OOTD

Blazer Weather

November 13, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

Fall in California is definitely not like other places–especially this year. It has been way too warm for my liking and I’ve been missing crisp Fall weather. Finally, a colder front has been coming through and I’m pretty excited about it! Now that it’s finally gotten cool enough it’s time to break out the snuggly blankets, tea, and blazers. Love when the nights start getting cooler and layers are officially a thing. As for outerwear, this H&M tweed blazer is one of my favorites. I’m a big fan of vintage styled menswear and it’s been a perfect addition to the wardrobe. It even has a silk inner lining and suede elbow patches which I absolutely adore! I’ve been liking the rusty orange/mustard tone trends that have been making the rounds lately. This silk cami is a perfect layering piece for Fall and goes with soo many things. To complete the look I picked up this vintage Liz Claiborne bag in this fabulous kelly green color.

Lately I’ve been getting more interested in perfume and trying out different scents. Tabac Aurea by Sonoma Scent Studios is one of my current favorites. For me it’s more of a Fall/Winter scent as it reminds me of a vanilla bean pod wrapped in leather. It has a lovely warm scent with a hint of tobacco and woodiness. It smells amazing when first applied and the dry down enhances the tobacco notes over time. Since the scent changes over time, it’s also very long lasting which is great. If you like rich, autumnal scents this one is perfect for you!

Outfit Details: Blazer: H&M, Cami: H&M, Pants: Adriano Goldschmied, Shoes: Lucky Brand and Bag: thrifted – Vintage Liz Claiborne

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Autumn Dress & Oxfords

October 29, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

Happy Halloween everyone! It has been an extra busy last few weeks. October is my favorite month of fall festivities. Apple picking, haunted houses, corn mazes, apple cider, horror movies–love it all! The only bummer is that it has been sooo hot here and only now has it been cooling down. Pumpkin picking in 85 degree weather just makes no sense! We went to a local patch and picked out a few and it was still fun even in the heat. Really glad that the weather is behaving better for Halloween though!

When the weather can’t decide if it wants to be hot or cold I figure a post about transitional outfits makes sense. I love oversize cardigans and comfy slip dresses. This dress from H&M is perfect for the out of season hot weather we’ve been having lately but the cardigan provides some Fall coziness. If the temperature drops, leggings would be good as an extra layer for this outfit as well. I’m also a huge fan of these heeled oxfords! They’re surprisingly comfy for heels. To complete the look I added my favorite big leather bag. It’s big enough to carry home a pumpkin and you never know when you’ll need that!

Outfit Details: Dress: H&M, Cardigan: American Eagle, Bag: Live Fashionable, Shoes: Lucky Brand, Watch: Stock Watches

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Piece of My Heart

September 20, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

I’ve been liking the resurgence of band tees paired with more feminine looks recently. Midi skirts paired with bright, graphic tees are a personal favorite of mine. The one issue is that I’m super picky about the material, what’s on my t-shirts–especially when it comes to band shirts. I feel like in order for me to feel comfortable to wear a band shirt I should be able to name off an album or a favorite song if someone happens to ask. That just seems fair to the artist, right? You gotta at least know and like the band’s stuff if you are endorsing them on your clothes. Well I guess that’s just my own personal standard. Another thing I’m super picky about is the material. Gotta have that soft, thin cotton. Hate that rough stuff! This shirt is 100% cotton but is also super soft.

I never really listened to Janis Joplin much when I was younger but in the last few years I’ve really come to regard her as one of my favorite rock stars. A few documentaries about her life and a few album downloads later I became a fan. After listening to her records I was amazed at her ability to express that amount of feeling through her voice. I wish I could time travel back to one of her concerts, but alas, I was born almost two decades too late.

Besides her music, she had a pretty great sense of style and developed her own unique look. I didn’t have any feathers on hand but I feel like she might have liked these leopard print flats (though she might have preferred low heels). I personally like the little bit of pattern mixing that works perfectly with the tee. This outfit is relaxed enough to wear out and about but also fits in well as a possible festival look. Probably not something Janis was concerned about but versatility is always a plus in my book!

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: T-Shirt: Amazon, Skirt: eBay, Shoes: Joie, Bag: Etsy, Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters

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Holding Horses

September 2, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

Even though there is a September heat wave going on, my eyes have been on fall weather outfits. I love the usual Fall fashion trends so I’m excited for the upcoming months! Layers, scarves, deep reds and olive tones are definitely some things I’m looking forward to. Velvet as a Fall texture is a lovely material to explore this season. I recently came across this Anthropologie ‘Holding Horses’ velvet button down on sale and snapped it up. Isn’t the color just gorgeous? I love the combination of velvet and silk (on the inside layer) and wearing it is a dream. Another fabric I’ve been loving is denim so combining them was pretty much perfect. I’ve been kind of obsessed with these Levi’s high rise 721s. They are so comfy and give this shirt an everyday vibe instead of creating an over-dressed situation. I like the slightly western/country flavor this outfit evokes without being too over the top.

I recently traveled back to Minneapolis, my hometown, to sort through some old clothes and items to keep or donate. I found my old Gap suede backpack and fell in love with it all over again. Don’t you love finding old things in the back of your closet and rediscovering them all over again? It’s like finding $20 in the pocket of your old winter coat. This bag is made out of a nice sturdy suede and has lasted a lifetime. I guess you could say it’s a “buy it for life” bag! It works nicely as a small hiking bag or as an everyday small back pack. It’s nice to bring old things back into circulation!

Outfit Set:Outfit Details: Shirt: Holding Horses/Anthropologie, Jeans: Levi’s, Shoes: Lucky Brand, Bag: Gap (old)

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Loafers & Ivy

August 21, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

I’ve always been ambivalent about the high rise/”mom jean” trend and I was never quite sure if they looked great or terrible. A bit of a tough call! But I recently made the plunge and picked up a pair of these classic Levi’s just to see what all the buzz was about. I was surprised by how flattering the fit was! The high waist line does accentuate the hips a bit but not in a bad way. And to be honest, I do remember my mom wearing a pair just like these back in the day–and I’m pretty sure she still does (hey mom!). I can’t fault her for it–these jeans are comfyyy! They feel sturdy like they will last a long time too. These jeans are technically made for working outdoors but I think they look nice a little more dressed up. I wore these with a light chiffon button down and black loafers. One of my favorite recent purchases is this great woven circle bag! The bag is made from woven straw and is a perfect size for toting your stuff at the beach or as a simple every day bag. In terms of whether I’m sold on high rise denim across the board I’m not so sure but I’m definitely a big fan of these!

Outfit Details: Chiffon top: eBay, Jeans: Levi’s, Shoes: Steve Madden, Bag: Etsy

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High Summer

July 30, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

I came across this Zara A-line skirt recently and totally fell in love with it. I like little injections of Boho style here and there and this skirt does the trick. How cute is that embroidery? I feel like you could dress it up or down, either way works. I went with a more summery night out type of look. I paired it with a basic white t-shirt, suede ankle boots and a comfy moto jacket for cooler evenings. This jacket is made out of a faux suede material and crazy enough I actually prefer it to real suede. It’s a lot more flexible and lightweight than the real stuff. This skirt tends to run small so order a full size up than your usual size.

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Jacket: Lulu’s, Skirt: Zara, Tee: Levi’s, Shoes: BP, Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters

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By the Flower Fields

July 23, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

I’ve had quite a busy summer with hardly any time to write but I’m finally taking advantage of some time I had today to update. The flower fields are in full force nearby and are totally stunning right now. I’m not even sure what they are exactly but they are quite impressive when you’re surrounded by whole fields of them! Sadly, they will only last a few more weeks before they’re gone.

Lately I’ve been into clean, minimal summer looks and this one fits the bill. When it’s too hot to think it’s time to whip out the lightweight tops and sandals. These suede sandals are super comfy and add a nice pop of color. They are totally affordable too and come in a bunch of colors. They run a bit small so I would recommend ordering a half size up. In my opinion, everyone needs a classic button down in their closet and this one is perfect for hot weather. Lightweight rayon for the win! Not every button down will do; I sometimes get annoyed by how constricting they feel–especially in the arms. This shirt is not like that at all–so floaty and comfortable! The jeans I’m wearing are an old pair of trusty Joe’s which I had tailored a while back (seriously, you gotta do this at least once). Customizing the fit was 100% worth it and not inordinately expensive. I like to roll up my jeans just above the ankle to get a more laid back “boyfriend” style look and it’s a nice way to add variety to your denim. It’s also an excellent way to prepare for potential flash floods because you never know! Heh.

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Top: Bajee Collection, Jeans: Joe’s Jeans, Shoes: Sam Edelman, sunglasses: Urban Outfitters

Under the Roses

June 23, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

I’ll be flying in a few weeks and wanted to showcase an outfit I plan to wear while I’m traveling. Flights are never a fun time and finding the right thing to wear can reduce the hassle of flying in general. I like to wear comfy layers and pretty neutral colors. It still looks nice without looking too overdressed for the airport. For whatever reason, airports are almost always freezing so taking a cardigan with you is a great idea even if it’s hot outside. I selected some comfy legging jeans in a neutral charcoal color and some ankle boots that I have broken in already. Shoe selection for the airport is pretty important: they should be well worn (do NOT wear brand new shoes to the airport, you will get blisters!) and easy to slip on and off to get through security fast. These boots from Lucky meet all of that criteria and they go great with almost anything.

Next up is your bag. I recently picked up this gorgeous tote from Live Fashionable. I chose the chocolate color and I’m really impressed with the quality and design. The leather has some natural looking imperfections but that doesn’t detract at all. The leather is a rich dark brown and has a sizable interior–perfect for your stuff as you travel. There’s a smaller pouch inside for a phone or wallet and it can fit a small laptop/iPad which is a great feature. It’s an all round perfect travel tote! Having the right stuff to wear will definitely make your travel day a better one.

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Golden Hour

June 6, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

Things have been hectic over here and it’s been a while since I’ve been able to update. I wanted to share a few of my favorite early summer finds recently. I never would have guessed I’d get into rompers but I recently found this one with a great tropical print and had to give it a try. When it arrived I totally fell in love with the print and how comfy it was. It’s perfect for the beach or just going out and about. I paired it with a slouchy long cardigan for when it’s cooler and summery leather sandals. These sandals are perfect for casual summer nights out and go well with so many things.

A few other recent finds is this watch by Stock. This brand caught my eye a few years ago and I just loved the minimal design. At the time I wasn’t able to snag it but this time I didn’t let it get past me! I’ve always wanted an everyday watch as an accessory. The watch is technically unisex but the band had enough holes to fit smaller sized wrists which is a huge plus. The strap is a beautiful matte tan leather and overall the construction is gorgeous and high quality. The bag is another recent score from Etsy. I came across this Etsy shop that hand makes their leather bags and saw this beautiful cross body bag with cognac colored leather. It’s a messenger style that can fit a wallet in the small pouch and a small laptop in the larger. Super convenient and holds everything I need to go out and about. The leather is beautiful, durable and the bag is very well made. There were some natural imperfections from the leather but that just gives the bag more character!

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Cardigan: American Eagle, Romper: Forever 21, Shoes: Lucky Brand, Bag: Etsy, Hat: eBay

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Spring Greens

April 28, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

Spring is one of my favorite times of the year and this season has been especially great due to all the rain we got this past winter. I wanted to showcase my favorite midi skirt in a perfect olive green as well as some awesome wild edible plants growing right now. I love the midi skirt trend since I live in a really windy area and just, you kind of need a little extra length for that you know? Without tights, flowy skirts above the knee can get a little bit risqué ’round these parts when the wind hits above 15mph. But I digress, the midi skirt trend is one of my favorites because they work so well with so many different outfits. Forget about frumpy, there’s lots of ways to dress up the midi skirt in a very non librarian-ish way. I paired this skirt with a simple black and white striped “Breton” style shirt and some beautiful Frye ballet flats. I’ve always had a bit of a long distance love affair with Frye and I recently found these flats on sale and I couldn’t pass them up. My favorite sun hat and vintage leather engraved bag completes this look.

Since living in California I’ve been able to learn more about the local edible plants and have found a bunch that I routinely pick and use in cooking. The following are a few that I find most often. Rosemary and sage are drought tolerant plants and grow in large bushes all over in California. I find Black Sage most often along sunny, dry trails. Fennel is also something I find really frequently along trails in dry areas too. You can usually smell the licorice-y scent of them if they are growing in the area. All of these wild herbs are amazing to cook with. I like to use them in soups and meat dishes. After picking, I hang them together with twine to dry them out slowly and use them as needed. Another amazing find I’ve been enjoying recently is picking Miner’s lettuce for salads. It is a delicate little plant shaped like tiny lily pads. To me it tastes like a milder, sweeter arugula. I usually find it growing in secretive, shady spots along trails. They dry out with any direct sunlight and hot weather so I don’t expect this year’s batch to last much longer. Since miner’s lettuce is better eaten raw than cooked, throw it in your salad if you can find it. It is so delish and I almost prefer the flavor to arugula. As a disclaimer, I don’t endorse picking and eating wild plants without the required knowledge so be mindful of what you’re collecting and make sure you know exactly what you’re eating.

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