Sweet Sixteen: Part 2

(Read Part 1 Here) The next day of my sweet sixteen celebration was super fun. In the late afternoon my friends and I had a photo shoot in Williamsburg Brooklyn, photographed by the adorable and talented Katie McCurdy. The theme for the shoot was emphasizing the 'sweet' in sixteen, and as props we used custom made girly lollipops and rings from the wild candy store Papabubble. 

After the photo shoot, everyone headed over to dinner at DuMont Restaurant. The meal was absolutely delicious, my favorite parts being the yummy, crisply cooked artichokes and the 'DuMac & Cheese', which was by far the most popular main course. For dessert we had mouthwatering chocolate birthday cake, and it was a perfect way to wrap up the weekend!

Valentino: Themes and Variations

For my sixteenth birthday, my grandmother bought me the book Valentino: Themes and Variations. It was the perfect choice, considering I recently visited Rome and would now have the opportunity to learn about the infamous Italian designer. The cover of the book alone displays the genius of Valentino. His garments are mind-blowing, showing crazy attention to detail and recurring themes. I found this quote from the preface of the book very inspiring:

"I have always considered my work as the one of a writer. Over the years I wrote only one story, the one of my style, where each collection represents a single chapter, with all of its emotions, ideas, and motifs. The looks may change with every chapter, but the main characters are the same, as are the people and things that inspire me."

This book has allowed me to gain immense admiration for Valentino as a designer; his talent is undeniable!

A New Dimension

Images via Style.com

Three dimensional flowers are one of my favorite trends this season. They take floral prints to a new level by creating a more textured look. It's interesting to see how different designers incorporated the style into their own collections. At Prada, retro prints were given a fun pop when paired with floral appliqués. An eye-catching party vibe at Blumarine was evident, complete with neon sequin floral dresses and sandals covered in paper-like flower shapes. Christopher Kane used brightly colored flowers wisely, mixing them with neutrals so that they stood out. A romantic feeling arose at Dolce & Gabbana, with three dimensional flowers atop lovely floral lace.

From Left:
ASOS Shorts
Free People Top & Shorts
American Apparel Bikini Top and Bottom
ASOS Dress

Pretty in Pale Pink

Self-made Knit Tank • Madewell Grey Tank & Shorts • J.crew Cardigan • At Work Bow Ring • Self-made Hanger Ring • Tiffany & Co. Twist Ring • Liberty of London for Bensimon sneakers

I luckily finished knitting my new tank top just in time for spring. I made this pale pink piece using a Wool and the Gang kit, and it's a perfect fit for the incoming warm weather. Its color is trendy and will fit in well with all the popular pastels this season, but is also timeless. Worn with heather grey and creme and finished with a messy bun and floral sneakers, this outfit shouts spring!

Sweet Sixteen: Part 1

Oh, what a weekend! The celebration of my sixteenth birthday took off with a trip to New York City. Even though I may seem like a California girl, I'm a New Yorker at heart. I was born in the city and some of my best friends live on the east coast! On the first day my sister, best friend Cleo and I, and our mothers, went on a couple of fashion field trips.

Where to first? The Christian Loubutain offices. Kate, a close family friend, works in press for the company and gave us a tour. The shoes were insane! From three-inch snakeskin platforms to men's sneakers collaged with trash, every red-soled piece was not only a wearable shoe but also a piece of art.

Next stop? The Teen Vogue offices in the Condé Nast building. It's hard for me to express how much joy visiting the magazine's workplace gave me. I got this incredible opportunity though Naomi Nevitt, Teen Vogue's online editor. I worked with her on a room feature that's debuting on the website soon, and when we met she invited me to come have a tour! The offices were unbelievable. Everyone working there was so sweet and told us how they contribute to the magazine. It was really interesting to see the wide variety of jobs that make up Teen Vogue! Visually the offices were magnificent. There were brightly colored racks of clothing lining every wall, infinite amounts of accessories in the clothing closet, and a mind-boggling number of makeup products in the beauty closet (where we received some freebies!). Just thinking about the visit makes me so happy, it was a dream come true!