The Power of Fashion + Giveaway!

Jessica and I met almost five years ago when we were both attending college in Boston. We worked at a resale clothing shop and bonded over fashion. Over the years, we've somehow both relocated to Los Angeles, and started our own blogs and businesses. Working in the fashion industry has been a trying and eye-opening experience for both of us, and we've had many a long conversation about how to balance being a professional, strong, smart woman, and having an affinity for something that seems to vain and vapid. The answer to us has always been that fashion and power don't have to be mutually exclusive. In fact, fun fashion can be very empowering!

I've always subscribed to the Look Good, Feel Good philosophy, which drives me to make clothing for other people that will make them feel great about themselves. Through her work as a stylist, Jessica encourages her clients to look and feel their best through closet makeovers and simple style tricks.

But fashion doesn't always feel so great. Sometimes what you wear can lead to unwanted attention. So when Jessica introduced the idea of I Dress for Me, a fashion movement that encourages women to dress for no one but themselves, and that no matter what you wear, you deserve to be treated with respect, I was all in.

I hope you'll join both of us in celebrating the empowering qualities of fashion!

Today, in collaboration with my blogger bestie, Jessica from Hell or High Fashion, along with Expect Collection, and I Dress for Me, we are offering an awesome gift pack featuring a Kate Spade coin purse, two essie nail polishes, a pair of J Crew earrings, a $25 gift certificate to Expect and a $25 credit good towards a style profile by Jessica.

You have 6 chances to enter below... Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Expect Autumn 2014 Launch

Sorry for the radio silence around here. If you follow me on instagram, you're probably more up-to-date on my goings on and are aware that I have been consumed for the last month with launching my fall line for Expect. Now that it has been successfully launched, I'm hoping I'll have a smidge more time for fun stuff like blogging (not that running my line isn't fun, but you know...)

To celebrate the big day, I hosted a little party at Trinkets and Treasures. We enjoyed lemonade and cupcakes, chatted about the new line, and narrowly avoided getting sunburned. Good day.

Here's me wearing the Hazel dress. Ignore the huge condensation spill on the table behind me. It was seriously hot on Monday! I probably drank six glasses of lemonade and was still boiling up! You can see the entire collection behind me -- each piece was thoughtfully designed and loving handmade by yours truly! From the fun prints, soft colors, vintage touches, and simplistic shapes, I am in love with everything I have created for this season. I truly hope you love it too!

Chatting with customers -- especially when they had mouths full of red velvet! -- about the line, my inspiration, technique, and philosophy was my favorite part of the night.

Fabrics have always been my jumping-off point when it comes to design. When I came across April Rhodes' Arizona collection, I instantly thought back to driving cross country with my now-husband back in September 2011 before we were married. We were both so taken with the colors and natural beauty of the southwest, and that's when the light bulb went off! I believe deeply in the quality and innate passion that goes into making garments by hand. The one thing I'd love every one of my customers to know when they purchase something that was made especially for them, is that I put all the care I have into each piece I design and sew.

After viewing the collection, my guests had the opportunity to make their purchase right then and there through the iPad kiosk. It was wonderful to see people taking in the website that I had worked so hard to create!

I am so grateful to everyone who has supported me and my business. I want to especially thank my brand reps, and their moms for providing wonderful modeled photos, and my husband for helping me take all the product photos, and providing input and advice along the way. To those customers who have already made purchases, your continued praise and support keeps me going and I can't say thank you enough!

On The Road Again

When: Tuesday, April 8th, 2014

Where: I-5

Today Alex and I drove up to the Bay Area from LA. Al booked 10 days of work in Berkeley, and my parents live on the Peninsula, so it was the perfect excuse to get out of dodge for a minute. I saw this mini-road trip as the perfect change to test drive (see what I did there?) my new-ish wide leg trousers. When Alex asked when I got them and I replied, "I've had them for a while," he made me re-evaluate what a couple weeks really amounts to in the grand scheme of things. Other reactions to these pants include (from my mother, as I walked in the door): "What are you wearing? Is that evening wear?!"

I thought these extra roomy pants were perfect for a long ride; they were so comfortable. Though, I'm not really sure if they count as pants in the first place -- they feel more like wearing two skirts at once, just one for each leg.

For the rest of my outfit I kept it really simple. I skipped makeup because really who's going to see me besides my husband and the drifters at the truck stop (and whoever reads this blog... oops.)?! These fun daisy patterned sunglasses covered up my tired-looking, mascara-free eyes. I've been wearing this A necklace I made a lot recently. I started selling these hand-embroidered necklaces at the flea market last week and I couldn't help but take one for myself. Keep your eyes trained on my etsy for these necklaces, coming very soon!

I'm looking forward to a week back in the Bay. I've heard things have changed a little around here since I've left. Mostly, I'm interested in what there is to eat these days. Anyone got suggestions for places to grub? I like food.

Radiant Orchid Blouse

Wide Leg Trousers

Daisy Sunglasses

Teal and Gold Heels

Embroidered Initial Necklace

Etsy is Updated!

I am so in love with my newly updated etsy shop! It has never ever looked so good or been so full! I literally spent the last 12 hours uploading, writing, and posting... And now it's all ready for you to shop it!

Here are a few of my favorite new items. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them!

Beatrice Reversible Monster and Flag Print Baby Dress

Jackson Lemon and Red Polka Dot Printed Reversiable Baby Harem Pants

Beatrice Pink Desserts and Polka Dot Print Reversible Dress

Jackson Whale and Abstract Chevron Blue Reversible Baby Harem Pants

Boo-yah Little Mermaid Sebastian Embroidery Hoop Art

Little One Mini Hand Embroidery Hoop Art

Check out the rest of my sixty-six other listings at www.expectclothing.etsy.com

VC Makers CoOp: Not an April Fools Joke!

I was lucky enough to kick of April with a trip to Ventura for a really wonderful show. The VC Makers CoOp featured a small selection of local handcrafters, shop owners, and provision makers, as well as a plethora of food trucks boasting delicious food.

Due to *gasp!* the weather (read: wind), we were relocated from our intended places on the patio near the food trucks to the ball room above the parking lot. No matter, the view straight out to the ocean from my booth was breathtaking!

The sunlight streaming through the window set the scene for what would become a lovely evening of scarfing down a bahn-mi-rito from the Scratch Ventura food truck, oogling the goodies from Summer Camp and Marley and Alfie, and sampling the jams and nut butters from Sweet Lady Cook, and Rock Rose Provisions, respectively.

I introduced pieces from my new home line for the first time. These mini pillows are made from uncirculated (or "dead stock") vintage handkerchiefs, on which I hand embroider silly and colorful phrases.

I'm also introducing embroidery hoops of the same nature for wall decor. I sat and made a custom set with the words "Welcome Babies" to be used as nursery decor when a pair of twins arrive! They were so cute; I wish I had taken a picture of them. I'm also fully prepared to make custom name embroideries at the flea market tomorrow. I can make yours while you shop!

Huge thanks to Katherine from The Habitat Factory for having me. I sure hope our paths cross again!

Three Business Lessons I Learned This Week

Since becoming my own boss and starting Expect a year and a half ago, I have been on a steep learning curve when it comes to the business side of things. I still have a lot to catch up on, but some major stuff finally clicked for me this week and I thought I'd share.

1. Just start selling. I've heard this so many times on Shark Tank -- a show that equally inspires me and makes me feel like I'm going to have a heart attack -- but I never really understood it. I was like, "My designs are online... So they should be selling, right?" Wrong. What they mean by that is to really put yourself out there, present your product to your customer and SELL IT. That finally clicked this week when I realized that meeting my customer in person at the shows, and by placing my pieces in a store was making all the difference.

2. Don't let labels hold you back. Since I started my business, I've been calling myself a fashion designer. That wasn't untrue, but I felt sometimes that I had to adhere to that title a little too closely and now allow myself to make things that weren't wearable. This week, I decided I wanted to start hand sewing, and making home decor items... And it made me so happy! I felt awesome to reconnect to my craft in a way I hadn't done in years. I've been calling myself a "maker" in my head for the past few days and it feels so nice to take the pressure away from having to be a designer, and just feel open to making stuff!

3. Talk to other creatives. This might seem super obvious, but it took me a while to figure this one out. Being your own boss can be very isolating. On a typical day, I go to my studio and I work in there until the day is over and I speak to no one but my husband for the day. Since starting selling at the markets and connecting with other creative people, I feel that I have a whole new outlet. I'm able to get advice, inspiration, commiserate, and express myself more freely. Having new relationships with people who understand my business had enriched my existing relationships.

Expect Clothing x VC Makers CoOp

I am so thrilled and honored to say that next Tuesday, April 1st (no, this is not a fools joke!) you can find me in Ventura at the VC Makers CoOp. I will, of course, have tons of maternity wear, childrens clothing, accessories, as well as never before seen nursery decor! I absolutely can not wait!

If you're in or around the Ventura, CA area, please stop by and say hi! I'll be there from 5 to 9!

Expect Clothing x MTP Taft

I apologize for the total radio silence over the past (whoa!) two weeks. I have been so consumed with the most exciting thing that has happened to me career-wise in a long time -- I got my own booth at the Melrose Trading Post at Taft! I have been lucky enough in the past to share a booth the the beautiful and talented girls of Vintage Redeux at the original, Fairfax location... But this time, I had my very own space. I felt so proud.

When I found out that I had a whole 10 by 10 foot booth to fill up about three weeks out, I set to sewing like a mad woman. Of course, just my luck, my brother serger that I've had since college (that I haven't maintained or had professionally cleaned once), decided it was time to permanently clock out and I was without a sewing machine for over a week. Disaster. Or sew (see what I did there?!) I thought.

In lack of a machine, I decided to put my hand sewing skills to use to create these ahhhhhhhhdorable -- if I do say so myself -- baby shoes, which I have aptly dubbed Cutesy Boots. I love making these! I get to got to my zen place as I lovingly craft each tiny pair and adorn them with handmade bows and vintage buttons. I made about forty pairs, and I could not be prouder or think of a better way to spend a week!

Once I got a new serger, about 5 days before showtime, I got down to business. Amazingly, I was able to hunker down in my studio and pump out massive amounts of baby dresses, repurposed scarf tee shirts, and maternity dresses. I one point, when I came up for air, I realized that I had made about 20 dresses in a 36 hour period. It was nutz.

Before I go any further, I need to make the hugest shoutout to my lovely assistant, beautiful bestie, and faithful friend, Jessica. I literally would not have gotten through opening day without her. From waking up before the sun, helping me haul my gear in and out of the market, encouraging me, consulting on dress design as well as booth layout, and overall being a super positive and wonderful person to be around, she really made the day fly by!

I am so incredibly grateful to be a part of this wonderful new outdoor market, and to have the opportunity to grow with it. It feels wonderful to have a space on this planet, even for one day a week, that's all my own. I need to extend a huge thank you to my brilliant husband for putting up with me when I was super stressed out and/or totally manic while I was preparing for the big day. I also want to thank not only my family, but also my parents, for telling me time after time that I could be whatever I wanted to be -- even if it were a flea market baby clothing designer!

 Another day, another dollar! Here's to many more!

Dress: Expect Clothing

Jacket: Max and Cleo, old. Similar.

Shoes: Kate Spade x Keds

Watch: MARC by Marc Jacobs

Sunglasses: Kate Spade Saturday, Similar

Thanks to Hughie Stone Fish for taking these amazing shots!

Outfit: Monoco

When: October 28th, 2013 (Happy birthday, Maija!)

Where: Studio, Errands, etc.

On the opening day of my Monoco Japan sale, I decided to wear a piece from my capsule collection I created just for them. If you missed out on the sale, this sample may soon become available on the American market. Stay tuned.

I love the color and print of this dress. Finding this orange floral fabric in the fashion district downtown was a real gem! To make the print really shine, I utilized some strategic new neutrals. A relaxed denim jacket and winskey booties fall into the backdrop of this look, while my new fave Kate Spade Saturday burnt orange bag highlights the fall tones in my dress without stealing the show.

Can you recognize my backdrop here? It's IKEA! This yellow wall has been one of my favorite places to snap outfit photos, and since we just so happened to be there buying some wedding goodies... I figured, why not!

| Dress: Expect Maternity |

| Jacket: Max and Cleo, via Goodwill |

| Boots: Anthropologie, via Maija! |

| Watch: MARC by Marc Jacobs |

| Necklace: Forever 21 |

| Bag: Kate Spade Saturday, birthday gift from Alex! |