The Tiny Closet

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Today, I want to give huge thanks to be sharing a beautiful meal with family and friends.  Also, I'm incredibly thankful for such a warm community here.  For those of you who visit The Tiny Closet or have been following for a while, 

thank you!

  You should know it means the world to me :)

jersey dress: The Tiny Closet Collection / harem pants: Bottega Veneta / heels: Ivanka Trump

A couple nights ago, I made this dress all quick-like to go out to a bar with some friends.  I loved it so much I thought I'd wear it for this holiday dinner!  I paired my silky jersey dress with some luxy wool harems and new suede olive green heels.  Mmmm, comfy.

So Happy Thanksgiving to you and I'll see y'all back on Monday!

Bon appétit!

There have been quite a few new vegan and vegetarian restaurants opening up in my hood lately.  Yep, it's getting pretty fancy 'round here!  Monday morning, we hit up my a favorite and sat long enough to recharge.

As Theo sipped his delicious coffee and sugary pop-over, I persevered my green juice sauce and we snapped some photos of my efforts.

jacket: Ever / tee: Zara / jeans: Flying Monkey

 Not much of a fashion post today but I'd like to take more photos of those days when I'm just chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool.  Ya feel?  Similar to the earlier days of the Tiny Closet.  On the off-duty times when my style is still signature but much less thought out, the comfort and effortlessness of whatever I've thrown on reveals an honest personal style.  And, like the Olsen twins pointed out for their approach to style, there is luxury and beauty in that.  

So while I was lounging with my guy that sunny morning, laughing at my spinach/kale/parsley cocktail (what kind of self-righteous flower child would willingly drink this??  I would...*sigh*), I did feel surprisingly beautiful.  Feeling like a queen in just a tee and jeans, well that aint' a bad way to start the morning!

And a good day to you!

  hat: Santee Alley / top (normally a dress): American Apparel / skirt (normally a dress): All Saints / boots: Buffalo Exchange

So with the days very suddenly much cooler now, I am finally closing the chapter of Summer.

Moving on to October and the rest of Fall, you can get ready to see some newer looks and experimentations from my magical closet!  

And I want your input!

Have an idea for an ensemble or style you're dying to try but afraid it won't work?  

Got a new piece you love but can't seem to rock it with anything in your closet??  

Maybe I can help :)  

From my Tiny Closet to yours, this season, I'd love to hear some requests of what you'd like to see me style/wear/coordinate.  Let me be your guinea pig!  

If anything, maybe it'll give you some new ideas where you may be feeling stagnant or bored.  Let me know!

See ya back here next week!

Layering again, I decided to warm up a bit - this time in full coverage "Carolina Herrera" style.

More party wear for another party!  T'is the season :)

I'm really not fussy and lavish when it comes to dressing for parties.  Accessories are fun but I find I have little tolerance for them.  High-waist belted looks are great for my straight figure but I find I can't relax much.  And heels are just...heels: fabulous but a handicap.  The point is I crave simplicity and comfort in everything I do.  So I always have to have an item of relief in my more "formal" ensembles.  

My cozy cotton leggings made the cinched waist, necklaces and heels easier to live in.

These heels I've had for a while.  A modern thick heel and hidden platform - goes with everything:

one of my first posts - running errands

vintage white dress coat

This high waist skirt I designed as part of my Tiny Closet Collection.  I had it in mind for specifically Summer and Winter seasons.  It's a newer piece but has managed to be quite versatile already:

with my swimsuit

with flats and a cropped top
 

Cuddling down for Christmas, I wish all of you who are celebrating a merry one!
Happy Holidays!

'Tis the season to wear my most favorite fabric!

besides jersey... 

Wool.  

Merino, boiled, boucle, cashmere - whatever blend or make, I love it.

Now that I'm in a mostly sunny environment, I don't own much wool.  In fact, I recently remembered I donated a lot of my wool pieces during a minimalist fit I had last year while organizing my Tiny closet.  smh.  Why did I do that?!  But at least I kept these amazing pants.

Bottega Veneta.  Wool.  Harem.  Enough said.

I usually wear them in very understated fashion.  No one can really see how absolutely luxurious they are but the fit and feel of these pants is incredible nonetheless.   And also, in a world so fierce and flashy these days, I so prefer understated luxury.

top: Sante Alley / pants: Bottega Veneta / shoes: TOMS 

Since the day I received these pants in the mail, I've worn them with plenty of other great items.   And like I said, I usually wear them very dressed down - but here's a look at two of the more fancy ensembles I've created:

heels and leather!

heels and oversize sweater

Just for the three months of Winter, I think it's worth it to get at least a cute little vintage coat for the season.  So, I'm currently on the hunt!

This year, I've been spending the holidays cozy in homes with new friends, lots of food and lots of wine.  The call for formality, glamour, fancy.... 

well it hasn't been needed like in the years past.

So since I couldn't find a reason to buy a new special dress for all the holiday get togethers, I decided to whip up a couple cool , casual, Tiny ensembles from my all-season wardrobe.

summer dress  +  yoga tee  +  tights  +  boots  = 

holiday party wear!

I love white and black for holiday celebration - but it has to be an artful duo.  And with crimson red lips and some flashy art deco earrings will persuade the mind into a more celebratory state.  I adore these Gatsby-esque earrings!  

It's amazing how black tights and booties can transform your simple, fun Summer wear into chic, Winter wear.  Such is the Tiny way though, right?  

And speaking of the Tiny way, I've worn this all before....

tee with harem pants

dress with Summer sandals

booties with denim mini

I'll be coming back to Holiday wear so be sure to check out Part II of my "Tiny" holiday ensembles next week!

hope you enjoyed your weekend :)

dress: Stylemint / cardigan: vintage Christian Dior Men / shoes: Toms / bag: vintage Dooney & Bourke 

My nautical striped Summer dress and a newly acquired vintage men's cardi (a gem of a hand-me-down from my roommate - thanks love!)

With royal blue striping and crisp kelly green layered over, I felt so cute, it almost didn't matter that  I was makeup-less with bed head and no lotion, yikes.  Anyway, the ensemble was adorb, you know?

The cardigan is new but the dress?  I've had for a while.  Check out a couple other ways I've worn it:

over wide leg denim

with a fedora

I'm getting really into Toms shoes lately.  I'm currently wearing "Movember" with little hipster mustaches on the sides.  The last of my Toms were sacrificed during a rice terrace climb in Ifugao and I've been fantasizing of a Tiny new collection of them since then.  My one hesitation?  I actually don't think they're versatile.  I can only wear them very casually and you know me, I'm always trying to upgrade the casual look.  We'll see what tricks I can do...maybe.

It's amazing how much you can change something just by displaying it differently.

Influenced by athletic wear lately, I decided to make a pair of edgy harem pants out of men's athletic material.  

A stretchy, basketball jersey-type synthetic fabric that I decided would be great as a pair of cool, clubby harems.  Why not?

poncho: Asos.com / harem pants: Tiny Closet Collection / booties: Jessica Simpson

And of course, I had to top it off with my jersey poncho.  This poncho has proven to be stylish for almost any occasion I've found myself in.  From yoga classes, to art walks, to errands, to traveling - it's one of my most versatile pieces.  And since it's mainly for wearing after working out, I thought it's  athletic-type vibe would vibe with my new harem pants.

 jacket: Muubuu / tee: James Perse / denim: AllSaints Men / booties: Santee Alley / bag: Dooney & Bourke

I have worn this graphite colored jacket with everything but I like it best with some slouchy drop-crotch denim and a plain white tee.  Preferably a tee by James Perse.... or The Tiny Closet Collection ;)

I've actually worn almost this same outfit before a couple years ago in "The Boyfriend Look" post.  Changing the look a bit with my staple black booties.

If you'd like to see this jacket worn with some other versatile ensembles from my Tiny Closet, check out these links here:

worn with maxi dress & scarf

worn with white short dress

worn with black long dress

I have been starting a new venture with The Tiny Closet that I am really excited to share with you.... this week!!  So please continue to check back for the news.

It's good to be back!

As much as I love living my life in jersey, I have been dabbling in the finer, frillier materials for the past few months...  

Like my post, Working with Silk, I've been now saturating myself in chiffon lately, taking my most favorite chiffon pieces out for a spin yesterday.

blouse: Santee Alley / dress: Urban Outfitters / boots: Santee Alley 

And by "spin", I meant it literally!  I am so happy we finally got our Vespa to L.A.!  Halloween was a sunny, crisp day.  Perfect for zipping around downtown, Little Tokyo and the Arts District.  I would've taken a photo of me in my Speed Racer helmet but...yeah, no one looks good in a helmet.  Or maybe I'm just saying that because I don't.

Anyway, I've had this striped chiffon dress for years.  Wore it in one of my first posts in a 40s style mashup.  It's fun because it's meant to be layered and yet so chic and simple on its own.  It's completely sheer but I didn't want to wear my usual black leggings with it so I topped it with a black and white blocked chiffon blouse that I got in a size XL so that it would drape low.  To hell with my leggings!

I love buttoning my blouses all the way up.  That type of styling lends itself to a kind of eccentricity I can't quite describe except to say it just always looks unique and edgy.  You know?

Hope everyone's Halloween was a blast!

 *sigh*

How do I love this All Saints maxi?

Let me count the ways...

jacket: Free People / belt: Abercrombie & Fitch / dress: All Saints / wedges: Santee Alley

When it works, it works, you know?  This maxi just fits with my lifestyle (along with several other pieces that I own) and really raises the bar when I shop for new items because I want all of my clothes to be as comfortable and as versatile as this.  Why not?  Admittedly, it was a pricey item but I knew I'd make the most out of it.  I hadn't guessed just how much I would but its consistent all-season wear and longevity has been a pleasant surprise.  Ah, I love this Tiny Closet of mine!  Endless possibilities!

Happy Monday!