introducing. steller.

Taking a break from my regularly scheduled fashion posts, today, I wanted to introduce you to a storytelling app called Steller.  (If you haven't heard of it yet, don't fret — it's still a relatively unknown app/social media network.)  In a nutshell, Steller allows you to combine photos, videos and text to convey your creative vision.  Here's where the creativity comes in:  A story can be as simple as a photo diary capturing a typical day at the park or it can be rooted in something more personal + meaningful to you.  Your story can be short or relatively long.  The sky's the limit!  

Upon initially downloading Steller, I distinctly remember feeling inspired by so many of the stories being uploaded by users.  I found the ones that incorporated video clips and stunning photography to be extra compelling.  Whereas the process of uploading a top-notch photo to Instagram is fairly seamless (capture, edit, filter, add a description and hashtags, upload!), Steller requires a little more story boarding prior to hitting publish.  But the end result is so worth it, in my opinion!  I'm constantly looking for new creative outlets and Steller just so happens to fulfill a unique niche that falls between Instagram and video apps like Vine. 

With all that being said, I finally (!) composed my first Steller story.  Last week, as per summer tradition, I went to a neighboring town's lawn party/carnival.  Side note: Personally, I LOVE carnivals — not only for the food (fries and funnel cakes FTW!), but all of the amazing photo ops.  While I didn't record any video clips this year, I did capture enough photos to share my carnival-going experience via Steller.  Considering that this was my first story, I'm actually pretty happy with how it turned out.  I used the "Wander" theme which complemented the free-spirited vibe of my story perfectly.  Check it out below and let me know what you think!  

Will you be giving Steller a download?  Let me know in the comments below!  Feel free to share a link to your Steller profile, so that I can check out your stories!

xo,
A

4

july. the. list.

Ah!  Despite being halfway through the month (!?!), today is a good day 'cause the July edition of "the. list" is here. It's a smidge late, but who's counting?  This is one of my favorite types of posts to curate as it's a roundup of everything that I'm currently loving. While some may be starting to think about fall fashion, I'm definitely still 100% in a summer state of mind.  Bring on the sandals, cutoffs and easy-breezy dresses — please!  

1. Out of the Bag Cat Ears Ring (Kate Spade) // Despite not being a crazy cat lady, I find myself allured to this dainty kitty ring. It's the cat's meow, that's for sure. 

2. East / West MAB Tote (Rebecca Minkoff) // While I've been majorly crushing over mini + crossbody bags lately, there's something about this oversized Rebecca Minkoff tote that is equally appealing.  If you're looking for an alternative to your classic Longchamp bag, then this would be a solid option.  

3. Madewell et Sézane Striped Knit Dress (Madewell) // As much as I love the stripes and seemingly casual fit of this Madewell dress, the back is what really gets me. And by the back, I mean --> Those. Buttons.

4. Fringe Appeal Necklace (Kate Spade) // The ultimate way to channel island vibes without going anywhere?  All sources point to this ah-mazing glass beaded necklace in Caribbean blue. 

5. Moto Front Denim Mini Skirt (Topshop) // For Alexa Chung-approved style, look no further than this retro denim button-front skirt. Pair it with a striped tee and Birks for a no-nonsense look.

6. Chain-Mail Ankle-Strap Sandals (J.Crew) // Considering the fact that I have yet to invest in a new pair of sandals for the summer (#fail), this navy pair is officially on my radar. Part chic, part effortless, these stompers = a wardrobe's worth of possibilities.

7. Flower Print Fabric Hanger (Nordstrom) // If you haven't heard, Liberty of London has teamed up with Nordstrom for a super fun Pop-In-Shop. Besides this cute fabric hanger, I'm swooning over this pair of floral ballet flats in collaboration with London Sole. #Need

8. Paloma Pajama Short (Sleepy Jones) // Pretty PJs FTW!  I've found the quintessential floral shorts for sleeping, daydreaming + everything in between.  Here's to Sleepy Jones' movement of "non-movement" (aka lounging and doing absolutely nothing).

9. Smoking Slipper Embroidery (Soludos) // Soludos for summer — can you dig it?! I sure can, especially if they're as cute as these pineapple adorned smoking slippers.

10. Latona Jacket (Joie) // Ever since a certain J.Crew (Factory) field jacket came into my life, I've been coveting casual, all-weather jackets like this one by Joie.  Whether paired with an awesome striped dress or my favorite Industry Standard jeans, this jacket has major cool-girl appeal. 

What are you currently loving this month?  Feel free to share a link to your must-haves for July or leave a comment below!

xo,

A

2

cupcakes. and. cashmere.

If you haven't heard yet, Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere debuted her first standalone clothing line earlier this week. (Does anyone else remember the capsule collection that she did in collaboration with Club Monaco last year? I do!)  Sold exclusively at Shopbop and Nordstrom, her Fall 2015 collection is exactly what you'd imagine it would be (and more).  Reflective of her personal style — think ultra-feminine + simple wardrobe staples mixed in with an effortlessly-chic California aesthetic — each piece from the collection is practical enough to be restyled a number of ways.  While the price point isn't exactly budget-friendly, it's not out of the affordability range either.  One thing's for sure: If you're a fan of Emily's style and want to treat yo'self to something special, then nothing beats being able to shop her style.  It's almost as though you're BFFs or something!  We can only wish.

Here's a snippet of a few of my favorite items from the Cupcakes and Cashmere collection.  Act fast, some of the pieces are already starting to sell out!

Are you loving the Cupcakes and Cashmere collection?  Which blogger(s) do you wish would branch out and design their own clothing line?  Tell me in the comments below!

xo,
A

1

jeans. of. my. dreams.

The prettiest packaging I ever did see.

I'm on cloud nine right now, because I've found the most ah-mazing pair of jeans. Yay!  The quality + fit come second to none, the length is just right (seriously, no tailoring needed here!) and they're incredibly comfy. You may or may not remember me mentioning recently that I had plans to invest in a pair of Industry Standard jeans as soon as they came back in stock. Well, it finally happened and I can now say that I'm a veryyy happy owner of the Simone Midrise, a skinny leg jean with a "brilliant blue" wash. For $95, these jeans are a steal. It's hard enough to find jeans that I like, let alone a pair that fits perfectly AND is made of the highest quality denim. (Just FYI, Industry Standard jeans are designed in NY and made in LA.) When you take all of these factors into account, Industry Standard comes out as the clear front runner amongst all of the other countless denim brands. Well, in my opinion at least. ;) 

Now, onto the deets. I'm not going to lie, the idea of buying jeans online without trying them on first is kind of scary to say the least. Because no two denim brands (or styles) are alike, you can basically throw consistent sizing out the door. You just never know! In fact, I went up two sizes in the Simone Midrise. (As a rule of thumb, all Industry Standard styles typically run a size small!) Thanks to a brief questionnaire found on Industry Standard's website, I was able to plug in my measurements, along with my size in other jeans that I own, to determine my ideal size in the Simone. Long story short, the jeans have arrived and the fit is even better than I could have imagined. They're easily the nicest jeans that I've ever owned. 

A few more things to note: 2-day shipping is free! If the jeans you order somehow don't fit, you can exchange them for another size for free (no shipping and handling costs as long as you follow the correct guidelines for exchanging). If you're into your initials, monogramming is an option for an additional $12 fee. Lastly, the packaging will knock your socks off and you will proceed to snap photos of your purchase, because OMG, the presentation is so perfectly minimalist + Insta-worthy.

The Simone Midrise.

A recent #ootd in which I incorporated my new Industry Standard jeans!

I loved this cutout back!

Sorry for this unusually long post — I just can't stop raving! While I don't typically wear jeans during the summer months, I'm now more excited than ever to do so. BTW, I already know that my next purchase from Industry Standard will be the Simone Highrise, a black skinny leg jean.

Will you be purchasing a pair of Industry Standard jeans? Which style is your favorite?

xo,
A

6

fourth. of. july. weekend.

R, W + B hues.

Hope everyone enjoyed their Fourth of July weekend!  For the most part, I took it easy, which was absolutely fine by me.  I hit the outlet malls with the fam on Friyay (a tradition of ours every July 4th holiday) and stopped by Sonic on Saturday for half-price slushes during Happy Hour.  (I mean, is there anything more all-American than Sonic?  I think not.)  Out of everything, I'd have to say that my favorite thing about July 4th would have to be wearing head-to-toe red, white and blue.  Call me cliché, but when it comes to navy + stripes, I think more is more.  Besides, since when is dressing patriotic not considered the ultimate fashion statement?  In addition to my outfit, I also shamelessly opted for a festive, if not very minimalist, mani.

While July 4th may be over (cue very sad face), I'm not ready to put away my R, W + B hues just yet. Thankfully, I don't have to — and neither do you!  As someone who believes that these three hues can be worn all summer long (Memorial Day, Labor Day, just for fun!), I've rounded up a handful of items to invest in and wear right NOW.  Let the shopping spree begin!  

one. // Hello, perfect striped tee for summer.  The slouchy fit is on-point.

two. // When chambray meets scallops, you get the quintessential pair of shorts.  I want. 

three. // I'm not going to lie, I've been swooning over this dress forever.  If it weren't for the price, trust me, it would already be mine. 

four. // Loeffler Randall can do no wrong as far as sandals are concerned.  These star ankle wrap sandals are e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.

five. // To be worn w/ jeans, a white eyelet dress — you name it. 

What's your favorite thing about July 4th?  Do you have any festive red, white and blue attire that you know you'll be wearing all summer long?  Tell me in the comments below!

xo,

A 

PS- You can check out my recap of the Fourth from last year here!

0

sunday. funday. recap.

While D.C. isn't my favorite city, I do enjoy visiting the art museums located on the National Mall. From the National Gallery of Art to the Hirshhorn, there's no shortage of galleries to explore and get lost in. For the majority of the museums, admission is free — a win-win if you're on a budget. With the temps in the low 80s, this past Sunday seemed like the perfect day for a quick trip into our nation's capital. Just for fun, I've rounded up some photos + highlights from my visit below!  Enjoy! 

The National Gallery is seriously so BIG. Since this wasn't my first time visiting, I just meandered my way through some of the exhibits. (I lucked out because, but there was a Gustave Caillebotte exhibit that opened on Sunday — perfect timing I guess!)

Speaking of NGA, I can't get enough of the East Building designed by I.M. Pei. While the galleries are currently under renovation, the atrium is still open to visitors. I especially love the large Alexander Calder mobile that spans the ceiling — it's amazing.

Admittedly, I'm also a sucker for the Concourse walkway (and light sculpture entitled Multiverse by Leo Villareal) which transports you between the two buildings. #somanylights

Color Bands (2000) by Sol LeWitt at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Having the opportunity to see Nam June Paik's work on display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum was hands down one of my favorite parts of the trip, especially since I wrote a paper on him for my modern art class last semester. Seeing Megatron/Matrix in person (an 80 channel video installation with 215 monitors) was a real treat as it's normally not on display. The Smithsonian lucked out in receiving so many of Paik's works for their archive. Electronic Highway (also on display) has become a permanent fixture in the museum's modern wing as well.
 

You gotta love Flavin at the Hirshhorn. #nofilter

Because it was on the way (and free), we quickly popped into the Freer Gallery of Art to see check out some of the current exhibits. If you're interested in Asian art, then it's definitely worth stopping by.  I personally enjoyed the serene courtyard.

A snapshot of my #ootd. I'm so glad that I decided to wear this skort on Sunday — not only was it a comfy + practical option, but it's very much of-the-moment. I don't know about you, but I'm loving how skorts are becoming a thing again. I'm pretty sure that this was my first time wearing a skort since middle school...

Of course, no trip would be complete without some shopping. Although I didn't buy anything this weekend, there is a cute J.Crew, Anthropologie, American Apparel, etc. that I like to stop in.  Next on my list of D.C. attractions to see include the Phillips Collection (notably the Rothko Room!), the National Museum of Women in the Arts and possibly Georgetown (I still haven't been!)

What are your favorite D.C. spots? Leave a comment below!

xo,
A

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