LA Story:  Westside Story

If you haven’t seen Maestro catch it now on Netflix. It stars the incomparable Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein. The oh so stylish Maestro often sported a Harvard sweatshirt spelled in Hebrew that he wore with casual trousers and sneakers. This Hebrew Harvard sweatshirt, Intercut on Etsy, heads to LA’s Westside for a stylish update. Like the Jets, who wore low skinny cuffed jeans and sneakers, I’m wearing these low-rise, AG Jeans, with my old-school, Chucks – Converse. I wanted this casual look to feel youthful playful and most important pulled together so I brought in this little black shrunken blazer, Gap.

I folded up the jacket sleeves over the longer sleeves of my sweatshirt for some textural interest from the different fabrics and weights. When working with muted or dull colours, texture and contrast are what keep the eye engaged. With that in mind, I’m wearing a tightly twisted black bandana scarf layered with a strand of chunky and freshwater pearls and some large pearl earrings. Together with my beanie, Drunken Monkey, and my X-body fanny pack, Shein, this stylish, Jet, won’t be fighting for, turf, on LA’s Westside rather dining on it with surf.

LA Story: The Afterparty

Tonight’s look is an eclectic blend of separates. Both my top and bottom have little in common but together, along with a few accessories, turned into something special and unique. I built my look around the rose gold lurex thread in the center of giant flowers on my blouse, Happy X Nature. I knew it would work with my apricot sequin skirt, Amazon, because both colours are within tonal range of each other and both are reflective so when the light hits…they match and sparkle together, perfectly.  This top is all drama with a retro chartreuse base colour and giant spaced floral print on a reflective silk shantung. The fitted body has long architectural sleeves exaggerated puff shoulders and elongated fitted cuffs with tiny covered buttons. It’s a total statement piece.

Rather than a necklace, I’m using my little salmon pink feather boa, Amazon, for a dash of, Gatsby, in a mid-tone colour that’s between rose gold and apricot. I went with a silk sling – back, Stuart Weitzman. The champagne coloured fabric has the slightest sparkle that supports my garments rather than draw attention away. It’s especially important when styling bold stand-alone pieces that our accessories are in balance because things can easily get out of control. My vintage chainmail bag, Whiting and Davis, is another shiny element but it’s small and plays into the retro feeling of the look. As for jewelry, a pair of rose-gold diamond hoops and my everyday, Cartier, tri-colour bangles and watch and, Gucci, ankle bracelet complete my afterparty look.

style-tip: having a good assortment of key item pieces will save you time and money in the long run.

*please treat your wardrobe well. many people worked very hard to get it to you.