Bay Area Fashion

JLSJ fundraising gala gown and recap

March 18, 2016 in Bay Area Fashion / General Fashion tagged charity / evening attire / formal / fundraiser / fundraising / jlsj / junior league of san jose / outfits / spring 2016 by Bay Area Fashionista

Fundraising gala gown outfit details: Earrings: Kendra Scott / Lipstick: c/o Dolce & Gabbana / Gown: David Meister / Ring: Amethyst, yellow gold, gift from Mother, (also love this one) / Nail Polish: Chanel Roubachka / Handbag: Chanel (also love SAVE or SPLURGE) / Shoes: Tom Ford

Every two years, the Junior League of San Jose holds a fashion show fundraiser. There are two events held; a daytime luncheon, and an evening gala. This time I only attended the gala. Some years, I have attended both events; because they are so much fun!

The JLSJ fashion show fundraiser has a special place in my heart. From 2002-2010 I was an active member of the Junior League, and worked tirelessly on the steering committee for the fundraiser. I love how many fun ways there are to raise money at this event! There are raffles, showcases, a silent auction, a live auction, a call to action, and games!

Also, many of the retailers who show their lines on the runway will offer a percentage of sales to the league for a a few days after the event. This encourages guests to shop at, and support, our sponsors. It really is win/win!

Now, as a sustainer in the Junior League, I enjoy attending the event and seeing the fabulous creativity of the current actives. They always put on such a great show, and event. I am so proud of all their hard work! I cannot wait to find out the final numbers, and see how much we raised for our charities, and projects!

The Junior League of San Jose works hard in the community to promote volunteerism, develop the potential of women, and improve the community. The league improves the community through partnerships, signature projects, and grants for local non-profits, and charities. To learn more about the Junior League of San Jose, and all of the fabulous work we do in the community, please visit JLSJ.org.

Now, this is a fashion blog, so let’s chat for second about my dress! I have fallen in love with one shoulder gowns; I wore a navy one to the last fashion show fundraiser in 2014! So, I decided this was the silhouette for me, but not in navy 😉

I loved all of the structural influences on the spring 2016 runways in New York, so when I saw this one shoulder gown with a metal belt, I knew it was the dress for me! Not only did it reflect the structural trend I loved from the NYFW runways for spring, it had one shoulder! Love!

My black vintage Delman’s have attended their last gala, so after two decades, I replaced them with this pair of classic, black satin pumps. I love the gold high heel! I feel like these shoes are a classic with a twist. Always fun to have a twist!

*These photos were taken with my iPhone. My apologies for the quality.

Love the collection from Azadeh shown during the JLSJ fashion show fundraiser; enjoy the final walk featuring her designs!

Shore Projects Watch

March 3, 2016 in Bay Area Fashion / General Fashion / Jewelry tagged banana republic / blue / outfits / products with a cause / saint laurent / shore projects / spring 2016 / watches by Bay Area Fashionista

Pictured: Sunglasses: Chanel / Lipstick: c/o Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Rosa / Earrings: Kendra Scott / Sweater: Banana Republic / Watch: c/o Shore Projects / Handbag: Saint Laurent / Skirt: Banana Republic / Nail Polish: Dior Bluette / Shoes: Ivanka Trump (on major sale!)

I am not one of those people who collects watches. To me, a wristwatch is something which should be timeless; an heirloom quality piece I can hand down to my children. My Mother owns three watches she has been wearing for decades; and each one has a story behind it. This has influenced me over the years to view watches as special pieces which tell a story I can pass on to future generations.

When Shore Projects introduced me to their beautiful collections of watches, I was thrilled! I usually pass on new watch trends, and brands, because I want a classic watch with a story behind it to invest in for my collection. Shore Projects instantly caught my attention because the watches offer timeless appeal, with a vintage vibe; and a story. I am in love!

Shore Projects watches offer a combination of modern innovation, with precision manufacturing, which when combined, create a beautiful timepiece that will last for generations. Each Shore Projects watch is made with a stainless steel case covered with crystal sapphire glass. The leather straps offer high quality leather sourced from Italy. All of Shore Projects watches are waterproofed to 100m; which means you can swim in the sea! Love that!

In addition to my love for the quality construction, and timeless appeal of every Shore Project watch, I love the fact that they are a product with a cause! Shore Projects has partnered with the Marine Conservation Society which works hard to increase protection levels for aquatic wildlife habitats; as well as to improve the conditions of our seas and coastlines. For every Shore Projects watch sold, £1 is donated to MCS in order to support them in their work to protect beaches and wildlife. How fabulous a story is that!

I absolutely adore my Shore Projects watch. These watches are not only classic, high quality timepieces, they can be customized to fit our individual tastes. Love that! There are several faces to choose from, and after you choose a watch-face, you can choose one or more straps to wear with the watch! This gives you an endless array of watch styles to choose from, and to love!

Since blue is my favorite color, I chose a light blue watch-face named the “Lulworth.” This beautiful watch-face can be paired with a fun, colorful strap, or a classic metal strap. I love metal straps so I chose a stainless steel strap. This summer, I want to switch things up and wear a strap in a light color. I just need to choose a color. There are so many amazing choices!

I am looking forward to pairing my Shore Projects watch with more winter into spring outfits, such as the one I am wearing in the photo above, as the weather transitions from cold to warm over the next couple of months. I am also looking forward to pairing it with summer outfits, followed by fall ensembles. This is a watch to wear forever. Love!

You can see all of the fabulous watch-faces, and watch straps, by Shore Projects online at ShoreProjects.com. You can also find select styles online here.

Watches I love by Shore Projects:

Watch straps I love by Shore Projects:

Outfit details:

Flares for winter into spring 2016

March 1, 2016 in Bay Area Fashion / General Fashion tagged casual style / chloe / denim / express / gap / outfits / spring 2016 by Bay Area Fashionista

Pictured: Sunglasses: Chanel / Earrings: Ippolita / Lipstick: c/o Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Rosa / Blouse: Express / Tank Top: Mossimo / Jeans: Gap (on sale!) / Handbag: Chloe / Bracelet: Kendra Scott / Nail Polish: Dior Bleuette / Booties: Sam Edelman

Spring 2016 is coming! The cherry blossoms are in full bloom, the Magnolia trees are blossoming, and flowering trees around the Bay Area are displaying their wares. It is such a beautiful time of year!

In addition to natural beauty, spring in the Bay Area also means implementing some serious layering skills when it comes to get dressed in the morning. The fog will roll in and out, and the temperatures will swing thirty degrees.

Transitioning a wardrobe from winter into spring in the Bay Area is fairly easy. We don’t have to worry about snow, or any sort of crazy weather; just the occasional spring shower. The main thing to think about is staying warm in the morning, and early evening, when fog is present on the bay, and rolling in from the ocean.

The high temperature tends to hover between 65-75, and the lows hover around 45-55, during the spring months in the San Francisco Bay Area. This means warm afternoons, and cool mornings and evenings. The easiest way to combat these temperatures is to wear layers.

On casual days, jeans are a great bottom to wear since they are comfortable in both warm, and cool weather. This means layering your top is the only thing you have to do in spring weather. Placing a tank top under a spring blouse, and then topping with a light jacket, is the perfect way to warm up, or cool down, on a Bay Area spring day.

I wore a tank top underneath this spring blouse in order to add a little bit of warmth to the blouse. We took these pictures in the early afternoon hours, so my jacket was already off. In the morning I wore a jacket to keep warm, and I put it back on in the early evening hours. It was the perfect layering piece to combat the fog.

Other ways to layer for spring include cardigan sweaters, flannel shirts or denim shirts (both of which can be tied around your waist or stuffed in a purse for easy transport), blanket scarf, or a long sleeve tee underneath a blouse; although with a long sleeve tee you will need to find a way to remove it during the day, and then put it back on in the evening.

What are some ways you layer in order to transition from winter into spring in the Bay Area?

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