The Freedom to Choose!

*This is a sponsored post and a dress was provided by eShakti.  However, all opinions are my own and I was not paid for a positive review.

Dress: eShakti

Heels: Bebe

Umbrella: Forever 21

Hair: Angie Williams @ Flaunt Salon in Long Beach

Makeup: Elizabeth Jones @ No Labels Just Beauty

Photography: Franz Swantko

Happy 4th of July everyone!  What an appropriate post, just in time for the 4th!  "Freedom" is definitely a gift, and is something that we should celebrate with great joy.  What better way to celebrate, than with a dress from eShakti!

Recently, I was contacted by eShakti to write a review on a dress from their company.  However, they also offer: tops, pants, skirts, jumpsuits, shorts and special occasion dresses.  This company's slogan is  "We Design.  You Customize."  I prefer to call it "The Dream Dress Store" because only something this good could exist in your dreams right?  eShakti allows a shorty like me, the freedom to customize a dress in the perfect size and length according to my height and individual measurements.   They offer clothing from size 0-36W.  

Additionally, they offer customers the freedom to choose a customization option in regards to the length of the dress, the type of sleeves, and the necklines they desire.  Also, they have plenty of nice selections offered in classic and modern styles to suit your taste.  While scrolling through the choices, I had a difficult time deciding on which one I would pick because they had so many cute dresses to choose from!  If you have unusual sizing issues like myself, and have to get practically everything altered to fit just right, then this is definitely the online store for you.  I chose this dobby-dot print dress with a corseted top.  It arrived quickly and the material it is made out of is really soft and of high-quality fabric.  The stitching is sturdy, and as soon as I put it on, it fit my proportions perfectly!  I chose the length to the knee and kept the sleeves in the original design.  It came with a matching belt that you could tie at the waist, but I thought it looked better without it.  It also gave me the option to choose pockets with this dress, but I opted to have no pockets.  I liked having so many options in the ordering process.

I love my dress from eShakti!  It fits me perfectly:)  Thank you eShakti!  This will not be my last time ordering from here. 

I hope everyone has a fun and safe 4th of July!  Now go ahead and exercise your freedom to choose something "made perfectly just for you" from eShakti!

XO Joanna

Summer Night Festival

Dress: Handmade

Handbag: Michael Kors

Boots: Michael Kors

Kimono: Forever 21

Makeup and Hair: Amy Velasquez @Salon Pop, Long Beach, CA

Photography: Franz Swantko

Hello!  Hope everyone is having a great week.  Since summer is upon us, I thought I'd do a summer night festival outfit post for you.  

If you've already bought your tickets to this year's hottest summer festival, now it's time to figure out what to wear.  During the day it could be sizzling hot out, so you'd rather wear something comfy and cool like high-waisted cut-off denim shorts with a flowy boho top and cute espadrilles or sandals.  However, when the night hours of the desert approach, you could be reaching for some comfy stylish wedge boots, a warm kimono sweater, and a cute leather crossbody or messenger bag.

For today's look, I wanted to show a daytime look with this handmade dress worn without the kimono, but instead folded over and cinched with a tie belt to make it appear shorter.  I would normally wear this outfit with sandals or espadrilles during the day.  This dress can also transition and appear longer when let loose.  By adding the belt over the kimono sweater, it gives this outfit a warmer look for evening.  Also, the boots would make wearing a dress at night with cooler temperatures more doable for summer festivals.  In addition, a small crossbody bag or messenger bag would make holding your necessities much easier while dancing at the Silent Disco or moving through big crowds.  I am in love with transitional pieces that go from day to night because they are so easy to wear.  How about you? 

I would love to hear what festivals you are going to this year.  What are you going to wear?

Work It Wear Wednesdays- Dreaming of Blue

Dress: Cache Similar Similar Similar

Heels: Brian Atwood Similar 

Earrings: Ralph Lauren

Shawl Wrap Sweater: Forever 21 Similar

Handbag:  Anne Klein

Hair and Makeup: Francisco Estrada

Photography: Franz Swantko

Happy Wednesday to you!  Many changes come with the waking of Spring.  Have you begun something new?  Have you cleaned out and reorganized your closet? or car trunk? LOL  (mine needs cleaning).  Have you bought any new make up or clothes in a Springy palette?  With the change of weather, I decided to cut my hair :)  I think I cut like 3 or 4" off.  I needed a lift.  Having a lot of hair isn't always nice.  It takes longer to wash and style and maintain on a daily basis.  Also, the weather has been very hot here and the extra hair was starting to become uncomfortable.  I like wearing my hair down most of the time, not in a ponytail all that much, so here it is.  What do you think?

Today, I am wearing a blue dress from Cache.  Unfortunately, they have closed their brick and mortar stores where I am and will now be selling online (or so I was told).  I love this dress as with most dresses from this company.  They fit like a glove and always have many flattering feminine styles.  My dad even gave me a compliment once wearing one of their dresses and he doesn't talk that much, so it meant a lot to me to hear him say that I looked nice in one of their dresses.  If I wear this to work, I normally wear some sort of cardigan like this one from Forever 21.  I love everything about it from the rouched shoulders, to the tailored sleeves, and peplum tie waist.  This bag by Anne Klein is my everyday work satchel right now.  It's medium sized and fits everything I need in it.  It even comes with a cross-body strap if I want to wear it on my shoulder, so I can shop "hands-free" yay!  I bought these Brian Atwood heels at Nordstrom.  They had a sale and I couldn't resist.  These were gorgeous platform heels that added at least 4" to my height, so it was a done deal.

Hope you have a great rest of  the week!

XO Joanna

The Edwardian Ball Los Angeles

Edwardian Ball Outfit By: Lip Service "Step In Time" Resources Here
Fascinator: Forever 21 (similar)
Monster Shoes: Demonia Here
Lace Umbrella:  Michael's Craft Store

Hair and Makeup: Francisco Estrada

Photography: Franz Swantko

The Edwardian Ball Los Angeles

Do you like to dress up in costume?  Are you a brunette who always wanted to be a blonde? Or a blonde or red head who wants to be a brunette for an evening?  My suggestion...get a wig:)  If you haven't already done this, I highly recommend it.  I've thrown lots of parties, and the ones that I find people enjoy the most, are the ones with a costume theme. This was my costume for the ball in Los Angeles.  Wearing this wig made me feel a little bit like a "Fashion Gaga" LOL.  Lip Service (the company that I got this outfit from) makes really high quality gothic, steampunk and punk apparel.  You can't find this particular outfit online anymore however, you can find similar items by this company on Ebay and Amazon.  I call these shoes "Monster Shoes" because they are outrageously tall platforms (at least five inches) and I am only five feet, so you can imagine how tall I feel in these shoes...at least 5'5" LOL:)  You can also find resources on where to get your Edwardian Ball costume for next year directly on the Edwardian Ball website Here .  

Every February an event takes place called the Edwardian Ball. It originally started out as a tribute to Edward Gorey, a well-renowned illustrator and author of works like The Doubtful Guest and The Gashleycrumb Tinies.  Then, it grew to be this fabulous fashionable costume ball and theatrical exposition that spans over the course of two days in San Francisco and one evening in Los Angeles.  It’s a mish mosh of circus acts, stilt walkers, hoop and tissue dancers, steam-punkers and classy Edwardian period ball gowns.  If you are an artsy creative type like me, then you will love it.  I’ve gone every year since they opened up the event in Los Angeles.  I’ve never been to the one in San Francisco, but it’s definitely on my list!  You can dance to music by fantastic DJ’s upstairs in the open air patio of the beautiful Fonda Theatre (formerly known as The Music Box), while listening to the improvised looped music of Super Tall Paul at the Silent Listening Lounge, get your thoughts read by Malvoye the Mentalist and enjoy the many one act performance pieces by the Vau de Vire Society.  However, my favorite part every year is the haunting music by Rosin Coven…and of course the bountiful Edwardian Ball gowns!  

Hope you enjoyed this post!  Sorry, I'm a little late on it because it also took place on the same night as Valentine's Day and the opening of Fifty Shades of Grey.  If you get a chance to go next year in February, I would highly recommend it.  It's an event you will never forget.

See You at the Ball!

Joanna

Work It Wear Wednesdays- In the Jungle

Giraffe Print Skirt: R.com  (similar) Cardigan: Premise Studios (similar) 

Belt: St. John Knits (similar) Heels: Nine West (similar)  Necklace: St. Thomas (similar) 

Ruffle Blouse: Forever 21 (similar) Make Up: Francisco Estrada

Hair: The Drybar Fashion Island, Newport Beach 

Photography: Franz Swantko

This is a fun but professional outfit for work.  I usually like to wear printed skirts with colors that match my cardigan sweaters because it makes it easier to have a more uniform look.  I really like different shades of brown, but especially this one.  It is a toffee like color and it matches the skirt.  I feel I really lucked out finding this cardigan in this specific color at Marshalls because it is a rare version of brown I don't see often when shopping.  White seemed like it would brighten up the whole outfit, so I picked out this darling ruffly white top to put on underneath.  Then, I added this white and gold belt to pull this whole outfit together.  I love this belt!  It is probably my most beloved and most used accessory.  It seems to work with mostly everything and adds that instant luxe factor to simple outfits.

It's a Jungle out there....How do you handle work related stress?

Sometimes our daily lives in the office or out at our work sites can be fast-paced and stressful.  

According to the American Psychological Association more than one-third of working Americans reported experiencing chronic work stress.  

Here Are Some Tips to Manage Stress:

1.      If you don't exercise already, take a walk during your lunch, go to the gym, take a yoga class or meditate.

2.      When you experience stressful situations, take deep breaths slowly in and out like you are sipping through a straw.

3.      After work, do things that are non-related work activities.

4.      Take your vacation time to relax and recharge!

If you are interested in reading about more ways to relieve stress, you can read this article: http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/work-stress.aspx

Hope this helped and hope you are having a Wonderful Week in the Jungle!

Joanna