LA by Diana - Personal Style blog by Diana Marks: 2014

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December 29, 2014

Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver

While in Vancouver, I stayed at the Pan Pacific Hotel, a 4-diamond hotel which is perfectly situated in downtown Vancouver overlooking the city's magnificent waterfront and surrounded by Coal harbor, Stanley Park and Coastal Mountains.  With the iconic five sails rising above it, the Pan Pacific is an unparalleled downtown luxury hotel destination which is very popular with celebrities, athletes and famous artists. It feels like you are on board of the giant cruise ship with the latest amenities - quite surreal!
Honestly, after exploring the city I couldn't imagine a better location for my Vancouver stay. And the views that you get to see every single day just by looking out the window are so magnificent that you don't want to leave the room! As for my favorite amenities, the hotel offers several waterfront restaurants with breathtaking views (one of them even hosts weekly Opera nights!), outdoor swimming pool and a hot tub overlooking the city's harbor (I wasn't brave enough, but there were quite a few guests that enjoyed the outdoor hot tub even in wintertime).
And most importantly, I love the hotels that like to give back. For the last 22 years, Pan Pacific hosts an annual Christmas Wish breakfast where thousand of toys and cash are donated to needy children. All of those who donate are invited to a complementary breakfast buffet. It's truly an extraordinary experience and I wish I could witness it myself, because even the thought of it warms my heart.
I  had a truly festive Christmas experience there with tons of Christmas decorations around and truly amazing personnel to make all my christmas wishes come true.

December 26, 2014

Christmas in Canada - Breathtaking Views

Happy Holidays, my friends! Hope you had a beautiful Christmas! If you follow me on social networks you already know that I spent my Christmas in Vancouver. I fell in love with the city's beautiful landscape, perfect winter weather (it's cold enough to wear hats and scarves, but still sunny and dry) and what seemed to be the most festive Christmas atmosphere. Seriously, I met a few Santa Clauses who approached me first (!) and were more than happy to chat and take photos with me. And I am still obsessed with a perfectly decorated Christmas tree in every single building. 
As for fashion, I tried not to pack too much, so I ended up wearing the same accessories (boots, a bag and a hat) in 2 completely different looks over the past 2 days. Check out both outfits below and let me know which one you like more ;)

December 22, 2014

Style Resolutions


As the New Year approaches, Target has challenged me to come up with style resolutions to update and refresh my style in 2015. As you know I love playing around with my style and I try to stay as versatile as possible, but I must admit, I still play it safe sometimes and rarely go completely out of my comfort zone. My style resolution is simply to try pushing further in exploring countless style possibilities and never be afraid of trying anything new.
I was thinking about what's missing in my wardrobe and what I'd like to see myself wearing more and I came up with ... tights. I started wearing patterned tights recently and immediately fell in love with the idea of countless patterns. You can change your look completely just by changing the color or the pattern of your tights! I already acquired a few additions to my growing collection at Target and I am on the quest for more - luckily Target has a lot to offer :)

December 16, 2014

Be Inspired and Shop Smart with Lyst

So the holiday season is happening right now :) I don't know about you, but I am following all my favorite stores and trying to take advantage of their ongoing sales. It's been quite a stressful and time consuming experience for me.  Either my size is always sold out, or the last item I finally decided to buy sold a few hours ago, there is always something.. It's shopping after all - it should only be FUN and EXCITING!
Recently though I discovered Lyst - a personalized fashion marketplace that allows users to create a customized shopping feed of products - and I immediately decided to tell you about it, because it's especially useful now during the holiday sales season!
In addition to making a tailored shopping experience, users can also "lyst" items to plan their wardrobes and wish lists and also be instantly alerted when anything they lyst goes on sale or comes back in stock. So much time can be saved now! I don't have to keep checking every sold out item I like until it goes back on sale - Lyst will do it for me :)
I definitely went crazy with the platform and already have 4 different categories for gifting and wardrobe ideas - so excited to tag every other item from my favorite Isabel Marant :) Check out my full wish list HERE.

December 15, 2014

French...

Every time I wear Sandro, I feel very french, not only because it's a french brand but also because every item looks as french as it can :) Happy Monday!!!

December 10, 2014

Packing Preview


Holiday season is upon us and I am teaming up with Target once again for a little packing preview of what beauty products to take with you on a Christmas trip back home. I decided to make a little beauty edition with 5 key items and 3 beauty accessories to keep your skin glowing during your vacation. Here are my picks:

December 8, 2014

Preppy Weekend

Happy Monday, everyone. Here is a simple preppy look I wore over the weekend for a little shopping stroll. Have a great week!

December 4, 2014

Pushing the Boundaries

So today I am rocking a look that is not my typical style, but definitely eye-catching ;) I usually stay away from giant heels, but, when they are super affordable, why not try it? I found these boots and a faux fur coat on Vinted - an awesome platform for buying or swapping clothes. It's amazing, I bought them in new condition for a very small price and I could, if I wanted to, even swap them for something I don't wear and want to get rid of. It's definitely fun and super easy!
And you know what's the coolest part? Vinted decided to give $10 store credit when you sign up HERE using the code DIANA! You can totally find one or even two items there with only $10, so you could be having a new item shipped to your house right about now! :) A giveaway where everybody wins - my favorite type =) Enjoy!

December 2, 2014

Gloomy Days

Hey, dear friends! Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving celebration! It's hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner now and we are already in December! The last few days it's been raining non-stop here in LA, but it feels like we (LA people) sort of deserve this, because we enjoy the sun all year long :)
On a side note, I wrote another article for Loehmann's blog "Style Vault". This time I am talking about Black and White do's and don'ts and give you multiple tips on rocking monochromatic look in style. Check it out HERE.

November 28, 2014

6 Month Salvation


Target found out that only 20% of their guests' clothes gets worn, which means 80% is left unexplored! I was challenged to find an item that I haven't worn in the past 6 months and style it in 3 different ways to remind myself how cool it actually is and how much I once loved it. I had so much fun styling these creative looks with my old black and white pattern skirt that I think I'll definitely wear more often from now on. Obviously Target items helped me in my styling process, which means that you can easily create new fun looks without spending a fortune (or anything!) Hope you are having a great Thanksgiving weekend!

November 24, 2014

Only in LA...

Only in LA you can wear a tank top under an oversized knit coat in mid-November (and not even need a coat in daytime) :) Happy Monday!

November 21, 2014

Inspiration is Everywhere


Here is another cool idea from Target. Target believes (and I second it!) that inspiration in style can come from anywhere, whether it's a piece of art, a mural in your city, a song on the radio or simply any object around you! To prove this, Target challenged me to find any item in their store and get inspired by it in my style and boy, I went wild =) Everywhere I looked I could come up with at least a few different looks, but as soon as I saw these headphones, I immediately remembered my favorite color combination (orange+black+white) and thought that it was time to utilize it again! Came up with this preppy and playful look with elements of male fashion (hello ties!) all styled mostly with Target items - meaning, you don't have to break a bank to look stylish and original! ;)

November 19, 2014

Inspired by ... my travels!

Hey guys! So I am finally back in LA and able to post more frequently. Thanks for following my travels along on my social networks! My stay in Turkey was relatively short, but full of positive experiences. Even though it was gloomy and rainy all the time, I managed to see lots of great places and did quite a little bit of shopping.
Turkey is a truly fascinating country. Istanbul, where I stayed, has lots of contrasts, religions and backgrounds combined in a single city of 16 Million people! I felt like I am in some sort of a fairy tale, when I visited Sultan's palaces, mosques, bazaars and simply walked on the streets. 
You might have seen this jumpsuit on my Instagram, but I made a full photo session of it because I am so obsessed with it. My hotel offered a perfect background location with turkish style couch and moroccan inspired window blinds - perfect for an arabic look ;)

November 12, 2014

Schoolgirl Gone Bad

Even though I finished school a long time ago, I still like to go into a "back to school" mode once in a while. For some reason it's always black and white with a touch of fun in a form of a colorful bag ;)

November 10, 2014

News, Traveling and a Huge Holiday Giveaway!

You might be wondering why I have been MIA these days and, if you follow me on social networks, some of you might have already guessed, that I am traveling at the moment. A super exciting destination is waiting for me in a few days and I can't wait to share my experience with you! You can start guessing ;)

November 7, 2014

Festive Finds

I have partnered with Nespresso, along with Sur La Table, for their "Festive Finds" program. Holiday season is just around the corner! The next month will be filled with entertaining and gifting occasions, and whether it's putting together a nice gift or prepping for your holiday soiree, Sur La Table is a perfect solution. This holiday season I'll be hosting my dining soirees in french style with newly picked up Versailles dining set and beautiful matching napkins and accessories from Sur La Table. They carry thousands of products for kitchen there and offer a vast assortment of bakeware, cookware, glassware, linens, table decor and more.

November 1, 2014

The Perfect Winter Jacket

Happy November, my dear friends! Winter is around the corner and in most places it's already chilly. Even LA cooled down significantly and brought us cold rain on Halloween night. Anyway, I am excited! Finally all the coats and jackets can get out of my closet and fall-winter fashion officially kicks off for me too! 
A new treasure, that I found in winter jackets category, is this super awesome brand Snowman New York. Honestly, I couldn't choose one jacket, because all of them are so cool! The one that I am wearing here, is so lightweight and thin, yet warm and comfy! Faux fur details (huge fan of everything faux fur, as you might have noticed!) and a standing collar add so much chic to the jacket. I can also detach my sleeves and open my collar for warmer days - perfect for any occasion and weather! As for accessories, I added some white to make the jacket stand out even more.
An exciting trip is coming up for me in November. Stay tuned and you can already start guessing ;)

October 28, 2014

Jumper Love

Sometimes I like to not take myself too seriously and wear something fun and goofy. Stripes with this jumper would have made a cool off-duty look, but I accessorized with sneakers, oversized watch and a fun hat for a casual fun look.

October 25, 2014

Casual Cool

More and more often, I love throwing a long oversized sweater over a pair of leggings for a comfy and chic look. The accessories have to be cool though, so I wore my favorite Marants (they actually matched my sweater perfectly!) and cool new sunnies. No bag this time. Yes, sometimes I don't take a bag with me because I drive most of the time and can leave a few items I take with me in the car. If it's a quick errand, I prefer to stay extra comfortable with no bag attached :) By the way, I wrote a whole article about my bags (why I have so few and why I prefer designer bags) on Loehmann's site. Click here to read it. And tell me what you think!

October 22, 2014

Blogger Style Session

Here is another fun project from Target. This time Target paired me up with the lovely Ashley from Life, Love and the Pursuit of Shoes for a little styling session. We were supposed to dress each other according to our styles. You can check out how I styled her here.
So Ashley and I had a little chat about my recent obsession for all-black looks and thigh-high boots. We both are very excited to finally be able to rock fall fashion and this is the look that we came up with for me: total black outfit with a pretty skater skirt and a chic sheer blouse with a white bow. And of course.....my new thigh high boots. I still can't believe they are only $70! Such a steal!

October 20, 2014

How to Stay Motivated

It's no secret that a major part in achieving our goals is staying motivated. But with so many obstacles in our way and so many distractions it's easy to lose motivation, get stuck and just become unhappy. I decided to put together a short list of ideas on how I stay motivated and hopefully you will find something useful for yourselves here too.
1) Reasons. This is a big one. It's a fact that if you don't have a big enough reason to accomplish something, you probably won't. Either change the goal or find a good reason to achieve it.

October 18, 2014

Gold Details and Fur

My favorite combination of colors is black and white, but when you add just a little bit of gold details and some fur, the look becomes super chic. The gold details I chose are my new hand chain from Leuer with a matching necklace. I love the fact that the accessories are thin enough, which adds an extra touch of sophistication. 
And obviously fur - another material that is so elegant and classy. You won't believe it, but my faux fur cover-up is not actually a cover-up, it's a scarf! I purchased this scarf about 2 years ago when Anna Karenina collection from Banana Republic just came out. This is how I wore it: I wrapped the faux fur (middle) part around my shoulders and wrapped the remaining long ends of the scarf around my waist which resulted in a thick belt that I fixed with my gold bracelet. Completed the look with my thigh-high boots from Target and mohican clutch from Ted Baker.

October 16, 2014

Cool Down Street Style

Another look with my new sneakers today. This time it's a completely different style with a long vest and a scarf. The weather is finally cooling down and I couldn't be more excited about it.

October 13, 2014

Classy in Sneakers

The weather is finally cooling down in LA and I just can't wait to start wearing boots again! It's still a little too warm for boots, so I am taking my brand new high wedge sneakers for a stroll. By the way, who said sneakers can't be classy? ;) Happy Columbus Day, America!

October 8, 2014

The Boo Challenge

Target has challenged me to take my "boo" to the store and have him create a look that truly represents my personal style. I chose to take my friend Ricky for a little styling session and this is the look that he came up with: edgy faux leather with a touch of gold.
I am also excited to announce my partnership with Cosmic Cart, the universal shopping cart for the web. Cosmic Cart lets you buy items from multiple retailers without having to leave my site! When you see the Cosmic Cart icon on the photos, just click it to shop the look. It's that simple!

October 7, 2014

Sheer Red

As much as I love experimenting with style, elegant is still my favorite direction. Today it's this absolutely stunning dress from Ted Baker. I love Ted for making me feel like a real princess in any of their dresses. You can shop this dress and the rest of merchandise in store and online at 20% off for one day only at Ted Baker on Thursday October 9th! Don't miss this exclusive one day event!

October 6, 2014

Daring Fall

I am obsessing with this coat for fall and can't wait to wear it on top of my layers, but for now I styled it as a single piece of the outfit - quite daring, right? ;) Kipling bag from the new Always On Collection was the perfect and only accessory to compete my look. Love how lightweight it feels and how versatile it is - I can style it up or down from day to night, from weekdays to weekends. It's a perfect bag for a girl on the go like me, and I am sure everyone of you! Happy Monday!

October 5, 2014

On the streets of New York..

While back in New York I had a chance to collaborate with the incredible photographer Jamie Mann on a few street style photos. I absolutely love his work and was super excited and even a little nervous for this shoot. Jamie utilizes the lighting, the perspective, the time of the day, the location and the outfit itself so skillfully that you don't even notice how much hard work and experience goes into what seems like an effortless snap of the camera. He is a true professional and a breeze to work with. The results speak for themselves!
You might have already recognized my favorite Edward Roth jacket (yes, I wore the same jacket in two different colors, pink one here). Love how the boots and the jacket match in color and designer  accessories complete this luxury look - true elegance with a futuristic note.

October 3, 2014

Oversized

Fall is yet to come in LA, but just a few days back I managed to catch a little chilly weather to finally rock a fall look. I know, LA problems are so ridiculous :) 
I also uploaded this look on wear.jp - a great way to seek outfit and shopping inspiration. It's one of the worlds largest style communities, where influencers share their style posts and you can also see where you can buy the items they wear. It's like a shoppable lookbook - so easy and so fun! You can SIGN UP HERE for a chance to be featured in the one page feature of NYLON magazine on wear.jp

September 29, 2014

Home Away From Home - The Empire Hotel

September is almost over. I honestly believe there is some secret force that makes the months go by so fast that you feel like you fell asleep at the beginning and woke up at the end of the month but you only slept a few hours.. Looking back at September, which is always the busiest month, I feel very happy and grateful for my experiences, the highlight of which was definitely New York Fashion Week. Not only I enjoy the fashion week itself, but going to New York is already exciting enough :)
I always have these mixed feelings towards New York - I love and hate it at the same time. It makes me angry, happy, encouraged and disappointed - kind of an emotional roller coaster. But the only feeling the stays the same is the warm feeling that I get when I arrive at my "home away from home" - The Empire Hotel. Last year I gave you a sneak peak of my hotel room, and this year I am taking you to the rooftop where I snapped a few shots right before it started raining on my last day in NYC. That day was full of meetings so I went for a cool black and white look with my favorite wedge converse that I can't get enough of.

September 26, 2014

My Fresh Face Tips and Tricks

I teamed up with Olay to bring you my latest tips and tricks of staying "forever young". Not that I am at an age where I have to do much, but I definitely reached the stage where I have to seriously reconsider my skincare routine to avoid big problems in the future. The earlier you start the better it will be for you. So here it is! To achieve beautiful, youthful and fresh skin I created a bunch of habits that I try to stick to on a daily basis.

September 25, 2014

Be Radiant and Demi Lovato Giveaway

I am so excited to share an exclusive giveaway from the Radiant Collection from Tampax and Always. In honor of the Radiant Collection's partnership with Demi Lovato and her World Tour, which encourages girls to have the confidence to wear what they want any time of the month, I'm sharing my own "confident" fashion inspiration today. 
Today I wore this stunning suit from Ted Baker. The pattern, the color and the cut are so incredible and eye-catching, but I went even brighter by adding a mohican detail clutch and neon pink heels. Sometimes you leave me comments saying stuff like "Yes, that looks cool, but I could never pull that off". All I want to say, my dear friends, is "Oh yes you can!
What I learned in these few years of working in fashion is that it's never about what you wear; it's about how you wear it. If you feel confident in your outfit, it doesn't really matter what it is - you'll always look good! You could even wear a trash bag and still look awesome if you pair it with confidence and a killer pair of shoes! So pursue your wildest outfit ideas and work them as long as you feel good in them. And the Radiant Collection from Always and Tampax will make sure you can do it any day of the month with no exceptions ;)
Now, the most exciting part of the campaign is the Demi Lovato Concert! 
PRIZE #1: 2 tickets to Demi Lovato's concert at the Staples Center in LA this Saturday September 27th!!!! Since it's geographically biased, the conditions are super easy: tweet, email or instagram me your most radiant and confident outfit using the hashtag #BeRadiant for a chance to win 2 tickets to Demi Lovato's concert! Hurry up cause the concert is so soon!!!
PRIZE #2: You can enter the Be Radiant Sweepstakes now through Oct. 10, 2014 for a chance to win a VIP experience to attend Demi’s Oct 27th Brooklyn show in style. One lucky winner will receive: a two-night trip to New York for the winner and three friends, limo service, four front-row concert tickets, a meet-and-greet with Demi, and fabulous product from The Radiant Collection!!! How cool is that!? Learn how to enter HERE!

September 23, 2014

That Perfect Gift...

First of all, THANK YOU so much for your lovely emails and comments on my latest post. You can't imagine how much you make my day with your tweets, comments, likes and messages. I see and read every single one of them. I am so glad to be bringing the "Total Black" style back! To go along with the "black waive" I obviously couldn't resist pulling out my favorite "little black dress". I believe that the most important part of the "little black dress" look is the shoe! I always dedicate extra time to decide which pair will be the key element of the day when wearing LBD. Today it's my new italian obsession from Loriblu - sleek, sexy, feminine and elegant shoes directly from Italy! I believe they could be a perfect gift for any lady (or yourself if you are a lady :) ), because I don't think anyone would ever NOT want them :)
Speaking of gifts.. I want to tell you about this new platform - Giftry - a cool way to create boards with gift ideas for yourself and others. If your friend has a birthday and you have no idea what to get them (which is ALWAYS the case!), you can create a Giftry board where you can add all sort of different ideas from physical retailers and any online stores. You can also invite your common friends to contribute to the board with their ideas and you can even anonymously invite your friend (whose birthday it is!) to add his/her own ideas for their perfect gift! Now you can never go wrong with a gift for that special occasion.
I am one of the Giftry influencers, which I am super excited about, who has a special board with cool gift ideas (these shoes are definitely there ;)). Check it out HERE and feel free to utilize my giftries :) Have fun!

September 22, 2014

Rebel...

It's hard to believe that before opening my blog I was a dedicated fan of "total black" looks. I remember times when friends asked me "But do you have any non-black items in your wardrobe?" With the blog came constant need to explore and try out new styles. I started wearing items I never thought I would. Seriously people, start a blog and you'll see ;) But today I am going back to my love of black in a daring rebel look (obviously a classy rebel ;) ) with the help of Skull Cashmere crop top and fingerless gloves.
And the sunglasses I am wearing are the newest addition to my collection from Atelier Eyewear. They are by far the best fitting sunglasses I have ever had, which is no surprise since they are custom made :) Not only I felt like I designed them myself (I chose the frames and the colors), but I had so much fun playing with their interactive webcam tool. The Ultra tool used my computer's webcam to measure the feature and contours of my face and head. No wonder they come out perfectly fitting! Atelier Eyewear frames are also hand made to achieve the highest quality which is only compatible to luxury designers. You can definitely allow yourself to feel a little "Tom Ford" when designing your own unique pair of Atelier Eyewear! 

September 21, 2014

Future Perfect

If you are my regular reader, you might know that I am a huge fan of Edward Roth New York (as seen here and here), so naturally I could not not wear it while in NY especially at fashion week. I am dying over their carefully crafted fabrics and artistic prints, but when I saw this jacket I was stunned. The futuristic design with perfectly sculpted shoulder details highlights the body and transforms you into another sleeker time. And all of that in pastel pink? I am sold! If I could, I'd wear it every day not only because I love it that much, but I also love the effect it has on people while wearing it - everyone is sort of fascinated and amazed at the same time - it's truly magical!
In terms of styling, I used the jacket as my statement piece and chose neutral black color for the rest of the look. And since it was fashion week, I just had to spice it up with my neon pink heels from Saint Laurent which I wore for a few shows before switching to my furry and more comfy Dolce Gabbana booties.

September 19, 2014

White Shirt Challenge

This time around Target has challenged me to create three different looks with the new fall white Mossimo shirt using the older pieces from my wardrobe.

September 15, 2014

Make your Denim Shirt Look Chic at #NYFW

When I was buying these boots back in January, I already imagined myself wearing them to fashion week :) But when the time came I got a little stuck. It's easy to wear them with a one tone dress, but how could I make my look original without looking like a clown? :) It took a little bit of planning and thinking but finally I came up with this denim and white combination and obviously had to add some extravagant eye-catching accessories like Versace jeweled cat-eye sunglasses and Ted Baker Moti Clutch with mohican detail, which I have been lusting over for about a year! By the way, notice how I buttoned up my denim shirt and lifted up the collars for an extra touch of chic. I still have a bunch of looks to share with you guys, so stay tuned for more NYC fashion ;)

September 12, 2014

Flaunt It Friday

Target challenged me to post about the feature I am flaunting at the moment and it was actually harder than I thought. I am sure lots of you ladies can relate with me. If someone asks me what body part I am insecure about I will give them a long list of what-s and why-s, but when asked what part I actually like I got a little stuck... I started thinking what part of my body gives me the greatest confidence boost and allows me to wear daring outfits with confidence and I came up with a conclusion that it's my face! When I sleep well and have clear skin, I feel my best and tend to choose more interesting looks than when I am tired and don't want to attract much attention :) So to work what I've got I try to sleep well, stick to a healthy lifestyle (even though it's not a 100% commitment yet :) ) and most importantly, take care of my skin. I obviously do regular facials, but using the right products is crucial. My current favorite is Laneige Water Bank Serum which is lightweight yet very hydrating. I don't even need moisturizer after it. This product helped me stay "picture ready" throughout the whole New York Fashion Week! And what about you? What body part are you flaunting at the moment? 

September 11, 2014

Day 3 of #NYFW : Sequins and Mirrors

My day 3 of New York Fashion Week was very hectic with lots of shows and events. Even though the weather turned out to be very hot, I still didn't regret wearing the sequin Ted Baker blazer, because it's so cool and eye-catching, and most importantly, it was a perfect item to complete my look.

September 8, 2014

New York Fashion Week Day 2

So I know I am a little behind, so expect a crazy overload of NYFW blog posts in the near future :) Here is day 2 report of my NYFW. No matter how many shows I saw that day (honestly, I don't even remember already :) ), August Getty definitely stood out. Stunning cutout dresses and minimalistic monochromatic designs (not to mention perfect looking models with their perfectly straight hair) left me speechless, but nothing had a bigger impression on me than this dress...it's incredible!

September 4, 2014

New York Fashion Week Day 1

Wow! What a day it has been! Since early morning till late evening I was running around town attending shows and parties! And all of that on 7 hours of sleep in 2 days - pretty brutal! I'd like to  believe that the first day is always the busiest (based on my last year's experience), but I feel like they might all be busy this time around... So I won't sleep more than 5 hours any time soon. I guess that's part of the job, so I'll still take it =) I am trying to keep you updated on everything I do in this fashion week on my Twitter and Instagram. TWITTER is definitely more detailed though, because I don't want to overload my Insta with 20 photos a day. Thank you for being so engaging there! Love to interact with you guys!
Now, let's talk about my look before I tell you all about the shows I attended. Started fashion week with a chic and glam look with classy sweat pants from Sandro and a ruffle crop top from ASOS. Accessorized with a body chain from ASOS, awesome sunnies from Versace and my new booties from Dolce Gabbana! I already know that it's probably my favorite look of the whole upcoming week. I loved every single detail and apparently street style photographers did too =)

September 2, 2014

Transitioning to Fall

Fall is right around the corner and I slowly transition my wardrobe into the new season. Over the weekend I donated three huge bags of my old clothes to Goodwill and I am ready to restock my wardrobe with fall items. Apparently, this season I am into brown leather (faux leather of course!) - how much more "fall" can it be? ;) Picked up the leather skirt at Zara and styled it with uber-elegant top combo from Topshop. And the key piece of the look, to my mind, is my colorblock tote from Culture Riot! So spacious and so "fall"!
And the most exciting news now! Tomorrow I'll be in New York and will start "reporting live" from New York Fashion Week. I am so excited to attend it this year again (last year's adventures are here) and I am so grateful for your support, without which I wouldn't be there! Follow my Instagram adventures on @byDianaMarks and the next blog post will definitely be about New York ;)

August 31, 2014

How to Stay in Shape in Style

I am very far from being in a perfect shape, but I get so many compliments from you that I start believing that I am getting closer :) Maybe I should thank my love of smoothies or my obsession with Beverly Hills based class Physique57 (those who want a free class check out my Twitter). But fact is, I don't thrive to be in a perfect shape (oh, those "embrace your body shape" punch lines). Not that I would mind it, but my main objective of working out and making responsible food choices is to stay healthy and strong.
And of course, the biggest motivation to go to the gym (apart from staying healthy and keeping fit) is pretty colorful workout clothes that you get to wear. I don't think I'd ever be ok with the amount of bright colors in my outfit as much as I am, when I am going to the gym =) Complement the look with a matching or a contrast bag. Mine is from Punchdrunk Panda! Isn't it the cutest bag ever? =) Not only it's affordable on it's own, but you can also take advantage of a 15% discount, just because you read my blog ;) Use the code "PDPxDIANA15at checkout =) Stay Healthy and Happy Sunday!

August 26, 2014

Oscar De La Renta Sunglasses Giveaway ($600 Value!)

I am happy to announce the most exciting (by far!) giveaway on my blog! As you know I am a huge fan of sunglasses (who isn't!? :) ), and I am SO EXCITED for the person who is going to win these amazing Oscar de la Renta sunglasses from Marissa Collections. They cost $600 and you can win them with just 2 simple clicks! Here are the requirements:

1) Follow @marissanaples on Instagram
2) Follow @byDianaMarks on Instagram
3) Wait for the winner announcement in 2 weeks!!!

The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL and it will last until September 9th. The winner will be chosen at random and notified on September 10th via Instagram (don't miss it!). If the winner doesn't claim the prize within 3 days of notification, the glasses will go to the next randomly chosen winner.

Good luck!!!

August 21, 2014

Anti-Aging Cacao Smoothie

I know I got you all excited for a cooking post, but I forgot to mention, I don't cook :) I am terrible at determining if the food is ready so I either burn or undercook food, so I am forced to come up with easy solutions for myself. For example, I absolutely love making delicious smoothies, because they are super fast and easy to make (just throw everything in a blender!), delicious and so good for you! My first smoothies recipe that I'd like to share with you is this cacao based anti-aging smoothie!

August 19, 2014

Skinny Boyfriends and Gosling

I'd like to start this post by saying thank you so much for your support on my latest post. Your words of encouragement gave me reassurance that I am moving in the right direction. I am so grateful for each and every one of you! My first non-fashion post is still cooking ( is there a hint here?!:) ), so for now we are back to outfits!
I am usually not a big fan of light denim, but these boyfriend jeans from Target made me change my mind. They are actually called skinny boyfriend jeans, because they are not as lose at the bottom as regular boyfriends would be. That, plus 90s inspired wash and relaxed low rise fit made me absolutely fall in love with them. Styled them with a dreamy tee from ASOS and simple shopping tote. 
What about you, do you prefer light or dark denim?