Another One

The weather has been nothing short of sweltering these past few weeks... Despite the first week of September rollin' on out. Hopefully some fall-like temperatures are on their way because I'm desperately in the mood to throw on a leather jacket and not feel like my skin is melting off. I've been really into this 70's skirt trend with the buttons at the front. I already own a camel corduroy one from Topshop and thought that adding a denim one to the collection would be a great idea. Now it's not news to anyone that denim is probably one of the most versatile things ever so I can totally envision see this skirt perfectly transitioning into my fall wardrobe with some tights and boots.  

I'm bringing in those Western vibes that have been inspiring me lately through the addition of the concho belt. I've been wearing this belt with everything since I've bought it, from jeans to shorts to a skirt, like how I've styled here. It's the perfect throw-on piece and can jazz up a simple outfit. Instead of going for my usual ankle boots that I always wear I went for my burgundy suede ones to help bring some more colour and texture into this outfit. This is one of my fav blouses that despite being 3/4 sleeves is exceptionally breezy since it's chiffon and I tucked it in to show off the belt in all its beautiful glory. 

I've been working everyday for the past 7 days and doing a lot of other stuff in between, so that means a ton of long bus rides to and fro which also means a lot of music listening, but I don't mind one bit. I actually thoroughly enjoy taking the bus for that reason. You get to have some quality "me" time and just indulge in some good tunes. I've had Mac Demarco's, Another One, on repeat since its been released and even went out to purchase the vinyl earlier this week, so I can have it for my own at-home listening pleasure. Another One is a more personal album for Mac where he laments about a girl throughout. But the songs on here are just so damn good. Definitely give it a listen if you ever get the chance, lot's of his signature twangy guitar sprinkled everywhere!  

  

The Way You'd Love Her - Mac Demarco 

The Cosmic Microwave Background

I love this outfit so much I've worn a variation of it one other time aside from this already! Everything about it is easy breezy and no fuss, from the denim cut offs to the oversized button-up. I got this top for my birthday when I was browsing around at Free People. As soon as I saw it I knew it needed to be mine and it was on sale too! I thought this top could be styled so many different ways and would be great for the summer months, with a pair of shorts, like how I've styled here, but also once the colder temperatures began to set in, with high-waisted denim and a faux fur vest. The sleeves were a little long for me, but that's nothing a good cuffing job can't fix.

Hats have totally become my go-to this summer... I can't seem to get enough! I almost want to wear a hat with every outfit I put on at this point! I feel like they just complete any look giving it some added interest and style. I went for my usual pile of accessories and adornment, adding my flea market necklace to the mix. And of course, no outfit of mine would be complete without a pair of ankle boots. When I wear these particular ones I feel as if they make my legs look longer, and heck yeah at 5'2 I'm all about that! Even if it is just some misconstrued illusion.

I've been heavily feeling my Australian's again and listening to the lovely Shiny Joe Ryan & The Cosmic Microwave Background. This is Shiny Joe's little solo project when he isn't jamming with POND or touring with Tame as their roadie, sporting a lab coat and having the best hair in the game. The entire album is a complete gem filled with so many great jams and cosmic waves of sound. One of my favourite songs from the album is "Hold On For The Ride", and it's no surprise with the inclusion of the sitar throughout. The song makes you feel like you're on an actual ride, whilst Ryan's vocals wave in and out throughout the entirety of the track.   

Hold On For The Ride by Shiny Joe Ryan 

A Day In The Woods

I recently spent a Sunday up north in the woods. I actually love the outdoors, and especially like to spend some time to recharge away from everything in times of stress. Working a couple times a week, writing weekly for an internship, being in summer school, writing and taking pictures for this blog and still managing to do a ton of fun things in between isn't always easy to balance, but I've managed these past four months and I'm proud of myself! I also, haven't compromised myself in any way, I've managed to do it all.    

Spending some time in the outdoors was great. Everything about nature is beautiful. The way the sun peeks out through the branches of the trees. The many sounds of birds calling to one another. The light wind that's brought about from the nearby waves of the lake. It'd be a dream to spend a week in a little cabin in the woods, secluded from everything and everyone, with no cellphone service or wifi to check your emails or various social media pages, completely unplugged. The company of others and nature would be enough to stimulate the over stimulated mind. Over all it was a beautiful Sunday, and I'm in hopes that many more of that caliber can be had in the near future.  

Of course s'mores were made by an open fire. I'm the queen of this delicious treat! 

Bohemia

Summer's coming to a close but the temperatures want to stay and I'm cool with that because I get to sport more of my summer wardrobe. I opted for the classic maxi skirt and crop top combo but turned the knobs all the way up to the highest notch of bohemia. And it's all in the accessories. But... before I get to that, let's discuss the foundation pieces that make up this outfit since you gotta start somewhere.  

I'm currently on that blue and white kick and clearly taking cues from yesterday's jumpsuit outfit post. Something about blue and white is so fresh and crisp. The colours not only remind me of Santorini but also of the beach, the hues of blue from the water and the grainy white sand. I also love the button detailing all the way down the front of the skirt. It totally gives this skirt a definite vintage 70's vibe that of course, I'm totally digging. The white crop top was obviously a no brainer.  

Now let's move onto the fun stuff, the accessories. I piled on the jewels. I went for my favourite statement necklace, the gold one with the jangly coins, that's been featured a many a times on this blog. As for my arms, I was having a party and decided to go to town because life's too short to not drown in jewels and adorn your body with all things pretty. I got some different coloured beaded coin bracelets, a gold cuff, some basic gold bangles, a charm bracelet with some cool charms and some embroidered patterned bracelets I got from Mexico. Some of the bangles were a bit too big for my wrists, as they kept slipping out every time I put my arm down. But I decided that they shouldn't go to waste and I slid them a little higher up until they created a makeshift arm band. I felt like this was a totally ingenious idea and a good way to make use of a bracelet that might be too big for the wrists. I went for my usual cluster of rings and a turquoise beaded ankle bracelet (unfortunately not pictured, as it got lost amongst the layers of maxi fabric) that I also picked up in Mexico.   

Santorini Dreams

The weather's been sweltering these past few days and I couldn't be happier. I'll take this heat over the dreaded winter that's soon to come any day. In the midst of all this I've been keeping pretty busy as well. Working, writing, doing school work and just plain living! This summer's been a blast and I'm still riding that vacation high! I decided to keep it simple in this outfit and one piece can do the trick sometimes.  

I got this patterned jumpsuit from a little shop in Mexico and I love it to pieces. The blue and white colour scheme reminds me of the multitude of landscape pics I've seen of dreamy Santorini. But the pattern on this one piece speaks for itself. It's so vibrant and full of life, full of summer fun. And not to mention, it's loose silhouette has helped me combat the summer heat. I love a good pattern and anything that's billow-y so this piece is a must in my summer wardrobe. I can't wait to get a couple more wears out of it before it's time to tuck it away until next year! 

Maxi Heaven

Quite honestly I think that: maxi dresses, giant floppy hats and beach vacations go hand in hand. Thus when I was on my vacation I knew that I had to wear this outfit at least once!

I got this beautiful navy maxi dress from Zara when they were having their summer sale and  I was instantly drawn to the intricate bead detailing on the front. I love the colours used, white and turquoise being some of my fav's. This outfit was so breezy and perfect for a dinner by the beach after a day spent in the sun (please note my heinous and blotchy sun burn... pale people problems?!?! LOL). The long train blowing in the wind and walking barefoot in the sand was probably one of my favourite things!

I let the beauty of the dress speak for itself and toned it down on the jewelry, keeping it to just a few rings and a hat. 

Beach Bum

I felt like I was totally beach bummin' it in Mexico. And I was in and by the ocean so much I think I transformed into a mermaid. This was one of the outfits I wore whilst I did a little shopping and then headed to the beach afterwards. I'm in love with this off the shoulder top! I think it's one of my favourite tops I own! The off the shoulder trend is so hot right now and rightfully so. I think some collarbone and shoulder action is always super flattering, feminine and pretty! I love the laser cut out detailing throughout the top and how flowy and flouncy it is. 

What better way to ring in a summer vacation than with a pair of white shorts. You can honestly pair any top with a pair of white shorts and have it instantaneously give off the ultimate summer vibe! But I also love white shorts for so many reasons, they're fresh, clean and crisp and brightening up any outfit and I think they're super beach appropriate! I like my shorts high-waisted and distressed and this pair fits that quota. The button fly was a nice touch and gives them a more vintage flair.

If I don't accessorize to the point of insanity I honestly feel naked and like a part of my being has gone missing. So I went out on all fronts - bracelets, rings and a statement necklace! I even tied this little piece of black suede I got one year at a festival that has feathers on either end of it to my wrist, creating a makeshift bracelet! 

Being that close to the beach on a daily basis was invigorating. Feeling the wind in my hair and waves crashing on my toes as I walked along the shore gave me life and totally re-energized my body, creating the ultimate paradise within myself. Sometimes it's good to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and escape to a place that is so unlike what you are familiar with, some place practically unknown, some place that seemed as if it could have only been created within the wildest corners of your imagination. It made me feel totally free!  

Pastel & Ethereal

Sporting one of my favourite looks on this blog to date is this pastel number. This outfit screams, ethereal-summer-fairytale-princess to me. From the drape-y-ness of it, to the floral pattern on the kimono, to the muted pastel colour palette, everything about it makes me feel utterly ethereal. There's also something that is so romantic about the combination of florals and pastels, something that transports me back to a time that includes knights in shining armour and maidens with long flowing hair. 

To offset the pastels I went for one of my favourite brown fringe bucket bags that I got whilst vacationing in NYC one summer. I love the coloured, red and blue beading on it and feather detailing on the side. To make the bag more my own, I tied an old dream catcher necklace I had to it that I purchased from a Native American street vendor and I think it adds a little something to the bag. I love adorning items with little trinkets and pins or anything that will make it quintessentially my own, while still holding personal meaning and value. Personal style is all about making things your own and staying true to who you are as a person and in essence it should reflect your inner spirit. So don't be afraid to be who you are and showcase what you like through what you wear. Trends come and go but your style is forever! So live and let live! 

The Babe Rainbow

I've been really on my psychedelic kick as of late, discovering a bunch of new bands and listening to some old favourites. I came across this band the only way I know how, through the Youtube recommendations sidebar. The name intrigued me and kinda made me laugh, The Babe Rainbow. What a funny name for a band, so I gave it a listen and was pleasantly surprised. I couldn't find much on the band except what their "About" page on Facebook said but one thing I wasn't surprised about was that they hailed from Byron Bay. I always find myself being led back to that place or just Australia in general. I feel like it's a microcosm of awesome and creativity and everything that's coming from there is pure genius. Must be something in the water? 

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Australia's totally on the frontier of the resurgence of the psychedelic movement with bands like Tame Impala and POND and their fashion scene is awesomely creative with a bunch of brands that I've mentioned before on here. The band describes their sound as "punk mushroom". But their music is a dead ringer for something created in the 60's, as is their image, with their vintage lo-fi sound and Eastern Asian influence with the inclusion of the sitar on some of their songs. Now they don't have a full length album, only a couple songs under their belt, from what I could gather, but their full length LP is rumoured to be dropping on July 10th.  

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The first song of theirs I heard was "Secret Enchanted Broccoli Forest". The sweet sitar sound at the beginning takes you on a spiritual adventure as soon as the guitar and drums come in. And the video accompaniment is exactly what you'd expect from a song with that title. Makes me feel like I'm part of some gnarly hippie commune and just frolicking in a field or just sitting in the grass, the earth beneath my toes. 

"Evolution 1964" has more of a surf rock vibe with a groovy groove drenched in reverb. The video solidifies their band name, a total babe rainbow! 

I'm totally in love with this band, I can't stop listening to all their songs and am eagerly anticipating their debut LP! I feel like it'll easily be one of my fav's. You can check out Kool Breeze, Arrow and Blue Spirit or simply, The Babe Rainbow, on their Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram and Youtube to be a part of the evolution 1964.