Flirty, Frilly & Off-The-Shoulder at Cecconi's

"That's so LA." This is a descriptive phrase that a lot of people use to describe what certain people wear, act, or to describe a specific place. But to someone outside of Los Angeles, what exactly does it mean?! Southern California, and specifically Los Angeles is known for having a very laidback, yet trendy vibe. Located in West Hollywood, Cecconi's perfectly embodies that casual glamour that the rest of the world only fantasizes about.

If you're dining at Cecconi's, there's just one rule: Look good. Look chic. And make it look effortless.

What I love about Cecconi's is that you can pair something casual with a dressier piece and still have it be pretty and appropriate for the restaurant's upscale atmosphere. I wanted to go for more of a relaxed, flirty look. I wore dark denim skinny jeans and a pale blue and white off-the-shoulder ruffle top (actually by Brandy Melville!) To dress it up I wore my favorite nude ankle-strap heels (you know, the ones that look like Stuart Weitzman, except they're Steve Madden) which really pulled together the look and gave it more of a dressier vibe. 

This outfit has been one of my favorites so far that I've worn to brunch. Cecconi's atmosphere for brunch is basically my ideal situation for getting dressed up. You don't have to overdo it, but you have to just make sure you're wearing something trendy. But not too trendy!  Make it your own. I personally love mixing simple staple pieces (like skinny jeans) and adding that flirty touch with a tasteful cropped shirt, something off-the-shoulder or just by wearing certain accessories.

Like I said, it's all about your ensemble looking effortless! 

Photography by: Patrick Muniz

Getting the Luxe Athleisure Look with SukiShufu Leatherback Leggings

Current situation: you have barre from 9:45-10:45 am and have brunch plans with friends at 11:30. No time to head home to change. The solution? You don a chic athleisure look, doubling as a workout outfit and a stylishly casual, head-turning ensemble.

I find myself in this situation pretty frequently, especially since I make it a point to work out on the weekends no matter what plans I may have. No excuses! Honestly, if I’m not getting dressed up for an occasion, I am ALWAYS in leggings and sneaks. But, I never get lazy. It's about both looking good and feeling good.

I discovered SukiShufu, a luxe activewear label from London and fell in love with the brand’s signature faux leather paneling. I am a complete sucker for the liquid leather look, so I knew from the start their Leatherback Leggings would really pull together awesome outfit.

As is usual for the luxe athletic wear brand, the materials have built-in SPF for outdoor activities and won't run or fade while you're working out, brunching, or rocking them just for the sake that they look good... because yes, they look that good.

How do I wear my SukiShufu Leatherback Leggings?

Since my SukiShufu leggings have a colorblock of a white band, I really want that to be the focus of my outfit so I just pair with a simple black crop. I’ll usually wear a sports bra under this too since I wear it for class. Plus, wearing a crop top puts all the attention on my leggings.

I pair with my favorite black Sam Edelman faux leather high-tops. I love these because they have such a unique cut-out pattern on the side, and the pants look good tucked into the shoes. The high-tops dress up the outfit if I’m heading straight from a class to brunch. 

The SukiShufu leggings enhances my silhouette without sacrificing comfort or functionality. I love that these leggings hug in all the right places, yet I am still so comfy in them!

I throw a leather jacket over the leggings and crop to accentuate the slimming, badass look. 

What do you think of SukiShufu? x

Photography by: Elijah Saldana

Heels & Denim in Distress at Toca Madera

Toca Madera is a super trendy spot that always has its guests dressing to impress. While many go all out and wear bodycon dresses with heels to brunch, there is also a fair share of people who dress up a simple look for a casual, but put-together look.

I wanted to wear something classic and chic could easily be transitional from day to night. I wore my high-wasted denim skinny jeans with a tucked in white blouse and black caged heels. Accessories were kept simple as well, just wearing a few dainty gold, chain-y necklaces and my “Brielle” ring.

The outfit actually was very appropriate. At first I was a bit nervous I was underdressed, but considering it was daytime, I think that the dressiness has leniency for brunch.

After surveying the room, a look just like this one would be perfect for brunch, and not just for Toca Madera, but for any brunch that has a casual, luxurious vibe. Leave it for the sun to go down and the famous Toca tree in the garden room to light up to go all out!

Asymmetrical Edge at The Rooftop Grill at The Montage Beverly Hills

The Montage Beverly Hills is a five-star resort… meaning, guests should probably prepare to be spending five dollar signs.

If you’re going to be splurging a little (it is totally worth it), dress for the occasion. Just keep in mind that The Montage Beverly Hills has that semi-dressy, semi-not kind of vibe. A lot of times these types of places could be kind of difficult to dress for.

I usually incorporate two dressy articles of clothing and two casual items… and hope that I am somewhat successful in my judgment once I get to the restaurant!

I chose to stick to darker hues - I wore a gray asymmetrical jersey-knit skirt paired with a black leotard. This skirt is one of my favorites because the design elongates my petite 5"1 frame and (I think) makes my legs look a teeny bit longer than they actually are. To pull it all together, I wore my leather jacket (FYI: You will see me wearing my leather jacket with countless outfits very frequently… it’s my go-to and hard not to incorporate into all my looks)! I paired with my black suede peep-toe fringe wedges for that perfect mid-morning appropriate but still looking fab at 11 am type of look. To my fellow regular brunchers, I know you can relate to this!

The Rooftop at The Montage Beverly Hills dress code is trendy casual. From where I sat at my table, it was the perfect spot to people watch and observe what they were wearing.

Some side notes: If you’re lucky enough to have the super popular Dior “So Real” sunglasses, The Rooftop Grill is the perfect place to wear them. I saw a few people with them in passing – Obviously they're the Quays and Ray-Bans of BH…

A lot of the guys there wore button downs, collared shirts, and blazers. All were of springy colors of course. Why would you ever wear a dark color in the transition period from winter to spring, anyway? (Oh, wait... me). 

If you’re heading to The Montage BH and you’re stuck on what to wear, think of the three C’s: crisp, clean, and chic. Here, if you're dressed pretty simple but put together, you'll fit right in. 

Fab Faux Fur at The Penthouse at The Huntley Hotel

I am kind of obsessed with researching a place before I go to it - everything from the atmosphere, to the food, to the attire. While the restaurant's website is always an automatic go-to, I frequent on Instagram to the tagged section and see what other people have worn. It always gives me inspiration and it's a more realistic way of seeing the dress-code. You can just tell if it’s more casual, dressy, or somewhere in between.

The vibe at The Penthouse at The Huntley Hotel is dressy casual. Because the ambiance has such a luxe, mod feel, I made sure to dress accordingly…

I wore a fur vest, white long-sleeved crop top, black high-waisted jeans and 6-inch clunky leather boots (don’t judge the height – for a 5’1 girl like me, they are so clutch, even during the daytime). I would definitely recommend wearing some type of heel here.

While the beach might be in close proximity to The Penthouse, don’t let that fool you into thinking you should sport a cover-up and sandals to brunch. Embrace the ambiance and let it inspire your attire. I mean... It's The Penthouse. You can just tell by the name. You're going to have to postpone laying in your bathing suit at your usual cabana by the beach for the chic indoor cabanas here. (Although, cabanas by the beach don't sound too shabby...).