Summer inspiration x Miroslava Duma

You're all probably tired of hearing about how amazing Miroslava Duma is but I simply couldn't resist making a post about her. Every season I think about what I want to wear and roughly map out my purchases (that's what happens when you're a minimum-wage-making student on a budget). I still adore the sleek, minimalist look, but everybody's doing it these days that it's hard for me to find satisfaction and those kind of outfits these days. This summer I really want to add colours and patterns to my wardrobe. Mira Duma has an effortless way to her outfits where she has so many crazy colours and cuts, yet everything seems to work in perfect harmony. That's the kind of crazy colourful look I want - organized chaos. Now you're probably thinking, "what the heck are you talking about? You don't make sense at all!!" but think of it this way - matching coloured suits (fuchsia pink, electric blue, mustard yellow, baby blues and pinks, bright green - I WANT THEM ALL), mixing patterns (that are not only florals), and wedges (something I have not worn in a hell of a long time since stilettos becoming so darn popular). Oh, and also, unicolor outfits (I'm talking green-on-green, pink-on-pink, etc., seen above on Mira Duma). Let's just say I'm really excited to finally be thinking in an opposite direction!

Day to night x Zara skort

It's quite rare for me to do a day to night post because let's be honest I don't go out much at night (i'm in bed before midnight most of the time and up at 7 am the next morning). This whole post focuses on the infamous Zara asymmetrical skort that everyone seems to own. I spent the afternoon downtown with my friend, which requires a lot of walking, so I threw my Nike free runs on and went for a sporty look. For my brother's high school graduation in the evening, I went for a sleek and simple all-white look. Can we pause for a moment and talk about my hair? It is ridiculously voluminous (and not in a good way) - so much so that my hair is starting to take the shape of a triangle. Doesn't matter because as of next week I will be sporting a much more reasonable mira duma hairstyle. Hopefully it will frame my face a lot better... can't seem to get rid of my enormously puffy cheeks!

day look: t-shirt - zara men//skort - zara//shoes - nike free run//bag - vintage bally//watch - michael kors.

night look: tank - american apparel//blazer and skort - zara//shoes - aldo rise x preen by thornton bregazzi//choker necklace - h&m//clutch - louis vuitton.

Boho hobo

Unfortunately, the weather yesterday was still below 15 degrees, but on the flip side of things, I was able to wear a jacket that has been sitting in my closet for a long time. For the longest time I didn't know what to do with this slim-fitted yet long suit jacket with satin-y lapels that I bought when I was still in high school at a designer warehouse sale. If worn with a slip, I can turn it into one of those sleek tuxedo dresses, but let's be honest, how many occasions in my life would require such fancy and risqué outfit? So then I was back to square one - wearing it as an actual jacket. I toned the fanciness with a pair of flared jeans that I got probably a billion few years ago. I've gained a bit on my thighs so they aren't as flattering on me but at least they look okay on with heels! Now that I think of it, most of the pieces of this outfit were bought QUITE a while back. Yay for finally wearing them again?

top - guess//jeans and hat - gap//blazer jacket - marciano//shoes - zara//bag - 3.1 phillip lim.

Bringing fall essentials back

I finally finished all of my classes and exams for the semester and what happens? The weather gets all frosty on me. It's literally 6 degrees out at the moment and pouring rain, but that didn't stop me from being skirt-less! I guess, in a way, it's okay because that means I can bring two of my favorite things back - jackets and boots. I pulled this camo jacket out from my closet, dusted it off, and took it for a spin. This is actually the first time I wore this particular midi pencil skirt out since I bought it ages ago, and it's really growing on me. I've been eyeing a similar style but green with patterned daisies on asos. Anyways, I actually really like how the pictures turned out with the flash.. not bad. 

shirt - hometown heroes//skirt and shoes - zara//jacket - vintage//watch - michael kors//lipstick - russian red.

Great deals, great goodies

The L'Oréal makeup sale is a place where middle aged women squeeze through crowds of even more middle aged women to try and get as many shampoo bottles as possible with their husbands trailing behind them, confused, out of place, and anxious. You know how they say time is relative? Well I basically walked in, got what I needed, waited for my mother, checked my watch and BAM three hours had already passed. It is one of the few times a year where women are the pushiest, slowest, and the most unreasonable. I literally saw an elderly just cram her cart through different groups of people, grabbing every - and any - box of beauty stuff without even looking at what it was. Whenever we had collectively decided to line up at the cash and leave the store, my mother would hold her index finger up and say, "OH, I really REALLY need (insert beauty product here)." Without another word, she was already gone. Let's just say that I would not wish such experience upon any human being. Ever.

On the bright side, I did get some good stuff. I shopped in moderation, keeping in mind that I don't wear a lot of makeup. Face cream was on the top of my wishlist for today because I'm currently running out on my Clarins. Here's a list of the products I got including a quick rundown on what my first impressions were (from previous experiences and/or from testing them out on my hand) and the reduced prices. Keep in mind that I haven't actually tried the majority of the products yet.

1. Biotherm face multi-protection sun cream SPF 50 - Not oily on the skin but not as matte as I would like it to be either (it is a hydrating sunscreen anyways). It is water resistant and claims that it will make your skin firmer. Love that it's not sticky. ($35.00 $8.50)

2. Biotherm face & body melting cream SPF 30 - This cream is more oily because it's like a milky consistency. I don't mind it since I will be using it on my body mostly anyways. I appreciate that it's paraben-free!($35.00 $8.50)

3. Vichy normaderm tri-activ anti-imperfection hydrating care - woah, that's a mouthful huh? This cream claims to reduce the look of imperfections, mattify your skin, and hydrate it. I've tried this before and I quite like it, especially the mattifying part. It's perfect as a makeup base. ($29.95 $9.75)

4. Vichy normaderm global anti-imperfection hydrating care - I'm going to assume this is almost like the one above minus the acne fighting ingredients. It's supposed to even out your complexion in general (blemishes, pores, shine, etc.) It is also no comedogenic and paraben free. ($19.97 $12.00)

5. Essie nail lacquer in 'brooch the subject' - I've been looking for the perfect nude nail polish for ages, and although this isn't quite it, it's not bad at all. It's a really good dupe of 'safari beige' by Dior at a fraction of the price. ($7.95 $6.00)

6. Maybelline color show nail lacquer in 'metal icon' - I don't have a gunmetal nailpolish yet so I was happy to find this one. I actually have this one on now - it takes two coats, unless you are putting it over another colour. I have to say, I really love it! ($3.00)

7. L'Oréal voluminous power 24h waterproof mascara in 'black' - I haven't tried this particular mascara yet but I love most drugstore mascaras (especially L'Oréal and Maybelline). I'm sure this mascara will be as good as the others! ($4.75)

Fresh kicks for spring

These days, I find it difficult to fall in love with a pair of shoes so much that I'd buy them right away. I almost always wait a few weeks to think of a. how often can i wear them?, b. are they just a fad?, c. can they be worn with more than just one look?, and most importantly, d. do i own a similar pair already? (oh and also are there any deals?) I'm trying to diversify my shoe collection (my SOLEction, huhu) as much as I can, but it can be pretty difficult when you're as picky as me. Sometimes, I will find the most inconvenient shoes so perfect. I find it harder with shoe staples like nude pumps (the heel is too round, the colour is too pink, the heel is too curved, etc.) Even now, as I'm writing this post, I'm staring at those Preen by Thornton Bregazzi x Aldo Rise heels and thinking, "is the leather at the ankles too shiny and cheap-looking? now that i think of it, the ankle straps are a little too loose for my old lady skinny ankles. were they worth $160? am i just buying them because they're limited edition and i'm going to regret returning them?" SO MANY QUESTIONS. The red sneakers are SeaVees for Gap and I'm still wondering if they were a smart purchase. I love the colour but they kind of remind me of Superga sneakers yet the logo on the side makes me think of Wal Mart. Another main problem is that I am in love with zara shoes. they are all so perfect. but i also don't want my whole shoe collection to be zara, so it has proven to be quite difficult. i'm having major first world problems here.

Summer onesie

I was basically channeling my inner Olsen twin yesterday with this wide-legged jumper, vintage purse, and oversized boyfriend blazer. It's a good go-to outfit when you're feeling lazy but you still want to look presentable. I love feeling the breeze on the legs of this onesie, it feels so awesome. I love palazzo pants on anything because it's kind of like "hey I look so easy breezy beautiful in this maxi skirt/dress but BAM it's not a skirt/dress THEY'RE PANTS". Also, I'm trying to figure out a way to get better pictures, but unfortunately, the person who takes my pictures isn't much of a photographer. Maybe I should make more friends...

onesie - urban outfitters//blazer - forever 21//heels - enzo angiolini//bag - vintage bally//watch - michael kors. 

Stuff I put on my face

To be quite honest, it's taken me a while to realize that, although I don't have perfect skin, my skin isn't bad at all. Like most teenage girls, I only break out right before my period starts and if I use greasy and/or oily products on my skin. Ever since I got my first real break out at the age of 15, I've had trouble looking for what's right for my skin. And then it hit me - the answer to this confusing and complex question (well, it's pretty complex for a teenage girl) is actually quite simple: keep it simple! Keep the number of products you use on your face to a minimum and use products with simple ingredients (natural is best, although none of mine are). My skin motto is to basically chill out because eventually, everything will be okay (this is where I softly stroke your hair in hopes of comforting you).

A while ago, someone asked me how I dealt with pimples and discolouration.  High school me would've have given you a long list of products with ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide in it. I would have probably suggested something like the clinique 3-step acne solutions kit. These days, I'm sticking to the simple stuff and inexpensive stuff. Don't get me wrong, I think you should definitely invest in your face, so if that $80 cream works perfectly on you then go ahead, but i'd rather spend my money on higher end foundation than higher end face wash when drug store works perfectly well on me. Anyways, there are four important components of a face care kit:

1. Makeup wipes/makeup remover - Silly me, I forgot to include my favorite Biore makeup wipes, but yes, it is SUPER important to wipe ALL makeup off before sleeping! and I suggest before taking afternoon naps too.

2. Face wash - I love Spectro gel, especially their blemish prone skin line and I keep a huge bottle of it in my shower. I also absolutely love Simple's regular facial wash gel and I keep this one at the sink for mornings. For me, both work similarly well and I switch between the two regularly to spice things up (ooh baby!) 

3. Exfoliator - I think it's really important to exfoliate your face at least once a week. Some of you may have sensitive skin, so in this case, you would have to find an exfoliator with gentler and smaller beads. I swear by my St. Ives apricot scrub. I keep it in my shower and use it 2-3 times per week. Personally, I use it because I have a lot of post-acne dark spots and I find that this exfoliator really lightens them and makes my face so soft, glowing, and prepped for moisturizer!

4. Moisturizer - I've spent most of my teenage life confused with face creams ("okay so this one's for day time then that one's for night time and then I have an eye cream and oh don't forget spot treatment AHH!")My problem is basically that I always forget to moisturize at night, so there's no use in buying a night cream. This Clarins daily energizer cream is an all-purpose moisturizer for me. I love the normal formula as well as the gel one. It keeps my face matte yet hydrated.

After that you can add whatever works well for your skin: eye treatments, face masks, nose strips, whatevs. To me, the less steps there are, the simpler my life is! Oh, and I also included my favorite hand cream in the picture above (Herbacin) as well as lip balms (Nivea and EOS). Anyways, hope this kind of helped! 

When an outfit goes wrong

Sometimes, you think of a great outfit in your head, and you try to make it work, but it just doesn't work. This is a prime example of said situation. Although I like the idea of this outfit, the skirt is too thick to show midriff (the fabric at the waistline just sticks out) and maybe the combination of laced up heels, short skirt and see through croptop with a black lace bra is a little too provocative for the outdoors. 

I would have either switched my heels to my nike free runs, the skirt for high waisted black skinny jeans, or the top for a blouse. Well, I've learned my lesson: never put these three pieces together. It just doesn't work for you!

ps. someone on tumblr said i looked like sky ferreira today and i had to google who she was. Let's just say I ended up laughing but then that laughter turned into sighs. maybe it's just the way people see other people's faces. like how I thought grimes looked like john galliano at the met gala. 

Silver screen

 

 

To be quite honest, I'm getting bored with the whole minimalist look. I'm looking forward to wearing more daring and colorful outfits this spring and summer. In contradiction to what I just said, I finally copped those Aldo rise x Preen white heeled sandals for that all-white look but I'm starting to get more and more interested in metallic accessories, mostly silver. Above are a few silver shoes i've been drooling over on the interwebz lately (mostly net-a-porter and polyvore). My absolute favourite would be the gladiator-like strappy sandals from zara. At only $79.90 it's so hard to resist! But, if I had the funds, those miu mius would be mine in a heartbeat. All I can do right now is just sigh and scroll. I hope some of you share my misery. 

Over it all

In the midst of all the sun, heat, and 25-degrees-and-over, I began to miss that 15-degrees-and-under weather. Summer meant packing (almost) all things leather away. No more quilted leather jackets, leather pants, or leather overalls. Then, suddenly, as if the fashion gods were listening to my thoughts, BAM, the weather made a complete one-eighty. I was able to enjoy all things leather - and more, such as my trench coat - this weekend. Funny how people miss summer when it's winter and vice versa. But I think mostly summer. 

overalls - rehab//shoes - zara//chambray shirt - american apparel//watch - michael kors.

Chuck Taylors

When your school is situated so inconveniently far from your house, fighting the urge to go out in pyjamas gets really REALLY hard. Every day I walk those 5 blocks to the bus stop, take that 20 minute bus ride to the metro, then a 30 minute metro ride followed by a 15 minute walk just to sit down in a humid class on the 5th floor of the building listening to a teacher talk for two hours. All that travelling can be exhausting and uncomfortable and wearing an uncomfortable outfit can make it even worse. Don't get me wrong, I am all for wearing what I love no matter what level of discomfort I may feel (ie. if I did own 6-inch Casadei stilettos I'd wear them every day. If it doesn't hurt then they're not heels, right?), but doing that 5 times a week is close to impossible. I've come up with a formula that does no wrong: jeans + tee outfit OR normal outfit but throw on sneakers. I'm sorry, that makes sense in my mind. In this case, I did both except I threw on a blazer and a big watch to make it look more put together. On a side note, I've literally had those chucks for over a decade and they still fit! My body hasn't grown since the fifth grade which explains a lot. 

blazer - forever 21//croptop - american apparel//shorts - vintage levi's//shoes - converses//sunglasses - urban outfitters//watch - michael kors//necklace - everything//bag - 3.1 phillip lim.

New in for Spring x Formalwear

I've been really into boyish formal wear lately (mixed with t-shirts or jeans to make it more casual and heels to make it more feminine). I don't know what that particular look is called, but it's very slouchy and relaxed, structured yet wrinkled... if that makes any sense. The slouchiness, wrinkly-ness and muted grey colour of these Elizabeth and James trousers is so perfect. Imagine them with a simple white tee, pointed heels, a cross-body bag, cool shades and messy hair. When worn with this structured Zara white blazer as well as an envelope clutch and some statement jewelry, the outfit turns from casual to (somewhat) formal. I've literally searched far and wide for the perfect structured and fitted white blazer. I had originally fallen in love with this Zara one because it fit perfectly but I was determined to branch out of Zara and find a white blazer elsewhere (Mango? not fitted enough; Calvin Klein? too cropped; Helmut Lang? too pricey - and so on). After about two months I went back to Zara's website and freaked out when the blazer wasn't available online anymore. I rushed to the store today and found the last one in my size! All the others were larges and extra larges (so basically, it was meant to be). All in all, I'm really happy with today's purchases and it was well worth spending the morning shopping with my parents. LITERALLY both my parents. 

Spring Wishlist x Zara

Long dress with pockets $79.90

Studio croptop $59.90        Sheer studio top $79.90

Frayed twill shorts $39.90     Printed ruffle skirt $79.90

Gladiator sandals $159.00

Leather sandal $79.90

Flat sandal with buckle $89.90