Back from Denver now, and I’m jumping into yet another busy week. I’m as casual as they come, and have to be comfortable, so I thought I’d share some of my recent favorite basics from Three Dots. It’s not just a tank, it’s something I live in. Maybe you already have them in your closet, but I think their elevated cozy pieces are pretty amazing as every day wear. This tank in “gardenia” is the softest I own, and I love wearing it with tougher jackets such as my moto. Or….since it’s Spring, you can throw on this linen jacket (from Three Dots) for those lighter days.
1 Tank, 2 ways. How would you elevate your basics?
Look 1: Toughened Up
Look 2: Lighter
If you want to up the ante on your wardrobe staples, then I’d definitely add some Three Dots pieces into your closet this Spring.
As always thanks for reading! Colorado Part 1 to come soon…
I woke up early and ready to brave the cold and the snow for Day 2. I ran downstairs to the cafe at The Hudson for breakfast and coffee, changed into my warmest coat, and bolted out the door. I was immediately hit in the face by 30mph winds. This look was shot by Julia O Test, my shutterbug from S.F. She was staying at Hotel Giraffe not too far away, so we decided to spend the day together show hopping, eating, and shooting.
It may not sound like a hectic day, but if you think about it, you spend half your time in a taxi or Uber stuck in traffic the majority of the day, or just battling the weather. When you do make it to a show, you’re standing in line for at least 30 minutes in a sea of intimidating people, and then 30 minutes later, the show is done. Rinse and repeat. It’s a lot, physically, so the best advice I have is to keep a banana or snacks on you at all times :D
First look: This long coat is by The Fifth Label from Revolve.com. I kept a luna bar in my big ol pocket here. This was by far my longest and warmest coat and I don’t know what I’d do without it. It kept me very comfortable in well below 32 degree weather. I layered my look with warm knits from 525 America, cropped thick denim from Joes’s Jeans, and my new insanely comfy Italian shoes from Sentiero (on Maiden Lane in SF.)
Julia shot this look outside The Hudson in 5minutes before our Uber picked us up to see the Pret a Porter Show.
The Pret a Porter show was really fun, great energy, and a mix of Menswear and Womenswear. Check out my little clip below. (I couldn’t capture many photos from this show unfortunately.)
After the show, I changed into a new outfit and we were off to another.
This look was shot outside The Time Warner Building on our way to the Verdad Show. This faux fur jacket was found at Crossroads Trading Company, turtleneck from 525 America, Denim from Joes’s Jeans, and booties from Steve Madden.
Again, I wish I took photos from this show, but in the moment I was just taking it all in. Did you see my video on Instastories though? :D
(Photo by Noam Galai)
After this show it was time for dinner, so Julia, myself, and Christina (@classtige) decided to get ramen to warm ourselves from being out all day. Ippudo had a 2hr wait time, and we were starving. So we walked around the corner to Ramen Zundo-Ya in the East Village. It was delicious, fast service, and just what we needed.
That was a wrap on Day 2. I went back early to the hotel to prep for the longest and final day of Day 3 which included a hair appointment at Amika Style Blow, 2 shows, a presentation, and then the plane ride home. Between the cold, wind, rain, and noise of the city, I was exhausted and yet on a high from all the inspiration I was taking in. Looking forward to sharing with you my final day on Monday.
If you follow me on Instagram, you’d see the influx of food posts as of late. @Twelfthknight and I are very much centered around eating together. Nothing crazy or pretentious, just good food. Whether it is noshing locally, eating our way through a new city (we loved eating thought Denver), or cooking at home, we love our eats. I should note that we will never be seen waiting for 2 hours + for overly priced and over hyped restaurants that is common here in SF…no sir, we have things to do.
Enjoy my month’s round up of a few of our favorite food posts as well as my new “Cheat Day” pullover that I find appropriate to wear on repeat…because let’s face it. Cheat day is technically every day.
Fred’s Coffee Shop, Sausalito. We’d recommend their Millionaire’s Bacon and Lemon Ricotta pancakes.How cool are these shoes? BoohooUSAThe Siren Canteen, Stinson Beach. We had a spontaneous day trip up the coast and this restaurant is such a gem!
We made it in time for Taco Tuesday, their fish tacos and pale ciders are absolutely delicious. Stuff that reminds me of SoCal and SD.
On an off day, we went to the new SF Moma. 7 floors of art and we were hungry so on our way home we ate at the New England Lobster Market in Burlingame. Not pictured are the oysters!
My favorite, Santouka Ramen located inside the Mitsuwa center. In Los Angeles, anytime I was on Sawtelle Blvd, I’d sit here and order a combo all under $12 and would satisfy any sort food craving. This was taken at the Santouka in San Jose.
For our friend’s birthday, we came to Pacifica for seafood. Their favorite restaurant on the Penninsula side of the Bay, and I’d have to agree with them. Moonraker has the best view whilst eating some of the freshest seafood around!
Another beautiful set from Denver. Crystal clean air and a panoramic view to catch the sunset. No worries, no problems. And any negative juju or stress could be lost on this mountain. Jay Z said it best…Get, that, dirt off your shoulder.
Tis the season for holiday looks, so I teamed up with The Glam App (see previous post) and Piedmont photographer Julie Reichle to shoot something extra special. I’m not big on color to be honest, I love my neutrals and as a curveball, I’m actually wearing a bodysuit under an asymmetrical skirt. Hope you enjoy these photos, it’s great to shoot in my hometown!
To all my readers near and far, from London to Tokyo, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and holiday season. Thank you for taking the time to read and keep up with me whether it’s here or on Instagram. Your patience and kind comments throughout the year has been encouraging and without them I wouldn’t be able to do half the things this blog and Instagram has brought me these past few months. Most of you I’ve never met, but I feel like you’ve been overwhelmingly supportive more than people I know personally.
So cheers to a fast approaching end of the year, new brand partnerships, new content, and new adventures. But most of all, cheers to you guys for being supportive, enthusiastic, and hopping along with me as I embark on some really cool projects. Can’t wait for you to see.
Christmas came early for @Twelfthknight and I earlier this week when we took our little “Moobie” with us to Napa for an early Christmas/NY/2 year Anniversary trip :) It’s fun to go during offseason, you can beat all the traffic and the lines and eat and walk around as you please without the crowds. It was splendid, and we ate and ate like fiends.
Have a great week everyone, stay warm and be well.
~ Lauren
Keeping warm in a knit by The Knot SistersThe famous doughnuts at The Boon Fly Cafe @Carneros InnVineyards at Castle di AmorosaNo filter at Castle di Amorosa
Crunching in a faux fur vest by 6 Shore Road
Moobie meets his goat friend at Old Faithful FarmsBaby goats :DBrownie the lama at Old Faithful Farms. Go visit her, she has the best eyelashes :DHis and HersTypical Bouchon Bakery fare, this is their gingerbread muffinA brisk walk around downtown SonomaKeeping warm in a BB Dakota parkaBone Marrow appetizers at my Mom’s favorite French bistro: Bistro Jeanty, Yountville. Not pictured, their to die for tomato bisque baked under a puff pastry shell
Happy First Day of Fall everyone, tis my favorite time of year! This little post is a mashup of my favorite things: coffee breaks, work, and fall fashion. I apologize for being missing in action though, I took some time to recover from styling a commercial in Los Angeles as well as wrapping the whole thing. After being gone from set-life for a wee bit, I am happy to say I nailed it. Getting that confirmation from an all male production company as well as Client is really satisfying. Per usual no photos or more info until the actual thing airs, however this was my 3rd International shoot that I have single handedly been Wardrobe Head. for; this time shooting with Nongshim Co. the biggest instant noodle and snack company in South Korea :D The Dominos of Asia if you will. The commercial will air overseas featuring a certain known actor, he has a movie out now in theaters, maybe you’ve seen it already…but until then I can’t say much more….I hate that. *waits patiently.*
Anyhoo, now that I’m back in the Bay, it’s starting to feel like Fall…kind of? It was about 98 degrees and rising in Los Angeles and I’m happy to be incorporating some of my favorite Fall trends into my closet such as the color Blush (pullover from Banana Republic) and this awesome faux suede 70’s skirt from H&M. I don’t normally veer too far from my relatively basic neutral outfits, however I like these two trends and I think I’ll be wearing more of these skirts with some button down blouses and T shirts just to get out of my wardrobe rutt. Gotta stay fresh, people.
Hope you’re having a great week and as always thanks for reading!
Blush is the color for Fall, and since I’m not a pink gal I prefer this tone because it’s a subtle one :DDetails on this $35 skirt from H&M.My only down time for myself in LA was found at Coffee Commissary. They make a mean latte and are located in WeHo, Burbank, and Culver City.View from our shooting location in the LA hills. That’s a wrap folks.
I feel like the culottes get a lot of negative press. Why? Because a lot of people are confused by them. Culottes can’t make up their mind if they’re pants or a skirt (depending on the fabric) and the length is always tricky depending on body type. Believe it or not, culottes were first worn by men during the Middle Ages. Flash forward to current day, and they’re some what of the “it” trend, who knew :D
I was approached by eShakti to try their custom services recently and they created these amazingly tailored culottes for me. If you aren’t familiar with eShakti, they are an online retailer who has an array of women’s clothes in all sizes. The neat thing is that eShakti will custom tailor your order to your specific measurements! Fit is everything, I’m a firm believer that you can have the best clothes and if they don’t fit right they’re worth near to nothing. Does anyone agree with me?
In an attempt to hold onto the last bit of Summer here in the Bay Area, I paired my culottes with a cropped top by Lulus. I love that the waist of these pants offer me some room but are able to be high enough to wear tops like these. Flat sandals such as my Loeffler Randall gladiators offer a casual look. However, I switched into these heels by Chinese Laundry to add just enough height and extension to the pant leg. Either or, they look good and at 5’3 I’m proof that you can wear these pants without fear!
Thank you to eShakti, be sure to follow them on Instagram :) And for my readers, I’m giving you my special promo code “Shoesandsashimi” to get 10% OFF when you shop at eShakti – valid for unlimited use from 09/08/2015 – 10/08/2015.
Happy shopping everyone, and as always thanks for reading!
Lauren
Proof you can wear culottes with flats, these sandals are from Loeffler Randall.Heels with culottes give you a more elongated leg.Crop top by Lulu’s.Walk it out. These pants have the best swoosh actionBest thing about these pants: Pockets. They run deep.
Happy Monday everyone! If you’ve been keeping up with me on Instagram you would’ve already seen my Loeffler Randall Ambra flats making an appearance on the feed. They’re dynamite I tell ya. Like the gladiator, I think they’re here to stay for a long time. What about you, are you into the trend?
This is a short post this week for I will be on vacation in T-3 days :D Be sure to hit the Follow button on Instagram to keep up for real time tropical adventures. If not, I’ll chat with you all when I get back…until then!
I’d like to give a big thank you to Elizabeth from Clothes to You for nominating me for the Sunshine Award, it makes me incredibly happy to know that my blog is getting enough momentum that people are willing to share with the world. So thank you Elizabeth!
I really liked Elizabeth’s questions, I think you’ll learn a lot more about me, prior to Shoes and Sashimi :)
What did you aspire to be when you were younger?
Believe it or not, from a young age I wanted to be a Costume Designer. “Little me” grew up watching films, TV, and being enthralled with pop culture and music. I loved fashion, movies, and the idea of being part of the behind the scenes excitement if you will. So I thought hmm…”if I combined all my favorite things together I’d have my dream job.” And so I did. I graduated from the prestigious California Inst. of the Arts in 2009 with a BFA in Costume Design and I’ve been designing and wardrobe styling in LA since then. It’s not all glamorous though, it’s a dog eat dog world the entertainment and PR life. They say it’s tough, it’s probably 10x tougher than anyone thinks, but it’s sure exhilarating when you get to do what you love to do for a living.
On set in the 90210 with AT&TMy favorite studio to work out of, Slickforce Studio.Wong Fu Productions on call.
2. What is your greatest achievement outside of blogging?
That’s a tough question, because quite frankly I feel like I haven’t achieved all that much. I know, I know, maybe I’m being too hard on myself, but really I don’t think I can answer that one. I’ve had a good highlight reel, that’s for sure. I’ve had some terribly disappointing ones too. If I had to pick some proud moments throughout the years though, I think it would come down to these: Not having any debt, that’s something I’m really proud of. Also being able to move as often as I did and hustle in between shoots when there are bills to be paid and things to get done. Lastly, as I look through my portfolio I remember that I’ve had some really good moments in time and I’m proud of my work. I can firmly say that.
Actor & Model Rob Ryu shot by Sheri Angeles.Recording Artist Jason D Chen shot by Melly LeeWong Fu Productions shot by Melly LeeActress Ciara Hannah. Catch her as the Yellow Ranger on Nickelodean’s Power Rangers Megaforce.Q Modeling Agency Test Shoots in Palm Desert. Shot by Sheri Angeles.
3. Who takes the majority of your photos?
I’ve had a lot of great photographers over the year, Melissa de Mata (SF) and Erich Chen (LA) for starters. But as momentum builds with the blog, it’s becoming increasingly harder to shoot a full set when you’re not with a photographer day and night. This is where @TwelfthKnight comes in. He’s my rock, our fur baby’s papa, and man of the hour. I am fully spoken for and am happily living in the Bay Area this year, having best of both worlds :D He’s not a photographer, but we’re becoming a tag team in this blogging venture together and we’re learning along the way. It’s trial and error, and we’re having a lot of fun with that.
:DPlaying around with the Canon EOS Rebel T4i. What are your preferences when it comes to cameras?
4. What would you say is the biggest challenge about blogging?
Where do I start…being consistent with content. It’s even harder when you’re part time or full time elsewhere. There’s just not enough time in the day or should I say light in the day to drive the blog further. And if you’re like me, you’re not going to settle for poor lighting just for the sake of content, am I right? Right. How do we maneuver around this lighting challenge and time crunch? On the weekends we like to go out for day trips and you’ll probably find me changing outfits somewhere, creating different looks along the way in the hopes that they make enough content for the week to come :D Quick changes, I’m a professional. Literally.
5. How would you describe your personal style?
My personal style is pretty casual currently. Jeans, a dress shirt, shorts, and a sweater (It’s pretty cool and casual here in the Bay Area.) If you met me in LA though, you’d see me more on the dressier side every day, even going to set and especially on the weekends. I would be buying for multiple shoots at a time so I’d really have fun pulling and putting things together. Wasteland on Ventura or Melrose has some fun things, I’ve found amazing discounted designer finds there including Philip Lim and Givenchy. My secret weapon for my own shopping fix is going directly to the warehouses in DTLA for the samples. I’d swing by Lovers & Friends, For Love and Lemons, Joie, you name it. I sure miss those times, I’ll be back down soon for my next big wave of raiding hopefully.
Neutrals are the building blocks to a wardrobe, male or female. If you have cream, navy, black, and white, you can mix and match and look like a million bucks.Boo is neutral year round, unless he has a sweater on. We all should dress more like Boo :)
6. Is there a person who is a fashion inspiration to you? If so, who is this style icon, and why do they inspire you?
I’ve tracked Monica Rose‘s work as a stylist for some time now, and after chatting with her at her trunk show at Dash this year you could imagine my respect for her went up ten fold. She is incredibly chic, she dresses the Kardashians for Christ’s sake. But what’s really nice and refreshing is that she’s humble, a mom of 2 little ones, a wife, and she seemingly does it all in heels. Our mutual friend and owner of Slickforce Studio, Nick Saglimbeni was saying that a career is all about timing no matter how hard you hustle. I couldn’t agree more. Her timing couldn’t have been more perfect, I applaud her work ethic, and I wish her the best, truly.
The one and only Monica Rose.
7. What would you say is the greatest satisfaction about being a blogger?
There’s a lot of satisfaction that I get simply from penning my thoughts on a virtual paper, private or not. I like the idea that I might have an interesting story to tell when others have gone a linear path. I like that the blogging community is so supportive. I’ve gotten more love from strangers in different parts of the world than I have from people I know personally. That speaks volumes, so thank you for the undying support, near and far!
To keep the support flowing I nominate fellow bloggers:
After the show, I changed into a new outfit and we were off to another.
This look was shot outside The Time Warner Building on our way to the Verdad Show. This faux fur jacket was found at Crossroads Trading Company, turtleneck from 
