Summer Dresses For Winter in Pasadena

Pasadena: a city filled with well-manicured lawns accessorized with established homes reminiscent of the white picket fence, American charm. The city is quaint. The city is eclectic—a duet of suburbia and a culturally artistic city. Whether walking down the historical buildings of Old Town where one finds themselves walking into an antique mall of magical treasures, or mentally jumping into rich landscapes of impressionist paintings at the Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena is a Southern California pocket worth wandering into.

My friends and I began our day under the starkly hot sun in mid-January. Since it felt like summer, I wore an airy off-the-shoulder dress from Simplicity in Mind. The blue vertical striped number felt weightless as we leisurely walked into Lavender Honey for a Lavender Latte, then into Europane for delectable pastries to equip us for a full day of exploring. Caffeine and sugar filled and curiosity for what this city had to offer at an ultimate high, we traipsed the streets of Old Town Pasadena. I wore my tan cloth slides to keep with the no-fuss yet stylish fashion mantra. You could say I was keeping… Simplicity in Mind– the pun was right there.

I stepped a slide adorned foot into the Pasadena Antique Mall, only to find a trove of leather bound books with golden lined pages. It was paradise to say the least. The extensive shop also held records, vintage garments and my favorite (other than the books!) a collection of vintage New York Times issues from the forties and fifties.

From one time travelling medium to another, my friends and I drove to the Norton Simon museum, getting lost in the masterpieces of Van Gogh, Matisse, Degas… all the greats. We concluded our evening on an Italian rooftop bar, in ultimate merriment over Sangrias and Pasta. What a dreamy day it truly was, and the perfect way to start of last semester of college!