One of a Kind Finds: October 2013

Hi there! Today is the 31st so that means two things: 1) it's Hallowe'en, so happy Hallowe'en, guys!, 2) it's the end of the month, so here's this month's One of a Kind Finds. If you don't know what this new series is, I first spoke about it in this post right here.

I actually bookmarked a ton of items this month, but I managed to narrow it down to eight blog-worthy items. Most of them have ridiculously crazy colours and prints while one of them speaks quite clearly for itself. See what I did there? Yeah, I do lame stuff like that. Click through for this month's list!

Costume Inspiration: 4 Costumes Already In Your Closet

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Hi there! Hallowe'en is just around the corner (it's tomorrow). No costume? No problem. Well, technically, it is a problem and probably a bit stressful, but don't worry! Here are five costumes that you can put together with items already in your closet so you don't even have to leave your house.

And guys - I probably gave myself so many chills (not the good ones, either) while writing this post. The eyes just kept starting at me, it was awful. Most likely only because this was written late at night. Oops.

Don't Wanna Dress Up? 3 Costume Alternatives

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Hi there! Though some of us are super enthusiastic about dressing up for Hallowe'en and plan our costumes a month ahead, others just aren't that into or don't have the time to put together and awesome posum costume. If you don't want to look like a total party-pooper and want to look a bit festive, keep on reading for some outfit ideas or simple little things you can buy or make to Hallowe'en-ify yourself!

Condé Nast Kills Its Internship Program (and Fashion Enthusiasts Dreams)

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Hi there! Thursday night, after school, I was scrolling through mu Bloglovin feed and my jaw literally dropped to my keyboard when I saw the headline "How Will Condé Nast Survive Without Interns?" Fashionista covered the story of how the HUGE magazine publishing company famous for publishing Vogue amongst other big-name magazines was to end its internship program in 2014. If you've been keeping up with your Twitter or blog feed, you've probably heard about it, too.

So I snooped around and learned that the alleged reason why they decided to shut the program down was due to lawsuits concerning how Condé Nast was underpaying its interns and they sued. The only action that they seemed to think was forceful enough to stop the situation from worsening was to shut it all down. Nice, eh?

Sunday Funday: Life is an Adventure

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Hi there! Where has this week gone? It's already over and we're starting yet another week, a new beginning. That's how I like to think of things. A friend of mine has instilled that in me over the past few years that I've known her. Before, that's how I thought of things, but I wasn't nearly as hardcore about it as I am now. New beginnings give you more leeway to forgive yourself and give yourself a break. Every Sunday, I'm like, "This week, I'm going to go to bed early and not be a sleep-deprived-yet-semi-cheerful zombie for the rest of the week." I think you can guess how many times I actually went through with that.

But enough of my rambly intro. Let's get on to my other rambly rambles!

Style Diary: Grandma's Ombré

Hi there! I'm going to start off by saying that it's freaking cold where I live. It was perfectly fine the Monday when I took these photos, the ideal weather I'd say, but now, the cold follows me everywhere. In class, when I'm waiting at my bus stop, when I'm at the gym, and even when I'm at home. I mean, just leave me alone, man.

Costume Inspiration: Roaring 20's Flapper Girl

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Hi there! I remember last year, I really wanted to be a glamorous flapper girl from the 20's, but when I got to the costume shop, all the costumes didn't fit me and were ridiculously expensive (think $80+). I obviously didn't end up getting it and I just thought it'd be more fun to put together your outfit, as opposed to go out and buy one with all the pieces of the puzzle put together.

This year, after a friend mentioned to me that she wanted to be a flapper girl for Halloween, I decided to put together a little mini guide of how to achieve that and not (completely) break your wallet. Sure, there are a few pricier items here and there, but if you have the money, think it's going to be a staple in your closet, or think that it's simply an amazing piece, splurge on it. If not, DIY it!

5 Ways Fashion Made Me a Happier Person

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Hi there! The fashion industry is universally known for being cutthroat and intense, but why dwell on the negative side of things when there's so many more positive things about it, right? Fashion has certainly created many hardships for me (which I will not get into), but it has all been worth it. At the end of the day, it makes me extremely happy over the past few years especially. Here are the ways fashion has added an extra-glimmery ray of sunshine in my life. Think of this post as an extra-strong cup of coffee on a glum Wednesday morning. Let's hope you hope you catch my drift.

Looks for Less: Hailee Steinfeld's Ender's Game Looks

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Hi there! Style Generis is all about putting a unique twist on pretty much everything, from your style to what you hope to achieve in life. In a world full of copycats, I always get really giddy when I come across a celebrity, or anyone, really, who goes out of the box with what they wear and aren't picking out of the same closet as everyone else.

Hailee Steinfeld is one of those people. She has this air of sophistication about her, but still dresses in a very age-appropriate way. Her style on the Ender's Game press tour around the world was especially perfect, so I recreated two of my favourites with labels that we can actually afford and are perfect for a party or a night out.

Current Love: Plaid/Tartan

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Hi there! It seems as if everyone has jumped on the plaid/tartan bandwagon for fall. The print often associated with the Scottish or a lumberjack's daughter's attire seem to have been incorporated in most of top bloggers' outfit posts sometime in the past month or so. Or am I the only who noticed that?

Sunday Funday: Let's Enjoy It While It Lasts

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Hi there! Because I had Monday off, this week was a pretty short one. Not much happened, to be honest with you, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to skip out on a Sunday Funday! It was just one of those chill weeks were you just kind of sit back and take every little thing in and soaking up as many of the awesome things that are happening to you as it happens.

To Thrift or Not to Thrift?

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Hi there! Ever since Macklemore's "Thrift Shop" started to hit airwaves and became The Song in teenagers' lives, it seems that a lot more people now shop in thrift stores.

For some families, thrifting is a pretty big thing and the parents introduce their kids to that kind of shopping early on in their lives while other families never even talk to their kids about it. I happen to be a part of the second category.

I know that I've spoken a bit about the awesomeness of thrift stores before on my blog, but I've never really gone in depth about. I had never even heard of thrift shops until middle school, so two years ago, when one of my friends mentioned it and because my school was so close to one.

To be completely honest with you, at first, I was really snobby about it and thought it was disgusting. "Buying other people's old clothes?! EW." Keep in mind that that was after a long phase of wearing nothing but Aeropostale t-shirts with skirts and jeans. But then, I started to (kind of) develop a personal style and thought that buying clothes that other people wouldn't know where to find was actually pretty darn cool.

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Let's go back to how I thought it was disgusting. The other week when I passed a Salvation Army and a Goodwill on my way home, I asked my parents to just drop me off there while my brother and them went to Toys 'R Us or something. I was beyond ecstatic about it because the only thrift shopping I've ever done was at the store close to my old middle school and I wanted to get a taste of the more "common" thrift stores.  

My parents, I mean, they're awesome and loving and all, but they just don't get thrift stores. They just think it's weird and for people who don't have enough money to afford new clothes. Which is so not true, but besides the point. Thankfully for me, they reluctantly let me go anyway. I jumped out of the car and semi-pranced, semi-walked to Goodwill. You know that "walk" that you do when you're so excited about something but are trying to contain your excitement? Well, that's exactly what I was doing.

I walked into the store, and sure, it smelled a bit funny, but I was just so, so excited. I gleefully went through every hanger in the store (except for the men's section), eager to find a hidden treasure. Oddly enough, I got found my treasure on the fitting room bench when I went in to try some other stuff on that didn't end up fitting. I was this ombre knit cropped sweater that resembled something that I saw on UO's website a while back and I just fell in love with it right then and there. Funny how these things happen, eh?

After paying and leaving the store, five dollar-sweater in hand, my parents were kind of pissed. They frowned upon me shopping there and even told me that they donated dead people's clothes to those stores and forbid me from ever shopping there again. I know, it's melodramatic and all, but I want to know what you guys think. Sure, it's possible that they donate dead people's clothes to the Salvation Army and Goodwill or whatever, but do you see the history behind the clothes, or do you just think it's gross? Do you shop at thrift stores? Let me know what you think in a comment below! I'm so freaking curious.

P. S. I love my parents. This post isn't supposed to be a rant or whatever about how annoying it is that they don't like thrift shops. Maybe it is to you, but I just thought it was interesting.

Thanks for reading!

- J

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Style Diary: Prints Charming

 Hi there! Aren’t you all happy that it’s Friday? I had Monday off from school because of Thanksgiving, but I feel like this week has just gone by way too slowly. It’s weird.

It’s starting to get a bit colder where I am. Now, in the mornings, I have to zip up my jacket and hide all the awesome layering that I have going on or else I’d freeze to death. It’s the same in my classrooms. I don’t understand why they’re so cold. If I’m downstairs for a class, I wouldn’t be able to get by in anything thinner than a sweater. It really does suck. I mean, how hard would it be just to turn it up a bit and warm our poor, withered souls? 

Costume Inspiration: Taylor Swift from 22

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Hi there! If you're starting to think about your Hallowe'en costume (which everyone should be doing right now) and you just so happen to be a Taylor Swift fan, maybe you want to be her for Hallowe'en. You know, just maybe. 

I put together two outfit recreations of two of the outfits she wore in her music video for the song "22." They're pretty inexpensive and easy to recreate, so it won't be hard on your wallet if you're looking for a budget-friendly costume this year.

What to Where: Lazy Fall Day

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Hi there! I feel like I haven't done one of these What to Where posts in the longest time and I really do miss them. So today, I decided to bring these babies back! 

You know those days when you have somewhere to be, but you don't want to spend hours getting all dolled up and pretty? Well, these outfits are for you! And me. 

DIY Inspiration: Combat Boots

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One thing that I've noticed the girls at my school wear religiously, but after a while, the boots all look the same and we're all on the hunt to find a pair that look unique and different from the staple brown or black faux leather ones.

Because I love to DIY, here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing on how to add that unique flair to your Plain Jane boots. That is if you have a pair to spare. I would not recommend doing any of these DIYs if you only own one pair because they are a huge staple in one's closet. If you manage to find another pair for a reasonable price, DIY those instead. Just a tip!

Prayer Stick: Give Thanks

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Hi there! It's Thanksgiving today for us Canadians, so for all of you reading this right now, happy Thanksgiving! I first got the idea of calling this post a prayer stick from the movie Sorority Wars where they mentioned it once. It's a stick that was passed around the table everything Thanksgiving that family had together and each person would get a chance to say what they were thankful for.

I've never had the whole fancy schmancy family dinner with a stuffed turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and what not, but this whole prayer stick concept is something that I'm really excited about, so I guess I'll just get the ball rolling.

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This year, I'm so thankful for all the opportunities that I've been given and all the good fortune that I've had. I can't even begin to process all the heartwarming things that have happened to me, especially over the past year. I'm thankful for the wonderful, wonderful people in my life... my amazing friends and family whom I couldn't live without. Thank you for sticking around and supporting me even when I was at my brattiest. I'm thankful to actual have people reading what I have to say and actually following my blog, which honestly just blows my mind. There are without a doubt so many other things that I'm thankful for, but to put that all in one blog post would be just too much.

I think it's important to remember to be thankful and appreciate what you have. Sometimes, we get so caught up in our lives and our seemingly enormous problems to remember to do so, but take today (or for all you Americans out there, a month from now) to just reflect on all the amazing people in your life and things that have happened to you over the course of your life.

Now, I pass the prayer stick on to you. What are you thankful for this year?

Thank you so very much for reading, darling!

- J

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Sunday Funday: The Storm Before the Storm

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Hi there and happy Thanksgiving to all the Canadians reading! I know that it's technically on Monday, but no one really thinks of Monday as Thanksgiving, right?

It's been a short week (I have a four-day weekend), but a pretty hectic one. Lots of things happened and like any other Sunday Funday, I'm going to tell you what they are. If you're interested what's going on in my life at all.

Let's Be Different

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Hi there! Today, I’m going to be talking about something pretty close to my heart: being fearlessly different.

I went through a lot of phases in my life. Every time I switched to a new school (this is my sixth!), I always seem to have a personality switch. At one point, I wanted so desperately to fit in and begged my mom to buy me the clothes that the “cool” girls were wearing. It was pretty bad. I know that I’m only fourteen and those of you who are older than me are probably thinking, “Ohmygosh, she’s being SO melodramatic. Like, seriously,” but I feel like looking back on that now, it was a really big learning experience. Well, that and the huge pile of Aeropostale graphic tees on my closet floor.

The past few weeks that I’ve roamed my high school halls, observing and taking note of what the other students were doing, I noticed quite a few things. One being that all of them, and by all, I mean about 75%, are all wearing the same. Freaking. Thing. There are about five outfit combinations and they just go in a cycle. It’s as if they’re all drinking from the same, intoxicated water that has completely rid them of their own personal style. Each girl is like a copycat of another and it just bothers me. A lot.

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A question that I’ve started asking myself, say, three or four years ago is “Why be the same when we’re all different?” Sure, there are more eloquent ways to put it, but I’m just being frank. Why the hell would you go and copy piece by piece what someone is wearing instead of letting your own personal style shine through? That’s my question. Honestly, it’s as if these girls’ closets are only full of leggings, yoga pants, crop tops, socks, and Adidas slippers.

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If you are one of those people who are mindlessly following the pack, whether it be in fashion, a group of friends, whatever part of your life it may be in, ask yourself this: are you happy with being that little follower? Don’t you want something more? I know I would.

Back in the day when I was following the pack, I certainly didn’t feel happy, or very confident at all. I was always worrying, “Oh, is this outfit cool enough? Am I wearing the right brands?” I was so wrapped up in stupid stuff like that and it honestly sucked.

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Now, I wear what I want to wear. I do what I want to do (unless I’m not allowed, of course). I dream dreams that make my heart flutter with delight, not someone else. Life’s too short for you to try to please everyone out there. In the end, how you felt, and how you remember the situation will be all that matters. So go out there, be confident, be brave, and do what makes you happy. If you’re happy with being a follower and wearing what everyone else is, go ahead, I won’t be stopping you. But if you’re not happy, do something about it.

What do you think about being different? Is it something you strive to be? Did you ever go through a phase when you just followed the pack? Share your story in a comment down below!

Thank you so much for reading!

- J

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Style Diary: Psychedelic Minion

Hi there! First off, just to clarify, I meant “psychedelic” as in colourful, not in a drugged state. Just in case that was unclear or something.

Right now where I am, the weather is really unpredictable. One day, it’ll be like 20 degrees and the next, it’s freaking six degrees in the morning. It’s kind of hard to plan outfits when the weather is being so annoying, especially on those cold days when I have to put on a huge freaking sweater over top of everything. Not cool, Mother Nature, not cool.

Costume Inspiration: Tris from Divergent

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Hi there! Today is Style Generis's first ever Hallowe'en costume tutorial-type thing! Woot woot! To start off this year's series, I've put together two/three outfits inspired by Tris Prior from the upcoming movie/crazy awesome book Divergent by Veronica Roth. 

Looks for Less: Fashion Month S/S 2014

Hi there! Fashion Month just wrapped up and I wanted to give you guys something in addition to a standard highlights post and this is what I came up with!

Sometimes, well, a lot of the time, it seems as if the people attending the shows are always trying their hardest to rival each other's outfits, as if it's a competition of who can sport the wildest, most attention-grabbing outfit. Often times, they even rival the clothes on the runway!

The people who are privileged enough to go to these shows have a pretty decked out wardrobe - a wardrobe not all of us can afford. Here are three of the outfits I recreated from the street style this season.

Designer Delicacies: Elvira 't Hart's Vision

Hi there! Today, I'm going to be introducing to you a designer with such a unique vision that I can't help but fall in love with. Elvira 't Hart has always loved drawing, ever since she was a little girl, and once she got interested in fashion, she put her two loves together and created something would cause any artist or fashion enthusiast to squeal with delight: wearable drawings.

Quick and Easy Outfit Formulas for Fall

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Hi there! A lot of us are probably pretty burnt out creatively when it comes to putting together outfits after the first month or so after summer. I know I am! To get all of you back in the mood to dress to the nines every single day and wow everyone around you, here are some quick and effortless outfit ideas for the season.

Sunday Funday: Epiphanies

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Hi there! Sometimes, there are moments when I mentally freeze time (kind of) so I can make the moment go by all slowmo and do a deep voice-over like in the movies. Only, it's all in my head and the people around me just think I'm being all quiet and shy. This week, I had a few of those moments when I just realised that yeah, high school's supposed to be hard and tough and what not, but I'm having the best time. I'm surrounded by such amazing people and so much freedom and it's just amazing. I'm honestly loving it so much.

Deep stuff aside, here are my highlights of the week/things I'm excited for!

tbh, How Honest Are You?

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Hi there! At first, I wasn’t so sure if I wanted to write this post because I was worried that it’d be too rambly and pointless, but I believe that one should do one thing that scares him or her every day. This is that one thing.

I was never one of those tween girls who faked their age to get a Facebook. I waited patiently until I was thirteen, nearly fourteen, actually, before getting an account. It was never something that I felt I needed, but I got it anyway because a) I wanted to stay connected with my old friends, and b) a Facebook page would be useful for my blog.

I’ve heard of a lot of stories of cyberbullying and just lots of fake things online, but that Facebook was just the worst. Not many people were getting bullied on Twitter (I had an account since I was 10) or Tumblr or whatever. At least not as much. Facebook was like the most popular social media site, but it didn’t live up to its name. At least the positive one.

To be honest, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was getting myself into. I certainly didn’t know what it was until I actually made the account and a few months passed. At the beginning, all I was thinking was, “Thank the heavens, I’m not addicted to Facebook,” because I was really, really worried about that. Then, more recently, I noticed stuff like, “lms for a tbh” as statuses and “you’re a beaut” in comments and the person would reply with something like, “no, that’s you.” You might be thinking, “That’s news to you?!” I assure you, it really isn’t, but it was my last straw, I guess you could say.

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To quote a wonderful, wonderful Lorde song, “the internet raised us.” Well, let me give you my two cents on the internet.

The internet opens you to fake people, fake voices, fake everything. I mean, where else are you going to find these kinds of things besides in stereotypical high school hallways? Don’t get me wrong, I love the internet. I love the resourceful, inspirational, and blogging side of things, but it’s things like reading those statuses and those comments that make me wonder what kind of world we’re living in.

Honesty has gone out the door and when we have a fight with someone, we’ll get more from their cryptic Facebook status or their latest Tumblr than from the person themselves. I would know because I nearly single-handedly ended a friendship with one of my best friends last year because of a stupid little post.

Why do we post things like that? What are the odds that you’re actually being honest when you’re doing one of those stupid tbh’s? Slim to none. What’s the point of telling each other that we’re “gorgeous”? Because it has become the norm and a courtesy to do so. Now, why is that? I don’t know about you, but it’s freaking irritating, but a cautionary tale, you could say.

Do you have any arguments or thoughts to bring to the table? Well, please do in a comment below! Ooh, and tell me if you want to see more… controversial, I guess, posts like these, as well!

Thanks for reading!

- J

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Style Diary: Pumpkin Spice Latte

Hi there! When I think of fall, I think of burnt orange colours and pumpkin pie. I'm pretty determined to eat some pumpkin pie this fall, it has been decided. 

Desserts aside, this outfit reminded of one thing. That one drink that a bunch of people seem to be craving as soon as October rolls around: Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte.

What Happens When Fashion Meets Art?

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If you’ve been following this blog since it was called Coco and Picasso, then you would probably know that art was one of my first loves, as was fashion. There’s that constant debate as to whether fashion is art. So why don't we talk about it a bit, eh? Or rather, why don't we talk about what happens when fashion meets art, shall we?

Fashion and art have mutually influenced each other for years, there's no question about that. I've always loved both art and fashion, but I've never really played with the idea that the two are one, or the two can come together, even. Last year, I wrote a speech about how fashion was an art, and while I was doing my research, I read a lot of articles from people, like important people in the fashion business who really thought that they were two very separate things, which shocked me, to be honest.

5 New Ways to Wear: Denim

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Hi there! Saying that a pair of jeans is a staple in my wardrobe would be the understatement of the year. Denim is such a big part of a huge chunk of the population. We (probably) own a least one pair of blue and black jeans and a few shades in between.

Because jeans are so normal, I wanted to share a few ways I think you could make your jeans look different, fresh, and unique. I mean, that's what Style Generis is all about, so why not?

DIY: Eyes on the Back of My Head Beanie

Hi there! I haven't done a DIY in absolutely ages, so I thought that I'd kick off the (rest) of the week with a D-EYE-Y! Get it? Okay, I'm lame, got it.

I've always really loved eyes, especially doodling them all over the work I didn't have to hand in in school. That's why today, I thought I'd do an eye-inspired DIY. And because of the whole Kenzo eye craze, I thought that it'd be good timing. Enjoy!