Getting Engaged is the New Black

Relationships > I have had 4 friends become engaged in the last week. Everything happens quicker these days, including receiving the news. My Facebook feed looked more like an ad for Robbin's Brothers than a social network. My reaction goes a little like this, "Aww!", "Innnnteresting...", "Will it last?", "How long till my turn?". I think that's a pretty normal reaction for a girl in her late 20's to have when everyone and their cat seems to be taking the plunge. But I have to say although I get a small twinge of wedding bliss jealousy, I know that I am no where near ready for it and dare I say, even wanting it.

The divorce rate in California for the year 2011 was 75%. The majority of those are between 40-60 years of age. Our parents. So the people around us and the people we look up to cannot seem to make the promise of "till death do us part" and follow through with it. No matter how strong and self driven we may think we are, aren't all major decisions in life slightly influenced or supported by the examples we have in our lives? When standing on the corner of hopeless romantic and despairing of love, which way do you go? And furthermore, without an affirming example how do you know what is right? Can our generation become one of taking risks, exploring love and marriage based off not what we learned from our parents and those around us but instead taking love back into our own hands. With everything around us moving so fast and easy, love is the one thing we should reclaim. It is the one thing we should focus all of our energy into, to nurture it and make sure that is once again meaningful and not some temporary fleeting promise. Maybe we can do just that..

To my friends and anyone else falling in love and taking that step toward marriage, 

Congratulations and tons of LOVE to you

Elin Kling

(originally posted on SMASHBOX Studios Yello!)


Designer Profile >  Last fall one of my favorite Swedish bloggers and style icons added designer to her list of talents and successes. Starting her career as a fashion model and now at the tender age of 29, Elin Kling has successfully founded a fashion network, NOWMANIFEST, which was recently acquisitioned by Conde Nast / Fairchild Fashion Media, she's collaborated with brands such as H&M to launch special collections, ran a fashion publication, STYLEBY magazine, as well as launched her own fashion line NOWHERE with designer Nhu Duong. 

To say the least, Elin Kling is a talent to be recognized and doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. An example and proof of what can be done with passion and drive, she is an inspiration and a powerhouse.

Jump on the bandwagon and Kling on.

Follow her blog here
Shop NOWHERE here

Flower Bombed

Wish List > This is the purple Rose Bomber from Josh Goot A/W 2012. Seen here on the right in the lookbook you can see the beautiful and semi structured design, but blown away in action on, my new girl crush fashionista obsession, Christine Centenera. {I'll come back to her on another post as she deserves one all her own}. Anywho, this jacket is to die for. It is chic, beautiful, lasting and all around bad-ass. The fact that I have already coordinated more outfits to go seamlessly with it is enough to tell me I need it. Unfortunately, unless you are in the front line of Aussie fashion, I doubt you could get your hands on it as it is since unavailable.

This is one of those pieces that mass production would ruin greatly, but can't we just pretend to mass produce in my closet for a second. After I have one they can return to unavailability.

All is fair in love and fashion.

Raquel Zimmermann + Dior

(originally posted on Smashbox Studios Yello!)


Campaign Obsession > Funny finally meets fashion when Steven Meiser is behind the lens. Not taking it all too serious while having the ability to capture the beauty and intrigue the viewer all at the same time, is a feat rarely met but so well achieved in his videos. My favorite and possibly his most popular being for Lanvin Fall 2011 in which Karen Elson and Raquel Zimmerman donned in the designs got down to Pitbull "I Know You Want Me."   Lucky we are, as Steven Meiser and Raquel Zimmermann come together again to create this beautiful and honest video for Dior Joaillerie, a classic collection designed by Victoire de Castellane.

Zimmermann is shown in different stages from dolled up to natural, but the real beauty lies in the uncut scenes and her bloopers, making her seem that much more endearing and claiming me as a fan.

"I don't trust people who are always in a good mood. If you haven't seen the bad mood, you haven't really seen the good mood" - Raquel Zimmermann

Josh Goot

Fashion Crush > There is no need for me to give you a lot of words to describe Josh Goot's Spring Summer 2012 Collection, as the images possess all that is necessary to stir emotion. The beautiful femininity lies in the oversized botanical prints and peplum tops, while remaining structured with the A-line skirts and classic blazers. I love his use of color along with metallic accents, and the way in which he used his printing among puffy vests and wardrobe staples. The overall collection is beautiful, durable and classic.

Mirror Mirror - Get on My Foot

Wish List > Brazilian designer Andreia Chaves may have made this Invisible Shoe to "blend in", but it is doing anything but. Made to order and found only on Solestruck, the glass pieces are specifically placed and angled to create a chameleon like effect in any surrounding. Made in any other style or shape, these ankle boots would be a pretentious experiment gone wrong, but these babies are simply beautiful. They are noted to run small in size unlike the price tag, $3,995.95.

Mirror Mirror on the wall, who wants to give me four-thousand dollars?

...That Dreams Are Made of...

Red Carpet > The Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute Gala, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, took place earlier this week. I watched the live streams of attendees arriving, wishing as I held my breath, that one day I too could attend.

My favorite looks of the evening, beginning above:

Camilla Belle, in Ralph Lauren

Ivanka Trump, in Peter Pilotto

Solange Knowles, in Rachel Roy

Carey Mulligan, in Prada

(Images Courtesy of Getty Images/Style.com)

Cheers Bitch

Life Changes > It was one-hundred days as of yesterday. You may ask why I am choosing to write this piece today, Day 101. And honestly, I was surprisingly underwhelmed by my "achievement". The overall feeling was a lot less exciting than what I expected when I was writing at just 50 days. The thought of hitting 100 seemed like something in the distant future that would be filled with feelings of elation and accomplishment. Instead I felt like I had made it through a measly 100 days. 14.2 weeks. 3.3 months. 

Continuing similarly throughout these last 50 days as the first, there is an almost palpable emotional and mental clarity that comes along with not drinking. I believe that if I asked anyone I knew to stop drinking for this amount of time, the emotions and situations they would face everyday with an absolute clear mind would take a heavier toll on them than they expect.

The biggest difference from my first 50 days to my second is that the excitement and drive to continue this change has turned into a state of reflection and personal goal making. That moment is going to come when you realize the tremendous amount of projects and to-do's you are getting done. The physical achievements you and your body are going through. And there is definitely going to come a point where you look back and think "WTF was I doing with all my time?". Then you are going to remember all the idiotic, hurtful, dishonest, and embarrassing things you did with your time. I have hit those moments of reflection and they have brought me to tears on several occasions. In the more extreme cases I have gone back and made apologies, and in others, I use my time now to make up for the past. 

Don't get me wrong, I am proud of myself. I am proud I have been able to restrain from drinking no matter how difficult the situation. I have made it through St. Patty's day, multiple birthdays including my own and even a trip to Vegas. (Not recommended). But more so I see all the things I should have been doing a long time ago. Instead of reflecting on what a great achievement not drinking for 100 days is, I see more clearly the things I have to do with my days, my time and my life now. I see where I should have been years ago and I am thankful for where I am at this very moment.

PSHH... 100 days? Let's go for two.