Happy Halloween!

Oct 31, 2015
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Most unknowingly to the vast majority of individuals, there are four educators who have had a significantly positive influence on my life. Firstly both my flute instructors (the most hardworking, caring, and artistic folks I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, I assure you). Secondly, my third and fourth year composition instructor – a brilliant man more interested in the music itself than in writing obscure pieces with the goal of being ‘unique’ (occurring within the majority of University students - more than you’d think). Finally, my high school history teacher. I never adored studying history, per se – memorizing lists of facts and dates never settled well inside my artistic mind (which, as an entity continuously attempts to find its’ own meanings and patterns, does not enjoy lists of incredibly detailed facts being thrown at it) but I’ve always enjoyed learning it. 
Blasphemy! What on earth is the difference between learning and memorizing you say?!?!

Allow me.
Our education system is based around the idea that you must study x, y, and z to pass set exams. We cram our minds with so much (oftentimes useless) information until they quiver in pain and beg for no mercy – usually it is 2am by now. Typically, after set exams, we habitually purge our minds of all impractical material that we’ve crammed so tightly within a small portion of our cerebrum.
*disclaimer, I am not a neuro-scientist and am not knowledgeable on the functions or parts of the brain.

Learning, on the other hand, is much more useful. We learn, in my most humble opinion (as always), by choice. Remember reading The Great Gatsby in grade nine? How much did you actually read? Fast forward two months. Same book, same you, choosing to read it on your own without the requirement of scrawling in-depth annotations all over the pages (I cringe at the thought). Suddenly, it is infinitely times more enjoyable – no “skimming”, no Sparknotes, and no frantic "I must finish this chapter!" thoughts as you turn the pages - *these thoughts are also normal when reading literature you love (and Harry Potter. Always with Harry Potter).
I had a very similar experience with History. History, without a doubt, is one of the most interesting topics to discuss (perhaps after politics?) and observe (perhaps after Renoir). I’ve spent hours online reading various profiles and articles regarding countless historical figures and events - something I'd most likely not enjoy if it was carelessly assigned (see 2nd year University baroque and renaissance church chants' mindless memorization of 42 pieces and countless useless facts. Though I admit, this lecture would have been far more useful (possibly interesting?) if the professor in question discussed how we could implement these structures and ideas in the music we played today. Or perhaps a chapter on how and why it has shaped and/or influenced music throughout the years. Sadly, he was far more interested in a sadistic approach in which he assigned unreasonable amounts of work loads without reason or justification as to why we should study them). Like Great Gatsby, it is incredibly more gratifying when there is no pressure to cram as much information in a short period of time into your mind as possible.

Unfortunately, not many teachers choose to acknowledge this (surprising, as surely they were once students, too). My high school World History teacher did and it has changed the way I approach learning. Her lectures were as engaging as the charming documentaries you stumble upon on Netflix (Planet Earth, anyone?) always approached with an unbiased attitude and an open mind for countless ideas. She was always available to discuss questions or comments after class. Without a doubt, she is the reason I can draft up a successful outline and a killer essay proposal within minutes. (Objectively speaking, she is also the reason I can write any form of convincing text longer than your average iMessage while maintaining all the necessary factual evidence required for such assignments). Truly only an incredibly passionate individual with a broad span of knowledge and a humble demeanor could win so hard at teaching. 
Moving on, this Halloween, I'm styling my hair just like mommy did for me circa 1997-2008. Let's face it, those days were terrifying. I'll admit, this Ted Baker dress subdues the spook-y factor and gives for a more grown-up Wednesday Addams-chic (think iconic fictional character goes vogue). What's in store on my end? A few scary movies and some well-deserved popcorn binge eating post midterm hell week. 

And (big bonus here, guys) here's a little link to your ever-so basic wiki article on the history (brief) and origins (also brief) of Halloween, since so little of us know why we dress up and "party like there's no tomorrow." 

You're welcome. 
*Please read for the sake of learning. No exams or pop-quizzes will be administered, though comments and discussion are always welcomed. 
Ted Baker Dress | Chanel Lip-stain | Dollar Store Plastic Ring

Have a fun and safe Halloween! xx

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Oh, the Places You'll Go...

Oct 22, 2015
Location: Main Quad, Stanford, CA 94305, USA

Growing up was always a bit difficult. Right off the bat, I’ll allow you a bit of mental ease so your poor souls can relax. This is not a post on “never really fitting in” or teenage parent angst. Though I’d love to tell you all about my awkward grade school days when my hair braids were thicker than my neck, my enlarged stroppy bobble-head awkwardly sitting atop my malnourished looking build, and my inability to read English (my third language) rendered me nearly incapable of making any friends. Yup...I’ll have to pass for now - those days can wait. It is my personal belief that I’ve grown into my overly large, grotesque teeth. It took years (and a great deal of assistance from braces), but those days are finally over – and, as far as I’m concerned, that’s more than enough to keep me happy for eons to come.

Rather, this is a post on the difficulties of consistent change. The change that takes you from one country to another and back again, only to find that when you return, everything (including yourself) has changed.
Moving from country to country, city to city, has always had its incredible advantages. Eye-opening experiences and immersing oneself in various cultures and traditions should be experienced by all (surely, this would cease racism and prejudice to some extent). Yet what of the disadvantages? I don’t mean to speak of traveling in a negative light at all, rather, I speak of leaving one’s home behind to start countless new chapters in one’s life. What happens when you leave all you know for a place you’ve only read about?
My family moved often when I was young. Just as I would settle in, get back into the rhythm of school, and find a few friends, we were on the road again. In theory, it really does sound nice – I’ve never been one to grow attached to places or things (France and Morocco always being the exception), but it was always a bit of a mental toll. In hindsight, I believe it has shaped me that way – I never
fully let myself get comfortable as I know I’ll hit the road one day or another.
Leaving was always more or less difficult but I found returning to be the laborious part. With friends and family in almost every corner of the world, it’s difficult to see most contacts more than once every three or four years. Though we now have the luxuries of email, skype, facebook, and numerous other social platforms, the luxury of time has diminished. This has left a gap between me and so many. It has always been worrisome to return home after months or years and see old friends. I worry what we will discuss, if we’ve both changed too much, or if we no longer have anything in common. I’ve never been one to keep too many people very close in my life, and those who do seem to overcome these obstacles. I am so reclusive, I need others with the same mentality – the mentality that we don’t have to talk for weeks, months, sometimes even years, but we both know that once we reunite, we will pick up right where we left off.
I’ve been in Toronto for almost four years now. Graduation is just around the corner and I’ve found myself wondering where I’ll have to start anew in the upcoming term. It’s unlikely I’ll remain in Canada, and I ponder how that will affect my relationships in this country. Will I again find trouble settling in to a new city (possibly country abroad?) or will I find that, for once, it comes with ease? Leaving Chicago is never easy - but at least I know I'll always return there, even if for a short visit, as long as my parents are living there. I don't have that comfort with Toronto...

And that, my friends, is the difficulty of moving from place to place. Constantly making and losing those who were (at least for one point in your life) very close to your heart. 

Modcloth Dress | Dorothy Perkins Heels | Tommy Hilfiger Watch 
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Fall Time Sweetheart

Oct 18, 2015
Location: Hart House Building, 7 Hart House Cir, Toronto, ON M5S 3H3, Canada
Layering always seems the ideal fashion option - specifically in the warmer months when I find myself wishing I could layer up (obviously inadequate in the summer humidity). Consequently, I find myself eager for early fall. Blogging-culture is always keen on expressing the utmost joy and appetence for brightly colored leaves, coveted pumpkin spice lattes, and alluring oxblood garments; all a wonderful seasonal commodity. Yet we all, year after year, seem to forget how short lived autumn is and how instantaneously winter rolls in (perhaps it's the Toronto luck - though I hear it's been equally chilly in Chicago and Paris). Each September, respectively, brings around an aura of excitement for the upcoming fall, conveying the impression that perhaps this year will be gentler on us. A week or so are tame - warm enough for a short sleeved sweater, cool enough for a pair of thick tights and our favorite blazer. We then jump straight into winter - our enchanting knee-length jackets swapped for over-sized parkas...our necklaces frantically traded for the warmest scarves we manage to find buried deep within our winter boxes from the previous year. Our grievous underestimation of the upcoming chill leaves most in a melancholy slump until the Christmas season comes around (to which point we are all well used to the sub-zero F weather).  
These shots were taken a few days before the abrupt chill, during a time when Toronto's light winds and mildly cool weather made wearing light sweaters, skirts, and faux fur acceptable. The next few weeks, I foresee layers of leather and wool before the mid-November Indian summer (which, to say the least, leaves everyone remarkably astounded). Afterwards, it'll be a downhill spiral of snow storms and frigid wind chill well through late April. 
Hope you're having a pleasant midterm season! x
The Limited Sweater | Winners Skirt | HM Boots | RL Socks| Forever 21 Coat
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Let's Talk "Letting Go" & Eight Ways to Help Speed Along the Process

Oct 16, 2015


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Kiss Me...

Oct 13, 2015
October, oh October...how quickly and unexpectedly you manage to surprise us year after year....It seems only yesterday Milan, Tatiana, and I were snapping dreamy looks of sophisticated pieces we obtained by maxing out our credit cards (all were returned and the damage was fixed, I assure you), working diligently in a beautiful Toronto penthouse I managed to beg my way into using. Love was in the air that day (just over twenty-three weeks ago, thank you Insgtagram for helping me keep my life calendar in check!), you could say - or perhaps it was the whimsical garments talking. Adorned with lips, love, and the girly-est of touches, this was by far my most elegant (and expensive) shoot to date.
I've shot with Tatiana twice now, and both times were far beyond successful. It seems artists these days have become harder and harder to come by. In an over-saturated market of 'aspirings' and the ever growing use of social media, anyone can call themselves a model, makeup artist, photographer...as a result, its rendered singling out the creatives that truly have the "extra something" much more difficult.  That extra passion, the willingness to create something beautiful, the effortless nature they exude... Tatiana is everything you could want in model and more - she's the girl who understands the garments and the mood of each specific editorial, the girl who poses with little direction, who listens intently and responds positively and quickly to the team's remarks. She does not complain as her hair gets tugged and she does not roll her eyes as we discuss (sometimes ridiculous) extravagant posing options or props. Her willingness to produce outstanding work consistently trumps the possibility of 'comfort.' Our previous shoot together involved smoke bombs - they were incredibly hot to touch and made our eyes water and throats close up. Yet the photos were beautiful, and Tatiana, whose face was smothered in various colors of smoke, and whose hands I'm sure almost burned off from a jar containing a smoke bomb, looked as if she was most comfortable - dreamily basking in the magic of the mist, surely she was a well sought out prima ballerina in her previous life.
Photography - Mouna Tahar
Makeup Artist - Milan Seki
Model - Tatiana Tikhomirova
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Back it Up (With Lots of Factual Evidence, Research, and In-Text Citations, Please.)

Oct 9, 2015
Location: Stanford University, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
It seems everyone and their mothers has an 'opinion' these days and with the plethora of rapidly growing social media outlets, it's easier than ever to share them. Every single day I scroll through new social justice movements and countless rants via Facebook and Tumblr (neither of which I ever bother contributing to, if I'm being honest). Now, I'm all for educated debating - which I practiced in high school clubs and well throughout University - so why, you ask, do I sense some annoyance? Easy-peasy. Everyone is willing to have an 'opinion,' but it seems so little people are willing to actually do the research and back up their ideas with facts. Back up research? Yes. And I don't mean read through Facebook comments and come to a conclusion. I'm talking scholarly articles, books, news, literature, whatever. Just have a little bit of evidence to support your conclusion(s).
This week, in a class I wont disclose via the interwebs (slight fear that my professors might stumble upon this one day...surely unnecessary paranoia is my middle name), we discussed the never-ending debate on religion. Before I continue, I'd like to add (for the sake of my class' defense), this is a first year course. I am a fourth year. Yes, I needed an elective credit and yes, I heard this is a bird course. 
Continuing...I don't enjoy first year course all that much, at least as far as UofT first semester goes. First year tutorials are shit, and, unfortunately, discussion has become 'who can word barf the hardest, longest words and contribute the least substance and factual evidence within the span of an hour?' And what's the worst part about discussion with these types of people? They think they are right about everything. *AKA: close minded minds wont change. All you can do is shut your mouth, save your breath, don't bother, and spend your energy doing more productive things.
I've said it millions of times and I'll say it again; I am no scholar. I know that I am not the most knowledgeable person in any specific subject, I know that my opinions are solely my own, and I also know that if ever I were to debate something, I would probably have a little something-something to back my ass up. If I don't, I know a simple "I don't know very much about this topic, therefore I cannot contribute" would suffice. And, as unfortunate as it is, that is a lot more than a lot of people can say. Perhaps it's the "ME" syndrome, or the simplicity of posting all your ideas for your friends and the world to see. Anyways, all I'm trying to say is I can accept any opinion and belief you may have, as long as you can have a good argument (Hint: "I think this because that is right" is not an argument) and have some level of factual evidence behind it. It's easy to fall into the pattern of discussing things you don't know too much about - we're all guilty, and if I've done it, please call me out! So...do your research, and if you have, hurrah! We'll be good friends. I like you a lot. Let's discuss politics, foreign affairs, religion, whatever - I'm happy to. xo 

Oh, you're probably here to know what I'm wearing haha!...these were taken at the Stanford campus quad. 
HM skirt | Thrifted top | Dorothy Perkins sandals | Chanel watch
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I'll Figure You Out

Oct 2, 2015
At the peak of a California afternoon, the sun settles into the highest, center-most part of the sky, effortlessly destroying any chance of decent lighting as far as photography goes. Yet here I am, perhaps in the most dreamy, snapchat-able (after or tied with Hearst Castle?) visit of my trip, standing among any photographer's dream "location, location, location!" amidst overexposed, direct sunlight and de-saturating sun flares. All thanks to Meriam's immaculate (hats off to you, sis) down-to-the-very-last-minute itinerary. "There's no other time to visit. Places to see, things to do - it'll have to be noon." and so, we were there at 12pm sharp. (As someone who can walk in circles for six hours, I have some mad respect and gratitude for her itinerary skills.)

Any-who, I'm a determined little one - and I wasn't going to waste this pretty little number I so desperately (strategically, anyone?) saved for the Fine Arts Palace, no matter how many adjustments to my camera's ISO and Aperture I needed to make. I'll disregard any hellish lighting and painful wind for a good shot - behind or in front of the cam. This most likely stems from the fact that I've never been one to plan outfits weeks in advance when I pack, I simply throw a few most-worn pieces of similar shades and hope for the best for those 'living out of the suitcase' weeks (This outfit being the exception.) The moment I spotted this skirt, with its brilliant floral design and that dazzling poof that makes you want to go back to 1953 down town New York, I knew I had to make it mine. Move aside, shoppers - I'm gonna style the hell out of this one.

Fast forward three weeks (and then some). The skirt sat - safely, I assure you - in its pretty little wrapping on my desk chair - as I contemplated what on earth to wear with it. At the end of the day, no matter how many pinterest inspirations I stared at (surely glaring down the same photos for hours would spark my creativity), I was stumped. What on earth do you wear with a ginormous midi? A few options here: One, something equally baggy - a tucked in, button up, sheer shirt and statement jewelry otherwise only appropriate for evening (beautiful in theory and on sky-high models, terrible on average-height me). Two, a bralette (my mom would not approve, I'm sure.) Three, a very basic crop top. Luckily, easily accessible at your nearest Forever 21.

Ah....XXI basics, you've saved the day, yet again.

Sweet dreams you night owls (me).

L'Atiste Midi Skirt | XXI Top | Francesca's Boutique necklace | Style&Co Shoes (Macy's) | Tommy Hilfiger watch | Fossil bag
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