Heat Wave

Battling this constant drought here in Southern California has been exhausting. With the Santa Anas sweeping through and record temperatures, all I really want to wear is a bathing suit. But since that is neither appropriate for school nor work, I'm forced to don more acceptable garments. 

My top, a comfortable number by All Saints has a sleek set of satin sleeves, paying homage to this years athletic trend with a play on the baseball tee. My burgundy leather skirt is a staple from A.L.C. Both afford the right amount of dark colors, my paying of respects to the Fall/Winter that never was. 

The shoes are also by All Saints, allowing me the essence of grunge without fully committing. They were also a lovely surprise from a certain someone who knows my taste exceedingly well. 

And finally, the bag, which really needs no introduction at all. The only thing I can say is that they will have to pry this box of lambskin from my dead fingers before I stop using it. 

It's Summer Somewhere

It's summer somewhere -  mainly San Diego. Despite my disappointment, I don't think I'd really be prepared for fall until the Santa Anna Winds roll through. And since the air remains more or less still, I'm happy to wait for autumnal weather. 

A weekend away before school starts up again is essential. It's cooler in San Diego, and my default makes it seem as if Thanksgiving is closer than it really is. 

I'm also happy to announce that I have found, in all possibility, the most comfortable semi-boots ever manufactured. These Zara numbers have plenty of thick white rubber to pacify even the most enduring night on the town. 

My sweet little Phillip Lim x Target bag completes a careless, industrial look. Little did I know when I snatched it from a hiding place within the racks of polyester sweaters how rare a find it was. Nevertheless, its light enough to be comfortable to carry and large enough to fit all of my essentials. 

This ever-lasting transitional period allows my closet the time it needs to turn over to warmer and thicker garments. Instead of tattered jean shorts and t-shirts, I can now happily wear my black leather Helmut Lang shorts without discomfort. Also, the attractively heinous fupa it allows tells me that I'll have plenty of room to stuff myself when the seasons come around. 

Following this baseball hat trend, this wool cap from JCrew is color blocked and throws a euro-sport-chic vibe on my whole demeanor. Plus, worn with a dark pair of sunnies its very useful for people-watching. I also feel like I'm being pro-active about sun exposure, despite the striped A.L.C. tank I wore. 

In theme with this whole industrial thing, it was only appropriate to shoot on a roof that is directly below the San Diego Airport landing path. 

By Lizzie Furlong

West Coast

Beating The Heat

Just when I started to think a real summer heat wave wasn't in the cards for Southern California, we're bombarded with temperature advisories. Now, in between desperate trips to the beach or runs to the drug store for some more sunscreen, I was able to brave the sun for an outfit post. Granted, I'm not on the most timely basis, but who can blame a girl when she's soaking up the last rays of summer?

My Leifsdottir pants proved to be a perfect choice for warm weather outings (Because there's nothing I hate more than people vowing never to wear pants when the sun is out.) 

My shoes, pictured earlier above, are Zara. Yeah, they do make a pretty good likening to a certain Isabel Marant spring/summer staple. But I like the height, as I'm not very tall and my pockets are not very deep. 

My Alexander Wang tank is a perfect fit and shape for me. Loose and easy, it looks great paired with a simple necklace, like my favorite Jennifer Zeuner lariat. I accessorized with more rings on rings and some colorful sunglasses.

And with that, I'll be headed back to Broad Beach...

Estival Dressing

Estival: (adjective); of or pertaining to summer. Didn't expect a vocabulary lesson today? I say every day is a day to learn more SAT words, even if the test in question is irrelevant. With a newly advancing heat wave here in Southern California, estival dressing is the only way to survive. 

A comfortable and more importantly breathable tshirt is necessary, this particular favorite is from Zara for a thrilling twenty American dollars. Yes, I know, it is black, which is pretty terrible in direct sunlight. But theres something so rebellious about it. Also it masquerades any trace of pit stains, which are really a summer bane. 

The shorts are Rag & Bone in a sticky sweet over saturated salmon. I'm a particular fan of drawstrings, as they ease my inner claustrophobic. 

Jewelry is by Madewell, whom I may add has provided its trend conscious consumer with numerous sets of rings in all styles and sizes. I picked up a few sets over several weekends and have paired them with more miscellaneous rings. My necklace, a birthday gift, is by Jennifer Zeuner. The lariat style was inspired by Aimee Song, my California style spirit animal. 

No estival ensemble is complete without a pair of J.Crew wedges that mimic looking into a noonday sun. My sunglasses are the ever-trusty Prada Cats Eye. 

by Lizzie Furlong - west coast

School Spirit Vision

Being at school is the last thing I want to be doing in August, let alone high school (I think we can all vouch for that.) However, when I received the pair of platform loafers in the mail, I had a vision. Bouncing on football field bleachers and pretending to skip class appealed to me in a whole new way. 

First, I'd like to brag about my triumph in the Zara sales. Online a few weeks ago I saw the same pair of said loafers that blog prodigy Chiara Ferragni wore in a few photos. When I got all my funds together to make the purchase, the shoes were gone. I kept my calm and said my nightly prayers that, along with good health, I would find those shoes again. And then, on a chance browse of the sale shoe selection, I found the same loafers I had been panting for weeks before. And 70% off no less!

The pants, by Vince, are a school staple. When I was actually in high school I probably would have rather filled my mouth with acrylic poster paint than wear khakis. But now, looking back on such naiveté with a cultured and open-minded outlook, I scoff at my prejudice. They're softer than jeans, more versatile, and with a clean pressing look a lot more crisp. The top, a breezy number by Helmut Lang, is soft enough and thin enough to be completely bearable in the summer heat. 

I accessorized with a duo of gold cuffs, a Jennifer Zeuner lariat Rayna necklace, and a few more gold chains. My sunglasses, Ray Ban, are perfectly dark enough so that if I was still in grade 12 I could keep them on during Calculus and comfortably snooze. 

By Lizzie Furlong

West Coast

Ode to Earth Day

Earth Day can really be any day in Southern California. Foliage is everywhere (usually brown or, rather, "golden"), and landscaped gardens full of greenery are not hard to come by. Dressing in a kaleidoscope of color, texture, and pattern only seem natural in this environment. 

A cobalt blue statement necklace (found at the ever attainable and affordable Anthropologie), with a contrasting black and white cotton jumper by J.Crew, maintains my love of smashing together two unlikely counterparts. 

The skirt, well, really isn't a skirt at all. In fact, it is a strapless dress by BCBG Maxazria Collection. Watching last years Spring 2012 show via youtube induced a color-blocking coma that really hasn't abated. I think it's something I'll be wearing until the day I die. One thing is certain: I'm a freak for pleats. And I paired the entire ensemble with the notorious, tumblr-famous color-blocked Zara heels.

Even though I didn't plant a tree or cultivate any organic produce, I'd say rubbing up against roses and being blinded by sunlight was a small act of appreciating Mother Earth. And it wasn't without casualties  - I regrettably sunk my shoe into a chasm of fertilizer. 

Lizzie Furlong - West Coast

Patterns on Patterns on Patterns

I came to the conclusion about two things this week: First, while stripes, gingham and checkers are great, they're even better together. Second, I really need a freaking haircut. 

Now, print mixing, in my opinion, is an art. There are those, like Aimee Song and Chiara Ferragni, who pair Kenzo printed shirts with Clover Canyon, and look effortless. In contrast, however, one need only enter the nearest Wal-Mart right before closing to witness the horrifying effects of matching Tweety-Bird fleece pajama bottoms with a camo-print hunting jacket. 

Now you see my dilemma. How do I look like the former and avoid looking like the latter? 

I think the key here is only using subdued prints. Or, in other cases, pairing a dominant, loud print with a subtle pattern that acts as a neutral. Here, I used my tattered red and slate gingham button-down as a base, and paired my striped J.Crew knitted blazer over top. On a side note, it is very difficult to pull off a blazer on the cliffs of Malibu. Having this light-weight knitted yet structured jacket is a dream considering the warm temperatures and casual setting. 

And why stop the layering at just clothing? With an assortment of my fave necklaces at the moment (I have an obsession with arrows), I was comfortable for a weekend at the Malibu Farmers Market with lunch at Tra di Noi. 

All Wal-Mart jokes aside, I'm not the first to admit mixing prints is hard. But naturally I had to add a printed bag to really complicate things. My mothers very old and well-loved Fendi satchel-turned-clutch did the job perfecly. A little Chelsea boot action and I'd say my tame attempt at print mixing paid off. 

Lizzie Furlong - West Coast

True Blue

The second I ever saw these pants I recalled the hallowed words of 'Miranda Priestly'.  "What you don't know is that that sweater (In my case raw silk trousers) is not just blue, it's not turquoise. It's not lapis. It's actually cerulean." And cerulean they are. Sort of like all those tumblr pictures one sees when surfing through photos tagged with "summer". But like those pictures, my pants (which are made by Eloise) and the accompanied top mix different tones of blue. 

I feel obligated to add that trousers are my best friend. And not the stiff, no-nonsense versions that pervade through L.L. Bean catalogs. The kind that move with your knees and slip over your skin (that is, if you're freshly shaven.) And lucky for me, this style of pant is very relevant.  Whether it be in a tie print or even a worn white linen, it evokes a miraculous blend of elegance and laziness. And with this cerulean color, I feel like I can cheat and never don another pair of jeans for the rest of my life.

Playing a matching game today, I stayed very blue-neutral and wore a Zara top with a mixture of embroidery, micro-sequins and beads. Its made of a sweatshirt material, so with the aforementioned pants, this might just be the chicest pajama set anyone has ever seen. 

By Lizzie Furlong // West Coast