Fashion
Showing posts with label Fashion. Show all posts
How to Look Perfect
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| Source: Pinterest |
Disclaimer #1: I would not suggest you read this if you struggle with a lot of serious anxiety on body image/appearance/confidence in any form, or a certain case of body dysmorphia, or if you are in the middle of any type of unrecovered eating disorder. If you feel you can enjoy this post in a proper light, then feel free and read on, but if you find that this could be triggering or might hurt your feelings or mess up with your internal recovery, then you don't have to proceed. And that is okay. :) Thanks for stopping by.
Everybody wants to look perfect. Amidst the thousands of campaigns and advertisements offered to us daily everywhere we turn, it's nearly impossible not to get swallowed up by this society that now has such a specific standard of good appearance. Some would say that "Perfection is unattainable!" Well hold that thought, ladies, because if you follow these efficient tips, it doesn't have to be! Perfection can be made possible, by following these easy, simple steps:
- Cut out carbs!!! When you consume carbohydrates and doesn't do 500 jumping jacks afterwards, the body stores them as fat!! *gasp*!!! So if you want to look ~*perfect*~, which means no visible fat, let go of those carbs and keep them away from your diet! Sure you'll have to give up on precious delicacies like bread and fruit and pasta, and your body will have absolutely no fuel to properly function, BUT AT LEAST YOU'LL LOOK GREAT. :)
- Wear an outfit that men find appealing. Because their opinion is aaaaaaallllll that matters. But you MUST cover your shoulders when you're entering a campus or workplace area, because those body parts are too sacred! Avoid showing them at all costs to avoid being fired or expelled.
- Eat "good" snacks. Some people tell you "it's okay to treat yourself" but hey, that might result in you looking im-perfect! So obviously you should avoid any kind of sugar and dairy and (still) carbs at all costs. But what can you snack on then? That's easy. Bite into a perfectly crunchy broccoli! :) Chew on a piece of refreshing, satisfying kale! :) Sure, they might not taste "delicious", but at least you're being ~*healthy*~, therefore you'll look perfect by the end of the week.
- Wear Spanx! Or waist trainers! The smaller, the better! Find Spanx that can completely trick people into taking you're a dress size smaller, or a waist trainer that hugs your waist so tight you'll have trouble breathing! :) Some will say these are painful and unethical but ~*beauty is pain*~! Things like these are super helpful and slimming to help you achieve that ~perfect~ look.
- Sew your stretch marks shut. Many women find these markings on their stomachs, thighs, or anywhere else on their bodies. These marks leave strange textures and only cause weird openings to break out on your skin. They may even look like small lightning bolt shapes. UGLY. So make things simple and sew them shut and your skin will probably seamlessly heal. :-)
- Show no acne. But what happens if they surface? Well paint over them! Use tons of concealer but if that doesn't work, look into some serious cosmetic surgery to save up a lot of your time daily. It might turn your face into plastic but at least plastic doesn't have sweat glands or pores! You know what that means? Zero acne! Spotless clear skin in a second!!
- Have water for dinner. Because drinking 5 litres of water a day can tooootaally change your life. Good metabolism! Weight loss! Yes and yes! All possible with just a small step of skipping dinner every night, because dinners are evil little meals that make you gain weight. Your stomach might suffer and growl in reaction to your extreme hunger, but hey, just drink tons of water and you'll "trick yourself into thinking you're full!" That's a win-win for everybody.
- Wear false teeth. Some might have told you to wear braces when you were younger but what if you never had them in your life but your teeth still bend and crook one way or another? False teeth is the perfect answer! Because a smile only works best with perfectly white, symmetrical, straightened, glowing clean teeth.
- Stand with your legs apart. Or bend your hipbones in a way just so that your thighs don't touch. Because a thigh gap is everything, right?
And that's all I can say about it! I hope this helped you gain more insight, and trust me, these tricks are guaranteed to make you feel ~*so*~ confident in yourself because you have perfectly fit yourself into the category of what society deems as perfect and good-looking! Way to go, you.
Until next time.
Disclaimer #2: This post was written with pure humorous intentions and I'm only speaking sarcastically. I have no intention in hurting anyone's feelings, I just wrote this as some sort of slam to those "health articles" or "beauty tips" that never really seem to align with our reality. Seen above is just me completely exaggerating on the points that "experts" like to make regarding a woman's appearance, and what society deems as "perfect looks". And in case it weren't obvious through this post, I think society's standards of how women should look like are severely screwed up. Perfection does have a name, and it's called Photoshop. Diet culture and articles that support it just enrage me, so this post is simply a result of that. Let's all stop being so hard on ourselves in trying to pursue the "supermodel look" the world worships, and appreciate ourselves (inside and out) as we are on our own. Thanks for reading through this far. :)
PS: If you fancy sarcastic posts like these, you'll love my older article: How to Be a Proper Lady.
See you around!
Why I Stopped Pursuing Fashion
Before I continue, I should mention that this post isn't intended to fully discriminate against the people who work inside the fashion industry, nor is it intended as a "hate post" or an attack to the fashion business. I think it's a very dynamic, impactful industry, but this post is simply written to illuminate why I'd decided, about more than a year ago, to stop pursuing it as my ~*dream career*~. Because I'd realized that it wasn't.
1. The environmental and social impact
This post was actually heavily inspired by a specific documentary targeting the fashion industry, and all that unravels behind it. The film "The True Cost" points our eyes to much larger issues than just choosing the cutest sweater in that H&M sale.
You might've heard about it, or you might consider the possibility, but either way, we couldn't just neglect the negative impacts the fashion industry is putting onto the world, both environmentally and socially. Liquid waste from fabric factories that pollute a whole village's water supply, leaving them heavily disadvantaged (many born with disabilities and grow to become terminally ill). Not paying attention to their labourers, who are mostly, by the way, women in small third-world countries who are struggling to feed their children. The documentary sort of haunted me, and I'd decided I just didn't want to be a part of something like that. There has been factory fires, soil pollution, and many other cases that these high fashion brands aren't even taking a glance at.
Sadly, that's what the whole world seems to be doing: neglecting. I hear you, environmentally sustainable fashion is both rare and expensive (hello, Stella McCartney), but it's crucial to take notice of these issues. It helps you consider that shopping haul, or think twice about buying ten different items just because of a sale. Out of this knowledge, I became so much more in love with Emma Watson than I already was, for her choice of only wearing sustainable, eco-friendly clothes to all her appearances and movie premieres. There are many fashion organisations and a handful of people in the industry who are working towards a better change, but that's a lot of ground to cover. Capitalism is real, but it works at the cost of many losses. It's important to be aware, and raise the big question: "How are my clothes made? Who makes them?"
2. A lack of morality
Let me just say that I'm not trying to call all fashion people "immoral" or "cruel" or "vain", as I'm sure many others have judged them to be. But I have found that a fast-paced industry like fashion would tend to prioritise product quality and successful marketing over anything else. What I'm saying is maybe sometimes, kindness comes second. Of course, this probably also applies to many other industries. In fact, I think most successful working adults would live by this concept.
There's a reason why they have movies like The Devil Wears Prada. Whenever I take a glance at those sitting in the front rows of fashion shows (hello, high fashion executives and editors), it honestly wouldn't seem like they're angels in white dresses. The fashion industry holds explicably high standards. Isn't that what drives them into making those clothes that don't always fit the average American woman? Or why the models on those ads always have skin that is no less than perfect? Isn't that why there's usually very little diversity when it comes to the girls walking up and down the runways? Maybe that's also why so many women contort and alter their bodies and faces to exactly fit into that standard. That size, that face, that look. The "unrealistic beauty standards" we see today are almost entirely influenced by what the fashion industry presents to us.
And the truth is, the industry contributes in serving and encouraging a consumeristic and materialistic lifestyle and behaviour for society in general. Aside from that, I've also heard of so many horror stories from models who have been treated so unfairly with casting agents (circled in the places where they need to "lose fat", left waiting in line for hours on end with no water and food, and the list goes on.) I've seen fashion buyers who walk around with their chin up because of the belief that only their opinion matters (in some cases, they're right.) I've seen how designers work as if they don't need anyone else, and I've heard of my friends who are studying Fashion Design in how their teachers put a lot of pressure on terms of weight and body appearances. Sure, high fashion is great for a glowing career, but maybe not so much for making friends or gaining confidence in yourself. I just feel like it would destroy me mentally. And if the fashion industry is taking a significantly negative environmental or social impact, it seems like very few are taking action for better change. I'm sure there are many great personalities within fashion, and I'm also sure there are some brands or organisations who use fashion as a way to build a positive impact. But one of the reasons I've stopped my "dream in fashion" is because I just didn't want to pursue something and find myself, years later, somewhere shallow.
3. It was just no longer my passion
The story with why I'd decided to pursue fashion design in the first place was because when I was little, I'd always loved to draw. It was all I ever did. I drew faces of girls, I drew their hair, I drew houses, and the one thing I never got tired of was drawing their clothes. In retrospect, I suppose being, well, nine would mean that it was perfectly normal for me to have a fascination towards clothes, style, and other "pretty things". So as I concluded that the things I loved the most in the world were these two: fashion and art, I said to myself, Yep! This means fashion design is the perfect path for me to take!
You can be very, very wrong when you're that young and you think you already have the rest of your life figured out.
As the years went by, I was so excited to start learning more about this ~*fashion*~ business so first, I took fashion design classes. They taught me to draw clothes and colour them, and I loved it to that point. And then they taught me to sew. And I hated it to my gut. Can't I just go back to drawing? I thought. Apparently, unbeknownst to me at that time, wanting to master fashion means you need to be capable of all aspect of fashion. This includes sewing, pattern-making, stitching, measurements, and way way more than just pencil-on-paper action.
At first, I told myself, Well okay, I can deal with that.
I couldn't deal with it.
Years pass by and soon enough I was about to enter high school. At that point, my illustration skills were at its peak, but my sewing knowledge was zero. Obtaining even more knowledge about the fashion world, I began questioning if it was really what I wanted. It was just kind of an epiphany, but instead of a groundbreaking revelation, it simply sounded more like, Wait... Why should clothes matter that much?
I half-forced myself to take sewing classes to sort of align myself with this path that I'd chosen for myself since the years before. I mean, hey, maybe you just have to learn to love it, right? That's when I realised that you can't force yourself to love something you clearly do not. You can't force yourself to be interested in something you're starting to want to avoid. "Passion" doesn't work that way.
So I made the decision. I stumbled upon graphic design, writing, photography, illustration, communication design, and all the things I'm in love with up to this day. And now, as a 17-year-old, I can say that I've truly, finally, figured out what my passion was. My passion was in stories. In people, in making art, in communicating a message, in capturing still images, in video-producing, and in a lot more other things. Now, fashion doesn't even come close. I wasn't as interested in the clothes as much as I was in the people wearing the clothes. I no longer idolize supermodels. I no longer worship high fashion brands or stand in awe of luxury items. They no longer appeal to me, but perhaps, they never really did.
But sure, I still draw.
You can be very, very wrong when you're that young and you think you already have the rest of your life figured out.
As the years went by, I was so excited to start learning more about this ~*fashion*~ business so first, I took fashion design classes. They taught me to draw clothes and colour them, and I loved it to that point. And then they taught me to sew. And I hated it to my gut. Can't I just go back to drawing? I thought. Apparently, unbeknownst to me at that time, wanting to master fashion means you need to be capable of all aspect of fashion. This includes sewing, pattern-making, stitching, measurements, and way way more than just pencil-on-paper action.
At first, I told myself, Well okay, I can deal with that.
I couldn't deal with it.
Years pass by and soon enough I was about to enter high school. At that point, my illustration skills were at its peak, but my sewing knowledge was zero. Obtaining even more knowledge about the fashion world, I began questioning if it was really what I wanted. It was just kind of an epiphany, but instead of a groundbreaking revelation, it simply sounded more like, Wait... Why should clothes matter that much?
I half-forced myself to take sewing classes to sort of align myself with this path that I'd chosen for myself since the years before. I mean, hey, maybe you just have to learn to love it, right? That's when I realised that you can't force yourself to love something you clearly do not. You can't force yourself to be interested in something you're starting to want to avoid. "Passion" doesn't work that way.
So I made the decision. I stumbled upon graphic design, writing, photography, illustration, communication design, and all the things I'm in love with up to this day. And now, as a 17-year-old, I can say that I've truly, finally, figured out what my passion was. My passion was in stories. In people, in making art, in communicating a message, in capturing still images, in video-producing, and in a lot more other things. Now, fashion doesn't even come close. I wasn't as interested in the clothes as much as I was in the people wearing the clothes. I no longer idolize supermodels. I no longer worship high fashion brands or stand in awe of luxury items. They no longer appeal to me, but perhaps, they never really did.
But sure, I still draw.
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Ooh boy, that was a long one! Anyhow, I hope you gained a little bit of understanding while reading this. Again, I am not trying to antagonize the industry. This is all just coming from my own personal thoughts and opinions and experiences, the points I made were mostly highly subjective. I just needed to write about it and get it out of my system. :-)
If you read it, leave a comment below! It'd be cool to hear your thoughts on the subject.
I'll see you around.
Something Traditional
Last Wednesday was the date of my country's Independence Day (71 years free!), and it was an eventful day. Soon after, I realised that this was going to be my last time celebrating my country's Independence Day inside my country. Chances are, I'll already be studying abroad by next year, and 3 years after that. So I wanted to somehow show a sense of pride for my nation. Hence, this photoshoot.
A kebaya, according to Google, is a light, loose tunic worn by women in Malaysia, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries. No offense Malaysia, but I think my country deserves ownership over this one.
I loved wearing it (it was a little big around the waist, but still). In a glance, it obviously looks like your typical ethnic southeast Asian traditional wear. However, I am absolutely in love with both the colour and the intricate hand-sewn details resembling flowers around the front and sides. It gives a sense of femininity. Many other varieties of flowers were available, so a lot of these actually come in different colours and styles. It's also quite practical since I get to wear it with anything like any casual top I own.
There was definitely something empowering about wearing this, not only because it reflected my nation, but because it became a symbol of two things I know I am: An Indonesian, and a feminist.
Does your country have a certain traditional piece that you love to wear or are proud of? What do you think of this one? Let me know in the comments below, I'd love to read your thoughts. :)
Until next time,
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Aaaand I'm back.
I have decided against blogging for quite some time now for a handful of reasons. To name a few:
1. I'm having way too much on my plate. School is starting and there are heaps of things to deal with right now and it's been keeping me immensely busy.
2. I didn't know what to write about anymore. I'll be honest, my brain's been so exhausted that it just haven't had the time to properly generate ideas.
3. I felt like I needed to get my life together first. Not gonna lie, it's been messy. Emotionally, physically, and mentally. But I think my stability always comes from working, and from being productive. So that's what I'm going to start doing.
I'm hopeful for another start. I still want to pursue blogging all the way into my future and to actually make something out of the whole process, and it is going to take some time. However, I figured that the only thing that can take me off of the stress that life gives, is giving myself one thing I would enjoy stressing about. If that makes sense.
I changed my layout here and there, if you've noticed, and it's because I'm trying to re-brand this blog so that it can keep up with how I am right now as a person, who's growing- stumbling, but still growing nonetheless.
SUNDAY INSPIRATION 007: Marchesa
Marchesa Resort 2016. Technically speaking, this isn't a very new Marchesa collection, but the absolute beauty of it seems too impossible to miss out. This has to be one of the most stunning, underrated collections I've ever seen. Surprisingly, people have been so caught up in the newest Versace show that they kind of missed out on this one. But after my research at Style.com, I think this one deserves just as much applause.
As a fashion enthusiast, I've always been quite a huge fan of Marchesa. Their play with details and colour is something that never ceases to amaze me and motivate me to push even harder to pursue my dreams of getting into the fashion industry. There's a certain way of how Marchesa portrays elegance and art in their pieces that I find absolutely breathtaking. They always carry the inspiration and incorporate it into their collections in a spot on manner.
According to Style.com, the designers of Marchesa, Chapman and Craig, found inspiration from the art of Islamic tiles to the colours of Morocco. The variety found in this collection shows a little bit of everything. You have this terrific floor-length dress showing great rose-inspired detail on the upper torso, falling just perfectly beneath the collarbone, continued with this made-of-silk bottom part of the dress running down beautifully and effortlessly.
It's intriguing to see a collection with such a fresh yet bold palette, ranging from soft solid pastels to rich and shimmering textures. I also especially love the white cocktail dress, wrapped around with lace and a couple of delicate rose-inspired embroidery decorating the sides of it.
This final piece has also left me blown away. While the other pieces sit ever so elegantly on the body and swim around in pastels and lace, showcasing technique and creativity, this one shows it off. I couldn't even find the words to express this truly magnificent gown, not to mention the colour it comes in.
And that's all for this quick little inspiration post! There is not much left to say about this collection, other than how much I absolutely adore it. Marchesa has done it again and I cannot wait to see what they come up with next. I think their work perfectly symbolises what fashion should be like, and this collection is simply proof of it.
What did you think of this collection? Are you a fan of Marchesa as well? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think!
SUNDAY INSPIRATION 006: Culottes
The unquestionable comeback of the culottes are already floating upon us and so I thought it was only appropriate to turn it into a Sunday Inspiration post! Culottes are actually a fashion trend that was blossoming around springtime of this year, but I think that they carry such an awesome fashion statement that it should be considered acceptable for casual everyday fashion, regardless of what season it is.
Okay technically, they should probably be stashed away for winter, but other than that, I think culottes can be worn very easily and do have a way of making your outfit look very expensive. You can wear it with a good halter top, or a simple shirt, blouse, or whatever way works. It's quite easy to pull off, not to mention how awesome it is that it gives you the freedom of wearing pants, but the silhouette play of wearing a skirt.
I love this trend, and as I'm still on the quest of finding a good pair to purchase, it's no question that they create a very well-structured, put-together look. Effortless, yet very chic. Laidback, but stylish. Loose, but sophisticated. Old-fashioned (for it actually started way back in the 80s), but modern and sleek.
I love this trend, and as I'm still on the quest of finding a good pair to purchase, it's no question that they create a very well-structured, put-together look. Effortless, yet very chic. Laidback, but stylish. Loose, but sophisticated. Old-fashioned (for it actually started way back in the 80s), but modern and sleek.
I think culottes are best worn with a widening silhouette towards the bottom, meaning that it would be best to choose a top that's quite simple, maybe form-fitting, a crop, or just loose with a normal length. Culottes should be the highlight of the outfit, because it takes up most of the room for attention. It shows off your ankles so you can wear it with any flexible type of footwear (although perhaps boots won't be such a great idea.) Sandals and heels would work best.
To wear this great fashion piece, you don't have to conform to a certain body type. It can hang perfectly from the waist of any body figure and flatters the legs quite nicely. Unlike flare jeans or pants, you don't have to be 6'1" to wear them.
Here are some links as references for the trend:
The Top 20 Culottes for Spring by Sarah Sarna
The Best Culotte Jumpsuits for Spring by Who What Wear
So this year, if you are trying to upgrade your wardrobe and step up your game with the everyday outfits, culottes are definitely a must-try trend. Frankly, this one simple item could actually make you look like one of those rich fashion bloggers on Pinterest. No, seriously, try one on.
*All pictures were taken from Pinterest
Guest Post: Buckle Up
Hello Thoughts in Tiffany Blue readers! My name is Cristina Nika, a fashion and lifestyle blogger from Sydney and a regular author on High Style Life. I wish to thank Joanne for having me on her wonderful blog! I am constantly in search of good, kind and wonderful people who'd like to share their space with me and so far I 've been a very lucky girl.
Accesorizing is a great thing, and the
ladies love the fact they can change their outfits, by simply adding some
necklaces, earrings, scarfs and bracelets. But sometimes, it can be a little
time consuming to choose the right
piece of jewelry and to think of the best way of putting it all together. Luckily,
there are clothing pieces that are already perfectly accessorized with big
buckles. Maybe the idea sounds strange to you for now, but stick till the end,
and you might be surprised.
No need for accessorizing
As mentioned on the beginning,
buckles are accessories per se. For instance, when wearing an ordinary dress
with no details and a purse with a big striking buckle, any further
accessorizing could be like overdoing it. It is the same with the shoes with
buckles. They can instantly add edginess to your entire outfit, and no one will
be able to look away from them. Consider buckles as a stylish object which can
be a focus of your whole clothing combination.
LBD or a little buckled dress
A buckle on the middle of the
dress can bring focus to your waist and accentuate your silhouette, or create
an illusion of one, if you lack curves. It will give stylishness to every dress,
and it’ll especially look stunning on a wrap dress, which is a fashion must
have for every woman who desires to look at her best.
For a more daring look, the perfect
choice would be a floral,
above the knee dress, with a big-buckled leather belt. If you’re in a
constant quest for knock-out clubbing dresses, direct your quest for a
figure-shaping dress with metal buckles on the side. It’s so fashionable
nowadays, it wouldn’t be hard to find.
Boho trend is in the NOW
First buckles were put on shoes
in the mid-17th century, and ever since they’re making pairs and
pairs of shoes more striking. Regardless of whether it comes to sandals, heels,
flats, wedges, boots or ankle boots, a buckle or two, or three, will elevate
the pair. Make your choices right considering the boho style you’re striving
for.
For example, brown
leather ankle boots with a couple of buckles will give you the spunky, rock
star look. On the other hand, pumps with belts and buckles around your ankles
will make you ready for a girls’ night out, whenever you feel like it.
It’s a classic
An evergreen in a world of
fashion, a coat with buckles was popular ever since the Victorian era, and
since then, it hasn’t lost much of its popularity. Similar to coats, buckled
bags seem to be here since forever. And both of these pieces are here to stay.
All you need to do is to adjust them to your own personal style.
Go gothic with aristocrat tail
coat with striking buckles. Look business ready with a square shaped buckle
purse, for a more fun look, add a pop of bright color. There is no limit to
adapting this classic to modern age.
So, are you ready to buckle up?
From here it will be a wild ride. Now is the time to go buckle questing and
exploring the ever crowded malls, or if you opt for an easier way, online
stores. Perhaps you don’t have to go further from your closet, where you can
maybe find some retro buckled pieces you’ve completely forgotten about.
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So that's all for today! I hope you enjoyed this guest post that Cristina from High Style Life had set up. Cristina is a great blogger so I totally think you should check her blog out, as well as follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
Thank you to Cristina who was very eager to do a guest post for Thoughts in Tiffany Blue! You are wonderful and I truly appreciate it.
If you're also interested in guest posting for Thoughts in Tiffany Blue, do feel free to email me! (You can find my email on my contact page).
Have a lovely day!
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