Rorschach Inkblot...Fashion? A D.I.Y Snapshot

From psychology, comics, and fashion, the iconic inkblots of Hermann Rorschach's psychological test has been given plenty of different jobs in its day. Lets face it, what has been used to examine a persons personality characteristics and emotional functioning happens to look great on clothes and accessories. This is why I got inspired to craft up my own inkblot jewelry with the "straight off the runway" looks, but with the broke college girl price tag.    

After a few long hours, these was my results!

 Materials Used:

* Leather (I used the leather from photo pockets I had)

* Gold Metallic Painters Pen ($2.43 at Walmart)

* Gold chain for jewelry ($3.00 at Walmart)

* Gold jump rings ($2.00 at Walmart)

* Hole puncher

* Scissors

* Exacto knife for crafting

Inkblot Necklace #1

Inkblot Necklace #2

Culture & Fashion Fusion: "Mipsterz" Muslim Hipsters

    Sheikh and Bake Productions released Somewhere in America #MIPSTERZ in December of 2013. Since then, this edgy snapshot of a few women's individual style and personality has sparked a lot of conversation in the world of social media. One of the producers of the video, Sara Aghajanian, says the purpose of the video is to stress the diversity of Muslim women. She explains in a recent NPR article that the inspiration for the video came from a trip she made to Iran. Aghajanian goes on to say;

"My family is from Iran, and growing up I remember the many media images of Iran with women wrapped in veils and chadors. When the opportunity came for me to visit Iran myself a few years ago, I saw the diversity of color and design in women's fashion. If you look around New York City and other places, you see the same thing. So the project really made me excited because it shows the unique reality that these women embody,"

    After watching the video, reading a few articles, and reading others opinions on the video, I can confidently say that I love their video and the message Sheikh and Bake Productions and the #Mipsterz crew are trying to portray. Obviously the women in the video do not represent all women of in American Muslim culture, this is a small group of young women embracing their own unique style while still holding onto their religious background. What I also think is amazing about this video is the fact that it shows diversity, it shows another kind of Muslim woman, one that is completely different from that we picture in our minds from news footage we see on TV.  

    Somewhere in America #Mipsterz video is showcases and sparks plenty of social and cultural topics, but its also shows great street style. These young women aren't just empowering and creative, they are trend-setters. #Mipsterz? I say High Fashion!


Check out the full NPR article Muslim 'Hipsters' Turn A Joke Into A Serious Conversation
http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2013/12/28/250786141/muslim-hipsters-turn-a-joke-into-a-serious-conversation


Here's another interesting video Hijabistas: Inside the World of Muslim-American Fashion, about young Muslim American women and their story on fusing their Islamic and Western roots.

Flappers, and Speakeasies, and Gangsters! Oh my!

Back In Time For New Years Eve

"Let's prohibit prohibition!"

In every history class you've had or any television series and movies you watch with the 1920s backdrop, an image of creativity, spirit, violence, elegance and prohibition is vividly painted in our minds. So what not relish in its beauty by ringing in the new year by partying like its 1922.The Roaring Twenties was a decade of flappers, jazz, fashion, and gangsters. When I say gangsters, I'm not referring to the guys in rap music videos, I'm talking about the legends of the jazz age; Dutch Schultz, Al Capone, or Jack "Legs" Diamond, etc. As F. Scott Fitzgerald puts it: 

"The restlessness approached hysteria. The parties were bigger. The pace was faster, the shows were broader, the buildings were higher, the morals were looser, and the liquor was cheaper; but all these benefits did not minister much delight."

What I love about the fashion in the 1920s is that it reflected the rapid movement and change of society. Its iconic style has stayed with us throughout the decades and with movies and television shows like Boadwalk Empire, Downton Abby, The Great Gatsby and The Artist, 1920s style has definitely made its come back on the runway and into our closets.

 

 Then

 

Now

 

My 1920s New Years



Hello There Sailor! A Pin Up Halloween!

For women, finding a Halloween costume can be difficult, especially if you don't want to show all your goods or you're plus size like me. That's why I just make my own! This year I decided to go as a 1940s Sailor Pin Up girl, and it's not hard to tell that I love everything retro. I made the sailor hat and gloves and paired it with a vintage dress I already owned. Then with some pin curls, my favorite matted red lipstick, dotted tights, and a pair of black pumps, I completed my D.I.Y costume.

Trench Dressing

    

 

One of the timeless statement pieces a women can have in her wardrobe is the trench coat.  From it's original use during World War II in the military to the magical films of Audrey Hepburn, trench coats have allured us for decades. Since then, the trench coat has been designed in an array of different styles and shapes like 'The Little Black Dress', but the trench coat has ultimately remained a fashion favorite. A great trench coat can add just the perfect finishing touches on an outfit or even make a casual outfit more chic. And lets not forget that this spring and fall trend works for all body types as there are plenty of different styles to fit you and your style needs.

Today's Trench Coat Outfit 

 The Outfit

Trench Coat: H&M

Teal Blouse: Zara

Navy Pants: Target

Today's Outfit: A Day at the Antique & Vintage Flee Market

The Outfit

Black Motor Jacket: Target

White tunic/dress: H&M

Skinny Jeans: Express

Embellished Ankle Boots: Target

Pocket Watch Neckless

Art Nouveau Poster Bracelet: Head House Books

 Coach Tote Bag

Red Printed Silk Pashmina

 

    I can write a Senior Thesis on the many reasons why I love Philadelphia but for today and time's sake the reason I give to you is the fact that things like Antique & Vintage Markets happen here. It was wonderful, a bunch of small vintage/antiques shop owners and even other people with things to sell set up booths and tables to let vintage lover's, like myself, buy some great stuff you won't normally find in a normal store. From vintage advertisement prints to antique furniture, this market had it all.

Trend Alert: Fifty Shades of Green!?!

Trend Alert: Fifty Shades of Green? by natasha-rodriguez-1 featuring Pantone

Feeling Retro In October

    Although my home town is very bland, living in New Hampshire has its perks. For instance, the beautiful scenery and colors of the fall season. Today I was feeling a little retro and wanted to celebrate the season with some pumpkin carving and baking like a 1950s house wife.

The Outfit:

• I decided to try out the all denim trend and paired my new denim button down with my favorite pair of skinny jeans
• Simple black flats from Payless
• And for the hair I did a retro Rosie the Riveter inspired up-do, complete with a bumper bang and a mustard yellow bandanna

    

Maxi Skirts; The New 'Wear Anywhere' Yoga Pants?

    It's plain to see that the maxi skirt and even dress has taken over the fashion world. Everywhere you turn you'll see someone showcasing the popular hemline. They're comfortable, versatile, easy to wear, and can be incredibly chic, but is this just all in our heads? Have maxi skirts and dresses morphed into the new yoga pants?

 

    From kids to grown women, yoga pants are a quick item to just throw on and tackle the day in. But lets face it ladies, no matter how comfortable they may be they are certainly not chic or fashionable. You don't always need to be wearing those sexy new heels you bought or those slim trousers to be fashionable, especially when going out to do some errands, BUT you don't and shouldn't be wearing those old yoga pants (that haven't even been to a yoga class). The fact of the matter is that we CAN be comfortable AND fashionable!

Why We Love The Maxi

• Versatility: Dress it up or dress it down, this hemline can do it all.
• An arrary of different maxi skirts: Whether it's clingy, flowy, stretchy, edgy, retro, or classic, there's a maxi for all styles.
• Comfy: Like yoga pants, maxi skirts are comfortable, you can walk freely without havng to tug and adjust your outfit.
• Easy to wear: Seriously you can wear them anywhere and everywhere. Instead of wearing those worn out yoga pants put on a maxi, it's even easier to throw on or off.
• Fashion all year round: Maxi skirts and dresses are one of the few items in your closet you can wear throughout the seasons, you just need to know how to style it.

Why Yoga Pants Are not Everday and Everywhere Pants

• They are Yoga Pants: they are ment to be worn to yoga, and to exercise in. Let's face it, we all know everyone has a pair and doesn't wear them for their intended use.
• Casual (in a "hey, just on my way to the gym" kinda way): Stop wearing yoga pants to work, to dinner, lunch breaks or anything that requires actual pants/clothes. There is a time and a place for yoga pants and in those times I promise you there are better alternatives 
• Not too flattering: One size does not fit all with the yoga pant trend. Every single body is beautiful so why hide it in some frumpy spandex pants. 

    So if everything maxi is becoming the new 'wear anywhere' yoga pants, so be it! Unlike actual yoga pants, we look put together. In our minds we know we're wearing something as easy as yoga pants but when it comes down to it we look like we can head on over to the next Fashion Week. And right now the maxi trend is not going to max out anytime soon.

VIVA THE CROTCHLESS YOGA PANTS!

'American Horror Story: Coven' LA Premiere

  In honor of the amazing television premiere of the anticipated American Horror Story: Coven, I wanted to cover two of my favorite looks at the premiere of the show in LA.

Taissa Farmiga in Rebecca Minkoff

 Farmiga wore an orange Rebecca Minkoff Fall 2013 ‘Kirk’ A-line dress, which she styled with a pair of simple black pumps and a snakeskin Rebecca Minkoff ‘Vincent’ minaudiere in an orange hue to match her A-line dress. I have to say she looms great and I really like the dress. Although I would've loved to see her in a more dramatic pair of shows because of the simplicity of the dress. I think the fight pair of shoe could of made this outfit. All in all Farmiga looks beautiful.

Also are we seeing some Déjà vu with this A-line Minkoff dress? I think so...

A week earlier the lovely Lena Dunham was spotted at another LA event in the Minkoff dress in yellow.

Emma Roberts in Cushnie Et Ochs

Roberts made a daring fashion choice, sporting a low-cut white dress with a cut-out panel which showed off a hint of her toned midriff. She added a pair of matching white stilettos to complete her outfit.  Despite the hair, I love this outfit even with the matchy matchy shoes. The dress looks stunning on her and the dress itself is a great combination of classy meets sexy.  

Don't forget to get hooked on the new show!!!!

Online Shopping; The New Frontier

    There's nothing like going out shopping and getting to play dress-up in the dressing rooms, but sometimes trying on clothes can be a pain and we don't always have the time to go out shopping. Online shopping definitely has its pros and cons, but when you do it right it can save you time and money. 

    I recently stumbled upon the perfect place for some online shopping, this place has all my fashion needs. It's called Threadflip, which is a new social shopping experience and your own unique fashion marketplace for buying, and selling either new or pre-owned (pre-loved) fashion. These place also has all the name brand designers we love for less!

    Today I was exploring the site and I found someone selling a Zara (which is one of my favorite stores) blouse that has never been worn, and still has the tags on it for only $27, plus I had a coupon from Threadflip so I only paid $17. What makes this even better? Threadflip has FREE SHIPPING! Online shopping here really does save me money and now I can't wait until i get my new Threadflip purchase in the mail.

    For those of you who have yet to explore the wonderful world of online shopping, go and check it out. You get to see more style options and sizes that you may not find in any store or outlet mall near you. And lets not forget online shopping is open 24/7 at your figure tips. 

The Zara cinched waist blouse I ordered today!

VMA's: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

    The 2013 MTV Music Video Awards red carpet was definitely a night filled with astonishment, from shocking performances to eye catching fashions. 

    The red carpet is the place to impress, some stars rise to the occasion while others drown in whatever mistake they decided to showcase for the night. 

THE GOOD!

Lady Gaga surprised us by starting the night out with a more subtle look. Lady Gaga struts the carpet in a black Prabal Gurung dress.

Girls' actress Allison Williams showcased a pretty Valentino frock. There is no doubt that Allison Williams is a style icon on and off the TV screen. 

Personally, Holland Roden stole the show in this voluminous gown by Naeem Khan.

Selena Gomez in Atelier Versace. After taking home the award for Best Pop Video, its clear that this Disney Star has grown up and become an elegant young woman while still showing a little sex appeal.

Taylor Swift decided to channel a little Marilyn Monroe that night in this figure-hugging Hervé Léger dress. Simple, but a show stopper.

The young Victoria Secret Model, Chanel Iman conquered the red carpet wearing a metallic lace gown with long sleeves and a plunging neckline by J. Mendel.

 Jennifer Hudson wore a leather dress by Dior, showing us her lovely curves.

Ellie Goulding in a spike-studded Amato Couture by Furne One dress and Brian Atwood pumps

Top model Joan Smalls paired her Viktor & Rolf dress with strappy leather Casadei sandals

THE BAD!

 

Sarah Hyland wore a dress by Marchesa. First off, Sarah Hyland is a beautiful young actress but the dress does absolutely nothing for her figure. Its a shredded mess. 

 Okay Rihanna actually looks great, the outfit is perfect! But not perfect for a Red Carpet Event. I would of loved to see her more dressed up.

 Top model Erin Wasson wowshowed up in this sheer design by Alexandre Vauthier and a Givenchy turban. On the runway this is art but on the red carpet there's not much there, literally. But we have to admit, we all wish we looked that good when wearing nothing.

Rapper Lil' Kim, reminding us that even the rich and famous can look that bad. Where is this woman's stylist?

THE UGLY!

 Miley Cyrus in vintage Dolce & Gabbana, I'm not a fan of the outfit.

 

Let's just say that this years VMAs wasn't Miley's best nights out.