Structured Shoulders, Stripes, and JEWELIQ Necklace

Hi, Everyone! I'm finally back in the San Francisco Bay Area after a lovely trip to Germany and Amsterdam.  Europe was fun, but it's also great to finally be home after almost 2 weeks of packed itineraries and non-stop traveling.  Since my return, I've been busy catching up: on sleep, with friends, and (of course) on blogging! 

JEWELIQ Necklace (c/o), Kate Spade Purse, Zinga Jacket, XOXO Skirt (old - another good pick here), Aldo Shoes (identical pair here), Gina Tricot Ring (from Germany), Michael Kors Sunglasses

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I'm loving the structured, somewhat futuristic-looking shoulders on this jacket.  It somehow manages to be soft and comfy, while still looking a bit polished.  I've been throwing it on over everything lately.

For today's style post, I'd like to thank Anna and the JEWELIQ team for the necklace I'm wearing here.  Lately, I've been pairing the 'Leafy' necklace with my favorite pink Kate Spade bag and Aldo pumps, and I love the pop of color it brings to any outfit!

If you've never heard of JEWELIQ, I definitely recommend checking out their site, as they have a ton of cute stuff and frequently add new items.  All of their jewelry is under $25, and free shipping is included with each order.  

Until next time! 

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Love, S

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Event Photos - Jean Paul Gaultier Fashion Exhibit @ the De Young

Earlier this month, I attended the Jean Paul Gaultier fashion exhibit at the De Young Museum in San Francisco.  In case some of you aren't familiar with Gaultier's work, he was the former Creative Director of Hermes and also worked for Pierre Cardin before eventually launching his own eponymous line.  Haute couture aside, he designed the famous cone bra worn by Madonna and has also done costume work for major motion pictures (including The Fifth Element).  The name Jean Paul Gaultier is synonymous with one of the most innovative haute couture houses in Paris. 

I realize that high fashion is not everyone's cup of tea, but I find it artistically fascinating. I have long admired Gaultier's avant garde design aesthetic and his wildly theatrical runway productions.  

I took photos of my favorite designs from the event and wanted to share them with you all here.  Hope you find them as inspiring as I did... or at the very least, find them interesting! 

       

Above: Left - Palm Leaf Jacket hat (made with real palm leaves inside), from his Buttons collection Spring/Summer 2003

Right - Sailor Striped "Lascar" Gown - made of silk and ostrich feathers, from his 2000 Romantic India Collection. Worn by the Princess of Monaco at the Rose Ball.

The designs above are two of my favorites.  Black and white Parisian stripes never go out of style, and I love his haute couture twist on this classic pattern. I wish I could pull off something like this in real life! 

[Click below see the rest of the photos and my thoughts on each after the jump...]

Chevron, Blue, and Gold + New Michael Kors Bag

Hello from Germany! I'm currently in Cologne after spending a lovely 4 days in Berlin. It's been a whirlwind of sightseeing, shopping, eating, and meetings.  I can't wait to share some photos from my journey with you all soon, as soon as I can sort through them all and pick out the best ones...I've taken over 1000 photos since I arrived!

 After over a week of non-stop activity and limited internet access, I finally was able to take an evening off by ordering room service and catching up on reading my favorite fashion blogs.  

Now that I'm finally able to get online and post, I also wanted to share some outfit photos with you all from earlier this month.  My boyfriend / photographer (whom we'll call J) and I spent a lovely afternoon in August strolling around downtown San Jose.  We don't make it down to San Jose as often, as we're usually up in San Francisco.  It's always fun exploring another city, discovering cute cafes, wandering into local boutiques, and trying new restaurants.

HM Blazer (similar here and here), me2 envy Dress (other great chevron dresses here, here, and here), belt and necklace - vintage (both from Mom), Michael Kors Hamilton Bag and Sunglasses, Bracelets from HM and F21, Shoes from VANELi (similar here and here)

HM Blazer (similar here and here), me2 envy Dress (other great chevron dresses here, here, and here), belt and necklace - vintage (both from Mom), Michael Kors Hamilton Bag and Sunglasses, Bracelets from HM and F21, Shoes from VANELi (similar here and here)

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I love the chevron (a.k.a. zigzag) pattern on this dress and the ruffle detail along one side. So much fun!

I bought the Michael Kors Hamilton Tote during a recent shopping trip to New York.  I had been in need of a warm, cognac colored bag for awhile before finding this one.  I've been bringing it everywhere - to the office (amazingly, my 13 inch MacBook Air fits inside the bag) and on weekends when I need to lug around a lot of stuff. 

The gold necklaces and red belt are both borrowed from my stylish mom.  I've been wearing both a lot lately, as they just seem to go with everything.   

I'm off to Amsterdam this weekend after one more day in Cologne.  If any of you have any suggestions on great places to eat and shop in Amsterdam, I'd love to hear them! 

Hope you're all having a wonderful week...and don't forget to enter my giveaway (co-hosted with JEWELIQ)! 

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Love, S