Bonjour Simone

The Fisherman Sweater

2012-02-10T21:48:00.000-08:00

{sweater and moccasins- Land's End Canvas, t-shirt dress- Old Navy, bag- Banana Republic, scarf- Free People, tights- Hue, necklace- Alexis Bittar}

I have been in love with fisherman sweaters for a few seasons now; the thick, chunky knits are perfect for foggy Bay Area days and I love the preppy androgynous feel they add to outfits. When I saw this one from Land's End Canvas, I knew I had to have it. It's just oversized enough without overwhelming my figure and it is made from 100% wool, which is important to me since I hate synthetic fibers. Best of all, I scored it for $39.99- over half off its original price! Paired with a t-shirt dress, slouchy moccasins and a rich caramel-colored bag, this sweater is a great winter essential for casual dressing.

{moccasins}

{obsessed with the sweater's texture}

{accessories}

xoxo,

Simone

2011: the Year in Pictures

2012-01-01T12:45:00.000-08:00

When I started this post, I wasn't quite sure what I would write about this past year. It's not that 2011 was bad by any means, but compared to 2010- I spent a semester abroad in Paris, traveled throughout France and Europe, interned at Harper's Bazaar and took my last college classes ever- 2011 was relatively low-key. Even if the year wasn't quite as exciting as 2010, it was special in its own right. I graduated NYU with honors, moved back to the Bay Area, traveled throughout California, spent plenty of time with friends and family, watched my brother graduate high school and go off to college and had way too much snuggle time with Olive and Lacey. I am happy and healthy and it's hard to complain when 2011 was filled with such abundance. Thank you all for reading my blog. Here's to a wonderful 2012.

xoxo,

Simone

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas...

2011-12-25T18:21:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all! Whatever you celebrate, I hope your holiday has been filled with comfort and joy. My Christmas has been spent watching all my favorite holiday movies, hanging out with my family, eating way too much delicious food, exchanging gifts and sipping cocoa by the Christmas tree. Tomorrow I leave for Southern California and I intend to soak up as much holiday cheer as possible before I go.

xoxo,

Simone

{ornaments adorning the Christmas tree}

{Olive waiting for Santa}

{giant gingerbread house at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco}

{Lacey loves opening presents}

{pinecone and berry-studded wreaths for the front door}

{hot cocoa from a festive red mug}

{pretty little Christmas lights}

Christmas Countdown: Day 6

2011-12-12T18:26:00.000-08:00

Even though there are all sorts of delicious treats readily available around the holidays, my favorite is the exceedingly simple candy cane/peppermint stick... or to be more specific, King Leo peppermint sticks. Nestled in white wax paper and tucked away in a classic blue tin, these little treats are a more special experience than your typical candy cane and are bursting with much more peppermint flavor. They make a terrific gift, but I wouldn't blame you if you kept them for yourself. I picked up a tin at the Ferry Building and can't wait to enjoy them throughout the rest of the holiday season.

xoxo,

Simone

Christmas Countdown: Day 5

2011-12-12T10:42:00.000-08:00

When it comes to Christmas gifts, stocking stuffers are the hardest for me to shop for. This is partly because I don't remember them till the last minute and partly because it can be difficult to find stocking-sized gifts that are useful and meaningful. Edible gifts like candy canes and chocolates are always a safe bet, as well as soaps, lip balms and nail polishes. For a more unique gift, try seed packets, a vintage-style notebook or some quirky earrings.

Christmas Countdown: Day 4

2011-12-08T14:35:00.000-08:00

{Christmas palm trees}

A few weeks ago, I was meeting a friend for lunch near San Francisco's Union Square. Having grown up in Connecticut and attended college with me at NYU, she remarked on how strange it was to see palm trees decked out in strings of lights and standing next to a Christmas tree. While other cities such as New York might feel more "Christmas-y," San Francisco has its own charm. From the decorated palm trees to the ice skating rink in Union Square to the adoptable puppies and kittens in the Macy's Christmas windows, I can't imagine spending Christmas anywhere else.

{wreaths in the Macy's windows}

{This puppy's Christmas wish came true. The shelter volunteer said he was adopted almost immediately!}

{tree in Union Square}

**I got a little bit behind on my Christmas posts, so I will be tripling up for the next few days until I am caught up.

xoxo,

Simone

Christmas Countdown: Day 3

2011-12-03T22:36:00.000-08:00

tech girl by srm346 featuring metal jewelry

When it comes to technology, fashion sometimes takes a backseat to function. For the woman who likes her gadgets to be useful and chic, these unique gifts will be sure to delight!

1. Echo Designs "Touch" Gloves, $32
2. Nook, $199
3. Lomography 'Diana F+' 120mm Camera, $99
4. Paper Tweet Notepad, $4.99
5. X-Treme Geek USB Bracelet, $9
6. Crocheted Bow Headphones, $40
7. Electric Garden Charging Station, $24.99
8. Zulu Recycled Telephone Wire Basket, $34.50
9. iPhone 4 Case, $35
10. Rebecca Minkoff Laptop Case, $75.99

Christmas Countdown: Day 2

2011-12-02T23:30:00.000-08:00

For Day 2 of my 25 Days of Christmas blogging challenge, I thought I would post my 5 favorite Christmas movies.

In no particular order:

1. Love Actually

I had never seen Love Actually until a few weeks ago, but I knew right away that it would become one of my favorites. There are few romantic comedies I can tolerate, but this one is unique and not at all cheesy. Not to mention, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth make excellent eye candy!

2. Elf

No matter how many times I watch Elf, it never fails to crack me up. It's everything Christmas should be: silly, simple and heartwarming.

3. A Christmas Story

"You'll shoot your eye out!" is perhaps one of the greatest movie one-liners of all time. While I love Christmas movies that are about family, love and Christmas spirit, A Christmas Story's irreverent take on the holiday is a breath of fresh air when other Christmas movies feel too saccharine.

4. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Classic. Enough said.

5. White Christmas

Another classic, White Christmas has a stellar cast, beautiful costumes and the best soundtrack. I have never experienced a white Christmas, so this film is the closest I get.

What's your favorite Christmas film?

xoxo,

Simone

Christmas Countdown: Day 1

2011-12-01T19:55:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I will be doing one Christmas-themed post a day from now until Christmas day. I have been neglecting my blog lately and thought that it would be a fun way to start updating again. For my first post, I'll keep it simple and post my most favorite Christmas song of all time. I tried to post my top five Christmas songs but I love Christmas music way too much to pick just five! Still, this one song stands out above all the rest.

Paul McCartney- "Wonderful Christmas Time"

It just fills me with joy each time I hear it.

Farewell to Fall

2011-12-01T10:10:00.000-08:00

{leaves in transition}

My stepdad likes to say that Christmastime starts with Santa's arrival during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and since then, I've been growing increasingly excited for my absolute favorite time of the year. I'm challenging myself to write one Christmas-themed post a day from today until December 25th but before I get started, I want to share a few of my favorite images from this fall.

{a festive display of pumpkins and gourds for the front porch)

{homemade pumpkin bread}

{fall colors}

{a spider at sunset}

{sleepy Lacey}

xoxo,

Simone

22

2011-10-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

{My birthday ~~cake~~ pumpkin pie... I am not crazy about cake, so I've always had pie on my birthday instead.}

I turned 22 years old yesterday and in lieu of some faux-insightful and long-winded post that makes it sound like I've got it all figured out (I don't), here are some of the highlights of my 21st year and some birthday wishes for the future.

Highlights:
-Graduating college- My college experience was amazing, but I'm also so excited for what lies ahead of me.
-Moving back to California- When I was in college I thought I would never leave New York. After graduating, I realized I had fallen out of love with real New York and was clinging to the idea of New York. The Bay Area is magical, and life out here is so good. The fact that a few friends from college moved out here? That's just the cherry on the sundae.
-Weekend trips to Los Angeles, Monterey, Carmel, San Diego, Sebastopol and Big Sur- Weekend trips are totally underrated. Each time I take one, I fall a little more in love with California.
-Learning to cook- Not only is cooking relaxing and fun for me, but now I won't have to rely on pasta when I move out of my parents' home.
-Olive- When my mom brought Olive home, she was scared of everything and had clearly been mistreated in some way. With lots of patience and effort, she has become a great little dog and the perfect companion for Lacey.
-My brother graduating and going off to college- I miss him a ton, but he loves the college he chose and I am so happy that he is out pursuing his passions in such an inspiring environment.
-Getting a DSLR- I have been lusting after a DSLR for years and my wish finally came true! My mom and stepdad generously got me a Canon Rebel T3i as a graduation gift.

Wishes for my 22nd year:
-Move into a cute apartment in San Francisco.
-Get a puppy of my very own... I love Lacey and Olive more than words can say, but they belong at my parents' home. I need a little companion for my life in San Francisco!
-Visit somewhere I've never been before. Places that are currently at the top of my list? Abroad: Morocco, Russia, Croatia, Peru. USA: Austin, TX; Portland, OR; New Orleans, LA; Healdsburg, CA.
-Do more volunteer work.
-Stop stressing out so much.

xoxo,

Simone

Hard Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder

2011-10-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

{I used Jonagold apples for their perfect sweet-yet-tart flavor}

For the most part, I try to cook and eat seasonally. While I have some exceptions (I buy bananas year-round, for instance), most of the recipes I cook are centered around ingredients that are available at my local farmers market or what is marked as "local" at Whole Foods. Not only does this ensure that I am eating the freshest of each season's offerings, it is also much more eco-friendly; food that has been transported from far away uses more fossil fuels. When my family and I were in San Diego, we picked up a cookbook called Cooking in the Moment, which is all about seasonal eating and cooking. A few weeks ago, the East Bay had its first truly fall-like day and I wasted no time making a hearty fall recipe from the book, Hard Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder (pg. 172). The recipe makes excellent use of all the apples that are so abundant right now, as well as hard cider and regular cider. To accompany the pork, I made a variation of the book's Skillet Apples and Onions recipe, roasted sweet potatoes (cooking method also from Cooking in the Moment) and a salad. Keep in mind that this recipe has a long cook time, but it's totally worth it.

{Admittedly not the prettiest meal I've ever cooked, but it was definitely one of the most delicious.}

Skillet Apples and Onions

(adapted from Cooking in the Moment by Andrea Reusing)

Ingredients:

2 apples, cored and cut into rings

1 large white or yellow onion, sliced thinly

1 tbsp butter

1 tbsp olive oil

2-4 pieces of bacon, chopped

salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. In a frying pan or cast iron skillet, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat until the butter is melted.

2. Fry the bacon until crispy and remove from pan, leaving the fat behind.

3. Add apples and onions to pan and saute, stirring often, until golden brown

4. Toss the cooked bacon in with the apples and onions and serve.

{This makes the perfect side dish to any fall meal.}

Notes:

*If your pan is small, you may have to cook the apples and onions in smaller batches. If this is the case, divide the bacon up and fry some before each batch of apples and onions.

*The recipe can be made without the bacon and/or butter, if you want.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

(adapted from Cooking in the Moment by Andrea Reusing)

Ingredients:

sweet potatoes, 1 per person

olive oil

sea salt

salted butter

maple syrup

Directions:

1. Rinse the sweet potatoes well and use a fork to poke several holes in each (so the potatoes don't explode when you cook them).

2. Rub each potato skin lightly with olive oil.

3. Place the sweet potatoes directly onto the oven rack and roast at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until the skins are crispy and the inside of the potato is soft. Place a pan on the rack below to catch any drippings.

4. Add a light sprinkling of sea salt to the potato skins and serve with butter and maple syrup.

I can't wait to share more fall recipes soon. Feel free to let me know your favorites in the comments!

xoxo,

Simone

Emergy

2011-09-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

{My Emergy necklace... I get so many compliments on it!}

I first met Ashley at a blogger meet-up in February. In March, before I left New York, we were able to meet for lunch and she told me more about her plans to launch a site that featured unique products from up-and-coming designers and artisans in emerging economies. Supporting artisans and smaller designers is important to me, so I was thrilled to hear that Emergy would offer unique handmade items from around the world. By supporting artisans, whether local or abroad, you're supporting someone's livelihood, getting a unique and high-quality item and you generally have a better idea of where the object is coming from. I think that in the same way people are caring more about where their food comes from and how it was produced, we should bring that same sense of ethics to fashion.

{Outfit I styled for Ashley's blog. Necklace- Emergy, dress- J. Crew, jacket- Anthropologie, sunglasses- Marc by Marc Jacobs, watch- La Mer, bracelet and right hand ring- jewelry maker on Portobello Road, left hand ring- vintage, clutch- Clare Vivier}

When Ashley contacted me to do a feature on Emergy's first collection, a collaboration with a women's jewelry cooperative in Rwanda, I could hardly contain my excitement. I purchased a green layered 4-strand necklace and styled an outfit with it. You can see the feature on Ashley's blog.

{Ashley- stylish, philanthropic AND business savvy!}

I also got the chance to ask Ashley a few questions about Emergy:

1. How did you start Emergy? What gave you the idea?

I actually came up with the idea after coming home from my semester in China and looking at all of the great items I accumulated while iving there. The initial idea for Emergy was just a boutique with items from different emerging designers in China and I was going to call it Minc (short for Made in China). Then I realized the need for smaller designers and artisans was present in other countries. My passion for social entrepreneurship pushed me to focus on emerging markets and the difficulty in being able to provide a uniform range of sizes in clothing pushed me to focus solely on jewelry.

2. Tell me a little about your current Rwanda collaboration (ie: how you found the artists, how long the process took, what drew you to the work, etc).

One of my friends moved to Rwanda in the fall and met the women (Sarah and Ellie) who I'm currently partnering with. He saw a few of their pieces and brought me back some samples during a visit back to the states. I instantly fell in love with the pieces, reached out to Sarah and Ellie to learn about their background and what their plans were, and we hit it off immediately. Sarah and Ellie work directly with the women co-ops to create the jewelry you see on the site and work with me on color choices and such.

3. What has been your favorite part of working on Emergy so far?

Definitely meeting people with similar values and who are passionate about the same cause. It's also been surprising and refreshing to meet people who are so willing to lend a hand. It's pushed me to put myself out there time after time and I'm always pleased and flattered when people fall in love with what I'm doing.

4. What was the biggest obstacle to starting your own business? Do you have any advice for young women wishing to do the same?

My biggest obstacle was definitely creating a solid idea, that involved more than just a basic retail strategy. What made it easier was really utilizing my resources. You'll learn that most people really support entrepreneurship and love to support entrepreneurs so don't be afraid to share your idea, concept, passion, etc. When you've gotten enough valuable feedback, work on a strategy and taking the necessary steps to put your plan into action.

I'm also a big advocate of seeking out advisors and mentors. They are industry specialists and can fill in information gaps for you where you lack knowledge.

5. What inspires your personal style?

I still don't know how to define my personal style! Haha! I think it is very much inspired by NYC, I'm from here so that makes sense. I've definitely picked up style cues from my travels. Being in Europe made me appreciate the whole simplistic and sophisticated/sexy style, while living in China forced me to take more risks in terms of styles and playing with colors.

6. What do you see for Emergy in the future?

The ultimate goal is for each customer to be able to track the creation process from start to finish. I'd like for each piece to come with a unique QR code, upon scanning customers will be able to see the artisan who made their piece of jewelry and the financial impact they've made on their company by buying that piece. Tech is such an important part of our lives right now, so doing this makes complete sense. I'd love to take the mystery out of retail and make people feel good about their purchases. My friend Jessie coined the term Fashion Philanthropy and I'm running with it!

Details:

Right now there is no e-commerce functionality on the site, but I am taking orders! You can e-mail me directly to place an order for any of the pieces on the site (or Facebook page): ashley@shopemergy.com. The 4 Strand necklaces are $45, the Paper Bead and Cloth necklaces are $50, and the bracelets/arm bands are all $15. Also let me know if you've discovered Emergy through Bonjour Simone and you'll get a 10% discount!

xoxo,

Simone

San Diego

2011-09-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

{Palm trees in La Jolla.}

As much as I love the thrill of exploring somewhere new, there's something to be said for a short trip to a destination you've visited before. Without the pressure of trying to squeeze too many activities into the itinerary, it's easier to relax. I spent Labor Day Weekend in San Diego and even though I have visited more times than I can count, I left with an entirely new appreciation for the area's cool ocean breezes, quaint beachside neighborhoods and laid-back pace. I returned from my weekend feeling refreshed and ready to take on whatever life throws at me. Since moving back to California, I've realized just how much I missed this beautiful state and I look forward to discovering and rediscovering more of it.

{I went crazy for all the beautiful succulent arrangements in Old Town.}

{Hibiscus are so plentiful in San Diego, but these pink and orange ones were especially striking.}

{Colorful paper flags added to Old Town's festive feel.}

{A strong mango margarita was the perfect accompaniment to tacos and guacamole.}

{Koalas at the San Diego Zoo... I could have watched these cuties for hours.}

{It was worth waiting in a long line to see these Giant Pandas and learn about the zoo's conservation efforts.}

{Watching the meerkats dig, sun themselves and keep a lookout was fascinating.}

{Bougainvillea are one of my favorite warm-climate plants.}

{It was overcast the day we visited La Jolla, but that didn't stop us from taking a beachside stroll.}

{I probably spent way too long watching the sea lions.}

{Breathtaking sunset in La Jolla.}

{The weekend was filled with so much good food and this peach-blackberry crumble was no exception.}

{A latte enjoyed at a restaurant with the most spectacular ocean view.}

xoxo,

Simone

StyleSays: Top 5 Lessons From An Online Shopping Addict

2011-09-07T21:47:00.000-07:00

…and free shoes at the end!

Recently, I told you guys about Obvilux, one of my favorite new social shopping platforms. They've recently revamped the site with some cool new features and will return shortly as StyleSays. I'm very pleased to be hosting a guest post from Tiffany of StyleSays. She'll be sharing her best shopping tips, information about the new StyleSays and how you can enter to win a pair of Yotam Solomon shoes.

Hi, my name is Tiffany, and I’m an online shopaholic.

I went to boarding school, now I’m at a lovely university that seems to believe fashion is Adidas shower slippers and free T-shirts, and did I mention I don’t have a car?

Full disclosure: my online shopping mania led me to find StyleSays on a friend’s Facebook wall and then bother them until they let me get involved with the site.

So yeah. I shop online a lot and I’ve learned a few things along the way!

5. Free returns: rarer than you think!

In my experience, less than 1/5 of online stores offer free returns.

Can you imagine getting fined $5-15 for buying something from a local boutique and then returning it?? Stores that include a pre-paid shipping label often deduct the cost of shipping from your refund without warning you. NOT cool, man.

Wanna know if you can get free returns on that item you’re thinking about? Use www.stylesays.com …but more on that below!

4. Try a smaller merchant!

Don’t be afraid to try a new site!

Small stores, especially Etsy and eBay merchants, are often spectacularly good about answering questions. You can ask them to hold items, to measure dimensions, or even for more pics.

3. Shop around, but not too much!

When you see the piece you want at the price you want, buy it! It seems obvious but comparison shopping can be addictive and 10 options is not always better than 1.

If you’re on the fence, don’t let it sit in your shopping cart forever! You’ll feel silly when it goes out-of-stock. If it is indeed an item you only want to purchase on-sale, find a way to save it so you can come back to it later. Or better, spare yourself having to remember and angst and just get a sale alert with StyleSays.

2. Don’t shop after 2 AM!

You’re delirious! You’re gonna regret this in the morning! Get back to bed, silly.

1. Friends don’t let friends shop alone!
I know online shopping seems like an inherently solitary activity (cue image of blank-eyed girl scrolling page by deadening page) but it doesn’t have to be!

Friends offer a good reality check when you’re going crazy, a kick in the behind when you’re dragging your feet, and they often know your style better than you! Isn’t it always more fun to shop for other people at birthdays and Christmases?

I’ve got friends all over the country (world, really), and after college I know we’re going to be more scattered. Even when my friends and I are in the same city, we chat and browse online during coffee breaks, on lazy Sunday mornings, and when the boss isn’t looking (…jk).

Bonus Round!

Final tip? www.stylesays.com Try it. It’s the best way to shop online with your friends.

Throw out that first image. Picture instead you and your friend strolling down Rue de La You, made of all your favorite stores and everything your friends have picked out.

With a magic wave of your hand everything that catches your eye—but that you aren’t ready to buy—is put away for later, never to be lost, and if it goes on sale your personal shopping concierge will let you know.

Speaking of which, he brings you everything you ask for but only what you ask for! And he alerts you if and when you’ve earned free shipping, whenever a store has free returns (rule #5!), etc.…everything a girl needs to know!

So get in line and for goodness’ sake be generous and share the invites with your friends! You’ll need someone to shop with, after all! Invite 3 friends to like StyleSays on Facebook and you might win any pair of Yotam Solomon shoes you like—we’re talkin’ handmade leather pumps. After all, we’re all about sharing ;)

{A pair of Yotam Solomon shoes. More about the designer here.}

Natural Beauty: Acure Organics Olive + Mint Facial Cleansing Creme

2011-09-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

{Acure Organics Olive + Mint Facial Cleansing Creme, $15}

As much as possible, I try to live my life in a way that is kind to the environment and kind to my body. I buy organic and local as much as possible, bring my own bags to the grocery store, recycle or reuse whenever possible, support local and ethical businesses and recently cut sugar and processed carbohydrates out of my diet, for the most part. To me, part of being good to both my body and the environment is using all natural beauty products. So many drugstore and department store beauty brands use ingredients that are irritating or even toxic to your body... not to mention many are produced in ways that are harmful to or don't break down when released into the environment.

That said, finding the perfect all natural facial cleanser is difficult. Not all products that claim to be natural are, and just because a product is all natural doesn't necessarily mean it will work well. I've been searching for a facial cleanser for months now and Acure's Olive + Mint Facial Cleansing Creme is everything I've been looking for: all natural with several organic and fair trade ingredients, gentle but effective, and it smells divine. It's sulfate, cruelty, paraben, PEG, petroleum, phthalate and silicone free, vegan and won't clog pores. The cherry on the sundae is that Acure donats 5% of their profits from this cleanser to provide free mammograms for at-risk women. In fact, each of Acure's products benefit a different cause.

If you're looking to switch to natural beauty products, here are my tips:

1. Always check ingredients. As I mentioned above, some brands claim to be all natural when they're not. Conversely, some ingredients sound like synthetic chemicals when they're actually derived from plants or other natural resources. If you're not sure what an ingredient is, look it up.
2. Save receipts. Stores like Whole Foods and most department stores have return policies on cosmetics. Be sure to ask before you purchase and save your receipts in case something doesn't work out.
3. More expensive doesn't always mean better. In general, be prepared to shell out a little more than you might for drugstore brands, but it's still possible to find good, inexpensive products.
4. Samples, samples, samples. Some brands, some beauty stores and most department store counters offer samples or travel sized products. This is a great way to test out a new product without making a commitment right away.
5. Give it time. Before deciding that your new purchase doesn't work, give it a little time. I've found that when I switch products, my skin takes about a week to adjust to the new product.

To learn more about safe cosmetics, I encourage visiting the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Whole Foods' Whole Body resources.

xoxo,

Simone

Public Relations: You're Doing It Wrong, ModCloth

2011-08-24T09:54:00.000-07:00

I've never really had a problem with ModCloth. In fact, I've actually liked their apartment stuff and some of their clothing in the past. That was, until last night when the fashion blogosphere started circulating a ModCloth product with some offensive copy. Take a look:

{Click for a close-up. Image via J. Rosel Kim.}

The copy reads:

Volunteering feels good, doesn’t it? It’s also a great excuse to travel, and this time your huge heart is taking you to Africa! Embody the vibrant personalities and positive spirits of the locals when you wear this dynamic maxi skirt with an gold exposed zipper! Created by Lauren Moffatt, a favorite amongst fashion bloggers, this skirt’s wide, blue waistband matches its bottom hem, and every other olive brown, bright red, ivory, and blue vertical line is decorated with tansy-colored flowers. Wear it wonderfully with a solid-colored top, oversized beaded jewelry, and shoes that are just as pleasantly unexpected as its silky lining and the colorful bouquet that diagonally blooms above the hem of this skirt, and you’ll be loved by Tanzania locals for more than just your helping hands!

There are a whole host of problems with this copy- the fact that it reads like the skirt is some kind of charitable collaboration (it's not), that it exoticizes another culture and kind of lumps all the diverse African countries together as just "Africa", that it promotes a silk dry-clean only maxi skirt for volunteering (hint: a lot of volunteer work is mostly grunt work)... the list goes on. Because no money from the sale of this skirt is being donated, the volunteering in Africa narrative of the copy seems really exploitative.

As of today, that version of the copy has been removed and replaced with a new, unoffensive version. Everything's good now, right? Not exactly...

Instead of issuing an apology, Modcloth has chosen to act like this incident never happened... except that it did and that people have blogged about it, people are reading those blogs and people are upset. This is like PR 101, by the way. It's always best to admit to screwing up, apologize and promise to do better. ModCloth had it easy, too. It's not like this issue was a huge deal, but their refusal to acknowledge their screw-up has made it into an even bigger one.

Moral of the story: don't write offensive product copy... but if you do and people get mad, admit to your mistake. Pretending like it never happened in the age of screenshots and cached pages and blogging will

just keep people talking about it.

UPDATE:

ModCloth has responded. Their PR people tweeted at me to link me to their response.

The link takes you to this thread on one of the first sites to respond to the controversy, Get Off My Internets, where ModCloth spokesperson Aire says:

Aire here from ModCloth. We sincerely apologize for anyone we may have offended or upset with this description. Our descriptions are meant to create a fun narrative that imagines where our shoppers might take themselves in our items. The ModCloth writer who described this skirt has spent many years volunteering in and out of the country, and it was with those fond memories of her experiences that she created this description. We did not intend in any way to suggest that higher-priced items are part of the volunteering process, and we’ve renamed and relaunched the item in response to your feedback. ModCloth and its employees are dedicated to giving back any way we can. Please feel free to email our Charitable Giving Committee to find out more about how we help those around us, givingcommittee@modcloth.com. Thanks again for your feedback.- via Get Off My Internets

While I applaud their efforts to (finally) address the problem and I'm glad that they are involved in volunteer work and charity, this apology sounds more like a classic "fauxpology"- notice that they don't apologize for their mistake; they apologize for anyone who got offended. Classic.

xoxo,

Simone

P.S. They might want to change the link to the product, as it still reads:

http://www.modcloth.com/Modcloth/Womens/Bottoms/Skirts/-Lauren-Moffatt-Trip-to-Tansy-nia-Skirt

Grilled Artichokes

2011-08-17T14:51:00.000-07:00

Growing up in Northern California, it never occurred to me that there are places where artichokes aren't as plentiful and delicious as they are here. When my middle school best friend told me she had never eaten an artichoke (she grew up in Colorado), I was floored. Now I see why people might shy away from them if they've never tried them before. Aside from being a little weird looking, artichokes require quite a bit of prep work. However, if you can get past the spiny leaves and long cooking process, few things are more delicious.

While steaming artichokes is certainly the easiest way to cook them, I think that brushing them with a balsamic vinegar marinade and tossing them on the grill (a trick my mother taught me) yields the most flavorful results. Recipe below.

Grilled Artichokes

Ingredients:
Artichokes*, figure that each person you're cooking for will eat 1/2 to 1 whole artichoke, depending on the size.
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
4-6 cloves of garlic, depending on your preference
Coarse sea salt
Freshly ground pepper

1. Cut off the tops of the artichokes, then trim all the spiky ends from the remaining leaves.
2. Cut the artichokes in half, then scoop out all the hairy things (is there a term for that stuff?) in the center. You'll also probably want to take out the thin inner leaves as they are very sharp and not really edible.
3. Steam artichokes until tender and cooked all the way through.
4. While the artichokes are steaming, make your marinade by combining the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and garlic. I didn't include measurements since I usually just eyeball it. I usually use an equal amount of oil and vinegar, a large pinch of salt and 3-4 pepper grinder twists.
5. Turn your grill heat to medium. Brush one side of the artichokes (I start with the flat, cut side first) with marinade and put them marinade side down on the grill. Grill for about 6 minutes or until dark brown grill marks appear.
6. Brush the other side of the artichokes with marinade, flip and grill for about 6 minutes or until dark brown grill marks appear.
7. Enjoy!

*While it may be tempting to buy the biggest artichokes you see, the big ones tend to be woody and tough. Small to medium artichokes are more tender and flavorful. The artichokes should be firm and heavy and should look and feel fresh. I've also heard that the tighter the leaves are, the better.

xoxo,

Simone

Dreaming of Fall...

2011-08-05T21:45:00.000-07:00

Even though we've barely had a real summer here in the Bay Area, I'm already dreaming of fall clothes. The overcast mornings, chilly evenings and my frequent trips to San Francisco mean I've been able to use my fall wardrobe all the way through summer, and I've realized it could definitely use some updates. Some highlights on my list are a new coat, slouchy open-knit sweaters, rugged boots and my dream handbag*.

1. Coat, L.L. Bean

2. Sweater, Modcloth

3. T-shirt, Saint James via Madewell

4. Dress, Old Navy

5. Lipstick, Aveda

6. Scarf, Wilfred via Aritzia

7. Nail Polish, Butter London

8. Necklace, Rachel Roy

9. Flats, Sam Edelman

10. Bag, Alexander Wang

11. Boots, Frye

12. Leather Ring, By Boe

*My chances of actually getting said handbag are slim to none... but a girl can dream, right?

What's on your list for fall?

xoxo,

Simone

Odds and Ends

2011-07-30T16:16:00.001-07:00

A lot of bloggers do some version of an end-of-the-week wrap-up. Aside from being a great way to kick off the weekend on a positive note, I thought it would be a fun way of sharing things that have delighted and inspired me throughout the week. Plus, I take way too many photos and need a place to share them!

{1 & 2. Olive and Lacey being snuggly in my bed.

3. The latest in my growing collection of succulents. I think I have a problem.

4. An open knit sweater on super-sale ($10, originally $88) at Anthropologie.

5. A ginger tea scented candle from my recent trip to Carmel.

6. Blue Bottle coffee from one of my favorite East Bay restaurants, Sideboard.

7. The Bay Bridge on a foggy day. It's not as well-loved as the Golden Gate bridge, but I'm quite fond of it.

8. Beaded summer sandals.

9. Roast pork ramen from Hapa Ramen. It was the perfect thing to eat on a chilly, overcast day.}

-I loved the way Elisabeth paired her tough leather jacket with a floaty dress and sparkly necklace. (mission: closet)

-Madewell's fall lookbook is here and I can't wait till the pieces arrive at their new San Francisco location come autumn. (Madewell)

-My blogger friend Ashley was recently featured on the New York Times street style section! Congrats, girl! (ashley4emergy)

-I met Krista at the Glitter Guide launch. Her blog is filled with beautiful photography and glimpses into her fabulous life in San Francisco. (City Chic)

-Since moving back to the Bay Area, I've been searching for some California-inspired art for when I get an apartment in the city. I have several sites and Etsy stores bookmarked, but I finally made my first purchase- a poster inspired by this iconic San Francisco sign. (3 Fish Studios)

-The Institute of Medicine recently ruled that birth control is a preventative care measure and recommends that all FDA-approved forms of birth control be offered through insurance without a co-pay. If you want to help make affordable birth control a reality, voice your support of the IOM ruling here.

Hope you enjoyed my list. Feel free to post anything inspiring or exciting from your week in the comments!

xoxo,

Simone

Gourmet Ghetto

2011-07-20T23:08:00.000-07:00

When I was in high school, I would regularly take BART to Berkeley with my friends. We never ventured far from the UC Berkeley campus, preferring to hang out in the thrift stores, funky cafes and street vendors on Telegraph Avenue. It was only when I moved back to the Bay Area that I began to explore another part of Berkeley- the Gourmet Ghetto. As the name implies, this area of North Berkeley has a high concentration of great restaurants, specialty food shops and markets full of fresh produce and unique groceries. To read more about it, go here and here. The area also has a few cute boutiques, though I haven't really gotten to explore them yet.

My most recent trip to the Gourmet Ghetto included yummy Thai food at Cha-am, a stop at the Cheeseboard and browsing for plants at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery. It was slightly overcast and a bit chilly, so despite it being summer, I had to throw a jacket, boots and tights over my dress. This was my first time wearing colored tights and though I've been afraid to wear them in the past, they are surprisingly easy to incorporate into my outfits.

{dress- Old Navy, jacket- INC, boots- Frye, bag- Banana Republic, scarf- All Saints, watch- La Mer, tights- Hue, belt- H&M}

Read about and see pictures of a few of my favorite Gourmet Ghetto gems after the jump...

Gourmet Ghetto:

Eat and Drink:

Cha-am

Chez Panisse (haven't been yet, but it's a legend)

Mint Leaf

Gioia Pizzeria

the Crepevine

Philz Coffee (not as good as Blue Bottle, but still excellent)

Lush Gelato

Shop:

Monterey Market

the Cheeseboard

Berkeley Horticultural Nursery

Earthly Goods (some hidden treasures among the dowdy Earth Mother-type clothes)

Tibet Himalaya House

Still to Try:
Chez Panisse

The Cheeseboard Pizza Collective

Imperial Tea Court

Dara Thai Lao Cuisine

Gregoire

Barney's Gourmet Hamburger

...and more

I will update the list as I try new places... I'm even thinking of making a city guide tab on my blog to share all my local favorites.

{The Cheeseboard is the most amazing cheese shop I have ever been to. They have every kind of cheese you can think of (and more) and delicious breads and baked goods that are made in-house. Most of the cheesemongers are super knowledgeable and talented at finding you the perfect cheeses. They also let you sample to your heart's content. It's worth the out-the-door lines.}

{Chez Panisse- the downstairs dinner menu looks a little over-the-top for my taste, but I am dying to try the more casual, less expensive cafe.}

{Lush Gelato- try the yogurt and orange zest flavor.}

{Flowers at Monterey Market.}

{Berkeley Hort has plants you can't find at other nurseries.}

{Massive omelette at the Crepevine.}

It's only been a week since my last Gourmet Ghetto adventure, but I can't wait to go back.

xoxo,

Simone

Getaway

2011-07-06T22:49:00.000-07:00

For this Fourth of July weekend, my family and I decided to escape the merciless heat that has plagued the Bay Area lately and take a day trip to Monterey. After spending the first half of the day among throngs of tourists and screaming kids at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, we headed to Carmel and enjoyed the afternoon leisurely browsing quaint boutiques and taking in the breathtaking seaside setting. The day ended with a decadent meal at Casanova, where I feasted on two of the region's specialties- artichokes and fresh-caught seafood.

{Hauntingly beautiful jellies.}

{Green sea turtle at the aquarium's newly-renovated Open Sea exhibit.}

{It was so refreshing to be near the ocean.}

{I love Monterey's historic charm.}

{Carmel had so many flowers; I think they really thrive in the climate there.}

{Linguine with mussels, lobster and shrimp.}

{Enjoying the perfect weather... I dressed for comfort, but in case anyone is interested: jacket- INC, shirtdress- Zara, scarf- Sahara Imports in Berkeley, leggings- Target, shoes- Converse, watch- La Mer, bag- Betsey Johnson}

I hope that my US readers all had a relaxing and fun holiday weekend. I have some fun posts lined up in the coming weeks, so come by again soon!

xoxo,

Simone

ObviLux

2011-06-22T23:14:00.000-07:00

If you're anything like me, your idea of online shopping means leaving an item you're lusting after in a new tab in your browser, forgetting about it almost as soon as you find your next must-have and remembering it several months later while you're closing excess tabs. This a great way to make your browser slow and cluttered, but it's not the smartest way to shop. Luckily for people like me, there's ObviLux, a brand new social shopping network that makes online shopping and sharing smarter and easier than ever. I was approached by the ObviLux team a few weeks ago to explore the site's alpha version and because of my love of all things social media (and my aforementioned shopping problem), I jumped at the chance to try it out. ObviLux is near-flawless in its execution and it didn't take long before I became completely addicted.

{stores on ObviLux}

The site's premise is simple: users can lux or collect items from their favorite online stores via a plugin added to their browser. Users can also relux items from other users, follow their favorite users and stores and create style sets using items they have luxed. Several actions on the site such as following another user or reluxing an item allow users to gain points, which are used to determine Store Ambassadors. Users become Store Ambassadors by having the most interactions with that store.

There are already a number of social shopping sites out there, but so many totally fail when it comes to the social aspect. Sure, you can share sets you've made on Polyvore on your blog or repin items from people you follow on Pinterest, but those actions seem sort of secondary and don't encourage much interaction at all. ObviLux was designed with sharing in mind. This integral feature is apparent from the option to tag friends each time you lux an item to the points you get for interacting with other ObviLux users.

{a style set I made featuring colorful bags}

As a fashionista and avid online shopper, I love the site because it makes organizing and sharing items I find a snap. As a social media addict, I love ObviLux because it takes the social aspect that makes tools like Facebook and Twitter fun and an incentive system to encourage site use like Foursquare and combines them with a streamlined site design and convenient plugin to create the ultimate online shopping experience.

For a full understanding of how the site works, take a look at this short video:

Intro to ObviLux (official alpha) from ObviLux on Vimeo.

Like what you see? Click here to join ObviLux. Don't forget to follow me so I can follow you back! My username is bonjoursimone. To stay up-to-date with the latest site news, follow ObviLux on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.

Since it is only in its alpha version, I'm sure we'll be seeing some exciting new features as the site gains popularity. Join now so you don't miss a thing!

xoxo,

Simone

Fashion and Feminism: The Media's "Ugly" Women

2011-06-15T22:49:00.000-07:00

This month's FFB topic was women and/or feminists in the media and popular culture. There are about a million different directions one could go in with this topic, and I encourage you to check out what the other FFBers wrote about- such a diverse mix of posts this month!
As a Media, Culture and Communications major, I've studied extensively about various topics that have to do with women and the media; fashion magazines and the male gaze, the madonna-whore complex and the difference between the way aging male and female celebrities are treated are just a few of the topics I've written about in the past. Much of the time, discussions of portrayals of women in the media end with the conclusion that the media promotes an unattainable standard for women- whether it's a fairytale romance, being able to lose pregnancy weight in less than a month or an airbrushed-to-perfection beauty ideal. For this month's FFB topic, I would like to elaborate on a topic that I've written about in the past: the media's portrayal of "ugly" women and how women that are portrayed as relatable are not much different from the obviously unattainable images we are fed.
I was reminded of this topic when I watched a preview for a new show on Fox called the New Girl. It features Zooey Deschanel as a dorky, girl-next-door type who moves in with three men who help her try to date again after a bad break-up. Deschanel is clad in nerd glasses and a hipster wardrobe. She has quirks such as singing to herself and a silly smile. Her model friend is supposed to provide a contrast to Deschanel's character... only they're both totally gorgeous. In the preview, Deschanel's character is leaving the apartment on a date in a black dress with her hair up. She looks no more beautiful than she does in glasses and flannel and yet her roommates are awed by her beauty, as if she had been ugly before.

{via}

The term "Liz Lemoning" originally appeared in an article on Feministing and is used to describe the way the media takes a conventionally attractive woman, such as Tina Fey, slaps some glasses, a bad haircut, or an unfortunate wardrobe (or any combination of those) on her and packages her as "ugly". Some other examples are Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) on Glee and pre-makeover Andrea "Andy" Sachs (Anne Hathaway) in the Devil Wears Prada. The actresses who portray these characters are far from ugly, even with their "ugly" makeovers, but their characters' looks often serve as punchlines.
I was recently reminded of this phenomena when I saw a trailer for a new show on Fox called the New Girl that stars Zooey Deschanel as an ordinary girl-next-door as she moves in with three male roommates and learns to date again after a bad break-up. From the preview, I gather that Deschanel's character has been Liz Lemoned with nerd glasses, a hipster wardrobe and a myriad of quirks such as singing to herself and the inability to smile normally. In one scene, Deschanel is on her way to a date. Though she's ditched her glasses, put her hair up and is wearing a sexy black dress, she doesn't look that much different since she was already exceedingly beautiful before. Still, it's enough to make her housemates swoon.

{via}

The problem with these images is that consumers are supposed to find these characters relatable, but they don't look that different from their other, allegedly prettier costars. As Chloe writes in her article on Liz Lemoning, "it means that the bar for female beauty is being set higher than ever: if Tina Fey, Lea Michele and America Ferrera are 'ugly,' what hope is there for the rest of us?" Indeed, using beautiful women to play ugly or average characters means that even ugliness is unattainable for the average woman.

{via}

Another problem is one that I originally described on a class blog I kept in my last semester of college:

**If the media’s job is to sell “a particular body aesthetic,” (Wykes 97) or beauty ideal, it seems obvious why actual ugly women would not be cast in ugly women’s roles. Then why write roles based on ugly women at all? Perhaps these so-called “ugly” characters are meant to be relatable or representational. This is problematic for two reasons.

In his book History of Beauty, Umberto Eco describes how different women came to represent different ideals of beauty. Eco says that “in the same years the cinema offered the model of the ‘femme fatale’ as represented by Greta Garbo and Rita Hayworth, and that of the ‘girl next door’ as played by Claudette Colbert or Doris Day... the svelte Audrey Hepburn constituted a model for those women who could not compete with the full-bosomed Anita Ekberg,” (Eco 425).

Thus, in the same way that Audrey Hepburn was supposed to represent thin women or Kate Moss is supposed to represent women who are not supermodel tall, the characters Rachel Berry and Betty Suarez are supposed to represent the ugly girls. However, it is important to note that these images are not meant to be purely representational but are also supposed to be aspirational. Virginia L. Blum says that these images “represent for us both what we are and what... we long to be,” (Blum 147). In the Beauty Myth, Naomi Wolf describes how “advertising aimed at women works by lowering our self-esteem,” (Wolf 276) to sell the products advertised. By buying the products advertised at the commercial break, women believe they may be able to achieve the beauty of the stars they see on television. Maggie Wykes elaborates that a woman “attempts to make herself in the image of womanhood presented by billboards, newspapers, magazines and television,” (Wykes 72) and that this practice is “the means of signifying self-worth, identity and subjectivity,” (Wykes 73). That is to say that a woman’s self-worth is based on her ability to achieve the beauty ideals put forth by the media.

This cycle of lowering women’s self esteem by promoting certain beauty ideals to encourage them to buy products (quite a mouthful, isn’t it?) leads to the second problem with using beautiful women to portray ugly women: media images are never attainable. In her essay “Untouchable Bodies,” Virginia L. Blum warns that women identify two much with perfect media images, “thereby narrowing (at times even disrupting) the distinction between the human and the two-dimensional,” (Blum 61). Women actually believe that it is possible to look like the heavily made-up, photoshopped and airbrushed women idealized by the media. Since the photoshopped woman has become the new ideal and any woman whose features stray even ever-so-slightly from this such as Liz Lemon’s scar on her face, Rachel Berry’s larger nose or Betty Suarez’s ethnicity and extra weight is now considered “ugly.” However, “in reality, those ‘ugly’ women look an awful lot like the beautiful ones,” (Chloe), so labeling beautiful women as “ugly” sets the beauty ideal higher still. These types of representations set women up to fail because they cannot even achieve ugliness.**

Now all of this is not to say that shows like 30 Rock, Glee or Ugly Betty are bad. In many ways, these shows break barriers by discussing topics that other shows won't touch such as sexual orientation and gender identity, bullying and open discussions about sex. 30 Rock is a show with a female protagonist that is not marketed as a "women's show" but rather, a show to be enjoyed by everyone. Ugly Betty had a more diverse cast than most shows on television. The characters themselves offer ever-so-slight deviations from the typical white, thin, big-lipped, shiny-haired, delicate-featured models and actresses that are crammed down our throats. For example, Tina Fey has a large scar on her face and is over 40 and America Ferrera is curvy and Latina... Still, they are both (in my opinion, anyway) exceedingly beautiful- a little bit different, perhaps, but still far from ugly. These shows should be celebrated for their good qualities, but it is also important to be mindful of their problems and to be careful not to internalize an unrealistic standard of beauty. If the media wants to offer us something to counter the idealized standard of beauty, then the television shows, movies and magazines that we consume should deliver.

{via}

Can you think of some other examples in the media of "ugly" women who are actually beautiful? Does this affect you or how you consume said media? Personally, I tend to just roll my eyes at that sort of thing. I'd love to know what you ladies think!

xoxo,

Simone

PS: Sorry I skipped last month! I was so caught up in graduation festivities that I knew I wouldn't have time to make a post.

Fashion and Feminism- It's a Nice Day for a White Wedding

2011-04-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

This month's Feminist Fashion Bloggers topic was finance in honor of Equal Pay Day, which was yesterday. I know that many people like to think we live in some enlightened post-sexist society (untrue in so many ways), but the fact is that women still earn much less than men for the same type of work.

There are so many issues to talk about regarding fashion and feminism and finances, but I'd like to take a look at the wedding industry- an industry that is primarily marketed to women. Regardless of who pays for the wedding (the couple, the groom's parents, the bride's parents, a combination), the bride is From the time we are little, women are told that one of the most important, if not the most important, thing we can do is get married (to a man of course) and start a family. Shows like Bridezillas and Say Yes to the Dress make women out to be these wedding-obsessed freaks. Grooms are told to cave to all of the bride's requests; brides are told that if their wedding doesn't have a champagne fountain or oh-so-trendy letterpress invitations or if they don't spring for that Vera Wang gown, their wedding will not be perfect... and the wedding will only matter if it's perfect.

[Disclaimer: I am restricting my writing to heterosexual marriage in this piece because I am not familiar enough with the same sex wedding industry to write about it. That said, I hope to see the day that gay marriage is legal in all 50 states and recognized by both the federal and state governments.]

{image via}

According to some statistics, the wedding industry takes in $161 billion a year though other sources put the number at a slightly more conservative $120 billion a year. On average, a wedding in the United States costs almost $30,000. It seems a little excessive to pay the cost of a car or a down payment on a house on a one-day ceremony for an institution that only has about a 50% shot of making it.

{image via}

On Friday nights, if I have no plans to go out, my default is to watch Say Yes to the Dress and idealize about my perfect wedding. Having seen every episode of the show, some multiple times (yes I am that girl), I am all too familiar with both the bride who spends $10K or more on her dress and the bride who falls in love with and buys a dress she can't afford. As the narrative goes, a wedding is the happiest day of your life and you only get one, so you should spare no expense. I have to wonder though if blowing her budget on a wedding dress really improves a bride's wedding that much. If a wedding is 5 hours (ceremony, transport time between ceremony and reception venue, pictures, cocktail hour, reception), that $10,000 gown costs $2,000 per hour of wear. Even a more modestly priced $2,000 gown still comes out to $400 per hour of wear. For her second wedding, my mom wore an off-the-rack evening gown and she seemed to enjoy her wedding just the same.

{my mother and stepfather's wedding}

The idea of marketing perfection to women is not unique to the wedding industry. Pretty much all stereotypical women's products use the idea of perfection or aspiration to sell products. This is harmful because the perfection shown in ads and television shows is almost never attainable for average women. I'm sure we're all familiar with the dangers of unattainable beauty standards perpetuated by the media (if not, Naomi Wolf's the Beauty Myth is a good jumping off point). Within the context of the wedding industry, the unattainable standard of perfection put forth causes many a bride to become caught up in the material aspects of the wedding. It takes the focus off the purpose of the wedding: to celebrate the union between the bride and the man she chooses to spend the rest of her life with.

Another issue with the wedding industry is the perpetuation of the bridezilla stereotype. Like a Carrie Bradshaw-esque shopaholic, the bridezilla perpetuates the harmful stereotype that women are inherently materialistic beings who prioritize shopping above all else and can't budget (which is related to the stereotype that women are bad at math).

All of this is not to say that women shouldn't spend a lot on their wedding if they have the financial means to do so. If you can and want to spend $10,000 on your dress, go for it. However, no woman should feel pressured to do so, and we certainly should not buy into the notion that spending more makes for a happier wedding day. What I am advocating is that when spending money on a wedding, be aware of where the motivation to spend that money comes from.

I'm only 21 so marriage isn't in the cards for me for some time, but I already eagerly anticipate my own wedding. While I fantasize about what my perfect wedding will be like, I also know that what I want to remember about my hypothetical future wedding is not the amount I spend or how closely it resembles the white wedding ideal but rather how much fun I have celebrating with my husband, friends and family.

What do you think? Do people spend too much on weddings or is your wedding an occasion on which no expense should be spared? Any tips for setting and staying within a wedding budget? I'd love to know your thoughts!

xoxo,

Simone

PS: For anyone looking for alternatives to the dominant wedding narrative, check out A Practical Wedding, Offbeat Bride and DIY Bride.

PPS: Thanks Mom for not pushing the whole get married/have kids thing on me and letting me form my own opinions about marriage.

Feminism and Fashion

2011-03-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered the Feminist Fashion Bloggers group. As someone who identifies both as a fashionista and a feminist, I couldn't be more excited to find out about this group. I am a little late to the game, but I still wanted to answer a question posed by feminist fashion bloggers Mrs. Bossa Does the Do and Oranges and Apples: How do you express your feminism in the way you dress?

I've been both feminist and a fashionista for most of my life, though for a long time, I was hesitant to label myself as a feminist. It's become somewhat of a dirty word in our society- a punchline for "feminazi" jokes, if you will. Then of course there are crazies like Sarah Palin- decidedly anti-woman women who have decided to co-opt the term for themselves. It was only in the past year or so as I began to actually read feminist theory that I have started to identify myself, proudly, as a feminist. Even so, I've had a very difficult time reconciling the two parts. As a feminist, I've felt guilty for being part of the problem; I've held internships at companies that define the ideal beauty- that gangly 16-year-old with airbrushed porcelain skin and too much make-up and too little clothing for her age. I've subscribed to the magazines that tell women how to get Natalie Portman's Black Swan body or how to dress for your man or how to spend thousands of dollars working on your face so it never ages. As a fashionista, I've been afraid to share my feminist ideals on this blog, always worrying about alienating readers or sounding preachy.

I am beginning to see that the two do not have to be mutually exclusive. So, how do I express my feminism in the way that I dress?

I think one big way that I do so is by sharing what I wear with all of you. The mainstream media promotes such a narrow ideal of beauty that anyone who doesn't fit this ideal is invisible. Well, I'm not okay with being invisible. As a 5'4" curvy woman with curly/frizzy dyed red hair, I have chosen to make myself- my outfits, my life, my views on fashion visible. We- the women who are outside of the beauty ideal- exist and we're beautiful and we matter.

Another way I express my feminism through my clothing is by dressing solely for me. Every outfit I wear, I wear because it makes me happy. I never dress based on what will appeal to (or repel) men or impress the women I work with. I don't let the fashion magazines dictate to me that because of my height or the size of my hips, I should or shouldn't be wearing garments X, Y and Z. I dress in clothes that I find appealing and that make me feel good. If other people happen to like it, it's an added bonus.

I also refuse to stand for the idea that if I dress in a certain way, I am "asking" for negative attention; no woman deserves to be catcalled because her skirt shows her figure or her top dips a little low. When I used to get such attention, I would sulk off feeling gross and powerless... especially because I never dress in a manner that I would consider provocative. That is to say, I was playing by the nice girl rules and still getting catcalled. Recently, I started letting catcallers know that their behavior is inappropriate, so long as I feel that I am in a situation where it is safe to do so. Besides, nearly every woman I know has been catcalled while wearing baggy sweats or a heavy winter coat. Catcalling is not about what women wear; it's about men feeling that their "right" to objectify women trumps women's right to walk peacefully down the street. I am sick of it and sick of the way that society discusses it and I refuse to stand for it any longer. I'm calling them out.

As a feminist, it important to me to vote with my dollars. I loathe American Apparel's sexist advertising, so I stopped shopping there. I got rid of every American Apparel clothing item I own, and I won't even buy American Apparel secondhand or from an off-price store. If a magazine has a spread shot by Terry Richardson, I don't buy it. Now that I have some magazine subscriptions, I will be writing to the editors to voice my disapproval if they use him as a photographer. I don't buy from companies if I see that their ads feature over-photoshopped or emaciated models.

I think that awareness is a huge component in being a feminist fashionista. For too long now, I have tried to keep those two parts of my identity separate because it was easier than having to address and reconcile them. It's certainly much better to be aware of feminist issues in fashion and to discuss them. So that's exactly what I am going to do from now on.

xoxo,

Simone

The Perfect T-shirt

2011-03-11T13:27:00.000-08:00

As far as T-shirts are concerned, most women I know fall into three camps. There are those who believe that a t-shirt is a t-shirt is a t-shirt and buy plain white Hanes men's v-necks in 3 packs for $4 from Target. Personally, I find the fabric a little stiff and the V a little too high. Some swear by American Apparel; if you can get past the gross advertising and CEO (I can't), they come in every color under the sun, are 100% cotton, made in the U.S. and are relatively inexpensive. Fashionistas will tell you that T by Alexander Wang is the only way to go... if you can afford to pay the $80 price tag for a basic v-neck.

Enter Alternative Apparel. What sounds like an American Apparel rip-off is actually a treasure trove for perfectly slouchy V-necks that feel like you've owned them forever. The company uses ethical business practices and has an eco-friendly line as well. While it is not exactly cheap (a plain V-neck can set you back up to $40), the t-shirts can be found for much lower prices at off price stores such as Loehmann's, department store sales racks and even on Amazon. I've seen them at Loehmann's, Nordstrom and Amazon for $10-$20. I have two Alternative Apparel V-necks that are a year old, both heavily worn, that still look as great as the day I bought them. They're sheer but not vulgar and they hug my curves where I want them to while draping softly over the rest of me. The V is perfect- low enough to be alluring but not so low that you have to constantly worry about exposing yourself. The one real drawback for me is that they are 50% rayon and 50% polyester and I prefer cotton. Still, I've never had issues with the shirts causing excess sweat like polyester usually does, so I can't complain.

What is your favorite t-shirt brand? Must-have qualities for the perfect t-shirt? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,

Simone

Tsunami: How You Can Help

2011-03-11T08:05:00.000-08:00

I had intended on finishing a few posts today but it just doesn't feel right without acknowledging what's going on in the world today. I just wanted to send my thoughts to any of my readers who may be affected by the tsunami in Japan or on the West Coast. Stay safe!

Also, please please please donate to the Red Cross. Even if you can only afford the minimum donation of $10, your donation will really help the disaster relief efforts.

Another way to help is to spread the word about Google's Japan Person Finder tool that helps victims and families locate one another.

Please do your part to help! And so you guys know that I am practicing what I preach, I donated $10 (all I could afford at this time) to the Red Cross and have been reminding people to donate and spread the word about Person Finder on Facebook and Twitter.

xoxo,

Simone

Milan Fashion Week Favorites

2011-03-08T13:16:00.000-08:00

For some reason, Milan is always my least favorite fashion week, especially since London Fashion Week has been taken more seriously over the past several seasons. To me, Milan just sort of gets lost between all the others, perhaps because none of my all-time favorite designers show there. As such, I only truly enjoyed three of the Milan shows.

Gianfranco Ferré:

At Gianfranco Ferré, the theme was minimalism- streamlined and close-fitting but not tight silhouettes in black, white, camel and heather gray with pops of deep violet here and there. Sculptural coats, t-shirts and dresses of chopped up and reassembled silk and sexy pencil skirts, though simple, were anything but boring. Overall, it was perfect for a busy, no-nonsense woman who loves fashion and needs a sensible yet stylish wardrobe to accommodate her no-fuss lifestyle.

Gucci:

Drawing inspiration from Anjelica Houston and Florence Welch, Gucci's 70's-inspired collection was all about luxury. Fur, leather, python and suede in glorious teal, royal purple and deep burgundy were used liberally and while the collection was a bit over-the-top, the looks were elegant and not at all gaudy. Gucci also exhibited one of the season's best uses of colorblocking. While many collections incorporated the trend, some did so in a way that looked more like a toddler choosing her own clothes for the first time than a sophisticated woman taking a fashion risk. Not so at Gucci, thanks to a grown up color palette of jewel tones.

Trussardi 1911:

Trussardi this season was the ultimate in cool girl chic. The clothes, in a palette of black, camel, ivory and red, were luxe yet completely easy to wear. Casual shift dresses in buttery leather, airy sheer blouses and oversized coats were some of the collection's high points. Even the fur skirts and leather leggings- pieces that could come off as overworked and heavy- seemed carefree and wearable. The label recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, but the F/W 2011 looked anything but old.

What were your favorites from Milan? My Paris update probably won't come until next week. My move is only SEVEN days away now and things are sooo hectic!

xoxo,

Simone

*images via Style.com

London Fashion Week Favorites

2011-03-08T07:56:00.000-08:00

I actually liked a lot of the collections in London, but I am way pressed for time these days so here were three collections that really stood out to me.

Erdem:

Erdem's F/W 2011 collection was a far cry from S/S 2011. While the label stayed true to its roots of creating expertly constructed, undeniably gorgeous ensembles, its fall collection exhibited the label's darker side. While the spring collection was filled with bright, springy florals and ladylike lace, fall had a dark palate of abstract tweed and floral prints with a liberal sprinkling of black. Even the lacy numbers from the collection are anything but sweet; the almost see-through frocks showcase the Erdem woman's naughtier side.

Issa:

Issa has been a household name since the media frenzy surrounding the Prince William/Kate Middleton wearing and the designer certainly lives up to the hype. In the fall collections, designers often shun color in favor of neutrals (easier to pull together a cold weather outfit of neutrals when the last thing you want to do is leave your cozy bed, perhaps?), so Issa's juicy shades of tangerine, teal and cobalt were a welcome sight. With the bold graphic patterns and easy silhouettes, the collection had a 70s vibe without seeming costumey or contrived.

Temperley London:

The Temperley London woman is every bit a proper lady, which is not to say that she is boring! Demure hemlines, frilly dresses and ruffled collars were mixed with gorgeous gowns, heaps of cable knit and just enough sheer details and thigh high leather boots to bring a wonderful off-kilter sexiness to the collection. While I often find that Temperley London is a tad too girly for my taste, the F/W '11 collection's hint of Tim Burton-style quirk provided the label with a much-needed edge. In fact, I could definitely Helena Bonham Carter, who I am completely obsessed with, donning several of the pieces... when she's not busy wearing Vivienne Westwood's kooky creations!

What were your favorites from London?

xoxo,

Simone

*images via Style.com

New York Fashion Week Favorites Pt. III

2011-02-23T22:28:00.000-08:00

Prabal Gurung:

Prabal Gurung's fall collection was unabashedly feminine- think full-skirted frocks, flirty little sweaters, sheer sequined blouses and silhouettes meant to emphasize a woman's assets. The collection is saved from being too saccharine by a grown-up palate of red, white and black with touches of hot pink, purple and the lightest blush. Leather accents give the collection a slight femme fatale vibe and sassy little knit sweaters and pencil skirts prove that you can bundle up and be sexy.

Steven Alan:

This season, hipster favorite Steven Alan was equal parts free-spirited and academic chic. Floor-sweeping dresses and skirts in florals and stripes were paired with structured, woolly blazers, floppy hats and grungy boots. Kicky skirts, sharp yet relaxed trousers and khaki utility jackets were thrown into the mix, creating a collection that any Williamsburg-dwelling, oversized glasses-wearing vegan girl with fringe bangs and an impressive record collection would kill to own. That said, the collection is polished enough to have a more universal appeal. The men's looks were well-executed and a joy to look at so while I don't usually cover men's fashion, I included my favorite menswear outfits.

Suno:

I already wrote about Suno here, so all I am going to say is that Max Osterweis for Suno is becoming not just one of my favorite up-and-coming designers but one of my all-time favorite designers. I love how he takes his inspiration from all across the globe and how he isn't afraid to mix colors, textures and patterns.

Well, that's it for New York Fashion Week. If I could sum it all up in one word, it would be contrast. Hard and soft. Masculine and feminine. Polished and undone. Contrasting prints and patterns and colors. I think that all the different dualities present at New York Fashion Week were fascinating and definitely something I am looking forward to incorporating into my fall wardrobe. I'm also loving the return of the cinched waist. Up next: London, Milan and Paris!

xoxo,

Simone

New York Fashion Week Favorites Pt. II

2011-02-20T22:06:00.000-08:00

Milly:

At the Milly by Michelle Smith show, contrast was the name of the game. The collection started with looks that contained free-spirited bohemian pieces paired with structured classics. Frilly dresses, both solid and printed, fluttered underneath basic- but not boring- blazers and wool coats while flowy skirts and 70s-style floppy hats were given a polished edge with the addition of preppy cardigans. From the structure vs. soft looks, the collection shifted to one of the season's best uses of color blocking. The show finished strong with some beautiful separates.

Naeem Khan:

Refined opulence was the MO at Naeem Khan. Gowns and cocktail dresses ranged from bold printed silks reminiscent of Turkish rugs to Oscar-worthy showstoppers dripping in sequins and sprinkled with feathers. Conservative(ish) hemlines and necklines kept the gorgeous creations sophisticated. The collection was glamorous, to be sure, but it was a more accessible type of glamour than say, something off the haute couture runways in Paris. For all the glitz the gowns boast, they're all completely wearable.

Oscar de la Renta:

I was actually really surprised that Oscar de la Renta ended up being one of my favorite shows this season. Even though Mr. de la Renta's gowns are always flawless, I feel like they tend to be on the safe side. This collection had that signature Oscar de la Renta splendor, but it also proved that the seasoned designer can do fresh and fun just as well as the breakout rookie designers.

My third and final section of reviews is coming soon. Stay tuned!

xoxo,

Simone

*images via New York Magazine

New York Fashion Week Favorites Pt. I

2011-02-19T14:00:00.000-08:00

The shows in New York this season were somewhat of a disappointment to me. Though I liked lots of individual looks, as a whole, many of the collections fell flat. Even some of my usual favorites like Michael Kors, Alexander Wang, Carolina Herrera and Erin Fetherston failed to pique my interest. I think that since so many of my favorite designers had such standout collections for S/S 2011, F/W 2011 left me feeling underwhelmed. Nevertheless, there were a few standout collections.

ADAM by Adam Lippes:

ADAM by Adam Lippes' collection this season was amazing and not just because of his subtle take on Native American prints; not long before his show, the South American workshop where his knitwear is produced burnt down, taking much of the collection with it. Instead of giving up, Adam Lippes found a local knitting group to remake the pieces. Now that's dedication! Overall, the collection emphasized classic tailored pieces such as pencil skirts and slim trousers paired with chunky knits and frothy, lacy blouses. Sheer detailing and wispy, printed dresses were also a highlight.

Donna Karan:

This season, Donna Karan proved that neutral separates can be anything but boring. The designer presented layered separates in various shades and of gray and camel. Texture was one of the collection's strong points- heavy furs and wool blends provided a nice contrast to floaty silks and chiffons. The collection was sensible- think pencil skirts and suiting jackets- but incredibly luxe and sexy with the addition of furs, elbow length gloves and just a hint of sparkle. After several seasons of oversized everything, Donna Karan's emphasis on the waist was a welcome sight.

Jason Wu:

Like Adam Lippes and Donna Karan, Jason Wu's collection was mostly tailored separates. Looks ranged between menswear-inspired trouser and blazer ensembles to ultra-feminine full-skirted frocks. The collection's palate was black and white with pops of jewel tones and unexpected details like lace on sweater and coat sleeves. Some have criticized the collection for being devoid of any sex appeal, but I disagree. Wu's collection has an undeniable "blink and it's gone" sexiness- a sheer blouse, a cinched waist, bare shoulders. It's the sort of sexiness of a woman who knows that sex appeal is all about attitude and not how much skin you show.

What did you think of these collections? What were your favorites? Let me know, I'd love to hear your guys' input!

xoxo,

Simone

*images via New York Magazine and Style.com

Boring Outfit + Suno Review on IFB!

2011-02-17T21:32:00.000-08:00

Ever have one of those weeks where you're completely uninspired style-wise and you end up wearing some variation on the same outfit every day? That was me this week. I managed to make it out several times this week- to Williamsburg on an unseasonably warm day, to dinner and drinks with a friend and to Lincoln Center today to enjoy a little people watching- but I left a lot of my clothes back home and am completely tired of everything I own.

Anyway, this was the outfit I wore to grab coffee and do a little window shopping in Williamsburg on Valentine's Day:

{dress and sweater- Old Navy, leggings- Target, scarf- Free People, necklace- boutique in Paris' Marais neighborhood}

Worn with my trusty Frye harness boots and these rings... even though I didn't have a valentine this year, I got into the Valentine's Day spirit with a heart ring:

{onyx ring- vendor on Portobello Road in London, heart ring- vendor near Parc Guell in Barcelona; both are handmade... I LOVE handmade jewelry}

Apologies for the quality of the pictures... I changed some setting on my camera and now it's all wonky. Hopefully, I can figure it out and fix it soon!

Now, on to more exciting things...

My review of the Suno F/W 2011 show was posted on IFB as part of their Fashion Week Insider series. You can check it out here. Thanks to IFB for posting it! Suno is quickly becoming one of my favorite designers.

I am still checking out the shows from NYFW, but you can expect a few posts on my favorites soon!

xoxo,

Simone

Livestream Fashion Week!

2011-02-12T12:34:00.000-08:00

Want to catch your favorite fashion shows as they happen but didn't get any invites to Fashion Week? Lucky for us, more and more designers are starting to stream their shows live. Now, you don't have to be a fashion editor or a famous blogger to enjoy all the splendor of fashion week. Nothing beats front row seats (I once accidentally sat VIP at Y-3 when I was volunteering... long story), but there's something to be said for being able to watch the show from the comfort of your own home. Sure, you could scroll through the show photos on Style.com, but livestreaming allows you to see how the clothes move, hear the music and cuts out the time you have to wait between when the show happens and when photos are posted. New York Magazine has composed a handy guide for all the shows that will be available to watch online. We're already a few days in, but there are plenty of great shows still to come!

xoxo,

Simone

IFB Evolving Influence Conference

2011-02-12T10:04:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, I spent the day streaming IFB's Evolving Influence Conference. Despite the technical difficulties IFB had with the livestream, I learned so much and really appreciated the chance to connect with other fashion bloggers on Twitter to chat about what was being said. My favorite speaker by far was Liberty London Girl. She is so wise about both the fashion industry and blogging and offered some really useful advice, even for beginner bloggers like me.

For those of you who were unable to attend and unable to stream the event, here are my favorite pieces of advice from the event:

-Keep your content fresh. People get bored if they come to your page and see the same thing too many days in a row. Post at least 5 times per week. (I totally need to work on this)

-Blog because you like it, not because you want to make money. If you do manage to make money from your blog, don't change the content because you're making money. Stay true to yourself.

-Have a media kit with which you can approach brands. When approaching brands, know your audience and know the brand.

-This one seems obvious, but... Your blog has to look good. It should be clear what your blog is about, the design should be aesthetically pleasing and the page should be relatively uncluttered. If you can, invest a little money to have a professional do a design for your blog.

-When working with brands, be selective. Work with brands that are true to your style and what your blog is about. If you're running a fashion blog, don't work with say, a food brand just because they reach out to you. You don't want to become a shill blogger.

-If you want to attract advertisers, keep it clean! Don't drop F-bombs every other sentence or talk about how you got really wasted and don't know whose bed you woke up in on Saturday morning.

-Keep your sponsorships transparent and credible. Always disclose any partnerships, advertisers and be sure to note when something you're wearing or a product you're reviewing was gifted to you.

-Don't be afraid to reach out to brands instead of waiting for them to come to you, even if you don't have a large following. Think of other reasons your blog could be attractive to sponsors and stress those. Engagement, point of view and reader engagement are just as important as numbers. Contact a brand that you want to work with 4 times over the course of 6 months. Never ask for money when approaching brands.

-As a blogger, you have to remember that you are your brand. Stay true to what you want your brand to be on your blog and any outlet (such as Facebook or Twitter) that you use to promote yourself.

-Don't sell ads, sell engagement.

-Asking a brand for sponsorship via Twitter is unprofessional and tacky. Reaching out via Twitter can be a good first step, but never talk business over Twitter.

For example:

Good: "Hey @brand, I love your [product]. Just bought one for myself. Can't wait to wear it!" followed up by an email to the brand about working together.

Bad: "Hey @brand, love your [product]. How about sponsoring me for July?"

-Maintain editorial control of your content. Don't change your voice or content just because a brand is sponsoring you or sending you a product to style or review.

-Advice for brands: If you're reaching out to bloggers, understand blogging, understand the industry that the bloggers work in and understand each blogger you're contacting.

-Know your blog's worth.

-Use analytic tools to track your site's traffic. There are tons of free ones such as Google Analytics and Get Clicky.

-Be realistic about your expectations for blogging. It's good to have goals, even lofty ones, just understand that blogging is not an incredibly lucrative career. (Personally, I say blog because you enjoy it and if you happen to make a little money off of it, that's an added bonus)

I'd love to know your guys' thoughts! As for me, I will definitely be making the trip to NYC in September to attend the IFB conference. Being able to stream it was great, but next time, I definitely want to be there.

xoxo,

Simone

*Image via IFB

PS: To stay up-to-date with my blog, follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook or follow me via BlogLovin'!

Blogger Meet-up at the Ace Hotel

2011-02-11T11:05:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday night, I attended a blogger meet-up at the Ace Hotel. I was initially a little reluctant to go since I had had a long day and it was like 27 degrees out, but I am so glad I did! I got to meet new bloggers, see some familiar faces and enjoy a drink in a cozy yet glamorous setting.

{The scene at the Ace Hotel... should've put my flash on for this}

Some of the bloggers in attendance were:

Vahni of Grit and Glamour

Erika of StyleActivist

Meredith and Lindsay of Cubicle Chic

Christina of Profresh Style

Lynzy of Sparkling Footsteps

Ashley of Ashley4eMergy

Nina of the Style Glossary

I met so many people Wednesday night, so if I forgot to include you, drop me a line in the comments and I'll add you to the list!

{With Lindsay of Cubicle Chic and Ashley of Ashley4eMergy}

{With Lindsay and Meredith of Cubicle Chic}

All in all, it was a splendid evening. It is always so inspiring to hear what other bloggers are up to and to get to share what you're doing. Big thanks to Erika and Lynzy for organizing and hosting the event!

xoxo,

Simone

PS: Did anyone attend or stream the IFB Evolving Influence Conference yesterday? I streamed pretty much the entire conference and will type up a post of my favorite topics of discussion and advice soon!

PPS: I forgot to take a full outfit photo of what I wore that night, but I will do so this weekend! It's actually an outfit I transitioned from day to night, so I'll do a post on that.

Alexander McQueen

2011-02-11T04:00:00.000-08:00

Alexander McQueen died 1 year ago today. I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news. I was on my semester abroad in Paris and classes were done for the day, so I had visited my favorite used bookstore and then walked over to my favorite boulangerie to enjoy a coffee and a pastry and use the free WiFi. I didn't have internet in my apartment at the time and had to have the data on my phone turned off, so by the time I heard about it, the internet was ablaze with the news that McQueen had died. I remember signing into Google Chat and the first thing my mom said was "Alexander McQueen died today." A quick scan of all my favorite fashion sites confirmed it- one of the most gifted and innovative designers of our time was gone.

{Fall/Winter 2010- the last collection McQueen worked on}

Alexander McQueen was a rare talent in the fashion world. His clothes brought a theatricality and couture sensibility to the ready-to-wear runways and helped to put London on the map as a "serious" fashion city. He is missed, but I also think that Sarah Burton has risen to the challenge of filling McQueen's shoes. In her Spring/Summer 2011, the first collection created entirely on her own, she maintained that signature McQueen edge but added a softer touch. The collection is at once both ethereal, with cascading ruffles and sheer fabrics, and earthy with floral detailing, feathers and even hand-woven wheat.

{Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2011- Sarah Burton's first solo collection}

R.I.P. Alexander McQueen (March 17th, 1969- February 11th, 2010)

{Fall/Winter 2008- One of my favorite Alexander McQueen collections}

xoxo,

Simone

*images via New York Magazine

Olive

2011-02-02T12:57:00.000-08:00

The day after I left California for New York, my family brought home a new puppy. She is a purebred 5-month-old West Highland White Terrier, named Olive by my brother. We had been looking for a second dog to keep our 11-year-old Westie, Lacey, company for some time now and we finally found the perfect little pup to join our family.

{baby Olive}

I only have low-quality screenshots of her now (yes, I Skype with my doggies, too), but once I am home, I'll be sure to take some better photos. I can't wait to meet her! According to my mom, she and Lacey are still figuring each other out, but they do love to play together. When Olive is full grown, she will look very similar to Lacey.

{Lacey}

We did look at some other breeds of dogs, but Westies are the perfect breed for our lifestyle. You could say we are a little Westie-obsessed! They're sassy but sweet, don't shed or trigger allergies and usually weigh around 18-21 pounds. They're certainly much more high-maintenance than say, a golden retriever, but they are so much fun. For more information about the breed, click here.

The AKC website I linked to above also has important information about getting your Westie (or any dog) from a reputable breeder or a rescue. We bought Lacey from a reputable AKC-registered breeder while Olive was adopted from a family who could no longer keep her. When getting a pet, remember to do your research. Avoid pet stores (who get their dogs from puppy mills) and backyard breeders who breed only for profit. Of course, you can give an adorable mutt or even a purebred a second chance at life by adopting from a local shelter. Check Petfinder to see available rescues in your area. If you are set on a specific breed, go through a breed-specific rescue, a reputable breeder or a family who can no longer keep their pet. No matter which you get your new companion from, make sure to ask many questions to make sure that the pet you get will be healthy, good-tempered and exactly what you're looking for.

xoxo,

Simone

Snow Daze

2011-01-30T22:05:00.000-08:00

For my first few days back in New York, the scene outside my apartment looked something like this:

Even though my neighborhood was relatively quick in clearing the snow off of the sidewalks, they remained icy and treacherous. While some people may be content to spend days at a time holed up in their apartments, I started to go a little crazy after two days. On Saturday, I braved the snowdrifts and melty gray slush to meet a friend at Chelsea Market. As the temperatures continued to drop outside, we stayed nice and warm while window shopping and indulging in treats from Amy's Bread. We did decide to brave the cold to explore the High Line and the spectacular views were worth almost getting frostbite.

{The High Line, covered in snow}

{Cattails poking through the snow}

{There were so many elaborate snow sculptures. This dragon-like one was my favorite.}

{the Meatpacking District}

{My cupcake from Amy's Bread. How cute are the little silver sprinkles?}

While I know that I am definitely ready to move to San Francisco, these past few days have made me realize that I will miss New York more than I thought. My remaining time here will be spent soaking up as much of the city as possible.

xoxo,

Simone

Tiny Bubbles

2011-01-28T18:07:00.000-08:00

Due to my time in Paris where wine with your dinner is practically a requirement, I have become quite the wine aficionado. While I sometimes do appreciate an expensive bottle of wine (thanks Mom), there is nothing I like more than finding a great wine at a great price. This brut rose pinot noir from Cupcake Vineyard was a surprisingly delicious and inexpensive find. Admittedly, I didn't have high hopes for it, but it more than surpassed my expectations. Made in France, the pretty pink sparkling wine is fruity and light, but not overly so. Priced at less than $15, it's perfect for parties, low-key celebrations and girls' nights.

By the way, did you know that only sparkling wines from the Champagne region of France can truly be called champagne? Everything else is classified as sparkling wine. Regardless, a little bubbly is fun once in a while. This time, my family and I were celebrating me being an official college graduate! The ceremony is not until May, but the date on my degree will be January 24th, 2011.

xoxo,

Simone

PS: Please drink responsibly and if you live in an area without public transportation, always always always have a designated driver!

More Changes!

2011-01-28T14:22:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!

I am back in NYC now and dealing with a ton of icky snow, so I thought what better time to continue to improve my blog?

Here are some features I have added:

1. Disqus comments- I've been thinking about adding Disqus comments to my blog for a while now. I wasn't sure how well it would work on Blogger though; I have only really seen the feature on blogs hosted on Tumblr and WordPress. When I saw that Marie of So What If I Like Pretty Things had added Disqus to her Blogger-hosted blog, I decided to go for it. I think that it allows more people to comment easily and it will allow me to reply to you guys!

2. Formspring- I also decided to set up a Formspring account so if you have any questions for me, you can ask them by submitting to the Formspring box on the left. If you have a question that requires a longer answer, click the "contact" tab at the top of my blog.

3. Search- I don't have very many posts yet, but this feature will definitely come in handy in the future!

4. Facebook- I've created a Facebook fan page. If you read my blog regularly, this will be a great way to get updates.

I hope you guys enjoy the new site updates!

xoxo,

Simone

Surrounded in Cashmere

2011-01-22T08:46:00.000-08:00

The weather in California has been beautiful for the past few days, though I almost wish it were colder so I would have more of an opportunity to wear my new cashmere cardigan. Even though winter can be dreary and layering repetitive, I am not quite ready to pack away my sweaters and boots in favor of sundresses and sandals just yet. Still, after hearing about all the bad weather the East Coast is getting, I certainly feel fortunate that I am here and not back in New York yet.

Despite the unseasonably warm weather, I decided to don my new cardigan and a cashmere scarf to run errands the other day. I got a little warm, but the cardigan is the softest piece in my wardrobe and totally worth being a little overheated for.

{Cardigan- Aqua, Tunic- Old Navy, Leggings- Target, Boots- Frye, Scarf- Nordstrom, Watch- La Mer}

I'm off to start my weekend with a trip to the Ferry Building farmer's market. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend as well!

xoxo,

Simone

New Year, New Hair

2011-01-21T10:58:00.000-08:00

I've changed my hair more times than I can count; It's been at least two dozen different shades of red, bleached blonde (only for two days), black, long, short, shoulder length and with various styles of bangs. Sometimes I just get bored with my look and need a mini-makeover. As you may have noticed from my last post, I recently cut my hair short again. I did this the week after New Year's and for me, the change symbolizes all the changes going on in my life- graduating college, searching for a job and moving back to San Francisco. It has made my thick, wavy hair easier to manage and the shorter length is super-chic.

{my new 'do}

Of course, I've had my fair share of hair mistakes as well. I have ended up with mac-n-cheese orange hair, boy hair and perhaps worst of all, dark brown hair with pink roots the day before school started. These past hair blunders have made me cautious about the hairdressers I see and the colors I dye my hair.

If you're nervous about making changes to your hair, here are my tips on how to get the results you want:

1. If you are looking for a new salon or stylist, ask around. While sites like Yelp can be helpful, it is hard to judge a salon or stylist without seeing their work. Not to mention, someone else's standards of a good haircut may be different from your own, and you never know who is really behind those positive reviews. Next time your stylish coworker, friend, classmate, favorite blogger or family member debuts a stylish new 'do, ask where s/he got it done.

2. Bring a picture to your stylist. This can be a picture of a celebrity, model or even one of your past hairstyles. I say this because no matter how well you describe what you want or how good your stylist is, your definition of "choppy layers" may be different from your stylist's and you may end up getting something completely different from what you expected. Don't be afraid to combine elements from different hairstyles that you like (ie: I want the layers and length in this photo with the bangs in this other photo).

3. Don't be afraid of hair color from a box! As a faux redhead, I have never been able to achieve the right shade of red at a salon; I've always had to use box hair color to get the color I want. Fortunately, at-home hair color is much cheaper and while it can take a few tries to get a hang of the application process, it's very easy. Just make sure to follow directions exactly! My favorite brand of at-home hair dye is Feria by L'Oreal. Feria is available in a variety of shades, each with built in highlights so color is always saturated and beautiful. My second favorite is Garnier Nutrisse because the colors come out very true to what is displayed on the box. One thing to note is that often, excess dye stays in the hair for a few washings, so it can take a few days for your hair to be the right color.

4. Be fearless. Remember, it's just hair and it grows back! Don't shy away from a new look just because you're afraid of how it may come out.

Happy hair styling!

xoxo,

Simone

City Weekend

2011-01-17T22:28:00.000-08:00

While it's always nice to escape for a long weekend, I think that a packed weekend at home can be just as fulfilling. Mine was filled with shopping for plants for my parents' garden, trying hundreds of morsels at the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, an epic wine-buying spree in Beverages and More and a few hours spent scanning the last of Bloomingdales' post-Christmas sale for hidden gems. Undoubtedly, the highlight of my weekend was the Fancy Food Show where thousands of food producers and vendors from all over the world congregate to showcase their goods. From artisan French chocolates to smoky cured meats to fragrant teas, there were so many delightful and surprising things to try! My favorites were a smoked bacon peanut brittle, aged mimolette cheese from France and lemon verbena geranium water. I even had the chance to reconnect with some of my coworkers from my summer job, which was at a commercial bakery (I did their social media).

The event was long and involved many hours on my feet, so I wanted an outfit that would be comfortable but chic. I decided to go with mixed neutrals and a pop of color from my ruby red flats:

{top- Caslon, skirt- Gap, tights- Target, shoes- Enzo Angiolini}

{these shoes have served me well over the past few years, but they've ripped in several places so I unfortunately have to retire them}

{my jewelry for the day: watch- La Mer, ring- vendor on Portobello Road in London, necklace- borrowed from my mom and purchased at a boutique in Paris}

{flecks of red in the glass beads played off the red in my flats}

{photos were not really allowed at the event, but I was able to snap a picture of this Mona Lisa made entirely out of jelly beans}

{one of the goodies I got from the show- a maple bacon lollipop, aptly called the "Man Bait"}

Today, my mom and I made a quick trip to Bloomingdales today to take advantage of the last of their heavily-discounted sale stock. I came away with two pairs of sassy Sam Edelman flats and a cozy Aqua cashmere cardigan, all heavily discounted, and my mom got a gorgeous All Saints sweater for a mere fraction of its original price. Hopefully she'll let me photograph her in it for this blog! As per my New Year's resolutions, I have been trying to work more color into my outfits. This electric blue t-shirt is a small step, but I love the way it brightened up my outfit:

{tee- Old Navy, skirt- LOFT, jacket- Anthropologie, tights- Target, shoes- Lacoste, scarf- Nordstrom, ring- Portobello Road in London}

{I love throwing big cashmere scarves over just about any cold weather outfit- cozy and carefree-chic!}

{What's in the medium brown bag?}

{I loved these quilted, studded flats so much I ordered them in leopard from another store as well}

{this charcoal gray and forest green striped cardigan is chic and functional- the perfect wardrobe staple}

{primroses and ornamental cabbages for the garden}

{these pink-tinged primroses fill me with joy each time I see them}

I hope you guys enjoyed your long weekend as much as I enjoyed mine! I have some fun features planned for this week, so be sure to check back in soon.

xoxo,

Simone

Tagine Cooking

2011-01-11T23:44:00.000-08:00

Hello Lovelies!

First of all, I want to give a big thanks to all my new readers! I hope that everyone is enjoying the new year so far. As for me, I was supposed to go back to NYC today, but due to some bad weather, I will be in the Bay Area until the 25th. I actually couldn't be happier about it because it gives me more time to apply for jobs here and work out the logistics of my move... and of course, more time to spend with my family!

Anyway, I thought I would try something different and post about food today.

I first became acquainted with Moroccan food and culture when I was studying abroad in France. There is a large Moroccan population (as well as other North African coutnries) and the influence these cultures have on French culture is undeniable. At the markets, merchants sell pottery, scarves and jewelry from the region, restaurants serving up North African cuisine are abundant and there is even a mosque in the 5th arrondissement that not only serves the local Muslim population but has a cafe, shop and restaurant open to non-Muslim locals and tourists. Prior to my trip, I was familiar with couscous and Moroccan mint tea, but it was during my time abroad that I learned about tagines.

The word tagine describes both the dish and the pot used to cook the meal. Tagine dishes are slow-cooked stews made of meats, vegetables and spices. The cone-shaped top of the tagine allows condensation to return to the bottom of the pot, giving food cooked in the tagine a full, concentrated flavor and exquisite tenderness. Tagines are traditionally made from clay that is then covered in a glaze, but several high-end cookware manufacturers such as Le Creuset, Emile Henry and Staub make enameled cast iron versions.

On New Year's eve, my family and I dined at a Moroccan restaurant in San Francisco where I had a tagine of chicken, lemons and olives that was so good that I wanted to recreate it at home this past Sunday. There was just one problem- my family did not own a tagine! Off we went to Sur La Table, Williams-Sonoma and the Le Creuset store to pick out a tagine. Although we looked at both cast iron and clay tagines, my parents ended up choosing a cast iron one from Le Creuset because you really can't beat Le Creuset in terms of quality or looks. We also bought a book of tagine recipes.

That night, I made the cookbook's version of the chicken tagine with lemons and olives and it was every bit as good as the restaurant's. The great thing about tagines is that once you've done all the prep work, the tagine does the rest for you. The cooking process is lengthy, but it's not so bad since you don't have to spend all your time over a hot stove. A similar recipe to the one I made can be found here. The recipe calls for preserved lemons, which are difficult to find in grocery stores and cost a fortune. It's much cheaper and easier to make your own. A recipe for that can be found here. Another great thing about tagine cooking is that the recipes are all fairly healthy but don't skimp on flavor at all.

{Marinating the chicken}

{Chopping preserved lemons}

{Browning the chicken legs}

{The final product- so delicious!}

I hope you all enjoyed my first cooking post! In the future, I am trying to include more posts about beauty, cooking, home decor, etc. Feel free to let me know if there's anything you'd like to see on Bonjour Simone.

xoxo,

Simone

PS: I've made some changes to my blog! I've added pages so that the frontpage is less cluttered and I am playing around with the layout so I can make my pictures bigger. Sorry if it's a little glitchy over the next day or so.

Banana Republic Spring 2011

2011-01-04T23:03:00.000-08:00

I'll admit that I have never been the biggest fan of Banana Republic... not even when I worked there. It is a great store for young women building a professional wardrobe and for basics, but it never excited me the way its competitors like Anthropologie and J. Crew do. Even Ann Taylor LOFT has had more pizazz lately. When I was in Southern California last week, my family and I popped into the Banana Republic at the Grove and I was pleasantly surprised by their spring arrivals. Gone were the boring trenches, basic solid colored jersey dresses and uninspired blouses. In their place were lighter-than-air dresses, tops adorned with flourishes of chiffon, flirty skirts, chic-yet-sensible shoes and sparkly extras. Above are some of my favorite pieces, but I encourage you to check out the entire collection on Banana Republic's website.

xoxo,

Simone

*Images are from the Banana Republic website, which I linked to above.

Time Warp

2011-01-03T22:33:00.000-08:00

My wonderful family got me some very lovely Christmas gifts this year, but one of my absolute favorites is a gorgeous La Mer Watch. I had been coveting this watch for months, so you can imagine my excitement when I opened the gift.

{What's in the box?}

{A La Mer wrap watch, of course!}

All of La Mer's leather wrap watches are hand assembled, so you know that you're getting a quality product. They're a fun departure from the oversized menswear style watches that are everywhere these days, too. I love how the tiny gold studs make the watch a little edgy while the tan and brown leather add the right dose of classic chicness.

Nearly every La Mer watch is under $150 and some are even under $100- a bargain for such special timepieces. To see the full La Mer collection, go here.

What was your favorite Christmas gift this year?

xoxo,

Simone

My New Year's Resolutions

2011-01-01T13:53:00.000-08:00

I did not post my resolutions yesterday because I was still trying to soak up the last of 2010. As I mentioned in my last post, 2010 was a great year for me and I wanted to enjoy every last minute. Now that it's officially 2011, I am ready to think about my goals for the next year.

My New Year's Resolutions for 2011:

1. Diversify my wardrobe- When I was packing to come home, the contents of my suitcase looked like I was headed to a funeral! Nearly everything in my wardrobe is black, grey or navy. This year, I plan to branch out more not only with the colors I wear, but also fabrics, shapes and types of clothing. Depending on the job I get, I may have to build a work wardrobe as well.

2. Be more active- I was constantly doing work this past semester, which left me with almost no time to get out and move around. Whether it's a pilates workout or a quick jog, this year I vow to lead a more active lifestyle.

3. Cook more- I love cooking and I love to eat healthy, homemade meals. Before I return to New York, I am going to photocopy recipes from my family's extensive cookbook collection so that I can make more than just pasta.

4. Find a job- This is the goal that I am currently focusing on the most. I am done with school and will officially graduate on January 24th, so it is time to enter the so-called "real world". While many of my December/January graduate peers are bummed out about it, I cannot wait to finally start building a life.

5. Continue to improve this blog... and update more frequently. I also want to diversify the content and do more product reviews, tutorials and other things that might be of service to you guys.

What are your New Year's resolutions?

xoxo,

Simone

*Image via weheartit

2010: The Year in Pictures

2010-12-31T11:32:00.000-08:00

This year has been one of the most exciting years of my life so far. I spent the first five months of 2010 living in Paris, which was an absolute dream and quite possibly the highlight of my life thus far. I also started this blog, moved to an apartment in Brooklyn, landed my dream internship in the fashion features department at Harper's Bazaar, and completed my undergraduate degree! Along the way, I've made new friends and enjoyed the company of the old ones. I have gotten to spend a lot of time with my family, which is always a good thing. I feel very lucky to have been able to share the past several months with my readers and look forward to seeing how this blog develops in the next year!

Before I say goodbye to this year, though, here's a look back at what made it so great:

I hope everyone has a safe, festive and happy New Year's Eve! I'll be going to a Moroccan restaurant and improv show with my family. What about everyone else?

xoxo,

Simone

Southern California

2010-12-31T10:35:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my last post, my family was traveling on Christmas Day. We flew down to Southern California for a few days to visit with family and go to Disneyland! It was tons of fun, but I am glad to be back home now to celebrate the new year.

{Sleeping Beauty's castle, adorned in thousands of twinkling lights}

Disneyland was tons of fun. The park was still decked out in Christmas decorations, so it was almost like having Christmas all over again! For the first time in the 20ish years I've been going to Disneyland, my mom and I got stuck on Pirates of the Caribbean. By the time our "rescuers" arrived, we had been stuck on the ride for an hour! All I can say is that I definitely don't want to hear the Pirates theme song for a very long time. We got a front of the line pass for any ride we wanted, so it wasn't a total loss.

{It's A Small World also glittered with Christmas lights}

{A Santa hat for the clock face}

We entered the park right when it opened at 8 am and didn't leave till around 11:45 pm, so a comfortable outfit was a must. I went with this:

{Jacket- INC, Tunic- Old Navy, Leggings- Target, Shoes- Converse, Bag- All Saints, Scarf- Nordstrom}

On Wednesday, our final day in Southern California, we drove into LA to grab lunch at the Farmer's Market. It was crowded and rainy, so I didn't get many good pictures, unfortunately.

I wore:

{Shirt- Alternative Apparel, Skirt- Ann Taylor LOFT, Tights- Target, Watch- La Mer, Boots- Lucky Brand, Bag- All Saints, Glasses- Burberry}

xoxo,

Simone

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time!

2010-12-30T13:35:00.000-08:00

Christmas is without a doubt my favorite holiday (and time of the year) and this year was no exception. I had so much fun spending time with my family doing holiday activities like decorating the Christmas tree, throwing our annual holiday party, giving gifts and watching Christmas movies around the fire.

I would have posted this sooner, but we were traveling on Christmas Day this year, so Christmas was cut a little short.

These are two outfits I wore. The first was worn for some very last minute Christmas shopping and the second was worn for Christmas Eve:

{Shirtdress- Zara, Blazer- Anthropologie, Scarf- Free People, Leggings- Target, Socks- Target, Shoes- Lucky Brand, Bag- All Saints, puppy Lacey wears a fleece jacket by RC Pets}

I've been wearing these boots practically nonstop since I got them! They go with everything and are so comfortable.

{Dress- Old Navy, T-Shirt- Alternative Apparel, Tights- Target, Shoes- Lucky Brand, Ring- Portobello Road in London, Necklace- Boutique in Paris' 4th Arrondissement}

Here are some glimpses into what made this Christmas so wonderful:

{Warm winter boots from L.L. Bean... an early Christmas gift from my mom}

{A Christmas tree scented candle in our entryway}

{A plate of Christmas cookies}

{Lacey, fast asleep from all the Christmas festivities}

{Coca-cola in retro-chic glass bottles and my miniature Christmas tree}

{A festive red poinsettia plant to adorn the kitchen table}

{Stockings hung by the chimney with care}

{Sparkly ornaments and multicolored lights for the tree}

{Steaming hot spiced apple cider}

{Raindrops on tree branches... the closest the Bay Area will ever get to snow}

{Our Christmas tree}

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas! What was your favorite gift? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,

Simone

Oh, the Weather Outside Is Frightful...

2010-12-23T11:03:00.000-08:00

but the fire is so delightful!

One of the things I had been looking forward to upon coming home was nice weather. While the Bay Area is no where near as cold as New York, we've had pretty much nothing but gray skies and rain since I got home. Today is nice and sunny though, so I look forward to my last-minute Christmas errands.

On Tuesday, my mom and I went into to San Francisco to meet my stepdad for lunch (at Waterbar, which is delicious. I got the crab roll. Best food ever) and then do some holiday shopping for him and my brother. Thanks to the Bloomingdales' shoe department and Barneys' cosmetics section, however, we spent close to four hours shopping for ourselves! I came away with a new pair of motorcycle-style clog booties, a lipstick and a face cleanser. After I've used it for a while, I may do a product review on here.

Yesterday I discovered that the people at Barneys gave me the wrong lipstick (same brand, same color code, different product and color), so they're sending me the right one and I get to keep the old one at no additional cost. Thanks for the awesome customer service, Barneys!

I got to wear my new booties for a quick trip to Nordstrom Rack yesterday:

{Jacket- INC, Skirt- Ann Taylor LOFT, T-shirt- Alternative Apparel, Tights- Target, Socks- Target, Booties- Lucky Brand, Scarf- Free People, Gloves- Nordstrom}

I know I'm super late on this trend, but I LOVE clog boots. I was so excited to find this pair for a very discounted price. They are super easy to slip on, go with nearly everything and are comfortable, which is important when you walk everywhere like I do.

I hope that everyone's last-minute holiday shopping goes smoothly!

xoxo,

Simone

I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

2010-12-22T12:06:00.000-08:00

Being home has been so wonderful. Monday morning, I submitted my final assignment so I am now officially done with college.

We celebrated my mom's birthday on Sunday. I made breakfast for the family (eggs, Panettone french toast, leftover ham from our party, and clementines) and then set out to shop for my mom's birthday gift. I can be a major procrastinator sometimes.

That night, we went to dinner at a nice-ish Italian restaurant so even though I've spent most of my days home lounging in leggings, tunics and sweaters, I wanted to dress up a little:

{Top- Old Navy, Skirt- Gap, Necklace- Gap, Tights- Target, Boots- Frye}

This is the same navy skirt from my last post (not sure why it shows up as black in this photo). Even though some people call it a fashion don't, I love mixing neutrals. I think the key is to make sure it looks intentional.

Yesterday my mom and I had an epic shopping trip in San Francisco. I'll be sure to post my purchases soon!

I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays so far!

xoxo,

Simone

Comfort and Joy

2010-12-19T11:29:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm finally done with college and back in California to spend the holidays with my family! I am so glad to be home. I love New York, but it's nice to get away once in a while. I always forget how quiet it is here! Yesterday was our annual holiday party, so the first part of the day was spent scrambling to pick out and decorate our tree, get party food and wine and set everything up. Then we hosted guests from about 3 pm till 10:30 at night!

Such a long engagement called for an outfit that was comfortable, warm and festive:

{Top- Anthropologie, Skirt- Gap, Cardigan- Aqua, Boots- Frye, Bracelet- Handmade in Guerande, France, Ring- Portobello Road, London}

Today is my mom's birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I LOVE YOU!), so we're going out to dinner tonight. Gotta come up with another outfit for that!

xoxo,

Simone

It's Christmastime in the City

2010-12-07T20:10:00.000-08:00

Well, I am smack in the middle of finishing up several final projects. No exams for me, which sounds nice but basically just means that all my professors really pile it on in terms of projects. At least I got my internship portfolio over with... it was over 40 pages long!

Since I am anticipating another late night tonight, I have already planned tomorrow's outfit. It has been bitter cold in New York and with all the sleep I am missing, I just want to be as comfortable as possible. In general, I try not to do the whole leggings as pants thing, but this tunic covers my butt, so I think it's okay.

{Tunic- Old Navy, Sweater- Anthropologie, Leggings- Target, Boots- Frye}

Isn't the sweater great? It was a "just because" gift from my stepdad. It's 100% merino wool, so it's soft and even though it is lightweight, it is also quite warm. These photos don't show it well, but it's a rich teal color.

My trusty Frye boots! They are about 6 years old now and still look as good as the day I got them.

Despite all the work, I found time this weekend to meet a friend to do a little Christmas shopping. We went to the holiday market at Union Square and Chelsea Market. I got most of my Christmas shopping done; I hope my family likes their gifts! I even picked up a little something for myself:

I've been eyeing this Anthropologie cloche ever since I saw it in store about a month ago. I was all set to put it on my Christmas list when it sold out on the website. Lucky for me, it was not only available at the Chelsea Market Anthropologie, it was marked down from $48 to $20!

Despite how stressed out I have been, it was impossible not to get swept up in holiday cheer this weekend; every where you go, there's lights and Christmas decorations and the oft-unfriendly city seems warmer and friendlier.

Here are some shots I took while we were out:

These ornaments were so adorable. I was tempted to buy one, but my family already has so many.

This festive yet off-kilter branch and berry display reminds me of something Jack Skellington would include in his version of Christmas. It's Christmas-y, but a little eerie, no?

What would Christmas be without some pretty poinsettias?

Seeing the Chelsea Market halls adorned with thousands of glittering lights took my breath away.

Cardboard snowflakes hung from the ceilings, completing the winter wonderland aesthetic.

My friend and I had just snacked on some yummy baked goods from Amy's Bread, otherwise I would have been all over these holiday cookies at Eleni's. They are almost too pretty to eat!

So many Christmas treats!

I'm pretty sure this is what every kid dreams of for Christmas.

I love how they even incorporated candy into their Christmas tree.

Well, it's time for me to get back to work! I will try to update later this week.

xoxo,

Simone

Give thanks.

2010-12-01T22:01:00.000-08:00

So I am only about a week late on this post... oops. I was just having such a lovely time at home that I forgot to post and then I had some final projects due this week.

Thanksgiving is always a tricky holiday to dress for. Even on Thanksgivings when it's just me and my family around the dining room table, I never feel quite right eating in sweats or pajamas- too ordinary. At the same time, Thanksgiving is a holiday centered around food, so a comfortable ensemble is a must!

Luckily, I was able to find the perfect balance between comfort and style in this t-shirt dress and cashmere cardigan combo:

{Dress- Gap, Cardigan- Aqua, Belt- Banana Republic, Boots- Frye}

Because my mom, brother and stepdad are great cooks, I usually don't contribute much in terms of food (but I am awesome at setting the table), but this year, I made a pumpkin pie with candied walnuts and cranberry white chocolate shortbread cookies. They are pictured here with my mom's incredible cheesecake. One note on the pumpkin pie- I would recommend adding a little more sugar than the recipe calls for and make sure to chill it completely before serving!

The night ended with movies, pajamas, a roaring fire and food comas all around.

I had so much to be thankful for this year- my loving and supportive family, my sweet puppy, the wonderful education I was so fortunate to get, a beautiful apartment, friends who love me even when I am going crazy from school and work and job applications, and my wonderful readers, of course!

I hope all my American readers had a great Thanksgiving too! What did you guys do?

xoxo,

Simone

Jack Frost Nipping at Your Nose

2010-11-25T09:49:00.000-08:00

It's a little early for thoughts of Christmas, but that didn't stop my family and I from cranking up the Christmas carols (I love the Christmas station on Pandora) as we went about our Thanksgiving preparations yesterday. It was the perfect day for it, too, as the temperature outside hovered in the low 40s, for the most part. I was not expecting such chilly weather here in California!

Though I could have easily spent the day bumming around in sweats, something that is completely acceptable in my hometown, I wanted to look nice as I shopped for Thanksgiving groceries, went out for sushi with my mom and brother and picked up some Christmas items at Marshall's.

I wore:

{Dress- Max Studio, Jacket- INC, Scarf- Free People, Bag- Anthropologie, Sunglasses- Marc By Marc Jacobs, Boots- Frye}

You know how when the recession hit, editors at all the big fashion magazines were urging us to shop our closets? I never took their advice because I don't exactly have the closet of a fashion editor, but you know what? They were right. I had forgotten all about this dress until yesterday! I am so glad that I found it because it went perfectly with my boots and jacket. I love mixing neutrals like that.

It might have been a little too cold to go bare-legged. Luckily, I was mostly indoors so I didn't freeze!

These Frye boots are my absolute most favorite pair of shoes that I own. I got them for half off during Bloomingdales' Black Friday (don't worry, I only do Black Friday shopping online) sale a few years ago. They are the perfect mix of rugged and classic, making them just the thing to pair with dresses and skirts. I love their mid-height wooden heel and pre-distressed rich brown color.

Here are some snaps from throughout the day:

My brother and photographer for the day. After braving the madness that is Whole Foods the day before Thanksgiving, we treated ourselves to some frozen yogurt from Yogurtland.

My creation- candy cane yogurt with white chocolate chips, crushed Oreos and circus animal cookies. In case you're wondering, I learned my yogurt-swirling skills during a 3-day stint at Pinkberry in my freshman year of college. It was probably the second worst job I have ever had.

There were so many beautiful trees around! Definitely one of my favorite things about coming home over Thanksgiving.

My parents' Japanese maple has shed most of its leaves, leaving a bright red carpet over the soil.

Lacey has been so happy to have all her people back home.

The day ended with movies in front of the fire.

Well, I'd better get going... we decided to forgo a Costco pumpkin pie this year, so I have the task of baking a pie! Have a happy Thanksgiving, everyone! May your day be filled with love, joy and lots of yummy food!

xoxo,

Simone

Simone Says: L.L. Bean Boat and Tote

2010-11-21T07:41:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't done any outfit posts recently! I was having so much fun with my family when they were here and then the day after they left, I was sidelined by a cold. I still went to school and work, but I'm afraid my outfits were a little half-hearted since I would have rather been sipping tea and recuperating in bed, which is just what I did this weekend.

I wanted to try something new on Bonjour Simone- a little feature I like to call "Simone Says". Each week, I will dedicate one post to an item that I think has a lot of bang for its buck. Unless otherwise stated, each product is something that I have bought for myself. All items featured as part of Simone Says are items that I love; I will never endorse something that I do not stand behind or that does not reflect my style.

For my first post, I've chosen the classic L.L. Bean Boat and Tote:

{L.L. Bean Open-top Boat and Tote Bag, Red, Large, Long Handles}

What: L.L. Bean's Boat and Tote, $17.95 and up

Where: Available at llbean.com

Why: This tote is a simple but stylish classic. It's made from thick, sturdy canvas that is guaranteed to withstand heavy loads, wet weather and travel. No matter what you use it for, you can count on the Boat and Tote to last for years. With so many colors and customizations to choose from, you're sure to find one that fits your style. Each tote is made in Maine, so you're not only getting a quality product but also a more ethical one than say, that made-in-China tote you picked up at Target last year. For the ultimate in preppy chic, take advantage of L.L. Bean's $6 monogramming.

What else to know: This tote does not have any inside pockets, which can make finding things a hassle. You can get an outside pocket on the customizable Boat and Tote. L.L. Bean is offering free shipping through December 20th and a $10 giftcard with each purchase of $50 or more!

{Me with my Boat and Tote in my Paris apartment last January. This tote accompanied me on two weekend trips, countless market visits, to school four days per week and acted as my carry-on for the plane ride back to the States. It's still in great condition.}

xoxo,

Simone

Bloglovin'

2010-11-18T21:38:00.001-08:00

Follow my blog with bloglovin

Hey guys! If you want to keep up with my blog, follow me on Bloglovin!

Snake

2010-11-15T22:01:00.000-08:00

Hello lovelies! I don't have much of a post tonight since it was a very busy and not very good Monday. I did want to share the newest addition to my jewelry collection with you guys:

I have been searching for the perfect snake ring for some time now. I finally found one in this little Tibetan shop in Soho while hanging out with my parents this weekend. They were kind enough to purchase it for me. I love how well it complements my onyx ring without being too matchy-matchy and without being too over-the-top.

I did a pretty haphazard job of packing this weekend (I stayed in my family's hotel room with them and only had about half an hour to pack), so only one of my outfits was really blog-worthy. I promise I will do a post about it this week!

xoxo,

Simone

The 90s Called, They Want Their Dress Back...

2010-11-10T07:14:00.000-08:00

Growing up as a 90s girl, my favorite style icon was Clarissa Darling of Clarissa Explains It All. My high school years were (at least partially) defined by watching My So-Called Life reruns on the N. You would think that when everyone declared that the 90s were back, I would be overjoyed at the chance to emulate my former style icons, but for some reason, I have had a really hard time getting on board with this trend. Monday morning, however, I decided to go a little 90s-inspired with a small floral print and some combat boots:

{Dress- Old Navy, Jacket- INC, Scarf- Free People, Fingerless glovies- gift from a family friend}

{Boots- Steven by Steve Madden}

As seen in the above photo, I like to cuff these boots. I think it makes them look a little chicer and a little more fun.

I had a really hard time getting out of bed. This picture shows the glovies better- they're jersey knit and navy and black striped.

{Organic Cotton Comforter- Pottery Barn}

Here's a sneak peek at my comforter. I'm almost done setting up my room, so I will do a post on that soon!

Hope everyone is having a good week! My family is flying in to visit this weekend and I couldn't be more excited.

xoxo,

Simone

Autumn in New York

2010-11-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was little, autumn has always been my favorite season. When I was younger, that was probably due to the fact that my birthday is in late October (see last post) followed by Halloween exactly one week later.

{Miniature pumpkins and carnival squash}

{These are called fairytale pumpkins. I think the name is very fitting; they look like they belong in Cinderella's garden!}

As I have gotten older, however, I have learned the other joys of fall: waking up early to enjoy crisp mornings, hot apple cider while catching up on reading, autumn afternoon light, apples and root vegetables, a wardrobe of chunky sweaters and rugged boots, and leaves that turn brilliant hughes of red, yellow and orange before fading to a crumbly brown. Whereas summer's heat and glaring sun make me feel sluggish, fall makes me feel invigorated.

{Autumn leaves}

{Candy corn and spiced apple cider}

This weekend was one of those perfect fall weekends. I was super productive, watched a few horror movies and ghost shows, ate way too much candy corn, knocked back a few pumpkin ales and on Friday, Alyssa and I were able to meet up in Brooklyn Heights for some Red Mango and a little photo shoot.

{Wearing: Dress- Old Navy, Blazer- Anthropologie, Scarf- Free People, Bag- All Saints, Leggings- Target, Boots- Frye, Necklace- Some random boutique in Paris' Marais neighborhood}

{Of course I couldn't resist jumping in this pile of leaves! This is my not-so-graceful landing}

Brooklyn has lots of great neighborhoods, but Brooklyn Heights is one of my favorites. It has the feel of a small town with the advantage of being close to Manhattan's hustle and bustle. As much as I love my current apartment, I think I am moving to Brooklyn Heights when my lease is up. The nearby Cobble Hill neighborhood has a Trader Joe's and a brand new Barneys Co-op. What more could a girl want?

{We loved the flowers that lined the steps next to a neighborhood florist}

Another thing that made Friday lovely was receiving some birthday gifts from my mother. She already got me a bed frame and a duvet cover (pictures once I am done fixing up my room, I promise), so I couldn't believe it when she told me to expect another package. This one contained a cherry red Le Creuset teapot, a tarte pan, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and Jamie at Home. Mastering the Art of French Cooking is a must have for every aspiring cook, but if you're into sustainable living and buying produce seasonally, I highly recommend Jamie at Home.

I hope everyone had a good Halloween weekend! Let me know what you dressed up as or what your favorite thing about fall is in the comments!

xoxo,

Simone

At Bondi Road

2010-10-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

To me, breakfast has always been a sacred meal. It's the meal I never skip and I usually go for something sensible and filling like eggs or a piece of flourless toast and almond butter. Breakfast is meant to be enjoyed in your nightgown while you read the weather forecast and ponder outfits. If breakfast is sacred, then brunch is its delinquent sister. Brunch is all about sleeping in, filling up on comfort food and having one too many drinks with your friends. When I realized that my 21st birthday fell on a Sunday (it was October 24th), I immediately knew how I was going to celebrate.

I decided on the Australian-surfer-themed Bondi Road for its brunch special: $18 for an entree and unlimited brunch cocktails. Needless to say, everyone present got a little silly and the afternoon ended with a long nap.

Here are some photos:

{Wearing: Skirt- Loft, Top- Old Navy, Sweater- Old Navy, Bag- All Saints, Necklace- Old Navy, Tights- Target, Shoes- Enzo Angiolini, Ring- Portobello Road in London, Sunglasses- Marc by Marc Jacobs}

{Blowing out my candles!}

{Mmm, mimosa!}

{They gave me a free birthday desert... it was some cake thing with chocolate and jelly and coconut. I was not a fan.}

{The mimosas were so potent! Glad I didn't get any hard liquor...}

{Empty glasses}

I promise to start blogging regularly again soon! I just have so much going on, but blogging is something I really enjoy and I need to be better about leaving myself some time for fun.

xoxo,

Simone

Busy bee!

2010-10-18T09:06:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!

I am SO sorry for the lack of posts... I had no idea that my life would be so busy. I have been forgetting to make "me" time. As of this past weekend, however, I have decided that my health and sanity have to come first (sometimes), so I am definitely going to start dedicating more time to things that make me happy- like blogging! Expect more posts soon.

xoxo,

S

Quick Note

2010-08-26T11:24:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone!

I am currently searching for apartments and doing job interviews so no posts from me until after September 1st... I am way too busy and don't have regular internet access. Send me good apartment hunting vibes... I could really use it!

xoxo,

S

Love Always Remains

2010-08-21T00:13:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I totally just stole the title of my post from an MGMT song…

This summer I haven’t been working Fridays, which sounds nicer than it is. I’ve lost contact with some friends back here and others moved away or stayed in their college cities for the summer, so it’s been pretty lonely. Fridays have generally been spent running errands, looking for jobs and apartments, or just bumming around the house. I rarely make the effort to look nice on Fridays but since today is my last Friday at home for a while, I decided to make an effort to get dressed and do my apartment hunting outside. It was a gorgeous day and for as much as I complain about this town, it’s the place I grew up and it will always hold a place in my heart.

On Monday, I will be returning to to New York to finish up at NYU. I am excited to go back, but as the day that I step out of a cab and onto Manhattan pavement draws near, I am also filled with a sort of jittery anxiety. I haven’t been in New York since December and I am worried that I will not like it as much as I did before I left. I know I’ve said it before but living in Paris was such a dream come true and I am scared that I will find New York to be too tall, too ugly, too fast-paced.

Top- Nordstrom, Skirt- Anthropologie, Belt- borrowed from my mom, Sandals- Nine West, Necklace- boutique in the Marais

Working in the sun- my trusty Macbook and a homemade iced coffee with a splash of half and half and sweetened with agave syrup. I'll miss that view!

Thursday was my last day of work and while I won't miss my hour or longer commute, I will miss my two jobs. It was fun seeing different industries than fashion and I think that I was really able to do some meaningful work.

I wore:

Top- Anthropologie, Cardigan- Anthropologie, Skirt- Gap, Shoes- Enzo Angiolini

Hope everyone's having a great weekend!

xoxo,

A Touch of Chanel

2010-08-16T20:46:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

I am currently bombarded with so much to do- making preparations for my return to New York, internship applications, job applications, apartment hunting, work, cleaning my room... so much to think about! I have always been a workaholic but even for me, it's a bit much. If I can make it through the end of the month without losing my sanity, I will be happy. Still, I can't help but be excited- I have always loved that period right before school starts, a moment when anything seems possible.

My internship prospects are shaping up very nicely for this semester and I am so excited. I have been away from the fashion industry for around 8 months now and I really miss it! It's been nice to learn about two different industries (baking and health care) this summer, but it also confirmed to me that fashion is where I belong.

I had intended on wearing this outfit this morning, but I realized last minute that there's a small stain on the skirt. I doubt anyone would have noticed, but it would still bother me all day so I changed into a black A-line dress and added black tights because San Francisco is usually a little too chilly to go bare-legged. The second outfit wasn't as cute but I was running late- it would just have to do.Cardigan- Anthropologie

Tank (under)- Nordstrom
Skirt- Target
Shoes- Enzo Angiolini
Necklace- Gap

The cardigan is new. I had been eying it for nearly a month on the Anthropologie website, waiting for it to go on sale. All that diligence paid off because it did go on sale and I was able to snag one when I went into my local Anthropologie yesterday. The ivory with the black piping reminds me of this Chanel jacket that Jane Aldridge has. There's also a similar looking cardigan that is ivory on black and a heavier, more textured knit that I am dying to own. I will have a hard time resisting it when it goes on sale, but I have vowed to stop filling my closet with similar pieces.

In this picture, the skirt looks really dark but it's more of a plum color.

Anyway, I better get back to work. Check for more updates this week!

xoxo,

S