Hello my dears! I'm posting a bit earlier than usual since I have some time to sit down and write. This week, I ventured into uncharted territory (at least for me). Menswear has always been something I admired but never talked about. Truthfully, I don't know much but I would like to try and give my honest review on a collection that I fell in love with: Michael Bastian's Fall 2016 line. Maybe you'll fall in love, too.

If I had to describe the general feel of the collection, I would say that it's quirky but also preppy? It's pleasing to the eye and actually very wearable as far as designer pieces go. I think it's also fun to look at menswear for inspiration! It can be nice to change your perspective from always scrolling through women's clothing to seeing what's hip and happening for the guys. There's one look in particular that I think would be stunning with heels (you'll see what I mean).

All of these looks can be found here: click me!

With that, please enjoy the review (and the handsome models).

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LOOK 3: I love the model's hairstyle. It's sleek but not overly done. The brown of the leather jacket and the blue of the button-up shirt makes it a very warm look. I think the contrast of the jacket and the unbuttoned shirt also gives it a fun, sexy flair. What really surprises me, however, is the grey pants! The cool tones work unexpectedly well with the warm tones.


LOOK 6: This outfit is great. I can see a lot of guys wearing this because it's pretty casual but there are a very elements that pull it all together. The jacket? Perfect. It's simple. There aren't a lot of unnecessary details or bright colors, which means that it will work with whatever you wear underneath. The pants? Awesome. The olive color can be a different neutral to add to the wardrobe and it's more versatile than you think! The boots? Amazing. I'd love to find the women's equivalent.


LOOK 8: I really like the plain black sunglasses. I think it toughens the outfit a bit. The blazer, turtleneck, and bottoms all look very soft and I don't mean just the texture. The whole look is very mild (compared to something hard like leather). This is the outfit I was talking about in the beginning! I think pairing a slouchy turtleneck with a soft blazer and skinny pants would be a really lovely outfit with heels. It's chic but just slightly masculine. Anyway, back to this. I do have mixed feelings about the pockets on the pants. I feel like it kind of ruins the outfit but maybe it's just me??


LOOK 9: The color of the beanie works well with the other colors here. It lightens up the darker tones like the gray sweats and navy top. Actually I really don't like sweatpants on guys because it can look sloppy but the fit of these aren't bad. It goes with the less structured jacket and beanie. Last but not least are the boots. I love brown boots. They're so down to earth and functional.


LOOK 15: I thought this was such a fun look because of all the layers! Turtleneck under a collared shirt isn't something I would have personally styled but it's pretty nice. Since they're all darker colors, it's also not that noticeable. The lighter grey vest? Probably my favorite piece from this outfit. It pops out against everything else... a very stylish item to have for Fall. But what is happening with the shoes??? No socks?! Seems a bit out of place, to be honest.


LOOK 19: I have nothing against bow ties! They're super cute and more playful than neckties but because this outfit seemed borderline school-uniform, it might have looked better with a sleek tie...without the sweater. But it's a pretty classic combo and I do think it's a versatile outfit for colder months. I think the designer made a good decision to pair with black pants and black boots because it looks more mature that way. I would have also considered pairing some kind of wool coat to brighten the ensemble but otherwise, it's a solid look.
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What did you guys think? Which look was your favorite?

As per request, I am thinking of styling outfits based on The Divergent Series: Allegiant for my next post so be on the lookout for it!

Hello my beautifuls! I spent a wonderful weekend in NYC with some of my closest friends, which is why I didn't stuck to my once a week posting schedule. To make up for it... I decided to share pictures of my weekend adventures with you guys. Feel free to tell me in the comments below what you did this weekend and if you've ever been to New York City, let me know some good places to visit next time!!



NYC Conrad Hotel in Tribeca
Our stay at the Conrad was so amazing. It definitely lives up to its reputation as a wonderful five-star hotel and I'd recommend anyone to stay there if they can find a good deal online. Everyone was friendly. The room was gorgeous but I wish we had a better view! Overall, the design was very modern and crisp so if you like this kind of aesthetic, I would check it out for sure.

Outside of our hotel, there is an interesting path that people can walk into as you'll see in the pictures I included. Super pretty for taking pictures. I was kind of bummed though because it was raining for two out of the three days we stayed...
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Every meal we had was from a restaurant that I had never tried before. I am so grateful that they were all so tasty. My favorite was definitely the Korean BBQ place called Miss Korea. We realized afterward that there was another Korean BBQ restaurant closer to our hotel, which also had karaoke... that will be on my list the next time I go back to NYC!~~~

The MET is such a classic tourist spot for anyone who loves art. We didn't have enough time to fully explore each of the exhibits so I would recommend dedicating at least half a day to wandering around. It's just so much to absorb in a couple of hours. Everything that I did see was amazing and jaw-dropping. When I studied fashion, I did a lot of research on the historical aspects and seeing many artifacts from those time periods in person was just stunning. I have no words!~~~

This was also my first time visiting the High Line. I wasn't sure what to expect, honestly. All I knew was that it was a place to walk around. Little did I know...the path was unbelievably long. I should've known to bring sneakers on this trip but my motto was to pack light. Sad face. Nevertheless, it turned out to be a great adventure and the weather made it so much more enjoyable. The buildings and paths that we passed by-- I can't get over how much beauty there is in the architectural design of New York. I feel so inspired!
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Until we meet again, NY!


Bye for now,
Jenn

A few days ago, I posted something that I wasn't too impressed with so to counterbalance that, here is a lovely post on a McQueen inspired gown made out of...

GUMMY BEARS!

Actually, 50,000 gummy bears.

Wanna see it in all its gummy glory? Click here!

This stunning piece was created by Hissa Igarashi and Sayuri Marakumi for TWELV magazine.

This gummy sensation weighs twice as much as I do at a whopping 220 lbs...

Now you might be thinking...how did they put all those bears together? Well, each gummy bear was glued onto a vinyl sheet...by hand.

I am floored, not only by the creativity but also the commitment that it must have taken to make this garment.

Bravo! Love it!


Until next,
{kissies}
~Jenn

I'm sure if you're my age or older than I am, you'll understand that backpacks were an essential that we grew up with. Shopping for a new backpack for school meant looking for features that made it the ultimate bag, whether it be having the most pockets or being the most weatherproof. Moms worried about that stuff more than we did, I'm guessing, but now that I'm becoming more of an adult and spending my own money to purchase bags, I've begun to seriously consider what makes a bag worth buying.

Rather than talking about those heavy duty backpacks that we used to cram textbooks into, today I'll be discussing the trendier looking ones. They're very chic and, depending on the material, can dress up or down an outfit.

Backpacks come in a variety of styles: casual, canvas, printed, leather, faux leather, etc. Recently, I've begun to see an increase in horizontal shaped backpacks. They resemble the shape of a messenger bag but equipped with shoulder straps. I personally really enjoy the way they look but I find that the shape and design of many of those types of backpacks make it difficult for the bag to lay nicely against my back. It could also be because the bags are usually empty prior to the purchase. Keep in mind, like anything else, prices will range!

Before I go into the pros and cons of using backpacks as an accessory piece, I will list a few examples below, just as a reference point (and also so you guys can take a look around and get some ideas for yourself!).

Peter Jensen "Rabbit Backpack" $187.87 from Asos.com

Deena and Ozzy "Acid Wash Patch Backpack" $42 from Urban Outfitters

Levi's "River Rock Backpack" $150 from Nordstrom

Nillie Shop "Faux Leather Backpack" $35 from Yesstyle.com

ASOS "Leather backpack" $208.74 from Asos

Theyskens Theory "Black Leather Backpack" $575 from Theory.com

The Row "Leather backpack" $3900 from net-a-porter.com

The following list isn't in order of importance, just random order!
PROS
1. Storage: for a while, big purses were "in" and one of the greatest things about them were the space inside the bag. The bad thing is that it gets too heavy to carry around if you're the type of person who likes to keep a lot of crap in their bags. The good thing about a backpack is the two straps that keep the weight balanced on your shoulders instead of weighing down just one arm. The load seems much lighter and is great for travel, shopping, school, etc.

2. Design: similar to any other bag, backpacks come in a variety of patterns, graphics, fabrics, shapes, and sizes. As an accessory piece, it can be used to add texture or tone down an outfit.

3. Adds a "School Girl Umf": not everyone is going to like this pro or agree with it but I think backpacks have a certain innocent and casual quality that differs from other purses/bags. This kind of branches off from the "Design" pro but depending on what the backpack looks like, the outfit's aura can really change.

4. Hands free!: cross body bags have this same advantage too. I used to own a shoulder bag and it was always a pain in the hole to go shopping or to school. It's nice being able to rush through a crowd without worrying that the backpack will fall off. I also imagine it'd be harder to steal a backpack than a shoulder bag.

CONS
1. Waterproof vs non: this really depends on whether or not you get a canvas or leather one. Canvas backpacks have become quite popular though so I think consumers have greater access to these types. With that said, I find it annoying to have a bag that isn't waterproof or water resistant because of the crazy weather we have here. I also like having bags I can use year round!

2. Straps: if you plan on putting a heavy load in your bag, I suggest looking for one with thicker straps. After a while, thin straps will hurt your shoulders and make it uncomfortable to wear. I also worry a lot about the straps falling off, especially if the bag is heavy and weighs down. I've had it happen before! Broken straps :( and most are sewn in at the top, so they aren't 100% secure.

3. Open and Close: sometimes, it's not super convenient to get things out of the bag, just because of how the bag is usually worn. It's a whole process of taking both straps off, balancing the bag on your knees, rummaging for what you need, closing it, and putting it back on again. With a cross body bag or shoulder bag, reaching it for what you need to get is much easier.

4. Position: this is more of a concern in other countries but because the backpack is worn on the back, you can't really monitor what goes on. It could just be my paranoia but in a crowded area, it's difficult to detect when someone reaches into your bag or front pocket of the backpack. Must be cautious in those situations!


...and that's about it! Those are my opinions/tips about backpacks. I'm still on the search for a nice faux leather one for everyday use so please leave some suggestions if you have any! Thanks!


Until next time,
{kiss kiss}
~Jenn