Australiana

At this very moment, Erstwilder released their new Australiana collection and it features some of Australia's most adorable animals in brooch form.  While I have yet to visit Australia myself, I love learning about their native animals through these brooch collections.  I've dedicated this post to show you my top three picks in this nine piece brooch-only collection.  You can check them out below!

An-Tea-Chinus Mouse

Brooch- c/o Erstwilder
Top- Target (similar)
Lipstick- Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Pink Souffle

I'm going to be honest: I had no idea what an antechinus mouse was until I laid eyes on this brooch!  I couldn't even handle how cute this little mouse was, especially perched up in a teacup.  I had to have him!  I love his marbled resin against the pastel cup.  He's definitely my favorite of the collection.

The Mega Bat

Brooch- c/o Erstwilder
Top- Vixen by Micheline Pitt
Lipstick- Lime Crime Metallic Velvetine in Happi (on sale)

As a spooky gal, I must have all the bat brooches.  The Mega Bat has a nice marbled resin on the wings and a bright orange body (much like the real megabat).  He's more of a subtle, understated brooch and I think it's quite fitted for bat, don't you think?

Royal Reeler Kingfisher

Brooch- c/o Erstwilder
Top- c/o Modcloth
Lipstick- c/o Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Seraphine

Anyone who knows me personally is aware of my obsession with birds.  Unfortunately, my house full of rescue dogs does not allow me to have a bird of my own.  Thankfully, Erstwilder scratches my bird itch with gorgeous bird brooches like Royal Reeler Kingfisher.  He has so many beautiful colors and textures, you can see him from a mile away!  Since it's currently spring here in the northern hemisphere, I feel like he's going to be a great addition to all of my spring outfits.

You can see the full collection on the Erstwilder website right now!  But don't hesitate, these brooches won't be around for long.  What's your favorite in the collection?  Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo

Ashley

Avocado

Avocados are pretty much the California mascot (we go crazy for them) so you can imagine my excitement when I saw this Bettie Page dress.  This one-shoulder swing dress has lots of fun details in literally the cutest print ever, so I jumped into my car and headed to Santa Monica to their brick and mortar store.  I was overwhelmed by all the lovely product in their gorgeous store but left with the one thing I wanted most.  No doubt I'll be back, let's just hope I have the same level of self-control!













Dress- Bettie Page Store
Shoes- Remix Vintage Shoes
Lipstick- Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Pink Souffle
Belt- From another dress

The Belinda Avocado dress is made from a cotton fabric with a slight stretch and features a removable shoulder bow, full gathered swing skirt with huge hidden side pockets, and a back zippered closure.  I tried on both the XS and S in this dress.  While they both fit, I ultimately went with the S for more bust room.  The Belinda also comes in a Sherbet Stripe color way, but it runs much larger than this one.  I tried on the XS and it was actually too big!  The fabric is much thicker and stretchier than the avocado version, so you can definitely size down.  Overall, I really love this dress and I hope the Belinda comes in other prints in the future!

Anyone else excited for Infinity War?  I'm not able to see it until tomorrow (and that alone is killing me) so I'm doing my best to stay away from social media and news outlets in fear of accidentally seeing spoilers.  Are you going to see it this weekend?  The suspense is already killing me!

xoxo

Ashley

Mellow Yellow

While I technically haven't gone anywhere (unless Disneyland counts), I took a little vacation from the blog these past two weeks.  As I've mentioned in the past, this blog almost always provides me an outlet to express my creativity and relieve stress.  But then there are times when it's just a burden.  Over the years I've learned how to recognize when I need to step away and something even more difficult: not to feel guilt when I do.  It's been a fun yet jam-packed two weeks and I'm now ready and more inspired than ever to start posting again!  I had to jump back in with these new separates from Collectif Clothing.  Super cute, comfy, and incredibly versatile; these pieces are the perfect pair for the warmer weather that is now officially here!













Top- c/o Collectif
Skirt- c/o Collectif
Shoes- Chase& Chloe
Lipstick- Julie Hewett in Jacqueline
Brooch- c/o Deer Arrow
Bangles- Trashy Diva (sold out)
Hat- Amazon (similar)

The Giorgia top and Matilde skirt are sold separately but I feel like they were meant to be together.  These pieces are made from a textured, structured cotton that retain their shape but are incredibly comfortable to wear.  The Giorgia top features a square neckline, thick straps, and an exposed back buttoned closure.  I took a UK8 and I was very happy with the fit.  The buttons can be a little difficult to fasten by yourself, but I just put it on backwards and then shimmy the top around.  The Matilde skirt is a fun yet not-too-full swing skirt with a thinner waistband and a back zippered closure.  I also took a UK8 in this skirt and it was the right choice!  I can totally see myself wearing this with a contrasting colored top for a cute summer outfit (or maybe even a Disneybound?).  For now, I'm going to enjoy these pieces together while the weather allows!

If you don't follow my closet account (you can do that HERE), I recently made an announcement that my friends and I will be listing TONS of super cheap clothing, shoes, and accessories on Friday, May 11th.  There will be lots of goodies from sizes XS-2X, so you can grab some vintage, vintage reproduction, and retro stuff for a steal!  We will only be posting on May 11th and it's a private account, so you'll have to follow it to have access to the sale.  I'll be posting more about it as the day gets near, so keep your eyes peeled for updates!

xoxo

Ashley

Cactus

Sometimes I get caught up in the whirlwind of the very selective and fake "Instagram perfection" and I literally wear myself out.  Truth is, I don't want to be made up everyday.  Don't get me wrong, I like wearing makeup, doing my hair, and dressing up for myself.  But I usually have some makeup-free, messy bun days in between.  "Spring" is in full force (and by spring I mean 90-degree heat) so I've been pulling out all my cotton dresses and putting my hair up to stay cool and comfortable.  I guess you can say this is my in-between kind of everyday look.  I definitely feel fabulous but I'm ready for whatever these almost-triple-digit days have in store for me!













Dress- c/o Top Vintage
Shoes- c/o Top Vintage
Belt- Vixen by Micheline Pitt
Lipstick- c/o Vinyl Cosmetics x Southern California Belle Lipstick in Hell's Belle

This cactus print dress from Top Vintage is great for these warmer months.  It's a super light cotton fabric and features adjustable straps, sweetheart neckline, elastic side panels on the bodice (hello taco room!), full gathered skirt with hidden side pockets, and a back zippered closure.  Thanks to those stretchy side panels, I took a size XS and it was a good fit, maybe even a little on the roomy side.  I paired this dress with my new leather clogs and I am in love!  These shoes are super comfortable and stylish.  I took my usual size 40 and it was perfect.  Definitely runs true to size.  They also come in red, yellow, and green and I feel like I need them all!

This weekend is gonna be crazy because I'll be vending at the LA Shag Festival this weekend!  My super stylish friends and I rented a booth and we'll be selling true vintage, repro, and retro clothing, shoes, accessories, and more!  Almost everything is $60 and under (we will have a very select few "fancy" items that cost a bit more) and we'll have sizes ranging from XS-2X.  The event is being held at the Burbank Marriott and the vendor room is open to the public...  No tickets needed!  You can find all the information on the event HERE.  I'd love to see you there!

xoxo

Ashley

Rufina

If you've never taken the plunge with Miss Candyfloss, I highly recommend doing so!  While I've made some separates purchases in the past, this is actually my very first Miss Candyfloss dress.  The Rufina dress is fitted in all the right places, delectably vintage looking, and light as air (perfect for spring/summer).  I feel like this is a start to a new obsession!











Dress- c/o Miss Candyfloss
Shoes- c/o Charlie Stone Shoes
Lipstick- c/o Vinyl Cosmetics x Southern California Belle Lipstick in Hell's Belle

While it's hard to show in pictures, the Rufina dress is actually a rose print corduroy fabric.  It's a "baby cord" so it's very fine and not a thick fabric at all.  The Rufina style features their signature pleated bust, full skirt with a border hem, matching grommet belt, and a side zippered closure.  I'm wearing my usual Miss Candyfloss size (XS) and it was definitely the right choice.  I paired this dress with my new Charlie Stone Bellagio shoes.  These genuine leather flats are ridiculously comfortable, thanks to the cushioned insole.  I wore these all day and my feet were super happy!  I've been nursing a foot injury this past week so I'm extra thankful that I have supportive shoes that look pretty too.  They also come in black and tan and I feel like I'll be ordering them asap!

I've been trying to grow out my bangs these past few weeks.  When my dog Rocco died a few months ago I impulsively cut them.  While I enjoy wearing bangs, I feel like it was a huge mistake!  The grow-out process is the worst and finding ways to wear them during this transition is aggravating.  While I'm not really a "hair roll" kind of person, this is one of the best ways to get my hair out of my face!  If you've ever grown out bangs, what was your favorite way to wear them?  I'd love to get some new ideas!

xoxo

Ashley

Flower Child

I'm always extra excited when I have a Mommy and Me post on the horizon!  While I've been a fan of Karina Dresses for years, this is the first time I've been able to dress Bianca in a matching dress of theirs.  These wrinkle free, easy to throw on and go but still mega stylish dresses are now available for kids and I'm so honored to show them off today!













Dress- c/o Karina Dresses
Shoes- Chelsea Crew
Brooch- Tangerine Menagerie
Lipstick- c/o Vinyl Cosmetics Southern California Belle Lipstick in Soubrette

Bianca's Dress- c/o Karina Dresses
Bianca's Shoes- Payless

Karina Dresses are American made and constructed from soft, stretchy, wrinkle free material.  They flow beautifully and drape perfectly on their own.  I purposely chose not to wear shapewear for that reason.  We're wearing the new Wildflowers print, which boasts vibrant blue, pink, and orange hues in the cutest allover flower motif.  It's perfect for the spring season and beyond!

I'm wearing the Ruby dress, which is a faux wrap style and features a crossover v-neckline, knee length skirt, and an attached sash in matching fabric.  I took my usual size XS in Karina Dresses and it was the perfect choice!  Because the fabric is so stretchy, if you're between sizes I'd recommend going with your smaller size.  Bianca is wearing the new Cali dress, which features a scoop neckline, empire waist, and twirl-worthy skirt.  Bianca is between a 5T-6T and she's wearing the M/L.  It's just the slightest bit big, but that's also a good thing when you have an ever-growing kid!  We both love our dresses so much, I can't wait until we get to wear them out again.  Since they're machine washable, I won't have to wait too long!

xoxo

Ashley

Gwenn

Few things make me happier than seeing all the green flourishing in my town.  It's been at least two years since I've seen one of my favorite photo spots so lush and green, I can't get enough of it!  I decided to wear my new Glamour Bunny Gwenn dress to explore the new streams and tall grass, it made me feel like a woodland princess looking for my demure cottage off the beaten path.  If only that were actually true, I'd be fulfilling one of my childhood dreams!











Dress- c/o Glamour Bunny
Shoes- Chelsea Crew
Barrette- Free People (on sale!)
Lipstick- c/o Vinyl Cosmetics x Southern California Belle Lipstick in Subterfuge

The Gwenn dress is made from a stretchy bengaline material and features a structured bodice with a gorgeous black and white striped panel in the center, flattering cap sleeves, full swing skirt, detachable grommet belt, and a back zippered closure.  I love the way this material flows, I think it looks amazing on its own (no petticoat needed).  I'm wearing a size XS and it fits like a dream!  While I wish it had pockets, I still wear this dress all the time.  It's just so comfortable and easy to wear.  Sizes are already selling out, I wouldn't hesitate to add this one to your closet!

I'm currently fighting the biggest Disneyland hangover (not an alcohol-induced one, LOL).  Apparently, I've come to the age where I can't wear ballerina flats and walk several miles in them without hurting myself.  My left foot seriously feels like a broke a bone somewhere in there!  I'm trying to take it easy because I have lots of fun events planned for the rest of the week.  Can't wait to share them with you in a few days!

xoxo

Ashley