Hello World!!!

Haha... that's the first thing you are tought to produce in a java programming class. But programming is not my direction of study anymore. In fact, if I ever had any doubt, fashion is definitly my calling, what with getting straight A's this past semester. STRAIGHT A'S!!! It would seem that giving up my blog for nearly a month has paid off. Granted, finals was during the first week of my hiatus, but that was the beginning of the end of many things. The end of living in downtown CHicago (I now live in the burbs *tear*), the end of summer vication (I'm in summer school), and the end of free time (I have class, work and an internship downtown still - that's roughly a one hour comute each way). Now I understand how my parents could always tell me I didn't understand what tired and no time ment, and that I would have a rude awakening once I joined the real world. Today was my first day off in almost two weeks, and I gotta say... I'M EXHAUSTED! I'd like to believe it is well worth it, but until I actually make more money (crappy hours at work, a non-paid internship and paying for transportation) I won't declare it a fact.


And that was written on 6/6/11. It's been a while since then. I'm still making no money, and I'm still dog tired. Thankfully though I do occasionally make money at my internship, I'm getting more hours at work (they're still long, crappy and underpaid mind you), and my Wednesday morning classes are now complete. In two weeks I need to move out of my current house (my dad's really) and into my new one (aka my dad's new house). I still need to repack my room and get all my stuff together. This is quite alright with me though. Why? I GET A WALK-IN CLOSET!!! That's right, a big fancy closet with enough room to keep all my belongings (including the ones packed up in the basement) in my room and out of everyone's hair. People roll their eyes when I gush about it, but come on, what girl going into the fashion business doesn't want a closet that's the equivalent of half the size of her room?

Anyways, I'm sure you all want to know more about this internship, and if you didn't your gunna have to listen anyways cause I don't have a clue as to what you want me to talk about otherwise. So I intern at a furrier. Huh? It's a place where fur coats (and hats, and vest, etc.) are sold. In Fabbri Furs' case, it also happens to be where they're made. SO I'm not only learning the basic construction (in visuals and theory) of a fur coat, I'm also learning how to sell them and work with the clientele that wishes to buy them. I'm sorry if you are PETA fan, but I find my job fascinating and don't want to hear about animal cruelty. They've also go me helping to sketch and design the furs!

So yeah, let's hope I get some more time to work on my blog this summer, but I can't and won't promise anything. If anything I'll make sure to give you all an update come July. Ciao!!!

By the way, here's some fur designs that have inspired me lately:

Kind of fun right?

It's the week before finals, and all through the house...

every creature is stirring, and it looks like a bomb went off. But that's what happens when you are doing things like final projects and trying to move out all at once.Great fun. But i didn't come here to talk about my life; I came to talk about the couple of the moment. Yes my analysis of Kate & Will's wedding is a little late in comparison to others, but I wanted to do some digging.
Now the reason for the digging is that I loved the dress, but my teacher from my product evaluation class hated it. He felt it was too plain, had no fashion forward originality, and don't even get him started on the "shroud like veil". His words not mine. Now granted, for the CATHEDRAL setting, the train was a bit of a let down. While I absolutely abhor Princess Diana's wedding dress (she was 18 and it was the 80's, so we'll let it slide), she at least understood that for the setting, you need a bit of theatrics.
As for the dress being overly conservative (everyone thought she'd go strapless), I gotta say, it was appropriate. If someone can tell me of a royal bride that wore a strapless gown within the past 50 years I'd be impressed. Unless you are doing a summer wedding, most people really shouldn't do strapless. Also, if you pay attention, more and more brides are going retro, and/or simplistic, and that often includes sleeves. Icing to the cake? There are many churches out there that ask the bride to be covered up for modesty reasons. Not all, but many.
Another reason Kate's choice of long sleeves was a good call: it's been kind of cold. Now granted the weather in England is probably a bit different than Chicago, but I'm sure she was preparing for whatever was thrown her way. Besides, that deep sweetheart neckline looked pretty sexy on her. Kinda nice to have curve, huh?!

Again, could probably use a bit more of a theatrical flare, but considering both the dress and the venue were all about simplicity (Trees in the cathedral? Yes please!), it was appropriate. She looked stunning, and like a fairy tale princess.

Remember how I said brides are going simplistic? Here is Princess Victoria of Sweden who was married on June 19th last year. Simple, modest, short sleeved. That's the way it works. Heck, one could say Kate's was more playful due to having a lace overlay.

And the main inspiration for the dress (as far as the world can see)? Grace Kelly. But hey, who isn't inspired by this dress. It's elegant, timeless, and both simplistic and done up all at once. Grace looks more conservative than Kate did though, so that says something about Kate being a modern woman, right?

I'm inclined to believe that Princess Margret's dress might have also been an inspiration for Kate's dress. Tight sleeves, a deep V-neck overlay and a shorter train. It's stunning, regal, and not over the top. And that is the problem with America today. When we think "Princess" we think "over the top and covered in shiny things" or "sexy conservative" (low necklines with ball gown silhouettes), when in reality a princess is a woman who can do over the top with a classy sense of RESTRAINT. Maybe it's not as fun of gasp inducing as some of the wedding dresses out there today, but that's what happens when you represent something. If I was to walk into a board meeting somewhere in a mini-skirt and a leather jacket, it would be considered so inappropriate that I would probably be fired on the spot. So to is the way of royalty. If Kate had shown up in a sleeveless ensemble or something tight fitting, I predict there would be such a ruckus made about the inappropriateness of the dress, she'd never live it down.

All in all though, the big thing is that during the entire event William and Kate looked happy. Happy about the fact that they were married and that they'd get to spend the rest of their lives together. As someone wrote it was "the day we began to believe in fairy tales again".

Although I must say, the best dressed the entire day was actually Prince Harry:

Now that's a man in uniform!

April Showers may bring May flowers...

But I'm thinkin' rain rain go away. Now don't get me wrong, I love to dance and sing in the rain as much as the next person, but come on Chicago! If we're lucky we get a random day of warmth and sunshine in which we get to wear or spring dresses and sports wear. Not this year! It seems it will be summer before we see any jacket-less weather. I am not amused. The nice thing is that the big thing to do is wear rain boots - or Wellies if you prefer. I have an awesome pair myself (my little sis bought them for me a few Christmas' ago) that I've running around in. I remember when I got them my sisters were all over Ugg boots, and to say the least I'm not a big fan. I did gush about rain boots though. So my little sis got me a nice pair from J. Crew for Christmas. Too bad Michigan was more snow than rain...and I didn't know how to wear them. You see, mine are bright blue with hot  pink polka dots and trim. I was all for the traditional yellow, green or black, maybe with a pattern. But that's quite all right, for skinny jeans are in, crazy rain boots are a go, and I feel as though I've warn my boots at least twice a week for the past two months.

The other fun part about rain (sadly I don't get to enjoy this often because it's too much effort to juggle) is umbrellas! Not going to lie, I would love to have a wedding (if I ever get married - gotta find a guy first) that requires umbrellas. Think about it. All the bridal party wearing matching Wellies and holding plaid umbrellas for pictures would be AWESOME! Or maybe I'm just crazy. Either way some of my favorite umbrellas over the years have been the Ralph Lauren ones (my mom had those), ones that have something on the inside versus the out side, and this clear one covered in gold fish that can be found over at ModCloth.

So with these slightly happier thoughts about rain wear to combat the bad weather I offer you a small collage to leave you all with a smile, even if it's small and fleeting.

P.S. Yes I have weddings on the brain...my sis is getting married! What else would you expect?!

Storms, Sears and Senioritas...

And that was my Tuesday. For anyone in the mid-west area, you know it's been a little cold and a little damp. And by a little cold I mean that on most days I'm wearing a fleece and my winter coat; and by damp I mean snow on Monday and a thunderstorm last night. It's mid April!!! Almost Easter!!! I hope the little girls in pastel dresses have some awesome cardigans to keep them warm on Sunday... With the senioritas- I think most people understand that one. It's a month away from spring finals and next fall is my last semester. I wanna do jack squat. But I'm pushing myself, I swear! It's just hard to get out of bed on some of the days. Mmmmmm...warmth...sleeeeep...! Figure in a cold basement apartment and crappy weather outside and I'm pretty sure the situation is understandable. Yes I'm lazy, I admit it.
Now what's with the Sears? You see I needed to do a product evaluation of a shirt, t-shirt and blouse for each private label brand of a department store. Randomly I was given Sears, so off I went. I don't know about the rest of you but when I think Sears, I think power tools and appliances. That's good since it's one of their specialties (Craftsmen is one of their private label brands), but that's all I think of. I understand that it's a department  store, and therefore has practically everything, but when I think of clothes from Sears I automatically think "not that great". Woo boy! Was I ever wrong! Their stuff is just as good as everyone else's, only cheaper!! I might just have to start shopping there for all my nicer wear, especially Covington and Land's End. Land's End isn't as cheap, but it's good quality (my mom bought from them for years).
Yeah free publicity! Sears should pay me.

As for Easter... I was an ok Catholic. I gave up vending machines for Lent, and only once (I needed water for the train - I was beyond dried out) did I go against it. I didn't go to church. I deserve a good smiting. In my defense I was usually busy with work or homework, but still. Ah well, I shall try again next year, and the year after that... cause that's what you do in religion: try till you get it right. As for the fun parts of the holiday, I can honestly say I don't know what I'm wearing. Probably my navy sailor pants with a nice button down. If it's warm (doubtful) I might wear a dress. We shall see. However, if I had the body for it I think I might wear a hanbok. Say WHAT?!?! It's the traditional form of Korean dress (hanbok literally means Korean dress), and I've been doing some research on them for a  few of my classes and I might have fallen in love with women's hanboks, and with fusion designers like Lee Young Hee it's kind of hard not to.

Stunning, right?!?!

Funny thing though, the first time I ever saw a hanbok was actually at my cousin's wedding. The mother and grandmother of the bride wore them. I wasn't sure what to think of them then (I was in middle school), but now I wish I had been mindful enough to appreciate them.
But I think a dress like that would be stunning for Easter, especially the last one pictured. For the Christians out there, have a wonderful Easter, for all the others (I know the Jewish have recently celebrated the passover), I hope your spring holidays are happy and celebrated with loving family... even if it's just your basic weekend.

P.S. I got bangs...!