L.A, Two Ways

I’m back in L.A this month and am finally seeing it at its absolute best. Weirdly every time I’ve been to L.A in the last year, the weather has been kind of off, from torrential rain and cold in January to a chilly snap in May. This time however, the weather is perfect and I feel like my capsule suitcase is really working hard.

My suitcase for two weeks in L.A is essentially filled with Redone denim (jeans, shorts and skirts), various tanks and tees, wrap dresses and linen shifts from Reformation and Realisation Par and slinkier, silk pieces that work as well during the day as they do for a dinner or happy hour in the evening. Two jackets, leather and denim, and multiple pairs of shoes, predominantly flat and shuffle-on, and that’s pretty much it for the next 10 days. We mostly base ourselves in Venice when here, primarily because of Jamie’s work, and as someone who loves to walk around cities as much as possible (hence the repeated Vejas), it really works for me too. Even if I don’t get to the beach that much here (almost a week and I’ve yet to see sand), I love the mellow, beachy atmosphere around this part of town. The amazing food, juice places and perfectly-curated independent stores that make you want to deck your house out in sage, indigo and wall hangings help too…  I find it kind of suits my unpolished, un-ironed self and unlike other parts of the city, you can walk from A to B without without getting surprised by vertical stairs in the hills or taking 30 minutes to get anywhere.

I’m going to do a video hopefully on what I’ve brought with me to L.A and what I’m wearing, but in the meantime here are two such examples. I always travel with a good choice of accessories. I know I’ll feel most like myself in denim and a t-shirt if I’m able to mix-up the shoes, sunnies and bags more than the clothes themselves. I’d far rather be able to play around with the add-ons and keep everything simple. It might explain why my luggage is always overweight, but I never run our of outfit equations when travelling and it stops me getting bored… To me it makes the most sense; shoes and bags are often what we all spend the most on so it’s fitting they should work the hardest.

I’ll also be doing a diary post with tips and favourite spots so I’ll be able to share go-to places in that. Till then, here’s me, soaking up that Californian sunshine, looking like a tourist in denim cut-offs  (L.A natives abandoned them years ago it seems) and a dress threatening to flash anyone and everyone at any given moment.

Obsessed with this new Realisation Par dress. In fact, all the dresses in this print are so good… This is the exact same style as the purple one I included in my Summer Dress Edit and I take an XS in their wrap dresses like this. I like pairing it with trainers in cities to make it slightly less romantic and little tougher, whereas if I was on holiday in Europe, I’d just team with slides and a basket.

Spaghetti top | Mads Norgaard 
Shorts | Redone Jeans 
Raffia bag | Balenciaga via Vestiaire Collective 
Dress | Realisation Par
Bag | vintage Chanel (try Vestiaire Collective) 
Trainers | Veja 
Necklaces | Lucy Williams X Missoma 
Black sunglasses (top look) | Rayban 
Cat eye glasses | Folk & Frame 

Ph. by Scott Leon