Urban Chic

Hey guys! I figured I would end this look book with a different kind of look. As many of you know I am a huge Adidas fan. I love the look of most of their gear and most importantly the steps they are continuously taking as a company to conduct business as ethically and transparently as possible. While it is true that they still have some work to do in this area Adidas has been stepping up their game and is much better than many other athletic brands. ( For more info refer to the links at the end of the post.) 

I really wanted to create a more athleisure look with these Adidas sweatpants and wedge sneakers. I decided to pair the look with this crop top and pop on a track jacket as well. I would say that this look could easily transition into fall especially in warm areas.

So, what do you guys think of the look? I feel like it has some urban, hip hop vibes going on hence the title of the post.

Outfit Details

Top: Charlotte Russe ( Thrifted) ( USA made)

Jacket: Puma ( Thrifted)

Sweatpants: Adidas (Thrifted)

Sneakers: Adidas ( Thrifted)

More on Transparency and Ethics

https://www.hrw.org/report/2017/04/20/follow-thread/need-supply-chain-transparency-garment-and-footwear-industry

https://projectjust.com/brand_adidas/

https://goodonyou.eco/nike-vs-adidas-whos-more-ethical/

Nothing but Blue Skies

  Hey there Stash of Sass let us continue our refusal to except that summer is fading and fall is quickly approaching with yet another summer look! ( For those of you who like fall fashion and think I'm crazy I added a jacket to this look. There, are ya happy now? I'm slowly admitting that there will soon be a need for one. Key word here is slowly.) I have had this dress from bebe in my closet for about six years now and I always find myself grabbing it to match with a pair of wedges or heels during the warmer months. It is because it has been such a summer staple that I chose to feature it in this little look book series. The wedges are from Yves Saint Laurent and are the most comfortable wedges I own. Maybe it is because of that comfort that I was finally able to let go a bit in front of the camera and have fun with this shoot. ( Not that the other shoots weren't fun but I just felt like this time around I was more natural in front of the camera.) I in no shape, way or form claim to be an outstanding model but I think the shots from this shoot are kind of fun.   Hopeful you guys agree. 

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Outfit Details

Dress: bebe ( USA made)

Clutch: Ecote (Thrifted)

Wedges: Yves Saint Laurent ( Thrifted)

Jacket: rue 21 ( Thrifted)

Summer Goddess

Hello sassy people of the world. Some of you already know this but as far as I'm concerned when it come to climate the warmer the better. ( No, this is not in reference to global warming or climate change or what ever everyone is calling these days. I am not a fan of that! I'm talking season and weather people!) Therefore as summer begins to come to a close here on the east coast I find myself holding on tight to the last days of summer. While everyone else is excited about new fall candles, pumpkin themed coffee beverages, fall fashion and cooler weather I am still rocking my summer dresses and pretending like fall is still a few months away. (Seriously guys, I'm in denial. I was sad it was raining today and I couldn't go lay out by the pool. Clearly I'm still in a summer state of mind.) So in honor of my denial of fall these next few post will feature looks that are still very summerish for those of you who are like minded and see no reason to switch your wardrobe over to fall just yet. 

With this in mind I felt like it was best to start this end of summer ( it hurt to write that!) series with a bold, bright look that screams summer. (Hence the title Summer Goddess. No, I'm not that arrogant. I'm not insinuating that I look like a goddess just that the goddess theme inspired the outfit.) I love how this dress looks so dramatic but feels comfortable and the strappy glitter heels match the theme perfectly!

So, what do you guys think? Is everyone to quick to move on to fall or is it well deserved? Also let me know if you guys would like me to film a make up tutorial for this look!

Outfit Details

Dress: Sky (Thrifted) Still had the tags on it!!

Headband: DSW

Shoes: Steve Madden

Earrings: Target

Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week: Irregardless

Blauer Zweigelt

(and Jeff)

Crispy Crab Rangoons

Portobello Mushroom Stack

Beet and Goat Cheese Crostini 

Chile Relleno

Chocolate Truffle

Vegetarian Menu

Hello all, this is the final post in the Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week series. I chose to end my food journey at Irregardless. This was my first time going to this restaurant and I was not sure what to expect. I had heard great things about this place but for one reason or another had not yet had the opportunity to dine with them. I was really happy to see that they offered two different menus for their restaurant week specials one was vegetarian and the other featured various meat dishes. They also featured gluten free options. ( I love having plenty of options.) While I am not a vegetarian myself I did find that the vegetarian menu appealed to me more that the meat one so all of the dishes I chose came from that menu. I started with the Crispy Crab Rangoons which were pretty good, then for the entree I opted for the Portobello Mushroom Stack and I finished with the vegan Chocolate Truffle. We also decided to get a bottle of wine for the table and chose an Austrian wine that none of us had tried before. The mushroom stack was surprisingly filling and the flavors paired nicely with the wine and the dessert was to die for!  Overall I loved dining at Irregardless. Not only were the food and wine great but they also had live music! The waitstaff was very knowledgeable and the service was great. It was a great place to go and catch up with old friends. I will definitely be revisiting this local restaurant!

Casual Dinner Outfit featuring Raleigh Denim Jeans!

Hey guys, I wanted to take a quick break from food posts to show you all what I wore out to dinner at Irregardless. I really wanted to go for a more casual look for dinner because it was Sunday Funday and I didn't feeling like looking quite so dressy. I also didn't want to be overdressed ( or under dressed for that matter) for dinner and I felt this look was a good in between! (Sidenote: This look is also a good transitional look as we go into fall.)  I have been living in these Raleigh Denim jeans I picked up at their sample sale earlier this summer. Any time I feel unsure of what to wear I reach for these jeans. They are the perfect weight and wash for summer. I absolutely love how they maintain their shape! (so unlike most jeans on the market!) The craftsmanship and attention to detail that the Raleigh Denim team put into the making of each pair of their jeans is amazing and each of the times I have stopped by the Curatory the customer service has been outstanding. If any of you (ladies or gents) are looking to invest in a pair of high quality jeans that are built to last I would highly recommend purchasing from Raleigh Denim. You can either drop by the Curatory (319 W Martin St, Raleigh, NC 27601) if you are from the Raleigh area or check them out online ( https://raleighdenimworkshop.com/) I promise you won't be disappointed!

Stay tuned for more looks featuring pieces from Raleigh Denim pieces as well as more versatile looks as we transition into fall!


Outfit Details

Shoes: Manolo Blahnik ( Thrifted)

Jeans: Raleigh Denim

Clutch: Ecote ( Thrifted)

Button up Shirt: Lilly Pulitzer ( Thrifted)

Western Belt: Thrifted

Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week: bu•ku

Tahitian Coconut-Lime Gazpacho

Ethiopian Steak Tartare

Kinoko Somen

Pan Seared Monkfish

Ichigo Daifuku Trifle

Hello Stash of Sass! As promised we will continue our magical food adventure for Downtown Raleigh Restaurant week. Our next stop is bu•ku. bu•ku is known for their global street food and is home of the crème brûleé trilogy. (Which we will have to talk about another time because it was not part of the restaurant week special and therefore is not a part of this particular food post.) I will insert the link to the restaurant week menu bu•ku featured here for you all to reference in case you are interested. 

http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/restaurant-week/menu/54

To start off I ordered the sangria with the Tahitian Coconut-Lime Gazpacho. Both were amazing! The gazpacho had crab with cucumber, tomatoes and onions in it and the coconut flavor was not too overpowering which is something that I find often happens with coconut dishes. I loved the sangria and featured a dark but cute image of it being poured in boomerang on my Instagram page. (https://www.instagram.com/p/BYHyTEJj9Gs/?taken-by=adrimonima)

For the main course I chose the Kinoko Somen which featured Buckwheat soba noodles with an array of mushrooms, corn and scallions. This portion was huge! ( and no, that's not a complaint!) I had enough for dinner and lunch the next day. The soup had a kick too it but it was not too strong. (This is coming from someone who hates spicy things!) Then for dessert I got the Ichigo Daifuku Trifle. This dessert consisted of strawberries, dark chocolate, sponge cake and azuki bean custard. Honestly, this dessert was not my favorite. I didn't care for the way the flavors mixed and the texture bothered me. I think it may have been the bean custard mixed with the chocolate that I didn't care for. I think I also expected it to be sweeter which is my fault because I should have read the menu more carefully ( I just saw dark chocolate and got excited!) seen the azuki bean custard which is typically not very sweet by American standards. As a whole I really enjoyed dining at bu•ku! This was my second time eating there and each time the service and food have been outstanding! I will definitely be returning and when I do you all can expect a post featuring the crème brûleé trilogy!