hdh plus fall 2016

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i know it seems a little bit crazy to be thinking about fall clothes in the middle of a heat wave, but the temperatures will be cooling off before we know it, and hackwith design house has got us covered with their upcoming fall 2016 plus collection. the new pieces will launch on august 22, and we cannot wait to check them out. you may remember last summer my sister decided to start sharing some plus size content on my blog, but our plans quickly lost traction with the news that i was expecting a baby. she’s still been hanging out behind-the-scenes, primarily helping me out with vintage sales, but now that our schedules are starting to get normal again, she’s gearing up to start sharing more. and i can definitely see her rocking some of these styles.

in the meantime, if you’re not quite ready to start planning for fall, almost all of their current plus offerings are on sale now!

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along for the ride with maxi cosi

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having a new little addition to our family means we’ve had to acquire a few new things to accommodate her. one super crucial item was a car seat. in california, you literally can’t leave the hospital without one that is properly fitted for an infant, so it was pretty high on our list of essentials. unfortunately, i was feeling pretty immobile towards the end of my pregnancy, so you know i breathed a huge sigh of relief when maxi cosi sent us two brand new car seats for the big day! the timing could not have been better because adam was rapidly growing out of his (and destroying it with cheesy crackers and juice in the process), and of course, edie had to have hers for her very first car ride home.

so the day before edie was born, i unwrapped these beauties from their packaging. i picked out the mico max 30 for edie, and adam got the pria 85 in matching black. call me boring, but i wanted something subtle that would fit in with the grey interiors of our car, but they also have a ton of bright colors from navy to green or even pink and purple! the infant car seat is great because it works for babies from 4 – 30 pounds or up to 32″ while the convertible car seat will work for a child from 14 – 85 pounds or 52″ tall. adam is a really big kid for his age, so this is really great because we literally won’t have to buy another car seat for adam at all! and hopefully edie to take his place once she reaches the limit in hers. and it makes me happy to see them both sitting in the back of the car in their little matching seats!

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lotfi bags

calivintage - lotfi handbags

it’s crazy to think that summer is already winding down, but here in southern california, it kinda doesn’t end? so hopefully you don’t mind me sharing a few more spring collections before the season is over. even though lotfi handbags have been around since 2011, i only just recently learned about this cool california-based brand. it was started by designer sharareh lotfi shortler after the birth of her daughter because she was looking for something minimal and un-fussy that was practical without being boring. this is something that i can personally relate to 100%, so you know the designs are right up my alley. all of her spring 2016 bags are made with sturdy organic cotton canvas and robe, lending a subtle nautical vibe without being too literal. and being a san francisco based company, it’s great to know that all of the designs are also produced right here in california.

shop lotfi bags

calivintage - lotfi handbags
calivintage - lotfi handbags
calivintage - lotfi handbags
calivintage - lotfi handbags

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calivintage - lotfi handbags
calivintage - lotfi handbags
calivintage - lotfi handbags

bitte tastemaker talks

bitte tastemaker series - calivintage

so excited to share that i was interviewed by bitte as part of their tastemaker talks series! this is especially awesome because bitte is easily one of my favorite online children’s boutiques, and the place where i get a lot of the cute toys and clothes you see around my house. the shop was started a few years back by maia mcdonald (of pinterest and rue magazine fame) shortly after her adorable daughter was born. together with her mom as her partner, she’s managed to create a beautiful shopping experience filled with ethically made and aesthetically pleasing toys, books, and clothes for kids of all ages. but enough talking, you should go see for yourself! read my interview here and take a look at my collection of favorites here!

bitte tastemaker series - calivintage

outfit: true blue

calivintage - heinui jumpsuit

if i could only wear one color for the rest of my life, it would probably be blue. looking at my clothing rack, it is dominated by this indigo hue. even when i consciously try to avoid it in favor of something different, i inevitably fall back on it. so when i saw this jumpsuit by heinui i had to have it immediately. the only problem is that at the time, i also happened to be six months pregnant, so i’ve been patiently waiting for months to finally try it on! fortunately for me, it was worth the wait. it makes such a stunning statement, especially with this abandoned turn-of-the-century train station as the backdrop. and i just kept the outfit simple so that none of my accessories would compete with it.

it also comes in a few different options: short or long sleeve in indigo or chambray, and there is a dress version as well. they are all currently on sale along with a bunch of other amazing pieces, so you should go check it out!

wearing:
heinui ernesto indigo cotton jumpsuit
brookes boswell cortland straw hat
claire v. kenya bag
swedish hasbeens braided high in natural

calivintage - heinui jumpsuit
calivintage - heinui jumpsuit
calivintage - heinui jumpsuit
calivintage - heinui jumpsuit

built by wendy is back!

calivintage - built by wendy is back!

she’s back! i was so bummed when wendy mullin shuttered her stores several years back. she was probably one of the first “indie” designers that i learned about back in my formative fashion years. and for that reason alone, i will always have a fondness for her designs. so you know i was excited when the email popped up in my inbox letting me know that she’s back at it again! this time, with a really awesome collection of ’80s and ’90s-inspired basics in a range of unexpected colors and combinations. that slight nod to the past speaks both to my personal nostalgia for the brand, but also to the current trends that we’ve been seeing lately. i think if anyone was going to get me excited about seeing those bamboo sandals and a bright quilted tote bag in teal blue, it would be built by wendy.

go shop the full collection here!

calivintage - built by wendy is back!
calivintage - built by wendy is back!
calivintage - built by wendy is back!
calivintage - built by wendy is back!
calivintage - built by wendy is back!
calivintage - built by wendy is back!
calivintage - built by wendy is back!
calivintage - built by wendy is back!
calivintage - built by wendy is back!
calivintage - built by wendy is back!

my new workspace with hp spectre

calivintage - hp spectre standing desk

since getting my new hp spectre, i’ve been feeling inspired, and itching to put it to good use. it’s literally the thinnest laptop in the world and it weighs only 2.5lbs, so it’s been super easy to tote it around wherever i need to get work done: on the sofa while adam eats breakfast, laying in bed while the baby naps, propped up at the coffee shop when i head out of the house for some fresh air. but most-importantly, at my brand new dedicated workspace. i have an office, but with life as busy as it is these days, it’s more important than ever for me to have an inviting workspace that can still function while fitting in with my busy schedule. having my spectre laptop ready at my standing desk has become my new secret weapon for getting the job done.

like i mentioned in my last post, a lot of behind-the-scenes work goes into maintaining this blog. i’ve been doing it for eight years now, and i’ve had a lot of people ask me for advice on how to make it as a professional blogger. a lot of people talk about strategy and social media, but my number one recommendation is almost always to make sure you have the right tools to get the job done. i remember when i decided to start taking this blog more seriously, the first thing i did was go out and invest in a brand new computer, a professional camera, photoshop, and a host of other essentials necessary for independently running my own self-hosted wordpress site. strategy is certainly important, but without these essential tools, i never would have been able to launch this blog into a full-time career. and as time moves on, it’s been more important than ever for me to evaluate my technical needs to make sure i can be as productive as possible, especially when i’m pressed for time.

so here’s my new setup. a lot of the usual suspects: computer, software, a stash of chocolate bars hidden in my drawer. but things have been upgraded with my new standing desk and some clean and simple decor for a calm and inviting workspace. it makes it so that i’m able to stop in at any time of the day to type out a few emails or edit some photos. and it’s where i’m standing right now as i type out this post. it’s really important for me to have a beautiful space to work, and love the way my spectre fits in perfectly with my setup, while still being able to do some seriously heavy lifting. it comes with windows 10, up to 512gb of pcie-based ssd storage, intel® coreâ„¢ i processing, up to 8gb of ram, and three multi-use usb type-câ„¢ ports. so while it may look pretty, it’s also helped me to change the way i approach my work, and to reinvent my obsession with this blog so that i can continue grow and evolve this ever changing space.

calivintage - hp spectre standing desk
calivintage - hp spectre standing desk
calivintage - hp spectre standing desk
calivintage - hp spectre standing desk

a breath of fresh air with luzerne labs

calivintage - luzern labs organic skincare

as i’m sure you can imagine, with a 2-month-old and a 2-and-a-half-year old, i’ve been in pretty desperate need for some “me time.” especially during the postpartum period when i’m still dealing with a major drop in hormones and everything that comes along with it. my hair hasn’t started falling out yet, but my skin has done a complete 180 from slightly oily to completely dried out. it’s not a huge deal in the scheme of things, but it’s definitely one of those small frustrations that stacks up against you when all you want to do is feel normal. so i was pretty excited when luzern labs asked me if i’d be interested in trying out a fancy spa treatment at the peninsula spa in beverly hills using their sustainably-harvested, organic swiss extracts and ingredients.

my entire pregnancy, i was careful to avoid any ingredients that could be potentially harmful to the baby, which meant saying goodbye to my beloved vitamin a treatments. it also meant that my skin was seriously overdue for some deep exfoliation and intense moisture. thankfully, luzern’s products are all natural and free of toxic ingredients, synthetics, and chemical preservatives, so i knew i was in the right hands. my spa treatment consisted of a custom luzern facial and my very first oxygen treatment. the aesthetician sloughed off tons of dry skin and helped plump things back up with the help of some concentrated serums delivered through an oxygenated mist. it was relaxing and surprisingly refreshing at the same time and i kid you not, when it was all over, i felt like i looked years younger. i didn’t even realize how much all of the sleep deprivation and dry skin was aging me. it was definitely the pick-me-up that i needed to start feeling a little bit more like myself after all of the changes that i new baby brings.

after everything was done, i also got to go home with a few serums and lotions to continue using at home. i picked out the serum absolute rehydrate oil, radiance, and the force de vie pure oxygen lotion and have been using them religiously ever since. my hormones are starting to balance out, and these products are making a huge difference in keeping my skin bright and hydrated in the meantime, which is especially helpful when things are so busy that i can’t always get to my makeup routine!

calivintage - luzern labs organic skincare
calivintage - luzern labs organic skincare
calivintage - luzern labs organic skincare

enter to win $200 to wol hide!

calivintage - wol hide

it’s been a little while since i’ve posted a giveaway, so i’m really excited to share that i’ve teamed up with wol hide to offer you a chance to win a $200 gift card! if you’re not familiar with the brand, wol hide was founded in 2014 by knit designer leah d’ambrosio in 2014. the line focuses on clean, soft yarns knit into relaxed silhouettes inspired by the ease of everyday clothes. the collection is all made in the usa, with all sweaters hand loomed in philadelphia. for the spring 2016 collection, they teamed up with sally fox, who has spent years researching and growing organic, color grown cotton. the chenille yarn in the lounge set comes directly from sally’s farm, and the color is completely natural. in addition to the beautiful chenille sets, i’m wearing one of their incredibly soft a-tanks made with cotton yarn from a small family-owned mill in italy. it’s one of my new favorites and i just love the folded collar and swingy shape.

want to snag a piece for yourself? simply visit wol hide and leave a comment in the section below telling us which item in the shop is your favorite.

bonus: click here to earn an additional entry on instagram!

this giveaway is open to international readers, so anyone can enter. only two entries per person, one via calivintage.com and one via instagram. giveaway ends on july 12, 2016 at 11:59pm p.s.t.

wearing:
wolhide a-tank
brookes boswell straw cortland hat
martiniano glove shoes
vintage jeans and bag
calivintage - wol hide
calivintage - wol hide
calivintage - wol hide
calivintage - wol hide

adam and edith

calivintage - tortoise and the hare

it’s been a little while since i’ve shared some photos of my little ones, so i thought it was time for a quick update! edith is two-months-old now, and adam will be 2-and-a-half in july! adam is still completely infatuated with his little sister, asking to kiss her or to hold her about 100 times a day. she doesn’t particularly love being handled by a toddler, but they actually do pretty well together. now that she’s growing out of the newborn phase, she seems to be pretty fascinated by him. and thankfully, he enjoys singing her songs or shushing when she cries. and he get better about being gentle with her every day. edie is still pretty new, so she doesn’t do too much besides the usual. she smiles a lot and coos, which is darling. and she’s discovered her hands and toes, even reaching out and grabbing just a little bit.

and when i look at these photos, pretty much any of the stress or exhaustion of having two little ones just melts right away. these moments are so brief that i just want to do my best to soak them all up!

adam and edith are both wearing the most adorable rabbit caps by tortoise and the hare. edith is also wearing a kimono top by imps and elfs and the softest little organic wool diaper cover by lana care. and adam is in his petite soul tee, which happens to be on sale!

calivintage - tortoise and the harecalivintage - tortoise and the hare
calivintage - tortoise and the hare