Intermission I. - the DuSable Museum

So,

I attended my very first rich, fancy, fundraising event a few days ago. I was, naturally, unsure of what I was going to be doing there since a. I have no money to give b. I'm only a student c. I'm not involved with the community who was running the fundraiser.

But, I went anyways because a friend of mine was doing spoken word there, and another friend of mine invited me as her +1 (I've always wanted to be a +1) and I take every chance I get to play dress up. The dress code was "business" and I'm never really sure what "business" really means, so I just put on a pink tulle dress and black shirt and everything was fine. (photos below)

It was a fun, and interesting event. Being surrounded by lawyers, bankers, investors, rich people in general, and having fancy mashed potatoes in cocktail glasses with mini cheesecake bites. I ate so, so, so, much--my friend and I joked that we might as will fill ourselves on this food since it's free. 

Look at how cute the desserts were!

We visited the refurbished (?) Roundhouse next to the DuSable museum, and it was breathtaking! So beautiful and eerie and big, and the first think I thought was: "I want to take photos here."

Lovely, right? But it's even lovelier in person. It's a beautiful, historic building that used to house horses that would be in horse races. Now, the DuSable museum wants to take this building and transform it into an exhibition house. This big room will be the "lobby", I guess, as well as an exhibition space, AND it'll be available for weddings, graduations, etc. I thought about maybe planning a future wedding here, but then I remembered that I want to basically recreate Kate Moss' wedding so I let that idea go.

But, wow. Sometimes I forget that I live right next to a city with such a rich history. With so many historically significant buildings that have beautiful, breathtaking architecture. Amazing, and such a fun night for me and my friends.

(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

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