I have survived my 5th Coachella! What a weekend! No crazy festival is never complete without my Reef squad from Southern California. They always say “How long are you staying in NYC? You know you’re still a California girl at heart!” It’s true. My heart still beats for the west coast. That tan you get on your left arm from sitting in the car. The gnarly beach waves the moment you step out of the salt water. But most of all, it is the ability to wear sandals every day of the year that always brings me back home. By now, you know all about my love for the Reef Rover. The Rover sandal. The new Rover fringed sneaker. There’s just something about the Rover that never gets old to me. It’s that I can go dancing, I can walk miles, hike, and walk through water in them because they are so comfortable. It’s that Swellular Technology, man. Your feet will thank you! They mold to you the moment you put them on. I leave them by my doorstep because they’re the first thing I gravitate to when running out the door.

Plus, I love dressing them up. They’re simple so I can go wild with the rest of my ensemble. Leave it to me to take my favorite surf sandal and pair them with a flashy gold spaghetti strap dress. Its the New York City in me too…I like to add a dash of glam. Or I’ll pair them with leather shorts by the pool. Climb rocks in them in my bikini. I wasn’t given the nickname “punk” in grade school for no reason. I’ve always been one who took the adventurous route and have fun along the way. There’s never a reason not to laugh and live in the moment. For this festival, we had a really awesome group. Professional rock climbers were in our house from The North Face and of course our Reef pro surfers: the awesome Mike Lay from Cornwall, England and Victoria Vergara from Biarritz, France. You may say we were a pretty random bunch, but that’s what made our Coachella weekend extra memorable. We all come together because we have many things in common. We all seek adventure, travel for a living, and like to bring that little extra excitement to whatever we put our minds to. I think that’s what I love about my Reef family. Living life a little bit on the edge and not being afraid to get down and dirty. Sometimes you don’t need the pretty festival dress. Just your bikini, my Rovers, and a good bottle of sunscreen.

Favorite gigs at Coachella?

Sia: For sounding amazing (even though incognito as always with her bangs) and for putting on a memorable, heart stopping performance featuring my favorite actors and dancers.

Guns n’ Roses: Even sitting in a chair due to an accident, the man can sing.

Ice Cube: Because the movie Straight Outta Compton was by far one of my favorite movies this past year!

// Reef Rover Hi sandal //

// Reef Rover low sneakers //

// Reef Day Catch sandals //

shop all shoes at Reef.com

also featuring: Haute Hippie gold and black sheer dress, Ax + Apple necklace, Halston metallic bag, Lack of Colour hat, LoveShackFancy top, Intermix leather shorts, Roe + May floral dress, and Solid & Striped bikini top + bottom + one-piece 

// photographed by Dylana Suarez //

The post CANNONBALL INTO COACHELLA | REEF first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.

Our Reef crew just survived a wild week at SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas! Howdy cowboys! They didn’t lie when they say everything is bigger and better in Texas. It’s true. The beers. The burgers. The music. Everything is over the top eat-till-you-drop bbq and dance-till-you-can’t-feel-your-feet loud. I live for that chaotic energy. The streets in Austin become crowded with street performers and food trucks. Just trying to find a seat on the benches may take a minute. The city loves its food and live music.

But for every Reef adventure, we always go by the spirit of #justpassingthrough. It was awesome getting to meet pro-surfer Evan Geiselman for this shoot. He’s always got a smile on his face. Even though we’re both so different (he’s always on the plane to the next most beautiful exotic beach), we’re also a bit similar. We’re both always looking for adventure. Always finding the next best thing (I discovered a ton of new bands I now love). Always finding the next trail to hike. Always on our feet. Always moving. Always traveling. Even if for me, it means fashion weeks and photoshoots, I still always go back to that California native lifestyle I’ve only known…those moments out playing in the sun. That’s when the Reef Rover sneakers come into play. I’m obsessed with this season’s updated sneaker. They are so light that you can fit a few pairs in your suitcase. And they are so comfortable you can run in them, dance in them, and even jump in the creek before putting them on again right after. Made for the beach, the desert, and that long walk on the side of the mountain.

For SXSW, you could find me pairing my Rovers with a full-on denim jumpsuit and bandana. Or the REEF “day catch” sandals with a fringed leather skirt and tube top. Dressing for the summer is my favorite. Now all I need is that tan and perfect playlist.

What I’m listening to now:

-“Baby I can Hell” by Deap Vally

-“Hundred Miles” by YALL

-“Gold Gun Girls” by Metric

-“Bloodstream” by Transviolet

-“Hypnotic” by Zella Day

// Reef Rover Low Top sneakers //

// Reef Day Catch sandal //

// Reef Rover Low Prints sneaker //

// Reef Rover Hi sandal //

See more on Reef.com

The post #JUSTPASSINGTHROUGH SXSW | REEF GIRLS first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.