Weekly Obsession: Convo-Starter Brooches

Thanks to my last blog post, I've found myself browsing Etsy more than I usually do lately. One of the gems I've discovered? Brooches!

I know what you're thinking: "How grandma of you!" A month ago, I wouldn't have imagined myself falling in love with brooches either, but Etsy has made me reevaluate my position on these classic accessories. I really think they can be a quirky and unexpected addition that will instantly bring intrigue to any outfit. Maybe brooches might seem antiquated to you, but I feel like we're at a point where nobody really wears them anymore, so they're almost a fresh thing. A thing of the future.

Anyhow, pictures are worth a thousand words, so I'm going to let these super unique brooches speak for themselves.

Wizard of Oz brooch

Peace and Love Brooch

How can anybody not adore John Lennon and Yoko Ono?

Hand of the King Brooch

Any Game of Thrones fans out there?

Valentine's Illustration Brooch

"All About That Bass" Cat Brooch

Rabbit Pocket Watch Brooch

Moonrise Kingdom Suzy and Sam Brooch Set

What a great movie!

Feminist Brooch

Slay, girl, slay!

Poetry to Fashion: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening (Rustic Traveler, feat. Etsy finds)

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.



This post is dedicated to how I believe Frost's countryside traveler would've dressed. Most of the pieces I've selected here are vintage items from Etsy.com and thus are slightly more expensive than clothes from your average discount retailer such as Forever 21 or H&M. Sorry if you're broke (like me)!!
Please see the post below for why I chose this poem, my interpretation of the poem, as well as my modern take on travel-wear.

Plaid Wool Hunting Coat

Rusty Brown Denim Jacket 

Reversible Coat

Red Leather Fitted Jacket

Left: Karl Lagerfeld brown check peplum blazer; Right: 70s Scalloped Blue Suede Mini Skirt

Left: Camel Brown Leather Cropped Vest; Right: 70s Short-Sleeve Blouse

Plaid Flannel

Cardigan with Pom Pom and Floral Details

 

Left: Knee-Length Navy Blue Tartan Skirt; Right: 80s Coach Crossbody Bag

Left: Corolla Globby Print Backpack; Right: Native American Woven Wool Textile with Long Fringe

Poetry to Fashion: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening (Modern Update on Travel Attire)

So this marks the beginning of my new series, in which I use poems as inspiration for fashion picks. Today I bring to you "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost.


Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.



This poem is one of my all-time favorites. In fact, I have "miles to go before I sleep, miles to go before I sleep" written on a poster right above my headboard! To me, Frost is communicating the idea that every now and then, we all need to escape from the busy rush of our daily lives to stop, enjoy nature, and simply be. However, at the end of the day, it's important to remember our obligations. After we feel relaxed and refreshed from our break, we need to get back to work because there are "miles to go before I sleep", the word "sleep" referring to the physical act of slumber the first time, and our inevitable deaths the second time.

Now, for the fashion inspiration part, at first I wanted to choose pieces for a rustic globetrotter, but then I realized that winter vacation is coming up and a lot of us are probably taking an excursion away from the familiarity of our hometowns. So I'm going to do two posts inspired by this poem; this one is going to feature a modern take on Frost's horseback traveler, and the next one is going to include more vintage, country-chic looks.

For the edgy street artist

Left: Mineral Wash Denim Jacket; Right: Keith Haring Heart Print Shirt

For the put-together minimalist

Left: Raw-Edged Smock Dress; Right: Stretch-Knit Racerback Tank

For the sporty fashionista

Left: Mesh-Paneled Dreams Tee; Right: Zippered Drawstring Pants

For the romantic sweetheart

Left: Map Graphic Tee; Right: Flounced Duster Coat

Shoes and accessories

 

Left: 90s Jelly Backpack; Right: Chevron-Textured Faux Leather Backpack

Left: Perforated Leather Sneakers; Right: Crackled Metallic Slip-Ons

Left: Black Suede Booties; Right: Marled Oxfords

My Top 5 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show Sets

While some people fashion is so much more than just clothes on a body; it's a production!

5. Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2012
The innocence and nostalgia of the carousel was a perfect match for Marc Jacobs's sugary sweet spring/summer collection. Not only is Jacobs a master mixologist of fashion and theatricality, but he always knows how to have fun!





4. Dior Spring/Summer 2014
In an era of machines and skyscrapers, it's nice to see some designers implement lush vegetation (four for you, Raf Simons). I think it would complete my existence if sci-fi spacecrafts looked like this as opposed to having bleak white corridors and metal doors.





3. Chanel Fall/Winter 2010
Icebergs! Global Warming! Hooray!!




2. Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2012
Some sets make you realize that  And people ask me why I think Marc Jacobs is the best thing that's ever happened to Louis Vuitton... Sure, Nicolas Ghesquiere knows how to cater to the stylish, active woman but I'm gonna miss the days when steam engines used to glide into a Louis Vuitton show.





1. Chanel Spring/Summer 2012
Who can deny this all white underwater world? Something about this set makes me want to give up reality and live as a full-time mermaid.

Tis the season for buying new shoes! (Oh wait, that's every season ever...)

... but particularly this season, because recently I've stumbled upon an online store called ZOOSHOO, which is currently having huge holiday sales, and finally, it has dawned upon me what I've been missing all these years.

ZOOSHOO carries a variety of brands, including YRU and Chinese Laundry. However, I've really come to fall in love with its brands Qupid, Brekelle's and Bamboo. Their shoes are what dreams are made of, but it's their prices that make your dreams come true.

Now that Christmas and New Years are coming up, that means parties and dinners are also underway. So here are some great party heels (no pain, no gain; am I right?) that will do a great job of completing your evening outfits.

BURTON-01 WEDGE

How amazing does that Lucite wedge look? Dear. Lord.

Left: HOLLY-15 SANDAL; Right: ENRICH-151 WEDGE

Sporty chic has really been the theme of 2014, and with all the momentum it's gaining, it sure looks like it's going to carry over into 2015.

Gossamer Paradise

When the summer started, I was determined to make it my summer. I thought I could find inspiration in solitude and pensive midnights, but instead, I stumbled upon heartache. Lonely days faded into lonelier nights. Before I knew it, summer had passed me by.

Yet somehow, I now look back at the past two months fondly. Even though I recall few singular moments of happiness, I still think of the larger picture as laced with tranquil and harmonious overtones. And that was my summer-- a land of demolition beneath a translucent layer of gossamer paradise.

Until next time, August.