The end?

I contemplated writing this post or just leaving it without any updates. For the casual reader who falls upon this post I thank you for taking the time to join my journey, comment/judge, ridicule/roll your eyes at, and enjoy what I've offered for over a year now. I've always believed in doing things to the fullest, and at this time I don't think I can give the time and dedication that Avis really deserves. She deserves more than that, and so to cut out the nitty gritty and the boring details I'll kept it short, sweet, and fabulous. I hope to some time in the near future in the same or a different capacity be able to do what I've done here because I've really truly loved every minute of it. I'll continue to maintain my Instagram and Twitters accounts to show you all the best of fashion, food, design, and all things power woman related, so please don't be a stranger.

I hope you've gone through these posts and realized that you can be that confident woman you wish you could be. Cause if there's even one of you that feels that way, then nothing else really matters.

Paint the Town Red

View from the Jimmy at the James Hotel

Dress- Alexa Chung for Madewell (similar here), boots- Stuart Weitzman, clutch- Stuart Weitzman, jacket- Members Only (similar here), belt- vintage

Your most fabulous counterpart comes into the city seeking that electric feeling that only the side streets of Spring and Mercer can provide... so that led to a little bit of shopping (hello Louis), wandering (in fabulous suede footwear naturally), and sipping on carrot juice cocktails (Sanctuary T and the Jimmy). Inspired by my latest run-in with Alexa Chung I remembered I had this 20s inspired red dress that she had in her Madewell collection a few years ago. Tis the season for knee high boots and the leather jacket and spiked clutch toughen it up. The weather is that perfect "I need a cool jacket, but I can avoid pulling out my coat for a few more weeks" feeling. It's a clear reminder of why I love east coast falls so much, and what helps me embrace the months when my nose is as red as this dress.

Egg Shop feeling black and white

 Jacket- Zara, T-Shirt- Marc by Marc Jacobs, skirt- Uniqlo, shoes- Stuart Weitzman

If you didn't already know, I have a deep obsession with eggs. So when Egg Shop opened a few weeks ago I had to eat there the first weekend. We're talking all eggs for all hours of the day. Well to begin with service, at the time they were definitely still working out the kinks. The space is small so trying to get a table is hard, but even harder when they're not keeping track of who is waiting for a table and how many people are going to be at the table. Then there's the ordering (delayed), bringing out the food (delayed), and bringing my coffee right when I got my eggs (delayed). The rest of the group got Bloodys which I tried and would suggest you get as well. I settled on the Spandex. Yes, partly cause who doesn't want to order something that sounds like Richard Simmons would, but also the egg bowl has miso in it (which I'm low-key obsessed with); poached egg, miso quinoa, farm greens, avocado, and pickled carrot to be exact. The awesome menu and perfect meal in a bowl made up for the rocky service. Assuming things have gotten better now, and still dying to try the Fish Out of Water and Egg Salad Sandwich.

As the seasons transition it's like my wardrobe will be mostly all black. I prefer how clean and professional it looks. However, these funky shoes and a matching black and white kimono jacket keep the outfit from looking less like I'm in mourning and give it a little soul for a Sunday brunch.

NYFW

Where in the world have I been? What have I been doing? In all earnest, trying to figure out the direction this is going to go in. In NY there's more lifestyle bloggers than I can count, and most of them have their lives dedicated to their work. I moved to the city that never sleeps, and when I think about it I probably never sleep either. I literally have not stopped moving in the past two months. Part of that does include getting the opportunities to attend events that I otherwise wouldn't have gotten to attend particularly those relating to NYFW.

Mr. Siriano himself

It all kicked off with Christian Siriano's fragrance launch party, Christian himself is so high energy and did a great job working the crowd despite the lack of any proper A/C in the space. Nevertheless, being close enough to touch Alexa Chung's Gucci booties was enough to keep me happy despite the heat (hello fashion icon).

DVF hole

Refinery29 hosted a Country Club event with a real mini golf course that had different holes designed by different designers. Diane von Furstenberg's was definitely a favorite using some of her most famous textile designs to wrap around her hole.

Over the weekend, I stopped by the Storefront at the RePoP Room for their "brunch." In the fashion world that means juices and of course plenty of champagne (ok there were some bites thanks to Chef Jordan Andino). Vincetta and Ilana Kohn were showing their comfortable designs, while Marrin Costello hosted a trunk show of delicate and beautiful jewelry. All of which I wanted.

Finally, to cap off the season I was invited with my other fellow NY blogger behind The Kitchen Closet to see Christina Yi's Bone Collector collection. Chain links, mesh, and gauzy fabrics perfectly draped the models, and I fell in love with this scoop back white dress. Also all the models had the most amazing twisted knot hair that I definitely want to try to recreate for a night out.

Today is really and truly the beginning of fall, and as you can see from my outfit at the Storefront I was desperately hoping it would be cold enough to pull that off. Sadly I was wrong, but I'm excited to do the lace pullover with another button down soon.

Mixing prints in Venice

Alfred knows.. But first, coffee

Dining under the sun at Eveleigh

Dress- Rory Beca (old but I like this one), shoes- Seychelles, blazer- vintage (similar here)

There's nothing fantastically exciting about this dress. It looks like a million other silk versions (or knockoff polyester versions) you have seen before. It was an impulse buy at the Saks in Vegas, the last lonely one left on the sale rack at a price that was basically free. Of course it was also a couple sizes too big, but I actually prefer the bagginess to it that makes for the perfect opportunity for a tailored jacket to go over it. The shoes are ages old, but the perfect example of how to ease your way into mixing prints if you're still intimidated by it.

On this particularly beautiful day I got to stop at my favorite coffee bar in WeHo Alfred's Coffee. It was packed with MacBook users, mom's, and The Hills former castmates (talking about Miley Cyrus' birthday party, yawn). By the late afternoon it was time for a couple of cocktails overlooking the water on top of Hotel Erwin in Venice, and finally winding down the night at Eveleigh in their "treehouse" as the sun set during our meal. The food is meh (I'm pretty sure I can make better salmon), but the setup is awesome and the staff incredibly attentive.

Exploring DTLA

View from the top of Angel's Flight

Grand Central Market

Shirt dress- Rag & Bone (I like this one), belt- vintage, sandals- Dolce Vita

I have a lot of great childhood memories exploring parts of Downtown LA through the garment and jewelry districts. These days it's changed quite a bit, which means finding hidden gems such as Angel's Flight and Grand Central Market...but also visiting classics like the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Not going to complain about the 4 for a $1 avocado deal at Grand Central, and we're talking California avocados so much better than anything I can ever find on the east coast. Not too mention the cool food pop-ups like eggslut and McConnell's Fine Ice Cream.

I rarely wear sandals, but these ones are so comfortable and just about as close to the Birkenstock trend that my feet are ever going to get to this season. What are your favorite DTLA spots?

The power of a red dress

Dress- vintage (similar here), shoes- Jean-Michel Cazabat, bag- Diane Von Furstenberg (similar), necklaces- kate spade new york and Tiffany & Co., ring- custom, bracelets- passed down, sunglasses- Ray-Ban

I had this hooded Lucky Brand sweatshirt in middle school that I was obsessed with (not very Avis, I know young and naive). Weirdly enough, it got me tons of compliments because of the red color. It became apparent to me and all my friends' moms that red worked well with my skin tone, and when you're the one of the only kids in your class that tans and doesn't burn you feel like you have an edge against your classmates in your closet's color spectrum.

Beyond the Lucky sweatshirt, I have this real love for red, and yet I have so little of it in my closet. Everyone automatically assumes it's a more romantic or seductive color, but I think it represents drive and power. It's an unspoken kind of confidence. This dress could come off a little like Jessica Rabbit so I tried to give it a masculine twist with these Clubmaster shades. For the jacket I would do a tuxedo or leather jacket. It's a trick I learned from my mom for my freshman high school winter formal, and it's become the only way I like to cover up formal attire.

In the past week alone I've had people ask for suggestions of things to do/see/eat/shop in LA, DC, Paris, and NYC... it's about time people. The newest segment of Avis is coming soon. Any ideas on where I'm going with this??

DCity Style

Blazer, Rag & Bone, pants- Zara, booties- Stuart Weitzman, camisole- Prada, hat- Rag & Bone, sunnies- Le Specs, bag- Marc by Marc Jacobs

A few weeks ago the latest issue of DCity Style was released, and I feel so lucky to be featured. It was one of the hottest days in DC and a little weird showcasing fall fashion as the temperature was rising through the 90s. However, I felt so lucky to work with this particular team who is so talented and has such a stellar background including photographer Sebastian Marin. Plus, I love the shot they went with. The print version came out in DC at the beginning of August, but the digital version is finally available here for those of you who haven't seen it. While I'm still relishing in the last days of summer, this outfit reminds me of all the fun layering that fall will bring and the beautiful New York foliage that is near.

Hidden LA treasures in Silver Lake

Lunch at Forage LA

Shirt- H&M, skirt- cut25, necklace- New Mexico street vendor, bracelet- Morocco street vendor (I like this one), shoes- Vans, bag- Misuri

There was a time when everyone used a sequin skirt as their go-to for a night out, and so now I'm left with one too many sequin skirts with no where to wear them. However, balancing it out with a casual shirt and some slip-ons takes away that awful sorority girl look and gives your sequin skirt some new life. Add on my Misuri handbag I got in Florence (apparently Grace Kelly used to buy her bags from there too), and you've got a much more mature way to wear sequins.

I never really get enough time to explore the Echo Park/ Silver Lake areas but seeking a change of scenery led me to the lily pads at the Echo Park Lake and lunch at Forage. People on the west side always roll their eyes at visiting Silver Lake as if it's a continent away. However, I love the small community feel: watching people enjoy a Turkish coffee and read a book at the Casbah Cafe, all the unique shopping finds at MRKT and Undefeated, and some of the best vegan food at Flore or Sage. Forage is a great spot for market sides and protein or their pork belly and avocado sandwiches plus watching my mom interact with their hipster staff is a bonus.