holiday gift guide: the 20-something working girl.

i am sure you are well aware that it is one of my someday dreams to be an editor. until then, i have it's all happening as an outlet. i'm oh so grateful that my job allows me to dabble in writing content for our lifestyle sites {our group includes stylelist, kitchen daily, homesessive, style me pretty, and makers}.

most recently, i got to create a gift guide for stylelist. each gift guide is what we call a stylelist select in which our editors are selecting the nine best products for you in a certain category. the products have a get it button that takes readers directly to purchase. so, you're shopping while you're browsing! fun stuff.

so, dolls, i present to you, treats for the 20-something working girl. it's meant to be for the girl living in the big city, and gifts that you really really want, but may have a tough time buying for yourself.

get it {it's a little out of order to match the stylelist selects}.

// 1. kate spade iphone case // 2. mark and graham everyday leather tote {love the black but any color is perfect} // 3. gap printed poplin pj {set in micro dot milk allure} // 4. kate spade just browsing laptop sleeve // 5. gap socks {sold out but other cute ones here and here} // 6. jo malone perfume set at nordies // 7.  lululemon carry me om tote // 8. emily elizabeth jewelry xo stud earrings // 9. anthropologie capri blue jar candle //

also, on my twenty fourteen goals... learn photoshop. in fact, i'm about to purchase photoshop for dummies. tips are always welcome! it's something i've been wanting to master for years now. i've got lots to learn {as you can tell from my first try at the collage above}.

happy holidays {and happy shopping}, my little snow angels! hoping i have time to sneak in another guide before christmas because i have so many coveted wants in this 'ol head for you.

ps. that one other time i got to publish some words.

six trends to watch this summer.

to be honest i've been sitting on this post for at least a month now, but better late than never.

trends are such a funny thing to me. i spend hours thinking about where they come from. the runway? yes. but also no. if i've learned anything about new york, it's that this is much more so the birthplace of a trend than san francisco.

for example, upon arrival to new york, i noticed that wedge sneakers were in. who knew? i'd never even heard of such a thing! either that trend never hit the west coast or i was not paying attention. so, after some light magazine reading and being challenged to know current trends via my job {you can watch the video i appeared in on behalf of stylelist for aol jobs to chat about what not to wear to the office this summer with the fashion editor of redbook magazine}, i put together my own little list of summer trends that i've got my eye on. so, here's my take on summer style and the looks i might try. ready, go!

in tribal we trust.

i love the idea of mixing in one piece of tribal print for some extra flare like the photo above, or even going all out with a long dress. i also see pops of ikat on iphone cases, backpacks, and nail polish. either way, you can find everything tribal you need at go jane.

pucker up for peplum

it's here in many-a-form - tops, skirts, and dresses - and quite frankly, i think it looks cute worn every which way. j.crew carries a simple top... and i might just have to click purchase {photo via}. 

bare in bandeau.

this music festival {in my opinion} inspired trend is really all about baring your midriff, so call it what you will, the point is your top is officially cropped. this takes the meaning of toned abs to a whole new level. check out asos for some inspiration. 

crazy for cutouts. 

this summer, back is in. so is side. in fact, showing just a little bit of skin in unusual ways is all the rage. the key is balancing the fine line of classy and, well, not so much. try lulu's to get it just right.

do it in denim.

always a classic choice, denim is popping up in everything. the classic denim cut off short, the easy breezy chambray shirt, even the manicure. denim is as present as ever {looks found here & here}

take that, tough girl.

so, the met ball? never hear of it until this year. or, i did, but i'm pretty sure it just went in one ear and out the other. well, leather is in. punk is in. the 90's are back. that's the buzz. mainly, i think the trend has seeped its way into certain pieces and so, a chic touch of leather is definitely a must. thank you, zara.

ps. just two more things to note that aren't necessarily broad trends, but items that are around every turn. the hepcat shade and the ankle strap heel {may or may not have just bought 3 pair}.  gotta love it.

okay, so long for now, loves. that's a wrap on trends. get 'em before the summer's over.  happy shopping! xo

on the street.

you guys.

have you seen bill cunningham new york yet? it's an oldie at this point, as it came out in 2010, but oh it's such a goodie.

bill is the dearest man you've ever met, a true artist following his passion for fashion on the streets of new york for nearly five decades now. five decades! 

his life is simple and sweet. every day he gets dressed in his blue french worker's jacket, hops on his bike, and snaps photos of real, everyday outfits on the street {um, hello, he's the original sartorialist}. he captures themes, trends, anything he deems interesting, reporting it all over here at the new york times in a weekly sunday spread {guess who's their newest subscriber!?}. he also {begrudgingly} does a voice recorded weekly round up here. what a treat!

you'll laugh out loud, you'll cry, and you'll be inspired by the message he most certainly is imprinting on the world.

it is as true today as it ever was, he who seeks beauty will find it.

it's now on my new york bucket list to see him riding around the streets of new york on his bicycle with that camera swung around his neck. let's hope i'm wearing something decent that day.

and to think lately i've been doing google searches for summer 2013 fashion trends. i just need to check in with my new friend bill, the humble fashion prophet capturing it for us in real-time. thank you, bill, the world needs more people like you.

*photo via. 

#ootd

so, the other day i had to finally cave and google #ootd. i swore to myself i'd figure it out on my own, but too much time passed for me to still be in the dark about this recurring hashtag {since we live in a hashtag universe, now don't we?}.

well, dolls, if you needed a little help like i did cracking this acronym, it stands for outfit of the day. thank you, atlantic-pacific, pink peonies, and sterling style for teaching me the ropes of a fashion blogger.

i decided to take a stab at it myself today. and while i am not up to par to the greats, and this isn't necessarily a fashion or style blog, i thought, well, why not? i did like what i styled this afternoon {and i did win best dressed in high school, after all. i miss those days of matching socks and, apparently, much better style}.

here goes... shirt: chambré from urban outfitters. vest: ann taylor loft {of all places!}. belt: gap. pants: DL1961 skinnies in merlot. shoes: sam edelman.

... and there you have it. thanks for letting me have a little fun!

thank you, photographer. photo taken after a lovely saturday brunch at one of my new favorite sf spots: source cafe and prior to crazy holiday union square shopping adventures.

sweater personality.

a few weeks ago i spotted this heart sweater on a cup a jo! love me some cup of jo. she is one of the very first bloggers i ever followed, and she's still a daily go-to read.

anyhow, within seconds of seeing the post i clicked on the link to purchase this j.crew heart sweater. it's me summed up in one little knit. i can tell it's going to be a holiday fave.

thank you, darling jo!