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)
 

MADEWELL - DENIM RULES TO DRESS BY

You know what feels really, really cool? Getting an email from one of your favorite brands asking you to help them promote a campaign.

Madewell has been one of my go-to brands for YEARS. Their high-quality denim is incredible and shines in their perfectly cut jeans. Paired with their updated basics, Madewell jeans are the secret to an effortlessly cool look.

This campaign is focused on theme of "Denim Rules to Dress By." When it comes to personal style, it's my belief that you should wear what you feel most comfortable in - that could mean something different for each person. That being said, my main point is that comfort is key.

So here's my denim rule to dress by: slightly distressed boyfriend cut denim, paired with the comfiest sandals you own and a cropped v-neck tee.

Simple, comfortable, classic. You can't go wrong.

DENIM DENIM DENIM DENIM

I'm all about denim. I wear jeans four days out of the week (including the weekend). There's something about wrestling on a super tight pair of ripped-at-the-knees skinnies that just has the power to make you feel comfortable and badass at the same time. It's great.

So you can probably imagine how happy I was when I stumbled upon Collection, a tiny clothing store in Echo Park packed with racks on racks of vintage denim.

After trying on 20+ pairs of jeans, I felt like I'd gotten my daily cardio out of the way (not that I do cardio everyday...). I was sweating up a storm, but at the end I had found the perfect pair of jeans - light wash, ripped in the left knee, and tight in the butt. Gotta show off those assets, if you know what I'm sayin.

Tee - Reve en Vert | Jeans - Urban Outfitters | Jacket - thrifted | Boots - Jeffrey Campbell