Very soon after we launched this site, some really great photos started popping up on our Your Stories page from the Instagram handle @viewfromthetopp.

They were all taken from, well, the top – with denim pieces expertly styled – on pretty backdrops, from sand, to cement, to green grass, to richly hued rugs. Who was behind the camera, above it all? We Googled, and found a tumblr belonging to Kate Brien, the L.A. stylist, whom we e-mailed right away.

We got to say “hi” in person during New York fashion week. Kate was wearing the latest Acne Pop jeans in off-white with paint splatters – and we had on the same style in blue! We knew she had good taste (wink, wink).

Where we are, New York, the winter has been way harsh. So we thought, what better way to bring some West Coast sun our way – even if it is only in some photos? Kate (see her top half and lovely face above center!) let us pick our favorite denim-centric looks, and gave us the scoop on how she styled each. (Thank you, Kate.) Enjoy!

 

LEFT “I’m wearing a Jenni Kayne striped tee, coat and d’orsay kitten heel with vintage white Levi’s. I often pair ripped jeans with more lady-like accessories; it’s chic, but still feels cool.” CENTER “Since my style is fairly simple, I like to play with color. Here I went ombré from head to toe with a Club Monaco chambray shirt, Zara ombré jeans (with a vintage bandana tied to the belt loop) and white Birkenstocks.” RIGHT “I love denim paired with black and white, and here i’ve added a graphic Marni sandal and a Balenciaga motorcycle bag to a vintage white tee, black knit and vintage Levi’s cut-offs.”

 

LEFT “This is an American Apparel fisherman’s sweater, a vintage tee, vintage Levi’s and an old pair of YSL gladiator sandals. Throwing a sweater over the shoulders of a casual, laid back outfit gives it a preppier look that feels more put together.” CENTER “Here I’m wearing a Jenni Kayne red coat and d’orsay flats, an Acne henley, Golden Goose jeans and a Zara plaid scarf. Adding a pop of color is always an easy way to bring a neutral look to life.” RIGHT “I rarely wear dresses as they’re a bit girly for me, but this denim shirt style, from The Painted Bird in Silverlake, paired with an Ishvara white sandal is an easy compromise.”

 

LEFT “I’m wearing vintage Levi’s 501s that I got at the Rosebowl flea market back in high school. I live five blocks from the water [in Venice, California], so I often pair a one-piece swimsuit with a classic vintage jean for a look that can go straight from brunch to beach.” CENTER “In this look: a vintage tee, Levi’s denim jacket, COS black jeans and Céline leopard loafers. I often throw washed-out blue denim over a black jean to lighten things up.” RIGHT “This is a Saint James striped tee, with R13 Slouch Skinny jeans and white Vans. I’m a jeans and t-shirt girl at heart, and this look epitomizes that. It’s both comfortable and classic.”