paris is always a good idea.

Lovelies,

Nowhere is more magical than Paris. 

Although I visited Paris in November of 2009, I felt great sense of confidence and excitement entering Paris for a second time. Equipped with four additional years of french floating around in my mind, as well as a year's worth of knowledge from an AP Art History course, I couldn't wait to explore and immerse myself in the culture.

I split my time between exploring the city with Marie, and visiting museums with my parents. During my time with Marie, we communicated in a mix of French and English (occasionally Franglish). Without question, I saw a huge improvement in my communication and listening skills; I even picked up on some trendy french slang! 

Because I spent 10 days in Paris, I was fortunate to see a great a lot of the city. Some of my favorite places included Place de la Vosges (a lively spot for local Parisians), L'île Saint Louis (the smaller and more quaint of the two islands located in the Seine), Rue du Faubourg Sain Honoré (one of the very fashionable streets lined with ateliers and haute couture) and Musée Marmotton (a gem of a museum that holds a great deal of Monet's works). Other favorite memories include trips on the Metro, tea service at Laduree and relaxing in gardens near Notre Dame. 

These photos were taken outside of Le Musée D'Orsay, my favorite museum. I actually visited twice; once with Marie, and once with my mom. On both occasions, I served as their personal tour guide. I really love art, so elaborating on the symbolism of Millet's The Wheat Gatherers or Van Gogh's Portrait of Dr. Gatchet was a lot of fun.

Not surprisingly, I planned out this outfit months before I left for Paris. The combination of a light silk summer dress and a colorful denim jacket turned out just right; I felt comfortable yet stylish while exploring the city on a humid summer day.

xoxo,

emily

notes on the outfit:

madewell dress, jacket and sandals

j. crew bracelet

dooney and bourke bag

Bucket List Item #16

 Lovelies,

 When I was ten years old, I wanted to be an architect. In part, I was inspired by the documentary on Frank Gehry, a quirky Canadian architect whose use of metal and glass turned the industry on its head. In the documentary, a few of his major works are highlighted, The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao being one of them. After waiting for years, I finally got to visit! I tried to take photos of the most interesting structural aspects of the building, including the varying angles of the sheet metal, as well as the glass panels in the interior.

The museum hosted several temporary exhibitions while we visited, one being the Riotous Baroque exhibition. This installation presented questionably- themed modern day pieces alongside Baroque-era pieces to emphasize the shock value of the Baroque pieces when they were originally released. This was unlike any other exhibition I had ever visited; the way the curator designed the layout of the floor was fascinating.

While visiting art museums, I like to look as artsy as possible. I attempted to do so by combining the colorful striped scarf with a basic striped shirt. I think it provides some great contrast and color to the monochromatic blue base (jeans and blazer). I finished the look with brand new Converse (there's something about the fresh, white rubber accents that makes me feel so pulled together), and my J. Crew schoolboy blazer.  

XOXO,

Em

Notes on the Outfit-

- J. Crew Schoolboy Blazer in Navy 

- Madewell Striped Shirt

- Michel LeBrun Scarf (I purchased this at a small boutique in my town. The designer is based in Paris and makes incredible scarfs! You can shop for some of them here. The site is in progress, but it should be back up soon).

- Abercrombie Jeans

- Longchamp 'Le Pliage' Tote

- Converse

- Dogeared Necklace

Biarritz Beachin'

Lovelies,

I just returned last night from an eighteen day adventure in Europe! I had a wonderful time and feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to immerse myself in different cultures. From visiting the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao to strolling in Monet's water gardens in Giverny, I documented it all. The next eight posts will cover the culture, food and style (of course) of France and Spain.

Our trip began with a few days in the small yet lively coastal town of Biarritz, France, which is located 20 minutes from the Spanish border. There is definitely a Basque influence present in and amongst the region. Identified by their famous wool berets, the Basques speak an entirely different language from both the Spanish and French. Their interesting cuisine and tradition (i.e. fancy calligraphy) influences surrounding areas in north-central Spain and southwestern France.

The town of Biarritz clearly serves as a vacation spot for many French people, most of whom flock to the destination during their vacation periods in August. In the past, the town served as a hot spot for the rich and famous; both Ernest Hemingway and Coco Chanel spent days lounging on the large stretch of beach, or La Grande Plage, at the base of the town. This area is considered to be one of the best to visit in France for surfing.

By midday, shops and cafés along the waterfront are busy and crowded. Men and women flock to stores for fashionable beach apparel, while others decide to spend their afternoon sailing along the coast. Once the sun sets, fireworks illuminate the sky and the town vibrates with activity.

Overall, I really enjoyed the days we spent in Biarritz, mainly because it was an excellent place to be while getting over jet lag. The town was vibrant, but it was easy to feel relaxed here.

XOXO,

Em

Notes on the outfit- 

I noticed that many young women vacationing in Biarritz wore loose cotton shifts and high-bunned their hair; a very carefree look. To emulate their style, I wore my Madewell drop-waist floral dress and Madewell leather sandals.

Summer Favorites

Lovelies,

Below are my six favorite summer items:

1. Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm- As a high school student, I am constantly looking for products that are long-lasting, fuss-free and fun. For months, I have been impressed with this balm's ability to keep my lips chap-free, while serving as a lightweight gloss. The formula of petroleum jelly and rose extract is simple, but works wonders (especially in the winter months). During the summer, I have found that it serves as an excellent on-the-go product. The balm can be used on hands as well. Available at Sephora and Anthropologie, $6.

2. Madewell Friendship Bracelets- These past few months, I have traded my J. Crew costume jewelry for more delicate, wearable pieces. These two bracelets are staples in my wardrobe; I wear them quite frequently, and they go with pretty much everything. Although they are friendship bracelets, aspects such as the gold accents and fun colors classify them as a subtle statement piece, especially if layered. Available at Madewell, $10 each.

3. Moroccon Oil Curl Control Mousse- It is no secret that I have hair that simply can't be tamed. I had never tried a curl mousse before this product, and have been impressed with the results. (You could say it has become a little easier to style my hair). The solution shapes curls while fighting frizz simultaneously. Even for someone with tame hair, this product does provide those "beach waves" that many girls wish to accomplish. Available at Ulta and Moroccan Oil's website, $29.

4. Anthropologie Stretchy Headbands- I recently dubbed these my "hipster headbands". These vibrant elastics are fun accent pieces, and come in varying patterns, colors and textures. Most importantly, they make it a little more enjoyable to wear one's hair in a bun. Available at Anthropologie, $15.

5. Zoya Nail Polish in Maya- I love to wear pinks in the summer, especially on my nails. Zoya polishes are always the best to use, as they are toluene, formaldehyde, DBP and camphor free. Fewer chemicals, happier nails. Available at most nail salons, $7.

6. Almay Skin Balancing Pressed Powder- Although I tried loose powder for a while, I was constantly frustrated with the amount of unused product that seemed to end up all over my bathroom floor (so much anger in the mornings). A pressed powder with balancing components was a wonderful solution. I especially like the design on the powder; very artsy. Available at CVS, $11.

Em

The City of Brotherly Love

Lovelies,

Without question, this outfit is one of my favorites for the summer. Lately, I've had fun combining different textures to create a multi-dimensional look. I especially love the chiffon skirt, as it is both youthful and gives the outfit added movement. The leather accents add an earthy and polished touch.

These pictures were taken at Logan Square in Philadelphia, near our hotel. Since it was my first time visiting the city, my mom and I decided to explore several "districts", including Rittenhouse Square and Museum Parkway. I loved Philadelphia's unique charm and historic nature. 

Rittenhouse Square, which gives a nod to Manhattan's Upper East Side, houses trendy boutiques and restaurants, both of which surround a green and luscious park with fountains and walking paths. I was especially impressed with The Dandelion (a trendy and innovative gastropub with an entire room dedicated to man's best friend, lovingly nicknamed the Dog Room), as well as the four story Anthropologie situated in the historic Drexel house.

Museum Parkway is home to many of the city's premier museums, including The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Barnes Foundation and The Rodin Museum. I spent nearly an entire day in the Museum of Art, exploring the fantastic Impressionist collection as well as the extensive number of european and asian artifacts. My favorite piece in the museum was a panel of stained glass taken from Saint Chapelle in Paris. 

Happy Fourth of July! I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday,

Em

Notes on the outfit-

- J. Crew Baseball Tee

- American Apparel Chiffon Skirt 

- Madewell Shoes and Ring

- Longchamp Long Handle 'Le Pliage' Tote

Carry On

Lovelies,

This will be a relatively brief post, as I am  in the middle of studying for my final exams taking place this upcoming week. I'm practically brain-dead from learning about Transduction and integrals of Polar graphs. Yikes.

I shot a few photos last week to highlight this absolutely gorgeous Madewell shirt with embroidered detailing. The fabric, a lightweight and airy cotton material, is perfect for the upcoming Central Valley heat here in California. I especially love this shirt because of its neon accents; the neon melon color you see above seems to be the unofficial color of summer! If you're interested, the shirt is featured in Madewell's online catalogue; you can find that here.

I'm very excited to announce that I will be traveling abroad to Paris, Saint- Émilion and Normandy this summer to visit and (stay with) my dearest friend, Marie! I will be completely immersed in the French culture for two full weeks; this includes speaking French...only French....

I'm worried that I'm going to forget my five years-worth of french courses as soon as I step off the plane. In all honesty, however, I cannot wait to see Marie, spend time in museums AND improve my french simultaneously. It's all a rather good plan. ;)

Good luck with finals, everyone!

-Emily

Details-

Madewell Shirt

Dogeared Necklace

Anthropologie Earrings

Gatsby...What Gatsby?

Lovelies,

I know I previously mentioned my excitement for the upcoming release of the Great Gatsby in my Summer Playlist, but I still felt the need to dedicate an entire post to my Gatsby obsession in order to give it the amount of attention it deserves.

I first read The Great Gatsby this past summer. Although it took me a while to get past the complexity of Fitzgerald's sentence structure and flowery descriptions, the plot consumed my interest; it wasn't long until it became my favorite novel. Although I don't consider myself a romantic, there is something undoubtably charming about Gatsby's sense of determination to capture Daisy's heart again; add in the Jazz Age and New York City, and you have, arguably, one of the greatest pieces of American literature.

Gatsby has gotten more than its share of press over the past few months. The latest Vogue, pictured above, features Carey Mulligan and discusses the so-called "Gatsby phenomenon" sweeping the nation. Meanwhile, companies such as Tiffany and Co. and Brooks Brothers have launched limited collections inspired by the upcoming film. Tiffany's launch party, held at Rockefeller Center in New York, featured acrobatic acts and elaborate displays. Bill Cunningham was there to photograph the event, of course. ;)

One thing is for sure - A Gatsby craze is upon us.

My only concern about this film is Director Baz Lurhmann's desire to "modernize" the plot, in turn eliminating some of the authenticity. I'd like to think that the star-studded cast, amazing soundtrack and Lurhman's over-the-top opulence will dazzle. However, I can't be sure.

I know that my dress isn't exactly reminiscent of the Jazz Age, but the draw-string waist and print almost emulates the avant-garde styles worn by the flappers, and Daisy Buchanans alike, during the 20's. ;) I adore this dress due to its simplicity, comfort, and pop of color. I accessorized with dainty, classic pieces such as the Anthropologie flower posts and Madewell friendship bracelet.

Notes on the Outfit-

Tulle Shift Dress

Ray-Ban Wayfarers

Anthropologie Earrings

Dogeared Necklace

Madewell Friendship Bracelet

Franco Sarto Sandals

XOXO,

Em

Southern California

Lovelies,

This past week, I spent some time in Southern California touring the Claremont colleges. I especially love college visits because they tend to renew my energy and drive.... after weeks of monotonous school days, little sleep and piles of homework, it's nice to get away. Claremont village, a quiet yet upscale town located about an hour away from Downtown L.A, is full of small restaurants and boutiques. I spent a lot of time exploring the downtown area with my mom when I wasn't sitting in on a class or attending an information session.

Not much to write about otherwise. Several Disneyland posts coming soon! :)

Notes on the Outfit-

Jacket by J. Crew

Shirt by Madewell

Shorts by Zara

Bag by Marc by Marc Jacobs

White Converse

-Em 

Suburbia

Lovelies,

Spring is approaching, and I'm beyond excited. Hello, sunny weather, iced tea lemonade and chiffon skirts. :)

Lately, I've been collecting pieces with vintage hues, yet relatively simple design and construction.  This Madewell shirt satisfies my desire for these vintage hues, yet it's simple enough to pair with an array of skirts, jeans and shorts. I love the silkscreened colored blocks on the front of the tee...they remind me of a screen on an old television set!

Although I didn't have much time this past week to follow the full reports on the latest NYFW (New York Fashion Week) collections, I made the decision to follow a few stylists and Teen Vogue on Instagram to get quick updates, right from the runway. Best decision ever...I especially loved the looks from Marc Jacobs A/W 2013/2014 Collection.

I'll be visiting San Francisco and New York City soon (CAN'T HOLD IN EXCITEMENT MUCH LONGER). I'll be sure to post all my adventures as soon possible. :)

Details-

Madewell Tee Shirt

Abercrombie Jeans

Steve Madden Shoes

Versace Glasses

Necklace from The Getty Museum in Los Angeles

XOXO,

Em