What Lo Loves

I wasn't entirely sure what I should call this post. Calling it a "wish list" seemed kind of odd, but also mildly accurate. Just calling it "Things I Like" felt bland, even though that's essentially what it is. As you can see at the end of the day "What Lo Loves" won out, partly because that's what this post is-- a collection and summary of things I'm loving right now-- and partly because I can't resist a good alliteration.

I post about a lot of things. Clothes, restaurants, food, fashion, events, activities. The list goes on and on. And every time I share a new post or Insta story talking about a new place or product, I end up getting DM's for more info. So instead of slowly delving out the big and little things that constantly make my day I figured I would gush about all of them right here so I can explain 1) why they are the best and 2) how (or where) you can get (or do) them.

Bear with me because this list is 100% awesome and full of really cool stuff but also VERY varied in it's contents so I'll be jumping all over the place.

1. ARIELLE VEY- Photographer

I just discovered Arielle and her print shop a few weeks and I haven't been the same since. Most importantly, Arielle's Instagram feed is an actual dream. Beautiful beachy sunsets, whimsical flamingos, cotton candy clouds. If it's quintessentially Californian, it's on her page. I've been perusing her print shop for days on end and can't for the life of me pick which prints I want (that's a lie, I know I want ALL of them.... but purchasing a photographer's entire portfolio to frame around my apartment would be excessive, right?) but I'm thinking that I'm going to take over one of the empty walls in my kitchen or bedroom to do a fun little frame collage of her prints. Seriously if you're looking for some new art work or just looking to add some gorgeous colors and spice to your Instagram feed go ahead and give her a follow. Added bonus: her Insta stories are top notch. She's super funny and has great style. Arielle, if by some chance you see/ read this, hi I'm obsessed with you and want to be your best friend.

2. LOVE- A Netflix Original

As someone who is constantly looking for new shows to binge, discovering 'Love' was like striking gold. All set in and around LA (specifically the Silver Lake and Los Feliz areas) the show follows the on-again off-again romance of Mickey and Gus. I really don't want to give anything away but it's a very raw, real, funny portrayal of what it's like to be a young-ish adult living life in LA. Created by the brilliant Judd Apatow, it's just an all around great show that in my opinion strikes a great balance between showcasing some of the fun, over the top and glamorous aspects of living in LA (both of the main characters work in 'the industry'/ entertainment) while also maintaining a very refreshing amount of realism and grit. It's smart, witty, and incredibly well written. There's 3 seasons and episodes are 30 minutes long so you can binge the entire show in a reasonable amount of time so be sure to check it out!

3. Dresses

I've been in a pant phase for the past few years so rediscovering my love of dresses feels like coming home. I think having to be at work super early every morning had me feeling uninspired when it came to fashion. I fell into a major jeans and slouchy sweater rut because at 4:45 in the morning they are warmer than dresses and easy to throw on. While that's still one of my go-to looks, I've found a few really cute and affordable dresses recently that have made me give the jeans a break so I can rock a frock a few days a week. Much to my surprise, this drop waist dress from Forever 21 was the catalyst for my resurgence into the dress obsession. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I hadn't shopped at Forever 21 in years (probably since the beginning of high school). When I recently saw a friend of mine wearing a cute spring dress my jaw practically hit the floor when she said it was Forever 21. Long story short, when I was younger I had a very ill fated encounter with a blue blouse purchased at Forever 21 and a brand new white leather Coach purse (that was not mine and that I borrowed without permission from my sister... sorry Britt). After an afternoon of wearing the blue blouse and carrying the white purse over my shoulder and under my arm the purse had turned blue because the fabric was cheap and the dye was bleeding on to the purse. After that incident I vowed never to buy any more of the store's cheap quality products. That being said, the overall quality of Forever 21 products is still very iffy so I was hesitant to look into shopping there again. I was very pleasantly surprised by how well made the dress I got was, but I know that not every product is like that. I would recommend going up one size if you are dress shopping at Forever 21. If you're like me and haven't shopped there in a while maybe consider browsing the website. They've got lots of cute spring looks on sale right now. Pro tip: BUY ONLINE. In store you can only make exchanges or returns for in-store credit. If you order online you are allowed to make returns for a full refund. Also, If you're not into Forever 21 (which I totally understand) consider browsing Madewell, Zara, Nordstrom and Urban Outfitters. I've seen so many cute dresses at all of those stores recently and I want to buy them all!

image via forever21.com

4. BANDANAS

I've always seen bloggers and super cute hipster-indie style women wearing bandanas with slouchy tees and a great pair of jeans but I never through that it was a look that I could pull off. In a last minute scramble for accessories to wear for my recent trip/ outdoor engagement photo session in Seattle, I stopped by Madewell. Rolled up all nice and neat right when I walked in the door I saw a basket full of different colored bandanas. Much to my surprise (and after a great 'you can totally rock this' pep talk from a sales associate) I walked out with this red bandana and I've been over-wearing it ever since. It's such a cute, versatile accessory to have in your wardrobe. You can wear it around your neck, tie it in your hair, tie it on the strap of your purse... the options are endless. Bandanas are a fun, easy way to add an unexpected pop of color to any outfit and it's the easiest, most comfortable, affordable accessory you'll ever buy. I have zero shame in admitting that I went back to Madewell and bought this bandana in multiple other colors after falling in love with this little red cutie

image via madewell.com

5. LOAFERS

If you've seen any of my Insta story #OOTDS recently this last current obsession won't come as much of a surprise. I've bought a bunch of loafers recently and they're pretty much the only shoes I wear now. These black and gold slides from Target have become a staple in my wardrobe. They're comfy, chic, and so affordable. I love pairing them with distressed jeans and a blouse or leather leggings and an oversized white tee and a jean jacket. After wearing those black loafers on repeat for weeks, I sprung for a second pair of slides-a-la-Target, but this time I opted for a more girly style. These pink sued babies are so stinking cute and they instantly help transition some of my darker, less springy outfits into edgy spring looks. They did take a littleb it longer to break in than the black loafers but after about 2-3 wears they felt just as comfy. If you haven't already you should definitely hop on to the slide train and get yourself a pair. Your feet will thank you.

image via target.com

image via target.com

That's all I have for right now. I think I'll try and make a "What Lo loves" post every month or so in order to keep you all up to date on what people and products have been on my mind. If you have any recommendations that you think I'd love, shoot me a DM or email me at loslosangeles247@gmail.com , I would love to hear from you!

xo,

Lo