5 accessories to complete an outfit

Me a few months ago would've scoffed at the idea of paying more than $10 for accessories. I considered them "add ons" to the main ensemble, and would rather drop $50 for a basic tee, than $20 for a pair of studs.

But I stand corrected. The little things really do make a difference, so here are 5 accessories that can elevate your look instantly.

Pearl earrings

Nordstrom BP. faux pearl stud earrings

They may seem a bit antiquated, but that's the best part. With things that have such strong associations, it's easy to upend the typical ideas attached to them, and create something of your own. Overalls are no longer reserved for farmers, and sneakers are regularly paired with dresses.

Why delegate pearl studs to special events only?

Statement bag

Sammydress french bulldog bag*

More often than not, I wake up behind schedule and can't figure out what to wear. I give up, and throw on a simple top and jeans, which is easily given more interest with a statement bag.

'Statement' can mean different things to different people - it could be a unique cut, color, detail. Whatever floats your boat!

I picked an animal bag from Sammydress, because dogs are the sweetest. The prices are quite low, and the quality isn't too bad for what you pay. Shipping took a while, and the tracking isn't always accurate, so order ahead of time. The bag itself is made of decent material, a bit plastic-y, but it seems like it'll hold up. When I received it, there was some fraying on the zippers, so light use would be best here.

Mixed earrings

Nordstrom BP. 'Charm' earrings

My favorite thing to do with earring packs, especially studs, is to mix them together. I'm always losing single pairs, so this works out well for me too!

You can even do it by accident, and people will assume you're on top of the trends.

Eye-catching necklace

Nordstrom BP. stone choker (similar, more similar)

Undoubtedly, my favorite necklace of all time. It's a conversation piece, without being too in your face. It slips on easily with a slightly bendy wire "chain", and it's held up well so far.

I like to wear it with tops that show off my collarbone.

Layering necklace

Sammydress circle lariat necklace*

With bright or busy outfits, a simple chain necklace can be the best compliment. A lariat necklace is adjustable to all lengths, so it works perfectly with any neckline.

The quality of this one is beyond what I expected for the price. It's similar to more expensive brands, and would be great if you were looking to try out a trend.

What are your essentials for adding interest to your outfit? Which one was your favorite? Do you have a signature item, scent, or look?

xx

Angelina

p.s. I still have a giveaway for a pair of Polette sunglasses going on! Check it out here. All you need to do is answer my reader survey!

by the ideal that we live

Smoothed wrinkles, age dialed back, features perfected. Idealization is rooted in art, especially in Classical Greco-Roman. Like the marble busts and dynamic statues, idealization too, has withstood the test of time. 

It lives in me. I walk the line between idealizing those I admire, and simply admiring them. Sometimes admiration turns into something darker.

I slip through phases, changing my mind about who to become as I meet new people personally, online, or the alternate universe of literature. I fill in the gaps of what I don't know, painting a shimmery, pastel coat over it all. 

But what's underneath eludes me. Those people aren't me. I've only earned a look at their pristine cover, perhaps a peek at the first few pages. Rarely deeper, where the plot starts to twist and turn, and their monsters come out of the shadows. I simply see their exterior they choose to present, or even the exterior the author has chosen to create. 

Wearing: Kimchi Blue Bella gray sweater (similar), Sammydress retro style high waisted skirt*, MICHAEL Michael Kors black kitten heel pump

In the moment, it's difficult to remember. I'm naturally competitive, and admiration and awe can quickly turn into jealousy if I don't control it and keep myself in check. Does she have better clothes than me? Why doesn't he struggle as much as I do in this class? How does she have such clear skin?

And I'm pulled in so many diverging directions, influenced by the myriad of people who seem to have more than I do. 

Wearing: Zara Kids suede cowboy boot (similar)

I'll want to be a free spirit, who is capable of quick forgiveness, who doesn't hold a grudge, and knows who she is. I'll want to feel secure in who I am, in what I look like, while simultaneously appreciating others as well. I'll want to trust that the universe has a plan for me, that the weight of my future isn't resting on my decisions today. 

Then logic and reality set in. And I'll want to climb, even claw if necessary, my way to the top. I'll want people to respect what I have to say, to know I mean business in what I do. I'll want to be remembered, to be the one at that party who needs no introduction, the one who elicits the sought after "I know who you are". 

Is it even possible to have so many characteristics crammed into a tiny, 5'3" frame? Or will I implode from the sheer force of the distinctive traits, tumbling around inside me?

A knock to the head, and I'll remember that these are just stereotypes, like the old Manic Pixie Dream Girl. These aspects I've pulled from those I admire are single facets of a large, complex system. Only in my mind have I constructed these intimidating, idealized versions. 

I imagine a city of glistening, crystal skyscrapers, when in actuality, there lies a colorful, welcoming village.

Do you tend to idealize people as well? What are the positives of idealization? Constructive criticism?

xx
Angelina

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p.s. I have a giveaway for sunglasses going on here! enter before feb 1.
p.p.s. if you're feeling up to it, I'd love to get your thoughts on the blog with a reader survey. thanks so much!

giveaway! angelina is x polette

Have you been collecting some good karma? Now's the time to use it!

I'm finally hosting a giveaway! It seems as almost a "rite of passage" for being a blogger, along with first "free" product or brand collaboration. Nonetheless, exciting things are coming up, like my partnership with Polette.

 In California, sunglasses are more or less a must. I'm quite picky with what I wear, though you'd never guess by my overflowing closet. When Polette, an eyeglasses and sunglasses leader on the French market, reached out to me for a collaboration, I was pretty ecstatic about adding another pair of sunglasses to my collection.

Polette has brought a revolution on the optical world with their affordable prices ranging from $9.99 to $89.99. You could get a new pair of glasses for anywhere between 2 to 20 Jamba Juices!

Founded by a self made man, they're an online optician with no middle-men, keeping costs low for people like me who want to fund more shopping trips stretch their dollars.

Please read this next paragraph in your best telemarketer voice:

But wait! There's more. E-Polette offers eyeglasses to protect eyes from the light emitted by your laptop and phone screens. So you can wear those hipster glasses and fend off actually vision impaired people who snicker at you, because yes, your glasses have a purpose. They're customizable too!

Polette. Where fashion meets affordable (no that's not their slogan, theirs is definitely much better).

I picked out Elegance (*), because it captures my spirit very well (no sarcasm here). I was looking for a pair of oversized, movie star sunglasses that would be able to hold up in my bag, and matched with nearly everything. They're a decent weight and tinted well enough for me to be able to stare at whoever I want.

My sunglasses arrived in a white cardboard box, in about 2 weeks. Because they don't ship from within the US, I had to pick them up at the post office, which was a bit confusing and inconvenient. But I had some extra time waiting in line to play 2048, so who's complaining.

Check out Polette's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Here, I put a banner so you could quickly scroll to the giveaway. No worries, it's what I'd be here for too.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The fine print: Open internationally. Ends Feb 1, 2016. Winner will be contacted via email and given 2 days to respond. Another winner will be drawn after 2 days, continuing 4 times. 

Crossing my fingers for you to win! (:

Do you collect karma? Where are your favorite sunglasses from? Has El Nino been messing up your weather as well?

xx

Angelina

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5 min read: conversations in the dark

A sketch of recurring dream I have, in which the fear I wake up with is what stays with me.  A late night conversation with friends. 

    What do I fear most of all?

A conversation starter thrown out in the dark, almost carelessly, but in a thoughtful way that somehow still bears weight.

In the dark, with blurry shadows accenting the bumps and hollows of our faces, we stop to consider this question seriously. There’s something comforting about opening up in the dark that can never be recreated when it’s light out. Maybe it’s that with the muted cool hues all blending together, there’s a sense of protection.

We are safe from scary things that go bump in the night, toddler’s fears of a monster that lurks beneath the bed, feasting on toes.

What we aren’t safe from, though, is the real world. Toes aren’t simply nibbled off, they’re chomped off, with brutality and complete disregard for the being to which said digits are attached to.

I fear the real world, with the very real monsters, and even realer humans. I fear not becoming anything, not doing anything with my life. I fear lost opportunities, chances I didn’t think to glance twice at.

Though on some days, I admit the fear of serial killers lurking behind my shower curtain is more immediate and pressing than this vague fear of the future.

How'd I do?
With the feedback from my last post, I decided to attempt a less wordy, and more abstract piece. I'm thinking of easing these sorts of things into my routine, though I'm on the fence on just how writing based I'd like them to be.

They'll likely be those types of "typical" blogger posts; style lists, routines, etc, but hoepfully a bit more interesting.

What did you think of this post (constructive criticism very much appreciated!)? What do you fear? Are posts like this better for the beginning of the week, or the end?

xx

Angelina

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2016: looking back and ahead

The first few days of a new year are always a bit disorientating for me.

On one hand, I want to savor the past, look back on what I learned - hindsight is always 20/20. On the other, I want to look forward, become the person I've always wanted to be, make this year the one I finally achieve my goals.

So here's a little bit of both.

Since we've all surely been inundated with "best of" and roundup posts, I'll keep this short and sweet.

What I'm proud of:
1. Finally starting my blog! It was an idea that I kicked around a bit, and I'm glad I did it. It gave me purpose when I was feeling down, and I've learned so much, just sitting at my computer and clicking away, both about myself and how things work in other places.

2. Getting better at some resolutions I made a couple of years back. Being more fit is a common resolution for many, and I'm starting to make good on that - better late than never. I'm also sketching more, and not being as harsh on my appearance as I used to be.

3. Holding myself accountable financially, and generating more of an income through photography. I've always loved shopping, which creates a sizable dent in my wallet, but this year, 40% of what I spent was directly from the money I've made selling my clothes.

Wearing: Cooperative red toggle coat (similar), Zara checkered top (similar), Gap Petite black 1969 legging jean, Sam Edelman Felicia black flats

Improvements to be made:
1. Being more vocal and honest about my thoughts. Both in the class and in my day-to-day relationships, my inner monologue is far greater and richer than what I'll actually say out loud. This has contributed to my being seen as a quiet, Asian girl, which I've tried to rebel against with my hair and becoming more outspoken, but I think there's still a while to go.

2. Being more understanding and empathetic of others. I tend to rush to conclusions, and I don't think about what others are going through as often as I should. I hesitate to be labelled as "nice", because I'm afraid of what that will mean in terms of how others treat me, but I'm trying to find a balance.

3. Living in the now. At each phase in life, there's something unique and special to be experienced. I don't want to rush through the phase I'm at now, just because the next one has promises of a grown-up flat in the city or a cushy job. Not that those are guaranteed anyways!

Things I'm mulling over for the blog:
1. Bringing in other voices. Since April, this blog has been my own space, my personal soap box. But it's more difficult for me to think of what to write about, and I'm hoping to start some collaborations, interviews, and guest posts. Shoot me an email if you're interested!

2. Shorter posts. I tend to write a lot, even when I consciously remind myself not too. So I'm thinking of bringing in a shorter post at the start of the week, and a longer, typical one towards Thursday or Friday.

3. How much personal information I want to share. With connecting online, there's a fine line between wanting to be authentic and real, and needing to be safe. I've only felt comfortable sharing my first name and last initial, my face, and my general location. But I've been thinking about age, and whether that really matters - most people don't assume correctly, and I'm fine with that, but is it a vital part of myself?

I hope everyone's new year has been lovely! What things do you have in store for your blog or life? What do you think about the changes I'm thinking of bringing in?

xx

Angelina

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