Lolita

Twas a dark and stormy night...when I took these pictures that is, but a Lolita-inspired outfit calls for pictures (and perhaps some Lolita posing).

I'm a fan of many styles, but a lot of what I wear is very feminine or cutesy. I love bows, laces, floral, glitter, and while I also love leather and metallics, femininity usually prevails in my outfits. I'm also a reasonably petite girl with younger looking features, so my choice to embrace girliness with this outfit lead to a Lolita inspired look.

Of course a kitten was added to the equation. But hey, all's fair in fashion.

And for a touch of Japanese culture, add a pocky. Yum.

My mother claims I recieved some very interesting reactions, like an extremely snide look from a mother with her toddler, but for the life of me I can't understand why. Lolita is designed to be slightly suggestive, in that it's forbidden (as the wearer usually looks young) but I truly don't comprehend how this is worse than a crop top and Daisy Dukes. Let's be serious.

Seeing as I'm about to be a college girl on a very tight budget, I'm all for thrift store chic. Every piece in this outfit was under $20, I'm sure. Skirt and cami from Forever 21. Knee highs/thigh highs from Macy's. Blazer from Goodwill (I always find something insanely cute and cheap. I don't really give a damn about brands, usually.).

That's all from me today. I'm hoping to start posting outfits more in two to three weeks, once I get settled into university.

Oh yes. I now have a tumblr. http://thelostartofsecretkeeping.tumblr.com/

xoxo F

Jumpstart My Kaleidoscope Heart

HOW TO BE AN ARTIST.

Rule 1: Stay loose.

Rule 2: Learn to watch snails.


Stay loose. It doesn't have much meaning without context, but I tend to think of staying loose as setting yourself free from worry and stress, anything that inhibits creativity. This is something I struggle with and therefore an excellent opener to regaining a connection with the artist and child I am. I am often one of those people who worries herself into a tizzy with 'what if's and future scenarios instead of accepting and embracing the present. But I must learn to release myself from that tense shell.
The ways in which I stay loose are varied and a bit odd. Occasionally I mentally picture myself shedding a shell or snake-skin of sorts, often a dull, neutral color, to unveil a kaleidoscope of colors, an aura of creativity surrounding me. Yet I'm more likely to use some sort of meditation to relax. I am lucky in that I can control my mind if I so choose, from my dreams to clearing my head of everything until I'm standing inside my head, whose "walls" are painted in solid white or black. From here, I breathe. Simple as that. Or if I need to relax more than just my mind, I close my eyes and envision a pulsing tangled ball of color in my chest. I send this ball of energy and relaxation through my body, stopping at every muscle - my knees, my toes, my neck, my eyes, my cheekbones - until everything is warm and calm and light enough to float through the floor.
And that is how I stay loose. Through the power of imagination. Not a bad beginning on the road to becoming an artist.

Learning to watch snails is obviously about more than just staring at a snail on its daily journey. It's an exercise to teach patience and perserverance. It is also a way to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. For while I love the city life, the constant go, go, go atmosphere, it doesn't allow for time to stop and think. So by stepping away from the errands, or the television, or the computer (guilty!), and watching a little snail slowly glide, you are given a moment to breathe. The oxygen allows blood to flow to your brain and thoughts appear. And that is that.


For me, those "creative thoughts" insisted I photoshoot with my new camera. And what would this blog be sans pictures?

Until next time...

Artistry in Motion

As promised, I'm spending some time learning How To Be An Artist from SARK. A month in fact. A month that coincides with VEDA (Vlog Every Day in August) which I'm participating in on my YouTube channel. You see, I figured VEDA would be a pleasant way to ease myself into video-making, particularly since a large group of friends from a recent show (The Final Battle) are all doing it together. Yet when I point a camera at my face and turn it on I tend to babble pointlessly. Therefore I thought why not theme the videos around How To Be An Artist as I was already planning on blogging them? So I'm doing both. An artist's rule a day on the YouTubes and a post or two a week on this blog. Look forward to it.



If you're interested, my YouTube channel is fionaisabelle. The videos are quite amateur and ridiculous but fun.