whyzee

Turning Heads

2012-08-28T09:27:00.000-07:00

Hey Loves,

I'm back from my Home Home (Belarus) vacation, ready to get inspired all over again. Just finished reading Crazy! a post by Garance Dore, where she asks:

WHAT'S THE CRAZIEST THING IN YOUR CLOSET?

I've always considered myself a pretty adventurous dresser (is it my bad English or there's such a thing?) I wouldn't hesitate to try new trends, dive into my mom's treasures of the eras gone by and diligently rake through Goodwills and vintage eBay for that one piece , whose brand and season you'd never guess. Yet when I so passionately went through my closet today, shelf by shelf, hanger by hanger, my heart sank. Everything I once considered out of the box looked so normal I almost cried. Maybe it's my job at Saks, where I'm surrounded by pieces like these...

More Christian Louboutin...

... that has made my eye immune to craziness.

Anyways, the following two pieces jumped out at me. Really, not the is-she-out-of-her-mind crazy, but I-wish-I-could-pull-that-off crazy. Compliment-evoking crazy.

This vintage Ann Taylor Studio silk skirt is an eBay find. When I set my eye on it, I didn't feel like it was an outrageous, boundary-pushing piece. The skirt is covered in international stamps - I used to collect them as a child - I just felt an instant connection - I was smitten - it had to be mine. Every time I put it on, it's just a bright skirt from afar --- >

yet turns into a conversation piece as the distance gets shorter < ---

Another crazy piece I found is these neon Manolos. I got them being high from neon spreads in the magazines. I find them sublime, the spirals of delicate straps - super sensual, the heels (what was I thinking?) super high. I LOVE THEM! Now, the craziest thing about them is that I never wore them. They are so perfect, they are not supposed to be worn, right? They are supposed to sit right next to you when you indulge in a spoonful of creme brulee for the ultimate paradise.

To sum it up, I like a clever print, a strategically placed detail, a flattering yet boundary pushing silhouette. I feel I learned to incorporate crazy into my wardrobe in a way that looks organic, yet starts a conversation. I don't think you need a pair of embroidered hands grabbing your boobs to look fresh, quirky and out of the box.

What is the craziest piece of clothing that you posses?

New Design

2012-07-31T23:10:00.001-07:00

LUNA earrings

2012-07-26T07:16:00.001-07:00

It's been awhile since I made jewelry. But these beautiful hemimorphite briolettes were too perfect for spending their days in the darkness of my gem supply box. Simple design, clean modern lines. Though the color play withing the gems looks more like carribean seashore, they remind me of moonshine. LUNA stands for "moon" in Russian. Available now in whyzee shop.

LookBook: Summer Wardrobe Essentials

2012-07-06T15:33:00.001-07:00

There was a time when I wouldn't wear a skirt or a dress for anything in the world - I was a tomboy growing up. It took me years to realize that skirts and dresses are much more comfortable and convenient compared to shorts and pants: no stretched out knees, no panty lines - unless it's a skin tight cocoon, ample "ventilation" on hot summer days :-) Besides, you don't really have to think much in putting an outfit together if part of it if a dress.

Needless to say sundresses are my summer wardrobe staple!

I wanted to share a look, made up from my summer essentials.

More Madewell...

1. a dress
You really don't have to break the bank in getting a cute summer dress.
My to-go brands: H&M, Zara, Forever21, Madewell

2. a pair of earrings
I don't wear any other jewelry pieces during summer.
My to-go brands: All Good Jewelry (Boston) and, of course, Whyzee on Etsy

3. a pair of sandals
Preferably flat, made from thick and sturdy saddle leather in rust or cognac color (+ an extra pair of colored ones)
My to-go brand: J.Crew

4. a canvas tote
With stripes! No leather bags for summer for me!
My to-go brand: Gap

That's it!

What are your summer wardrobe staples?

DIY: Sock Bun

2012-07-02T07:40:00.001-07:00

Everyone at work is obsessed with putting their hair up now that the temps are at their highest. The most popular style is a sock bun. I'm a little bit over it by now as I see so many every day, but every now and then it's a really cute thing to pull of.

Here is an awesome DIY video by Rebecca Kelsey of how you make a sock bun:

Enjoy the week!

Week in Pictures

2012-07-01T17:11:00.003-07:00

I Know, I know! My closets are ripping at the seams,
but how do you resist a summer sale at H&M ,
Zara or anywhere else for that matter?

Contemplating about having a dog. It's been ongoing for the past
2 years since we moved into an animal friendly apartment.
Gradually warming up to bulldogs -
they are actually pretty cuddly!

Ginkgo leaves always make me smile.

Finally found THE FLIPFLOPS. They are simply divine.
Later, in detail.

Way to start the week end - with some warm, jasmine
perfumed, pure L.O.V.E.

This image pops in my head every now and then during the
week. I love week-end, that bench and my iPad.

Pure bliss!

More bliss...

1/10 mile long "hike" through the urban jungle to fulfill my exercise
needs :-)

Paralyze resistance with persistence.
~ Woody Hayes
Someone! Remind me on Wednesday :-)

My mom's favorite flower. I miss you, mom!

Really? I never got the garden gnomes in Germany, but this
is plain bizarre.

Wednesday ... persistence - resistance.

A little luck never hurts.

Sunset ...

... Sunrise ...

And here is goes again .........

Have a fruitful week y'all!

Photo: Trips Through Germany

2012-07-01T06:36:00.002-07:00

Schwetzingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Before I came to US, I was very lucky to spend two years in Germany. I had lots of time on my hands on the week ends so my friend and I dedicated them to local travel. Because the public transport system was very convenient, we were able to see quite a bit. I will be sharing the pictures I took from those mini vacations from time to time. Here is another photo from the same trip I posted earlier.

I posted this particular picture, because Garance Dore inspired me by sharing this one.
Happy Sunday everyone!

LookBook: Summer Wedding

2012-06-30T14:21:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure at least some of you have been invited to a wedding this summer.

OMG!

1. What do you wear?

2. How do I dress not to outshine the bride?

3. What if it's several weddings?
Here's my easy to follow guide to a wedding guest look that anyone can pull of, look young + hip + appropriate.

Colorblocking has been one of the hottest trends this year.

I feel like pulling off this trend can become a little overwhelming in a single piece,

let alone putting differently colored pieces together.

But if you learn how to work with colorblocking, it can become your biggest friend. The easiest way to put together an outfit using this technique, to my mind, is:

1. Choose a pretty simple dress (neutral color or subtle metallic sheen, maybe a little geometrical detail)
2. Let your accessories be your color blocks.
3. The colors do not have to match or even belong to the same color family, the more variety - the better.

THAT'S IT!

For a completely new outfit, just use the same dress with different accessories or a different dress with the same accessories. I don't think it could get any easier. I have put together a couple of looks together to give you a general idea, but do play around, have fun and make it your own!

More Anya Hindmarch...

Look 2.

More Theyskens' Theory...

Look 3.

More Anya Hindmarch...

Last wisdom... I would refrain from wearing white to a wedding unless it is the official color of the event (as in getting more and more popular Black & White weddings) or black - it's not a celebratory color in my book.

Did you attempt coloblocking already?
How do you make it work?

Streetstyle

2012-06-26T14:56:00.001-07:00

I really don't know how I managed to wait for so long to get my very first Converse sneakers. The color of thunderstorm, the comfort of walking on a cloud. I really am behind the trends a lot. You know how fashion repeats itself in cycles of 10-20 years? I always wake up sometime in the middle to catch up. By the time I'm sick of my own trend, THE TREND comes back. Very convenient, isn't it? A way to stand out. I love it! Do you?

ETSY FINDS Newsletter Feature

2012-06-26T14:26:00.005-07:00

I'm so excited that my ~ m e r m a i d ~ necklace made it into Etsy Finds email newsletter today! Thank you Etsy & Nicole :-)

m e r m a i d :: necklace

LookBook: Keep or Toss?

2012-06-07T17:00:00.002-07:00

Three hours into belated spring cleaning of my closet I found this rain coat. It is the only piece I was very hesitant about whether to keep or toss and it took some styling to label it as "rediscovered". It was purchased as vintage on Etsy, the labels are missing, but the look is very Ali Ro. I'm digging the shorter front hem and hidden hood! What d'ya think?

Thinking Out Loud: the Chemistry of Inspiration

2012-06-03T21:25:00.000-07:00

Since my career path developed an unexpected turn (when I decided to professionally dive into the world of fashion), ironically enough I've been lacking any kind of jewelry-making inspiration.

this rhombus pendant is the first piece of my new geometric collection (still on paper)

Inspiration is a volatile thing. It never crosses my mind when I have time for it. It comes in the most unexpected places, at the most inconvenient time.

I have a book of jewelry design sketches that I always keep next to my bed, because my bed is #1 place where ideas come to me, mostly when I'm falling asleep. Being creative, I find it hard to stay organised. As new design ideas come to me, I feel like they are so new and unusual, I will be able to retrieve them whenever. But then, when whenever finally knocks at the door of my prefrontal cortex, I'm not able to recall a thing. That's why I made it a habit to jot down everything and it's been working for me ever since.

l o v e . s t o r y :: earrings

Tested and Loved: Summer Scent

2012-05-28T14:29:00.004-07:00

It's almost summer - a season that brings clutter into my beauty cabinet and headache in front of the beauty counters. It seems like the amount of product ads in the magazines grows ten-fold tricking my mind into thinking I have to have it all or else ... uneven tone, freckles, sunburned nose, sun bleached eyelashes, frizzy hair, etc, etc ... NO THANKS! ... and my wallet looses pounds faster than my ~~toned~~ body on a juicing cleanse.

Thus, I decided to start a new rubric Tested and Loved where I would love to share with you the few products that I had a chance to test and fall in love with.

Of course, all new beginnings start with a new hair color, new lipstick or new fragrance (for me). It feels like I've been trying to choose my signature scent forever, because my likes evolve depending on the time of the year/ day/ just all the time. What has remained constant is my love for fresh and citrusy fragrances for summer. I tend to avoid floral perfumes, because most of the time their scent is so one-dimensional and what's even worse - they bear distorted resemblance of the florals behind them.

Last week I changed my mind!

One of my all-time favorite flowers is lily-of-the-valley.

Busted! I ~~borrowed~~ this little bouquet from my neighbor's front lawn ;-)

I love its uniquely fresh and invigorating scent. It's a great example of a floral that is not too sweet, which makes you want to smell it over and over again.

Last week I came across Diorissimo by Christian Dior, which has notes of jasmine, lily of the valley and ylang-ylang, hence, by no means is a plain floral. To me, it mostly smells like lily of the valley, which is highly addictive!

Before I can afford a bottle of my own, I will spray a whiff on my pulse points as I pass by the fragrance counter. What fragrances do you prefer to use in the summer time and why?

Beautiful

2012-05-14T19:56:00.001-07:00

As I was growing up, my mom used to remind over and over that "every person is beautiful". She further elaborated that the appearance doesn't matter much, because as you grow to know a person, his inner beauty finds its way onto the surface. I think it was one of the greatest lessons she taught me that I will make sure to pass onto my children as well.

The pop culture relentlessly emphasizes the importance of looking a certain way.
Its expectations undergo continuous change, but popular belief in its supremacy seems to be unshakable. It is especially sad when young people in their vulnerable years are being shaped by it.

I'm truly thankful for having stumbled upon Scott Schuman's genius some time ago. I follow his street style blog The Sartorialist religiously. Over time, images like these have changed the way I look at beauty and style.

by Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist

They made me become more accepting of shapes, print/color/texture combos, hair styles I've never before considered acceptable personally for myself. Today Scott changed the way I look at external beauty forever! I think this picture has brought my mom's words home 100%.

by Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist

At first, I admired the girl's carefree style and only at the second glance did I notice the prosthetic leg. And you know what?...I smiled. I smiled, because I've never seen such beauty before and I haven't even conversed with the girl. No need - the picture's worth a thousand words. More than anything, this girl inspires me to be nothing, but myself.

You are beautiful in every single way, words can't bring you down!

LOL

2012-05-13T12:22:00.002-07:00

Source: attackofthecute.com via Anoush on Pinterest

Dandelion Parachutes

2012-05-01T07:44:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love when it rains ... when I can stay at home under my massive comforter.
Since I have to step into the water puddles in five minutes, I'm dreaming of a sunny summer filled with miniature dandelion parachutes.

Why Do I Love Spring?

2012-04-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Because even the stupid building right in front of our windows cannot stop the light and the greenery overflowing from all around.

And when I wake up and open the curtains...

...all I see is this...

And what is it that you love about spring?

LookBook: Highlight and Downplay

2012-04-29T20:44:00.001-07:00

When a woman wants to looks her best, one of the most challenging parts of creating her look is highlighting her favorite/most attractive features and camouflaging the ones that make her feel self-conscious.

As Sharon Stone once said: "You cannot look sexy if you are uncomfortable."

I wanted to show you a look transformation from A to B that undergone careful editing. Accessorizing is the key, but all details must speak the same language without competing with each other.

occasion
★ bridal shower guest
to hightlight
★ toned legs and arms (showcase without revealing too much)
to camouflage
★ stomach area (ruching effect)

Click on images to locate each item online.

BEFORE:

look elements
★ AKRIS PUNTO top + skirt
★ IPPOLITA earrings
★ JIMMY CHOO pumps
★ ERIC JAVITS clutch

Pumps
Clutches

AFTER:

look elements
★ AKRIS PUNTO top + skirt
★ IPPOLITA earrings
★ JIMMY CHOO pumps
★ REED KRAKOFF envelope clutch
★ REED KRAKOFF bracelet

Pumps
Mid-length Skirts

LookBook: Colorblocker - Rocker - Chick

2012-04-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

occasion
★ event planner day to night look

look elements
★ HELMUT LANG jacket
★ THEYSKEN'S THEORY sleeveless button down blouse
★ J BRAND denim
★ B by BRIAN ANTWOOD sandals

Click on images to locate each item online.

Sleeveless Tops
Sandals

LookBook: Marine Hues

2012-04-25T19:24:00.001-07:00

occasion
★ beach side wedding, mother of the groom

look elements
★ IPPOLITA earrings
★ ELIE TAHARI dress
★ PRADA wedges

All images are clickable!

Day Dresses
Wedges

LookBook: Intro

2012-04-24T17:25:00.003-07:00

As some of you know, I'm a stylist and personal shopper by work days and an aspiring jeweler by days off. Helping people look their best at different moments in their life and for different occasions is challenging yet rewarding in the long run. It is a humbling experience time and time again when people from various walks of life trust my taste and expertise.

Every aspect of my styling job inspires my jewelry designs directly or indirectly. By introducing a new rubric LOOKBOOK I wanted to share with you the most successful looks my clients and I put together so that you could get inspired in turn to be more creative at whatever you do.

Look details:

occasion
★ a young artist gallery exhibition

look elements
★ GILES & BROTHER earrings
★ HELNUT LANG dress
★ MANOLO BLAHNIK stilettos

All images are clickable!

Evening Dresses
Pumps

Someday, Somehow...

2012-04-16T21:11:00.002-07:00

Ever since my mom read a famous (in USSR) book "Sakura Branch", she wanted to visit Japan one day. I really hope I will make that wish come true for her.

I created this drawing with that idea in mind. While I'm working to make it happen, I wanted to bring a little piece of Japan to Belarus, where my family still lives. A Japanese girl on a bus stop I "grew up" on. Someday, somehow...

What dreams do you secretly want for you loved ones to come true?

Details

2012-04-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

Four months into styling my clients I've learned ....

Spring

2012-04-04T14:05:00.000-07:00

Spring has finally stepped foot in Boston. Time to revisit the wardrobe and find new old favorites as well as shop for add-ons. My absolute favorite thing to do when it comes to creating new looks is to mix modern and vintage, prints, textures, feminine and masculine. This way I know for sure noone else will look like me....until tomorrow :-)

I didn't say that aloud, did I?

In the meantime, drawing No. 3

The Slings and Arrows of a Day Off

2012-04-02T09:18:00.007-07:00

No day is better than the one when you do not feel obligated to do anything...

I love my days off, because

I choose my own pace of ~~being super productive~~ jumping from bed to sofa and between magazines, TV channels, fridge stuffed with ~~healthy ingredients~~ ready snacks that take ~~hours~~ one minute to put together.

The best thing is that the guilt of not having done one thing from the Super Productive List only kicks in after the dinner has happily found its way into the stomach. Which is not bad until I realize that although my creative SELF feels all warm and fuzzy, I have to wear the same dress to work as the day before...grrrr

My "fuzzy" list for today:

- ship the sold jewelry

- make at least one new piece (earrings I conceived about three months ago)

- watch Real Housewives of Whatever State (I'm a junkie for Drama by Bravo)

- go out to soak some sun before sunset without the stress of trying to be on time for work

My "not-so-fuzzy" list:

Really, no more different than the one you set up to follow on your days off.

How often do you manage not to get derailed by the "fuzzy" list?