Miscellaneous Musings: Yellow

"Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And everything you do
Yeah they were all yellow

I came along
I wrote a song for you
And all the things you do
And it was called yellow

So then I took my turn
Oh what a thing to have done
And it was all yellow

Your skin
Oh yeah your skin and bones
Turn into something beautiful
You know you know I love you so
You know I love you so."

images via Trey Ratcliff

Read More

Wildfox: Granny's Closet

 “This collection is a tribute to granny and her perfectly mismatched style, her love of cats, jewels, travels and gardening, her hair that she never cuts, the old mansion she bought in the 90’s with the last of her savings, her big glasses she always wears to brunch, and that grandma spirit we all know and adore.” 

 Wildfox's Resort Lookbook is flat out amazing. Not only is the styling insane, but the comic element underneath all of the pictures truly makes me smile. The picture of the two girls "jogging" especially made me chuckle. Wildfox has been around for a while, but they've been gaining popularity in the last two years. I love this brand. Everything they make is innovative, and its obvious that they don't follow the trends. They set their own.
 images via Wildfox

Read More

Artist You Should Know: POLOCK

POLOCK is just flat out amazing. I discovered the little Indie band sometime last year completely by accident and I've been hooked ever since. Their whimsical sound and light-hearted vocals make me want to sing along and press my foot harder on my gas petal every time they're playing in my car. 

The thing I love most about them is that they make straight up amazing music, but they don't need to brag about it. Beautiful. 
image via totoutard

Read More

Meet the Artist: Dan Phillips

I met Dan Phillips back in 2009 when I was volunteering to help him build one of his recycled houses for a single Dad. It was the coolest thing, because not only were we helping to build this guy a new home, but we were also learning how Dan builds all of his houses out of recycled materials. Pretty much everything is recycled or repurposed, except for the wiring etc. Just because it makes things safer, and complies with the building code. We also went to help with the Bone House, and build an extension to this little covered area in their backyard. The covering was made out of recycled wood and an old Chevron sign! I was so tired when I got back home that day, but I also felt so inspired. The fact that Dan takes the time to build houses for low income families, single parents and artists is amazing. The are cost efficient and Dan does it because he wants to help people, not because he wants to make money. It's a beautiful thing.

Read More

Over the Moon with Honeymoonmuse

We already know that Canada is the place to be when it comes to talent. Music superstars Drake and Justin Bieber hail from this country, so it comes as no surprise that fashion innovators would be there as well. Marriki Schlifer created Honey Moon Muse, an inspirational brand that caters to "vintage junkies" and "fashion mavericks" all the while keeping "fashion gems out of the landfill" and in her customers closets. She has a pixie-like spirit and expresses her style and personality with everything she wears and does. She is both an inspirational and creative individual, a superstar on the rise and someone to keep your eyes on!

Marriki Schlifer
CEO/Owner of Honeymoonmuse
British Columbia, Canada

Where did the name Honeymoonmuse come from?
When I opened my shop I had no idea it would evolve into a full-time business. I didn't give that much thought to the name! It was a play off a lovely song I liked at the time called “Honey and the Moon” by Joseph Arthur. I was debating a name change when Etsy came up with the option, but it has grown on me.

Who or what inspires you?
I used to visit loads of fashion blogs every day, but these days since I work with clothing all day I try to find my inspiration from other sources. At the moment, I am loving artist Shae Acopian Detar, who paints on top of photographs. They have a vintage feel, very beautiful. I frequent graphic designer Bri Emery’s blog (designlovefest ) and Rookiemag.com for everything else.

What is a typical day for you?
Each day is different; the one constant seems to be that I spend a lot of time online. Yesterday however, I sorted through a batch of vintage clothing that I purchased a few weeks ago. Most items I find at thrift stores aren’t ready to photograph, they either need mending (by hand or sewing machine), ironing or hand-washing beforehand. I started off this morning by packing up Etsy orders from this past weekend and make a trip to the post office. I am there every other day, the postal workers know me well! 

I am also looking forward to posting the latest fall lookbook for Honey Moon Muse on our website which I just received the (amazing!) results from our shoot in late August. Today (October 15th) also marks our 3rd anniversary on Etsy! I am busy doing promotion on our Facebook/Tumblr/Etsy pages of the big 30% off everything customer appreciation sale, which is going on until October 25th. It is also marks my 1st year of independence. It was around a year ago that I quit my day job and took the leap into becoming a full-time seller. It was one of the hardest and best decisions I have made for myself. I am so thankful to all my friends, as well as the strangers who have supported me this past year.

How would you describe your style?
I love the 80s, color, soft fabrics, layers and oversize tops. I generally wear leggings, a big t-shirt and ankle boots during the daytime. I really only dress up for special events or day outings with my boyfriend. Right now I’m loving sci-fi inspired looks, and anything velvet, gold or tie dye. My favourite vintage pieces that I keep for myself would have to be leather goods: 80s boots and flats, leather jackets, and cross body purses. They are good staples to have in your wardrobe since they are timeless and can be paired with so many options.

What makes your sense of style different than everyone else?
My own personal style is still evolving but I am getting better at narrowing it down. I have only recently come into terms with the fact that I am comfortable wearing certain shapes/cuts/fabrics and am try to stick to them. Being surrounded by vintage makes it easy to experiment with different styles, so I am getting better at cutting out what doesn’t work for me from my closet. I had a retail job for several years where the dress code was black and white, so upon leaving that job I decided to rebel a little by wearing more colour. All black is timeless and chic but enough people out there do it already. Fashion should be fun and make people smile.

How did you start your business? And how have you managed to keep your business in the forefront, since I know Etsy can be quite competitive!
I started an Etsy shop when it was still relatively new to a lot of people. There wasn't a lot of competition, yet Etsy was growing in leaps and bounds and I had no idea what I was doing. At the time I was a university student with an overflowing closet who frequented thrift stores weekly and liked the idea of getting rid of some items for extra cash. I had my first sale and it became addictive!

I treated it like a business from the beginning, analyzed what was selling and what was not, and always answered customer’s questions as soon as possible. I started doing my own accounting, with the help of my mother, who has been self-employed in some capacity or other for 20 + years. She was also a great help when I’d bring home vintage hauls. Some things I would buy for their great quality or style but could not place a date. Right away she would say - “That’s so 60s”. I've learned since then.

I also find that the Etsy community is very encouraging of one another and learned from other shops by example. I educated myself by keeping up to date on their “Quit Your Day Job” posts. It was all very inspiring to me as I was a full-time fashion design student who had no idea where I would fit into the industry upon graduation, the only thing I knew was I wanted to run my own show. I took the money I made and re-invested it into a backdrop, a better camera and a lighting kit from Ebay (not all at once). I took a Photography course as an elective in school. Photography is the most important part of a listing besides the actual product, lighting and styling being secondary factors to it. I am constantly discovering new shops on Etsy that I am blown away by the caliber of styling/photography. Some of my greatest inspiration is my competition, which I think is great because it makes want to be better at what I do.

Trend you're loving right now?
Burgundy and mustard for fall! Kimonos are lovely, high waisted shorts, chunky 90's boots, and anything photo-realistic print.

A phrase you use wayyyy too often?
“No big deal.” Ugh. I don’t know where it came from but I use it way too much.

One word that describes you?
Pixie.

Favorite quotes?

"If I can't dance, I don't want to be a part of your revolution." - Emma Goldman
“Be a warrior instead of a worrier.” Kelly Cutrone

Do you take your own photographs? If you do what kind of camera do you use?

I do take my own photos. I use a tripod and a Canon G12. The screen flips around so I can see how the photo are turning out and I use the self-timer on it.

Any additional information you'd like to share??
Yeah! Follow Honey Moon Muse across the interwebs...

Website - I style lookbooks with local models and photographers every so often. We’ll be posting the fall lookbook soon!
Etsy Shop - We are having a 30% off sale Oct.15 – 25th to celebrate our 3rd anniversary, so drop by for major savings!

A extra big thankeee to Marriki for letting me interview her and for sharing this invaluable information! Wishing you all the best!

Read More

Homecoming, I'm Coming.

Just some pictures from homecoming this weekend! That night was so amazing! When I heard the announcer call my name I teared up a little! I just felt so loved! By the student body, by my friends, sisters and even people I didn't know! My dad hugged me and kept saying how proud he was of me. As I walked across to the 50 yard line I came out of my daze and really heard the applause. Oh my goodness! The sound was sooooo overwhelming! I looked up at the stands and saw all of the people in the stands cheering for us! They were all smiling, waving and going crazy for us! It was so insane and beautiful at the same time. I felt so loved, by all of the smiling waving people. It meant so much to me. I felt like my heart was smiling!

The title comes from the song "Homecoming" by Hey Monday. You can check out the song HERE.

images via Matt Weintritt/The Huntsville Item 

Read More

One Life to Live

  Oh my gosh... I did it! I won Homecoming Queen and my running mate got Homecoming King. It was so amazing! When they called out our names and said we were the winners the crowd exploded and you could feel the love and support pouring out onto the field from hundreds of people. That was definitely something you get to experience only once in a lifetime... And I was lucky enough to be given that chance! With the support of my family, friends, my sisters and my peers. It just makes you realize how even when you think you have not made a difference in someones life, the smile or greeting you gave them makes you see that everything you do has an impact. I had people I didn't know vote for me, I had people I met two years ago vote for me and people I just had a conversation with vote for me because of the connections we make as people. As a human being we are capable of so many things! We have the power to change people's lives, hell we have the power to change the world! Because with enough determination and motivation we can do anything we set our minds to. Anything is possible...

 In fact, twenty years ago I would not even be able to blog this moment! That's how significant people's determination (that lead to the creation of modern technology) is. We just have to remember that while it connects us all in a major way, but we can't let it hinder our growth as a human being. Just because you can live your life behind a computer doesn't mean you should. The world is such a beautiful and amazing place filled with BILLIONS of equally amazing people. Go outside of your comfort zone and try something new. You only have this one life to live, don't waste it. 

The post title comes from one of my favorite songs... It's called "What I Know" by Rebelution  you can check it out HERE.

Oh, Dios mío ... ¡Lo hice! Gané Homecoming Queen y mi compañero de fórmula tiene Homecoming King. Fue tan increíble! Como ser humano que es capaz de tantas cosas! Tenemos el poder de cambiar las vidas de las personas, el infierno que tenemos el poder de cambiar el mundo! Porque con suficiente determinación y motivación que podemos hacer cualquier cosa que poner nuestras mentes a. Cualquier cosa es posible ...

image via Rebelution

Read More

What's In My Bag

My Aunt let me borrow her Tignanello bag and I don't know if she's ever going to get it back. I. Love. This. Bag. Seriously. It's perfect. It's got this great heavy metal detailing and is made out of some really sturdy materials. Also, it's the perfect bag to take when I'm in a hurry.

Here's another snapshot of what I've been carrying in my bag. I always keep a real pen and a stylus pen in my bag just because I never know when I'll want to use my IPad or Mac for some graphics or something. That stylus pen is perfect for all of those things. I've also been keeping my credit cards and cash in this cute little holder. I have no clue where I got it from, it was a gift. Just like always I have almonds in my bag for a yummy snack :) Hope everyone's having a great week!

Read More

Getting Back In Touch With Nature

Nature has always been there for me. For as long as I can remember. It has served as a source of inspiration, adventure and happiness. It's the one place where I can go to find my solace. I have to warn you. I'm about to get extremely hippy dippy with this piece I'm writing so bear with me and try to keep an open mind and.

Often times getting caught up in the every day hustle causes us to loose a sense of who we are. It's inevitable. Sooner or later we will be sucked into the abyss and wonder how to get back to who we were. This has to do in part with our disconnect from nature. Living inside, having A/C, and not feeling the wind on our face daily are all things that are extremely unnatural. These things block our connection with ourselves and the earth. From the beginning of time humans have always had a connection to the earth, and even though the majority of us now live in concrete jungles; this does not make the connection that we have any less strong.

It's amazing how taking a walk outside can instantly calm you. You feel even better when you're able to kick off your shoes and wander in the grass or sink your feet in the soil or maybe even the mud if you're feeling brave enough. Now if your environment is located somewhere where walking around barefoot would cause you harm, I hope you would have enough sense to not endanger your feet. Instead plan a trip to a natural park or garden where you can work the land or just meander and marvel at the wonders all around you.

If you still don't find any of these options appealing one of my personal favorite places to go is this little stream located in the national forest. It has the smoothest pebbles and I can just stand in the water and let it wash over my feet for the longest time. Water is another important element that can help ground yourself.

The connection between the earth and our bare skin isn't really one that can be explained, but I feel so much more at ease after spending an afternoon meandering through the forest. And maybe that's just me! Maybe I'm a weirdo with a soft spot for nature, but if I am I'm okay with that because at least I have a natural way to regain my sanity.

So if you're ever feeling lost or that everything is out of your control try going out in nature and see if that does the trick. I try and go at least once a month, but I'm sure you can set your own timetable for that sort of thing. Good luck and if you want to share or ask a question please do so in the comments.

ear cuff / diy

dress / vintage

earrings / mr. kate

ring / monserat de lucca

photos / amarie baker

Read More

A Few of My Favorite Things

Just a quick post about what I'm doing. This week has been crazy busy. I just finished a couple of interviews and I can't wait to post them! On a personal note, I never thought I'd do this in a million years, but I'm running for Homecoming Queen! Insane I know, I am not your typical homecoming type of girl...but I find out if I won or not on Friday and we all find out tomorrow who are the top finalists. It's strange, but I'm slightly nervous.... I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. Either way I'll be sure you let you know!

Oh, and you can check out the song "On A Good Day" HERE.

Anyways it's getting late and I've got a looooooong day ahead of me. Goodnight!

Read More

NUMÉRO MAGAZINE #133

 

 

 

 

I find this shoot to be so interesting because of how it deviates from the typical black  and white shoots of previous fashion magazines. Illustrator Mel Kadel has done such and amazing job illustrating all of the images. His attention to detail and brilliant strokes are so tastefully done!

     

photo / Greg Kadel

illustrations / Mel Kadel

model / Abby Lee Kershaw

Read More

Artist You Should Know: The Naked And Famous

The Naked And Famous have been around since 2008 and they've always had a very unique sound. This Indie group has revived post-punk music by putting their own twist on the music they create. They're doing whatever they want while keeping true to a sound that they love. 

Young Blood is one of my favorite songs. I just can't help but jump around my room and dance every time it comes on! It's downright intoxicating. Like what you heard? Find more awesome tracks on their website and soundcloud 

image via Big Hassle

Read More

Behind the Blog: Fashion in Da Hat

More times than not when someone starts a blog it's hard to catch people's attention right off the bat. With her unique sense of style and fashion designer background Alessandra Mazzini started her blog in 2009 and has a strong following today. She is an active presence in the Fashion Blogging world (she was recently featured in Vogue Latinoamérica for her street style) and an inspiration to girls everywhere. I was lucky enough to be given the chance to interview the Peruvian stylist/fashion designer.

Alessandra Mazzini, 24
Fashion Stylist/Designer
Lima, Peru

How did you come up with the name of your blog?
It was related to "the rabbit in the hat", I changed rabbit for fashion and it ended up being Fashion in da hat.

Who or what inspires you the most?Music, fashion from the beginning of last century, and ancient cultures.

How would you describe your typical day?
I work on my brand, go buy fabrics, then go to the workshop, see how sells are going at the store, work on the blog, go to the gym and if i still have some time, play a bit of violin.

Which is your favorite part of your job?
Planning the photoshoots of the brand.

Which is the part that you enjoy the least?
The numbers part... the logistics of the buying of fabrics.

What are your ambition/dreams for the future?
 I would like my brand to grow a lot more, and sell more outside of Peru also. And with the blog, maybe have more sponsors.

How would you say that your style is different than everyone else?
I don't know, I just like to feel comfortable with what I wear and I really like to express my personality with the outfits I make.

Have you ever had a negative reaction from people because of the clothes you wear?
 Yes, when I've worn something too "weird" haha...

What’s the best advice you've been given?
Wear more color :)

Trend you’re loving right now?
Minimal sporty

A phrase you use wayyy too often?
Everything will be fine :)

  
One word that describes you?
Creative

I could not live without…
Good karma

Favorite quote?
All life is an experiment.

images via Alessandra Mazzini/Fashion in da Hat

Read More