Get That Style: PREPPY

Hello, all!

Today I'm going to give you guys some tips on how to achieve that good, old-fashioned "preppy" style. I channel inspiration from this style so often; it just seems natural for me to do a post about it.

For those of you that are unaware of what this style is, think of the generic, Catholic schoolgirl look mixed with a country club and a Shetland pony. I don't know how to make it any clearer than that.

Without further adieu, let's get started with necessities for the Preppy Girl style:

Plaid
One of the main, if not the most popular, prints associated with preppy style is plaid. You can't go wrong with the classic red, but feel free to add your own twist by using different colored, or even multi-colored plaid. Plaid is mostly seen in skirts and pants, but I also see it in shirts, dresses, accessories, and sometimes outerwear.

Theory oversized sweater

J Crew long rayon skirt

Mango shorts

Forever 21 hair clip accessory

Pleated Skirts
What's a preppy schoolgirl to do without her pleated skirt? These are seen in both plaid and solid colors (I happen to have both in my own wardrobe!). I love seeing them paired with knee-high socks and Mary Janes for that authentic school uniform look.

McQ by Alexander McQueen blue high waisted skirt

Topshop knee length pleated skirt

Floral knee length skirt

MANGO knee length pleated skirt

Zara faux leather midi skirt

Cable-Knit Sweater
If you live in an area where the temperature is usually hot, like god-forsaken Los Angeles, this staple may not be practical for you. However, some brands do make thin sweaters that still have a cable knit texture to them. Get your hands on those rarities while you can!

Forever 21 sweater

Balmain sweater

Long sleeve sweater (white)

Long sleeve sweater (lilac)

Collars
Perfect with your cable-knit sweater, an item with a nice collar is definitely a preppy necessity. Depending on what climate you live in, get yourself either a long or short-sleeved collared shirt. Collars also come commonly on dresses, like mine below. I can't get enough of collars; there are so many options to choose from, and they all just happen to look adorable!

Fit flare dress

Christopher Kane top (black)

Free People sheer blouse (white)

Zara blue top (blue polka dot)

H&M round collar blouse (pink)

Forever 21 peter pan top (model)

Oxfords and Mary Janes
The two essential shoe styles for preps are oxfords (which look like lace-up jazz shoes) and Mary Janes (flats with a strap). Every prep owns one of each. Every. Single. One. I happen to have two of each, no big deal.

Dolce Gabbana leather flat (black)

Marni galaxy shoes (leopard)

Jil Sander leather flat (yellow)

Mary jane (pink)

I remember when I went through my ~dark~ phase in middle school, I would always make fun of preps and what they stood for. This post is kind of in dedication to me evolving into a more tolerant, rational human being.

5 Basic Beauty Tips

Hello, all!
IT IS OFFICIALLY OCTOBER DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW EXCITING THAT IS?!

I haven't done a beauty post in a while, so here are some simple rules that I think everyone should follow:

That's my handwriting! I know, it's almost too exciting.

1. Never pop your pimples.

This one seems pretty self-explanatory, but I admit that I'm guilty for it pretty much every week! I hate seeing acne, and I sometimes can't help but pick at my blemishes. But it's a bad habit to have, since popping zits only irritates the skin more and increases the amount of time it takes for them to heal. This is a reminder to you and me both to stop popping pimples!

2. Wear facial moisturizer with at least 15 SPF everyday.

Even on cold or overcast days, the sun always strikes your skin when you're outside. That's why we have to protect it with sunscreen! Many moisturizers (and even foundations and powders) have SPF, but you should still check to make sure. I would even take this one step further and say that you should wear sunscreen on your body everyday, but perhaps I'm just a tad overzealous when it comes to skincare.

3. Always take off your makeup at the end of the day.

I'm guilty of breaking this rule too, but it's so important! Before you go to bed, even if you're too lazy to wash your face, at least take off your makeup. You don't want to go to sleep with all that dirt and excess oil on your face. Not taking off your makeup irritates your pores and makes it more likely for you to get pimples.

4. Exfoliate your skin once a week.
Exfoliation is great for your face; by removing your dead skin cells, you're allowing your skin to repair more quickly, leaving silky-smooth skin. You can purchase facial scrubs and exfoliants at beauty stores, but I always use the DIY method of mixing olive oil and sugar! Massage your skin with a scrub for about a minute, rinse, and apply your regular skin regimen. Exfoliating just once can do wonders for your face.

5. Don't wash your hair everyday.
Many people already know how important this is, but for those of you who are unaware, washing your hair strips it of its natural oils. You need a moderate amount in your scalp to keep your hair soft and smooth. Most hairstylists suggest you should wash at most every other day. You can always substitute a dry shampoo for the days you skip washing your hair; I typically put my hair up or curl it when it's dirty. Still not convinced? Not washing your hair everyday saves the planet! By saving the water you would've used washing your hair, you're saving about two gallons of water. In short, dirty hair saves the world!

The Blog

Hello! I hope everyone's been having a good week so far. I am BEYOND EXCITED for October because Halloweentime is my favorite season!

I wanted to make a quick post today about a tumblr blog I am being featured on every day: The Blog. My darling friend Ashley Morales is taking OOTD photos of me and three of our friends every day in school, and you can see our photos on the--blog.tumblr.com!

She only started it this week, but I think it's a great idea, and I can't wait for it to take off! Please take the time to check us out. :)

As always,

September Lifestyle Challenge

Hi everyone!

Today I want to take the time to address stress. Everyone experiences it, and it's completely normal (especially if you're about to go into college, like me)! However, just because it's a natural human tendency, doesn't mean you have to suffer through being stressed out.

That being said, this month's lifestyle challenge is:

    relax.

Take the time this month to do whatever it is that calms you down: listen to soothing music, take a nice bubble bath, do some light yoga, or read an easy book. It's important to take a break from whatever you're doing and just calm down for a little while. Your body and mind will thank you!

Feel well, everyone. And remember: life's good.

A Day at Downtown

Happy September, everyone!

I spent a day in Downtown Los Angeles with one of my dear childhood friends. Let me give you a tour of my city!

The first spot we visited was Grand Central Market (upper photo), which showcases great local eateries. Along the street on the way to GMC was a sign that said "Decide what to be and go be it," which is a saying by which I live my life! 

The middle bottom photo is from one of the glass elevators at the Bonaventure Hotel, which showcases a lovely view of the city from the 32nd floor.

The two corner photos on the right are from Grand Park, which has a rather--wait for it--Grand fountain. Usually the floor around the fountain is open for people to wade in; unfortunately, it was closed when we got there, and we were forced to take a selfie with boring, dry floor in the background.

My favorite place in downtown is definitely The Last Bookstore! It's the last independent book store in the United States, and I love it so much. They have a whole floor dedicated to books on sale for $1, and they also sell local art!

Last but not least, we visited the Los Angeles Public Library Central Branch, which has such gorgeous architecture; the photo doesn't do it justice. The left photo was taken on a bridge leading to the library, taken only to feature the sculpture in the background.

Here's my outfit from that day:

Hat: Vintage

Dress: Nordstrom

Belt: Bettie Page

Bag: Vintage

Have you ever visited Downtown LA? If there are local spots that I need to visit, please let me know in the comments!

A Day at Koreatown

Hello, all!

I went out for lunch at Koreatown in Downtown LA today with my girls. We ate an all-you-can-eat lunch special at Oo-Kook BBQ, where you can cook the meat at your very own table. We had twelve rounds of meat between the four of us!

After we recovered from our food comas, we stopped by the cutest little bakery: Paris Baguette. They had such yummy pastries, and the store setup was precious! The music they played was also really entertaining. Unfortunately, I couldn't get any photos of the pastries we ate.

And, for the moment you've all been waiting for--my outfit!

 

Hat: Reflection

Dress: Urban Outfitters

Bag: Vintage

Shoes: H&M 

Thanks for reading!

Why the Trickle-Down Theory is Complete BS

I'm going to divert from my usual subject matter today and spend some time introducing my political views. I hinted a little bit in my Fashion Pet Peeves post, but let me just expose how liberal I really am.

I HATE the Trickle Down Theory. I hate it with all my guts. For those of you that are unaware, trickle down is the idea that if the government allocates money to the rich/upper class, that money will eventually "trickle down" the social classes and will magically reach the poor. Advocates of the theory argue this kind of example: If a rich businessperson receives government funding, that person can now enjoy a lavish lifestyle; as this person spends, he/she hires people to do work (thus, this person's money "trickles down" to the lower class). That example in and of itself might strike some massive red flags at you.

Moving on.

I really cannot stand this idea because clearly, it doesn't fucking work. Even though the example above is true for many people, Trickle Down clearly doesn't benefit the poor as much as conservatives would like us to believe. When the government allocates money to the upper class, they're essentially giving rich people the green light to be as corrupt as they please so long as they keep the economy running. And I can never tolerate that. If Trickle Down were actually successful, America's unemployment rate would be significantly lower, and poor Americans would find work more easily.

Another major reason why trickle down doesn't work is because it not only widens the gap between high and low incomes, it perpetuates the idea that people with money can control whomever they want. Trickle down obviously benefits the rich, keeping them at the top of the social food chain (for what seems to be forever). These rich people--and I'm not saying that all of them do--can keep hiring (or is subjugating a more proper term?) lower class workers, keeping them "in their place." I refuse to support the idea that having more money makes you a better person. We need to understand that poor people are people too. 

My solution, and it seems quite obvious, is to allocate government funds to the poor and create an opposite system--a Transpire Up Theory, if you will. If the government gives its money to the lower class (in the form of food stamps, welfare, healthcare, etc), the lower class will be able to provide for themselves and have all the resources they need to contribute to the economy. This contribution would inevitably go up the social classes and benefit the rich in the long run. As my Economics teacher says, "If you give money to the rich, it benefits the rich. But if you give money to the poor, it benefits everyone."


Bite me, Ronald Reagan.

Fashion Pet Peeves

Today's post is going to be kind of a rant. There are a lot of things that annoy me within the fashion industry, so allow me to just dump all of my complaints on you.

1. Redundant brand names

I really, really hate when designers come out with brands named after themselves (e.g. Marc by Marc Jacobs or Michael by Michael Kors). I find it so annoying. Clearly, if your name comes right after the word "by," you don't need to re-state your name in the damn brand! Couldn't these designers think of anything any more creative? Come on, man.

2. Blatantly overpriced garments

To quote Macklemore, "I'm like 'Yo, that's $50 for a t-shirt.'" I understand that when I'm buying a designer brand, I'm going to pay more than I would if I were buying a regular retail brand. However, when designers charge over $100 for simple items like plain t-shirts or scarves, I can't help but cringe. When there's literally nothing special about a garment except for the designer's name, I call foul.

3. Knock-offs

As someone who plans to be a member of the fashion industry, knock-offs are a big annoyance to me. Buying and selling knock-off items really hurt the industry and take profits away from hard-working designers who deserve it. In addition, a large percentage of knock-offs don't even look like the actual items! The whole knock-off business really just needs to end.

4. Sweatshops

This is more of a pet peeve with capitalism in general, but I really detest sweatshops. No matter how cheap the cost of your garments end up to be, designers should never settle to oppressing underpaid men, women and children. More often than not, sweatshops workers have no choice but to work for these companies because they have little other opportunities. Sweatshops are a complete injustice and should be banned from the world economy.

5. Louis Vuitton

'Nuff said. Every Louis Vuitton product perpetually irritates me. Seeing the LV logo thrown all over a bag just makes me want to puke.

6. Body standards/fat shaming

This is an issue I have with the whole world, but it's really prominent in the fashion industry in particular. It seems as though some renowned names in fashion do not understand that people come in all shapes and sizes, and clothing should reflect that. I hate the idea that an hourglass woman with a big bust, tiny waist, and large hips is the ideal woman, and all other shapes are unacceptable. I can't stand seeing runway shows where all the models are all the same size (and often the same race). I also really hate advertisements that only feature thin models. Not everyone is a size two, and being any size larger than that is NOT a crime. All bodies are beautiful.

That's all I can think of for now! I might add on to these the more I think of them. Please comment down below and add your own!

August Lifestyle Challenge

Hello, everyone!

This month, the school year has begun again for many of us. Now, if you're like me, you're thinking, "Boo, hiss!"

However, attitude is everything whenever approaching new situations. This current school year is my senior year of high school, which is really quite daunting for me. To tackle this fear I've been having, I decided that the lifestyle challenge this month is:

    accept change.

I've realized that looking at change as not necessarily a bad thing, but an opportunity for new, positive experiences. Here's to a good school year (for those of you in school) and a fulfilling month for us all!

Graffiti Appreciation

Hello, everyone! As I've mentioned in my last post, I'm currently in New York to take some college classes. I'm absolutely in love with this city because of the fast-paced urban vibe.

One of the things I love most about the city is its art community. I get so inspired by all the creativity in one city alone. Whenever I walk around, there's always an example of art in the streets. I particularly love seeing graffiti. It's a great way for artists to permanently leave their mark in the city.

Naturally, I couldn't help but take pictures of all this cool graffiti. Enjoy this photo dump of street art by talented New Yorkians.

All of these photos were either from Queens or Brooklyn.

That's all for this post! How do YOU feel about graffiti?

SoHo Haul

Hello, everyone! Today I'm writing to you from New York because I'm staying here for a couple weeks to take some college classes.

Anywho, I spent my afternoon having a shopping spree in SoHo! It's a great place with tons of designer stores. I had trouble NOT spending money; I wanted to buy everything! This isn't that big of a haul since I wasn't really looking to splurge.

Let me share what I bought (because we're obviously friends, and that's what friends do!).

 Forever 21: I got this cute overall skirt for $19.50 and some socks for $5.

French Connection: This was my first purchase from here! I got this short-sleeved flannel.

Lesportsac: I got this little make up kit on sale for $28

Victoria's Secret: Now for some unmentionables! I got these 5 panties for $26.

That's all for this post! Stay tuned because there will definitely be more hauls coming soon!

An Ode to the Beach

Today, I visited one of my favorite places in the world: the beach! It's one of the best aspects of living in California. I'm really going to miss it when I move back east!

There's something about watching waves crash and pull back that I find so therapeutic. I love seeing the sun shining brightly in the midst of a perfectly clear blue sky. The sound of the water, the salty smell in the air, the feeling of warm sand under my toes... It's enchanting.

"How much virtue there is in simply seeing!"

There's also nothing like reading on the beach. It's such a calming experience. Currently, I'm reading Mr. Emerson's Wife by Amy Belding Brown. I just got to the Transcendentalist chapters, and they were so appropriate for where I was that day!

This photo basically sums up my feelings about the beach.

And, last but not least, some outfit snaps!

 

 

Hat: Reflection

Shirt: Zara

Shorts: Vintage

Shoes: Dr. Scholl's

Do you enjoy the beach as much as I do? Tell me your favorite beaches!

Petal Perfection

Greetings, all!

Today, I wanted to share my favorite piece from my portfolio so far: a white tulle dress with hand-sewn artificial flowers. The under pieces are a bandeau and pencil skirt made out of white polyester.

I was so excited while making this garment that I finished it in a day! It's a labor of love. The beautiful model you see here is my friend Sarah! I did her hair and rainbow-colored makeup.

To see more of my upcoming and current pieces, follow my portfolio on Tumblr!

Hope you enjoyed my self-promotion.