Palihouse Santa Monica and a Reformation Dress

A quick stay at Palihouse

Whenever we travel, I make it my personal mission to stay at the quirkiest, most Wes Andersonian hotel I can find. In Paris, it was the Grande Pigalle in all of its nostalgic glory – spiral staircases, brass room keys, and pineapple door knockers included. In London, it was the Ace Hotel (a little less intimate, but quirky nonetheless). And when planning a recent babymoon/ bday getaway to Santa Monica, I stumbled upon Palihouse. 

Formerly the Embassy Hotel Apartments, Palihouse has been housing design-minded travelers like myself since 1927. I imagine it’s been gutted a few times over the years, but the original Moorish/ Mediterranean influences and intricate ornamentation remain intact. The interior decor has a mountain lodge-meets-Old-Hollywood feel, with kitschy details like pink velvet ottomans, dip-dyed wood furniture, and antlers over the bed. The ambiance of a place is just as important to me as what we do/see/eat, and Palihouse has atmosphere in spades. We didn't have to do much – it was vacation enough to just sit back, look around, and soak it all in.

It's Maternity if I say it is

I’ve been meaning to post about this Reformation dress for a while, so we took advantage of the gorgeous courtyard and overcast skies to shoot a few pictures. I bought the Mattie dress dress back in June, hoping that the wrap style would accommodate the bump throughout my pregnancy. For the most part, it has. It’s grown significantly shorter as the months go by, but I still think it looks pretty good, considering it wasn't actually designed for a pregnant body. I've worn it to every fancy occasion this summer and fall, including my own baby shower. And true to form, it's made in the USA from 100% viscose, a synthetic fabric made from biodegradable plant fibers. I love Reformation with a passion unmatched (well, at least when it comes to dresses), and I'd be stoked if they ever decided to create a maternity line.

Back to Reality

It was a lovely weekend of ocean air, family, fancy vegan food, and a visit to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Now I'm back at work for another two weeks until, well... shit gets real. I can't wait to welcome this little bug into the world (and drink wine again, in that order).

Outfit Details:  Reformation Mattie Dress in Hibiscus / Madewell denim jacket (old; similar US-made version here)/ Woven leather platform sandals (thrifted) / Kayu Andrea Clutch (responsibly handcrafted by women in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia)