Military March

(Phillip Lim cadet jacket, Zara dress, Silence + Noise leggings, Jeffrey Campbell platforms)

Like any frequent shopper, I love hunting down the best bargains and scoring a good deal. But sometimes, there are those special, one of a kind pieces that speak to you (yes, clothes do speak to me...I sometimes imagine them jumping off their hangers, crying, "Buy me! I belong to you! Wear me, love me!"). And when that happens, it's so hard to say no. This cadet jacket was indeed a hefty splurge for me, but everytime I wear it, I break into a smile and do a little jig. That's how I know it was worth every hard-earned penny!

Hello, old friend!

(Nanette Lepore blouse, A|X skirt, Jeffrey Campbell platforms, Silence & Noise moto vest)

Don't you just love when you dig through your closet and unearth a piece of clothing you completely forgot you had? That's what happened with this old Armani Exchange skirt of mine, which I bought way back in high school. I still remember wearing it to class all the time during senior year! Paired with a lace-trimmed blouse (which, incidentally, appeared on Blair Waldorf in a recent Gossip Girl episode!) and motorcycle vest, it was as good as new. I'm so excited to wear the skirt again... and a little shocked that I can still squeeze into it!

One of my favorite places to eat in L.A., Yuri Japanese Cafe, recently revamped their menu, leaving lots of space on their chalkboard to doodle and write messages. It was the perfect opportunity to plug my blog while sipping on their newest specialty drink, a hot citrus yuzu tea! For all you Angelenos passing through Melrose, definitely drop by and mention that Tiff from Style Sophisticate sent you!

From my mother's closet

(vintage silk dress, Jeffrey Campbell boots, Isharya earrings)

This weekend when I visited home, my mother cleaned out her closet and tossed a bunch of her old clothes onto the floor. I saw a patch of bright yellow somewhere in the middle of the heap and pounced on it, salvaging this beautiful yellow silk dress she had worn decades ago. Originally a design from Paris, the dress was imported to Hong Kong and sold at a boutique there, where my mother bought it long before I was even born. 

Though the dress was a bit loose on me, I immediately slipped it on, jammed my feet into my new boots, and pranced around in my spectacular find! I love the sunshine yellow color and floral pattern down the front, and the more I inspect this piece, the more I adore its many pretty details--the voluminous bell sleeves, drop waist, crinkled silk fabric, the white silk underskirt. The only thing that makes it better is having it passed down from my mother and knowing she once loved it as much as I do now.

Cherry blossoms

(Jeffrey Campbell shoes, Helmut Lang tee, Kova & T skirt, scarf from Bali)

After lunching at M Cafe de Chaya on Sunday (my first macrobiotic dining experience, and it went pretty well!), I drove down Los Feliz and spotted this side street lined with beautiful cherry blossom trees. The crushed pink blossoms just littered the pavement and with late afternoon sunlight oozing through the branches and casting lovely shadows everywhere, the moment was picture perfect. 

Overdressing

(Coincidence & Chance skirt, DKNY silk tank, Elizabeth Wahyu necklace, A|X belt, Guess shoes, Zara equestrian blazer)

It's funny to think that I used to be teased for the way I dressed. At a young age, I had a distinct idea of how I wanted to look and and would come to elementary school in my favorite printed sundresses or bright flouncy skirts. Looking back, with all the girls wearing Converse high tops and Gap denim shorts, I probably looked overdressed for the fourth grade. I remember being taunted everyday by one particular bully (I guess you'd call her a "frenemy" nowadays), who would always sneer and say, "Like seriously, Tiffany? You need a new wardrobe." Back then, I'd come home and cry to my mom, who played--and still does play--a great role in my love of fashion and dressing up. Fifteen years later, I'm still overdressed among most of my groups of friends... except now, I really don't care!

Sister, sister

(top borrowed from sister, Isharya earrings)

My sister and I have vastly different style aesthetics, and there have been many times when we look at each other and are just baffled by the other's fashion choices. But every so often, I'll take a peek at her closet and find a really beautiful piece that just stands so well on its own. For example, I covet this brilliant silk top she purchased from a boutique in Indonesia. I love the red color--admittedly, I love the entire color spectrum but red is my favorite--and the jeweled embellishments and pleated collar detail. So of course, I snuck it out of my sister's closet to wear a few times before returning it. I'm thinking of toning down the girliness with my ripped jeans and pirate boots, and maybe just keeping this top for myself forever!

Jean leggings

(Zara blazer, See by Chloe blouse, Current/Elliot jeans)

As much as I ached to wear my new obsession--ripped Current/Elliot jeans--over the weekend, I had to work on Saturday so I wanted to convey just a tad more professionalism. So out came my other pair of Current/Elliot skinny, streamlined jeans, which are so soft (how do they do it!?) and thin they're more like leggings. Honestly, they are the most comfortable jeans I've ever worn in my life, surpassing even my favorite supersoft pair from Rich & Skinny. A tip: the salesman where I bought the Current/Elliot jeans said they tend to stretch out a lot, so it's better to size down as much as possble. 

Glacier ring

(AA oversize tee, super old DKNY jeans pink tank, Ksubi jeans, Jeffrey Campbell shoes, Gucci purse, Elizabeth Wahyu glacier ring & necklace)

The giant Elizabeth Wahyu glacier ring is a treasured piece in my sprawling jewelry collection. Since much of my mother's side of the family lives in Indonesia, we visit every year. Last summer we met the incredibly talented jeweler, Elizabeth Wahyu. She's established a name for herself throughout Asia, where her pieces sell out in department stores and on home shopping network TV. My sister and I are now the distributors of her amazing jewelry in the USA, and once there's a website up and running to make purchases available, I'll let everyone know! 

On another note, Ty from Jeffrey Campbell gave me a heads up that he featured me on the JC blog wearing the CAMP shoes (pictured here as well), and I'm so thrilled about it! I've been a devoted fan of Jeffrey Campbell footwear for a long time (it's so rare to find shoes that are both affordable, innovative, and stylish) and the CAMP is one of my all-time favorites. Check out the sweet post here! 

Orange sheen

(Vintage shirt, Current/Elliot ripped jeans, Jeffrey Campbell shoes, Gucci purse, scarf from Indonesia)

I had previously dismissed all the Hollywood hoopla surrounding Current/Elliot until I finally tried them on last weekend...and found myself in jeans heaven! They fit me well and felt great, but I love the strategically placed rips most of all.  I may have jumped onto the ripped/thrashed jeans bandwagon a little late, but I'm definitely going to make up for lost time!

I also had fun playing around with my orange scarf, which I unearthed from the bottom of my scarf basket. I love how its golden threads give off that pretty glowing sheen in the sunlight. I remember haggling over that scarf with a street vendor in Bali last summer, and giving in almost immediately--it was just too beautiful! I also bought one in yellow for my mom and we wore them that same night out to dinner at Ku De Ta. Thinking of that summer in Indonesia makes me long for warm weather in Los Angeles...