P R O M

Ralph Lauren gown, Flounce heels, Nine West clutch, earrings and bracelet from Jewels by Joanne

       Prom. It's a right of passage for every American teenager. It's clichéd, for sure, conjuring images of an overdone prom queen in a cloud of pink tulle and glitter (case in point: Louis Vuitton's prom queen-inspired collection). For my own prom, which took place this past Thursday, I decided to refrain from the stereotypical prom look in favor of something with a classic Hollywood feel. 

       The dress hunt began in March. I started narrowing down the options by filtering dresses I saw online through a series of criteria. Firstly, I wanted something in the deep blue color range. Navy has always been my go-to color (I wore it on my bat mitzvah!) because it both contrasts and flatters my pale skin and dark hair. I just always feel prettier in navy. Secondly, I wanted a simple, flattering silhouette. Cinched waists, A-lines, and elongating drapes were all welcome. Sequins, ruffles, and puffy skirts were blacklisted.

       After combing through dresses online and in magazines, I headed to Bloomingdales to browse in person. I didn't think I'd end up buying anything, and there was definitely no "aha moment" when I stumbled upon the dress that would ultimately be mine. It looked nice though a little boring on the hanger, but once I tried it on it really came to life. I walked out of Bloomies pleasantly surprised and excited to embark on the next phase of prom outfit planning: accessories. 

       I wanted to base the rest of the look off the silvery art-deco-like belt. The first piece I bought was the clutch, an octagonal metallic box I found at Nine West. For the shoes, a pair delicate silver stilettos. For jewelry, I chose a diamond cuff bracelet and small but intricate drop earrings to offer a touch of glitz. 

       The last component was hair and makeup. Loose waves added necessary volume to the look, and I believe prom makeup is best kept natural and feature-flattering. Since the entire ensemble was fairly simple, I went all out with nail art, choosing this crescent design (seen on the runway at Chanel, Vena Cava, and others) in essie's Chrome to play off my clutch and jewelry. 

       After a long, difficult four years of high school, glamming it up with my classmates and dancing the night away was truly a blast. I'll look back on my prom fondly and remember feeling flawless from head to toe. That's what choosing a prom dress should really be about; feeling like a celebrity no matter what your style. 

Green ribbon in the sky

Madewell shirt, pants, and neckalce, Michael Kors suede bucks

       Seeing as this is my first springtime outfit post of the year (wooho!), I think I'll share a few of my favorite tricks for dealing with this warm-but-not-too-warm (and frequently wet) weather, all of it relating to the outfit I have on here at New York's Highline. Here goes! 

• Embrace the french braid. I can't stand to have hair in my face when the weather is especially humid or breezy. I finally forced myself to learn how to french braid, so I've been playing with different versions of the style lately. The braided bun has become one of my go-to looks when spring showers strike or I plan on spending the day outside. 
• It's okay to be a walking catalog. Sometime around late March, my mailbox gets flooded with spring catalogs from J. Crew, Madewell, and the likes. When I treat myself to a spring shopping spree, I head to my favorite stores with those hyper-styled pages in mind, and sometimes end up leaving with head-to-toe looks. So while I usually try to mix different different brands in an outfit, I can make an exception for the beginning of a new season when a fresh wardrobe feels so right. 
• Shoe texture is important. I'm all for unexpected textures in the spring and summer. Suede shoes? Leather shorts? Yes please! But with footwear, some advance planning is required. Luckily there was no chance of rain when I wore these suede bucks, so I knew they wouldn't get ruined. When it is wet out though (it is a drizzly Sunday morning as I write this), I take no chances and wear my trusty Hunter rainboots that look just as cute. 

Well, that's all for now. I'm off to enjoy this lazy Sunday and rest up before the third week of my internship... more on that to come!!

heart this outfit on TeenVogue's Fashion Click

McQueen Bee

Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2013

       I was flipping through April Vogue the other day when I noticed a look from Alexander McQueen's S/S 2013 collection featured in one of the fashion stories ("Asset Management," photographed by Craig McDean). Something hit me (or should I say, stung me) when I saw the little bees decorating the breast plate and choker. They are almost identical to the bees in the altar of St. Peters Basilica that I had just been studying in AP Art History. 

The altar at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Rome 

       The altar was commissioned by Pope Urban VIII, who was part of the noble Italian Barberini family. The Barberini's were generous patrons of the arts, so as a symbol of wealth and power, they marked each of their magnificent projects throughout Rome with the family coat-of-arms, a trio of bees. The emblematic insects can be seen everywhere from the intricate columns and draperies pictured here at St. Peters to the frescoes in the Vatican Museums and the stained glass windows in the Church of Santa Maria. 

Left: model Jasmine Tookes in Vogue, Right: closeup of St. Peter's Basilica 

       The combination of smooth black and fiery gold looks just as stunning (if not more) on the McQueen jacket as it does in the basilica. The baroque embroidery throughout the McQueen collection is a sure connection to Roman renaissance art, but I haven't yet seen a review that identifies Barberini as a source of inspiration. I'll offer my own hypothesis: creative director Sarah Burton referenced the bees in St. Peter's to give each ensemble the Barberini touch of beauty and royalty. It is McQueen, after all!

+Revisit my extensive post on MET's Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty exhibit here

Elle Fanning for Bullett Magazine

Elle Fanning for Bullett Magazine's "The Surreal Issue" photographed by Pierre Debusscherre and styled by Melissa Rubini

       My latest photo inspiration comes via Bullett Magazine. I was immediately excited to see Elle Fanning covering this surrealism-themed issue. Her spunky personality is a perfect fit for Bullett, which has become one of my favorite offbeat magazines. Two factors made this shoot especially memorable to me: 1) The whimsical scribbling that was added to the photos, and 2) The conceptual clothing that Elle wears. While many people think the scribbles look like the accidental work of a kindergartner, I believe they give the story an artsy vibe that's consistent with Elle's youthful personality. I mean, this is the girl who said "I'd rather look like a 2 year old than a 21 year old," so it makes sense to do something a little quirky to balance out the high fashion ensembles. Speaking of the clothes, I was very happy to see the magazine take full advantage of Elle's fearlessness with fashion. She's been quite the risk-taker on the red carpet, so it's great to finally see a stylist embrace her avant garde potential. Bravo, Bullett!