Symphonie Fantastique

A 9-year-old musical genius and fellow pianist of mine decided to share his favourite work with me: Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. More specifically, he asked me to check out the 4th movement entitled March of the Scaffold. Rather dark for a little boy, I thought. Also surprisingly not your standard Mozart of Beethoven. Immediately however, I plunged into the piece's twisted setting and was awfully impressed by his taste. So on a quiet afternoon at my little computer corner, an apple in my mouth, I looked up this piece's origins - quite particular indeed. A hopeless love in the midst of the romantic era leading the composer to write this piece while consuming opium, turned into a five-movement favourite of the French people. Almost an autobiography, Berlioz himself notes. I realize that I can absolutely love popular music, but remains that I cannot be impressed by it, as opposed to classical music. I also realize that the fact that this symphony has a story to it makes it so much more interesting. Each of the five movements represent a stage in the story, the final one sweeping the auditor away into a macabre world of shades and witches dancing at the lover's funeral through sound alone, that is. It is a whole universe worth entering. 

It finally feels like summer here in Montreal, and boy am I glad to wear light layers. Liiiiiiinen pleated pants add structure to an opened top, and the soft colours scream summer. 

Pictures by Dahye!
Top and Trousers: American Apparel
Monk-strap creepers: Zara

Enjoy!
Katia

Ethereal

Just a pair of high waisted jeans paired up with a rich caramelized coloured silk top. Bold complimentary jewelry come make up for simplicity of the ensemble. I wore this to my friend's birthday dinner with my trusty sherpa crossbody and monk strap creepers, which gave it a neo-boho flair. It also feels great lounging in this. The classic tank and jeans combo will never let me down, it's just all about how it is put together. I like to opt for contrasting textures like the edginess of waxed jeans against with the smoothness of silk. 

Summer is here! Although its full effect still hasn't kicked in yet, I am already thankful for lazy mornings spent in bed literally doing nothing. Like watching Family Guy nothing. One of the most genius shows out there along with Game of Thrones. However, I'm not too crazy about feeling useless either to the point where humanity doesn't need me anymore, so I'm going to amp up my vacay with some serious reading, work and working out, travelling and social events. More specifically, I would also like to write a song and go camping with friends away from any kind of media for a while. What are your plans? 

Photos: Dahye (Shot in her gorgeous and daylight-friendly apartment)
Jeans: American Apparel
Top and Jewelry: Vintage and boutiques

Enjoy!
Katia

On Top of the World

Like many, I just crossed a big step. Cegep, that is. Looking back at it, it may have been easy to feel that everything was at its right place, that life was easy and just works itself out for you. Living by your parents' means yet trying to figure what you want for your own life, a comfort zone basically the continuation of high school yet an insightful taste of experiences. Somehow we got bored of it after two years, but when the end approached, I at least could feel a whole new wave of uncertainty coming forth, life itself being thrown at me. A part of me liked what I had grown accustomed to, but the other part of me urges for the freshness of the future. Now I know I am speaking as if something major is on its way even though it is just university - one day that will also get habitual, but may life never. 

Studded sandals: Ralph Lauren
Silk dress: vintage

Photos by Dahye (Who has a new domain!)

Enjoy!
Katia

Flared Flair

 My friend once invented an inspirational quote to make fun of all of the ones out there: "If you always say no, then you'll never say yes", I think it was. Horrible indeed, but there is some truth to it if you think about it. There are so many opportunities that require stepping out of one's comfort zone, and if your brain is always dictating you to remain a couch potato, so many of them will have slipped away. In other words, yolo (also horrible).

On a different train of thought, I am tackling two trends at once - double denim and the omnipresent seventies. I really do love wearing flares once in a while, but I'm still just experimenting. Recently I've been looking for my signature everything, whether it's style or perfume. I think I'm inclining towards natural fabrics such as silk and linen, a little bit more flowy and feminine, but I'm still quite unsure of where I'm heading. Nevertheless, the seventies being in just means that thrifting is back!

 

Denim shirt and trench coat: vintage owns
Flared jeans: Zara
Sherpa crossbody: Ecoté (Urban Outfitters)

Enjoy!
Katia

Work Break

Have you ever done six hours of intense research just to write one sentence? Me neither, until today. At this point, I could feel like a philosopher.

Student struggles aside, here is an outfit that is appropriate for just about any formal occasion feat my trusty cobalt trousers and a slit black top. With high waisted trousers, I would usually wear a crop top to compensate for its bagginess, but this is just as good because aside from being tight, it is actually able to feature the entire pant. 

'Officializing' with the world what's currently on my shopping list:

• A beautiful flowy summer dress, preferably linen
• Marant-esque heeled sandals
• Jo Malone or Le Labo lavender or orange blossom perfume

Honestly at this point I have what I want, trendy items included. I just stumbled upon a printed silk off the shoulder dress in my mom's clothes that otherwise never caught my attention. Score!

Photo credits: Dahye
Top and shoes: Zara
Trousers: American Apparel

Enjoy!
Katia

My Views on American Apparel

The long post - forgive me - is to compensate for the last short one? READ IT DON'T BE LAZY :)

As many of you know, I have been working at American Apparel for almost two years now, and despite still being one of the youngest, I am the most senior employee of my store, even compared to my manager. When I catch up with friends, one of the most common questions I get is "how's AA?" "You know, the same ol' good thing" I usually reply along those lines. Same? I'm starting to question that now. The company's been going through lots of change and media buzz, and our new CEO Paula Schneider hopes to reform it for the best.   

AA gave me a particular set of ~vibez~ differentiating it from most other mainstream companies. That's what really attracted me to it. Its image was always a more natural and down to earth one, promoting all body shapes and ethnic diversity. It also got sexier, borderline porno (that's been suppressed luckily), than other lines of clothing due to less photoshopping. I mean, for example, other lingerie lines' models are just as naked and provocative, if not even more, but just more plastic looking, that's all. AA's advertisement history remains a controversial one, but these are my views. Totally pro sexy, but anti porno. It also emits a rather 80s retro/artsy image, promoting art by collaborating with all sorts of eccentric emerging artists for its collections. 

When I started working there, my wardrobe lacked many timeless basics - now it's overflowing with them. But since I have all the basics I'll ever need, I find it harder to know what I want from there. They're really good, especially that they're sweatshop free and made in downtown Los Angeles, but I do get my trendier pieces from other stores, and even thrift shops tbh. AA recently had a massive 90% off sale to rid itself from all of its wackier pieces and is revamping its entire wardrobe, so I'm curious to see where that will lead to. Beyond all of the company's external matters, my own store is like a mini heaven where just a whole bunch of awesome people like to work and and chill together. 

I honestly love American Apparel. I've lived through its 'glory years', am now experiencing its 'reform' and hope to see it come through as an even better and successful business in retail.

So here is a head to toe look with some of my favourite basics from there. 

Photos: Dahye (I always add funk and embarrass myself in the bloopers of her amazing YouTube videos) S/O to your Zara shoes for this look.
Outfit: American Apparel

Enjoy!
Katia