I Just Got Back From L.A.—These Were My Most Complimented Outfits

Though I'm totally obsessed with living in New York, before I moved here to the Big Apple, I used to live in Los Angeles. I went to fashion school at the Fashion Institute of Design Merchandising right in Downtown Los Angeles. Every now and then, I get the itch to sit on the beach and have Mexican food that's actually good, and that's when I know it's time to book a trip. This summer, my sister and I swapped the humidity of summer in the city for Erewhon and dry heat and packed our bags for L.A. Once the flights were booked, the next step was obviously to plan all of my looks for the trip. With so many of my favorite L.A. spots on my list and so many old friends to rekindle with, I wanted all of my outfits to be perfect for each and every occasion.

After lots of research on Instagram, digging for outfit inspiration, and scrolling for hours on my favorite retailers' websites, I think I did a pretty good job. I spent half of the trip in Hollywood at the chic hotel next to the Thompson, the very California Tommie Hollywood, which was perfect for all of the nearby restaurants we wanted to hit before heading back to New York. The other half of the time, we were staying in my old stomping grounds at the AC Hotel by Marriott Downtown Los Angeles, which was perfect for catching up with my old friends from college who still live near our old FIDM campus. Overall, I had five outfits that stood out among the rest and gained me the most compliments by far.

Keep scrolling to see which looks I wore in L.A. made the top five.

I wore this rose-printed maxi dress to a brunch in Beverly Hills at The Ivy. It was super lightweight and satiny, making it the perfect choice for sitting outside at a restaurant. I paired the dress with one of my favorite pair of aviator sunglasses and an orange clutch. 

I'm a huge fan of Rezek Studio, so when I had plans to have dinner with my old roommate and sister at Laurel Hardware, I knew this was the perfect opportunity to bust out my new set. This was my most complimented look on the trip, and I can't get over this mustard yellow. I paired the look with gold accessories for a monochromatic vibe. 

Anytime I travel, I always pack a little black dress with me, and this trip, it happened to be this corseted minidress from House of CB. I chose this look for a night out at one of L.A.'s newest restaurants, Drake's Hollywood. The vibe feels so cool and chic inside. It's the perfect place to dine before going out in the city. I knew I needed a look to match the vibe of the restaurant, and this dress paired with this cross necklace hit the nail on the head. 

If I'm in California, it's always high on my list to plan a day trip out to Malibu to go to a winery. This winery day, I wore my favorite pair of Reformation jeans with a House of CB corset and, of course, a Brixton cowboy hat. 

This dress was the look I was most excited to wear. My Coperni obsession has been ongoing, so I saved this dress for a special night out. This light pink is even prettier in person. I paired this dress with a bright-orange clutch to make the look feel extra summery. 

Other items that came with me: