March 23, 2016

Winter White

There's just that "je ne sais quoi" about a full winter white outfit. The crisp lines, fresh glow and stand out appearance has always been a favorite in my book. When other parts of the globe may be in full spring mode, London still has that winter chill. So I decided to bring out my sample sale steal that I purchased last year and retire my trusty Burberry black coat for awhile.

Before I moved to London, I owned one coat - a black Zara parka that I only bought before I went traveling through Patagonia's glaciers. It's safe to say I went coat crazy at sample sales last March and found this Reiss Archive beaut. I fell in love with this coat not just because of the exceptional quality, but the divine colour truly caught my eye. Darker than a fresh snow white, lighter than a camel - this colour was one of kind and I knew it would be the perfect addition to brighten up my winter wardrobe. It's hard to imagine yourself wearing a coat this bright when the masses on the morning rush hour tube are in their standard head-to-toe black attires. But who cares, right? I never wear all black and know myself enough that even a big city like London certainly won't change that. I always say if I like what I'm wearing, I feel good and that's the most important part of styling yourself. Confidence is key and you'll never know who you'll meet on that morning tube ride..

Thanks for stopping by!

Christie xx

September 9, 2015

Heading East

by Christie Nowels

Creativity can grow in the most curious of spaces. As a West London resident, there's something about heading east that simply excites my inner spirit. Heading east is more than just a couple tube stops away; it's more than the vintage stores and food festivals, and even more than the hipster young professionals sprawling from one cool bar to the next. For me, heading east is imagining a new world full of color, opportunity, and where creativity flourishes in its natural, spontaneous environment. Just walking off the tube at Liverpool Street, I instantly feel a sense of the bustling roads and lanes of restaurants full of friends' laughter. As I walk further down Brick Lane, I see one curry shop after the next and a lineup of vintage stores covering their shop windows with cut off Levi's and leather jackets. These are just the normal sightings on a Sunday afternoon when the streets are full all the way down from the Truman Brewery to the infamous bagel shops. The aspect that catches my eye the most is something so visible, yet discrete, and casts itself around a sense of mystery - the East London Street Art.

From Banksy to Sticks and many local London artists, East London is covered head to toe with imaginative designs and pops of color. Just like a fashionista emerging from a show at fashion week, these creative aspirations come to life at the hands of their artistic visionaries that cause you to turn your head at every corner and sight. As I aimlessly walk around, I find inspiration with my every move as the colors become more vibrant and the originality continues to thrive. When I was an art student, the question at the start of every term would remain the same, "what is art?" To this day, I don't think we can define what lies in the walls of these creative endeavors, but rather embrace the free-flowing nature that keeps evolving as the decades pass and cultures begin to merge. Whenever I imagine street art, I always think of the quote, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." Just because we live in a traditional city with historic charm doesn't mean we shouldn't embrace the progression of modernity in all forms of artistic expression. Sometimes traveling outside your comfort zones (and tube zones) allows you to embrace a sense of individualism that you may never knew you had.

xx Christie

Thank you Ryan Carlson from Coast 2 Coast Photography for the amazing portraits! If you're in the San Diego area and looking for a fantastic photographer, make sure to look him up!

August 17, 2015

Off Duty Chic

by Christie Nowels

Ready or not, it's time to take your pinstripes and work attire to a whole new level for the weekends...Off Duty Chic is here to stay!

For the past couple weeks, I've been working countless hours to finish writing my Dissertation for my Master's degree. With any job that you're working towards a deadline, there comes a time when you just have to turn off the laptop, put down your pen, and have a fun day outside the house to clear your head. The sunshine, crisp air, and maybe a cocktail or two can make a world of difference to your writing. But why shouldn't your work style transition into the weekend with you too?

This jumpsuit instantly takes you from the office to a world of glamour, yet simplicity with a simple step. The black and white, vertical pinstripes add that overall extra length, while the feminine sleeves gently slip off the shoulder to give you a glimpse of allure. Jumpsuits shouldn't only be confined to a night out on the town, as we have seen Hollywood's best stars bring this classic silhouette back into the limelight with shopping trips, brunches, and pool parties. Less is always more when styling jewelry with a patterned jumpsuit, so I accentuated with minimal gold pieces. And don't think you have to stick to the same base color when mixing in accessories, a brown belt can make a look instantly casual and trendy. My personal favorites are these tan wedges - who doesn't love a tall, comfortable heel anyways...

xx Christie

Photos by Angus Simpson