Tag Archives: downtown LA

Leopard love.

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Going out for a night on the town calls for an edgy, fashion forward ensemble that is sure to turn heads. For this night I chose to embrace my love for leopard print.

This outfit screams fashion forward, fashion savvy and fashionista! I found the shirt at a small boutique in downtown LA and it was priced at $72, which is CRAZY. It’s not a name brand, it’s not quality material and it’s NOT worth $72!!! The guy running the joint tells me he’ll give it to me for $55, which is STILL crazy. I continued about the store and then found the same shirt on a mannequin, and I sighed heavily… once I see something ON a mannequin a new wave of “must have” comes over me. I decided to try it on…. JUST TO SEE how it looks on me, you know? Of course I was falling for this shirt, and I was falling hard. It truly was love at first sight, I just tried to ignore it. I finally asked the guy, “How about you give this to me for $40…” I was hoping he’d say no, because I really didn’t even want to spend $40 on a shirt. Of course he said okay! Even at $40 this shirt is overpriced considering the quality (its polyester), but I justified the cost due to the unique appeal.

Gold accessories matched the leopard and black perfectly. The necklaces are from a flea market, the big gold pyramid ring is from a sample sale, and the gold cuff is from H&M.

I wanted my hair to be sleek, sexy, voluminous and high fashion. I pulled the sides tight and pinned them underneath the teased hair at the crown of my head.

On my ear is an ear cuff I found on Etsy from the seller Antickquities. It is made with brass clock hands. This ear piece has a steampunk feel and is definitely a unique detail of the outfit. This piece actually came with another, to wear on the other ear, but I’m only wearing one at a time. The pieces were a great bargain at $11.

My leopard pants were found at TJ Maxx for 20 bucks, total score! The entire outfit tops my gorgeous Jeffrey Campbell spiked Lita’s for that really edgy feel.

My cute lil bag is a leather Betsey Johnson bag that retails for $200. I happen to work with the lady who reps Betsey Johnson and Steve Madden here in LA, and she totally hooked me up with this bag for $20!!!! A huge part of my fashion skills are made up of hunting, finding and scoring deals. You can do this by shopping at off price stores like Ross, TJ Maxx or Marshalls OR at smaller private boutiques you can sometimes bargain with them. Many boutiques and shops in downtown LA are totally down for bargaining, like the shirt from this outfit. Thrift stores are another great place to score amazing finds for dirt cheap.

The outfit was a hit and really fits my personality. Another fashion mission, accomplished.

It’s all about the accessories.

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Another plain jane outfit spruced up with accessories! If you don’t already own a plain white, tailored button up shirt, I highly suggest you get one. They go with so many different outfits and looks, indeed a staple item in any fashionista’s closet.

I don’t invest a lot of money in any staple article that is white. With white articles of clothing you have to worry about the three D’s: dirty, dingy and damaged…. all too soon. This shirt I picked up from a local low end boutique for about $10, it’s not the greatest quality, but it fits great and will last me through the next couple seasons.

My jeans are skinny cut Levi’s and they are from Kohls at $40.

How about that belt?! That is one solid chunk of leather and metal. The belt is by Brave. Brave is a leather company that makes women’s and men’s belts and other small leather goods. This belt retails for $120 in stores and online. Of course, I didn’t pay that much! I found this belt at downtown LA’s Friday Sample Sale. Usually at sample sales, the showrooms sell everything at cost (wholesale) price… this belt being $60 wholesale…. but the guy sold it to me for $15!!! Wooo! Major score! I love how chunky and industrial it is.

The ring I’m wearing is a fancy shmancy armor ring that I found at Wet Seal (of all places!) It’s a great statement piece of jewelry.

No purse today, just a little wallet clutch that my girlfriend gifted to me. It’s sparkly black patent leather and the handle is built in “brass knuckles.” Not only does this clutch carry all my cash and cards, but I could bust somebody in the temple if I had to. In self defense of course. ;)

One of the best ways to spruce up a some what dull outfit is to slide on some bold statement shoes! These shoes are by Jeffrey Campbell and are the most expensive part of the outfit (a little bit over $200). Don’t get me wrong… I don’t go spending that much EVER on anything… except the occasional pair of shoes. Shoes are worth it!

Accessories can make your entire outfit go from blah to WOW! In addition, you can take the same basic articles of clothing and create entirely different looks using accessories. Look for an upcoming entry, where I create a whole different style using the same jeans and white button up. Until then, cheers to my lovely readers! I appreciate your views more than you know!

Pink, Re-Styled.

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A new day calls for a new outfit! I wanted to wear the same colors from the outfit that I wore to the Pink Party (which you can see HERE).  The events were related, so  I wanted to utilize the same colors and skirt but in a whole new way. What I love about the skirt is the super flowy material, and it is short in the front, and long in the back (very popular right now!) For the previous outfit, I wore the skirt as it should be worn, but for this outfit, I simply pulled the skirt up over my chest, and wore it as a strapless shirt/dress. By putting a belt on over it, it cinched it enough to flatter my shape. Obviously it was very short in the front, so I put on a simple short black mini skirt, and added some wicked stockings to create a whole new look out of the same basic pieces.

Click pictures to see them larger.

Remember, this skirt is from Ross and was 10 bucks! The belt I got from TJ Maxx for 5.99 and the stockings are from Wet Seal for another 8 bucks. I got the stockings a few years and they are gorgeous! I haven’t been able to find them again so I handle these with great care so I don’t rip them up.

Now my favorite part, the accessories!

This picture looks better when you click on it, so you can see detail.

Okay so that amazing ring that looks like spikes coming out of my finger… yes, that ring is AWESOME! I found it online for 4 dollars!!! It’s one of my coolest rings, and it was soooo inexpensive! The spiked bracelet is from Forever 21 and the slave bracelet is from the Icing. My amazing chain purse I found at Ross (where I find most ALL of my amazing articles of fashion!) and it was a mere 20 bucks. The necklace I found recently at an accessory store in downtown LA and it was also 20 bucks.

My make-up was kept simple, although I did hand glue (eyelash glue!) 15 pink Swarovski crystals around my eyebrows and added a little glitter to my eyeliner. As for my hair, I inserted pink, black and white flowers and a black feather fascinator.

Again, my ensemble was an absolute hit at the event (LB Pride 2012). If it wasn’t my hair, it was my shoes people were in astonishment with. Many people asked to take a photo with me (including profesh photogs), which of course, was awesome. I remember times in the past where I attended different kinds of public events where there would be some gorgeous female all decked out in some elaborate fashion and I always wanted to be her… and after this day… I think I can say I made it. If you want to be “her” you can’t half ass it. You go big or you go home, and I’ve learned this over the years. And it always comes down to details. Clothes can only get you so far… but the details… those are what seal the deal.