I love the Easter pastel thing, I do. Nothing is more refreshing than a sweet macaron flavored palette around this time of year. But it’s just that the full-on softness explosion that often comes with this holiday gives me a little bit of a twitch. The combo of lace, florals, and chalky whites that Easter historically catapults to the forefront of fashion inspiration are just a little bit on the girly side for me. So I thought why not bring something a bit more strut worthy into the mix this weekend? Perhaps a 60′s mod inspired look with a more structured feel. Maybe even throw in some neon and a stud or two? Just putting it out there. Do with it what you will.

Jonathan Adler compact case/coin purse, Girl. by Band of Outsiders bomber jacket, Barry M Baby Pink lipstick, Rike Feurstein cap, Valentino rockstud cuff, Karen Walker sunglasses, ncLA nail wraps, Topshop dress, Charlotte Olympia heels, Cambridge Satchel bag

Photo by Ryan Handy

Nothing is more exciting than that first Fall morning when you actually need a sweater (this is extra special when it happens in LA). Along with that comes hot coffee, a favorite pair of boots that never disappoint, dark on the nails (finally I’m me again!), and a stack of October mags.

Helmut Lang sweater, 3.1 Phillip Lim purse, Topshop pants, Frye boots, Low Luv ring, on the nails: OPI’s William Tell Me About OPI

I love a monochromatic look, and putting one together in shades of gray is one of my favorite ways to wear it. My closet is full of pieces all the way across the spectrum between black and white and they can all mix together in so many different ways. This bandage skirt is gray at first glance but it also has a bit of a green/brown tint as well, which makes it take on the color of anything it comes near.

D&G sunglasses, Topshop blazer, Vince top, BCBG skirt, gifted Shoedazzle shoes & bracelet, J.Crew and vintage bracelets

{Bistrot Bruno Loubet}

{St. John’s Square}

{Portobello Antiques Market}

{Still}

{Tea’s Me}

{Kurt Geiger}

{Notting Hill}

I can’t believe it’s been a whole week since we got home from our trip. I’m already plotting my return but in the meantime the best I can do is look at pictures like these slices of life from one of our action-packed days in London. We covered so much ground but always managed to make time to stop for tea at 4:00. I could have wandered around Notting Hill forever browsing antiques. I maaaay have spent an entire afternoon scouring every last corner of Topshop on Oxford Street. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Outfit: Zara Blazer, T by Alexander Wang Tee from Feature, Shoedazzle Adria Bag & Time for Reflection Necklace, Michael Kors Rose Gold Watch, D&G Sunglasses, AG Stilt Jeans

A Wood New Year

After a lazy and indulgent holiday break, the beginning of the new year often brings on a heavy load of… guilt. Whether you have a few pounds to shed, or need to start make long strides towards a big goal you’ve set for this year, a Wood intention will help you get it all done.

Your Look’s Key Words: Movable. Sporty. Natural.
Style Elements: Plant based fabrics. Vertical shapes. Blues and greens. Athletic or utility pieces.

Get Active With Wood by thelifestyled featuring All Saints

Tips to Woodify Your Life
1. Move your body. It may sound obvious, but getting the blood flowing doesn’t just help you stay physically fit – it keeps your brain working at its full potential, thus getting you fully ready to reach all your goals this year. While the thought of exercising might be the last thing you want to do, you’re whole being will benefit from a little movement each day. So grab the dog and go for a stroll, or set up a sledding excursion with your friends (a few trips up that hill will certainly have you hurting tomorrow).

Toboggan, $190

2. Set daily goals. There’s nothing like the feeling of accomplishment you get when you reach a goal, no matter how big or small. If you set attainable daily goals for yourself, you’ll end each day feeling great about what you did, and looking forward to what the next day has in store.

Russell + Hazel Top 10 Notebook, $10 for one, 92 for a set of 10

3. Go organic. These days, it’s hard to know what you’re really eating unless you grew it yourself. While it can be a bit pricier, eating organic is not only better for our world, but it’s healthier for your body. Check out this great article on how to shop organic, by the domestic goddesses at Haute Apple Pie.

LA’s Original Farmers Market Cookbook, $17

Wood energy is something we can all incorporate into our lives in the new year, no matter what your resolutions may be. It’s all about moving forward, and accomplishing your goals so you can achieve a better future. Who can’t identify with that?

We all love holiday shopping… except when it’s stressful. And let’s face it – it’s almost always stressful. This time of year, many of us have two mental lists going: the list of all the things you would like to buy your friends and loved ones, and the much smaller list of things you can afford to buy them, the latter of which is usually much less inspiring. And some of us just don’t know where to start. Whatever your budget, you want to feel like you are really getting them gifts they would be excited about – gifts that were handpicked just for them. This week, we’ll be taking an elemental look at holiday gift giving for everyone on your list. I’ll be showing you my picks in all price ranges for all the archetypes in your life!

Today, it’s all about Wood. We all know one: the busy bee who’s always on the go, and loves to tackle new things. The adventurer. The pioneer. Woods like things that are practical, allow them to move, and are often times sporty or outdoorsy. Whatever their hobbies, they’ll love anything that will support them in their jam packed schedule. So, nothing too floofy or restricting.

Here are some of my gift picks for Woods:

Holiday Gift Guide: Wood by thelifestyled featuring Frye boots

Topshop Tucked Jumper Dress, $57
Dorado Riding Boot by Frye, $498
Converse Silver/Navy/White Women’s Jack Purcell Ltt Ox Shoe, $87
American Apparel Nylon Pack Cloth Gym Bag, $17
ToyWatch Large Watch with Plasteramic Strap and Silver Dial,$228
Carrera Machu Aviators, $95

Tanya Aguiniga Rope Cuff, $70

Little Birch Jewelry Stand, $28

KOR ONE Hydration Vessel, $30

J. Crew Men’s Camp Socks, $16.50

Tomorrow, we’ll be shopping for luxury – for the Metals in our lives!

I figured it might be time for our next lesson in Fashion Feng Shui 101. I know I keep talking about honoring your essence with your clothes, but I haven’t exactly told you how to do that. I talked about the 5 elements and their archetypes. Now, I’ll tell you how the elements manifest themselves through fabrics, colors, and style concepts.

There are countless ways we can dress our essence and bring the other elements in to honor our intentions (what we want to bring into our lives), our environment (what our lives demand of us), and our appearance (our features that we want to flatter). I’ll get more into those details in later posts, but in the meantime, I’m going to show you the basics of the elements through clothing and accessories.

WATER – The Philosopher

Mantra Words: Unique. Creative. Offbeat. Intelligent.
Fabrics: Flowy or sheer fabrics like chiffon, sheer silk, and organza.
Colors: Deep cool tones like black, deep blue, or dark purple.
Styles: Asymetrical shapes like a one shoulder design, ethnic prints, gathering or rouching, reflective touches, and anything that goes “against the grain.”
Designers/Brands: Urban Outfitters, Marc Jacobs, Prada

WOOD – The Pioneer

Mantra Words: Move. Grow. Activity.
Fabrics: Anything movable, non-fussy, and plant based, like cotton, jersey, linen, gauze, and denim.
Colors: Fresh bright colors like marine blue and kelly green.
Styles: Sporty, preppy, hippy, floral prints, or vertical stripes.
Designers/Brands: J. Crew, Patagonia, Missoni, Polo Ralph Lauren, Martin + Osa

EARTH – The Peacemaker

Mantra Words: Nurture. Grounded. Comfort. Classic.
Fabrics: Cozy and comfy, textured fabrics, tweed, raw silk, piqué.
Colors: Earthy tones like brown, khaki, sage, and warm colors like yellow and orange.
Styles: Boxy shapes, traditional or classic styles, plaid prints, “school girl.”
Designers/Brands: Gap, Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch

FIRE – The Pleasure Seeker

Mantra Words: Fun. Captivating. Dramatic. Attention Getting.
Fabrics: Anything that comes from an animal (or the faux versions) including wool, silk, and leather, attention getting fabrics like lamé, spandex, or sequin.
Colors: Reds, purples, pinks, and anything really bright like neon, or jewel tones.
Styles: Triangular shapes, dramatic trends, animal print, v-necks, anything that reveals your assets.
Designers/Brands: Versace, Roberto Cavalli, Alexander McQueen, Zara, Topshop

METAL – The Perfectionist

Mantra Words: Luxury. Elegant. Class. Perfection. Details.
Fabrics: Anything high quality and luxurious like cashmere, polished fabrics with a slight sheen, metallics.
Colors: Ivory, white, silver, gold, creamy pastels.
Styles: Anything classy, elegant, polished, and luxurious. True metals tend to stay away from prints, but round shapes like polka dots have a lot of metal energy. Nothing flashy or cheap.
Designers/Brands: Chanel, Gucci, YSL, J. Crew, Banana Republic

Now, let me make a very important disclaimer: if you think you’ve decided which essence you are, but wouldn’t wear all the clothes I’ve shown for that element, do not feel like you have to second guess your essence. The reality is most pieces do have more than one element present, and each one of us has different motivations for our personal style because of our intentions, environment, or appearance. For example, maybe your essence is Earth but you don’t like to wear the Earthy yellows and oranges. Maybe it’s because your body coloring is more cool, so your appearance come into play and steers you away from warmer colors. That’s totally OK. In that case, you would use one of the other ways to make sure your Earth is present, like a classic style or boxy jacket and wear it in shades that flatter you better. You don’t have to have ALL of the aspects of an element present in order to honor your essence. It might just be in the fabric, color, style, or print.

You know those outfits you put on and just feel like a dud in, or something’s not right – chances are it’s bescause your essence is missing. When you remember to honor who you are on the inside with what you wear on the outside, that’s how you will be most comfortable, happy, and in your element!