Nothing Can Come Between

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

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

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

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

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

NYFW: Part III

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

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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

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

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

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.