Gucci Gang

Brand logos are becoming increasingly popular in the fashion world as of late—it seems as though I can barely scroll down my Tumblr feed without seeing the interlocked Chanel crescents, the stacked initials of Yves Saint Laurent, and, of course, the now widely recognized double G’s of the Gucci logo. Before Alessandro stepped up as the creative head of Gucci, pieces usually seemed to rely on the inherit reputation of the label presenting it, and logo prints from labels such as Louis Vuitton were beginning to be regarded by many as tacky. Now it seems as though no one can resist stamping their name onto the pieces they create—even logo-modest Dior has been touting the tongue-caressing phrase J’adior under Maria Grazia Chiuri, and Dolce & Gabbana, who placed their recognition in intrinsic Italian prints and appliqués, are now sprinkling their names over every lace or leather surface that passes through their hands.

Alessandro Michele captured much attention with his debut collection for Gucci, garnering mixed reviews but undoubtedly turning heads in the process. Michele’s eccentric flair was starkly different from the minimalistically feminine designs the Italian brand had been previously known for under Frida Giannini. To say the least, the outfits were unapologetically whimsical; when featuring androgynous silhouettes, monogrammed pieces, vintage-inspired jewelry, and botanical Eden-like imagery, it’s difficult to not be swept away. Despite the skepticism the newer collections were initially met with, Michele’s vision has rebranded the fashion house and launched it into the forefront of attention, becoming one of the most coveted brands not only in the high fashion market but the general public as well. Street and Instagram style are reflecting the popularity of the brand through various social media platforms, and everyone from bloggers to celebrities to your everyday individuals are wearing the logo on tops, belts, and handbags—or, at least, dreaming of it. I believe it’s safe to say Gucci has surpassed existing solely as a fashion label to become a status symbol spearheading the rebirth of logomania.

With all the rush surrounding the new styles, it's difficult to not become entranced—even for someone like me, who used to detest logomania with a burning passion (I blame Michael Kors watches). Even so, I'm treading cautiously—layering multiple bright colors and textures really isn’t my thing, so when styling this reemerged trend it can be a bit of a challenge to walk the line between keeping my outfits well balanced, but not underwhelming. In my opinion, pretty much anyone can throw a Gucci belt onto an outfit and call it fashion, but it can be tricky to stand out while wearing the trend without letting it wear you. Here are some ways I'd style some of the more popular pieces.

Love always,
Irene xx

Autumn Playlist

This weekend a little fall of rain passed through my town, bringing the perfect autumn mood with it. So of course, I had to compile a playlist of my favorite fall songs to listen to as I wrapped myself in a cozy blanket with a cup of tea. Happy listening!

(Also, I hope my obvious love for Ed Sheeran doesn't bother you too much).

Love always,

Irene xx

Tommy x Gigi

With every fashion week comes a feeling of hope for the future as people all around the world immerse themselves in quirky street styles, blooming trends, and, of course, the designers’ visions presented through their masterpieces. This year’s New York Fashion Week brought about many stunning collections, but none so anticipated as the Tommy Hilfiger show, which would be revealing the full Tommy x Gigi collaboration. People inside and out of the fashion industry excitedly awaited the launch after the lookbook was released online. Of course, the collection did not disappoint; Tommy’s latest maritime elements meshed perfectly with Gigi’s sleek minimalistic vibe. Tommy and Gigi both have very distinct styles, but instead of clashing when brought together they reach amazing new heights.

The collection features a harmonizing blend of everyday wear (ripped jeans, crew neck sweaters, and ankle boots) and trendy pieces (such as capes, bodysuits, and flare pants). Facets of Gigi’s style—boho, sporty, rock n’ roll, and, of course, modern—were also incorporated alongside Tommy’s recently popular nautical theme. The color scheme was minimal but nonetheless gorgeous: navy, cream, vibrant red, and olive green intertwined with gold details and lovely shades of black, white, and heather grey. Printed with the rope and anchor emblem, knotted tees and sweatshirts were the basis of the collection. Outerwear ranged from military-style peacoats and sweeping dusters to fur bombers and cropped jackets. Oversized pieces especially ruled the show; cardigans and sweaters were complemented elegantly by thigh high socks, and colored hoodies were paired with slip on shoes. Chunky knit dresses featured one of my favorite trends—the turtleneck (which is a definite staple for the upcoming fall season)! Sheer tops with sailor necks emphasized the vintage naval air, as well as neck scarves, patches, and lines of stamped buttons—all the way down to the slim ropes that knotted the floaty dresses (a nod to Gigi’s SoCal origins), which were printed with intricate compass stars, life rings, anchors, and ship’s wheels. The signature Hilfiger all-American look combined with Gigi’s sporty style made its appearance with cropped football tees, silk basketball jerseys, and sleek track suits. Adding a bit of edge to the collection, Gigi’s soft punk side also shone through in leather pieces—skirts, biker jackets, and quilted-knee trousers. To round off the outfits, scarves were tied around ankles and anchor keychains dangled from casually-slung rucksacks, bucket bags, and oversize totes.

Overall the collection was definitely one of my favorites this year. Each look in the show was beautifully constructed and balanced, every color and texture blending exquisitely without one overpowering another. The pieces are versatile and easy to incorporate in an everyday wardrobe, but at the same time unique enough to elevate any outfit. Tommy and Gigi are a fantastic team, so I’ll definitely be on the lookout for another collaboration in the future!

Love always,

Irene xx

Shop my favorites from the collection below:

Rainy Summer

Today the scorching summer heat gave way to a small but much needed rainfall. It's uncommon for my Northern California city to have rain in the summer months, even without the drought, but it's reminded me how much I miss dressing for cool weather (as well as the blissful smell of rain). So here's some inspiration for how to dress if your town is blessed by drizzles or storms this summer.

-Irene xx

Lust List // February 2015

Another month, another lust list. This month I'm currently craving some color (I'm loving olive tones) to add some more color in my mostly monochrome wardrobe, along with some studded accessories, monogram pieces, and floaty Coachella-esque dresses.

Polyvore Meetup

What a stressful few weeks it's been! Luckily I get this week off from school, so I have some time to breathe and enjoy the holidays.

If you look at my recent Instagram posts, you'll see that I was lucky enough to attend a meetup at the Polyvore headquarters in Mountain View on November 14th! The staff was so kind and helpful, and I had so much fun hanging out with other members and seeing everything that went on behind my favorite website. Even though I only started up my inspirene account in 2013, it feels like forever that I've been piecing together outfits. I recently hit a thousand followers, so I think my eye for style has definitely improved from when I made my first few sets.

The morning of the fourteenth was nerve-wracking to say the least. Aside from being crazy nervous (excitement and anxiety always go hand-in-hand, unfortunately), I was also running slightly late. Traffic and problems with directions didn't help much, either (props to my mom for saving us). When I finally managed to arrive at the office, I was sure I had missed something. 

"Nope!" the lovely lady standing outside the door said, handing me my nametag. "You're right on time."

Agh, what a relief. As soon as I walked in, I met two staff members named Chrystal and Nadia. Chrystal had helped me with a little mix-up I had with the RSVP, and Nadia was a face I knew from Polyvore's Instagram during New York Fashion Week. They were both so friendly, and I felt my anxiety disappear. I picked out a donut from the breakfast bar and sat down. While I waited for the Q&A session to begin, I studied the room around me. There were sets hanging on the walls, a charging station (bless), and lots of plants! 

At 10:00, the Q&A began. Jess, the awesome bacon-loving CEO of Polyvore introduced herself and told us the story of how Polyvore came to be. Later on, the product & design team members shared some information from their sector.

A little after 11, a panel discussion began. I listened to some amazing stories from four people working with Polyvore, TheRealReal, Modcloth, and Brit & Co. It was great to hear from them about their everyday life and their journey into the fashion world. We received some great advice from each of them on how to build your career in fashion and design (Intern. Intern. INTERN.) and I became so inspired by their stories of success to work hard to achieve what I wanted. It sounds cheesy, but you should never lose sight of your dreams.

Next was lunch! We walked outside to find the Mobowl food truck waiting for us. Yum! There we received cute little headbands from Shopbracket topped with the words Polyvore Meetup. Glasswing Floral had provided us with beautiful bouquets of flowers that adorned the tables. While we ate, I got to know some of the members, and later another Polyvore staff member who joined us at the table. We talked about how long we had been on the website and who our favorite bloggers, members, and brands were. (PS: Mobowl chicken, fries, and rice? Highly recommended.)

After lunch we returned inside for activity time. Around here I hung out with my new friends, Sierra from sisistyle, Hollie from thewovenwolf, and Macy from fashionistatothemax. We had so much fun chatting, taking pictures at the photobooth, making custom tees, and getting makeovers from the BareMinerals crew that had turned up. 

At around 1:30, I went with a group of members to try out a cool new thing that Polyvore has in store. I can't say much, but I can definitely say it's going to be awesome. So be on the lookout! 

Before we walked in, I managed to get a good look around the Polyvore office, aka the coolest office ever. There was so much technology, windows, and space! Everything felt so open, and the atmosphere was very calm and relaxed while still having a business-like air to it. There were even two little puppies two members of the staff had brought in named Waffles and Chai! No cats though... :(

Once I got back to the main room, I started playing around with the iPad app and even published some sets. It was so versatile and easy to use that it made me want to get an iPad to create sets easily on the go! *gets out Christmas list* Dear Santa...

At 3:00, it was time for Polyvore Member Success Stories with members Leanne (houseofhauteness), Bri (ruibri), and Rebekah (regallyblonde). This was probably my favorite; hearing the stories of where these bloggers started and their journey to where they were now. It was amazing to see in person how hard work and determination really does pay off, and it gave me hope that I really could achieve what I wanted and do what I loved best. Like I said, never give up!

After this it was Happy Hour, which sadly meant it was close to saying goodbye. There was a hot cocoa bar and CREAM ice cream showed up to serve us some yummy ice cream cookie sandwiches. There was a little game of icebreaker Bingo. My friend Sisi won (yay!) and received a beautiful red bag which she totallydidnotbutalmostcompletelydid cry over. Each of us received a tote bag filled with fantastic goodies donated by some amazing stores, including a pair of Frends headphones which I haven't taken off since. While the remaining people drifted around, I talked a bit with Nadia and later with Chrystal. Nadia offered some helpful tips on developing my blog and career and Chrystal gave me some great advice on dealing with school.

I'm still at a very young age of only 15 years old, so I know I have a long road stretching ahead of me...which also means I have a lot to learn. It's because of this that I feel so lucky that I got to go to such an amazing event and that everyone was so eager to talk to me and give me advice. 

I leave you with a list of the awesome members with whom I shared this great experience with.

Stay awesome, blossoms! 

-Irene xx

Name	Polyvore username
Adyam	strangeviolet
Aimee	aimeerancer
Barbara	barbmama
Berenice M	beautifullylovely
Bernadet	bernadet-d
Brandy	willbakeforshoes
Bri	ruibri
Bridgett	b-rex
Caitlyn	caitlyn
Catherine	cat-1-1994
Charity	thebargaintrendsetter
Cherie	cherieaustin
Cheyanne	chey-love
Christina L	arainymelody
Christina N	littlehamst3r
Chrystal	chrystal
Faith	faythnowell
Harjot	istylista
Heather	heather_scouff
Hollie	thewovenwolf
Irene	inspirene
Jackie	ducktape
Jessica	teamwiking
Jessica	Jbarajas
Karen	gemique
Kathleen	ajiyfun
Kelsey	ringsandredwood
Kimberly	onetallgirl
Leanne	houseofhauteness
Lisa K	lisajean1957
Macy	fashionistatothemax
Margaret	margaretebooth
Marla	mar-jo
Melissa	Melsanv
Mirary	mirary
Nadia	nadia
Nancy	Nmponder
Nicole	stylistnikilips
Poornima	poornimakonsam
Rebekah	regallyblonde
Sandy	snaddee
Sisi	sisistyle
Traniecieya	traunicorn
Veronica	strawberrybubble
Virbeen	virbeen
Wendy	clothes-wise
Yvonne	yvonnewarren

Halloween

Halloween is by far one of my favorite holidays of the year. Even though I don't excitedly anticipate the Club Penguin holiday party anymore, there's still a great deal of thrill for me in this holiday. Excuses to buy candy in bulk, the spooky decorations, the weather, and, of course, dressing up. I don't care what anyone says, you are never too old to dress up as something for Halloween. Even if you don't want to wear a $70 costume from the store, there's still plenty ways you can dress up and look fantastic, whether you're going to a party or going out into the night to have fun trick-or-treating. Here are some of my favorite home-done costumes. Check it out!

As you might have guessed, this is an Eleanor Calder inspired costume. Add some temporary white dye to your hair and you're set to go!

One of my favorite looks—a Roaring Twenties flapper girl! Throw on a fringed dress and a pearl necklace and you'll look like you stepped out of The Great Gatsby. Make sure to check out Michelle Phan's flapper makeup tutorial here! 

I actually got the idea for this costume from Florencia (flolovesclothes.com)! A Wang cheerleader for the hell yeah. Grab your pom poms and get cheering!

And, of course, the traditional black cat costume. All black, cat ears, and a simple choker can accent this look perfectly. Don't forget the winged eyeliner and drawn-on nose and whiskers!

Hope this helps :) Happy Halloween! Have fun and stay safe! 

Love always,

Irene xxx