New Life New Adventures

Photography Credit// Grace of Schmatta Style
Romper// Ecote purchased at Urban Outfitters
Cardigan// LF Robertson Blvd (similar here)
Booties// Sam Edelman
Necklace// Free People
Bralette// Free People
Ring// Free People

Hi!!!! It's Fall!!!! Yay!!!! So as you guys probably know or knew at one point before I dropped off the face of the earth, I moved to San Francisco for  PhD program. PhD programs are no joke, guys. I'm in class about 20 hours a week, I spend about 10 hours a week driving to and from class, and then I have to study. It doesn't leave me much time to look cute and do bloggery things like have brunch with people. However, this weekend I forced myself out of the apartment (which is almost fully decorated, pictures to come), and went to breakfast at the Nob Hill Grille with my new blogger friend Grace of Shmatta Style. Breakfast was pretty amazing; I've been advised if I come back its necessary to get there by 9 or you'll be waiting all day. It's an adorable little establishment, with very very large mimosas and something called bacon fritters...which I was obviously silly not to get. It was really nice to feel like a human being again in real clothes and breathe fresh air.

Are you guys loving fall?! Are you consumed with all things pumpkin? Are you loving any of the new Fall trends?! I want to know everything, while I'm in this program I am living life vicariously through all of you.

- Xoxo Becca

Nochella

Photo Credit// Mallory Thomasson
Dress//LF Robertson Blvd
Black Slip// Free People
Arm Band// LF Robertson
Bracelet// Market Place in Maui
Hat//Urban Outfitters
Boots// Matisse Footwear  (on sale!)

As much as I love the fashion aspect of festival season, the idea of going to Coachella overwhelms me. Everything from picking out multiple outfits for the weekend, to the idea of being around so many people 24/7 is just too much for me. I've been in LA for about 4 years now and have yet to go to Coachella, and I am officially moving away this summer (ahhh!!!) so it's doubtful I will ever go. I do however look forward to the pictures every year. Instead of living it up in the desert over the weekend I lounged around my apartment finishing up the second season of Being Mary Jane (does anyone else love that show?!), began the long process of cleaning out my closet to prep for my move in a few months, and brunched at one of my fav spots AOC with Mallory from BadWolf Brunch.

This Tie-dye dress I wore to brunch is actually a few years old, but i've linked below a few tie-dye pieces I'm currently loving (some pieces are on sale :) ) . It's such an easy no fussy dress, it looks great with boots, sandals, heals, hats, messy buns, literally whatever works. I know i've made a really good purchase when Im still equally obsessed with the purchase several years later.

Did you guys go to Coachella over the weekend? Are you going to the second weekend?! I'd love to hear about your festival experience, or what you opted to do instead of going.

-Xoxo Becca

New Years Resolutions

Sweater// Free People 
Dress// Wonderland Honolulu c/o
Hat// Janessa Leone
Booties// Jeffrey Campbell 

Happy New Year!!!!! I hope everyone had an amazing New Years Eve/Day, and didn't struggle to much during the recovery process. I tend to find New Years a bit overwhelming and always choose to stay in watch a movie (Pitch Perfect this year) and order some yummy pizza (Dough Pizza on Sunset Blvd is my new fav). My mom was still in town from our trip to Quebec so she joined my pizza fest, and asked if I had any new years resolutions. To be honest, I'm not a fan of resolutions at all. I don't understand why we wait until the first of the year to try to improve our lives, and usually by day 2 we have broken them anyway. Some of you may or may not know but I moved out to LA in 2011 for grad school. I got my Master's in Clinical Psychology, and when I graduated in 2013 I went to USC for a post bac premed program because I thought I wanted to go into psychiatry. After a miserable year, I was able to admit to myself that medical school was clearly not in my path. I was really scared to leave the program, because I felt like it provided me stability and structure. After a lot of praying, talking to family and friends I decided that, that's what was best. So I left USC and I've spent the last year gaining research experience and doing a lot of volunteer work while applying for doctoral programs. Leaving the program at USC really forced me to step outside of my comfort zone, and I realized how important it is to do that in life. If you don't leave your comfort zone you can miss out on so many amazing opportunities. I've tried to spend the last year actively stepping out of my comfort zone whether it's trying a new food, wearing a new color, taking a trip to a new country, or whatever life throws at me. So I guess my new years resolution is really to just continue doing that!

I'm usually not a fan of body con dresses at all, but when I saw this dress from Wonderland Honolulu I thought this would be a great chance to try something new. It can be difficult to buy clothes online because you're never to sure how it's going to fit. The top of this dress was a bit big on me, so it took me a little while to figure out how I could style it. I thought this Free People cut out shoulder sweater looked really cute over the dress and made the dress easier to transition into a fall or winter piece. 

I really can't wait to see what 2015 has to bring. Starting this blog and applying for doctoral programs have been two of my biggest ventures of 2014, and i'm so thankful to all of you who have been so encouraging along the way it means so much to me! Do you guys have anything you'd really love to see on the blog?! Let me know, i'd love to hear! I'd also love to hear what your resolutions are for 2015!!

-Xoxo Becca 

Winter Wonderland

Coat// Forever 21
Flannel// Furst of a Kind (bought at LF Robertson)
Sweater// LF Robertson
Wax Denim// Carmar Denim
Rain boots// Jeffrey Campbell
Purse// Marc by Marc Jacobs
Beanie// Free People 

Quebec City is December is LITERALLY how I imagine Christmas in my mind. I currently feel like I"m frolicking about in a Charles Dickens novel as I pass by every street corner. People are happy, there is snow on the ground, and Christmas decorations galore (and I'm basically staying in a Castle). Also the food so far has been amazing! I stopped by a cute little Maple Cafe and tried this hot milk concoction with maple butter and cinnamon and needless to say it was amazing. I'm absolutely going to be eating my way through this city... and counting down the hours until my scheduled food tour of the city! If you guys have any great recommendations for places to eat or things to see let me know!

I thought I was going to be much braver then I actually was in the cold when I got dressed in the morning. I paired my Forever 21 coat with a flannel and black sweater, a pair of waxed jeans, rain boots, and my new free people beanie obsession. I thought the coat would keep me warm enough outside and that I'd get really hot inside and take it off and stay warm with my flannel and sweater....false,false,false. Tomorrow I will probably opt for a parka.  Don't worry though I continued to make poor outfit decisions for dinner wearing a short black velvet dress and tights. 

Coat// Planet Blue (recently back in stock!)
Dress// Emma & Sam
Knee Socks// Free People
Boots// Stuart Weitzman 

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of the city so far! Thousands more will come I'm sure. I get so excited around Christmas time guys, especially when there is SNOW and i'm in some sort of magic winter wonderland! 

Any tips on dressing for the cold?! I've only lived in warm places my entire life... I could clearly use some advice. 

-Xoxo Becca 

Overall Love

Photo Credit// Mom
Overalls// Washed Denim Overalls
Top// Chaser High/Low Boxy Top
Steve Madden// Free Bird (similar here)
Necklace// All The Wire
Bracele// Lucky Brand

Top// LF Robertson
Overalls// LF Robertson
Shoes// Report Signature 

I have such a deep rooted love for overalls, so obviously I've been so happy that they have made a come back. I've been sporting them since summer 13'. I remember one of the first pair of overalls I had as a child that I literally couldn't live without and continued wearing them even as they were way to short. They were a dark washed long pair with Esmeralda on the front. They were everything!

I've linked a few of my favorite pairs of overalls below! Hope all of you guys have a beautiful Thanksgiving!! I can't wait for all the sweet potatoes my tummy is going to consume.

-Xoxo Becca

November Necessities:It's all about the Accessories

November means it's holiday season! I start dreaming about pumpkin pie, black friday, sugar cookie tea  (yes this is a real thing, and it's magical), what it's like to live in a city where leaves turn colors, and how every pair of tights I own from last year seems to have a run in them. This month for my necessities section i'm focusing on some of my faves/crave accessories and shoes. 

Hats

As you can tell from my blog and Insta feed if you've been following, i'm maybe a bit obsessed with hats. To be honest this obsession is very recent. Before I cut my hair a year ago, I never ever wore hats. With my shorter textured hair, hats have a whole new feel on me, and they really complete an outfit! They also honestly make me feel more comfortable when I take pictures for the blog and instagram. Here are some hats currently on my wish list. 

Tights/Socks

I have ALWAYS been a lover of tights and socks. When I was five my mom used to dress me in mis matched lacy and slouchy socks, in high school I wore knee socks everyday with my school uniform and doc martins, and now I see them as the perfect way to keep wearing that skirt or dress all year round. I love to layer socks over tights and each other and use them to add a pop of color or texture to an outfit. These are some of favorites that I find to be a must for my closet.

Over the Knee Boots/Sneakers

Every season I am on the constant look out for the perfect over the knee boot! I have absolutely been in love with them for the last few seasons, but find it a struggle to find ones that stay up on me all day long and don't start slouching. I think it may be time to invest in a pair of Stuart Weitzman boots, from what I hear they are perfection. I've also been starting to build a bit of a sneaker collection! I find that one of my favorite ways to wear them is with a simple leather skirt, sweatshirt, or tshirt. 

Bags

I really own a handful of bags and purses. I tend to just use the same ones over and over. I like to keep a big tote bag, small cross body bag, and a backpack or two. I also tend to stick with neutrals and blacks. In the last few months I've started to covet more and more purses, maybe i'll add some of these to my Christmas list! 

I know I haven't been keeping up with the blog in the last month, but when my applications are completed and submitted for grad school December 1st, I promise i'll get better! 

I have decided that I would like to a weekly street style section. I'd like to roam around town and take pictures and interview people who inspire my style, feature people from Instagram, and who send in email submissions! If you'd like to be featured send me an email (laprade.rebecca@gmail.com) with a picture of you in an outfit that makes you feel wonderful and confident, your name, occupation, and your current style must haves and must nots! Or you can tag me on instagram or #llcstreetstyle and every Wednesday i'll do a feature on my blog and Instagram. You guys can let me know if you love it and want me to keep it up, or I should ditch it. 

-Xoxo Becca