(Free People “quilted rose” dress and “fold up” leather hat, Vanessa Mooney “longhorn” necklace, Stela 9 patchwork backpack, Maison Scotch  + Soda turqoise ring, “Natalie _ Dylana Suarez x Modern Vice” SUMMER JETT shoe)

I just got back to NYC, and though there’s loads of exciting things happening this week, I’ve still got California in the back of my mind. It was 2 weeks of work, LA style, and one spent like it were the old days with my mom and pops…two of the coolest people I know. Driving me to and from fittings, spending a whole day out if I were on location for a shooting. Anything, they were there. And I honestly cannot wait to see them again! And of course, there’s Dylana. My sister, partner-in-crime, and best friend. We’re always thinking the same thing, it’s almost scary! Anyways, here she snapped me just before our very last day at Coachella. Before sun-down, before the sand storms, and before we both came home and looked in the mirror, only to find a dark brown sand glued to our faces! I wanted to be extra comfortable for the last day during our desert adventure. I slipped into one super soft, oversize quilted dress, and our Modern Vice yellow SUMMER JETT. Getting dressed was easy peasy. Dylana and I both had our suitcases wide open, clothes everywhere…so it’s no surprise she ended up in my Lovers & Friends lace tank and scarf. Sharing is the best. Anyways, this year proves once again that there’s nothing better than the desert sun after a looong winter. Even the cactus, and almost too perfectly paved roads were picture-perfect. Though nights get cold, there’s always the sun in the morning to warm your bones.  

(Evil Twin bustier and “chaos and order” denim shorts, Minkpink “bohemian like you” kimono, Free People “maddie” sunglasses, Vanessa Mooney “the shadow” wrap bracelet, Ax + Apple ring)

My family’s LA backyard is forever sun soaked. The white of our chairs has gotten whiter since last year when I was in town, yet the brick’s just as red as it’s always been. We’ve got a simple pool. Square, and almost always has a few scattered leaves thanks to our surrounding trees. All of it make me immediately go back in time. To when Dylana and I were kids, filling up the pool with a water hose from the upper level…to when I had my Sweet 16 and there were crazy hormonal teenagers everywhere, turning the lights of our rec room on and off before running out into the pool with their clothes on. Now, our house is our quiet little getaway. A place to relax and all get back together during the holidays, and a place to escape New York winters. I love our house and always miss it when I’m gone. And because all of my guitars are out in NYC, I’ve been using this harmonica…a little gift from Free People down in Palm Springs. I find myself always keep it in my bag, in case I ever need some music.

For now, I’m just finally catching up on sleep. Tomorrow’s shoot calls for being up at 5 a.m, so it is definitely bedtime for me!

Follow the rest of my California adventures on Instagram!

(Free People skirt, Gypsy Junkies tank, Urban Outfitters DimePieceLA hat, Jenny Bird pink beaded necklace and blue bracelet, Stela 9 backpack, Rebecca Minkoff camera bag, Stance Socks, “Natalie + Dylana Suarez x Modern Vice” SUMMER JETT shoe)

Coachella days are intense…they’re super long, and from morning till night, I’m up and running…whether it be on that cup of coffee in the morning, or that orange Powerade you get at the festival. And honestly, by the time the shows are over, my eye makeup’s a bit smudged, there’s a few knots in my hair, and I’ve got one or two bruises after bumping into people through the crowds. Thankfully, I am now fully recovered and well rested, and ready to get back to work! But here are some of my last shots from the crazy festival…from dusk till dawn! It got hotter as the days went on, and so I went with one teeny little get-up…a tie-dyed fringe blouse, studded skirt, and of course, our yellow SUMMER JETT shoe, now worn in to perfection. My friends and I at the Free People house spent a lazy morning in the backyard, first beginning with a crazy yoga session by the pool, before getting spoiled with the hair gals at Dry Bar. Pretty soon Dylana had repunzel-like locks, I had a colorful braid, and Bridgette had branches sticking out of her beautiful red hair! We looked like we stepped out of a jungle book to say the least. I miss every minute of it. I miss my East Coast girls. I miss those sunsets over the palm trees. I miss all of the dancing. Anyways, I’m making every last day here in LA last. The slow pace is just what I need before getting back in the NYC groove.

(FEATURING: Hudson “photo bloom” Jeans, Free People dress, and flare pants, Stela 9 backpack, “Natalie + Dylana Suarez x Modern Vice” yellow SUMMER JETT, Stance Socks, MinkPink one-piece and crochet top, We are Handsome purple suit, RVCA pants, Lolli Swim bikini, and Urban Outfitters Dimepiece LA hat)

The desert really is such an inspiring place to shoot! Here are just a few of my snapshots from my cell…some of which, I think capture the whole vibe of Coachella more than what I caught on my big black cam! All instantanious, all with my phone conveniently tucked in my back pocket. It all started at our Free People house, which was just too picture perfect. The floral tee-pees by the pool, the flower lily’s floating about, our gorgeous printed bedspread. Our house was a big, and magical place. A place where you could find girls out back doing yoga in the morning, or piecing together flower crowns by night. I though, felt most at home by the pool…a baseball cap the only thing to shade my face. I could stare up at those palm trees all day. My bedroom quickly became covered in clothes. My Hudson jeans lying inside out on the ground, damp bikini’s hanging in the shower, and my yellow shoes somewhere in the corner. I had the best time getting dressed this time around for Coachella. With a nearly overweight suitcase, I was bound to put together some looks that I loved! Crocheted tanks, beaded minis, and oversize flowing dresses. Coachella, I miss your free spirit! I’m currently in LA, surviving on what’s left in my Coachella suitcase for one more week of work. My agency’s got me more busy than I can handle. Then, it’s back to NYC I gooooo for a full jampacked month of May! I’m soaking in the sun while I can!