Factory Girl

shirt/dress - thrifted

If you couldn't guess right now, or you don't have such exquisite tastes in 60's fashion, this entire look is inspired by Edie Sedgwick, the Factory Girl. I have yet to see the movie about her. Though it's on my list. Been on my list, really. She's a character, that Edie. Not one I'd particularly like to model my life after, but had such a unique sense of style that no one else could duplicate without copying. She had such definable traits: the makeup, the earrings, the hair. I only dream about being characterized by such a unique style one day. I'm still discovering it.

Someone once used told me the best analogy to date I've heard about being "inspired" by something using a music analogy. With a "cover" of a song, you have two options: one, you can recreate it in all likeness, or you can subtract its unique elements and use it to build your own version (yes please, get me to rant about music, like I don't already ramble enough!) Most the time I feel like I can only recreate something - being so enamored with an idea, I can't make it my own, so I really just copy it. It makes me sad. I wish I were more creative.

Having said that, though the look may be extreme, I really love the Sedgwick makeup style. It really enhances the eyes. It's time consuming and a headache to take off, but if it were up to me, I would wear this sort of makeup all the time. And Edie and I already share a mutual obsession with overly large earrings.

Random trivia time - I actually have worn this sort of makeup once before when a friend treated me to seeing an Andy Warhol exhibit (all of his Polaroids).

So I've used Audrey Hepburn and Edie Sedgwick in my looks now... Twiggy, you're next!

~

I have a week off for Thanksgiving break from classes. However, I doubt I'll be able to engage in any hobbies, as the worst holiday known to man is fast approaching... Black Friday.

If anyone's ever worked in retail for that holiday, or has common sense, they should understand. It is greed incarnate. The things we do in the name of the dollar sign. It frustrates me. I already battle my own intellect feeling I can be too materialistic at times (I was once a devotee of George Harrison and his "Living in the Material World" sermons. That's stuck with me and creates a conscience every time I go shopping. But that's all for another post for another time.) What I've told people and will reiterate my point again, the same thing you can buy at 2 AM you can buy at 2 PM. Yes, they might run out. But most companies get plenty of shipments before December 25th. Also, ordering online saves frustration. I've personally signed the petition going around to make companies give their employees Thanksgiving night off instead of working all night for Black Friday, which I myself have to do. I hate that each year Thanksgiving gets thrown under the bus as far as Christmas music and store decorations go - I guess we don't put enough emphasis on being thankful for what we already have instead of what we are about to have. Oops, I seemed to let Mr. Harrison speak for me there.

-H.

Unlimited girl, unlimited sigh

black mesh button up - thifted, scarf - thrifted, jeans - thrifted/DIY, boots - NOT THRIFTED.

Take a look around you. No, not around the room, my web page. I've made slight adjustments here and there that I think will better cater to your bored web surfing/casual browsing/fashion blog hopping/daily check-up? (any out there?!)/routine check-up/first time viewing! For one, I've taken the burden of fixing that Looks page, if you feel the need to look at my previous looks. I'm working on an "about me" page, which is always a struggle for me to reiterate what I believe my identity is, and how I can control a first impression.

Also, I want a banner. And a logo. Wouldn't that be nice? Something a little more welcoming than an unfamiliar song lyric. A cool one though.

Also: big update! I've joined two new fashion blogging/networking sites. Chicismo, which you will see a link to in the side bar, and I got approved for Independent Fashion Bloggers! What an amazing community, I've been getting responses like nonstop. I really do love this fashion blogging world, it's very supportive of each other - there's no competition as far as "out-fashioning" one another, it's a very fair and enthusiastic world.

I don't know if I should say this already, but I feel like even in the 20 odd looks I've produced, I feel like my style has already changed. Maybe it's the hair. In my daily wear, I feel the constant need to cater to what looks good on short hair. (Also, I'm going through this phase, which according to a friend who once had short hair is a normal phase, where I constantly feel the need to wear skirts and dresses and other uniquely feminine pieces just to make sure absolutely everyone I see understands and grasps that I am in fact a girl with this short of hair.) but I'm ok with it! Skirts are more stylish anyways (have you ever worn a skirt on what you considered your "off" days? It feels so unnatural doesn't it?)

I feel like I started this blog with a vision to be edgy and maybe in blend in with the a-typical "hipster" (pardon my French) look with Jeffrey Campbell boots and cut off shorts. But that's not really me. I do have a personality "ism" where if I strive to be as 100% original as I can. Meaning if I've seen someone else do it, I have to do something different now. It's very difficult. But how else are trends made, forged by personal style and a vision for what's next?

~

It was a bold move even for myself wearing nothing by my bra underneath. Phew, finally called out the elephant in the room. But it's more liberating than you think. I started this topic and now I don't know where to go with it, so I'm just going to conclude it with that and say try it.

Andddd we see the first of the combat boots, my designated go-to boot for this fall/winter weather approaching. Sturdy enough to wear everyday, stylish enough to make it look like you're actually trying today. Also the tights + knee high socks + combat boots combo is one I have planned for many, many, a-looks that are a-coming soon.

-H.

A lesson in styling.

Blazer - borrowed, t-shirt - Urban Outfitters, jeans - f21, tights - Urban Outfitters, shoes - gifted

It finally happened.

I was truly mistaken for Emma Watson from someone ready to ask for an autograph. No, I'm still not down from cloud 9 yet. Why exactly a British starlet would be cruising around a small town in North Carolina in line at a pizza restaurant, I'm not exactly sure. But accordingly, a famous rap star was reportedly spotted around that area recently and this dear girl kept her eyes peeled in case anyone else famous prowled the scene. Don't blame her. Smart girl.

Should've faked an accent and gave her my autograph anyways. But I'm not that mean... So I'd like to think.

You know, I had absolutely no intention of relating this story to my latest look, but alas, perhaps I can make a cheap connection to the union jack on my chest. Bah ha!

So a lesson in styling:

I think we as fashion consumers have a habit of wanting to make all of our outfits perfectly match, bonding this idea with the notion it might look more "high fashion" and that we put more "effort" into it. I compare this with the days I search like an animal for clothes on my floor that are still clean when matching and style is the last thing on my mind rushing out the door for classes.

But when is matching, too matching? I nearly paired this shirt with some adorable union jack earrings borrowed from my mom. Looking in the mirror I thought, hmm. I'm already putting my focus on the union jack here. You don't need two. One's good. I also nearly wore red lipstick. Again, there's red in the shoes, the shirt, and even the nails.

I guess the rule of thumb here is...

• If you see one major focus color (red in this case) two times already, any more than that would look too centered on that color. You want complimenting colors, a palette full of choices, not a reoccurring theme.
• The goal is to look effortless, which I don't know about you, but it's a struggle for me. The more we try and put everything in our closet together that matches, the less "magic" we have in the look, I suppose. It looks rehearsed.
  
• These are all crude judgments forged by yours truly and her opinion, I could be speaking against what every person as a stylist with a career has ever fought for in her life. But I don't take back what I said - In a common, every day look, I think these are helpful tips. That are unisex. I've told my dad before that he was wearing too much of one color ("does a gray shirt, with gray pants and gray chucks look good?")
  

Funny enough, I used to only wear t-shirts at one point in my life, now I can't stand being caught in one if I'm not heading to bed. This was an exception. Blazers + t-shirts = makes any casual look just that cooler. I really like this look on guys. HINT.

Rambled enough, got homework to do.

-H.