statement sweater

I absolutely adore this sweater! I found it on the way out of a store, and I was like, this is just the thing to complete my fall wardrobe.

when feeling blue...get creative!

I started this blog because I was feeling pretty down and useless. I didn't have a job, and being a stay-at-home mom is so not my thing. I was in such a rut, not using my brain at all. When I got the idea to start a blog, all of sudden my brain woke up! I had ideas like every second and I had to keep jotting them down. This has been a wonderful creative outlet for me, because its keeps me accountable to use my brain in creative and fun ways, and constantly try new things.

What's funny is that I was speaking to a coworker, and she said that she was also unemployed and feeling down, and also used a spark of inspiration to start using her creative abilities, which pulled her out of it. I am wondering if anyone else has had experiences like this?

Now the trouble is making time for myself to express my ideas and keep the creativity coming. I just started a job last week, and I just moved apartments, and I am so busy! But I try, whenever I have a few moments, to brainstorm or sketch in my notebook, and stay on the lookout for things that will inspire me. I am happy to say that I have been feeling much more fulfilled and happy in the past few weeks!

Here's a blue outfit to start you off- turning "the blues" into something fun!

sweet hearts

I love this skirt from Urban Outfitters-silky material, heart print, and pockets! how can it get better? However, I find it difficult to find ways to wear it because it is a bit short. However, I have been using my tulle skirt a lot lately and I thought it would be great as a lengthener. The tulle also really adds to the girlyish vibe of the outfit, and totally inspired me to wear the tstrap shoes and bow earrings.

a bunch of neutrals

Camel is a great neutral color because it is richer than beige or tan. I paired it with navy. I love the shoes I was wearing. They are quite old, but mary janes and ankle straps seem to be so in right now.

MOVING

I am so happy to be finally moving. Our new place is a lot bigger than our old one. Its a basement though, so I will have to be creative in making it cheery and bright. The ceilings are super low, but the current lighting is pretty good. Right now its all white, which is so not my thing, so I can't wait to make it colorful. I love house decorating! The only real piece of furniture we have now is a table and mattresses, with a couple of dressers, so we have a lot to do. Here are some current pics (before all our boxes came in).

fur collar

polyvore.com

I adore the fur collar short sleeve cashmere sweater from Marc Jacobs. Its a really sweet shape- I would love it in gray. I would pair it with a gray sequin skirt to dress it up. For some color, I would add in purple heels and a purple silk head scarf, with a gray head band and some sparkly earrings.

graphic print + green peplum

I love this shade of green- especially as nail color. It goes with almost everything and is so unexpected.

decorating with glass bottles

So I did another collage on a bottle.

 I actually really like collecting interesting and unique bottles and vases. They can be used to decorate tables, display shelves, holding flowers, and even made into a lamp!

structured bags

The side effect of immersing and educating myself in the world of fashion is that I want to buy everything! But I can't, of course, so I have to satisfy my desires by just looking and imagining.
Here are some structured bags that I would love to have.

sugarscape.com

handbag.com

blue blue blue

This is a pretty bold outfit but it is totally fun to wear. I have a lot of blue in my closet...I love teal/aqua especially!

crazy gorgeous head pieces

You can add sparkle and glam to your hair or head scarf with beautiful head pieces. I often use head bands or pretty clips to achieve this look (you can see some of my examples here and here), but there are so many other types of adornments out there. With these pieces, earrings and necklaces are superfluous- I like to wear less, rather than more, jewelry. Here are some pieces that I love.

etsy.com caeseone shop 

I would wear this with a white head scarf and maybe a black and white outfit with an A line or circle skirt silhouette.

Turban News

For some (possibly a lot), wearing or seeing someone wear a head scarf brings to mind political views and standpoints. There are misconceptions and strong opinions around women covering their hair. I thought that it would be interesting to bring to you news and political pieces around the world about head scarves and covering for various reasons.

nytimes.com

mint and white...past labor day!

The day before I wore this I saw three! people on the train wearing mint and white. So I thought I'd try it.

Introducing... INSPIRED BY

I would like to start a post series where a reader/blogger can be featured in a post. This would focus on something that has inspired the reader, and what it has inspired them to do creatively, whether its an outfit, a piece of artwork, or a new way of looking at things.
I would love to hear from you, and get inspired myself!

Contact info here.

black white and pink

Wearing collared shirts has never been my thing- it reminds me too much of my school uniform. But seeing how versatile a look it is encouraged me to try it. So I bought a couple of collared shirts, and I don't regret it!
Here, I wanted to be warmer but not too warm, so instead of a sweater, I wore a regular crewneck tee. I really love this look because it is professional but still sweet and girly, and the head scarf brings it all together.

decorating with scarves

I'm getting a home decor bug because I am looking forward to moving. I realized that my scarves can be used for a lot of temporary decor ideas.

blush monochrome

I have been wanting to try out a blush monochrome look. I love the softness of the color.

acting on inspiration

So as I said in a different post, that I sometimes procrastinate being creative, I am trying to seize my inspiration and act on it quickly before I chicken out.
The other day, I had a flash of wanting to do something creative. I got this idea of using a bottle to make a collage from my friend. It was fun to do, quick, and most importantly, it made me let go of any "plans" I had to make the bottle pretty. I just kept picking out images from magazines, and just seeing what happened. I think I am going to start doing more collages. Here is the bottle from different sides.

pierre auguste cot

One of my most favorite paintings ever is Springtime by Pierre Auguste Cot. Whenever I go to the Met, I always take time to luxuriously stare at it. I love pretty things, and the delicateness of the painting is just soo beautiful. And who doesn't love a little romance?

reinventing64.com

black and white in philly

Yesterday I explored the city on foot, which is totally the best way. So interesting to see different styles and fashions there.

aquarium blue

My husband and I went to New Jersey and Pennsylvania for a couple of days. It was so great seeing another city, even though I still love NY. This is at the Camden Aquarium. My husband loves animals, especially ones that can eat you (like sharks), so we always end up at aquariums and zoos. And I like art museums, so hopefully our kid will be very cultured!

all dressed up in green

I have had this dress for a long time, but because of a)it being quite dressy and b)me not fitting into it, I haven’t really worn it. But now it fits, and with my new principle of dressing up more often and enjoying my closet, I decided to wear it for Friday night dinner. I adore this shade of green. And this silhouette is so wonderfully girly. I thought that it deserved a crown sort of look, so I gave my head scarf a little height with a braided headband. And even though I am really not into pearls, I find that as earrings they make eyes shine brighter.

denim on denim

This is with my new (self-made) denim vest!

body image

alhambraantiques.com

I have just finished a book called Mirror, Mirror, Off the Wall by Kjerstin Gruys, about her personal experiment of not looking at herself in the mirror for a year in order to learn to love her body more. I am amazed at Kjerstin’s courage to not look at mirrors (even with her wedding coming up!), and inspired by how she explored the meaning of beauty and learned to feel more confident and comfortable with her body.

Through this experiment, she was able to give thought to what it meant to *feel* beautiful. She came up with - feeling surrounded by people who love her, feeling pride in her accomplishments, and feeling confident and at peace with herself, among other things. 

the unexpected

Aaah so many trends in one outfit! Can you spot them? lol
This was such a satisfying outfit. I knew that I was in the mood to wear a dark lipcolor today. And everything else followed. I thought it would be interesting to echo the lacy look of the necklace in the head scarf.I like the contrast of the light chambray with the dark oxblood skirt. There is also a high-low contrast with the laid-backness of the chambray and maxi paired with a lacy scarf and necklace.

gold elephants and pumpkins

I love the optimism of this outfit- even though its not super bright colors, something about it makes me happy. Maybe its the elephant, or the gold details. Elephants are such fantastical animals. And orange and gold are really beautiful together- feels like a sunset.

change in the air

Outfit details-head scarf-lemon-headband-sherel's-tee-adea-dress (used as a top)-banana republic-skirt-gap-shoes-bamboo-belt-jcrew-ring-gifted. I wanted to do fun makeup because, even though I love grey, its not a popping color. Makeup is electric purple and fuschia shadow with silver liner on the inner corners and black mascara.

elsa schiaparelli

I feel like I am a bit of a child in the fashion world because I don't know so much about high designers...but I am learning! In the October 2013 British Edition of Marie Claire, there is an article about the Schiaparelli design house being revived, since its closing in the 1950s.
I remember a few years ago going to the Met summer fashion exhibit about Prada and Schiaparelli. The designs were very surreal and thought-provoking. She was known for using Dali's art as inspiration, and popularizing the color shocking pink-who doesn't love pink?
Here are some inspiring photos of Elsa and her designs.

fabsugar.com

lovesoyl.com

http://laflaneusecharmaine.blogspot.com

purple and jade

On the October 2013 issue of Instyle, there is Julianne Moore with a beautiful green and purple statement necklace. Even though those colors can, in perhaps the wrong combination, remind us of Barney, they are so powerful together.