Day Nineteen //

Day Nineteen of the blogging challenge is: 5 of your favorite blogs and what you love about them.
Okay, this one is going to be hard for me, because there are so many blogs that I love. Seriously. I can't even count the number of blogs that I read on a daily and weekly basis. I love finding new blogs that I love, because I love to be inspired by others. My absolute favorite thing to find in a blogger, is someone who is fearless. Someone who doesn't care about the rules and who takes risks with fashion. There are plenty of fashion blogs that I adore and read every day, but that play it safe. The ones I admire the most are the ones who don't care what people think. The ones who dare to be themselves, and to wear the trends that they love-- regardless of season or style. Because those are the blogs/bloggers that really capture your attention and stick in your memory.
So, in no particular order, here are my top 5:
1. Hapa Time

2. Little Miss Fearless

3. Hello Fashion 

4. Wendy's Lookbook

5. Glitter and Grace

So go and check out these ladies and their fabulous blogs when you have a chance! And if any of you have any recommendations for amazing blogs that you read, I'd love to hear them! I love finding new blogs that inspire me!

xoxo,

Day Five // Obsession

So, it's day 5 of the challenge, and I've been doing pretty good so far! Today's topic is: Publicly express your love and devotion to one of your blogger friends.

Okay. This one is tough, because I read so many blogs, so it's hard for me to narrow it down. There are the blogs that I read every day, but they have no idea I exist. [The Pink Peonies, Cleverly Yours, Ivory Lane, etc.] There are the ones that know I exist, but probably don't read my blog. [Rylee Blake, Story of My Life, Katilda, etc.] There are bloggers that I love that DO know I exist AND they read my blog. [C + J, Design, Life, and Style, etc.]

BUT. The blogger I am going to be talking about today is Katelin from My Wardrobe Staples.

So cute, right?? [Picture via My Wardrobe Staples.]

She did a guest post on my blog a few weeks ago, which you can see HERE. But ever since I found her blog, I have been obsessed with it. She does fashion posts, fitness and diet tips, makeup and beauty, stories about newlywed life, and so much more! She is an amazing blogger and she is seriously the cutest! Her blog has been one that I now check every day. [I'm such a stalker. It's fine!] Her blog is so fun, and it's so easy to relate with her! Something that I really love about her fashion posts is how affordable, yet stylish her clothes are! Some of the fashion blogs I read, the girls spend thousands of dollars on a pair of shoes. Uhmm, no thanks! That's something that I am really conscious about on my own blog, and I absolutely love that she does the same!

I'm glad that I met her through the blogging world, and guess what? I'll be up in Utah at the end of the month and I'm super stoked to meet up with her! [Hope she doesn't change her mind after she reads this post! ;] But for real guys, I definitely think she is someone that you should ALL get to know, so go check out her blog and follow along with her!! [And feel free to check out the other blogs I mentioned too, because they are all amazing!!]

So this is me expressiog how much I love Katelin and her blog!!  Katelin, if you're reading this, please don't be totally freaked by this post? :] Sending blogger love your way!!

xoxo,

Ermine

Today we are going to take a waltz through my process:

getting what I want in my little fashion world!

How do I find an item I am obsessed with?

Why the obsession? 

How do I obtain it?  

How do I search for it? 

Should I just make it? 

How the hell do I wear it? 

How can you make it?

Why the obsession?

Every period had found a way to sneek ermine into fashion

but it hasn't been taken seriously as a trend since the 1950s!

Um its the symbol of anything regal....

Well I'm mad about Ermine and I'm bringing it to the 2010!!!!

There's something so crisp and almost graphic about the black and white

While still keeping its elegance in the silky fluff and texture of the black tails

I have found in the first part of my research that

secretly people have kept up a longing for ermine

I imagine this creepy but amazingly eccentric woman who opens her cupboard to get something and all of these ermine capes, collars, coats, hats, and muffs come tumbling out, and she shoves it in with haste before slamming it shut.

I secretly want(need) to be the woman ;)

anyway...

How do I search for it?

I have either been outbid 

or come across a giant text: SOLD flashing before my eyes all over vintage websites

I was about to jump off a bridge while dreaming up layaway possibilities 

to make this cape be mine

I mean come on! Really why the torturous price of $4500 

wwwahhh!!

I just want to touch it please???

Its only a matter of time when a museum or celebrity stylist (Yes Rachel Zoe/ Met museum that means you!) will soon get their grubby hands all over this one

How can you make it?

Very frustrated I started to think about making it....

I found a tutorial that is pretty simple

Which can lessen your frustrations as well

I recommend the "difficult" choice, which isn't so difficult!

side note:  The Elizabethan jewelry tutorials are super magical and I want to try them out myself!

One day I found the perfect 30s scarf

I bid

I won

I conquered!!!

How the hell do I wear it?

search half way over!!!

Why half way you ask?

Well when I'm obsessed 

one piece is not enough for my taste

I need at least a set or better a full ensemble covering me head to toe

So my search went like this

ermine fur cape.....nothing

ermine hat.....nothing

ermine muff.....nothing

ermine shoe clips.....nothing

I then found myself

(going to the source) 

visiting the lovely online shop 

Dorotheas vintage 

side note: you can follow her on face book to get constant updates

..trust me its worth it

And so....

yep you guessed it!

look what I found......

this muff is going to be fantastic!

outfit post will be posted ASAP

Learn a little about the little cuties and my fur views:

They are actually stoats, but during their winter coat period

they are referred to as Ermine

I believe that fur should ONLY be worn if it is vintage or fake.

I personally would never buy anything else, but can understand cow and rabbit fur only if its from the same animal that is eaten..and since it is practically impossible for the two to exist and still be quality I continually stand by not wearing anything else.

There is such a thing as a beautiful fake.  In fact fake fur that has been designed extraordinarily well can be fantastic and precious.  It angers me when people actually set their minds to cheapness when working with the fake fur

EX: On project runway this week Chris actually said "I was looking at all the fake furs and they look soo cheap".  Well I'm sorry but what you came up with when using real fur (you thought you deserved) insulted the animal killed!!!

I feel it is ok to make up for the mistakes of the past.  To simply sweep 1000's of years worth of animals that we slaughtered is simply bad for the environment and disrespectful to the creatures.

Feedback that I would love to hear from you:

1) I'm wide open to a very tired, old, but still interesting, and valid(due to current fur trends) discussion about fur...pro..against..solutions...disgust....anything I want to hear it all

2) Did you like the process of my vintage search...would you like to see more?? I have many more obsessions to explore..trust me hahaha!

I have always loved fashion

  My mom Gossamer Wings 

always dressed my sister and I

 in amazing outfits

Most of our clothes she made.

looking back at pictures of me

I remember how much I always 

was thinking about clothing 

and the surrounding 

colors 

shapes 

and textures around me

I forgot that it has always been my 

Obsession

Take a look:

My mom holding me

here is my sister and I

then

now

easter outfit 

then

now

some bath tub pictures