I spent the weekend in Halfway, Oregon, a sleepy town with a population of less than 400. Because of the slow pace (and lack of cell phone reception and wifi), two days felt like five and it was one of the most relaxing weekends I’ve had in years. I have so much more to share about this voyage but for now, here’s what I wore during my stay at the local bed & breakfast. I spotted this ASOS dress on Gala awhile back and I knew I had to have it. It’s a soft, unstructured cotton that was comfortable enough for the six hour drive each way.

I Wore:

Skater Dress with Contrast Piping, ASOS
Patent Heels, Dries van Noten

My outfit was heavily inspired by the color combo of my new BFF, Rhubarb (below). Isn’t she adorable?! I’ll be sharing more about how I met Rhubarb and my life-altering Halfway visit this Friday.

P.S. The winner of the Motel giveaway is Ivy drawn via Random.org). Congratulations!!

I visited Laurelhurst Park over the weekend for some chill time with Joey & Rocky. These steps stretch on and on and it’s a perfect place to escape to on a sunny day. I’ve always had an infatuation with stripes and have owned a few pairs of striped pants in my time. My favorites were black and white striped but seriously, after the 10th time of someone shouting “Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!” in a day, the novelty quickly wears off. Stop it with the Beetlejuicing already!!!

My friends at Motel just sent me this more subdued charcoal and black stripe combo of their cult classic Jordan Jeans and they’re definitely more wearable than the black and white variety. I can’t wait to wear these going into Fall with fitted sweaters and blazers.

I Wore:

Paris shirt, Urban Outfitters
Jordan Jeans, Courtesy of Motel Rocks
Bracelet, H&M
Belt, H&M
Boots, AI for AI by Matiko

In case you’re wondering, our outfit posts rarely go off without a hitch. Rocky likes to walk through nearly every photo. And, just look at that face! Haha.

Dear readers, Motel has a special treat for you! They’re giving away a $100.00 voucher and I’m making it super simple to enter:

1. Like Motel’s Facebook page.

2. Tell me something rad you’re planning on doing this summer and leave a valid email address so I can contact you! Are you taking a cross-country road trip? Visiting grandma? Setting a big goal? Overcoming a fear?

3. I’ll randomly choose a winner and make an announcement on Monday, May 21st. Good luck!

When you’re walking down the street and spot a tire swing, there’s only one thing to do: try it out! I don’t think the neighbor lady peeking out of her front window was as entertained as I was yesterday. But in these moments, if I’m unsure of what to do, I ask myself “WWMJD?” Really, what would Michael Jackson do? He’d sure as hell hop on the tire swing! I may be 30 now but who’s counting? I’m all for having a good time!

I Wore:

Zipper Jeans, Silence + Noise
Lace Top, Forever 21
Hair Bow, H&M
Minimarket Wedgewood Boots, Solestruck
Neon Belt, Target

I’ve been working way too much and these little moments remind me that life is short and we should squeeze in some fun whenever possible. I hope you had an awesome weekend. My friends Star and Tim were visiting from San Francisco and I got to show them a few of my favorite hangouts. Ah, Monday. Time to refocus!

This weekend, the weather cleared up and Joey and I headed over to my favorite neighborhood in Portland, Ladd’s Addition. The majority of the houses feel like they’re out of classic fairytales with peaked roofs, overgrown shrubbery and stone walkways leading to oversized front porches. There are roses in circular gardens throughout the neighborhood which is the perfect place to have a picnic in the spring and summer. If you’re visiting Portland over the next few months, add this neighborhood to your must-see places. There’s a ton of fun stuff (restaurants, food carts and shops) to walk to from this area.

My friends at Pinkyotto just sent me the gorgeous Rachel dress which is a welcome addition to my overly dark wardrobe. To add my own spin, I mixed in a black leather peter pan collar and a vintage black patent belt. This dress rolls up neatly and doesn’t wrinkle so I see myself packing it for many upcoming trips.

I Wore:

Lace Dress, c/o Pinkyotto
Leather Peter Pan Collar, ASOS
Tights, H&M
Gold Headband, H&M
Patent Belt, Vintage
Patent Zip Heels, Dries van Noten (Ebay)

This is going to be one completely crazy week. My favorite llama is coming to town (!), a campaign I’ve been working on for the last few months is due and my dear friend Star is having her first-ever Portland solo art show!

This weekend, my dad took me out to lunch at my favorite German restaurant in Portland, Gustav’s. Inspired by the decor, I pulled this vintage dress with a slight Bavarian twist out of my closet.

I found this dress last year during a trip to vintage mecca Shareen Vintage in LA. The dress had some stains and damage but I just couldn’t leave it behind. I have a huge penchant for lederhosen and the pocket detailing reminds me of them. If I have an excuse to dress up the next time I’m visiting Leavenworth, this dress is definitely coming with.

I Wore:

Vintage dress (the label reads “Fong Fong”), Shareen Vintage
Oui / Non Belt, ASOS
Crazy Maze tights in Sahara / Black, Wolford
FACE Stockholm nail polish, Hello Merlot (exclusively for J. Crew)
Gold headband, H&M
Wood wedges, Minimarket

I hope your week is off to a great start!

How was your Easter? Joey & I ended up having a really low key day, dropping our house guest off at the airport and then running some errands around town. My nod to the holiday was these shoes, which remind me of freshly dipped Easter eggs! I didn’t have an Easter basket this year so instead I stopped by Trader Joe’s and picked up a box of these. They taste like gourmet peanut butter cups!

This watch looks fancy but it’s a fairly cheap vintage watch I dug up on Etsy one day. It’s by a brand called Azur, though I still don’t know too much about the origins of the line.

I love this belt so much. Can you tell that I have Paris on my brain? I’ve always wanted one of those vintage Moschino letter belts but whenever I search Ebay, they’re going for a small fortune. This ASOS belt has a similar look and is less than $20.00. A good compromise!

I Wore:

Longo by James Long Dress (Now on sale! I cut mine to above the knee), ASOS
Slip (underneath), Cheap Monday
Alice Silk Heels, Acne
Oui / Non Belt (my new favorite accessory!), ASOS
Tights, H&M
Gold Headband, H&M

Happy Monday! I hope you’re not sick from eating too much candy (I just had one of those peanut butter eggs for breakfast).

As the sun began to set in Nelson, Nevada, we weren’t quite ready to hit the road. For our final look, photographer Lisa Devlin knew just how to perk us up when she pulled out a few packs of colored smoke bombs. As Kat lamented, “Turns out Nevada state law is slightly cray-cray about fireworks. In fact, Lisa and Amy had to add an hour to their drive up from LA to visit a town called Pahrump —apparently one of the only towns in Southwest America where you can legally buy them!”

Smoke bombs from a distance look super rad but when they’re being let off in multiples in front of you, a good amount of watery eyes, smoke inhalation and in turn, lack of composure are bound to happen! Kat and Gala’s smoke bombs went off without a hitch but mine fizzled out every time. Sad!

Shortly after this shot, I jumped out of the frame with tears streaming down my face.

I Wore:

Silver dress, Camilla & Marc
Sequin mouse ears, Disneyland
Tights, H&M
Boots, Ai for Matiko

Kat Wore:

Custom-made Gown, Charlotte Balbier Tutti Frutti

Melissa Lady Dragon shoes, Vivienne Westwood

Skull Ring, Butler & Wilson

Gala Wore:

Shirt, Betsey Johnson

Feather Dress, Betsey Johnson

Bedazzled glasses, Tequila Star

Star headband, Janine Basil

Shoes, Chinese Laundry

If Kat was an ice skater, this would be her drama-filled finale.

Obviously, one of Elton John’s backup singers got dropped in the desert on her way to Disneyland! I sure wouldn’t pick that creep up.

Credits:

Photography: David McNeil Photography & Lisa Devlin Photography
Assisted by: Amy Bartlam
Hair & Make Up: Your Beauty Call 
Florals: Enchanted Florists
Location: Nelson, Nevada

As the sun went down, we got some final group shots on the road out of town. Desert sunsets are the best. I think we were all a little sad for such an epic day to end. Refreshingly, our best time in Vegas was nowhere near The Strip or a shopping mall or the internet. I think we’re all a little obsessed with ghost towns now.

After our Airstream adventures at Circus Circus, Kat, Gala and I hopped in our rental car and hit the open road. We drove and drove and drove, further into the barren desert towards Nelson, Nevada. Long, dusty roads opened to what can only be described as a ghost town bathed in golden light. We hadn’t seen anyone for miles but surprisingly, the town was hopping with action, packed with buses of onlookers and brides and grooms.

The desert sun was fading fast so we stumbled through the rocky landscape, striking poses in a wave of tulle and sequins. I’d set aside a special yet bizarre dress that reminded me of the scales of a goldfish. Slipping into its structured casing felt like otherworldly armor. Changing in the parking lot was our only option and the dress got stuck on my hairdo and wouldn’t budge. I stood there in an awkward state of undress until Kat stepped in to help. Neither of the girls could stop laughing at what appeared to be a headless sequined monster.

Originally settled as a mining town, the remnants feel more like an old western movie set. The town is like an obstacle course of awesomeness, dotted with decaying barns, burned-out cars and vintage signs at every turn. Gala, Kat and I would be perfectly content moving in for a short while and setting up a homestead…except I don’t think there’s a Wifi signal for miles!

Even with its dark history, the current incarnation of Nelson is pretty idyllic. We felt right at home.

It should be known that Gala is like Spiderman in heels. She’s never, ever content to stay on the ground. I’ve watched her scale huge ladders in New York and hang from slippery monkey bars in Paris. I have a feeling she was a stuntwoman in a past life.

I Wore:

Half Moon Pailette Dress, ASOS
Tights, H&M
Belt, Forever 21
Romeo & Juliet clutch, Kate Spade
Marbled silk heels, Dries van Noten

Gala Wore:

1950s purple prom dress, Vintage
Sparkly bunny ears, Janine Basil
Star Earrings, Im Your Present
Starburst ‘Polly’ shoes, Betsey Johnson

Kat Wore:

1940s mint green vintage dress, Frock and Roll Vintage

Aurora Borealis necklace, Topshop

Custom pink Swarovski Crystal Rhiana shoes, Benjamin Adams

Vivien headpiece, DC Bouquets

Once this shoot wrapped, we had one more trick up our sleeves. Tune back in on Monday to see our final look!

Credits:

Photography: David McNeil Photography & Lisa Devlin Photography
Assisted by: Amy Bartlam
Hair & Make Up: Your Beauty Call 
Florals: Enchanted Florists
Location: Nelson, Nevada

The first of our three-part photo series from a whirlwind trip to Vegas last month is finally here!

Circus Circus is one of those classic Las Vegas landmarks that conjures up images of a bygone era. Opened in 1968 and the size of a spacious compound, it features a famous indoor carnival midway stuffed to the brim with kid’s games but Kat, Gala and I were there for a lesser-known attraction: the RV park. Of course, this being Vegas, the RV park had an extra special attraction — Airstream trailers!!!

Behind the scenes, this photo shoot took months of planning with constant emails flying back and forth between me in Portland, Gala in New York, wedding photographer Lisa Devlin and Kat in the U.K. and wedding photographer David McNeil, who happened to be in India at the time. Somehow though, it came together beautifully as the crew showed up at 9 a.m. sharp to our suite at The Cosmopolitan in late February.

To be completely honest, this is the first time I’d been on a shoot of this size and had both my hair and makeup professionally done. Your Beauty Call fixed the three of us up in record time and whatever magic the makeup artist LaVey used is beyond me — 10 hours later, our faces were still in place, even after frolicking through a windswept desert. And, my backcombed ‘do lasted for four days afterward. Trust me, with this heavy mop of hair, that’s a world record. These girls can handle Paris Hilton and The Kardashians so surely they have a few tricks up their sleeves!

I Wore:

Neoprene Dress, Asos
Tights, H&M
Boots, Camilla Skovgaard

Kat Wore:

1950s pink vintage dress, Frock and Roll Vintage
Neon pink petticoat, borrowed from Gala
Shoes, Irregular Choice Patty
Hair Bow, Chubby Bunny

Gala Wore:

Bedazzled Mickey Mouse ears, xo Erika Marie
$20 purple dress
Belt, Betsey Johnson
Shoes, Chinese Laundry

Thanks to everyone for a day I’ll never forget. It all feels very far away now but the photos bring back all the memories of one of the best twelve hour stretches of my life. The magic of Vegas really comes alive when you’re surrounded by a great group of people.

Credits:

Photography: David McNeil Photography & Lisa Devlin Photography
Assisted by: Amy Bartlam
Hair & Make Up: Your Beauty Call 
Florals: Enchanted Florists
Location: Circus Circus RV Park, Las Vegas

I tend to split my outfits during the week equally between skirts and pants. And when it comes to pants, I usually stick to skinny black jeans to make getting dresses and accessorizing as simple as possible. Though, every once in awhile, I want to add a bright burst of color to my basics and these paid pants are my new favorite wardrobe addition.

I Wore:
Plaid Pants, Tripp NYC (Asos)
Sweater, Sonia Rykiel for H&M
Stud bracelet, H&M
Bow, Forever 21
Boots, Proenza Schouler

Readers: What’s your current favorite wardrobe obsession?