Jailbird

Why is it that black and white stripes always conjure up an association with prison? 

As most of you know, I used to teach in a prison. Truth be told, I saw a lot of green and the occasional orange (for those special inmates on "RP"--revoked privileges, or something to that effect), but never any stripes. One of my favorite stories from "the joint" goes a little something like this: one of my "students" conveyed to me a conversation he had had with his mother, trying to convince her to nominate me for one of the fashion makeover shows. I'm not making this up. He thought I dressed so poorly that I desperately needed professional help. What he didn't know was that I was trying to look as unattractive as possible, as a twenty-something female employee at an all-male correctional facility. Looking fabulous and finding myself an incarcerated boyfriend wasn't exactly high on my list of priorities. 

Alas, here is an homage of sorts to my days in prison, and to not being nominated for "What Not to Wear." Let the record stand that if anyone wants to put me on that show so I get a $5K shopping spree, I would not hold it against you!

Don't mind my crazy hair

Dress: Josh Brody * Shoes: Ash Italia * Nails: Essie - turquiose & caicos

City of Angels

This weekend the husband and I ventured down to L.A. for a wonderful 4-day weekend. We ended up eating our way through the city...Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles, Gjelina, A-Frame, and The Abbey, to name a few... We spent a lot of time with friends and family, and we snuck in a couple of activities too. It goes without saying that we wandered around Beverly Hills a bit to take in a little shopping. I wasn't really in the mood to shop for myself (gasp, I know), but my husband lucked out because apparently I was in the mood to shop for him. I'll have to blog him in his new maroon Ted Baker sweater because he looks adorable (yes, I'm aware of my bias here).

As a non-native of California, I'm still completely in awe of how amazing this state is. I'm a San Francisco girl through and through, but I love a little weekend getaway to Los Angeles.I had some "maybe we should move here" moments when I was down there enjoying the company of some lovely friends, but there truly is nothing like coming home to my beloved SF.

The surfers down here sure are hunky

Discovering the Venice Canals

3.1 Phillip Lim (sigh)

Shepard Fairey Mural

And as some of you know, we are in the market for a place to call our own. I think we found it in Los Angeles!

Talk about California Dreaming

What did you all get up to over Labor Day weekend? 

Prep School

Last night Aaron and I ventured down to Montara Beach for a lovely dinner at La Costanera--a coastal Peruvian restaurant. If you're in the Bay Area, you've got to try it! The food and the ambiance were fantastic, and the view (lots of surfers and surf!) was great. We had one of those "Wow, we live in an amazing place!" kind of evenings. Earlier in the day we had ventured out to Wise Sons Delicatessen for breakfast, and then spent countless hours at the SF MOMA. If you haven't had a chance to check out the Stein's art collection, you're truly missing out. I guess I didn't realize how much I love Matisse (and apparently, how much Aaron doesn't!).

I've been in a major clothing rut, which I'm assuming most women can relate to. I've been looking through the September issues of Vogue, Bazaar, etc., and feeling totally inspired, but then when I look in my closet all I see is "blah." I decided to make an effort for our date last night...it was kind of a haphazard process getting dressed, and I ended up having to roll this skirt about 5 times to get it to the right length--maybe that's a sign I need to take it to my newly discovered tailor (Mrs. Ma in Chinatown, who hems for $6 a pop!). The shirt is my old standby; whenever I'm at a loss for what to wear, I pull this out of the closet, and somehow it always makes me feel really good about myself. It's a hand-me-down from my aunt who got it while living in Korea circa the 1980s. I tend to not be much of a "classics" kind of girl, but there's something to be said for a shirt that can hold its own for 30 years!! 

with my stylish husband

Out back of La Constanera

 

 

Shirt: Polo * Belt: Linea Pelle * Skirt: Lush * Shoes: MICHAEL Michael Kors * Clutch: Hobo

The Print Pant

If you remember, a little while back, I did a post about the print dress. Never being one to wear too many solids, I'm still loving how prolific prints are--skirts, dresses, tops. Finding a printed pant takes a bit more effort. I have to attribute my interest in finding a print pant to my friend Patty, always the style watchdog. I find that every time I hang out with her I catch on to some new trend that I feel like would have passed me by had I not spent a little time with her.

I really wanted to wear these pants with a muted print top... but I don't have one, and haven't had the chance to find one. Hopefully that'll be round two for these pants.

I hope you are having a nice weekend (ideally filled with sun, especially since in looking outside my window, one could easily mistake it for a gloomy January day). Despite the weather, I'm enjoying my weekend in SF before I head out to Michigan tomorrow...nothing makes one appreciate home so much as spending weeks at a time on the road.

And a little added bonus, my friend Lisa, who looked very San Francisco casual chic for our Friday night outing.

Lisa Squared

On me: Tank: LA Made * Pants: Milkyway (from Buffalo Exchange) * Shoes: Via Spiga * Jacket: Max Studio (from Goodwill!)