Thursday, February 26, 2015

TROLLEY STATION

Thursday, February 26, 2015

 



Photos by Henry Young
I WAS WEARING:
JUMPSUIT | Topshop 
HEELS | DVF
EARRINGS | Topshop
PURSE | Vintage

This past week has been a bit eventful, including the day I ran in the middle of the trolley tracks trying to capture these photos. Highly dangerous (and possibly illegal), the wind was also no help (exhibit A- my hair). Nonetheless, it was a fun 10 minutes while it lasted. 
What I am wearing: this culotte mini jumpsuit was a total standout while I was out shopping late last week at Fashion Valley. I didn't really know how to feel about it, but I think it might be a pass in my book. What do you think of this trend?
Let's follow each other on Insta @esmirnatapia 
xx

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

LOOK MAGAZINE

Tuesday, February 24, 2015





I WAS WEARING:
JACKET | Vintage
TOP | PacSun
FLORAL SKIRT | Urban Outfitters
LACE SKIRT | Forever 21
HEELS | Steve Madden


I had the pleasure of working with LOOK Magazine London for these shots, which will be featured in one of their future issues as part of a small collaboration for fashion month, which is about to be over (Milan Fashion Week starts tomorrow)! It was a quirky little get-up, this look, but I think that overall it is a result of not knowing what to wear and just piling it up. 
I hope you have an amazing rest of your week! xx

Monday, February 23, 2015

SATURDAY MORNING

Monday, February 23, 2015



Photos by Alex Salcedo
I WAS WEARING:
TOP | Topshop
SKIRT | Topshop
PURSE | thrifted
HEELS | Aldo

You might have noticed something different- yes! I have finallyyy redesigned the blog! I had been thinking about changing it up a bit for a few months now, and I just kind of decided to throw myself into finding a designer with similar visions as mine and here we are! Hope you like it! There are a few categories that are new to this site (lifestyle & advice), and they were created based on new topics I'd really like to get into. For now though, I bring you this outfit, shot this past Saturday in Coronado. It was a bit on the chilly side (San Diego weather hardly disappoints!), but you can't tell I'm freezing in these photos...right? ;) Anyway, I spotted this skort at Topshop the day before and lucky me, they were having a HUGE clearance sale, so I grabbed this top and unexpectedly, it matched perfectly. What do you think?
Let's follow each other on social media! Get at me on all my platforms on your right! 
xx

Thursday, February 19, 2015

WHAT A VIEW

Thursday, February 19, 2015







Photos by Alex Salcedo
I WAS WEARING:
DRESS | Forever 21
JACKET | Dillard's
BOOTS | *Courtesy of Missguided

Last weekend, Valentine's Day to be exact, Alex & I were roaming around downtown and ended up near Hillcrest, but not before parking the car and snapping these shots with a view to die for. We were near the airport, so the airplanes were literally above us. It's days like these that make me think about how lucky we are that we live in San Diego. Nothing like an eighty degree day near the end of the winter season. 
Follow me around in more adventures on my Instagram @esmirnatapia
xx

Monday, February 16, 2015

DOWNTOWN

Monday, February 16, 2015







Photos by Alex Salcedo
I WAS WEARING:
ROMPER | NBD
HEELS | DVF
WRISTLET | Marc by Marc Jacobs

At last. The gorgeous romper I have been keeping all to myself is making its debut! Ugh, it is so incredibly amazing- side boob and all. The lace trim and the way it is cut out from the back took my love for it to a deeper level, as dramatic as it sounds. I had thought about pairing it with my Mini Mac from Rebecca Minkoff, but I think this wristlet is the perfect example of what to take to a night out. What do you think? And don't even get me started on the color. This is one article of clothing that will be in my wardrobe for a very long time. 
Let's follow each other on Instagram @esmirnatapia

Hope your Tuesday is as chic as ever! xx

TAKING ON MONDAY

"If there is no struggle, there is no process." - Fredrick Douglass

Welcome to Monday, the worst/best day of the week. Whatever your view on it is, that it will be. 


For some fucking reason I am feeling beyond inspired right now. Maybe it's this new Taco Bell Cinnabon Delights Iced Coffee I'm drinking (have you tried their Cinnabon donuts?!), or maybe it's the simple fact that I have a perspective on life and realize that I have no other choice- I HAVE TO GO TO WORK, I am not sure. What inspires you?!

Don't let Monday kick your ass. Grab a few cups of coffee instead.
xx

Sunday, February 15, 2015

CAPE

Sunday, February 15, 2015



Photos by Alex Salcedo
I WAS WEARING:
DRESS | Nasty Gal
CLUTCH | *Courtesy of MMS Design Studio
BOOTS | Nordstrom (old)

I have had this dress for what seems an eternity, until I finally decided to use it on a day out. I was heading to a date, and it turned heads wherever I went. I have to be honest- capes didn't really grab my attention until I saw it on the runways about two seasons ago, especially because of my height, but Nasty Gal changed my mind. I love the way a simple cut out feature can make such a statement! What do you think? Are you a fan or not? And what about this electric cobalt purse? It is such a beautiful colorblock contrast that I couldn't not include it with my ensemble! 
In other news, have you been watching any of the NYFW shows? Have you seen any chic new trends or designer collections that you've fallen in love with? Personally, I just swooned over Mara Hoffman! I mean, that total bohemian vibe sealed the deal for me. 
Let me know what you think by commenting below or on my Instagram @esmirnatapia!
Happy Sunday/new week, babes!
xx

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

BLOGGER'S BLOCK

Wednesday, February 11, 2015
 (Above) Getting a chic new organizer & reading about one of the most successful babes in the industry is a sure way to get your spirits up. Anything can happen! 
(Below) Make some snazzy new business cards and promote yourself everywhereeeee! This is another way to get randoms to look at your blog! Post them anywhere and hand them to anyone- you never know who might have a proposition for you! 
 
I know that this isn't your typical post, but I have finally had an epiphany: to make this just more than a place where I post my outfits (aka try to make it more interesting). After a lot of research, I have decided to revamp the blog (something that I have had on my mind for a while now), with new categories and who knows, even a YouTube channel (and no, not the kind you made when you were 14 and taking video clips of your dog). This is more like an introductory post to the brand new "Platforms for Breakfast", without the new design just yet. I want a space where more people can connect with me and feel as if they are involved with 99.9% of my life. Throughout this process, and even now still, I have had a lot of what you might call "blogger's block"- or having a sense of being stuck trying to figure shit out. I even have those tough times where I believe that I should stop blogging altogether because sometimes I don't think it will get me anywhere.  I spend a lot of time planning outfits, driving around making Alex take my photos, editing, and running straight home on Sunday afternoons in order to prepare posts for the new week, and even then I don't think that is enough. But there's a voice that just keeps telling me to stick it out- make this my one hobby I keep making a commitment to, because let's face it, I don't know what else I could be doing with my time (or what I would be taking pictures of!) if it weren't this blog. It has come to my attention that though I may feel as if I am putting effort into my posts, I could be doing a lot better- hell, there are TONS of pages in last year's planner with ideas on different topics I have been wanting to write about and nothing has made it on here. So if I wasn't putting effort into my posts, why was I expecting anything in return? There are so many bloggers out there that may just post about what they're wearing and find almost immediate success, and that in a way is such a demotivation because I do the exact same thing and don't receive the same attention. At times I feel that my online "life" is strangely different than the one I actually lead, and that is actually a bit crazy for me because I don't intend for me to come out to people that way. I have decided to not let my inner demons get the best of me and do something about it instead. Instead of thinking that I don't have anything "cool" to tweet about, just tweet; reply to emails as soon as I can, get back and acknowledge those Facebook and Instagram comments (because if people have enough time to give me a compliment, the least I could do is thank them for it). Give good karma and get good karma back! ++

My solution to all of this madness? Feeling the same way? Read on.

STEP BACK & TAKE A BREATHER Just as it says. Close your eyes and think about why you're doing this in the first place. Get inspiration from everywhere you can and you will never feel this way again! 

RE-MOTIVATE YOURSELF Blog because it makes YOU happy, it makes you a better person, because you find motivation in making others feel amazing! Blogging should not have to be something that you HAVE TO do, rather instead, something that inspires YOU! 

FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE (LITERALLY) Where do you go to plan or blog? Is it your dinner table, the bathroom, or your balcony? Or is it that coffee shop down the street or alongside people on an outing to the beach? Find a place where you can think better and clearer and so many other ideas will come flowing to your head! 

SELF-DISCIPLINE Do you have a major party to go to Saturday but realized you still need to plan out your outfits for your photo session the next morning? Don't procrastinate and do that first! This goes along with planning down below. When you get into a routine where you know when and what day you'll be doing what, everything else will easily fall into place. Stuck in a routine? Switch things up and take a few days off to re-focus on fresh new ideas! Remember, it takes two weeks to make something a habit, so make it a good one!

PLAN & CONQUER  Buy a planner and outline your days- what day will you plan out your outfit? Edit and post? Do you need to contact your photographer/friend/etc. ahead of time so you have time to go around from place to place to take your photos? Having a schedule will help you infinitely when it comes to preparing for posts- you will know what you have to do and when. I also find that having a sort of key and highlighting in a variety of colors will help you pinpoint what are priorities and what's not. Also, take note of EVERYTHING. Did you cook up some yummy recipe last night? Or did you take a walk around the block and realized you liked how the sunset looked at that time? Snap a photo and take notes- this way you will always have some sort of content for your blog and not suffer from this writer's block "disease"! 

NEVER DOUBT YOURSELF It might sound crazy coming from me right now because currently I am still feeling the same way, but as I said, those voices aren't telling you to keep going for nothing. Just as I felt like giving up on the blogging world forever, something so great would happen- almost instantly! Keep going!

For all of those who take their time to read my blog, thank you. It's nice to know that I can entertain someone else other than Alex for once, lol!

Instagram me @esmirnatapia for other snippets of the new blog (coming SOON!) xx

PLATFORMS FOR BREAKFAST | by Esmirna Tapia
Blog design by Labinastudio.