There are a few family traditions I look forward to every year, and our annual road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco is definitely one of my favorite! For starters, the drive is absolutely beautiful, and we make sure to make stops at all our favorite places along the way, like Santa Barbara and Cambria for example, but most importantly, while LA still feels very summery at the moment, Carmel, Big Sur and San Francisco offer a rare glimpse of fall in California!

Though normally, as I have mentioned earlier, we take our time getting there making multiple stops on the way, this time around we drove straight to Carmel because we were so eager to get back to one of our favorite places in the world – Carmel Valley Ranch. We discovered it by a complete accident a few years ago, and it’s become a very special place to us since.

Pretty as a post card, we absolutely love that it offers a variety of activities from hiking and biking to tennis and horse-riding. Yet we also appreciate the fact that Carmel Valley Ranch is one of the best places to take a day to simply lounge around, enjoy a warm cup of coffee or a glass of Rosé and get away from all the hustle and bustle! Personally, I love nothing more than to spend a few hours on a daybed swing, catching up on my reading or simply admiring the beautiful views of Santa Lucia mountains!

Lastly, and this one is of most importance, because you will never find 3 bigger foodies than Emil, Ninel and me, we love the dining experience! Our particular favorite – the Charcuterie plate at the Lodge restaurant, although I must admit, the nightly s’mores experience isn’t half bad either!

ACNE STUDIOS More She Sue sherling jacket | 3.1 PHILLIP LIM Saddle Crew neck pullover | GOLDEN GOOSE Superstar sneakers | 7 FOR ALL MANKIND jeans { similar here } | CHLOÉ Hudson bag | DITA sunglasses { similar here }

The post Casual in Carmel appeared first on VivaLuxury.

Second stop on our annual family road trip was the beautiful town of Carmel by the Sea! Though we’ve been here a few times before, it never fails to impress us in some new way, and always appears just as picturesque and charming as ever!

We started off by exploring the place a bit, visiting some of our old favorites, like vintage stores and coffee shops, but also discovering a few new gems like the La Bicyclette, a cute french-italian restaurant where we stopped for dinner and were most impressed with their hand-crafted, locally-sourced menu! Our personal favorite – Risotto Verde and Roast Baby Beets salad, which was so delicious we’ve ordered seconds!

Though we haven’t been back in LA for long, I must admit we already miss Carmel terribly, which is probably why we’ve spend the entire morning planning our next visit! I guess it’s just one of those places for us, we never grow tired of it, and always wait for our next visit with the most eager anticipation!

ULLA JOHNSON Aiko cardigan & Matilda hat | 3.1 PHILLIP LIM Side seam tee | 7 FOR ALL MANKIND jeans { similar here } | ALEXANDER WANG Gia boots | CHLOÉ Faye medium leather & suede shoulder bag

The post Cozy in Carmel by the Sea appeared first on VivaLuxury.

Fall color palette is usually all about darker, richer hues like burgundy, chocolate brown, navy and of course the classic black. But what is so different this season, is that we are seeing quite a bit of brighter colors, like mustard yellow for example, but also a few softer shades like pink. Personally, I couldn’t be happier because aside from the fact that this lovely shade of grayish-pink happens to be a particular favorite of mine, I must admit, I love it when I can inject a bit of color into my fall/winter wardrobe.

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The Holiday Season is officially upon us! It kind of sneaks up on you doesn’t it? One day you are all dressed up for Halloween and the next, Holiday decorations are everywhere, along with endless shopping lists, mall runs, and Holiday parties!

Speaking of Holiday parties, I think what I love about this time of the year the most is the festive spirit of the season! Don’t get me wrong, I am a huge fan of parties in general, but there is something special about Holidays that make all the gatherings even more joyful and brilliant than usual! Another favorite part of the Holidays is dressing up of course and if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you may already know that when it comes to Holiday dressing my strategy is simple – start shopping early and choose versatile pieces you can style and re-style in multiple ways. To illustrate my strategy in action, I’ve partnered with Express, to showcase one of my Holiday dressing staples – a little black dress.

Take the beautiful velvet number from Express I am sporting in today’s post for example. A classic little black dress never goes out of style, but the reason why I love this particular one is the luxurious velvet fabric. When it comes to fall 2016 trends, velvet ranks among some of the most important ones to incorporate into your wardrobe. Aside from the fact that it is simply a pleasure to wear, velvet elevates even the simplest of pieces and brings a level of sophistication to every type of look from dressed up to casual. Another reason why I chose this dress is because it happens to be one of those pieces that can be easily restyled with different accessories, so you can wear it again and again.

On this particular occasion, I wore this dress to an office party Emil and I attended recently. Though I fully admit that dressing for an office party can be a bit of a challenge because finding the right balance between fun and festive, yet still professional can be tricky, I believe the key is opting for a classic piece with just a bit of flare. Though the neckline here is definitely a bit more open, the longer length, covered up shoulders and back, and classic velvet, create a perfect balance between sexy and sophisticated.

Finishing touch – dark lips, which is another major trend we’re seeing on the runways this season. To create this look, I used Burt’s Bees Lip Crayon in Napa Vineyard and added two coats of Express lip gloss in Flirty Burgundy. A little trick I use when opting for a darker lip shade is keeping the rest of my make up fairly simple, so I skipped blush and added just a bit of bronzer to the cheekbone area and went with a simple cat-eye liner and strong brow.

Thank you Express for partnering with me on this post.

EXPRESS Velvet tie midi dress, lip gloss in Flirty Burgundy & Amaze Express perfume | JESSICA ELLIOT small round solitaire stud earrings & open hoops with Swarovski crystals

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Third stop on our annual road trip was Big Sur. Though we didn’t initially plan on going there, we got up one morning and developed a sudden craving for the yummiest chocolate peanut butter dessert we had at the Post Ranch Inn restaurant last time we were in Big Sur, and decided that it was definitely worth the 50 minute drive! This may sound a bit insane, but honestly, the drive is quite lovely because it takes you along the beautiful California coast line and we always make sure to make plenty of stops to enjoy the beautiful scenery and of course to take a few pics!

Speaking of Post Ranch Inn, I suppose because Emil, Ninel and I are such huge foodies, most of our trips involve discovering new dining destinations or revisiting old favorites. Sierra Mar at the Post Ranch Inn is definitely the latter, we found this gorgeous restaurant a few years ago, and it’s become a must every time we find ourselves in Big Sur. Aside from the food, which is absolutely delicious, for me, ambiance plays an equally important part and the reason Sierra Mar is such a special place is because it offers one of the most beautiful views of the coast line I have ever seen! So, if you ever visit Big Sur, I definitely suggest making a stop there for dinner or lunch! Our favorite guilty pleasure is enjoying a glass of Rosé while admiring the sea views in the most beautiful setting imaginable!

VINCE Crew neck sweater | FREE PEOPLE Bundle Baby chunky cowl & Back to Basics knit beanie | 7 FOR ALL MANKIND jeans { similar here } | ALEXANDER WANG Gia boots | CHANEL Vanity case in grained calfskin { similar here & here }

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Though I must admit, I find it hard to believe for it still feels like Summer in LA, the Holiday season is finally upon us! Almost two whole months of parties, gift-giving and gift-shopping, beautiful decorations, festive music and all the wonderful craziness that comes with the Holidays! Personally, I couldn’t be more excited because I’ve always loved this time of the year, and no matter how old I get, I wait for it with equal measure of happiness and anticipation.

Yet, as much as I long for Holiday season, our already pretty hectic schedule seems to get even more action-packed and crazy, which often means that I leave home early in the morning and spend the entire day running around from meetings, to shoots, to parties, and dinner dates. At first, I found this schedule a bit difficult to adjust to, but eventually, I’ve gotten used to changing in my car several times a day ( yes, I’ve done that ) because I don’t always have time to go back home and showing up to a business meeting in an evening gown because I have a cocktail party to go to later, is definitely not an option:)! But most importantly, I’ve made a few changes to my make up routine which allow me to quickly touch-up or build on my make up look on the go! The name of my Holiday little helper is Chubby Sampler Set by Clinique. The set contains 4 Chubby Stick products for eyes, lips and cheeks that are so easy to use, I can literally apply them anywhere, like the backseat of my car using my phone as a mirror, for example!

Which brings me to the point of this story, the other day as I was doing a few touch-ups in the backseat of my car before a meeting, I thought that it would be fun to shoot a story of what my day is really like during Holiday season and show you guys why I do not leave my house without Clinique’s Chubby Sampler Set during this time of the year!

AFTERNOON:

Early afternoons are usually reserved for meetings. On this particular day, our morning staff meeting ran late, so I didn’t have a chance to do my make up before I left. Luckily, I arrived to my meeting a bit early, and had time to apply my cat-liner ( which I feel completely naked without ) and add another coat of Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara in Jumbo Jet. That’s actually one of my favorite mascara application tricks. If you want to achieve a very dramatic lash look and layer your mascara, you need to wait before applying every additional coat. Usually I give it about 30 seconds between every coat, this way, you get the most beautiful plump lashes without the clump!

The post Beauty On The Go :: Holiday Edition appeared first on VivaLuxury.

Hey everyone, I just wanted to say a quick hello and share a few images from the last stop on our road trip, which was San Francisco. Though we didn’t get to spend as much time there as we would have hoped, it was still a very lovely visit! We walked around for a bit, exploring a few places we didn’t have a chance to see on our previous visits, and also of course made stops at our old favorites like this cute coffee shop in Mission district, called Sightglass Coffee. Their coffee and pastries are absolutely delicious, so naturally, I can’t imagine a trip to San Francisco without making a stop there! It’s almost like a ritual at this point, whenever we go to SF, coffee and a nice flaky croissant at Sightglass is always our first stop!

P.S. I also have very exciting news to share with you guys! I am extremely honored to be nominated as the Best Luxury Influencer by The 2016 ShopStyle awards! This year’s winners will be chosen by you guys, and I would really appreciate your support! You can vote from now until December 6th simply by CLICKING HERE!

Thank you for your support!

ISABEL MARANT ETOILE Fimo blanket coat | SEA Cashmere sweater | RAG & BONE/JEAN Skinny LB pants | ISABEL MARANT Lysett eyelet boots | CHANEL Boy bag { similar here & here } | LARSSON & JENNINGS Classic black & gold watch

The post San Francisco Stripes appeared first on VivaLuxury.

Good morning everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I have some really exciting news to share with you guys! As we head into the Holiday season, which means that the next 2 months will be all about events, parties, and soirees, finding those perfect pieces to showcase your Holiday style, will be at the top of everyone’s shopping list! Personally, I’ve always been an accessories kind of a girl! Don’t get me wrong, I love clothing, but for me, nothing completes a look quite like a perfect accessory does! And when it comes to evening attire, more than any other accessory, jewelry sets the tone and feel of the look, which brings me to the exciting news I have to share with you guys!

This season, we’ve added a few Holiday inspired pieces and also updated the best-sellers from VivaLuxury Jewelry Collection in gold and rose gold vermeil. Though I certainly wear quite a bit of silver for evening, gold and rose gold finish give jewelry an especially festive feel, and also pair beautifully with holiday staples like little black dresses and jewel tones.

Take today’s look for example. I spotted this beautiful Vika Gazinskaya dress a while ago, and fell in love with it the moment I saw it! Though I can’t really decide what it is that I love most about it, the full midi skirt, dramatic wing-shaped shoulder, or the frayed edges, which seem to add an instant dose of edge to this otherwise very feminine number, the end result is an absolutely stunning take on a classic black dress. When it came to adding accessories, I really wanted to continue with a bit of an edgy theme, which is why I opted to pair it with mismatched earrings and ear cuffs, a trend I simply cannot get enough of at the moment.

As I have mentioned before, when I was designing this collection, one of my primary goals was to create pieces you could mix and match to express your individual style. So, for example, the Drop earrings could be worn alone, paired with Pearl ear cuff or, if you’re looking to create a particularly dramatic look, you can opt to wear them with the Three pearl ear cuff, and the same goes for the Pearl & triangle ear jacket. Though it certainly works well for day, you can easily dress it up for night by adding the Three pearl ear cuff and the Diamond & pearl spiral ring. Basically the possibilities are endless, and if you’ve been reading my blog for a while now, you know just how important versatility is to me!

P.S. Emil and I also created a VivaLuxury Jewelry Video to give you a bit of a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what went into designing this collection, the making of the pieces, and of course how I love to style my favorites for the Holiday season! So, I hope you enjoy!

SHOP VIVALUXURY Three pearl ear cuff, Pearl & triangle ear jacket, Drop earrings, Diamond & pearl spiral ring, Diamond & pearl cone necklace, Pearl ear cuff & Pearl and Diamond split ring

The post VivaLuxury Jewelry :: New for The Holidays appeared first on VivaLuxury.

Good morning everyone! So, I know I’ve been talking about Holiday dressing quite a bit lately, yet I simply cannot consider my holiday dressing guide complete without a mention of one of my go-to combos at the moment! If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you may already know that trench coats happen to be a particular weakness of mine. But lately, I’ve been especially drawn to dressing up trench coats for evening and wearing them as a cool and edgy take on a cocktail dress. One of the reasons is that I love the shape—ultra feminine, you have that cinched waist and flared skirt factor, but also a slight edgy twist thanks to structured shoulder and tailored collar.

The way I personally love dressing them up is with a pair of high-heels and an evening bag. Take today’s outfit for example. I was at Neiman Marcus the other day shopping for a last minute Holiday party, when I spotted this insanely beautiful textured trench coat from A.L.C., and I immediately knew I found exactly what I was looking for. For today’s look I paired it with a Fendi baguette (absolutely love the floral appliqué detailing) & cute Gucci pumps.

Speaking of shopping at Neiman Marcus, which I must admit, I indulge in quite a bit of as of late, starting today you can get an Early Access to their One Day Designer Sale! I personally believe in investing in designer pieces, especially pieces that I know I will wear over and over again; for example, I can already envision styling this trench coat in many different ways and taking it from night to day with a simple switch of the accessories. Yet, at the end of the day, when I consider investing in a piece, in addition to versatility, I always think whether it has longevity. A classic white trench coat like the one I’m sporting in today’s post will never go out of style, and I am confident that I will be able to wear it for many years to come, and that’s something that is very important to me. Of course if I can get my designer items on sale, that definitely a win-win kind of a situation! So click here to check out One Day Designer Sale! Happy hunting everyone!

A.L.C. Richard belted textured coat & Jamie lace-trim ponte mini dress | FENDI Baguette micro double-sided floral crossbody bag | Gucci heels { similar here, here & here } | DITA sunglasses { similar here } | DAVID YURMANOsetra Collection green onyx hoop earrings & Garnet bracelet  

The post Trench Dressing appeared first on VivaLuxury.

I wanted to share a few images here from my recent vacation in Jamaica. The holiday season always gets hectic so if I can take a few days off to get away from the craziness, I will! This time around we stayed at the Sandals Royal Caribbean resort in their brand new over-the-water villas. So beautiful and picturesque, these villas have everything that you may need ( along with your own personal butler ), so you pretty much never have to leave them if you do not want to.

My favorite part about this entire trip was waking up to an unobstructed view of the ocean; something about having a cup of coffee early in the morning with a beautiful ocean right in front of you is just so relaxing. As relaxation was the main goal for this trip, it was easily achieved (especially after a visit to the Red Lane Spa for a body scrub and a massage).

November is a rainy month in Jamaica, but we got pretty lucky with the weather and had plenty of time to lay out in the sun and work on our tans. One of the days we even ventured out to the beach and relaxed in a cabana, sipping our Pina coladas and enjoying the beautiful view.

Every time I visit a tropical destination, I dread to leave and come back to reality, and this trip was no exception! I’m already dreaming of the next trip so if you guys have any suggestions please let me know.

The post Jamaican Getaway appeared first on VivaLuxury.

I was pretty active in high school. I was on the swim team, I did yoga on the weekends, and once in a while, my friends and I took some dance lessons for fun. But it all changed once I went to university. My first year, I honestly tried! I tried exercising at home, I got a gym membership at my school, thinking I could go in between lectures, and I went hiking or running on the weekends. But by second year, when I got a part-time job on top of my course-load, it became painfully obvious that I didn’t have the time or the energy to do anything other than to attempt to squeeze in some studding before passing out at my desk.

At first, I was pretty accepting of my lack of exercise. I mean, what could I do, I simply didn’t have the time! But gradually, it started to nag at me and by the time I began my fourth year, I haven’t been exercising for 2 years and it showed. My muscles lost all definition, I was constantly out of breath even after a short walk, and I felt tired from the time I woke up in the morning, to the time I went to bed at night.

Late one night, my mom and I were sitting in our living room, talking about how much I missed swimming and all the other activities I used to do, and after hearing me complain about how my crazy schedule prevented me from being active, my mom gave me a piece of advice that changed the way I think about being active forever. She said ” You know, you always think in black and white terms, it’s all or nothing with you, but the truth is, even 5 minutes of ecxercise a day can make a difference. You can find 5 minutes every day, can’t you? Well, why don’t you start there and see what happens?”

Next morning, I got up a bit earlier and did yoga for exactly 5 minutes. My body ached the entire day, yet I felt elated because I felt a sense of accomplishment, and more than anything else, I felt that I finally had a plan. Yes, I could definitely do this for 5 minutes every day and no matter how crazy my schedule became, I could always find this little bit of time to do something for myself! For the next 2 weeks, I continued to do yoga or run for exactly 5 minutes a day and in time, I slowly increased the time to 10, 15, 20 minutes, and eventually half an hour.

Looking back, I now realize that the hardest part for me was starting, but once I did, and exercising became part of my routine, finding the time became easier and easier.

Today, my schedule is pretty unpredictable. Sometimes, I definitely have the time to do a full 40 minute to an hour workout, but sometimes I don’t! On these particularly crazy days, I do what I can, even if it’s just 5 minutes a day! I’ve also learned how to take my fitness routine on the road with me, since we tend to travel quite a bit. Rather than counting on hotel gyms, I always bring my running gear with me ( tights, sports bra, jacket and my sneakers ). The don’t take much room in my suitcase, and I can run pretty much anywhere, though I will admit, that running early in the morning in Paris when streets are quiet and empty is always a highlight for me!

VICTORIA SPORT Knockout tights & sports bra { similar here } | NIKE Free 5.0 TR mesh & neoprene sneakers { also love this option & this one } | SEAFOLLY sunglasses { similar here }

The post Current Fitness Routine appeared first on VivaLuxury.

After months and months of planning and designing, I am so pleased to finally be able to share the new VivaLuxury site with you! Those of you who had a blogger site like me, will probably understand what a process it is to migrate from blogger to WordPress, especially considering that I’ve had my blogger site for 6 years! Why did I stay on blogger for so long? Well, the simple truth is that I wanted to migrate for a very long time, but felt quite uneasy about potentially losing content, your wonderful comments, and my connection with you guys. But I am happy to say, the transition was smooth and easy ( we even managed to find a way to keep our Google Friend Connect audience, so if you have questions, email me about that anytime )!

As far as the new site is concerned, we wanted to create a clean and simple layout, which would highlight the content rather than district from it. Another goal was easy navigation, the most recent content will be prominently displayed at the top of the page, yet you can easily search for older stories by using category tabs on the navigation bar ( Accessories, Beauty, Lifestyle & Looks ).

Another update from the old site, rather than using text links for items featured in posts, we’ve switched to large product images, which you will see at the bottom of every post. But of course, you could always view more of my current favorites on the  Shop Page, where we’ve organized products by categories, such as WHAT’S NEW, SHOP VIVALUXURY JEWELRY Collection & SHOP INSTAGRAM section. You will also see little numbers on the top right corner next to certain products, which means that this product is a particular favorite, and appeared in more than one look and if you click on the number, you’ll be able to view all the outfits it was featured in! Of course, given my weakness for versatility, there will be quite a few of those!

Though the journey to get here was not an easy one ( yes there was panic, and sleepless nights, and nail biting involved ), I couldn’t be happier that we decided to take this leap! One of my goals in life is to always look forward, and to embrace the change, and that’s exactly what the New VivaLuxury site represents! A new chapter and a new adventure! Hope you enjoy the new site and share my future adventures with me!

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I think I’ve always had a bit of a weak spot for a great parka! I mean, can you imagine a more perfect topper? Cozy, comfortable and in many ways, an epitome of effortlessly casual style, well… that is until this season, because one of the biggest trends this year, is paring this seemingly casual piece with dressier options like evening wear!

Personally, I couldn’t be more excited! Aside from the fact that I love a fresh take on a classic, pairing casual and dressy pieces is a great styling trick to keep your evening/holiday style exciting and effortless. My only suggestion, be mindful of your color palette, so that the parka feels like a natural part of your outfit and not like a jacket you simply threw on accidentally.

Take the beautiful shearling parka from Maximilian Furs I found at Bloomingdales the other day. I was at Bloomies shopping for a few holiday gifts but as usual, simply couldn’t resist the urge to pick up something for myself! I know, I have absolutely zero self-control! What attracted me to this particular one in the first place, was the color, the gorgeous fur trip, and of course the fact that it’s reversible! You know me, versatility is what I live for! I am also a really big fan of Maximilian Furs because as you already know, quality is something that is very important to me, and their pieces are always absolutely pristine. I also love that it’s very warm but light, I am not a huge fan of heavy jackets, and this one feels like you’re wearing nothing at all!

For today’s look, I paired it with an oversized cream sweater and metallic leather skirt. I love the way these colors pair together, not to mention the fact that gold ads that touch of sparkle for a perfect Holiday vibe. To complete this look, I added a few black accessories, because as a rule, whenever I pair lighter colors together, I almost always add something black to ground the look and give it a bit more weight.

Special thank you to Bloomingdales & Shopstyle for partnering with me on this post.

MAXIMILIAN FURS Saga reversible shearling parka | 3.1 PHILLIP LIM sweater | ANINE BING skirt | LOUIS VUITTON bag | VALENTINO boots

The post Perfect Parka appeared first on VivaLuxury.

Though I love pretty much everything about the Holiday season, from music and decorations, to parties and Holiday style, shopping for gifts is definitely my favorite thing to do! Over the years, I’ve developed a strategy when it comes to shopping for presents. First, I always start a bit early, this way, I know I have ample time to find just the perfect thing. Secondly, I think that a perfect present should be special and meaningful, which is why I always keep in mind what the person I’m shopping for loves. For example, my sister in law is a make up addict like me, so whenever she mentions some new beauty product she’d love to try, I always put it on my mental list of perfect stocking stuffers for her!

This year, like pretty much every year, I started shopping for presents early, thinking I’d need at least a month for find everything, but then I came across NM’s gift guide, which consists of 3 sections –  Love to Give, Fun to Give and Only at NM, and it was game over! I found just the perfect thing for everyone on my list, from gorgeous presents to cute stocking stuffers, and it took me exactly one day! Love that! I even picked up a little something for myself, but of course knowing me that was pretty much unavoidable!

Our best friends have an adorable French Bulldog named Bugs, and since we tend to spend Holidays together, Bugs always gets a present from us! This year, I found this cute Harry Barker ( can we talk about this brand name please) bucket of cotton rope bones to keep Bugs from chewing on mommy’s shoes! So, I think everyone will be happy with this present!

Cute beauty products are my favorite stocking stuffers for friends and family, and this year I found a few really great ones! The first, is a personal must-have and a product I use all the time – The Beauty Blender! My make up game definitely improved since I started using it, and the pretty Holiday packaging is definitely an added bonus! My second find is this cute liquid lip potions set from Estee Lauder. Bold lip colors are definitely in this season, and I absolutely adore the colors in this set, especially the “Lethal Red”, which is a particularly striking shade, perfect for the Holiday season!

Comfy and stylish, I think silk pjs make a wonderful gift, especially if they happen to come in a particularly adorable polka-dot print! Oh, and the red piped trim is definitely the cherry on top!

Who doesn’t love a cute hat? Reason why I chose this particular one, is because of fair isle motive, the gorgeous color combo and of course that adorable pom pom! Don’t know about you guys, but I am practically obsessed with pom pom right now!

I started brushing my hair every night using a boar bristle brush around 3 months ago, and I can’t tell you what an enormous difference it made. My hair is much shinier and healthier-looking now, not to mention the fact that I noticed that my hair tends to grow longer, stronger and faster. Naturally, I think that boar bristle brushes are an absolutely must-have and a wonderful gift to give! Love this one because of the cute & stylish design, which makes it not only a practical present but a very stylish one as well!

It often happens that when I start shopping for gifts, I find something for myself. Case in point the gorgeous fair isle number I am sporting in today’s post! You know how much I love color, and as far as color combos go, this  classic combination of red, black and white is as good as it gets. Basically, I knew this Saint Laurent sweater and I were meant to be together the moment I saw it! And yes, I totally found it in NM’s men’s section, but I got a size S and it worked quite well, I think!

The post Love To Give appeared first on VivaLuxury.

As I was speaking at an Elle event recently, one of the topics that came up for discussion was the idea of modern holiday attire. If you think about it, in the past, there were quite a few rules in terms of what we wear, with what, and when, especially in regards to evening and holiday looks. We’ve religiously adhered to certain colors like black and red for example, and evening was synonymous with cocktail dresses or evening gowns. Today, however, it’s much more anything goes, which I find quite exciting and liberating because we finally have the freedom to take chances, try new combinations, and express our personal style through fashion! With that in mind, this year I am determined to have as much fun with my holiday style as I can, and wear things I wouldn’t normally think of as appropriate party attire, like the metallic trench coat I am sporting in today’s post.

Wearing trench coats as dresses became a bit of a staple for me this year. Aside from the fact that trench coats are incredibly flattering because they enhance an hour-glass shape, there is also something really sexy and edgy about them. Finally, and I hate to sound like a broken record, but trench coats, unlike cocktail dresses, can be worn again and again, and I don’t know about you guys, but if I can get away with not buying yet another dress that I am only going to wear once or twice, I am a happy camper indeed! For today’s look, I chose to combine my trench with simple black pumps, bold red lips and a few layered jewels from PANDORA Jewelry’s new Holiday Collection.

As you probably already know, layering jewelry is a bit of a weakness for me, and of course my holiday style is not an exception. Since I am still very much into wearing mismatched earrings, I opted to go with sterling silver, stone-embellished half-hoop earrings and sparkly studs, I also added a few statement cuffs & bracelets, and layered rings in various shapes and textures. As a general rule, when I go for such a bold look with my jewelry, I prefer to keep my outfit fairly simple. For this particular look, bold jewelry was the perfect finishing touch to enhance the clean lines of the trench coat and to give this outfit that perfect holiday flare. What about you guys, what’s your holiday style like this year?

Special thank you to PANDORA Jewelry for partnering with me on this post.

P.S. Since it is the Holiday season, and we are all looking for that perfect present, I think PANDORA jewelry is a wonderfully stylish gift for any style maven, so click here to check out their Holiday Gift Guide & Seasonal Favorites!

The post Argentum appeared first on VivaLuxury.

I’ve been looking for just the perfect gown to wear to a friend’s Holiday party for months before I came across this gorgeous number from Alexis. So much perfection concentrated in one little dress: the lace, the color, the fit and length… I just love it all! In fact, I am so obsessed with it at the moment, I keep finding new ways to wear it. So far, I’ve worn it with a cropped leather jacket and a below the knee silk trench coat, but I am committed to inventing more outfits just so that I can wear it again and again! Today, I paired it with my favorite tie-strap nude heels & a gorgeous mother of pearl clutch from Edie Parker. Pearls & lace… best best!

The post Nude Lace appeared first on VivaLuxury.

I could not be happier the temperatures in LA have dropped and coat season is finally upon us. I had quite a few coats lined up that I could not wait to wear, and the one from today’s post is definitely a favorite of mine. Besides the fact that I love navy pea coats in general, what I love the most about this one is that it is still an every-day coat but with interesting details like the knit-sleeves and large pockets. It’s so comfortable and cozy, it makes for a perfect coat to wear on daily basis.

I paired the coat with simple black jeans and a white blouse, but decided to have some fun with my shoes. As of late, I have been wearing flats a lot more than usual ( running around doing your holiday shopping will do that to you! ) and I love these ones because of the pearls. Again, I love simple accessories but with special detailing so these were definitely winners for me. To complete the look and bring a pop of color, I went for a bright red structured bag. I love the combination of red and navy so I really think it tied the look together really well. It also happened to match my nails! It’s the little things in life …

The post In The Navy appeared first on VivaLuxury.

I love my busy schedule! No, I really do! Not sure why, but I’ve always been this way. Unless I have a million things to do, I don’t feel like I’m productive enough! Yet, as much as I love this chaotic schedule, I also believe in the importance of a taking a day to unwind and to recharge! And so, every once in a while, I dedicate an entire day to doing things I absolutely love! I call it my no phone, no work day, though I will freely admit that the no phone policy took a bit of getting used to, but once I did, it actually felt quite liberating not having to check my email every 5 seconds!

Normally, on days like that I get up pretty early, do a bit of yoga, and then, spend the rest of the day doing all my favorite girly things! I pick up some fresh florals from my favorite flower shop, I light some candles and lounge around all day long in my coziest sweater, indulging in a bit of personal pampering like trying out some new skin care. Currently, I am a bit obsessed with clay masks, and rose clay happens to be a particular favorite. Usually, I get powdered rose clay from a local health food store and mix it myself by adding thermal water and a few drops of essential oils to soften the skin.

Reading in bed is another guilty pleasure of mine. Both my husband and I share a great interest in photography, so whenever we have the time, we pick up a few books on photography to look at while we lounge in bed, enjoying a cup of coffee!

Finally, if you’ve been reading my blog for a while now, you know that I love a sweet treat, and chocolate happens to be a particular favorite of mine! One of my favorite treats is a cup of coffee with a serving of chocolate:) The one I am currently loving  is by GREEN & BLACK’S. I discovered this brand a while ago, when I was redecorating a bar cart in our dining room, and GREEN & BLACK’S beautiful packaging made a welcome addition to the new bar cart decor. I’ve tried a few of the flavors and though usually I prefer milk chocolate, I’ve come to love the delicious intensity of the Pure Dark Chocolate! Now, it’s pretty much my favorite way to unwind! A cup of coffee, a piece of Pure Dark Chocolate Bar with Sea Salt and I am as happy as I can be! I will definitely be gifting these delicious chocolates to my friends and family this year. Get my new favorite holiday gift at GREEN & BLACK’s.

What about you guys, what is your favorite way to unwind?

This post was sponsored by GREEN & BLACK’S. All opinions are my own. 

The post Unwind appeared first on VivaLuxury.