Cheryl Shops

October, as you know, is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it's a cause that's very near to my heart—literally and figuratively. I lost a very close aunt to breast cancer three years ago, and it unfortunately runs in both sides of my family. I am at high risk for breast cancer because of this, and while most women don't need to start yearly mammograms until they're 45, I've been getting them for two years already (I'm 39). I take pretty much every precaution my doctor tells me to take, and then I go a step further. Even though the American Cancer Society has found the evidence inconclusive, I've stopped using antiperspirant and switched to a natural deodorant. The theory is that aluminum, which is the active ingredient in antiperspirant, has estrogen-like hormonal effects that stimulate breast cancer cells; my aunt's cancer was concentrated in her lymph nodes which are, you guessed it, in your armpits. So, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

The good news is that there are a lot of natural, non-antiperspirant deodorants out there. The bad news is that a lot of them don't work very well. I have tried many, and while my system is not perfect, I've found a two-step process that keeps me dry and smelling pretty darn good (or so I'm told). Here's how it works.


Step 1: absorb the moisture
Antiperspirants work because they physically prevent you from sweating; when people switch to natural deodorants, this is usually the hardest part to adapt to. I still perspire (which is a good thing—it's your body's natural way of cooling itself down!) but I've found that a dusting of talc-free powder helps keep me as dry as possible. My favorite is Lush Silky Underwear, which has a silly name but a lovely jasmine smell, and is made of mostly natural ingredients with a few safe synthetics. (Surprise, the ACS won't commit to whether or not talc causes cancer, but again, better safe than sorry.) I put a bit on a tissue and dab it under each arm until it's absorbed. Bonus: you can use Silky Underwear as dry shampoo and on your thighs to prevent chafing!




Step 2: neutralize the odor
I've tried both high-end and mass-market natural deodorants in stick, liquid, and spray form—including the natural crystal kind, which made me smell like I dusted myself with cumin—and while there have been a few highly recommended newer brands in the last few years, my favorite remains Aesop spray deodorant. Yes, it's $35, but a bottle lasts me 3–4 months depending on the time of year, and I'd rather splurge than smell like beef stew. (My second-favorite is Weleda sage deodorant, although it doesn't perform quite as well for me.) The Aesop formula has 11 essential oils that all work together to mellow out any kind of sweat-generated odors in your pits; the scent is kind of woodsy but I think it blends well with the jasmine in the Lush powder. You only need one spray in each pit, and only in high summer and/or high humidity do I need a late-afternoon second spritz.



An added bonus of switching to natural deodorant is that I no longer get those gross yellow stains in the underarms of my white shirts (again, a sign that maybe the chemicals in antiperspirants are not so good for you). Your body might perspire a bit more at first when you switch over, but I also find I sweat less than I did when I wore antiperspirant. That's a win-win (and another win) to me.



One last thing: nearly every retailer out there has some sort of product whose proceeds will be donated to breast cancer charities this month. If it's something you'd normally buy, great—now's a good time to treat yourself. But the most effective way to support breast cancer awareness, prevention, treatment, and research is to make a donation directly to an organization. If you need any suggestions, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation is consistently evaluated as one of the most trustworthy ones out there.

I didn't do anything incredibly glamorous this weekend, but I did make time for a stroll through one of my favorite parks in San Francisco, Alta Plaza, on my way to drinks and dinner Saturday night. The setting seemed like the perfect way to show a casual way to wear one of my favorite fall trends, the pleated midi skirt.

As a lifelong miniskirt-wearer (and enthusiastic maxi-skirter), midi skirts can come across as a little dowdy to me, but I think they're really wearable once you get the hang of styling them. I wear this one to work quite a bit with a sweater or a blouse, but for the weekend, pairing it with a sweatshirt and sneakers just feels right.


I'm all about playing with the high-low mix, so throwing on a statement necklace keeps the look from going too casual. This one actually comes with one more strand, which I removed because it's pink and a little too much color with what I'm wearing here. There are seriously like six or seven different ways to wear this one based on different combinations of strands you can attach.


Speaking of high-low, real talk: this Balenciaga was my first major bag splurge—it's probably close to 15 years old now and it has only gotten better with age. I love how roughed-up it looks, and it holds a lot more than you'd think.


And yes, since moving to California, my sneaker collection has grown exponentially. I still love my heels, but I like to take things down a notch on the weekends. These Adidas are so classic, though, you can wear them with practically anything. They also come in handy when your photographer has you twirling around to capture the light.


OUTFIT DETAILS: Everlane sweatshirt || Zara pleated midi skirt (similar here) || Balenciaga bag || YHF Los Angeles Cashton sunglasses || Stella & Dot Ezra necklace || Stella & Dot wrap bracelet (very old; similar here) || Adidas Superstar sneakers

Knowing how to arrange flowers kind of sounds like a b.s. skill, like something they'd teach you in trophy-wife school. That said, after years of awkwardly throwing grocery-store bouquets into whatever vase I had lying around and then watching them die a quick death before my very eyes, last fall I took a flower-arranging class at Workshop SF and it was, to put it mildly, a life-altering experience. Since then, not only do I treat myself to flowers, I do it with $12–$16 in Trader Joe's stems (that's the cost of one cocktail at a fancy bar, people!) and make them last up to two weeks. Here's how.

Step 1: pick your flowers
I love Trader Joe's because their flowers are incredibly reasonable, but feel free to go to your local grocery store or flower market. You want to vary the size and texture of what you choose, and aim for a unifying color scheme. Here, I picked full gerber daisies in a bright pink, smaller lilies in light pink and white, and a green wispy spray to add in a little texture. Bonus tip: if you're clueless about colors, go with all white—it always looks classy.


Step 2: strip your stems
This is the MOST IMPORTANT step if you want your flowers to last longer than a couple days. It's annoying, but it's worth it in the long run. You want to strip all of the tiny leaves from the stems, up to the neck of the blooms—really, you just want the leaves to peek out of the top of the vase. Don't worry about taking off too many leaves. Trust me, you DO NOT want leaves in the water; this is what makes the stems rot and your flowers die. This was seriously the most important thing I learned in my class!

Before:

 

After:


Step 3: put it all together
Start with your biggest blooms. Then add in the next-biggest around the edges. You want to vary the height and placement, so it's not totally symmetrical. You can kind of wrap and twist the smaller flowers around the bigger ones to achieve this. Finally, layer in the smallest blooms. If you have something leafy, that's great for propping up the larger flowers. Just play around with it and have fun!


Step 4: trim your stems
Take the vase you're going to use, fill it up with water (about 3/4 of the way), and put it toward the edge of your countertop or table. Then, with the flowers in your hand, hold them next to the vase with the bottom edge of the blossoms lining up with the opening (again, your stems should have NO LEAVES on the stalks). Eyeball how much stem is sticking out under the base of the vase—this is how much you should trim—and note it will probably be different for each. Cut at a slight angle, and remember you can always trim more if your stems are still too tall.


Step 5: arrange your flowers
All you have to do is drop them in the vase and you're done! Just kidding. Your vase probably has a slightly wider opening than your hand, so you might have to do a little re-arranging once you get them in there. But really, you're pretty much done. Just change the water every few days and trim the stems if they're getting kind of gluey. Look at you, Ms. Florist!

Los Angeles is a city that I can't quite figure out how I feel about. In my mind, it's incredibly glamorous, with movie stars and palm trees and gorgeous views. In reality, it's strip malls, being stuck on the freeway, and maybe that's the actress from Days of Our Lives? And yet, I keep going back, most recently because my boyfriend is a native and has friends and family there (the vast majority of whom are not in "the industry"). Of course, one of the benefits of traveling with an Angeleno is that they know how to avoid all of the crappy parts and take advantages of the good ones, the wisest of which being you should pick a side of the city (west side, east side, etc.) and just stay there. So this time we chose downtown, and I'm really happy we did, because I feel like my eyes were opened to an entirely new city altogether.


DTLA has been a thing for several years now—remember Audrina looking at lofts on The Hills?—but what struck me most is how much rehabilitation is happening in the area. We saw so many old buildings being turned into apartments, restaurants, and hotels, which makes me so happy, because L.A. has a history of not exactly preserving its historic architecture. It all feels very urban and strangely not very L.A.-ish...except the weather is sunny and 75 degrees and perfect.

All weekend long, I kept thinking I needed a jacket (San Francisco is ingrained in me!), but even at night, I was comfy in this T-shirt. L.A. has an edginess to it (and a desire to expose some skin), so this was a good choice—and a nod to its designer, Anine Bing, who's based here.



Speaking of exposing some skin, this skirt looks conservative but shows quite a bit of leg as you walk. It's best not to wear in windy weather, or at an event where you're going to be doing a lot of walking, but it's rather flattering, and red is pretty much the must-have color for fall.


I've had this Jerome Dreyfuss bag for ages, and it's one of my favorites, as it works for day or night, and you can also clip the straps at the side so it doesn't hang so low. It's kind of like an edgier Chanel 2.55 bag.


If we were on the west side of L.A., where valet parking rules, these sandals would be laughably practical. But since we actually did quite a bit of walking, they were just right. Nobody walks in L.A.? Not anymore...


OUTFIT DETAILS: Zara blazer || Anine Bing tee || Topshop maxi skirt || Jerome Dreyfuss Bobi bag || Zara fringe sandals (similar here) || Stella & Dot hammered wire hoops

I can't tell you when I started shopping at Zara, but I can tell you I've been shopping there every season since. I pretty much have it down to a science: first, at the beginning of the season, I pick up a few key pieces that I think will be big trends. Then at the end of the season, I shop the sale, but I go for crazy boundary-pushing items and/or things I wasn't willing to pay full price for at the beginning of the season (which is generally a bad rule, but it's what I do, so there). This being mid-September and the beginning of fall, it was clearly time for a Zara run, so I set out seeking a few specific items that I pre-shopped on the website. This is generally a bad idea also, but I find Zara a bit overwhelming and like to know what I'm in for. Which for fall means lots of grunge revival and Gucci knockoffs. I tried by best to steer clear of the plaid and embroidered mesh; here's what caught my eye.



This checked midi dress looked cute on the hanger; not so much on me. It was pretty snug through the bust, then the pleats started a bit too high and the rest of it looked like a Little House on the Prairie nightgown. This was from Zara's younger TRF line, so I should have known better, but alas.



This black and white dress, also from the TRF line, looked super cute on the hanger and in spite of not having a zipper, had a pretty flattering fit. It also had long sleeves, which are actually practical in cooler weather. I would have bought it, except that it was about 2–3 inches too short. Again, another reason why I need to stay away from TRF.



One of the items I was specifically looking for was a pair of side-stripe pants, à la track pants, a big trend for fall. I thought these chino side stripe trousers were the pair I saw online, but alas, they were not. I always have a hard time with cropped, tapered pants for some reason, and in spite of being my Zara-standard medium, they were oddly big and baggy. (They also did not photograph well, sorry.)


Much better was this pair of side stripe trousers which I thought I wasn't going to like but was pleasantly surprised by. The fabric was more like a fluid trouser material with a nice drape, but there were definitely sporty elements like zip pockets. They also had elastic in the back of the waistband, so they'll be comfy for the plane or a big meal. Winner winner chicken dinner indeed.


I've been looking for a big fuzzy sweater for a long time, and after trying on this mohair sweater, I realized why: big fuzzy sweaters are not flattering, and if they have mohair like this one, they're incredibly itchy. I should also note that I'm wearing a medium and absolutely swimming in it, but then again, so is the model. (Her face is saying, "I know this looks ridiculous but I'm getting paid $5,000 a day, so I'm ok with that.")


Speaking of ridiculous, take a look at this pearly hooded sweater. Pearls are also a big trend for fall, which is probably why I thought I'd give this a whirl (there are lots of pearl-encrusted things at Zara right now); my phone is covering my mouth because I couldn't keep a straight face with this thing on. It felt like something an early-'90s female rapper would wear. It was also incredibly huge and cropped at the same time (again, I'm in a medium). Even the model looks like she doesn't know how to feel about it.


Of the four things I was specifically looking for at Zara, only the buttoned checked blazer was in stock in my size. It was exactly what I was looking for—glen plaid is huge this season, and it's really similar to one from Tibi that happens to be, oh, $800 or so. It's a bit oversized—I'm in a medium and probably could have sized down to a small—but I think that's intentional, so I went for it.

Which leads me to the question, can I still shop at Zara? 

Oof. Only two out of seven items came home with me, with the rest ranging from ill-fitting to downright comical. Not great odds, but I am quite happy with what I did buy. My conclusion is yes, as long as you avoid the TRF section and shop with a good sense of humor. 

As much as I love getting dressed up, I fully embrace dressing down. Of course, San Francisco is a very casual town, so dressed-down to me is like normal for a lot of people. Still, it's kind of a fun challenge to see if you can make something incredibly low-key look interesting. So in the interest of blending in with the natives, I threw on a sweatshirt, jeans, and Birkenstocks (yes, Birkenstocks) for a Sunday-morning walk through the Presidio, the gorgeous national park that's a mere seven blocks from my apartment.


This sweatshirt was a Nordstrom Anniversary Sale find (and it's still on sale) and, more importantly, it's by Sincerely Jules, a blogger I've followed for ages and still one of my favorites to this day. (Not only does she have her own clothing line, but while nearly every fashion blogger was out hustling at New York Fashion Week, she was relaxing at at the Four Seasons Bora Bora, and that's why she's winning at life.) This sweatshirt runs a bit small (I'm in a medium), but it's really nice quality, and I love the lacing detail on the side.


These jeans are the straight skinny fit in Re/Done Levi's, which you've probably seen on Kendall Jenner and every other model and/or social media superstar; I finally caved and bought a pair after having tried on approximately 800 vintage Levi's, all of which looked like actual mom jeans on me, i.e. FUPA and peg legs, not a good look. Re/Done jeans are true vintage but re-tailored for a more precise fit, and I think they're worth every penny (ok, yes, we're talking a lot of pennies). Lucky for you, dear Cheryl Shops readers, you can take 20% off your purchase, which should lessen the pinch.

A big but not-too-big bucket bag is great for being out and about. I've had this Mansur Gavriel one for a little over three years, and I still love it—I don't like a lot of bells and whistles on my bags. The leather on this one has developed a nice patina, and I like that it's a little roughed up. One thing to note: I have a freakishly short torso, so I had more holes added to the strap so I could shorten it. I'd recommend doing the same if your shoulder bag is giving you lower-back pain. (Ahh, aging!)


Of course, I can't not accessorize, so I doubled down on millennial pink with these fun tassel earrings...ok, tripled down with my pink sunglasses too (if you haven't guessed by now, they're a favorite pair). Can you wear millennial pink when you're a Generation X-er? I don't see why not...


OUTFIT DETAILS: Sincerely Jules side-laced sweatshirt || Re/Done straight skinny jeans || Mansur Gavriel bucket bag || Birkenstock Gizeh sandals || Stella & Dot Riva tassel earrings || Quay Australia After Hours sunglasses

Remember a few years ago when subscription boxes were the next big thing? For many companies, they're still going strong, and I have definitely fallen prey to quite a few over the years. There would maybe be one product in each box that I'd use, and I'd end up giving the rest of the items away, and there went $10 or $20 or $30 a month. My general conclusion: subscription boxes are a big waste of money, especially those of the beauty variety (hello, if you're a Sephora Beauty Insider, you can pretty much get a freebie of your own choosing every time you make a purchase). I had pretty much written them off until several former coworkers started raving about The Zoe Report's Box of Style. The stuff they had was pretty cute, and so like the proverbial addict, I decided to try one last subscription box.

I know Rachel Zoe kind of became this early reality TV caricature, with her bananas and literally—two words, I'd like to point out, lots of people I know still use quite frequently—but you have to admit she has good taste. I think her clothing line is really well done too. She clearly still has industry contacts galore, and I think she leverages them for the Box of Style, and I am totally ok with that. I just received my fifth Box of Style last week, and, as always, it was a delight. Here's a look at what's inside the Fall 2017 box.


This GiGi New York bag can be a foldover clutch, a crossbody bag, or even a laptop sleeve. It's faux leather, but the snake texture is kind of cool, and I don't have a navy bag, so that's unexpected and useful.

As you may have guessed by now, the Box of Style tends to be a little heavy on beauty products, but they're always well chosen and tend to be things I don't have (but want to try. This Nudestix pencil is a universally flattering shade that can be used on lips or cheeks but most importantly, it can be applied like a crayon, which is great for lazy people like me who don't like to use makeup brushes.


Finally one of my favorite items in this box is this Odeme catchall tray. I've been looking for something exactly like this for awhile to collect my keys, hair ties, lip gloss, and the other random stuff that ends up on my entryway table. It's like Box of Style read my mind.


You get all of this stuff for $99.99! Ok, yes, that is quite a bit more than the typical subscription box, but the Box of Style averages over $400 in value—as I mentioned earlier, the Oribe Supershine Light Moisture Cream is $52 alone. More importantly, this is all stuff I'm actually going to use…and enjoy. It's basically like someone with really good taste sending you a practical yet exciting surprise gift every three months. Speaking of gifts, here's one for you: use this link and you'll get $10 off your first box or an annual subscription (which is $349.99 and thus a deal already)! You're welcome!

It goes without saying, but date night is usually my favorite night of the week. It almost always involves eating and drinking—two of my favorite things to do, and with one of my favorite people who also happens to be my very talented photographer—but the best date nights involve an element of novelty (really, it's true). On Saturday night, we went to see a play downtown, which was something that we hadn't done together, and even though the play was, um, one that we wouldn't recommend, it was still fun. Also fun: dressing up for date night. Planning a cute outfit and taking the time to dress up reminds me of when we were first dating, and at the risk of sounding cheesy, keeps the magic alive.

I'm a skirt girl, and always have been. Skirts are my go-to for date nights, but really, you should wear what you feel most comfortable in. It's all about highlighting the parts you feel best about—in my case, my legs. This particular skirt is by IRO, one of my favorite brands, and in spite of being white, it's pretty versatile. The phrase "universally flattering" always gives me pause, but an A-line shape like this is as close as you can get.

I'm also a heels girl, although mine are getting lower and chunkier as I age. This pair is sadly sold out—they're last-season Zara—but since the color is so crazy, I wear them with pretty much any random thing. In this case, they pick up the green in my necklace, which is also a little kooky.

The denim jacket and striped tee keep everything a bit more casual—and this being San Francisco, my number-one rule is never go anywhere without a light jacket. And, really, you can't go wrong with a classic denim jacket.



A good thing about getting older is that you can get away with statement accessories. Mirrored pink sunglasses? Sure! Huge mixed-media pendants? Why not! Do you, especially on a date.

I figured you were tired of seeing my bamboo bag by now, but this is one of my other weekend favorites. It's by Baggu, a San Francisco–based brand, and it holds a lot more than you'd think, thanks to some excellent pocket placement on the inside. I also love how soft the leather is, and that the strap is adjustable, so you can make it a crossbody too.


Back to date-night novelty, this park is exactly two blocks south of my apartment, and in spite of having lived there for three years now, this was the first time I'd ever been inside. (Since it's between my two cross-streets, it's on a particular block that I tend not to walk or drive down.) It's tiny and lovely and a little bit magic...just as date nights should be.


OUTFIT DETAILS: Vintage Gap jacket (similar here) || Publish striped tee || IRO skirt || Baggu circle bag || Stella & Dot York necklace || Zara shoes (sold out; similar here) || Quay Australia After Hours sunglasses (on sale!)