The Tiny Closet: prints

9.21.2017

Artful Outerwear

The Southwest has pretty mild seasons. The only time I wear a coat of any substance is when I visit my parents in the Northwest. Still, I love to accessorize my minimal looks with roomy statement pieces (specifically of the coat family). And when temperatures drop to high 60s, I'm so happy to break them out!

As I maintain a carefully curated closet of what I view to be beautiful, well-made, much loved, thoughtfully purchased pieces - that means everything is special and everything is personal. It's me! So I'm always looking for ways to express myself through my closet.

ring by Amarilo Jewelry / hand chain by Haati Chai

For the past year, I've been playing with mud cloth, using the pieces for apparel - mainly ponchos and open coats. I wanted something rustic, creative and durable enough to be worn daily. And unique enough to squeal quietly to myself as I throw it on and go. Turns out, the weight, thickness and texture of mud cloth is perfect for outerwear. No, it's not suitable for rain, snow or below 65-degree weather but what's great about that is, none of those things apply to me or the rest of us fine, funky L.A. residents

Lately, I've been wearing a lot of browns, tans and all sorts of creams. I'm going with it! Traditional earth tones are my jam lately and it probably has a lot to do with my recent perusing of my Pinterest board of interior and housewares. From leathery lived-in couches to raw wood shelving and gorgeous ceramics, I can't help but incorporate the style into my wardrobe.

This wide funnel-neck poncho, as well as the above open coat are both designs of mine. So easy to pop on and wear. Amd they're surprisingly soft (with drape too!) - given the fact that they're meant to be rugs and upholstery, ha.

You should see them in the shop soon. And if you're subscribed, you'll certainly get the insider scoop on these pieces as they are very special to me.

Tomorrow is the first day of Fall and I love it. This season is always so distinct to me - the air is different, the sunsets, the lighting - everything is so crisp! I usually color correct my photos but the Fall yellows were so rich in these and it so exuded the season that I kept it.

I wish you a happy Fall and lots of fun curating your own Tiny closets. This is a fabulous season for fashion!

A Tee Story

Last Summer, I played a lot with jersey blends and knits. I've spent the last 5 years or so learning how to wear them, sew them, design with them and also make them look like other materials.

This Summer it seems I'm moving in the opposite direction, working with woven fabrics (non-stretch) and trying to make them look more like jersey. Like this chambray challis waterfall top. I got the limpest, lightest chambray I could find and tried to make a fun tee top.

I tested it out on my way to Grand Central Market to get some Pad Thai. It's a fabulous top but didn't really come out looking like jersey. I was very pleased with how it turned out though because it ended up looking much better in a different style direction from what I'd taken.

2 days later, I lost the damn thing.

I've actually never mentioned this before but I lose clothes kind of a lot. I set them down when I go places, have a good time, and they get stolen. It used to happen so much that whenever I went to a nightclub, I'd bring 2 pairs of shoes because by the end of the night, I knew one pair would be gone....Don't ask.

Anyway, so if you ever see something on the blog that I rave about and then you never see it again, chances are someone else liked it too. Oh well.

In this case, this top wasn't bought at a store somewhere, it was an original that took me weeks to design and put together soooo, I was pretty hurt when it happened.

Because of that, even though the design was a first draft, I released this piece in the store last month anyway. As a secret tribute to my stolen first try.

I had such a fantastic day the day I took these. I was so proud of my work so I wanted to celebrate and go out. We never go to Grand Central Market on a Saturday as it becomes a major (obnoxious) tourist trap on the weekends but it was a blast that day. We were so pleasantly surprised and we got some great shots of this piece in action that ended up being used on the shop site.

So this lost piece certainly did have a silver lining. For those interested, it's still available in my shop!

And speaking of The Tiny Closet Shop, I just released two new items today, some head on over and check them out!

Enjoy your Monday :) :)

Mandarin & Mud Cloth

I am living(!) in my Summer capsule!!

Which is exactly the point.

This wrap dress is in my most favorite color of the moment (I call it sun-dried mandarin, mmm!). And, paired with this clay white mud cloth duster coat, is all I wear these days. You can check out this duster with some vintage 501s here.

Throughout this Summer, I'll be showing you how I coordinate my Tiny Summer capsule. And so far...

every cafe and boutique in my 2-block radius has probably memorized this ensemble as it's all I wear.

But this is the first of many ensembles I'll be playing with in my Tiny Summer capsule, as that is the Tiny Closet way. Also, L.A.'s Summers don't end until practically November so you'll be seeing a few more pieces added before I'm finished :)

With California weather, the temperature never wavers too far north or south so I'm sure I wont be tucking either of these pieces away completely. I look forward to wearing this dress with a crisp black turtleneck and heeled booties.

Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's talk about Summer!

If you're interested in seeing this dress in more detail, visit The Tiny Closet Shop and peek around my new arrivals!

Have a blissful weekend guys :)

Luxe Fall

Los Angeles Falls always make me feel like I'm unprepared for the season. It's high 80s one day and and low 60s the next. Flash rain and then muggy for weeks. I always know I've given up when I find myself in jeans and a hoody and I'm not walking the dog.

Anyway, I've been getting really enthusiastic about kimonos and dusters. When in doubt, throw one on and go. Wear anything underneath and cover it up with a sophisticated, draped "cover" piece. I've been doing this with a beautiful mud cloth I made into a rustic duster and also with this chic black and white linen I made into a duster.

Oh, and I came across a gorgeous marigold fabric that I just had to wear with it. I think I found what I'll be wearing to host Thanksgiving dinner!

Warm and cool. Vibrant and relaxed. The perfect Fall ensemble.

Isn't this color unbelievable?! And both pieces are currently helping me with the riddle of dressing for Fall. The maxi, with its saturated color. And the duster with its elegant leaf print. I can wear the duster with jeans and the maxi with a belt and boots, which I'm excited to show you later.

And together, I believe they're dynamite.

Finally, Autumn is not just about sweaters, well-fitting pants and boots. I'm currently trying to find other alternative Fall-perfect pieces to muse over and try. More later!

Aaaand if you haven't yet seen my newest piece, The Curator, in my shop, clicky here now!

Style In Everything

I have always valued style over fashion. Fashion is a river of art, collaboration, and extremely fast-paced creativity. Constantly flowing, and leaving as fast as it came. But style...Style is yours. And yours alone. It's complete freedom to interpret fashion however you please.

Blessed are those born with knowing how to express it! Support and encouragement to the rest of us who are having a blast playing along and learning one day at a time - our own style. What's wonderful about style is it's your personal stamp. Your flag. Wave it proudly! And all the time! There's never an unstylish affair. Every moment is a moment to express. Sound exhausting? It doesn't have to be. The more you act like you, and think like you and look like you, the more you'll be you. And that's where style originates and grows.

And even while times are getting hectic and I'm hard at work preparing for the holidays and keeping these lights on, I've been making sure I'm doing it all with style. Not because I have to but because work is hard and life gets messy but it makes me happy to be original and express myself authentically. Even on those days when stepping out to get a bit of fresh air means walking down a back alley to the bodega to get some eggs and milk.

Some white jogging shorts, a cropped tee and my new favorite duster I designed last week to perk me up in those daily mundane moments when I have nowhere to go and nothing to wear.

This was the perfect look for a day of staying at home and romping around my hood.

Now back to work! Today is a big day as I just released my second piece for the seasons and the beginning of my first Fall/Winter collection. You can check it out here. Happy shopping!

I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope you love my newest piece in The Tiny Closet Shop!

Happy Monday :)

Simplicity with Statement

I've been a sewing fool these days! I took a few days off last week and spent them in the mountains with good friends. Wow! Apparently, it was just what I needed to recharge and implement all of my grand plans and schemes... And while I've been getting prepared for the season with The Tiny Closet Shop (psst, omg, you guys are going to love the new stuff I'll be rolling out), I've been sewing ferociously enough to even sew a few pieces for myself (yay! new clothes!). One in particular is maybe the coolest item I've ever owned. Drama much?

I have been daydreaming for the what seems like the longest time of curating a collection of dusters, robe jackets and kimonos, A simple streamlined body suit or a chic white tee and high rise jeans with... a beautiful, artsy statement piece.

It took me a while to grab the time to actually design and make one but after about a year of collecting fabric, snatching up cool prints or textures wherever I found them, I am finally making a few of them to help me with my very simple daily outfits. This one is my favorite. Obviously.

Handmade mud cloth and hand-painted as well. Instead of tidying up the ultra soft cotton strands along the edges, I let them go freely. No hems needed.

I wanted to add an artsy ruggedness to my blank canvas of jeans and a tee. I'm just ecstatic over this piece. And very grateful it turned out how I wanted. Style and fashion truly do influence. Wearing this original piece inspires me to be laid back, real and unapologetically creative. What a great attitude to just put on and go, huh? Simplicity. With a statement.

Oh and...

Speaking of attitude, I feel like I've recharged mine. The mountains did a number on me. Theo, with his perpetually perfect timing, was able to record a moment of my newfound peace.

Hope you liked the newest edition to my Tiny Closet! And here's to the rest of the week! May it bring you good vibes all the way to the weekend.

Thank you for visiting!

The Tiny Closet

Pages

9.21.2017

Artful Outerwear

6.26.2017

A Tee Story

6.15.2017

Mandarin & Mud Cloth

10.31.2016

Luxe Fall

10.27.2016

Style In Everything

10.20.2016

Simplicity with Statement

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