Seeing Red: Valentine's Day Inspired Mashup

Seeing Red: Valentine's Day Inspired by pumps-and-lipstick showing how to wear perforated boots

Tabitha Simmons perforated boots
boutique1.com



I love Love. Yeah, I said it! And I'm not talking only about mushy-mushy, romantic, The Notebook type of love. I mean all of it. The love between you and your parents, your gal-pals, your furry friends, and your lover. I'm talking about the love you have for your passions in life. Whatever makes you happy: food, fun, anything and everything that makes us smile and enjoy life to the max.

I roll my eyes when Valentine's Day is propped up as 'Singles Awareness Day' because it points out the lack of love in your life, when it's only a portion. It's discounting the fact that love exists in so many other areas and makes people feel bad about what's missing. I say F that. Take this day (and everyday, really) to be grateful and show the people you love how much you love them. Whether it's a batch of group texts to your nearest to dearest to sending your mama her favorite flowers-- we've all got love in our lives. Just show it and embrace it.


Happy Valentine's Day!

Overcoat Overload

Winter is certainly chilling my bones some days. As a Bay Area commuter, part of my journey to work every day consists of walking a couple miles in bustling downtown SF and along tranquil Lake Merritt in Oakland. The early morning breeze and evening chill makes me shiver with goosebumps.

To keep me warm and brave the icy wind, my coats have gotten longer and longer. Peep a couple of my favorite overcoats below:

Overcoat Overload by pumps-and-lipstick featured in lauren conrad style

Haider Ackermann white wool coat
farfetch.com

Purple wool coat
$155 - modekungen.se

Pink coat
euro.dorothyperkins.com

Betsey Johnson lip earrings
amazon.com

Green gemstone ring
$8.71 - target.com.au

Look of the Day: Tribal Inspired

What a beautiful winter, isn't it? Well, not everyone lives in (the best state ever) California. Here in the Golden State, we're experiencing a rather warm winter. The sun shines so bright and I can feel the envy from my friends shivering on the East Coast. #sorrynotsorry 

I will say though, the weather has been creating difficult winter wardrobe choices. Numerous questions like, "Is it going to be warm or chilly today? Should I wear a longer jacket? Will I be too hot in boots?" and the like, run through my mind during my daily morning 'get ready' routine. On this day, it started out gloomy with overcast and then leaded to lots of sun with a cool breeze. I screamed, "Make up your mind, weather!" 

So finally, I put together a Native American inspired tribal dress that's thick like a sweater plus tall black boots with exposed zippers paired with patterned black tights. This way I could stay mostly warm with thick pieces and exposed arms and neck to keep me cool and balanced. With this casual look, I played down the number of jewelry pieces and narrowed down to my favorite, Bobbi J earrings. Hair and makeup are simple and sweet with half up and super straight a neutral brown eyeshadow by MAC named Corduroy. 

Get your scroll on...

All images are original. All rights reserved.

Look of the Day: Leopard and Lime

Once again, I took a nice little stroll to my neighborhood botanical garden near Lake Merritt. All year long, beautiful blooms and bushes sprout about and fill the air with refreshing fragrances. With winding trails and secret mini gardens, it's pretty easy to get lost...in a good way!

Obviously, I wasn't ready to get down and dirty to start digging and planting in this getup: black Else denim, Gap lime green infinity scarf, Old Navy tank, Style&co booties, and t/o black and silver leopard cardigan.

All photos are original. All rights reserved.

Flop Top Galore

Who said you can't wear a floppy hat in fall? Reminiscent of their summer, straw cousin, these wool floppy babies add the perfect mix of drama and sophistication. I still cain't wait for it to be cold enough to pair with a long coat, tall boots with a chunky heel and dainty hoop earrings. Bad hair day or not, 

Check out some looks below...

Flop Top Galore by pumps-and-lipstick 

Wet Seal hat
wetseal.com

Gucci woolen hat
net-a-porter.com

Floppy hat
amazon.com

Brixton floppy hat
swell.com

Element Eden floppy hat
lulus.com

Sweaters Only

Do you feel it? That crispness in the air? Chilly breezes raising goosebumps across your skin? Oh yeah. That's fall alright. And you know what that means...sweaters, baby! You don't know how much I've been waiting for this day to arrive. Here in the Bay Area, fall weather starts a tad bit later than the norm, but with recent dips on my thermostat, I think summer is finally over!

Looks like I'll be prancing at the pumpkin patch in a big ol' sweater, tall boots and chunky scarf after all. I'm super into bold graphics and prints, off-the-shoulder, and cutie-patootie animal sweaters. Take a peek at some sweaters I'm diggin' right now...

Sweaters Only by pumps-and-lipstick featuring Alexander Wang

French Connection sweater
usa.frenchconnection.com

Alexander Wang sweater
$285 - theoutnet.com

Off the shoulder dolman top
alloyapparel.com

Blade Rubber Stamps Newspaper Scraps
$22 - bladerubberstamps.co.uk

Airplane Chic

Airplane Chic by pumps-and-lipstick featuring black sandals

Stripe maxi dress
$94 - whistles.co.uk

Balenciaga black sandals
matchesfashion.com

Proenza Schouler royal blue bag
forwardforward.com

Today, I'm heading on a plane back today from Vegas after SIX long days. Yes, you read that correctly. SIX days in Vegas. Don't get it twisted, it was half work and half play. Coincidentally, my best friend's birthday extravaganza lead immediately into the MAGIC convention. 

After days of shopping, laughing, gambling, partying, walking the strip, checking out vendor booths, making purchases, networking, and the like, all I want to do is be comfortable as possible. What do I call comfort? A long maxi dress! I'm loving this look with wedges studded wedges and the pop of color with a cobalt blue satchel. Even though I'm currently not in wedges, I wish I wasn't so terribly exhausted so I can strap on a pair. Sandals today it is!

Anyway, they're calling for my group to board—cattle call style on Southwest. Happy Thursday!

Friday Feature: Stylist + Blogger, Raphael Sarmiento

I appreciate unique, personal style. Replication just can't be done so easily when a person puts so much thought and effort into creating a specific tone and statement in mixing eras, putting together prints and hues and finalizing the finishing touches. When I met Raphael Sarmiento, aka Rap, that's one of the first things I noticed about him-- his awesome, unique style that is completely unpredictable and it works every damn time. Every week that I see him, I yell, "Yesssss!" Clearly, I just can't get enough. As we got to know one another, it made perfect sense that he was a stylist. So you know what that meant-- I had to pick his brain on his thoughts about fashion and style.

Check out an exclusive interview below:

Vegas Bound!

In two weeks, we're heading down to Sin City for my best friend's birthday. My dad always asks why we head down to Vegas every year and one of my reasons is definitely shopping for the trip. With bottle service booked at One Oak, it's go big or go home! Here are some looks that I've been tossing around. Your thoughts?

Vegas Bound! by pumps-and-lipstick featuring a heels platform

Jane Norman geometric maxi dress
$23 - houseoffraser.co.uk

Body con dress
$165 - celebboutique.com

Club L short dress
$43 - nelly.com

Giuseppe Zanotti heels platform
shoescribe.com

Carvela Kurt Geiger black sandals
$200 - kurtgeiger.com

Repossi ring
barneys.com

Jessica Simpson plus size bracelet
macys.com

Pieces chain jewelry
$13 - pieces.com

Hexagon ring
gorjana-griffin.com

Cuff Love-- Ear Cuff That Is

I took a walk on the wild side while checking out NastyGal (for those of you who don't know, get your mind outta the gutter, it's a shopping site)! I wanted to get something that I don't have and is really unique. And then I spotted it: an ear cuff. I haven't worn an ear cuff since the sixth grade and that was just a small, simple, silver cuff with an engraved peace sign on it (flower power!). 

I've seen ear cuffs pop up on the red carpet here and there over the year and just thought it was a cool new accessory to try out so, I copped a super embellished ear cuff. 

Peep the new accessory below:

So what do you think? Yay or nay on the ear cuff? Let me know in the comments! Muah!