SCHOOLS OUT

Red Headband from Etsy, Vintage Sports Jacket from No Relations Vintage, Mesh Midi Dress c/o Missguided, Black Satchel from Urban Outfitters, Striped Socks given as gift, White Converse from Journey's

Photos by Micaiah Carter

One of my favorite styles at the moment is the whole athletic/pep rally inspired look. There is something very effortlessly cool yet charming about this particular style! I was so happy when I found this jacket at No Relations Vintage in the East Village of New York for only $10, and it even matched so well with the socks my boyfriend got me as a gift! A preppy wire headband seemed fitting as an accessory for the whole ensemble, while my Converse lent a classic, old school flair. 

I am actually back in California now but doing a little catch up with blog posts now that finals are over. Sophomore year has been rather challenging so far, but I'm happy I survived and glad I am in an environment that makes me push myself constantly. For now though, I try not to think too much about school and to just enjoy my six week vacation with my friends and family :) Wishing you guys happy holidays!

CAMPAIGN FOR STOLEN

Nicole Shirt Dress (in Moss) c/o Stolen

Photos by Zhi Wei

Today I want to share with you guys a special project I got to be a part of again this year—the Stolen <3 NY campaign! Stolen is a womenswear label based in Singapore founded by designer, Elyn Wong. The brand is known for its signature backless pieces and for its pure and minimalist aesthetic. Elyn describes her brand as "an ode to architecture and the feminine allure" and I think that perfectly sums up the essence of Stolen.

Last year, I was also a part of the first Stolen <3 NY campaign and it was such a fun experience to meet Elyn for the first time and to be shot for the campaign by Zhi at one of New York's most iconic locations, Coney Island. (Photos from last years campaign can be viewed here too!) This year, for the second round of the campaign, we did a more intimate and candid photoshoot which took place in my own apartment. I hope these photos will show you guys a different side of me than you usually see on my blog, while also spreading the essence of Stolen! And one more big thank you to Elyn for inviting me back a second time for this magical campaign and to Zhi for capturing these candid moments so beautifully!

CONCRETE CASTLES

Amoreblocks Dress c/o Lady Faith

Photos by Zhi Wei

Black, white, and red is such a timeless color combination, and even better when beautiful, graphic prints such as this one are involved! This is the second look I did featuring pieces from Lady Faith, which if you guys have seen my first post here, know that all the prints are drawn by Parsons graduate, Nazli Soylu, and that each print has a unique message behind it that will tell you something about yourself based on the particular print you find yourself drawn to.

This dress features the Amoreblocks print which holds the message of love acceptance. Nazli writes that the presence of less colors indicates a blockage of your loving side but that the read heart symbolizes a personal activation to break through and be able to give and receive more love. I love the way that the print directly reflects the message, and vice versa. For me, I think this means that I should be open to spending time with more people, rather than closing myself off to a very few select people. And I think it can't hurt to take this advice of course! <3

I hope you guys are enjoying the new posts, and if there's any specific types of posts you want to see, you can always let me know! x

UPRISING

Black Neoprene Jacket c/o Minnoji, Cowl Neck Top from Forever 21, Bandage Skirt from H&M, Tights from HUE, Neoprene Platform Boots c/o Miista

Photography by SJ & Lindsey from Le-Sycomore

As much as I love wearing bright colors and prints, I have to admit that half my closet is actually comprised of black clothing and that in my morning haste to get to school on time, I usually come to school wearing all black. Some people say that the all black look is a cliché of art school students, but it does certainly have its appeal when you have a 6 hour drawing class and know you are going to walk out with charcoal all over you! ;) The beauty of monochromatic looks though, is the freedom they give you to experiment with different silhouettes so you can have the focus of your outfit be on the shape of the clothing.

For that reason, having classic pieces in unusual fabrics and shapes, such as this coat and these platform boots, is what is going to make your look truly your own! I love this neoprene coat from Minnoji because of the way it feels against my skin and the lovely drape it has on the body—structured, yet still soft. And these neoprene boots to match from Miista have the coolest arch and heel shape; plus they make my legs look super long!

It's funny because whenever people meet me for the first time but have seen my photos online beforehand, one of the first things they often say is how I look so much taller in pictures. Well my little secret to that is monochromatic dressing. You basically want to match your legwear with your shoes so your legs become a seamless illusion where you can't tell where the shoe starts and it looks like your leg is actually just extremely long ;) Here I've done it with black tights and black boots, but you can also do this simply with a good pair of nude pumps. If you want to make your legs look even longer, you can wear high waisted shorts, which will further elongate your lower half. Now you guys know my secret ;) but I hope it inspires you to experiment and try it out for yourself too!

PS: If you guys want to check out a new fashion and lifestyle blog started by my stylish friend SJ and his equally fashionable, girlfriend Lindsey, be sure to stop by Le-Sycomore! They have the cutest couples outfit posts! <3

WITH PASSION

Kumrouge Dress c/o Lady Faith, Wrist Tie c/o Lady Faith, Black Ankle Strap Heels from Ivanka Trump

Photography by Zhi Wei

One of the most remarkable powers of clothing is its ability to transform your mood and energy, and Lady Faith is a brand founded on this very concept! Designed by a Parsons fashion design graduate, Nazli Soylu is the Turkish designer and artist behind Lady Faith who also worked for Diane Von Furstenberg as the head print designer for 3 years before launching her brand in 2011. Since then she's shown 4 times at MBFW in Instanbul (and you can watch her most recent show here)! Nazli says that every print she creates is meant to invoke different feelings and emotions in each individual and the prints that you are drawn to help you connect with your inner self, transforming your energy. 

When I met Nazli at the Coterie trade show as part of a field trip for class a few weeks ago, I fell in love with the Kumrouge print I am wearing today! The essence of this print is all about sharing and spreading love to those around you, and the idea that when you give and share to others, you will receive the same in return. In Nazli's words, "By being yourself, you will attract what you want to have in life. Be how you want to see the world." I have to say this message definitely corresponds with me—when I saw Nazli's designs, I knew I wanted to show you guys her artwork and it only makes sense that I gravitated towards the print with the message of sharing! I also agree with her that in life, you get back what you are willing to give.

So what do you guys think? Are you curious to see what message the prints you like have to deliver to you? If you are, you can browse the entire Lady Faith collection here and read more on the meanings of the individual prints here. I'd love to know which prints you guys gravitated towards in the comments too! :) And you can email Nazli at info@ladyfaith.com.tr if you have any questions or if you'd like to place an order there instead of through the website. Hope you guys will be inspired just as I was by the artwork of Lady Faith! <3

URBAN PRINCESS

Pink Neoprene Vest c/o Minnoji, Magnolia Necklace from The Quite Riot, Black Clutch Purse c/o Dagne Dover, Peplum Mini Skirt from Forever 21, Over The Knee Socks from Forever 21, Lace Up Booties from White Mountain

Photos by Milena Encheva

Pink and neoprene are two of my favorite things, which undoubtedly made this Minnoji vest a must-have piece for me! When Milena, the designer of Minnoji, reached out to me, I was beyond excited to work with her because her clothing is just my style: edgy and romantic. As a student who goes to a fashion school, you really have to go above and beyond to stand out in a sea of already fashionably-dressed students! This vest certainly does the trick though, and it looks great zipper down or with the collar up too :) I hope you guys will visit the Minnoji website and support Milena's designs! She is the sweetest person too!

As for the rest of my outfit, I am wearing a bold statement necklace from The Quiet Riot which I paired with my peplum skirt from Forever 21, and my new clutch wallet from Dagne Dover. This little wallet has compartments for literally everything—even your lipstick! I also have a larger handbag from them which I'll be featuring to you guys soon, which has compartments for your laptop and even one for your water bottle. Definitely a great bag for the New Yorker on the go or for the student who wants to go to school in style!

This week in school has been pretty rough with the workload, so it is nice to finally be able to kick back a little and share some new posts with you guys! Hope you have a great weekend! <3

LOVE NOTES

Fluffy Green Coat c/o Oasap, Statement Necklace c/o Lulu's, Love Games Dress c/o Lover's & Friends, Nude Ankle Strap Heels from Nine West

Photos by Christopher Michael

It's been a long time since I posted any outfits as school has become my main priority since I came back to New York, but during the past few weeks I've been shooting some amazing new outfit posts that I'm super excited to show you as I've gotten to feature garments from talented FIT and Parsons graduates :) Before I publish my newest content, I thought it would also make sense to post some of the looks I never got around to posting just to get caught up with everything. This particular look was actually taken last Christmas time in California which it also why it looks so festive... hahaha with the coat on it definitely looks like a Christmas outfit but with it off, it could certainly pass for a 4th of July look!

This coat from Oasap is one of my favorites when it starts getting really chilly in New York as it's not heavy like other coats can be. The red dress is from Lover's & Friends and it has become one of my go-to pieces when I want to put something on quickly yet still look put together. I love the way it fits me so well too and how good quality the thicker fabric is. To make the look more dressy, I wore my statement necklace from Lulu's and wore my American flag print scarf which can also double as an interesting shawl! And I completed the look with my favorite shoes, BUT somehow these shoes disappeared and I'm pretty sad because I was rather attached to them :(

Perhaps it is all for the best though, as this will force me to wear different types of shoes, although I will likely go on the hunt for a replacement pair in a similar style shortly after finishing this post ;) Anyways, I thank you guys for sticking with me during the times I have to put my blog on pause because of school and I hope you guys will continue to stick around for the new posts from New York I have coming up! <3

NYC THRIFTING VIDEO W/ CHICTOPIA

Today I want to share with guys a video I did with Chictopia and fellow fashion blogger, Barbro Andersen for the Chictopia Youtube channel on the "Best Thrift and Vintage Stores in New York!" (So yes, you will hear my voice in this!) It is always weird for me hearing my voice in any type of recording but I actually feel like my voice didn't sound so strange to me in a video for once haha :) For this video, I took Chictopia to my favorite thrift store in New York, Beacon's Closet, which is right next to Parsons. I've found a lot of interesting vintage and designer pieces there, and have also sold many of my clothes there. Chictopia also went to another one of my favorites, No Relation Vintage, which is full of vintage pieces (in comparison to Beacon's, which has a lot of more recent designer pieces) and notably has a huge selection of high waisted denim shorts for like $5-10 each! Anyways, I hope you guys will enjoy the video and will stop by these stores if you get a chance in the future :) If you like this video, be sure to browse some of the other fun videos Chictopia does for their channel too! Have a great weekend everyone!