Hello and long long time no talk. I have been almost totally absent from my blog and Instagram this summer because I have been working long and hard on my brand new, online clothing store! I launched my store, Best Friend’s Boyfriend on June 18th and it has been a fun, but extremely difficult time and learning process.
I knew for a long time that I wanted to do something like this and it wasn’t until I went to Los Angeles back in March to actually get inspired and start brainstorming. I went back to LA in June after ordering my first round of inventory to shoot all of it there.
I want my store to be pieces that I would wear but also what the public would purchase with both fun statement pieces as well as everyday basics. Best Friend’s Boyfriend’s price point is low because my main audience is younger , and as a younger person, I know how hard it is to justify spending a ton of money on trendy clothes.
My goal for Fall is to start blogging, using Instagram andddddd YOUTUBE again! I have put so much energy into Best Friend’s Boyfriend and I am now at the point where I need to bring myself back into focus. I plan on focusing mostly on fashion, but also on lifestyle and travel.
I can not wait to get started but in the meantime go shop my new store and follow us on Instagram here!!!
Long time no blog! I have not been active on here in a few months because I’ve been dedicating all of my time to a new project (will talk about in next post). Now that I have finished that, I want to finally make a post about my second trip to California back in June!
outfit : bodysuit : Bershka (similar) | jeans : Rag & Bone (similar) | heels : Bershka (similar) | bag : Bershka x PANTONE
We spent our first day in LA in my favorite area, the Melrose and Fairfax district. A great place for streetwear and vintage shopping. Also, I love seeing all the art and how it has all changed since the last time I was here, three months prior.
Our second day was spent in Santa Barbara! It was about an hour drive from LA with very little traffic and it was a gloomy day but for here, it was perfect. A trip to the Santa Barbara Mission is a must. It is really beautiful and actually very interesting.
There are a TON of restaurants in Santa Barbara, like a ton, so go here on an empty stomach. If you like seafood (I do not but if youuu do) you’re in the right place!
Also definitely take a walk down State Street. It is full of shops; some well known and some local.
Sunday was spent around Venice Beach. Out of all the times I’ve been to LA, I’ve never been to Venice. This was a crowded spot for sure but it was really cool to see all of the street performers and artists, touristy shops, and the skate culture here. Tip: find a good spot on the beach away from people and it’ll feel less crowded. Tip #2: wear sunscreen…
We had a full relaxed day around Beverly Hills, Burbank, and Encino (where we stayed). I got to see some family and an amazing sunset over Studio City.
One of my favorite things to do here is to drive through the Hollywood Hills at night. You get to drive by some amazing homes and there are multiple scenic outlooks that let you view all of LA. Route Muholland Drive to get there and then feel free to get lost.
Last trip we went to Disneyland so this time we went to Universal. Personally, I enjoyed Disney a lot more; there was just more to do. Universal was cool but it was so insanely hot and the lines were ridiculous. If you’re going to Universal, invest in the fast pass. It’s a little more expensive but it will be worth it; I wish I would have done this.
On our very last day, we had no plans so I googled things to do, as any tourist would, and we decided to head to Malibu and ended the night driving down the beach to Santa Monica. This day was full of oceans and sunsets and it was the best.
If you’re ever in Malibu, go eat at the Coral Cantina. It’s no Malibu Farm, but the food is super good.
Stay tuned for my next post where I announce on here what I’ve been working on for the last 5 months!
Hello! I recently traveled to Los Angeles, California! Mainly for fun but I made sure to take a ton of outfit pics for Instagram and blog purposes as well. I always like to share what I’m wearing when I’m on the road along with what I did and what I saw! I plan on returning to LA very soon for an exciting project I am working on…stay tuned!
A day at the beach was necessary to start the trip. Santa Monica seemed like a good idea because of the Third Street Promenade, the Pier, and of course the beach. For breakfast we went to Swingers Diner and it was so so good and only a few blocks from the ocean.
One morning was spent exploring Beverly Hills. We got coffee at Alfred Tea Room and had brunch at Urth Caffe (one of my favorite brunch spots ever). It’s always so inspiring to me to walk into the designer stores as well to get ideas for my own outfits and to see what is happening now in the industry. People watching is also so exciting here.
Spent one of the days shopping in the Melrose and Fairfax district. I think that this is one of my favorite places in LA to spend the day. Every corner is filled with cool street art and the shopping is incredible. So many unique vintage finds.
We ate at a new Italian restaurant called Jon & Vinny’s and it was amazing. We sat at the counter facing the kitchen where you can watch the chefs homemake everything. Extremely good, I highly recommend.
I had to let my inner child out at some point so Disneyland was a must. My best tip for going to Disney on a budget is to bring a backpack with your own food and snacks because Disney is not cheap. Also getting fast passes for crowded rides is so important if you want to manage your time wisely.
Disneyland
Disneyland
Disneyland
On our very last day in California, we did the most touristy thing of all- the Hollywood Sign. As tacky as I think it is, I’m always so excited to go and see it. Not only is the sign cool in my opinion, but you get a beautiful view of the Hills and downtown LA as well.
You can view the sign in a lot of places but to get to the exact spot I did, click this link. I followed the way of step number 2. Yes, we did get a parking ticket but honestly it was well worth it.
For as many times as I’ve traveled to LA, I have never been up to the Griffith Observatory and seeing it from our Airbnb window every night made me have to go. The views are incredible. You can see all of Los Angeles on one side, and the Hollywood sign on the other.
A sweater vest was the last thing I thought I could make look cute. However, I decided to pick one up and try my best. The final look turned out way better than I had expected! I love the contrast and layering and am definitely a fan of the vest.
This is probably one of the most out there looks I’ve worn and I want to keep evolving my style just like this. I wore one of my dad’s old graphic tees over a neon green turtleneck with a matching beanie. This outfit paired perfectly with the backdrop. It’s fun to play with color but I like to tone it down just a bit so I added some plain blue jeans and sneakers.
This outfit was so much fun to shoot and I absolutely love the outcome. I paired this thrifted button up blouse with my favorite cobalt blue plaid pants from Free People to keep the look light and then added black accessories, a dog shaped purse, chunky Fila sneakers, and a tube top, to make it more of a grungy feel.
BELLA LIGHTNER 