That one top..

That one top that you can just never get around to tossing out. It's usually not practical and you barely ever wear it, but there's just some type of magic that sparks up every time you get minutely close to saying good bye. For me it's this wonderfully colorful silk floral blouse that I thrifted and was missing it's tag so I really don't know where she came from. What always happens is I decide to wear this top on a random day because I haven't given it another chance in awhile. And every time I decide to do this, I end up realizing how absolutely amazing she truly is. Maybe it's the mix of colors, or the uniquely crafted lines within the flowers, but when I wear this top I just feel remarkably happy. Maybe it's out of style but there's an old soul in there that I just truly connect with. Even if I'm just wrapping her around my waist. 

Playground

You know you live in an awesome city when you're constantly discovering hidden gems around corners you never even knew existed. This was one of my last Sunday ventures in Oakland before moving to NYC. I'm a tad bit behind on posts because of the chaos of moving. It's nice to sit down and look back at me skipping around some of my favorite old spots in the city I lived in for a year. The colorful landscape of Oakland is endless. There's always something new or a new creation in the works. On Sundays the streets of downtown Oakland are strangely empty, which I guess most would assume makes it a lame place to be but for me its a haven. I get to do cartwheels in the streets and jump up on empty fountains (which I got yelled at by a security guard for). An area populated with people is of course lively and exciting, but so is being free to roam in an abandoned (but not really) urban jungle. I've been in NYC now for a week and I definitely miss this place already. Oakland will always have a special place in my heart. Knowing nothing about it when I got there and discovering probably not even a quarter of it's magic, this chapter of my life is always be undoubtedly unique. 

Back when I used to style witches..

There was a time when styling was my day, evening and night job. Whether I got paid or not the hard work was always worth it. The process of having a hint of an idea in your heard accumulate and come to life is the greatest feeling. Since the leaves are changing and moods are shifting I thought I would throw it back with one of my favorite editorials that I styled back in October of 2013. Time flying is unreal.. This AHS 'Coven' inspired spread was done out it one of the hidden woodsy gems of San Diego county. Styling a shoot is not just throwing clothes on a model, it's telling a story through the creative process. Thanks to San Diego's incredible local scene I was able to visit multiple Wiccan shops and pull an array of props, clothing, books and jewelry to create this story. It was so much fun in a wonderfully conjuring way. 

Closet Purge

Confessions from a fashion freak.. My entire life I've had a very serious problem of collecting massive amounts clothing. I'm not talking about the essentials and pieces that you end up keeping for years. I buy a lot of "weird shit". Awesomeness, but definitely out loud madness that well lets face it, I can probably do without five 90's floral midi dresses (all with shoulder pads). 

I love my closet and the all its oddities. I'm definitely keeping a few around. The main reason I started this closet purge is because I am moving across the country and well, I was kind of forced to. But it's also something I really have been wanting to challenge myself to. Fashion has always been an expression for me and I see my clothes as a part of my personality. It's not about turning heads, I'm just a weird person so I like to wear weird things. But I think for a lot of us out there that just love to shop we end up with exploding wardrobes that we keep around for way too long. It's hard to get rid of clothes even when you haven't even worn them in ages because you still love them and don't want to send them off to their next life. That's how I feel at least. So selfish! 

But I had to do it. Before I had a full closet and this rolling rack. I got everything down to the rack, scarfs and ties included (shoes is another chapter). I had about 7 bags of clothes I said good bye to. I don't have a car so it took me two days to schlep my orphan clothing around town. I got 100 bucks total and sent the rest to my favorite thrift store around the corner. 

So I'm standing in front of my new wardrobe and I must say, it feels truly liberating. I got dressed this morning and it took me half the time to put together an outfit. I even put another one together while writing this post real quick which I photographed above. I didn't want to admit it before, but my overwhelming wardrobe really stressed me out. Having too much to look at takes your eye away from focusing on the uniqueness of each individual piece. 

I think it's fine to buy things you will only wear once. I know I'll do it again. But being aware of that and making it a habit to constantly filter out your wardrobe is essential. Don't suffocate your closet, let it breath and it will be more amazing than ever. And if you're like me and see your clothing as an extension of yourself (my children!) just remember that they are off on their new journey too the next awesome closet you know they'll end up in. And I'm stoked because I walked into my favorite corner shift store a few days later and it was like my old closet morphed into a cute corner boutique. Made me oh so happy.  

Toontown

The beauty of street art is that you can be snorkeling in Maui, turn the corner and be cruising down Loopy Lane in Toontown. It's an urban playground perfect for the post work blues. And the best part is every couple months you get to explore a whole new world of walls!

Wearing all vintage and JC boots. 

Photos by Wesley Carter 

Down by the Lake

Nothing beats a walk around Lake Merritt at dusk. When I moved to the Bay Area a year ago I really didn't know much about the East Bay. I stayed with a friend for a couple months because I was homeless and he lived right by the lake. There's something really special about a natural escape being smack dab in the middle of a downtown scenery. And Oakland is no ordinary city. The mix of people and culture in so mistakenly represented. Commonly known as a "dangerous" area, people judge Oakland stiffly, which goes to show how naive the mass public truly is. I'll stop right there, I could go on and on. This post is about beautiful Lake Merritt, which is actually it's location title on FB and Insta! The lake is a common ground wedged at the edge of downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. There's a couple different woodsy escapes, several view points of the downtown skyline, washed up piers, grassy plains, a bird sanctuary and boat docks. There's a little set of islands at one corner. All in all it's a setting that totally represents a relaxed common ground for the diverse crowd of Oakland. I come here to run or explore all the time and it never gets old. With that eclectic Bay Area touch there really is always something new to see here. 

Missions in The Mission

As I squeeze through my last couple weeks in the Bay Area, I've been making it a point to spend time in all my favorite neighborhoods. Calling The Mission district of San Francisco "unique" is really an understatement. Historically the community has gone through many layers and it is now a prime location for the influx of people moving to this already overflowing city. Always being a progressive community, I don't want to continue on about how the charm is diminishing because of the techie boom.. Keeping it positive here!  

I just want to say that no matter what the opinion is, The Mission is a space of colliding forces with the backdrop of a true concrete jungle fueled by constant artwork, characters, food and shops. This is my go-to spot for fabric, thrifting and spontaneous gadgets. Walking around here you feel such an extraordinary energy. It's unlike anywhere else. Obviously the reality of living in this neighborhood is now clouded by all kinds of controversy, but the bohemian warmth still exists in the streets. I really hope that doesn't slip away.. 

Wearing all vintage, Jeffrey Campbell boots and H&M sunglasses. 

Photos by Wesley Carter