My Humble Abode

A while back (and I do mean a while back), I wrote on ideas that I wish to implement in my dorm room this year. While it still in the progress, I think it's good to take a step back and appreciate the progress that's being made.

I am all about personalizing my space and making myself feel like home, even if it's temporary. Thankfully, my roommate and I are on the same page in terms of decoration and theme, which works greatly in my favor. I like to infuse originality while incorporating apartment-style decor. Then, I stumbled across this on tumblr:

And the very words that left my lips was genius! How easy to use old glass containers and turn it into a very classy and inexpensive way of organizing makeup brushes. There are still ideas that are floating around and things that I need to buy to make the room feel even home-y; but, there's time to do it.

With the wonderful inception called Pinterest, there are loads of ideas that would not have otherwise crossed my path. For example, I am not a visually artistic person (writing is more my forte), but with all the DIY pins I see, it prompts me to get a canvas from the local art store and just paint. Paint what exactly, I'm not sure, but of two things I'll be certain: 1) it will cathartic, and 2) I will learn more about myself. Trail and error baby. After all, I learned how to bake through trail and error. (No, it did not end in burnt food; it's more that it's not exactly how I pictured it, but it still tasted good.) I just may do this soon.

On the Eve of Fall

Hello everyone! I assure you that I have not forgotten about you all. Due to juggling exams, papers, discussion posts, and extracurricular commitments, checking on my blog has unfortunately taken a back burner. However, since I have acquired a grip on my suddenly very busy and hectic schedule, I can resume to my regular writing outlet. While it may be rather sporadic at times, with periods of me writing frequently to gaps of intermittent posts, I still find catharsis on here.

With September quickly coming to a close (it's the latter half of September; I'm still wrapping my mind around the fact that August is gone!), I am eagerly awaiting the return of layers, scarfs, boots, the smell of cinnamon, and warm tea and coffee to warm my hands. Fall in Virginia is a different type of fall than fall in Toronto, so you can only imagine my zealousness towards this season change. Also, as a side note, I am rather done with shorts and humidity. I am ready for chilly weather, cold days, and a slight frigid breeze. I find it so comforting to return to my dorm and wrap myself in a blanket while sipping a scalding tea. Walking through my gorgeous campus categorizing the different shades of red, orange, and yellow leaves. I used to detest fall since it lasted so shortly. If you blink, you could miss it.

Talking about fall provides the perfect leeway for fashion. With September trademarked for reinventing your style for school and whatnot, it is the perfect opportunity to spice up your wardrobe. Recently, and this can accounted for time spent superfluously on tumblr and flipping through English fashion magazines, I am a big advocate for neutrals, darker colors, and simple, clean silhouettes. My personality doesn't reflect a very outrageous appearance or very "loud" on fabrics. So I naturally gravitate towards minimalistic designs. Some ubiquitous garments in my arsenal include stripes (I have at least 6 different tops in various colors), dark denim pants, flats (it will come abundantly clear that I collect flats--loafers, penny loafers, ballet flats, etc.--generously), and coats (I have an affectionate moniker linked to my collection of coats, which may be traced to the fact that Canadian seasons are more harsher than Virginian seasons).

Gauging fashion editorials and profuse tumblr scrolling, I have come to realize that there are several pieces of clothing that I am on the hunt for. My prolific ardor for European clothing clearly came in full swing after a spent a month in the continent this past summer. However, the concept of British boarding school or studying in the English countryside appeals greatly to me, so the style that accompanies that scene is sketched permanently in my mind. A couple of things I always keep in mind when strolling the mall or scanning the hangers in a store are: a chardonnay-hued Peterpan collar shirt (cashmere would be preferred, but cotton is ideal as well), a navy blue long-sleeved peplum top (three-quarter sleeve would work as well, but hopefully that particular design would flatter my shape), Ferragamo-esque flats, a slightly flared skirt, a classic lace top, a smokey gray jumper, a thick sweater with some sort of woodland animal on it (squirrel or fox), and black jeans. Whenever I shop, I am a woman on a quest, so I am sure that I will find at least one of the aforementioned items, I hope (she whispered optimistically).

In the meantime, before the temperature drops well below 60 degrees (or 15 degrees Celsius), transitioning between late summer weather to early fall is...not easy. So who else would I look for inspiration than Taylor Swift? I was always a big fan of her style, but this year, wow! She has truly matured aesthetically, and I am continuously mesmerized by her effortlessly chic yet simple wardrobe. Stripes, high-waisted shorts, flats, oxfords, and beautiful dresses. In a culture saturated with exposing more and more and covering less and less, Taylor always manages to stay classy, and I give tremendous props to her because I am certain that she might have been tempted to show some skin every so often. While a burgeoning relationship could be a factor to her revolving style, she has certainly gained the title of style chameleon, at least in my looks. Furthermore, she reminds me a little of a modern-day Audrey Hepburn: she knows what style works for her and she sticks with it, just like Audrey did. 

en arrière pour la deuxième fois

In exactly four days, I will be back in Virginia. It is so strange to think that summer is nearly gone and I'll resume school again as a sophomore. What's equally bizarre is how much I've changed over the course of a summer. It is almost as if I'm returning to school as a different person. However, no matter how much time I have until I leave, it will never be enough. I am surely going to miss my baby sister and her copper-blonde hair, the way she affectionately pronounces my name, and how she gives me her hugs; I'm going to miss talking to my sister; I'm going to miss my parents, not able to sit down and laugh; and I'm going to miss being home. No matter how old I'll get, I shall still be childish when it pertains to saying goodbye. 

That being said, I aspire my second year to be different, to stand apart from my previous year, to show progress and maturity. First year of university is akin to testing the waters: it's not quite as difficult as many claim to be, you realize that university life prospers on excellent time management skills, and making several necessary adjustments (such as not going to be 3 hours after midnight). Things are going to be different this year, as I plan to make many changes regarding schedule, diet, and time management. Perceiving it as a test run for living on my own is perhaps not a bad idea, as that instills a sense of personal responsibility (which doesn't mean I didn't do that beforehand). Prepare more meals, formulate a fixed schedule (what to do and accomplish and actually do them), and maintain the patterns I have at home while being at school. Moreover, keep the objectives I've set out this summer for this coming school year. 

Regardless, there are a few things that I plan out on accomplishing. A great deal of them include making the meal I've pinned on my Pinterest. Others, not so much.

1. As I've posted numerously regarding my fervor for traveling, taking a cue from a film I've watched recently, I am going to purchase a world map and tape to my wall. I'll purchase some small pins and put them in all the places that I plan to visit. That will be a wonderful way to inexpensively spruce up my bedroom. 

2. After seeing Midnight in Paris, the costumes were immaculate. This inadvertently spawned my desire to be a 1920s character for Halloween. Getting inspiration from Marion Cotillard's character and Zelda Fitzgerald's ensemble pieces, it is going to be a goal of mine that I shall accomplish successfully. All Halloween past, I've dresses up meagerly on account of not getting the clothes I wanted to make the character believable. This year shall be different. 

3. Purchase a Fujifilm Instax 210. I've wanted a Polaroid for that longest time and this is an excellent alternative. I have lamented purchasing another camera because I'm not a photographer, but a single captured moment immediately processed and having it in your hand is special. Thus, I am growing more and more sure of this forthcoming purchase.

4. Become more fluent in French. Living in a French-speaking country, it's somewhat a shame that I have not been vigilant growing more proficient in the language. To change that, I shall download podcasts off iTunes so that while I may not be total attention, it will filter in my mind.

Summer Films

This summer hasn't exactly what I thought it was going to (it was even better). I honestly thought that I would return from my session in school and lie in my bed reading and watching films, lying in the sun, making frozen slushies, and essentially wasting another summer doing absolutely nothing and hoping that next year will be different. Thankfully and fortunately, it was different. I didn't watch as much television (or the telly, as the English colloquium calls it) but I didn't read as much as I wanted to due to the fact that I had to finish eight weeks of school in four in order to go to Europe worry-free. While I did not have a social life for four weeks in order to complete that task, once I finished, I was confused as I did not know what to do. I didn't want to watch the crud that on airs, so, naturally, I resorted to films.

1. Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging

I'm fairly certain I've watched this film three times already in a course of 10 days. This movie is so perfect, that I cannot stress enough how much I enjoy it. Georgia's sassiness, Robbie's attractiveness, the curious and fascinating way English teens speak (which immediately sparked my interest in an English accent), and the overall film. Having Eastbourne as the backdrop of the film creates is just absolutely perfect. Every time I watch it, I always tell myself that I am going to visit the UK, explore London, Brighton, and Eastbourne. And seriously, any girl that dresses up as a stuffed olive to a Halloween party needs to be my best friend. Georgia Nicholson is the coolest fourteen-year-old I know. 

2. Contagion

I watched Contagion on the plane to Europe. Bad idea. It also happened to be late (or early in the morning). Even worse idea. It is a creepy movie at first but then it begins to showcase how civilization would react to a global pandemic and that perhaps was even more frightening than the disease's symptoms. The first ten minutes, I have to admit, made me cringe in my seat. People who were coughing in the film eventually displayed the contagion's symptoms, so imagine my reaction when I heard people coughing in the airplane and then in the airport. Shudder. I wasn't eager to touch things without immediately washing my hands after. Also, on a side note, I paid close attention to Marion Cotillard's character wardrobe, wondering if that is how she dresses normally, or at least Parisian women. 

3. Monte Carlo

I've already seen this film in theatres and on DVD at school, but after watching it immediately after coming back from Europe was bittersweet. The action in the film itself is sweet and cute, with my eyes captivated by Pierre Boulanger's character, Theo's charm, looks, and heart. However, seeing Paris and Monte Carlo, I quickly took my journal and jotted down those two locations as one of the places I want to travel to, complete with the over-ambitious touristic experience. Exploring the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, and lying on the beach in Nice. I'm fair to say that Europe has stolen my heart.

4. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

This was a quirky film, unsure of what the plot would be. I mean, judging by the film's title, I did figure it would involve salmon fishing in the Yemen. I didn't however expect that it would be full of heart, a wonderful vocabulary, tender moments, a pure love (not having the main protagonists end in bed at the end of the movie, as many American films portray), and good messages that mostly came straight from the Sheik's mouth. A very, very good film that I believe is severely underrated.

A Summer Haze

For the past three weeks, record hits have plunged the majority of the globe in a summer heat have, with temperatures hitting mid- to high 30s C or rising past 100 F degrees. Staying reasonably fashionable even in the midst of a blistering heat wave is extremely difficult. (I was touring Timisoara, Romania in 41 C weather, under direct sunlight.) While a simple tank top and lightweight shorts may not necessarily be the best option, it is possible to look cool even when it feels that the sidewalk is melting.

The first thing that is a must-know is not to wear heavy fabrics. That may seem redundant, but anything that feels heavy will cling to your skin, making the heat even more unbearable. The second thing that should be noted is to wear light colors. Pastels and neutrals are preferred in warm weather because the sun will not radiate heat as it would do with dark colors. Wear clothing that will not make you sweat due to the weight of the clothing. Also, wear something comfortable. In the hot days is not the best day to try those heels for the wedding or wear a fitted skirt that doesn't allow you to breathe.

taken from tumblr

taken from tumblr

white blouse, white peplum top, dress

mint dress, mint maxi skirt, pleated skirt

taken from tumblr

 

taken from tumblr

Style Journal: Eleanor Calder

I personally don't waste time wondering what celebrities are wearing, what they're doing, what sort of debacle they're in now, and what other sorts of piccadilly they've entered in simply because that would be a waste of time. I'm not friends with celebrities, so I'm one to spend hours on the internet scouting Kim K's latest move (or miss). However, I do find myself enamoured by the styles that emerge. For example, as many readers know, I am partial to European style. Nothing against American style, and its colorful variations; it just happens to be my personal style. I've always enjoyed the simple, delicate, and sophisticated silhouettes that emerge from the London, Paris, and Milan runways.

With the popularity of One Direction reaching across the globe, many fans are paying close attention to the people closest to their hearts: girlfriends. Louis Tomlinson's girlfriend, Eleanor, has a unique and enviable wardrobe. With most pieces hailing from Topshop and Zara, it's no wonder many girls are paying extra charge to emulate her style. Myself included. I find her style very similar to my own. She wears a lot of the same pieces (albeit a slight moderation to the ones she did wear) and has gained a reputation, style-wise. She has clean, simple, and modern look that is a breath of fresh air. Pastels, blouses, and flowy skirts and tops are slowing become ubiquitous for her. She is very classy without looking stuffy, modern without looking too avant-garde, and classic without looking outdated. I may attentively take notes because her wardrobe is of high caliber.

Eleanor was recently spotted wearing this ensemble with her beau while vacationing in Nice. She is known for not having complicated ensembles, but the first time I saw this, I actually thought to myself, I need everything she's wearing. The simplicity of a white low-high hemline maxi, a black top, a leather belt, and flat sandals would do. She not only epitomized Southern France chic, but made it look enviably cool.

leather belt , black bag, black top, white skirt

As you can see, she rotates around the same palettes, look, and style. She knows what she likes and what looks good and her and sticks to that. (Kudos to that, Eleanor.) Skinny jeans, peterpan collar blouses, messenger totes, flats, structured bags, aviator sunglasses, and black jackets have quickly become synonymous with her name. For being Louis's girlfriend, she's quickly making sure that she's not just come ditzy, fangirling girlfriend. She's a student with some serious style.

pink top, lace top, white shirt, mocassin flats, denim jeans, skinny jeans, peach blouse , white blouse, bag