Tipple & Brine in Sherman Oaks, CA

T-shirt by Chaser. Shorts by Levi. Belt by Hardware. Bag by Aldo. Bracelet by Armani. Shoes are vintage. 

In high school, I had a friend who lived in Sherman Oaks. He threw the best parties because there really wasn't much else to do around the area. When his parents weren't home, we would reluctantly relocate to the Bowling Alley next to Jerry's Famous Deli (o the good ol' days). As I grew older and moved away to college, I returned to a completely different world. Sherman Oaks was actually hip! 

It is no secret, for the past few years several areas of LA have been developing rapidly into trendsetting areas which offer great restaurants and shopping. Sherman Oaks is one of them!

Over the past weekend, I visited Tipple & Brine, a new seafood joint in the Sherman Oaks area. Though the farmhouse chic decor has been done five ways from Sunday, I can't fault them for trying to hold in with the pack. The atmosphere was lively and the food fresh! Though a little daring, it was perfect for my palate. My motto is try everything once! I like how many dishes involved seafood into American favorites such as sea urchin toast, and seared calamari salad. Of course they also have your typical market fish and oysters; several options are non seafood, and include delicious entrees, salads, and sides. I tried the oysters, brussels sprouts, and sea urchin toast. Everything was scrumptious! 

The service was not perfect, but luckily we were too busy enjoying ourselves to care. If you come, request to sit by the window, and enjoy your meal while you people watch. Apparently there is life over the canyon! 

My Three Favorite Looks From The Week Of 9/28/15

 

(all images via www.vogue.com)

 

 

You may have noticed from my choices this week that I have actually selected four favorites instead of three. When it comes to Spring/Summer 2016 Ready to Wear, it is treacherous to select only three looks considering how much fashion inspiration there is! Don't you just love Paris Fashion Week!

 

 For the third week in a row I have come across the most beautiful sheer dresses, and this one from Chloe is no different. The combination of pastel colors is so delicate, yet the tassels and transparent fabric give the overall look a little edge and sex appeal. Judging from seeing this look on various designer runways, this will definitely be a hot trend!

 

I am so proud to say I have always been a fan of MK&A's fashion choices and The Row Collection for the S/S 2016 season did not disappoint! I cannot fault one look from this season's compilation. Need I say more to prove why I chose two looks from this collection! Generally they tend to keep the colors and silhouettes very basic, which is sheer genius considering how trendsetting they are! I mean the sleeves on the first model are everything! I just want to live in these looks for the next year! Though high fashion, you don't need to be a size 0 to pull off the first model's look. The simplicity of the frock (in the second look) combined with the ulta-mini length is true to Row style. Just beautiful fabric and clean lines is what we have come to expect from this line.

 

I can honestly admit the last look from Tom Ford is an acquired taste. I am a huge fan of the relaxed pant, and when combined with a feminine blouse can be such a cool and trendsetting look! It is apparent this look will be around for the next year, so for those who have not acquired the taste maybe it's time!

Cafe Roma in Beverly Hills

T-shirt by Disney. Skirt by Highway. Shoes by Iro. Bag by KC Jagger. Ring by Guess. 

Although today is officially the beginning of October, if you reside in Los Angeles you would argue that it still feels very much like summer. Granted we don't have much of the season weather many other regions are accustomed to, I love that slight shift in the weather where you can feel the climate actually changing. It cools down a little in the evenings, and you can finally enjoy dining outside without sticking to your seat. 

One of my favorite places to enjoy the scenery as much as the food is Cafe Roma in Beverly Hills. Located on Canon Dr., this little cafe features delicious Italian food and award-winning cocktails. I'm not kidding about the "award-winning" part either, one of their cocktails actually placed first in a Tuscany contest (and those Italians know their food and drinks)! On weekend nights, they also have a DJ playing top hits to liven up their happy hour scene. Be aware the clientele is slightly more mature--many divorcee and silver fox types. 

Either way this eatery is upscale yet the atmosphere is relaxed and not too pretentious. Ask to be seated on the patio (they have a separate outdoor space for quick bites and dinner) and bask in the glory of this amazing weather. Order the "The Best" if you like gin, and breathe in that Beverly Hills air (surprisingly it's free). Don't forget to take a walk down Canon Dr. or the famous Rodeo Dr. a block away-- glimmering lights, beautiful people, it's called Tinseltown for a reason! 

My Three Favorite Looks From The Week Of 9/21/15

(all images via www.vogue.com)

Fashion week continues... in Milan! I am head over heels for these three looks from Luisa Beccaria, Alberta Ferretti, and Salvatore Ferragamo, respectively! As we all know much of the fashion trends originate from Europe, so it's time to take note!

 

To be honest, I am not extremely familiar with the designer Luisa Beccaria but judging from this look and a preview of the S/S 2016 collection it is very similar to Philosophy. The styling is not my favorite, it reminds me of a cross between "ladies who lunch" and festival fashion, I do however love this dress! The deep v-cut and sheerness of the fabric is perfectly combined with a more conservative and dainty print. It's all about balance my friends! My final verdict-- You can be that lady that lunches or a festival goer and still look fabulous and age appropriate in this dress.

 

The styling of the second look is something I typically gravitate towards. It's minimal, yet the details are edgy and prevalent. A messy bun with statement earrings is total must in the summer, and frankly any season for that matter! The lace detail on the linen maxi dress is perfection! This what I mean by edgy-- the concept is simple but the look is perfectly "careless" it's genius!

 

Not all super heroes wear capes, but invest in one if you want to be a hero in the fashion world! Ivory cape over an ivory dress with a pop of color in the shoes-- how chic! I have also been seeing the "big pearl on a thin strand" necklaces everywhere! Beautiful encore by Salvatore Ferragamo!

Fork Restaurant on Sunset Blvd.

Top by Laila and Savannah. Skirt by Miss Me. Shoes by Jeffrey Campbell. Bag by KC Jagger. 

I am a huge fan of Mediterranean food, but unfortunately it is not a very popular cuisine on the LA scene. Most people actually shy away from the the flavors and exoticism of these dishes. Thankfully I now have a solution for these deprived souls and it's called "Fork" on Sunset Blvd., a new and tiny gem of a restaurant combining American and Mediterranean food. Fun fact-- it is owned by Roy Handler (celebrity chef and Chelsea Handler's brother). 

This new and unique eatery offers indoor rustic chic decor, as well as outdoor diner ambiance. The set up seems to be a little confusing at first, but I like the idea of being able to sit outside while ordering from the indoor bar (indoor seating is also available).  It is intimate enough for a date spot, yet open until 4AM for those late night munchies after the bars and clubs. Now on to the most important part-- the food! Le Grand Formage, Mediterranean Tacos, Baklava Cheesecake, I kid you not that my mouth is watering as I am writing this. I can also concur the dishes are as delicious as they sound! Stick a fork in that and nix the kale (for now)! 

My Three Favorite Looks From The Week Of 9/14/15

(all images via www.vogue.com)

This week was the commencement of New York Fashion Week S/S 2016, and of course I had to celebrate in style (pun intended) by choosing my three favorite looks from the runway. The first two shots are from the Naeem Khan Spring/Summer 2016 collection. Truth be told if I could I would put every look from the show into this post, but sadly I have to keep it to task, as well as add some variety. I chose Julien Macdonald's Spring/Summer 2016 collection as the final selection.

 

Naeem Khan is by far my favorite designer of all time! His creativity and talent are clearly evident this season, frankly throughout his career for that matter. It also helps that the styling is completely on point! The silhouette, the colors, the accessories-- the workings of a masterpiece by a mastermind!

 

Though I am not a fan of the hair and make-up (it is a trend I am trying my best to avoid), I do love this piece by Julien Macdonald. The draping of this dress is beautifully done; considering the length is not ultra short, this makes the dress sexy instead of tacky. The boxy/relaxed fit is something we have come to love about summer dresses. I am also happy to see the lace up sandal will be around next year, because I am a huge fan!

Visiting Sawtelle Blvd. in West Los Angeles

Pantsuit by Mind Code. Shoes by Aldo. Bag by Hardware. Necklace by Melinda Maria. Watch by Guess. 

Most people are familiar with Chinatown and Koreatown in Los Angeles, but very few are aware that down Olympic Blvd is a little known secret called Sawtelle Blvd. bringing together a mecca of Japanese culture and inspiration. Growing up in Los Angeles I was lucky enough to witness the growth of this area from just a few cafes and stores to a multitude of of trendy eateries, grocery stores, and boutiques, just to name a few. Bear in mind this strip only extends from Santa Monica Blvd. to Olympic Blvd. meaning (for the non LA locals) it's only about 6 blocks or so. Condensed, however, doesn't indicate overcrowded and overwhelming (although parking can be rough). It still remains a bit of a hidden gem which many LA natives keep to themselves. 

Although offering mainly Japanese cuisine, a few of the restaurants do have Korean and Chinese food influences. The shopping here is also rather unique. Many of the store carry very cultural (yet contemporary) and one of a kind items, which you will probably never need but can't help yourself to buy! One of my favorite stores is "Tokyo Japanese Outlet" which has an enormous supply of various knick knacks and trinkets. They also have fabulous skin care masks and products. It's no secret the Japanese have amazing skin! Make sure to also check out the "$1.50" store across the street, the Japanese version of the "Dollar Store." While you're on your shopping high, pop in to "Beard Papa" for a cream puff to get a sugar high. Although the typical Japenese dessert is shaved ice, don't worry, that's only a block away! You can possibly spend hours exploring, and the irony is it's only one street!