OBSESSED...

jacket // blouse

STYLE MUSE - STEFANY MOHEBBAN

I'm really excited to share today's L+R Style Muse, beautiful lady - Stefany Moheban.  She is a stylist and textile designer living in NYC.  I first found her via Instagram, and she is one of my favorite folks to follow.  Her style is an eclectic mix of thrifted, vintage, and designer... casual and glamorous.  Never too serious, and always a little unexpected.  I think her style is practically perfect in every way.  Stefany is definitely one of my style muses.  Her blog - Pretty In Thrift - is as personal and unique as her style (I really appreciated this honest post she just wrote).  

Thank you, Stefany, for being a L+R Style Muse!

[You can purchase Stefany's bag, borrowed from one of her favorite vintage sellers (Omnia Vintage), here]

L+R:  Who are your style muses?

S:  Elisa Nalin (she's an italian stylist), and of course Edie Sedgwick! 

L+R:  Have you always lived in New York?

S:  I was born in Milan, Italy and moved to NYC in 1994... I haven't lived anywhere else since.

L+R:  Tell us a little about your career, and journey to becoming a stylist.

S:  In my early 20's I knew I wanted to work in fashion but was not sure in what way.   I assisted fashion designers, costume designers and worked on my own art for a while before I realized that Textile Design was a great fit for me.  I studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC.  While I was studying textile design I developed a love for styling, at first providing my services (that sounds weird haha) to friends and family. In the spring of 2011 I won a contest on Fascism (a cool fashion blog), which led to an amazing weekend where I learned from one of the best stylists: Stacy London, all the tricks of the trade.  I became a stylist for her network Style for Hire and have been doing both editorial and personal styling ever since.

L+R:  How would you describe your personal style?

S:  My personal style is a melting pot of urban, vintage, ethnic and European sensibilities which are a culmination of my exposure to both Milan and NYC.  I love the edge of a downtown girl, but also appreciate the beauty of vintage prints and silhouettes, while my love for high end fashion always keeps me striving for a polished finish.  My style philosophy is all about balance and that element of the unexpected.  I love juxtaposing unusual colors, textures and shapes to make a statement, and also find pleasure in imperfection.  I find that messing something up a little bit is fun because perfection can feel a little boring :)

L+R:  Where are your favorite places to shop in NYC?

S:  NYC is so full of amazing boutiques and shops that it's hard to have favorites.  I thrive on mixing high and low, vintage and new to create an interesting look.  I shop at flea markets, vintage shops (mostly in brooklyn or the lower east side), thrift stores and the occasional luxury department store (Saks, Barneys, Bloomingdales) to achieve unexpected combinations.  Some of my go-to vintage and thrift stores include: Amarcord Vintage, Beacon's Closet, Buffalo Exchange, Vice Versa.

L+R:  Are there pieces in your wardrobe you find yourself wearing constantly? 

S:  I've been wearing my Pamela Love x Nine West western booties with pretty much everything I own.  I also can't get enough of motorcycle leather jackets, and crew neck sweaters.  I picked up a bunch of vintage grandpa sweaters from various thrift stores at the beginning of the season and they have been my go to on chilly NYC days.

L+R:  Your favorite fashion "find"?

S:  Lately I haven't been able to stop wearing my thrifted Ralph Lauren Blanket Coat. It's the coziest and most over-sized piece I own, and I just adore the combination of warm colors and the southwest inspired pattern.

L+R:  Have you always had a love for vintage?

S:  Growing up my family didn't have much money, so I wore a lot of hand me downs from family, and ended up using my mom's closet to fill in a lot of the blanks. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because my mom's closet was a dream.  We lived in Italy for a long time, so her closet was filled with beautifully made and great quality European designer pieces.  This helped not only develop my love for styling, but also appreciate the craftsmanship and beauty of vintage.  

L+R:  Ok, last one is just for fun.  Three beauty products you can't live without?

S:  Aveeno body lotion, NARS eyeshadows, Makeup Forever lipsticks (they live up to their name (last forever!), and are very high pigmented.

(photos by Naomi of Omnia Vintage)

MADEWELL SPRING 2013

Have you seen Madewell's Spring 2013 Lookbook yet?  I think it's a little bit different for them, but not in a bad way!  Lots of indigo, khaki, white and leather accents.  The color they do show is a bit muted and candy colored, like the marshmallows in Lucky Charms cereal (yes, I still eat that).  My favorite looks are the top two (#4 and #10), and I would kill for the dresses in #13 and #22.  Well, not really "kill"... but I sure do like them! 

What looks or pieces are your favorite?

DATE NIGHT

Last weekend the Mr. and I decided to go out for dinner + drinks and have a proper date night!  It's been a long time since we've went somewhere nice - just the two of us.  We had a wonderful evening that ended in line for ice cream (both a bit tipsy).  

I apologize for the quality of these photos. I asked the Mr. to snap a few pics before we left (because I haven't had daylight hours to document many outfits!), but my camera battery was drained and the charger is MIA.  iPhone to the rescue.  

The tassel necklace I'm wearing is from my friend, Meredith Piccin - the fabulous gal behind Honey Rose & K.  I've talked about HRK before here!  Every time I wear it I get compliments.  (A gal in line at the ice cream shop asked me where I got it!)  Meredith's pieces get snatched up on Instagram and via her facebook as soon as she posts them!  So, if you see something you like - I recommend not taking the time to think about it! :)

Top:  H&M

Jeggings:  Paige Denim

Jean Jacket:  A&F (here)

Boots:  Dolce Vita "Jax"

Short Necklace:  Forever 21

Long Necklace:  c/o Honey Rose & K

Cross-body:  Vintage

WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE?

Circle YES, NO or MAYBE.

The Mr. and I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day in a big way.  We don't believe in exchanging gifts, especially after Christmas and both of our birthdays in January.  We usually just get extra-good cards, and celebrate at home.  In the past that has meant take-out from any number of our favorite places, and sharing a big ole dessert.  Last year my hubby poured milk in wine glasses to have with our chocolate cake.  We're so fancy.

V-Day Round Up:  one | two | three | four | five | six

STYLE MUSE - JUSTINA BLAKENEY

I am beyond excited to share today's L+R Style Muse, Justina Blakeney.  I first found Justina when her beautiful wedding was published in Martha Stuart Weddings.  I was captivated by the bohemian style and DIY details.  Since then, I have followed Justina's fabulous blog - which was recently named one of the Best Home Decor Blogs by Refinery 29.  Justina affectionately calls her home (shared with her husband - Jason, and baby girl - Ida Sky) their Jungalow.  And you should most definitely take the time to click here  and here to check it out. 

Justina Blakeney is a creative force to be reckoned with.  She doesn't follow trends, and her uniqueness is refreshing.  She just does her thing, and does it oh-so well.  It's a quality I admire most in people, and I find her completely inspiring.  I love this recent post where she writes about clothing for curvy women (using photos from the shoot she did for L+R!).  

Thank you, Justina, for being a L+R Style Muse!  

xo

<<< Q+A below >>>

L+R:  Who are YOUR style muses?
J:  Peggy Moffitt, Iris Apfel, Frida Kahlo

L+R:  Where are your favorite places to shop in LA?
J:  Flea Markets, Squaresville, New High Mart, Tavin

L+R:  Your favorite  fashion find (s)?
J:  Oh gosh too many to name--have a look at my Get in my Closet Pinterest Board!
     http://pinterest.com/compai/justina-s-style-pinboard/

L+R:  You're a designer, consultant, interior stylist, and you've written 4 books!  
Tell us a little about your career path and journey.

J:  I began my career simply by doing the things that love. The more I designed--the better I got at it. I volunteered, interned, worked for trade and got involved with anything that sounded fun and/or interesting to learn as much as possible about art and design. As far as formal education, I got my Bachelor of Arts degree at UCLA in World Arts and Cultures and I minored in Italian. I then got a post graduate degree in fashion design from Polimoda on Florence, Italy, but ultimately I feel that travel, and collaborations with people that I admire have provided the best education.

L+R:  You lived in Italy for 7 years. What took you there, and what brought you back to California?
J:  I grew up in Berkeley, CA and moved down to LA to go to UCLA when I was 18. I fell in love with this city--so warm, so vast, and so many cultural enclaves throughout.  I made a ton of friends that are still my friends today. My junior year at UCLA I studied abroad in Florence, Italy. I studied communications and became enamoured with Italian language and culture. When I came back to the US after my junior year I decided to return to Italy after graduation. When I went back my sister Faith came with me and we did our post-graduate work at Polimoda. The following year we launched a boutique and a design collective.  I had the opportunity to work with some amazing Italian designers and learn so much from them. Something about being a foreigner and always being just a little bit outside of my comfort zone forced me to observe, observe and observe more-- so I learned a ton. I came back when I fell in love with my now husband, Jason--a California boy. 

L+R:  What does a typical day look like for you? and how has this changed since you've gotten married, and had Ida Sky?
J:  As a full-time consultant, each day is drastically different. My main job is a creative consultant. I help people and businesses with creative concepting and design. This can mean one day I'm doing home decor and interior styling and the next day I'm art-directing a photoshoot. My 'gigs' are kinda all over the map and I like it that way. Since I had Ida and got married, I work more from the computer and phone. I do less graphic design and more styling because styling projects have a set start and finish time where as graphic design projects can go on and on and that's hard with a baby. 

L+R:  How would you describe your personal style?  and how does that reflect on your interior design work?

J:  My personal style is Jungalow and Globoh (global/bohemian) -- that goes for everything in my life. My personal style does not change from fashion to home to food--or whatever--my tastes are pretty consistent. I like it wild. 

L+R:  What inspires you or influences you the most creatively? 

J:  TRAVEL, TRAVEL, TRAVEL--and that could mean to another continent or to the corner store. Being outside of your comfort zone--hearing, feeling, tasting, seeing and smelling new things and people.  

L+R:  Ok, last one just for fun :) Three beauty products you can't live without?

J:  Josie Maran Argan oil, Mixed Chicks Leave-in-Conditioner, Funny Face Lipstick by Nars

(These fabulous photos were taken by Justina's husband, Jason Rosencrantz.)

THESE THINGS // THIS WEEK {NO. 12}

Happy Friday, folks.  Have a wonderful weekend!

These are the things I am loving this week ...

this sweater from She Inside...

seriously pining for these Frye "Lucy Lace Up" boots...

this pin is one of my favorite style pins of the week - simple, chic style...

(original image source)

how cute is this glass water bottle by Faucet Face...

might have to try these banana breakfast sandwiches this weekend...

loving these Object & Totem necklaces (left // right)

really wishing this Style Mint shirt wasn't sold out (sad face)...

this is something I always need reminded of...

THE ENDLESS PONCHO SEARCH

Ponchos first made their way onto the fashion scene in the 70's.  They had a resurgence about 30 years later, but the ponchos of the late 90's / early 2000's are better off forgotten.  Cringe worthy -  they were usually cropped, often asymmetrical, and over-all just plain awful.  I had a bright turquoise one with fringe... oh yes, I did.

I've been hunting for a poncho over the last few years.  I have come across some fabulous designer-y versions that were out of my budget, and I've searched Etsy for hours, but I have yet to find the one for me.  Sigh...

 image sources: one // two // three // four // five // six

ponchos: one // two // three // four 

(If I haven't purchased this vintage beauty [#4] before you read this, you better beat me to it!)

FORTUNE BY KIM DULANEY

Fortune jewelry by Kim Dulaney...  I found her little Etsy shop thanks to Pinterest, and I adore her necklaces.  A lot of the designs are made with vintage pieces, so there are usually only 1 to 4 of any same necklace.  If it's not "one of a kind", it's pretty darn close.  I'm coveting this first one for myself, but Kim currently has her shop closed while she creates more necklaces (she'll be back February 8th!), so I'll have to keep pining for a bit.

How was your weekend?  Did you watch the Super Bowl?  Or did you eat lots of bad for you - good food and watch the commercials?  I think Doritos knocked it out of the park with the goat, and the little girl bribing her Dad with Doritos to play dress up. I also loved the Budweiser clydesdale commericial, and the Dodge "God created farmers" commercial.  Oh, and the Taco Bell one with the old folks partying.  What commercials were your favorites?

AMERICAN BUFFALO

I am coveting this buffalo print so very badly.  I originally thought it was a painting, but it's actually a photograph by Sharon Montrose.  Her style of animal photography is just so unique.  You can (and should) check out the rest of her amazing photographs in her shop, The Animal Print Shop.  

Unfortunately, the American Buffalo print above is a bit north of our budget. So, I've been obsessed with finding something similar (unfortunately nothing compares once you've fallen in love). Below are a few I've found...  Which one is your favorite?

(Lone Buffalo by Jill Fleming via Society 6)

(Street Walker by Kevin Russ via Society 6)

(Bison and Calf by Olivier Le Queinec)

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!