Fashion Week San Diego 2014: Part 1

Fashion Week San Diego is here! If you like fashion and beauty, this is the annual event to attend! The event is being held from September 29 – October 5. It includes five nights with runway shows, art, beauty, and on the sixth day there will be a Trunk Show and the Fashion Awards. The runway shows are being held September 30 – October 4, at the Broadway Pier in downtown San Diego. The Trunk Show and Fashion Awards will be held on October 5, at The Horton Grand Hotel & Theatre,  in the Gaslamp area of downtown San Diego.  The runway shows and Trunk Show/Awards are events open to the public and tickets can be purchased at the door.  Ticket prices,  event schedule, list of designers, and more information can be found on the Fashion Week San Diego website. You can still attend three more days of the event!

Lola joined me for two days of the runway shows. We enjoyed the event and seeing the latest trends. The designers are local and it is good to support local talent! It was nice to run into some familiar faces and designers I’ve met at past events! Here are pics from Day 2 – Part 1: Woven Together Runway Show (see link for list of designers). There were so many nice pieces that I took lots of pictures.  I will divide the posts for Day 2 & Day 3. There was also a Haute Dog Runway Show benefiting the Rancho Coastal Humane Society, the doggies are adorable & available for adoption!

Hope you like the pics!

Have you been to Fashion Week San Diego this year or in the past? Do you know or wear items from local designers?

Hugs,

Paola

In this post – Designers: Lisa B Collection, Jessica Lynn, CW Couture, & Haute Dog Runway Show 

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Find Of The Week: Fossil Skinny Jeans

TJMaxx continues to surprise me. The find of the week are these Fossil pink denim skinny jeans. The original tag on the jeans lists $98.00. The price I paid at TJMaxx was $19.99. Yup, only $20 bucks, gotta love that! The jeans are also available in other colors (red & blue) and multiple sizes. They are a recent arrival because they are displayed at the front of the women’s department (making them easy to find). I wore the jeans a few days ago to go to the movies with Lola. I matched them with a white polka-dot top, pink leopard print belt, and gray shoes. The jeans have some stretch to them, making them even more comfortable!

A girl at the movie theatre stopped me to compliment me on my outfit. Compliments always make one feel good!

These pants can be worn into the fall with a dark or long-sleeve top, just add a jacket or sweater ,and some booties . I look forward to wearing them in the fall & next spring!

Did you find any good items on sale this week? I’d love to hear from you.

Hugs,

Paola

PS – I also have these jeans in red and coincidentally matched them with a blue polka dot sweater top, you can see those Outfit of the Day pictures here.

En ESPAÑOL después de estas fotos.

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DSCN4098 DSCN4100Jeans: Fossil; Top: Forever21; Shoes: Coach; Belt: Ann Taylor; Bracelets: H&M

ESPAÑOL: TJMaxx continua sorprendiendome. La buena compra de la semana son estos jeans Fossil skinny en rosa.  La etiqueta original dice $98. ¡En TJMaxx pague solo $19.99. ¡Sí, solo $20 doláres! Los jeans también estan disponibles en otros colores (rojo y azul) y varias tallas. Son mercancia recién llegada a la tienda ya que estaban ubicados al frente de la sección de mujeres. Me puse los jeans hace unos días para ir al cine con Lola. Los combine con una blusa blanca con puntos negros, cinto rosa leopardezco, y zapatos gris.

Una chica en el cine me paro para halagar mi atuendo. ¡Un halago siempre hace que uno se sienta mejor!

Estos pantalones se pueden usar en el otoño combinados con colores obscuros o blusa de manga larga, un suéter o chamarra, y botinas. ¡Anticipo con gusto usarlos este otoño y la próxima primavera!

Encontraste algún artículo a precio especial ésta semana? ¡Me encantaría saber de ti!

Un abrazo,

Paola

PD – También tengo estos jeans en rojo, oprime aqui para ver fotos de como los combine para el Atuendo Del Día.

Photos by: Lola Raggio

Fashion With Sun Protection: UPF Hat

About two years ago I lost my favorite summer hat at a spa day with friends at the Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Corona. We were at the spa for a bridal shower and somehow my hat either stayed behind at the spa or ended up in someone else’s car (our items were brought to our cars in a luggage cart),  and I never saw it again. I had gotten that hat in Newport Beach, it had a wide brim, it was simple, and beautiful. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find one quite like it – anywhere! I have looked in San Diego and other cities when we travel.  I like simple summer hats, without big bows, flowers, or too many color combinations or designs. All of my hats look quite similar, just in different sizes or colors. Plus, I don’t like to travel with a delicate or unbendable hat because I don’t want to have to carry it around in my hand at the airport or wear it during the entire flight. I always do carry-on luggage, so a large brimmed hat simply doesn’t fit in my bag. I have a few hats that I use for travel and after being packed several times, they are starting to look a bit rattled up.

So, I knew it was time to get a new hat! I had to let go of the idea of finding an exact replica of the hat I lost and just buy one that I liked. I had been searching for a few months and on a recent visit to La Jolla, happened to visit a store called Blue Apparel, located on Prospect Street. They had a few racks of hats and I started to try them on. I found a hat I liked and bought it. In addition to the style, I also like the ribbon lining it has inside and that it fits my head comfortably. It wasn’t on sale (sold at $30), but the price was reasonable and figured it would be challenging to find another hat that I liked and fit comfortably.

I noticed an interesting tag on the hat that said UPF 50+. UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. The hat is made out of paper and polyester. I was glad to find a hat that I liked and as an extra plus, it has UPF! I always wear sunblock and know that hats also help protect our skin from the sun.

Even though we are in September, the sun is still shining bright and we have several weeks of warm weather left! I am looking forward to wearing my new hat this season….& in the spring!

Do you have a hat with UPF? When was the last time you bought a new hat?

Hugs,

Paola

En ESPAÑOL después de esta fotos.

DSCN3215 DSCN3217 DSCN3219 DSCN3220 DSCN3224 DSCN3196 DSCN3197ESPAÑOL: Somos afortunados de vivir en una región que goza de días asoleados casi todo el año. Aunque ya estamos en septiembre, el sol seguirá brillando fuertemente por varias semanas. Para proteger mi piel acostumbro usar bloqueador solar diario. Después del humectante facial, me pongo un bloqueador Neutrogena sin grasa en la cara y el cuello. En los brazos, aplico un humectante con bloqueador solar. Aunque se que solo estaré expuesta al sol durante el tiempo que manejo o mientras estoy afuera unos cuantos minutos, se que esos pocos minutos pueden ser dañinos para la piel. Si pasaré tiempo afuera o iré a la playa, y estaré expuesta al sol, también me pongo un sombrero.

Recientemente, compre este sombrero en la tienda Blue Apparel en La Jolla ($30). A mi me gustan los sombreros sencillos, sin muchas decoraciones o estampados. Este estilo de sombrero es clásico y hasta cierto punto sencillo, así que es fácil de combinar y no pasa de moda. En la tienda tenían una variedad de sombreros, aparte del estilo, lo que me llamo la atención de este sombrero es que tiene una etiqueta que dice UPF 50+, que significa Factor de Protección Ultravioleta. El sombrero esta hecho de material de papel y poliéster. Me gusto la idea de que el sombrero proporciona protección ultravioleta. Ciertos materiales proporcionan mas cobertura de los rayos ultravioleta. Hoy en día, los sombreros con protección ultravioleta son mas comunes y están disponibles en varias tiendas. Septiembre es buen tiempo para comprar sombreros ya que es el cambio de temporada y los sombreros pueden estar a precio de descuento.

¡Anticipo con gusto usar este sombrero en las próximas semanas y el año entrante – en la primavera y verano!

¿Tienes un sombrero con protección ultravioleta? ¿Cuándo fue la última vez que te compraste un sombrero?
Un abrazo,

Paola

Organizing Your Bracelets For Maximum Use

Bracelets are an accessory that has been worn since 5000 BC, dating back to the Egyptians. Right now, wearing multiple stacked bracelets and even wearing them on both arms is in fashion. I have multiple costume jewelry bracelets. As with most of my other accessories, the 80-20 rule applies to my bracelets. It seems I wear 20% of the same bracelets, 80% of the time.

I have a walk-in closet and a dresser area with a mirror where I get ready every morning. The last things I put on are the accessories. My closet is pretty organized, I have select drawers and jewelry boxes where I keep my costume jewelry. Last year, I purchased a hanging jewelry organizer. I originally planned to place it on the wall behind the closet door, then realized it was more practical to place it next to the area where my dressing area is, since that is where I get ready every morning. Every night, I will lay out the jewelry that I plan to wear on the dresser. I started to notice I was wearing the jewelry from this hanging organizer more often and would sometimes forget I had the other bracelets stored in the jewelry drawers and jewelry boxes. Does this happen to you too?

On a recent visit to The Container Store with my hubby, I noticed an acrylic jewelry stand. I bought it so I could keep additional bracelets on my dresser area. If I see the bracelets out and keep them handy, I will wear them more often. I was pleased with the number of bracelets that fit on the stand. I may need to buy one or two more jewelry stands for the other bracelets I have in the drawers.

How do you organize your bracelets? Do you have many bracelets? Does the 80-20 rule apply to your jewelry wearing habits?

Hugs,

Paola

En ESPAÑOL después de estas fotos.

DSCN3145One the jewelry box drawers where I stored bracelets.

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I also stored bracelets in a drawer.

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The hanging jewelry organizer (similar one sold at The Container Store & Bed Bath & Beyond). I keep bracelets in the larger compartments.

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The acrylic jewelry stand from The Container Store.

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Initially I placed 8 bracelets on the stand.

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Then, I noticed I could place a few more on the bottom section, to maximize the use of the stand (the bracelets on the bottom are cuffs that open on one side).

ESPAÑOL:

Las pulseras son un accesorio que ha sido usado desde 5000 AC, desde los tiempos de los Egipcios. Ahorita, usar varias pulseras a la vez esta muy demora. Tengo varias pulseras de fantasía y como la mayoría de mi joyería, la regla del 80-20 aplica a mis pulseras. Parece que uso 20% de la misma pulsera, 80% del tiempo.

En mi closet, tengo un área con un tocador donde me arreglo cada mañana. Lo ultimo que me pongo son los accesorios. Tengo unos cajones y joyeros del otro lado del closet donde guardo mis pulseras. El año pasado, compre un organizador de joyas que se cuelga. Originalmente planeaba ponerlo en la pared detrás de la puerta del closet, pero me di cuenta que seria mas practico tenerlo cerca del tocador donde me arreglo. Cada noche, saco los accesorios que me voy a poner para el siguiente día y los dejo sobre el tocador. Comencé a notar que estaba usando las pulseras que estaban en el organizador de joyas mas seguido y aveces se me olvidaba que tenia otras pulseras guardadas en los cajones y los joyeros. ¿Esto te pasa a ti también?

En una visita reciente a The Container Store con mi esposo, vi esta base de acrilico para pulseras. La compre para poder acomodar mas pulseras en mi tocador. Si veo las pulseras y las tengo a la mano, me las pondre mas seguido. Me dio gusto que pude acomodar varias de las pulseras en la base. Quizás ocupe una o dos bases mas para acomodar otras pulseras que tengo el los cajones.

¿Cómo organizas tus pulseras? ¿Tienes varias pulseras y  las usas seguido?

Un abrazo,
Paola

¡Celebrate A Ti Misma! Dedicate Un Día en Celebrando Latina


¿Cuando fue la ultima vez que te dedicaste un día a ti misma? Como mujeres cuidamos a muchas personas, los hijos, el marido, hogar, trabajo, y más! La ultima persona a la que pensamos en cuidar aveces resulta ser uno misma. Somos fuentes de amor para nuestras familias y amistades, pero si no nos cuidamos, esa fuente se puede secar. Es fácil caer en la rutina de las ocupaciones de nuestras vidas cotidianas. No nos damos tiempo para aprender cosas nuevas que nos motiven, ir a que nos consientan en una estética, o simplemente de respirar profundamente. ¡Tu haces mucho y te mereces Dedicarte un Día a Tí – el 23 de agosto!

Es por esto, que Fanny Miller, editora y presidenta de Periódico El Latino, tuvo la visión de crear la Conferencia Celebrando Latinas. ¡Es la Conferencia mas grande en Español en todo el país creada especialmente para mujeres Latinas, como tu y yo! ¿Apoco no es emocionante poder ser parte de esta gran Conferencia? ¡A mi si me emociona! Es un día dedicado a ti, la mujer Latina de hoy que tiene muchas responsabilidades, pero aun así se quiere superar, aprender, divertirse, y ser feliz. ¡Será un día para rodearte de la energía positiva de mujeres como tu y de conectarte con otras Latinas!

Te podrás dejar apapachar con un mini-cambio de maquillaje y ver lo ultimo en las tendencias de la moda en el desfile de modas. Habrán sesiones educativas que te motivaran, con temas de: autoestima, éxito, valores, nutrición, carreras profesionales, y finanzas. Contara con la participación de oradores reconocidos, una Expo con exámenes de salud gratuitos, belleza, tecnología, y negocios. El día culminará con la Fiesta Celebrando con música y entretenimiento. Ademas, tu boleto incluye almuerzo – todo esto y mas en el hermoso hotel Hilton Bayfront en la bahía de San Diego.

¡Unete a mi y Latinas en San Diego, trae a tu hermana, mamá, y comadres, y ven a Celebrando Latinas! ¡Será un día divertido, que enriquecerá tu vida, y recordarás!

¡Yo estoy anticipando con gusto el día de la Conferencia y espero verte ahi! Para mas detalles y comprar tu boleto, visita las oficinas de El Latino, en 555 H Street, Chula Vista, visita www.CelebrandoLatinas.com, o llama al 619-426-1491. Compra tu boleto hoy ya que se agotan.

Un abrazo,
Paola

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Bold Pattern Dress: Jade & White

Hi friends –

I hope your week is going well. Patterns are in, be it squares, lines, polka dots, of graphics, they are everywhere. I usually wear sold colors, mostly because they look better on camera. On a personal basis, I prefer solids because I like sleek lines and classic styles. Plus they can be easier to mix and match, and make one look slimmer. Having said that, I have been incorporating more patterns into my wardrobe and having fun with it!

This dress is fun to wear – and probably one of the pieces with the boldest patterns in my closet! I can match it with different styles of shoes & jewelry, which is always a plus. In winter, I can wear it in with boots, or tights and booties.

The dress came with a wrap around belt made of the same material. For this look, I changed it up by adding a white belt, jade jewelry, & pewter heels.

Hope you like the look!

Do you have dresses with bold patterns? Or, do you wear solid colors more often?

Hugs,

Paola

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Dress: Kohl’s; Shoes: Coach, Macy’s; Belt: Ann Taylor; Necklace: Tiffany & Co; Earrings: Jade & Silver, Lolita’s Creations; Ring: Macy’s Fine Jewelry; Bracelets: jade (purchase d on vacation in China)

Photos by: Lola Raggio

Summer Work Casual

Hi friends,

With summer comes warmer weather and that lends itself for a more casual attire at work. In the first few years that I worked at the television station, I wouldn’t wear jeans to the office, not even on casual Fridays. I was coming from a job in government, where I would wear suits everyday. Over the years, I have adapted to the attire at the station, which is more casual, and I like it! I’ll wear jeans on some Fridays and every once in a while during the week. I always try to dress them up with heals, accessories, and always have a business jacket with me – for meetings, particularly external meetings. Plus, with the air conditioning at work, I usually get cold and need to have a light cardigan sweater or business jacket on.

I am really enjoying wearing these dark blue skinny jeans. They are not only stylish, they are comfortable, and since they are dark, they can be dressed up easily. Oh, and because they are dark, they are slimming, a very important plus!

I matched them with a bright salmon blouse from Ann Taylor, gold accessories, and leopard print heals in white with brown. The heals are a medium height, making them comfortable to wear all day.

So, next time you want to dress up some jeans for work, add some heals, a silky blouse, and accessories!

Remember – comfort is important! Wear clothes that you feel comfortable in and you’ll be smiling all day! The most beautiful woman, is the happy one!

Hope you like the look!

Do you wear jeans to work? Do you wear them only on casual Fridays? Do you dress more casual during the summer?

Hugs,

Paola

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This is the business jacket I wore over my shoulders at work during the day. / Así utilice mi saco de trabajo durante el día.

Blouse/Blusa: Ann Taylor; Jeans: Forever21; Shoes/Zapatos: Ann Taylor; Necklace & Bracelet/ Collar y Pulsera: Forever21

ESPAÑOL:

Hola amigos,

Con el verano viene el clima más cálido y eso se presta para vestir más casual en el trabajo. Los primeros años que trabaje en la televisora, no me ponia jeans para ir a la oficina, ni siquiera en viernes casual. Venía de trabajar en un puesto para el gobierno donde usaba trajes diario.     ¡Al paso de los años, me he adaptado al atuendo que usan en la televisora, que es más casual, y me gusta!   Algunos viernes me pongo jeans y de vez en cuando entre semana. Siempre trato de hacer que los jeans se vean como un atuendo más formal combinandolos con tacones y accesorios. Siempre tengo un saco de traje conmigo – para juntas, particularmente juntas fuera de la televisora. También debido al aire acondicionado en la oficina, me da frío y me pongo un suéter ligero o saco de trabajo.

Estoy disfrutando usar estos jeans azul obscuros estilo “skinny”. No solo están de moda, también son cómodos y ya que son obscuros es fácil hacerlos ver más formales. ¡Y, como son obscuros, hacen que uno se vea más delgado, y eso ayuda!

Los combine con una blusa de tono salmon vibrante  de Ann Taylor, accesorios dorados, y tacones leopardezco en blanco con cafe. El tacón es de altura mediana, así que es cómodo para uso durate todo el día.

¡Así que, la siguiente vez que desees hacer que unos jeans se vean más formales para ponertelos para ir al trabajo, combinalos con unos tacones, una blusa de seda, y accesorios!

¡Recuerda – la comodidad es importante! ¡Utiliza ropa en la cual te sientes agusto y todo el día estarás sonriente! Wear clothes that you feel comfortable in and you’ll be smiling all day! La mujer feliz, es la más bella!

¡Ojala te guste el atuendo!

¿Tu te pones jeans para el trabajo? ¿Utilizas atuendos más casuales para el trabajo durante el verano?

Un abrazo,

Paola

Photos/Fotos: Lola Raggio

Light Summer Dress

Hi friends,

The first day of summer is this Saturday! Can you believe it? It definitely feels like summer in San Diego with the warm weather and beautiful days! We are having longer days and amazing sunsets!

With summer comes colorful and light dresses. I got this dress at Marshalls and knew it would be a good dress for summer. I can wear it casual with sandals and a jean jacket, or dress it up with heels and accessories! It will also make a good dress for travel to a warm location. The color is a bright salmon, ideal for spring and summer!

I wore it recently for an early dinner we had at I’l Fornaio in Coronado to celebrate mom’s birthday. To give it a dressier look, I added the belt,  silver necklace, and heels. I had a fedora hat on when we arrived, but took it off inside the restaurant and didn’t put it back on – a hat is a fun option for this outfit!

Hope you like the look!

Have you gotten any new dresses for summertime? Do you have a favorite summer dress? Are you enjoying the warm weather?

Hugs,

Paola

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DSCN0825 I brought a light jacket because it can get a little breezy in the evenings when the weather cools down.

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A pic with mom and my nephew, Andrew – taken inside the restaurant.

DSCN0836With mom, sis, and nephew. It was nice to celebrate mom on her birthday!

Dress: SIB; Jacket: Nike; Shoes: Cathy Jean; Belt: Macy’s; Necklace: Kenneth Cole; Bracelet: Tiffany & Co.; Ring: Macy’s Fine Jewelry

 ESPAÑOL:

Vestido Ligero de Verano

Hola amigos,

¡El primer día “oficial” de verano fue el sábado, 21 de junio! ¿Lo pueden creer? ¡Definitivamente se siente como verano en San Diego con el clima cálido y días hermosos! ¡Estamos teniendo días más largos y atardeceres asombrosos!

Aparte del clima cálido, con el verano vienen los vestidos en colores vivos y telas ligeras. Acostumbro hacer compras en una variedad de tiendas. De vez en cuando voy a tiendas donde ofrecen mercancia de marcas de diseñador a precios reducidos, como Marshalls, Nordstrom Rack, o Saks Off 5th. Me toma un poco más de tiempo escoger ropa que me guste, pero cuando encuentro algo, vale la pena el tiempo ya que el precio es razonable. ¡Este vestido fue una de esas compras a buen precio! Lo compre en Marshalls y supe que sería un buen vestido para el verano. Lo puedo usar como atuendo casual con unas sandalias y chamarra de jeans, o un estilo un poco más formal agregandole unos tacones y accesorios. También será una opción práctica para algun viaje a un lugar con clima cálido. ¡El color es un salmón vivo, ideal para el verano!

Me puse el vestido recientemente para una reunión casual en el restaurante Il Fornaio en Coronado donde festejamos en cumpleaños de mi mamá. Le agregue un cinto, collar plateado, y tacones, y fue un atuendo ideal para la ocasión.

¡Ojala les guste el atuendo!

¡Recuerden, la mujer feliz es la más bella! ¡Hagan su estilo relucir con atuendos en los que se sientan cómodas y contentas!

¿Se han comprado algunos vestidos para el verano? ¿Están disfrutando el clima cálido y los días más largos?

Para más muestras de atuendos y experiencias de la vida diaria, los invito a que también nos conectemos por medio Facebook/Paola-Hernandez-Jiao.

Un abrazo,

Paola

Vestido: SIB; Chamarra: Nike; Cinto: Macy’s; Zapatos: Cathy Jean; Collar: Kenneth Cole; Anillo: Macy’s Joyería Fina; Pulsera: Dress: Tiffany & Co.

Black on Black

Hi friends,

Black is one of my favorite colors for clothing! It never goes out of fashion, feels stylish, yet simple, is easy to wear. Plus, it makes us look thinner. I have added quite a bit of color to my wardrobe, but black is still a staple color. I used to wear all black a few times per week, love the look, but now you’ll see me in all black only a few times per month. I have practically every clothing item (multiple times) and many shoes in black. Isn’t every women’s closet like this? I’ll write a post later on regarding staple items a women should have in her wardrobe and a black skirt, slacks, cardigan, and jeans, as well as pumps are top on that list!

I got these black NYDJ tuxedo jeans at Nordstom Rack, they are quite versatile. I can dress them up with a jacket or a shiny top, or get a casual look with a tank top. They are also a good option for a casual work look by adding a collared shirt or a jacket.

Recently, I wore them to an event and added a bright pink leopard belt to add a pop of contrast color and a pair of bright Carlos Cantana heels! I put on two gold tone necklaces and I was ready to go! I also wore this outfit to work during the day with a suit jacket.

This outfit can easily be worn again with different color belt or shoes, even all black, silver or gold tone accessories as well. I also like to wear all black and a bright jacket or sweater, with a contrasting belt!

Hope you like the look!

Do you wear all black sometimes? What do you think about adding a contrasting belt or shoes in a bright color?

Hugs,
Paola

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Pants: NYDJ; Blouse: Nordstrom; Shoes: Carlos Santana; Belt: Ann Taylor; Necklaces: Betsey Johnson & Swarovski; Bracelets: Coach

Pretty in Pink

Hi friends,

Lola wore this cute Betsey Johnson dress to an event recently and I asked her if I could take pictures of her for an Outfit Of The Day post. It is the perfect dress for spring! She paired it with a pair of pink Tahari heels. The blue Coach purse added a pop of contrast color, which was a nice touch to the outfit. The dress’ style is an overlay of pink on white,  a trend for this spring.

I would describe Lola’s style as classic and she tends to dress conservative. She said she had doubts about buying this dress, but once she put it on felt comfortable in it and ready for spring! It was nice to see that she went out of her comfort zone and wore this dress. She received multiple compliments at the event!

Remember friends, the most important thing is to feel comfortable with your own style and what you are wearing…..because the happy women are the prettiest women!

I loved the look – hope you do too!

Have you purchased any pink dresses or blouses for the spring season? What do you think of the overlay trend?

Hugs,
Paola

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Dress: Betsey Johnson; Shoes: Tahari; Necklace, Bracelet, Ring: Tiffany & Co.; Purse: Coach

Fashion Week San Diego: Spring Showcase

Hi friends,

Fashion Week San Diego (FWSD) held its first Spring Showcase at Harrah’s Resort Southern California and I attended with Lola. The Spring Showcase included multiple exhibitor booths, from designers, hair blowouts, mini makeovers, photos booths, artists, leather goods, and jewelry. It was nice to see designers I’ve met over the years and to meet new one’s as well. The highlight was the beautiful designs that were part of the runway fashion show! There was also a live performance from The Voice, third season star Aquile.

After the event, we walked around the casino and stopped by the gift shop to pick up a box of chocolates for my hubby.

Fashion Week San Diego has more events coming up this year, for details you can visit their website.

Here are some pictures from the event – hope you like them!

Have you been to a FWSD event? Have you been to a fashion showcase?

Hugs,
Paola

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Lola and I arriving at FWSD – Spring Showcase.

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Launch Live Art.

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Lola and I enjoyed visiting the exhibitor tables.

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It was nice to see designers I’ve met over the years and catch up with them – like Zoe, from I am Zoe.

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And Aida from Dos Caras Swimwear.

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And meet some new one’s. This designer is J.L. Rocha, from Mexico. We also noticed there were more designers for mens clothing and shoes at this event.

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The Foto Box booth.

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Children participated as well.

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Aquiles performed.

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This was one of my favorites!

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Launch Live Art.

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Allison Andrews, FWSD Founder, thanked the designers, sponsors, and attendees.

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The casino’s lobby.

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The casino’s gift show where I bought the box of chocolates for my hubby!

Floral Spring

Hi friends,

Spring is in the air! You can see it in the gardens with the blooming gardens and all the gorgeous colors! I like spring, it brings easter, longer days and warmer weather! The longer days are ideal for outdoor activities and one of my favorite activities, long walks!

This spring, floral print is everywhere! I got this skirt recently and was looking forward to wearing it, I paired it with a champagne  blouse,  pink belt, and nude suede shoes.  The necklace was a purchase I made at Forever21 and just couldn’t seem to find the right outfit to wear it with, until this day!

Hope you like the look!

Do you have any floral print clothing, shoes, or accessories? Do you like this floral print trend? What is your favorite thing about spring?

Hugs,

Paola

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Skirt: Ann Taylor; Blouse: Forever21; Belt: Banana Republic; Shoes: Cathy Jean; Necklace: Forever 21

FWSD: Flaunt Fashion Series

Hi friends,

Fashion Week San Diego (FWSD) held their first of the Flaunt Fashion Series, featuring Designer MarAlonzo. Lola and I attended the event last week, at the W Hotel San Diego. There was a Catwalk Show, guests were greeted with a hosted signature cocktail, and there was music, mingling and networking. I took some pictures and share them below. You can also view more pictures on FWSD’s Facebook page.

FWSD’s next event is their First Annual Spring Showcase,  on Saturday, April 26, at Harrah’s Resort Southern California. More details regarding that event can be found at FWSD’s website.

Hope you like the pictures from the Flaunt Fashion Series!

Hugs,

Paola

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paola lola fwsd flaunt fashion series

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Night Bright: An Evening of Fashion for a Fabulous Cause

FWSD: Day 2

FWSD: Day 2

 

Blue Camouflage Dress

Hi friends,

Wrap dresses are very practical! I am a huge fan of them! Huge! Most of my work dresses are wrap dresses. My favorite brand is BCBG. I buy them at the BCGB stores, at the BCBG Outlet stores, Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, and Macy’s. I also have a few other brands, such as Banana Republic and Ann Taylor. Saks and Saks Off 5th  also carry multiple other brands (at reasonable prices). I like them for multiple reasons:

1- They are timeless

2- They are easy to wash, I wash them at home in the gentle cycle with Woolite and lay them flat to dry

3- The material does not fade easily (so they last for a long time)

4- The work well for my curvy body type because they emphasize the waistline (they actually work for all body types)

5- They are made of stretchy material and the waistline is adjustable, so they work for me, if I gain 5 pounds or lose 5 pounds, I just loosen or tighten the waistline straps!

6- They can be worn year-round – alone or with a cardigan, jacket, or pashmina/scarf, with boots, sandals, tights or alone.

7- They can be dressed up or down – with dressy or casual accessories, heels or flats. So, I can wear them for work, to accompany my husband to business dinners, cocktail parties, and casual occasions.

8- They are practical for travel. They aren’t bulky and don’t take much space in the luggage. They don’t wrinkle easily.

So, I have many dresses in this style and love them!

This one I call the “Blue Camouflage” dress. I wore it to host an interview once and one of the engineers at the television station told me it looked like blue camouflage. And bam, the dress got it’s name, haha!

This dress is wonderful because I can wear it year-round. The blue on the waistline emphasizes my waistline and of course, black is always flattering. It is a fun dress to wear – and the print is not too busy for television, so it also works for the shoots I have at work.

I wore it recently to attend the Grand Opening of El Agave Restaurant in Del Mar.   It is comfortable, I wore it all day for work (with a different par of shoes and a business jacket), then to take these Outfit of the Day pictures (changed shoes), and to the event. It was a long day – and thankfully, I was comfortable all day long! Hope you like the look!

Do you have any wrap around dresses? Which is your favorite? Do you have a favorite brand? I’d love to hear from you.

Hugs,

Paola 

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Dress: BCBG; Shoes: Cathy Jean; Necklace: Gucci; Bracelets: Tiffany & Co.; Ring: Macy’s Fine Jewelry; Purse: Gucci

Photography by Lola Raggio

Jazzing Up the Black Jacket

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Hi friends,

Black is one of my favorite colors to wear! It is easy to match an goes with practically everything…and, it’s slimming! Black never goes out of style, plus you can wear it year round. My closet includes at least one item in black for each category: shoes, sandals, boots, tennis shoes, belts, scarves, pashminas, gloves, hats, jewelry, and of course all types of clothing and undergarments! I have lots of black pants, skirts, and cardigan sweaters (I take one of them practically on every trip). The most common shoe color in my closet is black. My favorite jacket is a black leather one. So, you get the idea….I love wearing black!

The jacket I am wearing in this outfit is part of a suit, it comes with a black skirt. I decided to jazz it up by mixing it up with red tapered pants, a leopard belt, and a bold gold necklace! The red pants lighten up the outfit and add color to it! Since the jacket is 3/4 length, I wore heels to elongate my legs. I like how the red stitching on the jacket adds a special touch of uniqueness. I wore this outfit to work and a theater performance in the evening. It was so comfortable & fun to wear!

Hope you like the look!

Do you have black clothing & accessories? How do you match them? Do you have a favorite item in black in your closet?

Let’s stay connected – I post almost daily on Facebook:Paola Hernandez-Jiao: Latina Life And Style, hope to see you there as well! Leave your comments or let me know what other looks you’d like to see or topics you’d like me to cover.

Hugs,

Paola

DSCN8911 DSCN8923The outfit can be worn with the jacket closed.

DSCN8945 2Or, with the jacket open, which is how I chose to wear it during the day.

DSCN8931 DSCN8962 DSCN8963The leopard belts adds an additional touch of style to the outfit, don’t you think? I wear this belt often, it was definitely a good purchase!

Jacket: Kasper (Macy’s); Pants: Calvin Klein (Macy’s); Tank Top: Zara; Shoes: Nine West; Belt: Ann Taylor; Necklace: Forever21; Jewelry/Gold Necklace: Lolita’s Designs; Bracelets: Coach & Forever21

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The Vest Suit

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Hi friends,

Before I worked in the television industry, I worked at city hall and in politics. In those positions, I used to wear suits everyday. So, I have quite a few suits in my closet. In part, it was easier to wear a suit everyday because I just chose one from the closet and matched the blouse, shoes and necklace. It was a more conservative work environment and I dressed the part. Plus, back then I was younger than everyone in the room (by 10 – 20 years), so I thought suits made me look older and more professional.

Now, I work in the television industry and can be more creative with my outfits, and sometimes wear business casual attire. It’s fun, but sometimes it takes more time to select my outfit for the day, and decide what I will mix and match. I seldomly wear two piece suits, let alone three piece suits. I do wear my suit jackets, but match them with other skirts or pants. Since the weather has been chilly, I have been pulling out some of my suits. Luckily, they still fit, ha!

I pulled this three piece, brown pin stripe suit from the closet and decided to find a fun way to match it. I matched it with a bright green pin striped collared shirt from H&M. Years ago, I would wear it with a white or pink shirt, now I am experimenting more with bright colors and contrasts. I like the look and felt more dressed up than usual for work, yet stylish because of the bright green shirt and I only wore the vest throughout the day, not the jacket.

I matched it with green heels, these are beauties, and gold tone accessories. The hair style is an updo, to enhance the shirt collar 😉

So, if you buy suits, try to buy the best quality your wallet will permit and a basic style, trust me, you will be able to wear them for years. And, if you have suits in the closet you haven’t worn in a while, pull them out, and mix and match them with fun tops, belts and accessories….let your personal style shine through!

Hope you like the look!

Do you wear suits often? How do you mix and match your suits to make your personal style shine?

Hugs,

Paola

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Suit: Jones New York ; Shirt: H&M; Shoes: Tommy Hilfiger (got them at Macy’s); Necklace: Forever21; Bracelets: Coach (gold tone), others Forever21

Photos by: Lola Raggio

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A Weekend in Laguna Beach

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Chilly Spring Day

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Hi friends,

Sometimes, if I like an item, I will buy it in more than one color. Not all of the time, but occasionally, I will do this. For example, I have a few skinny jeans in the same design, just different colors…a few jackets, tank tops, shoes, skirts, even bracelets. I am trying to not do this anymore, but I don’t really think there is anything wrong with it. This jacket is a perfect example of this occasional shopping habit I have. I have it in red & camel color. It is so nice and warm, and comfortable to wear. I like that I can wear it open or closed, casual or dressed up. I have only worn this one twice. I wore the red jacket multiple times this past winter. I bough them on sale at Arden B in Westfield Horton Plaza.

Spring has begun, but we are still having a few chilly days in Southern California. I attended the Latino Film Festival a few days ago, and needed an outfit that would be comfortable to wear all day at the station, but could  transition to the festival, and would photograph well because I would be meeting viewers at the station’s exhibitor booth in the theatre.  I tend to get cold in movie theaters, so this jacket was the perfect item to wear! It is light enough for day, yet warm enough for night.

I matched it with black tuxedo skinny jeans, a black tank top, and gold accessories. The shoes jazzed up the outfit and added that little extra stylish touch to transition the look into night.

Hope you like the look!

Do you have any camel color jackets? Do you have shoes you wear to jazz up an outfit?

Hugs,

Paola

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edith interview edith heashot DSCN8806Jacket: Arden B; Pants: NYDJ; Necklaces: Swarovski & Betsey Johnson;  Shoes: J. Renee; Belt: Mango

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Find of the Week: Black Booties

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Hi friends,

There are many things to like about the changes in season. One of them is “sales”! When seasons change, last season’s items are on sale, many at double or triple reduced price. So, this is a good time to buy winter items, particularly items that will still be in style next year.  For example, a few key pieces such as boots, black slacks or skirts, coats, cardigans, tights, you get the idea. I had been eyeing a pair of black leather booties and on a recent visit to the Nine West Outlet store, these were on sale. At $49.99, it was a sale that was just too good to pass up on! There were many pairs on the shelves – and they are also  available in brown and gray. I wore them a few days ago and may wear them this week since the weather has been a bit chilly. In addition to being beautiful, these are surprisingly quite comfortable! I have multiple pairs of Nine West shoes and the quality lasts forever, so I know I will be enjoying wearing these for a few years to come! Happy shopping friends!

Do you have booties? In what color?

Hugs,

Paola

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I like the stitching detail on the side.  DSCN8497

There is a liner covering the zipper, so the zipper will not scratch your skin.

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The booties have a small platform, which makes the heel more comfortable to wear.
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This is how I wore them a few days ago.

DSCN8483Here’s the style name & model.

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Find of the Week: Deep Blue Shooties

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Kaleidoscope