a look inside my closet + blog sale

I'm on break! Finally! Not that finals were that bad with the minimal amount of studying I did, but it's still nice to be able to sleep into till whenever. I took advantage of my free time to sort out some of my old clothes that I've wanted to sell and take pictures of them as well.

As I pulled out each article of clothing, I got a bit nostalgic. At one point, I loved all these clothes dearly, and through selling them, I hope someone else will love them as much.

shoes worn throughout: sam edelman gigi sandle in saddle, vans white slip ons, steve madden elusionl leopard d'orsay flats

abercrombie sparkly striped cropped sweater

All paths start at Abercrombie
My earliest love was Abercrombie. Of course it was! I cringe at how much I spent there, and the over priced sweatshirts and hoodies I've collected over the years. Now, I still shop at Abercrombie, but only the sale section.

They've come a long way since their earlier years, no longer carrying garish colors and logos across the chest, and instead stocked with minimalist and boho pieces, with the occasional ode to the earlier years with some colorful graphics.

pink bow crop top, truly madly deeply sunflower crop top

hollister navy highwaisted sailor shorts, house of harlow embellished muscle tank, black highwaisted lace shorts

How many likes can I get?

Then I became a fan of tumblr and Pinterest style - this was before Brandy Melville. It's hard to explain to someone who doesn't know, but the vibe is strong once you've seen it. Each outfit was carefully curated, and while none of it is as bad as my graphic tee/teen retailer stage, it's no longer me.

Some of it was bows and pink, as well as some more edgy outfits. I still really like some of these comfy summer tops, but they're just hard to pair with other things. I end up only wearing them with the same pair of shorts, a few times over a season.

cream lace skater skirt, steve madden blue cell phone cross body purse, cream lace skirt

No, those aren't the same skirt
Up until this point, I was pretty opposed to skirts. I just didn't like how they restricted me, how I had to watch how I was sitting, and be limited to walking, maybe lightly jogging if it wasn't windy. Then I figured out how much comfier it was to have non restrictive fabric, and I fully embraced skirts.

White lace ones were my favorite, up until I discovered black skater skirts, and marveled at how they'd match with anything!

nollie neon pink cross crop top, bethany mota for aeropostale floral neoprene skirt

Rose gold's younger cousin
When a friend remarked on how I mostly wore "boring" clothes, I tried the bright and bold route for a while. Though I liked how empowered it made me feel, it was again difficult to match with, and I worried about attracting too much negative attention as well.

I've reserved my brights for jewel tones, so it's a little more mature, and I wouldn't feel as odd bumping into a teacher or friends' parents. Although I'm still kind of in love with my neoprene skater skirt.

brandy melville tan sweater, abercrombie patterned lace shorts, hollister flowy boho pants

No longer hiding behind the door when the mailman comes
Sometime within this era, I discovered loungewear that wasn't my ratty Target pjs or ill-fitting, but comfy sweats. Not that I've thrown either of those out. But on days when I'm in between wanting to look polished but not wanting to try, or going out for a few errands, I pull out these looks.

Along with boyfriend jeans, I've discovered a whole slew of bottoms that are cute and comfy at the same time! Who knew? Now I can eat as much as I want.

free people sheer lace top, chelsea 28 magenta silk cropped top

Why my closet is overflowing
I have no idea what to describe my style as now. When people I ask, I dole out a handful of adjectives: feminine, minimal, boho, glam, casual. It's a melting pot of styles, depending on the day. I swing between polished and messy, feminine and androgynous, glitzy and earthy.

It's one of the reasons I always have clothes I'm getting tired of, though maybe one day I'll manage to truly cull my closet. For now, the neat bags of clothes past is comfortably wedged in the depths of my closet.

Please fund my shopping (;
Almost all clothes worn in this post are for sale - hah see what I did there, now you've got to buy them. You can find them on my Vinted, as well as some more goodies, though I've also linked beneath each photos. If you message me and let me know you're from the blog, I'd love to give a discount!

If you're a little tight on cash, I take PayPal as well, since prices are higher on Vinted due to the commission fee. Or if you're outside of the US, and see something you really like, send me an email as well (angeeleena34@gmail.com)!

I hope I'll get to share some of my past loves with you all.

What was your favorite outfit (see more of them here)? How has your style evolved through the years? Do you sell your clothes? Holiday plans?

xx

Angelina

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p.s. Happy holidays! We're going the uncoventional route and celebrating Christmas through a family dinner, no tree or presents. Excuse the lack of festivities on the blog!

i'm basically wearing a fancy blanket + book review

While I'm unsure of exactly what field I want to work in yet, I'm sure it'll be related to the arts or fashion. Both are difficult fields, and I've been reading books by women I admire to get a feel of how they reached their goals.

Along the way, I dress for success with my fancy scarf, aka a blanket (and not just because I forgot to take photos of the books before returning to the library).

Introducing Sophia Amoruso, Diane von Furstenburg, Mindy Kaling, and Kate Betts:

#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso
This book blew me away, and it's one of those that leaves you feeling like you should go out and do something big! While Nasty Gal isn't one of my typical brands, it's undeniable it's risen in the ranks of mass retailers, and has quickly become a well known fashion house.

Amoruso seized opportunities along the way - she credits her success to a hernia. You'll have to read it to find the connection.

My Takeaway: Be aware of new platforms, be thrifty, be authentic and real.
Style: Autobiography, with a strong emphasis on how to become your own GirlBoss, and achieve your dreams.

Wearing: Forever 21 camel shawl, Hollister collared top, American Eagle jeggings, Sam Edelman Petty suede booties.

The Woman I Wanted To Be by Diane von Furstenburg
A beautifully written memoir. It reveals details about von Furstenburg's life that I hadn't known before; her mother, who was a Holocaust survivor, her own wild boarding school experiences, and the loves of her life. In contrast to #GIRLBOSS, this reads more like fiction, though it includes many historical tidbits, such as the rise of the first supermodels.

I found von Furstenburg's story to be reminiscent of a Gossip Girl storyline - full of drama, expensive things, and lots of attractive men. She actually married a prince, so it may not be a stretch to call her a real life Blair Waldorf.

My Takeaway: I didn't feel like I got too much out of it career wise, but it was fascinating to read, nonetheless.
Style: Autobiography, almost fictitious.

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
How can one not love Mindy Kaling? Out of all the women above, I can relate to her the most, and her voice is more humorous. More than once, her stories made me laugh out loud, and garnered strange looks from those nearby - especially when there is hot pink text that proclaims "I have the Angelina Jolie of vaginas".

There are few women in general in media or entertainment, much less women of color, and Kaling has a TV show with her name! Along with Constance Wu, she's one of my favorites.

My Takeaway: Work hard and don't settle.
Style: A collection of stories and thoughts, reads almost like a blog.



My Paris Dream by Kate Betts
I have a bit of an obsession with Paris and the stereotypical French woman (I'm not sure if any of it is true for the general population). I love the natural makeup, the food, and of course, the fashion! As I've always dreamed of living abroad for some time in France, Kate Betts' story about her own time there was eyeopening and engaging to read.

Betts describes her first few moments in Paris, her journey up the corporate ladder, and the people she encounters in a relatable and thoughtful way. I felt like I was watching a movie similar to Boyhood. 

My Takeaway: Life doesn't always take you where you think it will. Don't be afraid to make hard choices.
Style: Autobiography, with a cinematic feel. Not lacking in the sensory descriptions.


A Rude Awakening
This comes as I had recently had an experience with a female CEO whom I highly admired. Listening to her speeches and interactions with others, she seemed like someone who was a great mentor and willing to not only open doors for others, but to pull them through. However, when I talked to her, that was not the case.

While I'm not taking it personally, it's a stark contrast between what I hope to be like should I ever reach a position in which I can help others, especially women. What's the point of being at the top if you can't help others at the bottom?

Kudos to me for not naming this post "Bop to the Top".

What are some good books you've read lately? Who do you admire? What do you think makes a good leader?

xx

Angelina

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p.s. my last book review post is here!

5 things I don't regret doing

First off, the elephant in the room, a new hair color! I've been talking about it on the blog for ages, and yesterday I added a photo on Instagram. In keeping with the theme of "things my kids will use as excuses to get away with things bc of my 'rebellious childhood'", 5 things I don't regret doing (other than dying my hair).

Starting a blog

When I was younger, I had a blog, but it is so embarrassing I can't even link to it. Surprisingly, it still gets page views today, if you Google a ridiculous question, it's the 3rd result on the first page. 

My blog now is a lot more professional, but I hope I've maintained a bit of the spontaneity and honesty I had in my younger self. I've always wanted my blog to be a place for me to share my thoughts and address issues I never saw traditional style bloggers talking about. Plus, I've met so many amazing people!

see: an eyeopening experience // it's all Greek to me

Sharing my feelings

Whether it be romantic or otherwise, I've always felt better after telling the other party how I felt. It was just about the hardest thing I'd done the first time, but it gets easier with practice, and I don't feel as though it's a huge deal now. 

With that being said, sometimes I still struggle with not making rash decisions and pushing people to see from my point of view. Every time I got into an argument with my dad, he liked to say, "And that's why you should be a lawyer, you like arguing."

see: don't be a prick

Wearing: Zara white top (similar), Nordstrom necklace (similar).

Selling my old clothes

I love fashion and clothes. Getting dressed is never a chore for me, and my motto is to always dress like I'm going to meet my ex. Murphy's Law right?

My constant shopping habits means that my closet is overflowing the majority of the time, and in order to create funds for more clothes academics and food, I sell my old ones (psst: shop my closet here!). Sometimes I still hang on to things for silly or sentimental reasons, but I've started getting a lot better at that. Money speaks right?

see: where to get cheap clothes // custom clothing on a budget // everything you need to know about fashion week // how to take proper care of your clothes

Going to a new school

A few years ago, I was absolutely terrified at the idea of going to a school where I didn't know anyone, and where the majority of my classmates would have known each other for ages. I'm really glad I did though, as this gave me an opportunity to reinvent myself (somewhat) and meet new people. 

I've become much more confident and outgoing, and I don't limit myself to a certain group anymore. It's refreshing, and I like not having to worry about doing everything as one unit. 

see: back to school dark boho // what it's like to be an introvert

Responding to ads on Craiglist

Interacting with strangers in general is scary, especially when the first contact is through the Internet. Predators are a real thing, as I've interacted with a few of them without even knowing, so it's always good to stay on guard at first. Sometimes it doesn't even hit me that anything I put out there could be read by anyone; my family, classmates, or even teachers. 

Over time, I've gotten better with finding ways to protect my identity, and I've been able to take advantage of great opportunities - focus groups, my photography business, and various side gigs. Once I made $100 for 30 mins of talking about fashion and my shopping habits. 

see: how to meet up with people online // my photography journey // my first time modeling

What are some things you don't regret doing? What are things you do regret? How has your December been so far?

xx

Angelina

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diy: how i went platinum at home

After keeping my platinum hair for almost 8 months, I decided it was time for a change. I really enjoyed it, and am so happy I took the plunge back in April.

Because I'm always looking for fund my shopping habit save money, I DIYed everything, and thought I would share it in a better and more concise form than my previous posts. By doing it myself, I saved about $700.

A large amount of the changes that come with platinum hair is also how people treat you, and your perception of yourself.

   

 Platinum hair is not for everyone. I'm not gonna lie, it's a ton of work - in terms of getting your hair there and keeping it alive.

For everyone with dark hair - you'll need a ton of bleach. I bleached my hair 4 times (you can see individual photos here), with each bleach session lasting about 1 hr. I'm not entirely sure if that was safe, but my hair was not too damaged initially.

To protect my hair, I waited a couple days after a wash, so I had lots of natural oils, and rubbed olive oil in as well 30 minutes before dying.

 I smelled like a walking tub of popcorn, but we've all done strange things for beauty. 


While bleaching, you need to keep the bleach moist so it can stay effective. I'd recommend using a shower cap, but I didn't have one, so I improvised by wrapping a plastic bag around my head. 

Try to keep minimal amounts of bleach from touching your skin, and wash it off immediately if it does on accident. You'll probably get a few breakouts on your hairline, as the bleach sits there when it's on your hair as well.

Once your hair has reached a pale yellow color, like the inside of a banana, you'll have to tone. I used Wella Color Charm T18 , which worked pretty well. You mix it with developer, and it comes out yellow, but eventually turns purple. This'll counteract the yellows in your hair to make white (color theory).

   

To maintain the health of my hair and color, I used Generic Conditioning Shampoo and Shiny Silver Ultra Conditioner, as well as Ion Effective Care Treatment and Aussie 3 Minute Miracle. Because my hair was so dry, I didn't need a lot of shampoo, and cut down to a dime sized portion, leaving it in for a minute. I used more conditioner, and left that in for 3-5 minutes.

I alternated between Ion and Aussie, sometimes mixing them together. The repair treatments I left on for 3-5 minutes as well.


Obviously, my showers became a lot longer, as I had to stand and wait for the products to become effective. I always turned off the water and did some arm circles (because when else am I going to voluntarily exercise except when bored out of my mind and stuck in the shower), and timed myself by listening to Pandora - 1 song = ~4 mins.

My damaged hair also took ages to dry. Beforehand, it would be dry within 1-2 hours, and afterwards, it would take between 4-5 hours to completely dry. My hair also became gum like, and elastic-y, falling out if I was too rough with it.


The most difficult part for me (and ultimately why I changed my color) was the roots. You're "supposed" to get them done every 6-8 weeks, but I didn't have the energy nor the time for that. Instead, I stretched it to every 4 months (16 weeks), but as you can see, my roots became very noticeable.

Oddly, dying my roots was more damaging to my hair than the first round. It's tough to match the color exactly, and you don't want to go over the "line" of your previous bleach, because that will weaken your hair and it will break at that point.

So guess what happened to my hair? That's right, it broke off 2-3 inches away from my roots, giving me these weird mini bangs that still won't stay down.

Because my hair was so damaged the second time around, I chose to skip the toner and simply use purple shampoo. You can see how yellow my hair was initially, and after a few months of consistently using shampoo, it's become a nice, white color - with a few brassy patches still scattered.

Even with all the struggles and damage, having platinum blonde hair was the best. Initially, I did have to deal with some who thought I was trying to be Caucasian and more catcalling as well, though there were also many compliments from people I admire, and conversations started with strangers over my hair.

I've always been more on the reserved side, though I think I'm an ambivert, and having this "instant conversation starter" was really beneficial to me. I became used to the curious stares, and I feel like it encouraged me to be a bit more bold than I'd usually be. People didn't just lump me into a stereotype, because there wasn't one that existed for "blonde Asian who is somewhat good at school and likes fashion".

My friends also appreciated being able to quickly find me in a crowd - which says something when you're only 5'3".


Now, I no longer have platinum hair, and although I miss it at times, I'm glad I didn't keep it any longer. I was beginning to feel like it was too big of a part of my identity, almost like I was scared that without it, people wouldn't treat me the same, or find me as "interesting". When one of my friends dyed her hair the same color as mine, my first reaction was being anxious that I would no longer be as "unique".

I was afraid to fade back into oblivion, and I wanted to stay recognized. But I also didn't like how attached I was to a physical feature - at the end of the day, it's who we are, not what we look like, that really matters.

After 8 months as an unnatural blonde, I can definitely say that we have more fun. 

Would you ever consider going platinum blonde? What's the most unusual hair color you've seen or had? 

Let me know if you have any questions about anything!

xx

Angelina

p.s. a post about my new hair color is in the works (: