EPHEMERALLY YOURS

My favorite pair of boots is tied between this timeless tan suede and this elegant deep plum suede Saint Laurent Jodhpur. I got the tan boots in 2017, and if you’ve been following me for some time now, you know these boots and I have been inseparable! So much so, that less than a year later, I picked up the same style in this beautiful shade of purple. Though I’m not sure why Saint Laurent brands it as oxblood. The cut of these boots is probably the slimmest of all my boots; yet they are still SOOOO comfortable. I can wear them all day, or even on a night out, and my rather wide feet will still be okay! Everything about these boots from the details, to the suede, to the comfort is just *chef’s kiss*!

My oldest pair of boots, but also my least worn is this pair of brown combat boots from Forever 21. Don’t get me wrong, these boots are super comfortable and I really like the color, but I didn’t pay attention to some very crucial details when I bought them. I don’t know if you can tell, but these boots don’t have a zipper or anything would allow them be put on or taken off easily; especially when they’re laced. Secondly, the way that these boots lace up with hooks as opposed to eyelets are very true to combat boots, so it’s a lot of work for someone like me who’s always running late. Hahaha!

My second pair of combat boots is one that I wear a whole lot more purely from the existence of the side zipper. The faux shearling that lines these bad boys are super nice, but the boots themselves never broke in properly. Even though I wear these more than the brown boots, I can only last about three hours before my feet start are in distress. Despite them cutting off my circulation and blistering my feet, I’ve even worn these to Coachella and Tahoe in the winter because mama didn’t raise a quitter! If you’re thinking of buying combat boots from Aldo, I would suggest going up half a size because the material is way too sturdy to give.

The last pair for today and the newest addition to my wardrobe is this pair of leather Saint Laurent Chelsea boots. The cut on these is slightly wider than the Jodhpurs, so they’re EVEN MORE comfortable than my favorites! As I said in my {last post}, I’d never really wanted Chelsea boots since I wasn’t too big a fan of the elastic sides on traditional pairs; the leather strips that cover the elastic and create the ribbed texture give these Chelsea boots so much more visual interest to me. I’ve been wearing these quite a bit and they’ve already broken in, which could be a good or bad thing depending on what your take is on creasing. 

I don’t know if this is the type of content you’re interested in. I’m not saying you need to buy high end, luxury boots but I hope you got some takeaways in regards to sizing, cuts, designs, etc. If you have any boots that you live in or swear by, please let me know. I would be more than happy to give them a shot!

If you know me, you know I love a good adventure! So, what’s a better combination of excitement and retail therapy than thrift shopping? I don’t always have time to dig around to find the hidden gems, so I don’t nearly go as much as I would like. However feel like every time I go, I stumble upon the most incredible pieces; these Dior sunnies and Saint Laurent backpack are 100% a testament of that! I found the sunglasses for 90% off the original Technologic’s price tag - a freaking dream come true! This Saint Laurent backpack wasn’t on as big of a discount as the sunglasses, but I’d say that 75% off the original tag is still a win. This backpack was actually a piece I found in San Francisco when I was there for Memorial Day. To my surprise, it was still there months after so I took it as a sign that it was meant to be in my life.

As if there’s anyone left in my life that doesn’t know about my Saint Laurent OBSESSION, I splurged on my beloved when I found out about the Rive Droite branch of the brand. The thing that initially caught my eye about the collection was the Zoe Kravitz tee shirt. But, when I dug a little deeper, I couldn’t decide if I wanted the Kate Moss or the Zoe Kravitz polaroid, so I went a little (lot) crazy and bought both! The little monogram piece is actually a bookmark that I figured could make a cute addition to my blazers. My final Saint Laurent purchase came from the outlet in New York. I’d had my sights set on Chelsea boots for a minute now, but I’ve never been a fan of the elastic sections. The ribbed leather design on these really caught my eye, and at over 50% off, they were a MUST HAVE!

If you know me in real life, then you’ll know that this hat is extremely on-brand for me! I’d actually wanted the sweater when it first came out, but I decided against it based on the price alone. I couldn’t justify paying 4-figures for a black hoodie with embroidery and not much of a design (I know you’re probably thinking “WTF? What about all those screen printed tees??” And, you’d be right. I don’t know either). However, at an outlet price point, I knew I would regret not buying this adorable little hat.

I bought these Toga Archive double western buckle sandals for any day clubbing opportunities that might’ve arose during my Vegas trip. However, with that trip being a bust, these gorgeous sandals made the quick transition to becoming my everyday sandals. If you know my weekend uniform, you know that I love a good pair of slides, and I’ve been obsessed with western buckles recently. My next purchase is definitely going to be a pair of western buckle boots. If anyone knows of any good ones, please let me know!

After my trip to New York, I told myself I would take a breather, but one of my favorite fashion bloggers released a capsule collection with Jaded London and you know I had to show my support! Hahaha. The collection was breathtaking and the aesthetics were right up my alley. I wanted both iterations of the shirt, but I figured I didn’t need both. However, I did buy both of the barrel bags since I imagined so many different ways to wear them. I also bought a few things that weren’t part of the collection: the socks and the necklace. The alien socks are super cute, but I wouldn’t have bought them if I didn’t need to make the minimum amount for free shipping. The neck-hugging barbed wire necklace on the other hand, DELICIOUS! 

If you just started following me recently, you might only know me for my stupid ass spending habits; however, my blog started out with equal parts fashion and art. Not only did I showcase my own art and processes, when I was in school, I would write about the various gallery features around San Diego. So, if you’ve been here since the start, you’ll know that these canvases didn’t come out of the blue. The muted piece was actually a find from Ross! I honestly haven’t even hung it up and I have no idea what I want to do with a piece of this size, but I knew I needed her calming vibes. The hand-painted aspect of this piece had me sold; although, I don’t think Ross was selling custom handmade pieces for $40. The next two pieces are from the extremely talented Shane Bowden, an Australian artist, whose galleries I frequented in San Diego. The Birkin and the Dom will go with my Louboutin piece that I got a few years ago. The Chanel is actually a gift for my cousin, but it’s gorgeous so I thought it should be included. I’m a HUGE fan of pop art, and if you don’t think these paintings don’t have my name written all of over them, then you don’t know me at all. Hahaha!

The last item from this haul is this highly sought-after reusable Starbucks cup. I literally tore through San Jose in search of this bad boy! This cup was only released to licensed stores - meaning inside of Targets, grocery stores, bookstores, etc. I honestly still can’t believe I found the last one in San Jose all because one of the workers left it in the backroom and never put it on the shelf.

Anyway, sorry about how long this post turned out to be. I didn’t realize how hard I was wylin’ out over the past two months. I might actually need to get checked before I wreck myself. Hahaha.

The Mess:

Shirt - Gallucks

Shorts - Cotton On

Shoes - Balenciaga

Ring - Cartier

There was so much to do and so much to see! One of my friends was flying in to attend a networking event, so I tagged along to visit my friend who currently lives in New York. The contrast and similarities between my interests and my friends’ interests really made this the most well-rounded and interesting trips I’ve ever taken. We were able to hit up major NYC hotspots as well as some hole-in-the-wall hangouts. I even rented a car and made the effort to leave the city just to experience another side of New York. Even though we only saw what felt like three percent of New York, I equally felt like we were able to make the most out of our short time in there.

The Mess:

Shirt - Fenty x Puma

Pants - Urban Outfitters

Belt - Other UK

Shoes - Fenty x Puma

Bag - Dior

One of the most daunting aspects of New York for me was going to be the subway system. Being a California boy (more specifically the Bay Area), I’ve never really had to use public transit, and when I did, it was always one of the most confusing things I’d ever done - aside from my science exams. However, public transit in NYC was so user-friendly that in just about three days, me and my friend were able to zip from neighborhood to neighborhood with little to no snuggle!

The Mess:

Tee - H&M

Shirt - Allsaints

Pants - H&M / DIY

Shoes - Coach

Bag - Prada

I also came to the conclusion that New York city is basically one giant shopping center with residences above, and if that isn’t on brand for me then I honestly don’t know what is! Five days truly was not enough time for this amazing wonderland. I honestly could’ve spent a full month there and not have gotten bored, but what I got from this quick trip was more than I could ever have imagined!

The Mess:

Shirt - Saint Laurent Rive Droite

Pants - Target

Shoes - Balenciaga

Necklace - Magic Jewelry

Sunglasses - Quay

I’ve actually been feeling pretty out of place where I currently am, but didn’t know what I needed until now. New York helped me realize that my soul has been craving the type of stimulus that comes with big city living and that my city-suburban hybrid environment just isn’t quite cutting it; I need to be immersed in the art, fashion, and culture.

This process hasn’t been the quickest, but seeing the subtle changes every step of the way has made every headache, toothache, and lifestyle change worth it. I really can’t remember what my teeth were like before I made this plunge. However, the headaches and toothaches can’t really be helped; your bones are literally being twisted and shifted inside your head. I say lifestyle changes very loosely as well since the only big difference is my snacking habit. Having to remove the tray each time I eat any little thing has made me more conscious of whether or not I should be eating. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though, since it has contributed heavily to my fitness journey. 

Pulling out my first tray to take these photos really blew my mind! I haven’t seen that first tray in over a year. Look at the difference a little under a tear makes!

My bottom teeth have always been relatively aligned, so there’s not much of a difference between the two trays pictured. 

Making the decision to get braces has been one of my best investments in myself and one of my biggest privileges. I know that plastic surgery/body modification is a touchy subject and that it’s not always an option for everyone; however, if there’s something that bothers you and you have the opportunity to change it, I would highly recommend it. Of course, you should only enhance what you already have and not change your appearance entirely. Be the best YOU possible; not a mediocre version of someone else. 

All I can say is, the orthodontic team at Canyon Dental in San Jose has been wonderfully helpful, and if you’re local to the area, I would highly recommend leaving your teeth in their care!