Girls' Night

Girls' Night is always fun. Doing your nails, getting all dolled up, wearing fancy clothes just to go out to eat- it’s a blast. A while back a bunch of us, maybe about 8 or 9, got together to go to out to eat. It was fun to get out and spend quality time with the girls.

All of us decided to wear short dresses & heels. I chose a black one shoulder dress with a tight top & looses bottom. I paired it with pink heels that have ruffles on them and a black sequin fascinator.

A friend of mine wore a one shouldered grey dress with a black sash and black flowers along the shoulder strap. Another decided on a white dress with silver accents. My other friend wore a black sleeved dress with a brightly colored peacock feather design. We were all very snazzy looking.

For girls night it depends where you’re going, but since we were going somewhere where it’s appropriate for dressy attire, we settled on classy & fun dresses.

What to Wear to a Fashion Show

I have been to 2 fashion shows, one at Purdue University and one on a bridge downtown in the city. Both were fabulous and amazing experiences. At the college show I was incredibly nervous and had no idea what I was wearing til my friend & I were getting ready the hour before. For the show I had decided on:

·         Dark wash skinny jeans

·         Brown heels (about 3-4 inches)

·         Cheetah print long sleeve button down top

·         Black vest (I bought it in Paris)

·         Bright red lipstick

·         Long silver necklace

·         Dangling pearl earrings

I fit right in, and so did my friend who wore:

·         Black dress

·         White sweater

·         Black tights

·         Purple suede heels

·         Messy bun

·         Fancy earrings

It was a lot of fun getting ready and the two of us hit it spot on with wearing heels, it seemed like everyone was in heels.

For the show on the bridge my friend and I decided we’d both wear dresses since it’s summer & hot outside.
She wore a simple black dress with flower sandals. I wore a cream colored dress with red & blue flowers, a black sweater, and gold shoes. When we got there we wished we had worn heels, despite the fact we knew we’d be walking a lot. Everyone had heels on and a lot of people looked more dressed up than we did. However, there were people in jeans and a t-shirt, so there was a wide variety of clothing options.
I love having an excuse to dress up; I look forward to going to more shows.
My advice would be to look at any pictures the people in charge may have posted from previous years; you’d have a feel for what the majority are likely to wear. Then you can decide if you want to fit in or stand out. The more daring you are the more fashionable you may look. J

Fashion on the Bridge

This past weekend I attended a Fashion Show hosted by Cincy Chic & Amy Kirchen. It was a blast! My friend and I arrived early so we could look through our swag bags and check out all the booths on the bridge.

Once we took our seats (front row in the red section to benefit the Heart Association) we started talking to the people around us. We’ve been in Amy Kirchen’s boutique before and had loved almost everything we saw. The atmosphere is bright and fun. I was ready with my camera when the show started and the first model sauntered down the runway. It was set at a slow pace and as soon as the model had started coming back from the end the next model strolled down the walkway. It was a very put together line. There were statement dresses in bright colors and more subdued colors. There was fur, sequins, & what appeared to be leather. I loved the variety of garments. She had long dresses, short dresses, skirts, blouses, coats, corset looking tops, pants, and a cape. I also liked that she stuck with a coherent color scheme and wasn’t all over the place.

Here is a video of the models and Amy Kirchen walking back from the end of the runway. The video is very loud so I would turn the volume down before hitting play. Enjoy!



Jaded June

June is a relaxing month and with my 2 calendars it’s clear that it’s more laid back.

This picture captures the essence of calmness with the clear sky and the still water, it's nice to look at in the morning when the sky is cloudy and it looks grim.

 The quote that goes along with the picture above is:

My other calendar reminds me of Audrey Hepburn and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” with the little black dress and big hat. It makes me smile instantly, which is always a good thing. I love the chic and simple look this panache ensemble possesses.





Beautiful Ballet

Graceful. Elegant. Extravagant. Delicate. Pain. Intricate. Fantasy. Beautiful. Lyrical. Passionate. Disciplined. Flexible. Swift. Feminine. Artistic. Breathtaking. Stunning.

All of these words can describe ballet and the dancers that work countless hours perfecting their art to perform and captivate their audience and give them an astounding show.

I love ballet and I wish I had stuck with it as a kid. Whenever I am stuck in a rut and have trouble finding inspiration but am in the mood to sketch I look at Edgar Degas’s paintings of ballerinas. His paintings capture the movement and gracefulness of each individual dancer. It’s unbelievable and awe-inspiring.  The colors and costumes create a world in which I am unfamiliar with, making everything more stunning and magnificent.

Chaneling Chanel

It doesn’t come as a surprise that I am once again writing about Chanel. One day my mom went out shopping with her friend & what does she bring home for me? A bottle of Chanel perfume called Chance Eau Fraîche. It smells absolutely amazing. I love the floral scent that isn’t overwhelming. Whenever I wear it the smell makes me feel fancy and elegant. People notice it too and so far I haven’t heard any negative comments about it when I’m wearing it.

Here is the link to Chanel’s website: http://www.chanel.com/en_US/fragrance-beauty/Fragrance-Chance-Eau-Fraîche-CHANCE-EAU-FRAÎCHE--88272

And a snazzy close up on the topper:

Stoked About Stoker

I have to admit that one of my all time favorite books is Dracula by Bram Stoker. When I was interviewed for a scholarship centered around books and the love for books I was asked “Why do you love Dracula so much?” Sometimes I’m not amazing at getting everything I’m thinking out of my head and into comprehensible and cohesive thoughts. The first shaky words I replied with were “I guess I don’t think about the story the same way everyone else does. I think of it as a romance, not a horror story filled with gore and violence and monsters.” I think I got my point across and that I made an impression because I was awarded the scholarship. I love the way Mina falls for Dracula, despite still loving John. However, instead of feeling like Dracula is the monster and antagonist, I pity him and truly think he loves Mina, even if it might just be the resemblance between Mina and his wife who had committed suicide. He didn’t become a vampire because he wanted to be immortal and have to live out his existence feeding off of blood and living a desolate life. He turned his back on God and was turned into a vampire because the ideals of the time in Christianity were that those who committed suicide did not receive a burial and service like those who died in other ways. This anger translates to an action in which I can only say is immense love and affection for his wife.

Thus, to me Dracula is a novel filled with a romance that leaves a reader wanting more than the small ending by John. Every time I think of Dracula I think romance, I think evening gowns, I think Victorian era, I think of elegance and high class. This story makes me want silk and satin and lots of lace, with dark deep reds and different shades of blacks and grays and darkened blues.

Because of the novel my sketch book has been filled with exquisite gowns that can describe how the novel makes me feel better than any combination of words.