my style Archives - Page 11 of 53

outfit: the refashioners diy jacket

August 25, 2016 6 Comments

you may remember last summer, i took part in portia lawrie’s the refashioners challenge and made myself this simple wrap top out of a thrifted men’s shirt. well, this season, she asked me if i’d be interested in taking on a new challenge. despite my success last time around, i was still feeling pretty intimidated. i don’t know how to draft a pattern and my sewing skills are still sitting somewhere in the beginner level. but despite those restrictions, i still love a challenge, however daunting it may seem.

the new challenge? refashion a pair of jeans (or two or three or ten) to create an entirely new garment. i have to admit, this was a but perplexing at first since the only denim clothing i own are pairs of jeans. but after spending some time thinking about my favorite simple designs, i came up with an idea: a poncho! and yes, this was in large part due to the fact that a poncho is essentially two pieces of fabric sewn together with a hole for the head. my version is simply open in the front with some sleeves attached for a sort of modified poncho jacket. if you’re interested in trying it out yourself, grab a few pairs of old jeans and head on over to the diy!

wearing: elizabeth suzann georgia midi in raw silk, young frankk necklace, brookes boswell cortland hat, j.w. hulme legacy handbag, martiniano glove shoe

my style, kids

outfit: along for the journey with backpacks.com

August 23, 2016 1 Comment

summer is officially over at our house. the fall semester at adam’s school started on monday, so he’s off to his toddler program once again. and while a backpack isn’t yet a requirement at his age, and my own school days are well behind me, i still couldn’t resist getting matching backpacks to welcome the fall season. because really, whether you’re 2 or 32 (cough), headed to play school or high school, a backpack will always come in handy. so of course, i was very excited to partner with my friends at backpacks.com to share my personal experience. with a new baby to look after, i’ve got tons more stuff i need to bring with me for pretty much any excursion out of the house, so my new strategy involves two backpacks: one for myself filled with diapers and baby things, and one for adam so he can bring along anything he might want or need. he loves packing his bag before we head out, and toting it around with him wherever he goes. and it helps to lighten my own load just a little bit.

since i was feeling a bit nostalgic thinking about back-to-school times, i took a browse through the student collection. and while i was tempted to pick up a jansport like the one i carried as a kid, i got way too excited when i spotted the fjallraven kanken mini backpack in just the right size for adam. and of course, i got a fjallraven kanken laptop backpack for myself. i love the style of them for their simple design and cute little fox logo, but i also appreciate that they’re made of a sturdy, water-repellant fabric that is nearly indestructible. of course, if you’re looking for something different, backpacks.com has you covered. whether you’re headed back-to-school, back to the office, or on a hiking adventure, they’ve got backpacks that will suit your needs. us? our journey has us headed to nursery school, play dates at the park, and grandma’s house.

i’m wearing: zady japanese gathered blouse, vintage linen pants, greek sandals from avenue boutique, sunglasses from eyeconic
adam is wearing: black crane kids linen square top in fat stripe, tiny cottons trousers, saltwater sandals, linen cycling cap from niko’s naptime on etsy

my style

outfit: long layers

August 22, 2016 No Comments

over the past couple of years, i’ve been wearing a lot of crop tops. and while i still love them to death, lately i’ve been having fun playing around with different proportions. especially now that we’re transitioning into fall and i’m itching to change up my style a little bit, while still keeping cool in these hot southern california temperatures. this loose, swingy dress by jane sews is definitely long enough to wear on it’s own, but it’s also really great for layering.when the weather gets a little cooler, i plan to pull it on over a dark turtleneck and under an easy trench coat for a completely different look.

wearing:
jane sews layah dress
mih nautical trousers
maryam nassir zadeh roberta suede pumps
clyde angora pinch hat

my style, giveaways

outfit: enter to win $100 to ozma of california!

July 28, 2016 10 Comments

my summer wardrobe this year has been all about really easy linen pieces, like this simple jumpsuit by ozma of california. i really love the way you can completely change the look of it depending on how you feel. wear it with a belt for a slightly more vintage-inspired vibe, or wear it loose and oversized for a more beachy, laid back look. it’s basically perfect because those two looks pretty much sum-up the way i’ve been feeling about getting dressed lately. resort vibes forever, because this is california after all!

but more importantly, i’ve teamed up with this san-francisco based brand to offer you the opportunity to win a $100 gift card towards anything in the shop! if you’re not in the mood for a jumpsuit, there’s a really sweet crop top and skirt combo, or an incredible pair of high rise wide leg pants. enter below!

Enter to win $100 to OZMA of California

my style, kids, maternity

4th trimester: the jersey dress

July 26, 2016 4 Comments

hard to believe it, but my little baby edith is three months old today! we’ve made it through the “fourth trimester,” and i can no longer call her a newborn. she has been good to me so far, happy and healthy, growing and developing right on track. she’s an excellent sleeper at night just like her big brother, but she does make up for it during the day. i have to fight her pretty hard to get her down for naps because apparently she did not get the memo about the importance of sleep. she would much prefer to hang out and give her mama smiles, or practice tummy time. she can already hold her head up and roll over, and she is desperately trying to sit up already! yikes!

needless to say, babywearing has definitely come in handy not only when i need to get things done, but also when i need to get her to sleep! so i thought i’d share this really simple outfit just to give an example of what to wear while babywearing. it varies depending one what type of carrier i’m using, but i really love to pair my sakura bloom linen ring sling with simple dresses like this maternity t-shirt dress from storq. it might not come across in photos, but this dress is seriously amazing. it is a super soft and stretchy modal jersey, which i highly prefer over cotton because it tends to maintain better shape and is somehow a million times softer. and if you’re anxious about wearing something that clings to the body, don’t worry, it is not flimsy or sheer in the least. i actually wore this dress to the hospital the day edie was born, pulled it on for my first walk around the maternity ward after she arrived, and wore it a ton in the first few weeks after we brought her home. the scoop neck makes it easy to pull down for nursing, so you can even breastfeed while babywearing if you’re feeling up to it!

if you’re looking for more tips, you can check out my guide on what to wear when you’re expecting (which includes this same dress!) or take a peek at some of my 4th trimester outfits.

my style

outfit: true blue

July 18, 2016 6 Comments

if i could only wear one color for the rest of my life, it would probably be blue. looking at my clothing rack, it is dominated by this indigo hue. even when i consciously try to avoid it in favor of something different, i inevitably fall back on it. so when i saw this jumpsuit by heinui i had to have it immediately. the only problem is that at the time, i also happened to be six months pregnant, so i’ve been patiently waiting for months to finally try it on! fortunately for me, it was worth the wait. it makes such a stunning statement, especially with this abandoned turn-of-the-century train station as the backdrop. and i just kept the outfit simple so that none of my accessories would compete with it.

it also comes in a few different options: short or long sleeve in indigo or chambray, and there is a dress version as well. they are all currently on sale along with a bunch of other amazing pieces, so you should go check it out!

wearing:
heinui ernesto indigo cotton jumpsuit
brookes boswell cortland straw hat
claire v. kenya bag
swedish hasbeens braided high in natural

my style, giveaways

enter to win $200 to wol hide!

July 5, 2016 136 Comments

it’s been a little while since i’ve posted a giveaway, so i’m really excited to share that i’ve teamed up with wol hide to offer you a chance to win a $200 gift card! if you’re not familiar with the brand, wol hide was founded in 2014 by knit designer leah d’ambrosio in 2014. the line focuses on clean, soft yarns knit into relaxed silhouettes inspired by the ease of everyday clothes. the collection is all made in the usa, with all sweaters hand loomed in philadelphia. for the spring 2016 collection, they teamed up with sally fox, who has spent years researching and growing organic, color grown cotton. the chenille yarn in the lounge set comes directly from sally’s farm, and the color is completely natural. in addition to the beautiful chenille sets, i’m wearing one of their incredibly soft a-tanks made with cotton yarn from a small family-owned mill in italy. it’s one of my new favorites and i just love the folded collar and swingy shape.

want to snag a piece for yourself? simply visit wol hide and leave a comment in the section below telling us which item in the shop is your favorite.

bonus: click here to earn an additional entry on instagram!

this giveaway is open to international readers, so anyone can enter. only two entries per person, one via calivintage.com and one via instagram. giveaway ends on july 12, 2016 at 11:59pm p.s.t.

wearing:
wolhide a-tank
brookes boswell straw cortland hat
martiniano glove shoes
vintage jeans and bag

my style

outfit: summer linen

June 29, 2016 5 Comments

we’re in the middle of a heat wave here in southern california. on the first day of summer, the high was 112 degrees with wildfires blazing so bad that ashes were literally falling from the sky. on days like this, all i can really do is keep sipping on my iced coffee and make sure i’m decked out in nothing but linen if i have to leave the house. i just got the new friend linen shirt by canadian-based brand, power of my people, and i could easily see myself wearing it every single day. it’s a perfect summer weight linen, slightly sheer so that you can breathe, but with two strategically placed front pockets so you don’t feel like you’re revealing too much. a simple shirt like this is so perfect for any wardrobe, especially if you live someplace hot. and i’m a huge fan of linen lately, not only because it’s such a beautiful textile, but because it’s also a more sustainable option than cotton because it requires no pesticides to grow the plant. which is made even better by the practicality and versatility of all of the offerings made by power of my people. for this outfit, i tied it at the waist to show off the high rise on a pair of vintage linen pants and finished it up with some fun accessories for a kind of 1950s vacation vibe. but it’s also just as cute worn simply with a pair of jeans and sneakers. and i’ve teamed up with the brand to offer a discount, so go check them out!

get 20% off at power of my people using code “calivintage” now through july 12!

wearing:
the friend linen shirt courtesy of power of my people
vintage flax linen pants
indego africa palm tote bag
guatemalan straw hat
greek sandals
brass hair pin by begoodshop

my style, maternity

4th trimester: the caftan

June 23, 2016 1 Comment

it’s officially caftan season, and this new caftan by storq is so perfect that it almost makes me miss being pregnant. fortunately for me, i still have a postpartum belly to contend with and an 8-week-old baby nursing on demand. oh, and i’m human. so yeah, this caftan is awesome. it was designed to be worn before, during, and after pregnancy, so i’m basically gonna be wearing it every single day. the fabric is super soft and sturdy, while the cut is generous and forgiving while still having some interest. i really love the subtle shape of the collar and sleeves, and i appreciate that there’s a button front, which is pretty much necessary for breastfeeding.

speaking of clothes to wear during the “4th trimester,” i was thinking about creating a guide on what to wear during recovery, breastfeeding, and babywearing. but instead of holding out on you guys for one big lookbook, i thought i’d just start sharing some of my favorite looks as outfit posts and then rounding them all up into one post at the end. i’ve definitely learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t after having two babies, but i’m sure there are tons of great brands out there that i haven’t even heard of, or styling tips that i haven’t considered, so please let me know if you have any tips or recommendations while i go along!

and in the meantime, you really should check out storq if you haven’t already. lots of really great basics for maternity and beyond!

wearing:
brookes boswell cortland straw hat
storq caftan
marais usa jardin heels

my style, lifestyle, kids

babywearing

June 16, 2016 5 Comments

it’s been a pretty busy week, so i didn’t get the opportunity to take any proper outfit photos, but if you follow me on instagram, then maybe you’ve seen a few peeks at what i’ve been wearing. and speaking of wearing, i’ve been doing a lot of babywearing. edith just turned seven weeks, so she’s right in the middle of her “fussy stage.” i’ve read that it starts at around 2-3 weeks, peaks at 6 weeks, and subsides by 3-4 months. which is pretty much in line with our experience when adam was a newborn as well. she’s generally pretty easy going and sleeps most of the time, but i find that she’ll have a fussy time of day either right in the middle of the afternoon, but usually in the evening before bedtime. it’s completely normal, so i try not to let it worry me or stress me out, but i do hate to hear her cry. one of the easiest ways that we’ve dealt with it is to alternate between nursing and carrying her in a wrap or sling until she chills out and falls asleep.

in fact, that’s pretty much where you’ll find her if she isn’t napping, having tummy time, or engaged in stimulating activities like listening to us read or sing, or hanging out in her baby play gym. just as important as it is to fill their little brains with information, it’s important to avoid getting them overstimulated or overtired. holding her close to my chest in a wrap is kinda like having her swaddled, but we both get to bond and share those feel good hormones.

so yes, i’ve been inducted into the cult of babywearing. i wrote this post about it last year when adam was still small enough for me to carry in a wrap. and this time around, i’m having even more fun collecting a little stash. so far, i’m using a very lightweight happy baby wrap in ivory, which is really nice for the super hot weather where we live. and i have two beautiful linen sakura bloom ring slings. i have the classic sling in maple, which is a heavyweight linen. and the chambray sling in twig, which is a slightly softer, lightweight linen. and now i’m on the hunt for a really nice ivory woven wrap. i like woven wraps a lot because there are a million different ways that you can wear them, many of which are able to evenly distribute weight across your back, which makes a huge difference when baby starts to get bigger. and of course i have a lot of fun coordinating them with my outfits, haha!

anyone out there as obsessed as i am? do you have any favorite wraps or slings?

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