Creators I'm Loving At The Moment

I scroll through Instagram far more than I'd like to admit. However, Instagram also serves as one of my greatest sources of inspiration both for me personally and this blog as a creative outlet. Ever since Instagram launched their "saved" feature, it's become more of a Pinterest-like platform that I can use to make mood boards for what is inspiring me at the moment. I follow a lot of people on Instagram, and because there are so many creators on Instagram, it can feel very overwhelming to find new creators to follow. I personally don't like the Explore page at all (a lot of it just seems very spammy), so most of the time I just find new people to follow through people that I already follow. 

Things I need this summer

8,522 Likes, 37 Comments - Nuria Val (@frecklesnur) on Instagram: "Things I need this summer"

Frecklesnur ~ I found Naria's instagram a couple of weeks ago via Lizzy Hadfield (aka Shotfromthestreet). I mainly love her account because it is just so beautiful to look at. I love the tone that all of her images have and it definitely gives me inspiration for my own photography. Also, as you could tell based from her Instagram handle, she has the most enviable freckles ever!

Good morning ☕️☕️⠀ .⠀ I had picnic with a couple of friends in our local park yesterday, and we ended up having our lunch next to grazing horses (see my stories). Kids were playing whilst we were having a catch up. It was such a nice outing that I'm thinking of doing the same thing again! Somehow food tastes so much better outdoors 😄 Do you like picnics?⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #livingroom #livingroomdecor #livingroomdesign #designspiration #interiordesigned #interiorstyling #interior4inspo #inspire_me_home_decor #interiorforyou #interiorsblogger #mynordicroom #marieclairemaison #boligmagasinetdk #livingroominspo #simpledecor #stylingtheseasons #cosyhome #thehappynow #cerealmag #modernrustic #colourmyhome #mybeautifulmess #homeinspo #elledecor #beautifulhomes #interiorinspiration #boligplussminstil #interiormagasinet

8,841 Likes, 107 Comments - Susanna Hawkins (@shnordic) on Instagram: "Good morning ☕️☕️⠀ .⠀ I had picnic with a couple of friends in our local park yesterday, and we..."

Shnordic ~ I have been throwing myself into interior inspiration over the past two months because of the move. Even though I've been finding the majority of my interiors inspiration via Pinterest, there are a few Instagram accounts that I follow almost solely for interiors content, one of my favorites being Shnordic. The account is run by Susanna Hawkins, who is a UK-based interior designer, and is a self-described "scandi maximalist". I love that her style is very chic and Scandinavian, but it all looks livable and realistic. So many interior designers create spaces that are almost too perfect to live in, but all of Susanna's spaces just create an err of comfort and ease that I hope to bring to our apartment. 

Shout out to @cosstores customer services for sourcing THE BEST jumpsuit after sorely missing out on the white version. 🙌🏻

14.2k Likes, 227 Comments - Brittany Bathgate (@brittanybathgate) on Instagram: "Shout out to @cosstores customer services for sourcing THE BEST jumpsuit after sorely missing out..."

Brittany Bathgate ~ I don't know if I could write a post about where I get inspiration on Instagram without mentioning Brittany Bathgate. She's someone that I've been following for quite some time now, but recently her content has been even more inspiring. One of the things that I love about Brittany is the way she uses proportions and shapes in her clothing to make her outfits, which are normally pretty minimal (especially in terms of color), more interesting and eye-catching. As someone who can very easily get caught in an endless cycle of wearing jeans and a t-shirt almost every day, Brittany provides some good ideas for how to mix things up and incorporate some more interesting proportions in my wardrobe. 

If anyone needs me, you'll find me here: in a cold bath, with a cold drink, enjoying the heatwave the only way I know how! ☀️ 🛀🏻 🍷 Hot sunshine is rubbish for dysautonomia but good for the soul, so I'm refusing to complain despite my activity level being reduced to that of a sloth. How's the weather in your part of the world, insta fam? #whprelax

10.7k Likes, 433 Comments - Sara Tasker (@me_and_orla) on Instagram: "If anyone needs me, you'll find me here: in a cold bath, with a cold drink, enjoying the heatwave..."

Sara Tasker ~ Sara is the absolute genius behind the blog and Instagram by the name of Me & Orla. Sara is a blogger and content creator, who is super well-versed in growing blogs and Instagram pages into full-blown businesses. Her Instagram content is not only incredibly beautiful, but useful as well. As I've been trying to get my freelance career going, her advice has been incredibly motivating and helpful, especially if you're someone who wants to grow your freelance career as organically as possible. 

Trends I Won't Be Buying Into This Summer

I’ve been trying really hard for the past couple of months to cut down on shopping in general, but especially clothes shopping (a topic that I plan to go more in depth about in a later blog post). I definitely went a bit wild with building up my wardrobe after I graduated, and I feel like now I’m finally completely content with where my wardrobe is at. However, there are things that I’ve bought that I definitely will wear in the future, but I certainly do not need. I’ve also noticed that because I’m constantly consuming other people’s content (especially via Instagram) and creating my own content, I am more influenced than I would like to be to buy things I don’t necessarily need or will have a ton of longevity in my wardrobe. I’ve never been hugely influenced by trends, and I would still confidently say that my style is not heavily trend-driven, but there are so many images on Instagram of people wearing the same stuff that it’s hard not to be drawn to trendy pieces that you normally wouldn’t be drawn to every once and a while. 

One of the biggest trends as of late has been the re-emergence of tiny cat eye sunglasses. Don't get me wrong, I love a good cat eye pair of sunnies, but the small ones leave me completely cold. I think some people totally rock them and it goes with their personal style, but they've become such a thing on Instagram that it seems like everyone and their mother has been adopting the trend. Being a child of the 90s, I mainly associate tiny sunglasses with The Matrix and I honestly think that I will never disassociate that movie from this trend. I always think that more classic shapes look better on me personally, and since I also prefer to invest in sunglasses, buying super trendy sunnies is never really my m.o.

I love espadrilles. They always look so summery and effortless, and they've always been a shoe that I've wanted to purchase. However, being in San Francisco we don't have a very hot summer and I don't generally see huge changes in what I wear from season to season. Espadrilles have always felt like an incredibly summery shoe to me, and I just don't think they would fit in my wardrobe as is, and at best I'd probably get a handful of wears out of them per year. If I were going on vacation at some point later this summer I might consider purchasing a pair, but seeing as I have no vacation plans for the next couple of months, I would rather spend my pennies on footwear that will have more longevity in my wardrobe (loafers anyone?). 

A trend that I just categorically do not get is the "ugly" sneakers trend. I'm generally not very into sneakers, and if I do wear sneakers I will always be drawn to a very classic option like Converse high tops or Vans Old Skools. I feel like part of me not understanding this trend also has to do with the fact that I am admittedly not very well-versed in streetwear on the whole, which is where this trend mainly came from. I especially don't get shoes like the Balenciaga Triple S's, which are the most eye-wateringly expensive pair of clompy sneakers. I think it's totally a matter of different aesthetics, but I can say without a doubt that I will never buy into this trend. 

Another trend that I don't foresee myself buying into is heavily branded handbags, especially designer bags. I have yet to buy a designer bag (and don't have any plans in the near future to purchase one), but if I were in the market for one I definitely would go for something with very understated branding. The main brand that has cornered this heavily branded aesthetic is Gucci, and I have to say that I love what Gucci is doing at the moment. I love the ironic nature that they are taking, putting their logo all over everything and making the best over-the-top pieces of clothing. However, while I love their collections and ad campaigns I would never see myself buying into it. I think at the moment that irony has a lot of relevance and is resonating with people, but I don't foresee it being a trend that will be around in the next five years or so, although I'm sure, like any trend, it will come back around at some point. 

What I Want To Be Wearing This Spring

I've been talking about how much the weather has sent me into a wardrobe rut, as I think it does for most people. Now that I can happily say we are fully in spring here in California, I have been re-assessing my wardrobe and taking in lots of inspiration in the hopes that I can perfect my spring/summer wardrobe. Especially since I'm more of a fan of cold-weather clothes, I find it hard to be really inspired by spring/summer collections, but with the winter this year lasting so long, I'm fully committed to having a really good warm-weather wardrobe. 

As part and parcel of not being a huge warm-weather person, I do feel a renewed sense of adding pieces that will get me out of my comfort zone (ahem vintage jeans and a t-shirt) and hopefully get me to experiment more with different shapes and fabrics. One of the most glaring examples of this that I can think of is injecting more non-denim trousers into my wardrobe. I wear denim almost every single day without fail, but that's a habit I want to get out of for spring. I'm definitely not saying I won't be wearing denim full stop, but I do think incorporating different styles of pants will make a huge impact on the kinds of silhouettes I wear.

Whenever it gets to be the spring-time I tend to gravitate towards a much more feminine aesthetic, whereas my fall/winter wardrobe is far more menswear inspired. When I was having a closet clear-out recently, I noticed that there's a big hole in my wardrobe for more feminine tops and shoes. I gravitate a lot towards sweaters and cotton t-shirts for my top half and, for shoes, I love loafers and boots. However, for the spring time that combination can look a little too heavy. I really want to invest more in a few feminine blouses, especially wrap tops, since I think they are one of the most flattering shapes, and still look incredible with a pair of vintage jeans. For shoes, I've been hugely drawn to slingbacks, because even though they're still flats they look far more feminine than a loafer or a basic slide. 

Last, but certainly not least I want to touch on my intense, newfound love of linen. I've been seeing lots of images of linen clothes floating around Instagram and Pinterest and I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something about it that just looks so effortless and cool. I bought this linen shirt from Everlane a couple of weeks ago and it has quickly become one of my favorite shirts. Not only is linen extremely pretty, but it's also easy to take care of, which makes it that much more enticing to wear for the warmer months. I will definitely be keeping an eye on some good linen pieces for the upcoming seasons. Who knows, a pair of linen pants might even be in the cards!

Sézane Farrow Bag | A Review

Today's post is a bit different than the usual ones you see on here, as I usually don't do single product reviews, especially of fashion pieces.  I've waited a while to write this blog post because even though it was total love at first sight with this bag I wanted to give myself some time to mull over my thoughts in order to give a very thorough and honest review. I first saw the Sézane Farrow bag on Lily Pebbles' Instagram and was immediately drawn to it. I knew that was the first sign that I should think about getting it because I am almost never drawn to bucket bags. It just was never a shape that resonated with me. I also love Sézane and I think they produce some really amazing, high-quality pieces, without charging an insane amount. Even though seeing the picture of Lily with her bucket bag made me change my thinking about bucket bags I was not at all prepared to go out and splurge on what is perhaps the bucket bag, i.e. the Mansur Gavriel bucket bag. Even though I think that is the ultimate bucket bag, I wasn't in love with it enough to justify paying the several extra hundred dollars. 

Over Christmas I decided to take the plunge and buy the bag (with the help of some Christmas money) and have not looked back since. I decided that since its not a shape I'm necessarily used to I went for the classic black. First off, the ordering process on Sézane is great! The shipping was free, which was especially nice since it was shipping from France and since it shipped via DHL, it got to my house in about three days. As soon as I got the bag I knew it was going to be perfect. The leather is extremely thick and seems like it will age beautifully over time. For me, the size is the best thing about this bag. It's just big enough to fit everything I'd need either on a work day or a day out, which usually includes my little film camera, small makeup bag, phone, keys, water bottle, wallet, and the book I'm reading at the moment. However, because it's not nearly as big as something like my Longchamp Large Tote or my Madewell Transport Tote, its a much more realistic bag to take from day to night. The strap is also long enough for it to be worn over one shoulder or crossbody. 

Because it is a bucket bag I assumed the inside would just be one big cavity, but there is actually a decent sized zipper side pocket and an open pocket, which is about the size of an iPhone 8 plus, in the lining. Even though there isn't a zipper, because of the drawstring at the top, you can still close the bag pretty much completely and have it feel pretty secure. It is more time consuming to have ties on a bag rather than a zipper, but that just comes with the territory of owning a bucket bag. The only downside that I have come across with this bag is that it can get heavy if you really pack it with a lot of stuff. This is partly because the bag itself is, as I mentioned before, made of pretty thick sturdy leather. That being said, I would much rather have a slightly heavy bag that will be durable over years and years than a lightweight bag that'll wear out over time. 

My Favorite Transitional Pieces | Summer to Autumn

As of now I am thoroughly over Summer. I have never been the biggest fan of Summer to be honest, which I think partially is down to the fact that I've never loved hot weather. Because of my aversion to higher temperatures I've also never been too keen on dressing for the Summer months. Luckily, having grown up in San Francisco, I never developed much of a Summer wardrobe because, well, we don't really have summer the way the rest of the world does. Most of the summer months consist of dense fog and some pretty heavy winds. Even though I'm not in the throws of hot weather, I still am eager for it to be Autumn because not only is it my favorite season, but it also brings with it Autumn clothing coming into stores.

I find shopping in between seasons to be near impossible because, more often than not, the selection just isn't too great. I tend to be drawn to classic, timeless pieces especially during transitional times because they also often coincide with being in the middle of a style rut. While it can feel a bit same-y at times, I think its nice to go back to basics sometimes and really hone in the pieces that work best for you. These in-between times are when I find myself shopping my own closet a lot more and therefore have nailed down a solid selection of pieces that work perfectly for the often awkward transition from Summer to Autumn. 

T-Shirt: Lisa Says Gah (old) | Bag: Madewell | Jeans: Levi's | Shoes: Converse

One of the staples in my transitional wardrobe is a pair of straight leg jeans. This particular pair pictured are the Levi Wedgie Fit Jeans, which are a great options if you are either struggling to find a good pair of vintage Levi 501s or if you are new to the realm of straight leg jeans and want a pair that err more on the skinny side. I've had a few pairs of Levi Wedgie jeans and this wash is by far my favorite for the transition to cooler weather The deep blue wash goes so well with both light and dark tops, but also looks a bit more formal with the right outfit. Because of the silhouette of straight leg jeans, they lend themselves to a variety of tops like a plain white tee (as pictured above) or a chunkier knit. 

A pair of classic black Converse High Tops also are one of the best items in a transitional wardrobe. They are definitely a casual shoe, but they work with so many different outfits whether it be a classic jeans and t-shirt look, a girly wrap dress, a pair of trousers; the possibilities really are endless. Because of their versatility, they work during this in-between period perfectly because they are such a reliable and iconic shoe. During the transition between Summer and Autumn, most people aren't also super worried about wearing shoes suited for very cold weather, but also don't want to be wearing a shoe with an open toe, which is the ideal situation to wear sneakers. I think that any kind of fashion sneaker is a must-have for transitional seasons, but Converse High Tops are without a doubt my favorite and the most comfortable (that I have found) in the category. 

Leather Jacket: Madewell | Turtleneck: Uniqlo | Jeans: Topshop | Shoes: Madewell (old) | Bag: Madewell

A leather biker jacket makes for the perfect outerwear piece during transitional seasons. This is in part because leather biker jackets go with everything, from jeans and a t-shirt to a wrap dress. Because they are so versatile its a piece that you can rely on no matter the weather or the occassion. Another great thing about leather jackets is if you don't already own one, they are almost always available no matter what the season is. Even though the leather jacket I own is on the thicker side, it has been my go-to outerwear piece for cooler evenings and days, and even when it's a bit warmer I can justify wearing it with a lighter top underneath. 

Perhaps one of the best transitional pieces is a lightweight wool turtleneck. My favorite turtlenecks are from Uniqlo as they are both the perfect cut and they're only $30. While these are wool, they are a much lighter weight wool than a lot of other wool turtlenecks on the market and you don't feel like you're dying of heat exhaustion if the temperature rises above 65 degrees. Because of the ribbed texture, they sit in a super flattering way against the body and don't sag or look awkward in any spot. The tight fit of them makes for the perfect layering piece, in fact one of my favorite outfits, which I'm sure I'll feature in the near future in an upcoming post is this turtleck with a lacey cami over the top, tucked into some black trousers. Again, like the leather biker jacket, you can also wear a wool turtleneck for almost any occasion as well, which makes it perfect for this time of year.