Fune La

On Saturday Z and I attended an opera based on Herman Melville's classic, "Moby-Dick". The art and staging were beautifully done using lights/images projected onto the background to stimulate rocking waves and even the tiny fishing boats crew members used to harpoon and attack whales. After watching tons of Gossip Girl episodes on Netflix (Shhhh! Don't tell anyone that I secretly love that show for Chuck Bass and can't stop watching), I wanted to take this opportunity to dress up and pretend that Z and I would be attending some gala  in NYC or a party held by Blair Waldorf. (I know...I am so sad and loserly.) I curled by hair and put on my brand new "Book Worm" dress made by Vanessa of The Velvet Bird. I love the pin dot pattern, swing shape, peter pan collar with a bow...and my favorite part: brown elbow patches! The dress is beautifully constructed and  what is even more amazing is that 20% of Vanessa's profits all go to Love146.org to fight and prevent human trafficking in the United States! This dress will definitely be one of my go-to-favorites for this fall/winter. Here are my crappy photos from my laptop that do not do the dress any justice:

Outfit Details:
The Book Worm Dress // The Velvet Bird
Black Tights // Walgreens
Rachel Comey MARS boots

Monumental Washington

During our Summer vacation, I had to head back to San Francisco earlier than Z because of school starting. We decided to spend my last day touring Washington, D.C. and checking out the famous landmarks and museums. The weather was hot and muggy with some random showers sprinkled in...you know...just for fun. Each gift store had American flags, bald eagle statues, and Monument magnets that we could have purchased if we were not laughing incessantly about being so "patriotic". I think every time we said "America", it was in a hick "'MERICA!" kind of voice...followed by a cry for "Matt Damon!".  I made like a good Asian tourist and posed in front of the big white buildings to show my family later.

Outfit Details:
White Polka Dot Dress // Forever 21
Dooney & Bourke Bucket Bag // Vintage
Woven Oxfords // Vintage
Ginger Ottoman Jacket // American Apparel
Sunglasses // H&M

Brick Red

Walking around NYC was fun but Z and I definitely did not have enough time to fully explore that the city had to offer. I'm usually really picky when shooting film but I couldn't put my dang camera down. All the beautiful Brownstone's, rickety fire escapes and decaying subway platforms deserve documenting wouldn't you say? I am almost done sorting through these pics and I thought it was funny that my red shift dress emulated the brick pattern on the buildings.

Since it's fall now, here is a picture of a random turkey and its Owner that I captured when we were walking over to the Ellis Island Tour in Battery Park. Check out more pictures from my trip here via instagram.

Outfit Details:

Mod Shift Dress // Forever 21

Dooney & Bourke Bucket Bay // Vintage (gift from Z)

Woven Oxfords // Vintage
Sunglasses // H&M

Beach Boys

For a couple of days, San Francisco had a little mini-heatwave. We usually have an Indian Summer around this time, so it was no surprise when the fog rolled in again after three days of heat. The heat reminded me a bit of when I visited Ocean City, Maryland this summer to meet some of Z's family. I had a blast at his family's beach house where we kayaked, rode mopeds, biked, and enjoyed some good seafood. 

Ellis Island

Z and I tend to shy away from anything too touristy while on vacation, but this time we decided to go all out by visiting Ellis Island located in the upper New York bay. With Z being half Italian, visiting Ellis Island had special meaning since many many years ago his relatives stepped through this gateway to their new life in America. After braving the crowds to board the ferry, we toured the museum and were able to locate Z's family name on the Wall of Honor. What truly intrigued me was the forgotten immigrant hospital on the island that is now closed to the public. Opened in 1902, the hospital was America's first line of defense against contagious, often virulent disease. In the era before antibiotics, tens of thousands of immigrant patients were separated from family, detained in the hospital, and healed from illness before becoming citizens. Symbols were chalked on the clothing of potentially sick immigrants following the six-second medical examination. The doctors would look at the immigrants as they climbed the stairs from the baggage area to the Great Hall. Immigrants' behavior would be studied for difficulties in getting up the staircase. Some immigrants entered the country only by surreptitiously wiping the chalk marks off, or by turning their clothes inside out! Whoa! The things you learn! 

Outfit Details:

Mod shift Dress // Forever21
Dooney & Bourke Bucket Bag // Vintage (Gift from Z)

Woven Oxfords // Vintage

Sunglasses // H&M