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.