A BIT OF REAL TALK

Palace bomber, Acne pants, Palace x Adidas sneakers, Reformation turtleneck bodysuit

Had a quick photoshoot with my little brother before he left to stay in LA for his summer break. I know I said I'd try to get back into blogging but to be completely honest I'm not sure how I'm going to get my photos taken with him gone. It's kind of why I stopped blogging to begin with, when I stopped I didn't really have a photographer boyfriend who I could consistently scam into taking a couple photos. I suppose it's also on me for not trying harder to find other ways to do it but up until now I've been so slammed with work that I ended up letting that part of my life go.

Sometimes I think about what could have been if I hadn't stopped blogging when I see how successful my friends are now but I may just be a little bitter because I'm going through a huge life change right now. I don't know how my life would have turned out if I'd taken a risk and had gone into freelance blogging over working full time for a startup for 4 years but it's no use harping on that now. All I can really do is move forward.

Anyway, enough real talk. I'm sure I'll figure out a way to keep this going. Maybe I'll finally try to date someone and con them into taking my photos? (YEAH RIGHT.)

I'll leave you with a song that I've been playing on repeat since last week. I was lucky enough to catch Floating Points live in SF and the show was fantastic. Also, if you need any new music to listen to I've been maintaining a playlist of new music that I've been really into this past year.

FOLLOW MY 2016 FAVORITES PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY

TWO YEARS LATER

Alpha Industries Flight Jacket // R&S Records T-Shirt // Zara jeans // Converse sneakers // Ray Ban Round Metal sunglasses

Weird coincidence: the day I finally decide to put together an outfit post happens to be exactly two years after my last outfit post on March 10, 2014. Two years is a long time, I know. I was looking back at my last few blog posts and realized I still wear about 80% of the clothes I wore then, minus the Acne Pistol boots and Isabel Marant Dicker boots which I wore to the ground. Am I growing up or am I just boring?

I've been active(ish) on Instagram (@annabelaly) so I don't really have an excuse to not post here given that I end up with so many photos I don't post to Instagram, although maybe I've been hesitant because they're mostly iPhone photos. Maybe I don't really need these high quality DSLR photos anymore? We'll see.

As for these photos, I took them last weekend in Japantown before the rain hit San Francisco. Does the orange lining of this flight jacket count as a pop of color?

Probably not.

SXSW BOUND

Equipment cotton shirt, Siwy cut off shorts, Acne moto jacket, Nike Thea sneakers, Everlane Petra bag

Thought I'd squeeze in a quick post before I leave for SXSW tomorrow afternoon! Oh yeah, I dyed my hair. I've been hesitant to post these photos since they were shot at the end of the day, but maybe I should just let go and care a little less about quality and just go with it... what do you guys think?

If anyone reading this is going to SXSW here's where I'll probably be (plus a few other places):
Body High Official SXSW Showcase
Warp X LuckyMe SXSW Showcase
RAP GODS Official SXSW Showcase
WEDIDIT SXSW Parking Lot Party
LFTF SXSW 2014 Day Party
Boiler Room x Ray-Ban
Lights Down Low SXSW Party
and Fader Fort of course

XO

  vintage sweater, Isabel Marant x H&M coat, Hudson Nico jeans, Nike Free Runs, Rebecca Minkoff bag, Illesteva Leonard sunglasses
Got a new camera. It's compact so I can carry it around everywhere, all I have to do is look somewhat presentable. Except lately that's also been rare. Too into this sweater + jeans + running shoes combo (+ my new Isabel Marant pour H&M

Anyway, new Beyonce album just came out and nothing else matters right now so I'm going to end this here and leave you with this.

[currently listening to]
B E Y O N C E

ON A ROLL

  Pattie jacket c/o Ella Moss // Zara linen tee // Hudson Nico jeans // Acne Pistol boots // Naked Glamour  triangle bra by Calvin Klein

I'm turning 25 on Friday. Still busy but hanging in there. My favorite boots are about to die on me and have a long overdue appointment with a cobbler but I'm always too busy to take them. Same goes for my Dicker boots. It's rewarding to save up and wear these core pieces to death, even if they end up almost unwearable towards the end of their lifespan.

Speaking of my birthday, it's funny to see my wishlist from last year and my bookmarked items this year. I managed to get 8 out of the 12 throughout the year and they're still items that I wear or use daily. Still need a new bag and camera but the hopefully the latter is already in the works. I'll post my new wishlist if I get the chance this week, except it's Cyber Monday so.... yeah. We'll see.

[currently listening to]  

LAZY SUNDAY

  T by Alexander Wang linen striped top (short sleeve version here), HOPE blazer, The Legging Ankle jeans c/o AG Jeans, Nike Free 3.0 sneakers

Lazy Sunday playing Pokemon and relaxing in my new favorite long sleeve tee. Really down with wearing running shoes with outfits but apparently that hasn't become a thing in San Francisco yet unless you're wearing Lululemon. To brunch. NYC on the other hand... wow. Y'all know how to dress.

[currently listening to]  

MILLIONS

Topshop textured tee, skater skirt, and necklace c/o Nordstrom, Illesteva Leonard sunglasses, Rag & Bone Newbury boots, Stila lip stain c/o Birchbox, Made of Stars triangle bra via True&Co. (get 20% off with my code TRUEANNABEL)
What have I been up to for the past three months? This. Right. Here. Yep, we launched a collection. It's surreal to see an entire collection come together from picking out fabric and color swatches, to photographing and editing product photos, and finally throwing a launch event in NYC.

I've been rocking the sweater+jeans+boots uniform lately but dressed up for once because well, why not? Been going through some life changes so it kind of helps to break out of my usual habits. Lots of changes. Might even redesign this blog...


[currently listening to]

RUNNERS HIGH

Etoile Isabel Marant top, Zara pants, Rag & Bone Newbury boots, Rebecca Minkoff bag

Bad blogger strikes again. Between blogging for True&Co, designing email campaigns, and other miscellaneous work-related tasks it looks like I'm finally able to catch a break. Barely. Probably also doesn't help that I'm feeling largely uninspired about my style in general, but I'm saving that for another post. Let's just say that this top and these boots are some of the only things that I've bought for myself in months after countless frustrating shopping trips. More on that later though.

One last thing: social media gurus in SF with design experience, True&Co. and I need you. Email me!

UNIQLO X SUNO

  Suno for Uniqlo dress c/o Uniqlo, Isabel Marant Dicker boots, Illesteva Leonard sunglasses
Two posts in one week? Okay, week and one day. Still an improvement, right? I managed to actually get these photos snapped of me outside of the office (thanks, Jess!). I'm trying to get get back into the groove of things so bear with me please. First order of business to free up my schedule: I need a new intern! My awesome/amazing/super-talented intern Micho just left us for a summer internship (congrats!) so True&Co. is looking for someone to help with design and marketing. Really though, I need help if I want to start blogging like before again...

Ahh, I digress. If you're in SF, Jennie and I will be hosting an event at Uniqlo on Powell tomorrow! Be sure to RSVP here and get there early since the event will probably reach capacity. Come grab a drink (or five), shop the collections, and hang out with us!

WARBY X BLUSHING AMBITION

  Mango coat, vintage chambray shirt, Nico jeans c/o Hudson, Acne Pistol boots, Warby Parker Neville glasses

Dear Blog,

Oh, hey. Nice to see you again. I'm sorry I left you, I just had to sort some things out. You know, life and stuff. I know, I didn't really say anything or give notice but will you please forgive me?

Really though, I've been busy. Thanks for sticking around, I knew I'd pop back at some point. These photos are from a quick meet up with Warby Parker's Class Trip at Sightglass Coffee around the corner from the True&Co. office. We talked food + shopping in SF and somehow I ended up suggesting so many places that I had to go back and narrow down my list significantly. After being able to bring up so many local haunts so casually it finally dawned on me that I've been living in the Bay Area for almost 7 years and still have plans to leave anytime soon. Anyway, go peep the article to see more. 

This won't be the last time you see me, I promise I'll be back!

Photos by Nick Fay via Warby Parker Class Trip

POP THAT

Sweater + Polka Dot Top c/o SheInside, Zara pants, Love Affirmation Watch c/o BCBGeneration, Acne Terra heels, vintage sunglasses

Bah! Guess who's popping in for her monthly blog visit? Hate this trend but it seems like I'm more and more swamped every time I finally get around to updating. This past month it was a site redesign for True&Co, right now it's Valentine's Day... looks like things will be this way until March. Wamp wamp.

I finally managed to get my coworker (thanks, Molly!) to snap these outside work the other day. Sometimes I don't even realize how busy I am during the day, one moment it'll be light out and the next it's 8pm and I'm about to leave the office. Anyway, I'm wearing heels! Nabbed these Acne heels from Barney's online sale a while back. I kept seeing them being used to style other Acne products and finally got the last pair in my size! This is usually what I wear at work: a collared shirt, sweater, skinny jeans/pants, and well, booties when I'm not wearing these heels. Easy, right?