Closet Collage

Please tell me you've heard of Closet College. Please?

Well if you haven't, shame on you. But alas, I'm here to tell you all about Jessie Cohen and her spectacular site. Jessie creates fab inspiration through her collages. She takes the latest runway looks, red carpet and celebrity styles, find finds her own background piece by piece, and morphs it all into pure amazingess. Find out more about her in the little interview I cured up with Jessie.


Your collages are very inspiring! How long have you been creating collages?
Thank you! I've been collaging since I was about 8 or 9 but I just started my blog in October. Its one year anniversary is coming up! I collaged everything, whether it was school notebooks, birthday cards, clipboards at camp, or my bedroom walls.

Have they always been fashion-based?
I've always loved fashion so I used a lot of images from fashion magazines. The collages were fashion-based but not on purpose. I only started the runway tie-in when I started my blog.

What is your schedule like throughout the day?
I'm a college student and I have a part time job so my days can get very hectic! I go to class, then to work, and then go home to collage and do homework. If it's closer to the weekend I'll go out for dinner with my friends or stop by an event which is always fun. But during the day I'm running around a lot.

What is your dream career?
I've always wanted to work at a magazine. Right now I'm interning as much as possible to get hands on experience.

Who or what do you look to for style inspiration?
Everything! Movies, music, TV shows, magazine editorials, internet videos, blogs, you name it. You never know when or where you'll discover something new.

How do you describe your personal style?
I would describe my personal style as classic with a twist. I'm drawn to neutrals like white, navy, and black, and half of my wardrobe is striped tops. To make it more interesting I like mixing in something fun or unexpected. I just got a pair of leopard slippers that I wear with everything! It's those little details that I love the most.

You have been chosen to attend NYFW courtesy of Tumblr (super exciting!). How else has your blog gotten you noticed?
I can't wait! Tumblr has been the hugest supporter of my blog and added me to the Spotlight section of the fashion directory when it launched earlier this summer. That was a big moment. And over the summer it was featured on Stylecaster and most recently Fashionista, which I couldn't be more thrilled about! I love the work I share on my blog but it's such a treat to find out that other people like it too. The support has been overwhelmingly positive, it's really exciting!


Now feast your eyes on some of my favorite pieces of her work.

Photos via Closet Collage

Paper Fashion

Have you ever seen the Paper Fashion blog? You should.

Miss Kathryn Elyse Rodgers is a wonderful artist. She recreates photos in her own way and adds - wait for it - GLITTER! I don't think it can get much better than that...

Check out her blog for more beautiful artwork!

Girls Who Dare to Bare

Girls Who Dare to Bare: The idea is that one should be comfortable showing his or her skin for how it truly is. before all of the cosmetics we plaster onto our skin. Do we really need it? Who says we must attain perfection? Perfection isn't real.

Alyse of Integrating Alyse has begun posting "Girls Who Dare to Bare," a weekly feature that shows three lovely ladies who have shown their true beauty, sans makeup. Alyse has wonderful words to say about it, so check out her post.

So, without further adieu, my contribution to GWDTB.

Before

I'm bitchy pmsing and should have more breakouts appearing soon, so I decided to showcase my bare skin before this happens. As you can see, I have a few blemishes and general unevenness (did I just make up a word?) on my skin. I also have a bit of rosiness on my chin and lower cheeks.

After

A bit more put together, though not much different! My blemishes are covered and my complexion looks a bit more even. I'm a natural-look kinda gal, so sorry there's no dramatic makeup shown here.

Products used (from start to finish):

 Benefit Boiing concealer in 01

Cover Girl fresh complexion pocket powder in 605 Ivory

No7 Cheek Color in 12 Coral Flush

Cover Girl eye enhancers (no idea of the name, but the color is a light brown)

Bare Escentuals Big Tease mascara in dark chocolate

Burts Bees beeswax lip balm

Proud to Present: Carly Watts

If you've never been to Carly Watts' blog, you oughta be ashamed of yourself! From landscapes to fashion inspired paintings, there are some fantastic works of art in Carly Watts' collection. She does the most beautiful works of art and I decided to purchase this lovely work (seen below) from her new Etsy shop! Check out her blog here!

And check out the painting she did of me... so flattered!

Proud to Present: Sophie Monet

I was ecstatic to discover Sophie Monet's jewelry line when I stumbled upon some of her stuff from the Planet Blue blog. I immediately fell in love! The earthy feel to the pieces are exquisite and they are some serious statement pieces. The way she describes the process of making jewelry that stays connected to the earth is simply fantastic.You can read the entire description on her website.

Her collection is available at Planet Blue, so check it out! Here are some of my favorite pieces from her line:

I emailed her after I found her line and she got back to me almost immediately and was such a sweetie! She was happy to answer some of the questions I had for her, so here are her answers! 


What inspired you to begin making your jewelry?
I began making jewelry two summers ago after I moved back to LA from New York. I wanted to have my own stand at different flea markets around Los Angeles so I bought up a storm of vintage clothes and started to slightly alter and hem the clothes, then as a component I would sell jewelry along side. The wood Jewelry took off after the summer ended and I started to spend more time in my dad’s wood shop and experiment with different tools. I realized this could really become a business, if I wanted it to be.

Who are your influences?
A lot of different people influence me, when people tell me their stories of how they got to be where they are. I know it may sound cheesy but it sort of gives me that little mental push I need to be like “ok if they can do it, so can I”. Artistically I get inspired by things I see daily; jewelry on other people or a pattern on a shirt. I also get inspired from ancient artifacts and jewelry, Egyptian shapes and hieroglyphics. Its all in nature and history.

What’s your current obsession?
My dog Rocky and key chains. Everyone needs a good key chain. I bought a glow in the dark resin cube that has a real beetle stuck inside it on the Venice boardwalk. It’s sort of gross but amazing.

When you were young, what did you want to be when you grow up?
I wanted to be in a band with my sister. We would write songs together on family vacations and wanted to be like Hanson.

What have you done today?
I went to the beach with my best friend Sophia and watched her catch the wave of her life.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
To stay positive, and try the best I can. To put everything into perspective and remember that most of the time it’s not the end of the world, unless we let it be.

Proud to Present: Wearing It Today

I, as well as everyone else who loves fashion, love to look at celebrities and stars dressed up and looking all pretty. But what's more intriguing to me is the behind-the-scenes! Who comes up with these fabulous outfits? What's the stylist like? They must have to love fashion as well, right?

After finding Laura's blog, Wearing It Today, I found that some stylists really are... stylish! Such a surprise, right? Laura is a London-based stylist. Not only does she work on both commercial and editorial projects, but she contributes to Red, one of the UK's biggest selling magazines, as a contributing fashion editor! She is living my life, I swear! She created her blog as a challenge - a way to become more fashion-forward herself and look fabulous in everyday life. I asked her some questions and was delighted to hear back from her this afternoon!

Here goes...

Have you always wanted to be a stylist?

I always knew I wanted to work in fashion, but it was only in my 20's after a work experience for a newspaper, that I found out that my job even existed. Then, becoming a stylist became my mission

What are your tips for starting a career in fashion?

Get your hands dirty, start from the bottom and always show willing.

Name something fashion-wise you wish you could go back and change. Something “oh-god-why-did-I-wear-that?” worthy.

Fake snakeskin, red trousers... Disaster!

What’s your current obsession?

My bridesmaids dresses.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

Pick your battles.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I need to work on my sleepwear.

Here are some of my favorite looks from her blog:

Now, go check out her fantastic blog because it's worth a look and a follow!

Proud to Present: A Perfect Lie

Good afternoon, lovies!

Remember this post way back when that I never bothered doing? Well, here is my very first feature of a darling girl who has captured my blog-loving heart with her cute posts. Through her posts, you can tell the girl's got an amazing sense of style. With over 100 followers that adore her, she continues to update her blog with her own "In the Spotlight" features (which is clearly a popular trend at the moment!) and her darling posts about "Reasons to Smile" which never cease to cheer me up and feed my eye candy craving. And did I mention she makes cute little bracelets? Talk about creative. First off, go follow her blog! And secondly, follow her on twitter because she updates quite a bit! Now, without further ado, I present to you Tabitha from A Perfect Lie!

1. Alright, let’s talk fashion. What’s one wardrobe staple you can’t go without?
Hmmmm, ok, so as un-glam as this sounds it would have to be underwear! As a girl with bosoms that are disproportionately large to the rest of my body a good bra is my best friend :) I think this goes for everybody, good-fitting underwear can trim inches off your figure not to mention make you feel great about yourself.

2. Describe your style.
Comfortable! Working with kids from 8:30-6 means I have to be comfortable and can't wear anything too revealing. Not that I want to wear revealing clothes, but skirts are generally a no no. Plus it's a really casual workplace, so even coming in wearing a topknot and aviator jacket the other day I got comments saying I looked "glam" so dressing up too much would look ridiculous! Having said that, I've been totally inspired by LLYMLRS and the gorgeous outfits she wears so have been trying to be more fashionable at the weekends by replacing my everyday jeans with skirts + tights/shorts + tights combos

3. Who is your favorite fashion icon?
There are so many! I love Nicole Richie's boho vibe and how unique Mary-Kate Olsen's look is. I have a major girl-crush on Megan Fox, although not so much for her clothes more her overall look/tattoos! I could never afford the clothes they wear though, and despite having a regular Celebrity Sunday post on my blog I'm not actually any good at spotting clothes in the shops that I'd be able to put together a celeb-inspired outfit with! So on a more achievable level, LLYMLRS is definitely one of my fashion icon for the moment.

4. What, in your eyes, is the biggest fashion faux pas?
Hmmmm this question has really stumped me! From experience with my interviews I know a lot of people hate UGG boots, but I definitely think they serve a purpose in the winter when my feet are cold! I have a bit of a thing with mixing silver with gold jewellery (as in a silver necklace with a gold bracelet....I have a Love Links silver bracelet with gold toned glass beads and this doesn't bother me!) but I guess my big hate is when women just don't make the most of themselves! Rubbish hair is just unacceptable!

5. Do you have one jewelry item you wear 24/7?
At the moment it's my new House of Harlow necklace. I did wear a white gold ring and a silver Tiffany ring that my boyfriend gave me non-stop, but I've started wearing a lot of gold lately and my silver/gold hatred won't let me mix!

6. What’s your signature perfume?
Right now it's Boss Orange. I like to mix it up though and have a huge collection....the other two that I use most would be Armani Code and Amor Amor by Cacharel. I'm saving up for a bottle of Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf at the moment though!

7. Which do you prefer, big or small purses?
Do you mean bags or actual purses? My purse is a medium sized on at the moment....I like a separate space for cash and coins and like to have a section for cards as well. On a night out it's got to be a small bag, probably a clutch, but during the day I definitely lean towards the bigger bags. I'm dying the get an Alexa-esque satchel at the moment. Mum calls them my "Panic Bags" cos I'm always having a panic when I can't find my keys in them!

8. Name something fashion-wise you wish you could go back and change. Something “oh-god-why-did-I-wear-that?” worthy.
It would have to be my whole wardrobe during my chav-days. I was a total chav....the big hoops, those hoodies that zip-up the front, pink trainers and god-awful hair stuck to my scalp. I'm not joking. I used mousse, gel AND hairspray on my barnet back in those days. Not to mention the double denim....and not in the fashionable 2010 sense!

9. What’s your #1 beauty must have?
MAC! I couldn't live without their lipsticks and having just discovered their Primer Pots my love for creative eye make up has been reignited. Make up never stayed put on my eyes before this, and now it stays put all day! Moisturiser is another thing though. I suffer from eczema so without decent moisturiser my skin would be an absolute mess.

10. Describe your ideal future.
Ohhhh I hate thinking of the future! I studied law at uni but have had a few setbacks and am yet to pursue it further. I'll be moving out next year though, so in the near future my ideal will be to move in to my first house with the boyf and live happily ever after! (ahhhhh.....)

11. What or what inspired you to start blogging?
Despite his constant moaning about how long I spend looking at blogs, it was actually the boy! No, I suppose he encouraged me rather. My first ever subscription was to the Yummy Mummy's Beauty Blog and from there I found the world of fashion blogs as well. The blogging community is amazing. We're always told that girls are bitchy but the girls I've got in contact with through blogging are absolute sweethearts. There's a lovely feeling of support in the community and blogging has definitely given me the hobby that my life was lacking!

12. What are some of your favorite blogs?
LLYMLRS! Without a doubt, her outfits and whole blog are just an inspiration. There are so many others though...Sofia's Journal, YMBB, Pearls and Poodles, Beauty Blog of a Giddy Princess. Lots of lesser known blogs as well....Monica Rambles and beckiangel44

13. Favorite fashion magazines/websites?
Look magazine for high street styles and Grazia for more higher end fashion. I love the Company High Street Edit as well, after reading that my head is always buzzing with ideas and my bank account quickly becomes empty! In terms of websites, I love Topshop, H&M, Zara and, of course, asos.

14. Go ahead and brag – why should people follow your blog?
I'm not very good at bragging! Ummmm because I'm an everyday girl just trying to make her way in the fashion world. Hopefully my posts are real, accessible and enjoyable to read...I really want to be able to engage the reader and love when my audience participates with comments etc. I view my blog as a two-way thing, and it's the feedback I receive that gives me inspiration for my next posts! So if you're looking for a blog with a variety of posts where your comments really make a difference then follow me on my journey to revamp my style and I promise to give you some beauty tips along the way!