Stripes and Chains

Another one of those anthro shirts that I got for Christmas that I am way behind on posting. This was not my most practical buy, as it is short sleeved but I saw it months ago on their website and had to have it, so when I went shopping and it was on sale there was no question. I like it because it's flattering and it has that interesting curved cut on the hem of the shirt. I also made good use of my juicy bracelet featured here as a focal piece.

Anthropologie Shirt, Giani Bini booties, Pac Sun jeans,
Juicy Couture bracelet, Juicy Couture ring

Love my Giani Bini's (Planning on getting a new pair of booties)

Close up of Juicy Bracelet

My personal preference for styling was minimal jewelry (odd for me), so I had only one small ring and a bright bracelet. I straightened my hair to make sure the lines all worked, and it was more aesthetically pleasing than it would have been curled or wavy. I pulled it back with a clip solely because my hair is thick and heavy and I don't like it in my face. I wore skinny jeans because the nice flow of the shirt would have drowned me if I'd also worn loose jeans. I am planning on getting the rest of my Xmas clothes up in the next week and a half.

Happy Thursday!

-Leah

Five Things (but really Six)

This week has been...a lot. Three extremely important papers due and not very much sleep. However there were many wonderful little instances that brightened my days and here they are:
1. Snow! I cannot adequately express my obscene infatuation with snow. And this was not just any snow, it was the snow that draws me to the window and is painful to look away from. The flakes were large fluffy, and it was just windy enough that the flakes swirl round and round, drifting to and fro, reflecting all the light that seems improbable to be there with all the clouds. Even better it was just warm enough to venture outside, if only for a moment to take a picture. It left that anticipation of trying not to wish so hard for a snow day that you're sorely dissapointed, but unable to dim that little flicker that maybe, just maybe, you will get to sleep in, admiring the wintery scenery late into the morning with a mug of hot cocoa and your favorite beat up copy of Gone with the Wind.

2. My brand new journal. For quite some time I have been meaning to purchase a new journal, and I finally  made it to Borders and began browsing the journal selection. I am quite particular about my journals. Everything has to be exactly the way I like it; a difficult find. The silver designs and shiny cover attracted me instantly, because it reminded me of a new start, like this year. It included all my necessary amenities: page marker, leather bound cover, thin lines, and enough pages to last me more than two weeks. Though a more costly than usual, (it was made in Italy) it was well worth  it and is being put to good use.

3. My friend's mother found this book and while seemingly pessimistic and deppressing, it is absolutely hilarious, resulting in the three of us (me, friend, friends mom) to fall over laughing each time we turned the page. My favorite: I hate clotheslines. I hate that you can't see them in the dark. I hate outdoor motion lights. 

 4. To my great relief I finally found a new tennis coach (as my previous one first got hip surgery in December and then left for Chile for a year once he finally healed). While initially extremely concerned that after a month without playing, I would be back at square one and have no hope of improving before tennis team tryouts, my qualms were relieved. I have gained back all my previous ability and, dare I say, possibly improved? I am very pleased and now stylish while playing as I gained a brand new tennis wardrobe.

Age 3: my first tennis lesson with daddy. Even then I liked to strike a pose.

5. Monday morning, blessed with the absence of school thanks to Mr King Jr, some friends, our young life leaders and I met for brunch at Ihop. Of course for this event, I dressed up in my sweater dress, revelling in an opportunity to have fun playing around with my new clothes. Clothes are to me as a new toy is to a four year old.

6. People are pretty great-like the ones who go to IHOP with you. Those are the keepers.

The week is half over! Happy Wednesday all!

-Leah



Olivya's Prom

My friend Olivya enjoyed this design posted earlier this month and asked if I would come up with something for her. I gladly agreed and she told me to come up with a floor length prom dress and this is what I found on my paper after a few hours of sketching and coloring.

It is jade green with a darker green sash. The skirt has ultra thin chains, like the really delicate ones on nice necklaces, draped on it and overlapping. It's a dropped waist and laces up in the back. The top also has gold chain draping and they all connect to a gold pendant on the front which is a gold greek coin. The neckline is a sweetheart with a little bit of gold chain draping as well. I thought it would look nice with an unstructured side bun.

The End.

Happy Tuesday

Wintertime Dress

I have an obsession with dresses. They're basically all I wear in Summer. Even in Winter, when I know I cannot wear a cute little floral number, I struggle not to purchase dresses. They're just so darn flattering and breezy and elegant and classy! However, my prayers have been answered, as I found the perfect dress for winter.

 This dress I purchased from Nordstrom and then was whisked away by my mom to wrap and place under the Christmas tree. I've been waiting for weeks for the right moment to wear it and the brunch I went to this morning with my friends and Young Life leaders was just the occasion.

 For jewelry I wore my brand new Juicy ring, a floral piece that I got on sale for half off over the weekend.

  I wore a black Nordstrom belt around the waist to accentuate mine and break up the dress so it wasn't one monotonous color the entire time. I prefered leaving my hair down straight partially because I like the length adn also to give it a more cozy laid back feel.

 

Wore with tights, from Nordstrom (also featured here) to add a modern touch and my Giani Bini booties ( I could always use the height since I hardly make 5'2").

I love the oversized sleeves that have a narrow cuff, and are oh-so-cozy. The cowel neck also adds an interesting detail and the color goes with everything. To top it off it's super cozy and will be getting plenty of wear this season.

Hope your week is filled with laughter, joy and style!

-Leah

p.s. officially over 1000 views! yay!

5 things (but really 6)

 This is much delayed with all the camera misplacement and hectic homework schedules, but here are my five things from the last week or so:

Dogsitting these two lovely puppies. They're super friendly and love cuddling. Besides, who wouldn't want to get paid for playing with dogs and watching tv all weekend?



Sadie and Max

A warm cup of hot cocoa during our recent snow stoms. Only a few inches but more than we received in the last four months!

Marshmellows make all the difference

 Seeing country strong after a yummy Panera dinner with my young life leader Kara! The movie is a little depressing but the music was great and Gwyneth Paltrow was excellent. Not to mention how much I enjoyed spending time with one of my favorite people after not seeing her for a month.

 Building a giant dominoes course with my little sister. She got hundreds of them for Xmas and we've been making good use of them!

Of course, my hair appointment makes the list! I absolutley love getting pampered at the hair salon, where the go all out giving you sodas and magazines and temple massages while washing your hair. I get a few minor highlights like usual and my stylist, Connie is always nice enough to take the time to blow out or straighten my hair. I chose to straighten it and she did a great job as usual.

{Connie Diaz from Fringe Hair Salon}



6. I do enjoy people-particularly country singers.

Hope everyone is having a lovely three day weekend! Gotta love Mr Martin Luther King Jr for giving us a break from Monday classes.

Black (Pink) Swan

This is another one of my sketches I drew I believe in math or chinese or one of those subjects where the mind wanders. It's a little different, but if you can imagine it in real life I think it comes out better than I was able to portray it on paper. Just bare with me...I swear it makes sense...well at least to me. Anyways it was inspired by the Black Swan...which I have still yet to see but I get the basic gist about how the girl is a super-perfectionist and then comes undone at the seams, which is how I guess my brain came up with this.

Now for the explanation of why the skirt looks so odd. The idea was that it's a very pretty pink skirt, smooth fabric (but absolutley not shiny), and then there are rips in the dress where tulle is sticking out (not super far, more naturally). I couldn't figure out how to not make it look like the rips are totally visible with wierd circles around them because I wanted to show that there werent just random balls of tulle attached. The idea is the rest of the dress, specificaly the top, is feminine and pretty and perfect and the skirt is beginning to show signs of imperfection. The skirt is nice and full. As for the back, the v back goes straight down to the waist line with rosettes lining it and the tulle continues to stick out in the back too, (not obscenely mind you) because I simply hate when a dress has a pattern that is amazing in the front and then stops awkwardly at the sides and isnt on the back. Anyways, I'm not sure if this communicates perfectly, but in my head it looks simply fabuous, particularly on Natalie Portman.

Pretty 'n' Pink

Finally the first post of those shirts I talked about receiving this Christmas. This particular one is from Anthropology and is one of my personal favorites. It's feminine without going overboard and the draping is both flattering and oh so chic. It's also a very comfortable t-shirt type fabric, very breathable and I love the 3/4 sleeves.

Pink Juicy ring featured here and pale pink nail polish to tie it all together

 This is the wallet I found in my stocking at home once back from California. I love the design, as wel as finally being able to have a place for my permit, debit card, nordstroms card and cash, instead of having all of those things float around my purse.

Very windy and bright, which results in rather squinty eyes

all photo credits go to Louise for being my lovely photographer
especially this one since she came up with the idea of the doorway

To accesorize I wore this Betsey Johnson necklace my cousin gave me that is one of my very favorites. I'm trying to wear it while I can, as snowflake designs are not very fitting for spring and summer. I also curled my hair to play up the femininity this shirt emits and because I think it's always fun to dress up just a little bit:).
Happy Thursday!