My lovely, lovely kittens,

I have exciting news!!! I'm on my way (finally) to NYC!!!! Cue the drums and fireworks and happy crying, because this has been on its way for a long, long, long time now.

Not really, but I'm so nervous and really anxious and really excited to finally go to NYC, the city of my dreaaaammmss. Although, I'm pretty positive that it's not as great as the elaborate fantasy I've created in my head (because nothing ever is) from fictional novels and Glee fan fiction (lmao).

I'm excited to finally walk down the streets and MAYBE get photographed by a street photographer because I'm obviously going to be the most unique dressed (kidding).

So, why, you may ask am I going to the city of dreams, the big apple, the land of lovely lady liberty?

I've been accepted to the 2015 Teen Vogue University! 

Yes, maybe it's a big deal and maybe it's not. I'm not sure yet, but I'm excited nonetheless. It's taking place March 13-15 and I'll be staying at a location that is TBD and I'll be spending lots of time at the Teen Vogue headquarters, One World Trade Center.
But the acceptance has also brought along huge amounts of anxiety and stress because, lord jesus, what am I going to wear? What am I going to bring? Where am I going to stay?

This trip may bankrupt me. I've already spent $189 on a necklace and bracelet set and I think I might end up buying more things.

I'm anxious because I know I'm going to be completely overwhelmed by the conference. Not because there will be a lot of girls (there will be) but because I'm going to be completely out of my depth. No doubt, there will be a lot of privileged, upper class white girls who will be wearing designer clothing. Meanwhile, I'll be there trying to find my way through the crowd in not designer clothing. The fashion industry is seriously cut-throat, and I know this, but I've been able to avoid it thus far. What will I do when I finally have to confront the industry as what it is? Is it a space for me?

Who knows. I'm still excited.

Anyways, in preparation for this trip, I will be uploading a post covering everything I'll be bringing including makeup, skincare, wardrobe and that jewelry set I mentioned because it is seriously gorgeous.

Then, I'll be posting every night about my experience at the Teen Vogue conference with photos, writing, etc. I'm not sure what else I'll include but it'll be detailed and, hopefully, informative if any of you plan on applying next year!

So stay tuned! I've got a lot planned...

I love all of you,

Goodnight loves! I'll talk to y'all soon!

(photos by the lovely Linda Phung)

To the lovely turtlenecks in the world,

Alas, I finally understand why you were created and put in this world: to keep my fragile neck warm on chilly days from h-town to chi-town and to help me channel Funny Face Audrey every day. Yes, I understand why you were the uniform of the Beat generation/movement and now you mean everything sleek and chic. 

I adore how your fabric hugs the lines of my neck, elongating and slimming, you help me channel a stylish giraffe. 

Why, your minimalism and comfortableness makes me squeal and dance with joy (see below). I pair you with a pair of lovely red pumps and I am ready to charge, calmly and steadfastly down the road.

Your presence makes me feel confident enough to barge into Anna Wintour's office and demand a job. She'd take one look at my stylish, black turtleneck and hire me on the spot. For I am always in style, when you're around.

Oh how you make me so shy when you are around, making me feel like the princess that I am. I can't seem to bring myself to look at the camera.

Deer caught in the headlights  a turtleneck look.

Details: TURTLENECK: American Apparel, Pants: Mom's Closet, Bag: Vintage, Flower crown: DIY,  pumps: Nine West?

ph. Emma McVicar

If you've got it, flaunt it.

This cape fell into my hands and the day became beautiful. How should I pair it? Whimsical or bossy-chic? Definitely the latter, so slide on the cigarette pants, loose white shirt. Side pin the hair, and a bold black liner. Embellished black booties. Pout. for. days. 

Sure, it's not the most conventional of outwear, but it's effective at making a statement. Plus the satisfying swish of the cape is extremely empowering. 

Walk down the streets, and you feel like a revived Victorian. Quick, grab a pen, do a dance, be artsy. In fact, during my cape-daze I became a playwright. 

act 1 by Steffanee Wang

in those silly fantasies i have in my head, you’re sleeping next to me and my eyes flutter open. flutter because our eyelids are synonymous with the quiet beating of butterfly wings. but my eyes flutter open and you’re humming, vibrating, close to me. a warm cocoon. i smile. lean down, and pick up my laptop. or maybe a notebook. which one makes me look artsy-er. you’d think i was living a life of visual art. paying attention to what others will pay attention to. but my fingers are nimble—dancing over the keyboard, notebook, whatever, quick to catch this silent moment of togetherness. 

dance because the tips are my nails are ballerinas. i am dainty. so all of my limbs dance. stomp? never stomp. never trudge, or slam, or crush. pound.

pounding heart, in my chest, i’m too overwhelmed to continue.

three things happen:

1. close laptop

2. lay back down.

3. fall in love.

-end act 1-

Then put the books away, take a few photos, and fly off into the wind like the beautiful, winged butterfly you are. 

Details: Cape: American Apparel, Top: Zara Bottoms: GAP Boots: F21

Some Pink Sass

Lovelies--  It's been an exciting week for me. Halloween is coming up and I'm really excited about my costume. I am, however, missing a syringe to finish the costume off, so I need to get that. Does CVS sell syringes? Anyways, besides the upcoming parties and the inevitable "turn-ups", I also took a trip to a BDSM museum this weekend. It was very fascinating and I learned a lot about the history of pornography, BDSM, and how sexuality was represented in the past and how that representation changed as time went by. All of you in the Chicago area, go visit it sometime. It's off the Loyola Stop on the Red Line, and it's called the "Leather Archives & Museum" museum..... redundant? But just a word of warning: they hold nothing back, so, if you need to prepare yourselves, do that.

I really enjoyed this set of clothing I picked because it heavily features pink. And though I have had a history of despising the color pink, I've recently come to embrace the color; it's soft, and pretty, and there's definitely a societal message in wearing pink in there somewhere, but I'll leave it to you to try and decipher that. Pair my lovely fluffy pink sweater (that I bought for $5.45, holla to UO 50% off sales) with my fav fav fav Queen Bitch Necklace, and this combination is perfection. Oh, and I wore my Peter Rabbit socks, that I love so much, and I got some killer eye liner going. Ugh, perfect femme, girl power anthem.

My lovely, lovely, friend, Emma, took these photos, and they're wonderful as usual. She the most hilarious person I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and she does a killer Bane impression. Maybe I'll get her to guest blog here....but until then, go check out her blog, it's the funniest thing you'll read today.

Anyways, without further ado check out the photos below, feat. my beautiful campus that is a divine entity in itself and some badass architecture

(discussion question: why do I look so pouty?)

Details: Top: UO; Pants: GAP; Necklace: Some local jewelry store; Socks: China; Jellies: American Apparel; Backpack: COACH

Wang x H&M

Lovelies,

Alas, I almost forgot this collab was happening (since the first announcement which was like in March???) and now I'm really excited, excited for it. Especially since a lot of the pieces are perfect for winter in cold-as-hell Heavenston (made 2 oxymorons there).

I've got to admit, I wasn't too excited when I first looked at the pieces, since I'm not a very athletic person and everything seemed to be jogging/sports/exercise wear, but I've come to terms that the "sporty" look is (and has been) a thing, and that I might be digging it. I actually wrote an blogpost for the STITCH blog that should be dropping tomorrow, (link will be included here) but I thought I'd go more personal and in-depth with my opinions on everything Mr. Wang has to offer.

First and foremost, I absolutely am in love with the shameless promotion. Yes. Wang. Get it. Plaster your name on everything. Not only is it highly convenient for me, I think it's an amazing tongue-in-cheek act that is just calling and begging for the jokes that everyone knows are coming. Yes, I think Mr. Wang is very, very, very, much aware that his last name is also slang for penis, and yes, I think everyone who has the last name Wang is aware of that and so endlessly tired of hearing it come up again and again. I, for one, am excited to take pride, for once, in my last name and ethnicity and everything that comes with the territory of having WANG printed across my chest, since for the longest time I've hated my last name (despite the fact it means "king/royalty" in Chinese). So yes, you'll see me strutting down the street in my 59.95 grey, chic as hell sweater with my name printed across it.

Second, the unveil was not actually a surprise. His signature touch is creating high-end street wear and I remember being able to feel that vibe when I watched for the first time a collection he was presenting at NYFW a few years ago. It was the cut-outs for days leather dresses, and strappy gladiator heels. And I think a lot of that is here in this collection, especially with the white and black leather-ish shirts. Wang is phenomenal in that he can keep this magical touch in everything he creates, even as creative director for Balenciaga you can see that in the black and white and cutouts and loose fitting and chic ness that is minimalism, and, dare i say it, norm core.

Plus, I don't think I have to explain why I'm excited for the parkas and the leather puffer jackets and sweatshirts. I'm ready for a warm winter, tucked deep inside a $300 Wang parka. And who's gonna stop me?

If you guys haven't yet, check out the full collection here and get your credit cards ready when the collection drops November 6th.


Other Favorite Pieces:

Hello, My Funny Face

Lovelies, Greetings from behind the lens of a fantastic and HQ camera. Alas, you can now see clearly all my facial imperfections and flaws. I'm so excited to bring this post to you guys, because it was truly a dream and amazing experience to create these series of photos. Plus, it's finally a HQ debut of my Mia Wallace hair, and I'm in love, in love, in love with it. 

As you can tell from the title of this post, I woke up (***flawless) feeling very Funny Face Audrey-esque and fell into the trap of wearing all black everything. Except for my ruby red purse, but that is the only cross shoulder purse I own--I own like 5 clutches; clutches are my everything. The beautiful knit sweater is courtesy of my lovely photographer Miss E. She thrifted it, which reminds me that she and I went consignment shopping a few days ago. I've been on the hunt for the best fur coat (one that hopefully won't break the bank) and while on my hunt I found this amazing Cache 2 piece evening gown. Black, beaded, crop top with a straight skirt. Chic, classic, a piece that requires a lot to pull off. $60 of beauty and royalty and perfection. I love it with all my heart. I didn't buy it but I think it will be hanging in my closet soon enough. 

I've been busy getting back into the journalistic style of writing, which is difficult but also lovely. I'm currently supposed to be working on a piece for work (it's only 300 words and I've got 350 so whatever) and it's going along ok. It's amazing to feel so attached to a practice; journalistic writing--and writing in general--comes so easily to me. Anyways, enough babbling. Here's me channeling my Funny Face.

 Deets: Top: F21, Sweater: thrifted, Shoes: Target, Bag: F21, Socks: American Apparel

Back to School Dream

Lovelies,

It's lovely to be back in beautiful, beautiful Chicago/Evanston. After working 2 part time jobs in H-Town this summer, it's good to get back to studying, and freaking out about studying and what to wear. I apologize for the lack lack lack of posts but it's been hectic trying to settle down and get back in the swing of things and on top of that, trying to coordinate a time with my fantastic photographers. But good news! We got things coordinated and here's what we came up with. It's my back to school throw-together-outfit that happened to look pretty nice. 

I'm so happy with the photos and everything just turned out beautifully. It's all thanks to my 2 awesome, great friends, Carson Brown and Jesse Sparks; they took these lovely photos down below. 

Details on what I'm wearing are at the bottom of the post. 

(classic fashion blogger pose.)

Deeets: Cardi: Comme Des Garçon PLAY (story on how I got this bby in a future post) Top: American Apparel Lolita Top Pants: UO Shoes: AEO flip flops Lips: CoverGirl 307 'seduce'