LUCID DREAMS

H&M Beanie, Cat Eye Sunglasses from eBay, Beaded Sleeve Blazer c/o Lulu's, Moon & Star Pendant from eBay, Forever 21 Top, Black Skater Skirt c/o Romwe, Pointy Ankle-Strap Flats c/o Goodnight Macaroon

I can't even believe this blazer actually exists! I must be dreaming! Well actually, any look that I accessorize with this moon and star pendant, always reminds me of sleeping. Probably also because I'm quite physically and mentally exhausted at the moment from writing college essays... but I finally finished them all!!! -Cue celebratory music-

Anyways, I quite adore this blazer from Lulu's! It looks like there's hundreds of spikes on the sleeves from far away but it's actually just long beads--which is a lot better than spikes because this way it's less heavy and more comfortable (can't feel the beads from inside at all). It's a really well made piece and it's something I'd expect to find at a designer boutique, but Lulu's has a much more affordable price on it :) I've always wanted a piece with tons and tons of spikes on it (or look-alike spikes in this case) and I'm glad I finally have one! I'd feel quite confident giving a speech if I were to be wearing this blazer!

HEMOGLOBIN

Wide Brim Hat c/o Oasap, H&M Coat, Lace Bralette c/o Chicnova, Burgundy Pleather Skirt c/o Romwe, Pointy Ankle-Strap Flats c/o Goodnight Macaroon

I finally found the perfect flat-heeled black shoes (that aren't boots)! I really love ankle-strap sandal heels but most of the ones I keep seeing are at least 4 inches high. I was so happy to see that Goodnight Macaroon had these suede, pointy-toed, ankle-strap flats because if you view them directly from the front, they almost look like heels! xD And even though they are flat, the ankle straps help to make my legs look longer; and they are also super comfortable. The only shoes I ever really wear on this blog are my White Mountain lace up booties... but now I've got these ones to alternate with!!

The pleather skirt is from Romwe (excuse my laziness in re-ironing it after smushing it in a pile of other clothes) and the fit is great! It's perfectly snug without being suffocating around my waist. I even matched my lipstick with it! I went for a dark and vampy look this time, and with the ox"blood" skirt, I thought "hemoglobin" would be the perfect title, since vampires and blood.. yeah (semi bad pun of the week)

PS: The Asociete lookbook will premiere on Tuesday, January 2nd, and the video will follow soon after that (you get to hear my voice even though I think it sounds higher in the video than it actually is)! I also have 2 giveaways coming up! :) Happy holidays!

ATLANTIS

DIY Flower Crown, Gold Antler Necklace c/o Merrin & Gussy, Mint Floral Applique Blazer c/o Lulu's, Forever 21 Mint Maxi, Set of Infinity Rings c/o Goodnight Macaroon

There's been in a lot of black in my past few outfits so it's a breath of fresh air for me to do this mint, monochromatic look! I got this blazer in the mail from Lulu's and I immediately fell in love with it because of the beautiful mint color and appliques which give it such an unusual yet organic feel. It was literally calling out to be paired with this mint maxi dress from Forever 21! I accessorized with my flower crown and antler necklace to add some more earthy elements, and these infinity rings from Goodnight Macaroon for the finishing touch. I'm obsessed with these little rings (as is my sister, so I let her have the silver one); they are dainty but you can wear them with anything!

I'm devoting these 2 weeks off from school to finally finishing college apps once and for all!!! Last night, I finished filling out all the basic information online for my applications but I still have a couple pieces I need to start and finish for both my fine arts and fashion design portfolios, as well as most of the pieces of writing. Well, here's to hoping I can finish everything this break because after our vacation ends, National Portfolio Day will be creeping up in less than 2 weeks! o.o

ADLER

Burgundy Wool Beret c/o Chicnova, Quilted Leather Jacket c/o Vivilli, Red Chiffon Dress c/o LOVE, Forever 21 Belt, H&M Fingerless Gloves, Fishnet Stockings c/o Oasap, White Mountain Booties (Similar here)

Today's Parisian-chic look is inspired by Miss Irene Adler! I think of her style as romantic, classic, and bold, perfectly suited for a dark red and black color palette. I've never owned a beret before but I really loved this one from Chicnova so I'm going to look for one in black! This jacket was a bit on the larger side on me but that's okay because it makes it easier to drape it around my shoulders. For added warmth (well it's actually not even too cold here in California), I wore my fuzzy gloves from H&M and these fishnet stockings from Oasap.

Merry Christmas everyone, and if you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you are nonetheless having a great day! My mom bought a mini Santa hat for our chinchilla so I will try to take some pictures with him as he has yet to make his debut on this blog. And if you're feeling in the mood for some retail therapy, be sure to check out Motel Rock's Christmas Sale too!

MY CHRISTMAS WISHLIST

Thought I'd share some of the things on my Christmas wishlist this year! Most of it is stuff that would actually be rather practical but I never gave in to purchasing because of the price. Well, what better time to treat one's self than having survived first semester of senior year with straight A's?! ;-; You can bet I breathed a huge sigh of relief and it felt like all the weight on my shoulders had been suddenly lifted! Those last few weeks of first semester were rough; combine the typical senioritis with getting really sick and you have a person with very high blood pressure for the time being! Now even though it's pouring outside, it sure feels like the sun is shining and the birds are chirping! Well, happy holidays everyone and I hope anyone else who just had final exams got the grades they wanted! <3

From top left, clockwise:

1. Iron Man Mark IV Arc Reactor Necklace - I don't feel like this needs an explanation coming from me.

2. Nasty Gal White Bustier - I've been needing a set of well-fitted, basic bustier tops as they go with everything :)

3. Nasty Gal Black Bustier (Sold Out, alternate here) - Have to buy em both in black and white!

4. Wasteland Spiked iPhone Case - My phone case broke again, but I've just kept on using it. I dropped my phone and the screen cracked a few months ago, so I bet these spikes will help me keep a better grip too!

5. Wasteland Studded Purse - I NEVER buy bags; the one I'm using right now is a half broken one that I borrowed from my sister. This one's perfect because it's small, has a long strap, and reminds me a lot of the Alexander Wang Coco Duffel bag!

6. Animal Clothes Hanger - You can't deny that this is hilarious!!!

7. Test Tube Flower Vases - Reminds me of Sherlock Holmes AND it's pretty! (RDJ and BBC Holmes are pretty too though)

8. Steve Madden Nude Ankle Strap Heels - I really love the minimalist cut of those black Zara sandals you've been seeing everywhere, and I have been looking for a good nude shoe to pair as a neutral for my lighter colored outfits. This one hits the mark right on!

THE FINAL PROBLEM

 

BCBG Long Layered Cardigan, Black Lace Knees Leggings c/o Oasap, White Mountain Booties

I have impatiently been waiting for 2 weeks (which is when I first thought of this title) to name one of my looks after the famous, "last" Sherlock Holmes story. But what makes me quite proud of this title besides the fact that it's Sherlock Holmes related, is it's literally finals week! So I do actually get to experience "The Final Problem" in exam form! Witty eh? :P  It does make me feel more capable of surviving my exams with a hardcore outfit decked head to toe in black though!

This cardigan is from the BCBG outlet, and for a cashmere cardigan at $50, it was a steal! Not to mention, the sleeves fit me like a glove, so that made me incredibly happy, as the sleeves on many cardigans end up being baggy on me. The leggings are from Oasap, and they are also a great deal at $15, so you should grab a pair for yourself and maybe even as a Christmas gift for a friend! ;) Now that it's almost winter vacation, I'll be posting a lot more to make up for my absence as of late, but until then, wish my luck tomorrow morning! ;-;

Don't forget to check out Romwe's year-end Xmas promotion! If you spend over $60 from December 19th-25th, you get a Santa Claus stocking with a secret gift!

LAUFEYSON

DIY Collar, Helping Hands Collar Tips c/o Merrin & Gussy, H&M Black Coat, Dark Green Chiffon Dress c/o LOVE, Lock & Key Belt c/o Romwe, Long Faux Leather Gloves c/o Oasap, Target Knit Tights, White Mountain Booties

So... this look wasn't initially supposed to be inspired by a certain god known as Loki Laufeyson, but it happened on accident (I swear). I did notice slight Loki inspiration as I accessorized the dress with gold accents, however, I wasn't consciously trying to mimic his attire. But once I tossed on the long black coat so I could stay warm at school, there was no turning back! I dare say that I am burdened with the glorious purpose of dressing like this snazzy fellow without even trying! If you haven't watched The Avengers, I imagine the previous sentence sounded rather odd in your head. Those of you who have will probably see the resemblance of this look to the outfit Loki wore at the fancy party when he was walking down the stairs.

I did not make these gifs; they were taken from this source

I really adore this dress from LOVE! The color is the perfect shade of Loki-green, and I love the way the chiffon falls on the body. It actually has a peephole/slit in the bust as you can see in the stock photo here, but the dress ended up being a bit loose in the bust on me so the slit didn't fall on the right place. This was easily solved by turning the dress backwards though since the front and back sides are pretty much identical except for the slit! I also received this dress in burgundy red, so they are perfect for the Christmas season!! <3 I can't wait to wear these gloves with more outfits too; I love collecting gloves, especially long ones that go over your elbow, as they keep you warm and look really elegant with dresses!

PS: You can use the coupon code: artinourblood25 at LOVE to get 25% off on full priced items with a minimum purchase of £30 (Approx. $50 USD) valid until February 1, 2013!

GILDED AGE

'Helping Hands' Collar Tips c/o Merrin & Gussy, DIY Collar, White Chiffon Blouse c/o Sugarlips, Gold Skater Skirt c/o Awwdore, White Mountain Booties

In the past few years, I have become quite fond of the colors red and gold because of none other than Iron Man! Did you know that his new suit for Iron Man 3 is actually mostly gold? Anyways, I had a lot of fun putting together this flashy (literally) look and you can be sure this gold skirt from Awwdore will one day be worn in another outfit with lots of red! I hope some of you guys caught the US history reference in the title too; my APUSH teacher from last year will be so proud when I show him ;)

These rad collar tips are from Merrin & Gussy, which is Ben Galbraith's new online store (you probably will recognize him from Lookbook; he's the one who always has the cool suits!). I pinned them to this removable collar, and folded down the existing collars on this blouse to create this interesting neckline.

I'm also happy to announce that I was one of the 3 bloggers chosen by Chictopia to partner with Sugarlips to promote Chictopia's "Naughty or Nice" holiday contest in partnership with Lulu's, ShopAkira, and Sugarlips of course! To enter, you submit a photo of either your sexiest or sweetest holiday party outfits, and there will be guest judges for each brand that will select a winner for each category. The 2 winners chosen by each judge will receive a $500 shopping budget to the respective brand to shop with. This "Nice" look is going to be my first entry; and I did receive a $200 shopping budget to Sugarlips so there will be more holiday party looks to come! This contest runs until Friday, January 4th at midnight so I hope you guys will enter! :)

Just a quick update of what else I've been up to: last Friday, I took the yearbook photos with my friend Wade, as we both won Best Dressed :) Then Saturday, I got to meet Lany from the Asociete team early to say hi, and Sunday was the day of the photoshoot for their next Influencer lookbook! You may have seen some photos on instagram already. It was so much fun; over the course of 8 AM to 4 PM, we shot 8 different looks and also a video interview so you will get to see those in a few weeks! It was the most exciting thing I've ever gotten to do as a result of starting this blog. I'm very thankful for the opportunity!

A GAME OF SHADOWS

Vintage Gypsy Vest, Vintage Cross Necklace, Faux Leather Bustier c/o Romwe, High-Waisted Corset Shorts c/o Lulu's, Vintage Beaded Purse, White Mountain Booties

My mom gave me this vest a long time ago (also worn in this look) and I wanted to dig it out from my closet again! I got this leather bustier top from Romwe as it was long overdue that I start adding more basic tops to my wardrobe. I love bustier tops because they add the perfect romantic touch to your look, and they are super easy to pair with shorts, skirts, and pants, when you don't have time to try on different options!

This outfit reminded me a lot of the gypsy woman, Sim, from Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, (and I just really wanted the title to be Sherlock Holmes related) so that is how this look got its name! It's gypsy-inspired, yet also tough with the leather and black, and romantic with the sweetheart neckline and corset detailing. This vest, necklace, and purse, are all items from my mom's closet too!!

I'm also happy because I was voted "Best Style" for my senior class this year, along with my stylish friend Wade! They always choose one girl and one boy for each of the categories, and me and Wade are going to coordinate our outfits for the yearbook photos tomorrow! We are planning to dress in an "Excessively Tropical" theme. I'll be wearing my Motel Rocks "Mirrored Island" dress and he will be wearing his Versace for H&M t-shirt! Can't wait to share pictures of our outfits! :)

GALACTIC WARRIOR

Vintage Sparkly Top c/o Shoppalu, Silver Pendant Necklace c/o Romwe, Satin Skater Skirt c/o O-Mighty, Skeleton Hand Bracelet c/o Oasap, White Mountain Booties

I've been wanting to do another sci-fi inspired look for a while so I built one around my new O-Mighty skirt that I recently received! I paired this grey satin skater skirt with my sparkly top from Shoppalu (which I previously wore as a dress here). I actually had chopped off a couple inches from the hem of that dress and saved it, not knowing what to do with it. But today, I experimented with wrapping it around my neck like a scarf, and that's how this top ended up with a turtleneck/cowl neckline!

I always thought this Romwe necklace looked like some kind of mystical artifact so it fit in with the theme I was going for; this skeleton hand bracelet from Oasap also looked like fancy armor for your hand I suppose, so I threw that on as well since it matched the silver necklace.

I just got over the worst cold this weekend, as well as the cloudiest/rainiest week yet, but the great news is there's many more sunny days ahead! Which is great timing, as this Sunday, I'm going to be doing a photoshoot with Asociete, for their next lookbook! This will be the first time I've been shot professionally so I'm excited and thankful to be given this opportunity. :) I'm really excited to see how the photos will turn out and glad I have something to look forward to, despite the oncoming storm, which is called finals week.

INTERVIEW: NICK ADELMAN

Today, I am very excited to share on my blog, an interview of my friend, Nick Adelman, who at only 17 years old, is an exceptionally talented footwear designer! I believe that he deserves to have much more people know about his work and accomplishments so without further ado, please read on and enjoy!

To start, please tell us a little about yourself and your work! 

Hello Jennifer! My name is Nick Adelman. I’m a 17 year old high school student living in Salt Lake City, UT. My main field of work thus far is fairly limited, but I have done a fair amount of graphic design work for the local art walk as well as some commissioned paintings. I was actually offered a job in footwear rendering, but my school schedule was too tight to allow it. My accomplishments are mostly academic, but I have had a few editorials and some artwork published in print. At this point, my aspirations are all over the board: I’d really just love to be successful and happy in whatever profession I choose!

When did you first start designing shoes and what inspired you to start?

I first started designing shoes back in 9th grade (I’m currently in 11th grade) after seeing a stunning shoe from Alexander McQueen’s collection, Plato’s Atlantis. If I remember correctly, the precise shoe was The Titanic. The form of the shoe spoke to me in a way that no other canvas had ever done.

Your skill at rendering details and use of color is very developed! How long have you been studying art and how did you build your abilities up to this level?

My interest in art turned in a more serious direction in the summer of 2009 after attending Interlochen Arts Camp for visual arts. I have taken classes in color theory, drawing, painting, and what not, but my skills in footwear rendering have been entirely self-taught. If I were to show you my first sketches it would become clear that I’ve only gotten to this level of detail through practice!

What is your favorite medium to work with?

When it comes to shoes, I am truly a sucker for design markers like Prismacolors and Copics combined with a good Micron pen. They allow me to execute my designs with great detail and speed. 

What inspires your designs?

Up until recently, most of my designs were done on a whim without any solid source of inspiration. My most recent shoes for my AP concentration are representations of art styles/movements in a shoe. Honestly, art history has been the greatest source of inspiration for me.

What are your goals, career wise?

As far as education goes, I’m hoping on attending Vassar College to double major in Art history and Africana Studies. I’d really like to get the foundation of liberal arts education before I delve into any field of art. There are many careers I’d like to realize such as being an African History professor, a museum curator, and a shoe designer. The thing is that I plan on doing all three, and establishing a footwear line of my own will happen at some point in the future. 

Who are your favorite designers and artists?

 I have far too many to list, but in fashion I adore Nicholas Kirkwood, McQueen, Rodarte, Lanvin, Balenciaga, and Givenchy. While I enjoy fashion, I am more engaged in notable artists in the past. My favorites include Greek art, Islamic art, Dali, Picasso, Klimt, Gaudi, and many more. 

If you could have anyone you want, wear one of your designs, who would you design a shoe for?

This is really tough one, but I would feel beyond honored if were able to design for Michelle Obama and Victoria Legrand of Beach House, my absolute favorite band. 

What is your favorite style of shoe to wear?

I really enjoy wearing a clean pair of Oxfords or Chelsea boots.

What are your other hobbies besides footwear design?

Basically all of my hobbies fall under the umbrella of art, but quite enjoy ceramics, film/digital photography (I have a small darkroom in my basement), painting, reading history books, collecting vinyl records, and riding my bike around town.

I also noticed that you have a great love of pugs. What is your favorite thing about them?

Don’t even get me started on pugs, honestly! I think that my deep love for pugs is rooted in their carefree disposition and unconditional love. Pugs live for the good things in life.

More of Nick's artwork!

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to go into the design field or wishes to improve their art abilities?

Well, I don’t really feel like I’m in the position to be giving advice on how to go about art because it is very personal. The only advice that seems universal is to always practice. You’ll never improve if you aren’t working. 

And lastly, do you have a favorite quote?

“Never trust a woman who wears mauve,” from The Picture of Dorian Gray.

I'm sure that all of you guys have probably fallen in love with his designs and artwork by now, am I right? Thank you so much, Nick, for letting me interview you for my blog! I am confident that you will go far in life and your abilities will take you wherever you wish to go! Make sure to support Nick and keep up with his work by following his tumblr at spikedteacup.tumblr.com and you can also reach him at nadelman95@gmail.com

• Update as of December 12, 2012: There has been a recent situation in which Nick's images had been stolen and were being claimed as the designs and drawings of someone else. Please be aware that anyone who attempts to steal these images/designs WILL be found and legal action will be taken. Thank you for respecting the creative work of other individuals!