PFM Styling: Sugarlips Kyoto Japanese Maxi Dress

i feel like Becca and i are officially bloggers now.  why do i say that? well, we have received our first freebie just for doing what we love best - styling clothing and blogging about it!! how cool is that?!?

we'd like to introduce you to the Kyoto Japanese Maxi Dress c/o Sugarlips.  i love this dress!! for me, the best part about this dress is the color combination.  i love the teal and shades of pink in the flowers.  i also love the play on length with the short slip underneath the longer sheath on top.  there are so many ways you can wear this dress but i chose to wear a hot pink bandeau underneath for a pop of color.  then i added some of my fave accessories at the moment - my nude pumps, turquoise studded hoops and bangles galore on my wrist.  i wore my hair in a top knot so that i could show off the full dress as well as keep cool.  though i wore this dress for a day at the office, it would be perfect for a night out on the town.  i can't even count the number of people who told me they loved my dress! it's one thing when you feel like you are looking fresh but when others notice it too, it just sweetens the deal! :) xo sesheta

P.S. the fun part about being a fashion duo is that Becca and i get to share the goodies!  i can't wait to see how she styles it!

(Hoops {coming soon}- MavenFresh, Dress - c/o Sugarlips, Pumps - Etienne Aigner, Blazer {not shown} - Vintage Diane Von Furstenberg, Bandeau-American Apparel )  

Daily Outfit: Hypnotically Haute

i am not really a pink girl but there is something about this print (and the fact that one of my fave designers made it) that makes me love this dress! i've known Ashaka Givens for over 12 years and i haven't seen a design that i haven't wanted to make mine!  i have had the pleasure of owning quite a few AG items but this dress is so timeless that even though it's 3 years old, i just can't get enough!  i have had others tell me they can't get enough too!  one person even said, "i can't stop staring at your dress!" lol, fabulous and hypnotic - check! lol  

although, i dressed it down today with my denim jacket and clogs, i first wore this dress to Becca's wedding with dressy shoes and a wrap.  i love that it can be worn for a day at the beach or for a night on the town.  i could use a lot more items like this in my wardrobe!  i guess i'll  just have to add some of her new designs to my collection!!! :)

(Crystal Ball headband and Cowrie Cuff - MavenFresh, Mod print Maxi dress - Ashaka Givens, Denim Jacket - Hollister Co., Patent Clogs - Maguba, Sterling Silver hoops - eBay)

PFMs Do it Better: DIY Studded Denim Vest

soo... i know the denim vest has been done... many, many, many times before.  you may even have seen a DIY on how to make a denim vest.  either way, i thought it would be fun to show, yet again, how this classic staple can be done at a really low cost to your pocket.  sure you could buy one already made, but where's the fun in that??  this is an easy project that only requires a little bit of time and a bit more creativity.

the first step is to gather your materials.  i hit my local thrift stores to find this denim jacket. i had to consider size, color and styling of the jacket.  i turned down a few because they just didn't fit or look right.  next,  i got some studs, i chose silver, which you can just about purchase in any craft store or order online.  then i got my trusty scissors.  it's really important to keep special scissors for cutting fabric.  it truly makes cutting straight as well as smoothly easier.

the next step is super easy - just cut off the sleeves.  if you have nice sharp scissors, this can be done in five minutes.  you can also choose how close to the seam you go for a more frayed look.  before i moved to the next step, i washed the vest as is - so that it would be fresh and clean for me to wear and also to help start the fraying at the edges.

now comes the final step- studding!! i totally forgot that i had one more tool; i also used my long needle nose pliers to assist me with making sure the studs closed nice and tight.  most people have these in your average tool kit.  (be sure they are clean so as not to mark your clothing.)  though this part can be tedious, especially depending on how much studding you plan on doing, it can be fun to design how to attach your studs.  i suggest thinking it out a bit first before committing.  it can be challenging to remove studs once securely attached - i learned that the hard way lol. 

...and done!!!  as you can see, i chose a simple studding pattern.  i like the subtlety of just a touch of studs.  besides, since we know these vests only get better with time, i can always add more studs later!  i can't wait to wear this with my summer maxi dresses and skirts or with my Docs and skinnies!! yay!!  :)

Daily Outfit: Classic Drama

 I love the drama of a long dress. This simple maxi is the perfect blank canvas that can be reinvented over and over with a change of shoes or the swap of an accessory. This dress might be one of the only Anthro purchases that I just had to have at full price! Feeling effortlessly chic, I went with a textured natural undone hairstyle. A burst of orange on my lips was the vibrant contradiction to the dark tone of the dress. What will it be next time around?

(Mantle Dynamics Dress- Anthropologie,  Necklace- Vintage, Suede Wedges- Sam Edelman Nikola)

Side note...for those of you ladies who feel they are not tall enough to pull off a maxi dress, I am here to say stop denying yourselves! I am only 5'5" and I never underestimate the power of a little heel.

Daily Outfit: Beachy Keen

Saturday may have been the last real beach day before the weather starts cooling down and I was determined to make the most of it. Can't let the partly sunny-partly cloudyness get me down! I bring you my beach casual outfit. Nothing like a super soft flowy Rachel Pally maxi dress for a late summer day. Add a straw hat and I am ready to go. My man and I cruised down to the beach to check out the last of the Quiksilver Pro festivities...and to wiggle my toes in the sand as much as possible. We even got to see some of the amazingly talented girls of the Roxy team in action. Followed it up with a late lunch at the local creperie- I love days like this!

(Rachel Pally Dress- Shopbop, Bikini in Cerise- J.Crew, Hat- Anthropologie, Pineapple Drop Earrings- MavenFresh)

All in all, it's been such a lovely summer that went by too fast. And remember when I told you earlier that surfing is something that I have never ever tried? Well a couple of weeks ago I entered this contest at my yoga studio to win a surfboard and a prize package from ZICO and guess what? Is karma trying to tell me something? I don't know if I was more excited about the win or that Joseph Encinia ( 2011 World Yoga Champion) posed with us for the pic! Side note: please ignore the fact that I am a sweaty mess... the reps presented me with the board AFTER class was finished. How convenient! Haha thanks to ZICO and to my friends at Bikram Yoga LB! The studio is beautiful, the people who work there will become your friends, and trust me, it will change your life. Go there now.

PFM Daily Outfit: Jewels to the Maxi

Blue lashes are a simple way to add color to your eyes!

i absolutely luv the ease and comfort of a great maxi dress.  there is nothing better than waking up in the morning and being able to put on instant glam!  this time i've brightened up the dark grey of my maxi with the punch of some jewel tones and neon, (of course)!! these colors are a perfect way to lighten up the long length of the maxi by drawing your eye upwards.  my jewel tone ellipticals are soooo fun and make me think 80's for real!  to finish off the look, i added a  tulle bow that i threw together that morning - that's one of the best things of being a designer, lol.  countless designs come out of necessity.  this look is little bit retro mixed with a little harajuku girl.  my fave part of the whole outfit is that i get a chance to rock my Diorshow blue mascara!!

(grey maxi dress - J. Crew, neon bandeau - American Apparel, sequin flip-flops - Reef, Studded watch - Marc by Marc Jacobs, Ellipticals in Jewel pop and Tulle Bow headband- MavenFresh, Diorshow mascara in Azure Blue - Sephora.)