Downtown Shopping

With Summer fast approaching and tourist season already in full swing, I thought I would share some of my more budget minded and/or kid-friendly ideas for anyone who may be headed our way.

Me being me, I decided to start with a shopping post.

Usually when out-of-towners think of doing some shopping in Los Angeles, the areas that come to mind are Melrose Avenue and Robertson Boulevard. Even Rodeo Drive still gets a mention if only as a place to window shop and people watch.

Those places are all worth a visit.  I am not here to say otherwise.  But if you really want to shop, might I suggest you head downtown to the Garment Center and check out Santee Alley.  For some who think this might be just a cute name, no it is an actual alley a few blocks from the California Mart.  When I used to work at the Mart, I spent many a lunch break wandering that alley.  When it comes to the "$20 and a dream" philosophy of shopping, none of the big discount retailers have anything on Santee Alley.

Yup, you guessed it, the dress above is a Santee Alley purchase.  Besides clothing, you can find shoes and bags. You can find loads of cheap chotchke toys for your kids (just try and walk down a block without being accosted by a bubble gun).

I do think it is necessary to add a 'Buyer Beware' disclaimer.  Nearly everything you see will be inexpensive, on the flip side not everything will be of the best quality.  And this shopping locale is the very definition of Final Sale.   Just know the rules before you buy.  

Besides the budgetary aspects of visiting Santee Alley, I think a visit would definitely broaden your vision of what Los Angeles is and the people who inhabit this city.  It ain't all celebrity sightings and overpriced t-shorts. 

Oh - and if you go to Santee Alley on the last Friday of the Month, that is sample sale day at the California Mart.  Two birds/one stone.  You are welcome.

Dress - Santee Alley; Shoes - Camper; Jacket - Gap; Sunglasses - H&M

Linking up with I Feel Pretty, Transatlantic Blonde, The Pleated Poppy  Visible Monday & DC in Style.                 

Skulls and Blazers

What I liked best about my outfit today was the skull tee.  Unfortunately I could only get a blurry shot.  I think Jacob was too pre-occupied with plans to steal yet another shirt from me.

Tee - Disneyland; Jacket - Diane Von Furstenberg (via Loehmanns); Shoes - Gentle Souls; Necklace & Sunglasses - H&M; Belt - Abercrombie & Fitch.

Linking up with I Feel Pretty, Transatlantic Blonde, The Pleated Poppy  Visible Monday & DC in Style.

Spring Uniform

It seems June Gloom has come early to Los Angeles.  Just because it is 100 degrees one day does not mean it won't be cool and dreary the next.  

This rapid change weather is wreaking a little havoc on my dressing routine, so I find myself relying more and more on basics. My staples being a drapey tee, flared jeans, platform shoes and a big necklace.  Not all that fashion forward, but will get me through a day that turns out to be warmer/colder than I had previously thought.

So for those days when I do not put up an outfit post, more than likely I am wearing some version of what you see below.

 Tee & Necklace - H&M; Jeans - Yanuk; Shoes - Kork-Ease; Sunglasses - Polkadots & Moonbeams; Belt - Abercrombie & Fitch

Best thing about this uniform is it can so easily translate to full-on Summer by just swapping out the jeans for a skirt.  Or shorts.  Which seems more suitable at the time.

Tee - Stylemint; Jeans - J. Brand; Necklace - Etsy; Shoes - Kork-Ease; Sunglasses - H&M; Belt - Abercrombie & Fitch

Linking up with I Feel Pretty, Transatlantic Blonde, The Pleated Poppy  Visible Monday & DC in Style.

Musical Monday - Ellie Goulding

I always seem to fall in love with the 'B' sides.  The Writer may be a lesser know track from Lights, but it is the one I am constantly playing.

In The Wait Room

UPDATE - so apparently there was a glitch in the system and I had to go ahead and recreate my In the Wait Room tumblr.  So if you were one of the few (very few) who followed me yesterday, can I ask you to go back to this blog and follow again?  Cause the one from yesterday was deleted.

Clearly when it comes to social media, I am still somewhat of a newbie.

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I started this blog because I wanted to talk about clothes & shopping.  Because I love clothes.  And shopping.  And I wanted to write about it and take pictures and discuss it with anyone and everyone who was interested.

Everything I write on this blog is real.  These are the outfits I wear and these are the things I buy (or really really want to buy).  I recognize that it definitely does give a very one-sided view of my life. Many who know me or have been following this blog already know that our family struggles with Autism and all the fun things that come with it.

Last year I jumped onto the Special Needs Ryan Gosling bandwagon (which by the way, if you want to laugh your ass off, please click here).  It was very cathartic and since it ended last July I have really missed the outlet.

I don't really like talking about what me or my family endure.  I am always worried about being a downer. I am also very aware that it could be so much worse.  And honestly I can see the look on some people's faces when I have crossed the line and done the wretched overshare.  But bottling it in is definitely taking its toll on me and what is the point of doing all this writing if I do not address what has been such a huge part of my life for so long.

I assume that if you have come over to this blog, it is not to hear about Autism or Due Process filings or Insurance battles.  Which I get because a big part of writing this blog has been to get away from the constant interventions and bureaucratic battles.  That is why instead of writing about it here, I have started a tumblr,  In The Wait Room.  The title simply comes from the colossal amount of time I have spent in waiting rooms in and around Los Angeles over the past 8 years ago.

Also, this post is not just to invite anyone who is interested to check it out.  It is an explanation to those who follow me on Facebook and/or Twitter.  I am sure seeing  posts about me crying in the waiting room in between my Polyvore sets and outfit posts has been more than a little confusing.  In truth nothing significant has changed in my life.  Other than the fact that I am now sharing more than just my sense of style.

So if you are interested in what happens when I am not discussing trends or obsessing on designer collaborations, please feel free to visit me In the Wait Room.

If not, no biggie. I'll be posting my old prom pictures here tomorrow.  It was the 80s and I wore a Betsy Johnson strapless corset dress.  You'll want to come back for that.

Prom Wear

Last Sunday I had that Facebook conversation with my Mom.  You know the one where she asks you how to post a picture (or share a picture or like a picture or comment on a picture, etc. etc.).  Alas, I was unable to help her long distance.

But then I found the pictures she was asking me about.  And since it is Prom Season, I thought it was appropriate to post them on her behalf.

 As you can see it was the 80s....

Do you think Madonna influenced my style at all?  Hmm?  What do you think?  Ok for sure the lace gloves and layered faux pearl bracelets and let's just say ALL of the accessories are a bit much, but I still love that dress.  It is a strapless, corset front Betsey Johnson dress with little pink roses all over it.

I still own that dress.  I cannot fit into it.  Even if I could not sure what event I go to that would justify a wearing, but I will never, ever get rid of it.

My date for the evening is still a very good friend of mine.  And while a classic tux like that never goes out of style, those sunglasses are killing me.  But who am I to point a finger, I am wearing fingerless lace gloves.

And for the record, while I have lost some of that youthful glow, my Mom has not aged a day.

Get Thee To A Target

I hear you.  I understand that everyone is sick to death of designer collaborations.  I get it.  I do.  But the reason they keep happening is sometimes they get it right.  These Sam & Libby flats are one of those times.

They are cute.  They are comfy.  They are $27.99.

Bright White

Yea, you had to know a post with the white shoes was coming, right?  As I look at this outfit now, I realize that 80% of it is H&M.  I clearly spend way to much time at that store.

Skirt, Necklace, Shoes & Sunglasses - H&M; Shirt - Joie (sample sale); Trench - Old Navy

Linking up with I Feel Pretty, Transatlantic Blonde, The Pleated Poppy  Visible Monday & DC in Style.