It feels like I’ve been living on an airplane, so to look back at this day is giving me a breath of fresh air. Two more hours until the gorgeous beaches of the Cayman Islands. I am so ready for landing it’s not even funny. More to come from this work trip, but for now, let’s take a flash back to this perfect little silk number at sundown from back in Palm Springs.

Summer to me is all about wearing barely-there pieces. It doesn’t matter if I’m on the California coast or on a rooftop in Manhattan. This gorgeous set by The ZIRAN is so luxurious. It’s so soft to the touch that it almost makes me feel like I’m naked….showing just the right amount of skin while still being extra classy. It’s when I’m traveling to these warmer climates that all I want to pack is silk, twin sets, and easy breezy sandals. Perfect for your carry-on. Oh, and you can’t forget the red lipstick for nights at the bar. This working girl is ready for get a bit of a tan and a little down time.

ZIRAN silk top and petal pants

Andrea Gomez sandals

Marc Jacobs bag

Elizabeth & James earrings

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There’s something about Marni that I’ve always loved. It’s the prints. It’s the unexpected silhouettes…like this boxy little jacket from the Marni x Yoox collaboration. It’s something you’d find in your grandmother’s closet in Beverly Hills, but with a cool youthful spin. Somehow these tailored little jackets add a touch of glam to every casual look. I took these quirky pieces out to the grassy fields of the valley of Los Angeles. I’m always dressing these dry fields with splashes of color from my wardrobe. I’m always painting the town. These are the hills I’d ride my bike through as a kid. Where I’d lay out and get a tan. Where I’d ride off in my car after going through the local drive-through. It’s the place where you always dream of escaping…to go somewhere bigger and better. If it weren’t for these boring valley streets did I feel such drive, such motivation, and such courage to get myself out there. To create. To live. To love. I take my slight valley gal accent to every city I end up traveling to with pride. Once a Cali girl, always a Cali girl.

// Marni x Yoox jacket, Vintage skirt, DKNY tights, Dr. Marten boots //

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Winters are the west coast are a completely different type of escape. Still a bit chilly, but a lot more relaxed and low-key. Whenever I’m traveling back home to the west coast, I put my best “cardigan weather” outfits together. It’s a term my mother used my whole life to describe our home of Santa Monica. She never went a day without throwing her cardigan in the backseat of the car. To me, “cardigan weather” describes when the sea so bright you have to squint, but the air so crisp you still need your woven knit to take the dog on a walk on the sand. Anything to toss over and wrap around your shoulders once night falls. Winters on the coast in California are all about classic knits and solid colors. I fell in love with the latest selection at Chicwish. They’ve brought back the vintage-inspired mustard turtleneck and hunter green wrapped skirts. Not to mention, beautiful flowing flared sleeved sweaters. It’s a fun, updated version on all a nubby classic. California winters are all about taking long walks under the tall trees while hearing the waves crashing in the distance. There really is nothing like it. It’s so peaceful. I like to soak in all of nature’s beauty. Carmel has some of the whitest sand on the California coast, making it even more magical and bright. When I’m home, I suddenly become my most effortless self. Less makeup. Natural beach waves. Just my staple pieces that I packed into my carry-on. That’s what I love about this monochrome ensemble…I can wear each piece a million ways and take a million more walks to the seaside in style.

// Chicwish turtleneck top, Chicwish suede flap skirt, Chicwish ribbed sweater //

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From Los Angeles, we took the 5 hour drive up Highway 1 to the beautiful Carmel, California. I was beyond excited. The northern coast of California is purely magical. There really is no place like it. This was a very different New Year’s vacation. It was definitely a lot more calming than the crazy New Years Eve house parties happening down in LA. So we did things a little differently this year. We checked in at The Hotel Carmel, just on the corner of 4th street and San Carlos. This boutique hotel is the perfect place to de-stress and de-compress. Being a short walk from the beach and town, it’s a place where you simply wake up, grab a coffee, go on your balcony to stretch, and take some relaxing deep breathes. For me, it’s actually sooo nice not to have a packed itinerary. Back home in NYC, it seems everything is just non-stop. I love any place where you’re just close enough to civilization, culture, food, and the beach but still feels so secluded. We spend the days driving down Highway 1, soaking in all of it’s natural wonders. The fog rolling over the cliffs. The waves crashing against giant, beautiful rocks. Driving from Carmel to Big Sur is like driving through a painting. You kind of have to pinch yourself to be convinced that it’s all real. As the rain started to patter on our windows, we got back to the hotel just at wine hour. So intimate and homey, that you kind of feel like you’re a guest in someone’s living room. We became friends with a ton of international guests. It was really fun listening to their stories of why they often come back to Carmel…of all the places in the world! Most people had little love stories with this city that made it a must-have pitstop amongst their USA travels. We met people from Spain, Australia, and even London, who find Carmel to be a little bit like their home away from home. It’s a place where all you have on your agenda is a fantastic Italian dinner in town, followed with a jump in the hot tub by the fire pit. A really good getaway always starts with a great hotel.

// Gucci handbag, Vintage coat, Milly pant, Chicwish top + All Saints leather jacket, Tommy Hilfiger x The Rolling Stones Collection tee, Dr. Marten shoes //

See more at The Hotel Carmel.

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Home. Los Angeles, California. July 22, 2016.

Will I be in town,

when hell swallows Beverly Hills,

Will you be around,

when I come to my senses and I confess that I love you still. – Swimm “Beverly Hells”

Just a girl, her hoop earrings, and a swipe of fresh mocha lipstick. It’s that 110 degree flush.

// Bite Beauty “Molasses” lipstick, Sabrina SL hoop earrings, Aikido swimsuit, AGL Shoes sandals //

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“Having a soft heart in a cruel world is courage, not weakness.”

I’ll tell you a little secret. I started reading my horoscope daily because I got a bit into tuning in with what the stars are trying to tell me. More so now than ever has life’s just pure crazy. Non-stop. Nuts! My calendar never stops growing, but I really love tackling project after project. My mind thrives off of creativity. People always stop me and go “how are you still on? how are you still awake?” My energy levels have been at  an all time high. But it’s a New Moon…a time to kind of stop and think and reflect a bit. I think I read my horoscope not as guidance or telling the future or how I should go about my day. It’s pretty entertaining, but I find it as a fun way to sort of pause and rethink the decisions I make daily more carefully, and finding balance in all aspects of my life. It’s like Chinese feng shui. I grew up with feng shui thanks to my heritage, and yes, I still freak out if my bed isn’t in the right place, or if there’s a cluttered corner. New Moon for me brings a fresh start.

These images were shot by Dylana this past month back home in LA and it’s the exact spot we would shoot back in 2009. She always captures me in my most natural state and I’m lucky we get to work together every single day. Can you believe it’s been 7 whole years? 7 years since Dylana picked up our dad’s old Canon SLR in the backyard and starting shooting my outfits after a day of model castings and post them to the Interweb, only to find that thousands of people were watching. We’d sneak into the back of the local church just to catch magic hour through the basketball fences. We were just teenagers, finding fuel in documenting our coming-of-age. Growing up in our work, our visions, running our own businesses, and in our wardrobes. Making our own lookbooks, our own story boards, our own songs, our own voice. Yep, I still would wear those old combat boots and denim mini skirts to this day! My style hasn’t changed much and neither has the little kid inside of us. We were learning to finally love ourselves, our bodies, and embracing what made us unique. Embracing our heritage and where we came from. Embracing why we didn’t look, think, or act like all the kids down the block. Embracing our weirdness. If I wasn’t so bored of normalcy and inspired to do things differently, none of this would of happened. I’m pretty excited to share my journey this coming weekend at Westfield Garden State Plaza with WhoWhatWear (see the #BOSSNOTES invite on Saturday, May 14th 12-2pm here). I just advise to go with your gut, do what you love, plan, organize, work hard, and love yourself and love those around you. But boy did I not know that NATALIE OFF DUTY’s cult following would bring my modeling work to NYC, let alone that writing, photography, and digital branding would be a full-time career. Everyday brings something new. And you know you love doing something when you can’t see yourself NOT doing it. All of this…you and me is therapeutic.

By the way, is it too soon to think of getting another house in California? I’ve already started looking. Which brings me back to this beautiful grassy hill. An empty lot with views of the mountains. A brand new dress with nowhere to where it. Turkeys and peacocks roaming around the trees. My heart finally full.

// The Jet Set Diaries dress, Samantha Wills cuff and ring //

The post SOFT HEARTS CLUB first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.

Merry Christmas everyone!! This week was a ridiculous amount of fun as I just got back from a roadtrip out to VIVA LAS VEGAS for some slot machine fun and killer shopping (can you say Saint Laurent?!) But most of all, I’m so grateful to get to spend extra quality time in LA with the loved ones before beginning yet another whirlwind year back in NYC. The holidays are so dreamy. Especially when you’ve got the Santa Monica sunset, and bubblegum Vencie Beach skies overhead. I never want it to end.

Like I’ve said before, I packed NO CLOTHES, anticipating packages and work pieces being sent to the West Coast. My luggage always stuffed with gifts and clothing for my family and friends. Sometimes it’s more fun to just work with what you’ve got and see what you come up with! But I made sure to pack these beautiful leather pants to shimmy into just in time for the holidays. Straight off the runway from Tommy Hilfiger Collection, they fit like a dream. With it’s rich burgundy hue, and gold zippers down the ankle and pockets, I’ve got that LED ZEPPELIN “Whole Lotta Love” thing for it. Complete with the matching cowboy boot, and my favorite dip-dye vest. I’m always unleashing my inner rockstar. Maybe that’s what I need to do this year. Start my own band. Who’s with me?

// LuvAJ leather jacket, Artisan De Luxe wool vest, Tommy Hilfiger Collection leather pants, Tommy Hilfiger Collection cowboy boots, Raen sunglasses, Scosha gold ring, Jerome Bocchio backpack //

Shop more of my rock n’ roll favorites:

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