Grey Day

I was SO excited for this shoot. Well, excited and nervous! By now I have done so many shoots with my photographer that they're a breeze. This shoot, however, was my first on the beach. It's always fun to get out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself and try new things. So I accepted a collab with a swimwear company (pics coming soon!) While I was at the beach I decided to take advantage and shoot some of my favorite looks. Unfortunately for me, the sun decided not to come out and there was immense fog. I still love how the pics came out though (even though you can barely tell that the ocean was behind me).

Anyway let's get to this look. I styled this beautiful Santa Marguerite top with my favorite jean shorts of all time.  This top is easy to style from day to night. I plan on wearing it with white jeans or light blue jeans for a casual evening look. 

Today I have three meetings and then a shoot in the afternoon. I'll be shooting some new pieces I picked up in NYC. Can't wait to share! Saturday Ray and I are going to spend the day in Malibu. You can follow on my IG story :) xox

Photography by Felicia Lasala

Frayed Hem

While I am loving the spring trends, like ruffled sleeves, I can't help but return to the basics. As you guys know, a good button down is one of my favorite pieces to own. Firstly, a good quality one can last forever. They never go out of style. Secondly, they make an outfit look chic with minimal work (aka throw on a button down, jeans and a delicate necklace and there you have it!). 

When I ordered this one, I knew it would be a summer fav. The light mist wash and frayed hem make it such a special piece. Plus the material is so soft! Bella Dahl seriously makes the best blouses. 

I will let you guys in on a little secret. I almost always shorten the tail on my button downs. Since I'm pretty petite (aka short), the tails on button downs are normally too long for me. Getting them shortend is a quick and easy fix. Which brings me to the importance of a good tailor. If you don't have one already, find one asap. We have been using the same tailor since we moved here and she is incredible. Whether it's shortening the tail of a blouse, fixing straps or shortening pants or a dress, a good tailor can make all the difference.

Photography by Felicia Lasala

Botox in a bottle? Yes, please!

When I first moved to LA I started to hear people recommend using anti-aging products. Whether it was estheticians, dermatologists, friends or the magazines I was reading, I thought they were all nuts. After all I'm only 28. I know 28 in LA terms is "old", but c'mon, anti-aging products?  So I started to do some research and quickly learned that that they were all right. While we don't need to worry about wrinkles appearing any time soon, the earlier you start using anti-aging products, the better. By using anti-aging products in your skincare routine at an earlier age you are helping to prevent premature aging. 

I wouldn't say go run to the La Mer counter and buy the most expensive anti-aging serum they have. Rather, try to include a few products in your skincare routine. That's what I have been doing lately and loving it. Recently I've been incorporating Stridermatox products in my routine. The products have a high concentration of Matrixyl, Argireline and Hyaluronic Acid. I'm sure you have heard of Hyaluronic Acid. It helps with tissue hydration which is key to smoother and more hydrated skin. The more hydrated your skin is, the better. Matrixyl stimulates collagen synthesis and skin repair and Argireline helps reduce the depth and size of wrinkles. 

I won't lie- there is huge temptation in LA to start with botox at a young age (and yes, I've had an injection here and there). But over the past year I've moved away from that and started to take better care of my skin. That includes getting regular facials and making sure each product I use serves a purpose and reacts well with my skin.  And if the products help avoid requiring botox (and the $$ that goes with it) then I'm all for it!

My favorite is the wrinkle and frown cream. I apply it in the morning before I do my makeup and before bed. One of my biggest complaints with face creams is that they leave an oily residue, making it impossible to apply my makeup properly. This cream is water-based and absorbs really quickly so I don't have that issue. A few days a week I'll incorporate the defying lifting serum and apply it before the cream. Then I apply the eye gel. 

You can use the code "SHEWENTWEST" to get 20% off. The best part is if you don't love the products there is a money-back guarantee. If you try Stridermatox let me know what you think! xo

This post is in collaboration with Stridermatox. As always, all opinions are my own. 

Magic Hour

This is one of my favorite looks we ever shot. We took these pictures in West Hollywood during magic hour. For the first few months before and after I launched She Went West, I would plan shoots for really early in the morning. I wanted to get them done before people were out and about. I was always nervous what people would think- another basic b shooting for a blog. But as SWW grew I started caring less about what other people thought. So on the day we shot this look, I finally agreed to shoot in the middle of one of the busiest intersections at rush hour. It was oddly liberating and a turning point for me and SWW. 

Last year I went through a James Perse obsession. I was constantly on the search for anything James Perse on sale (it's always on sale on sites like Nordstrom Rack or Saks Off Fifth). I have to say for being pretty skin tight, the fit is always so flattering. Plus I love that you can wear a dress like this during the day with sandals or white sneakers and at night with heels and a leather jacket or for a fancy evening out. Heading to NYC tomorrow. Can't wait! xox

Photography by Felicia Lasala

All About The Sleeves

Hey guys. I hope you had a great weekend. My weekend consisted of photo shoots and This Is Us. On Friday I had a beach shoot in Malibu. It was really fun and really challenging. Very different than shooting my regular looks on the street. When I got home I was exhausted so we spent the rest of the afternoon/evening watching This Is Us in bed. It was perfect. Saturday I had another shoot. Everything was going great until I locked my car keys in the trunk (with my cell phone and my photographer's cell phone..ugghh). I had to ask a random girl to borrow her cell phone and called Ray who was at the gym. He had to Uber home (since I had the car), get the extra key and Uber to come meet us. Luckily I was able to finish shooting all my looks without too much of a delay and Ray ran home (so it wasn't a total waste of a workout). Has anyone else ever done that?

Saturday night we went to a new restaurant for dinner called Le Ponte. It was pretty good but not sure I would rush back. Yesterday we walked around Melrose, went grocery shopping and finished the first season of This Is Us. Wow. That series. No words. 

This is a look I shot a few weeks ago. I realized I am ALL about the sleeves this season. This shirt is no exception. Can't wait to style it with white jeans for the summer.

I decided to go to New York this weekend. Really looking forward to a change of scenery and some shopping! xoxox

Photography by Felicia Lasala

LWD- Little White Dress

This is the perfect summer LWD- Little White Dress. I absolutely love the lace details, the little pom poms and the fit. If you're going to wear an all white look, I suggest adding a pop of color. I decided to style it with a clutch I bought in Bali and wedges from Forever 21. 

We recently started watching This Is US and I'm totally hooked! All I want to do is stay home and watch it. I haven't found a show like that in forever. Also, the soundtrack is so good! Wishing you all a great hump day! xox

Photography by Felicia Lasala