The Unpacking Game

Mesh Top// LF Robertson Blvd
Bralette// Victoria's Secret Pink
Skirt// Windsor Navy Plaid Sweater Skirt c/o
Shoes// The Blonde Salad X Steve Madden ( on sale from $149.50 to $44.98!)
Coin Purse// LF Robertson

 Why do you always need a vacation after you go on a vacation?! Whenever I come back from a trip whether it's someplace like Hawaii or London (this time Quebec City) I need multiple days to learn to function like a real human being again. One of the most dreaded things about returning from a vacation is the process of unpacking. I put it off for dayyyssss, and the longer I put it off the worse I feel and the more anxiety I get. So lately when I unpack I tend to place dress up. I try to figure out new ways to wear things in my suitcase with things I didn't bring along with me. It clearly does not shorten the unpacking process, and often causes my room to become a disaster for a few hours, but it does make the process a little more bearable and I come out of it with some great new looks! While I started this trips unpacking process I took my Blonde Salad X Steve Madden shoes out of my suitcase (why I thought they would be appropriate for 0 degree weather is beyond me) and realized that I have never actually worn these shoes...and I bought them last year. I decided that I absolutely needed to find a cute outfit to wear them with! My goal was also to make sure the outfit was appropriate daytime wear, because I tend to become a homebody at night and don't go out that often. I paired the shoes first with my cozy Navy Plaid Sweater Skirt from Windsor  , and  began trying to straighten up a mess in one of my closets which led me to the white mesh top I picked out. I love this outfit because it's easy and comfortable but left me not looking like a homeless person. You could easily wear this out on a lunch date, a coffee meeting, or even a shopping trip. I could also see myself swapping out the white mesh top for a cute leather crop top and wearing this out on a Friday night.

I'm trying to come up with some new post ideas for the new year, is there anything you guys would love to see?! You can comment below, email me, or find me on instagram @leather.lace.andcupcakes and send me a message.

-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 

Oldie But a Goodie

Photo Credit// Stephanie Fantauzzi
Top// LF Robertson Blvd
Jeans// Express
Choker// LF Robertson
Shoes// Steve Madden
Star Bracelets// A Marketplace in Maui

I don't know about you, but I tend to keep things in my closet for wayyyyy to long. I really hate cleaning out my closet, it takes more time and energy then I feel like I have. The bright side to my lazy disposition and somewhat messy closet, is that every once in a while I stumble upon an old gem. I recently found these old jeans I got from Express when I was an undergrad at Baylor University. I probably haven't worn or thought about these jeans in five years!! I'm absolutely loving everything about them now, probably more then I did when I first bought them! 

After being gone for Thanksgiving and being sick with Strep AND a Sinus Infection for what seems like forever, this weekend was about watching Netflix and catching up with friends over coffee! I paired these newly found favorite jeans with an oversized black button down (that boyfriend look) with a sheer back, and a bunch of large bracelets for a more put together look. I also wore my favorite black velvet choker with a large cross, it really makes me feel like a product of the 90's. It was the perfect outfit to wear in order to be comfy but cute while still feeling slightly under the weather. 

Do you guys tend to save items in your closet for too long?! Have you recently found an old item of clothing that you now love more then when you originally bought it? I'd love to hear! Also don't forget if you want to be featured on my blog or instagram account on Wednesday's hashtag your pictures #llcstreetstyle or feel free to email me laprade.rebecca@gmail.com 

I've put together some similar looks below that you can shop! Have a great week beautiful people :)

Oversized Button Downs 

Similar Denim

-Xoxo Becca 

December Necessities: The Camel Coat

Brown peacoat / Rachel Comey long coat / Long sleeve coat / Burberry cape coat / Marni red coat / Mango coat / H M cape coat, $39 / Tommy hilfiger coat / Chloé wool coat with belt, $1,875

This December I've been lusting over all of the different Camel Coat's I've been seeing popping up on blogs and Instagram. I think the camel coat depending on the style and fit is stylish, chic, and timeless! The coats above are a few of the ones i've been coveting...though most are far out of my price range. Before I became deathly ill on Thanksgiving I happened to catch an early Black Friday sale on Prism Boutique  and bought this coat  which I imagine will make many an appearance on the blog especially during my Canadian Christmas trip.

I've linked below some camel coats you can purchase if you want to save some money, invest some money, or go a little crazy!

Save

Invest

Go a Little Crazy!

Are you guys loving the Camel Coat as much as I am?! What's your December Necessity? I'd love to hear all about it.

-Xoxo Becca 

Holiday Gift Ideas Under $50

In an effort to delete some pictures on my phone since it has literally no storage left, I found this picture perfect moment from my trip to Aspen last Christmas. My mom and I took this magical sleigh ride with this delightful old man who sang christmas carols and brought us hot chocolate in a thermos. I felt like I was living a Lifetime Christmas Movie. I am already counting down the days until I make new holiday memories in Quebec this year! I imagine that it will look and feel like a Charles Dickens novel, and I will stroll around various Christmas markets and eat maple syrup on ice (If you can't tell I really romanticize things in my mind). 

Anywho... I know it can be shopping for presents can be quite stressful, time consuming, and expensive! So I put together some fun gift ideas for $50 dollars and under! 

Coffee Mugs/Tumblers 

I dont know about you, but i've been an avid collector of coffee mugs since I was 10. I'm always appreciative of a new coffee mug, here are a few online I found all under $20

Pajamas

I feel like I'm ALWAYS in need of more pajamas, and these pajamas are all under $30! 

Phone Accessories

I'm always breaking/getting bored with my phone covers and loosing my accessories, and I have a feeling i'm not the only one! 

Stationary/Organizational Products

Who doesn't need to get a little more organized?! There's no reason to not do it in style either :) 

Home Goodies

We are big kids now and need things for our apartments and homes!

What plans do you guys have for the holiday's?! I'd love to hear about it. 

-Xoxo Becca 

Cyber Monday

Hat// Free People
Top// LF Robertson
Skirt// LF Robertson
Tights// Free People
Knee socks// Free People
Shoes// Dolce Vita 

So originally I was going to do a Black Friday post and even mentioned it in an instagram post on Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving night though in the middle of dinner I got really sick with a fever of like 103 (yuck!) and ended up having Strep and a Sinus infection, so i've been bedridden ever since...it's taking forever to get better!! So I thought instead of sharing some of my fav black friday sales, i'd show some good Cyber Monday deals! Hope all of you had a wonderful holiday with your loved ones. 

ASOS (click here) Use the promo code ILOVEMONDAYS to get 30% off your entire purchase!!

Bauble Bar (click here) Use the promo code CYBER 20 to get 20% off of your purchase

Piperlime (click here) Use promo code CYBERSALE to get 30% off the entire site, plus an extra 40% discount on sale items

Revolve (click here) you can get an extra 20% off of all final sale and new markdown pieces

Prism Boutique (click here) Use promo code ITSON10 to get 10% off of everything (this one ends at midnight tonight so it's not quite a cyber monday sale)

Windsor (click here) Use promo code QUIRKY to get 25% off of selected items (today only!)

Missguided (click here) Use promo code CYBER30 to get 30% off entire purchase

Modcloth (click here) Use promo code CYBERMONDAY to get 25% your entire purchase

H & M (click here) 30% off entire purchase + free shipping on all orders over $50

Intermix (click here) 20% off of full price items + free shipping

Shopbop (click here) Spend $250 save 15%, spend $500 save 20%, spend $1000 save 25%

-Xoxo Becca