Every summer it seems I unconsciously choose a favorite dress and wear it over and over…and over again. This summer, it is this stripped dress from Continue reading
Favorite Summer Dress
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Tag Archives: Today’s Look
Summer Outfit In Desert Earth Tones
Summer is in full swing, this means lighter colors and materials in clothing! One of my favorite looks is Continue reading
A Jeans & Linen Jacket Casual Friday
Everyday, we choose what we wear and what we wear may influence how we feel. If we are wearing something that makes us feel good, we will feel more confident and that may make for a better and happier day! On Friday’s, I often like to go Continue reading
Classic Black & White
The feeling of a white button-down blouse always makes me feel classic and sleek. Styling it with a pair of jeans and I have Continue reading
Pastel Spring Scarf
The weather in San Diego is nice almost year-round. Even though I have lived here my entire life, I get cold even with a light breeze, so I always carry a light jacket with me. During the spring, I also bring Continue reading
Spring Feathers
With the arrival of spring, I have started wearing lighter blouses and am enjoying the translucent trend. The print on the blouse reminds me of peacock feathers, with tones of blue, yellow, green, turquoise, and white. It is fun to wear bright colors, such as these green skinny jeans. They seem to lighten up any outfit and bring it to life! Continue reading
Entering a Dotted Spring: Short Sleeve Sweater Top
The weather can be tricky this time of the year, making it hard to choose what to wear. We are transitioning from winter to spring and one day we need a sweater, the next day it is raining, the next it is sunny and warm…and today we had Santa Ana winds making it a little too hot for our region. Even though in Southern California we enjoy sunny days Continue reading
Maximizing Your Wardrobe: Work to Casual
Blouses with collars are in trend, both for dressier attire and casual looks. I have purchased a few, in particular the sheer one’s, love those, worn with a tank top underneath. I purchased a few button down tops and a few with zippers, which tend to be more fitted at the waist. As I started seeing more of these blouses in the stores, it reminded me I had a few similar blouses at home in my closet. I usually only wore those shirts as “career blouses” for work. When I got home, I looked in my closet to see which career blouses and collared tops I could wear on weekends for a casual attire, as well as casual Fridays. I realized I had multiple blouses I could easily match with jeans, capri pants, and skirts. On weekends, if I am just running errands, I usually wear ballerina flats or sandals. If we have dinner plans, I simply change my shoes to heals and voila, dress up the look. Continue reading
Getting Creative: Mixing Grays
Even though it is warm almost year-round in San Diego, we have a few cold weeks during winter. I love wearing jackets and as soon as the weather gets a bit chilly, I pull them out! Yet, in our town, during winter, you can wear a small jacket with a tank top underneath and Continue reading
Shopping Your Man’s Closet
Every few months, my hubby cleans out his closet. He chooses what to keep, what to place in storage, and what to give away. He recently selected several items to give away. Among them was this soft, warm, dark gray, cashmere sweater! He started to put it Continue reading
LBD: The Little Blue Dress
We all have a “little black dress” in our closet. Or, we have multiple “little black dresses.” They are versatile and easy to wear, but this year, why not add some color to your holiday party dresses? The holidays are coming up and that means parties! So, with the upcoming holidays and because I am constantly attending events, I knew I’d be needing a few new dresses. At a recent visit to Ross, I was pleasantly surprised with the nice & trendy items I found, and with the low prices! It takes time to shop at Ross, particularly if you are looking for a good deal, but it is worth it! I found this stylish “little blue dress.” I didn’t have a specific event in mind, but I knew it would come in handy. And, it has! I have worn it twice already and am certain I will wear it a few more times this holiday season and in the coming years! It is a classic v-neck, fitted cut, and knee-high length, which won’t go out of style soon. I like that I can match it with either gold or silver accessories. It can also be worn with multiple colors, I am thinking red shoes or a red cardigan….yellow, white, or even black, and can be dressed up or down. I can use it during the winter season with black tights and a cardigan sweater. I can turn it into work attire by adding a business jacket, plus it is perfect for a TV shoot, and is a good cocktail dress!
I wore it to a wedding in Miami last week. It was an outdoor wedding, so I brought a silk pashmina, which I wore in the evening when the temperature got cooler. In mid-October, I wore it to Mana’s Latina Success Conference where I was a moderator and went on stage to receive a recognition.
The dress is a royal blue color and brings light to my face! I feel comfortable in the dress, which nowadays is the most important thing for me. It is nice to add color to my option of dresses. Black is nice and we all have a little black dress….so, next time, get a blue dress, or a red, green, or yellow dress, and add color to your next party attire!
Do you have a blue cocktail dress? Do you prefer a blue or a red dress? How many little black dresses do you have?
Hugs,
Paola
At the wedding in Miami. Don’t mind the bandage on my arm, I was in a car accident recently and this was the most discreet bandage I could find that still protected my abrasion.
We attempted to cover my right forearm in the pictures, then I gave up and figured the pictures are about the dress and overall attire, not my arm.
At Mana’s Latina Success Conference.
Dress: Spense (purchased at Ross); Shoes: INC; Necklace: Swarovski (wedding, gift from my friend Lola), Forever21 (Mana Conference); Earrings: Nadri (Nordstrom, gift from my friend Lizeth); Bracelet: Forever21
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
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
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
I brought a light jacket because it can get a little breezy in the evenings when the weather cools down.
A pic with mom and my nephew, Andrew – taken inside the restaurant.
With 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
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
Dress: Betsey Johnson; Shoes: Tahari; Necklace, Bracelet, Ring: Tiffany & Co.; Purse: Coach
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
Skirt: Ann Taylor; Blouse: Forever21; Belt: Banana Republic; Shoes: Cathy Jean; Necklace: Forever 21
Jazzing Up the Black Jacket
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
The outfit can be worn with the jacket closed.
Or, with the jacket open, which is how I chose to wear it during the day.
The 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
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
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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Leopard Inspiration
Sometimes, there are fashions that are new or come back that I am just not too crazy about, or I feel are just not for me. The leopard print is one of them. I like it, but in moderation. I have a few leopard scarves, belts, and shoes, but that is about it. This is my first leopard blouse! Can you believe it?
I’ve seen leopard clothing and accessories everywhere and like how it looks on others, it just seems a bit much for me. I tend to lean more towards classic styles and solids, with a touch or two of print (nothing too crazy on the print either). Maybe it is because I work in the television industry and solids look better on-air, or maybe because I know for the most part that solids make one look thinner (unless you wear certain stripes that give the illusion of being thinner). I do like seeing leopard prints on other women. In my opinion, it is beautiful and bold if you accessorize it correctly and don’t over do it. Just a touch of leopard print, maybe a purse, shoes, belt, scarf, and either the skirt, pants or blouse (not everything together at once though, in my opinion).
A few weeks ago, I was out shopping with Lola after one of our speed walks downtown and bought this blouse. I liked the print and particularly that it is easy to care for since it is a polyester blend (dry cleaning and ironing are not required). Lola also liked it and that convinced me to go out of my comfort zone and buy it. To keep it simple, I wore it with a black skirt and accessorized it with a gold necklace.
Recently, during a visit to my hair dresser, she was wearing a short black skirt with booties, she looked stylish and classy. After about an hour, I noticed she was wearing black pantyhose. That is probably what made her whole outfit look classy for work, versus sexy (which is fine if that is the look she was going for – and could easily change into after work for a “night out” look). So, I decided to wear my booties and black pantyhose with this outfit.
I felt like a million bucks that day, stylish, yet not too over the top in leopard print.
What is your opinion on wearing leopard print? Do you own any leopard print items? What are they? How do you match and accessorize them?
Hugs,
Paola
Blouse: Forever21; Skirt: Ann Taylor; Belt: Versace; Booties: Nine West; Necklace: Forever21; Bracelets: Coach & Forever21
ESPANOL:
Aveces hay modas nuevas o que regresan las cuales no me enloquecen, o simplemente siento que no son para mi. El estampado de leopardo es uno de ellos. Me gusta, pero en moderación. Tengo algunos artículos con estampado de leopardo, como mascadas y cintos, pero nada mas. Esta es mi primer blusa con estampado de leopardo! Lo pueden creer?
Veo el estampado de leopardo en todos lados y me gusta como se ve, solo que me parece mucho estampado para mi. Yo tiendo a usar mas los estilos clásicos y sin estampado, quizás con un toque o detalle de estampado, pero mas bien uso colores sólidos. Quizás sea porque trabajo en la industria de la televisión y los colores sólidos son mejores para grabaciones, o quizás porque se que los colores sólidos hacen que uno se vea mas delgado. Si me gusta ver ropa con estampado de leopardo en otras mujeres, es bonito y fuerte a la vez, si lo combinas adecuadamente, sin los excesos. Quizás solo un toque de estampado de leopardo, quizás la bolsa, zapatos, una mascada, cinto, o ya sea una falda o blusa, pero no todo junto a la misma vez.
Hace unas semanas andaba de compras y me medí esta blusa. Me gusto el tamaño del estampado y que el material es facil de cuidar ya que es una combinación con poliéster (que no requiere de limpiaduria o mucho planchado). Aunque este estampado no es mi estilo normal, decidi salir de mi zona de costumbre y la compre! Para mantener el estilo sencillo y no caer en el exceso, me combine la blusa con una falda negra y accesorios dorados.
Recientemente, durante una visita a mi estilista, ella traía puesta una fada negra corta con botinas, se veía moderna y con estilo. Después de como una hora, note que traía puestas unas pantimedias negras. Las pantimedias hacían que su atuendo se viera apropiado para el trabajo, en lugar de verse demasiado sexy. No tiene nada de malo verse sexy, si ese es el estilo que ella estaba procurando, pero se que esa no era el propósito para su atuendo. Tenia anos que yo no usaba pantimedias, pero decidí ponermelas con las botinas para este atuendo.
Me sentí muy cómoda con este atuendo, moderna y con estilo!
Que te parece este atuendo? Cual es tu opinión sobre el estampado de leopardo? Tienes artículos con este estampado? Cuales son, zapatos o ropa? Como los combinas?
Un abrazo,
Paola