Category: outfits

Mornings almost anywhere have things in common: the gradual waking up, coffee, lots of coffee, and if you’re early enough a moment of peace. Mornings in LA include all of that, but are a bit magical, at least in my opinion. No matter what time of the year, mornings in LA are usually a bit cool, there’s a bit of dew and fog, and if you’re lucky you can feel some of the ocean breeze. LA is a busy town, but early in the mornings there is a peace, ad calm that’s just addicting. It’s almost as if the entire city takes it time getting up, so if you’re up early you have the playground to yourself. The light is soft, you can walk and think. And Mornings in LA are the perfect time for amazing fashion.

This top is really a slip, made extra special with vintage patches. It’s from a dear friend’s line,
Velvet California, (this shirt is also a Velvet California fave). What I love about it: slips are perfect for the bedroom, for lounging, or for pairing with the bottoms of your choice (or alone, if it’s long enough) and rocking it in public–and the nod to the morning here made me happy. Any sort of car wash skirt is amazingly fun (even early in the am). The slits move, it’s like playing peek-a-boo with yourself. What I love about this one? The different colors that come through when you move. And how this couture skirt I got from Moda Operandi perfectly matched my slip. What I love about all levels of fashion is how you can combine them and make something new. And how the mornings are the perfect time to play with that!

Mornings in LA, or any where often get a bad rap. We want to sleep in, hate early start times, and think that all the fun comes at night. Loves, there’s an pureness and a new start each morning. Let’s embrace that. Let’s play with that. Let’s rock some amazing fashion.

I’d love to know: how do you Rock your mornings?
XO RA
Shop my picks below:

All pics by Katy Shayne

And a great way to get a hot look for a morning or evening:

Loves, we know I love a great juxatipositon; and are one of the things that I find most interesting about people (and fashion). We’ve been getting to know each other for a while now; you know that I love shoes, editorial shoots, and fashion that’s fun. You might have also noticed that I LOVE football. And loves, I don’t think that’s something that’s seperate from fashion. In fact, even when I’m in football mode, I care about my fashion. Fashion x Football, it’s a thing my loves.

I’ve written about this before: here and here. On my Instagam (@racheladelicia), you’ve noticed that on Fridays my OOTD is all purple (Go Purple Friday), and in the coming weeks, on Sundays I’ll be repping the Dallas Cowboys. Yes, I wear my team’s colors and their logo shirts; but because I love fashion just as much as I love football I don’t end my combination of Fashion x Football at that. Below are some of my favorite football looks, and some of my tips to look fashionable on game day.

My attitude towards combining Fashion x Football is very similar to my attitude towards graphic tees. I think football fashion goes with anything, in fact I love a team tee (or item) with “high” fashion, it’s an amazing juxatipositon. Team tees and skirts, jeans with team sweaters, paying homage to your school with the colors in any form, I love it all. And of course, there is something amazing about great fitting jeans and a tee. There’s are so many ways to rep your team and stay on point with your fashion. Really, there’s only one thing that I don’t love about the combination of fashion x football:

I’m a woman. I love fashion. I love football. I hate the putting of sequins on team tees, and other merchandise to make it “appealing” to women. And here’s the thing, I love sequins, I have nothing against them! However, I don’t think that sequins and football mix. I proudly wear my team gear: everything from tees to bags to jewelry, shorts, socks, pants, almost everything. But I love the team, and while I love sequins, I don’t need them to rep my team. Personal preference? Perhaps so, but I have to let you know as someone who loves fashion x football, I just don’t love the sequin team items. I would much rather Rock my team tee with a pencil skirt! What about you??

I’ve tagged some of my fave “sports” gear and the classic pieces I love to pair them with!

Happy Friday and football! XO RA

Note: While I linked to items from certain teams, all teams are avaible, just click on the style you like!

If you can believe it, it’s once again when we’re supposed to turn our eyes away from summer style and turn our eyes towards fall, and all the amazing style that brings. Loves, it’s too hot. I know in both Los Angeles and in Texas, the temps are still in 90s. I dream of cozy sweaters, trench coats, the lady like structure that will be everywhere; yesterday I thought I might die of heat stroke in a sundress. And, let’s be honest: Septemeber weather is still summer weather, fall tends to roll in October. So, what do we do?

Transiational Fall Style. Not quite summer style, not quite fall style, but a combo that allows us to slowly intergrate the things we’re loving for fall with the things we loved in summer; all while hopefully managing to stay cool. The great thing about transitional fall style is that there are no rules, and you get to really showcase your own fashion point of view. Below I’m showcasing some of my favorite transitional fall styles!

Over the Knee Boots with Shorts

One of my favorite pieces of fall style is a great over the knee boot. When the temp finally drops, they’re great with jeans, skirts, or dresses. However, while the temps are still high I love pairing them with shorts for a classy transitional fall style, a la Olivia Palermo. Boots and shorts can be a tricky pairing, the secret is to make sure your boots go over your knees, and that your shorts are tailored. Bonus points if it’s cool enough to layer a wrap over your top!

Shop my favorite over the knee boots from DSW (where you can get all the style at an amazing price):

Skirt or Dress over Jeans

You may have noticed all over your Instagram feed, one of the best ways to Rock transitional fall style is to layer your favorite dress over your favorite jeans. (Yesterday’s wrap dress would be perfect for this, and the above pic reminds me of the Art dress worn here, here, and here). What makes this such a great transitional fall style is that wearing a dress over jeans (or any pants) allows you to keep the flirty sundresses we love in summer around, and yet lets you show off your new fall jeans.

Some of my fave dresses and jeans:

Layering

Loves, layering may be the all encompassing secret to transitional fall style. It can be done with any pieces of clothing. Some of my faves: turtleneck under summer tops, skirts over leggings, big cardigans over everything. With this method, any piece of summer fashion instantly becomes fall fashion. And the great thing about layers-you can take them off if it gets too hot! Everyone wins!

Some of my fave layering pieces:

I’d love to know: how do you style the transition from summer to fall?
If you need more inspiration I love this outfit slide show from Glamour, and these tips from The Chriselle Factor.

XO RA

Ever since DVF made the wrap dress a closet staple, it’s been a seasonless way to experiment with color and patterns, all within a figure friendly fashion statement. Wrap dresses come in all shapes, sizes, colors, patterns; and if you don’t have a go-to wrap dress in your closet we should address that issue! They are the ultimate solution to “what to wear today”, make any body type look amazing, and due to the adjustable nature of the style can be made as revealing or conservative as you feel comfortable with!

My new favorite wrap dress? This number from Anthropologie (side note, I must give a shout out to the staff at the Anthropologie at the Grove in LA, who made sure I got what I wanted, even when it required searching the stock room 3 times). I love that this is the perfect transition piece: the maxi length, the fall-like colors, the sleeves. I love the pattern mixing: florals and a black and white, and there’s a little lace detail. I love that this wrap dress can be a little low cut, or comes with a snap to make it more conservative. Like all wrap dresses, I love that this dress accentuates the waist, while being adjustatable, and flows like a dream. This wrap dress is perfect for summer (the beach!) but will also be great for the fall–I love the idea of wearing it over jeans as it gets colder.

I choose to wear this wrap dress with heels to make more of a statement (yes, heels at the beach are amazing), but it would look equally as great with sandals, boots, and all kinds of heels. I truly believe that wrap dresses are a worth while investment. They’re able to be both a classic and a statement piece at the same time, and with all the colors and patterns available there’s one for every style.

I’d love to know: how do you Rock a maxi dress?

XO RA

Shop my maxi dress picks below:

Loves, I have to admit that Harvey and its impact on my family (everyone is aok, just damage) has taken its toll. I’m slowly getting back on my game, and so excited about the things to come. In the meantime? I’m catching up!

We had a deal about an eye cream giveaway (and let’s be honest, I’ve needed this lately). I’m extending the deadline to win your very own! Go to the original post (here, it’s also up for sale over on the Skin Print tab if you’d rather just get your own!) Next go to my Instagram, link the post (it is a bit back). Lastly, make sure that you’re signed up for my newsletter! The winner will be picked next Wednesday! Good Luck!

How to Blow Out Summer: You could go the typical way to blow out summer (not talking explosives). You could start with a pool, or the ocean, add your friends, some great food and drinks. That’s a typical way to blow out summer. We aren’t typical. To blow out summer we start with white, all white (because some of us still believe we only have till Labor Day to do so). You can do sweet white, but as we’re blowing out summer, let’s try some edge, yes? Like this necklace from Sydney Curtis (she’s @aireheartbysydney on Instagram and you can find these amazing pieces at Elaine Kim in LA). I love that it’s so long that it’s a choker and a long necklace in one. And that over the shoulder? Let’s blow out summer!

How to Blow Out Summer: I can’t get enough of these white pants with slits up the legs. (You’ve seen them here). It’s classic, but with an edge. You can wear them to any formal gathering, your legs stay cool, and you’re able to easily let people know that you came to blow out summer. I recommend white heels (though I love the grey on these) with white pants, it enlongaates the leg. And is something to flaunt. Let’s blow out summer.

How to blow out summer: Make it Dramatic. I love the monochrome white for this, though you’re tempting red wine and food stains at your own risk. Let’s balance that leg slit with a tad bit more coverage on top. I love the long sleeves, a slight nod to what’s to come, but the white celebrates where we are. And a tunic top can hide some destruction (food stain or not). Let’s blow out summer.

How to Blow Out Summer: Have some fun with it. You’re wearing white, you can do anything-pool party, concert, dinner, drinks, bbq, New England lobster bake, whatever trouble you can find! Have a great time: go crazy, enjoy the heat, Rock your white. Let’s Blow Out Summer!

You can shop my picks below! I hope that you have a safe and fun Labor Day! While we’re off Monday (check my stories and Instagram for how I blow out Summer), we will have all the best sales for you! Be careful, have fun, and wear white!
XO RA

Caftans are the quintessntail summer chic. They’re elegant and yet they hide everything. (I’ve always had a thing for caftans including this one from my love AAVintedge). Caftans can be worn dressed up or down, at the pool or on a casual day, there’s no right or wrong way to Rock a Caftan (part of their appeal).

My fave way to Rock a Caftan? Find one you love that makes you feel special. This one from NewCropShop is simply to die for! Those sleeves! That embroidery (all done by hand!) It’s perfect for an event (even a wedding) or just a day that needs a pop.

You can order one at New Crop Shop, shop my picks below, and let me know all the ways you Rock a Caftan!

XO RA

All above pics taken by Kyn Photography

Loves, I have to admit this post was hard to write! Not because I don’t love this caftan, or love to Rock a Caftan, but because my heart is in TX. At times like these it can feel so overwhelming and we can feel so helpless that we do nothing. I understand that. I think the solution, and how we combat that is to do a little. As one of my fave people says “Do a little with great love”. There are so many organizations that you can choose to give to, I won’t tell you which is best. I’m linking Red Cross and this article from Texas Monthly that outlines where you can give. I know various stores are giving part of their proceeds this week to relief efforts, and I will link them as I get details. Let’s go out there, Rock our Caftans, love each other, and do some good.

And loves! Remember our great Skin Print EyeDeal giveaway? Due to the craziness of this week I’m extending the deadline! Go get you some amazing eye cream!

How to Beat the Heat. Step one: Get a pool. Get an ocean. Get some water. Water helps cool you down in heat.

How to Beat the Heat. Step two: shorts. Jeans, and pants, and even some dresses will leave you burning up. Shorts are tricky–finding the right coverage, the right length, the right material. But, as tricky as shorts can be, they are one of the best ways to keep your legs cool and beat the heat.

How to Beat the Heat. Step Three: the right shoes. At this point, you may be thinking that these shoes aren’t the best for beating the heat, but loves, hear me out. In the summer, it’s so tempting to throw on your flip flops. And I get it. And flip flops have their place. But when it’s one million degrees outside (not an exaggeration), the sun bakes the concrete. Flip flops, for all the good they do, are on top of the hot concrete. The result? Your feet bake. They swell. They get too hot. Maybe heels aren’t for you, but they do put a layer between you and hot concrete.

How to Beat the Heat. Step Four. Cotton, breathable, and open. What I love about this specific cotton shirt dress is that it buttons every which way-up the front, down the back, up each side; making it wearable as almost anything-from a dress to a top. The venting also makes it cool even when the heat is unbearable. In this instance, worn as a shirt over shorts was the best option to make it through summer heat!

How to Beat the Heat. Step Five. Fans, cool drinks, and when you can’t take it anymore, I suggest finding the nearest place with AC where your makeup, hair, clothes, etc won’t melt!

I hope that the last week of “summer” is amazing for you and I hope that whatever you’re up to, you’re beathing the heat and staying cool!

Check out my shopping picks below!

XO RA

As many of you know, I’m from Texas have families in the areas affected by Harvey. This has been one of those times when fashion and all things fun seem to take a back seat. Our thoughts and prayers are with Texas, but they need our action too. IF you can Red Cross could use your donations!

Part Flash Back Friday, part end what you started with, I couldn’t resist this repost of gold from years ago! (Remember loves, we started the week Eclipsed by Gold”). I still love (and wear) this gold dress- it’s the perfect combination of easy and fancy! These shoes are my go to’s (especially when I need to feel a bit strong), and I will take a trip to Paris any day! I’ve updated your shopping options, and am still in love with Megan Weaver (and excited to shoot with her again!)!

Loves, we know that I love ballet and all things ballerina. However, I don’t always love looking so sweet–there has to be balance. So I love the look of a ballet inspired dress with some tougher shoes (even addias or converse would work) and an attitude of a bag! It’s soft and yet not so soft! The perfect combination. I’m really a big fan of balance-tough and sweet, sexy and modest, and I love that these elements combine so seamlessly here!

I also have to give a shout out to my photographer, Megan Weaver for amazing photos! You can follow her on Instagram @meganmweaver and online at Megan Weaver

Happy Friday!
Xo RA

Details:
Dress: Zara
Shoes:Louboutin, similar here
Bag: Kate Spade, old

Updated shopping:

I hope your punk and ballerina sides play nice this weekend!
XO RA

Purple is one of my favorite colors, and not just because it’s my school’s colors, TCU-Go Frogs! It’s the perfect shade, right between red and blue, not sad, not angry. It’s shaded. I love it! So when it comes to lady like vintage dresses from one of my faves Timeless Vixen, I can’t resist it, and all the purple feelings it brings!

This dress: I love the two shades of purple, the pleating, the detail on the sleeve, the ability to go from casual to dressy!

Purple feelings–the subtle ones, the ones a little magical, the ones that are shaded? Those are something special too!

And the combo of both of those in this dress? Amazing! I have worn this dress to pop-ups, and casual lunches, but know it will look great at a formal tea I have on my books. One of my favorite things about lady-like looks? They’re completely classic, go anywhere, and the juxatipositons they leave themselves open to!!

Hope today your purple feelings and your lady like dresses get celebrated!

Shop my picks below:

XO RA

Loves! If you haven’t shopped this sale yet, you must! The prices are insane!

Loves! Happy Eclipse Day! Do you have your glasses? Are you going to watch? Is it affecting you? (As you may know, I’ve been battling a major headache all weekend, I’m hoping this is not one of the changes that this eclipse will bring!)

And speaking of being eclipsed- when was the last time you were eclipsed by gold? Metallics can be one of those items that people tend to shy away from; but loves, gold is a neutral, one that may make you shine, but a neutral. It goes with everything, and yet you are guaranteed not to blend in! I’m in love with this vintage gold dress from Recess LA, the shine, the pocket, the easy fit. I’ve worn it with sandals for an easy dinner, and with heels for a party.

Is it as great as the solar eclipse? Not a chance, but I’m hoping that the gold is still shiny!

Enjoy the Eclipse! Shop my picks below and make a golden one for yourself!
XO RA