Pre-Fall Shoe Shopping at Reef!

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It's once again time for me to get perilously over-excited and semi-panicky about shoe shopping. This only happens to me twice a year: Pre-Fall and Pre-Spring (you know, those weird seasons that only exist in the fashion world). This means that:

1. Sandal season is NOT over, nor will it ever be, really, because it's always feasible inside.
2. Loafers, oxfords, flats and sneakers are necessities and on my list for sure, but I'd rather croak than put off boot shopping one minute longer.

So, with enthusiasm reaching critical levels of rainbows spilling out of my ears, I'm looking to Reef for my inspiration. Reef's laid-back, West Coast vibe suits my biker/multicultural personal style perfectly. The shoe styles and construction runs a bit on the pleasantly rough-hewn side with visible seams and X stitches, and the colors and natural materials are great. Visual interest is never lacking in any Reef shoe-- you always get a little bit of something special even in the most basic style, such as a ballet flat. The flashes of multi-colored ethnic prints, fabrics and patterns are the epitome of Bohemian.

Two-by-two, read on to find out which pairs have their spots on the ark assured...

First up are two of the coolest pairs of women's sandals I've seen. What can't you wear these with? I really love the texture of the materials that were used to construct them, and also the special attention paid to the padded, stitched insoles. Chicago's weather is historically unpredictable, and when we have our hot days in the Fall, I'll be so glad to have these to wear with loose capris cinched at the calves, maxi tank dresses and various layers up top.

Reef Guatemalan Slide $60 

Reef Shaded Palms $56 

The killer mint green oxford sneaks below might just be one of my favorite pairs that Reef has to offer at the moment. Pastel mint is a surprisingly versatile color for accessories- even if your closet is packed mostly with black, gray and white. These are so much more stylish than many true sneakers and can function in a multitude of ways. They will become the baddest pair of comfortable shoes you own. I'd pair them with a black maxi skirt, white tee and a black blazer-- sleeves rolled up with a cool contrasting lining. And that's just the beginning. 

Girls Deckhand 2 $55 

These Tropic Sea flats are incredible. Comfortable, nicely curved almond/round toe with a splash of multi-colored fabric in the back. These take the notion of a classic pair of black ballet flats and take it to the next level. You can do classic with your accessories and still have some personality in them. These babies are the proof.

Reef Tropic Sea $74

BOOTS! Sorry, didn't mean to shout. The High Desert Boot in gray is the ultimate, perfect Fall boot. They are the precise shade of gray I love the most- a very cool, light ash-gray. Suede is the perfect material for them, and I just happen to be mad about suede. These are ultra-flattering and cut a slender profile with some architectural interest around the heel. Little silver hardware details and adjustable straps at the top complete them. They are truly beautiful. 

Reef High Desert Boot $145

Last, the Native Shore Boot- which has a wonderful slender wedge heel and an almond toe. They are done in black leather with that great X-stitching detail on both sides of the boot. The heel is hugged by a narrow stripe of black and white tribal print fabric. One of my favorite features with the Native Shore Boot is the amazing vertical piping stitched on each side. Absolutely stunning, and the kitten-wedge gives you just a little bit of height. I actually wouldn't mind  having a version of these in an ankle-length as well. 

Reef Native Shore Boot $180

What kind of shoes are you dreaming about at the moment? Are you thinking ahead to Fall or still very much in the heat of Summer?

[all images from shop.reef.com]

Summer Biker Gypsy Style with True Religion + Adventuress + Jane Tran [sponsored]

[post sponsored by True Religion]

I've never been too obsessed with trends when it comes to what I wear, that is, unless we're talking about the classics. Things go in and out of style, but a few incredible pieces are worth investing in, and they will only get better and more comfortable with time. The spirit of True Religion as a brand fits this, just like a pair of their sleek skinnies.

I'm a longtime devotee of biker style with a twist. One could say there is a "uniform" for biker chic, but most who love it place their own personal stamp on it. Take True Religion's Moto Jacket in off-white (below). I don't personally need yet another black leather moto jacket, but white... white is so hot. Its versatility in color, design and style is staggering. I love it with their women's Moto Jean in black, paired with their Hamsa-adorned Crescent Heights Muscle Tank in tango red (shown) or black.

Moto Jacket  in off-white ($695)

Moto Women's Jean in black ($228)

Crescent Heights Muscle Tank in Tango Red ($68)

Then, there has to be a couple of maxi-dress options, because I love them dearly. True Religion's Gypsy Printed Maxi Dress (below) has the kind of worn-in softness that usually only a favorite garment decades old might have. One of the things I love about the brand is that you don't have to fret about things feeling too new and waiting and washing for your pieces to feel more worn in. The Gypsy dress pairs perfectly with the Shelby Studded Western Vest in Optic White, and would also be very smart with the Moto Jacket for evening. In the summertime, you want easy, you need easy. You can neatly fold this lightweight dress into an impossibly tiny bundle and carry it in a bag to take with you anywhere. Toss some little sandals in there too, and you can jump off your bike and into your cool and breezy beach party clothes.

 Gypsy Printed Maxi Dress (on sale for $99.99!)

Shelby Studded Western Vest in optic white ($228)

The Indigo Knit Maxi Dress (below) reminds me so much of my friend Angela, who moved from Brooklyn to Southern California about 8 months ago, and she's been loving it. She is the girl you know who looks amazing in everything, and that's because her smile makes you forget your name or what you were just supposed to be doing... her energy is infectious. The dress has the quiet cool of simplicity and topped with the Shelby Studded Western Vest or the White Moto Jacket, would make the sort of outfit you could really live in all Summer. 

Indigo Knit Women's Maxi Dress ($148)

All of these pieces are mix-and-match-- you just can't go wrong. Of course, the jackets and pants sail straight through Summer and into the Fall season.

Now that we've got the clothes, you may need something specially suited to your skin's needs if you're going to be traveling on the open road or exposing your skin to the elements in any way. Adventuress Skin Care is a company which directly addresses that need. Their products are all portable, all formulated with the traveler in mind, and all designed to protect and nourish your skin. I recently had the pleasure of attending a webinar all about Adventuress and its founder, Michele Carter, who is an avid biker herself. She had the ingenuity and foresight to see a gap in the market for a very niche group of people, but what Adventuress' collection of products turned out to be is something that everyone can use-- especially frequent travelers by any method.

Sunscreen Swipes, Facial Wipes, Cleanser, Skin Purifier (like a toner/serum) and Moisturizer comprise their well-priced introduction kit. It all comes inside a really (REALLY) cute bag that you can stash anywhere. I love the idea of Adventuress and also the practicality of their offerings.

Intro Offer Collection ($85)
Includes: Cleanser, Skin Purifier, Moisturizer, You Vee's Sunscreen Wipes and Facial Wipes.

Adventuress Intro Offer Collection

Here are a few quick features of  the products:

The Naturally Liberating Cleanser has hempseed and olive oils.

The Vividly Restorative Skin Purifier has quince, willowbark and sugar maple.

The Boldly Nourishing Moisturizer contains a host of micronutrients, antioxidants and vitamins.

You Vees Sunscreen Swipes have 4% micronized titanium dioxide and 3% octinoxate to protect against UVA and UVB rays with sunflower oil and vitamin E to hydrate and soothe.

The Fearlessly Refreshing Facial Wipes contain gentle, soothing natural ingredients to comfort reddened, sensitive and rosacea skin, removing dirt and debris without stripping the skin of its natural oils.

Also available on the Adventuress website (but not in the Intro Offer Collection) is the Wickedly Protective EnviroBalm, which contains ingredients like aloe, beeswax, jojoba and olive to act as a skin protectant for your face (and other areas too!).

And for a finishing touch, how about a fabulous hair accessory you can use once you take off your helmet (or hat, etc.)? I absolutely love Jane Tran's hair accessories.Something you can wear as jewelry and then put your hair up with it is the order of the day. A perfect, pretty, fuss-free accessory with major points for coolness. You can wear all three of the options below as bracelets, with the headbands wrapped 2 or 3 times around the wrist.

Jane Tran Thin Ruffled Pony Set: 3 for $7.50

Beaded Mosaic Stretch Headband: $65

Beaded Array Headband: $47.50

I love how just a few key pieces invite so many cool combinations, proving that low-maintenance can translate into high style.

[All photos are property of their respective brands. This post was sponsored by True Religion. Adventuress Skin Care and Jane Tran are not sponsors.]

A Favorite Fashion Moment of 2012 and its Perfume Pairing

One of my favorite fashion moments of 2012 was undoubtedly the emergence of Swedish style blogger and model Elin Kling (Style By Kling) into the mainstream fashion limelight. It seems that these days, bloggers can become famous pretty easily, and many of us are left wondering.. why? Elin Kling has proven to be an exception to that kind of exasperated plaintiveness. Her collaboration with Marciano for her collection of clothing and accessories is all aces. The ad campaign featuring Kling herself as the model is even more delicious, as she clearly gives us major vintage Raquel Welch in One Million Years BC.  Kling's collection is super-modern, super-wearable and when you see it all as a whole, you just want to be that girl. We all know that kind of cool can't be bought, so if you've got it, rock it.

Amazing bootie from the Elin Kling for Marciano accessories collection

My favorite shot. The way her body torques is just like Raquel's

Raquel Welch in One Million Years BC

Now, let's see. Elin's look that I love so much needs a great fragrance to pair with it. We're going to need something either genderless or something that leans masculine, and it can't have overpowering sillage. A few great picks would be:

CB I Hate Perfume 2nd (Alan) Cumming

A smoky, peaty, boozy masterpiece. Meant to represent Scotland in all the ways that count (except haggis).

Donna Karan Woman

Beautiful woody, musky concoction that's very light on florals and heavy on quiet sex appeal.

Commes des Garcon Wonderwood

A marvel of the synthetic woody overdose.

Tom Ford Oud Wood

Rich, nutty, warm and simple- more of a halo than a perfume.

Despite the above strong contenders, one fragrance stands out among all for this particular pairing, and that would be:
JUL ET MAD Amour de Palazzo. With patchouli, natural castoreum (!), a four-spice blend and leather, it has the aesthetic strength of modernism on its side with an impassioned, amber-toned soul beneath the surface. When I see Elin Kling wearing her collection for Marciano, I get exactly the same vibe.

Do you have any favorite fashion moments of 2012? Can you pair it with a particular fragrance?