The Tiny Closet

I've been wearing this fun, nautical-type boatneck top a lot this past week.  It seems to go with everything.  

 Our new, gorgeous park is nestled in between three buildings and now, my new favorite place to go.

We have a few big parks in downtown but none as close and as neighborhood-like.  For those of you who don't know L.A.'s downtown, it's not quite a community just yet.  After being abandoned for decades, it's only lately been growing into a new metropolis, made from ancient bank lofts and warehouses now filling up with artsy fartsy transplants like me and Theo.  We come from all over the world (none of us actually being California natives) to live in our quiet lofty spaces, do art and wear sunglasses so this new park is certainly changing the dynamic and making us all a bit warmer.  

 chambray: Shades of Grey / slip worn as a tank: Catherine Malandrino / skirt: The Tiny Closet Collection / shoes: Converse / accessories: bangles were for charity, 

cuff & necklace were bought in Philippines

This recent purchase I made, a flirty chic white dress with dolman sleeves, was planned to be a hot little Summer dress for happy hour and dinner dates.  Shame on me for only thinking I'd wear it with some sandals and a glam belt and that would be that... I mean this is The Tiny Closet.  And this dress is meant for more.

Since it's been cold and cloudy lately, I thought I'd add some thicker elements to this light piece.

Some leather here, some leather there and here I am!

Feeling warmer but still Summery I'd say, yes?

leather jacket: Muubaa / dress: Fluxxus / belt: Forever 21 / heels: thrifted / sunnies: RayBan

My faithful cowgirl-esque, bootie-like heels :)

The moment this downer weather clears and the sun really starts beating down, I will have to show you the swimsuits I've been putting together.  

I went to three different places in search of the perfect two piece.  Mixing and matching! 

Keep visiting to see the outcome of my pursuits! 

I've decided to finally work to materialize, one by one, all of the random clothing design ideas I've been thinking up.  One random idea being a hybrid version of a muumuu.

If you followed me during my trip through the Philippines, you know how in love I am with muumuus, or, house dresses.  Also, since I'm in permanent pool weather now, I have been settling my attention for the first time on swimsuit coverups.  Coverups have never appealed to me before, I think because the concept of them was just never applicable to my lifestyle (stepping from the pool into some glitzy sandals and a coverup to grab a drink at a nearby beach bar or to take a stroll on the boardwalk - yeah, I can say I've literally never needed to do that before) until now.

So - with our rooftop pool and 90 degree weather in the shade, I am finding my beloved muumuus to be a bit overbearing with their full coverage and heavier fabric.  And while I like the sexy femininity of a sarong or coverup, it has no place in the city at dinner or happy hour.  

I  wanted something more transitional and multi-purpose than a suit coverup or a muumuu.

So I created this:

I wanted something sexier, prettier, something elegant to look at.

So while I am definitely still attached to all the more traditional muumuus I've collected over the past year, creating the muumuu 2.0 gives me a more transitional piece to wear stylishly everywhere.  In fact, I went to dinner in this particular piece.  Popped on my cropped jacket and oxfords and headed out to celebrate a bday.  I love when clothing is dynamic!  Don't you?

Such is the Tiny Closet way...

I will definitely be wearing my new and improved muumuus all Summer long so if you're needing to see more pictures, come back next week!!  
I will surely have more for your viewing pleasure :) 

Crop tops and harem pants.  Over the 90 degree weather weekend, I wore them together.

Why didn't I do this sooner??

I repurposed a denim tank dress as a cropped denim tank.  I've had crop-top fever lately and since I hadn't worn this item as a dress in ages anyway, I thought I'd reinvent it before throwing it out for good...I actually think it may have been better as a dress though :-/   What do you think?  

Eh, you repurpose, you learn I suppose. 

crop denim tank: thrift/repurposed / bangles: Philippines / sunnies: RayBan / harem pants: Philippines / wedges: Castaner

These harems however, will never get old.   I swear it!  This is #2 of 6 in my growing collection.  These can actually cover my body as a tube jumper.  But that look really is for the beach I think.  I love the elegant drape they have when worn as pants.  

And they actually pair beautifully with my linen lace up wedges. This is a comfy outfit all in all.  The crop was a bit high so I wore a casual lace bustier type bra underneath.  

You can actually see it peaking  out from under which is kinda fun :)

...In other news, I am FINALLY finished with a wonderful project I've been focusing on as of late.  Can't wait to show you tomorrow the long awaited fruit of my labor.  

It was so fun and I learned a ton so please come visit again tomorrow to check it out!

Hope you enjoyed your weekend :)

Like this taco bus on the side of the road! 

The place used to be a junk yard... and maybe still is?  The only difference is some people put an incredibly lucrative restaurant, El Asadero inside of a broke down bus and now cook food fit for gods everyday.  

Needless to say I'm a customer.  And I get the torta.  And two steak tacos. 

 duster: Philippines / jacket: Free People / sandals: Seychelles / earrings: Forever21

Ah, but I changed it up this time can you tell???  I admit, while the ensemble was not thaaat creative off the bat, I am giving my fine-wine ideas more time to...age (wah wah) for later when I'm feelin it.  Ideally, I would have loved wearing a long black blazer - but the weather was bright and sunnyand I was on my way to a matinee so it wouldn't have fit the occasion.  I would have also loved wearing a pair of strappy stiletto sandals to juxtapose the shapeless gown up top buuut again, my stiletto sandals were just too "evening" for mid day.  So there you go - two main pieces I had to knock down a notch for the sake of weather and current events.  It cost my outfit a drop in the "wow" stock but it was still a wonderfully comfy, feminine outfit for hanging outside during the day and running errands, no?

As my curls grow longer, I realize I can finally wrap them up like I used to.  Being that it's the only other style I can tolerate doing daily, I am very happy.  

me: jacket: Free People / top: Zara / pants: Zara / scarf: Zara Mens / brogues: CMG / bag: Dooney & Bourke -- her: top, shorts and all accessories: Forever21 / boots: Lucky Brand

About a month ago, I wrote a beauty/lifestyle piece for The New Fairy Tale.  I actually decided to post it for The Tiny Closet as well since here at TC, I'm all about maximizing on what I got.  Basically the piece was about looking like a knock out every day.  Because there's absolutely no reason not to.  I believe and have always believed that any woman can feel great about the way they look every single day if she wants.  And who doesn't want that?  So I gathered together all the best tips and advice that I could ever remember receiving through the years and listed it for others to read and hopefully feel as inspired as I did.  As we were all brunching it up, I realized every time I see this lady she blows me away with her style and a signature glamour. In fact, I was thinking the whole time, dang, this girl totally embodies everything I wrote about!  So of course, I asked her if she wouldn't mind being in some photos with me.

Later on that day, we got to talking about the reality of "looking good", how it doesn't have anything to do anyone but you, and also just how simple it really is.  I became totally inspired and empowered by what she explained "looking good" was for herself.  One comment she made was that wearing heels won't necessarily improve or even give you femininity.  This was something I hadn't really thought too much about and perhaps have been giving heels too much credit (gasp!).  Some women can't even stand wearing them!  I'd always just lumped those ladies together in a group that I figured I'd never understand buuut she had a point.  And actually, I only wear heels 40% to 50% of the time anyway so what do I have to say to that?  She and I both happened to have opted against heels that day (as do millions of other women every day) and I still felt attractive and womanly in my brogues.  As did she in her boots.  Hmmm.

So perhaps I should make an amendment to this helpful list of mine...  Maybe the formula for that "x-factor" look doesn't always have to include the heels ingredient.  Because I feel pretty damn great in a good pair of flats.  

What do you think?

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