Mirror Mirror

If you stare at this top too long, you might go cross-eyed. Or find yourself in the Twilight Zone.

It's been my dream for a while now to do a very dramatic black and white photoshoot. This bold striped top presented the perfect opportunity to execute this idea. I’ve paired this with velvet black leggings and one accent accessory to really allow the print to speak for itself.

Peplum tops are hugely popular finds in most all clothing department stores these days. It took me a while to jump on this big trend, but now that I've committed to it, I’m in love with the concept. It can be dressy or casual. I almost think of a small dress when I look at it. It’s flattering for most body shapes too – no matter what size you are, it gives you nice, exaggerated curves with the flared bottom piece.

One of the topics I wanted to expand on more from my last post was “Can I Do This DIY?” - This peplum top inspired me to want to research other ways to get a peplum top without finding one on sale somewhere, which is exactly where I found this beauty on the banana republic clearance rack over the summer.

I’ve discovered some tutorials online that show us just how to do that. Except the problem is, the tutorials require sewing, which I have very little skill in. I have all the resources at my disposal (sewing machine, needle, thread) but I’ve just never been great to know what to do with each material. However, this tutorial looks incredibly easy and I’m going to challenge myself to try this. I like the idea of converting an over-sized t-shirt into a peplum top. A band shirt would be very edgy, but I do like solid colors or patterns myself. There are ways you can play with the neckline in this tutorial, you can do a rounded edge like shown, or easily cut a V-shape into the neckline like the one I’m wearing. I fully intend on playing around with that. I also like that this is a video tutorial too – sometimes pictures don’t fully explain. You can watch the video at this link.

This isn’t a great example of my DIY posts to come, simply because with five college classes and working nonstop has prevented me from being able to sit down for one long evening and try it out. However, if you happen to be a great sewer, here’s your chance.

The most useful thing that has happened during my extended blogging leave is a proliferation of a whole new platform to share pictures with a larger community: Instagram! If you look to the sidebar, I've got this nice little widget that shows all my Instagram photos on a slideshow for your viewing pleasure and convenience. To make this more fun than just sharing the same old pictures, I’ve figured out how to make this more interesting: I will be posting outtakes from all of my photoshoots on my Instagram - @ water_lilies. These exclusive pictures will not wind up anywhere else. (Oh come on, don’t act surprised I’m shamelessly promoting my Instagram account. I’m a fashion blogger, it’s what I do.)

Next time, I'll be saying a warm farewell to lovely summer weather and summer clothes with one last outdoorsy, hiking look. Until next time!

-K.

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.

Bad Wings

crochet top - thrifted, tank & harem pants - f21, shoes - nine west, jewelry - everywhere

I've been planning this look for I don't know how long. Purple and black used to be my favorite colors. I was debating on and off for weeks, "are harem pants worth it? are they too dated?" and I'm glad I convinced myself to get them, because they're sooo comfyyyyy. And no, I stand firm that they are not dated.

My makeup is entirely borrowed from Kat Von D's line. I'm in love with her products. I took a chance on them at Sephora, and truly they are some of the truest colors, most easily blended, long lasting makeup I've ever worn. I considered doing a review on the palettes of Kat's line that I own.

I borrowed her "Sinner" look from the Metal Orchestra palette:

for my next look, I'm hoping to show you all my halloween costume! Y'know, since I'm on this whole makeup binge...

-h.

Arm and arm, we are the harmless sociopaths

Dress - Urban Outfitters, tights - Urban Outfitters, Shoes - unknown, jewelry: owl necklace - gifted, heart pendant & matching earrings - family vintage, specifically.

One thing I should note is that I'm addicted to tights. Literally. I have so many pairs I've lost track. I haven't been able to enjoy them what with 100 degree whether this time of year, but trust me, when fall arrives, I have a feeling most all my looks will include some variation. Most girls have shoe lust, which of course, I have too, but I have tights lust. Urban Outfitters doesn't help my cause.

Edit: I just found the tights on Urban Outfitters online again! It seems they've brought this pair back, if anyone else can't live without them: here.

~

I've been thinking about life.

I imagine life as a great big canvas. It's vast and blank, at disposal for creativity. Some people regard it with fascination, instigated by the emptiness, captivated to challenge their creativity. They see hope, they see options. Some people are fearful of it - all the choices are overwhelming, it's impossible to make a verdict of the endless calculations of possibilities within their own mind. So they often settle, forfeit the challenge. I'm torn between the two. The future is always something I've put off, until I realize the future I ignored is the present I'm living.

There are so many things I want to do in life, how do I pursue just one field? I know I can do whatever I put my mind to - my problem is my mind hard to keep up with at times.

I've thought about fashion, but I've always been more enamored with the artistic side of it. I can't focus on what simple style, as I'm sure you've all noticed. With such a wide range of interests come an unpredictable set of inspirations.

I've been out of touch with epiphanies for a long time, too long. But sharing a lunch break with a coworker in the North Carolina humidity of the afternoon by the outdoor eating area, with an ensuing conversation about life and goals provided revelations I needed. She shared some extremely useful blogging tips - blogging tips that evolved and translated to life tips for myself, the more I meditated on them. Thanks, Jess, if you're reading!

I suppose the ultimate moral of the story is not to fret. The more you fret about what you're going to do in life, the less decisive you'll become. Your goals will become less and less precise. Of course it's necessary to have a vision, but one thing I've learned with shooting my looks is, I have an idea in my head, right? A clear picture in mind I want to produce. But when I put on the clothes and I arrive at my ideal destination for shooting, I actually see what I have to work with - and most the time, I'm forced to become innovative with what's around me, and in turn, I create something else entirely that I'm pleased with. I think that's life. Circumstances happen, places change, and you make do with the tools you have to create a masterpiece.

I'd love to hear all of my readers thoughts on life and any revelations they've had in the comments.

-H.

(P.S. another theme I'm merging into my blogging as a part of my inspiration. You remember when I mentioned there are songs I listen to when I get prepared for a shoot? The song for this shoot, and mostly this blogging portion, is this song by Andrew Bird called "Oh No". The song is absolutely beautiful - but I'll let you discover that for yourself. Enjoy this link.)

Why don't they make HQ webcam pictures?

My back porch is so inviting today. Right now, I'm enjoying the pleasant, warm breeze that is perfectly conducive to writing poetry or reading, which I'll probably tackle after this.

While I'm vicariously editing the latest look photos down to every pixel (I'm not convinced they're the best photos, but they will suffice) I've taken a few terrible quality pictures of the latest goodies I've thrifted with my mother earlier this morning.

We had a lovely day today - It's 92 degrees. I wore a favorite poncho with light denim cut off jeans and moccasins (!!!) topped off with oversized sunglasses. We had lunch at a new farmer's co-op in downtown, very cute grocery store and restaurant with a patio, then meandered to a vintage jewelry shop called The Parlour Floor that a friend led me to - picked up this lovely bracelet.

It's so cute, and it fits! I have really tiny wrists so bracelets hardly ever fit properly.

While looking for light denim, high waisted jeans, I found this belt:


And I found my high waisted denim:
(Levi's - I tried on at least 20 pair and the very last one finally fit. Funny how that works.)

And lastly.... A dress that hopefully I can re-create a little bit. It's sort of a long, sheer, brown maxi dress, but the top I absolutely adore (It was only $1, hopefully I can find something good with it!) It has a bright golden twisted and braided straps that dip low in the back. It has an ugly, unmatching silky belt with it, but I'm going to get rid of it. (No webcam pic, sorry. It's not reached it's full potential, hehe.) It would look stunning with maybe an arm cuff or some jewelry that might wake it up.

Speaking of jewelry, I've also been on an etsy/eBay kick - I ordered an ankh necklace on etsy, and, believe it or not, a belly dancer chain belt. It's very bohemian/gypsy, and I saw styleofafashionista's look yesterday which totally inspired me.

Copyright goes to Giselle @ styleofafashionista.blogspot.com

Giselle is pretty much my fashion inspiration.

Alright, off to edit some photos, maybe procrastinate with reading Diary a bit...

-h.