It's Me, KP

WC vs EC: Spring Jackets

Amy and I are back with another installment of our West Coast vs East Coast style series. I am now back to being a Midwesterner, but I think my closet is still going to say New Yorker for just a bit longer.  I'm still going to be the one wearing all black in the spring.

Today we're talking spring jackets and this one has been my favorite for about four years now. It was an inexpensive purchase at Forever 21 and has really held up over time. I love that it's a longer trench like jacket but still has a lot of girlyness to it with the ruffles.  

Jacket: Forever 21 | Shirt: Forever 21 | Jeans: Forever 21 | Shoes: Anne Klein | Necklace: Kate Spade | Photos taken by Meg Tsang

I find that I get tempted easily by jackets - there are just so many cute ones each season.  But this has been a long standing staple I like to pull out year after year.  Do you have a go-to jacket for the spring?

West Coast VS East Coast: Sparkly Skirts

Amy and I are back with another WC vs EC style post. Eventually I guess I'll have to slip back into Midwest... it'll be interesting to see how my style transforms.  But for now, I'm still repping the East.

I had a small snag with this post because Amy suggested that we style our sparkly skirts - I had worn mine at CHA this summer. But when I left NYC, I did a major purge of my closet and donated over half of my wardrobe. Anything that I hesitated on keeping just went in the giveaway pile.  Goodbye.  And so I discovered yesterday morning that my sparkly skirt did not make the cut.  Enter back-up plan: a sequin dress that was literally my back-up plan for New Years Eve this year.  Ta da. Problem solved.

Dress: Forever21 | Tank: Madwell | Kimono: Zara | Belt: J.Crew | Boots: Steve Madden (similar)

I added a tank over the dress and pulled on one more layer with the Zara kimono.  The dress was a cheap find, I think it was about $25 but can easily be styled in so many ways.  More casual like here or dressed up and ready to party.  It's such a great staple to have in my closet.  Plus, what girl doesn't love a little sparkle right?

I hope to get back on track with my What I Wore posts and make it a weekly series.  If there is anything you'd like to see or you have any suggestions, I would love to hear it in the comments!

West Coast VS East Coast: Holiday Party

It's been a while but Amy and I are back with another edition of our West Coast VS East Coast style posts.  And since 'tis the season for holiday parties, we're sharing what we both wore to some festivities lately.

 

Amanda and I hosted a Candyland themed party at her apartment last Saturday and it was a great excuse to get dressed up a little bit.  My motto for dresses is always keep it comfy, which this dress from Zara totally was and even had pockets - always a plus!

Dress: Zara | Boots: Steve Madden | Necklaces: Basil the Cat (use code ITSMEKP15 to save 15% off), Kate Spade | Nailpolish (put on after the first photo): Essie Snake it Up

I bought these boots at the beginning of the fall and I am so glad I did.  They walked with me all over Asia and are easy to dress up or down.  Super comfy, super easy.

I have more photos to post from our party but let me just leave you with this little teaser... Cotton. Candy. MACHINE.  Boy oh boy, are there some good photos to share.

I can't wait to see what Amy's wearing on the West Coast!  What gay apparel are you donning this holiday season?

West Coast VS East Coast: Polka Dot Sweater Style

I have a fun guest joining me today for a West Coast VS East Coast style post - my awesome friend Elise Blaha Cripe!  When I snatched up the cute polka dot sweater at Old Navy (brown is available online) that Elise had also shared on her blog, I thought it would be fun to show how that cool California girl and I both styled it.

There are a hundred different ways I wanted to wear it... with a bright skirt, black pants + boots, with a long striped maxi, under a blazer.  This sweater is so versatile.  I wore it to meet a friend for a casual dinner, so I decided to go with what I would normally just throw on in that situation.  

Sweater: Old Navy | Jeans: GAP | Shoes: J.Crew | Bracelets: Madewell | Watch: Michael Kors

I'm obsessed with gold right now and love it as an accent.  I picked up these inexpensive bracelets at Madewell and they're my new favorite accessory.  To top off the outfit, I pulled on some fun gold strappy shoes just to be a little more girly.  There really are so many ways to wear this sweater, I'm sure you'll be seeing it pop up in photos the rest of the fall.  What would you chose to wear it with?

I hope you enjoyed this WC vs EC episode today - and thanks to Elise for joining me!

West Coast VS East Coast: Lunch Date

Amy and I met for lunch last week to eat one of our favorite things, the lamb burger at The Breslin, and she suggested we snap some photos to do another WC vs EC post.  I hadn't worn anything particularly special to meet her, so I think this is a good example of what I sport on a daily basis.

If you follow me on Instagram, you recognize this as one of my most beloved spots in the city.  These are the steps at the Ace Hotel and I usually pop in there once a week.  I am addicted to this place.  So hipster.  And there's a Stumptown and photobooth inside.  Now you know why I can't stay away.

Jeans: GAP | Tank: J.Crew | Shoes: Steve Madden | Necklace: Basil the Cat | Bag: Amy Kathryn

I'm wearing what I loving refer to as my "mom jeans" - they're these skinny jeans where the waist comes about three inches above my bellybutton.  Damn, they are comfortable.  Especially after you eat a lamb burger.  I'm also sporting my new summer go-to 'do... the top knot.  (My hair is growing!  Hallelujah!) And my well worn Oxfords.  A little hipster wannabe.  What would you say your go-to outfit is on a daily basis?

I also wanted to share that Amy + I are coming back to San Diego (hooray!) this fall and doing another day of classes at Paper Tales.  More details to share soon but put it on your calendars for November 17 - hope to see you there!

West Coast VS East Coast: CHA

What happens when the West Coast and the East Coast meet in the Midwest?  You're about to find out in this edition of the challenge where Amy + I are sharing what we wore last week at CHA in Chicago.  (For those of you who are not scrapbookers, CHA is the Craft + Hobby Association tradeshow where we debut new products.)

Please excuse the awful lighting inside the convention center.  We complained about it every time we went to take a photo or Instagram.  It was not flattering in any stretch.  As soon as I walked into H+M I wanted this skirt that was on display... it's easy to be dressed up with a fancy top and heels or down with just a tee and sandals.  Definitely a keeper.

Skirt: H+M | Tee: J.Crew | Sandals: Steve Madden | Necklace: Basil the Cat | Watch: Michael Kors

We got a small break in the heat wave so I was ok with wearing a light weight long sleeve shirt.  This print just seemed like it belonged at CHA.

Shirt: Zara | Jeans: Forever21 | Shoes: Aldo |  Necklace: Basil the Cat | Watch: Michael Kors

I was all about comfort on the last day of the show and went for the super comfy jeans and just a loose stretchy cotton top.  

Jeans: GAP | Shirt: J.Crew | Belt: J.Crew | Headband: Zara | Necklace: Basil the Cat | Watch: Michael Kors

Very rarely when I work do I actually get dressed... it's mostly me working away in my pj's.  It's a nice change of pace to get to put on pretty clothes and go to work.  And so that is a little NYC style at CHA.

West Coast VS East Coast: Colored Pants

I love that Amy picked colored pants as today's blog post because this is a great example of how things differ in LA vs NY. Colored pants are still sold in all the popular stores but it's rare to New Yorkers actually wearing them. Red ones are the most popular (hipster men seem to be partial to red khakis) and in the spring I'd see women wearing teal or mint. But again, New York is a city of black.

Case in point, right now the only pair of colored jeans I own is gray so that's what I've styled here. Gray, black, fedora. A little bit of hipster coming out.

Top: Zara | Jeans: Zara | Shoes: Gabriella Rocha | Necklaces: K - Basil the Cat (my favorite necklace!), Octopus: The Foundrie | Hat: Purchased on the street | Nail color: Sally Hansen Wet Cement

Ruby Woo from MAC is my favorite red lipstick... I believe it's a color that looks good on everyone.  Everyone.  So give it a try.  Especially when you're doning shades of black from head to toe.

Click here to see more West Coast VS East Coast style posts.

West Coast VS East Coast: What I Wore to Dinner + a Movie

Amy and I have another edition of West Coast VS East Coast to share with you today...

This summer weather has been very strange... usually in mid-June I'm in dresses or skirts every day to survive in the heat.  But lately it's been chilly, especially at night, and pulling out pants or even a sweater to go out has been necessary.  For a Friday night dinner + a movie date, I kept it pretty casual in jeans.  I admit to being pretty girlie, so I like little touches on date night like lace and heels. 

Top: Vintage find | Tank: J.Crew | Jeans: GAP | Shoes: Steve Madden | Watch: Michael Kors | Bag: Amy Kathryn

Very few... (hmm... none?) of my friends wear heels to walk around the city but I'm still a sucker for them.  The key is just to find the comfortable ones.  Steve Madden or Aldo are my go-to's, especially since I've got small, wide feet.  Not as comfortable as flats but I'm short and like the extra boost, especially on date night with someone tall, dark, and handsome.

Don't forget to stop by Amy's blog to see what she's wearing to dinner + a movie on the West Coast.  And please feel free to share what you'd be wearing too!

West Coast VS East Coast: What I Wore to Brunch

Amy and I have come up with a new series called West Coast VS East Coast - we'll be posting on the same day, on the same topic.  You'll see what's happening out in Los Angeles along with what's happening here in New York City.  For our first posts today we'll be sharing a little about what we wear.  Hope you enjoy!

In my world Sunday is the day of rest (i.e. sleeping in as late as I possibly can) but in NYC, Sunday is the day of brunch.  Brunch is an event with a capital E and I am never one to miss an Event that revolves around food.  Even if that means dragging myself out of bed at 9 a.m. when I fell into it at 4 a.m. 

Being the chipper morning person that I am, I would wear t-shirts and sweatpants to brunch if I could.  However, as to not embarrass my friends, I will dress a bit more appropriately.  This is where the maxi skirt comes into play and is, dare I say, even more comfortable than the previously mentioned sweatpants.

Skirt: Zara | T-Shirt: Uniqulo | Sandals: Steve Madden | Belt: J.Crew | Bag: Amy Kathryn | Watch: Michael Kors | Bracelet: Anthropologie | Necklace: Rare Bird | Nail Color: American Apparel | Sunglasses: Bought on the street

Comfy and cleverly hides all the pastries + eggs + shrimp and grits + cupcake(s) I ate.  Also perfect for curling up in the grass for a post-brunch Sunday nap in the park.  Thanks to my brunch date and photographer Leigh for a great morning definitely worth getting out of bed for.

Don't forget to stop by Amy's blog today to see what she wore to brunch too!