Back to School, Scratch That...Back to Blogging

It's been quite a while since my last post and I figured since it seems like everyone else is gearing up for "back to school", I'm left with back to nothing, hence here I am. This past year has been a whirlwind between senior classes and saying goodbye to the friends who became my family at Drexel and ultimately leaving a place that I made home for four years. Since graduating in June, I have gone on a life changing Euro trip, sent out resumés and started redoing my bedroom considering the last remodel was done fifteen years ago when I was in second grade.
With so many things taking up my time, it wasn't until now that I realized the rest of my life is an open door. I am literally the premise for Natasha Beddingfield's Unwritten, and I fully intend to take advantage of that. It seems like I'm constantly explaining myself to people about what I want to do and to be completely honest, it's getting a little old. My parents have always told me that I have the world at my finger tips and they've provided for me in such a way that I do believe that I can do anything. So the next time someone tells me what I want, I'm going to tell them "I want the world, and I will stop at nothing short of that." (That might be a little extreme, but hey today I'm feeling empowered!)
I've been thinking lately about what gets me inspired and I have to say that inspiration absolutely does come from different places, I am constantly inspired for different things. One thing I am inspired by is a striking picture. If there's good lighting and a clear image, I am almost always drawn to it. Of course it doesn't hurt if my favorite models are in the pic! Here are a few of my current favorite images that I grabbed from Pinterest:

The whole face isn't shown here, but that is perfectly fine, I believe that it adds to the beauty of this picture. The red lip gives needed contrast and I just love it. Jenna Lyons recently did an interview with Into the Gloss where she revealed how imperfections make things more beautiful and the hair over the hair here definitely adheres to that credo.

Anyone who knows me knows my affinity for all things Olsen so even with just that reasoning, this picture is perfect, but I have more to back it up, too. The lighting on this picture is very unique and if you look quickly or from far away, you wouldn't necessarily recognize that this is MKA. They are also bearing much more skin than they normally do which is a welcome change if you ask me. There also seems to be a tattoo on Ashley's left arm which is news to me, mostly because they're both always so covered up!

Hydrangeas are my favorite flower, but this bouquet is quite simple and understated. With the natural fabric underneath, and the off centered effect with the vase, this image shows how even simple things can still be beautiful to look at. 

Just from writing this post, I have decided that I am going to continue posting about my favorite things. Next might be products or designers, but I will definitely keep updating with things that I am currently liking. Considering it is Fashion Week in New York City, I may take advantage and put up some of my favorite street style looks. Instagram is a major source of inspiration for me. I follow thousands of people who I don't necessarily know, but I appreciate the pictures they upload.

Always Choose Paris

I’ve been a little bit lax with this blog because I was in Paris for the weekend and then had to move from my other flat in London to a new one. I have a little bit less than two weeks left here, but first I am going to Amsterdam tomorrow! Paris was everything I could have wanted and more! The shopping is unbelievable and the whole city is absolutely gorgeous. Sure, I’ve seen pictures of the Eiffel Tower, but pictures are nothing compared to being there in person and seeing it light up at night.

My first time at the Eiffel Tower- so beautiful!

One day, that luggage will be mine!

The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is the mecca of shopping. We started off by going to the Louis Vuitton flagship where I had to use an immense amount of self control to not buy a trunk, I have long lusted after Vuitton’s iconic luggage and trunks. There is just something about the LV print on a suitcase or even a hat box, for some reason I have an affinity for hat boxes and yet I don’t even wear hats! Maybe if I had a Louis hat box, I would start! I left the store with three DVDs and a book. I just couldn’t go on if I left empty handed. The book is called Parisian Chic: A Style Guide by Ines de la Fressange which features a drawing of a Parisian girl; the color of the book is red and that was also a selling point for me. Fressange is a French model, aristocrat, fashion designer, and perfumer. She was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1998. I trust that once I am done with the book, I will be ready for my next trip to Paris which is inevitably going to happen sooner rather than later!

New book to get me on the fast track to becoming a chic Parisian!

I am an avid fan of firstly Laguna Beach and later on, The Hills. When Lauren chose to stay with Jason rather than go to Paris, every girl watching reacted with a sigh. Sure, love is amazing but in my own experiences and after being to Paris, I would say that “The City of Love” is even more amazing than love itself. We saw how Lauren regretted her decision later on and that is one driving force that has always inspired me to go to Paris; however I can’t say that LC was my only inspiration, it all goes back to my girls Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Passport to Paris is up there with my fave MKA movies and I went to Paris hoping to find my Vespa riding boyfriend to show me the sites. Although that didn’t quite pan out, I still had a blast and even reenacted the infamous, “The America Girls, they are like this: Bonjour! Bonjour! Bonjour! Oh My God!” scene. 

The Olsens and I at their Elizabeth & James pop up store in NYC. 2010.

Inside the Hermes store.

Other stores that I went to while in Paris include the Chanel, Hermes, and Christian Louboutin flagship stores. Trust me, if the conversion rate wasn't so high between the Euro and U.S. dollar, I probably would have come home with more than just a book and some DVDs! Regardless of my lack of purchases, I know that I will be back to Paris someday and at that point, I plan to make a nice dent in my bank account (this will be when I have a job and I'm not a poor college student). As it is, I've bought enough during my past eight weeks here in London that I needed to buy another suitcase and my move from my last flat to where I am staying currently was less than pleasant. 

 

Nothing like those interlocking Cs!

Oh hey, Moschino! (significant because I spent my whole last term at school working on a project that featured an imaginary Moschino for Kohl's collection.)

                                        

No explanation needed. Red Soles.