Blind Light

Instagram

2012-01-27T14:06:00.002-04:00

Just sharing a few Instagram photos from the last month or so. You can follow me @iiilyana. I have the same twitter username as well. Cheers!

Lovely message on my Starbucks drink from my former assistant manager.

Girls' night at Fireside

Green tea ice cream from Arirang Korean Restaurant

Stone Bi bim map from Arirang Korean Restaurant

Music Monday

2012-01-24T10:55:00.001-04:00

WISHED FOR SNOW & GOT SNOW

2012-01-06T12:20:00.000-04:00

American Eagle toggle coat, H&M scarf, J. Crew shirt, Levi's jeans, Sorel Joan of Arctic boots

WHAT'S IN MY BAG?

2012-01-04T17:45:00.000-04:00

Since my classes are resuming tomorrow, I thought I would take pictures of all the things that will be coming with me to school tomorrow. With the exception of this semester's books, which I have yet to buy, and a reusable water bottle that's in my kitchen, here's the list of things I keep in my school bag.

Since first year, I had a working Dell. It held up pretty well for three and a half years and ran all the programs I needed. However, the battery conked out early last year and the only time I could use it was if it was plugged in, which is highly impractical if I were using it in class. By November, I needed a computer that could travel easily and could run programs faster. I was debating between the MBP and the Dell XPS 14z, but in the end I chose Mac because of all the hype about its OS. So far, I've been impressed but I'm nowhere near the state of Steve Jobs idolatry.

I got my iPhone December of 2010 and I can safely say it's the most practical and worthwhile purchase in the history of my consumerism. It's my watch when I don't have one, my alarm clock, my internet when I just want to stay in bed, my primary news source, and my phone. Also, FaceTime is the most amazing thing for long distance relationships.

You've seen this on the blog before. This is the Amazon Kindle 3 with wi-fi, and I use it to read books on the bus or just right before I go to bed. I've also used it to store PDF files of readings, which I prefer over reading on a computer screen or printing off on paper. It's less strain on the eyes and better for the environment.

Food! I need to constantly have food in my system or else I get really light-headed and pale; not to mention, my stomach growls (and it increases every time I get more anxious about it).

The matches are not for "reading a magazine" as the cast of How I Met Your Mother would describe it. I got it from a smoke shop in Toronto and figured I'd keep it in my bag in case of a Zombie Apocalypse. As for the bag of girly secrets, it's made up of monthly necessities and makeup.

Angry Little Girls wallet that Dan bought for me in Banff. He said the girl reminded him of me, so clearly there's some sentimental value there.

Where do I keep all this stuff? In this overly-edited (colours are way off) Fjallraven Kanken backpack in the Frost Green colour and classic size. It's a perfect size for my small frame but it's just large enough to fit a 13" MBP in the inside sleeve. It comes with two side pockets/sleeves which are just narrow enough to fit an iPhone, keys, bus pass and ID for easy access. Oh, and I've also got a Brip, the Ugly Doll, keychain because I love it. Don't you?

NEW YEAR & NEW RESOLUTIONS

2012-01-02T11:47:00.004-04:00

I wrote this post on a new blog over at Wordpress. I'm not quite sure whether I want to stick with this one or start a new one over there. Ideally, I'd get a wordpress.org account and self-host, but I can't justify paying for it when I'm so indecisive about blogging platforms.

It’s officially 22 hours into 2012 where I live. Last night, my brother told me not to spend anything on the first day of the year or else I would continue to spend frivolously throughout the year. The day isn’t over but I guess it’s fair to say that I’ve accomplished that small feat. If that should give any indication to my ability to follow through on goals and resolutions, then I’m stoked for 2012. This year, I graduate from university, I visit the Philippines after four and a half years, I plan to move out west, and I hope to figure out what I really want to do for the rest of my life. The only thing that can turn this year of infinite potential into a complete bust is me.

To usher in the new year and get myself motivated about getting shit done, I thought of coming up with a list of resolutions that address all aspects of my life (original, right?).

School & Career

Get involved in more extra-curricular and volunteer activities
- Take pictures again for the school newspaper, get involved with the new NGO, seek other projects and organizations in campus
Improve your GPA – kick ass this semester
Graduate in Fall 2012
Apply for grad school 2013-?
- Build relationships with your profs so you can get those letters of recommendation
Gain work experience – apply for a legit job that relates to your degree

Finances

Save up for pocket money and travel money to use in the Philippines
Pay off at least 50% of student debt by December 31, 2013
Save up enough money for the big move

Life

Summer vacation in the Philippines
The big move
- Move to the bigger city (Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, or Vancouver)
- Save up enough money to cover the costs for 3 months
Whatever happens and wherever we go, we are making this relationship work ♥
Gain life skills – driver’s license, cooking, handiness, taxes, etc.
Improve creative skills – photograph more; write more
Exercise and eat better
- Eat healthier, less processed stuff
- Gain weight!
Start a blog, stick to it, and update frequently
Prove those Mayans wrong and make it out alive

It’s a rough list and it definitely needs to be developed more as the year progresses. Looking at it all laid out is so completely overwhelming that I just want to crawl under the covers and never leave. But I have to constantly remind myself to start working on the list and finishing them. If I keep doing, I avoid the likelihood that this list becomes nothing more than a meaningless blog post on New Year’s day. I probably need to set this post as the homepage on my browser, screen cap it and set it as my desktop wallpaper, and print it and tape it to my wall. It might be excessive, but it might just be the kick of motivation I need.

Chrismukkaholidays

2011-12-30T20:12:00.001-04:00

Topshop sweater, Forever 21 pants and necklace, Joe ankle boots

Happy holidays to everyone who might chance upon this blog. Here's a simple outfit I wore to Christmas eve mass and dinner with the family.

New Year's resolution: more blog posts and more detailed blog posts. For now, I have to get back to my holiday break.

Christmas Wish List

2011-12-22T20:16:00.000-04:00

It' been a while since my last post. Honestly, I just haven't been very motivated to take pictures or write. It was finals week and then I had my first week of vacation, and I just wanted to spend the time away from an eye-straining screen and a keyboard.

I know it's a little late for a Christmas wish list, but I thought I'd share it anyway. I got most of the things I wished for this year, thanks to my own hard work and perseverance (heh) and my loving friends and family. It's weird, because I had such a difficult time coming up with a wish list. It wasn't that I had a hard time narrowing things down. It's just that it was so hard for me to come up with things I really, really wanted. From no particular order, here's a list of eight things I would love to see under the Christmas tree.

One of these two pairs of boots will most likely be Dan's Christmas gift to me. We haven't gotten each other presents yet because he's been so busy that we agreed to order each other's presents after New Year's, when he gets back to Halifax. The boot on the right is Sorel's Joan of Arctic Winter boot, which is the most practical choice in terms of keeping my toes warm and frostbite free this winter. The boot on the left is the taupe version of Betsey Johnson's suede Daynaa boot. It has scalloped edges, an optional fold over style, and a Marilyn Monroe print on the bottom of the shoe.

The next two things on my list are bath and skincare stuff. For months now, I've been trying to make the shift to more natural bath and skincare products. I now only use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner and Lush moisturizer. Speaking of Lush, a few nights ago I took a bath with the Comforter bubble bar, and it reminded me of Lush's awesome bath bombs and bubble bars. I take showers more often, so a Lush bath to me feels like an in-home spa experience every time. For soaps, I recommend Honey I Washed the Kids and Alkmaar, for bath bombs, I recommend Butterball and Twilight, and for bubble bars, the Comforter. Recently, I got a sample of the Josie Maran Argan Oil from Sephora and I love what it did for my dry skin. For almost $15 for a 0.5oz bottle, I figured there had to be a cheaper alternative. I found the site natural.ca which sells natural, organic, and local skincare products. My first order will probably be the Skin Management Program and a generous bottle of their Argan oil.

MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium because my dry skin loves it and I'm almost out, and Roots wool socks because they are the socks of your typical Canadian (I'd wear these for luck during my family's citizenship test) and they look super warm.

Now we're talking the more expensive things on the wish list - things I would not feel comfortable having people buy for me. On the left is Dannijo's Hixson necklace, a gorgeous silver plated peter pan collar necklace adorned with colourful Swarovski crystals. To be honest, I would take anything from Dannijo because they're tough, man-repeller-inspired jewelry is right up my alley. On the right, we have Soia & Kyo's Collette Toggle Coat, a camel-coloured pea coat with fur trim and roomy pockets (I love pockets). This isn't necessarily the coat I want as it was the first thing that caught my eye when I searched for wool toggle coats. A toggle coat in navy or camel with wood and leather details would be absolute perfection. Link me if you've seen something similar to what I've described.

Workspace

2011-12-03T11:16:00.001-04:00

I don't have much time because I'm supposed to be downstairs to help out with the Christmas tree (it smells so good). I managed to snap a few pictures of my workspace this morning and thought I'd share it with you before I have another 8-hour workday at Starbucks. I love looking at other people's desks, the contents of their bag, and the books on their shelves. I admit, its a very voyeuristic thing, but I can't help it - those kinds of images say a lot about a person.

From top L-R: fake orchids and vases from Ikea, Western Digital external HD (behind the laptop), jewelry stand (gift), box for my watch, books I'm currently reading, Amazon Kindle, MacBook Pro 13", Wacom Bamboo tablet

Sneakerhead

2011-11-23T12:02:00.001-04:00

I am definitely not a sneakerhead. I do not collect fresh kicks - classic Jordans and multi-coloured Dunks. For years, the only pairs of shoes I've had remotely close to a sneaker were my pairs of black and cream Chuck Taylors and a pair of generic white plimsolls. This past summer, I was browsing through Fashiontoast when I saw Rumi Neely sporting a pair of Isabel Marant's Bobby sneakers - I fell in love. They were a simple colour, pretty nostalgic in design, and they looked super comfy too. As with the Dicker boots, these sneakers were way outside my budget so I settled on fawning over them online.

The day after I saw that blog post, I was walking around Georgetown in D.C. and I decided to check out H&M. I remember finding a black sweater with a kelly green peter pan collar, and I remember thinking that was the only thing I was going to buy (I just came from a whole week's worth of shopping in Boston and New York). Then, I found this pair of beige sneakers up on the shelf and I thought: neutral colour, suede material, nostalgic design = H&M's version of the sneaker. I took it off the shelf and brought it with me to the counter - the rest is history.

Sneakers from H&M

True story: every time I wear them I feel like I have tons of street cred.

Amazon Kindle

2011-11-20T18:50:00.001-04:00

Remember when we used to say, never judge a book by its cover.

This Kindle appreciation post is dedicated to Dan, who was kind and generous enough to give me one of the best birthday presents ever. Thank you, you big sea otter.

Sherpa & Ikat

2011-11-17T08:59:00.001-04:00

Gap sherpa-lined coat, J. Crew shirt, Levi's jeans, Forever 21 scarf, random brown belt, Converse Chuck Taylors (not pictured)

Just a quick post on what I wore yesterday. If you can't tell, I like mixing Sherpa with Ikat prints. It makes complete sense, right? I also have this thing for circle scarves, because (1) they never fly off; (2) they never have that awkward length problem; (3) they are the easiest accessories to throw on. What I'm wearing isn't actually a circle scarf; it's just a rectangular cotton scarf with both ends safety-pinned together. I just loop it around my neck twice and no one can tell.

I've rearranged my room to move my bed closer to my closet. Now, I have no space to set my tripod so I can't take pictures of the background I normally use. I really like the current layout of my room, with my new desk propped up against the window, so I don't want to move things back for the sake of blog photos. Besides, that area didn't get good light because it was tucked away in the corner, partially concealed by a wall. Oh well, I guess I'll have to figure it out or it'll be posts from bed from now on.

Once the semester is over, I think I'm going to do something along the lines of a room tour. I have quite a few mismatched furniture and heaps of clutter, so don't expect pictures you would see in a Pottery Barn catalog. Pictures of my room, Y/N?

Accessories: scarf and bracelet from Forever 21, Michael Kors watch

How can I satisfy what I want for the world and what I want for my closet?

2011-11-07T21:36:00.002-04:00

American flags in Washington D.C.
Disclaimer: I'm not American

I was browsing through my twitter feed when I saw Bryan Boy post a link to this blog post, OP ED: Hypocrite Chic?, by Fashion Editor at Large. I thought it was really interesting because it discussed two conflicting things that I am quite passionate about. I have been struggling with my personal political convictions and my love for fashion as a form of creative self-expression. Ideally, I could just address both by wearing only thrifted or vintage items, or eco-friendly and local fashion. The Salvation Army and Value Village in my city are not within walking distance of where I live so it is quite inconvenient for me to go thrifting. Vintage stores in Halifax tend to be pricey and the sizes tend to be too big for my petite frame. Eco-friendly and local fashion are expensive, and often not my style. I'm sure there are amazing green designers out there that I have yet to discover, but I just haven't really made it a point to do my research. I have found a heap of excuses around these 'sustainable' forms of fashion; I acknowledge that it takes effort, but I often find myself resorting to these excuses anyway. The Occupy movements have made me think a lot more about my consumer habits (very powerful stuff for any ordinary citizen; don't underestimate it); while I think I'm doing pretty well on most fronts, I find myself struggling with fashion.

When I think of capitalism and our global economic order, I don't immediately think of the clothes on my back. The objects I picture in my head are usually commodities: food, oil, minerals, etc. From my studies, I've learned that commodities or primary products play a huge role in determining the socio-economic well-being of people within a society. If I want to make a difference in my consumer habits I usually look into what type of commodities I purchase. For example, I don't eat fast food or processed food nearly as much as I used to. Even if our pantry is stocked with instant noodles and fast food joints are in every corner of this city, I try my best to avoid all of it. I still live with my parents so I don't have to buy groceries, but if I did live by myself I know I'd be more conscientious about the kind of food I'd buy. I'm convinced that I will eat less meat (once or twice a week) and only buy from local farmer's markets (expensive but the quantity per week will keep costs down) as soon as I move out. Right now, if I make a meal for myself, I usually stick to simple, home cooked meals incorporating as little processed ingredients as possible. It has gotten to the point where the thought of a McDonald's cheeseburger makes me want to gag or the thought of Tim Horton's makes me think of the coffee farmer who isn't paid fairly for his work. Through my eating habits, I am decreasing demand for products marketed by multinational corporations and increasing support for local producers. Though my actions create a microscopic dent in the economic system, I am still doing something to try and bridge the socio-economic gap that is so pervasive in our societies. I mean, that's the whole point of the Occupy movement.

The message of Occupy Wall Street is not based on anti-capitalism or anti-corporation, as Fox News would like you to believe. Activists are challenging global and national economic systems which have exacerbated gaps between the rich and the poor and threatened the fundamental ideals of democracy. Activists are challenging these systems because they only benefit those who are already in power, and leave people with no choice but to live their lives within a largely homogeneous, consumerist lifestyle. Arguments against the movement usually point out to the fact that many of the protesters are wearing Nike sneakers made in a sweatshop in India, driving to Zuccotti Park on gasoline from Chevron, and fighting a government that has given their grandparents the elusive American Dream. These are all ignorant arguments, and it completely points to the fact that people want to remain apathetic. They have the time to make stupid memes, but apparently not enough to learn the true message behind the movement. If people bothered to read, they would know that people have to resort to these mega-corporations because they have monopolized their respective industries. Independent and local businesses have limited capabilities to grow because there is no support system for them unlike multinational corporations which are bailed out by governments. In turn, corporations become huge stakeholders in politics, thus dictating policies which will obviously favour them at the expense of the 99%. The mutual support from multinational corporations, governments, and institutional actors creates a global system which exacerbates inequalities within societies. Additionally, citizens cannot get their voices heard because they simply do not have the lobbying funds - like the Koch brothers - to get governments to listen. In that sense, one can argue that democracy has been reduced to bribery. It's a strong statement but I think it really makes one question if democratic participation is awarded based on monetary value.

With all of that in mind, where does that leave my love for shoes and clothes? Do I have to flip my consumer habits in order not to be labelled a hypocrite? I admit I am a hypocrite. I advocate for institutional change on the global economic scale, for better labour regulations in EPZs, and for the creation of more sustainable products among a multitude of other I-wish-for-a-better-world kind of dreams. I feel strongly about these things but I am wearing leggings made in China, a Beatles shirt from a controversial, right-wing, Christian company, and a hoodie from a sweatshop free clothing manufacturer owned by a guy with multiple sexual harassment lawsuits. Where do I begin? How can I satisfy what I want for the world and what I want for my closet? Is it even possible? Do I have to sacrifice one to get the other?

Fashion is a way of expressing one's creativity and individuality and I don't think it will ever go away. I have way too much fun wearing maxi skirts and having people look in my direction because my clothes are actually moving - omg. However, I do acknowledge that I have to make some changes in my consumer habits; I have done so with food (which I love) so I don't see why I can't do the same with my clothes. It will be a long process and it will eventually require me to look for new places to get my fix, but I am hopeful that it will be worth it. I think I'll end up being a lot more prudent with my expenses, and I think I'll end up with a lot more unique pieces, with better quality and sustainability. If my eating habits now are any indication of the kind of happiness and fulfillment I might expect, then I am looking forward to this new direction. Likewise, this blog will take on a new direction too.

When it comes down to it, I prioritize the message of OWS over a Proenza Schouler PS1. Do you?

Your-Grandmother's-Couch-Leggings as Pants

2011-11-01T21:48:00.000-03:00

Structure wool sweater from mom's closet, printed leggings from Aldo Accessories, Ecote Leather Chelsea Boots from Urban Outfitters, bracelets from H&M and Forever 21, Michael Kors watch

Just a quick outfit post to say hello and show you that I have other shoes besides my Aldo suede boots. I've been rushing through the process of getting ready the because of the three-week stretch of midterms, papers, and seminar presentations for school. I am a procrastinator by nature so it's not a strange sight to see me working on my review notes 10 minutes before my bus leaves, and going through those review notes as I'm on the bus. Strangely enough, I don't like cramming in information as I'm sitting in class waiting for the professor to hand out the test. Besides trying to keep calm, I have this fear that those last bits of information will wipe out everything else I studied the night before. Is that weird? One thing I can't give up in the morning though is breakfast. I can forego makeup and outfit planning; but I can never skip on food.

Today was no different in terms of getting ready. I pulled out this old, pilling pair of leggings from Aldo, grabbed a shapeless black sweater from my mom's closet, and finished it off with my pair of go-to Chelsea boots. Quick story about these boots - I saw them on the UO website a few months ago and wanted to purchase them but $20 shipping was really discouraging. UO has a number of shops throughout Canada but nowhere near where I live, so I think it's fair to say that $20 for shipping is absolutely ridiculous. Knowing that I was going to the States in August, I waited it out and went through two stores in Boston until I found this particular pair. The wait was worth it because they were marked $20 off!

Ecote Leather Chelsea Boots from Urban Outfitters

They're just the perfect go-to pair of shoes for fall. They go with absolutely everything, they are super comfortable, and so easy to pull on. I know this is the first time I'm showing them on my blog but I literally wear these three times a week because they never fail to add a little androgyny to any outfit.

Happy Halloween?

I think my next post will be on hair and how to cut your own bangs. I've been putting my hair up in these topknots lately because my bangs are now so long that if I leave it down, I look like a bruha. What do you, guys, think? Should I venture into hair tutorials?

Ilyana

Plato of Fashion

2011-10-26T20:40:00.003-03:00

The return of the only shoes I wear, at least according to my blog.

Sorry about not posting regularly and not having an outfit post in over two weeks. I told you in my first post that I was going to be a really awful blogger - no shame there. To be honest, I've just been really busy with 18 credits of university courses, midterms and papers, and topped off with an average of 20 hours of work a week. I know there are tons of people out there who have less time, but blogging is not my full-time job (yet); I haven't been able to steal Rumi Neely's life, ok?

As soon as I finished my African Politics midterm, I felt like throwing my fist in the air and walking with the kind of swag you'd find in a John Hughes film. It almost makes me wish I had worn plaid and a leather arm band today. I rocked that midterm so hard, so I told myself I'd find the time to make an outfit post as soon as I'd get home.

So here goes outfit post:

Topshop sweater, Levi's jeans, Aldo Qualheim boots

The clothes I've been gravitating towards have been comfortable fall pieces: oversized sweaters, ankle boots, and lots of slim-fitting bottoms. Most days, I would throw on a massive knit scarf or load up on layers, but today I thought to keep things simple. If any outfit can sum up my philosophy on Fashion (I'm like the Plato of fashion over here), it would be this one. My philosophy on fashion is not to take it seriously; there's no need to take too much of an effort getting dressed and lastly, wear what's comfortable. Comfort is my numero uno necessity; that's why I've given up on strapless shit because flat-chested girls like me will never be comfortable in a tube top (if you have any tricks that don't involve duct tape, let me know through the comments). There are far more important things out there for me to spend a ton of time ruminating on what goes with what and what this blogger says about this trend. I prefer to enjoy fashion and not really think about it - kind of like a cheeseburger.

Comfort for me is throwing on a loose sweater, pulling on a pair of trusty dark denim, and wearing comfortable shoes. Normally, I would go for flat shoes but these ones are quite easy to walk in and they make me taller so it all balances out in the end. Wood heels are really frakking noisy though.

Love, self-declared Plato of Fashion. But now that I think about it, I might be more of a Descartes.

I hope my face didn't scare you there.

Freeport, Maine

2011-10-20T16:13:00.000-03:00

A few pictures from our brief stopover in Freeport, Maine. A small town with big, capitalist feel.

Studying in a Coffee Shop

2011-10-12T00:25:00.000-03:00

Old Navy parka, Heritage 21 striped sweater, Uniqlo leggings, Aldo Qualheim boots

What I'm wearing right now as I'm typing this blog post. I just arrived home from a whole evening of reading up on Colonial Latin America to prepare for a paper due on Thursday. I smell like Starbucks (more than ever). My brain can't decide between accepting the effects of caffeine and getting more work done or resisting the urge to change into my XL frosh week shirt and curling up under my warm duvet.

I'm a contortionist, apparently.

In the battle between school (when the work isn't due in the next eight hours) and sleep, sleep always wins.

Sweet dreams, invisible ones.

NYFW Collages: Pastels

2011-10-07T10:40:00.001-03:00

Lela Rose

Ralph Lauren

3.1 Phillip Lim

Jill Stuart

The Confused Look

2011-10-02T21:35:00.000-03:00

See the little bits of ombre in my hair?

What I wore on Thursday to school and to my friend, Sam's, birthday dinner. We had the usual Thursday-night tradition of having wings at Your Father's Moustache; then we headed down to Seahorse Tavern to watch and dance to The Mellotones. It was a really gloomy day (bad day to wear suede, but I was so stoked on wearing them), but nothing good company can't fix.

And just for the sake of recording really sappy moments in my life, I just want to share something with my lovely readers (cue crickets). We were walking to the car when I realized I had to cross about six feet of wet grass to get to the passenger side. Normally, I wouldn't care about getting my shoes wet and muddy because leather and canvas are pretty low-maintenance. But these were new, suede shoes! Forgive me, just this once, for being a prissy princess. I guess Dan noticed my hesitation, which was really me trying to figure out some ninja-like way to get across without slamming my face into the car door. He was about to pick me up bridal style and carry me across, which would have been such a swoon-worthy moment in a Ryan Gosling movie, but a really embarrassing one in real life. Instead, I jumped on his back (I'm gonna be your backpack!) and he carried me to the car. It pays to have a boy best friend (BBF - ha) who's super practical when it comes to fashion that he chooses to wear military boots 300 days of the year just because he thinks it's practical to have shoes rugged enough to kick someone's face in. We couldn't be any more different, but that's why we get along so well.

My first official picture with braces.

Forever 21 shirt, Polo by Ralph Lauren sweater, DIY Levi's cut-offs, Aldo Qualheim boots, H&M bracelet, Michael Kors watch

These Aldo Qualheim boots must have been inspired by the much-coveted Isabel Marant Dicker boots.

Nothing Can Come Between

2011-09-29T09:49:00.000-03:00

I would never have pictured myself wearing leopard, but I have to admit, this scarf is the perfect fall accessory. I've been foregoing all my other scarves for this one because the warm, neutral tones go with everything. All I have to do is pick basics, throw it on, and instantly, my outfit is ten times more interesting.

Joe Fresh wool sweater, Leopard scarf from eBay, Forever 21 red pants, Brown leather belt from Value Village, Converse Chuck Taylors, H&M leather bracelets, Michael Kors watch

Recent events have made me come to realize that my friends are graduating and there's a great possibility that almost all of them are moving to Toronto, Vancouver, or Calgary. My best friend, in particular, got the job interview of his dreams and I couldn't be more proud of him.I don't know. I'd love to move out of Halifax eventually but I don't even know if I can graduate yet, or if I want to graduate. The thing is, once I do graduate, what am I supposed to do? I'm in my fourth year of university and I'm still more confused than ever. Part of me, blames my department and the other part blames myself for being torn between what I dream of doing and what's practical. I suppose school is my safe haven from making adult decisions like what kind of career I want to commit to or how much I'm willing to spend for rent. Moving out and moving on will become inevitable; I just have to start preparing my mind for it.

Here Comes the Sun

2011-09-27T22:06:00.004-03:00

Hello, blog, it's been a while but I haven't abandoned you yet. School has been extremely generous with this semester's workload so I've been focusing a little more of my time on that rather than working on my social networking skills. I wish I could take a picture of what I'm wearing every day but unfortunately, that isn't feasible when I'm always scrambling to catch public transit. I need better time management skills in the morning, but then again, who doesn't?

Halifax has got weird weather so it's no surprise that we have a week of cold, gloomy rain and then three days of 30-degree sunshine. We are a 'weather city' which is, basically, a city plagued with such diverse weather patterns that it has inevitably defined Halifax' version of 'small talk'. Anyway, I thought I'd share today's outfit with my 956 billion readers (times zero). The sun gave me a chance to wear one of my favourite purchases this summer which were these red, high-waisted shorts from Forever 21.

H&M black knit cardigan, The Beatles shirt from Urban Outfitters, Forever 21 red high-waisted shorts, Nine West sandals, Joe Fresh leather woven belt, accessories from H&M and Forever 21, Michael Kors watch

Ignore the stupid pose. I was trying to be cute by pointing out the kawaii-ness of my Japanese/Korean-inspired bun. Fact: if I leave my hair like this for too long, I get headaches.

I got this shirt from the Men's side of UO's sale section.

These shorts make my torso look about 2 inches tall but I still love them.

True story: my favourite Beatle was Ringo Starr before Summer from (500) Days of Summer said she loved Ringo because nobody loved him. I'm not entirely sure what the response was from self-proclaimed manic pixie dream girls all over the world, but I'm sure a proportion of them began posting his pictures all over tumblr, exclaiming that he was always their favourite, thus making them pretty much identical to Zooey Deschanel (Katy Perry's twin sister). Uh, no. Ringo has been my favourite Beatle since I first watched A Hard Day's Night and witnessed several accounts of name-calling and bullying from his fellow bandmates. Ever since I was little, I've felt for the underdog (why do you think Mighty Ducks 1&2 are two of my top ten most seen movies ever?) so naturally I felt for Ringo. I'm not saying I'm the only person who's allowed to have this opinion, or the only person who's ever thought of it before. I just think some overrated character in a fictional, hipster movie should not be given credit for all this Ringo pity-love. /rant.

This is the part where my friends laugh at me and call me a hipster.

Nine West sandals

...And this is the part where I show you my feet. I don't know. You can't be a hipster if you're not in denial.

Isabel Marant Dicker Boots and Possible Alternatives

2011-09-21T00:09:00.001-03:00

So, for a while now I have been enamored by the well-regarded Isabel Marant Dicker boots, particularly the one in taupe. Sadly, they are way above a university student's budget, especially a university student who's not bright enough to get some rich dude (or daddy) to pay for her tuition, so I scoured the internet looking for a more affordable alternative. The entire summer, I researched and came across a few that are currently featured in the Piperlime website. Some of these ~~replica~~ inspired booties include Report Marks Boot, Steve Madden Pembrook Boot, and the Dolce Vita Jamison Boot. All three boots are between $109-129 which is a steal compared to the $615 Isabel Marant boots. Of course, you're paying for quality (sage suede and Cuban heel, probably chopped off a Cuban tree by Castro himself) and brand name. But at those price points, the Piperlime boots aren't so bad because the material is still suede and the heels are still made of wood so I definitely think these are great options for more practical and cash-strapped girls like me.

Isabel Marant Dicker Boots (source: net-a-porter.com)

Yay! I found great alternatives to the ideal fall shoe. But, there was a problem. I had finally settled on either the Report or Steve Madden boot because I preferred their more narrow and feminine construction. The problem was they were out of my size and half-sizes up and down. The earliest they could ship either one was October 24th which is over a month from now. I can't wait because I am so terribly impatient and because Nova Scotia's seasons can change at any given moment. Basically, I have now until the end of October to frolic in the midst of warm-coloured foliage; thus it would be totally pointless to get my fall boots at the end of fall. You see what I'm getting at? So, I needed to find a new alternative.

I decided to check out Aldo. I figured Aldo offered free shipping, which is sort of a rarity in Canada, and they often release collections of trendy shoes so they must have something similar. I did find something similar in terms of shape, but not exactly in terms of color. This wasn't really a problem because the reason I liked the Dicker boots in the first place was because of the shape and overall construction of the boot. I love the dip at the front, which is super flattering on skinny ankles - at least from what I've seen. It has that cowboy boot effect without going all out yee-haw, if you know what I mean.

Aldo Qualheim Boots (source: aldoshoes.com)

Anyway, back to the Aldo boots, I found the Aldo Qualheim which comes in either cognac or black. Unfortunately for fans of the black Dicker boots, Aldo was being stupid and decided to paint the wood heel black instead of leaving it be. Had they left the woodstacked heel untouched, it would have been nearly identical. However, the Cognac ones look awesome and the stitching looks very similar to the ones offered on Piperlime. It's also the cheapest at $100, and even cheaper when I used a 15% off coupon. Sure, the colour isn't exactly the same but I love how it looks on the screen and who knows, maybe there's an off chance it looks lighter in real life. We'll see when I get it and then I'll post pictures for comparison. I already have a number of possible outfits incorporating these new babies, and because of that I couldn't be more excited to welcome the fall season.

What's your go-to shoe this season?

Saturday: Navy, Black, and Brown

2011-09-18T17:49:00.002-03:00

Hello everyone and no one. I'm just sharing what I wore yesterday (Saturday) to go car shopping (not for me), attempt to eat poutine at Costco, watch Cropsey and Top Gear on Netflix, and attempt to eat Chinese food. I owe all these attempt-to-eat experiences to two successive weeks of paying people to probe my mouth with shiny, metal tools and inflict pain on me. I feel like all I ever do is complain but I swear, I'm really grateful that I've finally gotten to wearing braces. It was a long time coming and even if I have to deal with these metal contraptions for the next two years or so, I cannot wait to see the changes. I like nice teeth on other people. It's time I have nice teeth too.

Heritage 21 striped sweater, American Apparel skirt, Forever 21 ankle boots, grey socks, Forever 21 pyramid bracelet, Michael Kors watch

Most of the day was spent with two guy friends so I wanted to be comfortable; and comfortable for me is anything oversized. I'm petite enough as it is, but I love drowning in my clothing so I tend to gravitate toward large and medium sizes when it comes to basic tees and sweaters. I think I may have gone a little too far when I purchased pants three sizes up, but I wanted to go for that loose, casual chino look. Most of the time, I just hate the feeling of clothes sticking to my body. Ha, maybe I should join a nudist colony and become the first nude fashion blogger. I think the internet has another name for that.

Wednesday: Chambray and Tory Burch

2011-09-16T12:11:00.002-03:00

American Eagle shirt, Forever 21 high-waist shorts, Tory Burch flats, and necklace from Century 21

NYFW: Part III

2011-09-14T10:00:00.000-03:00

Hello. I'm back for part three of my not-a-trilogy NYFW thoughts and review. Today is formal day so the designers I'm featuring today came out with collections that showcased quite a number of red-carpet worthy dresses and gowns. If they all had special moves, it would be long and flowy dresses whipped across your face, which would result in the iconic Mortal Kombat voice proclaiming: FATALITY.

Moving onward.

I thought I'd quit talking about my reaction to certain collections for the remainder of fashion week, because it would simply take too much time. And frankly, I'm really lazy. By the time I'd be over all the designers, it would probably be Spring/Summer 2020. So apart from a few exceptions (like, Christian Siriano but mostly because I wasn't too happy reading his Style review), I thought I'd just post the collages and let the pictures speak for themselves. Enjoy.

Christian Siriano S/S12

Christian Siriano is my favourite Project Runway alum for a reason. It's not because he turned out to be the most successful of all the designers, but mostly because he's so little and so fierce (Christian Siriano GMH). It also helps that I have a pair of black and gold peep-toe pumps from his very own Payless line. The critic over at Style wasn't a fan of his last few dramatic looks; and while they weren't my favourite either, I could appreciate the design and craftsmanship put into those garments and that in itself should be enough to take him seriously as a designer. Are you listening, Meenal Mistry of Style.com? Anyway, I absolutely loved the t-shirt plus full, textured skirt he presented last fall and I'm loving his spring/summer interpretations this season. The bright green pleated skirt is normally not a colour I would go for but it is stunning against the pale pink tee. The orange dress with the striped bandeau top - can I just say that I would wear that to a June prom... glasses and everything.

Monique Lhuillier S/S12

Zac Posen S/S12

Carolina Herrera S/S12

bloglovin and the city that never sleeps

2011-09-13T23:00:00.000-03:00

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Outfit post from a month ago when I was in New York for a week. This was shot in Times Square right after my friend, Christina, and I watched RENT off-Broadway.

tank top from Bluenotes, American Apparel pleated maxi skirt, Topshop loafers, black messenger bag from Jersey Gardens, H&M key necklace and bracelets, Michael Kors watch

NYFW: Part II

2011-09-13T16:00:00.000-03:00

Hey, I'm back for another installment of New York Fashion week photos (borrowed off Style.com and artfully staged in Photoshop) with matching witty commentary on the state of fashion today and the aesthetic which characterizes New York designers apart from their peers in other fashion capitals of the world. Just kidding. I'm just here to breathe some internet air and release my haphazard thoughts on some collections my eyeballs just loved.

Alexander Wang S/S12

Start off with a bang with Alexander Wang (cue crickets). I'm with majority of my blogging generation when I say Alexander Wang is one of the most coveted and influential designers of our time. We love the casual edginess of his just-rolled-out-of bed signature frocks. He makes t-shirts and sweatpants look so cool, you attempt to recreate it with your dorm room duds only to realize your efforts are in vain. It must take a fashion prodigy to create something so primary as a t-shirt but in a way that is so exciting and markedly new. Sorry, I really love Alexander Wang. To be honest though, this season's collection failed to excite me as much as his past ones did. I wasn't too big on the mesh and what looked to be ruching, which were featured in quite a number of looks. However, what I did like, I liked a lot. I loved the motocross references in the printed bottoms and the graphic sheer sweaters. The sheer black corset and shirt are to die for and the sweaters need to be in my closet right now.

Band of Outsiders S/S12

When I looked at Band of Outsiders' collection I immediately saw a setting: pastoral town. The clothes were pretty and romantic, but you could tell there was something eerie about it all. Maybe it was the concrete and iron backdrop of the runway or maybe it was the stoic (obviously) expressions on the models' faces. Either way, the garments were wearable in the sense that they could pass for wardrobe in a Reese Witherspoon movie set in the American south - and I mean that in a good way.

Charlotte Ronson S/S12

Charlotte Ronson's collection displayed a seventies bohemian feel with Victorian detailing. Honestly, I didn't really see much of the latter details until reading about it in the Style review, but I did notice all the preppy elements. I love the mix of sweater vests and sheer, feminine shorts and dresses. The flowy ombre tank beautifully juxtaposes against the bold striped skirt, and I can definitely see the striped dress being one of her more marketable pieces. My favourite from the collection would have to be the denim shirt dress because it gives the old 'mom's shirt dress' a fresh take. With proper styling and modern touches, it could become a very versatile piece in someone's spring/summer wardrobe.

Sachin + Babi S/S12

I wouldn't have known of Sachin + Babi if it hadn't been for the extensive list of designers in Style's NYFW section. I'm glad I stumbled upon their collection because it was a treat to see their youthful and refined aesthetic. Their pieces are definitely simple but I was won over by the details in the garments and the overall styling of their looks. The white dress with what looks to be chambray sleeves is really pretty; of course, I'm partial to all things chambray. The lambskin circle skirt stands out against the white top and it's exactly how I would've style it given the chance. Overall, I love the colour palette of this collection: bright white, black, navy and the perfect shade of coral. I wish the weather would go back up a couple degrees so I can channel the rightmost look with my chambray lawn shirt and white shorts.

So, that is it for Part II of my NYFW recap of sorts. I find that I'm featuring a lot of designers even if my intention was only to feature my favourites. It's really hard to pick favourites when there are so many different points of view. Then there are times when there are certain pieces you just have to show within a certain collection, even when the overall collection wasn't very impressive. I don't know. Pictures are pretty, I guess. Right now, I have 15 more collages hiding in the recesses of my laptop (and NYFW isn't even over yet) and I think I might stagger the posts a little. After all, spring 2012 isn't here for another six months so I'm sure we'll all have enough time to prepare our closets for that season. And hopefully clock in enough hours at work to buy a lamb for my upcoming DIY circle skirt project...

NYFW: Part I

2011-09-12T18:23:00.000-03:00

Let's pretend I just got back to my midtown hotel room after a day of running in heels, hailing cabs, and being seated between editors and fashion bloggers. Now, let's pretend I'm crying because I can't wear heels for longer than five hours, I can only afford to take Metro Transit (thanks U-Pass!), and I'm bed-ridden because of zombie-chipmunk-cheeks-inducing teeth extractions last Friday. There's no need to pretend on the last run-on sentence because, unfortunately, they are all true. I'm stuck at home when I should be at school (sucks for dorks like me). I'm stuck in my pajamas when I could actually use a little bit of Spring/Summer inspiration and apply it into my transitional outfits. So for the sake of turning this sucky day around, and in the spirit of New York Fashion week, I present to you (or to no one) what I've liked so far from NYFW.

Jason Wu S/S12

First off, I have to say Karlie Kloss can walk. You can tell, even from the stationary photo of her on the far-right, that she makes walking look like some sort of captivating, seductive dance. Back to Jason Wu, I loved the prettier aspects of his collection which is why I chose these four feminine looks as my favourites. I particularly love how the bottom half of the black collared dress looks as if it's fading into smoke.

Nicholas K S/S12

I love knits and I love silk chiffon so put them together and you have a winning collection. The use of loose, drapey silhouettes gave the collection a very breezy, festival type of vibe. By using neutral and jewel-toned colours, it gave the clothes a little more sophistication. I am in love with the colour of the first dress. In. Love.

Nicole Miller S/S12

Nicole Miller found her inspiration in skate subculture, particularly the speed and energy inherent in those sports. The bright, 80s colours and the athletic details give the collection a youthful energy. By mixing geometric and abstract prints, Miller provided a fresh take to one of the past year's most talked about trends. Most of the looks I liked were separates because I could really see myself wearing them (if I had the bank account to back it up, of course)... yes, even the boob-baring black and white top second from right.

Rachel Comey S/S12

Rachel Comey is a genius for photographing cable knit, blowing up the pattern, and printing it on silk. The results are absolutely stunning. For someone who loves knit sweaters and the movement of silk/chiffon, it's like having the best of both worlds. One of the things I've loved about Comey's collections is that her models typically walk down the runway in flats. I live in flat shoes. Don't get me wrong, I get transfixed over Louboutins and blogger-friendly Jeffrey Campbells; but they're just not the practical shoe to have in my life right now. Having the models in flats gives Comey's collection a more casual, I-live-in-a-college-town kind of atmosphere, which is currently what I inhabit.

So I will end it there for now. I'm thinking four designers are enough to sate your sartorial appetites. I will come back another day to continue with the collages and the commentary. And if it weren't already obvious, I'd just like to apologize because I am no expert in fashion. It has only become an interest within the last three or four years, so I'm not greatly familiar with cuts, fabric, designer histories, etc. This blog is a process of me developing my interest, so hopefully I'll keep to it and maybe you won't have to skip through my incoherent rambling next time. 'Til my next blog (just kidding).

another day, another blog

2011-09-12T12:28:00.000-03:00

This is probably my hundredth attempt at blogging; and if it doesn't hold up for longer than a year, then blogging and I probably aren't meant to be. Or I could just be really, really lazy. This blog will be my incentive to pick up my camera, write (again), and become more creative and courageous with my sartorial choices and life, in general.

So for those who don't know me, because of some magical freak 'stumbling upon' you might have done, my name is Ilyana and I am a 20-year-old undergrad and barista. I'm currently double-majoring in International Development Studies and Environment, Sustainability and Society. When people ask me what I'm taking up, I usually tell them 'International Studies and Environment'. And when they ask me what I could do with that later on in life, I usually tell them 'become a barista' (which I already am so I'm clearly far ahead of the pack). I make sorry attempts at photography and have dabbled into DSLR film-making a few times. I love big windows, shoes, baths, yogurt, Asian school supplies, and warm hugs. I wish we had an IKEA where I live.