2020 started out well, with a jaunt in Palm Springs. How quickly things can change!

Right now, I’m dealing with smoky skies due to the west coast wildfires, in addition to a certain viral pandemic… It feels like we’ve entered the era of Mad Max / Dune / Blade Runner. 

But let’s look back through rose-colored glasses, at my January adventure in the California desert. As you might surmise, photographer Joey Wong and I were captivated by the Wild Wild West landscapes. Very glad we made this trip before the end of times. 

In other happy news – I wanted to share a new collaboration from one of my favorite handbag designers, Strathberry. They released a luxurious collaboration with beloved kawaii character, Miffy the bunny!

The new Strathberry x Miffy collection includes purses of all sizes and shapes, and accessories – like this ridiculously cute coin purse and wallet. The collab is a match made in minimalist heaven: the accessories’ clean lines and fine leather share the aesthetics of Dick Bruna’s designs. 

How adorable is the pink Walker Street Miffy wallet, featuring the X-mouthed bunny with butterflies and flowers? There’s a midi-size version in white as well. 

Keep reading for close-ups of my Miffy coin purse, and more info. And see more of Strathberry’s outstanding leather designs below (all made in Spain from fine leather):

Let’s go back in time to the pre-apocalypse, when our minds were focused on finding the best places in Palm Springs to take fashion or Instagram photos! 

Read on for our favorite photography spots, including mid-century modern houses, epic doors, a cactus garden, and rows of white turbines (above).

We’ll also take a look at Palm Springs’ LGBT nightlife, including drag queen shows.

Palm Springs’ dramatic mountains are the perfect backdrop for outfit photos. In January, we found this photogenic location next to the Tramway Gas Station, a modernist triangle designed by Albert Frey in 1965.

My Cali desert outfit consists of a hat by Tenth Street Hats, St Bart’s pink sunglasses from Spiltmilk Eyewear, red sandals by Lola Ramona, and a For Love & Lemons cherry print summer dress (get it here). 

I was excited to visit Moorten Botanical Garden, as it’s a top Palm Springs photography location. Founded in 1938, this living museum features more than 3000 species of cacti and desert plants. 

Wander through Moorten’s outdoor gardens, and be amazed by the wide variety of spiky cactus species.

Some cacti are tiny, while others are three times my height. A few look like the ones drawn in cartoons! And they’re all pokey, so watch your step.

Bring your DSLR camera, or use “portrait mode” on your smartphone — and have fun snapping close-up cactus photos.

Be sure to visit the “cactarium,” which is the only indoor area of the garden. The enclosure houses the world’s rarest cacti, such as odd-looking specimen from South Africa, the Mojave Desert, and South America.

What does this cactus remind you of? I wonder why Joey took its photo…

Moorten Botanical Garden is a spiky delight for plant-lovers and photographers alike.

Many travellers come to Palm Springs for its golf courses, spas, and gay life. The resort city is also a favorite spot for retirees. As for me, I was mostly keen to see the mid-century modern architecture. 

Behold, Kaufmann House — designed in 1946 by Richard Neutra, a talented architect who worked with Frank Lloyd Wright and Rudolf Schindler. Rising above stones, this sleek glass and steel vacation home is a Desert Modernist classic.

You can find a large number of mid-century homes in this style, known as Desert Modernism, throughout Palm Springs. Most are privately owned, so you can’t see the interiors unless you join an architecture tour.

I want to come back to Palm Springs for its annual Modernism Week. Some of the most famous MCM houses open their doors during this event, giving you a rare opportunity to look inside.

As the sun began to set, we drove to perhaps the most iconic Palm Springs photography location: San Gorgonio Pass. These tall “windmills” are actually wind turbines. You can’t miss them, as there are more than 3000 spinners at the entrance of the Coachella Valley.

Pastel sunset + wind turbines + desert sand = Instagrammer or style blogger heaven.

Matching the pink skies with Spiltmilk sunglasses, and a pink cherry printed cut-out waist dress by For Love & Lemons. Find it here, and more below):

The San Gorgonio Pass is one of the windiest places in the USA. The wind farm was established here in the 1980s, providing locals with clean and renewable energy.

The wind turbine silhouettes stand out against the candy floss sunset. No Photoshop needed: this is the unfiltered beauty of the California desert.

The light desert sand creates a space-like feeling. No wonder these “windmills” are among the top photography (or Instagrammable) spots in Palm Springs. 

Is there life on Mars? (I’m ready to explore other planets, once the technology is there…)

Grateful I was able to experience Palm Springs for the first time, before Covid-19 made travel impossible.

Hang in there! We’ll make it to the other side soon, and be off on new adventures with a greater appreciation.

After all, we Goths know that there is beauty in darkness…

That night, we were keen to check out Palm Springs’ infamous LGBT nightlife. The main gay clubs and shops are clustered on Arenas Road, with storefronts lit up in neon.

Palm Springs has a friendly and casual gay scene. Anyone can bar-hop between the venues, which cater to different ages and preferences.

We caught a drag queen performance at Hunters Palm Springs, on Arenas Road. This queen’s lip-syncing was as dramatic as her floor-sweeping gown!

(Hot tip: Tune in to the local K-Gay radio station. We blasted it every time we drove… I miss it so much!)

A howdy to the Parker Palm Springs hotel for hosting us, and making our stay so memorable. You can see our full story about this hip hotel here.

The Parker Hotel is home to the most photographed / Instagrammed door in Palm Springs. We took an obligatory photo in front of the tall orange and white entrance.

Jonathan Adler designed the Parker’s interiors with his signature whimsy. I was tickled pink by this enormous macrame owl, by artist Andy Harman.

Stop by the Parker Palm Springs’ spa, which looks like a waterfront yacht club. Snap some photos with the nautical decor, and snack on some fresh fruits and herb-infused water.

Check out The Shining carpets, and an enormous mid-century macrame owl… The Parker seems like it was designed for me!

Enjoy my first post about the Parker Palm Springs here.

If you’re enjoying these ‘fit photos, you can see more on my social media @lacarmina. Find La Carmina on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Perhaps you might be interested in owning something from my wardrobe… I’m still selling clothes and accessories on Depop (username @lacarmina)!  

Check out my Depop shop, and email me if you’d like anything from my personal collection. Happy to do discounts.

Things are quite different these days… Instead of planning my next international trip, I’m writing about how to style COVID face masks with your outfits! 

Check out my latest article for At Home in Canada magazine here.

We should all be wearing masks, but many people are reluctant to put one on. For this article, I turned to my stylish friends around the world for tips on how to look fashionable in face masks. 

Here are some additional photos that I hope will inspire you. Aurelio Voltaire rocks a macabre mask and gloves…

Josie Stevens models masks from her fashion line. She created a collection of cheeky and edgy masks in a variety of prints.

The stylist, designer, and “Married to Rock” reality TV star has an enormous selection of fashionable face masks for sale here.

Taeden Hall of Gloomth & the Cult of Melancholy, the Toronto-based Gothic indie fashion house, released a medical-art mask that is creepy cute perfection. Her model Azura Rose shows off the matching leggings, which come in inclusive sizes. (Photo of her by Stephie Scarlet)

Anime/J-pop musician Stephane Yanez is kawaii to the max, in her pink masks and Hello Kitty face shield!

Last but certainly not least, Asia’s Goths show how mask-wearing is done. Mim Midori Lai rocks this devilish look, while Yukiro as drag diva Die Schwarze Frau “werrrkks” it. 

I hope these fashionistas worldwide inspired you to wear a mask with confidence.

Accessories are everything… and the Strathberry x Miffy release is a head-turner! I’m delighted to update my wallet and coin purse with these cute meets luxurious designs, crafted from supple leather and gold hardware. 

I’ve been a Miffy fanatic since childhood. These days, I focus on timeless, high quality leather bags and accessories — but preferably with a touch of cute. And so, the Strathberry x Miffy Walker Street Wallet is a dream come true. 

I love the compact size, which holds together with an easy snap button. It opens up to reveal a handy bill compartment, credit card slots and a zipped coin pocket.

And I’m seeing stars, with this Strathberry x Miffy cobalt leather coin purse! Love Dick Bruna’s illustration of the white rabbit with a moon and stars, surrounded by sleek orange edging.

The limited collection includes clutches, totes, crossbody bags, scarves… check out the adorable range here before it’s gone.

And browse more Strathberry bags below:

Speaking of sweet bunnies… I’m staying at home almost all the time now, and lounging in these soft bunny-ears slippers from SlipperSin! These open-toed bedroom slides are so comfortable, and keep my feet protected. 

I’m wearing these adorable faux fur slippers with bunny ears, which come in women’s US size 5-6 or 7-8. The “kawaii” pastel rabbit design is head-turning, without being heavy or cumbersome. 

In addition to these cuties, there are hundreds of slipper designs available on SlipperSin — including rainbow poofs, animal print booties, and other fab footwear for home. 

I’ve also been riveted by the new book ANATOMICA, by Joanna Ebenstein of Morbid Anatomy fame. (We met at the museum in NYC, and went on a Day of the Dead Mexico trip together!) 

In “Anatomica: The Exquisite and Unsettling Art of Human Anatomy,” Joanna compiles bizarre and beautiful medical art from the 16-20th century. I was flabbergasted by some of the drawings, such as Japanese illustrations of “energy points” in the body, and a Chinese guide to tongue diseases! 

Anatomica vividly shows how our understanding of anatomy and medicine changed over the years. We’ve always been fascinated by the human body and death. As you’ll see from the remarkable paintings of blood vessels and dissected cadavers, there’s a lot of beauty to be found within the “morbid.” 

You’ll encounter skulls galore as you flip the pages… It’s the perfect book for anyone who loves history, medicine, art, and all things Gothic. 

Anatomica is a labor of love by Joanna Ebenstein, and it’s out today.  This hard-cover, full-colored book is only $35 — well worth picking up a copy, as you’ll gain so much fascinating knowledge from it.

In this age of COVID and wildfires, we’re remembering how much of an impact medicine has in our lives. Stay inside and keep healthy, everyone!

PS: You can see all my Palm Springs + California posts here. Dreaming of being back.