out with 2009...

blossoms

...and in with 2010!

I always forget that I just started my blog in April, feels like much longer. I just checked my site tracker (which I totally forgot I had installed) and found that I have already surpassed half a million visits! A big thanks to everyone who made this possible. I may be a terribly bad blogger but you guys have stuck with me all this time despite my shortcomings. I promise that from here things will only get better since I can genuinely say that I'm really into blogging. It took a while but I found my niche and will continue to explore it and hope that you guys stick around for another year!

2009 started out horribly but became much better almost instantly two months in. BF and I finally started dating (after what, a year and a half of mutual crushes?) and I developed a solid group of friends. I gained ten pounds but found someone who will take me out on food adventures, so I guess it's a good thing? I'm sitting here trying to figure out what else there is to note about 2009 but most of the things I can think of are weird and Pika-related. I try to keep it to a minimum on the blog but I really am a strange person and I'm glad I don't really have to hide it IRL since BF is equally weird and odd. Oh yeah, did I ever mention that BF = his initials? I guess it works both ways.

Things to look forward to in 2010: more consistent blog posts, graduation, and, erm... joining the workforce. I'm excited about that last one only because I'll finally be done with school but it still scares the shit out of me to think that I'll be there in just a couple months. Well, in any case, 2010 sounds like it will be an interesting year and we'll see where I'll be by the end of it :)

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We Love Colors

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Tulle Dress: Eli Tahari, Tights: We Love Colors, Shoes: Via Spiga

These gorgeous tights were given to me from the amazing tights brand We Love Colors! I love the bold red hue so much. I haven't been able to find the perfect shade of red tights for quite a while so I was so excited when We Love Colors said they were sending me a pair in Scarlet Red. I am lusting over the material as well. It's soft and a little thicker, perfect for the chilly days. I paired these with my tulle Eli Tahari dress and a black blazer. I cannot wait to wear this tulle dress again in the Spring time because it really looks angelic in the sun! And I love how tulle is coming back in a big way, with all the new Rodarte dresses floating about! :)

I also want to thank you all for the great feedback on my blog. It makes me really happy to post and share my style! Thank you!
Have a happy NEW YEAR!

xoxo, Natalie
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on vacation

totoro and sweet butter toast

tea station

While my posts were already sporadic to begin with, I'm afraid this little trip home is making me more lazy than usual. I'll try my best to get people to take my pictures for outfit shots but 75% of the time I'm going to be in my pajamas watching kdramas and anime. Or at tea shops drinking jasmine milk tea with my new Totoro keychain.

Blog friends, if you are in the LA area, let me know! The more things to do, the better.
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Cream Pie

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Coat: Vintage, Silk Tank: Nellie Partow, Cardigan (underneath): Vintage, Shorts: Lux, Shoes: Via Spiga

I've been keeping warm in this beige vintage coat! It's not heavy at all, really lightweight wool, perfect for layering. Plus, it's made in France which is an A+ in my book! And check out the buckles on my new shoes which I love love love. They've got that platform I've admired in the shoes of Marni and Chloe! Also, I've had these tuxedo shorts from Urban Outfitters for aaaaaaages and are still one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe. These are just a few of my winter staples!

Here you can read my INTERVIEW with Autumn Sij of Corrider40, a really amazing fashion and culture blog based out of St. Louis. Thank you again Autumn for the feature and kind words, I really appreciate it!

Have a great week! Only a few more days till New Years! So exciting :)

xoxo, Natalie
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Behind the Lens

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Silk Blouse: Vintage, Furry Vest: Forever 21, Trousers: Bebe, Belt: Vintage, Booties: Stefane Kelian, Sunglasses: Chloe

How amazing are these Chloe sunnies?! The perfect little piece that really made the whole look that much better. Since my face is quite small, they are really oversize and that's what I love about them! Also, I am currently wearing this faux fur vest over just about anything. I can't believe I've waited so long to get my hands on one of these things! I love it so much! Fur & big sunnies equals crazy cool. I was all ready to celebrate the holidays this season! Speaking of which, I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas. Mine was filled with yummy food, time with the family, and sitting through lots and lots of great movies! I loved it! The holidays still aren't over, we've still got New Years! Enjoy the best time of the year! :)

I made another collage as well! I love the lighting in all these photographs, so beautiful!

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xoxo, Natalie

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Work

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Just a few shots of some of my latest work, this lookbook for Elaine Kim. I really love how simple the collection is. Lots and lots of leather, my favorite. Soft sheer cashmere. Very straight hair and nude basic brown makeup. Chic and casual! I think now I will start posting some of my work as well as continuing the outfit posts! I hope you like it! More work on the way! :)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! :)
xoxo, Natalie
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happy holidays

cheesy christmas portraitcheesy christmas portrait

No holiday season is complete without those cheesy portraits that you put on your Christmas cards, right? We had originally talked about wearing ugly Christmas sweaters and actually going to a department store studio to take them but obviously that fell through. This is close enough, right?

pika

at tartine

Since I will be in LA from 12/22 to 1/15, BF and I are trying to squeeze in as much time together this week as we can. Yesterday we went to Tartine for morning buns and coffee then Bi-Rite to prepare for the beef stew that we were planning to make in the slow cooker. He had been trying to get reindeer meat for it but apparently they sold out! I've had venison but never reindeer so it would have been interesting to try.

morning bun from tartine

latte from tartine

We actually weren't able to eat the damn stew until 11pm since we started the day quite late so we had to improvise in between. I picked out this cheese, La Tur, made from goat's, cow's, and sheep's milk. Brent wasn't too happy with but I was pleased, it was nice and creamy with a tangy rich flavor. Oh well, more cheese for me.

cheese and rosé

la tur cheese
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The Sea Changes Color

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Sweater: Elaine Kim, Jeans: Citizens of Humanity, Combats: Vintage, Sunglasses: Vintage, Bag: Vintage

So my latest obsession is this cashmere sweater by Elaine Kim. I did a shoot for her latest collection last week and also got to keep a few of her pieces as I promised to blog about it! How cool is the bold shoulder!? The lightweight cashmere is sheer but still keeps me really warm. It's a bit cropped too, which I love. Showing a sliver of tummy won't hurt anyone! A really cool unique piece that makes a jeans and sweater combo not so plain. So I was out and about trying to find some Christmas gifts for my family, but I couldn't find the perfect gifts. I'm still on the lookout! And my phone has been acting funny lately, hard to scroll and not showing who is calling, but I think it's beginning to go back to normal hopefully!

Have a great rest of your week! :)
xoxo, Natalie
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quite ferosh indeed

12-14-0912-14-09
vintage leopard silk shirt, BDG cigarette jeans, prada lace-up booties

Let me start by saying that this is WAY outside my comfort zone. I'd always a bit weirded out by animal prints; maybe I'm just not ferosh enough to pull it off (or convince myself that I can). Give me florals or stripes and yeah, I'll WERK it. Leopard print? Nyah... maybe. There's something a little empowering about donning this however, that I must admit to noticing. I rarely venture out of my usual safe zone by going for something as bold as this and it's really quite fun. It's like playing dress up without actually looking ridiculous? Pfft, it seems I'm out running out of steam with this.

I'd also like to add that this is the closest I'll get to a DIY. See the sleeves? Obviously I rolled them myself but since it is silk it needs more than that to keep it in place. I ran of of sewing needles so guess what I used instead? Umm... lol: a stapler. Hey, hey I was desperate! Obviously I will fix it with real thread but until then, here's to my janky DIY skills.

Anyway, back to this whole "AM I FEROSH ENOUGH TO WERK THIS?" question. I suppose it comes down to this: what do you guys think? I'm still not 100% sure I can pull it off but I'll keep it on for the rest of the day and see how I feel. If worst comes to worst, I'll just put it in the shop which, by the way, has been updated. Silk shirts galore!

vintage cream silk top

SHOP BLUSHING AMBITION
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Fuzzy

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Dress: H&M

So I just bought this dress at H&M down at the South Coast Plaza. Was a fun little drive out of LA. I know almost everyone and their mom's have seen and at least tried on one of these fuzzy little creatures from H&M and either love it or hate it. It was 50% off, so I had to get it! And it keeps me incredibly warm. I should be shopping for summery clothes since I'll be in Asia next month, but this dress was super cheap! Perfect for the holidays... and as a gorilla costume for next Halloween! hahaahha i'm not kidding. (i'll get a better pic of the dress next time i wear it!)

And I did go to the Revolve Party this weekend, bringing my sister along. The store is amazing and really nice. I got to meet up with the other LA bloggers from the shoot( Tiffany Borland and Olivia Lopez), and the whole Revolve crew. Also, I finally got to meet up with Anna Bu, model and blogger from Germany! She is here for a few months for modeling which is so exciting. She's so down to earth and has incredible vintage style. Check out her blog! Sorry I didn't take pictures, it was raining cats and dogs so I completely forgot and was just trying to get there in one piece. People here drive horribly in the rain, I tell ya!

xoxo, Natalie
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Mr. Alex Wang

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Top: Vintage, Trousers: Dolce & Gabbana, Shoes: Alexander Wang, Belt: Vintage

So my Alexander Wang shoes arrived so quickly, I was surprised. They are from his Resort 2010 collection . I love how they are styled in the lookbook. These shoes actually look a lot better without tights, that way you can see the shape, so I might have to keep them stored away till Spring since it's getting so chilly now with the rain and all! They are very high and so fun to walk in! These photos were taken a few days ago. I am wearing them with my favorite high waisted trousers and white lace vintage top. I've worn this top so many times, it's been on wear, wash repeat lol and is still in great shape. White lace, instead of black, is refreshing and different.

I have been busy working this week, so I am excited to just stay in tonight, wrapped in a blanket, and watch the movies we have rented!

Enjoy the collage I made filled with beautiful people and have a fantastic weekend! :)
xoxo, Natalie

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REVOLVE & LOOKBOOK.NU Style Guide

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Here are the photos for the REVOLVE & LOOKBOOK.NU Winter 2009 Style Guide! The shoot was so much fun because I got to go through all of Revolve's amazing clothes and create my own looks. It's fun being the model and the stylist, especially when all my favorite designer clothing is involved! The theme to the shoot was "LA DOLLS." I love all the quirky details, like the bunny ears, colorful hats, and fun makeup. Thank you Revolve, Lookbook.nu, and everyone involved with the shoot!! Everyone was so sweet and I had an awesome time shooting in the Revolve Studios.

CLICK HERE to watch the video, SHOP the looks, and see the full Style Guide including looks styled and modeled by the other girls also on Lookbook.nu, Stephanie, Olivia, and Tiffany! I hope you the result as much as I do!

Also, if you are in the LA area, you must come to the party launching the Style Guide! This Saturday, the 12th, on Melrose. Details on the invite below. It is open to anyone and I will definitely be there. It will be lovely to meet you all!
xoxo, Natalie
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drowning in sweaters

12-08-0912-08-09
vintage cardigan, zara scarf, anthropologie boots, target socks

Still trying to figure out where the best place is to take outfit shots. These were actually taken with me standing on top of our entertainment center after lugging an HDTV off of it. It's a tedious process but it's my favorite so far. Next I'm trying the parking lot behind my apartment, once I get used to the cold of course. This paper calls for a significant amount of indoor time and I've only really left my place to buy food and candy. I actually managed to go out in this yesterday without freezing too badly. The sheer tights may seem impracticable but my legs never get as cold as my upper body so I was fine. I may be letting go (and regretting the loss of) so many of my oversized sweaters but this one is definitely a keeper. I love sweaters that are as warm as coats without the bulky stiffness.

Thanks for the emails inquiring about the items in my shop. Most of them are already purchased but I'm thinking of squeezing in a bigger update by next week. Twitter followers usually get first dibs since I update that first! I also just uploaded two more items which I'm selling for a friend: a sample Vena Cava top and vintage striped dress!

big hair
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etsy picks: oversized cardigans


vintage MARIGOLD OVERSIZED cardigan sweater via allencompanyinc

Since I'm feeling nice and I really should not be buying more of these as I get rid of them, I'm going to share with you guys a couple of my bookmarked oversized sweaters on Etsy. I promise I won't get mad if you guys buy them, in fact, I'm telling you guys to buy them. I compiled a long tedious list of my handpicked favorites as a gift from me to you guys! Keep an eye out for more in my shop blog but for now check these out from a few of my favorite etsy sellers:

Vintage Hand Knitted Shawl Collar Cardigan
Vintage 80s Shawl Collar Long Sleeved Cardigan
Vintage Oversize Hand Knit Tan Sweater
Super slouchy honey brown cardigan
1970s GORGEOUS slouchy sweater
Vintage black slouchy sweater coat
Slouchy cosby sweater cardigan
Vintage red MOHAIR blend oversize sweater
Vintage OATMEAL deep v neck double breasted cardigan
Vintage black textured slouchy cardigan
Brown slouchy fit button up cardigan
vintage 70s ivory cable knit sweater cardigan
Vintage cute purple slouchy oversize cardigan sweater
Vintage cream cozy cable knit oversized slouchy cardigan
Vintage gray and black slouchy cardigan sweater
Vintage RUST GRANDPA OVERSIZED SWEATER
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