A Mutual Crush

We were so surprised and thrilled when the Gap asked us to be part of their online magazine.  We were even more excited when we learned they'd be sending each of our little munchkins a pair of their awesome white skinny jeans for kids.  We had a blast styling these shots and we want the Gap to know... we have a crush on you right back.

Photos from "Blog Crush: The Style Collective"

Happy Birthday To Us!!

Today marks our first birthday and we can't believe how quickly it has gone by! 232 posts and more than 600 fans later we are still loving sharing our favorite finds with you. Thanks for being part of the fun!

Here are a few of our favorite posts from the past year...

How To Blow A Budget in Ten Ways - by guest Kate Prueher

Happiest of Birthdays - a tribute to our own Laura Weber

Guest Stylist Shannon Chapman - one of our most inspiring Q&A's

Bohemian Summer - our own Sybil Steele's gorgeous photography

Black Out - still one of our favorite design colors

Palm Springs Weekend - a must see and do list for any desert traveler

Thanks To All 500 of You - a huge milestone for us!

Guest Stylist - Stacey Angeles

A cross between Ann Curry, Chelsea Lately and Edie Sedgwick (her style icon by the way), Stacey is my Brooklyn-based cousin (by marriage but I am claiming her as family because she's super cool). She's one of the funniest gals I know and her adorable pixie good looks make me want to put her in my pocket and make her my little pet - she's too cute! I could go on but I think her self description says it best...


Stacey Angeles is director, producer and writer for the idiot box (recently working with Rachel Zoe on the Rachel Zoe Project). Anytime you see a fight break out on a reality show, she’s the one behind the camera encouraging it.

Stacey Angeles


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Who is your style icon?
Edie Sedgwick! I’ve always loved the look of black tights with short dresses. Now that I’ve regrettably chopped off my hair, I find myself re-appreciating her and pulling up pictures of her style because while she had a tomboyish quality, she managed to be extremely feminine.



What's playing on your iPod?
Oh the guilty pleasures I cannot dare say aloud. Who wants to admit they’re a fan of bands such as Erasure? But I recently saw Beirut in concert and can’t get enough of them right now. Makes being crammed under armpits in an overcrowded subway slightly tolerable.




What is the one item in your closet you cannot live without?
Well, I live in a loft and don’t have a closet. But one item I cannot live without is . . . jeans. Exciting, I know. My favorite pair I’m wearing out right now are my AG jeans.



Where is your favorite place in the world?
Outside – does that count as an answer?


What are you obsessing about owning right now?
My own apartment


What is the most used item in your makeup bag?
My Revlon tweezers. If I didn’t have them I’d be mistaken for Frida Kahlo.




What is your favorite neighborhood restaurant?
5 Leaves in Greenpoint, Brooklyn is amazing. Delicious menu and they play great records.



What is your necessary extravagance?
Traveling!! Even though I should probably be saving money instead, I try to leave the country twice a year for my sanity.



How do you define perfect happiness?
Happiness is being with your favorite people in life and laughing so hard that you lose control of your bladder . . . there would also have to be wine and puppies present.

Guest Stylist-Shannon Chapman

Shannon Chapman is your modern day Jane Goodall meets California babe. Smart, scientific and fashionable. Pretty much a win win across the board. She's my hero, my husbands hero and my kids hero because she is a brave teacher and researcher and yes she really does wear Chanel in the bush. When we stayed at her lodge in Zululand ridden with zebra pillows and safari chic, riding jeeps that brought back a nostalgia of watching Meryl Streep in Out of Africa, you couldn't help but desire a life less traveled. And the sundowners with the South African wine and some cheese.... you just can't beat the life. Shannon will laugh at me and say I'm the "least stylish of all of our friends"! But as I look at her, in the most beautiful of landscapes, with giraffes and zebras in her backyard, khakis and a natural setting that will blow your mind, I laugh. Because style is truly not about the latest bag or best city to dine in, style is about textures and visual richness, nature and all that inspires us and doing it with grace. She has this in spades. But oh, did I mention she also studies Cheetahs too? Probably the most fashionable and smartest feline of all... just like her.

Shannon Chapman

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Who is your style icon?

Angelina Jolie. The woman knows how to do casual. Gorgeous fabrics, neutral colors, and everything she wears fits her perfectly. Totally simple, yet feminine and sexy. She always looks stunning, but you can certainly see that she is foremost a mother and a humanitarian, and that, to me, is real style.

Images courtesy of Annie Leibovitz, and umm tabloids

What is the one item in your closet you cannot live without?

My Chanel sunglasses. My lifestyle means that most days I’m wearing “utilitarian” clothes…things I can get dirty or won’t rip if they snag on an acacia thorn… but the one little bit of glamour I can sneak into everyday is a fabulous pair of sunglasses. I am probably the only girl who works and lives in the African bush who wears designer sunglasses. And I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Where is your favorite place in the world?

My home in northern Zululand, South Africa.

Photos by S.S.

What are you obsessing about owning right now?

I know a house is a big thing to drool over, but I’m obsessed with The Homestead at Phinda Private Game Reserve. Dreaming of building our own place in the same style on our reserve… the ultimate in African safari luxury living.

What is the most used item in your makeup bag?

Dior’s Diorshow Mascara. Hands-down, the best mascara in the world. It actually curls your lashes and is very natural looking. If I want a bit more drama, I add a coat of Dior’s Black Out Mascara.

What is your favorite neighborhood restaurant?

I live in the middle of nowhere, so no neighbourhood restaurant here, but when I visit my sisters in Los Angeles my favourite place for my Mexican food fix is Hacienda del Rey. A real local’s place, authentic-style Mexican food with the best margaritas and enchiladas I’ve ever had. I get hungry just thinking about it.

What is your necessary extravagance?

South African wines. Locally-grown, world class wines at affordable prices. One of the biggest perks of living in South Africa. Our Method Cap Classique (SA’s champagne-style sparkler) and Pinotage (a spicy SA red varietal) are particularly brilliant.

How do you define perfect happiness?

Living your dream.

Photo by Shannon Chapman

A New Adventure

So today begins my temporary hiatus from The Style Collective. I am taking a few weeks off to focus on all things baby... final preparations, the eminent arrival, and exploring the world of new-mommy-hood. In my absence some special guest stylists will be helping me out, and Laura and Sybil have the rest covered.

I leave you with a few recent photos taken by our great friends Paula and Michael Luna of Luna Photo. Thanks guys, once again you've blown me away.

xoxoxoxo
-Leslie

Guest Stylist - Naomi Newirth

Naomi Newirth is one of our regular fashionistas visiting the island of Bali. She has a blessed life of an island girl with an unquenchable wanderlust. Don't forget to check out her new line - Acacia Swimwear. I have personally tried them on and they are SEXY and definitely make you feel good.

Naomi Newirth

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Who is your style icon?
I have a lot, but one is model, Daria Werbowy, I always pull off pictures of her from the web, and tear out of magazine pics, her style inspires me.






What's playing on your iPod?
There is a great song by Vanessa da Mata that I’m listening to right now. She collaborated on a song called Boa Sorte/Good Luck with Ben Harper.





What is the one item in your closet you cannot live without?
My bikinis of course! When I’m home, or in Bali, I live in them, so if I didn’t have one on hand at all times I would definitely feel incomplete.

From the Acacia Collection

Where is your favorite place in the world?
My favorite place in the whole world would have to be my home… MAUI! No place compares.






What are you obsessing about owning right now?
I recently saw a vintage Louis Vitton trunk that I’ve been thinking about ever since. Right now my mind is on traveling, I’m leaving for a week to go to Bali for 5 weeks and that trunk would sure come in handy!




I am also loving this handbag by Bird Handbags...

"One Night Stand" by Bird Handbags

What is the most used item in your makeup bag?
My Touche Eclat radiant touch by YSL





What is your favorite neighborhood restaurant?
Paia Fish Market in Maui... best ono burger in the whole world!






What is your necessary extravagance?
Traveling is a must…. experiencing new cultures and fashion. Traveling inspires me and makes me who I am.





How do you define perfect happiness?
Being home with family and friends. Sharing special places and special moments with the people in my life I most care about.

Guest Stylist - Tiffany English

You can't get a more worldly existence than Tiffany English, the director of Ware Malcomb, a design firm specializing in commercial real estate. Raised in Africa, Japan and India, she has an exotic style mixed with modern lines. We certainly wish we could have joined her on the Herman Miller tour!

Tiffany English

Who is your style icon?
Jessica Alba’s casual ‘mommy’ style and her classy dress up style. She can pull both off so easily!






What is the one item in your closet you cannot live without?
Seven for all Mankind Jeans






Where is your favorite place in the world?
Too many to name but if my family and friends are with me it could be anywhere!





What are you obsessing about owning right now?
Classic furniture pieces, I was lucky enough to be invited to the Herman Miller furniture factory in Michigan just recently and was able to see original sketches from Charles and Ray Eames and other fabulous classic furniture designers and I want to fill my home with all of them.

Eames - La Chaise Chair


Arne Jacobsen - Egg Chair


Nelson - Marshmallow Sofa

What is the most used item in your makeup bag?
Channel Glossimer in Unity





What is your favorite neighborhood restaurant?
Tomoyama Sushi in Carlsbad, CA





What is your necessary extravagance?
Shoes

No, this isn't my closet but maybe one day?

How do you define perfect happiness?
My family’s laughter.