Cult Gaia Ark Bag

Posted on June 15, 2017 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Here you have it ladies, this season’s hottest “it” bag! I, much like everyone else on the internet was struck by this beautifully unique hand crafted bag from the moment I first saw it on social media. Not only does it have a unique shape, but the bamboo material makes for a timeless heirloom piece that will be sure to live in your closet forever. Created in 2012 by Jasmin Larian, Cult Gaia’s vision is to create pieces that resemble art and can stand the test of time. I received this bag as an “early birthday” gift from my sister/co blogger (our birthdays are both in August) and I couldn’t be happier/more paranoid about this beautiful item she bestowed onto me. Firstly, I received the smaller size that measures 11″ x 8″ x 3″. I personally think this size suits my small frame better than the larger one and gives me a much needed reason to downsize all of the crap I lug around all day in a huge purse. I am comfortable putting a small card wallet, my phone and perhaps a very small pouch with room for lipstick and one other beauty item to touch up. A couple of other smaller items will indeed fit but here is where the paranoid part kicks in, I’m afraid to break the precious intricately woven wood with too much crap. This bag will be my highly coveted baby for years to come. Huge thanks to my sister for buying it for me and to the brand for creating such a lovely piece to add to my collection!

I styled this piece with an all-black ensemble so as to let the bag have its own moment. The bell sleeve black top is from ASOS and the high waist wide leg trousers are from the brand French connection that I scored at Marshalls. I also brought out my high key sunnies from the DesixQuay Collection and let me tell you, I may have to buy another back up pair (that’s how good they are!). Links to items down below!

Cult Gaia Ark Bag- Natural
Desi Perkins X Quay Australia- High Key Fades
Similar Top
Similar Pants- Here,Here

ASOS SWIM

Posted on June 9, 2016 by itsapplesandorangesblog

ASOS is literally my go to site whenever I am in need of special one of a kind pieces. This time around I wanted to treat myself to some stylish swimsuits for my tropical get away with my sister and mother. Not only did these suit me perfectly for the trip but they are also versatile for pretty much any water related event. With recent weight gain I desired more coverage with certain trouble areas and figured one pieces were the way to go. When looking for bathing suits I look for a couple of things, texture, details, and shape. I prefer feminine sweetheart neck lines that accentuate my bust with added surprises like the peplum to give the illusion of a curvier bottom half. I typically steer clear of added material to my chest seeing as it can draw the eye more to this area but could not resist this beautiful ruffle frill trim on this white polka dot suit! Sometimes it’s ok to let go of your style rules and it can pay off in the end. Lastly the scuba material really helps to create structure and sculpt any problem areas like the tummy. This white suit is unfortunately out of stock for the moment but the red peplum is still available in black. I have also linked similar items that may be of interest down below.

Disclaimer, if you are more into comfort versus style these wouldn’t be for you! I couldn’t exactly lift my arms with the shoulder straps and the scuba material peplum sucks you in for a tight fit perhaps not working well with water sport activities. These suits are meant to be admired and sun bathed in :0)

XOXO- ARI

ASOS Swim Suits- Here, Here, Here, Here, Here, Here

Rompin’

Posted on April 11, 2016 by itsapplesandorangesblog

As most girls may agree, I have a love hate relationship with rompers. Sure they are easy to throw on and go but yet don’t work the same as far as taking them off sometimes even requiring an extra pair of hands. Despite the inconvenient longer bathroom breaks, rompers are a must for me living in Florida. For one they usually require minimal ironing (big plus in my book) and they take the guess work out of curating an entire outfit. You instantly look put together and are left free to have fun with the rest of your look. For this casual day out I decided on this newly purchased draw string waist jersey romper. I purchased it from ASOS but it is actually from the brand misguided. The V-neck and light weight material make for the perfect fit while the light grey color serves as a neutral base for any wild accessory your heart may desire. I paired it with my old favorite kimchi blue fanny pack (purchased from urban outfitters) and my lace up booties from aldo shoes. Links to items below!

XOXO Ari

Romper

Octagon Sunglasses

Sensible Fashion

Posted on March 18, 2016 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Dressing fashionably doesn’t always have to take such a toll, it can be sensible just as much as it is on trend or chic. Granted I still have my moments where I want to wear heels and a dress to go grocery shopping (don’t think that will ever change. I am becoming more aware of the old a phrase “less is more” when it comes to dressing for day to day. Once you figure out the fit and cut that best suits your body type, the rest of the details can be tweaked here and there to add interest. This shirt dress was an amazing find from forever 21. With a solid neutral color, slit detailing and shape it is so versatile and comfortable. It can be belted and worn with booties as I did or given a more ethereal look with sandals. The dress, booties and belt are all Forever 21 while the Tommy Hilfiger cap and Ralph Lauren Cross body were scores from Marshalls. Wear what you like, be comfortable and overall remember that clothing can be simplistic and yet still make a statement. Links to items below!

High Slit Shirt Dress

Similar Booties

Tommy Hilfiger Cap

XOXO- ARI

Worth the picture still…

Posted on February 1, 2016 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Although this post may be a bit delayed I still wanted to share a small moment with me and my sister and co blogger Gwen. She came to visit Florida for the holidays and per usual we didn’t get as much blogging or pictures as we would have hoped due to actually spending time together like normal people. It’s sad to say most times these perfectly curated and set up photos are what people post to show how much of a “good time” they are having. In reality they aren’t present in the moment and just experiencing everything from behind a lens. On this day we went to a Lakeridge winery (beautiful location close to home) and sampled some amazing wines. My outfit was inspired by this cool denim buttoned overall dress purchased from Forever 21. I wanted to keep everything else lady like and in proportion so I went with an old navy basic striped round collar shirt, nine west black patent leather booties, asos frilly socks, urban outfitters sunnies and my neutral Kate Spade chain link purse with my signature puff ball accessory. Links to items can be found below. Don’t forget to spend time with your loved ones and appreciate the non-picture perfect moments in between.

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Forever 21 Denim Overall Dress

Asos Jonathan Aston Socks

Urban Outfitters Sunglasses

XOXO- Ari

Twitter Fingers

Posted on January 18, 2016 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Now although we don’t condone bullying or violence, this epic line from the 2015 Drake hit “Back to Back” stands alone as a clever jab in the now infamous Meek Mill feud. When I saw this genius t-shirt on ASOS I knew that it had to be mine. I love a crisp white shirt with black lettering (as Ive featured many here before) because It can be paired with so many items and are a cool way to incorporate some humor and or fun into your wardrobe. You can rock this t-shirt in a sporty casual capacity as I did with sweat pants, Nike roshe run sneakers, and a vans beanie for a pop of color. Another cool way would be with dark jeans, heels and a sharp blazer for a smarter look. This look is youthful, fun and perfect for those off days where you just want to relax. Links to exact items down below!

Twitter Fingers Asos T-Shirt

Vans Beanie

XOXO -Ari

H&M Boho Chic

Posted on January 8, 2016 by itsapplesandorangesblog

For this holiday season I had the rare opportunity to see my sister and co-blogger! Since living in separate states can be difficult we always try and make the most of it when we do finally get together. This ootd post was taken on a random dirt road and I couldn’t be happier with the results! Make sure to also check out Gwen’s outfit from the same shoot for more rustic inspiration. The flowly boho maxi dress is from h&m and features a v-neck, tassled tie strings, a cinched waist and flowy ruffles and floral accents all around. It sounds like a lot for one dress but it looks beautiful due to the muted earth tones and meticulous placement of all of the dramatic parts. This dress (or something similar) can be transition from a casual day time event like brunch to a night out for dinner. I paired it with my Guess brown leather sandals and a top knot for a more off-the-cuff vibe. Links below and stay tuned for more pics from our family visit.

H&M Dress

XOXO- ARI

We are the champions…

Posted on December 21, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

As of lately I find myself leaning towards more androgynous or sporty looks. Though this may be a hindrance in the love life department, it is comfortable and very on trend. You can choose to go all out or just incorporate some sporty items in small doses in each outfit. Whether it be a great pair of sneakers or an oversized hoodie, this look is perfect for the colder temperatures and I love pairing it with ultra-sleek hair, a face beat for the gods and one feminine item (just to really distinguish myself from the boys). In this look I am rocking a champion brand t-shirt exclusive to ASOS. It is a size XS from the men’s section and fits great. I paired it with my h&m boyfriend jeans, timberlands and my go to trench jacket for a small cinch at the waist and hint at femininity. This look may not be for everyone and you could easily swap out the timberlands for booties or wear a skinnier jean depending on your comfort level. Links to items below!

FullSizeRender

XOXO -ARI

Champion T-Shirt- Exclusive to ASOS

Timberlands

Im in love with the COCO

Posted on April 29, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

It is approaching the unbearably hot and humid temperatures that we all have a love hate relationship with here in Florida. Fair Disclaimer- I will be wearing less and less clothing in my fashion posts! On this day it was a particularly sticky one and I needed to be comfortable to walk around outdoors and explore. I found these awesome American Apparel high waist shorts with floral detailing at a local thrift shop. They are old season but I found some links below of the exact identical item if you are looking for a similar outfit. You can’t go wrong with denim shorts, a crop top (featured here before from Nasty Gal), any neutral cross-body like my favorite vintage Salvatore Ferragamo one and my pink Converse chuck’s that I’ve had since the 9th grade. Easy no brainer outfit perfect for what is sure to be a scorching summer. P.S this coconut was the best thing ever!! Links to items down below.

Similar Nasty Gal- Crop Top
Denim Floral Shorts- Here & Here

XOXO ARI

Walter Mercado is My Spiritual Advisor

Posted on October 29, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

For those of you who may not know who Walter Mercado is, shame on you! All jokes aside this tv personality has been a cultural fixation of the Hispanic community for so many years. He is an astrologer/persona who predicted and read horoscopes from the 70’s up until 2010. His mysterious aura was heightened with his choice of flamboyant wardrobe which included jewel encrusted capes and gowns. Call him the “Liberace of astrology” if you will, he has had the attention of latino households who appreciate him for his comedic relief he offers or take his word as up most truth.

I managed to snag this awesome Raglan sweater perfect for the start of fall from none other then the young artist Tony Peralta of the Peralta Project. Founded in 2005, Native New Yorker Tony Peralta has mixed his artwork and designs to include street wear for the masses. His gear is a mix of latino culture with hip hop and New York City’s vibes all in one.

“Those who connect with The Peralta Project are bold, opinionated, intelligent, fearless, humorous, defiant trend setters who run the world at their own pace, trusting their vision every step of the way.” –The Peralta Project

I paired the top with my linen leopard Cynthia Rowley shorts purchased at Tjmaxx for contrast in texture and color. My old season Forever 21 moccasins in olive tone and my neutral Kate Spade quilted purse completed the outfit. Links to items below!