thosethingstheysaid

Moved!

2011-06-12T23:40:00.001-04:00

Hi! If you're looking for Those Things They Said, you can now find it at http://thosethingstheysaid.com!

Summer Trends I'm in Love With

2011-06-10T23:18:00.001-04:00

Hey guys! I'm hopping back on board with Friend Friday! I think this is the first post I've done since I start college-- shame on me! :(

This week's topic has to do with summer trends. Here are five that I'm really into!

My summer picks!

1. Shorts! Very typical, but I love all my shorts so much. High-waisted are my favorite, but I also love colored denim to switch things up.
2. Sheer or lace tops. I feel like these are synonymous with summer as they read as light and airy, which is perfect in the summer heat!
3. Crop tops. Crop tops also = summer, yes?
4. Bandeau bras. Great as a pop of color under something oversized or backless!
5. Bright nail polish. There's something about wearing neutrals from head-to-toe and then creating an unexpected twist with neon nails that I love.

Though, this is all me year round anyway. Hahahaha.

Excited!

2011-06-10T10:32:00.001-04:00

So sorry I haven't been posting! I've definitely been making content, though, I promise :)

In the past two and a half weeks that I've been home, I've seen friends that I've really missed, gone to a few parties, and have been working on my one-year anniversary surprise for the blog! I've been hinting at it for 2 months now, and I'll finally be able to show you this coming week!

Here are some photos from my stay at home so far!

Dog parks, beaches, baby showers, and lots of other things :) Outfit post later!

Mad Men

2011-05-29T23:56:00.002-04:00

Hey guys! I'm back in Miami for a few weeks :) I'm done with my first year of school and I do truly feel changed. But definitely in a good way :)

Like usual, I had to rush home for some family-related event (and in the process, I actually packed my glasses and retainer which I won't be seeing until mid-June...). My sister recently turned 27, and she wanted a 50s/60s themed party because of her interest in the costumes for the series Mad Men. I've never seen the show, but I decided it was time for a new dress and went with this beautiful coral-colored dress from American Apparel.

I've always been drawn to this dress, but wasn't really interested in buying it until this party. The lace detailing up top is so gorgeous! I did need something to wear under it so I bought a tank from them in a very similar cut, so that it wouldn't be an awkward camisole, for example, in a completely different style.

"Mannequin" by American Apparel with Essie's "Matte About You Top Coat"

I also wanted a light-colored nail polish, as I tend to lean towards brights and darks...not really neutrals. I chose this shade from AA called "Mannequin" on a whim and I'm very pleased with my last-minute decision. It's also true to the thickness of their other colors, but that's a given =P I needed mt nails to dry quickly, so I slapped on this matte top coat by Essie. It has that effect for some reason, and I must say that I can't complain ;)

So, I'm finally able to blog regularly since school is over which is super exciting. I'll update you tomorrow with this self-imposed clothing challenge that I want to stick to. More details later :)

Wearing:
Dress: AA
Chiffon Tank: AA
Shoes: Rampage
Nail Polish: AA

Finally! AA Neon Nail Polish! :)

2011-05-23T17:52:00.000-04:00

American Apparel's Neon Nail Lacquers

I'm so excited that these finally came in the mail. I've been waiting for over two weeks! AA had a little mix up where they only sent me the clear topcoat, so I had to wait another week for the rest to come in. Today was the day ♥

During my second trimester at school, I was in a 12hr/day, 5 day/week class where I was constantly encrusted with charcoal. It started staining my nails, so I got really into painting them to keep the discoloration from building up. Since then, I've been slowly building up my collection since I tossed all of what I had a little over a year ago. These are my newest additions, and I'm so pleased.

American Apparel might as well hire me to be their spokeswoman because I never have anything bad to say about them.

I got super excited after I ordered them and then saw that a friend of mine from middle school posted some swatches on her blog, Makeup, Beauty, and Inspirations. She assured me that the quality was great, and she was SO right. The color is super thick, especially considering it's neon, which tends to be a little stringy and thin in other brands.

T:Neon Red, Neon Orange, Neon Purple; B: Neon Coral, Neon Yellow, Neon Green

The colors are SO vivid with just two coats, true to AA's usual formula. Very pleased with my investment :)

I got a little excited and put on all the colors except for coral, but that won't last long. I just wanted to test them all out :) Coral will of course be next, and I'll show you guys shortly so stay tuned! And be sure to snatch up your own bottles soon--according to Refinery29, only 2000 bottles of each color exist!

Also, just a few short weeks until my surprise! ;)

Strapped In

2011-05-17T18:17:00.000-04:00

Also, here is a quick webcam outfit post. I'm sorry for the poor quality--my webcam isn't the best, and I don't have time to whip out my camera.

Wearing
Top: Pleasure Doing Business
Jeans: Levis
Nail Polish: UO Chrome with Essie Matte About You top coat

3 Shoes I NEED

2011-05-17T17:54:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone! Finals week is hitting strong and I'm severely limited on time, but I just found out that I have far less to do than I thought I did, so I'm taking the time to post a quick entry :)

Despite my absence in the blogger world, I have still been lusting over all sorts of things, in particular, these 3 pairs of shoes:

1. Lita by Jeffrey Campbell, 2. Hayword by Dolce Vita, 3. Jeffrey Campbell Ankle Strap Wedge

1. I was in constant debate over these babies for MONTHS, and I'm finally on the bandwagon. I want to wear these with maxi skirts, mini dresses, and levis cut-offs.

2. I've seen these around for months, but only just took the time to find out what they were. These have such a beautiful silhouette--different yet still really simple. This is a refreshing interpretation of a classic pump. I don't have many jeans-appropriate shoes, but I can so see myself living in these when I wear my skinnies. And basically, I can see them going with EVERYTHING else. Dolce Vita always creates my dream shoe.

3. I'm not usually a huge suede fan, but these are such beautiful shoes that I can't resist. I love the different in scale between the pump and the dainty ankle strap (which I hear is removable...two looks from one shoe!) My favorite part would have to be the concealed wedge, which is what I've been looking for for months. These shoes would totally feed that craving! I would love to wear these with flow-y chiffon skirts and graphic crop tops.

Aside from all this, I'm in the works of planning my blog's giveaway, which will be announced within the next month...it's a surprise ;)

While my blogging hasn't been physically evident to you guys lately, all of that will change shortly, just wait! I can't wait to show you guys what I have in store!

Last week was probably the most productive week of my life

2011-04-26T01:16:00.000-04:00

I have never been so much on overdrive as I was last week. So many things happened in just a matter of days.

Thursday, I went to New York for the first time. I visited the Isamu Noguchi Scuplture Garden Museum and the Museum of Modern Art: PS1, both in Queens. The Noguchi pieces were gorgeous and totally worth the trip, but PS1 was barely worth my time, unfortunately. My class and I actually ended up in a small privately owned gallery across the street from PS1 and while there were few, small pieces, they were certainly redeeming for PS1's failure.

Overall, I had a great time and it gave my class an opportunity to really bond and get to know each other.

Friday, I had my interview to be an RA for the Summer and I think it went really well. Wish me luck!

I went to Boston on Friday to visit my friend Esther. We mused on-and-on about fashion. It was great seeing her again. I got back Saturday night.

On top of all this, I had a 40x60 drawing due on Sunday that I stupidly broke into several 18x24in pieces. They're currently being shown in the student gallery. Maybe I'll snag a picture.

Also, I got a fashion book that I'll probably be sharing with you from time to time in several different ways. I'll get to it when the time comes.

Just posting quickly to show you guys I haven't dropped off the face of the planet. Just been SUPER bust. I'm certainly still in the works of planning for my blog's one-year anniversary. I bought a mini sewing machine. What possibly could I be doing with it? ;)

Orange

2011-04-14T21:40:00.000-04:00

Today, I decided to embrace orange...my least favorite color. I'm not sure why, but I'm just completely unattracted to it in every sense. This is my first orange shirt in about 3 years and I'm actually rather fond of it, though the shoulders slip off all the time. It was okay though, because today was a beautiful 60 degrees and my drawing teacher let us have an easy day today.

Wearing:
Top: Asos
Skirt: Cotton On
Shoes: Forever 21
Jacket: Forever 21

Anyway, this is just a quick post. I have to finish an essay and do some reading for my philosophy of technology class.

An Outfit Post to Come!

2011-04-12T02:19:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited about this outfit, you have no idea. I saw this dress on a model on Forever 21's website, hunted it down, and found it. I waited a bit to buy it, and the day that I tried, it had sold out online. That same night, I went to the mall and I found it, tucked behind a bunch of other crochet dresses <3

As for the shorts, my boyfriend got me an American Apparel giftcard and it complete the outfit, since I already had the bandeau from an AA Rummage Sale about a year and a half ago.

I promise you this outfit this week...I just have to wait for it to not be wet and dreary outside! :( I also have two other outfit combos I'll be trying out...probably before this one. Maybe I'll give you three outfit posts this week? We'll see :)

Have a good Tuesday!

Okay, okay, okay. So, this isn't a real post.

2011-04-10T22:27:00.000-04:00

I've certainly been lacking really good posts for the past 2 weeks, but I'm totally going to make up for it in the coming months. I've got some big changes happening-- both life- and blog-wise-- and they're going to contribute to the blog in every possible way.

First and foremost, I'm really hoping to become and RA for my school this summer, so I'm going to have so much time on my hands since I won't be taking and classes. I'd just be doing that, and then having a couple of jobs so I can make money for the coming school year.

And the other part is basically a bunch of secrets that I can hint at. My blog's 1-year anniversary is approaching and I'm going to have many things coming your way such as a brand new look, more art, and I'll be starting giveaways! I'm excited to reach this stage in my life where my blogging will be more geared towards my career rather than a just-for-fun sorta thing. I'm also hoping to fix the problem with the bottom of my blog. I know some of you can't access the bottom of my blog and well, neither can I. That'll be changing really soon.

Anyway, look out for a couple outfit posts this week. My schedule this week is going to shift a bit from the norm, but I'll be sure to put in time for you guys.

Hope you all have a great week!

Inspiring Images

2011-04-07T21:33:00.004-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts for the last week and a half. I intended to post photos over Spring Break, but the airport stole my computer software from my luggage...for the second time in a row. TSS is driving me crazy.

Anywhere, here are some photos inspiring me right now :)

Unfortunately, none of these beautiful images are made by me. Credit is given where available. If you see something you recognize, I will give credit or remove upon request.

Drifting Off

2011-03-25T00:48:00.000-04:00

Hi guys! Quick post! This week is a busy week so I'm showing you some photos from my Design II class. Each week, we're to roam the city and take photos that represent a new keyword. Here are some of my favorites, their keywords being distortion, layers, and grids.

Enjoy! I'll get to your comments and blog posts immediately! :)

Revolution

2011-03-21T00:50:00.006-04:00

Just a quick post of my outfit from Saturday. I thought I'd be cute and match my fluorescent yellow dress to my boyfriend's fluorescent yellow hair. I'm so lame, hahahaha.

Wearing
Sweater: H&M
Dress: American Apparel
Clogs: Dolce Vita
Purse: F21
Socks: F21
Jewelry: F21

A couple of these photos make me feel like I have anger issues, hahaha. I think I was upset cause it's getting chilly again, boo :( Oh well, nice weather will be here soon again, I'm sure :)

Are you satisfied?

2011-03-19T14:23:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was such a gorgeous day out. It hit 70 degrees yesterday, and I was glad to finally be able to shed any form of legwear.

I decided to use my 2-hour break between my classes to go and shoot. I love this outfit so, so much. If you couldn't tell, I'm still trying to rock the whole polka dots and leopard print look, and I think this was my best attempt. Everyone should mix prints....there are so many new possibilities when you do so :)

Speaking of leopard print, I got these wedges from F21 about a month ago. It was a birthday gift to myself, haha. I love the silhouette SO much :)

Wearing:
Dress: H&M
Cape: American Apparel
Shoes: F21
Purse: F21

Anyway, it's time to do some homework, apply for scholarships, and clean my room! So much to doooo. Also, I go home to Miami in a week! I'm so excited :)

hold me, wrap me up

2011-03-17T00:48:00.016-04:00

Another outfit post! This is looking promising, right guys? Anyway, this outfit is from 2 days ago. It's starting to warm up in these parts and the weather is so perfect. Skirts without tights! FINALLY!

Again, my novio took these photos, and we were in a rush, so pardon the bathroom in the background!

Wearing
Raglan Top: American Apparel
Petticoat: American Apparel
Thigh-Highs: American Apparel
Shoes: JS

And if you didn't notice, I have the Jessica Simpson Dany Platforms! I received them from my family for my birthday and I absolutely love them. They're gorgeous. It's a bit tricky walking in them considering I live on what is known as College Hill. It is one of those places that is literally it's title. Colleges on a hill. (It usually bugs me when they're not what they say they are. Despite the difficult terrain, I can't complain since it is what it is.)

More to come soon, I promise :)

Topographies

2011-03-16T00:13:00.001-04:00

I have some art to share with you all :) Not much, but here was my first Design II assignment this semester, where we had to interpret a topographical map into a quadriptych.

Multi-media. Each square is 11x11in.

I hope to have more to show you soon! I'm carefully documenting my work as I do this time around, instead of dumping it all at the end of a semester. Maybe I'll be able to show you something a few times a week? We'll see :)

This is my come back...for real this time!

2011-03-10T17:57:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! I know I was supposed to start writing in here again a couple of months ago, but so many things happened that were working against my favor that it just wasn't possible. The worst part was my first week back at school from break. Somehow, I contracted tonsillitis right before New Year's Eve back when I was at home. You don't want to get it ever...trust me.

So, I finally have some outfit photos for you! I actually didn't take my own outfit photos, which is a first for the blog. My non-photographer, still-artist boyfriend took them and I'm really pleased with the result. He saved me so much trouble since it's still freezing out.

Dress: American Apparel
Tights, harness: Asos
Shoes: Dolce Vita

Thank you for reading! I promise my updates will actually exist! I'm going to try a whole bunch of new things so I hope you enjoy what is to come!

Wishlist

2010-12-23T12:58:00.003-05:00

Recently, I've seen other bloggers come up with their last-minute Christmas Wishlists. I decided to make my own, except, I know I'm not getting any of these for Christmas, and I'll probably be buying all of these on my own. My list is entirely American Apparel, because, well, I love their clothes and I have for years. These are items I've wanted, some for years and some since recent, and am finally wishing to buy once I know the funds are secured.

In order from L-R, T-B:
1. Nylon Tricot Tank Dress- Low back dresses are my favorite right now. I tried this dress on in green the week before last, and I knew I had to have it. Wish I could show you how pretty the shade was.
2. Chiffon Oversized Button-up Blouse- This color "grenadine" is such a beautiful shade that I don't see often. I love oversized tops, and this would integrate into my wardrobe so, so well.
3. Nylon Tricot Bandeau Top- Just a cute swimsuit top. I love that the string is removable so it can be a halter or completely strapless.
4. Nylong Tricot High-Waisted Brief Botton- Very vintage. That's all.
5. Cotton Spandex Micro Mesh Gloria V Bodysuit- I tried this on for fun and I fell completely in love with it. It's a little risque, but it'd be fun as a top to go out in.
6. Tank Dress- I love the pillowcase-like look of this dress. It looks so effortless and like such a throw on dress. I would certainly dub this a go-to dress for a lazy day.
7. Helvetica Tee- I have one already. I bought the letter H for some reason. Now I want M because that actually makes sense.
8. Winter Leggings- Hi, I live in Rhode Island now. It's cold. These are warm. It's perfect.
9. The Shiny Sash- Great way to top off a simple dress.
10. Afrika Tee- Love this print SO much. Ever since I saw this shirt however some-odd years ago, I knew I needed it. It'd be cute with high-waisted shorts.
11. Interlock Mini Skirt- I know, I know. I have like, 50 black mini skirts. But my main skirt is falling apart from overuse and this would be an excellent replacement!
12. Leather Pouch- This would make the cutest clutch, especially in this unique grey leather. I might have to attach a little wristlet strap to it, but I wouldn't mind the extra work.

I understand that almost everything is black. Don't judge me! Haha. I've obviously reached a comfort zone, but I don't mind it at the moment. I find that when I buy colors to keep myself from being comfortable, I don't get as much use out of the object. I've been able to offset the aversion with navy, though. It makes a great black substitute :)

I think once I get all of this, I can focus on SHOES and VINTAGE, which I lack much of in my life.

Any items you guys have been wanting for years, but haven't had the heart to buy yet? Share 'em :)

Deepest Apologies

2010-12-22T21:41:00.000-05:00

I'm really sorry to inform you guys that I won't be able to share any outfit photos with you during my break. I left my camera software back in my dorm room thinking that I could easily download it off of Canon's website, but they don't have it available.

I'm just going to have to do a sort of outfit post dump when I return to Rhode Island. I'll have much more time on my hands this upcoming semester since I'm in a class that gives no homework.

Speaking of which, I'm happy to share with you guys that my grades were posted and they look pretty good. There's one that's bothering me, so I'm going to contest it, especially since my 3D teacher said that it would change with out final.

Our 3D final was to create a collapsible snow globe as a collaborative assignment. It was looking good, until we added too many heavy elements to it, and then it started buckling under it's own weight. It was 1:00am and therefore, it was due in 7 hours, and we had to pretty much start from scratch. In the end, it was an assignment that we all disliked, but it was a great way to spend time with my classmates for our last day.

Snowglobe in progress!

I'll have some photos of the final product for you when I get back to Rhode Island!

Also, I'm hoping I'll get in some more substantial posts before my break ends. We'll see how that goes :)

Melanie

Winter Break

2010-12-19T05:27:00.000-05:00

After the 3 consecutive sleepless nights that are RISD's final crit week, I am finally home. I arrived last night and knocked out for 11 hours, haha.

I have absolutely nothing for you right now, but I wanted to inform you that I will be updating the blog throughout my break. I want to do an outfit post for each day, so you guys will see what I'm up to here at home in the heat of Miami.

Also, I have some photos of my final critique work for my drawing and spatial dynamics classes. They're not on this computer at the moment, but as soon as I can, they will be up! I did so much work this semester and I really want to show it off. I've also found myself to be really driven to complete work, which was something I've lacked int he past. It's kinda cool and I can't wait to see the work that comes out of that effort.

I tried to record a vlog for you guys and I totally have the file prepared, but the file is acting up and I'm not sure if it'll ever go up. I'll try though.

Sorry for this all text post. I'll take some photos later tonight :)

So, Sometimes I Forget that this is an Art Blog, too

2010-12-11T00:47:00.001-05:00

As you may or may not know, I made a recent move up to Rhode Island from my hometown of Miami (that I miss very much because it is warm. It's snowing right now). Anyway, aside from the cold weather lately, I actually really love this place. I go to Rhode Island School of Design, and I'm currently in their REALLY intensive Freshman Foundation Studies program. While this year isn't so much about making personal art endeavors that I truly like, I have enjoyed some of the final products of my assignments. This is finals week, so I'm going to show you some of my creations from my first semester here at school :)

The goal of this assignment was to create a sculpture that implies movement with post-consumer materials. I spent $10 on plastic spoons, only used half of them, and lost my receipt to return the rest. Anyway, I had a lot of fun creating this and I really loved my idea. The spoons are held together by hot glue, which is pretty flexible. Some of the sections have the ability to move, although the range is really limited.

This was a tricky project that resulted in one of my many all-nighters at school. The assignment was to create 5 modular pieces that interacted together. They were intended to be able to stack together in one straight line, or as this crazy teetering post, but I forgot the order they went in and could never figure the straight line out. It also just primarily teetered because my sides weren't flat. My teacher loved it. Especially juxtaposed with this half-eaten apple that happened to be on the table.

This assignment was to create my own version of a pilaster that incorporated something architectural, an animal, and a plant. I love birch trees, and I saw them for the first time here in RI, so I looked up the state bird, and it's a rooster. I went with the Massachusetts state bird instead, the chicakdee :)

Sorry for poor cell phone quality :(

Self-portrait in my undies entitled "Standards." Drawn in 15 hours. Acrylic, gesso, charcoal, ink, & conte on 40x60in. illustration board. I really enjoyed this one :)

THIS. Took me over 40 hours in front of a computer. Photos and drawings of a starfish and sand dollar to create patterns and paths. Animated in Premiere Pro CS3.

This is all I have for you for now. I hope you enjoy :)

A Cold, Cold Day in Providence

2010-12-04T14:31:00.000-05:00

I finally got to go shopping and get the items on my wishlist yesterday. My groupons worked out quite nicely, and I got a few more things with my own cash, which I'll show later.

I now officially own everything in the previous post, however, the green cape is on it's way here in the mail, since American Apparel had it's Cyber Monday sale. Also, the Floral jumper is going to be under the Christmas tree in few weeks, so it's not quite mine yet.

Today I woke up, and decided to wear my long black skirt. I always have so much trouble wearing it, but I thought it would be excellent with my new lace shirt.

I'd show you guys alternate photos from lookbook, but 1) my friends aren't exactly photographers and can't take good pictures, and 2)I don't have time to edit them to make them decent.

As for the shirt, I'm SO happy with it. I kinda want to be able to wear nothing underneath it, but it's way too cold here.

This is all I have time to write, and I wish I had more. Sorry about that :( Thanks for reading, I really appreciate it! Also, I've gotten a few emails that I'll respond to sometime this weekend. My final days of some of my classes are this coming week so I have so much to do.

Thanks again!

Thanksgiving Break

2010-11-25T22:34:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone! It's been a bit longer than I was hoping it would be-- AGAIN. I'm on my break and I'm still finding that I have a lot of homework to do. I wasn't planning on doing any outfit posts since I was home and wouldn't have my tripod, so I don't have my tripod, though I totally realized that I could've fit it into my luggage. I'm a bit upset at myself about it, but Winter Break is fast approaching and I'll make up for it then :)

I don't have anything to really show you, but I've been finalizing my Christmas wishlist since Black Friday is in 2 days! My sisters bought my American Apparel Groupons, so I have $100 to spend there as a sort of Thanksgiving gift. I think I'll just show you my wishlist, and I hope you'll enjoy!

So, I'll be buying the first three things myself, and my sister is getting the floral jumper for me for Christmas. I actually already own the cape in black, but they finally came out with green SO, I'll be getting that really soon :)

Otherwise, I'm on the hunt for a polka dot skirt. I want one really badly! I'm trying to channel the whole leopard print & polka dots look of Dolce & Gabbana. I came home and my mom surprised me with a polka dot sweater that I liked at Target, haha. It was cute. I'll definitely be sporting that in Rhode Island.

I'm also dying for a couple pairs of shoes.

Jessica Simpson "Dany"

I've been in love with these for so long. They're at Macy*s, I think I might actually nab them if my coupons work ;)

"Workman Lace-Up Booties" from Forever 21.

I'm in love with this style and pretty much just wide heels in general.

Anyway, about that photo that I mentioned that I would have for you a while back...I totally tried but failed. My new camera is not compatible with my older version of photoshop, so after I long struggle, I gave up. When I get back to school, I'm going to try to see if the computer lab has my software. Something tells me it'll work :)

I'm out for now! I'm hoping to get one more post in by the time I head back to Providence. Thanks for reading, and I'll get to comments within the next couple of days! <3

Have a great Thanksgiving!

New Life

2010-10-20T17:45:00.000-04:00

So, as I failed to mention in the video after the whole part with the purse, I lost my cell phone because I left my purse open. I was running from a drunken man who was following my friends and I. Everything is okay though, we got away :)

Anyway, thanks for bearing with me. I'll try to update again. & thanks again to my new followers!

Hey everyone!

2010-09-21T13:44:00.000-04:00

I'm so sorry about the lack of posts. I've been reading your comments since they come to my phone, but I haven't had the spare time to make any posts!

My outfits have been really cute, but I haven't had the level of comfort to take photos in a place where I live with 500 other people. At least not yet ;)

As for the vlog problem, I have a solution! Before I left Miami, my mom bought me a Canon 7D, and the HD video is gorgeous! But the bad news: My computer crashed as soon as I got here, so I no longer have Adobe Premiere with me :( I'm going to have to ask my parents to ship it up for me so I can get started really soon.

Life in Rhode Island is fantastic. It's getting colder and colder and more and more obvious that I don't have appropriate clothing, but I went out a couple days ago and bought some sweaters that are pretty cute. I've been living in black and white and have started to feel uncomfortable when I'm not. I'm not a big fan of that, but whatever, I'll grow out of it. (I hope!)

And one last thing: RISD has a streetstyle blog called risd streetwalkers. For the past few months, I've totally told myself, "I need to get on at least once! & Before this school year ends!" Well, what do you know, the day BEFORE school even starts, I get my photograph taken!

But you've already seen this outfit, haha. There I am, pictured with Effy, my neighbor, on the left and Mari, my roommate, in the middle.

Hope to have some photos for you guys really soon, maybe even today! I had an hour to shoot for my design class and I want to show you what my new camera can do!

Thanks for reading, and thank you SO much to all my new followers. You guys are awesome! I'll get back to comments as soon as I can!

Four from Fall: Dolce & Gabbana

2010-09-13T16:25:00.000-04:00

Polka dots and leopard print! So genius, yet it's so classic that it makes me feel really "Duh!" for not trying it out already. Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2010 makes me crave sheer polka dots and satin animal prints so, so much. These styles are a modern take on the 50s that I definitely want to look into buying. The tailoring of the pieces are very timeless, and also very flattering. Even with high-necklines, some of the tops have a certain sexiness that beats tons of exposed cleavage.

Polda dots with animal print: yay or nay?

Photos courtesy of Style.com.

Four from Fall: 3.1 Phillip Lim

2010-09-12T18:15:00.000-04:00

3.1 Phillip Lim's Fall 2010 collection features a brilliant color scheme that I've loved for about two years. In addition to owning lots of black and white, I own tons of beige and grey. The thing is, I don't have anything like some of the pieces that are featured. What Lim does is have one really usual and conventional garment partnered with something innovative to break up the plainness. Asymmetrical hems and contrasting prints keep his Fall line refreshing. I can definitely try out the first look in reverse, and I want to do it as soon as possible!

How do you feel about these two colors together?

Four from Fall: Betsey Johnson

2010-09-11T00:41:00.003-04:00

I'm trying to remember when I fell in love with Betsey Johnson, and I can't quite recall-- it started years ago! Even before my interest in fashion as a hobby! Her looks are always so youthful and fun, and I suppose that's what attracts both the young and the young-at-heart. Vibrant colors usually define her looks, anchored by lots of black, such as in these four Fall 2010 looks. How I wish these exposed legs and high hemlines are ideal for Fall, but I'm slowly coming to the reality that that's not the case. I'll probably be rocking outfits like the third one while I can.

What are your thoughts on Betsey's designs? Would you wear them?

Today is also my friend Stephanie's birthday, and I wish her the best! Wish I were back home with you giiirl! <3 Hope you enjoyed your macaroni & cheese!

Four from Fall: Alice + Olivia

2010-09-10T14:30:00.001-04:00

Okay! I know, I know: I picked all the black on black looks. It's currently the only monochromatic look I've let myself try, and I did a lot of it last Fall. While Alice + Olivia's Fall 2010 styles all looks good, these were my absolute favorite. The pieces are all pretty different, but what ties it together is the idea of contrasting textures. The exaggerated shoulders of the first two looks, girlishness of the third, and flapper-inspired look of the fourth are all things I have in my closet. AND in these same colors! These are all definitely going to be tried out this Fall. Alice + Olivia is a great line for inspiration on regular everyday-wear. These looks are good for almost any event!

Which look do you think is more you?

Four from Fall: Balenciaga

2010-09-09T16:23:00.001-04:00

Balenciaga's Fall 2010 looks were so perfect. They have sort of a digital feeling going on, with the big blocks of color resembling pixels as well as the very futuristic-looking geometric designs. It totally reminds my of my computer geekdom which is probably why I'm so attracted to it. I usually don't like futuristic/modern looks (like Karl Langerfeld's-- sorry!), but those elements are really balanced out on regular-looking knits. Without the prints, these looks would be simplistic and disconnected, so they definitely serve a purpose.

I'm loving the first sweater. What's your favorite?

Four from Fall: Erin Wasson x RVCA

2010-09-08T13:59:00.005-04:00

The Erin Wasson x RVCA line is one of my absolute favorites! It's so streamlined and clean, which is a look that's really easy to commit successfully. My favorite part would have to be the draping and oversized pieces, which just scream 'chic yet comfortable'. The solids and monochromatic color schemes are also such a huge factor for making this line work. I'm personally afraid of wearing all one color, but these looks have me dying to try it out once! Who knows, maybe I'll love it :)

How do you feel about one color from top to bottom? Is it a look worth loving or leaving?

Four from Fall: Alexander Wang

2010-09-07T10:57:00.001-04:00

For my first installation of Four from Fall, I'm featuring Alexander Wang!

My favorite part of Alexander Wang's Fall 2010 collection would have to be the architecture. The construction is so atypical! I also get sort of a Vampire-like vibe, which is mainly drawn from all the black as well as the models' presentation. My favorite look would have to be the final one, though it reminds me of the Alexander McQueen for Target line back in February of 2009.

While I enjoy Wang's designs, I don't quite see myself in most of them. His casual Ts are probably my favorite. I've been looking to own one of the T dresses-- one day that'll happen!

How do you feel about these looks?

This is going to be a crazy week

2010-09-06T23:22:00.000-04:00

As some of you may know, I'm about to head off to Rhode Island for college. (I think I've mentioned it in almost all of my most recent posts, and any of the ones that do with F/W 2010! haha.)

Since I'm packing up my computer tomorrow, I'm going to set up some automatic posts through the 14th. In honor of Fashion Week, I'll show you four Fall 2010 looks from one of my favorite designers each day. They range from looks I plan on trying out myself, to looks that I simply revere as pieces of art. I'll start this tomorrow!

As for my Blog of the Moment spotlight, it'll be put on hold until I can create the post. It'll hopefully be next Friday, or the following one. The same goes for Friend Friday, and I'll submit what I can when I can.

AND TODAY. I'll leave you with another song I love. "Frozen Creek" by Circa Survive.

Viva Vena Fall 2010

2010-09-05T01:35:00.001-04:00

Vena Cava's Viva Vena Fall 2010 line.

I'm totally loving all the knits from Viva Vena for Fall 2010. I invested in so many basics this season and I feel like I was subconsciously gravitating towards the looks here. I think this is what I'll be about this Fall. I don't like to dress down-- EVER!-- so this would be a great alternative to a comfy college lifestyle. My favorite look is definitely the last, but I'm also digging the raglan with the mini skirt look, and I definitely have comparable pieces to put together in order to emulate it. What do you guys think about this lookbook?

Also, I've been thinking about moving to Wordpress over the past month or so. V's recommendation over a Grit & Glamour definitely pushed it up as a priority, but I'm still not sure. I have had a Wordpress account for over a year (I started there under the same name before I made my final decision to Blogger) and I think I'm gonna test it out and see. It's so convenient and so easy to integrate with so many things. I feel kinda torn about it, lol. Have you considered Wordpress?

Friend Friday: Knock-Offs

2010-09-03T04:11:00.000-04:00

Here is my Friend Friday post for the week!

Ignore my rude dog in the background. He's got an itch on his leg that he doesn't want to leave alone. I promise it's that and not something else.

Friend Friday is a weekly questionnaire on fashion/blogger related topics started by Katy of Modly Chic.

*Also: Sorry I've been slow with commenting on your blogs! I've been busy. I've definitely been reading, but couldn't take the time to comment. I'll start back asap! I've been packing for the past few days.

First Vlog

2010-09-03T03:21:00.000-04:00

Wow. Sorry for such a long delay, but here is my first vlog. This video is lots of little failures summed up into a slight bit of okay, but I don't mind. Sorry if the quality is poor. I'm trying to work on that. I think I want to invest in a point-and-shoot since the camera is my mom's and a little old.

ANYWAY.

And yeah, my hair is tamed.

Going-Away Party!

2010-08-29T01:57:00.000-04:00

Today was my roommate's going-away party! I was there pretty much all day. It was cute, fun, hilarious, I loved it :) Her cake and cupcakes were beautiful, and were Cheshire Cat-themed since she loves Alice in Wonderland. I mean, LOVES.

I was wearing a hat, but I didn't get any photos with it :( Oh well, next time!

Body: American Apparel
Shorts: Thrifted Levis
Boots: Forever 21
Hat: UO

Sorry for the neglect!

2010-08-28T02:44:00.000-04:00

Okay, alright! I certainly owe you guys a decent post. Since I'll be heading out to Providence in 12 days (AHHHH! THIS IS HAPPENING IN A PAINFULLY SLOW MANNER!), I've been a little caught up in the hustle and bustle of preparation. Like, bed sheets? WHAT? I have to choose some and it seems so 'life and death' since it'll need to keep me sane for the next 8 months. I'll also be sobbing into them every night as I get yelled at for making bad art.

Actually, I'm pretty sure I lucked out with my professors and this semester won't be that bad. It may never happen, actually. Let's hope, at least.

As you guys may know, I'm into trying new things on my blog to switch things up! I'm actually interested in doing vlog posts. I think doing outfit posts in the fashion would be pretty awesome. I actually don't have a camera that records video at the moment, but until I leave, I could possibly get a post or two in on my mom's camera. Would you guys like to see this? Until I get used to it, I'll probably sound stupid.

I'm also looking for a more streamlined way of posting. I'm not quite into how I format images with text, so you may notice some changes from my usual in the coming posts until I find something I'm satisfied with. I think it'll mostly be the width of the photos that I post.

If you read my Maroon 5 post, you probably know that I consider music as another form of art. I'm thinking about including some sort of "Music I Love" segment, but I'm not too sure about it. I'll have to think about that more.

And of course, there will be plenty more outfit posts and definitely some art. I do want to be a fashion illustrator and definitely don't draw as much as I need to. While I'm waiting to start school in the next week and a half, I have time to get on that. I want to start off with some photos of some other bloggers, so I'll show you guys what I have to offer when I'm done :)

Since I have a cute little cupcake party tomorrow, I think I'll have some outfit photos! I'm tired of my backyard, but it'll have to do for now.

With that, I leave you with a very wordy post with no images. BUT! I have a song that I'm really vibing on. It's "Ghost" by Harvard, a really great band :)

Blog of the Moment

2010-08-28T00:44:00.000-04:00

Hey, I'm a day late, but I have a new blog spotlight! This week it goes to Kelly of Sour Tang!

Sour Tang!

Sour Tang is a really diverse blog. Kelly often posts about designs that catch her eye, recent finds, or beautiful art. Her blog is a great example of great design, and it is very user-friendly. It's definitely worth checking out!

Meet Kelly!

Describe the idea behind your blog, Sour Tang.
My blog, started a long time ago as a place to rant and was a personal space to share the things that I did, liked or was inspired by. And eventually, I started getting more into fashion and began posting things that I liked in fashion. After a long hiatus, I took my fashion research and communications course which had us blog as a semester long project. Instead of thinking it a pain in the butt. I really enjoyed it, and I've pretty much been blogging since then. :D
Where did your blog's name come from?
I actually used to sell jewelry, and things online, under the name of Sour Tang. I wanted to come up with something that was whimsical, and was still related to myself. Tang is my last name, and I guess I thought sour was something that described my fourteen year old self?.. and it's kinda stuck since then!
What type of posts do your write?
I write A LOT of different posts really depending on my mood. I write about fashion, interior design, lifestyle, my life, food, and things that I learn or things that I do, or things that inspire me. I also started a new post called Fashionable Causes which focus on fashion for charity which I feel is really important because fashion is not only a superficial thing.
How would you define your personal style?
I'm not sure if I can really describe it, I don't really just have one style. I like to mix several different styles together. But again I'm mainly influenced by my mood and what I'm feeling at the moment. So I seem to contradict myself sometimes. I can be totally in love with wearing jeans, or I could wear a long skirt some days. I could be feeling edgy another day and the next day be a super girly girl. So it's kind of all over the place. haha.
Where do you gather inspiration from?
From everywhere, I love finding things for style and blogging, in magazines, online sources that aren't popularized, tumblr, art, design that isn't fashion-related. There are so many things that inspire me. But sometimes I come up with random ideas for blogging and I kind of find other things that go with that idea. For me inspiration is everywhere so I don't really have just one place where I get inspiration.
What's your favorite part of being a blogger?
There are so many things that I love about blogging. I love that I can share my ideas and get feedback from people around the world! I love that I have met so many wonderfully sweet bloggers, who are very genuine and I feel like I get to see into their life, and I've never even met them in person. It's just amazing how we can connect with people around the world.

Thank you so much for the interview, Kelly! & thank you for being such a great reader as well!

Friend Friday: Fall Trends

2010-08-27T00:41:00.008-04:00

Australian model Abbey Lee Kershaw.

This week's Friend Friday topic is on Fall Trends. Since the season is quickly approaching, everyone is prepping their closets with their cardigans and tights in order to make some Summer trends last. The best part about Fall is layering, which is something I never get to do here in Miami. This year, I plan on venturing into the likes of Abbey Lee Kershaw, who is a layering genius.

Eric Fetherston F/W 2010

1. What new fashion trend are you looking forward to sporting this fall?
Right now, the biggest Fall trend on my mind would have to be capes. I think they're so sophisticated with a really great silhouette. I've already ventured into socks with shoes, and have recently invested in several pairs of socks in different fabrics and at difference lengths. I'm keeping my eyes open for a a cute leather skirt, and I'm waiting to go shopping so that I can buy some white tights.

As some of you may know, I already made a post about Fall attire here.

My newest boots!

2. Which item in your closet is most likely to be your go-to transition piece?
I'm thinking that my tights will transition all my summer dresses and skirts into something a little more Fall-appropriate. Even my boots will work :)

Free People Striped Stardust Sweater!

3. What item from last year are you looking forward to reinventing this fall?
Oh man! I bought this striped Free People sweater last year (you can see it in action here!) and I bought it right when the temperatures were warming up again. Needless to say, I sweat a bit too much in it since it is a really heavy knit. I'll be wearing it ASAP! (& I'm kinda surprised that I found a photo of it online!)

Curly hair, wavy hair, straight hair!

4. What is your favorite part about this time of the year?
GREAT HAIR! Since I'm mixed, I can do a lot with my hair (& more than my sisters can! Haha). It holds up longer in the cooler months. Doing my hair can sometimes be a bother since I roller set my hair to avoid damage and that can take up to 4 hours of work.

5. Will you be attending any fashion events this fall?
Unfortunately, no :( Next year, I'll be allocating funds to be able to go to at least one event since I'll be in RI for college during NY Fashion Week. It's considerably not too far of a drive.

How do you guys feel about all of the above? You can answer the same questions in a comment, if you'd like! :) Or you can join Friend Friday and post the answers for yourself on your own blog!

Friend Friday is a weekly questionnaire on fashion/blogger related topics started by Katy of Modly Chic.

Versatile Blogger Award!

2010-08-24T00:51:00.000-04:00

So, I've received my first award and it's from Casee of The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower! Thank you so much!

Anyway, I'm supposed to give you seven facts about myself, and then go on to nominate seven people.

Hi college! 2 more weeks!

I'm a daydreamer. I live in the future.
I'm almost always anticipating what is to come. I'm not often a "live in the moment" kinda gal, and I know that is usually what is encouraged, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It challenges me and gives me goals to strive for.

My room! With my little baby brother! ♥

Black and white is my favorite color combination. Y'know, if you couldn't tell.
I love the contrast between these colors so much. Things that I enjoy are usually more white-heavy than black. Even my room is black and white, except for me teal lampshade and a green vase for my bamboo plant! I feel this combination will never, ever get old. I love things that last.

I'm top left! I was in the 5th grade, yet as tall as high school freshman.

I'm a tap dancer!
I'm actually an everything dancer, but tap is my forté. I've been formally trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical and more for 13 years. I've taken a break this past year, but plan to resume when I start college this fall.

My church family! We're diverse :) Ignore how I look in this 3-year-old photo, please.

I'm really interested in other cultures.
I love learning about ancient civilizations on National Geographic and in textbooks. Sometimes I familiarize myself with other religions and beliefs just for the sake of knowledge. I'm very tolerant of everyone just because it's what's right, you know? Why not learn more about them in the process?

Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi.

I have a birthmark shaped like an upside down bunny.
It's on my stomach. When I was younger, I used to fantasize a lot, and I believed that I was destined to be Sailor Moon since her favorite animal was a rabbit.

So good! But so fattening! :(

I love chocolate chip cookie dough.
I eat it by itself, I get it in ice cream from Dairy Queen, and that Pop Tarts are actually really good (though highly caloric!). I'm kinda anticipating desert tonight. My mom knows me well and bought me a tub :)

Palm Pre!

I regret becoming this type of person, but I hate being apart from my cell phone.
I don't use it for texting or talking much, but my Palm Pre is excellent for browsing the internet. I window shop, read blogs, check the news, and all sorts of other things. I frequently use my GPS & Google maps to find the nearest ______ (fill-in-the-blank). I was at my sister's foodless apartment on Thursday, and walked half a mile to the supermarket with it!

As for the seven blogs that I'm going to nominate for this award:

Sprinkled Dreams
Sour Tang
I Want You to Know
Under the Fluorescents
Jujmo
ashmotion
astamundi

This just made me realize that I didn't follow some of you! That is now fixed. Sorry about that :(

Wish this post could be as pretty as Casee's was, but I've already been working on this for about 24 hours, and I can't look at it anymore. Thanks again <3

Chanel Iman

2010-08-23T00:51:00.001-04:00

I spent some of my weekend looking through several designer runway collections, where I recognized lots of the same models over and over again. It had me thinking about who my personal favorite model is, and without a doubt, it is Chanel Iman.

I first discovered 20-year-old Chanel over a year ago through street style photos. I loved the her edgy and sometimes grungy looks, which I suppose is what I try to emulate in the development of my own style (it's subconsciously, I promise!).

One other thing that I love about Chanel is her beauty! While on my past hunts for photos and information of her, I've repeatedly heard how much people adore her great looks. She's Black and Korean, which is a mix that I've favored for many, many years. I'm not "into myself", but I'm Black (Jamaican & American!), Indian, and Chinese. I think it's awesome that someone so similar in background to me is such a great model. It has me kinda hopeful, but then I remember that I'm 5'6" and two inches too short to even THINK about modeling.

While Chanel does model runway, she's also a print model. You may recognize her as one of the newer Victoria's Secret Angels, and might have spotted her in windows at Express.

Chanel for Victoria's Secret & for Express, respectively.

My absolute favorite job that she's had is the "Minni in Wunderland" editorial in Vogue Germany. While it does show off some really cute Minnie Mouse-inspired pieces, it shows off that she is a really genuine young woman.

"Minni in Wunderland" editorial shot by Mark Seliger.

And some resort/runway shows:

Anna Sui Resort 2011, Michael Kors Resort 2011

Christian Dior F/W 2010, Blumarine F/W 2010

And here are a couple that I used to style my hair for for prom, hahaha. I actually combined them into a drawing that impressed my hair dresser (who wasn't my usual, but didn't matter since she assigned me an equally amazing substitute!).

Chanel for L.A.M.B., 2008 CFDA Fashion Awards.

And lastly, here is a a video with some inspirational words from Iman, herself!

Friend Friday

2010-08-20T23:26:00.000-04:00

Friend Friday is a weekly questionnaire on fashion/blogger related topics started by Katy of Modly Chic.

Today's topic is about Conspicuous Consumption. Fashion blogging, I admit, can be a bit of a, "Look what I have and you don't" kinda world. The thing is, people are interested and keep coming back! Raders can often discover something new that they would like to try or buy. In my opinion, fashion is a great way to channel creativity, especially for those who aren't quite skilled with their hands.

Bloomingdales shopping bags

1. Do you think fashion blogs are often just conspicuous consumption? Are some?
Not often, but occasionally. It has become standard for one to show their new purchases. Sometimes, it's just as exciting for the blogger as it is for the blog readers.
2. As bloggers do we have the obligation to explain our personal financial status, how we pay for the things we showcase, if we have debt, etc...
No, we absolutely do not. While I am sometimes curious about others financial situations, it's not something I care enough to ask about. That's rude, anyway. If the blogger is okay with sharing, then by all means they can. But sometimes, it may even be rude to share.
3. Critics often say that fashion bloggers should use their money to support more worthwhile causes than clothing themselves in a different outfit daily. What's your reaction to this? (here you can reveal charities if you'd like.)
Everyone has a passion. Why can't people interested in fashion pursue an interest in fashion? Personally, I am Christian and according to the bible, 10% of my earnings "belongs to God". I, myself, don't have any earnings, but my family gives offering to church weekly. Since I am interested in being a fashion illustrator, I plan on putting my earnings towards opening a dog rescue. I feel like that's my definite long-term goal.
4. Since you started blogging, do you spend more money on fashion and beauty products?
I can't quite tell you, as in "I don't know." I've always been a bit of a spender since I'm the "baby" of my family.
5. Life is about more than what money can buy. What are the things that top your list of what life is all about?
Life is so many good things, and so many bad at the same time. I think life gives unfortunate circumstances so that we can cherish the positive ones so much more. I'm very much about making others happy, being respectful, and loving everything that life has to offer. God made an amazing world, and I want to do my best to keep it amazing.

Went to see Maroon 5!

2010-08-20T03:12:00.001-04:00

So, this isn't quite fashion, but I do highly regard music as art. Let's just consider this a bit of an inspirational post. In fact, I'll include some relevant art to make it even better.

I have loved Maroon 5 for about 6 years, and tonight I was able to see them live for the second time. I like them so much, that it's a little geeky. I kinda freaked out when they didn't play "Sunday Morning" and "Makes Me Wonder" because I know that they play their previous set, just with newer songs added on. They waved and walked off of stage, and I was like, "...something is missing." They were just tricking us, and those were that last two songs that they played :)

Here are my photos from tonight! (I hate the person that forgets about the rest of the members of a band. I'm not one of those, as much as these pictures may say, otherwise. Adam was the most easily accessible for photos.):

I'd love to make you think I was this close, but, well. I was actually this close:

Even further, actually. This was with my zoom lens, haha.

I also got these shots, some accidental, some not-- but still lovely!

When I was younger (10 or 11?), I used to be addicted to the radio. This was back when "Your Body Was a Wonderland" by John Mayer was really big. The song gave me some strong imagery that I didn't illustrate until a couple of years ago.

Turns out, as I finished this, I realized that it was grossly similar to the Maroon 5 Songs About Jane album cover, and I hated myself. I don't even like this anymore, but thought I should share with you anyone. Maybe one of you will like it enough for the both of us.

Songs About Jane by Maroon 5.

This is it for tonight. I'm sorry I didn't get to make my "awesome posts" as I promised a couple of days back, but I ended up with my hands tied more than I thought they'd be. My sister's Black Lab/Pit Bull puppy is a handful, and I have him until Tuesday while she's out of town. I'm hoping that this weekend goes by really quickly, and that I can train him relatively easily with all the Animal Planet that I watch.

Anyway, I'm out! I'll make my Friend Friday post tomorrow afternoon. Hope you enjoy this post! :)

Edit: Some videos from tonight!

"If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys covered by Maroon 5

"Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5 (My favorite!)

Went out with some friends tonight

2010-08-17T23:53:00.000-04:00

I got to spend tonight at this Mexian restaurant called On the Border with my roommate for the fall, Maricela; her friend, Gaby; and Camille (who I met for the first time today after discovering each other on Chictopia and realizing we had mutual friends).

I brought my camera so I can get pictures, but I guess I'm still not in the habit of taking it out and going for it. We were so caught up in conversation. Even though we just sat down to talk and stuff our faces, I had so much fun.

This is what I wore:

AA top, UO lace tights, F21 boots, purse & belt.

While the outfit is really simple, it's one of my favorites. I wear many alternates of it via different tights (or none!), various (usually black) shoes, and I have the top in navy, too. I feel like this shirt is one of my favorite purchases, especially since I've been wearing it consistently for like, 2 years.

This is an older photo I took while wearing it as a top. It's one of the first outfit photos I ever took :)

This photo makes me want my hair straight. It's gotten so much longer, but I kinda like the surprise of wearing it curly for several weeks in a row in order to see the difference when its straight.

Anyway, this was just a quick post for tonight! I'm hoping to have better posts tomorrow and Thursday. Thursday night, I'm seeing Maroon 5 live and I'm excited. It's been about 2 years since I saw them last and I'm in withdrawal.

So...turns out I did get to go shopping.

2010-08-15T03:08:00.002-04:00

And I got myself some clogs. Just not the pair that I expected. Read to the end to find out which ones!

After a bit of confusion, I actually did get to go out to Dadeland with my mom tonight. I thought she was working, but I had her schedule mixed up. So we drove up wo the mall, and this is what I wore:

AA Top & shorts, F21 earring turned necklace, Steve Madden oxfords, dollar store socks.

I don't remember if I had the sleeves pushed up or not...so I took a photo of both. MOVING ON. We started out at Macy*s where I was checking the Free People clearance rack without any success. I found and bought a cute black pencil skirt by Kensie that I didn't get a good picture of, so you'll have to wait to see it in action.

Anyway, I anxiously approached JCPenney to see the Olsenboye clogs. It was the first shoe I saw.
I chasséd over to it.
I picked it up.
Held it to my face.
And then I hated it.
The "wood" looked like "wood". Not wood. It was awfully synthetic and kinda put me in a bad mood. To cheer myself up, I went into Nordstrom and held the Jeffrey Campbell Charli-C's, which I was totally geeking out about. I've never seen a JC shoe in person before, so I didn't quite want to let go of it. But I had to.

From there, I headed back into Macy's and found some Jessica Simpson clogs. They were nice, but I'm guessing they didn't carry black, so I didn't bother. The whole shoe section was a wreck since it's Tax Free Weekend and all, so I was getting fed up and about to leave.

BUT THEN. Dolce Vita came to the rescue!

Jezabel by DV by Dolce Vita.

These beautiful things are now happily in my closet. They fit like a dream! And I got them for $60! They were marked the completely wrong shoe with the wrong sticker price, and since we actually had a previous sale with the associate, she gave it to us for that price! She even remember which shoes she sold me before: my lovely Marcianos!

Roxanne by Guess by Marciano

Anyway, here are some harem pants that I tried on as a joke in a little local store and actually liked, along with my new shoes. I'm digging this combo, actually.

I decided to try cropping my photos, and I hate it. I'm used to the usual dimensions. Also, it doesn't help that when I take photos indoors, I get really lazy with my cameras settings and put everything on auto.

SO, what do you guys think of the new shoes? They're my new favorite, hands down! After I get my newest additions in the mail on Friday, I'm done for a really long time-- I promise!

I'm not sure if you've noticed, but almost every purchase I've shown you since starting the blog has been either black or grey. It has me feeling very Childhood Flames-- a look that I NEVER thought I'd adopt.

I'm done for tonight. I have a feeling this post sounds really giddy, but I don't even care. It's 3am, and I just want to listen to music.

Speaking of which, tell me what you're listening to these days! I've been attached to Circa Survive's Blue Sky Noise & Harvard's The Inevitable and I.

Thanks for reading! :)

So I didn't get to see the shoes today.

2010-08-14T17:23:00.001-04:00

But no big deal, I can probably get a look tomorrow. I don't have a car, and I'm not comfortable with driving my mom's car too far, so she'll probably take me to JCPenney after church tomorrow.

Since I've got nothing clothes-related to share with you guys, I've got photos-- my own photos! Last summer, I started venturing into fashion photography. It's not something I'd like to make a career out of, but it's fun to do no matter how time consuming it is. I set up about 6 models that were my promo shots to start up photography as a business, but ended up not being able to go forth with the plan after getting busy with college admissions and AP courses. Without further ado, here are some photos from a few different shoots! :)

I actually have 2 paid shoots planned for before I leave, so I hope to have new photos to show you guys! Also, once I'm in Providence, I'm hoping that the change of scenery will provide tons of inspiration and I'll have all sorts of new ideas that will be busting to get out. And, I'll have Camille, who I can easily become best friends with. She is my Miami fashionista companion who is coincidentally moving down the street from me (coincidental, because we found each other through Chictopia and have yet to meet, although we have friends in common). I can't wait! :)

My things came in the mail!

2010-08-13T19:31:00.001-04:00

So the jacket and shoes that I ordered in the mail? Yeah, they came today, and I'm absolutely in love. The jacket will be perfect for cooler temperatures in Rhode Island. And the shoes are actually pretty insulated, as well. I certainly can't wear the jacket now, but I'm going to start with the shoes, ASAP!

Forever 21 Leather Jacket/Boots; AA V-neck; Tilt Shorts

I'm very happy with my purchases! :) Forever 21 is really great with shipping. It's always sent out within a few days, and makes it on my door step exactly one week from the day I ordered. Speaking of which, I should be getting a package next Friday...

I've been looking for a pair of black loafers, and I adore these. Also, look at the heel on those shoes! Lookin' like a Miu Miu knock-off, right? I love the small dots so much!

I also ordered this skirt, since I had $6 leftover on my card.

I've been looking for a pair of clogs for so long, and finally settled on these from Olsenboye, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's line at JCPenney. I started looking around again, and I'm no longer sure. If I do get them it'd be tomorrow, but I just don't know.

I think it's that I'm used to wearing either really high or really flat shoes. This is just kinda in the middle. Which I suppose isn't a bad thing since I'm moving to New England where hills actually exist (Miami is really, really flat). I'll decide when I see them tomorrow, I suppose. They're $34.99 and I have a $10 off coupon, so why not? Tell me how you feel about them, please? :')

I've been writing this post on and off for hours. I suppose it's about time I wrap it up. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy!

Blog of the Moment

2010-08-13T14:58:00.002-04:00

Without any debate, my next choice for my Blog of the Moment spotlight was Style Through Her Eyes, run by three young women- Jen, Casee, and Karen. Their blog is update really consistently with a great look into everything fashion-related, such as different up-and-coming collections from several designers. They put a lot of hard work into their blog, and it's definitely worth taking a look at.

Style Through Her Eyes

Read below to see my interview with Jen!

Jen, Casee, and Karen!

Briefly describe the idea behind your blog, Style Through Her Eyes.
We (Casee, Karen and myself) strive to have something for everyone while staying true to ourselves as far as our own personal style and tastes go. Our goal for SHE is to reach females all around the world and give them hope through style by representing only the most marvelous and modest. We also want to encourage our viewers in helping them feel beautiful, confident and loved.
How did you come up with the name Style Through Her Eyes?
I had a huge list of all sorts of words and phrases in front of me. I was trying to mix and match them to see what I could come up with. I decided I really liked "SHE" and wondered if I could come up with an acronym for it. Sure enough I ended up with "Style through Her Eyes". I like it because the name doesn't just center around myself or the other ladies but everyone. We all see things differently and have different tastes.
What type of posts do your write?
We have a huge variety of posts that center on so many different aspects of fashion. The viewers never know what's going to come next!
How would you define your personal style?
While my style is usually quite feminine I have a range of different types of clothing. I don’t wear just one specific style. Changing things up is always fun.
Where do you gather inspiration from?
I gather inspiration from shopping, movies, magazines, tumblr, wehearit and of course, other bloggers. I also pay attention to people and what they wear when I'm out. I like to observe them and look for new ideas. It helps to learn what works and what doesn't.
You often post about new lines from different companies. Do you ever invest in the items?
Sometimes we do, and sometimes we wish we can and anxiously await the day more money falls into our laps.

I'd also like to thank Jen for frequenting my blog. I absolutely love her comments and constant feedback! :)

Friend Friday

2010-08-13T10:36:00.052-04:00

Friend Friday is a weekly questionnaire on fashion/blogger related topics started by Katy of Modly Chic.

This week's topic is weight! Four years ago, I was a stuck-up trendy kid in my freshman year of high school, and I actually had a big problem with larger girls. I just didn't really befriend them and often gave the cold shoulder. It wasn't consistent, since some of my long-time friends were plus-sized girls. Now that I'm more mature, I've put that all behind me and I'm cool with everyone. I feel like a jerk for admitting that, but I suppose I needed it to be said. Anyway, on to the questions:

1. Should someone's size stop them from fashion blogging or having a voice in the community?
I firmly believe everyone should do whatever they want to do. Everyone wears clothes. Why shouldn't everyone be able to have an opinion on fashion?
2. In your opinion, can the term "curvy" and "plus-sized" be used interchangeably when it comes to fashion?
I'm a bit on the fence about this. Personally, I see no problem with this, BUT women of every size can be curvy, so it can occasionally be misleading. In the fashion world, I've noticed, they are becoming quite synonymous.
3. Many people make the argument that catering to plus sized women would promote being overweight as "okay". What do you think? Should more designers be catering to plus size women?
I'm sorry, that's stupid. I don't even know where to begin. There are many people who doesn't have a choice about their weight. Conditions such as hypothyroidism or diabetes often cause people to gain lots of weight. Why shouldn't these people be comfortable with their weight when they have no other option? Yes, their health may be compromised, but sometimes they can't help it. For those who are overweight by choice of lifestyle, yeah their health may be compromised, but as I said, it's CHOICE. & YES! Designers should cater to plus-sized women since they're human, too. Who says that larger woman can't be fabulous as well? ;)
4. Should the mainstream fashion industry be showcasing more plus size models?
Definitely! Even more average-weight models. How will showing underweight models make ANYONE feel comfortable themselves?
5. For you personally, how do you view your size, the struggle with it through the years, your ideal size, etc...
I'm at a perfectly healthy size, however, I'd like to be a little lighter. I have a short torso and long legs, and I gain most of my weight in my butt and thighs. I often have trouble with jeans since my but is a bit on the high side, so by losing the weight, I'll obtain a normal fit for my jeans, and simultaneously create a lengthening look for my torso. I was 130 a few weeks ago and I'm now at around 120, and I see a huge difference. Once I am 115, I'll be good, especially since anything below that is officially underweight. I'm an XS/0 in tops, and a size 5 in jeans, and I'm trying to make it back down to size 3, where I was a few years ago.

Miami weather has been so...dreary.

2010-08-11T12:57:00.000-04:00

I'd love to tell you that I have a brilliant new outfit post. But I don't. The weather has been so blah! AND, on the days when I have something planned. It was pouring yesterday, and I was wearing my cute, newly DIY-ed dress, and today it's bright and sunny and I'm wearing one of my boyfriend's t-shirts and some gym shorts.

While in my cute dress yesterday, I decided to spend time with my roommate. We did have a photoshoot scheduled, but the rain obviously dampened those plans. We didn't quite have an agenda and ended up at Goodwill, where I've been meaning to get a lace t-shirt from. I quickly found one in navy.

Then we ended up heading to Dunkin' Donuts for a quick bite to eat. I got a vanilla frosted doughnut, which is one of my signatures. They always seem to be sold out of Vanilla Kreme-filled, which I have loved forever. What a shame.

Anyway, we were wondering what to do next, and headed to Ulta. Maricela bought cute flamingo pink lipstick (She can rock it! I feel like it'd make me look like a prostitute.) I wanted to restart my nail polish collection since I recently trashed 95% of it. I want to have pretty much purely OPI since the color is so vibrant and the physical polish is rich, so I only purchased their Start to Finish base coat/top coat/nail strengthener and their Drip Dry nail drops. When I went to purchase, they gave me a sample of some of their Fall colors, Black Cherry Chutney, Brisbane Bronze, and Bogota Blackberry.

They aren't exactly colors I'd normally wear (they have a Shrek line, which is oddly more what I'm into), but hey! They were free. They're actually worth $9.95, which is pretty cool. I guess when you purchase a certain amount in OPI, they give you free mini bottles.

That's all I have for you for today. The new Blog of the Moment Spotlight has been selected, so check your inboxes to see if you're selected. I might make a post later, so see you :)

What i make

2010-08-09T12:12:00.000-04:00

Some sketches from my RISD sketchbook. Nothing much right now since I suck at even getting myself to work in it.

Done in 5 minutes or less, excluding the first two. Maybe 20 minutes tops for those. I'm not done with these yet, and probably won't be until a few months from now. But they're done for now, I guess. I plan on making each page a complete work of art, but there's no rush.

What I like to look at

2010-08-09T11:42:00.001-04:00

Inspiration.

(somefield, loish, wakkawa, unknown, unknown, unknown, Rafal Bujnowski, Salva Lopez, Ingo Maurer, quote!)

Wow, I got really busy this weekend.

2010-08-09T03:47:00.001-04:00

I was supposed to make a total of 3 posts on Friday, and I only got to 1. It's now Monday, and I'm just now getting to them.

On Friday, I was able to order the boots that I wanted from Forever 21. I also ordered a leather jacket that I'm completely in love with.

Also, I received my pretty bra in the mail! It fits pretty nicely, and I'm excited to wear it underneath some things to give it a little edge.

From Forever 21.

Today, my mom took me into TJ Maxx to show me a coat that she thought that I would like (and I didn't). I headed over to the juniors section and was very dissatisfied with the clothes. I can usually find a ton of Free People clothing wedged into the racks, but only found repeats of ugly t-shirts. BUT! As I was rummaging, I found a really nice dress! The back is beautiful :)

I don't even know what brand it is. But yeah, I just have to alter the really lose strap so that it doesn't look so frumpy. I'm not going to get much wear out of it since I'm going to school up north and all, but whatever. I'll wear it while I can!

The next item that I'm eying are these cute black oxfords. They're Dolce Vita for Target, and I love them so much. Only $30! I'm trying to invest in tons of leather shoes for school since the weather up there gets pretty wet and I have purely suede boots that I don't want to ruin. Anyway, here they are:

Dolce Vita for Target.

I've got some photo jobs lined up (3, I think!), so I'll be making a good lump of cash in the coming weeks. My sister is also paying me to dog sit her devil of a puppy named Charlie pretty soon. I'm going to order these as soon as possible!

I think I'll make my second post tomorrow! I've finally got some sketches to share with you!

Also, check your emails on Wednesday. I'll be selecting the new blog of the week! :)

Friend Friday

2010-08-06T13:25:00.001-04:00

Hey guys! After seeing Vahni's post on her blog Grit & Glamour regarding blogger jealousy, I decided to check out Friend Friday, where the jealousy questions originated from. Friend Friday is a weekly questionnaire on fashion/blogger related topics started by Katy of Modly Chic.

Here are this week's questions:

1. Do you think privacy is something we should worry about as bloggers?
Certainly! Unfortunately, people can get really creepy when it comes to the internet and it's best to only reveal details about yourself that you wouldn't mind a stranger knowing.
2. Do you use your real name or a pen name? What was behind that decision?
I use my real name just because I've been around different communities on the internet for years. I go by my first and middle name, but it's not hard to find my last name if you cared to know.
3. How much personal information do you reveal about your life beyond the blog?
Not much. I give people the city I live in, my age, and that's about it. Email accounts and other networking information are also okay to give, in my book.
4. What will you never reveal?
Unless it is someone who I have gained a really close connection to, I won't ever give out my address. Also, usuals that you shouldn't ever give anyone: SSN, credit card numbers, etc.
5. As bloggers, we have to an extent made ourselves 'public' figures. But still there are things that are intimate to each of us that does not need to be known by anyone that stumbles across our blog. How do you determine what is appropriate for public consumption and what is private to you?
I think that almost anything can be shared. If it's a recent purchase, or a recent trip to the museum, it's quite okay to put out there. If the information is something where your personal safety and comfort can be compromised, however, that information is best kept to yourself.

You can join up with Friday Friday, too! Just shoot Katy and email at the link above!

I will make another post or two later on today :)

Went on a quick shopping trip today!

2010-08-06T04:12:00.000-04:00

Since I'm going to be in Rhode Island during the Winter, my mom took me to get a pair of boots from DSW that withstand cool weather. They aren't completely my first choice, but they're still nice!

'Tarlene' by Bare Traps

And, this is what I wore.

F21+Danny Roberts Tee, Levi's cutoffs, UO hat, F21 purse

Tomorrow, I think I'll be buying these boots from Forever 21:

I'm excited to finally have them! I've been eying them for a week. I have to be quick because my size always sells out quickly :(

Also, I think my new bra is going to come in the mail tomorrow! I think tomorrow will be a good day! :) I think I might also have some sketches to share with you, I've been working in my cute little RISD sketchbook for a couple of days now. Keep checking back!

I got some things done today!

2010-08-05T00:00:00.021-04:00

Since I've been getting only 5 hours of sleep no matter what time I go to bed (no thanks to my dog, who wakes me up when he wants some love), I decided that I'd whip out some clothes that I've been meaning to take a pair of scissors to.

First off, this dress that I got from Goodwill a few months ago:

I was looking for the perfect floral dress with short sleeves, and I found it! But in the form of a long dress that I wasn't entirely fond of.

See how perfect the print is? So anyway, I was about to cut, and noticed that the dress had already been shortened. That meant the dress was crazy long to begin with! But now, it's perfect and just needs to be hemmed. I'll probably wear it before then, though.

Also, I cut a couple of pairs of Levi's that I bought at Goodwill shortly before I bought the dress. I've been wearing them rolled up because I was afraid to cut them, but they bunched up all weird, so I decided it was time to do it. Cutting shorts is always scary because of the, "Oh man, that's TOO short," factor. Everything ended up perfect though :)

I'm also wearing a Hand crocheted top that I found a Goodwill on my most recent trip. It's so cute and dainty! It goes perfect with denim.

I'm so excited for all my new items! I feel like I just got new clothes, lol!

My BDG jeans are my favorite

2010-08-04T09:55:00.000-04:00

I got a pair of hi-rise cigarette jeans by BDG from UO 8 months ago, and they're still my favorite. I also love my brown BDG skinnies, but rarely wear them since brown isn't exactly a color I like to work with. Either way, my BDG jeans are my favorite "Go To" jeans when I need to throw on something quickly.

Yesterday, I went to the bank to deposit some checks and threw this little number on:

F21 Loose Tank, black BDG jeans, F21 purse, flats from The Gap.

I only have a couple of pictures since my patio was swarming with mosquitoes and I was dying to get out of there.

So, I ordered a really pretty bra from Forever 21. I'm so excited! I was asking my parents if I could order some pajamas and jackets, and they told me I'm shopping too much. I was like, "Man. I really want this bra." So, I ordered it with a gift card I had.

I can't find a picture of it! :( It went so quickly, it's not even on Polyvore anymore. It's very similar to this one, which I did actually want before it sold out months ago:

It should be coming in Friday, so I'll get a photo of it then. This was just a quick post! I'll get back to your comments in just a moment!

Old, broken jewelry into cute wearables once again!

2010-08-02T23:20:00.000-04:00

Back in February, I got these really cute leaf earrings from Forever 21 that I absolutely adored. I probably got 2 wears out of them before I lost one earring. I still had the hook in my ear, but the leaf was long gone. I kept the one that I still had, hoping I'd find the matching earring one day, laying around school some where, but I had no luck.

Anyway, I decided that I'd make it into a pendant on a long chain. I went to Michael's yesterday, and bought a 72in. gold chain, some clasps, and some rings. With some pliers and a wire cutter, I turned my earring into a necklace, and I'm very excited to wear it!

While it is a bit self-explanatory, I could turn it into a tutorial if you would like me to-- just let me know in a comment!

I also have some old costume jewelry from the photo room at school that was free to take when they were cleaning it out. I didn't want to wear them with their current hooks and posts in case they would rot my ear off, so I bought some new hooks and posts to fix them up.

Replaced all these hooks!

These have yet to get posts placed on them since I didn't know what type of adhesive to use.

A lot of them don't even match, and some close, but obviously not at all. I think that's what makes them charming though! I love them so much and I can't wait to wear them.

I've never thought of myself to be a DIY kinda gal, but that's where my creative juices have been flowing to lately. I'll share some more upcoming projects with you soon! If you'd like any tutorials, I can make some step-by-step ones for everything. Just give me the word!

Thanks for reading, and I'll get back to your emails shortly! I had to take a little break since I was doing some stuff for my boyfriend's birthday yesterday. See you <3

Blog of the Moment

2010-07-30T18:49:00.004-04:00

So, it's Friday, and as promised, I bring you the first TTTS Blog of the Moment Spotlight! It was a little harder than I thought it would be, and I had to make a decision between 11 blogs. Ultimately, I narrowed it down to a top 3, and read through each blog pretty thoroughly. Without firther ado, here is the spotlight winner:

The featured blog is Hipster Scum, created by a fashion design student named Angelena. Click "Read More!" for my interview with Angelena:

Angelena, owner of Hipster Scum.

Me: Briefly describe the idea behind your blog, Hipster Scum.

A: The idea I initially had in mind while making this blog a few months ago was to better further my passion for writing as well as fashion and living stylishly. I feel like the blog has become very important to me very quickly because it's literally a mental catalog that even I find myself coming back to over and over. Even though the blog is mostly based upon fashion I feel like it should be no limits. So I never just stick to fashion because inspiration is very important and that can come in any form. But when I am talking fashion I want people to feel like fashion is accessible but not accessible and boring. I believe people should make their own path and not just follow what one person says or does. And now that I've seen what I'm capable of in the blogging world... I won't be leaving anytime soon. I feel like this the beginning of something really amazing.

Me: Just curious, where did its come from?

A: I remember a long time ago when I was about 16 I was often criticized living in a small town where most people could care less about fashion. People used to get mixed signals about me because they assumed because I dressed well and I was interested in fashion that I was arrogant or snobbish. Especially the people who pretended to stand for rebellion. They used to say I was Hipster Scum. So I wore the name proudly instead of denouncing it. Little do they know I'm I was already part of the rebellion. Living in a small town makes it hard to break away from being average for a lot of people and I wanted to be the best I could and follow my passions regardless of what people thought or assumed.

Me: What type of posts do your write?

A: It really depends on the day in particular. Even though I consider myself a fashion blogger I have my moments where fashion is totally absent and lots of other things are on my mind. Whether it's the music I'm listening to, the food I'm eating, the places I'm going to or have been, or what I'm currently involved in or working on like making clothes, DIYS, or commissioned artwork. Although my blog is new and people haven't see the full diversity of it I will be sure to deliver.

Me: How would you define your personal style?

A: My personal style. The worst question to have to answer. Although I like to wear all considered genres of clothing I find myself leaning more so towards 3 main styles: boho, edgy rock or glam rock, and really really feminine. If I had to say which one I relate to most it's definitely my edgy modern rock and roll side of my style but part of the purpose of this blog is to help me really refine my style more and more everyday. I guess my favorite designers speak for me: Louise Goldin, Gareth Pugh, Marc Jacobs, Valentino, Erin Fetherston, Diane Von Fursternburg, Karl Lagerfield, and Balenciaga.

Me: Where do you gather inspiration from?

A: Oh god everything. But more than anything before I started fashion blogging I was an art major throughout all of highschool graduating with honors and everything and art is ultimately what inspired me and led me to fashion. I always look at my favorites artists, designers, photographs, editorials. But more so I'm inspired by architecture, modernism, and looking to the future and people or things that really support that idea. That is ultimately what I'd like to do... design a collection that includes all of the above. (I'm going for my MFA in Fashion)

Me: What type of music do you like?

A: Well just like the fashion question I listen to all genres but I particularly like dance, trance, techno, house, and British punk. I really love deadmau5 and Joy division. Those are my new current obsessions.

Me: From what I could see, you have experience with an editing program. What program do you use and where did you learn how to use it?

A: Yes that's very true. I use Photoshop CS5 Master Suite which pretty much includes everything but my two primary programs are Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. The reason I learned to use these is because my boyfriend is a professional web applications developer and I learned everything I know from him. Before he did applications and coding he was a freelance web designer and he taught me so many useful things. Not only that but I was experienced with Photoshop since I was about 14-15 due to my passion for photography I had then and it just grew from there. I'm currently landing a job with my boyfriends affiliates as a freelance web designer and it definitely helps for me to know these useful skills to market products I may produce or make amazing wordpress blogs... which is soon to come. I recommend every should now Adobe inside and out. It helps your life tremendously.

Me: Are you receiving your masters from an art or state school?

A: An art school. I was originally accepted to MICA here in Baltimore but I decided to relocate to Savannah and attend SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) because MICA didn't really offer just a fashion major but rather a fiber major and I wanted to concentrate more on design and illustration than fibers. Although I do love making clothes, jewelry, and accessories. I've owned 1 major jewelry line based on Japanese Street Fashion that was successful for a short time called Kawaii Productions. I'm currently working on a vintage based steampunk/ glam rock jewelry line called Elle Este Noire. It's more of a hobby and I'm not looking to expand it until I'm out of college and make it a full blown line based off of Berlin street Fashion and Steam punk but with a modern twist. It's my ultimate dream/ fantasy.

So, there it is! I've already started getting entries for the next spotlight, which will be on Friday, August 13th. Check your emails on Wednesday, August 11th so I can interview you! If I don't get in touch with you, I might have to select a new spotlight. Thanks everyone for participating, and congrats to Angelena!

Stripes!

2010-07-29T21:33:00.004-04:00

Since school has ended, I've been up until 6, 7 and 8AM for no reason-- and it's a pattern I can't seem to break. TONIGHT, however, is the night where I make a difference. I'm completely ready to just curl into my bed right now since my dog woke me up to take him out at 9am and I've been up and about since then. I even gave him a bath, which turns my German Shepherd into the biggest baby.

Basically, Monty is asking for your pity.

Anyway, since I didn't post yesterday, I definitely need to post today. It's nothing much, but it's something I've been thinking about lately.

STRIPES.

I used to have a gross obsession with horizontal stripes when I was in the 8th and 9th grades. I chose shirts in unflattering shapes that were short and made me look like a whale, particularly because my torso is on the short side, and I have freakishly long legs. I swore never to buy any stripes again. That changed last Christmas, when I fell in love with this particular men's shirt from Forever 21.

Hanging out. In my favorite striped shirt. Back when I had braces.

Still, stripes make me a little uneasy, just because I feel the short shirts of the past haunting me. Lately, however, I've spotted a few striped items that have really caught my eye. Particularly vertical stripes, which are far more flattering than horizontal. There is one horizontally striped dress that I'm absolutely in love with, but regretfully, my size is long gone. Personally, I like to stick to classic black and white stripes, but hey, that might just be me.

UO Striped Shirt, AA bow,
Zara Blazer, F21 Maxi dress.

A striped accent would provide the most perfect graphic contrast to several outfits. I'd even see stripes being mixed with black or white lace. Essentially, they can go with anything, even another completely different pattern like a pink and green floral.

How do you guys feel about stripes? Do you prefer horizontal or vertical?

By the way! The Blog Spotlight will be released tomorrow! I'm sure you guys will enjoy the winner very much. Definitely check back to find out who it is!

And on another side note, American Apparel changed up the front page of their website. Go take a look!

Thanks for reading!

14 Tips for a Successful Blog

2010-07-27T22:37:00.014-04:00

So, as promised, here is my post on tips for a successful blog!

With all the blogs being submitted to me for the blog spotlight, I've had to think about what makes a great blog. Here is what I've been able to come up with. Hopefully you guys can gain something from this!

1. An attractive blog. This is SO important because it works as a first impression. A blog that has a great design will obviously be more successful than one that doesn't. Instinctively, I tend to overlook blogs that are cluttered and overly-colorful because they aren't exactly easy on the eyes. A blog with some sort of color scheme and harmonious design are always ideal. Pick up a magazine and take a look at it. They often contain more white and black than any other color, and then some pops of accent color(s).

Colourlovers is a site I've used in the past to create palletes. They also have a great "color trend" section here.

Colourlovers!

Of course I have taken a course in design, so it's a little easier for me than it is for others. Just keep in mind that simplicity is key and your blog will look more visually appealing!

Also, I recently learned from a post at Grit and Glamour by Vahni that a blog's header should be tiny. Like mine right now, it's absolutely huge. It's been bugging me SINCE I read that, and it will be changed VERY soon. I just need to find some more splatters that I've made :)

Orchid Grey's blog has a perfectly sized header, as well as a simple design interface.

(Blogs to gain inspiration from: Loafing Odysseys and Behind the Seams.)

2. A decent, yet BRIEF 'About Me'. People like to know about who they're reading from. Stick to no more than 150 words. You want them to know about you, but not your whole life story. They'll get bored.

(Think The Clothes Horse or The Haute Pursuit.)

3. Obviously a given: Engaging content! You want your readers to read and not lose interest. Keep posts to the point, and avoid having too many subjects in one post. (Somtimes I'm guilty of that!) You need to write from the heart (even if your blog is for profit). Also, keep from ALWAYS writing about yourself, unless is is some sort of journal. Share things you found that you think others should know about, like a certain artist or designer. Ask questions for your readers to respond to.

Also, don't try to copy the content of others. Post something original, that you actually like. Keep that in mind! :)

Fashionising has great content that might spark your interest. You can share it with others!

Fashionising.com

4. After your readers respond to your questions, respond to their comment! Let them know that you're actually a person behind the text and that you value their response! Building relationships is really important

5. Likewise, comment other blogs. It's another way to build relationships and to find new readers. Just make sure you're being genuine. It's really obvious when you aren't. Another benefit is to find out new things to try from their blog. This can be physical, like products, or it can be a new blogging style.

6. Place your URL where people will read it. Comment or email signatures can bring in some first-time visitors, or it can remind someone that you have a blog and they'll maybe stop by and see what's new.

7. Social networking. You all have twitters and Facebook accounts. Put them to use! Forward your posts from Blogspot to Twitter using Twitterfeed. It does an automatic search of your blog at the time increment that you select, and detects your new posts that it'll add to a tweet.

Twitterfeed.com

8. Promote an individual post. When you have a new post that you're proud of and want to flaunt, go for it! Interact with others on a forum, or attach the url and a brief description to your signature in an email.

9. Reader opportunities. Giveaways can bring in lots of new visitors. I personally haven't tried this, but I've seen it on other blogs and the giveaways get pretty popular. Also, you can try what I'm doing and search for a blog that you'd like to feature. As I've witnessed, you guys jump on that. Haha.

10. Pictures. People like to look at pictures. Just not too many, as they tend to make for slow loading!

You like it, right?

11. Make yourself easy to contact. While you may not be confortable with sharing your Facebook or Twitter with the public, you can always create a private email specific for your blog. I recently made mine (though I don't mind sharing all my networking information) and I KNEW I'd forget to check it. That's why I linked the email account to my Palm Pre, and it makes me happy since I can check all your spotlight submissions from my phone when I'm out and about ;)

All my email accounts all pretty and setup!

12. This isn't always necessary, but make your blog mobile. I like being able to read blogs from my phone and I almost always can. For blogs that can't be read, a mobile interface is definitely ideal so that you can expand your audience.

Your blogs on my phone! Can you see yours? (Like how my wallpaper matches my blog header?)

13. Make long posts expandable. You know, a "Read More..." link. The look of long posts detracts from the appearance of your blog. I'm currently trying to find a successful code for that on blogger. I'll add it to this when I get lucky :)

Edit: Found it! It's built into Blogspot and it's called a Jump Break. Find out how to enable it here.

14. POST REGULARLY. This is SO important. A reader that really likes your blog might often check back for new posts. When they know you post irregularly, they don't feel so inclined to check back. It doesn't have to be daily (although that is often recommended), but bi-daily or weekly can also work.

I have my calendar set to remind me to post my blog spotlight!

I'm mad that this is ending on 14. I wish I had 1 more. I'm sure I'll figure it out later. Anyway, I'm back on the quest to find a good "Read More" link. This post definitely needs it.

Also, check your emails tomorrow to see if you're selected as the blog spotlight! I'd really like to do a quick interview!

Cute F21 Dress!

2010-07-27T01:42:00.002-04:00

I just browsed their website and found an adorable dress. I've been looking for something like this with cutouts in the shoulders or at the stomach on the sides, but I know this one won't fit me correctly. F21 bodycon dresses are definitely not made for my body type--they're extra constricting, but I size up and they're always too loose in the stomach area. I'll probably have to make one from an American Apparel dress or something, no big deal.

Anyway, here it is:

From Forever 21.

Maybe you guys will have some luck! Buy quickly, it'll probably sell out fast!

Make the best of what we have!

2010-07-27T00:03:00.005-04:00

Today was my photoshoot with Dark Around the Edges. This crazy idea came about bikes and pies, and well, it happened. I took around 200 photos of them, and they came out pretty nice, despite the harsh sunlight.

Here are a couple of the photos!

My boyfriend is the cool sweaty guy in the back in the top photo, and then on the right in the bottom.

Also, like promised, this will also be an outfit post!

AA bodysuit, Nollie skirt, random scarf, green Converse

Wish I could've gotten some better photos, but these were seriously taken on a whim, haha. I had a grand total of two poses because I'm awesome at thinking some up when I'm rushed.

So after the photoshoot today, I was really trying not to spend money when I went to the mall, but I got to Forever 21, and had to buy socks. I bet I sound so stupid right now, but I have this voice in the back of my head rationalizing the significance of socks in my wardrobe when I get to Rhode Island in the Fall.

I got these, in white (which I mentioned before in my F/W 2010 post):

From Forever 21.

And another 2 pairs of knee-highs in black and white. They had a cute little ruffle around the top hem.

As for the Blog Spotlight, I've gotten SO many responses! I'm so excited about this! It's just getting hard to choose a blog now. I have some REALLY, really great blogs that deserve to be known!

There are a lot of things that I think constitute a great blog, so tomorrow, I'm going to create a post all about that. Hopefully some of you guys can learn from my post. I'm definitely not saying that I know EVERYTHING (because I certainly don't), but I've definitely learned a lot this past week that I think I should share.

Again, thank you guys for reading! It makes me smile!

I'll have a new outfit post tomorrow!

2010-07-26T01:49:00.005-04:00

Or later today, depending what time zone you're in-- like mine.

I visited The Fashion Spot today, and came across some trends that I didn't list in my previous post.

Lace, animal print, (both predictably) and halters are suppose to be on the rise.

All styles from American Apparel.

You can read the article from tFS here.

I've actually been on the hunt to find a pair of leopard leggings, and I can't quite find what I'm looking for. This pair from Forever 21 are ALMOST there, but apparently they're metallic.

How do you guys feel about these trends? I don't know. While I would LOVE to wear lace and halters, I don't even know how far into the winter I could wear them.

Tomorrow, I'm doing my first REAL photoshoot (opposed to the spur of the moment one I had at the beach last week) in months. I'll be shooting my friend Sean's band, Dark Around the Edges, which my boyfriend is also the drummer for. Although they only have PART of ONE song up, you should definitely take a listen! I'll also be designing their myspace soon, which is why I'm linking you to their Purevolume rather than there for now.

Also, thanks for all your submissions for my blog spotlight! I'll be emailing everyone who has entered who I haven't already emailed after I finish up this post. I'm really excited about this! As time progresses, I may increase it to multiple spotlights. For now, I think I'm going to interview the blogger and also give he or she a little site award, except a little more cooler sounding. I'll figure it out.

Anyway! The selected blog will be posted this Friday, July 30th! I will be in contact with the blogger by this Wednesday or Thursday.

I'm out. I have to prepare for the shoot tomorrow. Thanks for reading!

Fall/Winter 2010!

2010-07-24T14:18:00.010-04:00

Fall/Winter always gets me excited because of all that great sweaters I can wear. I look forward to layering since I'm usually limited to a loose T and shorts throughout the Spring and Summer here in Miami. This past Winter, we had an oddly cold chill where Winter lasted through February. Of course, everyone here hated it, but I frolicked around in my blazers, tights, and long-sleeves loving every moment of it.

This F/W will be a little different since I'm going to be living up North. WAY up North. While I typically try not to follow trends verbatim, there are actually some new things that I'm interested to try!

My Guide to F/W 2010!

1. Capes

L: Ruffian F/W 2010; R: AA cape.

Capes instantly spark up an outfit and create a really nice silhouette. The look great with both skirts and pants.

This cape from American Apparel has a a great shape and is made from their fleece.

2. Velvet

L: Generra F/W 2010; R: AA Velvet Dress.

I first noticed this trend last year and it instantly brought back memories of this green velvet dress that I had when I was little. I absolutely hated it, and I'm pretty sure I had my mom ship it to Jamaica to give to my little cousins. Now, velvet holds a certain sophistication that I'd love to have in my Winter wardrobe.

American Apparel has a variety of velvet items. The Long-sleeved U Neck dress is probably the most winter appropriate.

3. Leather

TL: Erin Fetherston F/W 2010; TR: F21 Moto Jacket. BL: Silence + Noise leather skirt; BR: AA Disco Pants.

I want a leather everything this year. A leather jacket, a leather skirt, and well, I'm not so daring as to invest in leather pants, but I would certainly go for a leather look.

Leather biker jacket from Forever 21, leather skirt is Silence + Noise from Urban Outfitters, pants are the Disco Pant from American Apparel.

4. Camel Coat

L: Street style from The Sartorialist; R: Coat by Smythe.

Camel coats are a classy and timeless. I'm most into the classic, camel color, but there are other colors to choose from, too. The neutral classic color can go with just about anything, and keep you warm, as well.

While the camel coat to the right is way too pricey for me ($995!), it features very nice tailoring. It is made by Smythe, and can be purchased at Nordstrom.

5. White Tights

TL: Organic by John Patrick F/W 2010; TR: Opaque tights from American Apparel. BL: Sheer white tights from AA; BR: White footless tights from ASOS.

Come winter time, I usually aim for black/grey tights just because they're classic. White tights, however, are extremely bold and make a statement. Definitely a way to change up your usual. An alternate of this style is to wear white leggings.

AA carries tights in all colors and deniers year round, and ASOS has a wide variety, as well.

6. Socks with Heels

TL: Rag & Bone Fall 2010; TR: Forever 21 socks. BL: F21 Ballet Socks; BR: UO Socks.

Everyone already knows this look. You might have seen me go for it before. It's an extremely crisp look and can keep you in your heels for a little longer until boots are absolutely mandatory.

Try Forever 21 for socks-- they're relatively inexpensive and pretty good quality. I invested in a pack of knee-highs last weekend, and I'll be debuting them come September. They even have socks that you can wear with peep toes, though I wouldn't really recommend those for when it gets too cold. =P Urban Outfitters also has some cute socks with pretty details like ruffles and lace.

Ah, I'm really looking forward to fall. I'm pretty sure I'll thoroughly enjoy all these trends. Hopefully you'll be interested in them, too!

Are there any of these that you like more than others? Or one that you're not exactly thrilled about? How about any others that I didn't list? Please share in a comment!

These "trends" were found on The Fashion Spot, and can be read in detail along with more pictures in their respective galleries.

Thanks for reading! I need to get back to cleaning. It's literally taking me days!

Bi-Weekly Spotlight!

2010-07-23T23:53:00.005-04:00

Hey everyone!

I'm constantly looking for ways to improve my blog, so I'm making some changes. I just added a full about me page, which you can check out here, or simply click 'ABOUT ME' in the menu bar above.

I also made it so that my tagged posts were a bit easier to navigate. The 'inspiration' section has now been divided into the categories 'ART INSPIRATION' and 'FASHION INSPIRATION', which can also be accessed above.

My latest addition will be a bi-weekly blogger feature. The spotlight will be determined by, well, how much I like a blog. I am interested in taking suggestions for the spotlight! If you know an excellent blog, or even think your own blog is an interesting read, you may e-mail the suggestion to thosethingstheysaid@gmail.com. Take note that this email address is different from my personal address to the right.

I will create a "Blog of the Moment" section in the sidebar, and I will be adding each feature to the "blogs I like" section also in the sidebar.

Thanks for reading, and I appreciate any feedback that you guys have. Keep it coming!

Edit: After a little bit of consideration, I decided that bi-weekly is probably more time efficient for myself, as I plan on being extremely busy int he coming months.

I needed to take a little break, sorry!

2010-07-21T16:04:00.004-04:00

Ah, I've been a little stressed lately trying to figure out my financial situation for RISD. Everything is set though, and now I have time to start updating again!

This past weekend, I went to visit my friend up in Boca Raton for her birthday, and we went to a couple different beaches. I got a few pictures that I really liked!

At Deerfield Beach before we packed up for the day.

That was taken at the beach on Peanut Island. The water was so clear! We went in waist deep and could still see straight to the bottom. We got to go snorkeling and see some fish under the water. I went on the hunt for seashells to decorate my dorm with because I'm going to miss Miami when it's the dead of winter in Rhode Island.

Anyway, I found a fashion illustrator that I really admire! You should check the blog out: Paper Fashion!

Here are a couple of her works:

(^ Jane Aldridge from Sea of Shoes!)

Her works is so gorgeous. Her use of soft color in combination with the bold black lines is beautiful! Definitely give her a follow!

That's is for now! I'll be back on track to outfit photos and actually posting some of my own artwork soon enough!

photo editing and a lovely dress!

2010-07-06T00:02:00.005-04:00

Wow, my house is really hot for some reason. It's making me uncomfortable.

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend! I spent the weekend at my friends' place since she came home from college for Independence Day. We did girly stuff together like watch girly movies like The Women and Remember Me. (I don't think Rob Pattinson is attractive. Sorry.)

Not many pictures, and the couple there are, I look goofy, so it's not happening.

I've gotten myself involved in a bunch of projects. I actually retouched some photos that my uncle asked me to, and I'm so happy with the result.

The photo is of my grandpa. This the hardest one to do since there were scratches EVERYWHERE. The whole batch nded up being a smaller deal than I thought they would be.

Anyway, in fashion-related news. I've been eying this dress for weeks.

It's by Babooshka. It's such an amazing shape. I'm more keen on oversized than form-fitting just because I've got an oddly shaped body, so this is perfect for me. And, it's only $50. I need this!

I have a lot to do this week. I actually made a to-do list on Ta-Da List. I'm pretty bad with time management, and I need to do something about that before college. So this week, I'm going to get through editing all the old shoots I've needed to have edited from months ago. They were free, so I was doing them on my own time. But now that I'm free, I can get through them relatively quickly. I'm creating actions in photoshop so that I can get through them quickly.

I've already weeded out the photos I liked and adjusted them, so the sets that I'm doing now are the ones I didn't need. They're taking a little while, haha, but it's alright.

Lots to do! I'm gone~!

if we can only be in different places

2010-06-30T23:38:00.004-04:00

Ah, sorry it's been a while. I needed to take a little break for a couple of days.

I jad my job interview yesterday! I can't quite tell you how I went since I had the least experience out of anyone there, but I sold myself as best as I could. I'll know what's up in a week!

Here was what I wore:

Vintage dress, vintage denim vest, mom's old tights, black Rampage Oxford Heels, F21 Green Purse

I had this dress in my garage. I think it was my sister's when she was in around 5th or 6th grade. The vest is from Goodwill. I love the length mainly because it's different from all the shorter vests I have now.

I really liked this outfit. I actually had it similarly planned out from MONTHS ago, and had taken a picture of it to show a friend. I just never wore it, and came across the picture a few days back.

Anyway, I did a little bit of drawing, and I'm not exactly sure what is happening. I'm doing really badly with hands, so tomorrow, I'm gonna draw a good 20 of them. I haven't decided if they'll be digital or traditional, but it'll probably make a significant difference.

Stylistically, I am very unsatisfied with what is going on. Something is bugging me about the shape of the face. I'm positive I know what it is, but I think it probably has to do with me trying to get out of a certain face-drawing habit I had before. Besides all that, I'm happy with myself since I didn't use any references. The foot looks wonky in the second one, but whatever No biggie. Just trying to warm up again.

I'm out! Gotta call my novio <3

just some noses

2010-06-28T02:46:00.002-04:00

I was sitting down, and decided it's about time I get to drawing. I wasn't quite sure what to do, so I figured I'd practice something I have a little trouble with. I usually find it hard to model noses, so here are some noses.

These are all derived from photos of some of my personal models over the last year.

They're in the order I drew them in, L-R, T-B. My favorite is probably the orange one. I think it's because of the eye lashes though. Third one sucks, and I should've known better than to work from a low res, (poorly) airbrushed photo. Whatevs.

I'm still watching Animal Planet, by the way. This same Michael Jackson documentary has come on SO many times. But I love watching it for Latoya. She's so adorable.

Anyway, I plan on having more sketches in the coming days. Probably some line drawings or something. We'll see!

ready for forever

2010-06-27T02:39:00.004-04:00

Hi guysss. All my friends have been out of town, so I've been taking advantage of this free time to spend it with my boyfriend. We're super cool and played Zelda for hours.

This is what I wore to go to his house:

AA Black U-Back Dress, F21 Green Skirt/Bird ring, Delia's espadrilles.

Shoes that no longer fit me, but I love anyway :)

And the ring that everyone else has.

I have really gross hands and feet, I know, so don't hate on them please :)

I had Puerto Rican food for dinner and it was refreshing. It's been a realllllly long time since I've last had some. When I told my mom that I had some, her first guess was, "Rice with something in it?" Spot on.

So, as for internet-related affairs, I've been anxiously checking out everything on RISD's website that I've already seen. I'm so excited for this fall! It's taking way too long! How unfortunate!

Anyway, I'm out for the night. Have a great one <3

Bittersweet

2010-06-25T00:34:00.007-04:00

Ahhh. Sorry I haven''t updated the past couple of days. Things have been a little busy, particularly because my sister just moved out of the house to Las Vegas. It's a bit on the far side, considering my other sister lives in another part in Miami, so I've been feeling a little lonely. My dog is my only consistent company at the moment, but he'll also be moving out to Vegas when I move to Rhode Island in the fall.

Anyway, in the past few days, I've primarily been indoors, albeit quite busy. Helping my sister pack and spending some family time were some obvious breaks that needed to happen. I didn't get to draw, as planned, but it's alright. I'm actually getting into sea animals after watching Life on Animal Planet on Sunday Night. Starfish primarily stood out to me, since I learned some new things about them. I've never actually wondered what their diet was, and found out that they eat meat! They fed on a seal pup carcus by pushing one of their two stomachs out of their bodies, and the nutrients from the food source were absorbed through it. That's so crazy to me.

Some other animals that I learned about in addition to starfish were squids and aurelia jellyfish, so I plan on getting some sketches of those in tonight. I actually received a sketchbook as a going away present from my favorite teacher before school ended, so I want to dedicate it to do some research.

Yesterday, I had a job interview, and I'm feeling good about it! They want me back for a second interview on Tuesday, so hope for the best for me!

This is what I wore:

Red floral vintage dress, Chinese Laundry Wedges, Forever 21 purse

I'm completely in love with this dress. I went into Goodwill looking for a denim buttondown, and when I saw this, I had to have it.

I love the buttons on it so much! They're beautiful.

This is it for now. I'm gonna try to get some drawing in tonight. Bye!

i will take a photograph of the sky

2010-06-20T23:43:00.005-04:00

I hope everyone spent plenty of time with their dads this father's day! My sisters, mom, and I got my dad this car maintenance kit with a jack, jack stands, and a creeper (which I thought was hilarious...creeper? Haha).

I went to church this morning, and my old youth pastor stopped by at the "request of another church member." Turns out, she's engaged, and I'm so happy for her. I freaked out, because it's to one of my friends' brothers and I had no idea they were even dating.

So, I have no outfits for you today, but I decided to share 10 pairs of leggings that I've been eying for a little while.

1. AA Tie Dye Leggings- I'd love to wear these with one of my big Ts. The print is great to contrast with a solid-colored shirt.
2. Forever 21 Skirted Leggings- I think these are really interesting. Something I'd probably wear with a graphic t-shirt.
3. Asos Leopard Print Leggings- I've wanted a pair of these for so long! They'd look perfect with black heels.
4. AA Two-Sided Leggings- The best thing about these are that they can be reversed, so I can get two different looks. The mesh texture would go great with a busy print.
5. Topshop Bow Seam Tights- I love these just because they're cute. I have a few skirts I'd wear these with.
6. Topshop Striped Tights- These are LBD-worthy! I love the vertical stripes so much. I love making my legs look long, so these would certainly give that effect.
7. AA Floral Leggings- Just some every day sorta leggings. I love the yellow so much.
8. UO Heart Tights- Again, a pair of tights to wear with a skirt! :)
9. AA Mineral Wash Leggings- And, another pair of everyday leggings. I'd wear them with a white T-shirt and black heels.
10. Asos Heart Suspender Tights- THESE are adorable. I'd wear them with some denim cut-off shorts.

During the week, expect to see some designer styles that are currently inspiring me! I might be posting art tomorrow! Stay tuned!

i used to know a thing or two about dancing

2010-06-19T20:15:00.008-04:00

Hi guys! Sorry for not posting yesterday. My sister's moving to Las Vegas, and so we threw her a going away party. Lots of family and friends came to say bye to her, so it was really cool :)

Speaking of which, this is what I wore. Minus the bow, which I would've worn had I remembered to.

Dany Roberts + F21 Tee, F21 tutu/bow, random socks, and black Rampage oxford heels. UO nail polish in Matte Green 7

I've really been wanting one of the Danny Roberts shirts from Forever 21, and my friend bought me one for Christmas. Last week. Haha. Unfortunately, the Carolina Engman shirt was the one I wanted, and it had sold out at the three stores I visited. So I got the Alice Point shirt :)

I actually bought these calf-highs at a dollar store. The quality is actually better than what I've seen at actual stores.

Hope you guys enjoy the outfit!

Everything might be okay now! :)

2010-06-17T23:55:00.005-04:00

So, I had my ex-photographer/computer-savvy father take a look at my camera, and wouldn't you know, it looks like it is fixed! I hope everything is all great since I don't want to HAVE to put money towards a new camera. I still might do it, though it's no longer so urgent. I'd like to have as much money readily available for art supplies as possible.

Speaking of art, let me share with you a little of what I do. I haven't had any new projects, and my most recent painting is left at school, with no photo taken of it because I'm really awesome.

I don't exactly have a particular style, and I've been having lots of trouble with ideas as of late. In fact, my whole AP Drawing portfolio consisted of self-portraits just as a cop-out. So, I'm gonna show some of my 'in my home time' work. It's been a while since I've done any, and the most recent one is from about 6 months ago.

So, here we go:

Click to view!

The first few a personal works in a style that I'm trying to work kinks out of. I think it's totally getting revamped now. These works are a bit old, but still love :) The next few were placed in my AP Drawing portfolio. And the last two were photos I took late last year.

I'm excited to share my artistic growth with you on the blog! For now, it'll be a lot more sketches than anything else since I'm feeling a bit rusty. That's better than nothing though! :)

This WOULD happen to ME

2010-06-16T23:30:00.004-04:00

The day after I restart my blog, my camera pretty much dies. Ahhhhh, not quite sure what to do right now. It still takes photos, but they're coming out extremely dark. I can't even salvage them because they have SO much noise :(

Anywaaaaay. Next point!:

I really love shoes. I love edgy silhouettes as well as casual, every day shoes. The thing is: I splurge on clothing before I even let myself get shoes :( Don't get me wrong. I own over 30 pairs. Nine of those, however, are Chuck Taylors that I bought over 6 years ago (& they still fit me! haha) I pretty much have about 5 pairs in rotation.

So lets say I somehow acquired a large sum of cash. These are the 10 pairs of shoes that I would purchase:

1. 'Pela' by Dolce Vita- I absolutely love the boldness of these shoes. The covered wedge is also a plus. Something about these look so clean and neat.
2. 'Toffee' by Oh Deer!- I love the print on these pumps! 70's inspired with neutral color. I see myself combinig this with some other print just because.
3. 'Class' by Jeffrey Campbell- I want these SO badly. I wish I bought them back when UO put them on sale. I really love the shape of these booties. They'd be the perfect contrasting element to something girly and sheer.
4. 'Gypsy' by Seychelles- I hate wearing jeans, but I'd love to just so I can wear these. They're the perfect jeans heels! I can also see myself wearing them with some of my LBDs.
5. 'Zoe' by Sam Edelman- Okay. So I know these boots are old news. But I've loved them for about a year now and would buy them if I had the budget. But, well, I don't. & I'm pretty sure I prefer them without the strap :) It's a very timeless, classy silhouette.
6. 'Trinitie' by Steve Madden- A classic pump silhouette in a refreshing nude color. Enough said.
7. 'Raleigh' by Dolce Vita- THESE are the epitome of edgy, especially in this cool, medium gray. The buckles and length of the boot shaft are brilliant. I've seen variations of this style, but this is definitely my favorite.
8. 'Kate' by Ash- I love the smooth look of regular leather, especially in these horizontal bands. I also love the little peeps in the side, and the studding is cute, too.
9. 'Crimson' & Clover by Joie- The simplicity of these make me so happy! The lines are so clean and perfect and I think I'd actually like these with jeans, too.
10. 'Voom' by Jeffrey Campbell- Okay. So I know I can get rain boots for $20 at Target, but these are so simple and nice, and the length is so perfect. I particularly like that the sole isn't all jagged (I guess what would be for grip) as in usual rain boots. I'm sure you're wondering why rain boots? They probably seem impractical. BUT, I'll need them in RI for sure.

So, the next step to be anywhere NEAR being able to get these is to get a job. I have an interview with Urban Outfitters next week. I don't mean to be over-confident, but I am so friendly, and my references are from awesome opportunities that I had that were practically purely for volunteer. Wish me luck guys!

(Except, now, I'm pretty sure I'll be saving up for a Canon 7D. Bye my first $2000~)

Introduction

2010-06-15T20:52:00.006-04:00

I never know how to start a very first entry in a blog, so I'm going to just wing it. Haha.

For those of you who don't know, my name is Melanie. I'm an 18-year-old that lives in Miami, Florida. I suppose you could easily assume that that combination of teenager and beach always produce some sort of joy, but, not quite for me. Being a recent high school graduate, I'm heading off to Providence, RI this Fall to attend Rhode Island School of Design. I'll finally be outta here! (:

So anyway, let me explain the purpose of my blog:

Being an artist, I try to expand my knowledge in several media. I love to draw, paint, photograph, and everything else in between. I love finding new uses for things, and I love breaking out of my comfort zones, which I actually have trouble achieving more frequently than I'd like to.

Fashion is also something that I regard as an art form. It is, however, something that I've pretty recently started dabbling in. I don't have a particular style, and I'm ready to experiment until I find it. A little something that I've realized is that I gravitate toward dainty florals and pastels, but at the same time, appreciate the edginess of black and hardware.

Thosethingstheysaid is a blog dedicated to the documentation of a girl trying things out. It represents seeking out anything unconventional to find an identity within them. It is an art and fashion blog, not the whiny ramblings of a girl who wants to "find herself." I know who I am and what I like, and I want to piece those two together.

So as far as I am concerned, I've been told that my personality is gravitational, in a way. I'm loud or quiet when appropriate, I smile a lot, and I find joy in making others happy. People often annoy me, but I enjoy seeing how they react in certain situations. (That probably sounded like I think that people are like science projects. I suppose I kinda do.) Both stereotypes and hypocrisy amuse me, and I live for coincidences. I'm often indifferent, and I appreciate every thing as an art form. I'm sometimes confident and sometimes self-conscious but all-in-all I know myself and I'm okay with myself.

(And by the way, this is my old blog, that I moved away from and then back to. So for those old followers of mine, this is what you were seeing before at Imaginary Me-- just more consistent and better organized. & Sorry for writing so much, but I love the feeling of starting fresh!)

I really hope you guys enjoy my posts! I look forward to blogging regularly, haha.