Spring Fever

Hey kids, I hate to have to do this, but I'm putting the blog on the lam for a month or so. I'm just way too busy to deal with planning photoshoots, and nothing is worse than a half-assed effort. Don't worry, I will be back once things in my life settle down, but for now I just have to keep running and hope that time slows down enough that I can complete all the things I need to do to graduate and find a summer job. I can see the finish line but it's gonna take some sprints (and a lot of energy drinks) to get there!

If you wanna do me a favour, pray to the gods that I make it. (And by gods I mean all the fabulous people who came before: Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, and of course Alexander McQueen).

See you all on the other side of the looking glass... Riella, out!

image from here
originally from Vogue, March 2013

Bright Ideas

"That's my job, to push and push, even if 98% of people don't understand what you've done this season, maybe they will next season." ~ Nicholas Ghesquiére, W magazine, Nov. 2012.

Going with the flow and being one of the crowd has never been my thing. I may be quiet and avoid being in the spotlight as much as possible, but that doesn't mean that my opinions are any less chaotic and revolutionary than those who speak out. Instead I opt for the quiet revolution; the revolution that starts at home - usually in my closet; the revolution that requires no words, just a little smile in the eyes. 

The first day of grade 11 (an auspicious day for fashionable high schoolers) I decided to take it up a notch and went all out. Looking back, I cringe to think that I paired a pleated pinstripe skirt with fishnet leggings, and pink&black pumps, but it was a statement of who I was to become. It was this year that I stopped caring what people said and I started taking risks. I wore satin cargo pants with heels, pink plaid miniskirts were in abundance, and my fabulous teal velvet blazer made its first appearance. This time period is now so far back in my memories that I no longer remember whether I actually got strange looks from my classmates, but I'm betting that I did. 

Considering that I still get odd looks from people all the time over what I wear it's pretty safe to say that I'm never going to be one of those girls who goes with the flow of current fashion. I'll keep wearing my cut-off Jack Daniel's shirt, mismatching patterns to my heart's content, and laughing at people who don't understand how I can wear such high heels without tripping. Right now the weather (yuck) has made it incumbent that I tone it down for the sake of practicality, but for some reason the knee high equestrian boots that are one of my Winter staples still cause quite the stir so I guess I'm still accidentally pushing the proverbial envelope. 

*blouse by Joe Fresh, skirt by Suzy Shier, leggings by Sirens. 

The Dreams we Dream

oh yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about

We all dream, whether we dream nightmares of being hunted through the city streets or fantasies of winning a million dollars. Even if we know that these dreams haven’t happened, they can be so realistic that we start to think that they’re only dreams because they haven’t happened yet. All it takes is that one little word - yet - for us to start dreaming again, but this time in the real world. We let ourselves be led by our lucid dreams in the hope that they make the crossing from the Dreamlands to the Waking World.

Lately I’ve been dreaming that I’m back on the West Coast, back in my heartland of Victoria, back where I belong. They've been so realistic that I can smell the cherry blossoms that filled my old neighbourhood, have that feeling of mystery that only the twilight of the Island brings, hear the soft roar of the Dallas Beach ocean on its rounded stones, and wake up knowing that I'll find more treasure in the stacks of Russell's Books. Obviously my dreams are a product of my waking desires, but the dreams have become so real that I’m starting to feel like they’re going to happen. Like if I just apply for the right jobs, cross my fingers, and practice being patient I’ll be back on the best coast before I know it.

Judging by the number of job applications to Victoria (3) compared to Calgary/Edmonton (20+) my dreams are leading me to have completely unrealistic expectations. The question now becomes: do I place all my bets on the city of dreams or do I keep spreading the love and applying to everywhere under the sun?

my old stomping grounds - the oldest Chinatown in Canada!

just in case you're wondering, I used to live right on the cusp of "Old people who can't afford Oak Bay" and "Trendy Hippies," and I often visited "Dead People" because that's where the neatest cemetary (and my grocery store) is!

It's Spring in Vic already, and the blossoming trees are out in full force.
Yet in Halifax, I'm stuck with snow, slush, and wind...

Images from Tumblr.

Best Money I Ever Spent: a Sunday Shoe Story

At the end of every day, I'm thankful that I spent my money wisely and bought a super amazing mattress. I swear it's like sleeping on a cloud, and after a long week it's nice to kick off the stilettos and the hard-girl attitude and nestle down for some well-earned zzz's. Especially right now, when I know what the finish line looks like, but I still have a marathon to run. 

Metaphorically, of course. 

Like I run for anything (haha). 

Bonus: finally swatched Sally Hansen's "Blue It"!
It's a blue week apparently. 

Aldo "Mickolick" heels, Kismet shirt, thrifted tank top, Bongo skinny jeans

Sunday Bloody Sunday (or Saturday)

Those of you with a morose sense of humour will probably find this little story quite funny, but for those of you with weak constitutions I highly suggest that you stop reading now...

I'll go to pretty much any length for my blog, and I sacrifice many hours every week planning, plotting, executing, and editing without complaint. I get up early to catch the morning sun, I keep one wall of my apartment free of decoration as a backdrop, I research/agonize over inspirations, and I spend countless hours playing with my wardrobe to find the right combination. But this week my blog demanded a greater sacrifice than I've ever offered. This week it wanted blood. From the middle toe of my right foot to be exact. So now I'm sporting 3 bandaids, swearing off open-toed shoes for a while, and praying that I don't get some mysterious infection which precipitates a visit to the doctor (shudder).

The lesson in all of this: red dresses (and the days that go with them) are treacherous, narcicism will be the downfall of the best of us, and even if something doesn't look sharp it can still leave a nasty scar.

Dress by Claude d'Alban, flower hairclip by Ardene, tights by Betsey Johnson.

Romance Intolerance

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’m not a big fan of all that lovey-dovey crap that other people call romance. I’m the girl who hates getting flowers, would be more concerned about the poor guy’s ruined pants when he gets down on one knee, will think of WWI/II when people say V-Day, and (honest to Chanel) told her boyfriend that she didn’t want to see him on Valentine’s Day. Oh, and did I mention that little love letter I set on fire last year? Yeah. It happenned.

My attitude towards romance hasn’t really changed over the years, but lately I’ve been questioning why exactly I feel this way.  Most people assume that I can’t stand romance because I’m bitter, I’ve never had someone love me that way, I choose the wrong men, etc. Sure that could be a reason, but I don’t think it’s that easy. Even though my romantic endeavors have all gone down in flames, I still have examples of unconditionally loving relationships in my life. My parents’ relationship is the big example, and I feel like their attitude towards love is what I base mine off of. They love eachother, but there’s no drama – whether good or bad.

Their realistic relationship prides routine (like customized anniversary dragons) over extravagance (like weekly romantic dinners out). They do get annoyed with eachother (like the time my mother made homebaked croutons, and my father announced that he didn’t like croutons), but they bypass all the drama with stability. Even their wedding was no nonsense: they signed the papers at the house we still live in, with only their closest friends in attendance and a potluck dinner to celebrate. And our first dog was the bridesmaid. Yet, they're the ones who have stayed together forever while others get divorced. 

So, when it comes down to it, is it a bad thing that I don’t believe in all the extraneous baggage and drama that comes with a relationship? Afterall, when you’re done playing the dating game…

image from Tumblr. 

Black Hearts (on Fire): a Sunday Shoe Story

Your heart's on fire, but you're cold to the touch

I know you want it, but you love yourself too much

Your heart's on fire, but your head is a rut

You best believe me, I ain't ever givin' up. 

Hey, hey, yeah. 

Anne Michelle "Essence" heels

Just Another Leather Jacket?

Each leather jacket has its own personality, or at least mine do. This beauty (a very very vintage Pierre Balmain) caught my co-worker's eye when we were all wandering around the store after we had closed for the day, waiting for management to finish their paperwork, and he insisted that I try it on. I was instantly in love. The asymmetrical zipper, the wide collar, the super-cropped length, and a pervasive smell of 1980s leather sealed the deal, and I knew I had to bring it home. Plus it was like $4 with my staff discount. Talk about your perfect love affair. Most people find this jacket a little odd, but I can see it's a diamond in the rough, and my closet just wouldn't be complete without it.

Hi, I'm a Mac

Whenever the topic of computers comes up in conversation I inevitably find myself under fire because I have an Apple computer, I’ve always had Apple computers, and I would never dream of switching to anything but another Apple computer. Yes, I realize this makes me an active member of the so-called “Cult of Mac,” but let me just explain a little something to you: I DON’T CARE! I happen to enjoy being a card-carrying member and advocate for the brand because I genuinely like Macs, and nothing you can say is ever going to make me change my mind for the following reasons.

My Mac does exactly what I need it to do. It has multiple internet browsers, plenty of Office-type programs, and a plethora of creative software for making music, movies, photography, and art. The only thing that my Mac doesn’t do is gaming. But, let me ask you this: do I want to play computer games? No. No I do not! If I want something fun to do I’ll go find a book or watch a movie. Everything else that your PC can do, my Mac can do, and chances are it can do it better. Case and point: database management software. Who needs Microsoft Access when we have Filemaker Pro?

I know you shouldn’t judge a something by it’s cover, but let’s take a moment to be honest here. We’re all pretty shallow when it comes to visual appeal, and I’m no different. How an Apple computer looks might not appeal to you, but it appeals me (just like I don’t find your boyfriend attractive, but you do). Aesthetics are different for everyone, and I don’t judge you for your choices, so you can just shut up about mine!

Unlike most people who I’ve argued with about Macs vs. Windows, I have actually used many (far too many) Windows computers so I have a basis for comparison. I’ve learned the ins and outs of how to work the systems of my opposing council, but I still find them lacking when compared to how my Mac works. It’s not just a situation of “this is what I was raised with, and therefore I have a bias.” Windows, ,you have been judged, and you have been found lacking. I bet that the majority of you who would argue staunchly that Windows is better have never laid a finger on a Mac, much less been forced into learning the amount of Window’s based software that I have. So go ahead, I dare you, to learn the Mac operating system. Then we can talk.

Don’t even get me started on Windows 8…