Author Archives: Luisa Lucia

Mt. Baldy | Snow Day & Rockslide Drama

Posted in Outfit Inspiration, Travel by

I lived in the heart of LA for nearly a decade (and loved every minute of it).  But more recently, when it came time to settle down and buy a house, my hubby and I decided on the suburbs – 1. Because he works in the suburbs and a five minute commute is better than a two hour commute.  2. Because it’s cheaper, DUH.  So now we live in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains, about 45 minutes from the city (if traffic is light).  It’s a bit quieter, but definitely still busy enough. In our particular case, we live right as the base of the highest peak of the San Gabriels, Mount San Antonio, or more commonly Mount Baldy.  In fact, we have a gorgeous view of the mountain right from our doorstep…

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Holiday Plans | London Bound

Posted in Fashion & Style, Travel by

For those of you who know me or follow my blog, you’ll know that my hubby is British.  He moved to the US about 20 years ago now, and is a dual British/US citizen.  ALL his family however is back in the UK.  He’s super close with them (mom, siblings, and extended family too, not to mention a daughter with his ex) so we make frequent trips across the pond.  We have an arrangement where we spend every other Christmas in England, and we’ll be leaving tomorrow.  It gives me a great excuse to shop for winter clothes that I wouldn’t normally need here in Cali.  I’ve spent the last month stockpiling wooly sweaters and plaid scarves 🙂  I usually plan my packing in advance – even if I don’t actually pack, I plan all the outfits in my head.  I’ve been so many times that I have a sort of system down.  We also tend to visit in the summer, and though the items I pack are different, the idea is the same.

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Winter Wedding | Congrats To Purely Jessica

Posted in Outfit Inspiration, Personal Updates by

I first met my good friend Jessica a few years back when I was looking for an assistant to help out with day-to-day fashion tasks (as well as Urban Darling tasks).  She was a recent fashion school grad who applied to one of my job postings, and I liked her right away.  She was a bit shy and quiet, but very sweet, and I knew we would get along well.  While I’ve always been more interested in design and styling, she’s a talented seamstress who makes most of her clothes by hand.  She also has a great eye for photography, and takes most of my blog photos.  When I was married exactly a year ago this month (on Dec. 27th) I even asked her to do my wedding photos.  It was a very small, intimate ceremony, and I didn’t want to make a lot of fuss by hiring a professional.  Jessica was there with me through the whole process – as I got ready right through to the end of the event, and I think the photos turned out wonderfully.

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Thanksgiving Outfit Planning: Trendy & Chic

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Thanksgiving is exactly two weeks away, and I’m sure most of you have plans that involve sitting around a table with family and/or friends.  In my case, Thanksgiving is traditionally held at my aunt’s house, which is nearby, so I don’t really have to travel.  My mom and dad aren’t close unfortunately, but my aunt, uncle, cousins, and grandma are.  My hubby and I attend every year, and in addition to family, we see some other friendly faces that we only catch a few times a year.  I like to look nice for Thanksgiving, and usually err on the fancier side, wearing a dress of some sort.  That’s not to say a casual Thanksgiving look is out of the question…there’s something very comforting about being cozy while you eat and drink yourself silly.  But either way, I like to plan my outfit in advance.  This year I got to thinking about how to incorporate some major fall trends into my Thanksgiving outfit.  Contrary to popular belief, trendy doesn’t have to be tacky.  It’s easy to incorporate seasonal styles in a way that’s chic and timeless.  So here are some ideas that would be easy for anyone to recreate.

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Trend Transitions | Almost Sweater Weather

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As I sit and write this, it’s actually cold and rainy outside, and it finally feels like fall is here!  A few days ago when I shot this look, it wasn’t quite as cold, but it was overcast and cool enough to wear a little sweater.  I styled this outfit because I wanted to show how easily you can transition a spring trend into fall.  Gingham was probably the standout spring print.  Florals and stripes are always big for spring, but this past season gingham was the fun, fresh wildcard.  It’s incredibly versatile however, because black and white prints have classic, seasonless appeal.  These particular pants are not heavy enough for a cold winter day, but they definitely work for a cool-ish fall day.  I could have layered a lightweight coat or jacket for additional warm, and opted for booties instead of sandals, but again it wasn’t quite that cool.  I just got really excited to wear a sweater 🙂  Alsoooooo, I’m wearing Lime Crime’s velvetine in cashmere on the lips.  It’s honestly one of my favorite colors for fall/winter!

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Sweater: Banana Republic (similar here & here) / Pants: LOFT (exact here & similar here) / Sandals: Sam Edelman (similar here & here) / Sunglasses: Quay X Shay (sold out, similar here) / Earrings: BaubleBar (similar here) / Necklace: BaubleBar (similar here) / Bracelet: JewelMint (similar here) / Handbag: Ted Baker (similar here)

Photography by Jessica Kircher

Happy Halloween | Costume Idea + Throwback

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Halloween is easily one of my favorite holidays.  Growing up in a warm climate (South Florida) and now living in another warm climate, we don’t really “feel” the fall until late October.  In fact, like clockwork, the weather has just begun to turn cool.  So Halloween for me has always marked a change in seasons…a time when the hot summer sun finally lets up to cooler days.  Of course I love the spooky element, and the dress up element, and the fact that everyone seems to take it so seriously.  Halloween is one of those holidays where grownups get to act like kids.  (For my hubby it’s an excuse to munch on candy all week until the trick-or-treaters come and clean us out.)  I usually like to have something planned for the occasion, but unfortunately, this year my little (big) doggy isn’t well.  She just had major knee surgery and needs constant attention, so we can’t actually leave her for the night.  Instead we’ll probably sit outside on the front porch handing out candy, with our little baby resting on her bed nearby. Nonetheless, I got to thinking what I would wear in case I do feel like dressing up.  Since I didn’t plan a costume in advance, I wanted to pull something from my existing wardrobe, and I immediately thought of the pretty pink tutu dress I scooped up at BCBG some years back.  It’s sweet and simple and very much like a tutu except it’s an actual dress, and it offers a lot of versatility.  Which is great, because I don’t want to go the ballerina route.  Instead I thought of those cute little cupcake dolls I used to have as a kid – the ones with the big full skirts and the floppy cupcake hats.  They were even scented to smell like different sweets!  Anyway, I think it would be fun to transform my tutu into a cupcake inspired costume, using many of the items I already have laying around…what do you think?!
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Style board inspo for my costume 🙂  I already have the tutu, floppy hat, mint heels, etc.  And don’t you just loooooove the cupcake bag and earrings from Kate Spade?!

Here’s the dress itself, last time I wore it, for an evening event…styled very differently, but again I love the versatility.  Sorry for the blurry (super old iPhone) photos, lol.

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Here are some pics of the actual cupcake dolls, sold in the early 90’s, then discontinued.  I legit loved these things.  You could flip their skirts inside-out and they would turn into sweet smelling cupcakes.  (You can still buy them here btw.)  I’m sure you can see where I’m going with this, not that anyone else would necessarily get my cupcake reference.

I think I have a tendency towards super girly costumes, which is interesting because my personal style is definitely more edgy.  This totally reminds me of the year I dressed up as Marie Antoinette, inspired by Holly Madison of then Girls Next Door fame…DSCN0566

 I even bought my costume at Trashy Lingerie, where Holly originally had hers made.  Hubby and I partied on the Queen Mary in Long Beach that year…it was a fun weekend.

ANYWAY, hope you all have a wonderful Halloween weekend!!!  Feel free to share your own costume plans in the comments.

Casual Cool | Weekend Vibes

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Let’s face it – life is busy in the world today.  Monday is manic and Friday is Fri-Yay.  We’re all on overdrive, and come the weekend, I think it’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to lounge in your PJ’s all day, or run errands in your gym clothes.  On particularly packed-out days, even I’m guilty of workout wear errand running.  BUT I don’t usually feel good about it.  There’s something to be said for looking nice, even when engaging in commonplace activities like grocery shopping.  For a night out, I’m all about getting glammed up.  But a simple Saturday calls for a dose of comfy and cool.  All sumer long this would’ve looked like a breezy sundress, but now that Fall is (sloooooowly) trickling in, I’ve resurrected everyone’s favorite wardrobe staple – the black legging.

And since I’ve mentioned it, for the record, I’d like to settle the “Are leggings pants?” debate once and for all.  As a professional stylist, I feel I have the authority to weigh in on this issue, (and it’s a question I answer for clients all the time).  Whether you can wear your leggings as pants depends on two basic factors – fabric and fit.  1. Fabric: How thick is the fabric?  How sturdy is it?  If it’s in the least bit sheer, then NO your leggings are not pants.  If it’s so thin that we can see every detail of every lump and bump, then NO your leggings are not pants.  2. Fit: Are your leggings practically painted on?  If they suction to your skin like tights and we can see the outline of your thong, then NO your leggings are not pants.  I’m saying this because I’ve seen women out in public, in broad daylight, walking around in see-through leggings, and leggings where yes I can see the outline of their dental floss undies.  But let me be clear – when I see this, I am NOT judging the individual.  I don’t know anything about the stranger in her see-through leggings, and I really don’t care what she’s up to because it has nothing to do with me.  She can wear whatever she wants.  I’m simply stating that I don’t consider her leggings to qualify as pants.  To be pants, they need to provide appropriate coverage.

Sooooo, for this particular look, the leggings I’m wearing are a thicker ponte fabric with a tiny flare at the bottom.  I bought them more for layering with sweaters and booties, but it’s not that cold yet in So Cal.  Instead, last weekend I wore them with a pretty blue ikat print blouse by Rachel Roy.  I love the way this blouse splits open on the sides, and it’s slightly longer in the back.  Interesting silhouettes always attract my eye.  I layered the blouse with one of my favorite long statement necklaces, and added a fun mixed-metal cuff to the mix.  The color-block structured handbag is also Rachel Roy, and the black gladiators, by Report, are my hands-down favorite summer sandals.  This look is way easy to throw together, and yet looks pulled-together.  I’d love to know how all of you dress up your leggings for a cute weekend look – so share with me in the comments!!

SHOP THE LOOK  

Blouse: Rachel Roy (similar here & here) / Leggings: H&M (here) / Sandals: Report Signature (similar here & here) / Necklace: Macy’s (similar here & here) / Cuff: Macy’s (similar here & here) / Handbag: Rachel Roy (similar here & here)

Photography by Jessica Kircher