This past Saturday, I went to the movies and saw "Call Me By Your Name" (which was good and I would recommend seeing it). The movie takes place in 1980's Italy where the main character, a teenage boy, spends his summer days reading, writing and listening to music. This aspect of the film made me nostalgic for the days before social media. It made me realize how much time we waste mindlessly staring at our phones and how easy it is to pick up your phone and start scrolling through apps out of boredom. While I love creating content for Instagram and my blog, and I have no plans to stop doing that, this year I want to be more intentional with my time on social media. I want to avoid falling down the rabbit hole of hate stalking frenemies on Instagram or reading poorly written Facebook articles. So here are some tips I've already began implementing to limit my social media screen time.
•unfollow accounts that no longer inspire you By now, you are probably aware of the "follow/unfollow" method a lot of Instagramers use to gain followers. If you're not familiar, a user will go through and follow a bunch of accounts, hoping they will follow back. Then they go through and unfollow anyone who did not follow them back. I've ended up following a few bloggers this way, bloggers whose style I do not like at all. Every time their posts would come up, I would get a little annoyed, or ask myself, why am I following this person? I decided to start cleaning up my following list, and make sure I'm only following accounts whose content inspires me. It's not worth it wasting your time looking at images you do not enjoy, especially just for the sake of a few extra followers. •mute instagram stories I started muting certain people's Instagram stories a few months ago, and will continue to do this in the new year. I've muted a bunch of friends who I've grown apart from, because I was constantly getting FOMO sitting home on a Saturday night and seeing them uploading story after story all hanging out together. I've also muted some bloggers, not because I don't enjoy their stories, but because they were just posting too often and I was wasting a lot of time watching them. The beauty with muting Instagram stories is you are still able to watch them if you go to the persons profile, but you're not tempted to keep clicking to see their next story every time their little icon pops up in your queue. •turn off notifications I don't use Facebook much, it's not a platform that I post content to or interact with friends on. The main reason I keep it around is because it is a way I find out about events happening around the city. However, if I see I have a Facebook notification, I'll end up mindlessly scrolling through the app once I open it. I turned off notifications, so I am opening the app less, which is less opportunity for me to waste time on it. I've also unfollowed a bunch of pages, such as Elite Daily, Glamour Magazine and E! News, pages that are constantly posing click bait articles, which I would waste so much time reading when I was bored. With less temptation and opportunity, I will hopefully end up spending less time on Facebook in the new year. •schedule time for activities that don't include your phone One of my goals for 2017 was to read more. While I did finish a few books, I didn't read as much as I would have liked to. Often times I'd find myself bringing a book along somewhere I might have free time to read, but then end up scrolling though Instagram instead, merely out of habit. To get myself in the habit of picking up a book rather then my phone, I am going to schedule time to read. I am going to try to plan to read every night before bed, instead of staring at my screen until right before I go to sleep. Hopefully this will help me stop using my phone as a security blanket and find more fulfilling outlets for filling my time. I hope these tips were helpful if you also want to become more intentional with your time on social media. What are your goals for 2018? Dress: c/o Karina Dresses https://www.karinadresses.com/ *I am wearing the "Ruby" dresses from the Resort 2018 collection, which will be available on Jan 12th Beret: Target; Shoes: Franco Sarto Location: Pardon My French (East Village, Manhattan)
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2017 is coming to a close, so this will most likely be my last blog post of the year. I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read my blog posts, liked or commented on my Instagram photos, and anyone who has chosen to spend time in my little retro inspired world. I've had a lot of great opportunities to connect with some amazing brands and people throughout the year, and I hope to continue to do so going forward.
With 2018 fast approaching, I've been thinking about how I want my personal brand and blog to evolve in the new year. My goal for 2018 is to create inspirational content that steps outside the cookie cutter type photos we have become so accustomed to seeing across social media. I want to continue working with small businesses and brands vs big corporations as much as possible. I also want to buy and wear vintage and thrifted clothing as often as I can, and show my followers how simple alterations can revive a second hand garment. Wherever you're at in life, I want to encourage you to write down your own goals for the new year. Here's to a great 2017, and an even better 2018! Dress: c/o Tallulah’s Threads https://www.tallulahsthreads.com/shop/green-tartan-dress-2/ Headband: American Apparel; Tights: Hue; Shoes: LF/Life; Bag: Urban Outfitters Location: Strand Book Store (Union Square, NYC) Introvert and extrovert are two words people love to throw around nowadays. Most commonly, I see people labeling themselves as an "extroverted introvert", stating that they enjoy going to parties, but also are okay staying in and watching Netflix. While it is true that most people fall in between the two extremes of introvert and extrovert, I feel that people like to label themselves as a hybrid because they don't want to identify solely as an introvert. Introvert has a negative connotation, and conjures up images of a hermit with no friends. When you hear the word extrovert, a bubbly, life of the party, social butterfly comes to mind. However, these stereotypes are simply not true. I am definitely on the more introverted end of the spectrum, and I appreciate my alone time, but that doesn't mean I don't like socializing. I often feel misunderstood by the people around me, so I decided to write a post about the most common misconceptions of introverts.
we don't hate you So many people have told me they thought I didn't like them the first time they met me, but that couldn't have been farther from the truth. Introverts just take a little bit longer to warm up to you. alone time doesn't always mean staying home alone People always assume that introverts prefer to be home alone all the time. While there's nothing I love more then coming home to relax in bed after a long day out, on the weekends I love getting out of my apartment and exploring New York. However, I usually prefer to be out and about on my own. I would rather vintage shop, go to a museum, or grab brunch by myself. I consider these activities to be my alone time, even though I'm still surrounded by thousands of people around the city. we prefer small groups vs big groups Introverts find small talk draining, so we would rather hang out in a smaller group and have meaningful conversation with a few people we really care about. If you have a friend who is an introvert, consider making plans with them one on one, rather than inviting them out in a large group setting. I could go on, but these are just a few of the misconceptions about introverts. Being an introvert doesn't mean that we don't like being social. I hope that if you have a friend or family member that's an introvert this helps you better understand them. I also want to mention Madison from Minnie Muse Blog. She wrote a similar post about understanding introverts, which inspired me to write this post. You can check it out here if you want some additional reading: http://www.minniemuseblog.com/2017/08/10-things-you-should-know-about.html What do you consider yourself, an introvert, extrovert, or somewhere in between? Pajamas: c/o Emily and Fin https://emilyandfin.co.uk/shop/nightwear/phoebe-pyjama-scarlett-heart One of the reasons blogging is beneficial for me is because it pushes me outside of my comfort zone. I tend to be a bit anti social at times, and avoid social situations where I don't know anyone or where I might not be 100% comfortable. So when Skedaddle reached out to me and asked if I'd like to join them on some winery tours around Long Island, I was hesitant. It sounded fun, but I was worried I wouldn't know any of the other bloggers who were invited. When I was younger, my mom used to make me go to parties or force me to invite friends to come over to get me out of my shell. Obviously I'm a grown adult now, so my mom isn't constantly around to force me to be social, but I still try to push myself into these types of situations, so I accepted Skedaddle's invite. When I showed up for the bus at 8 am this Saturday, I worried I had made a mistake by saying yes to this trip. Not everyone knew everyone, but everyone there knew at least one other person. There were 8 other girls there, and I was the random 9th wheel. But I told myself to just make the best of the trip, its only one day, and it would be over before I knew it. Everyone was pretty quiet and sleepy on the bus, but by the time we arrived at the first winery, Bedell Cellars, I began to feel a bit better. All of the girls seemed really nice and friendly. One of them even helped me take photos at this vintage truck I had eyed up from the second we arrived. We tasted 5 different wines, and even got to see how they crushed the grapes to make the wine, then it was off to our next destination. Next, we stopped at Greenport Harbor Brewery. We ordered a bunch of snacks for the table, and we each got to pick our own flight of five beers. I tried all different kinds, from an IPA, to a lager, to a saison. They were all good, but all of them were the exact same shade of light brown, which did not make for a good photo, and confirmed why I am not a food blogger, like a lot of the girls there. We also got to take a quick tour of the brewery to learn about how the beer is made. Our third stop was Macari Vineyards, and my favorite stop of the day. Immediately after we arrived, we drove the bus around the vineyard to explore their extensive property. We made one stop to say hi to the adorable cows they use for compost. Then we drove a bit further to a private beach where we all got out to enjoy the view and a glass of rose. Then it was back to the main building, where we did our tasting in a private cellar. I think the highlight of the tasting was when “LOVE” by Nat King Cole came on and we basically all felt like we were living The Parent Trap. I really enjoyed the Chardonnay wine, probably my favorite tasting of the day, which is interesting because I usually don’t care for Chardonnays. They also have a pizza truck on their property, so they gave us a few different pies to try. I had the white and margarita and both were amazing. After a quick nap on the bus, we made our final stop at Table 7 just outside of NYC. We got to try a bunch of different cocktails and appetizers. To be honest, I didn’t eat much here because almost all of the food had some type of meat in it and I am a vegetarian. But I enjoyed some of the cocktails and the chocolate cake they served us for dessert. We arrived back in the city around 10pm. It was a long day, but overall it was really fun. I am a creature of habit, so I can easily get stuck in a routine of doing the same things in the city, but it was nice to get out of NYC for the day and explore Long Island with some new people. I am definitely glad I said yes to this opportunity and didn’t turn it down just because of my social anxiety. Thank You Skedaddle for having me on this trip! If you’d like to learn more about Skedaddle, or any of the locations I mentioned in this post, I have listed their websites below. You can shop my cardigan here: http://www.tobi.com/product/60228-tobi-diem-plaid-cardigan?color_id=86310
Skeddadle: https://www.letskedaddle.com/ Bedell Cellars: https://www.bedellcellars.com/ Greenport Harbor Brewery: http://greenportharborbrewing.com/ Macari Vineyards: http://www.macariwines.com/ Table 7: http://table7restaurant.com/ Cardigan: C/O Tobi http://www.tobi.com/ T-Shirt, Skirt, Sneakers: Madewell (old) Scarf: Madwell: https://www.madewell.com/madewell_category/ACCESSORIES/bandanas/PRDOVR~F2308/F2308.jsp?color_name=vintage-gold Necklace: In God We Trust; Earrings: Vintage Location: Bedell Cellars (North Folk, Long Island) By now we are all well aware of the various pros and cons of social media. Critics of social platforms say that it's "fake", creates unrealistic expectations and is hazardous to our mental health, all of which I agree with, under certain circumstances. Of course the photos and messages we put out on social media are just a sliver of reality. I've seen couples I know that have relationship issues posting photos that make it seem like they are completely content with each other. I've gotten FOMO from seeing my friends out at bars or at events that look way more fun in their Instagram stories than they actually were in reality. But one aspect of this argument I do not agree with is the notion that having a curated Instagram feed automatically makes you "fake".
I consider my blog and Instagram feed to be a creative endeavor. I have always been an artistic person. Growing up, I loved art and dance, I went to college for fashion design, and now I work full time as a designer. I put a lot of creative thought and energy into the content I create. Creating content for social media is something I enjoy doing, the same way I enjoy dancing or illustrating as a hobby. Therefore, it makes me upset that some people think that I'm "fake" in a sense because the photos I post on social media are premeditated and are designed to create a certain mood. Yes the photos I post are usually taken in advanced and all intentionally reflect a certain style, but that doesn't mean they are in genuine. I don't "do it for the gram" and post photos of things I'm not passionate about only for show. On the contrary, I feel like having a curated feed and planning out my posts ahead of time actually allows me to live in the moment more and not worry about capturing the perfect photo while I am out with friends or family. The goal of my Instagram is to create inspiring images that reflect my personal style. I never want to give people the wrong impression about my life to try to appear like someone I'm not. I feel like creating a false self image is the main reason curated feeds get a bad rap, but if you're staying true to who you are, then what's the harm in thinking or working ahead of time to create inspiring images? How do you feel about curated Instagram feeds? Do you find them inspiring or do they create unrealistic expectations? Top: C/O Yummy Cactus (www.yummycactus.com) Skirt: Madewell, Sneakers: Vans (from Madewell); Wristlet: Charming Charlie; Beret: Topshop Location: Daly Pie (Prospect Heights, Brooklyn) Peter Pan collars. Red lipstick. Top knots. Polka dots. All of these things are present in my outfit in this blog post. And although these things are classic, they were also super trendy a few years ago. That Kate Spade inspired, classic yet quirky look (basically how I describe my style) was very popular. I couldn't walk into a store without finding something to buy. Recently though, the market has changed and it hasn't been in favor of my personal style. Lately, I struggle to find clothes I actually want to spend money on. I don't fit into the Zara, assymetrical, minimalist look. I also don't fit into the 70's boho look (although I have found myself gravitating towards late 1960's pieces more and more). And there's no way you will ever find me in athleisure, which it seems like is all anybody wears nowadays.
I've never been one to chase trends or just wear something because everyone else is. But sometimes I look in the mirror and worry I look like I'm stuck in 2012. Last week was fashion week here in NYC and I attended a few events, which made me remember (one of the reasons) why I don't like fashion week is because I never feel cool enough. I definitely don't think you need to wear head to toe designer to attend fashion week, but I just always feel like I don't have that New York City, fashion forward edge so many other girls have. Again, while I don't believe in changing my style for the sake of trends or to fit in, I do think it's a fine balance of incorporating trends and staying true to your personal style. Below are some tips for how to balance. •only wear trends that compliment your style: It can be tempting to jump on a trend, especially when you're seeing it all over the place. Sometimes we don't even realize it and subconsciously gravitate towards things we wouldn't normally after we see it on our friends or bloggers wearing it on social media. By all means, if you truly like something, you should definitely wear it. But usually when I'm shopping I like to pause and think about if this item makes sense with my personal style. Since I try to keep my style more classic, rather than trend driven, I usually buy depending on if I think the item embodies a fleeting trend. If I feel it's something that will only be around for one season, I usually pass on it. •incorporate trends in a subtle way: If you want to try a new trend, find a way to bridge it with your personal style. For instance, as we know, the 70's are very trendy right now, but my style isn't very hippie or boho. Bell sleeves are one 70's inspired trend I do like, so I recently bought two bell sleeve sweaters, one in black and white and another in a chevron print. I feel these colors and patterns are a good way for me to try out this new trend without straying too far from my style. •own it At the end of the day, confidence is the best thing you can wear. You can have the trendiest outfit on, but if you're not comfortable in what you're wearing, it shows. So even though polka dots and Peter Pan collars might not be the coolest items at the moment, I'm going to stay true to my personal style and not be influenced by those around me. Sweater: c/o Tobi http://www.tobi.com/product/57026-tobi-hashtag-winning-sweater?color_id=79880 Shirt: Forever 21; Skirt: American Apparel (thrifted from Housing Works); Pin: The Silver Spider Print Shop https://www.etsy.com/listing/271898940/saddle-shoes-lapel-pin-125-hard-enamel?ga_search_query=saddle+shoes&ref=shop_items_search_2 Sneakers: Vans (bought at Madewell); Back Pack: Century 21 Location: Hoboken, NJ Even as a newbie blogger, I receive emails from brands asking to collaborate on a regular basis. While it can be tempting to say yes to everything, I try to be selective and only do collaborations with those companies I feel fit my personal brand. When Romwe reached out to me, I was hesitant. Romwe is an online retailer that offers super trendy clothing. Because my style isn't super trendy, I usually am not a fan of these types of sites, but I decided to have a look just to see if anything caught my eye. When I came across this lip button up shirt, I thought it was quirky and unique, so I decided to go for it.
When I received the shirt in the mail, I noticed a signature which was part of the graphic. The signature read "Garance Dore". I immediately recognized the name, as I read Garance's book, "Love, Style, Life", a couple years ago. I thought it was strange that she would have collaborated with Romwe to design a shirt, so I decided to search Google to see what information I could find. Sure enough, I saw almost the exact same shirt pop up on Farfetch, a website that sells high end designers. The shirt originally retailed for $385. Clearly this shirt I received was a direct knock off. I am a fashion designer for my full time job, so I know mass retailers look towards high end designers to determine trends and gather inspiration. However, it is one thing to be inspired by a designer, it is another thing to directly copy them. I know some people don't mind wearing or carrying knock off items, but this is something that has never appealed to me. For example, as much as I would love a Chanel handbag, buying a knock off just wouldn't give me that same satisfaction. I don't mean to speak negatively about Romwe. Technically speaking, this shirt is actually well made. The fabric is super soft and has a nice drape. I also really do like the style, and I still think the lip graphic is super cute and quirky, but knowing it's a fake just doesn't make me feel good about wearing it. I know I could have easily glossed over this while posting this look, but as a blogger, I think it's important to be transparent and speak up about the issues that are important to you. Shirt: C/O Romwe https://goo.gl/rLbmeP Skirt: Madewell; Shoes: Nine West (bought at Macy's) Location: Pisillo Italian Cafe (Financial District, Manhattan) We all know Instagram is an amazing platform for many reasons, but one reason I am thankful for it is because it has given me the confidence and ability to express myself though personal style. While getting ready to shoot photos in this printed dress from 405 Story (ps: this dress is currently on sale, you can shop it here: https://www.405story.com/collections/dresses/products/zooey-dress-botanical ), I thought about how my style has evolved since the rise of social media. My style has been vintage inspired since the end of high school, but I definitely used to downplay my style and dress a lot more mainstream. I remember I started wearing my hair as it is in these photos while I was in college, and people made fun of me or called me "Snooki", so I stopped. It wasn't til a few years ago when I discovered bloggers on Instagram that I realized there were other girls who had a similar style to me, which encouraged me to dress how I really want to, and not worry about other people's opinions. While having confidence to dress a certain way is great, on the other hand, I often wonder how many people on Instagram have manipulated their style just for the sake of their "personal brand". Of course we all play up our style a bit to illustrate our point of view, but at what point do our outfits become costumes? If there were no cell phones or cameras around to document your outfit, would you still be wearing that? Everyone's style inevitably evolves, but if we scrolled back through your Instagram to three years ago, would we see remnants of the same style? I think it's a fine line between staying true to who you really are and your online persona and how you portray yourself on social media. Have any other bloggers out there ever felt the same way? How do you express yourself through your style but still stay grounded? Dress: c/o 405 Story https://www.405story.com/ Bag: Mint Market: Shoes: Macy's Location: Northern Liberties, Philadelphia Fast fashion brands are extremely prominent at the moment. I can't scroll through my Instagram feed without seeing items from retailers like Zara, H&M and Forever 21. However, I recently watched a documentary on Netflix called "The True Cost", which provides an in depth look at the ramifications of the fast fashion industry. One negative effect in particular is that it creates mass amounts of fabric and clothing waste.
According to this documentary, the average American produces about 82 lbs of clothing waste a year, totaling 11 million tons amongst the entire nation. Most people think it's okay to buy items they know they will discard after a couple wears because they donate any unwanted clothing. However, thrift stores unfortunately can only accept about 10% of the clothing that is donated. Whatever is not taken is dumped into landfills, which causes irreparable damage to our environment because fabric cannot naturally decompose. After watching "The True Cost", I felt disgusted from actually seeing the amount of waste the fast fashion industry produces. Since then, I have tried to refrain from shopping at mass retailers, in addition to being more thoughtful about what I am purchasing, making sure I am only buying items I really, truly love. It's so easy to walk into a fast fashion store and buy a bunch of items you have lack luster feelings about, just because of the low prices. In addition to really considering what I am buying before I purchase, I am making more of an effort to buy vintage or thrifted items. I am also trying to buy more from small businesses whose products are made in America, like the dress I am wearing in these photos. This dress is from Smak Parlour, a Philadelphia based boutique. They carry various brands, as well as their own line that is produced in LA (this dress is part of that collection). If you're not in the Philadelphia area, they also have a website so you can shop online. They have lots of adorable vintage inspired pieces, so I would definitely recommend checking them out! The point of this blog post is not to shame anyone who shops fast fashion brands. Like many, I have bought a lot from these retailers in recent years. I just want to create awareness about this issue and encourage everyone to watch this eye opening documentary. We are constantly being bombarded with consumerism in this day and age, so I think we could all use a reminder to stop and and think twice before you buy. Dress: C/O Smak Parlour (www.smakparlour.com) Shoes: Bait Footwear (www.baitfootwear.com) Location: Seven Magic Mountain (Las Vegas, Nevada) Happy (almost) Valentine's Day!
If you're single like I am, it can be easy to get down on yourself this time of year, especially in NYC. After living here for almost four years now, I've had my fair share of "Sex and the City" dating moments. This list includes being involved with guys who are unable to commit, running into exes in various places around the city (yes this actually happens IRL), plus getting "ghosted" (aka the modern day equivalent of Jack Berger's post it note). Although dating in NYC can be frustrating, I actually really enjoy being single and exploring the city on my own. However, in this day and age of social media and "FOMO", we can feel pressured to constantly be surrounded by friends, family or significant others. It can be intimidating to do things alone, because you fear people will think you're some kind of loser. So, I've decided to list some tips for feeling more confident being on your own. Keep a List: I keep a list of things I want to do around the city, such as bars or restaurants I want to try, upcoming museum exhibitions, or even tourist attractions I've never experienced. It's easy to say you want to go certain places or do certain things, but it's equally as easy to talk yourself out of it, especially if you don't have someone to go with. Seeing these things in writing will encourage you to actually start checking things off your bucket list. Take Baby Steps: If you're nervous about doing something alone for the first time, ease into it. For example, if you're anxious about going out to eat by yourself, start by going at an off time or to a place that doesn't get super crowded. There have definitely been times when I used to be too shy to walk into a packed restaurant at prime brunch time on a Saturday because I worried what all the people there would think. Give Yourself a Pep Talk: Remind yourself that no one is looking at you just because you're alone. No seriously, they're not. Everyone is too busy Instagraming to even notice you :P Regardless of your relationship status, I hope this blog post encourages you to get out and experience all the things you want to in life. You should never compromise or give up on something just because you're afraid of doing it alone. Dress: C/O: Smak Parlour (www.smakparlour.com) Turtleneck & Purse: old; Tights: Target; Boots: Kling Location: Village East Cinema (East Village, New York City) |
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