Hanging on to Fall

ALL SAINTS TSHIRT DRESS, YSL CLUTCH, MICHAEL KORS FUR VEST, CHLOÉ HEELS

OWNTHERUNWAY.COM LEATHER JACKET, H&M SKINNY JEANS, REBECCA MINKOFF BAG, RAG & BONE BOOTIES

MADEWELL SWEATER & FLATS, MALENE BIRGER CARGO PANTS, FOSSIL BAG, CHAN LUU SCARF

It's definitely getting colder outside (and rainier, if you live in Vancouver) as Winter is creeping up on us, but I'm still trying to embrace the Fall season before I start breaking out the down-filled parkas. I put together a few looks that I hope will inspire you to do the same! If I had to pick one item as a must-have for the transition between Fall and Winter, it would definitely have to be the fur vest. The word "fur" may sound expensive, but I was able to find a great deal here at Forever21!  

I hope you've all been keeping warm - have a great week, thanks for reading!

SAN DIEGO ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL: AWARDS GALA

600+ attendees!

Instant Noodles Crew from America's Best Dance Crew

The beautiful Kelly Hu!

Director and cast of "Surrogate Valentine", our centerpiece film.

Shelby Rabara of The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD)

Lee Ann Kim, mama of the San Diego Asian Film Festival!

Marketing Team love!

MADEWELL NECKLACE, BCBG DRESS, STEVE MADDEN SHOES

PHOTOS BY CHOWPHOTO

One of the biggest events during the 12th San Diego Asian Film Festival was the Awards Gala. Over 600 celebrities, guests, filmmakers, sponsors, partners, and friends came together to recognize the winning films in this year's festival. Also present was Nancy Kwan, the pioneer of Asian American women in Hollywood, who was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

My job that night was to run the red carpet - it was my first experience with working the red carpet, but it was so much fun! Being in that kind of environment reminded me that celebrities really are normal people, too, and they deserve to be treated as such.

My time with the San Diego Asian Film Foundation ended this past Friday, but I'm extremely grateful for all that I was able to learn and do with the entire SDAFF team. I encountered some really incredible people in the past six months, and I will not soon forget them!

SDAFF x MAHAL STYLE x DEESVIE

This year at SDAFF, we were lucky to collaborate with the awesome team at Mahal Style, who graciously offered to do some pre-festival coverage as well as some red carpet coverage on the night of our Awards Gala Dinner! They interviewed a handful of people in the local San Diego area prior to the festival to create some buzz about the events to come. When they asked me to be one of the interviewees, I was nervous - I'd never done an interview like this before, but I'm really glad that I did it!

Everyone should head over to Mahal Style to check out what they're all about - an amazing community of fashion lovers, arts + culture awareness, and all about loving the skin you're in! Follow them on Twitter: @MahalStyle and like them on Facebook: facebook.com/MahalStyle. I definitely hope to work with them again in the future.

DON'T YOU HATE SOCKS?

TNA by ARITZIA BEANIE + SOCKS, CHEAP MONDAY MILITARIA DRESS, MADEWELL SWEATER DRESS, AMERICAN APPAREL TIGHTS, EASTLAND SHOES, MARC BY MARC JACOBS BAG

Here's another set of photos I took up in Berkeley while visiting The Boy. I really the neighbourhoodly feel that Berkeley has - it's a very quaint place with lots of really great local boutiques and amazing coffee shops. My personal favourite is Sack's Coffee House - lots of tables, a great selection of teas, and a grungy, cellar-type feel that's somehow very relaxing.

This sweater dress was something I picked up at Madewell (quite possibly my favourite store, ever). It's so comfortable and very appropriate for Fall, though I may have plucked it out of the closet to wear a tad early since I was sweltering in it that day. I am normally not a fan of socks at all, but these TNA by Aritzia socks were just too soft to pass up. I figured I would need socks sooner or later. These Eastland shoes go with the whole comfort pattern and are perfect for giving any outfit that rugged, undone look. The tear in the stockings were unintentional, but I guess they worked out nicely here.

I spent the weekend battling what I think is the flu, and am still dealing with its stubborn effects. I hope to be back to full health by the end of this week - lots of things to do, lots of people to see!

SEEING STRIPES

J. CREW TOP, MADEWELL BELT / SHOES, ABERCROMBIE KIDS PANTS, AMERICAN APPAREL CLUTCH, MICHAEL KORS WATCH, STITCHED + ADORNED NECKLACE

I spent the weekend in LA helping out at the ISA Music Festival event in Long Beach. It was such an incredible experience to work alongside so many influential people in the Asian American media industry. The event featured outstanding performances from many talented YouTube artists and selected mainstream artists.

I had the privilege of working with Prohgress from Far East Movement, and I must say, I have so much respect for him and the rest of the FM team. For individuals with celebrity status, they were unbelievably humble. They built their empire from the ground up with humble beginnings, and they still have not lost sight of that. They are so evidently grateful for where they are today, and it really shines through when they interact with fans and the people they work with. If you haven't checked out their album, Free Wired, you should definitely pick it up on iTunes or a record store. It's an incredible album with beats that will make you want to get up from your seat and dance!

Working this event further confirmed my love for music and especially the Public Relations and Event Production industry. I didn't have very much to do with the planning of ISA itself since I was only brought on the team on the day of, but I felt every bit as proud of this event as I would have if I had planned it. There was a moment when I was standing backstage, watching a performance, and I just felt incredibly happy at the success of the event. It was a feeling beyond myself. At that moment, all the hard work came together. That feeling is what gives me the perseverance to continue pursuing a career in PR.

This week will be a gloomy one in San Diego, but I'm going to be heading up to San Francisco/Berkeley on Thursday night to visit the boy. Looking forward to it! Hope everyone has a blessed week!

DENIM & LEOPARD

RAY-BAN AVIATORS, WILFRED VIA ARITZIA SCARF, MADEWELL DENIM SHIRT, BRANDY & MELVILLE MAXI SKIRT, AE BOOTS, MARC BY MARC JACOBS BAG

I attended the AMP Music Festival not too long ago, a festival showcasing Asian American talent. It was nice to be able to put a living face to some of the YouTube artists that I'd been following over the years! And really, I would just never say no to good live music.

Found this colourful corner at the festival and thought it'd be a nice place to shoot. These boots... oh, these boots. I had been searching high and low for a pair just like them that wouldn't require me to sacrifice comfort nor too much money. These boots appeared before my very eyes while I was reading a Refinery29 slideshow, and I knew I had to have them.

This week is a busy one, but look forward to something different that I will be posting on Friday! All I will say is, you might want to get a bib ready in case you drool on your keyboard!

BACK TO BASICS

BRANDY & MELVILLE BLOUSE/BAG, MADEWELL BELT/JEANS/SHOES/RINGS/BRACELETS, MICHAEL KORS WATCH

I went to Balboa Park with the boy a little while back - there is something inherently calm about the place. Perhaps it's all the greenery that's blooming with life, or the white stone and brick buildings that you pass along the way... but I always feel so at peace when I'm in that environment.

HELLO, MY NAME IS

MADEWELL SCARF & BOOTIES, PINS AND NEEDLES VIA UO DRESS, CHEAP MONDAY VIA UO MILITARIA DRESS, UO SOCKS, AMERICAN APPAREL CLUTCH, MICHAEL KORS WATCH

I'm Diana - but don't be a stranger, call me Dee. It took me a heck of a long time to finally get the guts to do this, but here it is: my first blog about fashion, food, and tidbits of other things I enjoy in life. I'm a Canadian (oh, yes) who is currently residing in sunny Southern California in hopes of finding her place here on the west coast. It's a journey in progress - along the way, I hope you will join me in my experiences and endeavours... and I, with yours. Cheers!