FASHION WEEK RETREAT

I've always been that guy that is brutally honest, so I felt it was my civic duty to give you a REAL look inside New York Fashion Week. While NYC has it's metropolitan charm, the weather here is HORRENDOUS and my schedule has been non-stop. 

When you endure the elements and go from show to show, all you want to do when you get home is rip off your wet clothes and slide into something comfortable and warm. In total, I’ve spent 22 days in New York City this month so when I came back from California last week, my UGG slippers had prime real estate in my suitcase.

I shot these in the penthouse of the Time Hotel after the Moncler Presentation. While the show didn't disappoint--it was hosted outside in Lincoln Square during a 12 degree wind storm. Several people have told me to think warm thoughts when I can't feel my toes and to be completely transparent with you--all I could think about was a solid UGG session before my next commitment. 

While I'm thankful for every experience that comes my way--New York City is too cold for me. #westcoastbestcoast 

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WEST COAST BEST COAST

After suffering through sub zero temperatures in New York last week I had to take a break and come home. 

While New York has it's charm, my soul is always depleted at the end of a trip. Every time i'm in the city, I feel like I never see the sun or have a moment of silence. As a native Angeleno, warmth and sunshine is part of my DNA.  I'm due to return to the east coast for fashion week on Thursday, leaving me with 4 days to catch up on my daily dose of vitamin D.

Thankfully, Los Angeles welcomed me with 80 degree weather. After touching down, I threw on my Teva Terra Float sandals and drove down to Laguna Beach to decompress. As hippy-dippy as it may sound, climbing through the coves and hearing the waves break under me made me feel like myself again.

For anyone seeking solace in Southern California, I highly recommend checking out West Beach or "Thousand Steps" as the locals call it. Definitely plan on taking a pair of Teva's so you can climb through the various coves without cutting your feet. 

New York Fashion Week: Men's

I'm currently on a flight from New York back to Los Angeles, sandwiched between a 34 year old aspiring author and a woman in her early 60's who passed out two minutes after take off.

After 11 unbearable days on the east coast, i'm flying back to California to take a breather. I'm due to return next week to resume what has become New York fashion month. While this marks my 8th fashion week, it was my first time attending the newly appointed men's week. 

In comparison to the traditional fashion week, I found that men's featured a lot of emerging talent and was a refreshing experience of brand discovery. While the usual suspects like Nautica, Coach and Calvin Klein stunned, I came home with a wish list of new designers to reach out to. The energy of men's week was also a lot more relaxed. The PR people at check-in where smiling, the circus outside the shows was tame and the line for open bar was short. What didn't change however, was the adrenaline of late nights and early mornings in New York City. 

Garcia Velez Jacket/ Westward Leaning Sunglasses

Entering the Nautica Show with my friend Eric Jess

Jimmy Choo Backpack and Shoes

Hotel Hugo

Garcia Velez Presentation

American Express Gold Dinner 

Coach Presentation

Pensively, awaiting the arrival of an Uber. Jacket: 7 For All Mankind/ Hat: Rag & Bone / Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Hotel Hugo

Tommy Hilfiger Presentation

Vintage Gucci Coat/ Dior Sunglasses/ Christian Louboutin Loafers

The Business of Blogging

I first started blogging when I was in high school on livejournal.com. For me, it was a space to unleash my pre-teen angst and document the daily lives of my friends and I. Fast forward to present time and blogging has become a highly sought after career path. 

Like any formal business, it's important to take a strategic approach to blogging and utilize tools and technologies that make your day-to-day workflow easier. Typically, creatives have several revenue streams and keeping track of payment and invoices can get nauseating. One app that i've found to be extremely helpful is the Square Cash App.

I like the Cash app more than Venmo and Paypal simply because funds are available instantly. It's like real cash, but better. Additionally, the Cash app offers each user a unique $cashtag that allows you to receive funds from clients that don't use the app themselves. 

When all is said and done, time work is time paid. There is nothing worse than waiting around for a check to arrive, which is another reason I love this app. I always have anxiety about paying people on time, because I know how it feels to wait for said check. I genuinely use this app on the daily to pay my photographer and web developer--alleviating any and all stress on my end.