This month we had the pleasure of chatting with Liz Cherkasova, the gorgeous gal behind the impeccable style blog, Late Afternoon. Liz took some time out of her busy schedule to let us in on a few of her style secrets, how she puts her looks together and the trends she's loving this season. She shows off her keen eye by mixing vintage finds and lavish materials with her favorite styles from the Resort 12 collection — Nadia lace-up bootie and Edith platform pump.

See how she styles them here, here, here and here.

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What is your starting point for putting a look together?

Liz Cherkasova: I always pick on piece that I know I want to wear, like a pair of shoes or a great jacket. Then I just build the rest of the look around the item. I pretty much try things on until the look feels "right".

What current trends do you love and hate?

LC: I'm totally smitten with pastels and mint. I really don't mind dressing like a giant cupcake. I'm also loving neon and pajama dressing. A trend I'm not feeling? Overalls. Not for me.

What are your favorite Los Angeles treasure troves?

LC: The Rose Bowl flea market is definitely one of my favorite places to find gems, as well as the Amsterdam Modern in Silverlake. I'm also obsessed with Pepe's for amazing antique furniture.

How did you first discover Loeffler Randall?

LC: I remember working with an intern 3 years ago who wore the most amazing shoes all the time. Every time I asked what designer the shoes were, she'd always respond back with "Oh they're Loeffler Randall." And that's what started my love affair with LR.

At New Trier High School, just north of Chicago, IL, a group of young style mavens are emerging as the future of fashion marketing. Enrolled in the school's Marketing and Merchandising in Fashion course taught by Melissa Duffy, students work to apply their curriculum to real-world assignments - including one for Loeffler Randall, lucky us!

Our brief to students: Create a concept and cast a "street style" shoot reflecting current and aspirational trends using shoes from the Loeffler Randall Resort 2012 collection.

We're thrilled to present the resulting student photographs, which are thoroughly smart and aesthetically sound from concept to final image. If this young talent is any indication, the future of fashion sure looks bright.

Theodora:

"I loved the entire process of the project, pulling looks, shooting outside and having the creative freedom to express originiality through the inspiration of the Loeffler Randall 'girl'. Fashion lives in my mind as an ever-changing expression of tangible beauty, and this project was in an invaluable opportunity to experience that as a whole."

Ali and Meg:

"The girl who is wearing these shoes is bold. She's entering college and as a senior she is trying to leave her mark on her high school. She's pairing the bright pants and the neutral shoes but the heel itself is a bold statement. She's on lunch break, mid-conversation with friends."

Daniella and Kinsley:

"The colors of the yellow and black flats popped against the brick walls. The long piano contrasted with the height of the heels, and the colors blended well. We used a softer background for the lighter color shoes and a harsher background to contast with the stripes of the flat. We felt that the flats were more edgy and the heels were calmer and serene. We matched the background to our opinion of the shoes."

Allie, Matilda, Elizabeth and Marissa:

"Our project represents an average yet rebellious high school student. The poses and attitudes expressed in the photographs were aimed to be natural and fun."

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Taking every measure to avoid the winter weather, we caught up with the California duo behind the all-around amazing blog Honestly...WTF. Founders Erica Chan and Lauren Kolodny give us the scoop on how the blog got started, personal style philosophy and a few of their favorite things.

For our latest giveaway, we joined forces with the Erica and Lauren to let one lucky winner pick a pair of shoes from our Resort 2012 collection. Simply leave a comment on Honestly...WTF and enter your email address on our facebook page. The winner will be chosen randomly on Tuesday, January 10th. 

All photos by Honestly...WTF

How did you two meet?

Erica Chan: We met through a mutual friend while attending college in San Diego, CA. Strangely enough, we both grew up in the same small coastal town in Southern California. Our parents live about 10 minutes from each other!

How did Honestly...WTF start?

Lauren Kolodny: Honestly...WTF started in my living room. MY grandfather had just passed away, and Erica and Abe (her husband) came over to cheer me up, get my mind off of things, so we started a blog. No idea where it will go next, we have already come so far!

What is your personal style philosophy?

EC: I'm addicted to shoes, hats, bags and most of all, jewelry. More is always more.

LK: I dress for comfort first.

How do you wear your LR shoes?

EC: I love the Paloma espadrille for the lizard embossed leather — I'm all about details and textures!  Thankfully, winters in California are mild so I plan on wearing them with the abundant amount of cropped and printed pants I've been compulsively buying as of late.

LK: I wear lots of color, vintage, and patterns, so the Esther pump was a perfect choice, they go with everything. I will be wearing these babies next week in Mexico as the maid of honor in my best friend's wedding!

Tell us about your favorite:

Place to get away:

EC: Mexico. San Miguel de Allende is an especially special and beautiful place to me as my husband and I were married there a couple years ago. It's the most charming colonial town nestled in the mountains of central Mexico.

LK: Spain. It's the happiest place on earth! Unfortunately flying has become such a pain in the ass, so I like to get in the car and drive. Cambria, on the central coast of California and Nevada City to Erica's in-laws ranch are two of my favorite places to get away to. I love nature and water, and both have that.

Thing to collect:

EC: After a recent trip to Turkey, I started quite the collection of colorfuul kilims and carpets. I also have a growing collection of matchbooks.

LK: Honestly, I collect too many things, some would say I am a hoarder. Old cameras, vintage macrame plant hangers, vintage afghans, and I am starting to collect vintage suitcases.

Color combination:

EC: I honestly believe purple goes with everything — my favorite combination being purple and orange. I love tone on tone. Flame red and fuschia is also a winner.

LK: Purple, orange, and green.

What can one of you get away with that the other can't when it comes to:

Fashion:

EC: Lauen can pull off "boho" better than anybody.

LK: Erica can wear accessories like no other. I feel less is more, while she thinks more is more, but she can really style it well and pull it off without looking like Mr. T. She can also run in heels, I can barely walk in them.

Home:

EC: Lauren has an amazing green thumb and unfortunately, I can't seem to keep a cactus alive.

LK: Erica is an amazing chef, and is always introducing me to new food. I don't cook that much, but I always learn from her. Her sesame tofu salad is to die for!

Travel:

EC: She's a much better packer than I am — always prepared for any climate, event or wardrobe situation.

LK: She travels light and I always over pack! Who travels with a steamer, really?

Hidden talents:

EC: Lauren has an amazing knack for spotting a diamond in the rough. This is most evident when we're shopping — I'll walk right past something, she'll pick it up with complete enthusiasm, and suddently, I'll see it in a whole new light.

LK: Well, its not much of a secret anymore, but Erica can make ANYTHING. Honestly, she amazes me every time.

Our latest obsession is the application Pose that allows you to follow us, your friends and other favorite designers as they post different fashion trends in real time. Pose teamed up with blogger, The Man Repeller, to giveaway a pair of Nadia lace-up booties in woven raffia this holiday season.

Make sure to check out our Pose page to see how we wear LR shoes.

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No trend gets the best of Christene Barberich. With a sharp editorial eye, she cuts trends down to size and sets the example for owning your look. For the grand finale in our holiday DIY series we catch up with the impeccably styled Refinery 29 Editor-In-Chief for her tips on holiday dressing and how to choose the perfect one-of-a-kind gift. An expert at making vintage look modern, Christene takes us on a treasure hunt to her favorite neighborhood shops, Mafalda and Bright Lyons (Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn) where she never has to dig to find gold.

Our last giveway of the season is a good one - you can enter for the chance to win Christene's hand-picked vintage gifts (pictured below), including a set of Alexander Girard printed pillows (from Bright Lyons) and a rich burgundy eel skin clutch (from Mafalda) along with a $50 Loeffler Randall Gift Card.  Just enter your email address on our facebook page.

Photos by Anna Moller

Job: Editor-in-Chief, Refinery29

Lives in: Brooklyn, NY (Boerum Hill, to be exact)

Star sign: Sagittarius

Wearing: LR Edith platform pump in yellow snake along with vintage Celine pants, a vintage silk button-down, and the first black coat is by Dries van Noten, the second fur-collared coat is vintage from Mafalda.

What do you like best about your Edith pumps?

Christene Barberich: They are high AND super comfortable. I am just not one of those girls who can forfeit walking...I always just have too much running around to do!

Describe your style philosophy.

CB: I wouldn't say I really have one. My style is so dependent on my mood, one day it can be very pared back and minimal, the next a bit over-the-top. I suppose  the one thing that connects everything I wear is vintage. I am very selective in the vintage that I buy...it's never tatty or old-looking. It has to be impeccable quality and feel very modern. I think that's the trick to integrating good vintage into your wardrobe without looking like you're stuck in the past.

What is your favorite decade for design?

CB: Hands-down, the early '70s. Everything from that period really speaks to me, from the music and the high-waisted flares to the cars and modernist houses. If I could wear long flowing maxi "hostess" dresses every day of my life, I'd be a very happy girl.

Do you venture out to places like Mafalda or Bright Lyons looking for specific items or do you like to keep an open mind?

CB: Always keep an open mind. I find that when I go in search of something specific like the perfect denim vest or an Arts + Crafts book, I never find it. I love to be surprised...for me, that's what makes shopping at vintage and second-hand stores so much fun.

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Your impossible dream — any specific item that you would kill to get your hands on?

CB: Well Paul Bright from Bright Lyons has got me newly obsessed with vintage Alexander Girard wall hangings, so I've been searching for one of those but in the right red/orange/pink/colorway. And as far as fashion goes, I'm currently hunting down the perfect pair of black leather loafers. But I will probably buy those new since I plan on wearing them for a long, long time.

Junk vs. Gem — what are your rules for assessing vintage?

CB: It's really important to inspect an item inside and out. I never buy anything that seems to be falling apart or disintegrating in any critical area, like a lining or interior frame. If a repair seems simple, and I really love the piece, I'll buy it. If I'm on the fence about something, usually with price, I always ask myself, "Will I never find this piece again?" If the answer is yes, I always buy it. I can't bare to have regret later on that I missed out on something epic like a Rudi Gernreich bra and let it slip through my fingers.

Any tips for festive dressing?

CB: You know, I read a quote from Chris Benz in a women's magazine recently where he was saying it was really predictable to wear a party dress to a party. And I couldn't agree more. Holiday dressing is all about FEELING festive through your makeup, accessories, the details. You just trim yourself and keep the outfit part simple and elegant. My idea of the perfect holiday outfit is a pair of killer palazzo pants, a shimmery tank-top, very high-heels, a bright red lip and maybe some vintage rhinestone earrings or a wide gold cuff. Divine.

Where is your favorite place to spend the holidays?

CB: Home. Going out of town during the holidays is much too stressful for me...I like to be quiet, clean and organize from the year passed, and get ready to start the new year on fresh footing...that's generally my holiday M.O.

Personal slogan, words to live by, daily mantra?

CB: "Even in dreams, good works are not wasted." A quote from Pedro Calderon de la Barca. It reminds me that I must always be trying to be a better me, a better friend, a better creative person and leader, a better partner. I never want to rest on my laurels. Ever.

Christene's Gift Guide:

What kinds of gifts do you like to give?

CB: Gifts that take someone by surprise and offer something they didn't even know they wanted. I am also partial to small and sentimental, too.

What kind of gifts do you like to receive?

CB: All of the above. And I love homemade cards. My fiance is really good at those.

What is your critereia for choosing a gift?

CB: If I feel like I would love to get it, then I know I'm on the right track. And I try never to be lazy in gift-giving. I get out there and make the effort to price compare and really find the GEM.

Your best gift-giving tip?

CB: For me, it's really fun to go to M + J Trimmings and find special ribbons and things for wrapping gifts. I have a short list of people who get gifts that are very specially wrapped, and I think making that little extra effort really makes a difference and warms the heart.

Fail-safe secret Santa gift?

CB: A vintage-but-mint book focused on a topic of interest. And I love an amazing vintage rhinestone broach or bracelet.

Appropriate re-gifts?

CB: Makeup sets (unopened, of course), wine and anything else that seems like it just might not have found the right home (yet).

Charities or service-minded gifts?

CB: I always donate to Mercy Corps and the ASPCA...all those beautiful animals out there need some hope for the holidays, too.

Eleanor Friedberger has always stolen the show, according to us. But when the sister half of LR favorite band The Fiery Furnaces debuted her irresistable first solo album, Last Summer, earlier this year, it sealed the deal. We knew that we had to meet. For the third installation in our holiday DIY series, we catch up with Eleanor, half-way between Austin and Lisbon, in the place she now calls home - Brooklyn.  She tells us a bit about how she gets into the holiday spirit along with tips for crafting her ultimate gift - the mix tape.  "If anyone takes the time to make me a mix tape and there's even one song I like or connect with, it's a great gift. It's still how I discover new music, and it's the best way."

Enjoy Eleanor's wintery soundtrack below, her favorite songs to cozy up to the fireplace with, compiled just for us.  And if you are as big of a fan as we are, you will want to enter for the chance to win a collection of winter records selected by Eleanor, along with a signed copy of her Last Summer LP and a $50 Loeffler Randall Gift Card. Visit our facebook page to enter.

Photos by Anna Moller

Job: Musician

Lives in: Brooklyn, NY

Star sign: Virgo

Wearing: Nadia espadrille bootie

Describe your style / What do you like to wear when performing, traveling and relaxing?

Eleanor Friedberger: It tends to get very jumbled, but I definitely go through phases of wearing the same thing over and over again — that usually centers around one or two favorite pieces. I recently bought a black jacket with embroidered stars and moons that I've been wearing both on and off stage. I'm typing this from an airport lounge and right now I'm wearing something I'd never wear on stage — actually that's not true — I've worn this sweater on stage once. I bought it at the Brooklyn Flea. I'm also wearing Keds, which I've been wearing on stage lately instead of my usual cowboy boots. I bought them to go with a white tuxedo I wore in a video for the song "Heaven." They go with everything. And I'm wearing leggings I just bought on sale at Creatures of Comfort, the day after Thanksgiving. I went around to a few of my favorite stores for the sales; something I haven't done in years. And under the sweater I've got on a Ben Sherman striped shirt I stole from my ex-boyfriend. This is the first time I've flown in leggings. Why have I been depriving myself this comfort for so many years?!

What do you like best about the Nadia espadrille bootie?

EF: They make me very tall! And I love the contrast of textures; the unconventional espadrille heel with the leather.

What are your favorite cities to perform in and why?

EF: We just played in London and Lisbon last week; definitely two of my favorite places to play. London feels very familiar and Lisbon feels very exotic. Both venues were special; an old, working men's club in London and an ornate, mirrored room with frescoed ceilings in Lisbon. The space certainly helps the mood.

Who do you collaborate with?

EF: I've been collaborating with my brother in the Fiery Furnaces for about 10 years, but I wrote my new album on my own. But writing is just the first step and there are new collaborations at every step along the way. I recorded with a producer, Eric Broucek and now I'm playing with a new band, rearranging the songs to play live, and luckily, that changes from show to show. Collaborating is the fun part of playing music; it's never a lonely job!

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Does your creative process differ from one song to another?

EF: Absolutely, but I almost always start with words and work out the music afterwards. I wrote most of this album on a keyboard, which was new for me, and lately I've been writing songs on a guitar just so they'll be easier to play live with the band. It's important to keep changing your method and to keep playing new games with yourself.

Your album is full of New York stories — where is left for you to explore in this city?

EF: Everywhere! Whenever I come home from being on tour, even if it's just for a week, I feel like my neighborhood has changed. I still haven't taken the new East River ferry and that stops just a few blocks from my house. I get a strange amount of pleasure out of running the most mundane errands on my bike. I went to a Middle Eastern grocery store on Atlantic Avenue for the first time recently and got caught in the rain; even that felt like an exotic trip. This week I'm hoping to play tennis at the indoor courts in Flushing, maybe try a new restaurant after. It's good to feel like a tourist at home.

Favorite NYC spots during the holidays?

EF: I'm still a sucker for walking around Central Park, watching dogs and bundled-up kids. But even Greenpoint is doing its part; there are giant snowflakes hanging from intersections. It's hard not to get swept up in the holiday spirit when there are Christmas trees for sale on nearly every corner.

Do you collect anything?

EF: I try hard not to collect anything because touring provides such a great temptation to shop. I found an old matchbook collection of my grandmother's; it's quite large considering they're all from early 80s South Florida restaurants. I'm not doing a great job of keeping that one going, but I do have a decent collection of 70s interior design books and a stupid amount of second-hand clothes.

What are your favorite sounds?

EF: I like New York street noises that I can recognize without looking out the window: the sound of the Fed Ex truck's engine idling, the wrought iron gate squeaking open with the mailman, the thud of the unwanted coupons thrown on the stoop, the knife-sharpener ringing his bell down my street; I've never taken my knives out to be sharpened but I like to know that he's there.

What are the elements of a great mix tape?

EF: I like to have some kind of theme with my mixes. I think this one should be called "Sitting by the fire with a bottle of wine, either alone or with a loved one, ignoring the impending responsibilities that come along with the holidays." But totally random is fine too. If anyone takes the time to make me a mix tape and there's even one song I like or connect with, it's a great gift. It's still how I discover new music, and it's the best way.

How do you get into the holiday spirit?

EF: Alcohol, cooking and a few decorations usually do the trick. Even something as simple as throwing down a red tablecloth or putting out a few extra candles helps. But since I'm going home to Chicago this year, I won't be buying a tree; hopefully my mom will wait for me to help decorate hers. We'll eat and drink far too much, and most likely, feel very jolly.

What kinds of gifts do you like to give?

EF: I try to be pragmatic with family and frivolous with friends.

What kinds of gifts do you like to receive?

EF: Surprises are the best kind, or anything sentimental or homemade. I think that as I get older, I'm easier to please. Everyone seems to be so busy all the time, I'm shocked when someone thinks of me. Gifts from abroad are always nice; my friend always brings me salt from wherever she goes. And my mom knits me a sweater every year; it's pretty hard to beat that.

More Eleanor Friedberger:

www.eleanorfriedberger.com

www.twitter.com/EleanorOnly

For the second feature in our holiday DIY series, we visit one of our favorite collaborators and good friend, Jenny Mörtsell. Illustrator, photographer, DJ and crafter, Jenny finds treasure everywhere. We photographed Jenny in her Brooklyn apartment / studio where she shows off her cozy LR Serena booties and presents a project she made just for us — a set of illustrated gift boxes that you can download, print, and construct right here.

A fan of one-of-a-kind homemade gifts, Jenny gave us her original set of finished boxes, signed by the artist and filled with unique surprises.  This week you can enter for the chance to win Jenny's boxes along with a $50 Loeffler Randall Gift Card.  Visit our facebook page to enter.

Photos by Anna Moller [click to enlarge]

Job: Illustrator etc.

Lives in: Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY

Star sign: Sagittarius

Wearing: Right now a pair of old Levi's 505, a striped t-shirt and mismatched socks

What do you like best about your Serena booties?

Jenny Mörtsell: I chose them because they're fancy but not too dainty. I like shoes that make you feel pretty but also work in a dive bar or on a dance floor.

Tell us about your project:

JM: I did 3 different templates for gift boxes with drawings of bows, pearls and peppermint candies.

What was your inspiration? What kinds of gifts would you put in the boxes?

JM: I'm a big fan of Japanese paper crafts, gift wrapping and their tradition to always bring you a gift when you visit someone's house. I would put some homemade toffee or a necklace or a usb stick with a playlist in there!

What kinds of gifts do you like to receive?
JM: Something homemade or something with cats on it.

Where do you shop for craft supplies — any secret spots you care to share?

JM: Just my local paper store and hardware store. A good tip is to look on ebay for lots of vintage craft supplies.

Whose crafty careers do you admire?

JM: Anyone who takes time to do it! I think crafting should be enjoying creating something with your own hands, not necessarily a perfect finished product. I think most kids got it right from the start.

Describe your perfect winter weekend:
JM: At my parent's cabin in the Swedish countryside, going for a snowy walk in the forest, then listening to my Dad's old Bob Dylan records by the open fire, eating clementines and playing board games.

What is your favorite NYC spots during the holidays?

JM: No Name bar in Greenpoint because it's always so cozy in there. And going uptown to look at the store window displays.

Most of the drawings we have seen by you are of beautiful young men and women — are a lot of them friends? As your friends age, will your subjects age as well?

JM: Haha that's an interesting question. Yes, a lot of them are my friends. When I get older maybe I'll start a career drawing my friend's kids and pets!

Describe your winter look:

JM: Fisherman sweater, Lovikka Mittens, a beret and a crocheted ruffled wool collar my mom made me last winter. 100% wool is key.

What does your winter playlist sound like?

JM: Karen Dalton, The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, Michael McDonald, Nicolas Jaar, and M83.

Your twitter is funny. What makes you laugh?

JM: A good pun always makes me laugh.

Your tumblr is amazing. Which is your favorite decade?

JM: I don't have a favorite decade but I like when decades reinterpret other decades, like the 90's version of hippie culture etc. Or even better, our version of the 90's version of hippie culture.

More Jenny Mörtsell:

www.jennysportfolio.com

www.facebook.com/jennymortselldraws

www.twitter.com/jennymortsell

njeyns.tumblr.com

www.flickr.com/photos/njeyns/

Loeffler Randall is getting into the holiday spirit with the creative women that inspire us. To kick off the giving season, we are thrilled to share with you a series of holiday DIY projects and giveaways. First we visit Denise Porcaro, dynamic owner of Flower Girl, for some expert tips on decking the halls. Denise has been crafting unique arrangements for diverse clients such as Ralph Lauren, Chateau Marmont, New York Public Library, Stella McCartney and Earnest Sewn, the last of which Flower Girl has shared space with since 2007. Passionate about all things beautiful, Denise gave us a lesson on creating her own version of a holiday wreath, one built of lush succulents that can live all year long.

We love nothing more than crafting our own decorations and gifts and are excited to share this project with you.  To create your own succulent wreath, follow Denise's instructions here.

Each Monday for the next four weeks we will be giving away a very special gift to one lucky facebook fan.  This week you can enter for the chance to win Denise's finished "living wreath" along with a $50 Loeffler Randall Gift Card.  Visit our facebook page to enter.

Photos by Anna Moller [click to enlarge]

Job: Owner of Flower Girl

Lives in: Chelsea, NY

Star sign: Pisces

Wearing: Riley in elephant

What do you like best about your Riley boots?

Fashionable yet great to run around the city in.

What does the Flower Girl wear to work?

Depends on which hat Flower Girl is wearing that day, do I have a business meeting uptown, or am I e-mailing from my home office with my dogs that day?

Where do you find inspiration for your designs when nothing is blooming in NYC?

On the contrary, I think things are always blooming in this amazing city, if not here, then where? I pull inspiration from food, fashion, art, my fabulous friends and loved ones. They are always blooming even if the branches aren't for a few months of the year. I'm constantly inspired by this frenetic city.

Tell us about your project:

It's a living succulent wreath. With there being more of a heightened awareness of being green and our carbon-footprints, as well as everyone being drawn to succulents in general, I turned it into a living wreath that works for the holiday season and beyond - too pretty!

Are drugstore wreaths and potted poinsettias the things of Flower Girl's nightmares are made of?

Not necessarily, to each his own. A million poinsettias clustered together can be eye-catching. It's usually an awful bow that ruins wreaths, I think less is more. So, remove the bow (unless cheesy-Christmas is your theme this year, which can totally be cool too).

Is scent an element you consider when putting together an arrangement? What scents bring about special holiday memories?

I am a huge nostalgic, scent-memory chick. Clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, evergreen - the obvious heavy-hitter scents of the season - as well as garlic and oil. I grew up Italian-American, so the holidays involve a lot of cooking, and I am lucky to have amazing chefs in my family. Each dish begins the same way...

Best gift you've ever given? Favorite gift you've ever received?

I'm going there (it's the holiday season so I feel like I can!)... love, security, time, togetherness.

How do you relax on winter weekends in New York?

I love to get out of the city when I can.  I head out to the surrounding part of NY state where nature walks and fireplaces provide true relaxation. If I stick around town I love to grab a coffee and head to the flea market on 25th street. I also love to "brunch" as an activity, or cook a meal (totally relaxes me!) and cozy up to a movie with the man and the dogs.

Your story is very inspiring and you seem to recognize and appreciate the pleasure of doing what you love for work. Do you have a personal slogan, words to live by or a daily mantra?

Do what you love, be honest and true, focus on you... not in a selfish way. Focus on you and you will share and be giving of a better you to those that you are lucky enough to love.

For more Flower Girl:

www.flowergirlnyc.com

flowergirlnyc.tumblr.com

twitter.com/flowergirlnyc

facebook.com/flowergirlnyc

Here in New York, we get positively giddy for that rare November day where the mercury creeps up above the 60 degree mark. As the LR resort collection rolls in, we take it as a sign that it's time to plan that tropical vacation. Some of our friends are luckier when it comes to weathering winter, namely Dena Smolek, the SoCal based writer and founder of fashion blog Tres Chic Now. Never in need of an excuse to hit the beach, we turn to Dena for her picks for this resort season which she delivers along with some much-needed rays of sunshine.

I cannot complain too much about needing a vacation, as I am one of the lucky ones who call SoCal home. I may need to throw a cozy sweater over my maxi dress but I still have the luxury of being able to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Malibu while much of the country is shoveling snow. Still, Loeffler Randall's resort collection has me dreaming about a tropical mid-winter getaway.

Sasha: When I first laid eyes on these, I had visions of catching a flight to Cabo with a bag full of maxi skirts and dresses. Plus, the height of this wedge is totally doable for a flat-loving girl who only wears heels ever-so often. I could definitely see myself slipping these on for lunch with the hubs at a beach-side resort.

Luca: Perfection for my LA lifestyle! I tend to play favorites with sandals and know these would go into heavy rotation. This will be a fantastic and practical choice for my soon-to-be planned trip back to Hawaii next year with my little ones and the husband. (Hint hint, love.)

And then there's the Neel...it takes a lot for me to fall head over heels for a shoe that isn't flat...but I am in LOVE! These heels have me wishing for a babysitter to watch the kiddos so I can plan a date night, including cocktails, dinner and of course showing off these gorgeous shoes.

Loeffler Randall's newest collection fits my SoCal wardrobe requirements perfectly, however these three, all of which are equally beautiful, have me day dreaming about packing my bags. Time to start planning those beach getaways.

What inspired you to start Tres Chic now? And how has it evolved?

Dena Smolek: My love of fashion, shopping and beautiful things! After contributing to amazing pulications like Daily Candy and Refinery29, I decided I wanted something that reflected my own style, so I launched a blog (way back in '06), which eventually became Tres Chic Now. My obsession with Facebook and Twitter (and Tumblr, Pinterest ... the list goes on), led to the launch of my social media agency Tres Chic Media, which is also fashion + beauty focused.

If you started another project outside of fashion what would it be?

DS: Wow, not having something to do with fashion seems highly unlikely. But I am also a music junkie (currently obsessed with The Drums, The Kills, Lana Del Rey, Washed Out and St. Vincent), so it would probably be something down that route.

How has being a mom changed or contributed to your perspective on style?

DS: My personal style has always been laid-back luxe so it hasn't changed too much. I never carry a diaper bag because my oversized totes do the trick just fine. I live in luxe tees and jeans, which totally work for mommy-hood. But you won't catch me in heels unless I'm sans babes. Love my flats!

Describe your dream vacation.

DS: Being in SoCal means that Hawaii and Mexico are easy destinations and I'm planning to do both again sometime in the coming year with the fam. No matter what, my ideal vaca has to include a beach. Dream vacation would be taking a few months and jetting around the world to various beaches.

What is your favorite vacation activity?

DS: Relaxing on the beach and lounging at the pool and spas are musts for a good vaca in my book.

What is your favorite everyday activity?

DS: Shopping! Just kidding. I'm so fortunate that my work is a lot of fun and I can be a working-at-home mama. I'm thankful to have a great balance of work and play that allows me to spend time with my family. And I love my job! What more can you ask for?

What are your vacation essentials?

DS: A great bag that can also hit the beach, SuperGoop sunblock, iPhone and iPad (so I can stay connected), casual-chic tees and cardis, dresses and skirts that are easy to pack and even easier to wear, lip gloss with SPF, a pair of flat sandals and wedge heel.