Casual Friday + Life Snapshots


Here's what I wore for an impromptu lunch/shopping afternoon in downtown Fullerton with my best friend Whitney the other day. Whit and I have barely gotten to see each other lately since she's been beyond busy interning for Paramount and working at Disneyland (basically the two jobs that everyone in the country imagines people in California do), so I was excited when she actually had some free time on Wednesday. I had a bunch of clothes to to take to Buffalo Exchange (although they barely took anything, so please buy my clothes!), and she was on the hunt for a vintage dress, so we headed to one of our favorite areas in Orange County. It was some much needed time with her, and it was another thing to add to the list of reasons why I'm happy to be back in California for the time being. I honestly didn't realize I would miss it so much when I moved, but I'm taking full advantage of it now. 

This top is actually a dress that I got when I worked that designer's boutique opening party last week for my internship. Part of my job was putting together gift bags for some really high end fashion bloggers, and when I left, both my boss and the designer told me to take an item too. I grabbed this dress, which is gorgeous and has a lovely orange skirt to it. I'm not crazy about how the bottom looks on me, partially because it's not an A-line and partially because I struggle with the whole oversize look, but I do this it's beautiful and wanted to make it work somehow. Turns out, the top of it works perfectly for a casual, California-y look. I only ended up getting a couple of pictures, so I figured I'd include some other photos and Instagrams of what I've been doing lately. There are pictures from Balboa, the adorable cafe Whitney and I had lunch at, the coolest new food place the opened up by me, a day spent taking outfit pictures with my friend Alena, and more. 



For anyone who lives in Orange County, I highly recommend checking out the Packing House, which just opened in Anaheim. It's basically a giant food court filled with local businesses, fresh food, live music, and more. I'm a little obsessed with it at the moment, and I want to keep going back until I've tried everything in it.

Dress (worn as top): 71 Stanton
Skirt: Thrifted
Shoes: UO
Bag: Old Navy

20 comments

  1. I love the outfit together, even if the dress didnt work on its own it works so well with this skirt, which the pattern is to die for. I also love your pictures from Balboa island sooooo picturesque!

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  2. Those photographs turned out so great, so many lovely things! I have never been to Balboa island, but it looks marvelous, such a wonderful place!
    Wish you a great day ahead!

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  3. Eee! That skirt is perfect! How nice of your boss letting you grab that dress - it certainly does look lovely as top!

    xoxo,
    Laura
    http://lauraisthriftingthroughlife.blogspot.com/

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  4. The scenery is amazing. I really need to go back to California. I can't wait to see you style that top as a dress. The texture on that top/dress is very neat.

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  5. I love the flowy look of that "top" and all the photos are fantastic :D

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  6. Ooo that beach photo makes me want to go there and I'm not even a beach-y type of person. Also I love how you wore that dress as a top. I mean to try that all the time but then I worry I'll be too hot in the Georgia humidity which makes no sense because I suffer through layers in humidity all the time.

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  7. Looksl like youre summer is shaping up to be a fabulous one Elana!
    And oooh, love that dress, I can tell from the top half that it's a pretty one. Way to work it for a more casual look with the floral skirt though. Nice!

    The Dragonfruit Diaries

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  8. What an adorable selection of photos!

    Have a great weekend,
    -Kati

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  9. Oh my, I love these photos!!!! Just like from a movie!!! I'm so jelly!
    And the top-dress is awesome, so feminine!

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  10. My oh my! It looks so incredibly warm there! Looks like my kind of place, haha. Beautiful pictures, dear! And I love how you styled that dress with the blue skirt, creative!

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  11. So cute! I'm a little obsessed with how that dress looks tucked into that skirt (:

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  12. I love love love the skirt!

    Wow, you work at Disneyland? I went to Disneyworld Florida last month and it was AMAZING! I'd love to go to the Californian one too but I think it would be much more expensive to get there as I'm sure I'd have to get two flights. Wehhhh! What do you do there?

    Corinne x

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  13. I love this easy breezy, summer look! These are such fun photos, girrrrrrrl- you are so lucky to live in Cali! You're right, those are the 2 California jobs everyone imagines :)

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  14. Gorgeous outfit! Especially that skirt :) So jealous of all your photos - the UK looks so dreary compared to California! xx

    everythingbutthekitchen.blogspot.co.uk

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  15. These photos are beautiful. They have the vibe of being editorial and full of summertime wanderlust. Which is to say, I want to be there. With you. Like now. Creepy? Just a little, but hey, i'm being totally honest. Also blue + white isn't my favorite combination, but you are totally killin' it.

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  16. Oh wow, photos of Cali NEVER fail to make me super jealous of anyone that lives there. It's just so picturesque and interesting.

    It's always so nice to make time to see friends you don't get to see very often. I totally think it's hilarious because it's true, that people just assume everyone in the state works at Disney. Seriously!

    xo Jackie
    Something About That

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  17. Great choice of choosing that dress- it looks absolutely cute and perfect on you! :) ah, that internship job sure sounds fun! :D By the way, Balboa Island looks amazing- I can't wait to get away from all my troubles and have a vacation in a place similar to there! It looks so peaceful yet exciting. :) Have a great week!X

    Chic Nikkie

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  18. i can almost feel the ocean breeze in these photos! it looks like such a fun little get away :)
    xo jac
    thesunshinedistrict.blogspot.com

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  19. Such a cute, relaxed look! & I love these photographs and the way you edited them. Seems like a blast <3

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  20. I love this simple, pretty outfit. and these pictures! gahhh CA <3 missing my home state. that cafe looks adorable!

    ♥ perfectly Priya

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