leather + rouge

The Sounds of 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 22:17:00 +0000

Hey guys.

This year, I actually started diversifying my music taste again. Last year, all I listened to was Daft Punk, so this year, I was ready for some new tunes. I made sure to put all the songs I was into this year into a playlist on Spotify.

I also listened to Soundcloud a lot over the summer.

Aaand that's basically it. I could write a long-winded reflection on my entire year, but it would be overly angsty and just pointless. And I'm sure we all would rather have just music than that.

One more thing. I'm not sure if I'll continue with this blog in 2016. I came back this past year thinking I could start it seriously, but as I talked about in my last post, my passion quickly burns out each time I come back. Whatever happens, have a great New Year's, and goodbye for now.

The Struggles of Content Creation

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 04:50:00 +0000

How do you blog? How do you go on hiatus? I honestly don't know. But I've been doing both regardless.

Remember this? The post I wrote after coming back from my last hiatus? I took that hiatus because of college apps and the ensuing tsunami of self-doubt and anxiety. I just read it, and I'm back in existential crisis mode. During winter break. With six more schools to apply to. By January 1. Yaaay.

Sometimes when I feel this way, I come back to this blog and read past posts to reminisce and reflect and just see what I was thinking in the past. And I realized just how therapeutic honesty is. I get so easily bored by my posts about fashion or beauty or food. Instead, I always end up reading my life update posts.

I've found that this is because I need to reconnect with my feelings. This led me to realize just how expressive of a person I naturally am- and that I'm always fighting it. My need for expressiveness led me to create this blog, and my urge to suppress it led me to go on hiatus twice (or thrice?), only to fail so I could write yet another annoyingly deep reflection post. The cycle goes: blog, get bored/uncomfortable for some unknown reason and go on hiatus, realize how much I miss expressing myself on my terms, repeat.

I've known that 'unknown' reason for a while now, but I never allowed myself to fully acknowledge it. The reason is my habit of posting what I think others expect instead of what I really care about. When I sense that I'm doing this, I get discouraged by my own BS and go on hiatus. Then I miss blogging, aaand you know how it goes from there.

The thing is, if you try running off pure passion, you might not be able to maintain a weekly posting schedule (God knows how I did it for the first six months of this blog). And I have to remind myself that that's okay. For me, blogging is a passion, not a job. I don't have to keep up a regular schedule. I just have to be passionate about what I post. If I start posting generic content out of habit, I have to snap back into it. But if I want to maintain a schedule, I have to be okay with not bursting at the seams with enthusiasm over every post.

It's such a simple concept, but it's been so hard for me to fully understand and come to terms with. I think YouTube really helped me do so not only because I connected with the creators I watched, but because I'm now seriously considering starting a channel. Like, seriously. Remember "Let's Talk Taboo"? I know I mentioned it in my last reflection post, but then, I was more seriously considering Tumblr as a main platform.

YouTube was the dream. I was too scared to seriously consider it then. Self-doubt came too easily. And while it still does, after endless consideration, I've decided that it would make way more sense and be waaay more enjoyable to make videos than write blog posts about politics.

I'll update you on the details when I start putting my plans into action. For now, I'm gonna have to keep reminding myself that it's about my thoughts, my passions, and my content, not that of the rest of the YouTube community. It'll be hard with so many successful vloggers to compare myself to, but I'll keep at it.

For now, feel free to click HERE and subscribe to my new channel! My subscriber count goal for now is 100, since that's when I can change my channel's URL from youtube.com/asdfghjkl;'!@$#% to youtube.com/letstalktaboo.

Sooo yeah. New content on leather + rouge coming up soon. In the meantime, please accept my apologies for my emo-ness.

Follow me!

Instagram // Twitter // Pinterest

October Favorites 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 02:42:00 +0000

Another month has gone by, and that means it's time for a new round of favorites.

OPI 'Romeo & Joliet' + Essie 'Damsel in a Dress'

Let's start off with a couple of nail colors. This month I got a mani-pedi for the first time in a long time, and I'm really happy with the colors I chose. For my fingers I got Essie Damsel in a Dress and for my toes I got OPI Romeo and Joliet. The former is a beautiful, deep, shimmery purple with fuschia undertones and the latter is a deep shimmery burnt sienna. They're both great fall colors. I'm looking forward to rocking them for the rest of the season!

Left // Right

MK Ultra by Muse

Source

It's pretty obvious from my last post that I've been getting into Muse again for the first time since June 2013. This has been propelled not only by my new concert tickets (!!), but also by Dan and Phil, a pair of YouTubers/avid Muse fans I started watching this past summer. In fact, I first heard of MK Ultra from Dan when he mentioned it in a gaming video (lol). When I first listened to it, the song didn't seem that great, but after giving it another go I fell head over heels for it. I swear I played it on repeat for something like 10 hours when I realized how amazing it is. It's revolutionary, it's passionate, it's powerful. I felt really anxious and downright negative when I listened to it; as I've mentioned before, I'm a high school senior, so I need something to calm my essay-agitated nerves. I have no idea how this song could reflect my inner turmoil in such a beautiful way. Huge shout out to Dan for introducing me to this amazing song and to Muse for writing it and bringing it to life!

American History X (1998)

Source

American History X was the best movie I'd seen in a long time. I'd heard of it vaguely before and knew it was a good movie but never got the opportunity to watch it until recently. I made a mental note to do so after seeing Jenn Im recommended it in a favorites video. And now here it is, in my favorites!

The movie is about serious racial tensions between white and black people in Venice Beach in the 90s. It focuses on an adored member of a neo-Nazi group and his younger brother. A serious crime is committed by the older brother, and its implications are followed throughout the film. Although today most people are not as racist as many of the characters in American History X are, it nonetheless sheds new light on the issue of racism. Of course, given that it's a movie about neo-Nazis, blatant racism is the main type of racial tension depicted. However, implicit racism is also addressed. I think that if you really pay attention to the concepts brought up by the movie, you can learn something really important from it, no matter who you are or where you come from.

What were your favorites last month? I'd love to know. Leave a comment down below!

Follow me!

Instagram // Twitter // Pinterest

Now Playing: Muse + X Ambassadors

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 04:41:00 +0000

Hey, guess what? I'm going to a concert!

Source

My third, to be exact. I'm seeing Muse and X Ambassadors in NYC at the end of January. I'm a senior in high school, so it'll be such a relief after handing in all my college apps!

Here's a playlist of my favorite Muse and X Ambassadors tracks, featuring songs from Muse's latest album, Drones, and X Ambassadors' latest hit, Renegades.

Which track is your favorite? Let me know in a comment down below!

Follow me!

Instagram // Twitter // Pinterest

September Favorites 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 00:49:00 +0000

As you probably noticed, I basically took the summer off and didn't post. Junior year was pretty tough; I needed a little mental break after it ended. (Deets here.) Obviously that meant that I didn't get a chance to reminisce upon any favorites over the past few months. However, that changes now!

Fashion

Forever 21 Paint Splatter Tee, $14.90,
forever21.com

This tee was an impulse buy, but it was so worth it. It goes with my black, gray, and regular old blue jeans and looks perfectly casual. I love the oversized fit as well- I think I might buy a few more oversized tees in the future.

BP Rope Trim Felt Floppy Hat, $28,
nordstrom.com

Ever since I saw Jenn Im rocking her wide-brimmed hats, I knew I had to hop on the bandwagon. This hat not only chic-ifies any look, but also banishes bad hair days. What more could you want from an accessory?

Classic Round Sunglasses, $5.90,
forever21.com

Recently I've become a fan of the clear frame and mirrored lens trends for sunglasses, and this pair has both on lock. They've been great to wear with my current favorite color scheme: grayscale.

Music

Soundcloud This music-streaming and hosting website had been on my blog a lot lately, from my last post to various Now Playing features. Recently I've been digging picking a random track out of the hundreds that I've liked and letting the music play, track after track. I don't listen to closely to all the tracks I like, so it's a good way to rediscover and filter stuff I've been browsing.

⇢ Check out my Soundcloud account here! ⇠

Youtube

Recently I've really been getting into YouTube. Here are some notable names, people, and projects I got into last month!

Dan and Phil I first started getting into these guys' videos in late July, early August, but last month I feel like I became a regular with them. I could rant about them forever, but let's keep things short.

Dan and Phil, aka Dan Howell and Phil Lester, are two YouTubers and friends that are successful independently and together. They upload comedy videos to their main channels danisnotonfire and AmazingPhil and joint gaming videos to their their gaming channel DanAndPhilGAMES. They're super relatable, have infectious personalities, and are always putting something out on the Internet, so becoming a fan was almost inevitable for me.

Currently, they have two major projects going on: their book, The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire, was just released, and right now they are on tour in the UK. They also do periodic liveshows on Younow (Dan's shows // Phil's shows).

The cover of Dan and Phil's new book
Source

Oscar's Hotel Oscar's Hotel for Fantastical Creatures, or Oscar's Hotel, is a new six-episode web series created by YouTuber PJ Liguori, better known by his channel name kickthepj. It's about a boy named Oliver who's left to take care of his uncle Oscar's hotel. The hotel houses various creatures that throw challenge after challenge at Oscar. It's a super quirky and creative show that will leave you wanting more after each episode! Speaking of episodes, they've been released every Tuesday since September 16. The last part will be out next week, on October 20. You can get Oscar's Hotel for just $10 on Vimeo!

Source

⇢ Buy Oscar's Hotel! ⇠

So those were my jams last month. Let me know what yours were in a comment down below!

Follow me!

Instagram // Twitter // Pinterest

How To Find New Music

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 03:29:00 +0000

Recently, I've been struggling with finding new, dependable, fangirl-worthy music. I'm very passionate about sharing things that have really helped me out or turned out well, so I guess I'm starting off a new "How To" post series with a post about how to avoid the predicament I'm currently in. Get your headphones on and let's get started!

Source

1) Music streaming services

Let's start with the obvious: music streaming services. There's internet radio, personal playlists, you name it, it's out there. Let's talk about some of the most successful services currently on the market and how they can be used most effectively.

Pandora This music streaming service is the grandfather of internet radio, eventually leading giants like Spotify and Apple to try their hand at it as well. Started and launched in 2000, Pandora is powered by the Music Genome Project. I found a lot of my favorite artists through it (ex: Arctic Monkeys, the Strokes, Franz Ferdinand) when I first started trying to diversify my music taste back in middle school. I'd recommend using Pandora to get a feel for your music taste and find a few good artists you'll stick with in the long run.

Spotify Though its record with paying artists may be a bit spotty (I'm sorry), Spotify is definitely my favorite music streaming service. I love that you can make your own playlists of nearly any song you can think of for FREE. This is really important to me because I don't necessarily commit to music just because I listen to it; I only want to pay for songs that I think I'll want to listen to forever. It's amazing how much freedom you get even without paying monthly for Spotify Premium, the service's paid option. I have it because I use Spotify as my main music library, but the free version is awesome too. In addition to the features I mentioned above, you can also follow others and curated playlists. There's also a 'Discover' section where you can find new music based on what you already listen to, multiple apps you can connect to your Spotify account to enhance your listening experience, Spotify Radio, and most recently Spotify Running for when you need some new workout tunes.

Songza This service is super unique and interesting. It's basically like Pandora, but instead of stations there are curated playlists, and instead of being categorized by mood rather than by artist or genre. Songza is great for people that know what they're feeling but are too lazy to come up with their own playlist to fit it.

Get some music streamin'!

→ Pandora ←

App Store // Google Play

→ Spotify ←

App Store // Google Play

→ Songza ←

App Store // Google Play

2) IRL

In real life. I'm talking ads, YouTube videos, the grocery store, whatever. Somewhere or something you're experiencing as you're going about your business without expecting to find new music. Except you can. And you will.

Ads. Companies pay good money to marketers to make attention-grabbing ads. So believe it or not, but your next favorite tune might be straight out of an ad.

Music:
→ 1//Joy Zipper ←

Music:
→ Blue Eyes//Ladyhawke ←

YouTubers. To make good videos, you need a good soundtrack. This is especially pertinent to YouTubers. In general, keep your ears open when watching a video and you just might hit gold. Protip: the name of the song is probably in the description box. I realized the potential of YouTube videos to help me discover new tunes after I started getting into Jenn Im's videos. I absolutely love her music taste!

Movies/TV. Movie soundtracks are expertly curated, and the same goes for TV shows. Either that, or their completely original. Two of my favorite movie soundtracks are those of Inception and Interstellar, both by Hans Zimmer.

The Grocery Store. ..or anywhere else public. Keep your ears peeled and follow this quick tip to score a few faves:

If the song has lyrics, mentally note a line or two to Google later. If this isn't helpful (ex: songs with no lyrics), then try using Shazam. If you're slow or forgetful and don't think you'll get the app up in time, don't worry. There's a way to keep it on and recording at all times so that when you open it up at the end of day, there'll be a list of songs ready to go.

→ Shazam ←

App Store // Google Play

3) Free music

Who doesn't love free stuff?! Ok, ok, I know what you're thinking. "Free music? that's probably illegal." If you use the places I'm about to talk about, it's not.

Soundcloud I first discovered the potential of Soundcloud from Jenn Im, my favorite fashion vlogger. If you watch any of her videos, the music will probably leave a lasting impression on you. If you need another reason to give Soundcloud a try, know that it's full of new, often undiscovered artists, so you'll be supporting rising stars! Check out my account to get started.

A couple more reputuable royalty-free music websites I know of are freemusicarchive.com and premiumbeat.com.

4) Venues

I personally don't have the most experience with finding new music at venues- I've only been to two concerts- but that's irrelevant. If you have access to them, venues are a great way to find new tunes. After all, who doesn't like live music?

Local bands High schoolers and college kids, this one's for you. Many bands start out around this time in their lives and need a little support to get known. In addition to younger artists, more experienced ones may be in your area as well. Attend gigs and/or check their music out; you never know what you could find and you'll be supporting local talent!

Free concerts Many bigger towns and cities host free music events for the community. For example, this past summer, I attended the Montclair Jazz Festival with my cousin. I hope to one day visit a similar event in New York City. Make sure to look up events like these in a town or city near you.

Montclair Jazz Fest 2015

Opening acts Many times, the opening act of a concert is a lesser-known artist. Don't snooze through their performance! Even when it comes to the main act, there may be some songs you've never heard before (until you're a die hard fan; then it's another story).

And there you have it: four different methods to find new music. Which one(s) are you gonna try out? Leave a comment down below!

Follow me!

Instagram // Twitter // Pinterest

Summer 2015 Reflection + Rewind

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 05:10:00 +0000

Okay, it's a little past summer. In fact, yesterday was the first day of fall. But the point is, I've been gone for a while- and for good reason. This newly-begun school year is my senior year, so the stress began weighing on me even before its start.

Ever since I developed a sudden writer's block in February 2014 accompanied by a couple grade drops and a wave of eye-opening self-awareness, I've felt insecure about maintaining this blog. On one hand, I have a passion for blogging, but on the other hand, I constantly feel a nagging sensation that this is all just trivial BS.

I let practicality take over, what with college apps, SATs, and generally all the work I have now that the school year's started- and to be completely honest, I freaking DELETED this blog for a little while. I couldn't deal with the ambivalence I felt towards it and wanted to take decisive action for once. Luckily, Blogger waits for approximately 3 months before it permanently deletes a blog. During this time I was reminded of the original point of this blog. Over the summer, I started watching lots of YouTube. Seeing tons of enthusiastic and successful creators making content centered around their passions made me feel so validated. I used to freak out when I didn't post weekly, and here was Dan Howell (danisnotonfire), who uploads main channel videos just once or twice a month. I used to feel ashamed of liking fashion and beauty, but here was Jenn Im, killing both scenes. I didn't think I could ever truly express myself through a blog, but in much of his content Jus Reign shows YouTube the world from the point of view of the Western desi diaspora. Finally, I didn't understand why running this blog started feeling like a chore but here was Chris Kendall (crabstickz), articulating my confused thoughts word for word.

YouTube has inspired me in many more ways as well. For example, it reintroduced me to the world of marketing and PR, something I had written off a couple of years ago. Now my interest in marketing (PR or not) has been reinvigorated. And after all this, I've been thinking about starting a Youtube channel myself. I think it would be a great medium for what I wanna do; I can talk to the world without actually having to do so. So far I've pitched the idea to multiple people. Nonetheless, it's still just a thought; one that's either completely crazy or freaking revolutionary. Whatever it is, I want to continue mulling over this idea and give my creative side a chance.

In the meantime, I started a new Tumblr blog: Let's Talk Taboo. If I were to start a YouTube channel, that's what I'd name it. The name definitely doesn't sound anything fashion or beauty related like that of this blog, and that's because it definitely isn't. Though topics like fashion and beauty are interesting to me, in the grand scheme of things, they seem trivial. For years now I've harbored a growing interest in politics, economics, and psychology/sociology, and I want to explore their crossroads. Through this new blog I wanna discuss my thoughts on these topics and their implications for society. I wanna get right down to the nitty gritty about income inequality in America and the different factors that cause it. I'm going to discuss how lobbying is just paid bribery. I'm gonna "talk taboo", just as the blog title suggests.

My ultimate goal would be to transition it to a YouTube channel; right now I don't have the resources, confidence, or creativity required to start it there right now. In addition, I feel more comfortable explicating my thoughts in blog format. I can go back and edit posts with ease no matter if or when I posted them and don't have to worry about maintaining an image or having colleges or future employers finding anything potentially cringe-worthy. Originally I started another Blogger site, but after a bit of thought I deleted it and switched my platform to Tumblr because of the potentially more receptive demographic and easier-to-use interface.

So, what does all this mean for leather + rouge?

For now, I'm gonna keep going with it. I can't let it go- not just yet. I won't necessarily keep a regular pattern going- though I'll try- but yeah, this blog ain't goin' nowhere.

Alright. Let's get into the rewind part of this post!

I kicked off the summer with a week-long trip to San Francisco. I flew out with my dad to visit family. I absolutely loved the area! Over the course of a couple of days we biked around in Hayes Valley, by the Castro, and through the Mission District, as well as up and down the Piers, starting at the Embarcadero. I also got a chance to go whale watching! Unfortunately I don't have the pictures of that (yet), but regardless it was an unforgettable experience.

The view from the plane on the way there!

John Muir National Monument

Palace of Fine Arts

Ducks in a pond @ the Palace of Fine Arts

Pier 39

A Segway Tour at the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers

A flower @ the SFCF

The Embarcadero

Sidewalk art in the Financial District

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge

I also went on a couple of day trips with my cousins.

Ellis Island

The Jersey Shore

Then my half brother visited for a month, and together we took a couple more day trips!

Some art outside the Montclair Art Museum

Petting a horse with my brother in Philly!

The First National Bank in Philly

So that was basically it as far as "fun" went for me this past summer. Other than that, I was suffering through the existential crisis I described quite in depth above. To be honest, I still am, but at least school's gotten me back on my feet.

But I haven't talked about the good things in depth. Watching YouTube and doing some travelling really helped me see the good side of life. I've always been a cynical person, and this summer gave me the time and experiences I needed to start actually constructively criticizing myself instead of falling into a vicious circle of self-pity.

So how have things been for you all? I hope I didn't give you the second-hand blues through my long rant.

Follow me!

Instagram // Twitter // Pinterest

May Favorites 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 22:36:00 +0000

We're nearly a week into June but you couldn't tell from the looks of this blog.

Hey guys! Yet another month is over and that means that it's time for another monthly favorites post. May was a pretty big month for me academically; I had to endure five AP tests over the course of the first two weeks of last month. Luckily, after those tests were over many of my classes began winding down, but it was stressful nonetheless. Here are some things that helped me keep the stress at bay in May.

Majestic Casual

I featured this YouTube channel in a previous "Now Playing" post so I know I've talked about it already but I really didn't go into much depth before. Now I've explored more of Majestic Casual and its music and have a better idea of it along with some new recommendations!

Often people describe Majestic's genre as "chillwave" or "deep house", which do indeed sound pretentious and ultimately don't really help one understand the genre so let me put it to you straight. It's like that atmospheric electronic/modern music you hear sometimes in trendy stores at the mall. There are a lot of remixes and electronic artists and stuff like that. Give a few songs a try and you'll see what I mean.

I also like that Majestic uploads regularly-- once every day to few days-- and that it features up-and-coming or less-heard-of artists. It's awesome for finding new music! I especially appreciate this channel because I'm not too acquainted with electronic music/anything other than Top 40 hits and basically-mainstream alternative music sooo I'm really looking forward to changing that. Here are a few recommendations from the channel!

Maybelline Volum'Express The Rocket Mascara

Source

I've had this mascara for a while (I really should throw it out honestly) but I haven't used it until recently because when I first tried it the formula didn't build on my super-thin lashes and was pretty useless. It was annoying because I had read tons of great reviews saying that the mascara really "pumped up" people's lashes and whatnot. Anyhow, I started running out of mascara last month and thought I'd give this another go. Interestingly enough, this time around it actually did what those reviews had raved about. Maybe it had something to do with it sitting around for so long (ew). I don't know. But it did work for sure last month. I will say that I'm not a fan of the applicator, though. It has hard plastic bristles, which don't seem like the best thing to be combing through delicate eyelashes on a regular basis. I've ignored this con for the most part because I care more about the product, but it's still something to take into consideration. Ultimately, I want to start using an eyelash primer to use with mascara instead of experimenting layering different mascaras because I have thin lashes and an eyelash primer would really streamline my eye makeup routine. I encourage anyone else who also has thin lashes to consider working this into their routine as well.

Jus Reign

I've got another YouTube recommendation! However, this time there's a face behind the channel.

I first discovered Jus Reign on Tumblr when I saw a reblog of one of his Vines. I'm really lazy, so though I noted to myself that I should look him up to check out more of his stuff, I didn't and he remained nameless to me for the time being.

Then Sam Pepper posted a "prank" in which he sexually assaulted multiple girls in public without their permission and the internet came down on him. Apparently Jus Reign joined in on this, because I saw him on my Tumblr dashboard again. This time, it was his Sam Pepper parody (Click the link. Do it. ). I checked him out this time because of his previous creds and because I wanted to know more about the Sam Pepper ordeal. Thus, I found the JusReign YouTube channel.

I started watching Jus Reign's videos in late 2014, but he started waay before that, in 2009. By the way, Jus Reign is his screen name; his real name is Jasmeet Singh. He's a first generation Punjabi-Canadian from the Toronto area. Jus Reign is super successful on Vine and Snapchat (@jusreign)-- he recently hit a million followers on Vine and is reportedly the most-added person on Snapchat in Canada-- but I'm focusing on his YouTube channel here. It's a mix of satirical comedy, parodies, and music videos. I love satire, so it's awesome to see someone do it so well on YouTube and not just on TV (i.e. Colbert + John Stewart). I'm impressed with the way he works it into his videos; people often express their confusion in the comments section of some of his music videos about whether the song is serious or not. And that's beautiful. In addition, one important thing I'd like to note is my appreciation of Jus Reign's pride in his culture and how he conveys that through his videos. He's stated that he wants to normalize the image of the turban, as he himself is a Turban-wearing Sikh, in people's eyes since it's so stigmatized, especially after the events of 9/11. As a fellow Indian I don't just feel that I can relate to him in that sense; I also feel kind of proud in a way.

I know I said that I first found Jus Reign's channel last year, but it's featured in this May favorites post because that's when I became invested in it. (That's an understatement, folks.) As I've said before, I had quite a few AP tests last month. After they were over, I wanted nothing to do with school. So I visited Jus Reign's vlog channel, JusVlogs. Now let me preface this. I had tried watching these before, when I first found Jus Reign, but when I recognized the super-unedited vlogging style I immediately did a 180 since I had been so conditioned by Jenn Im's visually and audially astounding vlogs. But I was so desperate to avoid anything school-related after AP testing was over that I basically forced myself to watch a Jus Reign vlog to keep myself occupied. I don't remember which vlog was the first one I really enjoyed, but soon enough I started really getting into them, contrary to how I thought I'd feel. To make a long story short, I spent the whole weekend (I started watching them on a Friday) and following week watching Jus Reign vlogs. It took over my life, guys. Thank God that mini-obsession is over. In all honesty though, what I really like about Jus Reign's vlogs is the personal feel they have since they're relatively unedited and casual. I especially like the parts of his vlogs where he just talks to the camera like he's having a conversation with his viewers. I feel like I'm like that too because I love just talking to people (hence the essay you're currently reading); that's kind of the point of this blog. Or maybe I feel drawn to it because I'm lonely and don't have friends to talk to and rely on vlogs for conservation instead.

Damn, that was basically an entire essay. Anyway. TL;DR right now for those of you who've had enough of my babbling: overall, I really like Jus Reign's pride in his identity, his satire and his sense of humor. And his vlogs. He really puts a lot of effort into what he does but manages to stay light-hearted and humble about it. Check out some of my favorites videos of his here! Plus, check out the "Now Playing" gadget in the sidebar on the right to listen to a podcast with some awesome music and with Jus Reign as a guest.

So that's it for my May favorites! I didn't feature many things but I sure did write a lot. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! (:

-Amulya

Memorial Day Weekend Haul

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 20:35:00 +0000

It's June! What is this post doing here?? Yeah, I know. I've fallen a bit behind-- let's just leave it at that. I had to put this together despite that, though, cause I'm pretty excited about what I got over the long weekend! I mostly got basics from Madewell, Loft, and Gap that can be styled in tons of ways. Let's take it from the top!

Madewell

→ BUY HERE ←

First up is this super cute and casual pair of crop tees. They're the same top in two different colors. It looks substantially longer on the model than it does on me; I guess it depends on body type. I chose neutral colors to increase the top's versatility and to highlight its material. You can't see it very well in the photos, but there's a slight sheen to the fabric. It's pretty cool!

→ BUY HERE ←

Ugh, another crop top. I've been trying to get more crop tops and high-waisted bottoms because together they work wonders for anyone's silhouette. Hence this purchase. I gave in to it also because of its bright orange-red shade. Once again, it looks shorter (on me, at least) and the color pop more in person.

→ BUY HERE ←

This was my final find at Madewell and boy am I excited about it. I couldn't find a link to it directly from the Madewell website (the link above goes to Nordstrom's site) so I'm assuming it's sold out there. And let me tell you why. The material of these joggers, which are currently a pretty big trend, by the way (hence the price...meh), is so smooth and comfortable on the skin. In addition, I'm really into the mid-rise waistline. Last but not least, this thing has pockets. Pockets (Four big ones, actually). That is all.

LOFT

→ BUY HERE ←

I didn't originally plan on getting anything from Loft when we first stepped in, but that all changed when I saw this necklace. In person, it looks more rustic- the gold is more tarnished and the purple is deeper. I love those two details and the frosted jewels. This necklace would go awesome with neutrals, which I'm always in.

→ BUY HERE ←

This tank was a bit of an impulse buy. I saw it on the clearance rank and immediately thought to buy it because I've been looking to add stripes to my closet, I don't regret it too much, but one thing that I'm pretty disappointed with is the fit. I had hoped that it would be more flowy than it is. But I guess it just adds to the top's athletic feel, which is emphasized by the thin stripe print and the ribbed sweater hemming (you can't see this in much detail in this picture).

→ BUY HERE ←

I LOVE these sunglasses. After seeing rounder frames more and more, I found myself craving a pair. I didn't give it much thought when picking these out initially but after coming home I couldn't stop thinking about how good of a buy it was. I love the leopard print (not sure if that's what it is in the above picture) and the way it looks on my face shape!

Gap

→ BUY HERE ←

Okay, we're down to the last two items. Apparently I've been gaining weight (not much of a surprise tbh), because it is a struggle to fit into last year's shorts. So I hit up Gap for a couple replacements. the first pair of shorts is this light wash number. I love light wash because it's such a nice shade and goes with neutrals like taupe and white really nicely. The high waist is also a plus.

→ BUY HERE ←

These shorts are just as casual cool as the last pair, but in a different color and with rips. I can't wait to take these out for a spin with one of my new Madewell crop tops.

Which pieces from this haul would you rock? Let me know down

below along with any other thoughts!

-Amulya

Post Series Update

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 23 May 2015 15:52:00 +0000

Yo.

I've been pretty busy with school this month so I haven't been able to post nearly as much as I did last month. The time during which I wasn't posting provided me with a good opportunity to ruminate over the tweaks I've been making to the blog over the past couple of months, and I've changed my mind over some of this (what can I say, I'm a dynamic person).

The Hitlist is getting cancelled. It just encourages me to spend more time online than I already do and is too similar to Style Inspo (more on that next). Yes, I'm pathetic. I need to try this whole long-term-view thing out sometime. In the meantime deal with my short-sighted decision-making.
Style Inspo Nothing huge here; I'm just changing this series' name to "Style Spotlight". I don't know, I guess I just have a thing for alliteration. (Actually, I'm sure that I do. The proof is in my Instagram captions.) Another thing: I'm hoping to expand this series to include people and just, like, things other than clothing. So yeah. No worries, Style ~~Inspo~~ Spotlight is going nowhere.

I know it's kind of annoying that I can't make my mind up about things that I've relatively recently created and announced. Sometimes I feel like the changes I make are silly and don't even need to be mentioned in a whole post. But whatever. What I've found is that testing concepts out really helps solidify them into long-lasting additions to the blog rather than withholding the ideas because they aren't "perfect" yet. I would rather cancel and recreate and rename a thousand times than not let go of an idea that's gone sour just for the sake of longevity. And that's a lesson to consider in the context of life in general as well.

So who knows? These post series might not exist in another couple months. But we'll discuss that when the time comes.

-Amulya

Spring Sunset

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 09 May 2015 00:40:00 +0000

Yard + sunset = something otherworldly.

For the past few weeks I've caught glimpses out the window at around the time the sun is about to dip past the horizon but I've never gotten the chance to step out and capture the sunlight's effect on my yard. Until today, when I saw the light catching the super-green leaves and knew I only had so much time to get it on film.

Which picture is your favorite? Let me know down below.

-Amulya

April Favorites 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 04 May 2015 18:09:00 +0000

Hey y'all! Recently I've been trying to think up a bunch of new ideas to apply to the blog. When I saw Jenn Im's monthly favorites videos I knew I had to start doing monthly favorites too! It's such a great way to reflect back on what you've been into and to share helpful tips and ideas with others. So without further ado let's get into what I loved this past April!

As I've said before, I'm a junior, which makes this year College Visit Time. I had to rely on a bunch of stuff to keep me at my most efficient throughout my trip. Here's some stuff that made it super enjoyable.

1) Google Maps

Source

I'm starting out with two apps that really helped me over spring break when I visited Boston. As I mentioned earlier in my spring break photo diary, going there really made me appreciate walking in cities. Though I've never been one to take cabs (though on second thought I did use Uber and Lyft in Boston a couple times when things got confusing) around, walking never really sat well with me before. Google Maps was a major catalyst in changing this mindset. It was great for finding walking routes. So great. SO great. Please use it the next time you find yourself lost in the city. Or suburbia, honestly- I'm sure this app works just as well there too. As for public transit, it's functional for that as well, but I'll introduce you to the app that really helped me out with that next. As a final point, I felt that the only con of using Google Maps is obviously that it takes up data. I didn't gauge the rate at which it uses it so I'm not sure if it's one of those annoying apps that eats up data, but it really didn't seem like it for the amount of time I used it so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Get Google Maps!

→ App Store ←

→ Google Play ←

2) Embark Boston/NYC

Source

There are two cities in the title because Embark is a series of apps, one for each city, that breaks down public transportation for you. Since the Boston T system is not too complex, Embark Boston was immensely helpful in getting around there. While Embark NYC still gave me a good route, it wasn't the fastest route possible (which I needed since I was about to attend a class). If time isn't of your concern then this app is just as great as it was for me in Boston. Since the NYC subway system is super complex, the route Embark comes up with may not suit your needs perfectly, so make sure to refer to other people and sources to optimize it. Other than that, the only other con I can think of it data usage, as with Google Maps. Of course, this is inevitable, but it's something to consider, especially if you have a relatively small data allocation per month like me.

Check out Embark!

→ App Store: Boston // NYC ←

→ More cities! ←

Unfortunately Embark is no longer available for Android. /=

3) UO Haul!

In my spring break post I also mentioned hitting up the Urban at Harvard Square! Here are a few pieces from that haul that I've been into.

Kimchi Blue Cupake Sweater, $59.99 (on sale), urbanoutfitters.com

First off, I'd like to proudly report that I got this sweater not for $60 as you can see above, but for $20. Proof that in-store can sometimes be better than online. Anyway, the fuzzy texture of this sweater is super cool. It gives off a fun but luxe vibe. So does the two-tone color pattern. I love the black-and-gray- pairing as well. Though this sweater is pretty long (the model doesn't even have to wear pants), I like tucking it into high waist bottoms.

BDG Slim-Fit Boyfriend Jean - Railroad Stripe, $19.99 (on sale),
urbanoutfitters.com

This is my first pair of boyfriend jeans. I love the vibe they give off. I also love the light-wash color and stripe pattern. I like pairing these with the next item on the list.

UNIF X UO Cable-Knit Sweater, $49.99 (on sale), urbanoutfitters.com

I needed a new cable knit sweater so I chose this oversized piece. The baggy silouheete can get a little awkward sometimes, but paired with the right items, like the jeans above and my trusty black Sam Edelman ankle boots, it looks super cute.

Sol Sana Liza Mule, $159.99, amazon.com

These were sold out on the Urban Outfitters website so I found them on Amazon instead. It's not hard to see why. I knew these were the ones at first sight. The light color scheme is great for pairing with pastels and other brights while still maintaining the appeal of an earth tone. Plus, these were marked down from $160 to $20. I repeat. TWENTY. For my birthday dinner, I styled these with tights, gray high waisted shorts, and the two tone sweater I mentioned earlier.

So those were my April favorites! Let me know if you're gonna try out or if you liked any of the above items! And why not tell me some of your April faves too?

-Amulya

Now Playing: Majestic Casual

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 03 May 2015 16:19:00 +0000

Hey everyone. As you can see from the updated "Now Playing" tune in the sidebar, I've found some new music. This time it's from an entire YouTube channel.

Source

I first heard of Majestic Casual from YouTuber JusReign (go check him out!!). It's updated frequently with super atmospheric music spanning genres like electronic and chillwave (honestly not really sure what that last one entails lol). My favorite YouTuber, Jenn Im (check her out too!!), uses AMAZING music in her videos and quite a few of the songs she uses can be found on Majestic Casual. As you can tell from Jenn's videos, the music uploaded by Majestic Casual is great for background music in videos, so I'd recommend it for that purpose! Many of the songs are also great for background music in real life, like when you're studying or even need a party playlist- depending on what type of party, that is. The possibilities are endless with this channel! Here's a tune I've found on it that I've really been liking.

So, what do you think of the above mix? Let me know if you checked out the channel and any other thoughts down below!

-Amulya

Weekend at Wellesley

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 19:23:00 +0000

Another Tuesday, another weekend recap. I should be cramming for my upcoming AP exams (my first one is in a week and a day), but instead I'm writing this post, procrastinating until my friend gets here so we can ~~procrastinate some more~~ group study.

Anyway, back to the weekend. My dad and I drove up to Wellesley College in Massachusetts for a college visit. The college had a nicely planned all-day admissions event for us!

But first came the trip there. The traffic was horrible- it extended the grueling journey by over an hour.

On the road by the GW Bridge!

When we arrived we grabbed dinner at a vegetarian and vegan restaurant. The food was good, but we preferred the appetizers over the entrees. How were those stuffed mushrooms and nachos vegetarian?

Check out the orchid they topped my entree with!

The next morning we attended the admissions event at Wellesley. The campus is beautiful!

After the conclusion of the admission event we visited the college's greenhouse. I kinda went crazy with the pics here!

Then we went to Walden Pond, where Henry David Thoreau, the famous naturalist and Transcendentalist, lived for two years while documenting his stay in the famous book Walden. Props to me for hiking the whole way around the lake in my slightly heeled ankle boots!

The original site of Thoreau's cabin! It's empty now.

Then we went to a place called Asia Bistro for dinner. It was pretty damn good!

Obligatory restaurant bathroom selfie.

They had a little aquarium! Check out this super cool fish!

And that was it! We drove home the next morning. I had to go home and write an essay. Ugh.

How was you guys' weekend? Let me know down below! Until next time! xx

-Amulya

Social Media Update

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 20:58:00 +0000

Hey guys.

As you may be able to tell from the top right hand corner of the blog, I've been adjusting its social media. Here's the rundown.

1) I deleted the blog's Facebook page. I'm sorry Facebook, you're not hip and cool anymore. In all honesty, though, I don't really know how to effectively use Facebook for my purposes so I eliminated it.
2) I replaced the blog Instagram with my personal Instagram.
3) And finally, I changed the blog's Pinterest to my personal account. More on this personal account stuff below.

Basically, I've really been feeling detached from the "blog" social media as opposed to my personal accounts and figured, what the hell? It's my personal blog. What have I been doing?

So here we are. I hope to bring even better updates and content to you through these updated accounts. Until next time! xx

-Amulya

Get the Look: Sporty Chic

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 20:41:00 +0000

I've never been one to consider athletic trends fashionable or stylish- just functional. But once again, the fashion world has got me reconsidering, what with its squeaky clean Nikes and trench coat pairings.

As a result of the above, I've recently found that sporty elements can look completely at home in fashion. Let's put this notion to the test with a sporty chic ensemble, shall we?

New Era New York Yankees White On White 59FIFTY Fitted Hat, $34.95, fanatics.com

I'm starting with this all-white Yankees snapback I found from Fanatics (Gotta rep New York.). The white monochrome color scheme truly makes it an interesting, style-able piece.

To style this snapback into a full-out ensemble, I'm adding more structured pieces to switch up the overall silhouette and keep the all-white vibe going to make a statement.

Clockwise from left:
Missguided Biker Sleeve Neoprene Sweatshirt in White, $24 (on sale), missguidedus.com
New Era New York Yankees White On White 59FIFTY Fitted Hat, $34.95, fanatics.com
Dailylook Origami Mini Skort, $44.99, dailylook.com
Vagabond Dioon Heeled Leather Oxford, $79.99 (on sale), urbanoutfitters.com

I am absolutely in LOVE with the sweatshirt and shoes here. And the skort. Plus isn't it great how the snapback just caps everything off (Pun not intended.)? Sigh. Ok. I'll stop.

What do you guys think? How would you style this snapback into a sporty chic look? Let me know in the comments! Until next time! xx

-Amulya

A Day at the Arboretum

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 20:23:00 +0000

Hey guys! It's been a while since the weekend but spring has finally sprung and I wanted to share some snapshots I got courtesy of the 80 degree weather (if only it could last). I visited a local arboretum with my dad on Saturday for a little while and the just-pre-sunset lighting was gorgeous. So were the gardens! Keep scrolling to see for yourself.

How was your weekend? Spring finally catching up to you? Let me know down below! Until next time! xx

-Amulya

Style Inspo: Pastels

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 15:35:00 +0000

Spring is in full swing, and so are spring trends. Pastels make for a timeless look that works every time. Here are some pastel pieces that have been on my radar.

Vans for J. Crew Classic Slip-On Sneakers in Suede in Misty Orchid,
$60, jcrew.com

Pastel Druzy Pendant Necklace, $138, leifshop.com

White Short Sleeve Popsicles Print T-Shirt,
$8.99 (on sale), us.sheinside.com

Kimchi Blue Strappy-Neck Trapeze Dress in Mint,
$49 (on sale), urbanoutfitters.com

Verity Skort in Powder Blue, $30, missguidedus.com

Which of the above is your favorite? I'm dying for the popsicle print tee! Wouldn't it transition beautifully into the summer? Sigh. Until next time! xx

Spring Break 2015 Photo Diary

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 21:35:00 +0000

Most of us are back to the daily grind after spring break. As a high schooler, this couldn't be more real. I have AP tests, SAT IIs, and the SAT to tackle before the school year comes to an end. In light of this, I thought I'd reminisce on my memorable spring break to bring us all back and relieve us of our current stress for a bit.

I'm a junior in high school, so I'm in the thick of college visiting season. I spent four days of the beginning of my break up in Boston with my cousin who goes to college there and used my time to see three colleges. Getting there was tedious- I had to wake up at 5 am- but the sunrise I witnessed on the train was gorgeous.

Say hello to the New York skyline.

Check it out! The train ran by the seaside in Connecticut for a little while.

After arriving in Boston my cousin met up with me and we grabbed lunch at Faneuil Hall. It's like the Chelsea Market of Boston!

Then we hopped onto the nearby Freedom Trail, a marked trail that goes through Boston with stops by numerous historic locations like Paul Revere's House and the cemetery where Ben Franklin is buried.

Me and my cousin outside one of the historical landmarks of the Freedom Trail!

The site of the Boston Massacre (Fun fact: It was actually where the nearby
Bank of America building now is!)

The inside of what was once a public meeting hall

Ben Franklin's grave!

We stopped by at an overpriced cupcake bakery.

Me in front of the Massachusetts State House!

We walked southward on the Trail til we hit the Boston Common, a huge public park. There we met my cousin's roommate and switched to the the city's Black Heritage Trail, which is just like the Freedom Trail but focuses on African-American historical landmarks. Disappointingly, though they were marked, the Trail's sites were not as clearly distinguished as the Freedom Trail's. Fortunately, though, the neighborhood, Beacon Hill, was gorgeous. Our walk through it was very enjoyable. Did I mention just how much I admire the buildings in Boston? They are grossly underrated. Paris' architecture is hailed as a preservation of the old glory of the city, and New York's brownstones are regarded the same way. But how about Boston? It's even older than New York, but I've never heard much at all about its brownstones, each of which is surprisingly eclectic-looking in its own way unlike the monotony of those in Paris and New York. And Boston doesn't disappoint in the more modern aspects of architecture either. Walking through the Financial District earlier in the day, I couldn't stop oggling at the sheer gorgeous-ness of the city's few skyscrapers. I was even more excited by the city's older buildings. Here are a couple shots of Beacon Hill that hint at the uniqueness of Boston's architecture.

For dinner that night, we visited the North End for some great Italian food.

The next day I visited Tufts in the morning. I loved the walk there. Honestly, I could never have foreseen this given my absolute opposition to physical activity in any form but this trip really made me enjoy walking in cities.

A pano of Tuft's main entrance. Click the pic to make it bigger!

Anyway, after my visit there, I met my cousin and a friend of hers for lunch at a great place called In a Pickle. I had their caramel french toast with fruit, and let me tell you- it's amazing. After our meal my cousin and I headed to her dorm, where we chilled out for the rest of the afternoon. We had dinner and took a short walk around campus with my little brother when he visited later.

We're down to my last full day in Boston! It was a pretty busy day. In the morning I visited Northeastern University. It was a little windy and rainy, which was a bummer, but the tour went on nonetheless. I spent a couple hours at an on-campus cafe for lunch and to catch up on some work before leaving to walk to Boston University. The walk there was great! I got a better feel of Boston and saw some cool new sights, like Fenway Park!

Boston University was cool. Its campus is really integrated into the city, which I like.

After that it was time to shop! I met my cousin at the Garment District, a super unique thrift shop near Cambridge. It has all different options- it even has Boston Costume on its first floor, for all your Halloween needs! There is also a pay-by-the-pound section (pano of that pile below) and a great vintage selection. And don't get me started on the interior design.

Later we caught dinner in Harvard Square at an awesome Korean restaurant named BonChon Chicken. The food was great. Go there if you can (Try the chicken!).

After dinner we hit up the nearby Urban Outfitters (more on that haul later) and got some ice cream before going home.

In the morning we took the train home. My Boston trip was so much fun, which I'm so happy about cause I never expected to enjoy it that much. I really got a feel for Boston and I hope to maybe go to school there soon!

So. Back to the train ride. I stopped in New York to see Barnard University. I was able to sit in a Developmental Economics class and take a tour of the campus. Then I took the train back home to Jersey!

Thus concluded my spring break travels. The only other exciting event was my birthday that Saturday! I turned 17. My friends came over for lunch and I had dinner with family at an Ethiopian restaurant. I ate all day and spent it with awesome people. This year was even better than my 16th birthday!

One of my friends got me Cards Against Humanity!

Dinner!

And then it was time for school again. I am procrastinating as I type this. Overall, I was pretty happy with my spring break. I did more than I thought I would, and it was so enjoyable.

So what did you guys do over spring break? Comment below and let me know! Until next time!

The Hitlist: Studs, Sequins + Graphics on Sale at Nasty Gal

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 01:56:00 +0000

I haven't been shopping in a while, especially online shopping. So of course I had to hit up the interwebs for some virtual retail therapy. Nasty Gal happened to be on my mind, so there I went. Of course, even when I'm not actually buying, I'm still down for a bargain. Here are some of my favorite finds from their online sale section.

DO YA FEEL?

Let me tell you, I am OBSESSED with texture, whether it be from embellishments or a material. The items below are everything from sparkly to lacy to furry, and all of them are anything but boring.

Round Up Sequin Tee, $44, nastygal.com

Lovers and Friends Saturday Night Sequin Top,
$117.60 (out of stock), nastygal.com

Sienna Embellished Crop Top,
$34 (out of stock), nastygal.com

Birght Lights Sequin Cami Top,
$34, nastygal.com

Joa Melane Neoprene Sequin Neoprene Top,
$44, nastygal.com

Joa Metal Petal Sequin Camisole,
$29 , nastygal.com

Reflect On Me Studded Top,
$31.20, nastygal.com

Frisky Disco Sequin Top, $34, nastygal.com

Line & Dot Betty Blouse, $98, nastygal.com

Total Animal Faux Fur Backpack,
$45.50, nastygal.com

WHITEOUT

No matter what time of the year (after labor day or not), white is always a go-to. I love the details like cut and material in these next picks- they make the pieces super interesting and edgy.

Shakuhachi Buckle Up Pants,
$124 (out of stock), nastygal.com

Lillian Crop Sweater, $33.60, nastygal.com

Aperture Track Pant in White, $29, nastygal.com

Nasty Gal What's Up Crop Top, $15.20, nastygal.com

GO GRAPHIC

Lately, I've really been into graphic tees. The cheekier the statement, the more I want it. But words aren't the only thing that make these pieces graphic. I love bold prints, like the lip and graffiti ones on two of the following tops.

Style Stalker Don't Worry Sweatshirt in Gray,
$50, nastygal.com

Nasty Gal Kiss Off Top,
$29 (out of stock) , nastygal.com

Nasty Gal Whitney Shirt,
$29 (out of stock), nastygal.com

Nasty Gal x Private Party But No Sweatshirt,
$40, nastygal.com

Merci Top, $24 (out of stock), nastygal.com

Shakuhachi Pop Rain Neoprene Sweatshirt,
$105, nastygal.com

Are you ready for a virtual shopping spree now? Don't get tempted! Let me know down below which item or items were your favorite!

Now Playing: Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 17:08:00 +0000

Hey y'all! I'm back from my spring break vaca! (More on that coming soon.) Now I'm back at home to study for upcoming AP exams. Fun.

Before I left I picked up a few new tunes. At dinner one night I lazily plopped myself in front of the TV and turned on HBO. Last year's Jersey Boys was on. I perked up and continued watching for a bit, since it reminded me that earlier the music in the trailer had inspired me to make a mental note to watch it at some point.

Source

The movie documents the rise and fall of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in the 1950s and 60s. The four-man group went through some tough times and churned out some huge hits during this time. While the movie was interesting, it isn't necessarily the best depiction out there (at least, in my opinion). However, it does make for a few good live show scenes. Plus, you find out some interesting facts, like where the name of the group originated!

Source

My favorite songs that were shown in the movie are "Sherry" and "Big Girls Don't Cry". These two were two of the Four Seasons' biggest hits. With their swingy doo-wop feel and energetic vibe, it's easy to see how this group contributed to the early rock'n'roll scene. It was really refreshing to find some quality music from older times amidst all of the newer stuff I've been listening to. Find the two tunes I just mentioned and a few more of the Four Seasons' biggest hits below!

So, which tune was your favorite? Are you already a fan of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons? And what have you guys done over spring break? Comment down below! (:

Poll Post: The Midi Skirt

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 19:19:00 +0000

It's officially April, and that means that it's time for spring fashion. This week, you guys voted to talk about the midi skirt!

Last year saw the rise of the midi skirt, and I have no doubt that it'll be big this year too. This 60s-style skirt can be worn in many different ways, especially when it's got a modern twist. Its high waist flatters all body types because it elongated the legs and the full skirt slims the legs. Read on to find 4 gorgeous variations of the midi skirt and how I'd style them!

1) Floral

Source

Florals are a must for spring. The feminine print goes so well with the equally feminine qualities of the midi itself. For a girly look, you could add more feminine silhouettes to your look. For example, wear a top with a sweetheart neckline and some pretty jewelry. If you want to emphasize the silhouette of the skirt, wear a shorter, more structured top, like in the picture above. Don't forget to try out other prints as well! I, for one, would add a boyish charm to the mix with a cropped button-down top. However, the cropped silhouette of the top and the strappy heels I'm going for retain the feminine element.

PRINTS CHARMING

Left:
T by Alexander Wang Women's Ripstop Poplin Short Sleeve Cropped Shirt in White, $291.20, coggles.com
Right:
Zara high heel strappy slingback sandals, $79.90, zara.com

2) Pleated

Source

Pleats add beautiful texture to the midi. It can change your look depending on the material of the skirt--,pleats will make a thicker material like canvas more structured and will add a nice detail to flowy materials like chiffon. Play around with texture, print and color to change the look of the skirt. The solid print of the midi above showcases the pleats and flowiness of the skirt. The mint color screams spring. To capture this effect, I'd go monochrome with it. It's a bit risky going monochrome with a color, but as with any another color, even neutrals, if you wear a combination of different shades of the same hue and change up the cut, textures, and/or style, you'll hit just the right spot.

MONOCHROME MINT

Left:
Forever 21 Chiffon Cropped Cami, $7.90, forever21.com
Center:
New Look Mint Green Brushed Texture Formal Coat, $57.58, newlook.com
Right:

Dailylook Simple Strap Heels in Mint, $39.99, dailylook.com

3) Leather

Source

Ditch the feminine vibes of the midi and toughen it up with this quintessential material. To keep yourself from becoming overwhelmed by the statement texture, try a skirt with an element like pleats like in the skirt above (most leather midis and skirts in general come like this). Keep the unexpected twist going with an eclectic look. I chose to build an outfit with athletic pieces to contrast against the put-together leather.

SPORTY AND SLEEK

Left:

Forever 21 Colorblocked Varsity Stripe Bomber Jacket, $37.90, forever21.com
Center:
Old Navy Women's Soft Vintage Crew-Neck Tee in Dark Blue, $5 (on sale), oldnavy.com
Right:
Keds Basic Canvas Shoe in White, $39.99, sears.com

4) Lace

Source

We've talked about leather...now let's talk lace. This ultra-girly texture goes perfectly with the femininity of the midi. It really adds to the 60s aesthetic. Add complementary pieces like pastels and pearls for a perfectly vintage vibe or do a 180 and go the streetstyle way by toughening it up. Here I added a cropped moto jacket, a graphic tee, and strappy heels to switch it up. However, the focus is kept on the skirt because of the silhouettes and the simple color palette.

LEATHER AND LACE

Left:
Nasty Gal Moto Zip Crop Jacket, $88, nastygal.com
Center:
Forever 21 If Not Now Graphic Muscle Tee, $14.90 , forever21.com
Right:
Shoe Cult Hold Me Tight Heel, $34 (on sale), nastygal.com

I hope these looks inspired you to try out the midi this spring! Let me know which outfit was your favorite and how you'd style a midi down below!

Can't get enough midis? Check out my "skirts" board on Pinterest for more!

Follow leather and's board skirts on Pinterest.

Revamp Update: THREE New Post Series

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 23:30:00 +0000

Hey y'all! So while I've been gone I've been thinking about the new direction of leather + rouge. So much to post, yet so little time! With that in mind, I sought to find a way to inject more content into every post with just a little more efficiency. So, without further ado, let me introduce three new post series!

The Hitlist will be a running wishlist full of standout pieces from my online browsing sessions (lord knows how many of those there are). Want a sneak peek? Hint: My Pinterest!
Style Inspo This will be a fashion and beauty series with posts that feature a trend that I've been seeing or been inspired by. See THIS Poll Post about leather for an idea of what these posts will look like!
Now Playing will replace Music of the Week. It'll feature newly discovered artists and music that I have on replay.

Of course, other posts will be intermittent among these series. Look out for more on food, travel, media and more!

As for the remainder of the revamp, it will be rolling out over the course of the next few months with new posts and features. These are just the major changes, though- as a dynamic site, leather + rouge is bound to change even more in the future.

Keep an eye out! These changes'll be hitting the blog soon.

-Amulya

I'M BACK! MAJOR update + revamp!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 21:24:00 +0000

After getting caught up with school and summer vaca for nearly an entire year I realized that I actually managed to abandon this entire website for said period of time. I never cease to impress myself. So here I am. Wha-la. Magic.

Speaking of a whole new year- it's 2015! You know how the saying goes. "New year, new me." Of course, I never stick to my resolutions so I'm passing the platitude right onto this blog. New year, new leather and rouge. Read on for the deets!

Articles I preached somewhat about this last year and this time the idea is really taking shape. You're gonna find much more on style, beauty, and music in addition to other new topics like travel, pop culture, and current events among many others.
Post series The above spiel means no more Music of the Week. Rest with the consolation that Poll Posts will continue. And who knows? More post series might be on their way.
Social media Pinterest is getting too much solo attention. I'm actually gonna start using Facebook and Instagram! Click HERE to learn about what I'll be posting on each site.
New features + layout You may have noticed a few changes already but trust me- the real thing has yet to come.

Hope you're ready for this revamp! It's time to rock and roll.

-Amulya

Music of the Week: Arctic Monkeys at Madison Square Garden, Daft Punk Exclusives, A Hip NYFW Mixtape + More

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 22:43:00 +0000

Hey guys. I've been doing quite a lot music-wise (besides Music of the Week, I know) and I'm here today to share what I've found with you in an extensive, albeit super late, post.

First things first: Last Saturday, I finally got to see the Arctic Monkeys in concert! Alex Turner's voice is amazing- it has a gorgeous timbre and depth- and the lighting and effects were right on. They performed a cover of "All My Loving" in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' first American show. In all or most of the pictures, Alex is up front, Nick is to the left, Jamie is to the right, and Matt is in the back on the drums. All of these pictures were taken by my friend with her iPhone 4S.

Just before they left... );

Arabella

Cornerstone

Brianstorm

Source

So that was awesome. Another group I've been really into lately is Daft Punk. I posted about them a little while ago when I started getting into them. I'd made a few weak attempts last year starting in May, but I had Arctic Monkeys on repeat and...yeah. Most people know Daft Punk from their summer 2013 hit "Get Lucky" with singer Pharrell Williams and Chic frontman Nile Rodgers off their latest album Random Access Memories. However, they've been around for just over twenty years and have had several hits like "One More Time", which is one of those tunes everyone automatically knows, and "Harder Better Faster Stronger", which was successful independently and sampled in Kanye West's "Stronger". While promoting their latest album, Daft Punk curated two exclusive Spotify playlists- one for Thomas and one for Guy-Man- back in September. Each is filled with personal favorites and sources of inspiration. I find them really interesting because they aren't what you'd expect would inspire an EDM artist. To hear Daft Punk themselves on the music that inspired RAM, listen to this NPR podcast.

Let's switch gears to fashion for a sec; more specifically, New York Fashion Week.

Source

Well, it's over. I would've talked about it, but I was so busy jamming out with Arctic Monkeys opening week that I guess it slipped my mind. However, Stylecaster did an amazing job covering it. (Click here for all their NYFW 2014 articles.) Of course, they made up their own creative NYFW-themed content to go along with all the streetstyle and trend reports. One of them happened to be this creative Soundcloud mixtape.

Source

It's called "Sounds From the Front Row: Volume 9" and was produced by DJ and mixtape composer Mick. Learn more about the music and the other volumes here.

And finally, I'd like to end with a little musical inspiration from my everyday life. If the Colbert Report counts as part of my regular life...

Lake Street Dive performing "You Go Down Smooth" on the Colbert Report on 2/5/14
Source

The other day Lake Street Dive performed on the Colbert Report, which is seriously one of my favorite shows ever. Anyway, they were all trained in jazz at Conservatory of Music in Boston, which is where they initially met. Their musical background is evident their work. It's got that classic chill-but-energetic jazz vibe but with a modern twist. The lead singer's voice is super smooth, rich, and playful. Overall, it's really refreshing to see a bunch of twenty-somethings revive a genre of music that most musicians in their generation are moving away from.

Find their full interview and performance here.

So, which artist(s) are you gathering inspiration from? Anything new you found this week? Comment below and email me at leatherandrouge@gmail.com.