outfit: kauai kitsch

traveling to such a tropical vacation locale like hawaii has many perks: the weather is amazing, the landscape is lush and wild, and you get to pull out all of your most garish clothes to wear unashamedly while lounging poolside drinking mai tai’s. just before i left for my trip, i made a bold step and bought my first hawaiian print dress. much the way i once thought leopard print was too overdone, i’ve always avoided cliche hawaiian prints in favor of more subtle fare. but if there is any time to let go of silly rules, it’s when you’re on vacation in hawaii. so this is my tourist outfit, complete with all of the kitschy themes i could think of: straw baseball cap (a visor would have been pretty awesome, too), bold tropical print, clear plastic espadrilles, and a shade of occ lip tar aptly named ‘grandma.’

wearing: whit silk canopy dress (available here or here), straw baseball cap, orla kiely bagrachel antonoff for bass espadrilles




outfit: super casual

our second day in kauai was spent driving around the island and getting the lay of the land. we meandered along highway 56 from poipu all the way up to hanalei with a stop at mermaids cafe for ahi wraps along the way. unfortunately, we didn’t get to do much outside of the car because most of the day it was pouring rain. but we did get a taste of what the island has to offer peering out our car windos. i kept it super casual in this lauren moffatt jumpsuit. it’s actually the first time i have ever worn a jumpsuit in my adult life, and even though it’s not what you might typically expect to see me wearing, it just felt so perfect in the warm hawaii weather.

wearing: lauren moffatt alley overalls, lauren moffatt billie jean asymmetrical crochet sweater, swedish hasbeens peep toe super high clogsfieldguided endless bummer tote bag





outfit: maha’ulepu

if you follow me on instagram, you may have noticed a slight change of scenery in my last few photos. that’s because this week i’m spending spring break on the island of kauai with brendan and his family. it’s become a bit of an annual tradition for us to board a plane and spend a week exploring another island in hawaii.  knowing that there’s a trip around the corner gives me something to look forward to when life is getting crazy, and thinking about this vacation has certainly helped me to get through some of the harder months this year! i also had a lot of fun preoccupying myself with picking out clothes to wear for the warm weather. you can somehow get away with wearing so many silly clothes in bright garish colors when you’re staying in a place like hawaii, so i decided to keep things super casual and slightly kitchshy. my first look is the simplest and most casual, i wore this for an easy 4-mile “hike” along maha’ulepu trail near keoneloa beach. it’s the first place we’ve explored near our hotel, and if this is any indication of what the week is going to be like, then we’re in for quite a treat!

wearing: american apparel oxford shirtcurrent/elliott boyfriend jeans, saltwater sandals, orla kiely bag, flora bella straw baseball cap (sorry, i can’t find a link to where you can buy it online. i got mine at bloomingdale’s.)




















big sur

last weekend, i quietly celebrated my 30th birthday in a little cabin in the woods. we drove a few hours along the winding california coastline to our destination, the glen oaks motel in big sur. the area is well known for it’s expansive views and stellar hikes, but this particular chilly january weekend was made for nesting in our quiet little abode by the river.

and this trip couldn’t have been planned at a better time. as much as i hate to admit it, life is not always sunshine and roses. my 2013 got off to a bit of a rocky start. i had been dealing with some health issues (that have thankfully been resolved by now), and this trip served as a crucial turning point for me. i think that relaxing by the fire and soaking in a tub beneath the trees was just what the doctor ordered!

i forgot to pull out my camera during most of our adventures, but i did manage to snap some photos of our incredible little cabin. looking back at these photos, i’m already yearning to go back again…














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outfit: enter to win a dress from mona!

today i am excited to announce  my latest giveaway courtesy of mona. if you’ve never heard of her before, she is the creator of the beautiful suspender skirt i’m wearing in this post, and she has a shop full of even more lovely designs. these photos were snapped one day in big sur, illuminated by the early morning sun filtering in through the trees. i don’t think there could have been a more perfect place to highlight this dreamy piece. and this week, we are offering you the chance to win this, or any one item from the shop!

to enter: simply visit mona and leave a comment in the section below telling us which piece is your absolute favorite.

this giveaway is open to international readers, so anyone can enter. only one entry per person. winner will be randomly selected and contacted via email after monday, february 4. winner will receive their choice of any one in-stock item in the shop.

not interested in giveaways? mona would also like to offer you 20% any purchase with code “calivintage” now through february 4!

wearing: lauren moffatt top, mona skirt, marais usa flats.



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UPDATE: THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER!

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outfit: weekend dreams

calivintage: gualala

i was home sick all last week (and most of the weekend), so instead of going out and about snapping new outfit pictures, i was sitting at home watching bad television reruns and reminiscing about my recent weekend retreat at st. orres a few weeks back… most of our time was spent relaxing in the hot tub, but we did venture out to a small beach nearby to enjoy the beautiful sunsets. looking at these photos is kind of like a mild form of torture since i’m starting to get stir-crazy, but they are certainly getting me in the mood for fall weather and for more weekend retreats.

but before i get lost dreaming about the weekend, i need to focus my energy on getting ready for my pop-up shop this friday! i hope you don’t mind my shameless self-promotion too much, but i’m really excited for the event. for one, i seriously need to let go of my massive vintage collection before it eats me alive, and i can’t wait to meet everyone who comes out. pretty penny is seriously one of my favorite vintage shops, and it’s really exciting to be able to have an event in oakland and support local business here! can’t wait to see you guys there!

wearing in outfit one: whit striped crop top, rag & bone cardigan on sale at marshalls, american apparel corduroy circle skirt, vintage sandals from mars mercantile in berkeley, ca

and outfit two:  ralph lauren denim and supply peacoat and breton stripe shirt, j brand maria jeans in burnt sienna, rachel comey mars boots, dooney and bourke medium flower bucket bag on sale at marshalls, karen walker von trapp sunglasses.

 calivintage: beach retreat
calivintage: gualala
calivintage: beach retreat
calivintage: gualala
calivintage: beach retreat

outfit: an interlude

calivintage: an interlude

i returned from my ten day trip to new york on thursday night, got in a good night’s sleep, and woke up bright and early the next day to head out for yet another weekend away. this time, i headed up north along the california coast to the sleepy town of gualala, ca to celebrate seven years with my partner brendan. it was quite the whirlwind to transition from the hustle and bustle of new york city to a spacious cabin overlooking the ocean, but it was definitely a welcome retreat. we rented a little spot at st. orres (where we actually stayed for my birthday back in january), and spent most of our time relaxing in the hot tub and taking-in the majestic views. the retro cabin looked practically untouched since it was built in the 1970s and it seemed to match too perfectly with my outfit, so we decided to do a quick photo shoot to remember this silly little spot!

i’m now back at home, feeling relaxed, and getting ready to head out to work. my vacation is over, but i still have tons of fashion week photos to show you, so i’ll consider this just a brief interlude between all of the noise of fashion week.

wearing: vegan leather dress and lace top courtesy of lulu’s, vintage t-strap shoes from pretty penny vintage, and make up for ever lipstick in bright orange

calivintage: an interlude
calivintage: an interlude
calivintage: an interlude

calivintage: an interlude
calivintage: an interlude
calivintage: an interlude

my nyfw: nyc bound

calivintage: nyc bound

i’m currently sitting in the sfo airport watching planes that i will not board. today marks the first day of my trip to nyc, but as you can see, things have already gotten to a shaky start. i missed my flight even though i was in line 50 minutes prior to departure (long story). and i got the full treatment complete with grumpy airport clerks and crying babies. but i’m certainly not complaining. i’m now sitting in a quiet corner gazing out the window and enjoying a warm cup of coffee hoping that a few people on this next flight will have a similar fate as me, so i’ll be able to snag their seats and make it to nyc by tonight. fingers crossed!

calivintage: nyc bound
calivintage: nyc bound

insta-hawaii, part 2

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and just like that, i’m back at home in oakland getting ready to go to the office and start the work week. but i still have just a few more photos i wanted to share before i jump back into the regularly scheduled programming here at calivintage!

above: enjoying a hawaiian shave ice at matsumoto in haleiwa. this place was recommended to me by several friends, and it was a delightful treat after a very long day!

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on the beach at our resort in ko’olina.

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if you were ever curious about the types of people you see at these touristy locales, this was a cute little couple strolling along the beach at the resort. note the combination of an aloha shirt with plaid shorts, argyle socks, and loafers.

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more treats!

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enjoying the most beautiful beach, kailua! wearing the lake me with you swimsuit from modcloth.

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last sunset of the trip. complete with a sailboat passing by…

outfit: waimea

calivintage: waimea

today is my last day in hawaii before i board a big plane and spend five hours flying over the ocean headed back to my little apartment in oakland. i looked up the forecast and should be expecting rain showers and temperatures in the 50s when i return. it’s back to the grind for me, but i’m thankful to have been able to spend a week in paradise before returning to my usual routine.

these photos were snapped at the botanical gardens in waimea after we feasted on kahuku shrimp in the north shore of oahu. the gardens were absolutely stunning and we had fun prancing around and snapping cheezy tourist pictures, which is the thing to do when you’re on vacation! after spending about two hours wandering about in the lush greenery, we headed out for some hawaiian shave ice at matsumotos, and then drove through the country side back to our hotel. it was a beautiful day that i will not soon forget!

top: equipment sailor blouse
shorts: modcloth isle be there shorts
shoes: swedish hasbeens sky high braided sandals
bag: vintage, gift from my mom
lipstick: ysl rouge pur in le orange

calivintage: waimea
calivintage: waimea
calivintage: waimea
calivintage: waimea
calivintage: waimea
calivintage: waimea
calivintage: waimea