Lace and Leather

Wearing:
INC burgundy leather jacket
BB Dakota Lace sheath dress, via Modcloth
ASOS necklace (buy it here)
Nine West ivory pumps (old)
Forever 21 gold bow headband
D&G wallet
Mac "Rebel" lipstick

I hope this outfit serves as a holiday outfit inspiration for some of you.  I guess I could have worn this on Christmas, but I'm still undecided on what to wear.  I usually know exactly what I want to wear.  This year...not so much.

Now...I have kind of a fun question for you guys.  If you could raid any blogger's closet, who's would it be?  Realistically, I'd go for Blair's from Atlantic-Pacific.  I think we wear the same or similar size.  But in a fantasy world, I would pick Nicole from Gary Pepper Vintage or Julia from Gal Meets Glam.

Who would you pick?

xo  Azu

The Ugly Christmas Sweater

Wearing:
Chanel aviators
Vintage Christmas sweater
Equipment top
AG Jeans
Vintage purse
Forever 21 gold bow headband
Kate Spade "Isis" platform sandal
Estee Lauder "Stay Scarlet"

I wear this sweater every year in a different way.  It qualifies as an Ugly Christmas Sweater, but I think it's far from ugly.  These tacky sweaters have been a favorite of mine for years.  I love embellished sweaters of all kinds...especially when they're vintage.

This time around, I wore my Christmas sweater with these red platform sandals and jeans.  I borrowed these aviators from my boyfriend for the perfect touch of cool.  Yes...Ugly Christmas Sweaters can look cool if you want them to.

Happy Monday!

xo  Azu

I'm Thinking Pink

Wearing:
Tulle button detail wool coat in pink (buy it here)
MICHAEL Michael Kors "Rochelle" animal print infinity scarf (sold out online, but available in store at Nordstrom and Macy's)
Joe's Jeans black skinny pants
Nine West booties
Mac "Chatterbox" lipstick

What a difference a week makes.  Just last weekend, I was basking in the unusually warm December weather.  Now I can't leave the house without being bundled up.

I got this pretty pink coat as a Christmas present from my parents.  I've never been good at the whole waiting until Christmas Day to open presents.  Even as a kid, I used to get so impatient.  I'd poke holes at the corners of my presents so I could catch a glimpse of what was underneath the wrapping paper.  Then my parents learned to get creative.  They would hide my gifts inside random boxes (like cereal and oatmeal boxes).  It was child proof.  It was Azu proof.  And it drove me nuts!

I didn't want to be rude this time.  So I made sure to check with the fam before opening this gift early (I pretty much knew what it was).  Good thing I did.  It makes more sense to wear a winter coat as soon as it gets cold.  Even if that means wearing it before Christmas.

Hope you're all having a wonderful week so far :)

xo  Azu

Golden State of Mind

Wearing:
MaxStudio dress (old)
Elie Tahari denim vest
Steve Madden "Graanie" boots in cognac
Vintage Dooney & Bourke purse
Prada Sunglasses
Clinique "Shy" lipstick

We had incredibly warm weather this past weekend.  Being the sunshine lover that I am, I took full advantage of it.  And I'm thankful I did because the weather has taken a dramatic turn.  It's been freezing every night.  No more bare legs or sleeveless dresses for me!  At least not for a few months.  But hey...California weather is unpredictable.  So who knows?  I may be able to wear dresses without tights in a few weeks.  Probably not...but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

This outfit is a repeat from Fall of last year.  This is my first outfit repeat on my blog.  I re-wear outfits all the time, but you never get to see that.  Part of the reason why is because I won't take pictures of my outfits if I've already worn them.  So that probably gives you guys the wrong impression.  I don't wear a new outfit every single day.  There are plenty of times where I re-wear an old look.  And I love it!  So from now on, if given the opportunity, I'm going to post pictures of outfits I've re-worn.  I just think that's more "real", don't you think?  It's kind of fake for me to only show new outfits or new pieces of clothing all the time.  And it's not what I really do!  I want my blog to reflect the real me.

xo  Azu

AG Jeans "The Stilt" Review

Wearing:
Silk contrast blouse
Bebe cropped blazer
AG Adriano Goldschmied "The Stilt" (buy them at their official store here, at Neiman Marcus, at Nordstrom, or Bloomingdales)
Vintage purse
Stuart Weitzman "Capsize" pump
Dior sunglasses
Estee Lauder "Stay Scarlet" lipstick

As I've mentioned before, I am a huge fan of AG Jeans.  These are my newest pair.  And they're already a staple in my wardrobe.  

If you've ever tried on a pair of AGs, you may be familiar with their wide variety of choices.  The textures and fabric thickness varies with every style.  Since I ordered these online, I wasn't really sure what I was getting (thickness wise).  The Stilt is a lot thinner than I expected, but they fit perfectly.  They're also really comfortable.  I usually prefer my jeans to be on the thicker side, but I think I'll make an exception for these.

Another thing I love about AG Jeans, is that they're all made in the USA.  I always like to point out which designers make their garments in the US simply because it's so rare nowadays.  And it's good to know that what you're wearing was lovingly made.  You also help to support our economy that way :)

I almost forgot to mention...they fit true to size!

xo  Azu

It's That Dress Again...

Wearing:
Forever 21 striped dress (similar here, and here )
LaRok "cute cadet" military jacket (old)
Nine West booties
Forever 21 gold bow headband
MICHAEL Michael Kors "Rochelle" leopard print infinity scarf (buy it here)
Prada sunglasses
Mac "Rebel" lipstick
Vintage quilted leather purse

Are you guys tired of seeing this dress yet?  Hopefully the answer was no...because I'm not tired of wearing it yet.  I kind of ripped off my own look from this post.  This is another way to wear a military jacket and a striped dress, but for cooler weather.  If you want to replicate this look, you can even go a bit further and wear tights and gloves with it.

I hope you're all having a good Monday so far.  And it's Cyber Monday!   There have been so many great sales.  To be honest, I'm feeling overwhelmed about shopping during this time of year.  How did we go from feeling thankful and grateful for everything we already have, to feeling the need to buy more of what we don't have or can't afford?  As much as I hate to admit it, I have everything that I need.  I don't need anything.  But I feel so pressured to buy more stuff...because it's on sale.  I'm so torn between my wants and my needs that it's making me feel a little anxious.  I feel like a greedy little fashion pig sometimes.  ;)

Have a happy (and responsible) Cyber Monday!

xo  Azu

Thanksgiving Day Outfit

Wearing:
Topshop peplum dress
BCBG tweed blazer
Anthropologie "ice drops" necklace
Miu Miu patent leather mary janes
Louis Vuitton mini backpack
Mac "Girl About Town" lipstick

By now I'm sure most of you have explored the abundance of sales popping up online.  You probably already know about ASOS and their amazing 20% off everything sale.  Alice + Olivia also has the same sale going on (25% off everything).  But I think the most surprising sale for me is the Nanette Lepore one.  50% off everything?  Sign me up!  She is one of my favorite designers.  I love her super feminine designs.  And all of her clothing and accessories are made in the U.S.  Not very many designers do that!  There are only a handful.

Anyway, I had the most amazing Thanksgiving!  It was by far the best turkey I've ever had in my life.  And I'm very picky about the type of meat I eat.  So I thought I'd share a few links, in case any of you living in the Bay Area may want to buy from these places for your next big meal.

Willie Bird (turkey...it was PERFECTION.  Organic, juicy, and fresh)
Stuffing, broth and cranberry sauce (all organic from Whole Foods)
Apple pie from Petaluma Pie Company (It was a huge hit.  Everyone loved it)
Ice Cream (for the apple pie from Straus Family Creamery)
Produce from Paul's Produce, Sonoma Market, and Whole Paycheck Foods
And we bought squash and sweet potatos from local farmers, which we roasted.

Alright...I've got to go.  Can't believe it's Friday again!  Hope you all have a great weekend.

xo  Azu

Plaid and Leopard

Wearing:
Vintage blazer
Equipment top
Burberry plaid scarf
Joe's Jeans
Zara leopard print flats
Vintage purse
Prada sunglasses
Estee Lauder "Stay Scarlet" lipstick

It's the day before Thanksgiving and I can hardly wait.  Every day, I try to reflect on what makes me happy.  I find that doing so makes even the smallest things meaningful.  It also helps to "erase" any negativity that may be occurring in my life.  I know it's so easy to focus on what may be going wrong, but dwelling in negativity doesn't help.  This is especially true for me on Thanksgiving.  I usually make a mental list of the things that I'm most grateful for.

I'm so thankful for many things in my life. What I'm most thankful for is being surrounded by people who love me.  I'm also thankful for my health, the beautiful valley I live in, and the delicious food I'm about to indulge in tomorrow.

What are you thankful for?

I hope you all have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

xo  Azu

Doberman Sweater

Wearing:
Forever 21 blouse
Topshop doberman motif sweater
Lucky Brand cords in "ceremony purple"
Arturo Chiang kitten heels
Vintage purse
Prada sunglasses
Chanel "Desire" lipstick

The vineyards look like they're on fire at this time of year.  Driving through the highway in November, you get to see a rainbow of autumn.  Coppery reds, burgundy, orange, and bright yellow leaves replace the summer green.  Brown crunchy leaves are the end result.

My outfit doesn't match the beautiful sorbet of colors behind me.  But they do go together quite well, don't you think?  I've worn this outfit so many times before.  It's another one of my go-to looks.  I feel so comfortable in this soft sweater and stretchy corduroy pants.  It's kind of a geek meets chic look with a dash of preppy.  This was the perfect outfit for running errands.  So much so that I actually wore it two busy days in a row!

Do any of you have an outfit (or more) that you keep wearing?  Tell me about it in the comments.  :)

xo  Azu

Pink Blazer and Leopard Print

Wearing:
Zara pink boyfriend blazer
BCBGeneration sleeveless leopard print top
ASOS leather skater skirt (exact one, really similar here)
Tights (don't know where or when I got them)
Nine West booties
Dior sunglasses
Vintage purse
Mac "Girl About Town" lipstick

Hey guys!  It's another Friday and I can't help but feel rushed.  I always try to get everything done during the week so my weekends will be free...but it doesn't always work out.  Last night, as I was trying to finish up a painting, the power went out.  Twice!  To make matters worse, I couldn't sleep very well.  It was crazy windy all throughout the night.  All I could hear were branches hitting houses, cars, and my neighbor's trash bins tipping over and rolling.  When I woke up, it was much worse than I thought.  Trees had fallen over a block away and part of our fence blew over.  Luckily the wind storm is over!  

Now tonight I can sleep well knowing there won't be any crazy noises outside my window.  I'm not used to it being so windy.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!  Thanks so much for reading :)

xo  Azu