JUNE MOOD

It's been a while since I last made a monthly mood board, but I've decided to get back into the rhythm of posting these regularly. It's nice to have an excuse to surf the internet for creative inspiration, then compile it into a cohesive collage that can perhaps inspire others. 

Although I still have two weeks left in this semester, my mind is already in full vacation mode. I've spent the past weekend roasting under the Palm Desert sun, my wardrobe is being revamped with airy silhouettes and fabrics, and all I want to eat is greek salad and yogurt. 

Stay tuned for a Summer shopping edit going live later this week!

EASY MORNINGS WITH LIGHTWELL CO.

Over the past year I have accumulated a ridiculous number of candles. It seems like every time I'm done burning one, three more pop up in its place. But out of ALL the candles I've received, Lightwell Co.'s hand-poured scents have become easy favorites. 

Whether I'm working on my bed or relaxing in the bath, I love lighting a candle to create a soothing environment. However, some candles are too overpowering, and just half an hour of candle smell will have me battling a splitting headache. What I love about Lightwell Co. is their dedication to making the perfect product. Their combination of 100% American-grown soy wax, delicate fragrances derived from essential oils, and cotton wicks makes for candles that are fragrant without being overpowering. 

Fact: forest-y candles make any morning better. Even a Monday morning. Just strike a match, light your candle, pick up that magazine or book you've been meaning to read, and sip away at your cup of coffee or tea until you're ready to conquer the day.

I have just as many wonderful things to say about the fragrances themselves (I'm currently using Northern Fir and Citrus & Fir) as I do about the packaging. In this age of single-use products, it requires a conscious effort to reduce the waste one creates. After I'm done burning these candles (I'm torn between saving them so I can smell them forever and ever, and burning through them in a week because I love them so much) I'll be using these simple ceramic containers to hold pencils and pens, flowers, or maybe even some makeup brushes. 

While most of the candle burning I do happens on my beside table or desk, I've recently been letting the Citrus & Fir burn while I'm having a shower or soaking in the bath. Combined with the steam, the soothing but bright scent fills the bathroom and after I've finished I'm feeling more relaxed than I usually would. Alongside my favorite face masks and skin products, Lightwell CO.'s beautiful candles are now also a bathroom essential. 

More often than not, simplicity is best. When it comes to candles, Lightwell Co. knows exactly how to deliver simple, but high-quality products that will become a staple in your home (and that of everyone you end up gifting these candles to). Some candle scents these days are so overworked. No thank you, I would not like my room to smell like a cinnamon roll, or blueberry muffin, or gingerbread cookie. Give me lush forests (nonexistent within my immediate area) and citrus, and I'll be happy as can be.

WEEKENDS WHITES

This whole "spring forward" situation has me thinking Summer break is right around the corner, when it's really still three months away. While I wait for sunny weekdays spent brunching and exploring, Sunday's in this off-the-shoulder dress will have to suffice.

Every Spring I go on a search for the perfect white dress to wear throughout the Summer months. This year my search was completed the second I found this off-the-shoulder bow sleeve dress from Poshsquare. I love pieces that incorporate fun details into a familiar silhouette or textile. This dress is understated while also being playful — a minimal sheath cut with an updated sleeve. I kept the styling simple with a pale pink cross body bag and white converse. I don't wear heels too often (it's best to stay away from heels when you're accident-prone, like me), and I liked that the Converse kept this look cool and youthful. 

Because this dress is so clean and versatile it lends itself to being styled in so many different ways! I'm already planning my next weekend out just so I can wear it again. Next time I'm thinking of wearing it with my favorite western-style belt, and a black hat, and some silver-studded ankle boots. The possibilities are endless.

Photography | Mire Yang
Dress | Poshsquare
Bag | Kate Spade
Shoes | Converse
Sunglasses | Quay

WEEKEND STATEMENT PIECES WITH POSHSQUARE

While I enjoy having a busy schedule, I love using my free time during the weekend to grab food with friends, catch up (read: binge watch) shows, and maybe even drive down to Palm Springs. Given that my weekdays get so hectic, Saturday and Sunday often end up being the only days I wear something besides jeans and a t-shirt. I still prioritize comfort and simplicity, but brunch and dinner plans provide an excuse to show that I own more than two articles of clothing. I recently added some pieces from Poshsquare's Spring/Summer collection to the mix, one of them being this trumpet-sleeved top.

To be frank, I've never been one to "follow trends." When someone tells me "ruffles are in," or "off the shoulder tops are big," I am usually unaffected, only purchasing pieces I love and can see myself wearing for a long time. I think statement sleeves were a trend that I never acted on when they were big (pun intended) and now I've finally hopped on the band wagon, roughly 9 months later. 

I love this top because it's slightly dramatic, while also being simple enough to wear out to casual events. I originally contemplated wearing it with my favorite vintage Levi's, but settled on black jeans and my new Zara block heels (my current obsession) for a more put-together look.  

This is essentially your classic white-button-up-and-jeans look, but with a modern twist thanks to billowing sleeves and a playful silhouette. Just as well — I've never been the biggest fan of button ups (they look awkward on me), and this piece strikes the perfect balance between comfy and dressy, timeless and modern.

Photography | Mire Yang
Top | Poshsquare
Jeans | Madewell
Shoes | Zara

This post was sponsored by Poshsquare.

SAME BUT DIFFERENT

The last two people I've met from Instagram have told me that I'm taller in person than they expected me to be. This makes me happy, but also causes me to wonder if everyone who knows of me via the internet thinks I'm 5'1". I know I shouldn't complain. I'm 5'7", which is taller than average, but this does mean that I need to start taking my photos from lower angles. After a couple months of doing that I'll probably have people from Instagram say I'm so much shorter than they thought I would be. You can never win.

In the Summer and Fall of 2015, I took a semester off of school to focus on my well-being and spend time doing things I had never allowed myself to do. Without any academic responsibilities, I was free to spend a period of about 10 months doing whatever I wanted. I've always liked working, so I got a part-time job, but for the most part my days were spent exploring the city, eating good food, enjoying quality time with family, and meeting people off of the internet. I had always been somewhat introverted — I never had many friends and I tended to keep to myself rather than engage in social activities. But meeting people off of Instagram was an opportunity to make friends with similar interests and learn more about the industry that I had always been interested in, but never given myself the chance to delve into.

When I returned to school the following Spring of 2016, I took on a full schedule of classes, work, and content creation, leaving little time to meet up with people as I had during my semester off. Fast forward a year to Spring 2017, and I've met only a few new people in the past 12 months. I'm so busy every single day, going nonstop from sunup to sundown, that my own creative career has taken somewhat of a backseat. Thinking about what I want to accomplish this year, and where I want to be in the next 5, 10, 15 years, I decided that I need to be more proactive about my creative goals. I want to meet more talented people, collaborate with more incredible brands, and learn more about the industry. I was so happy when I got to meet Mire, an extremely gifted photographer based in Downtown Los Angeles, for coffee and a quick photo session. Even though our aesthetics are a bit different we were able to work together to produce some amazing content. 

After getting to know each other and discussing our creative goals we set off to shoot some photos around the Arts District. Instead of sticking to the usual white wall backgrounds I tend toward, we found a cool grid wall, as well as a multicolor steel fence. My outfits may stay the same (Blue jeans, black shirt, black boots. Same old, same old), but I'm committed to learning, growing, and improving my work. I don't want to get stuck in a minimalist rut where I'm scared to post anything without a plain background. I want to try new things, be inspired,  experiment without fear of failure. 

Photography | Mire Yang (@stripescollide)
Turtleneck | Urban Outfitters
Necklace | J. Hannah Jewelry
Jeans | Madewell (similar here)
Shoes | Jeffrey Campbell (similar here)