It's Beginning to Look a (Little) Like Christmas

In my last post I mentioned going to the ballet for Thanksgiving. This is what I ended up wearing… after I went through a ton of options while still yelling, I have nothing to wear! before I finally decided on this. I'm telling y'all, being a fashion blogger is like, harrrd. 

I decided on something simple yet festive. When in doubt, wear sequins - especially at this time of year! Not only do I love the gold shimmer on this top, I love that it's a little baggy; it gives off this effortless but still va-va-voom appeal. Pair it with a black high-waisted A-line skirt, nude shoes to give me long legs and a red lip and I'm ready to be kissed under the mistletoe! 

Top: Clothing Swap | Skirt: Uniglo | Shoes: Target | Purse: Bugis 

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Dark Romance

I'm going to attempt to walk you through my creative process for this photo shoot but goodness knows, my process is usually full of nonsense and cheese. I had been almost ... craving... I guess craving is the right word, romantic but dark outfits. I just had this idea in my head that I wanted to create. I think I've been inspired a lot by Briar Rose Blog with her really adorable girly looks. I was also inspired by the cat fascinator that I found at Naughty Cat - I'm not the biggest on cat accessories (I know, this is sacrilege to a lot of people. Please don't hate me) but I'm not opposed to it either. But when I saw the fascinator with it's cute little ears covered in lace, I just had to have it. It went back to that craving of dark, romantic, gothic, victorian things. 

I didn't mean to take pictures in the twilight magic hour, but it was a happy happening. (sometimes good things happen when you take too long to get ready!) When I saw this abandoned lot near my house and the sun setting behind the hill, I seized the opportunity. I have also been inspired by this incredibly talented girl, Esther - From the Sticks, who shoots her own photos that are so beautiful. They're full of light and air and whimsy. 

Not only was the photo shoot so much fun to do (though a little messy, getting mud all over my heels and weeds in my hair), wearing this outfit later that night was also a blast. I wore what I call my "ninja suit" under the dress - just basic black tights and a long-sleeve black shirt. This is my canvas to keep me warm and to build the rest of my look on. It also complimented well with the dark romance I wanted to go with. Then I threw on one of my all time favorite dresses. It's this gorgeous little thing that is so flattering it doesn't need any extra bells and whistles. And I love the baby blush color, the sheer material and the butterfly sleeves. 

My boyfriend told me the other day how he had a kind of realization about me and my clothing choices. He said he is starting to realize just how much I have and want to communicate and how my clothes are a big part of me speaking to the world. He can tell what kind of mood I'm in sometimes by the choices I decide upon. I guess that goes back to the "craving" and how that word is really perfect for what I mean. I get an idea stuck in my head and I can't shake it until I can create and express it. 

Dress & Shoes: Korean Thrift Store 

I Spy Style: Sasha Velvet: Rocker Chic

This I Spy Style is for my friend, Sasha who - as I've mentioned before - always has killer style. She very similar to me in the fact that she likes to dress to the nines for an event. And if there isn't an event to dress up for, make one! And Sasha wears black like no other. I'm not a big fan of habitually wearing black but when Sasha does it, it's always chic and interesting. She uses a lot of textures and interesting accessories to stand out. 

When I saw her in this outfit, I said, "You must let me take pictures for you!" Luckily she did, even though my camera and photography skills are obviously subpar. I love this outfit because of... everything. First off, the epaulette on the shoulders!! When I first saw the movie, Les Miserables, and Russell Crowe was singing his sad, serious suicidal song all I could think about was, "Dang, that is an amazing jacket... where can I get something with some epaulettes...?" And then Sasha comes rocking up exactly that! If those sequins and chains aren't glamour, I don't know what is. 

I also really love her boyfriend jeans. She's got great legs ... and knows how to use 'em (sorry, I couldn't help myself.) These jeans fit her like a dream. And then her accessories. The studded black heels, the skull earrings, the Boba Fett ring and her signature red lipstick. It pulls the look all together for one sexy, chic, rocker look. 

Tights, Tribal Print, and Conspiracies

Let me introduce you to my beautiful riding boots, Dede. Finding riding boots for me is ridiculously difficult. My feet are a size 6 1/2 but my calves are... not. Buying boots wasn't going to happen for me at a thrift store so I finally broke down and bought the expensive ones. I have a hard time spending a lot of money on clothes but my mom pushed for these boots. I'm so glad she did!

I've been so excited to wear this mini skirt ever since I got it from a friend who was leaving the country. When someone leaves Korea, they have so much stuff to give away and I will always gladly help a fellow fashionista lighten their load! ;-) I've been waiting to wear the skirt because it is waaaay short and there is no way I was going to wear it without tights or leggings. Which leads me to my other obsession: tights. Tights are an easy, fun way to add personality to any outfit. 

Shirt: Gift | Skirt: Forever 21 | Tights: Target | Boots: DSW | Ring & Earrings & Bracelet: Clothing Swap

A Riot in London Town (Or Just A Night Of Dancing)

I wasn't planning on going out last night. I was lazy in bed watching Golden Girls. But my boyfriend called and convinced me to get off my butt. I'm glad I did because we ended up going to a new(ish) place that played great hip-hop music. We danced most of the night. Because it was a last minute thing, I threw this on and was out the door in 20 minutes. It helped that I didn't have to do much of my hair or make-up. I've been wearing my hair in a bun the past couple days because I've been deep conditioning it with coconut oil. And like I mentioned before, I can't wear eye make-up because of my eye surgery so smooth skin, strong brows, and a bright lipstick; a 5-minute-face and I was out the door! 

I really liked this outfit because I felt put-together and sexy but comfortable. Casual yet appropriate for going out.  The shirt shows off my shoulders and is just the right amount of looseness to balance out my super-tight skinny jeans. I wore my pointy-toe shoes to lengthen my legs. A triangle-shaped toe gives me the illusion of a couple more inches to my legs. Also, I like those shoes because it shows off what I call "toe cleavage" - I think it's cute. Am I the only one...? To finish it all off, I threw some sparkle on my ears and ran out the door. 

What's your favorite outfit to throw on and run out the door? Leave your comments below! :)

Leather and Lace: Lady-Like Florals and Black

I don't even remember exactly where I got the camisole from but I've had it for years. When I first bought it, I instantly fell in love but I wasn't sure how to wear it. Cleaning out my closet at my parents' house this summer, I found it and was elated. The detail of the lace, the floral print, the shape of the top - I love it all. I also adore this skirt. It's the perfect lady-like length, with the lady-like pleats but it's got the leather waistband, which is so on-trend right now. I like the juxtaposition of the dainty floral top with the more hard black skirt. I think it's an overall interesting contrast and it lets the top be the focal point. To finish the look, I added my most beloved shoes. I got them at one of my favorite Korean thrift stores for $10! I probably would have gotten them for less if I had contained my excitement in the store. They are the perfect shoes. Y'all know my obsession with nude shoes and they are so comfortable!

Something new I tried was bold eyebrows. I can't wear eye make-up for 2 weeks because of my lasik eye surgery so I compensated with the eyebrows, a bold lip color, and glossy cheeks. 

Sorry for the terrible quality of photos, my camera has had a mind of its own lately. 

Camisole: Vintage | Skirt: Target (Goodwill) | Shoes: Thrift Store | Necklace: Gift | Ring: Clothing Swap | Earrings: Gift | Bracelet: Fit For A Queen Antiques