A California Spring Lookbook | Winter into Spring

I am absolutely in love with photography, the whole process really. Whether it's finding the right angle, arranging items in an (attempted) artistic matter, or editing a whole batch of photos, I love it. However the majority of my time, I take pictures of inanimate objects: face creams, nail polish, blush, you name it. It feels great to get a good shot, but the rewarding feeling is short-lived and almost empty in a sense. Once in a while, I am fortunate enough to have my cousin/best friend visit (promise guys, I have other friends too.) We are the same age, so we have been able to live through every step of our lives together, although at times on opposite sides of the country. The lovely lady you see in all my fashion posts, including this one, is my cousin Nicole. She has a strong passion for fashion that began in elementary school, and for the past two years, I have been happily recruiting her as the "model" for my blog. Every time we shoot, I see her confidence grow in front of the camera and mine behind the camera. I love how easy it is to shoot with her as we know how to make it a fun experience. I comment on her awkward smile, and she comments on my even more awkward squats (in my defense, I am trying to get a good shot!) Thanks to her, she reminds me what photography is all about, telling a story in the most subtle ways.

For this first look, we put together an outfit that shows you how to transition your winter wardrobe into spring. Blacks make up the majority of both our closets, and there's no reason why you can't incorporate that into your spring attire. One prominent spring '15 trend is black and white, and it was seen on the runway from designers like DKNY, Public School, and Thakoon. The key is finding black and white clothing with interesting prints, textures, and silhouettes to elevate the look. Another widely spotted trend was shirtdresses. Designers like Altuzarra, Charlotte Ronson, and Rebecca Minkoff used twists like double high slits and drop waists to re-imagine this classic.

Shirtdress | thrifted

Tights | Victoria's Secret

Ankle Boots | DSW

I just made a new Instagram for my blog yesterday, so if you would like to find me I'm @ahemitsemme! Leave your Instagram names below, and I will go and stalk :-)

How do you transition your winter wardrobe into spring?

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-Emily

A California Fall Lookbook Part Three | Leaves and Layers

This may be surprising or (unsurprising) to you, but SoCal still has sunny skies reaching temperatures of almost 80 degrees in the afternoon. So, this next look incorporates patterns and styles with a hint of summer attire, namely high waisted shorts. My cousin is wearing a key necklace from Forever 21, a heather grey top from H&M, a flannel from Forever 21, an army green military jacket from Ann Taylor Loft, and high wasited shorts DIY'ed by yours truly (with vintage, as in pre 2000's, American Eagle jeans.) This look has more of a men's attire inspired vibe complete with a messy high pony tail. The military jacket and flannel add those perfect touches of fall combined with a tied up shirt and high waisted shorts for that bit of coolness during the warmer hours. If you live in a place where the weather has already cooled down (lucky for you,) leave the top untied and swap the shorts for a pair of jeans.

How do you layer your clothing in the fall?

A California Lookbook Part One | Transitioning Summer Into Fall
A California Lookbook Part Two | Fall Floral

-Emily

A California Fall Lookbook Part One | Transitioning Summer into Fall

Though it still feels like summer in California with temperatures well above 80 and 90 degrees, fall has already begun. This transition period is often the hardest to dress for as I find myself yearning to pull out those cozy sweaters, knee high boots, and warm scarves while the rest of my fellow peers are still dressed in summer attire. Thus, this outfit is dedicated to inspire those who are wanting to combine the airy pieces of summer with the thicker clothing that resembles fall.

My lovely cousin, Nicole, is visiting with us for the weekend, so I decided to put the time to good use and do a photo shoot! This is look one of five looks that you will be seeing in my California Fall Lookbook. My most viewed post on my blog is my Summer Outfit Ideas Part One | Everyday Occasions, so I thought it was about time that I did another lookbook. 

This first look features a dainty key necklace from Forever 21, a slightly cropped white sweater from H&M, a blue and white paisley dress from H&M, and dark brown riding boots from R2 (I bought mine from Famous Footwear.) I layered a white sweater on top of my go-to dress of the summer, a sleeveless paisley dress, to combine summer colors and prints into a cozier look. The dark brown riding boots also add a nice hint of fall into the look. 

How do you transition your outfits from summer into fall?

-Emily