Beach bound.

Hello all, I'm headed on a short vacation tomorrow (the first one of the summer!) to Wrightsville beach. I've heard it's an area I might enjoy. I'm truly looking forward to finally breaking out my bathing suit that I bought in the beginning of the summer, fully intending to use it almost daily. That didn't happen. Look forward to beach pictures soon :)

Been reading a lot lately. Finished She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb - great read! I think I'll give this bookclub thing another try.

Wait for the Summer

shirt - thrifted, shorts - DIY cut off, belt - thrifted, jewelry - all over the place, but specifically: friendship bracelet - made personally for me!

Feeling very bohemian lately. I think this Yeasayer kick is what started it all (go look up "wait for the summer") I have a habit of finding new music to indulge in and listen to it on repeat.

I feel like I haven't been true to my real tastes in the latest posts. Typically I go for more complicated things like above.

One thing I'd like to note: do you see my friendship bracelet above? Those things are quite popular now. My friend made me one! Let me pick out the colors and everything. It's so reassuring to have something specially made for you and your tastes. I'm an etsy fiend normally because of this philosophy. Plus, buying a store bought friendship bracelet ruins the entire purpose of having one - they're supposed to be made by a friend, duh.

Not really feeling myself right about now, I've got a cold :( in the midst of summer too! I'm kind of brain dead right now.

-h.

My Inner Child

top - Urban Outfitters, tank - hand-me-down, pants - thrifted, shoes - urban outfitters, belt & necklace - vintage, ring - gifted

Much like the title implies, this shoot was meant to release my inner child. I wanted to capture a childlike sense of wonder, innocence, and a playful spirit. These were taken at a Children's Muriel in a part of town I'm particularly fond of. I grew up around this area, so there's a double meaning for invoking the kid in me. Who doesn't enjoy balloons and butterflies? While typically I tend to flock towards the darker things, sometimes you need to learn to laugh at yourself. Reminds me of a quote, in paraphrase "blessed is the man who laughs at himself, for he shall be forever amused."

It is no secret I have a predilection for butterflies, which tends to clash with my consuming bug-phobia (which a quick consultation of google search has taught me this condition is called "entomophobia"), which somehow excludes them. My mom gave me this ring for my birthday.

Releasing your inner child is an understated virtue that rarely receives attention or value - have you ever studied and watched a child play? They're so creative. I once babysat a little girl while I was in high school, she was absolutely adorable. While babysitting, she wanted to play barbies with me. I felt so inadequate - in my time growing up, I had forgotten how to play with toys, while she quickly invented personalities, background history, scenarios, and situations so easily. I made the doll talk how I would, react how I would, think how I would, while she acted with ease. It was a little tragic to me, realizing how much time and maturity had changed me.

I like to listen to songs while I'm getting dressed for a photo shoot to help channel me into the moment, songs that inspire a look. The song I listened to for this look I think makes for a good accompaniment, you've been warned, it's a nice flash back. Listen here if you'd like, embedding was disabled :)


Side note: that balloon is still lurking around my house! these foil balloons take weeks to deflate! I'm so used to the rubber ones that pop so easily...

-H.

There are times that walk from you like some passing afternoon

skirt - forever21 (old), crocheted cardigan - thrifted, belt - thrifted, necklaces - borrowed & gift

I am fortunate enough to live near an open expanse of countryside, with old farms surrounded by crops. Everything about this area breathes nostalgia for me: the childhood explorations and my senior photos for high school which were taken around this area. I'm always overcome with the urge to plant myself under a shady tree and read a book, walk down to the river and dip my toes in the water, find an abandoned barn and write about it.

This is where fashion is meant not just for the purpose of conveying personal style, but personal story. In most of my looks, I wear something that was given to me, or handed down, and it's that much more unique with memory. The tiger's eye apple necklace was my grandmother's, bought in Japan, if I'm not mistaken. I'm happy that I can continue to bring myself and my background into these looks.