WEEKEND WORDS + INSPO

Random Halloween inspiration. Have fun this weekend! TGIF.

AFTER-DARK STYLE

Ah yes, Gianvito Rossi hit the nail on the head with that quote, though it could be interpreted in many ways I'm sure. For me, the love I feel is not for a person but for the feeling I get while galavanting into the night in my favorite pair of heels.

Heels make me feel strong. Heels make me feel sexy. Heels make me feel confident. 

On that note, let me formally introduce my favorite pair of heels- my Zara thin strap sandals (that I studded as a DIY project you can view here). We've traveled across the country and had many wonderful experiences together. This particular outfit post was inspired by Stuart Weitzman's "Walking After Midnight" campaign video, I wore it to a fanciful dinner and a night out on the town last week. It is very exemplary of my usual 

after-dark style. The dress is sweet and sophisticated with the long sleeves and full skirt, yet has a touch of sex appeal with the see through lace bodice. The heels and the NastyGal clutch add a little edge with the awesome studs and spikes.

I may have felt a little out of place at this dinner since I am pretty laid back and not too comfortable in super "fancy" settings, but I'm glad I had my most adored shoesies to help me stand tall and feel confident no matter what! 

+ Zara lace dress and self studded sandals, Vintage belt and rings, NastyGal Crystal Skull clutch, Spitfire sunglasses

LEATHER + FRINGE

Leather jackets are my thang, and like shoes, I strongly believe that a girl can never have too many! This Mango leather jacket is the most recent addition to the plethora of bad ass jackets hanging in my closet. You'll be seeing lots of it in my upcoming posts, because I literally can't stop wearing it. It fits so well and the gold zippers are perfection. Gold and black is a winning combo in my eyes. I paired it with my Zara fringe skirt (that I scored on sale for $30 a while back!) for a bit of a rocker look with a pop of burgundy and studs for added flair. Turned out to be a fun little outfit to rock for drinks with mah guuurls.

+ Mango leather jacket, Zara fringe skirt, Brandy & Melville tank, Street Level clutch, Steve Madden Boots

INDIANA + CHICAGO

The lack of posting last weekend was due to my weekend trip to Indiana/Chicago! One of my best friends is a DJ (DJ MIA) that books gigs around the country, and around the world for that matter. It just so happened that she was able to bring a friend along on this mini-trip (literally was there for 24 hours)! I didn't care how long we were there though, I was just excited to visit a place I'd never been before! We really didn't get to see much of Indiana...we got in around 4pm, then had an hour drive from the airport to the hotel, had to eat, do sound check, get ready and then head to Ms. DJ Mia's gig. We left early in the AM to be able to see Chicago for a few hours before our flight back to LA at 4pm (see, literally 24 hours)! We went to the Navy Pier, got some pizza at Harry Carry's, took some pics and topped it off with a vanilla filled churro! It was a lovely day, and what a beautiful city Chicago is! It felt like a cross between LA and NY, I definitely want to visit again and spend more than 3 hours there! Below are the few pics I snapped from our mini trip...

Since we are on the subject...something I haven't really mentioned or gotten into on my blog yet is that I LOVE TO TRAVEL. And I certainly don't do it enough! (mainly due to lack of funds unfortunately). I believe that travel is good for your soul. Seeing and experiencing new places and cultures opens your eyes and your mind while bringing new ideas and creativity about, which is incredibly important in my line of work. I have been to 8 states in the US (not including where I live, Cali): 

1. Arizona, 2. Hawaii, 3. New York, 4. Nevada, 5. Washington DC, 6. North Carolina, 7. Indiana,
8. Illinois

It boggles my mind how I've only seen 8 out of the 50 states in my country, and on top of that have only been out of the country twice, to Mexico. I have yet to travel to Europe (my dream!) or to any Asian countries, which is a shame as my heritage is Italian and Japanese. Oh how I would love to visit those places! I lived a bit of a sheltered life back in Orange County, and now that I am on my own all I want is to just adventure, explore and see the world!
On that note...do you have any traveling tips or suggestions? Must see places, how to travel cheap, and so on? I'd love to hear your thoughts! :)