A day of light, beauty, and inspiration

Sara wakes up with the light sliding through the curtains. Her place feels warm and lived-in — books on the table, a print leaning against the wall, a plant just ready for water. Nothing too perfect, just right.

Breakfast is slow, almost a ritual. Fresh fruit, strong coffee, maybe something from the farmers’ market. She takes a moment to breathe and let the sound of the city roll in.

Her mornings are for creating. Blog notes on the table, a few drafts for Instagram, yesterday’s photos waiting to be picked through. The spots she loves — a corner café, a sunny street, a quiet alley — are never just scenery. They set the tone, almost like characters in her story.

By the afternoon, she’s out looking for inspiration. A gallery opening, a design pop-up, a talk where she runs into friends. Some days it’s a quick drive out of the city, a house she’s been wanting to see, or a trail that clears her mind. These moments refill her eye and her energy.

Nights are wide open. Sometimes it’s dinner with friends in a place where the lighting feels just right. Other times it’s staying in, curling up with a book and a record spinning low. In those quiet hours she chooses what to share — not to keep up, but to stay true.

Sara’s posts are always intentional. Light, texture, and color matter as much as what she’s wearing. On the blog she writes about homes, architecture, art, travel. Fashion is there too, but it’s part of a bigger search: meaning, beauty, connection.

She wants her work to make people pause. A feed that inspires, not just decorates. And an audience that sees the care behind every choice.

Of course, it isn’t effortless. There’s the constant push to post, to keep up. Holding on to her style while answering to the market — and to her own life — is a balancing act. Making time for herself, for road trips, for slow mornings, is how she stays whole.

At 35, Los Angeles feels like a canvas already drenched in light, waiting for her to add to it. Through her blog, her photos, her choices, she’s building something that feels entirely hers. She doesn’t chase trends — she bends them until they sound like her own voice. Each post feels like another brushstroke on that growing picture.

Sara…

–

Discover more of Sara’s world:

Sara Dal Monte
Digital Journalist | Photographer | Art Director
Los Angeles • Sure-com America

saradalmontestyle.com

Instagram Profile 1 Profile 2 Page

–

10 VINTAGE BEAUTY TIPS TO RECONSIDER

We all have our favorite trends of the past, like a flapper girl lookor glamorous pin curls, but vintage beauty isn’t just about the bold looks our favorite Hollywood starlets rocked in the movies. There were many methods for achieving radiant skin and hair that seem almost too simple today, but that countless women swore by. Unsurprisingly, there are many home remedies and tried-and-true DIY beauty treatments on the list. It just goes to show that some beauty tips are truly timeless!

1. No heat curls – While curling irons have been around for quite some time now, many women got a strong curl by wrapping sections of damp hair in thin strips of fabric, twisting it into rolls, and tying the fabric (called rag rolls). They’d then sleep on the rolls for a natural looking, no damage curl in the morning.

2. Lemon acne cure – Lemon juice has long been touted as remedy for acne and acne scars. Some opt for lemon juice alone and others mix it with Witch Hazel, apply to the skin for 5-10 minutes, and rinse off with cold water. If this is your go-to, keep in mind that lemon increases sun sensitivity and can dry out skin, so use sparingly.

3. Charcoal as teeth whitener – As gross as this looks (think: a messy black mask on your teeth!), beauty gurus everywhere are bringing back activated charcoal, another trend from the past. This ingredient is said to draw out impurities when used as a face mask or brushed on as a teeth whitener. I’m still a bit apprehensive about this one, but some people love it.

4. Cucumber for puffy eyes – Yep, talk about a throwback! I’ve sworn by this for years because cucumber naturally gives you that huge dose of hydration your eyes need when they’re suffering. Whip up DIY cucumber pads to say goodbye to tired, puffy eyes.

5. Protect hair with a scarf – All those vintage silk scarves of the past weren’t just a pretty fashion statement; women would often wrap their hair in a loose scarf as a way to protect their ‘do while on the go.

6. Olive oil for hair – Olive oil used to be a key ingredient in many hair masks, including those with honey or egg yolks, to achieve silky, shiny hair.

7. Petroleum jelly solution – Vaseline itself has been around since 1872, and no wonder it has stood the test of time – Petroleum jelly, originally invented as a medicinal product, still has many beauty uses today, including a skin and hair softener and makeup remover.

8. Use roses for everything – Rose water has been used as a natural beauty ingredient for years as a great facial toner, cleanser, and hair softener.

9. Moisturize the neck – Vintage beauty almost always involved a major moisturizing regimen, and back then it was taken more seriously. You would rarely apply a face cream or lotion without covering the neck, too! So next time you moisturize, don’t forget this detail, it plays a huge part in achieving youthful skin.

10. Regular facials – Along with moisturizing, regular facials were common. Sure, there are many beauty-lovers who do this today, but how many women do you know that treat themselves to regular facials?! If there’s one anti-aging skincare routine to keep around from the past, it’s this!

Of course, it’s up to you to decide if any of these tricks are right for you. Are any of these vintage beauty practices part of your routine? Let me know in the comments.

Sara Dal Monte