Skylines and Summertime

Somehow I always fall behind, and now have to catch up on my second semester in just one post! It was a busy, fun and exhausting one and I'm happy (relieved?) to announce its officially summer break. Here are some highlights of my second semester in the city that never sleeps:

Attended my first official NY fashion week show! So amazing, officially checked off the bucket list:

Naomi Campell: Fashion for Relief

This was one COLD and SNOWY winter, by the way:

Cooper Hewitt Museum

Museum of Art & Design 

Museum of the City of NY

 Finally went to the Guggenheim (on 'pay what you wish' Saturday, of course):

 Also, finally visited the Statue of Liberty with my Baker's Scholar group! Fun day visiting NY's islands:

 Treated myself to a play before finals week, and I was blown away! GO see this if you have the chance:

....and just like that, I waved so long to Manhattan and freshman year, not sure where the time goes? Be sure to check back soon and i'll update you on some summer fun!

xo, 

Marie

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

September is Fashion Month

I've been surviving successfully in the city for four weeks now: I've been to the MET, the Cloisters, MoMA, and the Whitney, I've been in the live audience of America's Got Talent and Live! With Kelly and Michael, and I've volunteered at my first fashion week show! Yes, I still have a lot of homework to get done in-between. To catch up a little on how I got here:

First day outfit

Recreate the look:

Leather skirt / Crop top / Snake Armlet / Chunky Flatforms

Woke up at 3am to wait 10 hours in line with the roommate to sign up for fashion week volunteering. Many people had camped out all night! Don't mess with determined fashion students:

#freshmanprobs

Backstage selfie at Zang Toi, Red Carpet Reception where I got to be a dresser!

Due to licensing and legality reasons I'm not allowed to put up any backstage pictures from Zang Toi (sad face!) but below you can see the entire collection for yourself: (but I have to say, seeing the clothes up-close and in person is a whole other experience)

This week I'm also volunteering for an event called Coterie, a market event where buyers come to visit hundreds of amazing exhibitors. I will be part of the Ronen Chen exhibit (a stunning Israeli designer) and I can't express how excited I am to experience this side of fashion! At least this time I'll be able to post pics ;)

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

Prom Perfect: The Last Dance

It's hard to believe it was just last Saturday that I got to experience a childhood dream: my senior prom! 

Below is the final reveal of my prom look (and the secrets behind it):

Prom secret #1: I designed my prom dress!

(Copy of my original design sketches, preliminary ideas)

After struggling to find a dress I liked (and also fit me) I sat down and sketched out my dream dress. 

I am by no means a seamstress, and contrary to popular belief I am not going into design, but we found an thoroughly talented friend to turn my design from paper to perfect. I got to pick out the fabric and everything!

Prom secret #2: I rented this stunning Tom Binns necklace.
(this was my first time using RTR, never looking back, need I say more?)

Prom secret #3: My matching bracelet was an heirloom! 

I had been dying to wear this bracelet since I was little, and promised myself one day I would wear it to prom. I discovered it the night before, only to find the clasp was broken; luckily we took it by a jeweler on the morning of prom who showed us an alternate way to wear it (there's clear twine holding it together, you couldn't even tell!)

Prom secret #4: My date had a wooden bow tie
(we were voted class fashionistas, perfect date? Yes!)

How was YOUR prom? 

xo Marie

Check it out on lookbook.nu :)

A special thanks goes to Michelle Roberts for taking my sketches and design and turning it into something tangible, and to Heather Parker for taking these fabulous photographs. 

Cloud nine and 7th Avenue

I have some of the best. news. EVER to share! (if you follow me on any social media, you already know, but...) I received my acceptance into the Fashion Institute of Technology last Thursday! 

This dream was one of the main sources of inspiration for starting this blog, and I'm more than thrilled that it has become a reality! 

Yes, my real first name is Sandra

Fun Facts about FIT:

• Alumni include Nina Garcia, Calvin Klein, Ralph Rucci, Brian Atwood, etc. 
• Michael Kors attended back in the 70's
• 43% acceptance rate
• It's the best school in the country for Fashion Merchandising (my major!)
• The school is located on 27th and 7th, Fashion Ave!

@rogerthat27 got me these gorgeous truffles!

(Sorry for the crappy phone-photos!)

Prepare for lots more updates as another fun and fashionable chapter starts. ;)

XO