What I loved this week:

..my new Cover Girl eye shadow duo: Smokin’ Shadow Blast. You get two eye shadows and can layer them or go with one single color. It is soft and creamy and easy to slide. Just don’t over do it because it tends to gather in the crease of your lid.
I got the 805 Silver Sky.

…white jeans. I have been wearing them every day. I have one skinny pair and one with wider legs and love them both. This summer they have become my staples somehow, worn with floral tunics, inky blue tops or stripes, with jacket and tank tops, …

…my occasional depression! I finally got used to these periods of being low and blue. I’m accepting them as my body’s signal to slow down and relax after a period of high stress and lots of activity. I’m learning to enjoy them, spend time on myself, day dream and plan, … and definitely go shopping and read lots of books!

Wanted! Inspiration

I’ve been delightfully busy. My cousin and her husband were visiting California for the first time. It has been more than ten years that I’d seen them. So it was very exciting and fun having them over.
To make everything easy I wore my tried and true outfits: Striped jacket and skinny jeans, White jeans and navy folk-y tunic, striped tops and white cargos…; easy, fun, cool and great for going to the beach and sight seeing.
Rinse and repeat! A week of this easy diet and I was fed up with navy and white and strips and in desperate need of inspiration and a new outfit combination.
Oooh, what is that picture in Lucky magazine?

Getting It Right: Cargo Skirts & T-Shirts



• CHOOSE A CRISP SKIRT that hits mid-thigh (for a little sexiness) and fits slim through the hips. As far as color goes, we like classic army green.

• A THIN-CUT, SLOUCHY TEE creates a soft juxtaposition with the clean lines of the skirt. Anything overly formfitting will quickly take the outfit in too uniform-like a direction.

• LUXE-FEELING ACCESSORIES like strappy heels and a bucket bag add elegance; keeping them in a neutral palette maintains the feminine-utilitarian vibe.

Mmm, it happens that I have an olive cargo skirt bought last October on sale for $8.99.
Let’s go check and see if I can find it and also a loose top that is not a t-shirt.

Lab Coats and my ranting

I had to wear a lab coat again after 5-6 years. I had mix feelings about it! I who changed my major and basically my whole career because I didn’t want to wear a lab coat for the rest of my life, was there in a strange lab wearing a borrowed lab coat (four size larger) and goggles, trying to pretend I knew what I was doing with their instruments! Ahhhhh, what an experience!
I know that whole career change because of the dress code may sound shallow to you, I can add a few more reasons to it but why bother?!
Anyway, two career changes later and here I was in a lab coat again! Universe plays cruel jokes on us sometimes. This particular lab was analyzing radioactive water samples and they had to take additional safety measures, plus being scanned for radioactive residue at the end of the day.
Now my personal policy in our lab is simple: If I’m not working with toxic or corrosive chemicals I wear my regular clothes (and thank goodness none of my chemicals are toxic or corrosive!). That means open-toed sandals, jeans, short sleeve tops, my jackets, skirts and …. If I was still in chemistry department, I wouldn’t be allowed in the labs!
The dress code in a chemistry lab includes: closed shoes which covers your entire foot (and you better wear socks too!), long sleeved lab coats, pants (no shorts, skirts or even cropped pants), mostly goggles and depending on the chemicals you are working with you may have to wear latex or chemical resistance gloves and sometimes face masks. Sounds cute, no?
Oh, no way! I am not going to look for a research position in the future because I don’t want to be forced to wear lab coats again.
Believe me, I am very happy that I am not in medical field and forced to wear scrubs day in and day out.
So what do you think? Is your dress code (and no, I don’t mean suits) bothering you? Will you change your career because of the dress code? Will you wear lab coats and scrubs every single day if your job demands it?

What is your feeling about lab coats and scrubs?
	I will change my job ASAP!
	I try to make them pretty and accessorize with scarves and pins and brooches!
	I try to break the rules and won't wear them everyday.
	I will wear them because I have to!
pollcode.com free polls

What I loved this week:

…white canvas and leather bags. Those that look preppy and cool and artistic. Something unique that screams summer in the city:

…Poppies, specifically red and orange ones. Has been seeing them on the side of the road,
Of posters, on dresses … well, almost every where.

…Hot pink color. Blame it on my sister and my missing her, but I’ve been seeing hot pink clothes and accessories every where:

Linen, cool and effortless

I had always envied those women who can look effortlessly chic. No, I don’t mean those wearing a nice dress or jeans and jacket combos. I mean those awesome women who dress like they put their outfit together from the floor of their closets in the dark, wearing lots of layers, pieces that don’t go together color wise or are rumpled and wrinkled but still look good! You know whom I mean.
And I always thought to wear this distressed ultra casual look you should be very tall and thin so anything would look good on you!
But a couple of weeks ago I saw a friend (OK, the wife of a friend) whom I see once every two years or even less! It was a sunny day and she was wearing a pair of draw string linen pants (those that have draw string at the hem too) in light brown and a silk loose slouchy top in dusty rose, carrying a large light gray satchel and wearing flip flops. …. And she looked good, cool, effortless and totally chic. I should mention that she is not thin and tall. She has a great figure but is of average height and has curves. And still, she managed to pull of that slouchy silhouette! Ahhhhh, I was envious!
I’ve always worn more structured pieces. Now I’m not that vigilant when it comes to ironing my clothes every time I want to wear them (my sister always complains about my lack of polish). But I go for pieces that are tailored and keep their own shape. I used to think soft loose silhouettes will make me look short and fat.
Well, not anymore! After that visit I’ve been dreaming of mastering that effortlessly cool summer style and today I took the first step. I bought something I have avoided like a plague in the past: a pair of %100 linen pants in mocha which has really wide legs.
I envision styling it with white silk tunics and wooden beads, tan espadrille and straw bags.
Well it would look more French Riviera than South Orange County but hey, it’s my first time!

Flowers and Stripes

I love my new horizontal striped jacket (Thank you mom!). With a little chill in the air, a thicker sweater top was in order. My top has a string of flowers crocheted in front and with my dangly floral earrings, I was thinking of purposing a bill for changing the flag from stars and stripes to flowers and stripes. All navy and white with a pop of red. Won’t that be nice?!

Looking for a…

“I want a denim dress. I need a denim dress. I really really need a denim dress” I repeat to myself every time I go shopping. I have been on a quest to find the perfect denim dress for three summers now. As you can guess, still no luck. Everything is too short, too long, too thick, too thin, not enough sleeve, very long sleeve, too much cleavage, too much rock and roll, too grandmotherly… can you believe there could be so many things wrong with one simple piece of clothing? And this dress is supposed to be a symbol of simplicity, being care free and effortlessly chic.
Ahhhhhhh! Why can’t I be happy with one of these:

Going Blue

I become enamored with nautical theme every summer. I have an ever expanding collection of blues and whites and stripes. This seasonal nautical-mania has been fanned by all the cute pieces available in stores this summer.
However I bought this dress last October and afterward start to have doubts. Is it out of style? Is the skirt too flow-y and teenage-y? Does it make me look wide?
But today’s nice summery afternoon was a great excuse to match this dress with a white jacket for the first time and head to the library. Anyhow, no one is too fashion conscious at the library, right?!
I was feeling very happy with my look and totally weather appreciate until around 8:00pm when I left the library to go to dinner. I was shivering in my BCBG espadrilles and cursing the sudden change in the weather. So cloudy, so chilly, so freezing! Where did my nice sunny afternoon go?

Casual shirtdress

I usually don’t like shirtdresses much (their popularity this season aside). They remind me too much of school uniforms! They are formal, very much an office attire. So it was with considerable amount of reluctance that I wore my shirtdress for an afternoon of running errands, although I did my best to casualize (can it be a real word?) it!

Day Dresses by Merona
Sandals by Max Studio

Strange but amazing: The dress was light and comfortable, it had me feeling playful.
I am a convert!

so how was your trip?

I have been away for so long it seems. A five week trip, a whole week getting over my jetlag and another week doing school work*.
How was my trip in general? Good, relaxing and totally lazy.
How was my trip fashion wise? Well, people usually are in sweats and tees and jeans for long flights and my five hour stay in Dubai airport didn’t provide me with any fashion inspiration unfortunately. The most well-dressed people around were the airport staff and guards, wearing either black suites or black pants or skirts with nice bright turquoise blazers. All of the female staff had full make up and their hairs were up in French twists, quite elegant I should say.
In Iran the most popular color was (sadly!) mustard, off-white and cream as other choices due to weather getting warmer. The top coats were body skimming and short. Tunics were really popular.
How was my trip shopping wise? On my other trips, I used to spend a couple of days shopping for clothes in Tehran and a day shopping for artwork and handcrafted pieces in Isfahan but not this time! This time I did my most minimum shopping. My mom should be so proud of me!
But I managed to bag a few sweet and unique pieces that I am very proud of.
Here is your sneak preview:

Just look at those hand-printed silk scarves! Are they gorgeous? And just look at those bags! I so love them!

* Why is it? Whenever I put a lot of effort in my report or presentation, I don’t get the opportunity to present my work! The gods of homework don’t like me!

Let’s go Window shopping

Put it to my infamous laziness or slow internet connection, I didn’t post anything sooner. Sorry!
But one thing discouraging me more than anything else was the fact that I don’t have good pictures to post. It was next to impossible to use my camera in stores, so I asked my sister to use the camera of her cell phone. You cannot believe the amount of role playing we had to go through to take these following few.

And here is my dream Handbag, made of silver (95%). I keep visiting her day after day, not daring to even ask the price!

Hope you are greatfull ;) I went through a lot of trouble to put this post together!

How to Pack… (The sequel!)

You’ve guessed right! It didn’t work out! God bless Emirates airlines for allowing two 50 pounds luggage and a carry-on which I am taking advantage to the full! Huh! Me, traveling light? What a joke!

Last year I enjoyed my total of 12 hours transit in Moscow airport, people watching. I liked how all the locals were wearing stylish coats and boots. That observation fuelled my passion for trenches and coats this last winter. I added a few stylish long coats to my wardrobe and was very happy with the results.
This time around I’ll be staying in Dubai airport for a few hours. Let’s see what I’m going to learn.

For farther posts I plan to take you shopping wherever I go, internet speed permeating.
So keep tuned and let’s see where the life takes us.

What you pack for a month trip

… to visit your parents?
Let’s start with colors. I chose gray and white and navy as my basic neutral ones mainly because I’m going to live in my jeans and I have a couple in each color!
For accent colors I’m going with turquoise (because it is trendy this year!), purple (I’m in love!), ivory and cream (can’t live without them!).
I’m packing:
5 blazers, 2 trench coat, about 10 scarves, 3 skirts, 6 pair of jeans, 3 dresses, 4 cardigans, 7 blouses/dressy tops, 6 tank tops, 3 pair of shoes, 3 handbags and almost my whole collection of necklaces and earrings…
and for casual home-wear, 2 pair of yoga pants and 5 tees/tops.
Plus 2 set of pajamas and make-up and skin care and ….

Do you think all these plus all the gifts for my family are going to fit inside one 35 pounds suitcase?
Wait and see!

What I liked this week:

Last Saturday, my friend and I went for some necessary window shopping/girl time and I kept seeing pretty blush colored tops and dresses everywhere. My obsession continued through out this week as well. So here is what I’m dreaming about:

am looking for tan Flat sandals I can wear with my white jeans or olive cargo pants. I don’t like tong ones that look like fancied up flip-flops. I want something like these babies:



..and finally the Brittany Murphy’s costumes in the movie “The Ramen girl”. So urban, so comfy, so chic! I am so totally in love.

Later: I am sorry! As much as I looked, I couldn’t find any production pictures online (or any high quality pictures of the costumes, for that matter). You better go watch the full length movie!

Back on track!

The only upside of being sick with flu was dropping a couple of pounds. I was feeling pretty good about myself until I spent an afternoon organizing my spring wardrobe and dontcha guess? Some of my last year dresses and skirts are snugger than what they should be. All those afternoon snacks of cake and cookie are showing their effects finally!
To fit inside my skinny white jeans without a muffin top, I’m drawing battle plans.
Here are some of the high notes:
-Stop eating cake and pastry and cookies.
-Cut my portions of bread and rice in half.
-Stop snacking on chocolate spreads and instead take one square of dark chocolate daily.
-Instead of snacking icecream bars every night, drink a cup of vegetable juice.
-Incorporate more vegetable in my diet.
-Start doing Yoga again.
-Walk or hick for 3-4 hours every week.
I know these look pretty low key to some people but I know my offenders and weaknesses. I love sweets and cakes and bread. So limiting my carbohydrates intake should have high impact. Despite lack of exercise, my life style is pretty healthy, no bad habits, no alcohol or soda, no processed meat or ready-made foods or fast foods, no processed cheese… I just have a very sweet tooth and a weakness for creamy desserts.
So let’s see how these few strategy will work out. I keep you posted!

When you are sick,

…it is awful! Your hair has gone limp, your skin is yellowish and shallow. Your nose is like Rudolph’s and your lips are chipped. Well at least make sure you are wearing something pretty and comfy!

…and to feel better drink as much juice and tea and soup as you can! Don’t forget to use your face cream, moisturizer and lip balm.

What to wear with olive pants

Say you did it! After three months of looking, you finally found the perfect olive cargo pants. It doesn’t make your butt look big. It is slim and doesn’t make you look like a dwarf. It is 100% cotton and finally after half an hour with a pair of scissors, tread and needle, it is the perfect length.
Now, do you think you are done? That everything is perfect and you can relax? Not so fast! It is just the beginning! Ask yourself what you’re gonna match the pants with and your troubles start!
Despite all the hoopla about utilitarian and army looks this spring, olive is an autumnal color. I have been trying to come up with a color scheme that makes olive fresh and springy. Here is what I found, taking Fall color combos and reworking them for Spring:
- Olive and khaki: this is the color combo featured in most fashion magazines. But going head-to-toe olive or mixing it with khaki makes the wearer look like an army private on her hourly leave out on the town. Definitely not the look for me!
For Spring: Instead of Khaki, use cream and light beige and ivory, fabric should be delicate and airy like chiffon as far away from army twill as possible.
- Olive and mustard: these two go great together despite the fact that I hate mustard!
For Spring: mixing olive and yellow, from bright saturated yellows to cool lemony ones. They work great with olive and brighten it up.
- Olive and plum: all purple hues work well olive. The problem is plums and purples are strictly for Fall.
For Spring: using muted lavender and lilac colors with olive. Pastels are always "In" for spring and we all have at least one lavender top in our closets, don’t we?
- Olive and orange: orange is the most associated color with autumn. Remember the Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations?
For Spring: going for brighter lighter shades of orange, like coral and blush. Having a neutral third color helps tie these two together.
- Olive and wine: pour a glass of red wine and put a couple of olives beside it. You have the perfect still-life model for a painting.
For Spring: wearing lighter shades of burgundy like rose and light pinks with olive. This color combo reminds me of delicate blooms between fresh shoots and new branches. The ultimate picture of spring.

Let me know what other color you think looks good with olive.

Happy Persian New Year!

…and yes, I am four days late but who cares really! Between my spring cleaning, trips to dentist and taking pain killers, cooking and entertaining a couple of out of towners, I have been busy.
Admittedly not as busy as those of my friends living back home (in Iran) but more than usual. So be happy with my belated New Year greetings and start a good year!
Here is one of my rare appearances in honor of New Year.

Best wishes for the New Year!

My Top Ten or How to be a Minimalist

This post of Garance had me thinking about my top 10 basics and minimum pieces for a capsule wardrobe the whole morning. I thought hard on my favorite items and on my most stylish and practical ones. Did you know they are not the same?! I have worn my favorites only a few times but the work horses of my wardrobe are down to free cost per wear and still going unappreciated.

So let’s dedicate this post to those little heroes in my wardrobe. I am going to change the rules here and go with ten items of clothing and five accessories.

Top Ten basics:
1- A white button down or an ivory blouse
2- My slim fit dark jeans
3- My slim fit white jeans
4- A cotton black cardigan
5- A thin cream cashmere or lamb wool V-neck sweater
6- A navy corduroy or denim blazer
7- My nylon trench coat with its quilted lining
8- My high waisted denim skirt
9- A sleeveless A-line black dress
10- My gray cotton sheath dress

Accessories:
1- Tan strappy sandals (preferably my Michael Kors ones)
2- Black or navy flats
3- A cognac colored pair of boots
4- My tan Cole Haan Hobo bag
5- My black structured Dooney and Bourke tote/briefcase

I can live on this capsule wardrobe year round happily if I get to add unlimited colorful $3.00 camies and tank tops and unlimited number of scarves.
Now that I have all this in black and white in front of me, my conscience is asking me why I have to buy a new item of clothing every week! This list making stuff is bad for a person’s peace of mind! Despite everything I know I love variety. I would get bored with a capsule wardrobe fast. Going “Minimalista” is not for me.

What I loved this week:

…our gorgeous weather, sunny, crisp, a little chilly, just perfect for spring. The sky was the bluest blue, the hills green and the trees blooming.



… light trench coats. To keep the chill out, to look pulled together and stylish and spring-ready nothing is better than light cotton trench coats. Cream, light khaki and light gray are classic but a little color makes you happier.

…pink nailpolish. I have been wearing dark purple and dark red for the last six months but today I started wearing my nice rose pink polish and strappy platform shoes. Hooray for spring! It is finally here! These are the colors I’m loving right now:

How I got my first bag

I remember it, buying my first handbag. What I couldn’t imagine then was that innocent shopping trip would start a life long obsession with handbags.
I was not quite five as I remember going to the store with my mother to buy a new pair of shoes. When Mom was looking at different shoes I was attracted to a sweet little bag made of cream corduroy. It had a golden chain strap, a golden frame and a little gold and red embroidery design in front. All those gold triggered some serious magpie reaction in my young brain and I couldn’t let go of the bag. My mom easily agreed to buy it but then I wanted to choose the matching shoes. I remember insisting on a pair of ill-fitting cream patent leather ones just because I thought chic grown-up ladies wear cream shoes (and have matching bags!). I recall hating the shoes afterward, they were pinching my feet every time I wore them. I wouldn’t complain, though. It was my own choice and I didn’t want to lose face in front of Mom, stubborn little five year old that I was.
I remember Mom throwing away the shoes relatively new and unworn. (Maybe she knew!) But I loved my little chic bag to tatters. She finally convinced me to let go of it three years later when the embroidery pattern was unraveling, the cord fabric worn and the strap and frame were tarnished!

What I loved this week:

Continuing my search for the perfect floral ruffled skirt I found this dress in Forever 21. Although the floral print is adorable, the colors lovely and the ruffles don’t make my back look big, the dress is too short for me. Nothing is perfect in this world. Sigh!

…ruffley cardigans. Cardigans with floral details or ruffles are so feminine and look really delicate. What transitional piece works with this crazy weather of ours better than a cardigan and layering?! And while you are looking for cardigans, go for bright and colorful ones. Spring is here!

… striped scarves. I am becoming obsessed with nautical theme and light neutral scarves are such great accessories. I am looking for a light filmy striped scarf in cream (or blush) and white to match all my cream and khaki and light neutral this spring.

Love is Blue

I fell in love with the multi-strand turquoise necklaces in spring fashion pictures and had to have one. A whole afternoon (3:00-12:00 PM) playing with my beads got me something similar to these beauties.

What I loved this week:

I am not a t-shirt person. I am not comfortable wearing tees out of the house. I don’t even own more than five basic ones, three black ones (long sleeve, short sleeve and V-neck), one white and one with faded artistic flower and a little bead work that I got last year. But as soon as I saw these floral print tees, I wanted one so badly.




…Flat shoes. I very well know that wedges are going to be the shoe du jour for spring and summer, clogs and platform strappy sandals a close second (and third). But for our transitional weather to spring (ummm, no, we are not buried under a few feet of snow!), I like flats and not those pointy toe two toned formal ones either. I like my flats comfy, light, delicate and feminine with flowers on top. Something like these babies:



…Apple tortes. Yeah, I know I sound like a glutton but all that sweet goodness is hard to resist!



…..aaannnnd on that sweet note, have a great weekend!

An urban experience

What I love about LA is the urban life which we living here in south OC pretty miss out on. All those little holes-in-the-wall cafes and little ethnic restaurants, (Himalayan cuisine, anyone?), all those people watching, boutiques and (no, of course not) the traffic.
Wearing head to toe black felt very urban to me. Yeah, I know, wrong city but I gotta work with what I got!!!