Monday, August 27, 2012

I Like Your Hat

I am currently sitting on a bench on the academic quad of my campus killing some time before I have to head to my next 30 minute syllabus class. I've actually been back at Colgate for some time now because I decided to be a leader for a pre-orientation group for the freshman this year. It was pretty fun and I got to know some new people and some new freshmen (I actually bought my shelving off a freshman who thought they could fit that in Curtis HA). But despite having been here for a week, I'm still in denial that school is starting and that I won't see my friends from back home until Christmas.

My last night in San Francisco, I had some friends over for dinner and a sleepover. I'll blame that dinner for my current lapse in my diet because we just made a giant pot of pasta and eggplant. It was yummy and simple but definitely went against my no carb diet. OH WELL. After some normal chatting and eating, we went on an adventure to the drugstore to buy Ice Cream which we then casually destroyed.
This is the unnecessary outfit that I wore to this fun event. I had to wear it because I had stolen that hat from one of my friends and had yet to take advantage of it's amazingness. I've been eyeing a hat like this for about a year now, but have never actually bought one. 
Although I'm obsessed with that and they make any outfit just 50x more glamourous, it just doesn't make sense to wear at school. I'd have to take it off in class (imagine sitting behind a chick wearing that), I'd take it off in my apartment or visiting anyone else, so basically I'd end up just holding this hat all day getting annoyed. And that's the reason I have not and probably will not buy that hat until I graduate and live in a city again. (how unnecessary was that rant). But now I'm in a hat state of mind, I'm going to include some hat pictures that I want but can never have as a form of torture for myself. 
the perfect wall decoration (I found this on pinterest...obviously)

Friday, August 17, 2012

Gaultier at the de Young


 
This past week, I went to see the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at the de Young. Now this exhibit as been at the de Young all summer and I've been looking longingly at the flags hung all around the city, telling myself that I have to go. Of course, I didn't actually get my butt over there until my last week of summer and the last week of the exhibit. Classic. Now I must admit, I'm not the biggest museum person. It's one of those things that I really want to like. I want to be cultured and snobby like that. Unfortunately, I don't have the attention span to look at every piece/object/painting/whatever with the deep intensity and thought it deserves.
Instead, I stroll along looking at what I can recognize or find interesting. Sometimes I check my phone. And although I did do some of these same things when I went to the de Young the other day, I did it much less! Which proves that I enjoyed my experience there!
Honestly, I'm always far more interested by an exhibit when it's about fashion. Maybe it's the inner shopoholic in me that comes out and treats the museum more like a window shopping expedition rather than a museum stroll. Although most of the garments were not something I would wear (as my niece who saw it a couple days after me said), they were still fascinating to see, envisioning them on models strolling down the runway.
But the main element that kept my attention was just the brilliance of Gaultier. Dubbed the "enfant terrible" or "terrible child" of fashion, Gaultier founded his own couture house in 1997 when most people believe couture was dead. Many people actually give Gaultier the credit for the continued strength of the couture artform, with his challenging and innovative collections. Through both his couture and pret à porter collections, Gaultier takes inspiration from the changing world around him and reflects them in his own dress codes (From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk was the title of this exhibition--fitting right?). He bravely and famously tackles sexual issues such as conventional gender roles, transgender, androgynous, HIV all through his clothing. Many of these gender challenging garments were made famous by Madonna. He also looks do the diverse population of his native Paris to create multicultural looks in his collections.
So that's enough chitchat, below are some pictures I took at the exhibit. I hope you enjoy them. Miraculously they let me take pictures without flash! When I went to a similar exhibit at the New York MOMA, they yelled at me and made me delete the picture. How Rude, right?!

See that small picture of Madonna in the background, and that's a version of her classic cone-shaped bra!
Madonna wore this in the opening of her last tour
That's not cheetah skin, those are beads! Took over a 1000 hours to make


Friday, July 27, 2012

Clothes in Bloom

Clothes in Bloom

Clothes in Bloom by rachelheisen featuring tortoise cat eye sunglasses

For my post today, I've decided to make an outfit that highlights both a trend I covered in one of my latest posts for College Fashionista and the lovely clutch from my giveaway. I've been dreaming about getting a pair of floral pants all season, but unfortunately I haven't found one that I like that is also in my price range. 
However, I am considering these new BDG jeans that Urban Outfitters just released for fall. They're not exactly the floral I desired, but I do like all the patterns they come in. I'll do a dreaming about post on them a little later...maybe tomorrow? 
I was inspired to write this floral post by this girl I spotted on the Haight a couple weeks ago. She was wearing this adorable outfit with mint green shorts and a floral top, so I ended up like running after/mildly stalking her so I could take her picture. Honestly, taking street style pictures of people is so hard! I always end up looking like/feeling like a total creep. 
Don't forget to check out my post on College Fashionista on this floral trend and my floral inspired Pinterest board! 

Sunday, July 22, 2012

California One

Sorry I've been away recently. I started working with a personal trainer recently so I've been going to the gym more regularly which takes away from my blogging time when I'm not working. Working out has been a bit of a struggle. First of all, I have discovered that I'm extremely weak. Like disgustingly weak, so working with weights has been quite the struggle. Also, I have discovered a am completely out of shape and my fears about being fat have been confirmed. I am fatter, weaker, overall inferior to the "average" healthy person my trainer keeps comparing me to. 
Besides working out, something else has been taking me away from my computer: driving. This summer my major summer goal was learning how to drive. I had gotten to an age where not knowing to drive wasn't just lazy, but simply embarrassing. Therefore, after and before work and the gym I would force my dad to go driving with me to get ready for my driving test. I think he enjoyed our time together, despite having to be in a car in an urban environment with a new driver. It probably was also the first quality time we had spent together for years now. Ultimately all that time paid off because I successfully got my license this past week! I took it in Daly City right across from Krispy Kreme (which is far superior to Dunkin Donuts to all of my East Coast readers). Unfortunately for me, because I am now working with my personal trainer, he put me on a no carb diet so despite having passed I couldn't celebrate with a donut. I told my brother that if I had failed I would have demanded a donut or five to make myself feel better. I'll discuss with you later my difficulties and struggles with this impossible diet. 
These pictures were taken on one of my drives this week. We're practicing the freeway since we didn't cover that before we got my license. I think he was too scared to bring me on the freeway until I was licensed. We drove down tot half moon bay on the freeway and on highway 1, the beautiful and windy highway on the coast of CA. He was like freaking out because I was going kind of fast on Devils Slide. Whatever. We made it all the way there and it was beautiful. All I wanted to do is get my bathing suit out and play in the beach. Unfortunately, I had work in the afternoon so we headed back to the city. But I NEED to get back to the beach. Who wants to go with me??
Take a long drive with me
on California One, on California One.
And the road a-winding goes
from golden gate to roaring cliff-side,
and the light is softly low
as our hearts become sweetly untied
beneath the sun of California One.
-Decemberists

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Promoted Without a Raise

The last couple days at work, I've been in a pretty bad mood. I felt like I was failing at my job. I couldn't sell a single banana card (it's like a credit card for Banana Republic). But even more frustrating, no one wanted any help and if they did they never really bought anything! Grrrrr.
So at the end of my shift, one of my leaders said she wanted to "touch base." So after my crappy days, I was pretty sure that she was going to yell at me and tell me I suck at my job. Insteaaaaaaaddddd, she said that wanted me to join the Styling Team. She went onto tell me how I'd get my own designated changing rooms for my personal customers etc etc Basically it sounded like I got promoted and was given more responsibility and pressure, but for some odd reason there was no discussion about getting a raise. Like come on, give me at least another dollar an hour! But nonetheless, I am now a stylist for Banana Republic. And apparently, we're the only team of stylists in stores in the entire company.
Due to my new position, you might see some more polyvores highlighting Banana Republic clothing as a practice creating outfits for customers. I promise, we actually have some pretty cute clothes! I've been eyeing a whole lot of things this past week. Oh no! I forgot to extend the hold on my blue pants!
But this is what I wore to work during this whole ordeal. I was inspired by the advice I presented in my post for College Fashionista on stripes from J.Crew's fashion director, Gayle Spannus. Treat stripes like neutrals. Therefore, when I grabbed this skirt (it's one of my few skirts whose length is appropriate for work), I no longer felt obligated to grab a white top. Instead, I grabbed this old Michael Stars t-shirt from high school! I then added more to the outfit with my statement necklace from J.Crew, but unfortunately, I forgot my new green rose studs. They really added to the skirt...
So what do you guys think of my pattern mixture? Do you think it's worthy of J.Crew?
Sweater: Uniqlo
Shirt: Michael Stars
Skirt: Marc by Marc Jacobs
Shoes: Sam Edelman
Necklace: J.Crew

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Seeing Spots: Polka Dots


Seeing Spots



Bustier top / Alexander Wang cropped jacket / J.Crew long pencil skirt / Lanvin choker necklace

So today is yet another Polyvore day. Because I have to wear business casual clothing to my job at Banana Republic about five times a week and my business casual wardrobe is limited, I have not been coming up with a lot of different Outfit Post worthy outfits. And whenever I do, I'm always running late and don't have time to take pictures with the appropriate lighting and angles that would be worthy of your readership. In fact, I've had my parents take pictures of two of my outfits this week, but they sucked at getting the lighting right and I didn't even bother posting them. We're bumping up the quality in this joint and we can't have any poor lighting!!
Now, I've decided that every Monday I'm probably going to end up presenting you with a Polyvore. Why? you may ask. Well, every Monday my post for College Fashionista is published on my STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK. And I figure that presenting you with an outfit highlighting the trend I documented on the street and discussed in my post would be perfect. Yea? Ultimately this will make these posts pretty short because you'll have a 500 word article on College Fashionista to read instead! YEYYYYY!!!!
The picture from my article. It's hard to get a good picture in the middle of downtown SF!
But as you might have guessed based on my Polyvore collage, my style advice of the week is on polka dots. Despite apparently originating from England, the polka dot just seems so American to me. And I'm honestly not that completely off-base in connecting those two (despite what my editor told me). The polka dot first gained traction in the 1920s when the Minnnie Mouse illustration was presented in her signature polka dot dress. Later on, celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe donned the dots and they also became the staple in Lucille Ball's wardrobe for I Love Lucy. Today, polka dots are just as popular as ever and a great pattern to play with to add some youth and playfulness to any outfit! Check out more of my advice and musings over polka dots in my post at College Fashionista. Also, check out my Pinterest Board focusing on polka dots for more visual ideas on how to wear them.
Ok I need to go to bed right now which you probably could've guessed because my writing right now is atrocious. But I promise I'll be back soon with a more legitimate post than this.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Made In the USA

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYONE! I have to admit, that for the most part, I haven't done anything particularly exciting for July 4th in the past. However, this year I really wanted to make it special. I was hoping for a BBQ with american flag themed foods etc. I even made a pinterest board for all my July 4th inspired images, outfits, clothing, and food! Unfortunately, when I got my schedule for work this weekend I found out that I have work today. Apparently, I get paid time and a half for working on a holiday so I guess that's one upside: I get paid 1.5x minimum wage today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!
I also found that getting dressed today was very difficult. Although I have been pinning about this day for some time now, I apparently never actually bought any apparel for the event. I'm kind of confused about how I still haven't managed to buy an american flag themed article of clothing since I've been lusting after them since they got cool with those Australian tumblr girls. Side note: did anyone find it kind of weird that australians were wearing the american flag? Just in general, why are non-americans so obsessed with this pattern all of the sudden. I thought foreigners hated america these days...
Here's another example, Brandy Melville. I'm pretty sure this company is based in Italy, yet so many of their items have the American Flag on it. And it's not just there to take advantage of the Fourth of July market; it's there all year! Actually, I've been lusting over this sweater for awhile now but never bought it because when would I wear a sweater with a large american flag? Oh wait, I know maybe for a fraturday or for watching fireworks at night on July 4th! I'm so dumb. 
I ended up finding a red striped croptop from my intense croptop phase last year. Unfortunately, I do not own any patriotic clothing that is work appropriate (aka isn't a belly shirt or a tight little skirt). So today at work I will be wearing all black because I HATE AMERICA! ... I don't, but that's what it's going to look like. After work, I'm planning on watching the fireworks with some friends and hopefully I will take some pictures so I can tell you all about it!
Also here is my pinterest link if you want to check out my MADE IN THE USA board. It's pretty I swear!!


Images from pinterest

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Cookies Rule Everything Around Me

Sometimes I feel like I just waste my summer. I just sit there on my bed watching yet another episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians or Law & Order while aimlessly and pointlessly surfing the internet. Now, it's even sadder for me to spend my free days this way because I only get 2 days off a week and then I'm back to talking older women into buying that soft soft, 100% cotton cardigan at Banana Republic. But this weekend, I was slightly more social. Hooray! I'll tell you what I did today and safe my yesterday activities for another post, so I can pretend like I am super social all the time. 
Today, I went to Telegraph in Berkeley with my friend Camille. She was planning on going with some of her friends from high school and I just tagged along. Having grown up in San Francisco proper, I never really venture out to the suburbs or surrounding cities. I mean I live in the the city, and all these other places just surround it. But it was nice venturing out of my normal places and going to what we called the Haight street of Berkeley. I bought this really pretty mint green dress that I hopefully will do a post on very very soon. We went to a lot of different stores, but after my large $40 purchase, I tried very hard to not buy anything more. But we did get a bite to eat. 
Yummy in my tummy!
There's this place called CREAM (Cookies Rule Everything Around Me). The idea is you get to choose two freshly baked cookies, an ice cream flavor and they make you a made-to-order chipwich! It was soooo yummy, and there were so many options that I just want to go back for more! And it was only $2, which is nowhere near the most I've paid for a dessert in the Bay Area. If for some reason I find myself on that side of the Bay Bridge again, I might have to get another.
After our chipwiches, we headed back to the city and hung out in Duboce Park. By this point in the day, my outfit had changed dramatically. But what we ended up with was a mostly borrowed outfit from my friend Camille (I had slept over the night before). The outfit is slightly mismatched, but I think it turned out alright? This is my first time wearing this necklace that I bought from Forever21. I was looking for a colorful, preferably somewhat green statement piece for my job. I ended up buying this necklace, which I liked but isn't exactly the best to create a professional look. Nonetheless, it's a nice piece to add some color to my drab outfits and for my days off. I'm also wearing my handy dandy army jacket from Wasteland that my friend Catherine has been trying to steal for ages. My skirt and tank top are both my friend Camille's.
Had to add my normal dumb looking picture
Tank: Unknown
Jacket: Thrifted from Wasteland
Shoes: Sam Edelman
Necklace: Forever21
Sunglasses: Wishbone

Monday, July 2, 2012

Outfits of Our Dreams: Stripes Get a Makeover

I Love the Stripe Hype


Organic by John Patrick merino wool sweater / 3.1 Phillip Lim crepe pants / Loeffler Randall clogs shoes / Stella & Dot chain jewelry

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a little obsessed with stripes. Now if you haven't picked up on that pattern, I invite you to look down at my last outfit post and then to your right to my lookbook.nu feed. Stripes, stripes, stripes everywhere! There are many reasons why today seemed like the perfect time to post about stripes. 1) I'm wearing stripes today 2) Fourth of July is coming up with all its stars and stripes 3) Today my post about stripes went live on CollegeFashionista. When I was doing my little research for my post, I found this lovely quote from J.Crew's Fashion Director, Gayle Spannaus. "For me, stripes are a neutral--I pair them with everything." I loved this quote because it opened up a world of opportunity to my favorites stripes. 
Above, I have posted my very first set from polyvore. I joined the site 6 months ago, but I didn't really do anything with the site until today. After I read that quote from Gayle Spannaus, I instantly wanted to pair my stripes with some of this summers favorite trends: patterned pants and neon. Unfortunately, I don't have either. Coming to the conclusion that I need to go shopping (surprise) and that I cannot do an outfit post on my imaginary outfit, it hit me: Polyvore.
Tell me what you think of it and maybe follow me? I don't really understand how that site works still. Also don't forget to check out my post on CollegeFashionista! I've linked you to some more amazing striped items!

Friday, June 29, 2012

What We're Listening To: KO KO

I really wanted to have an outfit post ready for you guys today, and I swear I've been wearing some cute outfits to work this week! Unfortunately, I have not had time to find someone to take pictures of me and I think it would be weird if I just asked one of my new coworkers to take a picture in the alleyway during my lunch break. So instead, I'm doing a music post of a band that I found in April.
Now if you're my friend on Facebook, you might have already seen this because I posted it on a friends wall the night I found it while procrastinating at the library. Isn't studying time the best time to make grand discoveries on the internet?
The band is called KO KO and it consists of a brother duo from Southern California, Ryan and Taylor Lawhon. The Lawhon brothers hailing from sunny Southern California seems to have expressed itself in their music. Even if the darker moments of their EP, you still feel like these songs were made for the summer months.

This quality is most evident in the opening song "Float." This track includes whistling, a catchy melodic hook, pounding drums--every element to make a feel good summer moment. I actually liked this song so much I made it the default song for my tumblr.
But I have to admit that "So Strange" is probably my favorite on the 3 track EP. Opening with organs and a sad line of vocals rather than an upbeat whistle, this song is slightly more mysterious and spooky than "Float." Altogether it seems like a more well-rounded track than the first two and is a perfect way to end the EP, leaving the listener searching desperately for more.
Although this post is a couple months late, it's actually perfect timing. KO KO has been releasing their EP free on Bandcamp on the 29th of every month. These downloads have been ridiculously popular and have reached their limit by the 30th every time. So if you like these songs, I suggest you check out their Bandcamp tomorrow and pray that you snag one of their EPs for free!



Sunday, June 24, 2012

I Hate Heels

I have nothing really big to share with all of you. I've been pretty tired lately because I just started my new job as "sales support" in Banana Republic. Yesterday, I worked from 8am-5pm mainly working at the cash register. The whole day, I felt like such a frosh. Everyone else who worked at the store knew each other and were making jokes all day, while me and my fellow newbs wandered around doe-eyed, confused and friendless (such a freshman move). During lunch, all the veterans were eating with their friends and we just sat at a newbie table. I'm sure it will get better soon with more practice on the job and after we spend more time with the other associates. At least I hope?
Fake high-low skirt!

So while I was looking through my closet for Banan Republic appropriate outfits, I ended up picking up an outfit that is not Banana Republic at all. I just bought this long maroon skirt from Forever 21. I like how this skirt has a slightly different cut with slits on the side. Also, it's super fun because I can easily create a high-low skirt without buying one! You can't even tell can you! Ok, you can but if I add a belt you wouldn't really be able to. The rest of my outfit is from a year ago *gasp*. My shirt is actually one of those tight short dresses that were so cool last year. That's a cropped leather jacket from H&M that I actually found via Late Afternoon. And my sandal heels are from Lucky Brand that I have never had the opportunity to show you guys!
I think I was pretty clever with this ;)

Last year, I felt like getting super high heels were the best way to get my style to the blogger level. Looking at bloggers like Aimee or Olivia Lopez, I felt so pressured to buy heels (especially super high heels like those Jeffrey Campbells that were so popular this past year). Ultimately, they looked so trendy and fashionable and I thought it was so much because of the heels. But I've discovered that although I did like these heels, heels of this height and heels in general are just not conducive for my lifestyle. Both at school and at home I live in hilly areas and cannot drive, so walking around in 6 in heels is a bit of a challenge. And that is why this year I'm looking for fun and fashionable shoes that are flat (or at the very worst 3 inches) and easy and comfortable to walk in. Sounds like a plan (and a future Daydreaming About Post)!
Lucky Brand "Tessa" High Heeled Sandals
"I hate heels, love how the look, but hate how they feel"

Thursday, June 21, 2012

What We're Daydreaming About: Closets

This morning I finally decided to unpack. You know, I figured it was about time since I got back home about 20 days ago. Honestly, I don't know how I survived like that with all those giant bags surrounding my bed for all this time. So after unpacking I came to the conclusion that I am a clothing hoarder. Now if you've ever been my roommate or been to my dorm room this past year, you are probably not all that surprised. After all, I managed to fill a double with all my stuff. That means I had two closets, two sets of drawers, and I had more plastic containers. But since this was just my room in my mind, that didn't really occur to me as weird. But today, when I finally unpacked I realized that I fully filled up my closet at home. And that was only the clothes I brought back for the summer. I left the majority of my stuff back at school....
So this was my giant epiphany. I am a clothing hoarder. I have an insane amount of clothes. At this point, I was trying to figure out a solution. Get rid of clothing I don't wear enough? Unfortunately, I've discovered that places like Crossroads hates my clothing. They're looking for strangely specific and in trend things. Like, if I had that currently trendy item, why would I be giving it to you? I would be wearing it! And just giving away my clothing to the Philippines like my mom wants me to do doesn't sound so amazing. Like if I'm not going to get any money, why wouldn't I just keep those clothes? It's not like I hate them. My second solution was to stop shopping. But that just a ridiculous proposition. The only real reason that would lessen my shopping would be an economic issue not to reduce my clothing amount. I just always want new things to spruce up my wardrobe. Don't you?
Now at this point, I was just frustrated. I didn't see any solution. And suddenly it came to me. Hi my name is Rachel and I'm a clothing hoarder but I do NOT have a problem. My shopping addiction is not a problem (yet, let's make sure I don't end up in credit card debt due to this addiction). My shopping and clothing hoarding is simply a means to my creativity and personal expression. The real problem is that I do not have enough space. And that is why I have made it my goal that when I am older and have my own place, I will have a beautiful gigantic closet to fit all the clothes of my dreams.
Do you recognize this closet? You should. It belongs to the iconic (although fictional) Carrie Bradshaw. I have to say, it's not too shabby for her apartment as a single women in NYC. Too bad the size of this is essentially the size of an apartment in NYC. But hopefully I'll have a super great paying job straight out of college and I'll be able to afford a whole lot of square footage when I'm in my 20s. 
I figured that since I included Carrie Bradshaw, I had to include her all grown up dream closet. I was pretty heartbroken that she didn't end up getting to live in this beautiful apartment after that whole fiasco. But the closet that Big created for her was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. So spacious, polished, and classic. I love the distinct style of the Carrie vs Big size. I also love how her stuff still found their way on his side. The rule should be her stuff gets priority no matter what side it's on.
Now after Oprah got a lovely look into Jcrew's one and only Jenna Lyons closet, I fell in love. This is exactly how my dream closet would be. Quite clearly, this is more than a wall-in-closet. This is a living room centered around clothing. And it makes me wonder why living room isn't focused on clothing. Like why would we ever center an entire room around a TV? Ok, actually now that I've written that I really hope she has a TV in there. I would love that. And a big comfy sofa. Like a big comfy chic sofa so it still fits into this lovely decor. I also love how the bookshelves contain shoes instead of books. The beautiful heels are reasonable replacements for beautiful spines.
 
Speaking of shoes. I love this cubby approach. This way every shoe has a home! Plus, it is just such a organized and clean looking approach.
 
I didn't expect Kate Bosworth to have such a beautiful closet for some reason. But it's honestly gorgeous, although the color pallet of the spring/summer season probably helped the photo out. I particularly enjoy her truck in the background. I'm in love with trucks. Maybe I'll do another Daydreaming segment on them soon

I obviously wouldn't mind if I could just take the entirety of Teen Vogue's closet. They can leave the clothes, I really don't mind.
Ultimately I'll just have to make a weird amount of money or marry rich to obtain this closet and all the beautiful clothes that would deserve a place in such a classy room. But a girl can daydream right?