Sunday Shopping Guide: On My Book Shelf

1. 1,000 Artist Journal Pages, $14.33: amazon.com
2. The Lucky Shopping Manual, $20: amazon.com
3. The Lucky Guide to Mastering any Style, $20: amazon.com
4. I "Heart" Your Style: How to Define and Refine Your Personal Style, $14: amazon.com
5. Until I Find You, $11: amazon.com
6. The Family of Man, pricing varies: amazon.com
7. Hot Shots: Tips and Tricks for Taking Better Pictures, $11: amazon.com
8. A Corner of the Universe, $7: amazon.com
9. Tender is the Night, pricing varies, amazon.com
10. A Year in Fashion, $19: amazon.com
11. Paper Towns, $10: amazon.com
12. Photojojo!: Insanely Great Photo Projects and DIY Ideas: amazon.com

 Please note: links are to the specific book, not just amazon.com.

     Buying clothes is wonderful, but my true vice is buying books. Evinced by the number of successful blogs and the blogging community, we are turning more and more towards digital mediums for entertainment. Although generations before mine might have felt the same way about computers taking over handwritten ledgers, I am not sure if I will ever be able to fully convert to a Kindle or an iPad. Turning the pages and smelling the books gives me a feeling that I wouldn't be able to recreate with a screen.  Imagine the death of bookstores, used and new alike. A world without these things seems bleak to me.

     Each book in today's shopping guide deserves a post of its own (number six got lucky). Each is inspiring in its own way, whether it is a novel or a guide. What are some of your favorite books?

The Family of Man

     Although my OCD tendencies with formatting tend to conflict with long posts like this, I am making an exception for this book. I always scour the shelves of my local used book store for interesting photography and fashion books. When I headed to my usual spot among the volumes of photographs, I spotted Edward Steichen's name on the spine of this one and decided to pick it up. I love his work, so it was no surprise that this collection of photographs that he curated was breathtaking.
   I may have only paid three dollars for this book, but I will cherish it forever.

A Few of my Favorite Links

via Daydream Lily

via A Beautiful Mess

via The Drifter and the Gypsy

     It is no secret that inspiration is overflowing from the multiple blogs on the internet. Whether or not blogs can neatly fit into the category of "inspiration" can be debated; however, one fact remains: for visual delights that are close to magazine stature for me, I always come to my blogger dashboard first!

     The blogs I have featured are those that never cease to amaze me. While each is a little different in goals and contents, all have the same high quality aspect that keeps me coming back for more! Although the pictures are stunning in themselves, I think each blog deserves their own summary. Hopefully I do them justice!:

• Daydream Lily: Liss of Daydream Lily has accumulated over 7,000 followers because of her dreamy images and vintage appeal. The photographers she features on her blog quickly become some of my favorites for their ethereal style. Her shots (I choose some of her to feature, above) are right in line with those that she features. She even has a recent collaboration with Element Eden under her belt! 
• A Beautiful Mess: Elsie's blog has showed me that it is possible to steer your career in the direction you want it. She owns a lovely boutique with vintage and home made find, along with a website that sells these goodies too. The crafty inspiration she posts always leave me wanting to make and do.
• The Drifter and the Gypsy: Although she is only sixteen, Micaela of The Drifter and the Gypsy has some seriously beautiful photographs. Right in line with some of the other photographers of her generation, she encompasses girls close to her age in dreamy settings. She also regularly posts what is inspiring her, leading to more great discoveries!

     I'm always looking for more great inspiration, who are some of your favorites?

Sunday Shopping Guide: Garden Variety

1. Trollied Dolly scoop bow back pale pink dress, $24: Oliver Bonas

2. V-Neck floral tee, $24.50: Delia's

3. Embroidered floral belt, $65: Uncommon Goods

4. Short Poppy & Honesty sew and go skirt, $82: Liberty of London

5. Juicy Couture stone puff sleeve floral top, $190, Stylebop

6. Candie's tiered floral skirt, $40: Kohl's

7. Floral print crochet dress, $44.50: Delia's

8. Painted floral catchall bowl, $3: Urban Outfitters

9. Kate Spade "Date Night" ring, $55: Nordstrom

10. Floral print watch, $14.99: Urban Outfitters

11. Asymmetrical floral dress, $90: Topshop

12. Long sleeve vintage tunic, $60: Topshop

     Although this week's shopping guide had to be postponed due to homework, there is nothing better than florals to brighten up a winter Monday. I'm definitely adding floral accents big and small to my Spring shopping list. I especially like the mismatching prints look. Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada appropriately expressed the amount of originality in the print for Spring (read: none), but what better excuse to buy these lovely pieces than the fact that they are actually in bloom?

Black and White Film Portfolio

1. Staircase at an old courthouse, 2010
2. Double exposure of sister, 2009 (Taken with Holga, 120mm format)
3. Father and son at the beach, 2010
4. Old garden chair, 2010
5. Saint figurine, 2010
6. Cindy Sherman character number one, 2010
7. Cindy Sherman character number two, 2010

     After espousing the virtues of film in this post, I thought it would only be fair to share some of my film work. I'm not disputing the virtues of editing (to a healthy extent), but these prints are exactly how they were made in the darkroom. All aside from number 2 were taken with Kodak TMAX 400 film and my Pentax K1000. They are some of my favorites from the past years in photography, all self developed and printed. Color prints are coming soon!

The Bright Baby Eyes of a Chickadee

     Headband, Gap Kids. Tee shirt, BCBGeneration. Bow belt, sister's closet. Skirt and shoes, F21. Tights, American Eagle.

    I felt like such a lady in today's outfit. I contradict myself with my fashion tastes, but I dress in cycles of extreme girliness and masculinity. Last Friday, for example, I wore suspenders and saddle shoes.   

     I rushed home from school to try to capture some of the lighting today. When the sun is shining, it is hard to force myself to stay in the school library an extra hour after school lets out to do research. Today was no exception, but I managed to salvage the last few rays of the golden hour. Unfortunately, not enough so to get an accurate picture of my heels, but I'm sure they will be worn again soon.

     When I get more Polaroid film I may try to do more detail photos like this, I really like the look of them. I just scanned my entire collection of smaller format Polaroid pictures, I can't wait to post them! But until then, here is a glimpse of what my scanner and the camera have to offer. The pictures look much better in person, my "inexpensive" (in AP Microeconomics, our teacher always made sure we used this alternative to "cheap") scanner/printer/copier just doesn't do them justice.

     Have a happy weekend!

Chic Geek: Film Body, Digital Mind

 More pictures here and here.

     The Fujifilm Finepix X100 is being marketed as a camera that looks like a film camera, acts like a film camera, but has a 12.3 megapixel digital sensor with video capabilities. According to the official website for the camera, this latest piece of technology from Fujifilm "oozes class and prestige"* due to its design. I do admit that the more compatible answer to high quality digital photographs is extremely appealing. The vintage enthusiast in me is also giddy over the principle of using the functionality of my old Pentax K1000 (I recently inherited a Minolta model that is similar) to take my digital pictures. My Canon Rebel XTi is basically an extension of myself at this point, so a more mobile camera that has the potential for even better quality pictures? Marvelous.

     This digital replica of the original Rolleiflex twin lens reflex (available here) camera is another such imitation. Although the cameras are for different purposes and different qualities, they represent the same idea: using the functionality of a film camera while having the efficiency of digital photographs. The classic Rolleiflex (which, incidentally, are still in production), released in 1928, is often used as a prop for vintage appeal in digital photographs. It does indeed have the same aesthetic appeal that is described of the new Fujifilm model; however, the somewhat modest amount of megapixels (5 to be exact) leave it as more of a conversation piece than a camera to be used for more high quality shooting. For a more in depth comparison, check out this article from a die hard TLR enthusiast.
     Although I cannot track down any images taken with the digital TLRs available, I found the Twin Lens Reflex group on flickr and the pictures are quite stunning.
     For blogging purposes, I love my digital camera. It chronicles my outfits and allows me to save the $8 it takes to simply get a 24 exposure roll of color 35mm film developed and printed (it is $6 extra for a digital CD of the prints...eek). Luckily I can easily develop black and white film in the photography studio at school. However, (and I might be the cliche artist type for saying this), I will always prefer the look of film pictures over raw, unedited digital photographs. In fact, I usually want my digital pictures to look like film. Nothing surpasses the joy I feel when a roll turned out perfectly. That unpredictability is what truly makes film my favorite medium.

P.S.: Given this speech on the virtues of film, I will post some of my film work soon. Also, do any of you lovely readers prefer a certain medium for photographs?

*quotation found here

To the Max

Necklace, American Eagle. Sweater, Gap. Skirt, Forever 21. Tights, a gift. Shoes, thrifted.

     The moment this skirt entered my life I knew I would be a changed woman. Well, it wasn't exactly that dramatic, but I did have one of those "I've got to have this" moments. Although typically I'm all for skirts that offer a shorter hemline, I have been gravitating towards the more ladylike cuts shown for Fall 2010 as well as the maxi lengths that haven't yet become disbanded.

     The pictures were extremely fun to take today. I set up the view and had my sister for an assistant- she simply pressed the shutter release button on continuous mode for about 200 shots and we hoped for the best. Although some of them turned out a little blurry, I actually like the effect. It suits the mood that the skirt portrays (I got everything from fairy princess to witch today, but in the most loving ways possible. My friends and boyfriend fully support my fashion choices), but I did think I would need a crisper shot to showcase the details of my outfit.

     I hope I can be as satisfied with the rest of my outfits as I was with this one!

P.S.: The hand obsession continues with the first photograph. I spy a theme.

Three Words That Became Hard to Say

Jacket, BCBGeneration; Skirt, American Apparel; Striped shirt, Random JC Penney;Belt, Nine West; Tights, My mother's closet; Boots and bar ring, F21; DIY chain glove

     Although it was an extraordinarily rainy day, I saved my camera from harm by remaining under my carport for these shots. I'm so glad I have a carport, it lets in natural light but covers me from the elements! Wearing this lovely jacket today boosted my spirits today, though. I recently got it in a BCBG 70% off sale at the local Dillard's. I always scour the sale racks at the department stores (although Dillard's is about as high scale as they come locally- I'd have to travel about 200 miles for a Nordstrom or Bloomingdale's).

Turn on the Gypsy Charm

    Since the fourth grade when it was my Halloween costume, I have been fascinated by mystics and fortune tellers of all types. The trinkets, the wisdom, the aura: all unique aspects of such a lifestyle. It is always fun to have an ancient art form define your personality, the good and the bad.
    Palm reading is an intimate way to get to know someone; after all, you get to spend a good bit of time holding their hand. Although I do not profess to be any expert, here are some general lessons so you can perhaps get a little closer on a first date (or to an already significant other, spontaneity is fun!).
     Using my hand as a model (going from bottom left to top right of the palm, then from left to right on the fingers):

• A long, unbroken lifeline shows that you will have good health and vitality. Breaks in this line signify struggles in your life.
• The shorter the head line, the more clearly and simply you can think. A long line of head indicates that you are an intellectual.
• A curved line of heart indicates that you are ruled by your head, whereas a straight one indicates a more cerebral guidance.
• The Jupiter finger (index) reveals self confidence. You are said to have ambitions for power if yours is longer than usual.
• The Saturn finger (middle) shows flaws: a long one reveals seriousness, a stubby one reveals impetuousness.
• The Apollo finger (ring) shows business sense and creativity. If yours is long, you are said to be a risk taker.
• The Mercury finger (pinky) represents communication. If yours leans away line mine does in the first picture, you are probably more introverted that your inward leaning pinky pals.

Source: This Book Made Me Do It: Cool things to make, do, and explore from DK

 

Sunday Shopping Guide: Music to My Eyes

1. Milicent Slip, $49.95:  Free People
2. Flower Hair Clip, $9.51: Attitude Clothing
3. Costume National scarf, $75: Yoox
4. Covergirl Outlast Lipstain, $7.99: Drugstore.com
5. Oasis Victoriana lace dress, $46.71: John Lewis
6. Wolf Head Ring, $85: LAS jewelry
7. Woven Deep V Tunic, $16.98: Metropark
8. Lomography Diana+ Dreamer Camera, $65: Urban Outfitters
9. Cooperative Clean Cut Backpack, $58: Urban Outfitters
10. Repetto Nagoya Side Lace Sandal, $275: La Garconne
11. Current/ Elliot Boyfriend Shorts, $153. 51: My Theresa

     My shopping guide today was entirely inspired by the compiled playlist below of my favorite songs recently. Whenever I listen to these songs I imagine a young couple, crazily in love, traveling. But beneath the surface of this adventure they are sharing there lies something more haunting and melancholy. Perhaps they are trying to escape something or perhaps they know this is the last time they will have together until their lives change drastically. Either way, the girl is stylish.
     Also, this reminds me of another related topic. When people state that they are inspired by music when getting dressed, I am never quite sure what they mean. I think that getting inspired by music is an individual experience. For me, I always get inspired by the images that I create while listening to the songs and also the feelings the song gives me in general. The aura of this playlist is what inspired the shopping guide, along with some specific references to some of the pictured items (wolves, lips stained red, and a red scarf...but you will have to listen to be sure!).

P.S.: Now you can follow my blog with bloglovin!

Project Restyle Week 2: Chain Glove

     After seeing this picture Monday on flickr, I knew I had to attempt to create something similar:

     Therefore I present this week's Project Restyle:

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Blog pictured, here.

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     Although this week's project was not my own brainchild, I have been lusting after a similar piece of jewelry all week. I'm fascinated by odd accessories. Instead of settling for keeping a somewhat lackluster necklace, I wanted to have something that I am truly proud of. Now, I can't wait to build an entire outfit around my lovely new chain glove!

P.S.: If you haven't checked out Project Restyle yet, it isn't too late! Just click here or on my banner in the side bar to read all about it. I highly suggest it if you are a vintage or craft lover!