Halloween Costume: the Chanels

Halloween is my favorite holiday and I am all about creating costumes from items you already have/will wear again in everyday life. This year I am also obsesses with the new horror/comedy Scream Queens, and the baddest sorority clique ever, The Chanels.

The group wears primarily pastels, making the look easy to achieve. Chanel Oberlin, the leader, is known for her big dark sunglasses. Another main point which is really fun is the outrageous furs the girls wear. Chanel #3 wears earmuffs while #5 routinely wears pearls. The outfits are always fashion forward with extremely girly details like florals and frills. Happy Halloween Scream Queens!

Are you a fashion chameleon?

via thebwd.com

Lately (really since moving to the city) I've noticed that I've become a fashion chameleon of sorts. Well all know that chameleons adapt to their surroundings by changing colors as a way of camouflage. Just as some people use fashion and dress as a way of standing out, a fashion chameleon uses it as a way to fit in. Its more than just adapting to the seasons or even dressing for different occasions. For me, I noticed that I was following others and adapting my style to fit in with different groups I interacted with to the point where I wonder if I even have a definitive style of my own. Perhaps this is normal, and style should be seen as more of a bricolage many different styles. Some of my own style groups can be seen below.

Intern- Definitely an understated chic filled with flat slip on sandals and denim minis.

Class- Class time was definitely about dressing to impress. Filled with labels (or the very least Zara knockoffs).

Work- Lots of trendy pieces like platform sandals while still complying with the dress code.

Do you see yourself as a fashion chameleon? Leave a comment below!

How to make your shoes more comfortable

Nothing is worse than having a pair of shoes that love but are a pain to wear. Here are some tips to make your shoes more comfortable so you can walk and stand for as long as you want.

1. For heels that are super high, your weight is obviously forced to ball of your foot. Some padding in the front of the shoes should provide relief.
   
   
   
2. If there is a little too much room in the back of your shoes, then add a little but of cushion to the heel.
   
3. If the back of the shoe is rubbing against your Achilles, add some cushion to the back to raise your heel.
   
4. Another trick for heel is to to tape together your two middle toes. This provides a little extra stability on your feet. You can use a bandaid or medical tape.
5. To prevent blisters from forming use extra protection all over your feet or where you are most prone to blisters. You can find it wherever you find running gear.
   

Of course lower heels, wedges, and block heels will give you more stability and comfort. Check out some great comfortable shoes for summer time below!

Spring into the 70's

Spring into the 70's by karalynrae featuring a chain necklace

The 70's are definitely in for spring with their use of suede and platform shoes. This post is not sponsored by Lucky or luckyshops.com but is part of a contest.

Exhibition Review: FIT's YSL and Halston: Fashioning the 70's

YSL Rive Gauche Le Smoking, Courtesy of FIT

The 1970's was a time for big changes in fashion, namely the demise of haute couture and the rise of pret-a-porter. In the Museum at FIT's current show, Yves Saint Laurent and Halston are the title of "biggest designers of the 1970's". With their work shown side by side, one can see that there were indeed consistent trends in this decade.

The 70's mark the rise of the designer as personality. Both YSL and Halston were featured on tv shows and partied at the infamous Studio 54. The exhibit itself mimics the infamous club with its white floors, disco ball and 70's dance music. The designers differ in how their careers ended. Halston's career declined by the end of the decade while YSL was seen as a hero of fashion upon his death. 

The exhibit features certain themes, including menswear inspiration, exoticism, and historicism. The best example of menswear inspiration is Saint Laurent's Le Smoking (above). Both designers drew on history for inspiration. For YSl this involved following in French designer Paul Poiret's orientalism with an exotic use of color. On the other hand, Halston rejected such ornamentalism. Instead, Halston drew inspiration from designers such as Vionnet and her complicated use of the bias cut and Claire McCardel's American sportswear.

When museum exhibits focus on two designers in a single decade one can forget that there were many other influential designers at the time. Such a side by side comparison seems simplistic for an entire decade.

The exhibition is open until April 18th.

Case of the Tuesdays

Every Tuesday starts off the same with my regular kripalu yoga class. As the day goes on however, I can't help but feel depressed. By 5pm I want the day to just end. I couldn't help but wonder why this dark feeling was so linked to this particular day in the week. Shouldn't a day that begins with relaxing yoga bring relaxation and peacefulness? In particular, I noticed that my self esteem was pretty low on this particular day.

As I reflected, I realized it all had to do with what I was wearing; my yoga clothes. Because of laziness, I didn't feel the need to change my outfit after yoga practice just to do work in the teachers lounge. However, my ripped yoga pants, sneakers, and ponytail don't make me feel beautiful. My make up free face still makes me feel uncomfortable, though I would never exercise with it on.

The days that I carefully pick out my outfits, do my hair and make up, are the days when my attitude improves. Should the way I dress really affect my self confidence so much? Maybe, maybe not. Psychology believes that self confidence does not come from nowhere. One thing I know is that I'm not alone. How one dresses can affect what one does, how they act and even think. Dress is very much a situated bodily practice.

Ready for Spring

Ali Ro Baby blue and navy stretch cotton blend colorblock sleeveless dress   (see more navy sleeveless dresses)

 I'm definitely ready for spring. Going outside with 5 layers on just isn't doing it for me anymore. Thank god its officially. Winter always makes me feel like I have to wear a lot of dark colors so I can't wait to pop out the brightness.

This is a very dark winter look. Dress is Madewell, Lipstick is Chanel.