Decor of the Day

San Francisco, Part Two

Inside our super-glam hotel (striped walls will make an appearance in a future apartment at some point in my life), I'm wearing my didn't-expect-it-to-be-this-cold-in-California denim jacket and leggings uniform. Come to think of it, my outfit didn't change the entire trip, aside from a rotation of dresses.

Despite—or maybe because of—the dreary weather, all I wanted to buy were summery sundresses.
The last thing my closet really needs is more chambray and floral, but I couldn't resist. These two cost $30. Combined. How have I been missing out on Urban Outfitter's seasonal sales all my life? Oh. That's right. Because I don't live within two hours of one. Maybe that's a good thing?

The floral belt on the left is a Mayle find from The Wasteland on Haight Street, the single best thrift store I've ever been to. I also found...
...this dress (chambray again!) by Sunner, a label I frequently stalk on Shopbop. It's a few sizes too big, but nothing a nice wide waist-cinching belt can't fix.

I loved San Francisco, but I didn't leave my heart there. It was much too cold for that. Read about part one of my trip here!

Madewell: Made Available To All!

I visited Madewell for the first time in Dallas four years ago and the store immediately became one of my favorites, even though the closest location is a plane ride away. Two summers ago, I lived down the block from the SoHo store and I visited at least once a week, even though I had to leave my credit cards back at my apartment in an effort to stay out of debt.

Fortunately for me and everyone who doesn't live a few steps away from Madewell, they opened an amazingly well-curated online boutique today. Unfortunately for my wallet, every single thing is more adorable than the last.

I want the jeweled necklace to dress up my summertime Tshirts and cutoffs, the striped oxford tunic for days at the pool and nights on the town, and strappy leather wedges because, well, I'm addicted. I want the tiered mini skirt that's a little bit cooler than floral (but just as cute!), the dotted cardigan because it reminds me of cupcake sprinkles, and the little coral crossbody bag that wouldn't match anything but would sort of mix with everything.

Do you hear that? It's the hollow sound of my empty bank account.

Flower Power

I've been fawning over Gap's new floral skirt for a month now, but after spotting it on Lucky's Cute Outfit of the Day girl, I know I have to make it mine. I'll buy it a size smaller than usual so that it will sit snugly on my waist just like the magazine's adorable fashion news writer.

There's not a lot I love more than floral prints with striped patterns, but when you add platforms to the mix, like both Lucky and Gap did, I'm head over... heels.

San Francisco, Part One

Birthday cake donuts, the perfect accompaniment to my morning iced latte from the corner Starbucks, also known as my wake up call every morning.
Day one at Coit Tower, an art deco landmark and one of the prettiest views in all of San Francisco. From here we explored Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, and the Golden Gate Bridge. I'm wearing a striped tunic (Gap Kids), navy leggings (Old Navy), a cream double-breasted sweater (Gap), and coral Chuck Taylors.
Day two, in front of Ben and Jerry's on the intersection of Haight and Ashbury. This area was the number one place I wanted to visit, because I have a longtime fascination with the 1960s Summer of Love culture. There were no Jerry Garcias roaming the streets, but our taxi driver claimed to have known him, so that was enough for me. I'm wearing a plaid ruffled dress (Gap), denim motorcycle jacket (Gap), navy leggings (Old Navy), and gold gladiator sandals (Coach).The best chocolate chip cookie in the world from Ghirardelli Square. It was the size of a scone, so I shared it with my parents, but the oozing chocolate chips had me fighting for every last crumb (even though lunch, a dungenee crab grilled cheese sandwich for me, was just minutes earlier). In front of Owl Tree, the bar of my dreams. Not only were there adorable owls everywhere, but also every delicious beer in America on tap. From here, we searched the streets for San Francisco sushi and ended up at an Italian restaurant with the tastiest fresh calamari imaginable.

Crush of the Day

Dree Hemingway at Cannes wearing Valentino. ♥

Diane Kruger at Cannes

Diane Kruger wearing Chanel.

Classy Summer

San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)

Tomorrow morning, I'm leaving for a few days in San Francisco. I'll be speaking at Ypulse's conference about youth marketing (and signing books! So fancy!), but I'm staying a few extra days to explore the city with my parents.
If you have any suggestions, from shopping to sightseeing, we're pretty much without a plan. Our hotel is in the Union Square area. So far, I know I want to go to The Curiosity Shoppe, Barneys, and Bell Jar (how can you not love a boutique named after one of the greatest books ever written?). Oh, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

I've been obsessively reading Legal Style (pictured above), one of my favorite Bay Area style blogs, in hopes that I'll pack appropriately for the famously unpredictable weather.

Kate Moss

Kate Moss at a Topshop event. ♥

Pierre Hardy x Gap Heaven

The Cynthia Vincent for Target wedges changed my life. All of the sudden, I'm like one of those girls you read about in magazines who say, "I like my shoes really flat or really tall, but nothing in between." I've worn them non-stop since I snagged a pair, and I've been plotting a second platform purchase ever since.
I logged onto Gap at midnight on the day the Pierre Hardy for Gap collection was supposed to be released, but alas, the floral-strap wedges were nowhere to be found. During a week when I should have been worrying about finals (my finalest finals ever!), I was refreshing the Gap browser instead of revising term papers and rereading Hemingway. After the millionth tweet of desperation, Gap came to my rescue and put a pair in the mail for me.
I was cleaning my apartment after graduation festivities the day these were delivered (explanation for the cutoffs and white T). When the mailman knocked on the door, I almost jumped into his arms I was so happy. I continued cleaning, but couldn't take these gorgeous shoes off. They sure make scrubbing floors seem a lot more glamorous.

A Sweet Surprise

When I told my brother I couldn't meet him for lunch because I was baking cupcakes from scratch, his response--after laughing for a few seconds--was "Good luck with that." I've had my fair share of baking misfortunes. Once, my oatmeal raisin cookies tasted like fried catfish. Another time, I iced an angel food cake inside the pan, not knowing that the cake has to be flipped onto a platter before frosting.

So in the past, my failures have far outweighed my successes. But then, I've never baked from scratch before. Betty Crocker mixes must be unlucky, because my first batch of homemade cupcakes (ever!) was a shining success. I started the weekend with three dozen cupcakes and have two left. Two!

I used Smitten Kitchen's sour cream chocolate cake recipe topped with old-fashioned buttercream icing, both found via Manda Cooks, one of my favorite cooking blogs that happens to be written by a fellow former Teen Vogue intern.

So with graduation behind me and a batch of homemade baked goods under my belt apron, I might finally be on the path to adulthood. But first, I need to go watch Gossip Girl again.

Graduation Dress... Ta Da!

After searching high and low, I ended up finding my graduation dress closer to home. I was releasing some pent up energy after an exhausting exam at — where else? — the mall and came across the dress of my dreams. Or, at least, a very, very cute dress that fit like a dream and cost far less than many of my other favorites.

Yes, it's white, and yes, I clearly graduated before Memorial Day. But I decided that since it was my last day before entering the real world, it was my last day for good ol' college rebellion. So wearing white before Memorial Day it was.

dress, Kensie. heels, Gianni Bini. clutch, Liberty of London for Target.

I Did It!

After a whirlwind four years, I'm a college grad! Cheers to adulthood.

In a Champagne Supernova in the Sky

I still remember the moment Matt Pond PA became one of my favorite bands.

It was 2005, I was a senior in high school, and my life revolved around Monday nights because that's when The OC was on. In what continues to be my favorite episode ever filmed, Seth and Summer fatefully reunite, Spiderman-style. Dig up your old OC dvds and watch it -- The Rainy Day Women, season two, episode 14 -- then try to keep yourself from covering your notebooks with "I Heart Seth" and "Miss [Your Name Here] Cohen." To this day, when I watch the episode or hear Matt Pond PA's cover of Champagne Supernova, I get butterflies in my stomach.

Since then, I have made it my mission to have every song every recorded by the band. My top five songs on iTunes are all Matt Pond. I stayed up until midnight the night their most recent cd was released, and then had to listen to the entire thing before I had any hope of falling asleep.

In short, I am a fan. A big fan. I was thrilled to learn that Matt Pond PA is coming to my college town this month. I was heartbroken to learn that their concert is on my graduation day. At the very same time that I'll be crossing the stage to get my diploma, they'll be taking the stage to play my favorite songs.

I considered skipping graduation, but my parents would undoubtedly disown me, so here's to hoping I'll bump into the band afterward. Hey Matt Pond, let's meet for a celebratory drink. Harpos, our college bar, is just down the street. I'll buy!

Chanel Resort

Perfect!

Claudia Schiffer on Vogue Germany

Claudia Schiffer

THE couple

Sienna Miller and Jude Law ♥

Spread My Arms & Soak Up Congratulations

I won't be having an actual grad party because my graduation falls at 8 p.m. on a Saturday night, which means the celebrating won't begin until 10 or so. It also means that my graduation dress will be covered up by a big black gown for almost two excruciating hours, which I think is close to as tragic as being an unemployed (funemployed?) college graduate.
But if I was having a grad party, I would take a cue from Martha Stewart, who put together one of the cutest celebratory soirees around. My favorite part about the whole party isn't the mortar board-inspired invitations or the tasseled napkin rings or even the scroll-topped chocolate cake.

My favorite part, by far, is that Martha's decorations say "Good luck," a much more appropriate sentiment than "Congratulations" for a class of students who are looking forward to a future of part-time jobs and moving back in with the parents.*

As always, Martha gets it.

*According to The National Journal: "A new survey of 1,200 college grads and soon-to-be grads by the employment website Monster.com found that 71 percent anticipate living with their parents because of limited financial resources and 31 percent predict that they'll be doing so for at least a year."

Keep It Short