Niviarsiaq

[the union railroad]

2012-01-22T14:35:00.000-08:00

Calvin Klien dress // Forever 21 sequined jacket and stone necklace // American Apparel tank top // Jessica Simpson boots // vintage clutch
I wore this while running errands around the city a few days ago. Yes, I do wear sparkly sequined cardigans while shopping. The weather was so blustery and It was a relatively standard day aside from the fact that I went into both COSTCO's and PetCo for the first time in my entire life. I must be a 'normal' American now. At least I wasn't wearing sweatpants…
Don't have much to say today so I will leave you with this great song- perfect for train rides!!

Thanks for reading!
xx -Niv
p.s. last time I was on these tracks I wore this.

[SF photo diary]

2012-01-19T21:23:00.000-08:00

I took a little trip to San Francisco with my bf to celebrate the last weekend of freedom before a new and intense semester begins. I got on the train at sunrise and stopped on Treasure Island just as the sunlight came across the bay; it was gorgeous. Made our first stop at Britex fabrics to pick up some material for my collection. At first I was a little intimidated by the place because it is a 4 storey building packed completely with fabric and people eager to help you find something. As it was my first time there I really just wanted to take everything in before deciding what to buy. In the end I found exactly what I was looking for without knowing I was even looking for anything. I think it will take a couple visits to really settle in though.

The rest of the day was spent doing pretty standard tourist activities around the city: photos at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, a clam chowder and root beer picnic outside in the DeYoung, a surrey ride, a few hours at the SF MOMA (which was amazing!), dinner on Fisherman's Wharf, a trip across the Golden Gate bridge after sunset, and Pier 39 nightlife. One of the best weekends in a long time!

American Apparel dress // Free People military jacket // Anthropologie cardigan // Steve madden heels and boots // vintage scarf // Forever 21 neon necklace

[Lockdown]

2012-01-12T10:00:00.000-08:00

Zara jacket // Target tee and skirt // Free People boots // my sister's fur hat // Hips and Curves bodysuit

My brother-in-law hosts an open mic at Folsom's Lockdown Brewery which some of us headed out to the other night. I am always in the mood for good music and good company, this was a nice pause in the middle of a busy holiday season.

Lately I have been working on sketching out my collection, getting sample fabrics, and making patterns. I am showing a capsule collection at the college Spring fashion show so my entire Autumn and all of this upcoming season is in preporation for the show. In writing the inspiration for the clothes sounds pretty random but in my head it all makes sense and I know that once it comes together people will be able to understand the thought process. I well sum it up by saying that I was inspired by a somewhat pedestrian 1920s look meets modern day beach sports when designing. I am majorly excited to put together this debut collection and will keep you all updated on my progress! As usual, if you want to hear from me more often, follow my twitter and Tumblr.
Thanks for reading!

xx -Niv

[citrus twist]

2012-01-09T16:23:00.000-08:00

Elle: The Perfet Accent

I don't get magazines delivered to my house anymore so once in a while I will check up on the ones I love online. I saw this editorial while browsing the Elle website and I'm just completely in love! There is always kind of a battle inside me about how I want to dress. At times I want to go all out and wear colorful furs, giant platform shoes, and printed dresses every single day. But then I get in moods where I long for simplicity, elegance, and ease. As a result I think my style is generally muddled right in the middle which has never quite satisfied me. This editorial is really striking to me right now. I don't think I could handle wearing an all black/white/nude wardrobe but I like the idea of making a subtle statement; standing out without being too flashy.

[grand old party]

2012-01-08T13:39:00.000-08:00

ASOS pailette top // American Apparel skirt // Michael Shannon bow heels (last seen here)

I got tired of doing the same old thing every year for NYE so this time around I threw a party big bash at our house. I decorated with white lights, white tablecloths, and metallic everything else. I always think the best ways to set the mood is by good loud music, appropriate lighting, tasty food, and gorgeous decor. Well, the mood was set and the party was amazing!! Complete with drinks all around, random games, a spontaneous jam session, and dancing all night long. I think (hope!) everyone had fun - I sure did!

[kimono]

2011-12-25T18:29:00.000-08:00

H&M kimono & bag // American Apparel turtleneck // GAP trousers // Forever 21 record player necklace

my family has something of an unofficial tradition being that as the festivities of christmas day wind down we all end up in the living room with our laptops out doing who knows what. As this is the current state of things, I am taking the time to update my lonely blog - which I refuse to give up - as much as life is trying to pull me away from it. I will attempt to post a few holiday outfit photos soon but for now here is a few shots my sister took of this new kimono in front of a stunning sunset.

I hope your holidays have been glorious! Mine have been filled with food and family and lots of each, mostly due to the fact that I have a lot of siblings and we all cook.

[between the bookshelves]

2011-12-22T01:06:00.000-08:00

H&M snake print dress // J. Crew peacoat // F21 scarf // AA brown tights // vintage sequined bag

I got my hair chopped off! I have really wanted to update my hair for a while now but grew it out so my sister could use me as her 'model' for the state board beauty exam. Now that it's over I can do whatever I want! Besides the cut I just got it ombre'd which you will se in a future post. I'm extremely happy with it, it feels much more 'me'

The snakeskin printed jersey dress was a random purchase from H&M over the summer - I think it was actually my very first from the store... It might be one of my favorite dresses now, because it goes with everything in my closet and is very multi-seasonal.

These photos are on a recent outing to Barnes & Noble with my good friend, Aris, who kindly agreed to take some pictures for me while we were there. I could spend hours in the photography/interior design/art/fashion section.

[since last time]

2011-11-27T19:33:00.000-08:00

Pieces of my life since the last post in September (I can't believe its been that long!) Full of wedding events, a bay area trip, 3 different costumes for the halloween party weekend, art fairs, horse rides, live music, a South Lake Tahoe weekend, school projects, watching bands downtown, Borders trips, excessive amounts of coffee, an 8-week English course, and putting together my first collection for this Spring's fashion show. It's been crazy to say the least.

I have gotten emails and twitter messages from readers telling me to post again and with a weekend finally off school I am able to clear my thoughts a little bit and get back on the blogging train. I want to update the layout a little and, obviously, post more often so you will see much more of me in the future. If you miss me though, you can always follow me on Twitter!

an evening at Hotel Le Rivage

2011-09-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

Massaio dress//Twisted clutch//Aldo platforms//vintage earrings//random DIY rope headband
One of my sisters is getting married in October so for the past few weeks there have been a bunch of wedding preparation events going on. Her fiance's parents threw a little get together at the Hotel Le Rivage to give the couple a special blessing. Afterwards we enjoyed a great sunset over the river while having pot-stickers, pork sliders, and delicious homemade wine.
I wish I had a better picture of the earrings- I got them for $1 at this great thrift store in midtown I cant remember the name of. I took a photo booth picture of them so you can see though.
Next up on my schedule: prepare for 3 quizzes and 2 exams next week, sew a dress, make two party playlists, and pack for the bachlorette party weekend.
xx -Niv

ankle cuffs

2011-09-11T12:47:00.000-07:00

Urban Outfitters tank & shoes//vintage skirt//second-hand belt & bag//Isaac Mizrahi for Target sunglasses//Santa Fe, Forever 21, Niv Elliot, and vintage jewelry

Celebrated the first Saturday after quitting my job by shopping with my sister all day and hanging out downtown for the 2nd Saturday Art Walk with one of my best friends all night. I just got this skirt from my sister and can't stop wearing it!! I love the detail- it's covered in elephants, tribal scenes, exotic flowers, and beading. I saw one of my former co-workers (we quit the same day at work!) and really good friend, who does henna at the art walk and she gave me a complimentary piece inspired by the elephants on my skirt. So cool.

I will only wear flat shoes if there are interesting in some way out of the ordinary random bow or zipper. I got these from Urban Outfitters and am just so obsessed with the way they look like ankle cuffs from a passing glance. Only available in black and silver now, but go take a look!

Oh, by the way, the Salted Caramel Mocha at Starbucks is amazing hot or cold- my new favorite.

super freak

2011-08-15T12:27:00.000-07:00

Target pants//Hanes DIY shirt//AA belt//vintage clutch//Michael Kors platforms//Free People shades//vintage, Santa Fe, and F21 jewelry

This summer has been nuts.

I take that back; ever since I started college, my life has been nuts.

I've had these pictures on my desktop for like 2 weeks with no time to post them. Before the semester starts back up I am going to try and get a photo diary together of my summer. Right now my projects include studying for the driver's test, making a newspaper gown for a competition, getting a new job, re-organizing my entire room, and sketching my collection. I've been listening to the new Kanye and Jay-Z album, The Strokes, and Foster the People while getting things done - music always inspires me. Oh, by the way, these are the exact same pants as in my last post but in olive. I seriously love them!!

Varsity

2011-07-26T02:58:00.000-07:00

Target tee and pants//vintage belt and bag//Sam & Libby polka-dot heels//gifted scarf//ASOS shades

Every time I walk into Target I find something I love. Today I stopped by to get some new work-out clothes and found myself perusing the racks with an armful of clothing! Something similar happened a few weeks ago and each time I have come away with something great. I now have these pants in both Olive and Khaki and if they made them in any other colors I would probably get those too. I have never been 'against' wearing pants, I've just found skirts to be generally more flattering and comfortably fitting. This pair fit both criteria. Love!

Oh also, this shirt is a shout out to my sister who not only lives in Brooklyn, but was born in 1978. I love Target!

Leaving at 7am for an 8 day backpacking trip to Mt. Whitney. I should probably get some sleep… love you all!

the 4th

2011-07-06T02:34:00.000-07:00

DIY'd dress from Target//Forever 21 scarf worn as head-wrap//Urban Outfitters leather bag//AA bike shorts//gifted sandals//Isaac Mizrahi shades//vintage earrings

I've had this dress since before I started my blog and after wearing it probably every single way possible, I recently decided, if I was going to keep it, it would need a little re-vamp. I also had some left over spray paint from ~~grafitti-ing all over the city~~ other random projects so I figured, why not put them to good use on this dress and paint the, print of choice in fashion right now (and appropriate for the event at hand), a good old American flag.

Other than wearing a metallic flag and a head-wrap that doesn't say 'American' at all, I filled my day by making fruit jello, chilling with drinks, family, and friends in air-conditioned rooms and boiling hot backyards, DIYing a pair of star shades, buying fireworks, practicing my fire show, putting on a little fire show, watching my brothers' spectacular fireworks display, and eating banana splits. Perfect if you ask me!

as if by magic

2011-07-04T02:02:00.000-07:00

vintage skirt and scarf//Target blouse form years ago//AA le string and bike shorts//Adidas sports bra//Michael Kors platforms//F21, DIY, vintage, and Santa Fe jewelry

I guess if there was a fabric I obsess over most, it's probably this lightweight, wrinkle attracting material. I love playing around with semi-sheer clothing; I think it adds a lot of interest to an otherwise simple (boring) outfit. In the winter I put on some black tights and a motorcycle jacket over the top and it all looks very rock'n'roll. Come spring I wore it with a men's blazer, boots, and coral bike shorts. Now that it's summertime I've been pairing them with eye-blinding colors like these fluorescent bike shorts and my hot pink sports bra.

Get cheeky with it people - double-takes are so amusing!

I hope you Americans have some rockin' plans for this 4th of July weekend! I'll be spinning fire poi, playing my favorite tunes, making popsicles, wearing my latest project (you'll see this one soon!), gearing up for an exciting backpacking trip, eating grilled food, and getting sunburned.

Garden Highway

2011-06-30T13:21:00.000-07:00

ASOS oranges shirt//Zara motorcycle vest//Express cut-offs and belt//vintage head-wrap//Forever 21 necklaces//Michael Kors platforms
This is the backyard garden we've been working on for almost a year. Among other things right now we're growing pumpkins, tomatoes, beets, carrots, and zucchini. Not to mention the herbs, fruit, and flowers in other spots around the house! Maybe that was at the back of my mind when I got this shirt a couple weeks ago… it's so random, but I'm loving the funky fruit fruit theme of recent collections! And of course I had to throw on the jacket and my favorite head-wrap to keep it rock'n'roll.
I've been making a ton of playlists lately for road trips and events so I thought I would share some of my favorite summer tunes! Thanks to my brothers for introducing me to a bunch of this music :)

slick chrome american prince

2011-06-17T17:36:00.000-07:00

shirt by Niviarsiaq//AA bike shorts//ASOS sunglasses//Forever 21, vintage, and Santa Fe jewelry//bag made by my brother//Aldo sandals//Express belts//vintage scarf

The story behind these sunglasses is truly hilarious. To sum it all up, I saw them on the ASOS UK site thinking they would ship to the US but unfortunately that was not the case. So after thinking about them constantly for like two months I finally came up with a flawless plan. I corresponded with one of my favorite girls over Twitter and had them shipped to her house (in the UK) where she then sent them on over way across the pond all the way to California just so I could have them! It was truly a collaborative effort. Don't even ask why I did all that just for a freakin' pair of sunglasses- I'll just say it was meant to be.

I made this shirt in my beginning sewing class last fall and I put slits in just so you could see the bike shorts. The bag was made for me as a birthday present from my brother (amazing!). The necklaces are brand new from Forever 21 and I'm sure you'll see much more of them over the summer. It helps that the cross is giving me major Romeo + Juliet vibes. And the scarf is my mom's from years ago that I've had on long term lease for like 2 years.

mad hatter

2011-06-07T15:58:00.000-07:00

hats from top: vintage//made by my sister//made by me//Pins & Needles
outfit: F21 dress and chain//target shirt//MAC "Girl About Town" lipstick
Some cool hats I'm loving right now. I made the wire headband for a competition in L.A. and got so much interest in it that I'm planning on getting an etsy store up early this Summer. I wasn't going to post this until I got it up and running but getting product together for that is taking longer than I expected (bending wire is brutal work) so I will just make another post when it comes together later on.
I hope summer comes around eventually! It would be pretty disappointing if it just got skipped all together.

Tuesday evening

2011-05-31T21:47:00.000-07:00

A chocolate cake in the oven, "Jimi Hendrix: Live at Woodstock" playing on Jett (my laptop), and the June Anthropologie catalog in my hands. Beautiful Spring evening.

wearing: AA unisex striped top//Target cropped pants//random slippers//vintage accesories

school's out for summer

2011-05-19T16:52:00.000-07:00

ASOS midi-dress//Anthropologie cardigan//Aldo platforms//Twisted clutch//F21 chain necklace//AA nail polish//jewelry from Santa Fe and vintage

I'm back from my unofficial hiatus and with tons of new pictures to post! School is finally over, the sun is finally shining, and I finally have a chance to post all the oufits I've been wearing for the last month.

I got this super fun midi dress from Asos in time for my spring break trip and it's so colorful I'm sure I will wear it all summer long. I was really feeling the Jil Sander/Prada/Yves Saint Laurent colors (more on that later) and consequently bought a bunch of random, brightly colored things before and during spring break shopping. That's probably a good thing though cause the majority of my warobe was filled with black and muted neutrals before - which is kind of depressing. But now I'm saving my money for a fancy little Vespa scooter in time for summer.

Dear Los Angeles,

2011-04-27T22:25:00.000-07:00

I spent part of my spring break in LA with my school's fashion program going on backstage tours, meeting with local designers, shopping, and competing in a competition for all California community college fashion programs. We left on the 7 hour drive about 2 hours after my last class of the week between which I made the rest of my belt for the competition, finished packing, got my ASOS order in the mail last-minute, and surprisingly didn't forget anything in my bag. It was an extremely inspiring trip and so much fun!

wearing American Apparel dress, Anthropologie cardigan, Urban Outfitters shoes and shades, and Express belt.
Day 1: second time at Disneyland, first time at California Adventure! Got a backstage tour of the costuming department (but no pictures aloud), saw and felt all of the costumes for the Aladdin show at California Adventure (custom jeweled in India!), and waited in lines for some super fun rides that were sooo worth it, and apparently I have a stripes obsession.

ASOS dress, Anthropologie cardigan, Twisted clutch, and Forever 21 chain necklace (you will see more of this outfit in a future post!)
Day 2: spent the morning touring the American Apparel factory which was a total dream for me! (but they wouldn't let us take pictures), went shopping at their half-priced store on the property (amazing!!!), stopped for a delicious beet salad at The Farm at L.A. Live, toured the FIDM costume museum of recent Oscar nominated and winning movies such as Burlesque, The Tempest (loved costumes for that one!), and The Young Victoria (again, no pictures aloud); toured the Karen Kane headquarters and met the designer herself (I'm the one awkwardly poking me head out behind her in the pic- although I must say, what a great shot of my green clutch in the foreground ;)), and then dinner out with the whole group in Pasadena.

Jean Paul Gaultier for Target dress, American Apparel shirt, Niviarsiaq accessories, bag made by my brother.

Day 3: started the day early at the CCC Fashion Symposium watching the guest speaker from Volcom, entered three of my pieces in the accessories competition (better pictures of each coming later), watched our school compete in the "Denim Deconstruction" challenge- a 30 min. race between the schools with limited supplies and only one pair of jeans (we took third!), watched the runway shows (the two dresses on the right are from my school and both won awards), won second place for my belt and had an order placed for my headband (so excited!!!), shopped on Santee Alley for fabric and notions, listened to some live music whilst window shopping at The Grove, dinner at the Farmer's Market (I love the atmosphere down there!), drove by Hollywood Blvd., and got home the next afternoon.

busy busy bee

2011-04-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't updated recently! I've been working on a lot of projects for school etc. which all seem to be due this week. I am preparing for a whirlwind trip to LA for part of my spring break and will have tons of pictures to post from that, I'm sure! In the meantime, this is a headband I'm working on for an accessories competition while I'm down there. Still need to find a way to cover that knot of wire in the middle and maybe add some smaller 'petals' but this is basically the idea I'm going for.

xx -Niv

staw hat

2011-03-28T22:29:00.000-07:00

new Jessica Simpson Alfie platforms//Target tights//vintage everything else

I went down to visit my cousin in Fresno this weekend for his girlfriend's birthday and a couple days of hanging out with my crazy friends down there. It's always such a good time with them! Somehow I managed to buy way more than I expected and could barely keep my bag closed on the train ride back home. I got a good old springtime wardrobe update though, which is great cause I've been wearing practically the same thing every day for what feels like all winter long. Just in time for my spring break trip to LA next month! These Jessica Simpson 'Alfie' heels are crazy awesome and I got them for a jaw-dropping discount so I'm pretty content right now. Side notes:

Notice the sunshine?! It's supposed to be all the way up to 80 this weekend! Only in California...
The dress is one of my favorite vintage finds ever. Reminds me of Palm Springs.
Anybody know a good way to keep copper from turning your skin green? For the amount of copper I have in my jewelry box I should really know this already.
Wearing a straw hat by a Straw Hat Pizza sign was definitely not purposeful! Didn't even notice that until now.

Aside from the ongoing cold, life has been pretty good to me lately.

vampire lips and blue sky eyes

2011-03-23T23:58:00.000-07:00

Free People jacket//Forever 21 romper//American Apparel tights//random scarf//Urban Outfitters oxfords//Twisted clutch

Revisiting the top knot I love so much.

If you follow my twitter, I'm sure you know by now, I have had a terrible cold for the past week. Even with constant medicine nothing has changed! So as I woke up this morning with yet another day of being sick and my hardest midterm ahead of me; I really wanted to brighten my mood with sunshine-y colors. Also, a friend from class told me that rompers always looked like kid's clothing so I was trying to prove her wrong :)

Meet my new favorite springtime jacket from Free People! I've been wanting a white layering piece for a while and this is better than what I could have imagined. The lace-up detailing on the sleeves and back is killer! I just love everything about it.

homegirl wont lie

2011-03-16T16:05:00.000-07:00

This is what I wore yesterday between modern dance and fashion analysis midterms and an early morning of math tutoring. I'm surprised and excited about how well the dance worked out - I wish I had gotten a video of it! Some moments just don't repeat themselves.
Winter is the most stressful time between me and my clothes. With all the necessary layering it takes to stay warm and dry (because yes, it still rains even in California) it's nearly impossible to do anything interesting with an outfit. I keep dreaming of vintage dusters, oversized Mary Poppins umbrellas, elbow length gloves, and printed kimono dresses to add interest to my generally bland winter wardrobe. Then I remember this jacket from a Catwoman Halloween costume and I can successfully channel Parisian dominatrix-chic and stand out in some way from the sweatpants-obsessed school culture. Magical.

Target trench and tights//American Apparel dress//vintage scarf//Urban Outfitters bag and hat//Forever 21 earrings//Society 86 boots

in the aftermath

2011-03-10T20:53:00.000-08:00

A bunch of random outfit shots and cheesy photo booth posing from the last few weeks. The camera is finally back home so posting will be a little better in the future - thankfully! Publishing photo booth pictures just seems so weird to me.

feeling very costume-y in a shawl/scarf from Thailand, head wrap and earrings are Forever 21, American Apparel dress, Target tights, Michael Kors platforms, and the necklace was a gift from my mom
rocking out in a surprisingly dramatic everyday look for me consisting of a vintage coat and hat, Forever 21 shirt, American Apparel skirt and tights, Target boots
randomly dressing up in the head wrap from Thailand (again), scarf from and Indian shop in LA, vintage sequined belt, American Apparel dress, Target tights, boots I've had since I was like 8, and my room! Which I've promised pictures of that will come eventually - maybe spring break…
I went into the school locker rooms before my dance midterm this morning and it was so eerily quiet I had to use the moment for pictures and comic book editing. I was wearing the American Apparel Le Sac (get one! they're amazing), Nike leggings, Urban Outfitters beanie, and Capezio half-soles
underdressed on a cold, windy day and looking very un-tan in an Anthropologie dress, vintage mohair sweater, Target boots, and random jewelry
mixing stripes and completely loving my newest hat addition from Urban Outfitters (by the way, have you noticed how much headgear I'm wearing in this post?!) American Apparel unisex striped shirt, Zara vest, Target skirt and tights
a random school day outfit with a self-made Le Sac dress, Target tissue tee, Zara vest, and the sequined army hat was a gift

I promise much classier posts to come! And hopefully more regular ones too. Thanks for reading!

xx -Niv

slow motion emotion wave

2011-02-20T15:12:00.000-08:00

Such a beautiful Sunday, enjoying the afternoon sunshine streaming through my window. The camera is currently being fixed so these shots were taken with Photo-booth on my laptop... so, I'm sorry about the low quality. I really wanted to shoot this dress I got in December. I picked it up at Urban Outfitters on a limb and have got so much use out of it! You can't see so much in these photos but they have done something really intelligent with the stripes to create an amazing hourglass silhouette through the darts - and, of course, I'm all over that! Plus the sleeve length is exactly what I love; I always roll long sleeves to this length anyways so to find a garment actually designed that way makes me very happy. I'm taking a class in advanced sewing and basic pattern-making right now so I keep noticing all sorts of details in the clothing I wear!

The boots were going to be a birthday gift for my sister until she dropped a hint that she wanted black ones so I kept these for myself. They are a total dream... I'm glad I didn't return them!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend! xx -Niv

Urban Outfitters X Kaleidoscope dress//vintage slip//Target tights and boots//Forever 21 scarf//all jewelry vintage and from Santa Fe

ps- I've made a few minor changes to the blog and working on adding a even more features. Let me know what you think or if there's anything you want to see!

whatever happened to style

2011-02-15T16:30:00.000-08:00

This editorial is a little bit old by now but I only just saw it and am completely in love. It really speaks to my general mood towards style right now. And how refreshing is it to see models smiling and doing things besides jumping in editorials?! Well done Harper's Bazaar.

Another bit of vintage glamour that kind of matches the photos above which I am loving, this car commercial! Who would have thought.

this could be the end

2011-02-06T12:57:00.000-08:00

DIY'd shredded sweater//vintage mohair sweater//Forever 21 romper//BCBG platforms//UO bag//random scarf//gifted headband

My cold-weather uniform of casual layering and rich color. Winter is so repetitious! It takes a lot of creativity to come up with an interesting look every day made up of the same components. I love NYC but my west coast self has been spoiled by good weather and all that snow would take a lot of getting used to- the storms over there sound crazy right now!

Look at those delicious burritos! Mom's homemade tortillas are completely amazing. Ok, off to design six original dart placements, practice my dance routine, and write about collaborative learning. Hope your weekend was beautiful!

xx -Niv

p.s. you can't tell, but I made the switch over to Photobucket finally! I kept hearing from readers that my pictures wouldn't load on their computer. ImageShack was annoying me anyway so I hope this works better for everyone!

its cold in the desert water never sees the ground

2011-01-25T23:50:00.000-08:00

American Apparel dress//Target gloves and tights//Urban Outfitters shades//bag from Thailand//boots I've had forever//vintage necklace

I got these gorgeous mustard gloves on a very rainy day last fall. They are perfect at keeping my hands warm while waiting for classes and at making almost any outfit look entirely complete. I love how the rich yellow color stands out on such neutral winter palettes as this!
I have been researching specific periods of fashion history lately, just for fun, and noticing how, quite often back in the day, every time a woman got dressed it was in a complete look. You can see this in so many eras how, even as style changed, you would always see a woman looking completely put together and remembering all the details. They had gloves, hats, handbags- everything went perfectly together! I have been really intrigued by that (you can follow my inspirations on tumblr) and am trying to use that philosophy when I dress as well. I am so bored of that whole 'I don't really care so I'm not going to try' look in fashion right now so this is me rebelling. I want to make, wear, and collect those forgotten details.... maybe it will catch on!

coal war

2011-01-14T15:58:00.000-08:00

Niviarsiaq dress//AA tights and top//Michael Shannon heels//F21 scarf//vintage belt//UO hat

I've been spending my days organizing and sewing lately; trying to finish as much as I can before another hectic semester begins next week. I started making myself a Chanel-inspired cape over break and am determined to get it done before I start classes again. It definitely should not have taken this long to sew but, in my defense, since I chose a graphic geometric print it takes a lot of time-consuming and careful matching.
On the other hand, I made this dress in about an hour including purchasing materials. I remembered at the last minute that, for my final presentation the next morning, I was supposed to dress in the general colors of my collection! After quickly searching online for an easy look I could emulate without a pattern, I recalled the Le Sac dress I love so much. So, 15 minutes before closing, I got to the store (fortunately, right down the street!), picked up necessary fabrics (stopping for just a minute to admire a gorgeous black leopard jacquard), cut, sewed, and voila! There are a few little things I could have perfected if I had not been in such a rush to get it done, but over-all I am satisfied.

winter song

2011-01-11T17:21:00.000-08:00

This is what my life has looked like recently.

Stormy weather making for gorgeous sunsets, christmas decorating and taking apart, cooking for various events though-out the season, lots of new magazines for school and creative projects, turkish delight (really good by the way!) to get in the Narnia spirit, Christmas Eve family dinner under the lights, wrapping my gifts with newspaper, yarn, gold glass ornaments, and little blue flowers; a lovely new holiday dress from Urban Outfitters, jewelry organizers/decor in my room (since then, the nails have been painted a charcoal color), pizza downtown for my sister's 21st, Mom's vanilla cake with hazelnut filling and chocolate ganache with relatives, and my final project for an 'Into to Fashion' class.

For the project we had to design a small collection and present this board of ideas in front of class. The inspiration behind my project was the idea of if an ancient Egyptian woman travelled to the future, what would she wear? Here is a better shot of the middle page which shows that idea. The clothing I designed is a mixture of goddess-like draping and futuristic structure, which you can see better here. And, lastly, we had to show what colors and materials we will use if the collection were to be produced - here. Also, Neith was the Egyptian goddess of weaving and a protector if women so it seemed like an appropriate title.

Ok... enough with the holidays, regular posts from now on!

N Y E - 2 0 1 1

2011-01-04T02:40:00.000-08:00

Rodarte for Target dress//AA tissue tee and tights//Express belts//American Eagle flats//Urbanears headphones

New years eve is the greatest occasion to wear something completely over-the-top with sparkles and madly accesorize with shiny jewelry, even if I do stay home every year

...except for one time my family and some friends went down to Pasadena and staked out a spot on the sidewalk for two days so we could watch the Rose Parade up close - but that's a different story...
Well, I wore sparkles cause its NYE and stayed home celebrating with the family again. I don't get very many opportunities to wear so many sequins and never gave my Rodarte for Target dress a proper post anyway so that night was the perfect occasion for this outfit! I DJed some tunes on my new laptop and headphones, played games and watched movies, and woke up early the next morning to eat my mom's traditional homemade doughnuts while watching the parade (but took a nice nap after-wards!) It was a pretty perfect way to celebrate!

I'm really excited about this new year. 2010 was such a big year for me but I have some very exciting things coming ahead - especially here on the blog! I have much higher hopes and plans for the coming months. Love you all! Happy new year and thank you for reading!!

xx -Niv

tinseltown

2011-01-03T00:16:00.000-08:00

cape of my own design//Urban Outfitters dress and headband//Society 86 boots//AA tissue tee and tights
Excuse the late post but I thought this outfit was fairly blog-worthy.

For the past couple years we have had themed christmas eve family dinners. The first idea of an 'olde english christmas' was just by random inspiration. Since then we had an army themed christmas because my brother and his girlfriend were serving in Iraq for the holidays. This year's idea was a 'Narnia christmas' because we just got a new house with a porch where dinner would be served in the chilly weather (we had heaters though!) I made stuffed onions filled with rice, cheese, and fresh herbs. I was planning on wearing this completely perfect dress from ASOS which I think looks like melting snow but I didn't plan enough time to ship it from Europe :( I remembered loving this dress from the Urban Outfitters 12 Days of Dresses collection though so I picked it up at the last minute and decided it looks like icicles. The fur cape is my own creation which reminds me of the White Witch.
ps- I cut my hair!!

Clarity

2010-12-30T16:46:00.000-08:00

Forever 21 skirt and earrings // vintage blouse // BDG oxfords // super old Target bag

I'm not completely opposed to wearing flat shoes, only when they're boring do I refuse their existence. After school started and I realized I might have to branch out in my tastes a little more, I've been on the hunt for suitable flat or low-heeled pairs. I found both the above pair and these by that inspiration.
Other improvements include getting this fabulous arm to store jewelry on (how shall I paint it?!), new headphones from Urbanears for christmas along with "Almost Famous" and "10 Things I Hate About You"; a new hair-cut (asymmetrical bob with bangs), a multitude of random striped clothing I have yet to post; oh and I bought myself my first computer - a shiny new Macbook Pro!! I've been on it for the past three days organizing all my info and slowly but surely getting everything transferred over from the family computer. I'm really hoping this makes it easier to post more often etc. - I'm sure it will.
How was your christmas??!! I'm hoping to post some pictures of mine soon - including a few of my holiday outfits.

Scandinavian

2010-12-11T15:53:00.000-08:00

J. Crew peacoat // thrifted dress // target tights // Society 86 boots // vintage clutch // DIY'd hat

I never really thought I would see the day when I didn't post anything for an entire month. I mean there was that period a couple summers ago when I went backpacking and couldn't get any internet, but other than that I've really tried to post pretty often. I am sorry for not keeping up. Between studying for finals, fighting a cold, working, and holiday shopping I haven't had enough time/mental-space to post recently. You can expect plenty over christmas break though!! Finals are next week then I don't go back until mid-January.

These are my new boots which I am completely in love with. They are so glamourous with the suede, lace, and jewels! This purchase was especially exciting for me! I've been a naturally athletic person for my entire life. I never played sports because I was home-schooled but, I backpack, bike, run, dance, do yoga, etc., which makes my calves pretty big and I can usually never fit into boots. Something mysterious made me this pair work though and I love it. They have a mini-platform inside which makes them much more comfortable for long-term wear - although I don't think I could actually handle wearing them for a long time; I would get too scared of ruining their beauty!!

Remember how I was saying I'm really into hats right now - especially from the 1920s? Well, I did a mini DIY on an old favorite beanie and wrapped a ribbon around it, stuck a vintage brooch on, and voila! Flapper-style hat.

possibly maybe

2010-11-18T16:51:00.000-08:00

vintage sweater and headscarf//Target tights//Express shorts//Charlotte Russe heels//DIY'd necklace
below: vintage hat

Yet again it seems that sometimes life comes before blogging. School projects and hanging out with friends in my free time attempting to have some semblance of a social life have been the main thing filling my days lately. Other happenings would include my sister's engagement party (I'm a bridesmaid!), the Tumblr I just started to possibly replace my crystalized photo-blog, and putting the final final touches on my room (except, I'm still looking for a clock... not sure why I'm being so picky).

I tried out The Glamourai's headwrap DIY as an option for keeping rainy day hair from looking even worse. Probably the most glamourous and rock'n'roll way to keep your head dry and your hair pretty I've ever discovered -also great If you're in the same situation as me where you haven't had a haircut for like 6 months! (longtime readers might remember my own versions here and here!) Marc Jacobs recently reignited my love of headgear with this collection and then I watched this movie and got even more excited about it. I've been kind of interested in making a chic little 1920s felt hat for myself but I'm a little worried it won't turn out right so I haven't worked on the idea at all. Also loving top hats and little vintage boater hats but no luck in finder either at the moment.
Be sure to go check out my other blog cause I've been posting on there pretty often since it's birth. Hopefully you will gain some inspiration from my posts especially because the only thing I post on there are things that personally inspire me!
happy hatting! -Niv

Halloween Pt. 2 - Tiger Lily

2010-11-02T01:09:00.000-07:00

On halloween night I dressed up as Tiger Lily from Peter Pan (she is towards the end of the video- dancing with Peter). She doesn't have quite as many accessories as I ended up putting on but the over-all idea was inspired by her. The whole reason I made this second costume is because I was scheduled to work and they wanted everyone to be characters from the movie. I'm really happy they decided I was to be the Indian princess though because I would have felt really awkward dressing as someone like Tinker-bell or Wendy - this is a costume I would have worn on my own! I love Indians; I want to be an Indian.

Once again, I made the whole dress in the course of a few hours before wearing it, spending most of the time matching up the cut-outs on the bottom. I went out and picked up a pair of those moccasin shoes everyone seems to be wearing these days at Target during the afternoon but other than the fabric that was pretty much all I had to buy! Worn with my new pair of American Apparel bike shorts, a doll's belt worn as headband, an Anthroplogie cuff, vintage and gifted necklaces, and a dreamcatcher I picked up at an art fair on campus the other day. I have a pretty substantial feather collection (note my header) from which the headpiece came (I added some red to the tips) and the earrings were designed by my little sister.

Other than working that night I basically just stayed home, did homework, and watched my first horror movie ever. I saw "Night of the Living Dead" which was pretty cool and definitely not too scary for my delicate sense of imagination. This viewing was dedicated to MJ and T-rex, you know who you are!

Hope you all enjoyed the weekend!! xoxo -Niv

Halloween Pt. 1 - Medusa

2010-10-31T14:13:00.000-07:00

Halloween costume number one.

I had so much fun with this one!! I can't even remember how I decided to be Medusa but I think it's one of my favorites. I came up with the entire dress (this includes making up a pattern, sewing, and fitting) in about 4 hours the day I was supposed to wear it so even though a few things aren't perfectly done I'm definitely proud! I got the incredibly real looking giant boa at a party store and the snakes in my hair were a last minute (but entirely essential to the costume) purchase which I spray painted gold. I'm so happy the hair worked out- I teased my hair into faux-dreads and pinned it up which actually held the snakes really well. Accessories are a few left over fabric scraps, rarely-worn Isaac Mizrahi for Target snake heels, vintage sequin belt, and a pound of gold eyeshadow.
Ps- for anyone that doesn't know much about Greek mythology, read here about the legend of Medusa.

someone tell them

2010-10-29T00:26:00.000-07:00

scarf from Thailand//Target jacket//American Apparel dress//Forever 21 skirt//Urban Outfitters shoes and headband// DIY'd nylons cut into socks
Layering by neccesity. Every single winter it's the exact same story; I will suffer though almost anything in order to not wear pants. I'd really like to add a few pairs into the mix this year but find it such difficult feat to get the exact right size and style so I just sort of don't bother with it all and stick to my trusty skirts + tights. This particular outfit began as a simple, thoughtless blend of a dress/jacket/shoes but quickly turned into what you see now. I figured the dress was too short for a day like today (well, too short for almost any day really!) so I put the polka dotted skirt underneath it which I like to think makes anything look cooler. I stuck the socks on under my [new shoes!] because if my toes are cold I'm cold. And finally wrapped the scarf around so that everything else looked purposeful; well... and because I just can't resist scarves - ever. I love this scarf, it's so oversized I can wear it in a lot of ways and it doubles as a really comfortable mini pillow on 45 minute bus rides at 7:30 in the morning :)

What are you all up to this halloween weekend? I'm working on two costumes for a couple different events. The over-acheiver in me is really excited to have finally come up with two fabulous ideas with only a day or two to left to make them in. I'll try my best to get blog-worthy pictures (always difficult for me on holidays for some reason) and post them soon!

just wrap me round your finger cause when you say its ok it doesnt matter if i believe you

2010-10-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

Gap skirt worn as dress//AA bike shorts//Express belt//Jante platforms//necklace from a jewelry swap

I guess I decided to dress as an electro-punk fairy today. Still stumped as to where that idea came from though. I'm pretty excited about my recent collection of bike shorts from American Apparel. They've become wildly helpful in making an accidental (or I guess purposeful in this case...) glimpse of upper-leg look intentional and not trashy. I tend to go through really passionate phases of mixing neutrals and neons so by the time the next bout comes along I'm now equipped with a small army of random fluorescent clothing and accessories.
Thrilled about the cold weather we're having right now! Obviously it was a little warmer when I wore this outfit but since then It's become rainy and foggy and amazing!! I'm so ecstatic.
Forgot to mention some VERY exciting news the other day! October 16th was the official second birthday of my blog!!! I'm so happy to have been doing it this long! A gigantic thank you and tons of love to all my amazing readers! I feel really bad about how slow posts have been this year but hopefully that will improve - I'm definitely trying!! Again, thank you all for reading, I love and appreciate every single comment and email of yours!
xoxo -Niv

evil lives

2010-10-16T00:18:00.000-07:00

vintage shawl//DIY'd second-hand skirt//Target tee//AA bike shorts//Michael Kors wedges

My mom gave me this shawl from our box of random costumes this summer to use if I wanted. I'm definitely happy to own it but haven't worn it a single time- until now. I actually forgot that it was in my closet until the new Free People lookbook sparked my memory and I got all excited to pull it out. By the way, if you haven't seen it yet, you should all go here to be inspired by the october catalog which was modeled and styled by a few really talented bloggers.

I feel like shawls are sort of a forgotten layer in the fashion spectrum. I mean you see oversized scarves a bunch and once-in-a-while there will be capes but it is a rare moment when someone is styling or designing a piece truly meant to be worn as a shawl. I paired it with a skirt I bleached and shortened myself (it used to be a lime green maxi) and, when cutting the layers off to get it the perfect length, I meant to put an actual hem on the skirt but got lazy. Over time my terrible hack job has grown on me though and I flatter myself by thinking it actually looks semi-purposeful. The knit produces a really heavy effect because it's an intimidating combination of black, thick, and visually spacious. I tried to lighten my outfit up by sticking to light colors and materials such as my new pair of electric coral bike shorts, a colorful vintage scarf, and my favorite wedges. I'm really interested in finding new and unique ways of layering during the winter so it makes me happy to have this in my wardrobe!

stand for one night

2010-10-08T22:04:00.000-07:00

American Apparel dress and Le String//Shape-wear from Nordstrom's//Michael Shannon heels//random bag

Sometimes its fun to do things differently.

I wear shape-wear under 90% of my outfits and I've been looking for a boned bustier style for a while now. Even if an outfit looks like a casual little skirt and t-shirt I will most-likely be wearing some variation of a shaper underneath it - I'm not comfortable unless I'm 'uncomfortable.' It's not that I just want to look skinnier (I'm happy with the body I have right now) they actually come in really handy smoothing out curves and creating a beautiful hour-glass shape (love that)! So I decided to switch it up a bit and wear my corset-style bustier over the dress this time! I wanted to lower the sexiness of the corset by pairing it with a t-shirt style dress and go au natural with hair and make-up. I think it works! It was fun to confuse people for a day... don't think I'm gonna be wearing it this way a lot but I liked rocking it for a bit. What are your thoughts on the style?

heartbeats by the minute speaks

2010-10-02T00:50:00.000-07:00

American Apparel Le Sac dress//Zara vest//Steve Madden heels//second-hand belt

I've been talking about how I really want to collect more basics and versatile clothing lately; well, naturally, the first place I went was, royalty of basics, American Apparel. We don't have a store in the city so I probably looked through every single thing in the online store and finally ended up with an 8 piece order. I'm pretty sure that's the most clothing I've ever bought at one time in my entire life. This dress is amazing! Exactly what I'm in the mood for right now: effortless-chic dressing. I wore this whole outfit to school the other day - although I probably should have skipped the vest as it was 100 degrees out and wildly uncomfortable.

When I first started the semester I tried to work flat shoes into my wardrobe because I had this truly evil idea I should look like everyone else but that quickly was thrown out the window. I know this outfit isn't hugely innovative but there's no way I feel comfortable wearing jeans, tees, and flats as regular clothing. Give me a dress, heels, and rock'n'roll vest any day!! I do have a small problem with taking the bus though, which is it has this tendency to lurch and sway just at the wrong moments and I'm secretly scared I'll embarrass myself by falling. That happened one time (not on the bus) when I tripped in front of a bunch of people while wearing my Michael Kors platforms and I have such a hard time wearing them now, I keep remembering that fall! They're still my favorite heels though :)

sunday best

2010-09-27T14:15:00.000-07:00

Calvin Klein dress//BCBG sandals//random tank top//necklace was a gift

The third and final part of my weekend wardrobe is this outfit for the post-wedding brunch. It was a nice way to send everyone off although I have to admit - goodbyes kill me! The whole weekend had such a fun atmosphere and I think went really smoothly. I'm also extremely happy with how all of my looks came together, it was just how I imagined.

For my brunch outfit I wanted something really easy and daytime-y but still semi-fitted and cute. I love this dress! I got it for an extreme discount because there was a huge sale going on and my sister works there so I definitely scored. I was originally going to wear platforms but switched to something more casual at the last minute. Also remember how I was talking about design details? The amazing pleats in the front of this dress are a perfect example of that!! They fit nicely, look interesting, and actually serve a purpose!

So how did I do with my style choices this weekend?!...

bells are ringing

2010-09-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

David's Bridal dress//vintage accesories//Michael Shannon satin bow heels (not pictured)

This is the dress I wore to the wedding! I wish I could capture all the detail and beauty of it in this shot but my camera is not very good at night pictures. The wedding was one of the most beautiful and fun weddings I've been to - and I'm not just saying that because I'm related to the groom, I really mean it. The dancing was super fun, the food was delicious, and everyone looked amazing.

I had looked online at dresses online and wasn't too excited about the selection at David's Bridal - everything is super generic and I was determined to have something at least a little unique and fashionable. I had a dress from BCBG Max Azria in the back of my mind when we made a stop at David's Bridal just in case. I pulled few things and this is the first thing I tried on. It was seriously one of those moments you hear about but never really knew existed, when you just know this is the dress for me! It fit me perfectly I didn't do any tailoring at all and It is such a dream of a color!! I put my hair in a braided bun a la Sienna Miller at the 07 Golden Globes; added some antique gold earrings, and charcoal nails. It was an unforgettable evening.

sparkle and fade

2010-09-25T04:45:00.000-07:00

Zac Posen for Target knit dress//Michael Kors platform wedges//vintage accesories//Urban Outfitters headband

This weekend my entire family is in town for my brother's wedding. Everyone is in town and I've been having such a great time!! My wardrobe for the weekend is obviously pretty important to me! This is part 1: the rehearsal dinner.

I'm in love with the almost athletic looking mesh knit at the bottom and sleeve ruffle. Also, you can't see it too well, but, the pattern in which each piece is stitched on is really fascinating how it crisscrosses in the front with the center seam. It's little design details like these that really separate the cheaper, low-street buys from more upscale clothing. I definitely appreciate places like Target for bringing us mortals true craftsmanship and design with their collaborations!! Well done!

ps- back to black! I wanted something more naturally 'me' than blonde.

natural woman

2010-09-21T14:05:00.000-07:00

top row from left- Lot78 jacket//The Row dress//Thomas Wylde Haze blouse//Versace pants//Prada platforms

middle row- Fossil backpack//Alexander Wang top//Vivienne Westwood skirt//Richard Nicoll skirt//House of Harlow 1960 cuff

bottom row- Alexander Wang shirt//Tuleste Market earrings//Topshop brogues//Calypso tee//Acne trousers

A little snapshot of my dream autumn wardrobe. I have completely disregarded long sleeves and pants for a long time; but recently, as I rethink my wardrobe, I'm discovering how amazing they actually could be! There are so many outfit choices in the few things above which I think is a big reason I've been so drawn to this whole look of basic neutrals. Some think they're boring but when given enough thought and detail a wardrobe built entirely on them can be quite beautiful!

Swagger

2010-09-19T11:39:00.000-07:00

AA top//vintage skirt and clutch//scarf from an Indian market in LA//Isaac Mizrahi for Target sunglasses//super old shoes from Payless

I got these shoes years ago at Payless. I haven't been there in forever except specifically to get these shoes during the spring. My dad actually picked out the boots for me at a crazy deal of $5 because the store was having some sort of promotional event and it's definitely been worth it! I love boots but my calf muscles have always been fabulously strong (read: big calves) so I have no hope of fitting into most boots - which explains why I only have a few pairs. The quality of the boots is not too great but they've held up for like 5-6 years of use so I'm not too worried.

Lately I'm really excited by mixing and matching neutrals. Most of my favorite things from NYFW are just that! A cream colored silk minidress with a graphic khaki stripe at BCBG Max Azria, a calf-grazing pleated black dress from Calvin Klien, and a pair of black trousers paired with a loose chiffon and structured gray organdy blouse thanks to Vera Wang were definitely favorites! Of course I'm still equally in love with Marc Jacob's vibrant collection or the stunning textures the Mulleavy girls sent down the runway at Rodarte -but more on that later... for now Style.com won't let me save their pictures :(

This outfit was sort of a comfortable attempt at wearing a few of my basic neutrals together - which actually isn't too irregular for me!

ode to joy

2010-09-11T02:31:00.000-07:00

F21 romper//GAP scarf//random belt I've had forever

Goodbye to the height of summer! I am ready for autumn but I will for sure miss you this winter. Celebrated by randomly hanging out on the roof in my favorite romper. I bought this in the beginning of summer and honestly can't believe This is the first time I've posted it; I wear it all the time! Please excuse the gigantic scar on my leg (in ph. three). I went camping and a little girl bet me I couldn't pick up this giant log and of course I went for it! All was well until I decided to roll it over a bump and it went the wrong way and I subsequently had a tree branch jam into my leg. It was bloody. I'm really happy though cause it's gotten a lot better.

Who's watching the NYFW shows this season? I'm definitely trying to keep up... these last few seasons I've been really out of it so I'm ready to tune in again. So far I'm excited mainly by the exaggerated utilitarian-chic look at Rag & Bone, and some of the masculine/feminine things at Jason Wu. You?

Ok, well, I gotta be off to bed as I have an early 'yoga in the park' session tomorrow.

every night the ghosts appear is it time or is it me

2010-09-04T03:37:00.000-07:00

I made this dress for our Army themed Christmas Eve dinner last year. I can't remember how and why we started theme-ing our dinners a couple years ago but for some reason we did, and it's been kind of a fun and unique thing! This particular one was Army inspired because my brother was spending his holidays on duty in Iraq. Its pretty awesome that about 2 months later they showed the autumn collections and one of the most striking themes through all the designers was military!

The pattern for the dress was easy; I took a dress I already have that was pretty much the look I wanted to use and traced the shape onto this fabric. I lengthened the hem-line by about a foot - I'm actually wearing it a little higher, it can go below the knee. See the original look in this post. I also made the epaulets from a shoe strap and some rope.

self-made dress//BCBG platforms//Urban Outfitters bag//ramdom belt

I was tagged my Mekinking to post a few of my favorite things, so, in no order what-so-ever, here goes:

Mangos - I love a little mango in anything! My favorite is mango sorbet.
Platform heels. I know the whole kitten heel thing is big trend right now, but honestly platforms are actually way more comfortable for me, and I feel like I look better in them.
My room!!!! Need I say more?
Music. Currently in the mix is Dan Black, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Katy Perry, Paolo Nutini, The Doors, and CocoRosie.
My vintage bike. I've done some minor fix-up jobs to make it really work for city riding and I love it!
Greenland. The name Niviarsiaq is actually Greenlandic. It means 'the young woman' and is also the name of their national flower. Never been there but I can't wait to go someday-it's so fascinating! (by the way, to anyone who ever wondered, it's pronounced: nee-vee-R-see-ack)
Awesome hair. My really dumb job has prevented me from doing crazy things with my hair which makes me especially ~~jealous~~ admire people who do have great hair. Be it colorful, super short, rad styling, or basically almost anything cooler than mine.
Looklet and Polyvore. The best places to waste time.
NYC. I've SO been wanting to go back there and just hang out for like a month at least. From what I've heard, seen, and remember from when I was probably 11 is pretty surreal.
Chai tea.

what are your favorite things?

jungle book

2010-08-29T01:05:00.000-07:00

American Apparel bike shorts//F21 dress and necklace//vintage wedges//Express belt

I know I just posted this dress but I just got these shorts and have been dreaming of wearing them with the dress for practically the entire summer! Plus, it's a completely different look. Oh and I have blonde hair now.

Some things on my mind lately:

I'm trying to figure out what my design aesthetic will be when I start producing actual collections rather than random things for myself. The general rule of course is that you can only do what you know but I have so many different ideas I'm not sure what my focus will be!
I feel like almost everything surrounding me (the house we live in, my room, my school...) has really taken a turn for the better. Recently though, I came to the sudden realization that my wardrobe needs some re-thinking as well. My problem now is, how do I get the rockstar-chic wardrobe of my dreams on a college girl budget?
You all need to discover this guy, these girls, and this song. All so beautiful in their own right! (Thanks t-rex! You know who you are :))
My list of things I want/need for college. Some of those I can't believe I've survived without for so long! HERE.

My room is almost finished! I found the perfect bed set, my mom just picked up a nice ottoman for me, and I'm almost ready to order my last few prints for the walls. It looks so amazing right now, it's going to look like heaven when the prints go up. The one thing I'm having a hard time finding actually is a clock. I know, really random! I just want everything to go seamlessly with each other. This is such a dream space for me. Can't wait to post pictures!!

(300) Days of Blogging

2010-08-18T17:02:00.000-07:00

F21 linen skirt//DIY'd tank top//BeBe wedges//UO headband
Well, its been a little more than 300 days (almost two years!) but this is my 300th post! Thanks for following me! Also check out my Twitter for more frequent updates.

I have no idea what was going on in my mind when I put this outfit on. Its sort of like the unsuccessful sibling of print-mixing. When I tried the skirt on at the store I put paired it with a multi-colored blue top with white accents. I sort of wish now that I had actually bought the shirt too..... Whatever, everyone has thier bad days!

I do love the skirt though!! Definitely one of this summer's staples. What things in your closet have you been loving this summer?

i just found out theres no such thing as the real world

2010-08-09T02:23:00.000-07:00

F21 dress and necklace//vintage hat//Steve Madden heels//random bag and jewelry

I'm being completely honest right now by telling you I have been living out of a box with a total of about 8 outfits in it for the entire month. When we first moved I picked out my current favorite things and threw them into a box in the corner of my room. The rest of my clothing has been in bags hidden away in the closet where I (unsuccessfully) tried to ignore them. Finally today, between unpacking from another trip in the mountains and packing up for a trip to LA, I took everything out and have begun the slow process of organizing everything. I feel like I've already filled my entire closet yet I still have a gigantic pile of clothes still on the floor- it's obviously time to start getting rid of stuff! I'm torn between wishing I could snap my fingers and the room would just be perfect and loving this whole organization/decorating thing so much I want to have my own place already! Oh soon enough...

For now I intend to fully enjoy the rest of summer and my last couple weeks before school.

XX -Niv

my whole life was acapella now a symphonys the only song to sing

2010-07-26T01:44:00.000-07:00

second-hand top, F21 skirt, AE for Payless shoes, UO bag, random sports bra

Now that we have this new house with more space I finally get a room to myself for the first time ever! I'm pretty excited about that and have been going a little crazy with decorating ideas. The only roommates I have to work around will be the family computer and a sewing table. Fortunately I'm a very deep sleeper! My mom gave me this beautiful print for my birthday which has basically been the general theme/inspiration and my colors for the room. I'm also hoping to add this collection of prints to my walls at some point- Paris, New York, and Italy. And I just recently picked out my paint colors which was a really long process because I have been completely set on finding a subtle but statement pairing which apparently is almost impossible (unless of course you are lucky enough to have a sister who just graduated from interior design school).

Tomorrow (well, I guess if it's 1:36 AM it counts as today?...) we are shopping for the actual furniture. I have to start completely from scratch since all I had to work with was three very mismatched desks and an IKEA futon which after about four years of everyday use makes it ancient by now. Wish me luck!

Photo Diary

2010-07-18T20:14:00.001-07:00

This has probably been the busiest summer of my entire life; but so unbelievably fun! Another month and a half to go 'til school starts again and life slows down a little (which I secretly can't wait for yet I'm also a little freaked out by). But while the sun still shines and its too hot to even think about wearing anything besides rompers, tank tops, and the occasional badass leather vest; I'm gonna live it up while I can!

Here's a snapshot of what's been keeping me away from the computer for so long: backpacking with the family in Yosemite//spinning fire with a new set of poi and an awesome companion//randomly placing feathers, leaves, and sticks in my hair//taking down the collage on the door of my tiny closet//moving out of the apartment where I'll miss the giant pool, perfect photo locations, and really close Blockbuster//moving into an actual house where I can decorate my own room, sleep on something other than a futon, and not have to lug my bike up and down a whole flight of stairs//celebrated my little brother's birthday//celebrated my birthday by washing cars and hanging out in the sun//threw an 'I'm 18 now!' dinner party on the porch where everybody had to dress up from another country and I wore a really warm 'summertime eskimo' costume//and finally had half a minute to breathe (and post!) before I compete in a chocolate desert competition, go camping again, go backpacking again, go to LA, and start school//the end.

sun shines in your eyes

2010-07-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

Scarf from Thailand worn as a dress, Michael Kors wood platforms, second-hand bag, F21 jewelry, random belt

So sorry I haven't been posting a lot lately. We are in the middle of moving from the apartment to an actual house so there's a lot to do. I'm so excited because, for me, this means I can decorate my own room! I've been looking at all sorts of paint colors with very amusing titles, cool light fixtures, closet organizers, shoe racks, desks, curtains, the list goes on. I've also come to terms with exactly how much clothing I own by filling up at least 5 different bags with clothes and shoes.

Other stuff filling up my summer?... Backpacking trips almost every-other-week, a chocolate competition at the fair, my 18th birthday, a trip to LA, wedding showers and receptions, getting ready to start college, and finding a new job - just to name a few.

Decided to dress creatively in this 100+ weather and wear my scarf as a dress. It's not exactly what I had in mind but it works for now.

sweet reggae woman

2010-06-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

bag courtesy of Julia Durkee for Arbonne, Target dress, AA leggings, Express belts, UO headband, XOXO shoes

My sister came down to visit us for the summer and we have been having so much fun together! Dancing, paddling, shopping, listening to funky 70's tunes, driving all over the place, and staying up late. She works for Arbonne as a beauty, health, and skin-care consultant. I just ordered a great coral lipstick for summer and I can't wait for it to arrive!! Go check out her blog or twitter for health and beauty tips.

She let me borrow this bag for a little while because I have been raving about the beautiful woven leather ever since she got here. Thanks Julia!!

I'm so glad this weather has stopped teasing and finally become summer.

Humid

2010-06-14T02:38:00.000-07:00

Urban Outfitters bag, vintage skirt, Target dress worn as top, BCBG heels, F21 earrings

I'm leaving tomorrow for another trip to the mountains. We are going backpacking for a few days to see some waterfalls which will probably be tremendously full from all the late snow this season. I can't wait!

This bag was a graduation present from my sister. It is so perfect! I've been wanting a functional but pretty backpack to wear while biking and this fits exactly. I got to pick it out and at first I wanted it simply because it's a cute backpack that would be great for biking... only later did I realize you can clip the straps on and off to look like a messenger style bag; and they even gave me a second, smaller, strap to play around with as well! I can't describe all the amazing things about this! I've been looking for a good, sturdy replacement for this bag anyway, cause I've had that one for years and it's finally starting to get old. My biggest stipulation when it comes to giant bags is that it not just be another 'hobo bag' -it has to have compartments. Little pockets for everything, that's what I like!

take the fire shake it up break it in then fire me up

2010-06-09T13:56:00.000-07:00

American Eagle for Payless shoes, vintage skirt and scarf, Target tee, UO bag

I was admiring these shoes online for weeks before I finally went into a Payless to find them. They are so wearable and comfortable, I think they'll easily become a summer staple of mine. The slight platform heel makes them more comfortable for me than flats or gladiators but they have the effortless look of a casual sandal. I think I have been subconsciously looking for these shoes for the last 3 years without even knowing it.

So excited for the heat... I am not a winter girl!!

light of the morning

2010-06-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

F21 romper, UO backpack, American Eagle for Payless shoes, AA tank top, self-made fur collar

Finally- some pictures! I took these on our camping trip a little while ago. It was a really pleasant weekend, full of sunburns, day hikes, playing games, eating snacks, and spinning fire. I'm really excited to have finally lit my fire poi up again because it's been almost a year which is way too long for something as fun as that!

Lately I've been spending my time drawing - especially in geometric coloring books; reading, specifically "Emma" by Jane Austen - I'm trying to read all of her books and this is the last one except for "Northanger Abbey" which my library doesn't carry; baking a practice dessert for a chocolate competition I enter every summer; paddling - my first race ever was this last Saturday and I took home a 2nd and two 3rd place awards! I just watched "An Education" which I've been dying to see and it was really good; it had a very different story too, which I always like. I went to a Luau where I danced all night to a random mix of funky 70's music and Reggae and was officially nicknamed 'Feathers'... oh and I think summer might finally be here to stay this time!

What have you all been up to? Enjoying the sunshine?!

off to paradise

2010-05-28T16:50:00.000-07:00

Bye bye love-birds! See you again on Tuesday!

catcher in the rye

2010-05-27T14:07:00.000-07:00

F21 top, Target skirt, AA tights, boots from my sister, all vintage accesories, UO headband

Spent the last few days in semi relaxation designing a dream bike for myself on Urban Outfitters, packing for a memorial day camping trip, listening to Bob Marley and Edward Sharpe, staying up late for almost no reason at all when I should really be sleeping, spontaneously watching "Almost Famous" for the millionth time, partly reorganizing my closet and jewelry storage spaces, and thinking about exactly where and when I should travel this summer. Tonight I'm going to watch "Milk" and finish packing. Tomorrow I'm making brownies and I might go on a little thrifting excursion because I haven't done that in a long time. In the evening we leave for the weekend on a camping trip where I definitely hope it heats up because the lake is amazing for swimming and the beach is perfect for spinning fire.

i wont let you fall

2010-05-16T16:19:00.001-07:00

Target romper, Zara vest, boots from my sister, Thailand bag, vintage belt, UO headband

It's been a really crazy week here at home, non-stop events every single day! It can be kind of exhausting always having things to do, but I've always preferred that to boredom.

Two of my sisters just graduated college (can't wait to post pictures of my outfit!)...my grandma, who I haven't seen in probably four years, is in town for a few days..we just celebrated my brother's birthday....Mom is retiring from homeschooling us kids today and we're celebrating with root beer floats...I registered for my first semester of college with a full load of classes....we're going camping next weekend... sleep? What's that?!

I can't believe I haven't posted this romper yet! I've had it for a long time and I wear it pretty often. I remember posting a while ago that I went into Target with the intention of getting some much needed hosiery and a t-shirt and walked out with a cute romper instead. Well, this, of course, is it.

Apache Beat

2010-05-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

I've been really drawn to funky prints, rich colors, and interesting textures. And my love of all things Native American and Mexican grows every day. Add a couple swimsuits and some sandals and I'll be set for the entire summer!

clockwise from top left-

Single leopard dress, Ann Taylor cropped jacket, Balenciaga skirt, Balenciaga shoulderbag, Miu Miu pumps, Oasis shorts, Steven Alan romper, Diane Von Furstenberg trousers, Fair Trade pumps, Catherine Malandrino blouse, Acne dress, Isharya ring, Proenza Schouler bracelet

Supernova

2010-05-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

vintage peasant top, F21 skirt, Bakers wedges, Target bag, UO headband, gifted necklace
Yay for haircuts! I was getting so bored of that 'alien bun' at the top of my head. Got some more layers and trimmed the bangs and in a month or so and I'll go platinum again.
I was inspired by my new shoes and the always amazing Glamourai to don this skirt again. I'm trying to dig through my closet and come up with a really fantastic polka-dotty outfit for her competition but I have very recently discovered I have almost nothing spotted at all. Time to go thrifting!
This necklace is a graduation present from my mom. It's so pretty! It has these little turquoise beads and pearls connected with antiqued gold chains. I love everything about it. Here's a little closer picture so you can see the details.

coca cola

2010-05-11T15:02:00.000-07:00

thrifted dress, UO headband and sunglasses, Sam & Libby heels
Thanks for all the congratulations! So much is changing for me this year its kind of overwhelming but I can't help but be happy. I have bunch of big and exciting adventures to look forward to this summer, and in the fall, college! For now I'm paddling, dancing, baking, and working.
This dress is the type of thing you can wear almost everywhere and feel totally comfortable. Today I paired it with these adorable polka-dot heels for some contrasting print. I've been sort of forcing myself to branch out when it comes to buying shoes so I can have more variety besides the usual 5 inch plus platforms. Taller heels tend to have more pizzazz so I feel like I have to look a little harder fore interesting shorter heels. I love this pair though! This dress combines the amazing but rare combination of rockstar bohemian with girly retro, which I would like to believe is my forte. The next day I channeled the more 'rockstar' vibe and paired the dress (I wish I'd gotten pictures!) with a scarf, leggings, and some chunky boots. Don;t you just love versatility?!

i'll tell you everything about living free

2010-05-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

Old Navy maxi dress, F21 scarf and earrings, Twisted clutch, Aldo sandals, UO headband and shades
I haven't been inside of an Old navy in probably 5 years but I was a little curious to see if they've made any improvements so I stopped in for a few minutes the other day. Sure enough, everything is pretty much exactly the same. It's not really a style I'm drawn to, however, I've had some pretty lucky finds there so I go every once in a while. This time I tried on some their maxi dresses which actually turned out to be pretty cool! This particular one keeps reminding me of Monet's lilies.
The headband and shades are from the Urban Outfitters $5 sale. Did you get anything? It was great! So many great finds.
Oh hey guys, I'm not sure why I didn't write this before but, I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL!!!
sorry, I just thought that deserved all caps :)

lucy in the sky

2010-05-06T15:28:00.000-07:00

vintage blanket, AA leggings and leotard, Bumper heels, Twisted clutch, UO headband, Anthropologie cuff
Love at first sight between these shoes and the blanket; it was just meant to be! We had this blanket hanging out in the house and I was really inspired by the colors so I started playing around with it to see what I could come up with. Because it's actually a blanket, and meant for warmth rather than fashion, the material is rather thick; so what I might do is see if I can find some similarly printed fabric and make a dress, like the one I have on, with it. Ever since my first trip to New Mexico a few years ago I've found myself really attracted to Native American and Mexican influence in clothing and especially accessories, so, naturally I fell in love with the recent Rodarte collection. I know it got a lot of negative comments from press and such but I really liked their use of textures and, of course, the south-of-the border inspiration. I think that must have been my subconscious idea behind wearing this blanket. Now if only I could pair it with some embellished tights and glow-in-the-dark heels!!

california

2010-05-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

That was a really good weekend. I've never wanted to move out to the middle of nowhere so much! Hoping to go back later this summer and hang out at the beach.

ps- yeah, this was taken on my phone. I'm not in a very photographer-y mood lately

bungalow by the sea

2010-05-01T01:04:00.000-07:00

vintage blazer and jewelry, GAP skirt, my sister's heels, RVCA bag
Taking a break from packing for a short trip to SoCal, which I'll be on the train for in about 5 hours, to bring you a new post. It's my cousin's birthday (for the record: he's not a kid; people keep asking me that) and I'm kind of excited cause I haven't seen him in since last fall . I'm horrible at packing and always pack something different for every possible situation so I have about 6 outfits for a two day trip... crazy. I'm not bringing heels or a camera though so I'm proud of myself for paring down on two things I'm almost never without!
I've had these photos saved for almost a month without posting them. I fell madly in love with them and when that happens I always want to wait for some non-existent 'perfect moment' to post them. Anyway, I hope you link them as much as I do- we had fun taking them! Except for the mosquitos, those were annoying.

last train home

2010-04-26T14:26:00.000-07:00

New UO reflective shades and random blue lipstick, view out the window, new ALDO sandals, my friend Melinda Carrie's spring collection (you can spot my sister in the middle of the top row!), current favorite headband from UO that reminds everyone of a mask, asphalt colored nail polish from OPI with the amusing title "Suzi Skis In The Pyrenees Suede", and a really pretty post-storm sunset.

Easy Rider

2010-04-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

F21 romper, Target tights, vintage scarf, boots from my sister, UO headband, second-hand bag
I'm sorry for taking so long to post. I have no huge reason except the usual "I'm busy" answer which is totally lame. Although, you may be happy to learn that while I've not posted in forever, I've still been taking pictures and they are turning out quite lovely!
I took these with my friend a couple days ago on our way to REI to pick up that bike basket I was telling you about and a new waterbottle. It always feels slightly awkward going into stores like that where you look completely out of place. People give you a confused look...
I love this song. And the music vodeo is just magical!

American Honey

2010-04-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

second-hand skirt, Target tee, F21 scarf, Seychelles wedges, UO headband
It has finally gotten warm enough outside for me to comfortably ride my bike! It's such a hassle in the winter cause I would bundle up in my warm jacket and scarf and then heat up from the exercise. I finally got a new basket for it recently (not pictured) which will be a little more sturdy so I can run errands on it more easily. I used to lug around all my stuff in a bag which must have been horrible for my back.
This skirt is so full it can be overwhelming to wear so I usually try and dress it down as much as I can. I went with neutral shades today so I could make the beautiful fade stand out. I am really picky about fades like this because sometimes they can be so un-continuos, almost striped looking, and it completely destroys the purpose if a fade! This one, however, is perfectly done.
title credit- Lady Antebellum "American Honey"

Easter sunday

2010-04-13T17:18:00.000-07:00

Well, now that it's been over a week since easter, I finally got my pictures uploaded and edited. I have no idea why it took so long to get that done! Every Easter the siblings in town get together for a special brunch after church. It's quite delicious and something I look forward to for a long time. We get out the fancy dishes and tablecloths and cook up an amazing feast. Here are a couple pictures I thought were really beautiful.

The dress is Jean Paul Gaultier for Target. I was joking that if I could only take one dress to survive in the wilderness this would be the most suitable option. It's made of a sort of parachute-like material and would probably make a perfect tent, hammock, or backpack. Really though, it is such a beautiful dress and was loads of fun to play around in! I had an idea that I was going to make myself a nice water-colored print wrap dress but I ran out of time. I was lucky enough to find this on the rack at Target and it happened to be one of the last ones out and in the perfect size! I love how they really thought about the details when they added the tucks onto the top of the halter straps and the extra petticoat underneath the skirt. I've come to really appreciate well-designed clothes like this.
Paired with BCBG heels, AA v-neck, and all vintage accessories.

Lemonade

2010-04-12T16:41:00.000-07:00

dress, Target. scarf and shoes, F21. vintage belt and shoes and accesories. random bandana headband.
This photo lies. I took these just the other day but now it's all thunderstorms and severe down-pours. Ugh! Dear Spring, make up your mind!!
If you are in the same hating mood as me check out these links to put a nice, big smile on your face-

Urban Outfitters $5 sale. I just got myself a headband and some new shades and I'm tempted to go back for seconds.
Urban Outfitters LSTN playlist. An amazing 25 song alternative-rock mix you can download free through their website.
Urban Outfitters Music Mondays. Today only you can download another 5 funky alternative-pop songs free, via the website.
How To Get The Selby In Your Place. A hilariously funny write-up from the same poeple who did the 'Step-By-Step Guide To Getting Shot By The Sartorialist' and 'What It Takes To Become A Fashion It-Girl'
DIY Miu Miu tights. Maybe you've seen this already but, Cocorosa put up a tutorial on how to make yourself a pair of DIY Miu Miu tights (which she wore here) and it looks amazing and relatively simple.
Sky Ferreira - '17'. Um, this song and video are both equally great.

Happy monday everyone!

racing stripes

2010-04-10T16:13:00.000-07:00

Bon Jovi tee, vintage skirt and scarf, DIY'd bleached denim bag, BCBG heels, and F21 earrings
That truck just makes me laugh.
The last 3 or so weeks have been like a hurricane of busyness. I got to meet up with a friend from SoCal I haven't seen in a year; I turned in three pieces of photography to be judged for the State Fair; my sister came into town from Montana for the summer, and we rejoined a paddling team we were part of a couple years ago; and of course all sorts of Easter festivities. Add in some impromptu shopping trips to pick up random things like movies, dresses, and coffee, long work shifts, photography for my mom's new wedding cake company, sewing projects, and regular growing-up adventures, and voila! You've got a stocked schedule.
The shirt is from the Bon Jovi concert and I bought it a size too big just so I could tie it in a knot like this. I realized after taking the pictures that we never really got a good, unobtrusive view of it but I'm sure I'll wear it until I die so you'll see it eventually.

Palm Pixie

2010-04-07T03:01:00.000-07:00

vintage dress, World Market necklace, Target bag, BCBG heels, Isaac Mizrahi shades
I feel like every summer I adopt a new 'go-to' dress; not consciously, of course, but there's usually one I tend to grab for in random moments. In the two weeks I've owned this it's proven to be exactly that perfect summer dress. I've come to the point where I actually apologize to my family for wearing it again. I keep gravitating towards this slightly longer skirted shilouette and though I'm still unsure if I love it or not I've certainly gained quite the collection of below the knee hemlines!
The shoes were a total steal and completely worth it - they're practically glued to my feet.
I'm still not sure about the dresses in my last post but I'm gravitating towards making my own so I can have it exactly the way I want. I have so many other sewing projects to finish though, so I'll have to resign myself to waiting a little bit longer.
I wore a really great dress for Easter but the weather has been really wierd these past few days so I'm waiting til it clears up a little more outside to get pictures.

dilemma...

2010-04-05T14:05:00.000-07:00

As my Twitter followers know, I've been looking for a black or dark gray, jersey maxi dress, preferably with a racer-back (apparently I'm picky). My idea is that I want something simple enough for layering in the winter, and light enough material I can wear it during summer. Also, I need something that will be relatively easy to wear a bra with. A few of my readers were really helpful in giving me tips on where to look (thanks girls)! Below are my favorites but I need your help deciding which one is the best!

clockwise from top left- Vince, Splendid, Asos, Erin Kleinberg
Vince- I really like the wide racer-back but I wish there was a little more flowy-ness to the skirt.
Splendid- Over all this is probably my favorite but the fact that there is very little coverage in the back could easily become annoying.
Asos- This has a waistline I love and good straps but it's not exactly what I had in mind; It is, however, the cheapest option of the bunch.
Erin Kleinberg- This obviously has the most detail and it's the most expensive so I'm less inclined to get it. The redeeming factors are that I think the shilouette would look great on me and it has the best coverage of them all.

So the question is, which would I look good in while best matching my stipulations and not breaking the bank?....
Or should I make my own?

Fighter

2010-04-03T14:31:00.000-07:00

Art show t-shirt, vintage skirt and socks, 3D shades from the theater, Charlotte Russe heels, DIY'd bag
I was at an art show a couple weeks ago and I meet this really awesome girl there selling these hand printed, tie-dye shirts. She was so awesome and friendly that half the reason I got this shirt was because of her. I never caught her name so I'm definitely hoping I'll meet her again at the next show. There were so many colors and styles to choose from it was hard to pick just one which is what I really love about tie-dye - It's always unique, you don't know what to expect!

turn your lights down low

2010-04-02T16:13:00.000-07:00

DIY'd sweatshirt skirt and horse-shoe necklace, Target dress, F21 wedges, bag from Thailand, World Market earrings
It's been a pretty busy week seeing friends on spring break, helping my mom drop off wedding cakes (she started a cake business!), shopping, and getting ready for easter. I got dragged into doing an easter musical at the last minute so I've spent the majority of my free time at rehearsals -thank god I don't have any lines! It feels really awkward to be on-stage being dramatic (I am not dramatic) since I'm usually backstage helping out with costumes, etc., which I think is actually more fun. Hope you've all had a great spring break!

flapper

2010-03-31T16:07:00.000-07:00

When I get bored sometimes I like to play dress up and take pictures (that's what this whole fashion blogging thing is all about, right?!) This is my latest batch of randomness... I think I hit the jackpot with this one!

stealing you

2010-03-25T16:35:00.000-07:00

scarf from and Indian shop, AA tank, F21 skirt and necklace, Target tights and jacket, Michael Kors platforms, bag from Thailand, vintage brooches
One of my favorite scarves which my sister picked up a little Indian store in LA and passed down to me. I also own it in a deep purple color but for some reason I find that harder to wear so it doesn't get much use. I've recently been really attracted to this orange color (check out this post I made on Crystalized) and find myself wanting to pair it with almost everything. It's especially nice because it has this really casual flowy material and then there's some beautiful gold-thread stitching which makes it more dressed up. Perfect for pairing with all my favorite gold brooches (remind me to wear these more often) and my bag from Thailand.
ps- sorry about the horrible hair, this weather sucks.

dolly

2010-03-23T22:22:00.000-07:00

vintage red jacket, J. Crew peacoat, AA dress, Target tights, Jante platforms, random scarf
This was originally an unflattering, strange, very 80's, two-piece yet connected dress (yeah, doesn't make sense to me either) but after cutting off the skirt and turning it into a dress and taking this top jacket-like style and wearing it as is, I like it much better and it actually makes a little sense. I completely redesigned and fitted the bottom portion which I wore for Valentine's Day and I'm debating what I should do with this jacket/shirt/dress. After asking a few people's opinions I'm pretty sure I'll turn it into a cropped tuxedo-esque jacket (#1 below) Which I'm pretty excited about. This particular outfit was more like a little dress-up fun trying to see if it was even possible to make look cool in a slightly normal setting (verdict: um, I guess so).

Fisherman's Wife

2010-03-20T16:02:00.000-07:00

My dream summer wardrobe involes a combination of light materials and heavy texture, popping colors and subtle nudes, simple shilouettes and exotic accessories. Somehow all these opposites attract.

clockwise from top left- Topshop blouse//Fiona Paxton necklace//Monsoon pants//H&M dress//Doma vest//Burberry platforms//3.1 Plillip Lim skirt//Marni earrings//Calypso shirt//Ray-Ban sunglasses//Opening Ceremony skirt//Dior shoes//vintage vest//Marc by Marc Jacobs bag

foggy

2010-03-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

Zara trousers, F21 peasant top, self-made scarf, Steve Madden crocodile platforms
I can tell that spring is in the air but sometimes the weather likes to play games with us mere earthlings and pretend winter is still around.
Ok, I have writer's block today so I'm gonna make this short and sweet and simply say, I like this outfit because the mixture of red embroidery and a green scarf reminds me of christmas.
Happy Saturday everyone!

Weekend

2010-03-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

GAP floral skirt, F21 romper worn as blouse, AA tank, vintage heels and jewelry, Isaac Mizrahi shades
I spent the last three days of bipolar weather picnicking in the sun, modeling as my friend drew a portrait of me for her art class, eating at In'N'Out (when you've grown up with home-cooked food all your life fast-food is like a rare delicacy you only have twice a year), glow in the dark mini golfing, feeling like a kid all over again while playing arcade games and winning a big plastic ring, hanging out at the zoo with one of my best friends watching orang-utans look homeless and flamingos attempt ballet, stopping for dinner and getting the most delicious Santa Fe Salad ever, heading downtown for the huge monthly art show (one of the few cultural events this city can be proud of), grabbing an abnormally gross soy latte, mixing it with a predictably sweet raspberry mocha, and getting a surprisingly good combination; collapsing into bed after a late night, hating daylight savings because I get an hour less to sleep, loving daylight savings because I get an hour more of sunshine, breaking in a new pair of BCBG heels, working a dull shift at my lame job, and finally painting my nails a beautiful shade of charcoal I've been searching for since the fall.
What did you do this weekend?

vintage

2010-03-11T21:54:00.000-08:00

A little snapshot my sister took of me under the beautiful cherry tree at the park. It just bloomed and looks so picturesque we couldn't resist.

paper airplanes

2010-03-10T22:34:00.000-08:00

vintage DIY'd skirt, scarf, and jewelry. Target tights and bag. AA top, Steve Madden platforms. DIY'd belt
I was telling my mom about a woman with a really beautiful vintage scarf on her head and how much I wished I had something just like it. Five minutes later she came into the room with two of her old scarves and told me I could borrow them for a while. Thank you Mom for being so awesome! This scarf is so beautiful!! It's exactly the colors and style I love; I want to wear it every single day but I know it will wear out really fast if I do that. I really wanted it to stand out so I paired it with this really simple outfit with accessories used only to compliment the scarf. You probably don't remember this lime green skirt I posted last summer, but I decided lime green was a little too difficult to wear so I bathed it in some bleach and voila! Way more wearable!
Ps- any book or magazine that tells you messenger bags only look good on flat chested people is lying to you.

black

2010-03-08T21:48:00.000-08:00

As you may have noticed in the last few posts, I got my hair freshly cut and dyed. It was almost entirely inspired by the fantastic Joan Jett albeit a little less blatantly 80's. It's by far my favorite hair in a while and I intend to keep it like this for bit.
I'm so excited for summer and can't wait until it gets warm enough outside to hang out by the pool and work on my non-existent tan in my new swimsuit. There's an entire file on the computer with pictures of breezy dresses, straw hats, and cute rompers I want to fill my too small closet with. Sadly when I actually tried going out bare-legged I was consequently attacked by a tribe of evil mosquitos.
Check out this blog, it will put a smile on your face I promise! thxthxthx.com
This is my personal best dressed list from The Oscars. They all managed to look chic and fun at the same time. Who did you love?

your love is like bad medicine

2010-03-06T20:15:00.000-08:00

Remember this iconic Bon Jovi look from the 80's?
Once I saw these snakeskin pants at a vintage store a while ago I knew it was fate...

I found them as a pair of huge men's pants and after quite a bit of taking in (although, not quite as skinny as the original look I was inspired by) they finally fit. Paired them with a vintage tee, jersey moto vest, some random jewelry, and extra teased hair -yeah, you know what I was going for.

It was a great concert; they played all the good songs. And it happened to be Jon Bon Jovi's birthday!

all i need is all i got

2010-03-02T16:43:00.000-08:00

vintage peasant top, express black cut-offs, target tights, Thai scarf and bag, DIY'd BeBe platforms
One of my friends recently visited Thailand and sent me some awesome swag including this bag and a pair of cropped pants (thanks Leah!!) which I've been ecstatic to wear! My mom had this scarf (also from Thailand) which she was reminded of as soon as she saw the colors on this bag. I'm so glad she remembered it because it is so perfectly oversized and richly colored it completes any simple outfit such as this. When I get really uninspired to wear anything at all I usually stick to the same recipe of some loose top, tiny shorts or skirt, and tights; the accesorization (not sure if that's a real word...) gets piled on or not according on my mood.
On a whole nother train of thought, guess who I'm seeing in concert tonight!!

falling

2010-02-25T15:08:00.000-08:00

vintage blazer, scarf, and clutch. Zara trousers. Target tee. Steve Madden platforms.
Every winter this huge, foot and a half deep puddle makes a home for itself in a parking lot down the street from where I live. To be totally honest I hadn't remembered it at all the entire season until I saw this post from Rumi's blog which triggered memories of puddle splashing excursions from last winter. It was a little difficult trying to keep all the photos from turning out blurry because the sun was setting while we shot these and my cheap camera seems to be afraid of the dark or something. All this to say I'm sorry for all the varying angles and lighting in these photos.
About the outfit, I'm trying really hard to dress more creatively. I often feel like I'm always reaching for the same shilouettes, the same styles, the same textures, shapes, and volumes. I usually know what I like in clothing and I know what I feel good in; I never want to wear an outfit that makes me uncomfortable. But this leaves very little room for change!! So lately I'm trying to force myself to find ways to wear things that I normally wouldn't even consider -like these trousers. In the past I've entirely written off pants as uncomfortable and unflattering (on me); but then I found these. They feel like pajamas and they look so chic! Change is good...

easy cures wont last long like the melody of your theme song

2010-02-21T16:23:00.000-08:00

vintage skirt, coat, and knit mohair sweater, Target tights, second-hand shoes and scarf, F21 earrings
I got stressed out at the thought of keeping up with all the fashion week craziness so this time around I decided to not even open Style.com until it was all over. I'm glad I did that because now I feel like I can leisurely go though the shows at my own pace. I took about half an hour yesterday to glance at shows A-C and my favorite could arguably have been Calvin Klein, always so sleek and simple yet with so much detail in the material and construction it's amazing. Underwhelmed by everyone's favorite, Alexander Wang, although there were a few really interesting looks which I'll post about later. And I liked the asymmetrical proportions beautiful colors at BCBG MaxAzria. What are your favorites?
ps- this huge tree fell onto the street during a storm last week and I was lucky enough to snap a few pictures before the cleaned it all up!

d e s e r t e d

2010-02-17T13:43:00.000-08:00

DIY'd shredded cardi, Target tee, second-hand scarf and bag, UO wet-look leggings, Express cut-offs, Steve Madden booties, beanie was a present
You may remember this sweater from last spring when I posted one of my favorite DIYs to date, the Rick Owens shredded cardigain. I love the dramatic texture it adds to a simple outfit, it makes for an amazing layering piece! It doesn't show up much in the pictures but I wore the sweater with my wet-look leggings so that the materials will stand out against each other. I tried the look with a pair of opaque tights and the shredding just didn't show up very well.
The beanie was made by my little sister as a christmas present. It is probably my favorite color and I love the way it makes my eyes look a little green :)

RIP Alexander McQueen

2010-02-11T17:54:00.000-08:00

the stars lean down to kiss you and I lie awake and miss you

2010-02-10T18:34:00.000-08:00

J. Crew peacoat, AA dress, Target brown tights with black fish-nets over, vintage sequined belt, Bakers wedges, second-hand bag, F21 necklace
It's been a boring but productive few days. I still have a lot of projects to finish before the weekend though which is stressing me out a little. I've had this idea for a valentine dress made from the red slip of another dress. It's already sewn together so I just have to work on the fit and embellishments. I also ordered a lace bodysuit to go with the outfit which I'm ecstatic about! We're hosting a valentine's party with a jewelry exchange so while trying to find old, unused jewelry I reorganized my entire desk/jewelry cabinet/storage for all my art and design projects/home-to-everything-that-doesn't-have-a-home-anywhere-else space. I found a 2005 planner, a pair of headphones I've never seen, and about 8 pens that don't work anymore -guess it's a good thing I finally cleaned it out! Ok off to watch American Idol, the one show this house is into..... except for The O.C. which was sadly cancelled :(
ps- meet the adorable cat that visited us while shooting!

the lights are on but everyone's gone

2010-02-07T11:41:00.000-08:00

Zara jacket, F21 skirt, Target tee and tights, vintage clutch, second-hand wedges, my mom's scarf
I can't wait for high school to be finally over. I feel like it's taken forever and I'm definitely ready to be done with it all!
As a continuation on the subject of pants and creativity, my other great goal is to experiment with shilouettes. I feel like I've gotten to a point in my wardrobe where I finally know what I like and what I need. The problem is that I have this horrible way of shopping where I just buy something because I think it looks cute and have an outfit idea for it but it really won't work that well long term. I end up having a lot of clothes I like, they just don't go together! Somehow I have a bad feeling this will take a while to remedy. As my Twitter followers would know, I went to Target the other day in search of a plain t-shirt and some much needed hosiery and came out with an adorable romper - case in point.
title credit: Heavy Cross by The Gossip

the day the earth stood still

2010-02-04T19:13:00.000-08:00

vintage Ralph Lauren trousers, Target tee, vintage clutch and men's blazer, AE scarf, Charlotte Russe heels, random socks
As I'm sure you can see from the pictures, the weather has been crazy here! Non-stop storms for the past couple weeks. I made it something of a new year's resolution to wear pants more often. As much as I love my trusty skirts, it really doesn't leave much room for creativity when that's almost all you own. That resolution is especially easy to hold when it's windy and rainy outside.
A bunch of you asked about my nail polish in the last post. It's from Urban Outfitters and it's called "Matte Green 7". I can't find it on the website so here's something similar.
Also if you click the link on my sidebar named 'crystalized' it will lead you to my other blog. I've been thinking about starting a second blog for a while now and finally took the leap just this week. I guess you could call in an 'inspiration blog' I'll basically just be posting pictures that capture my attention and inspiration and some of my own personal photography as well. It's a baby blog so I'm still working out the kinks but hopefully you will be able to find some sort of enjoyment from it!

machine dreams

2010-01-31T15:42:00.000-08:00

self-made cape, Target tee, F21 skirt and jewelry, vintage tights, gloves, turban, and clutch
I designed this cape last spring and even though I had all the materials it's just been sitting around in my projects box collecting dust. Well, a bit ago I was in such a mood where I hated basically everything in my closet and from that (unnecessary) hatred came this. I finally sat down to sew until it was finished. It was really fast and easy and I'm kind of annoyed at myself for taking so long to make it. Esentially it's just four rabbit furs sewn together with lace panels in between and a ribbon closure but I love it because there are so many possibilities in how you can wear it!! So far I've discovered a cape, a pair of sleeves, two skirts, a scarf, and an exotic hat.

i think i'm losing where you end and I begin

2010-01-30T15:03:00.000-08:00

F21 jumpsuit and necklace, vintage coat, Micheal Kors wedges, second-hand bag
How have I lived this long without a jumpsuit? I had no idea what I was missing out on by not owning one for so long.
I went into Forever 21 with a leftover gift card from christmas intending to buy something along the lines of a great bag to use for two months then forget about in the back of my closet, groovy sunglasses, and some random jewelry. Instead I came out with this -which on second thought is probably better because I own far too many bags as it is, I found my dream shades years ago, and my jewelry collection is huge and I don't wear most of it. I intend to rule the world through my rockstardom so this is definitely a helpful acquisition! I have a shred of hope that it may last longer than the usual Forever 21 piece of clothing because the material seems like some unusually high quality fabric (at least for that store). The understated studs, the wide legs, and the buttoned shoulders are some really cool elements.
So into this song right now! Can't wait to see them live...