Mammoth Weekend for the Crazies

Mammoth Weekend for the Crazies by ehsutherland featuring stretchy pants

Knit top
$365 - barneys.com

J Brand stretchy pants
$361 - my-wardrobe.com

Patagonia knee high hosiery
$20 - patagonia.com

BEARPAW small heels
$142 - endless.com

CANADIAN HATS fox fur hat
£219 - harrods.com

Autumn cashmere
$165 - intermixonline.com

Jane Norman pom knit hat
£6 - janenorman.co.uk

I'm dreaming...

... of some cold... weather.

This happens every year. I'm going to warn all you warm weather fiends that you're not going to like the next sentence: I hate summer.

Before you start calling me a fool or egging my car, let me explain. I have about four days a summer when I love it. The sun, the breeze, the activities, the food... everything comes together in a synergetic way.

The other 90 days, I'm wishing it was autumn. Or the holidays. One of the two. Either way, the problem with living in southern California is that by the time the actual summer ends, the really hot weather picks up. Do you know how many Halloweens I've spent sweating like a pig inside my costume and hating life? Too many to count!

I wholeheartedly believe I was meant to live in areas where it's cold about 350 days out of the year, like London or San Francisco. If I could convince Handsome to move to one of those cities, I'd be ecstatic (and silver tongued... he is unimpressed with chilly weather and has let me know this).

Most people try to argue that living in cold cities is different than visiting (no kiddin'! I'm saying this in a yokel voice, btw), but they're missing the point. The allure of a chill, a rainstorm, a bank of fog, is based on being cozy inside, curling up with a good book under a blanket and outfits.

Yes, I love my cold weather ensembles, almost more than I love shopping for them.

The sweaters! The jackets! The boots! Put me head to toe in cashmere and I am a happy girl. Here are a few I've been dreaming about (and might possibly purchase at Aris in Laguna):

Cozying up with a book and a latte during a rainstorm (as previously mentioned):

Helmut Lang Cowl, MiH Jeans, Repetto Flats, Helmut Lang Clutch, Anita Ko Elephant Earrings

Meeting a client for drinks (cabernet sauvignon for autumn and winter, please!):

Helmut Lang Blazer, Helmut Lang Leather Leggings, Sonar Ankle Booties, Chloé Shoulder Bag, Jennifer Meyer Turquoise Dome Ring, Jennifer Meyer Diamond Earrings, Armand Diradourian Scarf

An unexpected date night at a delicious, hard to find bistro:

Helmut Lang Crepe Dress, DVF Suede Platforms, Marni Clutch, Cartier Love Bracelet, Asha Earrings

I'm over the sun. Bring on the rain!

And the Helmut Lang...

{Outfits put together on Polyvore}

Safari in Style: Part One

In April, K and I received an email from one of our best friends that started out like this:

Boys and Girls, 

Have you ever wanted to do this? (if the answer is yes, read on):

Africa... who's down?

The question I have for you is who wouldn't be down to go to Africa? Luckily for us, we were able to afford it and without even checking with one another, Handsome K and I promptly RSVP'd in the affirmative. We knew we'd be on the same page.

I guess I should back up and explain a couple things. One, our friend (we'll call him Dear T, which he'll completely hate) moved to Botswana from the Cotswalds with his mother and four siblings in 1995. Two, he then went on to document his time on a lion research camp in the Okavango Delta with one of his younger brothers and his younger sister (I would be lying if I said I didn't extract this information straight from Amazon.com, although I swear it's been told to me in person by T). It's a book called The Lion Children and I assure you, it's a good read (even Richard Dawkins agrees!). 

Three, since moving to America for college, meeting his lovely wife, Fantastic J, getting his Masters at Oxford and settling in the Bay Area (apparently it IS easy to condense nine years of life into one sentence), he's been itching to go back to Africa... and luckily for us, wanted his friends to come along for the journey.

In addition to Dear T, Fantastic J, Handsome K and yours truly, there are five others who jumped at the opportunity. All nine of us will be hitting South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe and experiencing the best it has to offer with Dear T as our knowledgeable, entertaining and sexy guide. 

But what to wear?

There must be some people groaning ("Really? She's traveling to Africa and she's thinking about outfits?"), but please relax. Apparently, it's supposed to be between 110 and 120 degrees during the day while we're there, so my travel companions will be lucky if I manage to put on an ounce of clothing every day. If that should happen to be the case, I think I'll be going in this direction:

By Malene Birger Hat, MiH Jeans top, Barton Perreira sunglasses, Isabel Marant bracelet, Toucan Print large scarf, 
Rue 21 cargo shorts, Alexander McQueen flat sandals

I love how well my malaria pills will fit in the cargo pockets and I think this will make the perfect ensemble for trying not to get bitten by snakes, charged by an elephant or eaten by a hippo, don't you?

I jest. I am over the moon excited, not only for safari, but to spend some quality time with a few of the people I love the most, miles and miles away from it all.

{Ensemble created here}

A Wedding on Golden Hill: What to Wear

I’m off to the wedding of my brother and his bride-to-be in northern California this weekend. They’re really quite a gorgeous couple, those two.

However, planning what to wear has been a bit of a challenge, the reason being I hate dressing for hot weather. I’m a jeans and snuggly sweaters and oversized scarves kind of gal. I called my grandma this afternoon and got a bit excited when she mentioned how cold it was outside… in Sacramento… in the middle of summer.

I should point out she has dementia and the weather was, in reality, 99 degrees Fahrenheit when we spoke.

In addition, the rehearsal dinner is Western Cowboy themed, and while I love any excuse to dress up or bust out my gray Henri Beguelin boots, the rest has been a bit of a struggle.

Thank god for my wonderful sister and her fabulous ideas… Talking to her inspired me to whip up these little dream ensembles. Have a gander and let me know what you think.

Cavender Cowboy Hat, MiH Jeans Stonewashed Shirt, Paul Smith Bandana Scarf, Emilio Pucci Snake Bracelet,
Rupert Sanderson Military Boots, Ae Distressed Denim Shorts

I can't even tell you how difficult it is to outfit this round noggin' in a cowboy hat.

L'Agence Maxi Dress, Monique Pean Atelier Diamond Earrings, Alexander McQueen Flower and Skull Cuff, Anya Hindmarch Valorie Clutch, Calypso Antik Batik Akan Thongs

Here's to celebrating forever love and happiness in style, everyone!

Napa: What to Wear

We’ve been back from our jaunt to the Napa Valley for two days. It was a fabulous time, but now we are entrenched in our job search like no other. I’ve been putting on paper my feelings about the valley – my history there, my experiences, how it is a part of and ingrained in me – and thought I’d offer up some prime fashion recommendations as eye candy while I get it all down.

Handsome K and I managed to do quite a bit (including a good old-fashioned trespassing picnic… you know, kids’ stuff!), and here is what I like to don (or what I dream of donning) when I spend time in Calistoga.

Ensemble 1: Napa Valley Poolside

Wide-brimmed Straw Trilby, Diane Von Furstenberg Pattern Bikini,
Helmut Lang Open-back Jersey T-shirt, Sweet Beach Shopper, Tory Burch PVC flip-flops 

Granted, this outfit is the one I spent the most time in, but how can you resist when you’re staying at Indian Springs and can take full advantage of the mineral pool?

Ensemble 2: Calistoga Daytrippin’

Alexander Wang Donna Leather Hobo, Fedora-ble Hat, Steven Alan Betty Tank, Barton Perreira Spellbound, Citizens of Humanity Avedon Slick Jeans, Anna Beck Timor Bangles, Forever 21Braided T-Straps Sandals 

I love the way these pieces look together and if I had to sum up my current style, this would be it in a nutshell. K sees this as an improvement from the clothing I wore when we first met, which included a rainbow of Converse sneakers and a Steve Urkel shirt with a zipper across the front.

Ensemble 3:  French Laundry Excess

Before I quit (thus, before our cash flow came to a grinding halt), I tried to get us reservations to The French Laundry. Let me tell you, it takes gumption and the luck of a leprechaun to secure them.

A quick breakdown of the process: Two months to the day, at 10am precisely, The French Laundry’s reservation phone lines open. If you’re like me, you ask a friend (thank you, Eda!) to help swarm the line. I placed 137 calls and never got through which, in retrospect, was a good thing. I’m pretty sure Eda placed a total of eight, but she’s Jamaican and likes to take her time.

If, however, I had gotten through and had a limitless clothing budget, here is the outfit I would have worn.

Lanvin Silk Bustier Gown, Ippolita Rock Candy Lollipop Rose Bangle, Philip Lim 3.1 Rosey Thorned Clutch, OPI Limited Edition Britannia Collection, Alexander McQueen Patent Leather Flats

What cracks me up most about these suggestions is that the majority of my childhood in the valley was spent in a Target neon bathing suit and cotton bike shorts.

And truly, they were the best times of my life.

{outfits put together here}