Graduation Day

Dress - Urban Outfitters, necklace - Piper Blue on Etsy, cuff - my sister's, shoes - Calvin Klein via Buffalo Exchange

I took these photos prior to heading out for a graduation rehearsal then the actual ceremony. I bought this dress the other day and sort of fell in love. It fits perfectly, and isn't quite like any other dress I own. The material is lightweight and silky, but not actual silk. Score.

This beautiful necklace arrived in my mailbox yesterday morning. I had a similar vintage necklace, but I lost it this past winter. I loved the uniqueness of it, and even though the sentimental value is gone, this cottonwood leaf will replace it quite nicely, I think.




I was expecting a long, drawn out ceremony like last year's, but it didn't drag on nearly as much as I expected it. Also, I was delightfully surprised at winning one of eight awards! Truthfully, I was a little zoned out, but I heard something pertaining to achievement in visual and performing arts. And what do you know, I won. I'm honestly very proud of myself - something that's a little rare since I'm so critical most of the time.

That felt more like an accomplishment than simply graduating. I usually say I don't/didn't put much effort into my work at high school, but that was sort of just an excuse or preventative measure so I wouldn't care when I wouldn't be recognized. I know, I know - that's sort of lame and that recognition can be overrated, but out of all the talented people that could have won it, it was me. And it feels good.



After the ceremony, my family, a few friends and I went to the Wayne location of White Dog Cafe. It was really nice, even with the torrential downpour upon exiting.

Today shall involve cleaning my room, and hopefully purchasing a new computer (Macbook Pro!) with my award.

I'm happy.

xox Catherine

Senior Prom, 2011

Dress - vintage, earrings - vintage via my aunt, bracelets - vintage via my grandma, shoes - Calvin Klein via Buffalo Exchange

Prom was nearly a week ago, but I'm just now finding the time to post these photos. It's been a little hectic, with a shore trip, wallowing in self-pity due to some terrible sunburn, graduation rehearsals, and whatever else.

So, I suppose I shall explain my outfit! The dress is vintage, and I've had it for years. It's miraculously fit me all along, and the second I tried it on, I knew I had to wear it to a prom. Or somewhere, but prom was the most likely option.

All of the jewelry is borrowed from my aunt - these awesome firework-esque earrings and the rhinestone bracelets which were formerly my grandma's.

And the shoes... I had spent a day in the city trying to find shoes, and came across these beauties in Buffalo Exchange for a mere $26. Unfortunately, I didn't get any good shots of them, but they're pretty versatile so don't expect this to be my last time wearing them!




Now, for some typical prom photos, since I guess that's the thing to do when you're going to prom. I went with my friend Christian, who I may or may not have mentioned on here before? He's taken a few outfit photos for me and has been one of my really good friends over the past year.




Below, pictured is Tracey and I, along with a random date lurking in the back with whom I'm not familiar.




Above, is Christian, Manny (Tracey's date), Tracey and I, being the usual goofs that we are. This pretty much describes each of us.

I didn't take many photos at prom since I was too busy dancing and mingling. I'm sort of joking about the latter - I'm a chronic non-mingler. My hair and makeup were in tact by the end of the night, thanks to my lovely friend Lauren who will soon be graduating from cosmetology school.

Within the next eight hours, I will officially graduate from high school. It's become less and less of a big deal over the past few months, but it's gaining a bit of significance as I'm going to be studying abroad in London this fall. And you know, it's sort of a big transition. I leave in a little over ten weeks, which is entirely surreal.

I hope all is well!

xox Catherine

5/9/11

Jewelry - mostly antique, dress - vintage via flea market, shoes - Aldo



Surprise, surprise - I've dyed my hair! It's something I've been contemplating for a while, but the idea of using bleach made me nervous (even with a low vol. developer) and I wasn't too sure I'd end up liking it. Of course, now I'm wishing I were a bit more liberal with the bleach so I'd have more of this purple hue in my longer-than-usual locks. I'm surprised at myself for letting my hair get this long.




I wanted to wear something relatively simple with it. I'm not going to plan outfits based on my hair, but there were a few motivating factors behind the plunge and I wanted to embrace it. That probably made no sense whatsoever.

It's getting to the time where everyone at my school is discussing prom nonstop. Aka it's prom season. And I'm partaking. I'm still secretly hoping it'll be just like every 90's teen movie, most of which feature a prominent school dance, it seems... but of course, that's a little silly of me. It's still funny to me that people stress about it so much when it's not the biggest-event-ever.

I am pretty excited to wear a fancy gown, though.




I hope everything is well in your life!

xox Catherine

Thoughts for Tuesday, v.2: My Issue With Seventeen Magazine

During my last week that I can call myself seventeen, not much has come up in terms of change. Why would anything? Essentially, I'll be exactly the same. But I guess this means criticizing the magazine aimed at me, by title, is only relevant until Saturday. Truthfully, it's geared toward younger teens trying to appear older, so I outgrew it years back. Since then, I've been under the umbrella of a few fashion magazines, their younger counterparts, publications that provide "useful" news, and anything else.

There's not much on the newsstands for teens that care more about music than impressing boys. Maybe my age group just doesn't like reading, but as a seventeen year old girl with entire bookcases full of past issues from various periodicals, I beg to differ.

I alluded to a distaste of a certain magazine last week, and I see Seventeen as its predecessor. Instead of ubiquitous sex tips, there's headlines promoting ridiculous kissing techniques guaranteed to make anyone cringe - including something such as letting an ice cube loose in one's mouth. There's a "body peace" column on the opposing side of the diet and exercise centerfold. You know, just to ensure that readers don't go overboard with the suggestions to get a great ass by spring break.

In the past few years, new body types have been introduced aside from tall and thin, which is indeed helpful for some. But the covers of the past two issues? Barely distinctive. It's graced by an actress with flowing brown hair, glossy lips parting a white smile and mascara-coated eyelashes. "They're average!", Seventeen tells us - they have boy problems, they get pimples, and they like eating food too. Yet they're put on a pedestal (as are many characters within the public eye, but that's a different discussion) - and we're expected to accept it.

I'm told it's unfortunate that I grew up post-Sassy, but I experienced the demise of several other teen magazines - Elle Girl, YM, and CosmoGirl to name a few. And now options for my peers are limited. There's Teen Vogue (which I am not ashamed to say I read!), a few mini-tabloids following the lives of Justin Bieber and whichever girlfriend of his, and our main subject, Seventeen. For years, I've been flipping through the glossy pages of heavier magazines. Elle replaced Elle Girl. Simple. Glamour - ironically, not Cosmopolitan - replaced Cosmogirl.

I believe Elle, Glamour, and similar publications realize I'm being hit in their aim to capture readership, but they're not targeting me. I'm not sure that any major magazines do understand me and my type - teenage girls that like their appearances as-is, would prefer listening to music on the street to most conventional pop, and that don't give a damn whether boys swoon over them or not.

Of course, I've found other magazines to satisfy my addiction - Bust, Lula, Factory, Glamour and the occasional issue of Lucky - but I feel as a whole, there's a huge void in teen magazines. We shouldn't be directed as consumers-in-training or future trophy wives. Speak to us.

xox Catherine

PS For more criticism of Seventeen from actual teenagers, visit The Seventeen Magazine Project or check out Tavi's well-written open letter to the publication.

PPS What are your thoughts on this magazine?