Monthly Archives: April 2012

One print that I am really inspired by right now is paisley. I wanted to create a wearable outfit inspired by the head-to-toe paisley looks from Stella McCartney’s Spring 2012 runway collection. Wearing paisley on paisley is a bold look, but it can look very chic. I wore a paisley print top with matching shorts from the Gap, with my Zara color blocked heels. I changed the accessories for two different looks.

Here is the first look. I wore a chunky gold chain necklace for a more simple and sophisticated look.

And the second. I added a mint blazer and a mint beaded necklace for a more colorful, fun look.

Top: Gap (in stores)/ Shorts: Gap/ Blazer: Zara/ Heels: Zara/ Beads: J.Crew/ Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim/ Ring: YSL/ Nails: Revlon “Minted”(my new favorite color!)

I hope you like the look(s)! Which one do you prefer?

Also, check out my feature on the Neiman Marcus blog with this blue YSL ring here.

xo

Layla

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I’m excited to announce the winner of my April Giveaway is Melissa P! Congrats, and I hope you love your Noble House Designs necklace! If you didn’t win, I have another awesome giveaway coming up very soon. And now for some fun with Instagram. If you are on Instagram, you can follow me @chicchef.

From top left: Sunset over the medical center/Assortment of Teas/Zara studded sandals/Pleats and Dots/New BCBG dress/Noble House Designs necklaces/Palm trees in Texas/ Spring flowers from my hubby/Rebecca Minkoff mini/Perfect mint nailpolish by Revlon/Houston skyline/Homemade pizza

Have a great Monday and I hope to see you on Instagram!

xo

Layla

One of my favorite layering pieces for Spring and Summer is a classic denim jacket. I had been looking for the right color and fit for a while, but I finally found one a couple of months ago. It can really bring the whole outfit together. Yesterday, on my way to my aunt and uncles’s house we managed to snap a few pictures before I got eaten alive by mosquitos! For this look,  I wore a bright yellow sleeveless top with a coral pencil skirt, and added the denim jacket as a finishing touch.

What do you think of my new Karen Walker sunnies? I love them in tortoise shell.

Denim Jacket: Zara/ Top: Zara/ Skirt: J.Crew (on sale!)/ Pumps: Nine West/ Bag: Rebecca Minkoff/ Sunglasses: Karen Walker/ Ring: Banana Republic

How do you like the yellow and coral colors combined? Do you have a favorite denim jacket?

I hope you like the look! You can follow me on Bloglovin’ here for updates on new posts.

xo

Layla

One of the things I love most about blogging is the photography part of it. So when the amazingly talented Cody Bess contacted me to work with him on an upcoming project, I was more than thrilled. His photography is so imaginative and alluring, which is why I am a big fan. Check out some of his work here. I will tell you more about our project as it unfolds, but it the meantime, here is a quick street style shoot he did of me. My style is not normally THIS over the top, but it had to be for the street we were shooting on! (Montrose in Houston)

Do you recognize this food truck anyone? The food is great, but it also served as a great backdrop. Thanks Eatsie Boys!

How fun is this Noble House designs necklace? It’s kind of tribal meets funky.

Tuxedo Blazer: Zara/ Boyfriends Jeans: Gap/ Vintage tee: J.Crew/ Neon Argyle Socks: J.Crew/ Necklace: Noble House Designs (win one here)/ Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim

There are still 2 more days to enter my Noble House Designs necklace giveaway! Enter here.

Thanks to Cody Bess for these amazing photos!

xo

Layla

You know when you find that perfect accessory, whether its a necklace, a bag, or a scarf, and you want to make an outfit just for that piece. Well, that’s what I did when I saw this perfect striped scarf from J.Crew. It took me back to the color wheel in art class. The red, yellow, and blue complement each other so well, and make for a perfect summer statement piece. I wore it with yellow skinny jeans and a chambray shirt. Easy, simple, yet eye-catching. And I will definitely be taking this scarf on vacation with me this summer. What do you think of the scarf?

Scarf: J.Crew/ Jeans: J.Crew (also seen here)/ Shirt: J.Crew/ Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim (other colors here)/ Cuffs: Hermes

I hope you like the look! Do you have any favorite accessories this season?

Also, you can add my Facebook page here for updates on blog posts.

xo

Layla

I am fortunate to have Moroccans in my family that have introduced me to some amazing Moroccan home-cooking. Traditionally, Moroccan food is meant to be cooked slowly and enjoyed slowly, but for busy days, this is a great Moroccan-inspired soup recipe. It has elements of Moroccan and Thai cuisine, which is why I call it fusion soup. It is super easy; you just add all the ingredients into a pot, and let them do their magic. This is a great hearty soup that is perfect for my vegetarian readers as well.

Ingredients:

• 1 large sweet potato or yam (cubed)
• 2 Green Apples (cubed)
• 1 can chickpeas drained
• 1 can light Coconut milk
• 1 can crushed fire-roasted tomatos
• 1 red and 1 yellow bell pepper (diced)
• 2 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
• 3 cups vegetable stock
• 1 tsp thai chili paste
• 1 Tbsp cumin
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• Salt/ Pepper to taste

Directions:

Add all the ingredients to a large pot and cook covered on medium heat for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley.

Enjoy!

Speaking of Moroccan cuisine, I can’t wait for Around the World in 80 plates to start on Bravo. It’s like Top Chef meets the Amazing Race. They will be visiting Marrakech, and cooking some amazing dishes for sure!

xo

Layla

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I decided to try something new this weekend. I never thought I would see the day when I would wear snakeskin print on my pants, but never say never. These pants are genius. They combine the soft colors of spring into a very subtle snake print that’s so easy to wear. The print has soft peachy undertones, which is why I chose to pair it with a peach knit top, with a very interesting back (you will see). I also finally brought out my new love: my Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC bag in cream. What do  you think of the pastel and snake combo?

Pants: Zara/ Top: Zara/ Bag: Rebecca Minkoff/ Shoes: Steve Madden/ Sunglasses: Dior

I hope you like the look! And thank you to everyone that made this look one of Lookbook’s top looks of the day.

Also, you can follow me on Bloglovin’ here.

xo

Layla

If you have been following my blog for a while, you know how much I love to color-block. My friends even tease me about it, but I can’t help myself! I found this gorgeous blue peplum top and I decided to try out a new color combo: cobalt blue and peach. These two colors surprisingly work very well together. I paired my blue peplum top with peach skinny jeans from DL1961, and nude pumps. I accessorized with a peach beaded necklace and pearly pink YSL clutch. What do you think of this color combination?

Top: Zara/ Jeans: DL1961/ Shoes: Steve Madden/ Necklace: J.Crew (on sale!)/ Watch: Michael Kors/ Sunglasses: Karen Walker/ Bag: YSL/ Bracelet: Hermes/ Nails:Essie

I hope you like the look! If you haven’t entered my giveaway yet, here is the link.

P.S. I don’t normally do reviews on things I buy, but I have to say that DL 1961 jeans are some of the best fitting and most comfortable jeans I have, and they don’t stretch out after you wear them once! So you may want to give them a try.

xo

Layla

Two things a girl must have in her closet are an LBD and a LWD (little black dress and little white dress). I bought this dress last summer, and I couldn’t wait for it to get warm enough to wear it again. The eyelet lace is so delicate and girly and the openings on the back are an unexpected detail. I paired my LWD with a wide brimmed hat with stripes and brown leather wedges.

Dress: BCBG (old collection…I LOVE this one and this one)/ Wedges: Zara/ Hat: Forever 21/ Sunglasses: Gap

Have a great weekend! And don’t forget to enter my April Giveaway here.

xo

Layla

Last week, I had the privilege of doing a fashion segment for Great Day Houston, which is our local morning show. The segment was about Spring fashion trends, as well as nail trends. One of my favorite local boutiques called Coquette Boutique donated some of the clothing for the show, as well as a really fun necklace to give away on my blog. This necklace is the perfect statement piece for Spring. It’s big, bold, and has two of my favorite colors: cobalt blue and neon pink. It also has a gorgeous rhinestone enclosure. It is designed by Noble House Designs and is valued at $150.

To enter:

1. Follow my blog on Bloglovin’ or add my Facebook page.

2. Leave a comment with your email address so I can notify you if you win. (Your email address will not be visible)

3. Share this post on Facebook or Twitter by clicking the Facebook or Twitter icon at the bottom of this post.

You must do all 3 to be entered for this giveaway. The winner will be announced on April 30th!

Good luck everyone!

xo

Layla