Charleston & Los Angeles Travel Guide with SOREL

This Spring 2017, I partnered with SOREL for the first ever DestinationSOREL journey, to visit 4 incredible destinations around the U.S. with my friend and blogger Courtney Halverson of Pretty Little Fawn. We ate, explored, danced, and shopped our way through Seattle, Austin, Charleston, and Los Angeles in looks we styled with our Spring SOREL footwear. Check out Part 1 here.

vintage top, Goldsign jeans, Hare + Hart bag, SOREL Joanie mules.

Charleston

It’s hard to believe in all of my childhood spent in North Carolina, I never made it a few hours south to the gorgeous destination of Charleston. Though, I’m sure I appreciate it much more now than I would’ve as a child. Coming back, I have to say Charleston very closely rivals Austin for my favorite city in the U.S.; they’re so different, yet similar, but that’s just probably the overall awesomeness of southern hospitality. I tell everyone that Charleston is like the Austin of the East Coast—you’re bound to have a great time no matter what you do.

Doen dress, vintage hat, Bembien bag, SOREL Joanie mules.

What I love most about Charleston is its abundance in picturesque corners and vignettes: the historic houses, the porches, vintage pastel hues. I walked through different neighborhoods and took hundreds of detail shots with my Canon that I’ve yet to finish editing. But really all Courtney and I did was eat our way through Charleston, one oyster and sweet tea cocktail at a time. Here we got to try the best of East Coast oysters - a little more briny than its Pacific Northwest counterpart - accompanied with pale sparkling rosé at Darling Oyster Bar. The Ordinary is also a popular place to visit, but be sure to make a reservation! I personally loved the intimate vibe at Darling more. The outdoor courtyard is a must at Canon Green, where you’ll be transported to the lush, modern vibes akin to Miami with your homemade pasta and expertly mixed cocktail. To indulge in the talent of handsome mixologists, stop by The Gin Joint and let them make a custom cocktail for you based on your favorite gin or rye. My favorite was the Strawberry Fields, in millennial pink of course. When you’re not rolling yourself out of a restaurant, take a self-tour at Boone Hall and the Aiken—Rhett House. These estates provided educational, eye-opening experiences in remnants of history.

————— Being the prettiest city with such blessed weather, Charleston was the destination I walked the most. I wanted to see, feel, and immerse in every detail. I wore my SOREL Joanie Mules that let me go from day to night in the most effortless way, paired with either a cotton dress or cropped jeans and vintage blouse. Don’t forget to pack a straw hat or two because A) it’s cute and B) it’s a necessary shield from the blazing heat of the Southern sun. A pair of SORELs I was really excited to wear for spring was the Joan Wrap Wedge Sandals: a little height and the most feminine touch in its ribbon ties made this shoe so perfect for my aesthetic. I wore a summer-y white eyelet dress with the wedges for a fun girls night out in charming Charleston. —————

Doen dress, SOREL Joan Wrap Wedge sandals.

EAT Sugar Bake Shop 5Church Darling Oyster Bar The Gin Joint Canon Green The Ordinary

STAY The Dewberry Hotel Planter's Inn The Restoration

EXPLORE Rainbow Row Waterfront Park Boone Hall Aiken-Rhett House

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Los Angeles

This time, Courtney and I got to show the SOREL team the usual haunts of home, from our favorite coffee shops to the clothing boutiques that drain our wallets the most. Los Angeles is a burgeoning, diverse style capital with a little something for everyone, so we checked out the best of shopping in LA from East Side to West, and called it a day at our charming staycation hotel, Palihouse.

————— I love Courtney’s style because she’s always discerning of up-and-coming designers and the coolest indie boutiques you may have never heard of. Situated just around the corner from her home, the fine, eclectic jewelry store Esqueleto in Echo Park captured my heart. You’ll just die over elegant rings with unique gems and colored diamonds, along with the chic selection of home goods they carry. Next door is the cool-girl boutique destination Ali Golden where you’ll find the prettiest minimalist silhouettes in effortless textiles. I wanted to come home with rosy silk pants and a cream ivory dress, but that’s something I’ll have to go back for. Personally, my favorite kind of shopping is at Abbot Kinney Blvd, because you get the best of designers and curated boutiques combined with the light scent of salty air and all the glowing sunshine. We stopped by Velvet where you can shop the softest white tees and dresses and Guild, a high-end boutique for California cool. Flowerboy Project is the best afternoon pit stop for their beautiful florals, unique gifts, and the elegantly delicious rose girl latte. I love the flowers so much at Flowerboy Project, that they were the ones who did the floral design for my wedding! —————

Anywhere you go in LA, you’re always a little bit dressed up. So I picked up the SOREL Joan Cutout Wedges that are super fashion-forward for a day of shopping. For my evening look, I changed into a sleek linen dress and the Medusa heels for extra statement. Shop the SOREL shoes in this post here!

EAT Sugarfish Blue Star Donuts Gjusta The Butcher's Daughter Petty Cash Angelini Osteria Cafe Stella

STAY Palihouse Petit Ermitage Farmer's Daughter Hotel

SHOP Ali Golden Esqueleto Eight Fold Velvet by Graham and Spencer Guild Flowerboy Project Silverlake Steps Jet Rag

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Did you see Part 1 of DestinationSOREL to Seattle and Austin? Read it here.

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