Success

{A small pastry from when I was in Roanne.}

This post is a little different, it's basically me just contemplating where to go after my contract with the Opera Theatre is over. Am I successful? Will I be successful? Those types of questions and such.

"Être homme, c'est précisément être responsable. C'est connaître la honte en face d'une misère qui ne semblait pas dépendre de soi. C'est être fier d'une victoire que les camarades ont remportée. C'est sentir, en posant sa pierre, que l'on contribue à bâtir le monde." -Antoine de Saint Exupéry, from "Terre des Hommes"

This quote, from the author of "Le Petit Prince," can be translated to:
“To be a man is to be responsible: to be ashamed of miseries you did not cause; to be proud of your comrades' victories; to be aware, when setting one stone, that you are building a world.”

To me, success is really hard to define and put into words. Now you may think this quote has nothing to do with success, but being aware of what's happening around you, how to be a better person, and how to just do something that has an impact on others- that can all be described as successful. Of course, with this then any small achievement can be success. But when you're struggling to see if you've been successful, then it gets tricky because for most, you define your successes based on others around you. For me, I like to think I've been successful so far. I graduated from a big ten college and I landed a great first job after college. The hard part is going from there and trying to feel like you haven't become a one-hit wonder. I'm going to keep pursuing my dreams, and if it takes me a while to become a costume designer then it takes me a while. I'm going to try my best not to define my success against others or against time. We'll see what happens in the future.

Book Love

Book Love by brimalotke 

My latest adventure with my PR Marketing job is creating a Facebook page for the book to gain a wider audience. If you want to check it out, it's titled "Olympic by Jaylen Ross."

Going Away Present

Front Cover.

My grandma surprised me this morning with a "little" gift for starting my senior year of college. It's a wonderful (and rather thick, like 1.5 inches) fashion book titled "Fashion: the Definitive of Costume and Style." It's by the Smithsonian and it's pretty awesome. The book has a lot of beautiful pictures and loads of information on history, fashion styles, designers and more. I'm loving it so far and I'm looking forward to using it as a helpful resource when constructing my senior collection as well as my work in the costume shop if I get to help on the research end of things this semester. We shall see what happens. Can't wait to have even more to post about! Moving to school tomorrow so stay tuned for more! 

Summer Internship Recap

With my costume design internship coming to an end tomorrow I've decided to do a little recap on what exactly I've been doing with my last "free" summer.

At the beginning of the summer. 
CUTC Costume Shop.

Costume Design Internship:

I've been working for the Champaign Urbana Theater Company in their costume section. I've been working with my boss on going through the entire costume shop and setting up an organization method so that CUTC can start and maintain a costume rental to others (schools, theater companies, costume designers, etc) in the community. So far we've gone through a solid half of the costumes, well at least all of the hanging goods as well as a few groups of donations. After that we tackled the boxed items and implemented an organization method that required us moving all the boxes for a couple of weeks until everything was in its right place. We haven't gone through the hats or all of the boxes, so my boss may be taking on another intern after I leave to finish going through the boxes. Besides creating and implementing the organization methods for the costume shop, i have aided my manager with two plays she was the costume designer for this summer. I made a ruff for "The Fantasticks" as well as helped pick pieces from the costume shop that she ended up using in the show. I helped pull pieces from our stock as well as from Parkland College's costume shop for "Hay Fever" and I helped sew pieces like a collar for the maid's apron and fixing the hem on the smoking jacket as well as tacking down the sleeves. Overall, I have had an amazing internship and not a single day did I complain. I came home to my boyfriend and told him everything about my day even if he wasn't interested. I'm really glad I landed this internship (I'm their first intern so it was kind of a big deal). I'm hoping that if I decide to do grad school and pick to go here in Champagne, IL that I'll be able to volunteer or intern with CUTC.

Fashion A Magazine, Fashion Writer Internship:

What started out as a feature of me in their June issue as an apparel designer ended up with an awesome internship that is still going on right now. Then I go tot work with their social media and posted relevant articles and more for the magazine. My internship includes me writing fashion pieces for the magazine's website as well as posting updates, articles, etc for their social media platforms. As of now the end of my internship is uncertain, it's never been mentioned so I'm just rolling with it. I write as many pieces as I can with my time outside of my costume internship. I love writing for the magazine's website because I genuinely enjoy the topics and what the magazine is all about. It's definitely worth checking out if you haven't: fashionamag.com

Saw "Hay Fever" in their 
dress rehearsal.

Other:

Well in my free time, which I feel like I haven't managed to the best I could have, I have been reading like crazy and taking notes. It's mainly been over costume design related topics for future use if I need a really good reference. Besides taking full advantage of the library here, I've been attempting to work on my senior collection (way too many ideas and not enough narrowing them down) and to work on sewing projects (no luck). All in all I've had a great summer and I did spend some lovely sunny days by the pool but in the next couple weeks it's going to get really hectic. So stay tuned for news!

Costume Shop Progress & More

The books I got
to use for research.

Right now in the costume shop we are almost done organizing the boxes and totes. As we might start going through them on Monday, if not then Tuesday for sure. On Thursday we were almost done so I was emptying totes up on the counter tops (where the sewing area will be) which were full of random clothing and unsorted fabric. After we get the costume shop organized and completely finished I am sure we will try and tackle organizing the fabric section in the other room in a better way than it is right now.

As for helping with the costume designer (my boss) for her show for a different theater company, I am making a ruff this weekend. Well hopefully I'll finish it this weekend. I'd like to at least have a mock up of a ruff so she can see if she likes it or not. 

Along with that I have been given the choice to remake some of the dresses! They let me take home one of the sewing machines and an iron and I can pick whichever dresses out of the prom, nonspecific, Victorian, or empire waists and combine them to make more historic looking dresses. As of now I have two maroon empire waist dresses, some patterns that I might use, thread, and a lot of books to help me. I am hoping to make a dress with a Watteau back but I'm not entirely sure about my plan yet. However, I might as well try because Sheri and Ella said it's okay if I mess up and we have to get rid of it because we have way too much anyways. It's just a great way to practice a form of sustainability, trying to make new dresses out of what we already have rather than completely starting from scratch. I'm pretty excited about this and I'll write a different post on it with progress pictures once I have finalized my ideas for it.

Costume Books: "Dreaming of Chanel"

Front Cover

I went to the library yesterday and while I couldn't find some of the books I wanted, I managed to snag some really neat ones! The one I started reading today is titled Dreaming of Chanel by Charlotte Smith and illustrated by Grant Cowan. It's all these stories that are attached to a vintage clothing collection the author inherited from her American godmother. The illustrations are amazing and the stories are wonderful. The stories are all about a page and with the illustrations the book is a quick read so I'm hoping to finish it today. It's a great read so far and I'm going to read Charlotte's other book, Dreaming of Dior. I think it's a good resource for costumes and designing because it has a variety of vintage dresses and stories dating from 1790 to the 1990s. Overall, perfect for reading if you like fashion.

Library Visits & Missing London

Since I'm only working at the costume shop in the mornings Monday thru Thursday I have a lot of free time on my hands. This week I've been a little lazy and really only been running errands and watching a lot of Friends on Netflix. I went to the library early this week and got a handful of books, one of which makes me really miss London. This V&A book titled "400 Years of Fashion," is pretty great and filled with a lot of useful information and a variety of looks for the different periods. I've included the front and back covers because they show some of the great looks included inside the book.

1905 travelling gown

While reading this book I've just really missed being in London. In London I could go to any museum or art gallery whenever I had free time and I could see amazing exhibits. Here in Illinois I don't have that access to the fashion and art world that I did in London. I'm about an hour and a half away from Chicago, so I can go to a decently big city and see exhibits and fashion, but it's just not the same as walking to a museum about 20mins away from my apartment. But still, books like this are amazing to read, not only for their information but because they can help ease the fact you can't just up and go anywhere you want any time you want. I'm not all the way through the book yet, I've been taking some notes and really looking at the pieces included. In the costume shop we've been organizing all of the costumes and I really wanted to make sure we get the years right for when we go through the 1900s. I'm more focused on the past 100 years because their stock of costumes is mostly 20th century looks and most of their performances can use pieces from those decades for their shows. I'm just really excited to help create the inventory of all of the pieces and to see what all we have in the shop. And so far this book is a great resource and I definitely recommend it to those interested in the changes in fashion.

Exhibit & Book: Thea Porter

The inside of my book.

 While in London I went to the Fashion and Textile Museum a couple of times. The first time was for an exhibit titled "Knitwear Chanel to Westwood." Then the second was for an exhibit on the designer Thea Porter. It was called "Thea Porter 70s Bohemian Chic" and it was lovely and I enjoyed the variety of pieces they had and how they displayed them in the exhibition space. When you first walked in it was aminly pictures and a few stand alone pieces. then the ones in the main spaces were in cases set up each with their own personalities. One 'box' was set up like her dining room and another like her shop. It was just great and i loved all of the different patterns and colors Thea Porter had used in her designs. She did one of a kind pieces in different styles and also worked with interior design for a bit. her main seven looks included: the Abaya & kaftan, the Faye dress, the Gipsy dress, the wrap over dress, the brocade panel dress, the Chazara jacket, and the Sirwal skirt. i definitely reccomend looking more into Thea Porter and her designs! She wasn't great with the business end of things and that's why she stopped running her shops but she was a brilliant designer.

A glimpse of her shop.

While I was in Bath, which happened to be during Bath in fashion Week, my friend and I managed to snag tickets to the talk on Thea Porter & the exhibit. it was supposed to be held by Porter's daughter and the curator of the exhibit, Laura McLaws Helms, but was only held by the curator. She gave a great presentation and it was really interesting to see how someone goes about curating an exhibit and hearing what goes in to pulling it off and it turning out amazing. My friend Amanda and both ended up buying the book on the exhibit, especially since we had gone to see it in London, and we got them signed by Laura. It's pretty cool to have a signed book, especially a fashion book. It's a good read and has a lot of references and great pictures. If you can, check it out!

Collection: Figures

My latest Pop! figures came in the mail yesterday and I am just so thrilled to add them to my collection. Before these three my most recent addition was a Harley Quinn from Batman. along with these I have Batman, Spiderman, Captain America, Green Lantern, Iron Man, and Sookie from True Blood. I'm hoping to get more of the Avengers and also an old school Batman & Robin. In the future I'd like to get a few more True Blood & Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters as well as other monsters to go with Dracula and the Firefly team. I know that's a lot, but hey it's a collection so it needs to grow and expand. I just love how they're so tiny, and some of them simple in design, but they manage to capture the characters so well. Besides that I think they just fun to have and look great with all of my books! I'm pretty excited to have all of them out on my bookshelves next year in my apartment at school. 

Good Books & A Classic Scent

If you're read my blog t any time in the past then you know I love Coco Chanel and really admire the work she did while she was alive as well as the legacy that is the House of Chanel. I own a handful of books on Chanel, ranging from how to construct a classic Chanel jacket the couture way to a fictional piece titled "Coco, the Novel" by Patricia Soliman. The two books pictured above are ones I think are worth sharing. A while ago I wrote about "The Gospel According to Chanel" but I wasn't quite done with it. To read more go to my article titled, Chanel's Words. Well I finished it and it's definitely a good read, worth your time. 

The other book, "Coco Chanel: An Intimate Life," by Lisa Chaney, is one I haven't finished yet. The book uncovers the truth about Chanel and how her life wasn't what you might think. On Amazon the book review states that, "Chaney's fascinating biography paints a more nuanced picture of Coco Chanel than any other so far. Movingly, it explores the origins, the creative power, and the secret suffering of this exceptional and often misunderstood woman." You can check the rest out here on Amazon.com. Basically, both books are worth it! 

Lastly, because it was such a good find, I'm going to point out the bottle of Chanel N5. I snagged this expensive perfume at a second hand shop near my house for $15. They keep the designer items behind the counter and I couldn't quite tell what it was from a distance but it looked really familiar and I asked the sales woman if I could see it and the price. For $15 it was a steal and while I had just spent more than I wanted on shoes I couldn't quite bring myself to spend more even though I knew it would be worth it. My grandma bought it for me as a gift and so far I've used it quite a lot. I loved the videos on the perfume and the smell is calming. It smells slightly like baby powder, but it lasts all day and I think it's different from the other perfumes I own (which is really just a variety of sprays from places like Bath & Body Works and VS). I'm pretty stoked about owning this perfume and it makes me feel great when I wear it. 

Basically, if you're not a Chanel fan, that's okay, to each their own. But if you are, check out the books and always keep your eyes peeled at second hand stores because you'll never know what you may find!

Costume Books!

One of the best things ever is free books! When I went to Purdue recently to clean out my locker in the lab and get all of my sewing supplies, there was a huge stack of books just sitting on a table outside the room. Along with the books there were other office supply type things and a "Free" sign. I managed to snag a handful of costume books covering display techniques and terminology and even specifics such as Russian costume. Now costume is another term for dress/fashion so I have to actually go through and read them, which I was planning on anyways. I'm really excited to read these books, and it just makes my collection of fashion related books even better!
I'm hoping to write little book reviews for each of them with pictures, so stay tuned.

Constantly Inspiring: Chanel

Back in high school I never quite knew what I wanted to do with my life. Sure I could see myself doing different jobs such as being a lawyer or owning a store. When I was a junior I took AP English Language and during the school year I read a book titled "Coco the Novel," written by Patricia Soliman. It was amazing and I know I've written some posts about it and Chanel:

• "Coco Chanel" February 24th, 2012
• "More Chanel, Because Really, You Can Never Have Enough" March 5th, 2012
• "Channeling Chanel" June 20th, 2012 
• "Chanel's For The First Time" April 10, 2013
• "Chanel's Words" July 10th, 2013

It seems as though every few months I have something to say regarding the topic of Chanel, and as of now I have more to share. First, regarding the videos from Chanel, the first one being "For the First Time," well there is a total of 11 videos now and they are wonderful. If you have some free time you should check them out, it's worth it. Each video is short, around 3 minutes, so you can watch them one at a time over a span of a while. Check it out here: Inside Chanel. I've linked it to the first video. 

As of now I want to create a cardigan using my "Couture Sewing: The Couture Cardigan Jacket, Sewing Secrets from a Chanel Collector" book. I also have another book on Chanel I am looking forward to reading when I have some spare time. I wish I had brought more of my fashion related books with me for the summer but I decided against it because I wasn't sure how much free time I would have and I figured I could go home over the summer and switch out books. So I will probably be writing more about Chanel soon since once I'm settled in my class (which starts tomorrow) I will be starting some sewing projects.

Birthday Books

My birthday was this past Wednesday, April 16th, and it was pretty great. For my birthday I received some books from my grandmother, and they are pretty great!

Here they are:
1. "Fifty Dresses That Changed the World" -Design Museum
2. "Chanel: Collections and Creations" -Danièle Bott
3. "Couture Sewing; The Couture Cardigan Jacket, Sewing Secrets from a Chanel Collector"
    -Claire B. Shaeffer


I am very pleased because I have had the first two on my amazon wishlist forever and have been waiting to get some extra cash before I bought any more books. I have glanced through all of them because I haven't had the time to actually sit down and read them thoroughly but I definitely intend to read them cover to cover. I plan on making a cardigan following the instructions in the Couture Sewing book. Just another thing to add to my summer to do list, the never ending list.

I'll be posting more on the books specifically and how they influence me (I'm seeing tweed jackets in my sketches in the next few weeks) or just how amazing they are and worth the read.

More on the Books

As I've said in my last post about books, I plan on telling you a little about the books I chose to bring with me. At first, looking upon my giant stack of options, I had decided to just not bring any back with me to Purdue from spring break. But then, as I was packing last minute, I just knew I needed something. I chose 3 books from the pile and put them in my tote bag. 

Book #1:

Title: "The End of Fashion: How Marketing Changed the Clothing Business Forever"

Author: Teri Agins

Why I chose it: My grandmother gave me this book for Christmas and has talked to me several times about it, and after her talking to me about some other book and then one of my professors discussing said book, I decided I should finally try to read it. I'm also very intrigued by the description of the book.

A little snip it from the book: "It seemed tedious that six people would spend a good half hour dickering over the color of a label that would be hidden inside a suit jacket. But for a fashion image-maker like Hilfiger, the color of the label is a key marketing tool- and just as important as the way the suits looked" (Agins, 110).

Book #2

Title: "What on Earth Are You Wearing? An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Fashion"

Author: Chloe Quigley and Daniel Pollock

Illustrations: Kat Macleod

Why I chose it: One of my best friends gave this to me after we graduated high school and it's such a funny and witty book. Plus, the illustrations are inspiring for designs and everything just looks great!

A little snip it from the book: "Keyhole Neckline: A shaped hole at the front of garment. You can't get in or out even with a key. Like a chastity belt for your boobs. Sort of. Not really" (Pollock, 68).

Book #3

Title: "Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War"

Author: Hal Vaughan

Why I chose it: Chanel. I can always read more about Coco Chanel, simple as that.

A little snip it from the book: "In the end, Chanel saw herself as too refined for the studio glitter of Hollywood, the lavish facades, the tastes of the moguls and their coteries of actors and actresses, and the clash of egos among the silver-screen divas" (Vaughan, 68).

Books On Books On Books

Seeing as how I have an apartment and will be living there over the summer I have thought about taking all of my fashion related books with me back to Purdue. When my new roommate moves in for the summer, my best friend Jessica, we'll be rearranging the apartment's living room and kitchen area. I was thinking we might even get a bookcase to keep in the living room with our sewing machines and whatnot. I also plan on redoing my bedroom so I could even keep all my books in my room. But now the main question is what books do I take with me? Which ones are worth it? My heart says all of them but my brain is telling me that I can only fit so many and that with summer classes and a full time retail job (hopefully full time) I won't have time for reading let alone designing and whatnot. However, what if I do have time, and then I'm missing my books? I think it's better to be too prepared than not prepared at all.

Not even all the books to chose from.

After I've made my final decisions I'll post a piece including all the books I have that are fashion related and which ones I plan on taking and leaving behind, or leaving and bringing them after the semester is over and before summer classes start. 

Keep your eyes peeled because I have some great books and I'll try to include mini summaries or little bits of information about each book.

Decisions Decisions Decisions....And All About Shoes & Books

So I have recently moved into an apartment and today was my first day of classes. I moved in last Thursday and have been just chilling and waiting for school to start. These past few days have been rather relaxing and it has been nice to enjoy some worry-free time. However, last week before I moved into my apartment I was stressing about some very important decisions. I was worrying about what shoes and books to bring. Sort of silly but both require some actual time to think about the choices I had to make.

Since I don't go home until November I needed to think about the transition from the summer heat to the cool fall breeze. On top of this I also wanted to limit myself and bring less than 25 pairs and make sure all my shoes fit into 1 tote box. I also learned from last year that besides interviews or formal events I don't need a lot of heels. Thus, I only brought 2 pairs of heels: one pair of nude heels for professional attire (think interviews) and a pair of maroon suede wedges more for when it starts turning into fall and the colors turn into darker, more rich colors. I also only brought 3 pairs of boots: my rain boots, 1 pair for true fall and 1 pair is all weather (rain, snow, etc). so that if it suddenly becomes colder I will be prepared. Besides those I brought an assortment of sneakers, Keds, flats, and sandals. I hope I will be fine with my decisions, so far so good. :)

Besides shoes I love books; all kinds of books. Last year during school I didn't have a lot of free time to read the books of my choice, so this year I decided to only bring a handful of books. I brought Dracula and Coco the Novel, as well as a handful of others I have already read. I only brought a couple of books I haven't read yet (this includes the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit). This will allow me to focus on my school work and not get too involved in a new series but at the same time just relax with a book every now and then. I brought a variety of genres so I can pick one to satisfy my hunger to read whenever I want. I am glad I brought the books I did I just wish I brought more, but then again I will probably always wish I brought more books. I am a bookworm at heart and I just love surrounding myself with books. At home I have shelves and shelves around my room and then random piles stacked up throughout my rooms in the house. Hopefully when I'm a well-known designer and am making an amazing salary I will be able to afford a home with a library, or at least some really nifty shelving throughout the house.

My words of wisdom on the topic of choosing and limiting yourself on shoes and books is to make of list of the absolute necessary items. Shoes wise that would be sneakers, maybe rain boots or flip flops, and a pair of dress shoes. Besides that it's all about if you know you will wear them at least 10 times in the time span you'll be away. After that I would say it's just a personal preference. Now about the books, it's a hard decision and I would say just go with your gut, you can always get a library card from the local library and visit whenever you feel the urge to read something you didn't bring with you.

Chanel's Words

I have recently purchased a book that I've had my eye on for quite some time now. "The Gospel According to Coco Chanel," (the link takes you to Amazon to check the book out) by Karen Karbo, is very interesting and not what I thought it would be, but I really like the book. What Karbo does is divide the book into chapters, such as On Style, Money, Time, etc. and writes how Coco Chanel would view these things while adding in her (Karbo's) own ideas and stories. It's witty and humorous and I enjoy how she adds Madame Chanel's history and stories into the book, winding everything perfectly together. I'm not done with it yet, but I am almost done with chapter 9 out of 12 chapters. I've read a few books on Chanel, such as the fictitious (though does include real history of Chanel) novel "Coco, the Novel" by Patricia Soliman. That book is one reason why I became to admire Chanel, the book just creates this world around Coco Chanel that seems inviting and invigorating. I don't want to be Chanel, nor do I want the life she lived, but I do admire her a lot for the great qualities she possessed and I hope to someday make dramatic alterations in the fashion industry.   Once I set my heart on Chanel, nothing design wise has been the same for me in the sense that every now and then I find myself wondering "Would this work at Chanel? Should this be black instead of hot pink? There needs to be more pearls, more tweed, more structure, etc." I know I seem to post a lot about Chanel, but there's a lot to say about her, she was a woman who got what she wanted through hard work, determination, and being herself. But anyways, back to the book, if you want to know more about Chanel, or just how she would view certain topics, then I highly recommend this book. It's worded as if the author is actually speaking to you, she adds little foot notes, and it's filled with quotes and fun stories. It's not a dull book and it's worth every penny. I intend to check out other books by Karbo simply because I like the way she writes, also because she wrote a book about Katherine Hepburn, who is another fascinating woman. Hopefully I'll find more books at Half-Price Books, but until then I'll have to try and make it through the ones I currently have.

Open a Book, Open Your Mind

I have to say one thing I am excited about by being home is going to the library. Of course there are libraries on campus, and each offer excellent selections, but it's something about going to a library not full of people studying for classes, but people wanting to simply read (of course there are always exceptions) makes me feel at home. I love roaming the stacks aimlessly looking for random books. However, sometimes I do some research at home, find books I want to read, write down their info, and then I have a mission when I go to the library. Even still, there are so many types of books and then CDs and DVDs to check out.
Personally I love reading fiction, preferably something with mystery or paranormal or with vampires or ghosts or shapeshifters or something of the sort. I like having that aspect to a book where you know they don't exist but there's just that slight chance that it could all be real. Books and the stories they create and the images I envision fill my mind with gowns and ensembles that would not only work for those specific novels, but they also inspire  a lot of my sketches. 
When I read Dracula, and trust me I've read it more than 5 times, I always think of big deep red satin gowns with bead detail or long trains. I love the idea of an all red collection made of velvet, satin, tulle and more with beads, sequins, feather fascinators, and dark smokey eyes and bright or dark red lips. 
I recently went to the library and checked out 11 books, all are related to fashion in some way, and all are non-fiction. I wanted to get a rather large book on art from the 1800s to early 1900s but it was only a reference book and can not be checked out. However, I found a book on Cartier, one on apparel from 1900-1910s, a Seventeen guide book, the Teen Vogue handbook, and then a couple books regarding Hollywood actresses and starlets from the early 1900s. I've only read a few so far, but I know there are others waiting on the shelves in the library.
I like the idea that books are like a gateway to other worlds and can take your mind anywhere you want. I love the quote from C.S. Lewis stating, "You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me" (BrainyQuote). I love just relaxing with a good book and drinking a cup of hot tea. Also, the quote about learning from books, "You cannot open a book without learning something," from Confucius (BrianyQuote).
Books can really open a person's mind, no book is the same for two people, just like no two snowflakes are the same. What a person takes away from a book is different than another person, and I love it. 

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.