What I Wore: Los Angeles Edition

It’s that time of the month– outfit post time! It’s also that time of the year– Los Angeles in the fall. These two events have combined into an epic blog post that will blow your mind and have you dashing for black leather tights. Full of tips, pretty pictures, and more abs than her mother will care to see; it’s the Blockbuster Outfit Post of the year. It’s

This is an ambitious project. I’ve been back just a couple of days and despite my moderate efforts, I think I may be jet lagged. Nevertheless, the people must be fed fashion and I’m here to deliver!

Editor’s Note: I didn’t make the deadline, hence my absence last week.

Whether I’m home or traveling, I like to start my mornings off pretty, or at least with a cup of hot coffee.

This silk robe, picked up in Thailand, makes me feel like a sensual goddess. I’m always sure to pack at least one nice robe into my suitcase.

When packing for any trip, I like to think of my outfits in terms of a story I’d like to tell– like a mood board or a fashion collection. Having a theme gives me a framework to avoid overwhelming choices, and it helps me to pack more minimally because I can mix and match most of my pieces.

Before this LA trip, everyone kept telling me “It’s hot, but it isn’t humid like Florida.” The weather on my phone said the mid to high 80s all week, but my friend in the city said early afternoons were chilly and nights were dropping to the low 60s.

None of this would’ve been an issue for me except that I’d decided years ago to quit my overpacking ways and to always pack as minimally as I could. After doing a little research into what the women of Los Angeles were wearing, I decided to pack a strong foundation of black pieces and to be creative. My theme: A Little Bit Rock and Roll.

For the record, I was wary of wearing black in hot weather; I barely touch black pants during daylight hours after May. Nevertheless, packing lightly means packing neutrals, and all things considered, black was my best choice.

For warmer days, I knew exactly what I wanted to wear– my vintage 1980s tennis skirt. This skirt has just the right dose of rock and roll casual that I was looking for.

I paired it with my favorite boys’ double-breasted blazer with rolled up sleeves.

Sure, my very beat up boots (another staple for this trip) weren’t the most ubiquitous shoe on Rodeo Drive, but I had lots of places to visit that day and I figured that a cool or creative look can pass anywhere, so long at it looks intentional. I liked the fact that no one else was wearing an outfit that looked quite like mine.

Tip: When in doubt, go for what you feel cool and comfortable in. Notice I didn’t just say comfortable. When you rock your personal style, there’s no need to compete or compare.

While I had zero plans of going to the gym while in Los Angeles, I did plan to stay active. Every morning started with a long walk around the marina. Sunlight glittered on the water, people walked their dogs, and I wore my Cole Haan sneakers. These shoes are heavenly comfortable and the perfect neutral.

I thought about packing my floral workout pants, my usual go-to, but opted for these tribal ones instead to stay consistent with an edgier look. Remember, themes!

And because these aren’t actual workout shoes, they worked beautifully with other outfits that I brought along. For Venice Beach at night, I wore all black– a black crop top sweater and black leather leggings with a men’s extra large letter jacket.

And to keep things interesting, I paired it with my Cole Haan sneakers, perfect for all the walking and scooter riding around town.

On a different day, I took this same basic outfit and paired it with a lightweight cotton shirt.

The weather was brisk and sunny, so if things took a turn for hot, I could take off the sweater and be all good.

You may also notice the repetition of the color pink. That was also intentional. Outside of my patterned pieces, black and pink were my dominant colors. Again, keeping a tight color palette can be a big help in packing minimally.

I don’t know whether anyone cares, but here’s what I packed in my very minimal makeup bag. Of course, minimal is relative, so you decide.

E.L.F Blush

(from left) Black as my soul kohl liner

Wet n’ Wild hello Halo liquid highlighter in Hello Gorgeous (this serves double duty as eyeshadow)

Random eyeshadow brush

E.L.F eyeshadow palette in Necessary Nudes (not shown)

Bobby Brown Concealer Stick (seriously amazing)

E.L.F Liquid Liner in black

E.L.F Stipple brush, Eyebrow brush, and Blush brush

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless foundation

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I rarely wear foundation, and I’ve had this one probably longer than is recommended, but I do like to bring it along in case I’m going somewhere fancy and want a polished look. Otherwise, I wear the same makeup look every day and it’s a pretty basic routine, so

So tell me, which outfit is your favorite? Do you enjoy packing for trips? How do you decide what to pack?