sale here); shoes: Tory Burch and old Paolo slingbacks; bracelets: J.Crew; bag: Kate Spade

Quinoa and vegetable salad with lemon vinaigrette

Many people think that having a gluten allergy leads to insanity. Much to the dismay of my local psychotherapist, Bob's Redmill All purpose flour allows me to enjoy the foods I love without having a painful (or embarrassing) reaction. 

When you have a toddler, it's imperative to find recipes that are 'quick and easy' - otherwise, you end up eating chips and salsa with four sides of chardonnay. For this reason, (and because I don't look my best in an apron) everything I make is fairly simple with the bonus of being arguably more healthy.

*Tip: Make it the night before since it's intended to be served cool. 

                                    

Ingredients
2 cups water

3/4 teaspoon  salt , divided

1 cup  quinoa

1/4 cup  lemon juice

3 tablespoons  extra-virgin olive oil

2 small garlic cloves

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1  small bell pepper, diced

1 cup  grape tomatoes, halved

1/2 a diced cucumber

1/2 cup  chopped fresh parsley

1/2 cup  chopped fresh mint

Step 1:

Cook the quinoa in the 2 cups of water. Set it aside to cool. (I put it in the fridge to cool because I am incredibly impatient.)

Step 2:

Vinaigrette time. Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper and garlic. 

Step 3:

Veggie time. Toss parsley, mint, bell pepper, tomatoes and cucumber together in a large bowl. 

Unsolicited advice:

I like to color coordinate my vegetables. If you are not OCD about the appearance of salad, substitute red peppers for yellow because red ones have significantly more Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

 

Step 4:

 Add the cooled quinoa and veggies to the vinaigrette and gently mix to coat.

Step 5:

Pour yourself some vino and enjoy!

                                          

Skirting the issue

Sometimes the only clean item in your closet is a dress which is more appropriate for martinis than coffee. To avoid getting unwanted attention, consider layering a conservative top over a cocktail dress to make your style more daytime appropriate. 

Voilà! Now it's a skirt. Also, you can totally do this with a guy's shirt if you have an impromptu slumber party. (I have never done such a thing. But if I did, it was an accident and a one-time thing.) 

Styling tip: Role those sleeves up to avoid looking like a bank teller. Hiding the leather cuffs of this dress is downright shameful.

Shirt and scarf : J.Crew (similar shirt here); dress: Tobi (similar here); shoes: old Steve Maddens; bracelets: J.Crew and Baublebar <--- use link to sign up if you are a female human.

Photos by: Julia Ralston

New York Fashion Week Instagram Diary

I had quite a few pictures that I didn't post during my trip to NY for Fashion Week. I wasn't clever enough to have the foresight to make a latergram diary, but running around the city all day combined with watching Buckwild at night prohibited me from posting these earlier. Hashtag, greatestblogger.

Our Chelsea offices are in this building. There's a huge Anthropologie and spacious wine shop in Chelsea Market, so you can count on me requesting more assignments in NY soon. 

Temperatures I am not accustomed to called for dressing in more layers than I thought reasonable.

Inside the Lincoln Center - drinking a latte and not looking at this car. 

Applauding all of these well-dressed women in line with me for the BCBG show. 

So happy to see beanies and grunge on the runway.

One thing I learned on this trip is that I do not have enough fur.

Bumped in to Rumi Neely. To say she inspires me is an understatement.

Stopped at the Rebecca Minkoff showroom for a meeting with the Social Media team there. It was buzzing and hectic as they frantically prepared for their NYFW show.

Meeting with Uri Minkoff, CEO of Rebecca Minkoff and super nice dude.

This weather is beautiful, but also quite bleak. Time to wear something bright.

Back at the office. Fro Yo and I are very close.

Anthropologie, 1 - Me, 0. Cozy lounge wear I picked up just in case I got stuck in NYC because of the looming blizzard.

Headed to the airport - optimistic my flight won't be canceled. 

   Somehow, I win. Gotcha Nemo.

New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 - BCBG Presentation

In case you were wondering what it's like to be crammed in the back of a fashion show because your ticket is standing room only, here you go. If you ask me, it was absolutely amazing. Fur + just the right amount of grunge. Beanies are back in a major way (*fist pumping all my fellow ladies with crazy hair*) and given the blizzard that started moments after this show, we are in luck.