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Cloud Pearls

All outfits need a starting point--the spark of inspiration. For me there's never one consistent point of inspiration; sometimes it's an image I saw in an editorial or look I walked down the runway, or some pretty scene I saw while walking or driving on my way somewhere else, or even just being the nearest dress to my bed when I wake up in the morning. Since summer styles tend to be incredibly minimal (to the point of boredom!) with a mere dress and shoes combination I tend to focus on jewelry more as a building block. I recently received a couple of pieces from Cloud Pearls and her handmade, color-blocked necklaces are keeping me inspired right now. With this pretty red, pale pink, and mint one I decided on a navy palette to make it pop and then coordinated with nautical cardigan. Everything's still light and easy enough to survive the heat of the day while I get to feel pulled-together instead of overly "plain Jane."

Outfit details:

cardigan ℅ Hello Holiday

necklace ℅ Cloud Pearls

ASOS dress (old, similar)

Zara purse

Topshop sandals (old, similar)

*pictures by Kate

Labels: asos, deer creatures, hello holiday, outfits, teen vogue

Familiar Territory

A host of old favorite collide in this post--one of my favorite dresses (which is completely worn to death), railroad tracks (the state I live in might change, but I always hunt down quiet railroad tracks for pictures since college), and my classic trench coat (also worn to death). The best thing about old favorites is when you get an opportunity to take a break from them by going away, or putting them in a box in the basement, and coming back to them with fresh eyes and a new appreciation. Even your favorite meal gets tiring when it's the only thing you know how to cook and you're forced to eat it every day, but after some variety it's nice to return to something familiar. And no matter how familiar the train tracks and no matter how many times I go and don't see trains, I do spend the whole time looking over my shoulder...

Outfit details:

ASOS trench coat (customized)

Triptych dress (old, similar)

belt ℅ Modcloth (sold out, similar)

Tabbisocks tights

Seychelles heels

J Crew purse (old, similar)

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Labels: asos, outfits, teen vogue

Wild Birdseed Hill

Thomas and I photographed a couple of engagement sessions for his friends recently and it's been quite fun, but I'm also learning that it takes some convincing to get people into random fields and patches of wilderness. Even if it's not far off the beaten path, people seem to picture manicured lawns and grandeur houses as the best backdrops for photographs. While those can definitely work, when it comes to portrait photography (even simple outfit photos for a blog!) the background is secondary, so something basic and even wild works quite well. Fields like this one, which Thomas calls "wild birdseed hill" even allow you to play with foreground--placing yellow flowers in front of the lens to float like orbs in the finished pictures. It's all a learning process; figuring out how to communicate your vision and make people comfortable and achieve the images they desire--it's definitely good that the pressure is minimal since we're only photographing as a favor and in the end you just want people to be happy with their pictures.

Outfit details:

Korkease booties (old)

*pictures by Thomas

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Labels: asos, ireland, northern ireland, outfits, teen vogue, travels, vintage

Hanami

People usually associate the Japanese term "hanami" with cherry blossoms, but strictly speaking hanami means flower viewing. A literal practice of stopping to smell the flowers in the form of festivals, outdoor parties, and picnics. In Japan most festivals revolve around the cherry blossoms, but I'm trying to have a little "hanami" of my own in Northern Ireland with whatever blooms I can find. I did have the good fortune of studying abroad in Japan when the cherry blossoms bloomed (to go my spring semester was not a coincidence) and I can still recall how magical it felt to walk to school as pink petals floated through the air and kids rode by on their bicycles in a happy babble I was only just beginning to understand. It was one of those changing springs when not only winter is cast off but you also shed an old skin and your life starts to become something different. I feel a similar shift this spring as if more than the weather will change in the next few months. I'm rambling, in most ways this is just another ubiquitous "yay spring" post.

Outfit details:

ASOS jacket (old, similar)
Les Mirettes heart brooch

Choies dress

heart tights

Seychelles boots

*pictures by Thomas

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Labels: asos, ireland, northern ireland, ootd, outfits, spring, teen vogue, travels

Red Phone Booth

Excuse me while I act like the American I am and get a kick out of a red telephone booth--it's better than attempting to turn faux British, no? I feel like I must justify many of my recent photographs and ramblings by stating "I'm a tourist." Anyway, aside from novelty I think this neglected red box surrounded by white blooms (and frighteningly filled with cobwebs) is actually a rather pretty spot. I find the chipped paint and faded lettering rather charming. I suppose next on my stereotypical UK tourist highlights reel should be a double decker bus--hopefully I can find one rusting away in a field since abandoned objects are always more likely to catch my eye.