To: A much needed getaway!
Where: North Shore and Waikiki, Oahu, HI
I needed to get away on a getaway or I was seriously going to hurt someone! This girl needed a vacation bad, real bad. Ever since I’ve been self-employed (for over 2 years now!), my BF and I have not been able to take a real vacay. I’m talking about the FOR REAL kind, you know, where you sit around and don’t do doo doo. The timing finally worked out just right and Hawaii was just the perfect place to spend some much deserved R&R. I haven’t been there in over 8 years, so coming back after that long hiatus was a completely different experience. One word to sum up the trip: AMAZING.
We stayed for a total of 6 days and I used my laptop ONCE. Sayonara real world! We spent 4 days in a rented beach cottage in the North Shore that was just surreal. It’s the same place Jac went for her getaway last year and Paradise is NOT an overstatement. We were literally steps away from the water so I was in my bikini all day and swam, snorkeled, made breakfast/lunch/dinner, laid out, and watched the sunrise and set. It was so awesome. I kept the rest of my outfits easy and breezy as we explored Waikiki, which was equally fun and fabulous. The water was so warm, the sand so soft, and the food so so so good. I could scream “I LOVE HAWAII” out loud all day. Hopefully it won’t take me another 2 years to unplug. It was everything I needed to recharge!
Get Ups at the beach: BIKINIS: H&M Front Zipper Bandeau + Bottom; H&M Front Knot Halter Bikini Top + Vintage Straw Hat; Mikoh Crochet Back Bathing Suit
Get Up for a day trip around the North Shore: Brigid Catiis Vintage Remake Floral Dress + Lovers and Friends Dylan Sandals + Vintage Braided Belt and Bracelets
Get Ups in Waikiki: Tigerlily Cropped Fringe Tie Dye Top + Vintage Levi’s Cut Off’s + Target Slippers; Indah Cut Out Shoulder Tie Dye Tunic + F21 Necklace + Vintage Indian Purse; H&M Cheetah Dress + UO Denim Button Down Shirt (worn over dress and tied) + Vintage Bracelets and Bag
Jaclyn, New York
My friends are pretty much convinced that I’m a vampire. The reason being they say, is that they never see me in daylight. While that’s somewhat of an exaggeration, (I do manage to book it to the deli around the corner on the weekends for my usual toasted sesame bagel with cream cheese and large black iced coffee w/ one sugar, or in other words, the PERFECT BREAKFAST!) I will admit that I need to make much more of an effort to get out into the sunshine. So last Saturday, I got up at the crack of 3pm to get ready to make my way to Central Park for a fun picnic with some really great human beings.
Now since the picnic technically started at 3 o’clock (I know, I know, I’m terrible), I had to shower and get dressed pronto. And it never fails that something unforeseen always happens when I’m in pronto mode! Here’s the deal, I might literally have a thousand pairs of shorts, but ironically, I wear the same 5 pairs ALL THE TIME. When it turned out that all 5 pairs were out at the laundromat I had to go to Plan F…as in “What the F do I wear now“? Trying to find something quickly, I eyeballed my shorts section and zoomed in on a pair of super cute vintage acid washed denim shorts that I last wore about a year and a half ago during a trip to Cali. Feeling like they just saved the day, I threw them on and – CURVE BALL – there was a giant hole in one pocket. Ah, now I remember why I buried them. But I’m nothing if not resourceful and decided to broach the hell out of the problem pocket to remind myself not to stuff anything in there. Cute and functional, YES SIREE! I made it to the park in time to hang out in the sun with my fellow man. 
Vintage Mesh Tank Top (Goodwill, LA), Fuchsia Bandeau – worn underneath (American Apparel, NYC), Vintage Unleaded Acid Washed Pleated Shorts + Vintage Faux Croc Belt (Quality Thrift, LA), Vintage Bejeweled Quilted Leather Bag (Goodwill, NJ), Vintage Necklaces + Vintage Pearl Ring + Vintage Broaches + Vintage Bracelet (NYC Flea Markets, My Grandma), Croc Ring + Black Knuckle Ring + Caged Brown Sandals (Forever 21, NYC)
Raissa, Los Angeles
Summer is here and that means mucho fun in the sun – vacation getaways, beach parties, BBQ’s, picnics, and the list goes on! I just got back from an amazing vacation in Hawaii (pics coming soon!) and I brought a small suitcase with loads of…scarves! Scarves? Why you ask? Well hey, what can I say, I have a way with scarves. There are just so many things you can do to turn them into ADORABLE tops – yes tops, or half a top as the case may be. Here you’ll see the first of 3 D.I.M. posts I will be doing in the coming weeks on how to turn your scarves into summer ready tops that are SO (x 10) easy to create!
1. Start with a scarf in a light weight fabric. It will naturally drape better. Make sure to pick a scarf that’s big enough so you have plenty of room to play around. The one I chose is 34 inches wide and 46 inches long.
2. Tie a knot right smack in the middle of the scarf. This is an important step! It will define the shape of the top and make it look symmetrical.
3. Drape the scarf on your body and choose how high/low you want the front to be (use the knot in the middle as a guide). Then tie the top around your neck, just like you would a halter.
4. Next, take the extra fabric on the sides and tie it in the back. Make adjustments on the side of your “top” by simply rolling under any extra fabric.
5. Take the two loose hanging pieces of extra fabric and lace it through the top of your “halter”. Tie one on each side as shown.
6. And WOO HOO! You’ve got a new top from the scarf that would’ve been sitting around til Fall or Winter. ENJOY!
I know this is going to sound downright coo coo bananas, but we haven’t bought any new shoes since March. WEIRD, right? So right! This is a totally foreign concept to us. But between work, life and everything in between, the last few months have been so crazy that we haven’t had any time to spend on…heavy sigh…shoe shopping. Well, we’re not going to sit around and let cute shoes pass our feet by any longer! We’re picking our shoe game back up and couldn’t have chosen a more perfect time to make it happen. We are absolutely OBSESSED with sky high pumps and wedges, and they are EVERYWHERE right now. ASOS and Forever 21.com have some fabulous ones that are as easy on your pockets as they are on your eye sockets. So affordable in fact that we ended up buying two pairs each. What?? C’mon, we’ve been dry since March! Chalk up these babies to making up for lost time…
Jaclyn, New York
Yes, these Forever 21 Wedge Platform Oxfords DO remind you of those oh-so-popular Acne Atacoma wedge shoes that were all the rage last year. While I know a lot of ladies were all over Acne’s jock at that time, frankly, they were just a liiiittle too mucho for my taste. But these right here are definitely more my speed, and I know will still be rockable season after season to come. And I’m terrible at math, but the difference between $600 and $27.80 equals DUH! Now on to my second no-brainer shoe purchase. These ASOS Suede Platform Pumps were on clearance for just $25.36. Was it my lucky shoe week or what? I received my shipment of these little guys just yesterday and can attest first hand that they are just as yummy in real life as they look in the pics. EAT UP while they’re hot ladies!
Raissa, Los Angeles
Hmmm, it just occurred to me that my two new babies are similar in color…but don’t worry, no sad faces here! I’ve actually been on the hunt for taupe/beige/barely gray colored shoes. Haha, lucky me, it’s like Christmas and my birthday came early. I stumbled on both of these killer shoes when Jac “made me” check out her two new purchases from ASOS and F21. Of course, I couldn’t leave either site without checking to see what else was in stock. Remember, it’s been like moooonths since I checked out their shoe sections. And, of course, like Jac, I just couldn’t say no. The Tie Up Wedges from ASOS were an absolute must. They had me at buckle, and at $67.64, were well worth it because trust that I’ll be working the wedge off these suckers! The F21 shoes on the other hand, were just a total GET – YSL inspired, great color, comfy looking and um, they’re only $24.80. Two pairs of shoes for under $100, YES PLEASE!
To: Be Maid of Honors at our BFF’s weddings!
Where: Villa del Sol d’Oro, Sierra Madre CA & Hanalei Faye Estate, Kauai HI
Raissa’s Get Up: French Connection “Dotty” Dress + American Eagle Necklaces (worn as belt) and Bracelet + Steve Madden Pumps
Jaclyn’s Get Up: Jim Hjelm Chiffon One Shoulder Dress (Hemmed) + Qupid Silver Platforms
Raissa, Los Angeles
May was an amazing month filled with lots of love, good times and open bars…in other words, it was wedding season folks. As we’ve mentioned before, both Jac and I were asked by our dear friends to be Maid of Honors at their weddings, which just so happened to fall a week apart from each other. My bestie Julie’s wedding came first. I’ve known Julie ever since I was itty bitty so I couldn’t have been more filled with excitement to be a part of her special day. Julie, who got hitched to another one of my best friends Mike, had her wedding at an incredible location in Sierra Madre. When you walked in, you instantly felt like you were at a villa in Italy. It was picturesque to say the least and Jules did a beautiful job with every detail. Julie let all the girls in her bridal party pick their own dress, it just needed to be a shade of gray. BRILLIANT! Everybody looked amazing and I know it’s cliche, but I think ALL of us will wear our bridesmaid dress again. I know I will! I loved it and every time I wear it will remember this day as one of the most funnest and joyous times ever. Cheers to the bride and groom!
Jaclyn, New York
The sun is a filthy liar. It was bright and mild yesterday and today it’s chilly and rainy. What up with that?? So looking at these pictures now takes me back to a warm and happy place. When my best friend Noelani asked me to be her Maid of Honor, I was beyond honored. Seriously. I don’t have any sisters so being asked to be a Maid of Honor honestly took me by total surprise. Then when Noe told me the wedding was going to be held on a gorgeous 6 bedroom estate in Kauai, I was beyond excited. This was positively one of the most memorable and intimate weddings I’ve ever been to. Sixty guests attended the wedding and it really made you feel special just to be there. Noe let all the ladies pick their own style of dress, it just had to be one of two shades of purple chiffon and tea length. I had to hem mine, and thought it turned out pretty adorable. But please know if I wear this sucker again, I’m chopping it into a super mini and breaking it into the party circuit! Cheers to the bride and groom!
PS: A word to the wise, if it’s 80% humidity out, DO NOT wear bangs.
