Pumpkin Patch

Dear Diary,
If there is a holiday that's equally entertaining for both adults and kids, that would be Halloween. I never thought I would be so excited to be standing in a sea of pumpkins in delicious colors from orange to yellow. Happy Halloween!

Little Goes A Long Way

Dear Diary,

I have to confess, I'm not always the most rational shopper. More often than not, I commit to a purchase because my eyes are fixed on the smallest details on a garment. It could be the adorable buttons, the pleating details, the shining hardware, and in this case, the lace trim on the corset top. It almost doesn't matter what the rest of the corset looks like, as long as this top fits, I wanted it simply because I was in love with the frilly detail. Luckily for me, lace is back for Fall in a big way so my irrational purchase won't go wasted!

Corset Top: Tahari

Omakase at Sushi Ran

Wagyu Beef

King Trumpet Mushroom

About Face

Dear Diary,
Why do we have to walk straight when we can walk...sideways? That would show off my new D&G color block pencil skirt so much better! I haven't felt so feminine and pretty in a skirt in a long time. I wish more people would embrace a statement skirt + dressy top combination over a dress. Life is too short - let's stand out!

Top: Yves Saint Laurent

Pencil Skirt: Dolce and Gabbana

Rock 'n' Roll in Leather

Dear Diary,

Have you noticed lately celebrities have been wearing more and more leather beyond the usual leather pants or leather jackets? I think it's my cue to finally wear that an unusual piece I purchased from Taiwan. It might be faux but it's definitely fun~

images from NY Post

Wedding in Paradise

Dear Dairy,
Work the past two weeks has been terribly consuming. But in the midst of all the work, I took a 5 hour flight on a short weekend trip to attend a destination wedding in Maui. To my surprise, as soon as I got to the Fairmont Hotel and saw the beautiful ocean and the blue sky, all the stress just fell off my shoulders. All the things I was worried about just didn't seem that urgent after all. I even snuck a couple hours of lounging by the pool before getting dressed for the wedding.

For a destination wedding in a tropical setting, I prefer a fun and flowy dress with lots of movement to deliver a more casual expression. But I'd choose a bright color or interesting cut to make the casual stand out~

Color Block

Dear Diary,
After an entire season of putting my left shoes on house arrest, I am still in no condition to be trotting around without my boot. But I can feel my ankles getting weaker and walking on my own foot almost seems foreign. I realize it might not be a horrible idea if I start building up my strength by... posing in my pumps (not walking, just posing!).

I happily threw on this silk turquoise blouse to go with these suede purple pumps that's just so easy and clean-lined. I love how it catches the breeze in this early Fall weather and for a second I can celebrate my temporary freedom.

Subtle Details

Dear Diary,
A girl can never have too many blouses, especially when they are simple, classic, and full of blooms! I simply could not resist the flower appliques when I saw this top at Club Monaco (trust me, I tried). So I quickly ran through my head on how many outfits I could create with this blouse to justify my urge to take it home:

"I can wear it with skinny jeans, flare jeans, a pencil skirt, and maybe over a solid dress.

I can wear it to work, I can definitely wear it on weekends..."

"SOLD!"

Then I used the same justification for my next purchase...

Tourist for a Day

Dear Diary,
Everyone knows San Francisco is a colorful city full of culture and diversity. When I was getting dressed I knew going neutral is the only way not to compete with all the hustle and bustle (how could I?). But leave it up to me to use textures, a gold braided belt, and tall boots to create a F&R culture of my own.

Lunch: Delfina Pizzeria

Sheer Heaven

Dear Diary,

I've have been somewhat MIA and I promise I have a good reason. I have a close friend visiting from my hometown and I've been busy as a tour guide and even as a tourist myself! One of my favorite places to go in the Bay Area is Carmel-by-the-Sea, a small beach town whose rich artistic history can be seen in every beam, pillar and structure. And it has the best beach (assuming the weather cooperates). Look at me soaking up the last bit of summer!

Brunch: Katy's Place