PIN CURLS

The past couple of weeks I've been putting my hair up in pin curls wednesday evening, hopefully getting better at it so when my senior thesis opening rolls around, I'll be adept enough not to look awful.  This was the first time I slept on them (the first time I ever attempted it I took them out that night, and basically nothing had happened), and though I was a little self conscious in the morning, they grew on me as the day progressed.  They also relaxed a bit, which was better in the long run.  After brushing them out, I sprayed them with a bit of salt spray to get the texture back, pinned up one side, and was ready to go!

xxTanya

youtube // tumblr // lookbook.nu // twitter // bloglovin

WHAT I'VE BEEN WEARING

The Body Shop White Musk Libertine Eau de Parfum ($30)

I think if I was to ever choose a signature fragrance, it may just be this one.  Of course, it's the first perfume I ever bought, but I love it.  It's perfect for day, night, and just all around.  It suits me and everyone who smells it says it's lovely.

The website describes the perfume as having "a heady blend of cruelty-free musks at its top, heart and base, with sweet notes of Turkish delight, baby orchid and Chantilly cream."  I'm no parfum connoisseur, so I can't actually tell if these notes are in there, but I love it.  The top notes are pretty floral in my opinion, but when it settles down it was love at first sniff.  I've even gotten used to the top notes as well, and now I love the perfume as a whole.  It's a super sexy scent, but not in an evening perfume way, if you understand what I mean?  For example, I love the Victoria's Secret scents, but they feel more suitable for the evening (not that I don't love them, because they are gorgeous).

I think, however, that the musk is what sells it for me.  I was never interested in what people typically describe as a "perfume" scent for women: overly sweet and floral,  I think.  For example, I gave the widely loved Marc Jacob's Daisy a sniff in Sephora a week or two ago: definitely not for me!

The one thing is that it doesn't last very long in the air.  However, it lasts on the skin for a couple of hours.  By the end of a long day, it's gone, but that's alright with me.  I never really like super strong, lingering scents, as they tire my nose out.  I can always give my wrist a sniff if I want to, and it's there for me to smell!

Another plus point that I never realized was a big problem was the cruelty-free musk.  I didn't know musk was an animal product (though I should have, duh!), and I've been trying to get better with animal testing with beauty products so it's a nice touch.

While trying to decide whether to buy this or the White Musk Rose scent in the store, it was the deep, sweet scent of the under notes that sold me on it.  I can't describe it, but it may be the Chantilly creme, perhaps?  Either way, I love it.  One spray goes on both wrists, which are then pressed under my ears, and I'm good to go.  Perfect!

Do you have any scent favorites from The Body Shop?

xxTanya

youtube // tumblr // lookbook.nu // twitter // bloglovin

DARK BLUE

What I'm Wearing //

H&M Short Jersey Top

Harem Pants

Silk Scarf

youtube // tumblr // lookbook.nu // twitter // bloglovin

INSPIRATION // SKETCHES SNATCHED

Sketches Snatched is a blog full of amazing digital paintings by Massimo Carnevale.  I discovered his blog years ago and was immediately in love (because of my love of both film and art, of course).  The rediscovery came while I was debating what to use as my new desktop image.  I was browsing through my inspiration folder and the only thing that really stuck with me was the image above, which is from the film "Once Upon The Time In The West."  There's not a lot of info on his work, but I think it speaks for itself.

Check out Sketches Snatched HERE.

xxTanya

Disclaimer // I do not own any of the art featured in this post.  If this is your work and you would like it removed, please contact me!

youtube // tumblr // lookbook.nu // twitter // bloglovin

INKS

Just an update: The show is in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS (Two weeks from yesterday, YIKES).   I'm currently just trying to get things done, so here's some of the inks that I've been slowly doing.  I also finally got around to printing my other litho stone this week (not pictured).  I'm really pleased with the way everything is turning out.  I have to say I'm pretty sure my favorite is the last one, entitled "MONTHS."

xxTanya

youtube // tumblr // lookbook.nu // twitter // bloglovin

#100HAPPYDAYS // WEEK FOUR

Helped Brian move in, set up this cool little music corner // Dinner with Irene on Tuesday, for the first time since the beginning of last semester! // Got my Lady Love Song dress from Modcloth!! // New lipsticks

original post // week one // week two

my instagram // #100HappyDays // One Hundred Days of Happiness

youtube // tumblr // lookbook.nu // twitter // bloglovin

ARTSY THINGS

At the Dirty Dozen Print Show I was lucky enough to get my hands on two great pieces.  Drive By Press was printing shirts right there, so of course I had to get one.  It was hard to decide what to get, but I'm glad I went with my gut and got this one.  Brian also got one as well, and it's super sick.  I also got an amazing print from Cannonball Press, who was having a 5 for $80 sale.  Four of my friend and myself pitched in so we all got prints for cheap.  The quality is amazing for the price!  I'm super happy with this stuff and it was totally worth it.

xxTanya

youtube // tumblr // lookbook.nu // twitter // bloglovin

GLADIATORS

Michael Antonio Donte Gladiator Sandal

I have the pickiest feet.  If something is too tight, rubs, or is uncomfortable, I can't wear it.  Shoes are one of my most favorite wardrobe items, but I hardly own any because I can never find any that I like that are also comfortable (and that are reasonably priced).

A couple of weeks ago, I though I'd just take a look at the DSW website to see if there was anything I liked.  I saw these sandals.  Most sandals now are awful.  Their soles are so thin and they all look cheap.  These, however, were in a style I liked and also had thick soles.  They weren't in store, however, so my picky feet couldn't try them out before purchasing.  I saved them to my vollow, but wrote them off as a non-obtainable item, due to the lack of testing.

I went on the website a few weeks later to show them to my friend Lucas, and I noticed there was only one more black pair in my size.  So I bought them.

They came in last week, and I absolutely love them!  I had to poke new holes in the ankle straps to make them tighter so there was no rubbing, but it worked out and they're great!  I love how they look and the fact I finally, finally have a pair of sandals (and summer shoes that aren't my beloved, but casual TOMS).  Yes!!

xxTanya

youtube // tumblr // lookbook.nu // twitter // bloglovin

RAIN

Do you ever sit in the car after you've reached your destination?  I don't.  I find that as soon as I reach where I'm going, I hop right out and am on to the next thing.  Thursday evening Brian drove me back to my apartment after a (reasonably) successful fundraiser art sale in the student union.  He usually stays over for a bit thursday evenings, but since it was late, he didn't this time.  We sat in the car talking, prolonging the inevitable goodbye.  As we sat, the rain built up on the windshield.  I initially noticed the reflection on our hands, but then noticed it on the dash.  And I realized I don't usually have a chance to see that sort of thing.

xxTanya

youtube // tumblr // lookbook.nu // twitter // bloglovin

#100HAPPYDAYS // WEEK THREE

Got a delicious new candle from Bath & Body Works.  It smells like fresh lemonade with a sprig of mint on a hot summer's day // A photo of me dancing in PLUSH in the school's newspaper // Kevin and I unintentionally matching almost completely and representing some Christmas spirit // Rain shadows with Brian // New gladiator sandals! // Watching the LARPing at UBcon with Brian

original post // week one // week two

my instagram // #100HappyDays // One Hundred Days of Happiness

youtube // tumblr // lookbook.nu // twitter // bloglovin

OUTLAW PRINTMAKERS // THE DIRTY DOZEN PRINT SHOW

Last thursday the Extended Print class and myself took a mini road trip to Rochester for the Dirty Dozen print show.  Jeff drove us all in a giant van there and back, because he rocks.

The show was super great and I'm really glad we got to go.  All the artist are current printmakers, trying to make a living off their art.  Seeing current printers is great, since printmaking examples are usually people like Goya and Dürer.  It was super inspiring, even though I haven't done printmaking in a bit.  Hopefully next fall I'll get back in to making prints!  I also got some pretty sweet loot from the show (a shirt and a print, plus promo materials).  I'll be making a post about that stuff soon, since I don't think it should be lumped in a "recent purchases" post.

After the show, we all went to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, which was awesome.  I didn't bring my camera in to the restaurant, but it was so fun to just hang out with all my friends and eat delicious food.  If you go, I recommend the mac and cheese more than anything.  And the poutine.  So good. 

All in all, a fantastic trip.  I had such a good time!!

xxTanya

 

youtube // tumblr // lookbook.nu // twitter // bloglovin

#100HAPPYDAYS // WEEK TWO

Hanging with Lucas and helping him reduce his wardrobe // Dragon age mondays // Amazing day outside // PLUSH and scholarships // The Dirty Dozen Outlaw Printmakers show in Rochester // Can't wait to wear my custom printed Drive By Press shirt this week!

original post // week one

my instagram // #100HappyDays // One Hundred Days of Happiness

youtube // tumblr // lookbook.nu // twitter // bloglovin

DEFINING MY PERSONAL STYLE

Proportions //

high waisted, loose top

skinny pant, tight top

high waisted, tight top

Colors //

BASICS // Black, White, Gray

MAIN // midnight blue, red, creme

STATEMENTS // teal, purple, pink, maroon

Elements //

dark vs. light & bright

feminine vs. bold, casual, & comfortable

high waisted skirts and pants

bright pops of color

Key Textures //

cotton tops

floaty or thick fabric bottoms

knits

statement textures (lace, velvet, leather)

Uniform//

High waisted bottom, comfortable top, layered jacket or cardigan, boots

Every spring, there's spring cleaning.  Spring cleaning, of course, goes hand in hand with the mass wardrobe clean-outs everyone seems to strive for.  I've been seeing a lot of wardrobe downsizing (or talk about it) in the blogosphere recently, and I'm afraid I've caught the bug!

Before seeing the posts, however, I stumbled across Into-Mind's blog, which contains a plethora of wardrobe and style advice.  Notably, her most interesting bit of advice talks about the idea of a capsule wardrobe: Owning only a certain amount of pieces and using all of them to create new outfits every day.  The trick is to identify your personal style, your go-to outfit (your uniform), the colors you'd like your wardrobe to mainly contain, and the main proportions you gravitate towards.  This technique can be applied every season or whenever you see fit: the most important part is not to get stuck in a rut!

This whole concept really made me think, as I've wanted to clean out my closet for a long while.  I haven't gotten rid of clothing in years, resulting in having about fifteen T-shirts, some of which I bought in high school, almost zero of which I wear on a regular basis.  However, without a clear game plan, it's been almost impossible to weed out: what if I want to wear those shirts again?!

The part I found most enlightening about the whole thing was the definition of style: I'd never really even thought about it!  However, actually setting aside time to go through my fashion inspiration folder and pinterest made me see the similar links between everything I liked, which lent itself to defining the proportions, elements, and textures I would like to define my style.  I started thinking about this a little for my first personal style moodboard post.

The colors were easy, as I mostly just wear red and black when I have no idea what to grab in the mornings, with a few exceptions here and there for gray, blue, and pink.  I also already knew what sorts of textures and fabrics I like in clothing.  Cottons are a must for tops, as I sweat in anything else.  Bottoms don't have to breathe as much, so they can be anything from tights to my disco pants.  I also have always loved the pairing of more feminine fabrics (what does that even mean) with harsher tones, like leather.

Either way, in the end she says not to define your style with typologies (since that's first step down the road of being boxed in, style wise), but if I had to describe my ideal style in ten words:

"a little bit of classic, punk, retro, and quite comfortable."

xxTanya

youtube // tumblr // lookbook.nu // twitter // bloglovin