Daisylace Crop | Ruffle Sweater | Cult Gaia Dupe | Valentino Heels (duper here and here)
I’m always on the hunt for pants that I can wear to work, that aren’t jeans and that transition well. When I came across these at J.Crew, I just knew I had to have them. I’ve already worn them a few times, from work to a dinner with my family. I find they are so versatile which is important when I am buying clothing. I love that that I can dress them up if I wanted to, or keep it casual like I did here. In addition to being on the hunt for crops, I have been in love with just about every ruffle sweater, dress or top that I come across. I saw this ruffle sweater and thought about the many things I could pair it with this fall. Not only did it arrive and it was so cute, but it is so soft you just want to wear it with everything. You’ll see me pairing it several different ways this upcoming fall.
I chose to dress this outfit down with a perfect look-a-like of the Cult Gaia bag that I found here. I went with the large size but think I could have been just as happy with the small (they’re basically the same price). If you want a different variation of the traditional bamboo look, I found a look-a-like in black and white, see here (under $30). I also found these Valentino look-a-likes which I recommend. I wear my Valentino sandals all the time. I feel like I definitely got my money worth out of them so to speak. They are the perfect height and go with nearly everything and make for easy walking.
Floral Maxi Skirt | Ruffle Bodysuit | Chloe Dupe Bag (also love this one)
My love for ruffles and floral continues today with this amazing wrap floral maxi skirt from Lovers+Friends exclusively sold at Revolve! Since it’s a self tying wrap skirt, the adjustable waist allows gals, like me, who usually wear a small to go down to an XS (*however I am currently wearing a small here, I could have sized down for a fitter look). The skirt is so fun and you can dress it up with a dressier top or dress it down with a ruffled bodysuit like this one.
With the end of summer and as we enter into fall at least per the fashion calendar, I’m starting to look for pretty outfits that will transition well. Living in LA typically means that our summer gets a little warmer through early fall. I especially love this look for a transitional outfit as I can transform it into a fall look with a jacket and some cute booties like these ones. Maxi skirts are a great alternative to the maxi dress look and can be worn with more versatility. I’ve linked several other wrap and non-wrap maxi skirts that would work well as we make our way from summer to fall. Plus, I think maxi skirts are one of those staple items that we can pull out next season too!
1. Prepare for Monday on Friday-Mondays tend to be extra stressful from work that piled up the afternoon before you left for the weekend on the previous Friday. For many of us, it’s hard to jump back in to the swing of things. To help ease the anxiety on Monday, try taking care of a few of the dreadful tasks on Friday afternoon rather than leaving them to do on a new work week, that way you leave it behind you with the previous week. If you have a task that causes you more stress on Monday morning, try taking care of it sooner rather than later so you don’t have a black cloud hanging over your head.
2. Make a list of things you are looking forward to-We often look at the week ahead of us with an endless tasks list and all the tough stuff that we have to do. Try turning that around and Sunday evening before going to bed, make a list of all the things you are looking forward to. if you can’t seem to come up with at least a few things, perhaps it’s a sign that you may want to change things up.
3. Unplug for the weekend-If you can or have the luxury to do so, try to avoid checking emails or voice mails over the weekend. If you don’t think you will respond until Monday anyway, why not leave those emails and tasks until Monday morning. Though it may be tempting to know what’s going on or what you might be missing, it’s important to draw a boundary between work and personal time.
4. Make sure you get enough sleep and wake up early-Get to bed a little earlier on Sunday night knowing that you are getting a full night of sleep so that you can wake up feeling extra rested and prepared to take on the new week. Take the time to enjoy breakfast, do some exercises, take the dog for a quick walk, are all things that can help you feel more centered for the rest of the day. I’ve noticed a significant different when I get up an hour earlier and take some time for myself and how it affects my attention at work.**
5. Dress for success-Use Monday as the day to wear your favorite outfit or your favorite new outfit. This can help build your confidence around the office and even get you a few compliments from co-workers. When you look good, you tend to feel good. And, feeling good on a Monday morning is half the battle because instead of not wanting to be there, you have the urge to excel. Try showing and sharing your happy spirit with those around you creating a positive vibe all around.
For the hopeless romantic: El Matador Beach-This beach is located about 10 miles northwest of Malibu. The secluded pocket beach has rocky shores, robust waves and some of the prettiest waters in LA. Let’s be honest, it’s not as pretty as the Bahamas but for LA, it’s as good as it gets. Don’t be deterred from the rugged path to the beach or lack of facilities, once you get down to the beach and settle in, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy the sunset with a bottom of wine. *highly recommend for any shoot (engagement, babymoon, wedding, or a simple shoot).
The perfect surf spot: Malibu Surfrider Beach-As the waves roll in and begin to curl near the shore, surfers paddle quickly to catch those beautiful California waves. If you’re looking to surf, this is the beach you want to check out. Sometimes, it’s easier to just be a spectator and enjoy the surf vibe than try to fight surfers for the waves. *Note, you don’t have to be an experienced surfer, I’m pretty sure that I learned to surf at this beach a few years back. Although I wish I could say I liked it, surfing is not for me.
The “Classic” LA Beach: Santa Monica Beach-This is one of the most popular and visited beaches in LA. It is located just north of the Santa Monica Pier and is about two miles long. There is plenty of space to set up for the perfect beach day, or set up for a volleyball game or simply go for a beautiful bike ride down the boardwalk. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, a beach towel and some spare cash for parking. And, some water! If you’re looking for something quick and easy, this is the beach you’ll want to check out!
The People Watcher Beach: Venice Beach-This is the place where you’ll find infamous bodybuilders, chainsaw jugglers, endless palm readers, folk artists and an array of characters. To be honest, this is one of my least favorite beaches as it is very touristy and sometimes becomes a bit trashy. It attracts a certain crowd and personally I prefer to Santa Monica if I am looking for an easily accessible beach. Despite it not being my favorite, I still recommend checking out. Even though it isn’t my cup of tea, it might be yours.
The Getaway: Manhattan Beach-It’s all beautiful people, fancy cars, families, couples and puppies on leashes. It’s a trendy area in a low-key beach town, if that makes sense. This is one of my favorite beaches to go to. Though, I do love Malibu-it doesn’t have a town quite like Manhattan Beach does. On the sand, you’ll find beach volleyball courts that seem endless, body surfing near the pier, your early morning surf goers and your early morning risers that walk the boardwalk. If you’re planning to eat, I recommend The Post and The Strand. And, if you have space for dessert, be sure to check out Manhattan Beach creamery.
Hello Monday! I can’t believe we are nearing the end of summer, it seems like this year flew by in the blink of an eye and in no time it’ll be the holidays. I recently saw a post that there was only 12 Mondays until Christmas! I am excited to watch the partial solar eclipse today though I was wishing I could be somewhere on the path of the eclipse.
I love getting a little dressed up whenever I can. You’ll find that trousers are in this fall, and what better way to spruce up your fall closet with a little bit of a pink. When I saw these pink trousers, I knew I had to have them. I found a similar pair here and here that are less expensive. You can wear these pants to work, to happy hours, to birthdays and really to anything. I love that I can transition this look from work to happy hour. As most of the time, I am leaving work to head to an event it works perfectly when my outfits transition easily.
I pair these pants with a lightweight floral blouse which can also transition to your fall closet with a cute leather jacket. The ruffled detail is so cute but not overpowering and easy blouse to pair with these pants or with a pair of white or blue denim. When I look for clothing, I often look for versatility and this outfit does just that.
*For sizing, I’d recommend sizing up in the blouse if you have bigger boobs.
I decided to create Something Dashing as a place to document the things that I love, and as a way to showcase current trends in a fresh and inspiring way. By living in several different cities and my love for travel, I tend to add a dose of global influence to my wardrobe.
Trouser Pant | Blouse | Heels 
