Campfire

The academic year is pulling to a close, but it's setting just on the surface. I spent Memorial Day with gooey s'mores, happy friends, potluck goods, Hawaiian music, dusty sand, a wood-burning campfire, and a flaming sun. I just about died eating two boxes of graham crackers, four bars of Hershey's chocolates, and one bag of marshmallows within a single sitting (on top of spam fried rice, banana lumpia, blueberry cheesecake, sweetbread, and whatever else Hawaii Club brought to the mix). I took this day at the beach to wear a cropped pink tee from Pac Sun, dream catchers and teeth accessories found lying about, an Urban Outfitters belt, my Olsenboye wedges, distressed stockings, and my first-ever DIY cut-off shorts. I took one of my boyfriend's many old jeans (he has more than I do), cut them mid-thigh and rolled up the hems to kingdom come. I felt right at home. This nostalgic campfire prompted the perfect song for a relaxing end to a great long weekend. Enjoy. 

[Bali tee-shirt Pacsun, belt Urban Outfitters $5, shorts DIY, strappy wedges Olsenboye]

Outsider

Let's make music. Join the Band.

Did I ever mention how much I drool due to the Band of Outsiders? It's probable I haven't, being that I am in my own, private time zone, and I take to the many fashion weeks in my own, leisurely, fashion. Utter blasphemy, I'm sure. I love the Band's ability to sew opposites together in one composite line for Spring 2011 Ready-to-wear: Girl. That name, in itself, oozes cool. Mixed with bright neon colors in preppy looks are sheer peach grecian dresses and white ankle-wrapped platform wedges. It's sigh-inducing. Wearing my size large vertical striped knit, thrifted Indiana Jone's headgear, Claire's round wire glasses, and Revlon Moon Drop Lipstick Creme 590 "Lilac Champagne," I felt like I could go camping with the girls--albeit in a disheveled, vintage form. However, my allover lace dress and Decree cross body bag hangs in the background, as if maintaining that opposing, typical Girl balance. I'm wearing stockings with strappy Olsenboye wedges and loose, long pigtails. As my H&M shoulder bag suggests, I'm fringing at the seams. "Uh 1, 2, uh 1, 2, 3, 4!"

Late Bloomer

My clock stopped ticking, reminding me to live in the present.

I'm wearing my golden, sunny specs and basking in the long-awaited Spring sunlight. I almost forgot what that bright ball in the sky looked like. Spring normally comes about a month or two earlier in the year--yes, even in rainy, dreary Seattle--and I've been amassing a pile of sunglasses on my shelves, eagerly awaiting Spring's arrival with crossed fingers, prayers, and sun dances. My H&M, Icing, Fuego, and Wilson's Leather sunglass have been collecting dust in the shadows of this year's never-ending winter. Now with my eyes' inability to adjust to the brightness of Spring, I'll be donning a pair for every photo shoot. You may even forget what my eyes look like. If the sun dare shy away again, I don't care. My sunglasses have been neglected long enough. I'll wear them when it's raining for all I care. Did you know that Seattle has the highest statistic for sunglasses per capita in the nation? Go figure. As for my Bartell's Drugstore sunhat, my boyfriend thought I was crazy when I threw this sun hat onto the conveyor belt next to the Dayquil and toilet paper. Saw it. Loved it. Bought it. I feel eclectic and bohemian. See what one item of Olsenboye gear can do to you?

[black-banded sun hat via Bartell's Drugstore $6, $6 Icing specs, white vest H&M $5, accessories Feugo $12, floral maxi $10 Papaya, knitted shoulder bag thrifted,   strappy wedges Olsenboye $40]

Poncho Proportions

If you knew what I knew, you could stand in the rain, forever, too.

I'm not afraid of proportions, and I love feeling as if I'm sitting indoors on a rainy day in some pajama-worthy softness with a bowl of popcorn and some Swan Princess. However, duty calls. Thus, my gray Forever21 harem pant is paired with my oversized fringed-hemmed poncho. The poncho falls off my shoulders and leaves a longer train of fringes behind me. I'll raise my hands, and it's as if I have black, shredded wings bursting from the side of my torso--an image for a rainy day, indeed. Topping of my day-for-the-rain ensemble is my Metropark bowl, black-banded hat.

WARNING: I'm typing in a near vegetative state, more than ready to hit the bed for some deep sleep. Now days, I'm dressing in the dark and whilst asleep, incomprehensible and unable to comprehend anything. These days, I'm setting up my internship with CollegeFashionista, drafting articles for both Mode de la Mode and 72M's next online/print issues, writing a fashion column for the Spectator, transitioning between my old and new positions in two different clubs, working three different jobs, and preparing for my fast-approaching finals. One thing, oddly, keeps me calm. The rain, for many, is loathsome, (and more so in the Spring). I welcome it. It's my lullaby, drumming like fast and light fairy feet running across the window sills and balcony bars by the side of my bed.

Never fear. Truly, Fashionwrites comes first for writing--you come first. You're my go-to support group, and I love providing (with crossed fingers) inspiring or thought-provoking content. I intend to continue this sharing shinanza (with crossed fingers) at a faster pace come summer. Work won't end with this year's finals, but I have plans for revamping this site and providing more availability and openness to you, as readers and appreciated fans. These are the thoughts that drum in my mind like the rain on my windowsill.

Mother Knows Best

"The phrase 'working mother' is redundant."

--Jane Sellman

Here's the woman who never said "no" when I wanted to quit dancing Tahitian when I was six years old because my thigh muscles hurt. Here's the woman who's been to every single one of my professional Tahitian shows and competitions. Here's the woman who never said "no" when I wanted to audition for my first play. Here's the woman who picked me up from school every day after my rehearsals and watched every single one of my plays--whether I was that oompa loompa in the "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" or Puck in "A Midsummer's Night Dream." Here's the woman who never said "no" when I wanted to join Judo. Here's the woman who watched me at every one of my judo meets and took care of me when I dislocated my elbow and fractured my ankle. Here's the woman who picked me up from judo practice at school, took me to Tahitian practice, and then drove me back to school for rehearsals. Here's the single most energetic, strong, experienced, kind, forgiving, funny, motivating, and empowering woman I will ever know. 

My mother will always be the center of my blog, my closet, my odes, my inspiration, and my heart. People say children are a mother's heart walking outside of her. My mother is my heart walking before me as the perfect example, with me as my best friend, and behind me in case I ever fall. She's given me endless room to discover myself. I wouldn't be the diverse young woman I am today if not for her own openness to the world.

Not to mention she's one hot, sexy mama.

You know, Tumbleweeds

Prairie Dogs.

[hat thrifted, sweater thrifted, earrings gift, cross body bag Decree, wedges Payless Shoesource]

I'm wearing an Indian Jones hat my boyfriend wore in a previous post, an eyelet sweater, and white ruffle socks, (all of which were thrifted), with my Decree cross bag, $5 Payless Shoescource peep-toes, and Macy's khaki shorts. I have an "I-just-rolled-out-of-bed-and-don't-give-a-" ensemble, complete with matching bed hair. The only thing that really packs a punch is my barbie-pink lipstick. In the bright sunlight, my neon pink puckers are a bit washed out, though not to the point where my boyfriend wants to kiss them again. I'm just relaxing in the sun's warm rays, keeping warm with a light sweater, throwing out pink kisses, and walking on sweet soles. The annual lu'au is kicking off this Saturday, during which I'll be dancing half naked on the stage (literally but also justifiably, though it still warrants a "Warning: don't try this at home") and singing to local hits with a Temptation-style twist. I hope that you all enjoy your Mother's Day Weekend, stretch out, relax, and breathe a sigh of "Yeah."