The Workplace

Every couple of months, the blog takes a little lull for about two weeks. As much as I love to blog, building the Fall 2013 line is currently taking a toll on my daily posts. To give a little insight into what I do, here is the scoop:

I work at Levi Strauss as an Assistant Merchant in Men’s Tops and Outerwear.

This means that I do everything. Literally, everything. I forecast the trends, figure out what I want in my line, work with my product development team to develop these samples, pick the colors, fabrics, buttons, threads, zippers that go into each garment. I also figure out how long I want the garment to live on the floor, which stores it goes to, the pricing strategy, when it will go on promotion and markdown, how it will be placed on the floor (visuals), etc. Although it’s a lot of hard work, I enjoy what I do and love being constantly challenged.

Where the magic happens

Working on the Fall 2013 Color Palette

Choosing the right buttons to go on our jackets

Figuring out which leather jackets I want to go to our stores

Never-ending to-do lists

Building our seasonal boards

Deciding which shanks to use on our trucker jackets

Picking out thread colors

Diamonds in the Sky

Top: Nordstrom/ Necklace: Forever 21/ Jeans: Levi's/ Shoes: Dolce Vita

I am currently obsessing over sheer blouses, so when I saw this at Nordstrom, this purchase was a no-brainer. I love the whimsical placed dots paired with the necklace to give the illusion of a starry night.

Burgundy Crush

I have been seeing burgundy all over the market--on the streets, in stores, and all over blogs. One of my favorite blogs, 9to5Chic featured her burgundy outfit and I was so inspired that I decided to create a set on polyvore featuring my favorite deep crimson color! I have these deep wine colored Dolce Vita wedges that I acquired this past year and I absolutely can't wait to dust them off and put them on come Fall.

Zucchini Lasagna

I try to keep a fairly healthy lifestyle and like to scour the internet for easy recipes that don't require too many ingredients or require too much of my time. I found this zucchini lasagna and decided to give it a try. I didn't follow the recipe exactly, hence it came out more of a casserole than a lasagna. Nevertheless, it tasted really good, and it didn't give me that "I feel like I just ate 10 pounds of lard" feeling. This is a great alternative if you don't want to indulge in the carbs! Here are some snapshots of what I did:

Sautee Onions and Garlic in pan. Season accordingly

Slice Zucchini

To continue, just click "Read More" below!

Watercolors

 

Dress: Alice + Olivia/ Shoes: Kelsi Dagger/ Clutch: Tory Burch

I wore this Alice + Olivia dress to a wedding and although it was wholly uncomfortable and very fitted, it was well worth the sacrifice. I fell in love with this dress when I saw it on Cupcakes and Cashmere and knew I had to have it, no matter the cost. I love the watercolor effect and the gathering at the side, making it rather flattering on any body type. Sometimes, you have to suffer a little for fashion!

Tuxedo

Top: Forever 21/ Jeans: Levi's/ Shoes: Nordstrom/ Watch: Michael Kors

I wanted to get back to basics and felt like dressing in black and white. I love the hi-low hem of my flowy top and the pleats down the front. It kind of reminds me of a tuxedo. I topped it off with my black shiny shoes because everyone needs some sparkle, even in the day time!

Charmed, I'm Sure

Top: Ambiance/ Jeans: Zara/ Shoes: DV Dolce Vita/ Necklace: Charming Charlie

I've always loved this top--not only because of the hearts, but also its ikat-like pattern. I just have a soft spot for printed patterns! Thank you to all my followers (both new and old!) for taking the time to read this blog. It's almost been 4 years and there were many times where I just wanted to give up and throw in the towel. Your comments have definitely motivated me to keep this thing going!

Gingham Style

 Dress: Levi's/ Shoes: Halogen (Nordstrom) 

When I saw the Levi's Fall ad campaigns feature this gingham dress, I knew I had to go downstairs (yes, we have a Levi's store in our downstairs lobby--dangerous!) and pick this bright orange and blue check piece. It's feminine and fun--all the elements I love in a dress!

Blue Moon

 Dress: Levi's/ Shoes: Nordstrom (Halogen brand)

Working at Levi's and constantly being surrounded by product has its drawbacks--I always have to have everything! I saw this cute little blue number while browsing the racks and quickly purchased it before heading back into the office. I love the rope cord that cinches in the waist and the soft texture of the dress. It's definitely a good dress for the office, and a great transitional piece for drinks after work.