COLD SHOULDER IN PALM SPRINGS

I think I've developed a new obsession... obsession with off-the-shoulder dresses that is. My preoccupation with dresses in general is nothing new, you know me, I love a good flirty frock but thanks to this season's emphasis on exposed shoulder, this preoccupation reached a whole new level. Seriously, the way I feel now, I could easily wear off-the-shoulder dresses everyday for the rest of the summer and be quite happy about that. Of course based on the number of of-the-shoulder dresses which are now part of my closet, the possibility of this actually happening is very, very real :)

St. ROCHE Fiona midi dress | CHLOE The Marcie mini textured leather shoulder bag | GUCCI Candy ankle strap sandals | J Crew hat | NIALAYA panther ring, cross over gold ring, panther bangle in gold & white diamonds, stingray bracelet & rose gold & matte onyx bracelet 

COACHELLA 2015 :: LOOK ONE

To be in Palm Springs any day of the year, for any purpose whatsoever is great but to be in Palm Springs for Festival Season, well...  now that's even better! Every year I wait for Festival Season like a kid waiting for Christmas and once it arrives, it never disappoints! It's always wonderful! Absolutely all of it! The music, the parties, the weather and of course my personal favorite, the fashion! For me, dressing up for the Festival is at least 50 percent of the fun! Ok, probably more like 60, if I was being completely honest, but I pretty sure you already knew that if you follow my blog on regular basis:) And if you didn't, see evidence here.

This year, one of my favorite Festival looks is this black and white Missguided ensemble I am completely in love with, featuring a particularly cute striped dungaree. First and foremost, I am obsessed with dungaree rompers and this striped black and white marvel is one of my absolute favorites! Why? Well, not all rompers are created equal, and I won't say most, but definitely some look a bit weird on me. This one, however, happens to pack just enough stretch to hug the body in all the right places:) Fact that it's also cute and comfy, and looks pretty perfect paired with a black crop top, makes it the best one I've ever owned and the one I will never be separated from. Ever!:)

P.S. CLICK HERE to check out a few more of  my Festival favorites! 

MISSGUIDED Stripe dungaree romper, Poranka Black Bardot sweetheart crop top & White Summer fedora | STEVE MADDEN Peer sandals | ASH Danica backpack | NIALAYA panther ring, cross over gold ring & panther bangle in gold | GORJANA Elea cuff & Bali hand chain 

A SUMMER SUIT

Have you ever had a feeling like something was meant just for you? Well, that's exactly how I felt when this suit from Via Delle Perle came into my life. I mean, come on! It's cobalt, it's a suit and it's a suit with shorts. So far, three out of three! But it doesn't stop there! You see, lately I've developed a soft spot for something I like to call midi shorts. Midi shorts are definitely longer than Coachella-style barely there mini shorts but not quite as long as Culottes. Basically a happy medium and a perfect option for pretty much any occasion! Having realized the full potential of midi shorts, I suddenly felt a void since none yet found their way into my closet! To fill the void, the scoured the web in hopes of finding a perfect pair, but instead found a perfect suit! Honestly, I wish all of my searches were this fruitful!

DESERT LIGHTS

You know my motto when it comes to jewelry, the more the merrier! I can't help it, I am borderline obsessed with armparties. Usually, I start with a bracelet or two and maybe a ring and keep piling on until it feels like I can't add anymore:) My hubby even coined a term for this, he jokingly calls it my "like you robbed a jewelry store" look. Normally, I just smirk and roll my eyes when he says this, but from time to time, when I for some reason feel the need to justify my style-related decisions, I try to explain that layering jewelry is a girl thing, and that's the way it looks best:) He responds by nodding and pretending to agree with me, though secretly I suspect he actually does, but just enjoys making fun of me. Evidence to support my suspicions? Well, it's plain as day... layering is the only way to wear jewelry! Right?:)

DYLANLEX Kaa bracelet, Liam bracelet, Ari ring, Rio ring & Syd ring | JOE'S JEANS Mid rise skinny ankle Kenzie jeans from COOL OFF Collection & Hedi tee | BOYY Lazar leather bucket bag 

SNEAKERS & LACE

To say I was a little reluctant to get on board with sneakers with everything look was to say nothing at all. Perhaps I am a bit old-fashioned, but the notion of sneakers as casual footwear, not suitable for dressier ensembles has been firmly planted in my mind. And so, I continued to pair my dresses and tailored pieces with heels, oxfords and gladiators, basically anything but sneakers. Little did I know but everything I believed in when it came to appropriate footwear was about to change thanks to a particularly crazy busy day:) 

I was running late, so late, I didn't even care about the fact that my hair was a mess and I had no make up on. I grabbed the first dress I could find in my closet and put on a pair of sneakers mainly because they were sitting right by my front door. The whole day was a blur, spent running around from place to place. Yet by the end of the day, the one thing I did remember was not feeling like my feet were on fire! This was a very welcome change indeed! And so, next morning I did it again, I paired a tailored suit with a pair of sneakers and reveled in the feeling of this new found comfort. 

Now, I've become a complete and total sneaker addict! It's not that I am ready so say au revoir to high heels forever, but I definitely reach for a pair of sneakers every chance I get:) 

MIGUELINA Bridgette vintage embroidery cover up { also love this crochet option } | CHLOE The Marcie mini textured leather shoulder bag | MICHAEL MICHAEL KORS Jet Set 6 Collection Irving leather sneaker | LEVI'S denim jacket | MICHAEL KORS Brockton chronograph watch { similar here } & pave gold-tone bangle | VITA FEDE mini titan crystal bracelet | BAUBLEBAR snowball pearl cuff | GOLD PHILOSOPHY pearled treble ring 

FESTIVAL BOUND

For me, dressing up has always been a big reason why I love festival season so much. Though most of the time, cute and fun is what I aim for when I style my festival looks, as of lately, practicality and wearability also started to gain momentum. So, say studded fringed leather pants sound good in theory yet in reality, stretchy leather and blazing desert heat don't mix very well ( and yes, I did actually make this mistake ). And so, through a long process of trial and error, I've come up with a few festival favorites sure to keep you looking cute yet comfy no matter how hot the weather gets!

DENIM SHORTS: Always cute, always comfy, denim shorts look good with just about anything from bikini tops to flowy blouses. The high waisted pair from EXPRESS I am wearing in today's  post is a current favorite. First, I've always been obsessed with destroyed denim and this pair has just the right amount of distressing and second, I am really loving the high-waisted shorts cropped top look at the moment, and these just happen to look absolutely phenomenal with all of my crop tops.

FLOWY BLOUSE: A cute flowy top keeps you nice and cool in the desert heat! The cold shoulder top from Express I am wearing today is yet another favorite because well, I am more than a bit partial to shoulder cut-outs and secondly because it's so lighwaight it feels like you're wearing nothing at all.

ACCESSORRIES: Sure, I've always believed accessories complete an outfit. But in this case a hat is not only a cute finishing touch but also a very practical addition to a look, especially if you hope to keep your hair from drying out in the blazing sun:) Seriously, I don't know what it is about Palm Springs but after a few days there my hair starts resembling a heap of straw, yet thanks hats, I was actually able to maintain a somewhat decent looking mane on our last few visit there. 

What about you guys, what are your festival staples/favorites? 

EXPRESS 2 Inch High Waisted Destroyed denim shorts, cold shoulder blouse, bottlecap belt & fedora hat | ISABEL MARANT Aleen Ankle boots { in brown here & here } | DYLANLEX jewelry | BOYY Lazar leather bucket bag 

PERFECT GETAWAY :: RANCHO VALENCIA

I said it before and I'll say it again, even a few days away from the madness make a world of difference. If you follow me on INSTAGRAM, you may have noticed, Emil and I spent a few very relaxing days at Rancho Valencia recently, doing what we love best, i.e. working on our tans, dining and exploring. Though this was our first time staying there, it will definitely be one of many to come for even now, as I am writing this post, I find myself panning our next visit, though perhaps for a slightly longer period next time, so that we can truly explore all the wonderful things Rancho Valencia has to offer.

So, if you are planing to visit, here are a few suggestions:

WHAT TO DO: Taking a yoga class at the Serenity Yoga Pavillon was truly amazing. Fact that my class took place outside at sunset, on a platform literally floating on water, made this one of my most memorable moments ever, not to mention the best yoga session I've ever had!

Nourishing Citrus Drench at the Spa was a truly indulging experience. I arrived at the spa feeling a bit tired and sluggish ( direct result of staying up way past my bedtime, catching up on some work the night before ) and walked out feeling rested and elated, with silky smooth citrus-scented skin. 

Playing a game of croquet: do a know how to play croquet? Absolutely not, but that hasn't stopped me before and most definitely didn't this time around! In fact, I think messing up was the major part of the fun. 

WHAT TO EAT: If you are as obsessed with cheese boards as I am, than you will definitely appreciate artisanal cheese board at Rancho Valencia's Veladora! Paired with a nice glass of wine, it was a perfect finishing touch after every meal. 

Lobster tacos are always good, but great lobster tacos are even better, and lobster tacos at The Pony Room were just that! Absolutely great! 

By the way, if you have any tips on what to do/see at Rancho Valencia, please share them in the comments! 

BANANA REPUBLIC Floral pleated midi skirt, heritage ivory safari blouse | CHLOE The Marcie mini textured leather shoulder bag | GUCCI Candy ankle strap sandals | MICHAEL KORS Brockton chronograph watch { similar here } | BANANA REPUBLIC Tina hat | SHOSHANNA Window eyelet beach shirtdress | ASOS flat gladiator sandals | NIALAYA panther ring, cross over gold ring, panther bangle in gold & white diamonds, stingray bracelet & rose gold & matte onyx bracelet