Don't Let Perfection Be the Enemy of Good

Summer, Fall...which is it?

Feels like Summer, but Fall is in the air.

I love the look of an off-white purse and with the days getting shorter, there isn't much time to wear out all the summer pieces before Labor Day...is that still a thing?

So, striped shirt, peep toe booties and off-white purse are a nod to summer, but the black blazer is good for mornings outside and air-conditioned offices inside.  Hollywood Secret:  Sound Stages are FREEZING COLD.  The hot lights heat up quickly, so stages are kept very chilly, so make-up won't run and actors won't sweat through their wardrobe.  If you ever come to visit in Hollywood, bring a jacket for set, you'll need it.

The pictures are a little fuzzy because I got a new lens for my camera and I am learning how to use it.  I almost didn't post because of it, but as my Daddy used to say, "Don't let perfection be the enemy of good", I'm learning.

Leave a comment if you please, I would love to hear from you.  What do you wear for transitional pieces from summer to fall?

-julie

Wednesday

What to Wear to a Meeting...

It's going to be cold inside with the air conditioning, so...

Hollywood Secret: The Column Rule for slimming your frame.  Unless you do not want to slim your frame, but for me, words like slimming, reducing, whittling are great places to start.

Off-white blazer (old) from Banana Republic serves as a contrast to the dark black top and dark blue jeans.  So for example, if we assigned a number for the TONE of black, it would be 10 (super dark tone) and if we assigned a number for the TONE of white (super light tone), it would be 1 (the number for the TONE of yellow, green, light blue would be somewhere in the middle, like a 5, so white and pink aren't very contrasting)  High contrasting creates a column effect and makes the body appear slimmer.  

In Hollywood, appearance is everything.

I'm not anywhere near Old New York.  I'm standing on Old New York street on the backlot of the studio.  It appears like I'm in New York, right?  Don't look too close, those concrete banisters are made of wood and the plants are in movable pots.

I hope you are having a good day.  Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.

-julie

Going to the Movies on a Hot Summer Day

The movie was a dog, but I was comfortable.

A light-weight off-white moto jacket is just enough to keep me comfortable in the theater.

Moto jacket is an oldie, but a goodie by a designer friend of mine.  Her styles change from season to season, but here is something similar from Shelley and they come in lots of colors

Link here: http://www.shelleycaudilldesigns.com/Jackets/longmotorcycleja.html

This is from Urban Outfitters.  

Link here:  http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=37365293&color=011&cm_mmc=SEM-_-Google-_-PLA-_-82529881864_product_type_w_product_type_app_product_type_outerwear&adpos=1o1&creative=100432023784&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=Cj0KEQjw_qW9BRCcv-Xc5Jn-26gBEiQAM-iJhSVQ7wurQsdJquZRsQkc8_01EWsP6xv5D5MlJRY7cEIaAiqE8P8HAQ

...and this one, not so crazy about the light grey color, but the price is right.

Link here: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=39070792&color=006&cm_mmc=SEM-_-Google-_-PLA-_-82529881864_product_type_w_product_type_app_product_type_outerwear&adpos=1o3&creative=100432023784&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=Cj0KEQjw_qW9BRCcv-Xc5Jn-26gBEiQAM-iJhb5IquqP_Wt2IUXnXck_3WE3jylJjenlXn6Gs2zSBOYaAt4G8P8HAQ

...and then there's Ralph Lauren with the most gorgeous and affordable.  Love the color.

Link here:  http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/index.jsp?productId=88463626&utm_source=CSE&utm_medium=Google_PLA&utm_campaign=CA&utm_content=Women-Jackets&CAWELAID=120209620001776824&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=28929027375&CATCI=pla-183219993135&catargetid=120209620002164479&cadevice=c&gclid=Cj0KEQjw_qW9BRCcv-Xc5Jn-26gBEiQAM-iJhcKuOClN-5fb0VEk-z57cfmZXxyCIKbH2ZjfkG0JLJ0aAnxG8P8HAQ

(Not just for the 1950's dancing-boys gang anymore)

I hope you have a fabulous day.  -julie

Saturday Night Dinner Out

Transitional layers

Time to start thinking about Fall.

Hot in the day, cool in the evenings, but hot flashes...whenever. 

The little white dress (old) is a little too revealing, 

so the long navy blue duster (old) gets the job done.
I am using the "column rule" here by wearing a contrasting color over the white dress, creating a slimming, "column" effect.  (I'm 5'1"ish).

Hollywood Secret:  Nude shoes lengthen your legs...match your shoes to the skin tone of your leg, it will lengthen your leg.  These pretty much match the tone of my leg.

Link here: 

http://www.aldoshoes.com/us/en_US/women/new-arrivals/c/101/SERGIOA/p/47730131-32

I matched the color of my dress to my little clutch and the simple necklace.  The knit duster is from Eileen Fisher, but I've seen similar dusters from American Apparel.

She must be tall or I am short because I swear this duster (one size) comes to the 

middle of my calf.

I have it in black and cream, and it comes in gray as well.

Link here: 

http://store.americanapparel.net/en/boucl%C3%A9-shawl-cardigan_rsa0330?c=Natural%20Cotton%20Boucle

It's nice to have a little wiggle room for dessert...why postpone joy?  Do you think the ladies of the Titanic were sad that they waved off the dessert cart?

I'll exercise tomorrow.

Thank you for stopping by, leave a comment if you please.  I like knowing you were here and I want to hear what you have to say.  How did you spend your Saturday night?  

I hope you are having a blessed Sunday.

-Julie

Saturday Morning Casual

The Weekend

Usually, I spend the weekend around the house.

So, naturally, it's very casual.  I love the look and casual feel of a kimono.

This, is not, a kimono.  It is a scarf that I tied (you can see the knots) and tucked into the neck of my workout top.

I have even ventured out in this and got a bunch of compliments!  Isn't it gorgeous!?

It's by the artist, Sigal Cohen Wolkowiez:

http://shopsigal.com/our-story/

This scarf has a name: La Mancha

I liked it because it reminds me of the "evil eye" and we could all use a little help!

Link here: http://shopsigal.com/all-products-2/oversized-silk-scarf-multicolor-lamancha

Check out all the beautiful products she has.

Enjoy your weekend and leave a comment if you please.  What do you wear when lounging around the house on a casual weekend?

Lunch at Bottega Louis

What to Wear to Lunch DTLA

White jeans are in order...

My new favorite trick came from Susan Street over at FiftynotFrumpy.blogspot.com, that is to wear a long necklace to break up the barrel chest.  Now I will always use that tip.

 Look how well it works!!  I'm so happy to learn that trick, it keeps me from looking bigger up top and I'm trying to reduce added bulk.  Hollywood Secret:  Whenever wearing white, pack your Wet Ones.

Just like these.  They totally work on white and I NEVER leave home with white jeans without a pack of Wet Ones.  This is what the wardrobe people carry with them AT ALL TIMES on set, because it works!!

Bottega Louie is a restaurant, but they have the most amazing desserts.  You can not leave the place without a box of macaroons in every flavor.  If you ever get to DTLA (downtown Los Angeles), Bottega Louie is a destination.

Even the packaging is gorgeous!

Please leave comments, I would love to hear what you have to say and thank you in advance!  Enjoy your day! 

What to Wear to Work, Then to Dinner

I came across this pix and found my inspiration.

Then, I had to go to work and then to dinner.

Doesn't she have great style?  Her name is Robyn and she's on Instagram as: chic_in_chanel

Her style is effortless...am I right?

But first, work work work.

And then add some heels and a white jacket and...

Ready to go.

Day to night.

Gingham Again?

Is that gingham again?

Is that gingham?

Yes.  It is.  Gingham is so easy breezy to wear for hot summer work days.

White jeans are really easy to wear!!

Hollywood Secret: Wet Ones.

Yes.  Wet Ones.  Wardrobe people have them ON THEIR PERSON at all times when on-set, because actors are messy people.  Okay, maybe that's not nice to messy people.  Actors are normal and sometimes normal people spill on themselves and this product works.  The other day I was wearing white jeans and spilled mustard during lunch.  I took pictures of the miracle that are Wet Ones.

I carry them with me at all times when I am wearing white.

On my way!

What to Wear to Get the Job Done

Taking care of business

I have to be able to move and run...

The early bird gets the worm and I have lots of worms to gather today!

I'm loving my Steve Madden shoes, they are very comfortable for stacked heels.

http://www.stevemadden.com/product/CARRSON/229265.uts?cm_sp=globalheader-_-search&form_state=searchForm&CSRF_TOKEN_SEARCHCMD=&keyword1=CARRSON&keyword=CARRSON

White "Rock Star" jeans from Old Navy, I get them in the "short" size.  Black blazer (old) from Banana Republic.  Brown leather bag from Coach, link here:

http://www.coach.com/coach-designer-handbags-prairie-satchel-in-pebble-leather/34340.html?search=true&dwvar_color=SV%2FSD

Plumeria flower from my garden.

Show Blacks

Trying to keep it fresh...

Black can be boring, so mixing up materials and textures keeps it interesting.

The sheer black chiffon blouse has a little tie at the neck.  I'm not much of a bow kind of girl, so I tied it like a necktie, it's super sheer, so black camisole instead of a bra.  Black blouse is old from American Apparel, but I checked the website and saw this one:

http://store.americanapparel.net/en/printed-chiffon-secretary-blouse_rsacf309pr?c=Creme%20Erratic%20Square%20on%20Black

I got new sunnies yesterday.  I buy my sunglasses from Target because I lose them.  And that's painful.  But, at Bloomingdales, if you join their "loyalist" program, you get gift certificates for points, more points, higher gift certificates. I saved my points and got these sunnies...I won't lose these, I swear, 'cus I'm never taking them off.

http://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/valentino-floating-rockstud-square-sunglasses-51mm?ID=1339864&CategoryID=3376#fn=ppp%3D180%26spp%3D4%26sp%3D1%26rid%3D78|BOOST SAVED SET%26spc%3D4%26cm_kws%3Dvalentino sunglasses%26cm_kws_ac%3Dvalentino%26pn%3D1

Skirt (old) and no longer available, but I did a Google search for black bandage skirt and there were lots of options.  Nude shoes (old) by Steve Madden.  Hollywood Secret: nude shoes lengthen legs!!  Bag (old) from Coach, but again, lots of options online:

https://www.google.com/#q=black+satchel+bag&tbm=shop

(Those Steve Madden bags are cute and affordable)

Summer Inspiration

I'm new here...

Somedays, it's nice to have an effortless inspiration...

It feels like my own personal stylist.

I know, right?  Her name is Lisa, don't you love her style?  Effortless, adorable, summer-y (is that a word, spellcheck says no).  I love her style and her blog, here's a link:

peridotskies.com 

(I got sooooo many compliments...Thank you, Lisa)

The dress is old from Old Navy, it originally had long sleeves, but after seeing beautiful Lisa, I realized that the dress was too summery to have long sleeves, I never wore it.  So, I cut off the sleeves and now I'm wearing it, where before it sat lonely in my closet.

I love, love, love my Bandolier!  Whenever I upgrade my phone, the first thing I do is order one of these.  The styles change, but the quality does not and, it is worth every penny.  It's great for on the go and you will never lose your phone.

Here is a link to their website:

bandolierstyle.com

Hat by Sole Society available at Nordstroms.  Here's the link:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/sr?origin=keywordsearch&contextualcategoryid=0&keyword=sole+society+straw+hat

Hollywood Secret:  use anti-perspirant where ever you don't want to perspire.  I use it between my legs...never chafe again!!!

I love bloggers...did I do good, Lisa, my muse?