The It-Girl Accessory

How do you define an it-girl? Do they have to be famous on social media, or only known and/or envied by important people in ~the industry~ (fashion, movie, T.V., etcetera)? Or do they just have to look really really cool without even trying? Effortlessly cool, right? My former self thought you had to have all the big designers' products to be deemed an it-girl -- that Alexander McQueen bomber or the latest Calvin Klein overalls or cropped flares from Citizens of Humanity. But my former self was oblivious, even though I still really want those cropped flares. Money doesn't buy you that cool factor; going an extra step with your look, the more unique the better, does. After this revelation, I wiped the stress-sweat off my forehead while looking at the extremely low number listed on my bank account because I already had what I needed.

I learned a few weeks ago that there are more things than turtlenecks that can protect your neck. I took a lavender bandana, tied it around my neck, bow in front Parisian-style, and didn't freeze to death in that chilly NYC weather. I now tackle the bandana again, but it wasn't cold (it was actually surprisingly warm for a late-February day) and it was hardly Parisian. Bows are great and all, as Gucci believes, but sometimes you have to change things up, do it differently than the rest, because that's a requirement for all it-girls. 

I tied the bandana around my neck choker-style, just like before (now it's black), but then I tucked in the ends and shifted the knot to the back of my neck, and voila: Parisian neck-scarf turns into cool-girl choker. Wearing this simple denim dress from Urban Outfitters alone would be "girl-next-door is trying to be stylish but it's kind of boring", but adding the simplest of items that everyone must have from the days they used to wear bandanas as hair accessories makes a look that is the complete opposite of girl next door, it's girl everyone wants to be. Now is that the definition of an it-girl?

Here's the beauty of it all: it's the simplicity of the accessory combined with the unconventionality of the use of said accessory. Effortlessly cool, basically. Tie the same bandana around your wrist a few times for a new take on bracelets, or even tie it around your ankle with ankle boots and cropped flares (there's cheaper ones than those Citizens of Humanity ones, like these). Adding an extra oomph of cool to an outfit, no matter how easy it may be, is the instant recipe for it-girl. I don't guarantee that a bandana will turn you into someone the entire Internet loves overnight, but it'll at least make you look like one. And this is something I noticed in New York a few weeks ago -- the people who stood out in terms of fashion had the simplest of accessories added to a fairly undemanding outfit. Not a conventional necklace or pair of sunglasses, but a really cool hat (it was cold!) or a few pins attached to an embroidered bomber. Once again, it's that simple. Who said looking cool had to be difficult?

Dress by Urban Outfitters. Shoes by Adidas.

Photos shot by me.

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Teen Night Round 2

It's back!! As you may have remembered, last year the High Museum in Atlanta hosted a Teen Night -- free admission for all teens and a p[art]y that included live music, a poetry slam, crafts (not the kid kind), etcetera, and I went, of course. When they announce another one, I start planning weeks in advance. I thought nothing could beat last year's, but this one had an even greater presence (except that I unfortunately missed the poetry slam). And the teen's presence was even greater -- as I said in the last post, art kids seem to carry this artistic and self-expressive grace that you can't seem to fake. Seeing everyone interact with each other was so interesting (I sound like a Discovery Channel narrator observing two gorillas who are about to mate...). I'm glad to call myself an art kid because I like to think I have that same presence, so I quickly transformed myself into the most "art teen" I could get because soon I'd be surrounded by hundreds of others.

Sweater by Madewell. Dress by Zara. Shoes by Adidas. Jacket by Juicy Couture. Backpack by Urban Outfitters.

My new cut + color definitely worked into the art kid equation (platinum bobs are so self-expressive), so my plan for the rest of my look was to pile on a bunch of clothes and hope it would work. Kinda like what Leandra Medine does (but she does it so well), I did so in an artistic way (fitting, right). I found this Madewell sweater (very similar to this one) that can hardly work at a Teen Night meant for art kids, so I grabbed a dress to layer it over, my loudest one that started a fashion revolution and that caught the eyes of many during Montréal Fashion Week. Obviously it worked. Then I kept going -- I slipped on pair of semi-sheer tights and my Stan Smiths (who knew sneakers and tights could work?) and then [finally] tied my denim jacket around my waist, or layered it over everything when it got chilly. This is giving me serious déjà vu, back to when I had, like, ten layers of clothes on. But I basically put items that shouldn't work together, well, together, and it happened to work. That just sounds like an artist's statement in itself. 

I walked around the exhibits finding myself taking mirror selfies with the art and taking photos with Iris Van Herpen's magnificent pieces and I realized -- I'm not a true ATL teen, I'm a true ATL art teen. And how fitting is it to go to a Teen Night in Atlanta that is filled with art? That's my kind of p[art]y. Last night was definitely a way to find my "social standing" (I despise that term) because everywhere I looked, I felt like I belonged. An art teen. That sounds suitable.

Along with the Teen Night events, I finally got to see Iris Van Herpen's pieces in real life, and I had a similar moment to when I saw Oscar de la Renta's:

 

Museum photos shot by me. First two photos of me shot by my sister Kendall, third photo shot by my friend Makinsey.

It felt strange walking out those doors at 10:00 because I realized this would be my last one ever (it's a big deal, I've already been to four in my high school experience). I'll still be a teen next year, but it's likely that I'll be hundreds or thousands of miles away in college doing adult things. Growing up is weird. I'm glad that I could spend a night so close to adulthood participating in something that celebrates our youth. 

People who went last night: feel free to share your experience in the comments below!!

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Your Mom's Closet

Now that I think about it, the title for this post sort of sounds like a cringe-worthy mom joke, which is the opposite of my intentions (love you, Mom.) Mothers are too good to make fun of, which is why I want to instead appreciate them for what they are and what they have in their closets. I can go on about the now stylish "mom jeans" and tacky sweaters every mother should have stowed away in the hidden depths of her wardrobe (except for mine, because she's too cool for that), but that's not my point exactly. I drew inspiration from those days we had as children where we dressed up in our mother's clothes and her mini-dresses would go past our miniature feet and touch the floor and practically slide off our shoulders because we were, like, tiny humans. I've never been a fan of children, but I think this may be the one factor I still find adorable in them. I oddly wanted to recreate that nostalgia in a cool, fashionable way, and I did just what my seven-year-old self would do -- steal from my mom's closet.

This concept doesn't really work the way it used to because I have now outgrown my mom, so clothes that would fit her normally would be too small on me (this is another depressing fact of growing up). Instead of literally wearing something from my mom's closet to get that oversized look, I just wore an item that is meant to be oversized on everyone, including the person of its size. I also happened to steal this from my mother's wardrobe, so it adds to the #tbt (throwback Tuesday is now a thing, I guess) effect. However, this dress that I'm already in love with would fit her the same as it would fit me. Not exactly the same as it was ten years ago, but that would just look creepy.

The term "oversized" now seems like an overused term in fashion. Oversized coats, jeans, sweaters, etcetera. Practically every clothing item can, or at least will, have an oversized version, and now I can check off "dress" on that list. Oversized dresses are intimidating, kind of similar to the look of fear in our younger selves when we first tried on our mom's heels. Looking at them is frightening, but actually wearing them is the opposite. This oversized midi from Anthropologie (which is no longer available, but this one from ASOS works too) almost resembles the oversized-practical/utilitarian style we saw during the SS16 shows (Public School SS16, anyone?). I turned a fashion week trend into a more wearable, casual version with the dress's vertical stripes, beachy-linen fabric, and flowing nature. And to add a spark of flavor to the dress, I tied a gold belt around it, like cinnamon on apples, and it also adds a touch of maturity to the "I'm just a kid wearing my mother's clothing" look. Instead of rocking my mother's pumps, I slipped on my Stan Smiths to prove that I'm only 17 and not a mom who works a 9-to-5 job (let's ignore the fact that my mom owns a pair...).

I'm not 100% sure that fashion brands have begun to create this oversized trend just based on that childhood memory with our mothers. Maybe it has to do with your dad's huge shirts (dad sweaters are more common than tacky mom ones) or your significant other (obviously boyfriend jeans), but I'd rather look back to the times with my mom. And I might be the only one who still wears her mother's clothes, but I'm lucky to have a mom who knows how to dress. Fashion goals: when all else fails and you run out of clothes to wear, just steal from your mom. It's always worked for me.

Dress by Anthropologie. Shoes by Adidas. 

Photos shot by yours truly

What are your thoughts on the oversized trend (or mom trend, as I like to call it)? Comment below!!

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Pop of Pink

Quick: I give you five seconds to think of your favorite colors to wear. Ok, ready? Black, white, navy blue, gray, dark red, army-green, um, did I already say black? You probably wish you heard ringing of approval in the background with confetti shooting out from cannons surrounding you. And usually I would praise you. Dark is the new black, right? But for purposes regarding this post, you get blaring sirens and obnoxious fire drill esque beeping and a huge screen constantly repeating "WRONG ANSWER" in huge red letters. Nothing personal. But sometimes, we need some color. Even I do (did you notice how the answer in the 3rd sentence was something I would say?). And what's better than color? Color in the cold, bitter abyss of winter where gloomy hues take over the environment. Contrast is key.

Top by J. Crew. Overalls by Madewell. Shoes by Adidas.

Photos shot by me.

A goal of mine for the past few months is to change my style up a bit, and I've been working on it through various methods: stepping outside my fashion box, layering in ways I would have never done before, and the list goes on. I've been fairly successful in this mission of mine, but I wanted to take it a step further. Find some color. Not just any color, but pink. I'm a fairly feminine person, but I haven't worn a true shade of pink since I was ten. Pastels have come and gone for the past seven years, but never has a bright shade appeared in my wardrobe in that period. Time for a change. When I went on my shopping trip to J. Crew in search for the magical tissue turtleneck (thanks to Man Repeller), I had a plan to get a color that was more my style. Maybe army green, or a heather gray. But then this delicious shade of melon-pink appeared, and I immediately found my size and bought it. It was this strange impulsive buy, but instead of letting it sit in the back of my closet for years, I couldn't be any happier with the purchase. First off, Leandra Medine is right when she says these turtlenecks figuratively saved her life. They're super-soft, thin enough to be worn with anything, and come in every shade imaginable -- the options are endless. But the pink shade just made my life, well, a lot more colorful. Something I needed as a pick-me-up for yet another new stressful year.

And what's even more fun that wearing pink? Pairing that cute turtleneck with overalls I would have worn circa 2005. Dressing like the adult version of your younger self is way more fun than it seems, I promise. I'm glad I left out my poorly cut bangs and awkward demeanor from this age from the look, but I still brought that excitement we all felt (and wish we had back) as children. We sometimes take fashion and style way too seriously, and we all need that boost of childish fun in our wardrobes. Maybe that's why this strange resurgence of trends we wore as kids is coming back in full swing. Which brings me back to the color -- add some excitement to your wardrobe. Yes, black is the new black for some, but maybe soft begonia (as J. Crew likes to call it) is the new black.

Fashion Influences

In our lives, we always have those people we just seem to get. Like, being without them just wouldn't make sense. The world would not rotate correctly if they weren't in your life. Not necessarily like soulmates, but close to that. Whatever the friendly version of soulmates is called, that's what I sort of have with my friend Lauren. We both have the same interests in music, art, and of course fashion, and we continue to feed off of each other by inspiring each other in these topics. Like a mutualistic symbiotic relationship, that thing I learned in biology freshman year where two organisms live off of each other to where they both benefit. At least that's how I feel, but that's enough to inspire me in all aspects of life. We've been living this symbiosis for almost four years now, and at our peak of friendship, she of course has to move across the entire country to California. And I guess her news of moving has shown me how grateful I am for her. I probably wouldn't even have this blog if it weren't for her. She wasn't the one who told me to start it (that was my mom and sister), but she and I share this love for fashion that inspired me to do something with my true love. Sometimes simply knowing that someone else loves the same things just as much as you can inspire you to do more with that interest. I bet she doesn't even know the influence she's had on me for all these years, but I'm finally showing her, just days before she moves.

We said our goodbyes by going down to a few places in Atlanta with our group of friends, and of course she brought her best fashion game by wearing a corduroy skirt with tights and black knee-highs (sadly not shown in the image above). Looking back, I'm pretty sure she was the one who influenced me to start wearing thigh-highs. Sometimes I feel like I start wearing things all on my own (or due to street style photos on Pinterest), but now I realize that a lot of my fashion sense comes from her. I started shopping at Topshop because she would go on for hours about how much she loved the place three years ago. That backpack I'm wearing in the picture? All her. And the courage to try the unconventional in fashion and life in general that I now carry definitely comes from Lauren. Maybe her dreams involve art and film-making while mine involve fashion, but she sure as hell carries that same amount of passion that drives me to write all my posts. 

Sweater, overalls, and backpack by Urban Outfitters. Shoes by Adidas. Coat (in first photo) by J. Crew.

Photo above taken by Lauren.

Lauren wasn't the one who told me to get these amazing overalls (who would've thought that velvet overalls could be a thing?), but I now realize that it may have been her who urged me to try the unconventional. It was probably a comment from two years ago that transformed into me subconsciously buying the pair. Long story short, we all have fashion influences in our lives, whether we recognize it or not. And as my going away party to her, I wanted to celebrate by doing what she inspired me to do, even if it was subconsciously. 

Overalls are nothing new in the fashion world, but they definitely follow the unconventional route based on what the average person wears today. I'm the first person I personally know who has worn them, and it felt liberating to have a look that no one else would be using. Overalls may have been seen in the area, but velvet overalls? That just sounds like a fashion dream come true. I loved following that feminine utilitarian style we saw in a lot of the SS16 shows last year with this look, but I also loved going my own way through this outfit (like that one Fleetwood Mac song). And that's exactly what I learned from Lauren. No, I didn't plan this outfit just due to her influence on me. But after spending a full day with her (plus a few compliments from her as well), I have come to terms with the fact that I couldn't be as involved with my passions if I was going through them alone. A lot of my style only comes from my own intentions, but a lot of it is influenced by others, and not just those famous bloggers or fashion gurus. It's comforting to know that one of your best friends carries that same passion and that she'll always be there when you need inspiration, even if she'll be 2,230 miles away from me. I always say to be independent with your fashion endeavors, but it's always better to have someone who can always influence you when needed no matter the circumstances. Keep that independence, but also find that mutualistic symbiosis. Two is better than one, right?

Reinventing Fashion

No, I'm not here to start a fashion revolution (my title may be deceiving). Not like it wouldn't be a dream of mine to be involved in one, but I have realized something that forces me (and others who would like to try this phenomenon) to step outside the two-dimensional fashion world. Maybe it's the spooky weather and Halloween spirits that are making me think about these types of things more closely, but it's this simple -- not every piece of clothing has to be worn like it was meant to be worn. You may have seen some people wearing their long denim front-button skirts as dresses, but I'm not asking you to do anything that severe. I'm not even sure if I'm on board with that new look, and I'm usually open to anything when it comes to fashion, but this new "phenomenon" can be as simple as rolling up the sleeves of a button-up top further than usual. However, I'd like to take more risks than something like that, so I decided to take it one step further.

Transforming a dress into a top is one of the simplest things to do, but it's not done often. The more you want it to work, the less it will work, so my suggestion is to find a dress you like, find a skirt you like, and put it together (does that even make sense??). That's how I was able to work this outfit -- I knew I wanted to make this graphic dress a top, so I paired it with every skirt I owned until a good fit was made. If I had a specific skirt in mind, I may have given up if it didn't look like I wanted it to and thrown on a sweater and leggings. That's my motto in fashion -- keep your expectations low while experimenting with outfits, but keep them high when finished. The only way to be successful in trying new looks is to keep an open mind, and most everything will look fashion-forward. Before I start to sound like a motivational speaker, I'll get back to the outfit. This dress, which I wore a while back during Montreal Fashion Week (here), is one of my favorites due to it's quirky designs but also its simplicity. This nature allowed me to change its look completely by just adding a pastel pink skirt to it, which alters the mod vibe to a more classic style. All I did after this was add my army-green jacket from Topshop and even wear the same Stan Smiths I wore the last time I wore the dress, and yet the outfit is still completely different than the previous one. Maybe it's because my hair is completely different (I forgot to tell you that I finally went for a platinum lob), but I do believe that just one simple step can make all the difference.

So there's my "fashion revolution". You probably thought it would take more effort, but it's in the small things that can reinvent looks. Another perk to this is that it can save you when you haven't had the chance to go fall shopping (yes, I'm talking about me right now). Although I did not pertain to fall trends in this look, I could have easily made a Spring/Summer dress an Autumn look by adding a darker skirt and tights. Like I said, stepping outside the fashion-box doesn't have to be difficult.

Dress/top by Zara. Skirt by American Apparel. Jacket by Topshop. Shoes by Adidas.

Photos taken by me.

The Return of the Turtleneck

October has just begun, so it might seem strange to jump straight into fall trends. For some, it takes a few weeks to warm-up to the colder weather and new seasonal styles, but for me, I've been waiting since July for the best (at least in my opinion) season of fashion. Right when the cold(er) weather hit, I took that chance to showcase what I've been wanting to do for months now. Maybe it's too early to start wearing turtlenecks, but recently, I decided that this was the year to embrace the trend. Last winter, I wore them a few times, but I never felt completely comfortable, and that's probably because many people refuse to work with the revival of this style. Of course, in April, when it was far too hot to even attempt wearing turtlenecks, I decided that I was going to bring them back in full swing when the temperature dropped. Finally, after six months of waiting, the temperature dropped, and I began my endeavor to make turtlenecks fashionable again.

Most of the fashion world has caught on to this trend, but the fashion world is only a minuscule percentage of the entire world population. Wearing something like this can still make my peers glare at me (which I will never understand), but I noticed that I got better feedback this time than I did when I wore turtlenecks last year. I guess the rest of the world is beginning to catch up with the high fashion and street-style-obsessed population. Of course, I always try to match my personal style with up and coming trends, so I worked the turtleneck into the '70s revival we saw all over AW15 fashion shows. I paired the striped-turtleneck with a wool vintage skirt (which actually came directly from the '70s) and my Stan Smiths to fully embody the '70s look. I may even like this revival more than the recent comeback of '90s trends, so choosing an outfit for today was really enjoyable for me. But of course, it always comes back to fitting with my personal style, so instead of making this outfit have a '70s color scheme (rusty oranges, bright reds/yellows, pale blues, etc), I worked with a darker, neutral theme, almost to match the color of the sky we've had for over a week. Also, now that I look back at the outfit, the striped top gives off a Parisian vibe, which is perfect for the start of Paris Fashion Week (side note: a blog post is coming soon about the best SS16 fashion shows, and the extravagant Dior show from earlier today will definitely make an appearance). And you may have thought that I would bring back the turtleneck just by pairing it with boyfriend jeans. That sounds like an ideal outfit for another day, but when I bring back a trend that I've been wanting to do for six months, I come in full force.

Top by J. Crew. Skirt by Gap. Shoes by Adidas.

Photos shot by me. 

Fashion Week Trends

It's Spring/Summer fashion week season, a.k.a. my 2nd favorite time of the year (the Autumn/Winter one will always be my favorite, I have a thing for cold weather fashion). With the start of New York Fashion Week, fashion shows, the latest trends, and the best street styles are all any fashion lover is talking about. Even living 800+ miles away from the event, I still try to use this time as my own "mini" fashion week. No, I don't put on my own fashion shows (if only that were possible...), but I do use what I've learned from these past fashion weeks into my own style. The AW 2015 fashion weeks brought some of my favorite trends to the runway, and now that it's almost Fall of 2015, it's time to showcase what we've learned from those fabulous fashion shows. The start of the SS16 fashion weeks is around the time where the clothing from the AW15 fashion weeks actually comes out in stores, so now is the perfect time to dress "fashion week ready". I would love to head over to Topshop and buy the AW15 collection (which was definitely my favorite of the season), but my lack of money prevents that from happening anytime soon. The time for that will come (hopefully before this fall and winter end), but to still showcase fall trends without spending, I combined a few items I've bought in the past to make the perfect look.

Since it's still officially summer, choosing a perfect fall/winter outfit is pretty tough in this weather. However, making fall-esque outfits perfect for warm weather is not too difficult. I took the trend of bold prints and mini skirts (which were usually done in thick fabrics, like suede) and made it compatible for summer by choosing a light skirt from Urban Outfitters. Button-up skirts have been on the fashion-must-haves list for months now (I already own three, and I still want more), so the skirt in the photo above is perfect to become fashion week ready. Denim by itself was not a specific trend we all saw in the runway shows during last season's fashion weeks, but the combination of the shirt and skirt pertain to one I noticed a lot -- the return of the '70s. I've been all for this trend ever since my review of the Topshop AW15 show, and it still lasts with the revival of suede and other styles from the past. The '70s bring a certain nostalgic feeling that make us want to bring our denim flares out once more. Because I'm not technically on board with that return, I went for the trend in a more subtle manner by pairing a denim shirt with a bold mini. Even the faded blue and rustic red color scheme works with this revival. Wearing AW15 trends just gets me more excited about the upcoming SS16 trends. I only wish I were in New York right now, being surrounded by fashion, but the time for that will come, hopefully in a year.

Shirt by Gap. Skirt by Urban Outfitters. Shoes by Adidas.

Photos taken by me.

Side note: Because I'm extremely busy this semester (AP classes, college apps, two jobs, and dance), I'll only be able to post about once a week (probably in the beginning, like Mondays, so I can use the weekend to prepare for the posts). Once this semester is over, I'll be able to post how I normally post (2-4 times a week). 

Black Denim

I'm literally that person who will not shut up about her favorite band, but that favorite band is denim for me. Denim has gotten me through many fashion mishaps and dull outfits, and its unique nature has been able to add a lot of variety to my wardrobe. However, I look at how I've worn denim in the past, and it's been pretty similar. I usually stick to a light wash, and this includes everything from jeans to jackets and even to skirts and dresses. Then, I start to realize that the most diverse (at least for me) ways to wear denim is one of the simplest tricks in the book -- step outside the "blue" denim zone. I've stuck to this traditional type of denim my entire life (except for that one time in 6th grade I bought purple skinny jeans...), and there's far more than this color. Opting for something besides blue denim doesn't have to mean wearing the brightest pair of jeans you can find. It just means wearing the fabric in any other color besides blue. This ranges from black to white and everything else in between. The color black in denim is something that I've always been hesitant to try. My wardrobe is full of black, but I've never once had this color in a denim form. I love denim, I love black, but I've never loved the combination of the two. In the past, the combination of black and denim had a connotation of only being worn by the "scene kids" -- not that I have anything against people who listen to MCR, but this weird and unconscious bias of mine was made when I was in my judgmental phase in middle school. Because of this, I strayed away from black jeans, maybe because my older sister always wore them when she was in high school (being influenced by your sibling's fashion choices could mean that you did the opposite of them...).

Jeans by American Eagle. Top by Anthropologie. Shoes by Adidas.

Photos taken by me (if you couldn't tell, I'm starting to use my higher quality Canon camera)

Now, as I got less judgmental with fashion choices and saw more and more people rocking the black skinnies again, I saw that the jeans were a fashionable alternative to the traditional blue denim we usually see in jeans. Even with all of this, I was still hesitant to try them out. Black denim is edgier than most of my style, and I'm also not a huge fan of jeans (especially in the summer). But as summer starts to fade away and my fashion-mind is more open than ever, I decided to try them. This is also pretty different to my normal style because the jeans were skinny (like cling to your legs skinny), and I usually wear a looser fit, like boyfriend jeans, because of my hatred towards the way most jeans fit me. But, because I was already trying new things, I decided that the skinny nature wouldn't stop me. They happened to be more comfortable than most skinny jeans that I've worn in the past, and the few holes that they had fit into my own style more. Because I was going for a simpler look, I paired the jeans with my blue-striped tank from Anthropologie and my Adidas sneakers, which happened to look amazing with the skinnies (I don't think any of my other shoes would have worked with this outfit). These were definitely an edgier style for me, but I love trying new things in fashion because that's the only way my style can evolve. Black denim is perfect for this transition of seasons, even if it's still 85 degrees every day where I live. I'm excited to continue wearing black denim into the colder months because those seasons are the best times to experiment with fashion (Layering over black denim? That sounds like a fashionista's dream).

Teen Night @ The High Museum

I've always been a fan of going to art museums. Whenever I travel to a new city, one of the first things I look up is where all the art museums are (next to the best shopping streets, of course). I obviously love the art (if you knew me in real life, you would know that I'm the epitome of an art student), but I also love the people in these museums. Anywhere you go, you can observe the people around you, but at art museums, it's so much more interesting. Maybe it's because I consider myself to be like those other art lovers, but to see the different attitudes and styles of art museum-goers is one of my favorite things to do. With all of this in mind, of course I'm going to go to Teen Night at the High Museum in Atlanta, which is free admission for students to the museum that also includes events like live music, art-making, and a poetry slam. On Saturday, I went down to Atlanta with a few of my friends (yes, I'm blessed to have art-loving friends) to go to the event. I've been twice before in the past, and I remember having a good time, but this one was definitely the best. Maybe it's because I have grown into this self-aware person, but I actually believe that it was planned better than previous years. Apart from the scheduled events, I loved seeing a huge cluster of art-loving people who all happen to be teens. When you're stuck in conservative suburbia where everyone idolizes sports teams, it's difficult to find your crowd. When I went to the High, it felt like I was surrounded by people like me -- people who care about art, their "aesthetic", and even social issues. It's an amazing feeling to be surrounded by people your age who care about the same things that you do. Some say that the youth continues to get more and more inspiring with each generation, and I think that's true (maybe because I'm part of that youth...). Maybe we do care more about what we're wearing than the latest presidential debate, but then we'll connect our clothing choices to a way of self expression, which then leads to even greater social issues. I definitely saw this at the poetry slam -- there were poems about huge issues ranging from rape to police brutality, and there were also poems about smaller, more personal topics that still brought everyone to a standing o. Along with this self-awareness that I love about our generation, teen art lovers usually care about their aesthetic. This could be in terms of hair, clothing, tattoos, body piercings, etc. The thing about art kids is that they want to stand out, and this is usually apparent in their aesthetic choices. This definitely allowed me to fit in -- everyone looked impossibly cool in their own, individual ways, and I wanted to capture all of their looks but it was too crowded to get a good shot. However, I did know from the styles of the other students that my style could definitely fit in with that of an art kid's (even though I already am one). I want to make a statement through fashion, but also do this in my own, unique style.

Dress by Topshop. Shoes by Adidas. 

Photo taken by my wonderful + talented friend Danielle. 

I always strive to self express through fashion, but I definitely wanted to achieve that while being surrounded by other kids who have this exact goal. While I still always like to keep up with today's trends, I try to make sure I'm still dressing for myself, not just for trends. That's why when I shop, I gravitate towards the items that I actually love, then I realize that they fall into a certain trend. That's what happened with the corduroy dress I wore to the High. I've understood that a rustic, '70s fashion is returning in a modern way, and this could include those burnt-orange pieces, button-up dresses and skirts, and fabrics like suede and corduroy. However, when I bought this dress, I knew that I really wanted it just because I knew it could renovate my style with a piece I normally wouldn't wear. That's how the art kids at the High dressed -- they did it all for themselves, even though they looked like they stepped right out of a street style blog. I paired this dress with my favorite sneakers (yes, I still wear them almost every day. I can't resist the comfort) because they somehow match everything and because they fit into my goal of self-expression with my unique style. Usually with this dress, you might see people pairing it with booties, chunky sandals, or even Doc Marten oxfords, but I wanted to make it unique by wearing it with cool-girl sneakers. Finally, I definitely fit in with the rest. Not because I was impeccably dressed, but because I had a chance to dress without listening to the fashion standards that you see at school or simply walking down the street. Everyone was in the same boat as me, so I felt a little bit of freedom that night.

Fractured Aesthetic

Many so called "fashion experts" will say that you have to wear things from the same style in a single outfit or it will be deemed unfashionable. I completely disagree with this notion. Obviously, you know me to be the one who hates when people judge what other people wear, and that's one part of this argument. But I also like the idea of mixing styles together -- that's almost where I got the infamous "fractured aesthetic" idea from. As I quoted on my Tumblr when I first started this blog last November, "Fractured aesthetic -- it describes my own style, because my aesthetic is never stable and complete; it is constantly changing, even broken, because it is based on what I like, not based on what other people like. I see fashion as a way to express oneself in any way they desire, and there should be no set of rules to dictate what one should do with their style. Each person has their own unique style, and some may even call it a 'fractured aesthetic'." (For those of you who have only been reading my posts since I created the Blogger account, that's my spiel on my maybe-confusing url.) This applies to my entire style, but also to the idea that mixing up "fashion genres" in outfits is completely okay. I'm constantly doing this -- most things I own are completely different because it's nearly impossible for me to stick to just one style. This was especially relevant in my outfit yesterday, which consisted of three different styles. However, they all combined to create one, unified look that fits me, which is what I do almost every day.

As you should all know, I'm one of those people who does not have one store they always shop at. I do have my favorites, but I'm always going different places for different things. I go to Urban Outfitters for the simpler, even edgy items, Topshop for unique statement pieces, Madewell for the classics (especially denim), Anthropologie and J. Crew for more mature and professional clothing, you get the drift. It's impossible for me to just pick one style from all of these options, so I decide to mix up my wardrobe and my outfits. In this outfit, I paired a mature item with more casual accessories to make it more fitting to my age. Some may say that I dress older than 17, but I still don't want to look like a 28-year-old going on a job interview.

Anthropologie may be one of my favorite (and most envied) stores, but not everything in it fits what a 17 year old would wear on a normal day to school. However, I still immediately gravitate towards pieces in the store, like the longer dress I'm wearing in the photos. Although it's chaotic yet uniform striped pattern can be playful, the shape and length of the dress still need something more to fit my personal style. And to do this, I contrast with styles. I layered the dress with my new, army-green "mock" denim jacket to add edge to a simple look. Then, I wore my Adidas sneakers (which I have worn every day for the past week. No shame.) to add a casual yet cool factor to a professional looking dress. I completely changed a classic Anthropologie dress to a semi-casual and edgy outfit by only adding two items. Contrasting styles in the same outfit can do so much to create a brand new, even trade-mark look. Instead of trying to fit to one specific trend and style, wear what you feel is best on you. Most cannot simply conform to one genre of fashion, so the smartest thing to do is try unique looks with multiple styles, and see what works best for you. I suggest going for the "fractured aesthetic" approach -- I promise that you'll find your signature style.

Dress by Anthropologie. Jacket by Topshop. Shoes by Adidas.

Photos taken by me (self-timers and tripods are a blessing)

How to "Dress Up" Sneakers

In Montreal, the style is completely different than the rest of Canada's laid-back nature (besides the two other major cities, Vancouver and Toronto). Montreal has a style that is almost similar to the unique fashions of New York and London, but of course, it contains a large portion of Parisian style, which brings a certain cool-girl elegance to fashion. But also, the laid-back style of Canada has to enter into this equation, and it definitely does, but in the best way possible. Not in the leggings and T-shirt kind of way, but in a subtle way that somehow combines the three other styles I mentioned above. In Montreal, many achieve this with sneakers. Not by wearing Converse or the typical running shoes (although some can somehow pull off a dress and running shoes), but by wearing the cool and stylish sneakers that everyone either wants or already has (and luckily, I am now one of the people who has them.) Hi-top Vans, Nike Air Forces,  and of course, the classic Adidas Superstars and Adidas Stan Smiths. I used to not be the type of person to ever wear sneakers unless I was working out. I'm usually the person who wears boots year-round, but when I saw this resurgence of "cool-girl" (and guy) sneakers paired with outfits I would normally wear with boots, I thought that I should get a pair. Maybe it's because "everyone wants what everyone already has", but isn't that how all fashion trends work? Anyways, I figured that I could work a comfortable, laid-back, but definitely stylish pair of shoes into my current wardrobe, so I bought the Adidas Stan Smiths in green online, and they happened to arrive the day before I left for Montreal.

Before coming to Montreal, I had no idea that the sneaker trend would be as big as I found it to be. I figured that they would be a cute yet comfortable way to get around the city, and even if I was the only one wearing them, I'd still feel stylish. But right when I stepped outside the airport, I immediately saw people wearing various types paired with various outfits. I did see the classic jeans

and sneakers look, but I also saw people pairing it with dresses, skirts, nicer shorts, or practically anything that I would wear. I've always known by the street style photos I see on Tumblr and Pinterest that wearing sneakers with dresses and skirts was definitely a thing, but I didn't fully realize it until seeing it in person. So, I was inspired to do the same but also fit into the unique Montreal style. I fit into the Parisian style by wearing my graphic shift dress from Zara with Parisian-styled sketches and sayings. Even though they're in English, the dress only screams French to me. To fit into

the laid-back Canadian style, I, of course, wore the Adidas sneakers. Before I even continue, I have to say that these are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. It's almost strange for me to wear something this comfortable and for it also be fashionable, and that's almost how a lot of the Montreal style is -- stylish comfort. And finally, the combination of the two fit in perfectly with the fashions from New York and London -- a unique combination that pairs the comfortable with the elegant yet quirky and that also subtly uses the monochrome trend. Throughout the day, I continued to see more and more people dressing up sneakers, especially at the fashion events I went to. So that's how to dress up sneakers -- pair them with a dress. There's no complex formula to follow, because I've come to understand that basically everything looks good with these sneakers. You can dress them down with boyfriend jeans, or you can dress them up with a dress or skirt. Whichever way they're worn, they're always bound to make a slightly dull outfit more vibrant.

Dress by Zara. Shoes by Adidas from Urban Outfitters.

Photos taken by my dad