2013 wrap up & looking forward "Resolutions"

So, this post is a few days late.  I couldn't think of anything to say on New Year's Eve, and my plans for New Year's changed at the last moment, so I don't have any amazing outfits to post ;) To be honest, 2013 was more than a little difficult for me.  And, over the holidays, I felt a strong desire to just "be" in the moment, rather than thinking "I need to post this on Instagram/Twitter/my blog/AsosFashionFinder" whatever. It was nice to not have to frame my life within the limitations of social media.  It's so refreshing to just STOP, feel the cold winter air, smile at the person next to you, and enjoy dinner or coffee without posting it to a photo-sharing site.

And I have to say, while I love it, I'm quite tired of being addicted to my iPhone.  One of my resolutions is to stop wasting time on the Internet and Interwebz, and start getting down to business.  I'm very good at tricking myself into thinking that I am "busy," when in fact I am just procrastinating and wasting time.  It's so easy these days, with an entire world available to me via my computer.

Two of my biggest accomplishments this year were:

• getting my Etsy shop up and running

• learning to crochet, and making a lot of scarves and some afghans for charity, and also for family and friends at Christmastime.

detail of a crocheted granny square "lapghan" I made for a local charity,
to be given to shut-ins at Christmas.

2014 is going to be my "get SH*T DONE" year.  It's my year of finally getting my personal photography website up and live, actually making a capsule collection of clothing, instead of just talking about it, writing and drawing more, learning new software, being more active and wearing more color.  My big "spiritual" goal is to be more compassionate, more heart-centered, and more accepting of myself and others.  You read it here first.  Now I've committed to it in writing! I'll have to check back next year and see if I was able to accomplish these things... ;)

I'll spare you the graphic details, but it was indeed a year of ups and downs, I was dealing with a lot of issues: from illness, to crippling anxiety and depression, financial woes...the usual culprits.  But it was also a year of fresh starts, healing, centering, sorting things out, and sharpening focus.

That being said, I'm going to be taking a little break from blogging & social media for a while.  No reason in particular, just need to focus inward and get back into doing some hands-on activities, and maybe "detox" a little from technology.  It's a time for introspection, self-healing and peace. A new beginning, with infinite possibilities.

DIY fashion box - Collage/Decoupage.

So, I finally finished a DIY that I feel comfortable sharing with the Interwebz.

I made this box for my good friend for Christmas, and placed some goodies inside...it was an old wooden cigar box I found at an antique shop and decided to cover it over with some images from this past year in fashion.  I just tore up or cut up a bunch of old fashion magazines, and kept it black and white to keep things a little more visually striking.

top view of box lid

i used pages from Vogue and some antique book pages

I actually decopaged the whole box first, then used a utility knife to slit open the box around the edges, it made for a very clean design.  

I love collage because it's very "user friendly", non-toxic, and usually yields a stunning result, even if you don't have a lot of artistic aptitude...just a cool way to personalize a gift.  Decoupage is a pretty ancient technique with a fascinating history.  The surrealists liked to play around with this too...

To make something like this, you'll need :

1)  a wooden, cardboard, or paper box

2) Mod Podge (a kind of glue/sealer/sticky thing) and clear Acrylic sealing spray

3) old magazines, old papers, gift wrap, candy wrappers, old letters or whatever you want to use for decorating your box

4) a cheap paintbrush or one of those spongy paintbrushes for applying the glue/Mod Podge

tips: 

-I coat both sides of the image before applying it to the box, with a thin layer of the Mod Podge ~ (then I use the paintbrush to coat the whole box with Mod Podge after I finish my design)

-I sometimes tear the pages/images instead of cutting with scissors for a more organic interesting texture 

-I use an old credit card/library card to gently smooth down the applied paper pieces, working from the center of the image out.

-After you're finished, let the box dry completely (it dries pretty fast tho I waited overnight), then spray apply the clear acrylic sealant to the entire box (I worked outside on a piece of newspaper with this, as it gets pretty smelly/sticky - also helps to hold the can of spray about 10-12 inches away from the box and let it fall over it like a "mist" using quick short bursts of spray)

Let me know what you think! And if you decide to do your own box, leave me a link in the comments, and as always, thank you for reading x

Hedi Slimane: Inspiration

A lot of people were upset when Hedi Slimane became the CD of YSL, and dropped the "Yves"... I wasn't sure what to expect at first but I have to say I think this is one of the most exciting pairings of new vision with a dyed-in-the-wool fashion house staple...I absolutely love what he's doing at Saint Laurent and also his photography...

fab fashionistas.

I recently had the pleasure of viewing this documentary film on women with style (with an average age of 80!).  My dear friend sent me the link, and immediately, I was hooked.  Not only was it about style, but about life, and living in general.  I'm sharing it here because I found it to be one of the most meaningful pieces on personal style I've seen in a long time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb1YI2CKSyo

Some of my favorite women in fashion are older women...I hesitate to even say "older" women, because it's just a made-up category created by a very narrow view of what is culturally acceptable here in this youth obsessed country I live in. For most of my life, I've always felt "older" anyway...so maybe I identify more with these women on a spiritual and personal level.

I think it's very interesting in the video what the Vogue editor says about the magazine being a fantasy/dream world for its readers.  It's for this very reason that I find Vogue/fashion magazines in general EXTREMELY BORING.  I am so thankful for the vast and unique community of fashion bloggers of all shapes, styles, and ages that are out there on the 'Net today.  I hardly ever read magazines for style inspiration any more thanks to this community! I've always more inspired by personal expression, artistry, and street style and less by "Fashion"...it's far more interesting to ME to look at what people are wearing in real life, than at the glossy pages of something manufactured and unattainable.

Photoshop is so commonplace in fashion these days.  Every blemish and flaw can be "fixed" now with post-production. In all honesty, it isn't even really showing actual models...just digital illustrations.  In fact I feel like the whole cosmetic surgery and botox movement is a reaction to try to become one of these digital illustrations in real life.  I'm always surprised by how many people have boob jobs, lipo, botox, and fillers, it's so commonplace these days, just like buying a new blouse or a pair of jeans!



For more on Beatrix Ost, check out Advanced Style's profile http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/2013/04/beatrix-ost-in.html (This is a great blog to follow for style inspiration and life inspiration in general :)

I know there are already a lot of blogs that deal with this topic, but I just had to write my own take on it.  I was so inspired by how intelligent, vivacious, and active these women are.  In fact they are more fearless and with it than many young people I know personally!


It's so refreshing to see women who are putting themselves out there to battle ageism, sexism, and culturally accepted norms...and doing it with grace, style, uniqueness, and class.

What do you think? I'd love to hear your comments and as always, thanks for reading xxx

meet the artist: paintings: Vincent Ciniglio

Vincent Ciniglio is a painter based in New York.  He works mainly in oil on canvas, and his work is often multi-layered, both physically and psychologically.

His work is often surreal, with a focus on the human figure. I find the colors, compositions, textures both soothing and unsettling... Check out his website: www.vincentciniglio.com for more.

outfit + style inspiration.

wearing: old moto boots (can't even remember where i bought them, maybe from Naturalizer??), coat & hat are vintage, found ribbon (i think it was a dress belt), and vintage tuxedo shirt.  coated "leather" jeans are from adriano goldschmied.

STYLE before STYLISTS.

I have a confession to make.  I strongly dislike the word "STYLIST." It kind of surprises me that people need to pay someone to have "taste" for them, or to tell them what labels to wear or what looks good on them.  I'm of the camp "if it makes you happy and you feel good in it, wear it."

I love fashion, current styles and trends, but alternately I feel like true style has to come from somewhere within your heart, it's not about buying something just because someone told you it's hot, or wearing head-to-toe designer labels, in fact, this is really boring and safe.  Yep, I too would love to splurge on some designer pieces from Saint Laruent, or Givenchy this season, but I realize that solely wearing designer stuff isn't going to give me style...

I come from a background of the visual and performing arts, and I've always approached my personal style more like this: 

"how do these shapes/colors/textures work together?" 

"can i get away with wearing this to the post office and the grocery store?" ("if not, who cares!")

"does this make me look scary/crazy/off/wild/original?" ("if so, GREAT!!!") 

"can I wear this dog collar as a necklace/bracelet/boot harness?"

and

"this is so bad, it's good!"

I look to the past for my own style inspiration.  I often find it on vintage vinyl album covers, like this Sonny&Cher I found recently while thrift shopping:

I mean, look at them! Those jeans! That dress! and I love how casual and un-forced the photographs look, like their style just arrived naturally out of their surroundings and what they were doing at the time.  It isn't forced, it isn't practiced...it's just kind of who they were.  

I feel like this individuality and fearlessness with style is sort of missing from a lot of our popular culture. 

So, here are my general style tips to everyone:

#1 DON'T BE AFRAID TO

a)  mess up

b) look ridiculous

c) have a sense of humor

d) laugh at yourself

#2 OPEN YOUR HEART

#3 FIND WHAT INSPIRES YOU

#4 BE ADVENTUROUS (shop in the thrift store, as well as the mall, cut up your clothes, try to make some clothes or alter stuff you already have!)

#5 STOP LOOKING AT STYLE / BEAUTY BLOGS AND COMPARING YOURSELF TO HOW SKINNY, PRETTY, HAPPY, WHATEVER the other people on the blogs may appear...it's all a facade anyway. ;)

AND ABOVE ALL 

#5 SUSPEND JUDGEMENT (of yourself and OTHERS!)

If you can do that, I think that's the basis of developing your own personal style! (and generally having an easier time getting dressed in the morning).