Kaya Scodelario/Effy Stonem

    Skins is one of my favorite TV shows right now, it was introduced to me by my anglophile friend Hannah Kaplan. She is obsessed with all things british, and therefore knows everything about what they watch on TV... I don't know where she gets this information, but I assume its from hours of watching Charlieissocoollike on YouTube and from endless internet surfing. Either way, she showed me this amazing TV show about a group of friends in London and basically all the trouble they get into. Sounds like a pretty basic formula for a TV show, but I think that the acting is really good, the writing is very captivating, and the only problem I can see with it is that you can get addicted to watching it. All the time. 

    I love so many of the characters, but Effy Stonem is really one of the most interesting. I'm currently in the 2nd season, and Effy is the 14 year old younger sister to Tony, the ring leader of the group of friends. In seasons 3 and 4, the show will switch to being about Effy and her friends, so for now, she isn't one of the main characters, but I still find her extremely interesting. Effy, during the day lives in a semi-dysfunctional household, with her Mom (mum,) dad, and brother Tony. She doesn't talk much, and is always dressed in a really boring navy blue uniform for school. During the night though, she has a ritual in which she piles black eyeshadow and eyeliner on, replaces the uniform with combat boots, layers of heavy jewelry, and grunge nightclub clothing. Then Tony climbs into her bed and when her parents come to check on her, it appears that their quiet schoolgirl daughter is asleep and out of trouble. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In reality, Effy is smoking, drinking, dancing, breaking into warehouses, and getting arrested. 

    What makes Effy interesting is that she isn't a normal party girl who is out just because its the place to be. Effy needs to be there, she has to smoke anything placed in her hands, it's her escape. As part of the audience, I'm not sure we know exactly what is so hard for her at the beginning, but theres something wrong at home, and Effy's escape from it seems to be danger and excitement. There is something so interesting about her transformation, so whenever Effy is on the screen, I always pay more attention, and I try to learn more about her. 

    Another thing that I love about Effy is her style. I mentioned before that when she leaves for the night she puts on tons of makeup, lets down her hair and teases it, and she wears so much jewelry that her petite body seems to be weighed down by metal. Her black dresses and strappy backless tank tops, all adorned with zippers are really interesting to see, and they give of this edgy, grungy look that makes her look a little bit filthy from the streets of london, but at the same time so individual that you couldn't miss her. Her style radiates mystery, and a story that we don't understand completely, and even though everyone knows what Effy does, no one really knows who she is.

Very Effy.

Fall Christian Dior Show 2010 RTW
   
   Fall is my favorite time of year. It's strange how beautiful decaying leaves can be... But they are. The normally hideous suburban streets get coated with browns, oranges, reds, and the leaves on trees transform into blossoms of color, just before they fall. The wind picks up, and a chill comes to meet you on your walk to school. Can anyone else picture chestnut horses galloping through the leaves? Encased in brown leather saddles, their sleek bodies slipping through the air. No? Just me? Oh well.

The equestrian themed Christian Dior Fall Ready-To-Wear show was, to me the definition of fall. The gorgeous, flowy chiffon dresses covered in dark brown leather jackets, were an absolutely stunning mix of textures, colors, and patterns. They created the feeling of being in a stable in Europe, with the woodsy horse smells mixed with the crisp scents of fall circulating throughout.         

The equestrian theme was the perfect transformation of breezy summer into the heavy colors and fabrics of fall. The models, wrapped in a mixture of rich leathers and furs over the light as air dresses looked beautiful, and the dark top hats perched atop they're messy braids added the perfect dose of darkness and mystery to the overall effect. In addition to the mixture of leather and chiffon, there were also Breeches with Gold buttons on the pockets which were tucked into boots, paired with tailored jacket of plaid. Occasionally you would catch leather ruffles peeking out from under jackets. These gorgeous pieces of clothing were accessorized with frilly thigh high stockings, and leather booties that had lace up backs and buckles in the front, which looked so undeniably equestrian and seemed to scream autumn, I could picture them sitting in stirrups, or walking over leaves, looking like they belonged there, four inch heels and all.

*ALL PHOTOS USED ARE FROM STYLE.COM

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2010RTW-CDIOR

New York City

 "Fashion is life. Dressing up is art for your soul. When you L.O.V.E life, anything you wear looks amazing."

-R 09' NYC

     I was on my way into a boutique when I saw this scribbled on the side of the entrance and I thought it was so cool that someone would just write this on a doorframe. NYC was amazing, I was only there for 2 days, and it was burning hot, but I loved it. When we drove over the George Washington bridge, i started freaking out and eventually my little sister had to tell me to shut up. First we went to the Met, and I saw the American woman exhibit. This particular exhibit had been on my list ever since going to NYC was an option. It was short, but really cool. Inside there were rooms designated to different historical era's of fashion. My favorite was the Jazz era, during the 1920's when women were first starting to defy the rules they were given. Dresses took on a boxier shape, with a dropped waist, and hair got shorter, wavier, and more decorative, either with jewels or headbands that had tails of beautiful fabric flowing down the back of the mannequins. The Jazz room was filled with mannequins who were draped in pastel dresses, glittering with brocade and beads. Some dresses had a sheer layer with embellishments over the initial dress,while others were draped in fringe, but either way, these little dresses were beautiful, eye-catching, and truly vintage.

The thing that I loved most about NYC though, was just wandering the streets. That's the case pretty much whenever I travel. It's amazing how much you can learn by just being there, experiencing it. I've had the kind of vacation where you schedule every little detail, and I generally don't end up having good memories of those places. Thankfully, in NYC, we just got up and went wherever we wanted to go. I spent most of my time in SOHO on Broadway street, and occasionally straying off into the side streets, with little boutiques and restaurants.

    From the moment I stepped out of the car and into NYC, it seemed like fashion was a driving force. There were people outside of the Met selling pop art prints of Audrey Hepburn (one of which is now hanging in my room,)and I loved watching all of the people, and what they wore. Especially in SOHO, there were jewelry Vendors spilling over the sidewalks, and people were selling huge books on Style and Photography on the streets! I've never seen that in Chicago before. This may be because I was really looking out for fashion, but to me, from seeing inscriptions written on doorways, and the vendors everywhere, the people in NYC seemed to live and breathe it. But at the same time, it isn't only Fashion, its also art. there were huge paintings on display on sidewalks, and it was amazing how people brought the most beautiful things to this gritty city, where there was gum on the streets and taxi's honking, where people breathed air that wasn't exactly clean. But whenever people go to NYC, they look past all of that, they actually embrace it, because beneath all of that, this city has the reputation for fueling dreams. People who come here are ready to do something, start their lives, and this city holds the most inspiration for that, all from the energy that surrounds. So even though NYC may not be the most aesthetically pleasing place ever, compared to somewhere like Florence Italy, and even when My Architect Aunt is saying that the lincoln center is tacky, or when my mom says she hates Times square, I love it. Because I've never been anywhere else with the energy NYC has, the way it seems to have veins pumping underneath the street,and I know, without a doubt, that I'll be back.

One of my sketches from the Jazz room of the Met

Broadway St. in SOHO

One of the many vendors I encountered

A really gorgeous window display that I loved

An artist's table on a sidewalk

My TOPSHOP (!!!) fitting room, which is probably bigger than my own bedroom, and just to let you know, they give you free cupcakes right outside and you can purchase your items at your own private cashier. (I bought the floral dress at the right.) It was amazing. 

Quirky stores that practically infested the streets, (in a good way.)

A ring I bought from a jewelry stand that I intend to keep forever, (or until I lose it. Which is very likely.)

Introduction

Hello my nonexistent followers!

    I just started this blog about a week ago, and I am going to let you know what it is going to be. This is a fashion blog, and it will reflect my slightly edgier view on style. That's not to say that I have a really dark and Gothic sense of style, but my blog will NOT have anything from Hollister, Abercrombie, or those really awful pieces of sheep people wear on their feet, UGGs.

    I will be talking about fashion shows I like, and what is currently in my closet. (I need to warn you though, that I have the income of about $30 a month, so You won't be seeing a lot of Marc Jacobs, Chanel,  Proenza Schouler, Valentino, or anyone else of that caliber.) I will also post my experiences with fashion in other places, such as Italy, and recently, I took my first ever trip to NYC! (Which is a huge deal if you are an aspiring Actress/Fashionista (I'm sorry. I hate that word but I don't know what else to use....) The pictures I am going to post will show you my style, and what I put together from stores like Urban Outfitters, Gap, Forever 21, Macy's, resale stores, and any other random places I find little treasures in. I may have fewer resources, but I try to make my $20.00 shirts look individual and fashion forward.

    You will also probably catch little comments about my life, like what music I am obsessed with, and my love of acting. I also do a lot of fashion illustration and that is probably when I became transfixed with style. I took a class at the local art center, and since then I have completely changed.  My closet became bigger, I started looking at things with a critical eye, and I began practically inhaling fashion magazines.         

    My style keeps changing, because thats what happens when you're 14. Currently I am being incredibly picky, because recently, I have discovered what it feels like to wear an clothing that doesn't reflect who you are. Honestly, it sucks. I was in Vermont with my Aunt, and I was wearing a white flowy T-shirt under a black skirt with horizontal pleats, and a Black and brown utilitarian belt from Zara. I got this strange feeling like I needed something else, edgier, and it was sort of weird, because before then I wasn't sure what my style was, I just knew that I had opinions. I know that putting labels on things can sometimes be limiting, but there's a sort of comfort in knowing what style you have. It's sort of a step (for me) in discovering who I am.

   So there it is, the beginning of my blog. Hopefully I will have time to post a lot more soon, but I am currently in my 3rd week of high school, so i'm slightly over-whelmed. But for now here is a picture of my most recent photo shoot that I did with my friends.

Thanks,

Julia Hunter M.

* Black top and skirt are from Forever 21,  Belt from Zara, Necklace from Urban Outfitters, socks from Target, and shoes from DSW.