Year of the Snake

Happy New Year! After one of the best (and relaxing) Christmas breaks I've ever had, I had to make the tough part again from family to head back to school. I can't wait to update the blog with new fashion and city adventures, the first of which will be facing a full on blizzard! My first classes have been canceled as I watch the steady snow out the window, I will be sure to take lots of pictures.

For now, I'll try to catch up by sharing the special project I mentioned over a month ago (if you follow me @myblondeelife on Instagram, then you've already seen it, but I've added some behind the scenes to keep it interesting!) 

I babble on, here's the 'Taylor Swift Project' I worked on during the break, where I reconfigured photographs to look old-school in light of Taylor's inspiring 1989 polaroid-themed album:

1. Welcome to New York 

I stood on the steps of Times Square to take a two minute video, sped up and edited down to 15 seconds

2. Blank Space

I'm wearing my prom dress (with a jacket, it was chilly) in this photo!

3. Style

This mannequin was part of the Bergdorf Goodman holiday window display whose 2014 theme was: 'Inspired'

4. Out of the Woods

Part of this double-exposure photo was taken from a moving train to Beacon, NY

5. All You Had To Do Was Stay

Taken in Times Square the same day at my Welcome to NY video. 

6. Shake It Off

I was previously planning to use a confetti throwing picture before stumbling upon this.

7. I Wish You Would

This suitcase is full of old love letters and poems!

8. Bad Blood

My sister and I hung a black bed sheet across the closet to create this background.

9. Wildest Dreams

This sunset was taken from the car on a road trip to Kentucky.

10. How You Get The Girl

This lovely carousel was part of Bryant Park's winter village.

11. This Love

This photo came from a shoot last summer, I had never got around to editing it!

12. I Know Places

This photo was taken in pouring rain, checkout the wet streets in the background.

13. Clean

I left out my real first initial in this adaptation of Taylor's famous album cover.

Bonus: You Are In Love

The reflection in this photo is the side of a piano, and the old school white strip to the left is actually a door.

Of course, I didn't get to finish all I hoped to over the break (time is always getting away from me), but I'm hoping to get back into modeling personal outfits again and revisiting the fun that started this blog in the first place!

xo, Marie

Happy Holidays!

Its finally time for me to come out of my Christmas-break induced hibernation and catch you all up on the NYC life. I'm home-sweet-home now, but since my last post I've had the chance to explore the Museum of Natural History, Japan Society, Asia Society, the Frick Collection and browse some of the Chelsea Galleries, (and I also got to meet Nick Jonas, eek)!
Take a peek:

Some famous figures from the movie 'Night at the Museum'

A lovely chandelier by Zarina from the exhibit Descending Darkness

Check out this crazy interactive work, titled 'Ever Blossoming Life', by teamLab at the Japan Society:

View from the Belvedere castle in Central Park

Meeting Nick Jonas at Lord & Taylor!

As for the holidays in the city, I had fun (and froze) at the Macy's Day Parade, got to see the Rockettes at Radio City, checked out just about all the holiday markets (Bryant Park's was my fave), and stood glassy eyed in front of Bergdorf's magical holiday windows!

Front row view between West 62nd and 63rd streets!

Of course end of the year presentations and finals were a hassle, but now that they're over I have a special project (as promised) coming to you soon, so keep a look out and have a very Merry Christmas fashionistas and don't forget to believe in yourself!

xo, 

Marie

Hello, Sunshine

It's already been almost a month since high school ended (ahh!!) but between working full time and starting college a few days after graduating (I'm getting some of my basics out of the way before starting school this fall) I finally found time to put together some snapshots of what I've been up to lately.

Snapshot 1: some of my artwork this year, 

With lots of determination, I finished this one in two days!                      ...and this Van Gogh took a bit longer. ;)

 Snapshot 2: making it through graduation,

We couldn't be very original given the strictly white guidelines (and the fact that your robe covers everything), but I'll still give you the anatomy of my ensemble:

Betsey Johnson Illusion Cutout Fit & Flare dress

I took some plain white heels I already had and added a few rhinestones (which I actually torn off another pair of old shoes). Heres the super simple DIY tutorial I used.

I was so lucky to have my grandpa hand me my diploma. :)

Snapshot 3: SUMMER! Which "started" today, so more to come...

While your here, why not check out two groups I've fallen in love with this summer, Purity Ring and CHVRCHES:

Thank you to whoever is reading this, I hope you continue to keep up as I start my college journey...

xo, Marie

New York, NY- Passion for Fashion Workshop

On the corner of 7th and 27th stands my long-time dream school! And after spending a week in New York, I still can't express everything this school and this trip meant to me. But I was able together just a few highlights of this packed week:

Field trip to Mood Fabrics? I know you watch Project Runway, and I know place this pretty freaking awesome.

Working hard, planning one of our daily projects!

With Professor Nancy! Love being taught by industry professionals..

Endless Fabric, Endless Buttons!!  

I also loved visiting other schools, like Parsons!

Lovely skyline view from the roof of MoMA PS 1 in Queens.

Seeing the infinitely famous 'Starry Night' - a dream come true. @ MoMA

Just a fraction of the stunning artwork I saw. In love with this culture..
@ 5 Pointz in Queens (Maybe you recognize the building from Now You See Me?)
@ MoMA

And some fashion for you! Some mood boards pre-photoshoots and projects.

So now, a few months later, I've applied to FMM at FIT and hope and pray everyday I'll be excepted. With less than half of the applicants being accepted, I'm scared to death!

But I made truly lasting friendships during my time in the city, and here are a few girls I REALLY hope I'll be going to school with and seeing again soon :)

Lots of Love, a New York gal at heart ♥

A Weekends Escapade//Blk&Wht

Happy weekend fashionistas! 

How are you spending it? I promise tomorrow I will be doing a shoot so you will see another one of my personal outfits ASAP. Until then, I thought I'd give you some 'get un-bored' ideas that make you feel more accomplished, even if you're spending your night in doors (its still cold out). One of the best moments in life is when I'm inspired to sketch a design:

What do you twigs think? I am utterly obsessed with fur, so I really wanted to sketch a classic fur coat that I would wear myself. The skirt just came to me, and its more of a fashion statement but I really love how it turned out. Let inspiration just pop up and hit you in the face, never try to hard to go looking for it! 

I also enjoyed spending time doing some black and whites, all of these are my own photography; get really creative with some pictures! This is a different view of my closet:

I also love to relax and spend my time reading, but magazines are what I call 'entertainment' reading, they're just like dessert to me! Its worth it to get subscriptions to Teen Vogue and Seventeen, instead of going out to buy them every month:

These are just some easy ideas to get you started getting creative and find inspiration! Oh and before I forget, I got my first job at a consignment shop! So now I get to be surrounded by clothes all the time, a dream come true! *happy dance*

And dear twigs, if you're young and really interested in the fashion world but don't know where to start, or you live in a smaller town like me where there aren't as many opportunities, get a retail job. I promise you will learn so much about clothes, you can put it on college applications, plus you can make great connections!

Just another step to saving for the big city...

XO

Terry Richardson//Photography diary

On This Twigs Instagram Today: 

view full image

"@Terry_World I check Terry's diary everyday, and I have to say this is still one of my forever favorite photos! #terryrichardson #art #photographer #photoblog #terrysdiary #illusion #newyorkcity"

I first learned about Terry through Mary Kate & Ashleys book 'Influence' which I recommend to EVERYONE! If you love art, fashion, photography, anything, this book is great. I just had to learn more, so I found Terry's Diary on tumblr, and now I look to see who's been in his studio everyday.