LA by Diana - Personal Style blog by Diana Marks

June 24, 2015

Swimsuit Fashion

Summer has officially started a few days ago and that means that swim season is in full swing. As you might know from my previous posts, it takes me quite a while to find the best swimsuits every year, so stay tuned this summer for my swimsuit finds on the blog and socials and find below my current faves.

American Girl

This post is promoted by Target

It's time for the second installment of the Target swimsuit series (read the first one here). It's so easy to get lost in Target aisles and find so many amazing pieces literally at a steal! I was looking for another swimsuit to flaunt my body shape and I found this one in an American flag print. This time I decided not to hide my hips, but rather accentuate them with a fun print bikini. I never thought that this print could look so great!

The obvious choice for an outfit styled with this bikini was denim overalls and a backpack - it somehow feels all-American :)

Alternative ways of styling include these shorts and this denim vest, or a fun romper like this one.

My Secrets Spilled

As you know, I have partnered with Skinny Cow this month for an exciting "What's My Secret" Campaign. Skinny Cow encouraged me to share my secrets of a good and easy life and I have quite a few. Today I want to talk about taking time for yourself.
In the 21st century we are always on-the-go, always connected and always working (not to mention motherhood, which is a 24/7 lifetime commitment that I admire, but am yet to experience) , we have less and less time for ourselves, and some of us don't even know when and how to put ourselves first any more. My secret is just about that. No matter how busy I am, or what's going on in my life, I try to squeeze in a short walk (even 20 minutes a day and even if it means that I have to cancel something in my schedule) to relax, unwind and recharge. I put on my stylish workout clothes and go for a walk around my neighborhood. I try to choose different routes depending on the day. Sometimes, I choose the park if I am looking for peace and relaxation, other times I wander through the residential area of my neighborhood exploring beautiful houses for distraction and creativity. And one of my favorite routes is the Golden Triangle of Beverly Hills, which is a grid of small commercial streets filled with shops and restaurants. At the center of it is the famous, always sunny and clean, Rodeo drive, which I absolutely love to explore for inspiration and motivation. I love doing window shopping and watching stylish locals mixed with tourists from all over the world and their beautiful cars passing by. I also like taking some light treats with me for an extra boost of endorphins. Luckily, Skinny Cow, offers a great choice for such occasions. They have a wide variety of ice creams, iced coffees and candies. My favorite is the Iced Coffee (love the Mocha flavor!) - it's easy to carry and is a great mid-afternoon pick-me-up! Share your secret tips on Twitter with the hashtag #SkinnyCowSecret. Direct your message to @TheSkinnyCow for a chance to receive a sweet treat (coupon). More details HERE.

Glam Farm Girl

I love summer fashion for it's simplicity and a huge variety of summer dresses, espadrilles and sunnies. Got brand new additions to each of my collections :)

Print Short

The Duchess

You guys know how much I am obsessing with remarkable dresses that make me feel like royalty. Here is another stunning piece of art from the very talented Silvia Bours. I literally had people stop and stare at me while shooting these photos and when we were done, they'd come closer to see all the details. And those details are definitely something to talk about! The beautiful neck is embroidered with Swarovski crystals, pearls and fabric flowers - it looks even more magical in real life. But most importantly, the feeling you have while wearing it, is incredible - you truly become royalty, even for just one night. Enjoy!

Skinny Cow Secret Events and Samples

What I love about my job is a chance to work with all sorts of different brands. This month I am very lucky, because I am collaborating with delicious Skinny Cow. If you follow me on socials networks, you know that I am quite a foodie and I definitely enjoy occasional indulgences. And what a better treat is there than a simple pleasure, every girl's favorite - ICE CREAM! I love that Skinny Cow's ice cream is low fat so you won't consume a ton of calories while enjoying it - definitely a guilt free treat!

I couldn't choose one flavor from Skinny Cow's range, because they all seem delicious. Therefore, I am going to attend their sampling event next weekend in Westfield Culver City to try out all the products and choose my favorite. If you are up for a fun ice cream night, come along!

Furthermore, to extend their "What's Your Secret" campaign initiative, Skinny Cow asked me to leak you a little secret. The brand will be throwing a Secret Speakeasy Event on June 11th from 5-10PM at the Edison in LA. You'll get to meet the experts who will serve up their secrets tips on living an indulgent fab life, try delightful Skinny Cow treats and have the chance to walk away with some cool swag too! Sounds fun to me! Join me there and definitely come say hi! RSVP HERE

This post is promoted by Skinny Cow

Thanks to Skinny Cow® Ice Cream Bars, Creamy Iced Coffee and Candy, our secrets can all be a little sweeter. Follow Skinny Cow on TWITTER

June 1, 2015

Overalls and Mules

Happy June, my friends. Summer is just around the corner. Check out my guest article on Loehmann's blog about "Summer trends that never go out of style" HERE.

The Power of a Muscle Car: All New Ford Mustang

I know, I know. This post is long overdue. I've been teasing you guys with this car on my socials for a while now, and finally I have time to tell you more about my Ford Mustang experience. I got to drive the car for about a week and frankly, I have grown quite attached to it :)

At first, I was a little intimidated to test the car, since I always thought that it was a masculine car, but boy, was I wrong. Even though it's still a true power car, it now has all new sophisticated design and very user friendly interface and ergonomics. It's very easy to operate, extremely safe and most importantly just cool (435 horsepower is no joke)! I felt confident and powerful driving the car around and catching so many looks from the people around ;) The Mustang illuminates class, power and control and drives like a world class sports car for a fraction of a price. Seriously, it's a true statement!

Since the car is all about freedom, confidence and comfort, so was my look. A daring sweatshirt (I agree with the statement on it by the way ;)), comfy shorts and ankle boots are all you need to look cool without even trying - same goes for the fabulous Mustang!

Classy in Black and White and Memorial Day Sale

Memorial day weekend is finally here and I am so excited for sales that are happening everywhere all weekend long! My particular interest is my favorite Lulu's, which is celebrating this weekend by having a HUGE sale with items up to 50% off!!! Check out the amazing selection HERE - I literally want to buy everything now! The sale ends on Monday, May 25th, at 11:59PST. On that Monday (May 25th) Lulu's will be shipping everything for free in celebration of Memorial day! Check out their sale category HERE. The dress I am wearing here is also available - I am so obsessed with it - it's affordable but so gorgeous and well made!

Target Loves Everybody

This post is promoted by Target

When Target asked me to discuss this topic, I immediately jumped on board since it's an ongoing battle for me and, I am sure, many other women. We are talking about confidence during swim season. Target is on a quest to encourage confidence and excitement this summer by celebrating every body type with a variety of swimsuits in styles, sizes and shapes that fit everyone.

Let's talk real. We all have our insecurities when it comes to a beach body. The first time I approached this topic on the blog was two years ago (read here), but not much has changed since then. Except for the fact that I learned that the right fit of swimsuit is the key determinant of your confidence on the beach. I usually spend days looking for a perfect swimsuit and try countless options (whether it's shopping online or in store). My body is pear-shaped (no matter how much I hate it, so I might as well start loving it :) ) and therefore picking the right swimsuit that accentuates my advantages and hides my flaws is extremely important. After trying countless swimsuit options at my local Target, I found this one - it highlights my body's natural curves and, most importantly, hides the widest part of the body with a little mini skirt, making it appear more proportional. I love the retro theme of the swimsuit - it's definitely one of my favorites.

But now that I have invested so much time and money finding the right swimsuit, I don't need to limit myself to the beach any more. There are countless layering options incorporating my swimsuit into a variety of summer looks. I can style it with pants and skirts, and even throw a blazer on top of it for a professional office look. But my favorite look so far is the one below. It is a perfect one for a classy weekend shopping stroll, a nice mid-summer brunch or a romantic July date. The swimsuit therefore is a centerpiece for any occasion ;)

Love your bodies, stay confident and have fun this swim season with Target ;)

Princess in Pink

There are some dresses that immediately make you feel like a real princess. This one from Maje is one of them - full skirt, beautiful texture and gorgeous pastel pink color came together in a stunning piece. I am definitely in love with it. Happy Sunday!

By the way, have you guys heard of the new body contouring treatment here in Beverly Hills? I am going to check it out soon.

A Pop of Color

Sometimes color-popping doesn't necessarily have to come from clothing. I was wearing this all-white look the other day and decided to create a pop of color not even with accessory, but with a useful thing - a bottle of water that I carry with me anyways :) Happy Friday!

Pineapple Mood

I have been obsessing with Ily Couture's Pineapple tops and this one is my favorite! It's so fun and so easy to style. Went with extremely ripped boyfriend jeans with busted knees and fun sunnies. Added Ily Couture's necklace and other golden accessories for a touch of glam. Happy Monday!

Simple

Let's Cook: healthy, easy and delicious!

Most of you are probably aware that I don't cook. At all. My wildest cooking achievements are boiling rice, making an omelette and making two-ingredient pancakes. I am a great smoothie chef though, but that's another story ;)

But recently things have changed. Ever since I have partnered up with Blue Apron and tried out their service, I think I might have discovered my new passion. Not for cooking in general though, but definitely for cooking with Blue Apron.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this subscription meal planning service, each week they deliver farm-fresh ingredients in exactly the right proportions straight to your doorstep. The ingredients come in a refrigerated box with a step by step cooking guide of your meal. What's even more exciting is that their meals never repeat themselves, which means that every time you get a box, there is a meal you've never had before. It definitely saves a lot of planning time, creativity, grocery shopping and waste from unused ingredients. Moreover, they offer a large selection of recipes on their site, and are always adding new dishes to their menu every week. I am already eyeing to try a few other recipes form their site, particularly Swedish Style Turkey Meatballs. They look so delicious!
With free shipping, no commitment (you can skip and cancel the service any time!) and shipping to over 80% of the country, it's definitely a service to try! By the way, you can try your first 2 meals for FREE: just click HERE and join!

The meal that I am showcasing today is Almond-Crusted Cod with Coconut Rice and Ginger Spinach.

Tie-Dye Jumpsuit

Today's look is an experiment and judging by your social media feedback, it's a successful one. I don't think I ever wore tie-dye before, but I will definitely reconsider it now. I found this insanely cool print at my favorite Lulus (ON SALE NOW!) and couldn't wait to get it in the mail. Once I did, I was ecstatic. Not only it looks cool and fits well, it's also very soft and comfortable - something I am definitely a fan of. Got the sandals and the sunnies at the same spot - Lulus is definitely a one stop shop.

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