field of dreams

spring is here and everything's a bloomin'.  i kept it simple with clean lines and all black, with a pop of studs and leopard of course.  i'll slowly interject some type of color into my wardrobe eventually, but for now, i'm happy with the basics. 
 

 

foreign exchange crop top, customized high waisted maxi, UNIF bad kitty jacket, chanel bag, h&m necklace

 for a daily dose of fashion, follow me on instagram: style_enthusiast

GoStylista

hi guys! it's been a long time since i've posted. almost exactly about a year ago actually. just wanted to share my interview with GoStylista as their blogger of the moment. check out my feature here! they also have a GoStylista App where you can post different looks and give or receive fashion advice! i'll be making it a point to post more often, as there have been a lot of changes going on lately.  i also have a lot of new items that have been recently added to my collection, so i cant wait to share!

for a daily dose of fashion, make sure to follow style_enthusiast on Instagram!

thanks for reading and be sure to check back soon for new posts!

xoxo

what's old is new again

one of the best ways to maximize your closet is to get creative. i am a repeat offender of making impulse purchases and only wearing an item once or twice before throwing it in the back of my closet. ironically, at the same time i can never bring myself to get rid of it. sound familiar? case in point, my wide leg leopard pants seen here. although i loved it at the time of purchase, i only wore it once and left it sitting in my closet for months. that is until i had the brilliant idea to re-work it into a maxi skirt, which is a lot more wearable! i enlisted the help of my tailor, since i am all thumbs when it comes to sewing...and voila! a "brand new" sheer maxi leopard skirt that i love! so i encourage you to rummage through your closet and find the items that you once loved and re-create them into pieces that you can love all over again! 

boutique pants/maxi skirt and blouse, gifted necklace, chanel bag

Jason Wu for Target

mark your calendar ladies! tomorrow the Jason Wu Collection for Target will become available at selected stores and online! if you remember the madness that the Missoni collaboration entailed, you should start camping out now. every piece of the perfectly tailored, effortlessly polished collection is $60 or less. yes, you heard it right...high end fashion for a ridiculously affordable price, these designer collaborations are right on point! check out the entire collection, here.

diva

some days i get inspired by a blouse, a special piece of jewelry or a pair of amazing shoes.  today, i was inspired by my lipstick.  the deep, dramatic, plum wine seemed fitting for the overcast weather.  i threw on some of my favorite pieces and they randomly meshed together in a chaotic kind of way.  i even worked in my DIY lace "bowtie", the post about that will come shortly.  i'm glad to see that winter is finally making its presence.  definitely ready for some rainy days and chilly nights.

 

 

diva lipstick by MAC, boutique blouse, f21 knit, h&m leather shorts, wolford tights, dolce vita boots, alexander wang "diego" bag

drug store must-haves

i wanted to share some of my favorite drug store products.  yes, you heard it right, drug store products that i can't live without!  i've tried a lot of different products, but regardless of price or brand, these ones ended working the best for me, so test them out and tell me what you think!

Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner

i've been using eyeliner for many, many years and have tried everything from Chanel, and Lancome to MAC and Benefit.  Revlon's ColorStay Eyeliner has worked the best for me.  ColorStay has the perfect balance of moisture and bold color.  the liner glides on smoothly, lasts all day and at less than $7 a pop, you literally can't go wrong.

here's a tip for going from day to night: go over your eyeliner with an angle brush using NARS' matte black powder shadow for an intense smokey eye effect.

Cover Girl Lash Blast

Cover Girl Lash Blast is one of my favorite mascaras.  i would probably compare it to Dior's DiorShow mascara which is about 4x the price.  not only do i love the large plush brush, but i personally use the waterproof one which not only holds the curl in my lashes, but also makes them longer, thicker and fuller.

Burt's Bees Peppermint Lip Balm

i am abnormally attached to my chapstick and if i had to choose one item to leave the house with, it would have to be my Burt's Bees Peppermint Lip Balm.  coming from someone that frequently uses matte lipsticks (i tend to veer away from sticky glosses or any type of shine), Burt's Bees keeps my lips hydrated and smooth.  matte lipsticks tend to over dry your lips and so i always prep them with Burt's before applying my color.

L'Oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray

if it's one thing i've learned from being on set, its that every hair stylist has this bottle of liquid gold glued to their hands.  as an avid hairspray user, i had to get my hands on some and see what the fuss was all about.  L'Oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray was banned in the US for many years and hair stylists use to have to smuggle them back from Europe.  apparently all that criminal activity was worth it because this hairspray is amazing!  if you want a silky, natural finish, with fine, flexible hold, you have to try this hairspray.  make sure to pick up the European version which has an amazing scent.

Johnson's Baby Oil - Shea & Cocoa Butter

who says baby oil is just for babies?  i have the tendency to neglect moisturizing my skin during the dry, winter months and to make up for it, i place one of these bottles in the shower.  the shea & cocoa butter smells so good and it takes less than 30 seconds to give your skin some tender, loving care.  to avoid the super oily feeling, i leave the water running to allow the steam to open up my pores and for moisture to seep in. 

i hope you try some of these products out...they are inexpensive and can easily found at your local drug store. maybe you'll end up loving them as much as i do!

lady in leopard

I never realized how much I loved leopard, until I recently took a look in my closet. This blouse is one of my favorite leopard pieces, probably because I randomly found it in a size large and it fits me perfectly. I love the sheer texture, color combination and effortless cut. I paired my blouse with denim shorts, my Pretty Polly suspenders tights and beige chanel bag for brunch and shopping with the girls. Such a fun combination, yet ridiculously comfortable and stylish.

boutique blouse, vintage denim shorts, baker boots, pretty polly tights, chanel bag

NYC photo diary

last weekend my favorite girlfriends and i took a spontaneous red-eye to new york.  i had forgotten how much i loved the city and was swept away by how beautiful everything was.  new york is so magical this time of year with all the holiday decorations and lights.  we only had a few days, but we did everything!  we had yummy brunches and candlelit dinners, we shopped in soho and went to some amazing designer sample sales, we took the subway, drank and danced in the meatpacking district, but most importantly, we created priceless memories. new york in december is going to be an annual girls trip! i miss it so much already i cant wait <3

audrey

not too long ago i had the opportunity to be on set and a part of the audrey magazine winter cover photo shoot.  the multi talented mindy kaling graces the cover, which is available on stands now!  i had the pleasure of styling mindy's man candy, model wade poezyn, who was her accessory for the day.  his south african accent impressed the either crew on set and the always talented diana king captured these amazing images.  a super fun shoot with an amazing crew atop the watermark towers in downtown la. i couldnt have asked for more :)

get swept away

a few months ago i ventured out with an incredible team to the infamous pink motel to style a fashion editorial for yerevan magazine.  i got to work with the amazing armen poghosyan, who is a technical genius and the stunning justine godfrey who literally just stepped off the plane from hawaii.  we shot a passionate love story and had so much fun playing with gorgeous tn couture gowns. every girl deserves a love story and to be swept away. 

glittery goodness

just in time for the holiday season, these glitter snakeskin maggies are to die for.  glitter, snakeskin and the signature sexy red sole.  so glamorous, yet somehow simply understated.  the absolutely perfect holiday shoe.

neiman marcus $1,395

twilight boys

in honor of breaking dawn hitting theaters this friday (i can only imagine the madness that will entail) here is a feature that lyndzi trang and i styled for this month's issue of zooey magazine.  it was an extremely hot day and the boys were troopers as we piled suits, sweaters and jackets on them.  we dressed them to the nines playing with textures, patterns and layers! special thanks to my good friend lyndzi, zooey magazine, thorocraft and cottontreats as this was one of my last shoots. it was memorable and definitely sentimental. enjoy!

welcome

hello diego, welcome to my collection!  you are beautiful and i love you!

alexander wang diego

bittersweet symphony

my noticeable absence from blogging can be greatly contributed to my recent return to the corporate world. the last few weeks have been bittersweet as i made the career altering decision to leave my full time styling behind and pursue something a little more stable. i still cant believe everything that i accomplished in just a year's time.  i had the opportunity to work with some of the most talented and creative individuals in the industry. i learned so much about myself and established the most precious, meaningful relationships. i am so blessed to have had this priceless opportunity. as i emotionally look back at my accomplishments, i know that my love for fashion and styling will never end. thank you to everyone that believed in me xoxo

behind the scenes of my very first photo shoot

halfman romantics fashion film

i am so proud to have worked on this project. last march i trekked out to mt. baldy with the most amazingly talented crew to style their fall 2011 lookbook for halfman romantics.  i was blown away by the photos, but now after finally seeing the video, i am at a lost for words.