Polka dots and lace shorts

Shorts: Forever 21 blouse: Forever 21 (similar here & here) Tights: J.Crew (similar here), boots: Coach (similar on sale here), earrings: gifted, bag: Kate Spade (similar ASOS bag)

Typically, the need to incorporate lace shorts into the basic section of my wardrobe is low. But when I saw these at Forever21, I reconsidered. This is mostly due to me being mildly obsessed with lace and having a high appreciation for noncommittal price tags. Worn with tights and 'them boots with the fur', I stay warm and minimize the need for a spray tan.

Bare necessities

Julia from Once Upon a Blog got all the glossy messy details on how I interviewed for my job at Google while wearing a very tight belly bandit, the time God played some mean trick on my eyebrows (birth), and how I know the barometric pressure of any city that I’m in. You can get all of that riveting stuff and details on all of the hair and beauty products I've curated in my interview here.

Instagram Diary: Denver

Hello friends! I hope you enjoyed your weekend! I did. The Banker and I left Harlowe with my MIL for 2 days while we jetted off to Denver to visit some friends and family.

I've been to Denver once or twice before. The most memorable time was when I ran my first half marathon. My body was not ready for that sort of physical torture yet and was in remission for the balance of my visit. I didn't walk around much after that!

I figured I'd make it tradition to run a race whenever I visit; this time the race was shorter. It also called for more glow-sticks. The 'Rave Run' was held on what I'm now certain is one of the most highly celebrated holidays in Denver: 4/20.

April 20th brings a whole melange of disconnected festivities. As you cam guess, there were some interesting outfits out there. I'll be sharing my outfits later this week since I'm working in NYC for the next few days and blogging from my iPhone for now. Here's my Denver experience insta-style.

Geometric cut-out situation

Crop: Tobi, skirt: Tobi necklace: Ambiance in SF (similar here), heels: old Report Signature (similar here, here & here), bag: JustFab

Geometric prints don't have to go hand-in-hand with hanging out at The Max. They're a huge trend this season along with cut-out anything and crop tops. How best to incorporate them into your wardrobe is a question that has many answers. 

I began my experimentation with Spring's hottest trends by investing only a marginal amount of green so that if the return was poor, I avoid being completely in the hole. Tobi is a fantastic retail outlet for this purpose. The fact that they ship items overnight is another lovely selling point. They are simply ahhhmaze.

A few lessons I've learned the hard way (by blogging)

Looking good is HARD. It requires preparation, lighting, timing and a focused (or conveniently blurred) camera. In the above photo, I was trying to look "sexy" in that nonchalant kind of way. Unfortunately, due to my body language and facial expression, I mostly look like I'm removing rocks from my slingbacks. Lesson learned: Save the attempts at sex appeal for the Victoria's Secret photo shoot (still waiting for my invite!).

Know your strengths. So, you think you're totally cute and funny? That doesn't mean you are a shoe-in for the upcoming season of SYTYCD. This is just being irresponsible in front of a camera. That worked for Kim Kardashian, but definitely won't work for me. 

Invest time in rehersing your facial expressions and natural poses. Every women should have 5 go-to poses regardless of whether or not she is a fashion blogger. This one just recently got crossed off my list.

Make sure you are not going to make any 'most phallic outfits' list. A really fantastic way to avoid this is to simply use a mirror.

I hope you learn from my mistakes. I invite you to leave comments below letting me in on any life lessons you are willing to share. Please don't leave me hanging.  

Office Style: It's black and white

Shoes: Cole Haan, Skirt: Greylin, Top: Halogen (similar here and here), Necklace: old Macy's find (similar on sale here and here)

Hello there! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. I spent last week at a conference in Arizona and had to give a presentation to a large group. Since my goal was to be memorable, but not distracting, this black and white ensemble is what I wore. 

I've become partial to any combination of black and white, patterns and shorter hemlines. I find them classic with a twist of modernity. I felt particularly bold on this day and incorporated four pattern variations: crocodile embossed leather, color-blocking, stripes and polka dots. Minimalism describes my approach to accessories at the office, so I opted to add some tonal variation with a red matte lip. 

*PSA*

Cole Haan is offering 30% off your entire purchase until April 15th. Perfect time to stock up on their Chelsea pumps which I adore. Use code FAMILY30.

Photos by: Julia Ralston

How to: pack for business trips

Hi Internet Friends! 

I'm in My home state, Arizona, to speak at a conference on behalf of YouTube. I have been traveling quite a bit lately and have learned some helpful tips to make sure your carry-on can actually be carried. 

Here's what I do:

Wear a nice pair of jeans on the flight - both directions. I keep then moderately casual, but nice enough that I would wear them in front of a client or boss.

I pack two pairs of shoes. My black Tory Burch heels are a shoe-in. I've been so bold as to bring glittery gold cap-toe heels, but that is not for the faint of heart. A second pair of shoes is for running. These are optional. While I travel, I wear boots that are easy to take on and off. 

I carry-on outfits appropriate for meetings, presentations, etc. Dresses work nicely as they take up less space. Lace dresses or dresses with pleats work great because wrinkles show less. Cotton-poly, cotton-Lycra blends are wrinkle resistant, too. 

It is important to bring top you can wear out to dinner or drinks in the evening. I pair it with jeans and the same shoes I wore earlier in the day. If the event is casual (or if I have tons of blisters) I rock the boots I wore on the flight. 

Definitely bring appropriate undergarments. The more nude the better because animal print booty shorts are the last thing I want to worry about while presenting a slide deck. 
One thin jacket or blazer is plenty. I never discount weather or season. Restaurant and hotel managers are inclined to keep their establishments at sub zero. I'll wear mine day and night and make it last for 2-days. 

Eventually, I get a bit of ‘shuteye.’ For this, I prefer a satin night dress since they are comfortable and take up very little room. 

I hope this helps you on your next trip. The conference I'm here for is about to start so, I'm off! 

Colorblock + sunblock

Dress: BCBG (similar here & here), shoes: J.Crew (similar on sale here), clutch: Lilly Pulitzer (similar here) bracelets: Baublebar, J.Crew and Gerard Yosca.

This very feminine frock is my inaugural color block piece. Before this dress, my short stature kept me from assimilating into the color block craze. I was won over by long vertical stripes that actually elongate. Major plus. 

Crisp pleats give it depth and the ability to survive wrinkle-warfare as it is tightly packed in a carry-on suitcase. The fact that it comes embellished with a contrasting sash deems it a worthy travel companion since additional accessories are completely unnecessary. Except for sunblock. Sunblock is a given. 

Photos by: Donna Hale

Loud clutch love

Blouse and trousers: Forever21 (similar blouse here), Clutch: JustFab, earrings: H&M (similar here) other jewels: J.Crew, Baublebar and JewelMint, shoes J.Crew (similar here)

Last week at LuckyFABB, I stopped by the JustFab gift suite and became enlightened. Their collection for Spring/Summer is playful, classic and frustratingly easy to buy. It's like Prabal Gurung and Celine had an unpretentious baby and they named it JustFab. (What's up with celebrities giving their kids weird names?) 

Obvi, I picked up this clutch after my eyes met its classic silhouette, boisterous styling and uncanny resemblance to cork. I can't wait to wear it with jeans and tees on the weekends to add a splash of color. 

                                                                Photos by: Caity Shreve

Run like you have inspiration

Tank: Skreened. Original images here

By the time you read this, I will have finished my 4th half marathon. I need some extra inspiration for this particular race because I don't anticipate feeling great mentally or physically. I've made many excuses not to train: I'm in an unfamiliar city, my commute is too long, my baby is too cute, etc.

Sometimes I need to remind myself why I sign up for these things: To enjoy myself. Running is my 'me time' and therapy. I do this to think through all of life's dilemmas such as, "are Valentinos worth it?" and "Should I exfoliate more?" Total bonus if I see Ryan Gosling. 'Run like the Banker and a pitcher of sangria are waiting for you at the finish line' would be more appropriate for my tastes, but this tank does the trick. 

Lucky FABB Instagram Diary

Hey all! I have been in LA for the bast 3 days for the Lucky FABB West conference. The FABB conference was even better than I had expected which is kind of amazing because my expectations are painfully high. I met dozens of amazing and ridiculously well styled women and made some new friends! 

Everything from the speakers to the poolside lunches left me feeling empowered and inspired. It was ultra refreshing to be surrounded by so many like-minded and incredibly smart women who have created a way to inspire and build businesses out of their voice. I was super pissed off that I hadn't thought to pair printed shorts with a matching blazer that day. Damn, that was a good choice, Caity. That aside, FABB was basically euphoric.

Most memorable things heard from speakers:

"This is better than all my marriages." -Betsy Johnson on Lucky FABB

"Life is too short not to be bold." -Drew Barrymore

"I don't think you can. Some things fall off the table." -Drew Barrymore on women having it all.

"You have to check your ego at the door." -Mandana Dayani

"I get told every day that I should die for my opinions...but I don't care." -Kelly Osborn

"Look at yourself in the mirror and say 'you are really fucking beautiful." -Kelly Osborn

Best beauty tips learned:

Get the fake lash look without falsies: use brown mascara at the roots, black on the tips! Adds definition and depth. -Bruce Grayson of PG Beauty

Happiness is the best makeup." -Drew Barrymore

Needless to say, I think this will become an annual trip. I'll post outfits from the trip shortly. (It is likely that "shortly" means Monday because I am running the SF Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 marathon Sunday morning.) Wish me luck!