Off to NYC

Tshirt - C&C California, necklace - from Mindfulnest in Venice, dress (worn as skirt) - Target, shoes - Rachel Comey

I wore a variation of this the other day to go to a hookah lounge with some friends - I ended up ditching the heels and wearing a different white skirt, but the sun had set long before I could take photos of that outfit. Oh well.




I'm heading off to NYC this morning for a late-summer mini-vacation. Hoping to get in some sightseeing, shopping, and meeting up with a blogger friend! I have just a little more than a week left of summer. It's entirely bittersweet.

Hope all is well!

xox Catherine

Saccharine Sweetness

Shirt - Asos, necklace - thrifted, skirt - Forever 21, shoes - We Who See

I wore this on Monday for a brief excursion to the market to pick up some stuff to make japchae/chapchae? I'm not sure how to spell it properly. I was just in the mood to get dressed and wear something I hadn't worn in a while (this shirt). It ended up feeling a little too twee... these shoes are rather feminine, and this shade of purple? blue? isn't exactly bad ass when paired with such. I'm on a quest to find myself again. I feel like my style has become a diluted version of its former self, for which I haven't quite found a solution other than shopping. I'm determined to save my money/not buy so much, but I end up spending it on things like food and a new phone.




So, an entirely different subject: I'm a bit perturbed with Independent Fashion Bloggers' recent scandal. In case you missed it, here's a recap: IFB contributor Taylor Davies wrote an article that touched upon the lack of successful, high quality blogs written by women who aren't skinny. To quote:

"In order for a more holistic image of fashionable women to permeate the top tier of blogging as well as traditional fashion media, there needs to be a serious commitment to higher-quality content. Plain and simple – there aren’t enough insanely good blogs that are run by these types of women."

Taylor subsequently apologized, but what really irked me was the open letter response from IFB's founder Jennine Jacob. It was entirely dismissive, defensive, and even a tad elitist. I've always imagined IFB as a community that values input from its members, but going on to argue that any opposition is "bullying" is immature and unprofessional. Several people commented on the original post about the lack of the "other" in IFB's posts highlighting professional bloggers, and Jennine simply said the author never said the word "other." But it doesn't have to be explicitly stated; it's a sociological concept that is used to justify the majority's inequality against those who are different (the "other") - in this case, not thin, blonde, white.



I'm mostly just rambling, but I no longer feel comfortable supporting IFB. To echo the commenters, criticism isn't bullying. Arguing isn't bad. The fashion blogging community skews toward adoration and compliments instead of any sort of criticism. Even something as simple as "I'm not crazy about that dress you're wearing" will often be deemed unwarranted. But isn't the whole point of personal style blogging to keep it personal?

Just my two cents.

xox Catherine

Not Just Black and White

Necklace - thrifted, shirt - Madewell, skirt - H&M, shoes - Bakers

I'm in need of some new jewelry... not need, obviously, but craving. One perk of going back to school is having metals and ceramics courses this semester; it's been so long since I've worked with either (2 years and 1.25 years, respectively) and I'm a bit too excited to return to my preferred mediums. In the meantime, though, I've been scouring Etsy for electroformed pieces with druzy-type minerals. I'm into organically designed jewelry more than usual; sometimes I drool over bright, costume pieces or anything silver plated, but I'm definitely feeling something more subtle, gold and natural for this fall.




By the time this is published, I'll probably be at the beach absorbing sun and frolicking in the ocean. Most beaches on the Jersey shoreline are crowded with tourists their fluorescent umbrellas, but it's incredibly calming to be sitting along the water listening to music or reading a book... ignoring the children who have no problem splashing whomever, of course. I seem to have painted a picture of my summer that's entirely lackluster, and while that's not entirely untrue, it just isn't the full story. I've hit several rough patches with my significant other of two years (on and off) and it has me pretty upset. I do mention tidbits of my personal life on here, but I try to stray away from anything too involved or detailed. It's the internet, after all, and despite my online presence I am generally very reserved, especially when it comes to sharing my most personal matters.

On a similar note, I always wonder how accurately my own written words portray my personality and life. It's surprisingly easy to write that everything is always quite peachy, but of course, that isn't always the case for anyone. I also look pretty serious in some of my photos, but I'm usually very silly when I'm around close friends. Conversely, I'm often told I talk/dress in a decidedly proper manner, to which I refute: stoned librarian. It's my alter ego, if I must have one, but my style inspiration regardless. It's late and I'm rambling.

xox Catherine