Wednesday, September 28, 2011

best find a surgeon, can't cut me open

Sequined tank top - Forever21 (old), velvet leggings - JCPenny, cardigan - Forever21, accessories - vintage, gifted, bag - hand-me-down, shoes - nine west

Don't mind me, naming my photoshoots after strange lyrics. Random fact: more than I choose the titles of these posts by lyrics, I choose the song for it's melody because it was something I listened to and channeled creative energy from for this look. I get inspiration from sounds for visual aesthetics.Yep. True facts.

I just really enjoy the color scheme of this look - we've got coffee browns, brownish grays, black, dark green, gold, bronze and all sorts of funky mediums like feathers, sequins, velvet and glitter. I'm a sucker for crazy fabrics and additions.

Ok ok so you can't really see the glitter as well as I had desired, but trust me, it's there. It's a very subtle glitter that isn't readily picked up, being a light color, but it's enough to make you look twice in person.

I've been giving more attention to my makeup and styling - underrated facets that can make or break a look in my opinion- and yeah, I would focus on this because, well, I used to be a makeup artist (mostly recreational) and I'm still one at heart. When I imagine a look in my head with the pieces I already own (most involved fantasy driven DESIRED pieces, I will admit) I think of styling that would compliment it, spice it up - and these days, I have some pretty wild ideas. What's presented in the pictures isn't nearly my cosmetic forte. I'm anticipating in the next few looks I'll really show off some of the makeup ideas I have in mind that hopefully you'll all enjoy.


Have a lovely week xx

-h.


Monday, September 19, 2011

Love was a promise made of smoke in a frozen copse of trees

Romper - Forever 21, Necklace - Aldo, Bag - thrifted, earrings - gifted, shoes - minnetonka moccasins 

This was one of my favorite outfits this summer, I had to show if off before the weather got too cold. I don't know exactly what to call this pattern, but it makes me think of something with Aztec infuences maybe? Anyways, it has a color block I'm in love with. It's so comfy. And open. And airy. I feel like I'm wearing nothing. 

The earrings have a special story - the night before I chopped off all my hair, my mom came home from work with a plastic bag. She started to pull goodies out when she said, "I hope you like them, but when you get your hair cut, you have to promise me to wear dangly earrings all the time." And she pulled out these, and a few others. That was her way of approving my decision. It made me happy. I kept my promise! 

Still loving the short hair! I'm still getting accustomed to styling it, thus why one side is poofy and the other flat. OCD is kicking in, ignore me.

I've made some pretty hefty life decisions lately. It feels like sometimes half the battle is initially making the decision vs. dealing with whatever the decision is about. I won't go into details, but I got a nice life-learned lesson about putting myself first or learning to submit and be miserable. I made a choice that back tracked me, but I keep reflecting on what I could have done differently and, as silly as it seems, how proud I am that I listened to my own needs for once.

I share with you a quote I found today that has really spoken to me, from my Goddess, Sylvia Plath:

"So many people are shut up tight inside themselves like boxes, yet they would open up, unfolding quite wonderfully, if only you were interested in them."
Sylvia Plath
 
I could ramble on and on about that quote and all the circumstances in my own life where that applies, but I'm sure you can deduct enough from the quote itself. I guess I'm posting this in relation to fashion just to remind everyone, as often repeated as it is, you are intrinsically unique and as long as you know it and feel it, you don't need someone else's recognition to validate it. 

-H.







Saturday, September 10, 2011

Makeover!

 shirt - forever 21 (old), skirt - family vintage, belt - borrowed, scarf - borrowed, earrings - vintage buttons

Notice anything different? Unless your powers of observation are minimal, I CUTTED ALL MY HAIRSES OFF.

I've finally joined the ranks of Twiggy, 1950's Audrey Hepburn, Edie Sedgwick, Mia Farrow and other 60's mod era fashion icons and hacked off my follicles. I hate to use cliche words such as "empowering" but I really do feel so liberated with short hair. I donated that alarmingly heavy pony tail to Locks of Love so someone in need can have the hair I once babied.

I've always been in love with a woman who could pull off short hair (see list of style icons I adore listed above) I always worried I'd come off too manly, because of my large nose... 3 days later and I don't regret a thing except that I didn't do it sooner. It's changed my view of the beauty standards. I'm embracing it. I've been told time and time again (though the compliment never gets old) that I favor Emma Watson. I completely adored her makeover, and as we all know, every good artist copies, every great artist steals. How could you not love her with short hair?! Too many girls feel limited to having long hair because it's safe. That's been the reoccuring theme I've heard among reactions to my dramatic makeover: "Oh I wish I could pull off short hair!" YES YOU CAN! Just do your research, and try it! It'll always grow back. What was really helpful for me, and it might be a fun experience for anyone who wants to just play around, is this virtual makeover site from InStyle that allowed me to try out several pixie cuts. It's fun just to play around with!

My mom made me promise that when I have short hair, I must wear lots and lots of dangle-y earrings. I have no problems with this. (image: emma-watson.net)


Ok, enough about hair, let me tell you about the outfit: did it ring any bells? This was an impromptu look heading out the door... The inspiration is quite literal and taken from Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. Remember when she hacked off all her hair? Yeah, that's exactly how I felt after I cut all mine off.  Roman Holiday is one of my favorite Audrey Hepburn films.

(image: en.wikipedia.org)

I hope to continue updating regularly again. Classes have taken over my life, and I thoroughly miss my "me time" that photoshoots provide. xx

-h.