An L.A. Editor Walks Into Zara—29 Items She Couldn't Leave Without

As an L.A. transplant who moved from New York City three years ago, I feel like I'm just now beginning to understand the West Coast dress code. Yes, there's a lot more athleisure you see while out and about (which makes sense for a city that seemingly revolves around hiking and Pilates classes), but I find that, at its core, L.A. dressing is about evoking a certain effortlessness with your outfits. The longer I live here, the more I realize my style is more closely aligned with L.A., and I've been sure of the pieces I wear now more than ever—certainly more than when I lived in NYC, where I was always second-guessing my ensemble before leaving my apartment.
When it comes to everyday pieces, I always look at what Zara has to offer. The retailer has great prices, plus the styles I've bought are ones I wear over and over. I still have a shirt from the store that's almost a decade old. Below, you'll find 29 items from the site that I'm hoping to relocate into my fashion-editor closet. And because my style's changed so much since my move from NYC, they all also fit seamlessly with the L.A. fashion scene, whether you're in Santa Monica or Silverlake. From knee-high boots and shoulder bags to wide-leg jeans and cardigans, each of the forthcoming designs had me reaching for my wallet. (I am in the middle of a closet overhaul, after all.) Keep shopping for my most coveted Zara picks right now.
This gray vest is such a classic, and it looks so elevated with the matching skirt.
Shop the matching Basic Knit Midi Skirt ($46).

Lauren Adhav is a freelance fashion editor based in Los Angeles. Originally from Orlando, Florida, she got her start as the beauty and fashion editorial assistant at Cosmopolitan and worked her way up to fashion editor. She contributed to both the website and print issues, pitching new ideas, forecasting trends, covering red carpet events, and informing the overall coverage and brand voice.
After five years in NYC, she moved to Los Angeles. As a freelance fashion editor, she contributes to Cosmo, The Cut, and now Who What Wear. She also spends an unhealthy amount of time online shopping for the perfect piece, and now that she's in L.A., she's rediscovering her soft spot for malls.
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