My favorite way to spend downtime is right at home. Don’t get me wrong, I love to go out to a nice dinner or to watch a movie, but at the end of the day, I am a complete and total home body, so for me, there’s nothing quite better than relaxing at home. It is especially the case as of late, since it’s been quite cold and windy in LA lately ( Well, cold by LA standards of course ).

Usually, I make myself a cup of coffee, grab a book, and just lounge around in a pair of my favorite worn-in jeans and a fuzzy sweater or a cute pair of shorts and an oversized sweater; an outfit I partnered with Express for, called “there is a slight chance I might go outside today.” Another favorite activity of mine while spending time at home is binge-watching a new show on Netflix (definitely a guilty pleasure!). If I find a show that I like, I am pretty much glued to a TV screen until I finish every single one of the episodes.

Although it’s probably no surprise to anyone at this point, but I also love to online shop while I’m relaxing at home. And it’s no coincidence that this time of the year I constantly find myself shopping for cozy loungewear, and there are so many cute options! Besides my favorite things to wear mentioned above, I recently found this adorable sweats and sweatshirt set at Express. It is made from the softest material, so as soon as I get home, I immediately change! A cozy and comfortable home attire sets my mood for the rest of that day so I get really excited with my new finds.

What are your favorite things to do and wear while spending time at home?

Thank you Express for partnering with me on this post!

The post Home for the Holidays appeared first on VivaLuxury.

Every holiday season I talk about formal holiday looks which most of the time include evening dresses, sparkly clutches, and high-heeled pumps. However, this season I realized that I have completely neglected casual holiday dressing; after all, not all holiday gatherings require evening attire. I love the holidays and like to keep up the holiday spirit even with everyday looks! So I thought I’d share one of the looks with you guys.

The easiest way to style a casual holiday look is to wear what you’d normally wear but add a little extra something to make the look more festive and holiday-spirited. It could be anything from a statement necklace to an embellished handbag.

The other day, as I was browsing the New Arrivals section on Intermix, I kept coming across pieces in a signature color for the Holidays – red, and I don’t really know what it is, but something about this particular color makes everything look perfectly Holiday appropriate and just a little bit more special! In this post, my extra something is this Rag & Bone striped pea coat. What attracted me to this coat the most, was the vibrant red color which just screams Holidays to me! So I like to introduce this beautiful red into my holiday looks whenever I get the chance. The coat itself is casual yet very structured, so it pulls the whole look together and definitely acts as a statement piece.  To keep the attention on the coat, underneath it I went for a white Alexis blouse with long sleeves, which happen to be very trendy this year. I especially love how the sleeves work with the coat and peek out just slightly to add a bit of special detailing to the look.

I paired the coat with leather pants to diversify the texture of the entire look. I absolutely love how wool coats look with leather pants, it brings a certain edge to the outfit without looking overdressed which worked perfectly here since I was going for a more casual look. Finally, I completed the look with a pair of studded boots to add a bit more detailing to the whole look. Again, small studs on the boots add just enough detail without being overbearing.

P.S. For more Holiday dressing ideas, CLICK HERE to check out Holiday Lookbook from Intermix.

Special thank you to Intermix and ShopStyle for partnering with me on this post.

The post Holiday Rad appeared first on VivaLuxury.

It seems that with progression of time, technology, and everyone having cellphones, we are forgetting an importance of a good time piece. Personally, I’ve always loved watches. Aside from the fact, that I much prefer to look at my watch to check the time, rather than digging through my purse trying to find a cell lost somewhere at the bottom, I think that a great watch is an ultimate statement accessory to complete any casual or dressed up look.

Take MICHELE Belmore watch I am wearing in today’s post for example. Modern, elegant and polished, I think what attracted me to this watch in the first place, was the slightly masculine feel which tends to add just the right touch of cool to any outfit. Yet I also think that the black dial and edgy metal strap make it a perfect statement piece to pair with my everyday staples like the military coat and boyfriend jeans I am wearing in today’s post.

Another favorite feature – the easily changeable straps. When I dress up, I often opt for a black alligator strap which adds just a touch of polish and sophistication to my go to evening looks ( typically a cocktail dress or a  structured topper, paired with sleek trousers and a sparkly clutch ). But I am also fond of infusing just a bit of color when I go with my beloved pastel-colored ensembles by switching to a blue or pink strap! Essentially, the possibilities of wearing this watch are absolutely endless, and I am pretty sure you guys know this very well by now, versatility is the name of my game!

The post Love to Wear appeared first on VivaLuxury.

You may remember these shoes and bag from a recent appearance on my blog, and now, I finally have had a chance to take them out on a proper walk. Luckily, since fall in Los Angeles is not particularly harsh, I did not have to wait too long.

As you may already know, I love how this particular shade of pink pairs with neutral fall tones such as gray and dusty blue I’m wearing today. Not to mention the fact that I’ve always been fond of combining textures, and tweed and velvet is definitely my favorite pairing at the moment. And the bag… I can’t get enough of it! Structured bags have been my weakness as of late so it’s no surprise this bag is currently one of my absolute favorites. I love the silver studs, and the guitar strap, which makes it a particularly striking piece and adds such a cool rock-n-roll vibe.

What about you guys, what are you obsessing with lately?

P.S. If you happen to love this bag & shoes as much as I do, you can get them at 20% off on  Coltortiboutique.com by entering “ANNABELLE20” at checkout! 

The post Velvet & Tweed appeared first on VivaLuxury.

I have always believed in the importance of a great fragrance. The scent you leave behind is sort of like your signature, something that is uniquely you, and I believe, it says a lot more about you and your personal style than clothing and accessories do!

Personally, I am very loyal to fragrances and find myself reaching for the same one over and over again. It is like my second skin, and does not change day to day like my make up does. It truly becomes my signature, and I recently discovered the Michael Kors Wonderlust perfume. The blend of luxurious blossoms and spiced notes gives me a sense of romance and confidence.  Something about this incredibly chic and sexy fragrance has truly captured my imagination and even inspired my personal style as of late!

Take today’s look for example. I wanted to create a look that would balance sensual and sophisticated elements with a little festive edge. I opted for a vintage beaded mini dress with longer sleeves which help add an elegant touch to this otherwise very sexy number. The beautiful colors of the Michael Kors Wonderlust perfume have also inspired me If you read this blog on regular basis, you know that color is most important to me and I tell/create a lot of my stories based on it! For today’s outfit, I went with a combination of glittering gold and beautiful coral tones via my make up to add just a touch of color to this look!

The post Wonderlust appeared first on VivaLuxury.

I have been back to wearing one of my all time favorite boot styles recently. Every fall/winter I seem to re-discover the beloved over-the-knee boot and fall in love with it all over again. This season I am particularly obsessing over the block heel version; they go with just about everything and add a little bit of height while still being super comfortable. What more can one ask for really?

I love pairing these boots with everything from jeans and a cozy oversized cardigan to a cute mini skirt like in today’s post. Whenever I’m wearing a mini, I like to go with something more conservative on the top and pairing a mini skirt with a simple turtle neck  is one of my favorite combinations! That way the focus of the outfit remains on the boots which is right where I want it to be. Plus I love the all black outfit from time to time, I think it brings a certain edge to the overall look.

With how popular these boots are, I had to do quite a bit of searching to find them as they were pretty much sold out everywhere in my size. Thankfully, I was able to snag a pair at Nordstrom which happens to be my favorite shoe shopping destination as I always seem to find what I’m looking for there, plus the FREE Shipping & FREE Returns option is super convenient. Having quite a few shoeaholics in the family (yes, it’s not just me, it’s a family thing!), Nordstrom was a life savior when it came down to shopping for gifts this year as well. Basically, a win, win kind of a situation, and you know how much I love that!

Thank you Nordstrom & Shopstyle for partnering with me on this post.

The post All Black appeared first on VivaLuxury.

Though my love for little black dresses runs very deep in general, this one, is definitely a current favorite! A big part of the reason why I am so obsessed with it at the moment is because it combines an uber-feminine silhouette with a rather structured shape. The pairing of a nipped-in waist and a rounded hip with a strong shoulder and gold tone crested buttons, to me, feels very edgy yet feminine and I’ve always had a spot for this particular combination.

Though I’ve worn this dress with a pair of stilettos and a clutch to evening functions, for day, I rather enjoy the way it looks paired with over-the-knee boots and a cross body. Speaking of over-the-knee boots, the ones I am wearing in today’s post are another current obsession. Though I love this shape in general, the fact that these are particularly high and very form-fitting make them an especially attractive option to pair with shorter hemlines, and since mini is definitely my favorite length, these boots see quite a bit of action! But since I love them so much, I don’t really mind!

The post Black Out appeared first on VivaLuxury.

And so my obsession with trench coats continues… The one I am wearing in today’s post is my latest find and definitely the one coat that’s been on constant rotation as of late. Absolutely perfect in every way, from color to fit, I think,what I love most about it, is the bold navy and white larger plaid print! Love how striking yet entirely wearable it is, and of course I also appreciate the way this print pairs with red accessories, since they are definitely having a moment in my closet right now.

My latest red accessory find is the angora Gucci beret I’m wearing in today’s post. Though I’ve always loved a cute beret, I am rather fond of this particular one because of how chic it is! A perfect little finishing touch to add to your everyday look, I think because it’s so bold and bright, is does a great job transforming simple, casual looks into chic, little ensembles by adding that perfect dramatic element every outfit needs. And of course you know me, when it comes to fashion, I do love a bit of drama!

The post Mad for Plaid appeared first on VivaLuxury.

Hello everyone! I hope you’ve been having a lovely holiday season and made some great memories with friends and family. Since 2017 is just around the corner, I wanted to wrap up this year on the blog with my some of my favorite moments from the 2016. It has been a wonderful year filled with a lot of adventures, and I am happy I got to share them with you. Thank you for following along!

With 2016 coming to an end, 2017 is a new chapter and a chance for all of us to write a beautiful story for ourselves. Here’s to 2017! May the year ahead be brighter than the one gone by, bring new happiness, new goals, new achievements and a lot of new inspirations to your life. Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!

See you in 2017!

The post Goodbye 2016 appeared first on VivaLuxury.

Starting the new year with one of my favorite dresses at the moment! Though as you may already know, I am rather fond of dresses in general, the one I’m wearing in today’s post is just on another level for me! Something about the combination of light-as-air chiffon, feminine silhouette and open-shoulder just comes together to create one twirl-worthy perfection of a dress! Oh, and of course twirl I did, since it is rather impossible not to when you’re wearing it!

Another reason I’m so keen on it at the moment is because it moves! Every step I take makes the dress come to life and when I walk, it sort of floats around in the most graceful of ways, and since I’ve always been partial to pieces with good movement, I am definitely very appreciative of this fact!

For today’s look, I chose to pair it with metallic Sophia Webster heels ( another favorite at the moment ) and a simple black clutch, but I also appreciate the way it looks with flats when I go for a slightly more casual feel. Basically, there is literally no wrong way of wearing this dress ( recently I paired it with a trench and a pair of ankle boots, and it looked just as relevant ) and of course I don’t need to tell you just how much I love that!

The post Cold Shoulder appeared first on VivaLuxury.

Do you know that saying, be careful what you wish for… Well, I’ve really done it this year! Normally, while the rest of the world switches to warmer gear this time of the year, California remains very much Summer-like and warrants nothing resembling coats, sweaters, or boots. And so usually, I make a big fuss about it, complaining endlessly about not being able to wear my fluffy sweaters and coats. Well, not this year! This year, when I asked for coat weather, I actually got it! And so, be careful what you wish for, because somehow, the reality never lives up to the picturesque hot cocoa-sipping, oversized-scarf wearing, sunny winter perfection you imagine! Am I glad I finally get to wear my coats? Sure! But the rainy, windy, cloudy, cold part, not so much! Not so much at all!

And so, the only remedy I found that seems to be taking the edge off at the moment is going back to wearing color! I mean, since everything looks dull and gray outside, you may as well brighten up your day with some pretty pastels, no? So, enter the Helmut Lang baby blue perfection I found recently! Perfectly slouchy and cozy, I love this coat because it feels like you’re wearing a cozy blanket, and while it’s not overly thick, it certainly keeps me warm! For today’s look, I decided to go with a bit of a monochromatic theme, matching my coat to yet another obsession du jour – Chloe Faye bag in the prettiest shade of blue imaginable! Though I’ve always been a fan of Chloe bags, this particular shape is really working for me at the moment. First, it pairs beautifully with just about everything, yet it’s perfectly spacious, so that I can continue caring around all the things I probably shouldn’t have in my bag all the time, yet I can’t seem to live without!

The post Baby Blues appeared first on VivaLuxury.

I guess my black moment is coming to a bit of an abrupt end! I can’t say that I’m completely done with it, but I am definitely feeling like wearing more color again. At the moment, it’s all thanks to this wonderful soft pink coat I found at Madewell the other day. I’ve been looking for a perfectly slouchy, boyfriend fitting, pink-colored topper for a while now, and this one caught my eye the moment I saw it!

Aside from the fact that I love this soft shade of pink because it works beautifully with a variety of colors ranging from deeper shades like burgundies and navies, to softer ones like grays, creams and blues, I love the length of this coat because it works so well for that casual sneakers and slacks look. Today, I paired it with 2 of my other favorites – Lanvin pink-colored sneakers and cropped slacks from Rag & Bone. But, I’ve also worn it with a dress and a pair of flat, slouchy boots and it worked just as well, and of course you know how much I love having options!

The post Pastel Palette appeared first on VivaLuxury.

Every new year, I can’t help but come up with resolutions and set new goals for myself. Usually, I like to write them down and look at them every once in a while to remind myself of what it is I set out to achieve. This year is no exception of course, and one of my biggest resolutions for 2017 is to remember to take more time to enjoy the simple things in life!  Sounds pretty simple, right? But in reality, because I like to keep a busy schedule, and do tend to get too absorbed in my work, I often forget to enjoy life’s little moments. And so this year, I fully intend to work on remembering to take time to smell the roses, so to speak!

As part of this resolution, this year I’d like to visit places that I love more often. So, to welcome 2017, I partnered with Express and decided to spend and start the new year at one of my favorite places of all – Carmel by the Sea. I love going there to clear my mind and reboot whenever I need to. Something about crisp morning air, beautiful nature, and peacefulness of that place puts me at ease. We stayed at one of our favorite hotels, the Cypress Inn, which is located right in Downtown Carmel. It’s close to all the little shops and restaurants, not to mention my favorite coffee shop, making it a perfect place to wander around for hours.

My favorite part about Carmel by the Sea is that the downtown is so close to the beautiful beach. Usually, I like to grab a nice hot cup of coffee, walk down to the ocean, find a quiet little spot, and enjoy my coffee with a gorgeous view. Those are the kind of life’s little moments that I set out to enjoy more this year.

Since it was a bit cold when we visited, I went with this bright red Express parka which kept me cozy and warm throughout my day. When I visit Carmel, I spend most of the day out exploring the beautiful surroundings so a warm jacket like this one is a must. To keep it comfortable and cozy, I went with a black and white Express striped sweater underneath, I just love how the stripes paired with the red. I completed the look with a pair of Express distressed slim fitting jeans.

What are some of the goals you have set for yourself this year?

Thank you Express for partnering with me on this post.

The post Celebrating New Year in Carmel appeared first on VivaLuxury.

As I’ve previously mentioned, my New Year’s resolution this year is to enjoy the little things in life and do more of what I love. So far, I’m keeping up with it so I thought I’d take this opportunity to talk a little bit about some of my favorite little things I enjoy doing so much.

Flower Shopping:

I absolutely love going to flower shops to pick up my favorite blooms. There are always different flowers in season so there is something new to see every time. Something about flower shopping is just so relaxing and soothing. I like to really take my time with it, look at everything, and take it all in. Putting together a beautiful bouquet for the house is definitely at the top of my favorite activities, not to mention that I just love having fresh flowers in my home— it creates such a lovely environment.

Coffee Runs:

Who doesn’t love a good coffee run? I don’t know about you guys, but I need some caffeine to fuel for the day! Instead of drinking my coffee or tea while I’m on the phone and answering emails all at the same time, one of my resolutions is to take my time and enjoy the moment. Looking back at 2016, it just flew by so fast! Living in a fast paced environment, I think it is important to take a mental break during the day, and coffee stop happens to be a perfect opportunity.

Going out to dinner with my husband:

Emil and I have dinners together all the time of course. However, this year I’m making a conscious effort to make some of those dinner dates more special—maybe dress up a little more than usual. Recently, I wore a gorgeous pleated midi skirt and a black bodysuit with a cool cutout (not going to lie, I’m pretty obsessed with it) on one of our dinner dates, and I have to say that the evening definitely felt more special.  To add a bit of drama to this otherwise very feminine look, I went with a pair of DVF sunglasses. A big fan of sunglasses in general, I love adding sunnies to evening looks for a touch of polish, edge and sophistication.

In the last year or so I have noticed my style evolving and becoming a little more care-free and casual, and comfort is something I look for more and more each day, especially when it comes to off-duty outfits. I also started to dress down a bit more on my days off, which is a big step away from high heels and tailored everything I would have worn a few years ago. However, I still love accessories, and I feel that sunglasses play a very important role in elevating even the most casual of looks. For example, above I’m wearing a simple bomber jacket  and a pair of distressed jeans, a rather casual pairing; yet, the right pair of shades, like the DVF sunglasses I’m wearing, adds a bit of polish to the look.

What are your go-to accessories?

The post Life’s Little Moments appeared first on VivaLuxury.

If you have been following my blog for some time now, you may already know how much Emil and I love short weekend getaways. Something about stepping away from your normal routine and changing things up with a short trip recharges and gives me new perspective as I’m always inspired by the places I visit.

Since we travel quite a bit, packing and unpacking is a constant in my life. I used to overpack like an insane person, but as of late I have learned to pack better, and for that I thank my new travel companion – Bobby Luggage Set I got at Macy’s recently. It gives me just enough room to pack everything I need. For example, I love packing all my clothing and shoes in the adorable purple carry-on and all my beauty and skincare products into the duffle bag. The handbag ends up being a perfect place for my laptop. And voila! I have everything I need in a pretty compact set. Over time I learned that it’s better to have a few smaller luggage pieces rather than one huge one as it helps you stay organized and makes it so much easier to pack and unpack. Not to mention the fact that carry-ons tend to be much lighter and easier to maneuver than huge suitcases.

For longer trips, like when we travel to Fashion Week for example, I certainly do tend to go for full-sized suitcases, like this Joy Mangano XL suitcase with spinball wheels, but for the most part, the Bobby Luggage Set is what we travel with. The carry-on and the duffel bag are super roomy, so I have no problem fitting all my necessities into it!

What about you guys, what are your packing tips and tricks?

Special thank you to Macy’s and ShopStyle for partnering with me on this post.

The post Travel Style appeared first on VivaLuxury.

As far as I’m concerned, accessories make or break an outfit… Ok, maybe not break, but they definitely add that special touch and make outfits just a tad more interesting!

Take today’s look for example, a classic blue and gray combo gets a touch of drama thanks to my latest obsession du jour, otherwise known as Louis Vuitton Lockme backpack. I was chasing away rainy day blues with some retail therapy in Beverly Hills the other day, when I spotted this beauty, and just couldn’t walk away! It’s everything I could hope for in a backpack and more! The color, the shape, the versatility of wear, I absolutely love it all!

For today’s look, I definitely could have gone with a neutral-hued bag. In fact, I often opt for my nude colored Chloe Raye when I wear this coat, but I rather like that unexpected pop of red precisely because it takes this look away from the neutral territory and makes it a bit more special:) What do you guys think?

The post Beverly Hills Backpacking appeared first on VivaLuxury.

2017 happens to be a very special year for Emil and me. This year we are celebrating our 10-year wedding anniversary! It’s very exciting and serves as yet another reminder that time just flies by so quickly.

In order to mark this special occasion, we decided to have a recommitment ceremony. We thought it would be great to bring all the family together to celebrate our very special occasion. To make things easier on everyone, including myself, I decided to create a registry. To be completely honest, our kitchen was missing quite a few things and, believe it or not, there were still things we needed in our home that we have not had a chance to get! 10 years seems like a very long time, but those years really just flew by. So, creating a registry to fill those gaps made total sense.

I looked around and decided to create my registry at Macy’s. They had pretty much everything I wanted and creating the registry was very easy. Registering at a department store like Macy’s is great because they have a huge selection of brands, from classic to modern, and a very generous return policy just in case a piece or two do not quite work out in the end.

In this post I thought I’d share some of the items I picked out. Although I’m not an avid baker, every once in a while I get inspired to bake something yummy as Emil has the sweetest tooth. As a result, I had to have this adorable KitchenAid in the prettiest mint color. Just looking at it makes me want to bake some cookies! To keep up with the mint theme I decided to add some mint green bowls and plates to the mix. The textured surface really got my attention on those.

I also could not pass up the cutest Kate Spade polka dot champagne glasses. I like that the polka dots are very subtle adding just enough detail and fun. The Kate Spade polka dot picture frames are going to be perfect for photos from our recommitment ceremony so I had to have those.

Since we already had stemmed wine glasses, I went for these stemless Mikasa glasses; they are more on the casual side with a lot less chance of being tipped over! I highly recommend getting those. To bring a little flare and fancy to our bar cart, I also put on my registry Waterford’s crystal decanter and a few brandy glasses.

I strongly urge anyone to create a registry. It may seem like a daunting task in the beginning, but as you get down to it, it becomes quite fun! And the best part is at the end of it all you end up with things you actually need and the aesthetic you were looking for.

Special thank you to Macy’s and ShopStyle for partnering with me on this post.

The post Wedding Registry Must Haves appeared first on VivaLuxury.

I have never met a studded leather jacket I didn’t like, yet I must admit that not all studded leather jackets are created equal and some are just a little bit more special than others. The one I’m sporting in today’s post happens to be one of those extra special ones! Because… well, because it’s all good, the leather, the studs, the fringe, and last but certainly not least the fit! A bit slouchy and oversized, it goes so very well with all my favorite not-so-basic basics, like bodysuits and cropped denim. Love that!

But also, and I’m sure you already know this if you’ve been following for a while, special details happen to be a particular weakness of mine, and studs is something I simply cannot resist. Aside from the fact that studs add a bit of that rock-inspired edge, they also help transform even the simplest of pieces into complete and total statement makers and that is always a good thing in my book, since statement pieces tend to elevate basics to a whole new level! And of course this jacket is no exception, I’ve worn it with jeans, denim cut-offs and simple slip dresses and it never fails to add that perfect touch of drama I tend to go for when I style a look! Naturally, I am completely obsessed!

The post Studded Stroll appeared first on VivaLuxury.

Hello Everyone! Hope your week is going well so far. I’ve been back in rainy Los Angeles for a few days now, and I am still dreaming of my recent warm and sunny trip to Tulum.

Tulum has been on my destination list for some time now, but with the busy schedule I keep, I’ve been putting it off. However, to keep up with my resolution to do more things that I love and enjoy, I decided it was now or never! And I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am that I went. White sandy beaches, bluest water I’ve ever seen, and amazing, relaxing atmosphere, basically everything I could ask for and more!  I fell in love with it the moment I saw it, and I know that Tulum will always be one of those truly special places that keep me wanting to come back again and again.

We stayed at the Nomade Hotel and could not be happier with it. I loved the super easy vibe of the hotel, the beautiful decor and amazing food! In fact, though normally we make a point of exploring different hotels when come back to a place more than once, we loved Nomade so much, we’re already in the process of planning our next trip! And to be perfectly honest with you, I seriously cannot wait!

The post Tulum Blues appeared first on VivaLuxury.

As much as I love the darker, edgier Winter palette, I can never stay away from pastels for too long! Now, I don’t really know what it is about this color palette I find so attractive, perhaps I associate these pretty colors with sunshine, warmth and Summer. And of course you know how I feel about Summer! Basically, gimme 80-degree weather year-round, and I am one happy girl!

Another reason why I love pastels so much, is because they are such happy, uplifting colors… Really, how can one not have a great day wearing a pretty pink bomber jacket? Personally, I cannot! And since coming back from sunny Tulum to cold and rainy LA hasn’t been easy, I really needed a bit of a pick me up, and this bomber jacket and Phillip Lim bag have been doing wonders raising my spirits lately!