Stylespiration: Agyness Deyn

Agyness Deyn is a model who knows how to dress. I love her choices of bold colors and patterns, and her ability to wear crazy things but somehow make them look subdued and graceful. She's the epitome of quirky and colorful when it comes to the clothes she wears, and she has one of the most recognizable hairdos to boot. Her style is androgynous and strong as well. Check out some photos:

L to R from top:: 1//2//3//4.

Lovely and yet not too overdone! And now for my own collection (thank you Polyvore for existing!), inspired by her fashion:

Agyness Deyn Inspired Look

All choices, as always, are under $50 so that you can get the look for less. Click on this link for more details if you're interested in purchasing anything! For day looks, Agyness chooses a few pieces that are bold and bright while keeping others understated and basic. She has a penchant for strange bags, so I couldn't resist including this one! If you want to do makeup, keep the lips nude and stick to only mascara and eyebrow work for the top. If you want to dress it up, add a bit of colored eyeliner. Wear sneakers to highlight the tomboyish look. And there you have it!

<3 Linda

Stylespiration: Jane Birkin

If you couldn't already tell, I am completely in love with the styles of the '60s and '70s. Anything from the past really captures me in a nostalgic way, despite the fact that I have never experienced that era. (I would have thought that was completely weird if I hadn't met so many people like me in the blogosphere!) But anyway, Jane Birkin is one of my major style inspirations. She was such a free-spirited muse, and I love the contrast she captures with her innocent eyes and not-so-innocent clothing choices. If I could dress like anyone, I would probably choose to raid her closet. I definitely had Ms. Birkin in mind when I got my hair cut!

Here's an idea of what to do if you'd like to take a Birkin-esque spin on your own style... Click here to find out the names and prices for everything! As always, everything is under $50 except for the main piece (in this case, the dress). I'm particularly smitten by those shoe-sock boots... I've never seen anything like it!

If anything is essential to this collection, it's the wicker basket. Never forget the wicker basket! ;)
Sources (top to bottom, L to R): 1,2,3,4,5


<3 Linda

Costume Time! Part 2: Famous Faces in Art

If you're still struggling to come up with a unique costume this Halloween, have no fear! One of the coolest things that you can be is a recognizable face from a piece of art.

Andy Warhol- "A Shot of Marilyn Monroe": Instead of going out as the usual Marilyn Monroe and running the risk of bumping into another girl with the same outfit, why not become a piece of pop art? I suggest the top middle version. Paint your face a slight pinkish color, wear garish makeup, and don a bright yellow wig instead of a believably blond one. Find a version of her dress in another color and you're good to go!

Botticelli- "The Birth of Venus": This one's a bit harder to do (for obvious reasons), but I think that it is possible. Find a bathing suit top and skirt or shorts for the bottom, and an extremely long wig. Create a "shell" out of pleated fabric or construction paper and fan it out to look like the shell in the painting. Tape it to the top of your skirt (think peacock-look) or around one of your ankles (I would imagine it would be hard to walk in, though!). You can get creative by putting mermaid-like details in your hair or outfit.

Vermeer- "Girl with a Pearl Earring": I had gotten the idea for this one after seeing a still of Scarlet Johansson from the movie of the same name. Use powder and foundation to make your eyebrows appear barely there. Don a brown gown or robe. Put on one pearl earring, and lastly tie your hair with a cream scarf with blue border. It would probably be easier to buy two scarves: One that's cream and blue, and another that's more of a headband (which will be only blue, to go over your head and secure the other scarf in place). Pretty!

Van Gogh- "Self-Portrait": If you or anyone you know is a ginger man, this is the costume for you! It's so brilliant. All you need is makeup and someone who is skilled in using it (or at least is willing to try!). I love the way painterly strokes look on this man's face.

Grant Wood- "American Gothic": A great couple piece, this is! Get a pitchfork and make both of you look like old people with makeup. Wear a collar, brooch, and dress (for the female) and spectacles, overalls, and a jacket (for the male). Done!

Frida Kahlo- "Self-Portrait (1940)": Now, Frida did a lot of self-portraits, but I think this one would look amazing as a costume. Get a long white peasant dress, put your hair up, create a neck piece with wire or paper mache, and you're good to go. Don't forget to add the animals and facial hair, that's what makes the outfit!

Shepard Fairey- "Barack Obama- Progress": This last one's quite recent and good for men who struggle to come up with a not-so-tacky outfit (it seems that male outfits are always horrible... or is that just me?) Just wear a button from the presidential election (or make your own), and go to town on your face with blue, white, black and red face paint. Then wear a suit and hold up a sign that says "Progress" (or "Hope", that was the more recognizable slogan!). It's quite easy and doesn't require too much fuss!


I think I may be too obsessed with art... not that that's a bad thing!

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
<3 Linda

Stylespiration: Daisy Lowe

Daisy Lowe is a supermodel who has recently come under the radar for a lot of people, including myself. She's the daughter of Bush singer, Gavin Rossdale (he's also Gwen Stefani's husband, if you didn't know already). I really like her basic but defined style. I would never be able to dress like her everyday but I love the confidence that her look exudes: The bold bangs, the dark lips, the effortless style... swoon! Take a look for yourself!

Sources (clockwise from top): 1, 2, 3, 4. Here's a gallery if you'd like even more ideas!

And now for a Daisy Lowe inspired look:

It's a very youthful style, in my opinion! Every piece I included in the Polyvore set is under $50, except for the blazer. Cheapness for the win! On an unrelated note, I have two midterms today so I'm dying of lack of sleep right now. Wish me luck!

<3 Linda

Costume Time!

After a whole lot of pondering over what to wear, I've finally decided to be (possibly) two things: The Riddler and a Musketeer! They're both going to be part of a group set of costumes, though. Before I decided on what to be, I brainstormed a couple of ideas for dressing up on Polyvore. I like the idea of creating outfits out of actual clothes because they look less tacky and you can wear the pieces outside of Halloween.

I'm just excited because it's going to be the first time since... middle school? that I'm going to be participating in Halloween! How exciting!

<3 Linda

(Ps. If you couldn't tell, I made a Polyvore account... it's so addicting though!)

Things I Love Thursday: Online Comic Strips

I will be the first to admit that I'm not much of a comics person. Or manga person. Or anything like that... That is, until about a year ago, when I discovered certain online comic sites, most of which were created by artists just trying to get by on doing what they love. Since then...well, I'm still not a comics person. But these are my exceptions (in no particular order)!

1. Cat vs Human is my favorite of them all. Crazy cat ladies can definitely relate to the artist, Yasmine! All of her comics are cat-related, and mainly about her struggles and joy of living with cats. She's hilarious, too.

2. Stuff No One Told Me (But I Learned Anyway), abbreviated snotm (charming, I know) is all about lessons. Sometimes they're funny, sometimes they're serious, and almost all of the time, they're just downright true. The blog was created by Alex Noreiga, a freelance illustrator who started it when he felt himself falling into a rut at work and wanted to do something about it. He also has another blog called Your Mother Likes It, because...well, she does.

3. Everydaypants, as mentioned in this week's Weekly Positivity post, is a new find of mine. The artist, Ramsey Beyer, writes stuff about life and self-discovery. What stood out to me the most, however, was her honesty. And you can definitely tell when someone is speaking their mind versus when they're just trying to get a comic out for a commission. Her illustrations are obviously the former!

4. Everyday Cute is the originator of Pusheen, the web's most beloved internet cat. They just recently switched over to Tumblr, but you can still see their old comics by clicking the link on the sidebar. There is something ever so mesmerizing about all the simultaneously pulsating GIFs. And now they have non-Pusheen things too! My favorite new thing has been the Fuzzy Potter series. Kittendor-- Seriously?!

5. Adventures of an Asian-American Girl is a new blog started by my friend, Yannan, who is also a Producer for my theatre group for the upcoming year! She's really talented, and she's just begun to post, so show her some love, will you?


I guess the cat-related ones are the equivalent of ogling at cat videos on Youtube. But then again, I do that too. So...
<3 Linda

Style Watch: Dita Von Teese

Whether she's on the red carpet or just taking a walk, Dita always provides fashion inspiration. I would love to have a dress collection like hers! Here are just a few of my many, many favorites:

And the styling? Don't even get me started. She's flawless from head-to-toe and I adore her vintage-inspired outfits!
<3 Linda
Sources From L to R, Top to Bottom: 1, x, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.