PINK CHAMPAGNE

Fur and Gold

2012-01-30T02:52:00.005-05:00

Atomic Warehouse vintage cape, dress, and earrings; Target gloves; Marjorie's Gems vintage beaded orange necklace and gold lion pendant; vintage fur stole and hat.

I had such a lovely time working with Tom and Keidi on these pictures! They are an adorable couple who indecently met through their work, and have been taking gorgeous photos together ever since. It was so much fun collaborating with them on these pictures, and I hope to produce many more shoots with them in the near future. You can see more of their work on their website and individual Facebook pages.

You may wonder why I have such a penchant for fashion related to the Russian Revolution of 1917 (as witnessed in these two previous posts). Perhaps it's my love of all things exotic, bright, and furry, or perhaps it more importantly falls back on a personal story of my own Eastern European heritage.

My father and his parents, all full-blooded Hungarians, escaped from Hungary following the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. My grandfather was heavily immersed in anti-Communist politics; he had already served a total of seven years in a Communist concentration camp prior to the Revolution. After being released from prison, my grandfather was a core activist (known as a "Freedom Fighter") in bringing about the demise of Communist rule in Hungary. Nine short days later, Soviet reinforcements were sent to put down the Revolution, and my grandfather was "blacklisted", ordered to be shot on sight. Risking their lives, my grandparents fled with my six year-old father to the safe haven of Austria, where they then traveled to the United States.

It's the least I can do to celebrate their efforts in my art.

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

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HOUSE. OF. HAIR.

2012-01-22T22:07:00.000-05:00

Vintage crinoline and skirt; vintage Givenchy blouse; Payless shoes; thrifted belt; vintage snood, hair flower, and earrings.

I'm so excited to share these photos! Friend and photographer Paul Vasiliades and I collaborated with Dave's House of Hair to create these 1950's inspired images. Not only is Dave an awesome hair stylist (he's responsible for my current tresses and will readily testify to my featherbrained salon chair conservations), but he also has impeccable taste in vintage salon decor and regularly frequents Atomic Warehouse. What a perfect shoot location! Paul did a fantastic job with the photos; I can't wait to reveal the other two looks we did together.
Be sure to check out Paul and Dave's work on Facebook! If you're passing through central PA and are in need of a beautiful photo session or fresh new hair style, I would highly recommend their services.

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

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Half a Year at Atomic Warehouse!

2012-01-17T16:05:00.000-05:00

Vintage Atomic Warehouse ring; vintage Whiting&Davis necklace; thrifted early 1980s dress; vintage hat and belt.

I apologize once again for the long hiatus in posts. Technical difficulties, again!

As always, I am busy, but my plate is filled with good things. Studying for exams (I'm such a nerd), getting ready to visit my friend in Pittsburgh, coordinating photo shoots left and right, and keeping busy with my work at Atomic Warehouse.

The last of these is what I'd like to highlight in this blog post: tomorrow will mark six months (half a year!) of my involvement with Atomic Warehouse. After hearing rave reviews and exciting stories about this lovely vintage establishment, I came here with a friend in July to do some major damage to my wallet. I had frequented (and even worked at) other vintage clothing stores, but they paled in comparison to this goldmine. After picking out half a dozen remarkable treasures, the owner, Steve, gave me a surprisingly good deal, and even offered to show my friend and me some cool items (not yet in the shop) on the third floor of Atomic.

This is when I knew I had to work here. I asked Steve to contact me if he ever needed any extra help, and two days later, (wearing a lime green petticoat and new found Atomic earrings) I was redressing mannequins and arranging furniture. Working here isn't always so glamorous (i.e. spending a week moving the contents from the first floor onto the second floor in preparation for September's flood), but it's well worth it in the end. Over time, Steve graciously appointed me "Creative Director" (a.k.a., Queen Bee), resulting (so far!) in the improvement and beautification of the clothing section, window displays, and first floor interior design.

It's such a blessing to work here. I've met some lovely people and experienced some amazing opportunities. Thank you Steve for letting me utilize Atomic for photo shoots, giving me great deals on vintage finds, taking me to that Social Distortion concert, and being a great boss and wonderful friend! You are an amazing person and I hope to work with you for many more years to come!
Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

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Tales of the Arabian Nights

2012-01-08T22:48:00.003-05:00

Atomic Warehouse vintage lingerie set and bakelite earrings; vintage turban; assorted bangles from Atomic Warehouse and various thrift venues.

What a great start to a year of blogging: computer difficulties and school overload! I'm making up to you guys with this set of pictures, taken by the amazingly talented Joe Cicak. We were going for a 1940's pinup look with an exotic vibe, similar to the classic foreign beauty of Maria Montez in the 1942 sensational film Arabian Nights. Although this movie no where remotely follows the plot line of the original folk tale, it was a childhood favorite due to the stunning costumes of Ms. Montez. Even as a little girl, I was smitten with peculiarly charming turbans, statement jewels, flowing veils and (much to the chagrin of my parents) teasing bare midriffs.
On a deeper level, these photos remind me of the character Morgianna from Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (a segment of The Arabian Nights folktale collection). As beautiful as she is clever, Ali Baba's housekeeper saves her master's life by stabbing to death a would-be assassin at the conclusion of a sensuous sword dance. This 1940's pinup rendition girl may not have a gold-handled scimitar in her possession, but she certainly knows the lethal powers of a Colt 1911.

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela
P.S. I finally figured out how to use Photobucket to host my images! I love the big size.

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-A year of PINK CHAMPAGNE-

2011-12-27T00:40:00.000-05:00

-January-

-February-

-March-

-April-

-May-

-June-

-July-

-August-

-September-

-October-

-November-

-December-

A picture from every month this year.

Here's to 2012 and another great year of blogging!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela
P.S. How do you like the blog's new look?

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The Light in the Window is a Crack in the Sky

2011-12-20T16:29:00.001-05:00

Ray-Ban sunglasses; vintage Gunne Sax gown; vintage gloves; vintage jewels.

Here's a shoot in tribute to the great Ozzy's song, starring my beautiful little sister (and utilizing my old highschool prom dress) . I took these pictures last winter, but never got around to posting them. The color scheme and snowy background are perfect for the holiday season! Merry Christmas, my lovely blogger friends!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

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G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S

2011-12-14T19:18:00.002-05:00

Atomic Warehouse vintage cigarette holder; Target jeans; Charlotte Russe leopard stilettos; thrifted Banana Republic silk shirt; turquoise necklace from a street vendor in New York City; gold chain, bangles, earrings, and headscarf are all vintage.

I apologzie for the long hiatus in blogging; my Internet connection has been really funky these past few days!

Turban+bangles+vintage cigarette holder=the epitome of glamour. I wore this outfit to work at Atomic Warehouse last month. It was a Sunday and things were incredibly slow, so my boss Steve suggested that we conduct an impromptu photo shoot on the furniture displayed in the front of the store. He'd been taking pictures of items for eBay for years, and always wanted to experiment in portrait photography but said he was too shy to approach models. Luckily, his "number one employee" (me!) came along, so now we have established an awesome photographer/model relationship. (This post showcases our first set of pictures; you can check out the previous post for our second photo shoot.)

Even though it's winter time, my preferred wardrobe color scheme is that of the autumnal season. Orange, yellow, gold, red, and brown, accented with unexpected pops of jewel-tone purple and turquoise, is one of my absolute favorite color combinations. I've heard that people are drawn to colors and styles that naturally flatter their body type and complexion, which is why I must have such a penchant for earthy hues.

Lots more exciting shoots to be posted soon!

No lungs were harmed in the making of these photos. This cigarette was used for purely aesthetic purposes.

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

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Wildwood Dancing

2011-12-03T12:02:00.002-05:00

Atomic Warehouse bustier; vintage skirt and belt; cape from Ross; gifted shoes; self-made wreath and earrings; vintage bracelets.

Sorry for the long hiatus between posts! I've been extremely busy this week. To make up for it, I present you with a lovely set of new pictures, taken by my ever so obliging boss. He wanted to get some portrait practice behind the lens and I needed some new blog photos. Isn't he an amazing photographer? This was only the second time he shot me, and they're some of my favorite photos ever to be posted on this blog!

We conducted our little shoot at a local nature reserve called Wildwood Park. The title of the venue coupled with the magical Pre-Raphelite vibe of the pictures immediately sprung to my mind the title of a favorite teen novel, Wildwood Dancing. Set in the vampire-ridden countryside of Romania, the novel is based on the classic faerie-tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses (which happens to be one of my top favorite childhood stories). Instead of my usual warm-toned lighting, I decided to edit them towards a more ghostly, twilighty blue color. Very pleased with the results; it's something I've never really experimented with before!

Hope you're all having a lovely pre-Christmas season!
Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

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When Leaves Fall

2011-11-21T17:06:00.000-05:00

Vintage Atomic Warehouse yak fur vest, turban, and bakelite bangles; vintage beaded orange necklace and ring; vintage Goldette pendant necklace; Target jeans; Forever21 shoes.

Say hello to my new bakelite collection! One of my recently established life goals was to possess two armfuls of bakelite "bakelite up to my elbows". In just a few short months, my goal has been reached and now I proudly have bright bands of red, green and gold stacked upon my arms.

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

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She Sells Sanctuary

2011-11-12T20:33:00.002-05:00

Forever21 black lace bustier and crystal chandelier earrings; gifted shoes; vintage black net poncho, skirt, and necklaces.

"Oh, the heads that turn

Make my back burn

And those heads that turn

Make my back, make my back burn."

As a self-confessed attention whore, it's rare that gossip ever truly gets to me. I actually find it quite humorous and occasionally flattering when people talk about me, good or bad. However, there comes and time and place when the chatter is so mindless, the rumors so unwarranted and contextually warped, the overall response so ridiculous and hypocritical, that whispers behind fingers and voices behind closed doors become an irritating and unwanted nuisance.

"I'm sure in her you'll find

The Sanctuary."

I've known for a long time that the only person who will genuinely always be there for me is myself. To borrow a quote from a favorite childhood book, Mara, Daughter of the Nile: "Look after yourself, girl. No one else will." Not so long ago, I used to place high value in the investment of trust and loyalty in certain people. My own child-like naivety and innocence prioritized their existence, their thoughts and opinions, their advice and desires for my future over my own. What a sad joke. To make a long story short, there comes a time when a person's true nature is revealed, and (despite well-meant initial intentions) the outcome is less than flattering. I still value my true friends. They are precious gems that should be treasured and never taken for granted and their absence would create a gaping void in my life.

All in all however, the place of safety, the only Sanctuary, is within myself.

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

P.S. I am not going Goth, nor am I depressed! This was a hasty attempt at a 1960's Biba look.

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Red. White. And Blue.

2011-11-07T01:11:00.001-05:00

Charlotte Russe leopard shoes; vintage square dancing skirt; thrifted halter top; vintage leather belt; vintage necklace and earrings from Atomic Warehouse.

I'm not usually a fan of patriotic color schemes, but I love the way the blue and white contrast with the vibrant scarlet color of this wall. Can you say 1950's pinup?

Photo credit Kelly Ann Shuler

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

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I am Morgan Le Fay

2011-10-30T11:19:00.002-04:00

Gifted gold lame dress, worn as top; thrifted black net skirt; vintage mink fur stole; vintage gold lion belt; vintage jewelry.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, that time when our world and the Other Side drift closer and magic and reality meld into one. Who could be a more appropriate blog post subject than one of history's most infamous and beautiful enchantresses, the legendary Arthurian-age Morgan le Fay? Since my real-life friend (and fellow fashion blogger) Joy introduced me this past year, I've been fascinated by the Camelot series. Of course the storyline and music is fantastic, but one of my favorite aspects of the show is the elaborate and creative costuming. Each character's apparel acts as a visual herald to their personality.

I was fortunate to meet Liana, one of my younger sister's closest friends: the minute I laid eyes on this amazingly gorgeous art student I knew she was model material. Her resemblance to Eva Green, the actress portraying Morgan le Fay on Camelot, was astounding and she graciously agreed to pose for me. The results were some of (in my humble opinion) most mystic and unique photos to be published on this blog.

Have a magical Hallow's Eve!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela
P.S. Be sure to listen to this haunting rendition of the legend of Tam Lin, performed by the Mediaeval Baebes. Halloween spirit at it's most true.

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Mystery of the 99 Steps

2011-10-23T00:51:00.001-04:00

Atomic Warehouse dress; thrifted shoes; Talbots lucite bangles; vintage belt, earrings, and red bangles.

I love noir movies. There's something mysteriously dark and alluring about a colorless screen, strong lighting contrasts, coupled with intimidatingly suspenseful music and dramatic composition. Long-time readers will know that I'm a huge fan of color, but sometimes it's nice to try something outside the box. These pictures weren't originally intended to be published in black and white format, but they just seemed to be begging for a lack of color so I had to oblige. ;)

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

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Crazy Quilt, Part One

2011-10-16T19:55:00.003-04:00

May I present a very eclectic concoction of photos, fondly dubbed a "crazy quilt" post. Literal crazy quilts are composed of left-over scraps of fine material: little treasures of silk, velvet, satin, and brocade that aren't enough to make something on their own but look fabulous when combined together. Likewise, this post is mash-up of photos from previous shoots last year; photos that didn't fit in with the original blog posts but were too pretty to chuck in my computer's Recycle Bin. Enjoy!
Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

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Brick & Lace

2011-10-09T01:16:00.000-04:00

Charlotte Russe shoes; Betsey Johnson tights; vintage romper, shawl, hat, and jewelry.

Good evening! Or should I say good morrow? I'm terribly sorry for slacking off on my blogging duties these past couple of weeks. Things have actually calmed down quite a bit in my life, so I foresee a steady weekly stream of new blog posts. I actually quit one of my two jobs, and now work full-time at Atomic Warehouse. Best. Job. Ever! We're actually undergoing a major makeover, but should (hopefully!) be re-opening at the end of month. Can't wait to do some shoots in the beautiful new store!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

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Blood Sugar Sex Magik

2011-09-29T20:48:00.000-04:00

Charlotte Russe shoes; Target gloves; Forever21 earrings; vintage blouse, jeans, hat, glasses and bangles.

I am so ridiculously busy right now that it's insane. For example, take a look at today's schedule:

-Get up at 7:30 a.m. (after staying up until 1:00 a.m. the night before catching up on the computer after two days of non-stop work)

-Skype meeting with college counselor from 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.

-Work at my first job from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

-Work at my second job from 2:00 p.m.-present.

-Afterwards, I'll be spending the night with a friend, then I have to be at my other job by 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.

On top of this, I just started up my junior year of college today (thank goodness for online degrees!), PLUS (most importantly) I need to prioritize my blogging and modeling, which have sadly been haphazardly under-prioritized and even ignored these past few weeks. I've always preferred being too busy as compared to sitting around with nothing to do, but gee whillipers a girl needs a breather every once in a while!

Like the proverbial girl in the Red Hot Chili Pepper's Blood Sugar Sex Magik) I just have to keep in mind that I have It: an inner (not necessarily sexual) Magik. Personal self-strength and power is the only way to truly overcome stress and succeed.

Thanks to Greg Platzer of BCRPhotography for taking these pictures!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

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Here Among the Flowers of Faith and Hope I Stand

2011-09-21T23:25:00.001-04:00

Vintage Gunne Sax blouse and skirt; vintage Sarah Coventry broach; vintage earrings.

It was one of those days when I was tired of being in front of the camera, and instead decided to take advantage of my little sister's beauty by forcing her to wear a strange outfit and pose for me in a mud-sodden field next to the local middle school. As much as she likes to complain and rant about being "abused" in such a manner, truth be told, she adores such modeling shenanigans. Isn't she a doll? (You may remember her from a previous post this past Spring.)

Inspired by the 1975 Australian film, Picnic at Hanging Rock, I decided to put her in a feminine, Edwardian-inspired outfit with a hint of carefree Western prairie style. The white cream and lace Gunne Sax blouse actually belonged to my aunt, who wore as maid of honor in my mother's wedding. I thought it melded perfectly with the purple calico skirt (also vintage Gunne Sax); the contrasting materials providing an aesthetically-pleasing clash with the white lace tying the two pieces together. The giant broach is just Sarah Coventry costume jewelry (alas, how I wish it was fashioned from gold and precious stones!), and the boots are from my sister's closet.

Her child-like innocence and grace amidst the posies remind me of a line from a Shakespeare's Sister song:

Here Among the Flowers

Of Faith and Hope I Stand

While You Are Buried in the Mass

Of Weeds You Sowed By Hand

The older I get, the more I come across (and unfortunately have to deal with) difficult human beings. Some people simply thrive and flourish on drama, basking in the chaos of their own misery. As tempting as it is to childishly retaliate with an eye for an eye, I've learned to follow the advice of a wonderful friend and "rise above it".

Imagine this:

You're an elegant and mystical queen, seated on a throne of purest alabaster. A scattering of angry, screaming trolls wants to tear you from your pedestal and drag you into the muck and filth of their own wretched lives. Fact is, they can't stand to see anyone as calm and happy as yourself when they wallow in a world of unreasonable discontentment, brought about by their own doing. Do you whip out your magic wand and zap the little beasties? No, you use your power to let that untouchable white throne levitate above the drama, soaring up into the sky.

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

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Out on the Edge

2011-09-13T23:41:00.000-04:00

Atomic Warehouse dress; turban courtesy of Tamara Barnoff; Dollhouse shoes; assorted vintage jewelry.

The clothes make the woman. How very true.

The past few months I've been so overwhelmed and busy that I've taken for granted my bursting-to-the-seams vintage wardrobe and the subsequent potential slew of amazing outfits waiting to be created. With the exception of a few carefully-planned photo shoots, true creativity and fashion have been put on the back burner and what used to be my daily makeup and hair regime has trickled into a weekly event.

You would think that a recent onslaught of life-changing decisions I'm currently being forced to address would further dismiss my need to prioritize my daily ensembles. Surprisingly, I've actually felt a fashion rebound during this period of stress and pressure.

Over the years, I've had a lot of people indirectly (and sometimes rather obnoxiously directly) inform me that they believe my chief motive for dressing in such a manner is to nurse personal physical insecurity. Several years ago, such an assumption wouldn't have been far from the truth. Without my makeup and extravagant wardrobe, I honestly believed I was unattractive. However, through a number of circumstances (to include a 6-month "grounding" from fashion and my first heart-wrenching breakup), I learned to love myself naturally, without the glamour of lipstick and Louboutins.

In times of trial, my clothes, hair, and makeup are not a shield against the world. They are weapons. A shield is meant to defend and protect. A weapon is meant to aide and attack. (And in this case, enjoy and utilize outside the field of battle!)

I'm "out on the edge" of a roof in blue stilettos; I'm currently "out on the edge" concerning life decisions. If I fall, I'll die looking fabulous with my sword in my hand and my boots on.

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

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Special thanks to Atomic Warehouse for letting me use their awesome roof as a location for this shoot!

La Belle Gitane

2011-09-01T16:48:00.001-04:00

Charlotte Russe shoes; everything else is vintage.

Ever since the Disney film came out when I was four years old, I've loved the character of Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. My mom wouldn't let me see the movie because it "didn't follow the book", but that didn't stop me from adoring the gypsy princess from afar. I actually even wanted to change my name to Esmeralda and was thrilled to find out that the meaning of my first and middle name was equivalent to hers. (My middle name means "cheerful, shining, bright"; the name Esmeralda means "bright hope".) My middle-school youth group leader still cracks jokes about the time I introduced myself as Esmeralda at the beginning of my 6th grade year, and continues to jokingly call me "Esma", a rather unglamorous nickname I subsequently derived.

This outfit actually reminds me quite a bit of the ensemble Esmeralda wore in the Disney movie: purple skirt, gold jewelry, off-the-shoulder blouse. With the rise of midriff-revealing tops on this season's style scene, I've been thinking a lot about social perceptions concerning fashion. A couple of years ago, anything that showed the stomach would be given the cold shoulder and immediately connoted with Britney Spears-worthy cheapness. Today's mode for showing stomach however is much more tasteful and fashion (instead of sexually) oriented. Whether worn with retro pinup attire or effortlessly done in a bohemian manner, fashion bloggers all over the world and rockin' the bare midriff in a completely un-slutty way.

I think this really goes to show that showing a particular area of your body is mostly a society-oriented (instead of objectively-oriented) matter. In India, women of every social class reveal their midriffs; in the Middle East showing the bridge of one's nose can often be considered objectionable. Just take a look at the American culture! A hundred years ago, showing one's ankle was thought to be questionable and the collarbone and shoulders could only be revealed after 3:00 p.m. Today's conservative Mennonite ensembles would have been considered objectionable!

Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now; just thought that might be something interesting for y'all to think about.

I'd like to give a big shout-out to my lovely friend Ellen for taking these pictures! She just started a fashion blog of her own, America's Rose. Go check it out, and tell her I sent ya over! =)

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

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Mode Merr F/W 2011 Sneak Peek, Part 2

2011-08-24T22:28:00.000-04:00

Photographer: Mitzi Valenzuela

Hair and Makeup: Josephine Love

So excited to share with you this second set of photographs from my recent modeling campaign for Mode Merr's Fall/Winter 2011 collection. (Be sure to check out the first batch of pictures!)

I'm so exhausted right now, so (unfortunately) no time for any rambling this week.

Just wanted to shout out and say a huge THANK YOU to all of you who have commented, followed, and supported my blog since it's "birth" in Spring of 2009. I just reached the 1,000 follower mark and am beyond excited! Hugs and kisses (and virtual vintage clothing) to each and every one of you who has taken the time to express an interest in my little online mode of fashion expression.

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

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You Give Love A Bad Name

2011-08-18T01:49:00.002-04:00

Target jeans; vintage blouse, boots, accessories and jewelry.

It's a common misconception that heartbreak occurs exclusively within a romantic relationship. Love, anger, hurt, betrayal, and breakup run rampant in even the most unsexual and unromantic of friendships.

Maybe it's just me, but it seems as if society fails to adequately recognize this type of drama. Subsequently, this type of turmoil is actually more hurtful and damaging than the typical romantic strife. We've been conditioned to expect a roller-coaster of emotions, conditions, and breakups when it comes our relationship with a lover. However, when these types of things happen with a friend, it can come as a jarring shell-shock of disappointment with the same side effects (personal doubts, insecurities, hopelessness, and depression) seen in romantic breakups.

I wish I was discussing this topic simply out of casual philosophical desire. Unfortunately, such ramblings directly pertain to my current personal ongoings. Ironically enough, this situation was actually caused by a friend's disagreement and disapproval regarding my romantic decisions of late. Many of us will never realize that a severed friendship can pierce the heart far deeper than ever could a severed romance.

Now is when I abruptly jump from sharing with you my spectacular psychological insight to yodeling about my clothes. To read my blogspots, you'd think that I was some horrible writer, unable to smoothly transition from one topic to another (coming from an English major, no less!). I guess I've always just regarded blogging as more of a personal journal-like outlet, hence the random, whatever-pops-into-my-mind-at-the-moment subject change.

Anyway, this is one of the few outfits on my blog that wasn't premeditated for photo shoot purposes. I had just come home after a jaunt downtown and my sister was in the mood to snap a few pictures of me in our backyard. I've always felt a little "iffy" posting these pictures (they were taken in late April) due to their lack of dramatic wardrobe and composition. But hey, there's nothing wrong with posting a more casual, laidback outfit every once in a while. In fact, fashion blogging is so much more rewarding and real when you're actually posting pictures of actual outfits you've worn, in lieu of ensembles specifically contrived for photo shoots. As the fashion blogging industry expands, bloggers feel the pressure to post more Avant-Garde and uniquely personal material. Sometimes, a few backyard pictures of a "real life" outfit are sufficient.

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela
P.S. I just created a profile on Model Mayhem. Add me!
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Memoirs of a Geisha

2011-08-11T01:09:00.001-04:00

A story like mine should never be told.

For my world is as forbidden as it is fragile.

Without its mysteries it cannot survive.

I certainly wasn't born to the life of a Geisha.

Pure beauty, it's hard to find. Memoirs of a Geisha is one of the most genuine, most lividly beautiful things I've ever witnessed. Superficially-speaking, the costumes, scenery, aesthetic direction, and faces of the actors and actresses were gorgeous. More dramatically, however, was the beauty within the plot and concept of the movie. Contrary to popular belief, Memoirs digs deeper than the typical concept of a beautiful yet poor girl who finally achieves her dreams of happiness and glory. It's not a "Cinderella story", it's an intense historic and personal character study.

Here in the Western world, we have prostitutes. We have mistresses. We have strippers. We have pornstars. The concept of a female career in which the job description includes grace, talent, and knowledge is completely foreign. Although I don't necessarily condone the sexually-related side to a geisha's profession, I do admire the fact that these women held valued assets outside of the bedroom.

It is upon the contrast between these valued artistic assets and sexuality to which Memoirs is precisely about. Throughout the entire extent of the film, the titular Sayuri struggles with these two clashing aspects of a geisha's life. In the end, the two are rather pathetically reconciled, with Sayuri romantically going off into the sunset with her lover, knowing full well that she could never become his wife: simply his geisha. And yet, as the ending credits go up, one cannot help but mull over the beauty of the film. It's sadness is what makes it so enchanting.

To a man, Geisha can only be half a wife.

We are the wives of nightfall.

And yet to learn of kindness...

...after so much unkindness.

To understand that a little girl with more courage than she knew,

would find that her prayers were answered.

Can that not be called happiness?

After all, these are not the memoirs of an empress, nor of a queen...

...these are memoirs of another kind.

Moving on to more fashion-related pastures, this film was obviously my inspiration behind this ensemble. Instead of going for a head-on geisha outfit, I decided to mix up the classic look with a dash of 1940's pinup tart. The skirt is from a thriftstore, the black lace bustier is Forever21, the shoes are from Rugged Warehouse, and the belts, fur stole and hair accessories are a combination of maternally-borrowed and vintage finds. Of course, you're all probably wondering about the gorgeous yellow kimono!

Let me introduce my latest vintage clothing mecca and (lucky me!) employer, Atomic Warehouse. Vintage ladies' clothes? Check. Vintage men's clothes? Check. Vintage furniture? Check. Vintage housewares? Check. Vintage random-lovely-and-funky-things-that-sooner-or-later-will-pop-into-your-mind-that-you-must-absolutely-have-or-you-might-die? Check! Frequented by bands like Social Distortion and The Joy Formidable, two whole floors of vintage heaven await your fancy, with no two items quite exactly alike. If you're in the Harrisburg area, stop by Friday-Sunday 12-6, or check out our website and Facebook page.

Remember to mention that you've read about Atomic Warehouse on PINK CHAMPAGNE!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela
Don't forget to "like" PINK CHAMPAGNE on Facebook and stay updated on Twitter!

Diamonds are Forever

2011-08-06T00:28:00.000-04:00

Vintage jewelry and fur.

I've been trying to explore new possibilities when it comes to blog photo shoots. There's nothing like stepping outside of your comfort zone by wearing nothing other than a sheet, fabulous jewelry, and a mink fur! I didn't have a lot of time to prepare for these pictures (my friend came over and we decided to take some spur-of-the-moment photographs) but at the back of my mind, I was inspired by the lovely Rita Hayworth. With her cascade of flowing burnish curls, sparkling sexual magnetism, and stunning sense of style, she's always been one of my favorite silver screen movie stars.

As much as I'd like to go off on one of my impromptu philosophical tangents, I'm crazy-exhausted and need to get some much-needed beauty sleep. Lots of exciting photo shoots planned this week, so keep your eyes peeled!
Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

"I Still Believe, in Spite of Everything, That People are Truly Good at Heart."

2011-07-31T00:55:00.000-04:00

"It's a wonder that I haven't abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because, I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.''

We unconsciously place our trust in people every day. We share our secrets, admit our insecurities, and expose our vulnerability. When you think about it, most of the world runs on bonds of trust. Governments would cease to function, businesses would fall apart, and casual human relationships would crumble into dust if people didn't (knowingly or not!) believe the best in one another.

However, intentionally having faith in someone is different. It's one of the bravest and most admirable things a person can do to risk their own security by placing their trust and exposing their weaknesses to a fellow human being.

This post topic was actually triggered by a recent decision of mine to believe the best about someone, despite my initial apprehension. I'm an all-or-nothing person; teeter-totting on the edge with someone only discombobulates the relationship. The choice must be made as soon as possible. And I've chosen to trust. If Anne Frank, persecuted and eventually killed by fellow human beings, can still have faith in the goodness of people, so can I.

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

The Blue Hotel

2011-07-23T02:29:00.002-04:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb dress and hair flower; Forever21 shoes; vintage crinoline, belt and jewelry.

This past week has got to be one of THE most crazy-busy times in my life! I'll spare you the rambling details, but basically I've been running around the entire day juggling a myriad of tasks related to work, college, modeling, and personal issues. I'm one of those people who is usually completely on top of things, but can be easily toppled into a surge of chaos when my buttons get pushed. Despite the 100+ degree weather we're experiencing here in PA, I feel a sudden need to don my leather jacket, boots, tough-girl jeans and stomp around downtown blasting rebellious music from the 1980's to eliminate stress and boost my confidence and energy. I might just do that tomorrow!

Many thanks to my bestie for taking these pictures. I really wanted to document this outfit (which I wore to "dress night" at an annual family conference). Just as we were about to set out for our shoot, it started to rain, so in desperation we staged an impromptu shoot in one of the hotel hallways on the campsite. I love the way these turned out! They remind me of a 1940's noir film; you know how those dramatic old movies involving an exquisite combination of murder and romance seem to always climax at an old hotel?

Despite the previously-mentioned stress I'm going through right now, many exciting projects await on the horizon for me. I know that I have potential vulnerability, but I've always been the type of person to view difficulties as challenges that can be overcome instead of impassible obstacles. It's no wonder Scarlett O'Hara is and forever will be one of my highest role models!

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela
P.S. Please vote for me in a local modeling contest! All you have to do is "like" Asrojuan Photography, then "like" this picture of me. Thank you!

Mode Merr F/W 2011 Sneak Peek, Part 1

2011-07-16T03:04:00.001-04:00

Photographer: Mitzi Valenzuela

Makeup and Hair: Josephine Love

Special thanks to Miss Ruth's Time Bomb for transportation, and cheers to meeting fellow models Jasmin and Jade!

As mentioned in the previous post, I had the privilege of traveling to New York City this past weekend to model for Mode Merr. I can't begin to express my excitement in regard to the shoot! The clothes were to die for, the crew was fantastic, and the overall vibe was very welcoming and down-to-earth.

The F/W 2011 collection will be available for purchase in its entirety within a few months, but until then, I'd like to give you a quick sneak peek at a few of my favorite looks (modeled by yours truly!). To create even more suspense (cue: Alfred Hitchcock-esque music), I'm dividing the photos into two separate posts.

I love the quiet strength behind Mode Merr clothing. I hate it when clothes are crazily ga-ga; fashioned with lots of fancy little details and furbelows. Busy clothes just don't give any room for utilizing your own creative "outfit-making" skills, a top priority in my fashion mind. Mode Merr designs are classic and streamlined; the perfect foundations for a fantastic retro wardrobe, yet unique so as not to be deemed "basic". Even if you're not dramatically into pinup, there's no telling how many creative vintage outfits you can create with an elegant black pencil skirt.

Additionally, I'll be modeling for Mode Merr's online Etsy page where items from their past collections can be found. In addition to a few simple Etsy shots, I'll be able to do a lot of creative, eclectically-styled shoots for my blog. Looking forward to sharing more with you!
Ohh, and in case I didn't mention this before, you can now follow me on Twitter!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

P.S. Who went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2? I did! I dressed up like Bellatrix Lestrange, and my friend was an adorable Luna Lovegood, but alas we forgot to take pictures. Maybe I'll do a Bellatrix-themed shoot one of these days.

California Gurls

2011-07-10T00:53:00.001-04:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb skirt and top; Simply Vera Vera Wang shoes; Forever21 earrings; vintage bangles, belts, and hairflower.

Hello, everyone! I return from the sunny coast of California, dead-white pale as ever. Unlike my mother (who gets sunburned) I have the capacity to tan and have lightly done so in the past. However, these past few years I have become exuberantly proud of my ghostly complexion. Aside from my legs, I never thought I was really that pale, until people started complimenting me on my light skin early this spring. Subsequently, I have re-evaluated my paleness as an exotically becoming trait: vampires, Snow White, and vintage pinups had pale skin, how much more alluring can you get?

Other than these pictures (courtesy of my friend Shannon!) I didn't get a chance to snap any more outfits whilst in San Diego. These were taken in Balboa Park, which is a perfect location for innumerable photo shoots! I wanted to go for a slightly Spanish-influenced outfit, combined with a classic vintage pinup vibe. The architecture in the background reminds me of a Mexican courtyard in an Old Western movie. Of course, I am the beautiful senorita waiting to get swept off by a dashing daredevil bandit, only to be rescued by an even more illustrious young pistol-shootin' cowboy. (Insert humorous, jokling tone.)

Have you ever noticed the similarities between medieval-era and Old Western films? The Lone Ranger could quite literally be a knight in shining armor, the spirited rancher's daughter easily transitions into the character of the rebellious tower-trapped princess. Once you think about it, there are so many similarities between different historical movies. And there should be. Clothing styles, transportation, and weapon quality have changed and improved over the years, but those are only surface appearances. Despite additional philosophical, religious, and worldview changes, the human race essentially remains the same.

On a different note, I am VERY excited to be modeling for Mode Merr this weekend in New York City. I love their flirty retro clothing, the curve-hugging styles flattering the natural fluid grace of the female body. It's such an honor to be a part of what this wonderful company is doing. I can't wait to give you all the dish on my trip and later show you my pictures when the collection is revealed this fall!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

P.S. Check out Miss Ruth's Time Bomb's new Etsy listings (modeled by yours truly), and this amazing song I just discovered! Ohh and who else is excited to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 this week?!?

Road Trippin'

2011-07-01T01:00:00.000-04:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb hat; Style Hurricane ear cuff; vintage romper, boots and jewelry.

Road trips are the epitome of adventure. Somewhat stereotyped as a free-spirited (often adolescent) traverse across the American mid-west, road trips hold a much more ancient and deeper value than discovering one's life's purpose, escaping the confines of a boring life, or simply venting one's teenage frivolity.

Many (if not all) fantasy novels involve a quest, a journey of some sort; a road trip. However, these "trips" bear a substantial purpose: destroying the Ring in the fires of Mordor, reaching the safe haven of Aslan's camp, or simply trying to avoid a run-in with Lord Voldermort.

On top of that, the quest-like vibe of many fantasy novels stems from the fact that most of these books bear a distinct European medieval vibe. Making long journeys was quite common in that day and age; trips had to be long because there was no such thing as easy fast transportation.

However you look at it, it's a well-known fact that any sort of travel potentially bears excitement and adventure. You can imagine my giddiness at embarking on my first road trip! OK so basically it consisted of my best friend and I driving less than three hours to attend a family event, but to my thrill-seeking "lost in another world" soul, it was most exciting.

We stopped by these random patches of day lilies to snap a few outfit pictures. Love the way the vibrant colors of the scenery enhance the boldness of my outfit. Loosely inspired by American road trip movies, I donned a pair of (what I deem "tough") cowboy boots and a most practical shields-face-from-the-blazing-sun hat, a.k.a. a gorgeous yet wimpy fedora. So pleased to have finally gotten my hands on this brass belt! My mom wore it in the 1980's, and I've been campaigning to make it mine for a while now.

Going to San Diego, CA this week! Looking forward to spending time with friends and family, browsing the area's amazing thriftstores, and enjoying the tranquil desert beauty and stunning weather of the Goldrush state.

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

Left for Dead

2011-06-25T22:04:00.001-04:00

Everything is vintage!

I'm very excited to post these pictures! These were taken near one of my friend's houses, by an old abandoned barn. To keep alive the old-fashioned American feel of the surroundings, I went for a prairie-inspired look: a little bit of civilized primness melded with practicality and hints of adventure. In putting together this ensemble, I began to create a loose character sketch. Each item of clothing represents an aspect of this imaginary girl's life. The billowy white blouse sets the stage for a hot blazing day (as does the shady brimmed hat); the long skirt demonstrates the feminine regard towards women during the American pioneer age; the exotic turquoise jewelry and woven belt show a peaceful trading commerce with the local Native American tribe.

Whist conducting this shoot, I marveled at the hidden splendor of this crumbling building. I've always been fascinated by abandoned architecture. There's something mysterious and thrilling and often magical about a place that's been left for dead (that's what abandoned basically is, isn't it?). Your mind becomes peppered with innumerable questions: Who lived here last? What did they do? Why did they leave?

Similarly, I often find myself asking if not the exact same questions when contemplating a piece of vintage clothing. One can't help but wonder the long trailing story behind the garment they hold in their hand today.

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Two-Faced

2011-06-21T19:55:00.001-04:00

Vintage Laura Ashley dress; vintage Whiting & Davis necklace; Claire's gloves; Forever21 ring; thrifted Simply Vera Vera Wang shoes; Express tights; vintage scarf (worn as a turban), belts, and bracelets.

No, lovely readers, this post does not concern the famous batman villain. Instead, it is in reference to Professor Quirrell from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I've been meaning to do a series of Harry Potter-themed photo shoots in honor of the upcoming final film (and an overall tribute to Harry Potter nerdom). Only after these pictures were taken, did I realize that lo and behold I was wearing a (less extravagant) version of Professor Quirrell's purple turban. Not only that, but the mysterious bookstore setting provided an intellectual Hogwarts-esque vibe. Hopefully you'll be seeing more HP-inspired shoots! I just started keeping a list of potential shoot ideas I'd like to do, so hopefully some of these proposed shoots I'm always talking about will turn into a reality.

I forget where I got this dress, but it was probably at a thriftstore. I was actually planning to put it up for sale in my future Etsy shop because the waist is slightly bulky on me, but I randomly decided to try it on and found that it could be made most becoming when utlized with a thick belt. (Plus the deep pine green nicely accentuated my red hair!)

Something I really love about this outfit is the mix of romantic and exotic Check out this tutorial by Cali Vintage to replicate my turban! My scarf was shorter, so I started off with the ends in the front and directly wrapped them around in the back and made a knot.

Recently, one of my readers asked me what I preferred to be called: Hope, Adela, or Hope Adela. So in case anyone else was wondering, I preferred to be called Hope Adela. That's why it's like that on my Blogger profile name. =)

Special thanks to Pomfret Street Books for allowing me to use their lovely facilities!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Into the West

2011-06-16T18:21:00.000-04:00

Vintage dress and belts; self-made wreath.

Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You've come to journey's end
Sleep now
And dream of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across the distant shore

Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping

What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home

And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
All souls pass

Hope fades
Into the world of night
Through shadows falling
Out of memory and time
Don't say: We have come now to the end

White shores are calling
You and I will meet again

And you'll be here in my arms
Just sleeping

And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
Grey ships pass
Into the West

Annie Lennox's Into the West is one of the most haunting and magical songs ever written. Brimming with strength, the song demonstrates a unique blend of tearful nostalgia and noble hope, perfectly suited for the vibe of The Lord of the Rings, the movie for which it was written.

In the same way as this song pays a tribute to the past while focusing on the importance of the future, should we likewise mimic such a mindset in our own lives. Too many times, I have spent hours remorsefully pondering something that I didn't do. I'm not the type of person to regret making a mistake; however I am the type of person to beat myself up over not doing something. "What if?" has got to be one of the most frequent phrases that passes through my mind.

But there's nothing we can do about the past. Quoting from William Shakespeare's Macbeth, "What's done cannot be undone." Changes can only be made in the future.

After all that lovely philosophical rambling, let's move on to more light-hearted pastures...namely, my outfit! These pictures have got to be among my top favorites ever posted on this blog, for they encompass many of my favorite artistic elements. The lighting was absolutely perfect; I barely had to edit anything taken in this shoot. I've always been enamored by sunlight, particularly the fiery sensual orange light of the fading sun.

I think the style of my ensemble fitted perfectly with the elegant, serene vibe of the setting. Instead of adding the usual barrel-load of jewelry and accessories, I wanted to keep it (relatively) simple. The rich colors and freshness of this outfit reminded me of the goddess Aphrodite. I love the Grecian elements of the blue dress (soon to be up on my future Etsy shop!); the draped sleeves, the gathered waist, the pleated skirt. I made the wreath myself, using my favorite color combination of pink, green, and yellow.

Gown streaming in the wind, the fragrance of damp grass in my nostrils, I was ready to go.

Into the West.

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Lady of the Green Kirtle

2011-06-12T15:24:00.002-04:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb bed jacket; thrifted skirt and blouse; Ross pumps; vintage jewelry and accessories.

I proudly present the outfit I wore in honor of Draco Malfoy's 31st birthday.

I bought the emerald silken bed jacket at Miss Ruth's Time Bomb on their closing-day sale (their "real life" store is temporarily unopened due to renovations). Since this was an I'm-an-evil-witch-in-league-with-the-Dark Lord outfit, I opted for a long-sleeved black shirt and velvet maxi skirt to make the outfit a bit more severe. The silver pumps are from Ross and the gold belt, rings, bracelets, and earrings are some of my long-time favorites. The white mesh snake belt (I'm assuming it's Whiting and Davis) and ginormous spangled green snake broach worn as a necklace were both recent purchases. I actually procured the snake broach the day before I wore this outfit---what a lucky find!

You may wonder why this post isn't titled after something Harry Potter, but as soon as I saw these picture I was immediately reminded of the Lady of the Green Kirtle from C. S. Lewis's The Silver Chair. It's surprising how many different characters you can become when wearing green and adorned with snakes: Cleopatra, a princess of the Emerald City, Narcissa Malfoy (don't you just adore her smart 1940's look?).

As Roz so eloquently described in her most recent post, the color green can represent many different emotions and types of characters. I am one to pair colors with emotional character stereotypes instead of simply emotions. For example, red springs to mind images of a feisty Carmen-like senorita; blue a peaceful yet powerful water goddess. I've always associated the color green with wickedly-elegant snake sorceresses or mystical Celtic warrior queens (with red hair, of course), but the typical character of this color today is that of a benevolent earth spirit or Mother Nature type of figure.

Either way, the color green has and will forever be a magical hue to me. Snake witches and earth faeries aside, there is something purely extraordinary in the pigment itself. (Those with similar thoughts towards the color green must have a look at this fantastic novel!) Does anyone else feel this way? If I knew that many people likewise felt a connection to the color green, I would venture to guess that such fascination stems from the fact that green makes up a great part of nature. Despite the mechanical and technical inventions of man, we remain inevitably entwined to our roots. When I feel smothered by today's corporate and electronically-focused world or stressed out by blogging worries, I need but focus on this emerald hue to be at peace.

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

P.S. Don't forget to "like" PINK CHAMPAGNE on Facebook!

With Flaming Locks of Auburn Hair

2011-06-07T20:43:00.000-04:00

Vintage skirt, hat, belt, and jewelry; Wet Seal top.

Ta-da! How do you like my auburn hair? It's actually a more vivid orangey right now (I colored it a brighter shade), since these pictures were taken last month. Since I was about two years old, I've wanted beautiful auburn red hair. I'm so excited to finally have this dream come true! I keep thinking about the Dolly Parton song Jolene: "Your beauty is beyond compare with flaming locks of auburn hair with ivory skin and eyes of emerald green." I actually think the Mindy Smith version of the song better captures the lonesome, desperate words of the singer.

I was inspired by the folksy, country vibe of Dolly Parton's music and went for a cutesy girl-next-door type of outfit. This ruffled purple skirt is one of my favorites! I love the way the brown accessories and calm gray top set off its statement color and cupcake feel.

Thank you to all my new followers! I'll be posting some very exciting shoots in the near future.

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

Mellow Yellow

2011-06-04T22:39:00.000-04:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb earrings; vintage dress and hat.

I apologize for the long gap between posts; I had to deal with a horrible bout of stomach flu this week. But here I am again, fresh and ready to go back into the blogging world! These pictures were taken a couple of years ago by my friend Ron Barrick for an art exhibit. I have no idea why I didn't put them up earlier; I guess it's just one of those things that I haven't gotten around to doing (until now). Don't you hate it when you know you have to do something but keep putting it off for so long that you cringe at the prospect of doing it? Anyway, our theme for this shoot was lemon, hence the beautiful frothy yellow gown and hat, procured at an obscure local vintage clothing store that is now closed.

Hope you all are having a great weekend!
Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

P.S. Harry Potter nerd that I am, I couldn't end this post without wishing a happy early birthday to Draco Malfoy, one of my favorite characters from the series. HAPPY 31st BIRTHDAY, DRACO! I <3 YOU!!! (Yeah, I have also been writing birthday greetings on all of the Draco Malfoy Facebook fan pages.)

Speaking of HP madness...I finally watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and and procured this magnificent sparkling vintage green snake broach that looks remarkably like a Slytherin snake. (Both within a 12 hour span! I watched the movie Friday night and got the broach Saturday afternoon. What next, a letter of acceptance from Hogwarts?) Albeit my attraction to the artistic wit and charm of Ravenclaw, I'll always be the ambitious, cunning, conniving Slytherin type.

I'm ecstatically looking forward to July 15th when the second part comes out. I'll definitely be "standin' in line, dressed like a wizard" at midnight. Going to shut up now...I can tell my nerdiness is getting out of hand due to the fact that my "P.S." section of this post is almost twice as long the original post itself.

The Carrie of Carlisle

2011-05-27T22:22:00.006-04:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb skirt, top, and scarf (worn as a belt); Forever21 shoes; thrifted blazer and hat; bag from sister.

I was inspired by the famous Carrie Bradshaw when putting together this ensemble. It's a bit different from the frothy romantic (or daringly dramatic) outfits I usually wear, but I like it! I actually sometimes feel like the Carrie Bradshaw of Carlisle (the small Pennsylvanian town in which I live)...maybe someday I'll be the Carrie Bradshaw of New York City. Big fish, small pond; big fish, big pond.

Sorry for the gap between posts; I was hoping that Blogger would stop having problems, but I had to suck it up and resort to downloading Firefox instead. Don't you just hate computer issues?

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Steel Magnolias

2011-05-19T20:34:00.000-04:00

DIY wreath; everything else vintage.

I don't even know what Steel Magnolias is...a book...a movie? I'm too lazy to Wikipedia it, so I'm just hoping that this post isn't named after something horribly horendous. I remember reading the title somewhere in a magazine and thought it would meld well with this magnolia-festooned photoshoot. My sister took these pictures in our backyard; I had been wanting to do a magnolia shoot as soon as the petals came down! I'm not much for talking today...very tired, plus having to endure wearing a corset (I'm going to the Pirates of the Caribbean 4 midnight movie opening and ridiculously decided to get ready 6 hours early).

Thanks to all my new followers! You guys are awesome! =)

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Presenting Princess Buttercup

2011-05-15T14:05:00.000-04:00

Mode Merr dress; Miss Ruth's Time Bomb hair bow; Forever21 shoes; vintage jacket and jewelry.

As soon as I put on this dress, I immediately thought of Buttercup from The Princess Bride, due to the succulent buttery yellow hue of the ruffled skirt. Although these photos were snapped in the midst of a patch of dandelions, this frock is and will forever be a buttercup dress. This Mode Merr piece actually belongs to my friend and owner of Miss Ruth's Time Bomb, but after much begging and pleading I was allowed to borrow it for photoshoot/blogging purposes. I love the combination of candy pink and buttercup yellow, and thought that the colors would be perfect to wear on Easter Sunday.

Wanting to incorporate some tomboy chic to the ensemble, I enlisted the help of my trusty black leather jacket. The vintage turquoise bangles and hairbow provided a third color (you probably already know how much I love to be crazy with my colors!), and while contrasting with the colors of the dress, emphasized the bright and cheery vibe of the look.

My sister actually took these pictures in the alley behind our house in front of our neighbor's yard. (Shhhh, don't tell!) I love the way they appear to be taken in a magical wooded area, reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.

This past week, several people in my local town have recognized me from my blog. It always feels so rewarding to know that fellow "Carlisleians" appreciate what I am doing. Thank you for your support! =)

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

P.S. My debit card arrived in the mail a few days ago! Within the next couple of weeks, I hope to finally open my Etsy shop. Updates will be posted on this blog, so keep checking back to get first pick of my premire batch of vintage goodies! Additionally, I'll be able to expand my blog sponsorship horizons...more on that will be posted later.

Into the Wild

2011-05-09T19:08:00.001-04:00

Dollhouse shoes; Talbots clear bangles; everything else vintage/thrifted.

I was talking with a friend last month, and the conversation turned to the topic of the movie Into the Wild. I haven't seen the movie or read the book, but from what my friend told me, it sounds most intriguing. It's SO easy to get wrapped up in the cultural and social "cares of this world". Sometimes we just need to break away and experiance the pure beauty and magic of natural life, stripped naked from all of man's inventions and bothersome trappings.

I would love to do something like that someday, but don't know if I ever shall. On one hand, I want to devote as much of my time as possible to boosting my fashion and modeling experiance (and ultimately my future career). On the other hand, I sometimes wonder what is the point? Even though I extremely enjoy fashion blogging etc. it does tie me down. Wouldn't it be simply exhilerating to be carefree and wild?

That sort of freedom, however, is something I will only experiance in the briefest moments. Road trips, vacations, afternoon wanderings, things like that. I would rather dedicate my life to the fashion industry and long for nature-focused freedom, rather than escape from the world and always wonder "what if..." regarding my position in the fashion industry. Being mildly confined is better than a lifetime of regret.

Even though the scenery of these pictures (with the acception of the random house peeking over the top of the hill) looks like the wilderness, my sister actually took these right outside of a Cracker Barrel restaurant near the highway. We kind of wandered off the parking lot into this random section of land between the restaurant and the road. Love how such a generally people-filled area can have the appearnce of looking so romantic and desolate in strategic photographs! Even in the most urban of places, little pockets of Mother Nature can be found.

Enough with the philosophy, on to the clothes! I got the hot pink velvet maxi skirt at a thriftstore last fall. It needed some hem-reinforcment (my heels kept getting caught in the loosly-tacked hem), but looks great now. The top is also thrifted...I j'adore how it embodies both black and white polka dots (one of my all-time favorite prints) and the beautiful romantic medieval-esque style of sleeves. There is an intersting story behind the shoes. I got them like two years ago at Ross, then passed them on to my BFF because they were uncomfortable. A couple of weeks ago, she was getting rid of a bunch of stuff, so I reclaimed them and wore them out the next day! The belt and all the jewelry is from various thriftstores and vintage shops; the clear lucite bangles are from Talbots.

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

She's Got the Look

2011-05-04T00:44:00.000-04:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb necklace; thrifted Simply Vera Vera Wang ankle boots; self-made earrings; vintage bangles, vest, and headscarf; jeans and blouse from a clothing swap.

Pictures from March that I haven't got a chance to post yet. Actually, I have like five photoshoots I have in my Pictures folder waiting to be edited and posted! I'll be done with this semester in a week and a half, so hopefully after that I can start up an Etsy store, get a real part-time job, and update le blog more frequently. This outfit was pretty off the beaten path for me: it was almost normal. OK I admit that stacks of multi-colored bangles and 60's makeup isn't exactly run-off-the-mill, but hey, I'm wearing jeans! That counts for being adventurous. I find it funny how an adventurous outfit for most girls my age would be something on the crazily creative side, where an adventurous outfit for me is borderline normal just because I so seldom wear anything normal. I wore this to a local coffehouse music event and didn't want to creep out too many people hahaha. I normally get the impression that (in addition to myself) most fashion bloggers have a "who cares what people think, being weird is cool!" attitude. That's great, but sometimes an outrageous ensemble can simply be innapropriate instead of cooly creative.

Even though its spring, I intentionally coordinated this outfit around fall colors, which is my favorite color season. Tangerine, burnt orange, deep raspberry, teal, gold, contrasted with a fresh minty green. I love color! I've always been one for color contrasts; I think it's very important in creating an asthetically pleasing costume.

Be sure to check out this song in reference to my blog post title. I am (and have been for a few years)addicted to 80's music!

By the way, I think I am semi-expected to say something about the fashions of the Royal Wedding. As a fashion blogger, I guess it would make sense to be into that stuff, but honestly I could care less. I looked overy my friend's shoulder as she was browsing pictures of the wedding on her laptop and that was about it. Kate's dress was beautiful in and of itself, but honestly I thought the ensemble as a whole was quite boring. Her plain makeup and lack of accessories made her look washed out, like she had randomly tried the dress on in the store dressing room while wearing normal makeup and hair.

So for those of you who are fans of long-sleeved white lace dresses, please go for the Grace Kelly look. (Hmm dosn't Kate's outfit look suspicously like Grace's?) White lace is already popular on the fashion blogger scene, and I'm predicting that Kate's dress will not only expand its popularity amongst the fashion blogger crowd, but amongst the general public. I actually have a long-sleeved white lace dress that you will probably see on here, but it was bought at least a month in advance of the Royal Wedding so you can be sure that I am no copy-Kate. I'll probably include a several page long anti "Kate-is-a-fashion-icon" rant in that post as well.

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

Babes in the Woods

2011-04-28T20:00:00.001-04:00

On Margaret: Miss Ruth's Time Bomb skirt; vintage hat, gloves, boots, belt, and pocketwatch necklace.

On Joelee: Miss Ruth's Time Bomb skirt and hat; vintage boots, belt, gloves, and gold bow necklace.

I present a photoshoot I did with my two lovely sisters, Margaret (in the pink hat) and Joelee (in the purple hat). I wish I could say something like "they graciously consented to my polite request to model" but it was something more along the lines of "they were forced into modeling in exchange for Little Caesar's Pizza". Don't you just love sisters? Actually, they were very nice about it and even though they pretended to complain they were pleased with the results of the pictures. I wanted to go for a traveling, almost "running away from home" theme, like two Victorian schoolgirls caught up in a moment of excitement and adventure. Their outfits both had similar sillouettes and patterns but I wanted their accessories to contrast in color.

I know the term "Babes in the Woods" originally comes from a faerie-tale or something, but I was actually thinking of a child murder case that took place in the 1930's about half an hour away from I live (it's the Pine Grove Furnace case). Man, I must sound like such a creeper focusing on murder cases instead of faerie-tales. Ohh well.

Thank you all for your words of encouragement on my last post! I am so blessed to have such a sweet and caring group of readres. Sometimes I just experiance one or two day "depressions", very similar to PMSing. All better now! =)

Be sure to check out the new listings on the Miss Ruth's Time Bomb Etsy page. Love this little blue sundress-meets-ballgown and sumptuous raspberry pink frock!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

P.S. I colored my hair auburn! It's not as vivid as I'd like it to be (it basically looks like a chestnut brown instead of a mousy golden brown), so there won't be a noticeable change in upcoming pictures, but I thought I'd let y'all know.

American Dream is the American Queen.

2011-04-23T22:05:00.002-04:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb coat, self-made skirt, Forever21 bustiere top, Target gloves, vintage hat/jewelry/shoes.

A little tardily posted, but I wore this outfit my first full day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. (Thanks to my lovely friend and MBFW partner-in-crime, Angie, for taking these pictures! Miss you girl!) I made the skirt myself; it actually has two suspender-style straps, but I wanted to go for a more streamlined look for this outfit and tucked them into the waistband of the skirt. I had actually just purchased the black lace bustier top at Forever21 that day. (I had previously been wearing a drapey black shirt with the suspenders up, but changed upon accumulating the bustiere top.) The necklace was a graduation gift from my great-aunt. I absolutely LOVE the brilliant contrasting scarlet and turquoise colors combined with the foreign vibe and oversized style. I got the fur hat at Salvation Army for a dollar, the gloves are from Target a couple of years ago, and the bangles, earrings and ankle boots are thrifted/vintage. I had originally packed the skirt to wear in an Alice in Wonderland sort of way (the print of the skirt is cards) with a red bow and pearls. However, upon my arrival, I wanted to go for a more eclectic look and combine the femininity of the skirt with the wacky hat and necklace.

Sometimes I feel really narcisistic rambling about all this stuff. Does anyone actually want to read it? Seriously, I'd be perfectly happy not giving miniature sermons in my blog posts, but I feel like people want to read something in addition to looking at pictures.

In regards to the title of this post: I've been feeling a little purpose-less and depressed lately. The high from attending MBFW is long gone and I feel like a bump on a log in the fashion industry. Other than blogging, I'm not really doing anything big picture fashion-related at the moment. I just feel like I am wasting away my life studying about science and theology when other fashion bloggers around my age are working on collaborations with world-famous designers and getting mentioned in the pages of top-selling magazines. I want to be an influential and valued member of the fashion industry (heck, I want to be president of the fashion industry!). I want to live glamorously in New York City. I want to travel the world and explore all the exotic sights and sounds of the four corners of the earth.

BUT (and here's that big "but" that you've all been holding your breaths for) there is still hope. And Hope Adela. ;) In May, I am doing my first pinup modeling gig in New York City. I freakishly hope that this upcoming event will open up some more opportunities for me. In the same way that Eve lusted after the Forbidden Fruit, am I hungering after the Big Apple. I was talking about the American Dream last week with someone and they said that everyone can reach their desired goals; people who are already rich and famous just get to take a shortcut, but even those of us who aren't rich and famous can eventually make it if we try hard enough. Heck, half of today's billionaire CEO are descendents of European immigrants who started off with nothing. If they can do it, so can I.

I know that it's probably not very professional to rant about this kind of stuff on my blog, but I've always valued honesty and openess and think that you all should know this.

And always remember (sung so artfully by MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS):

"American Dream is the American Queen. American Queen is the American Dream."

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

P.S. Happy Easter!

Follow the Spiders

2011-04-14T23:11:00.001-04:00

Some Velvet Vintage corset jumpsuit; Jessica Simpson hat; Talbots shoes; Forever21 earrings; street vendor necklace; shirt from my mother; vintage rings, bracelets, and sunglasses.

Hello, everyone! I've been watching the Harry Potter movies (for the first time!) as of late and was inspired to title this post after the arachnid scene in The Chamber of Secrets. I've already read all the Harry Potter books; after I finish watching all the films, I plan on doing a series of outfit posts inpsired by different characters from the series. This promises to be a most entertaining and creative project!

A few words regarding today's outfit. The folks at Some Velvet Vintage were kind enough to send me this beautiful burgandy brocade jumpsuit. I've never seen anything like it before: halter top+corset bodice+wide-leg pants= Marilyn Monroe meets Renaissance princess meets Annie Hall. Seriously, could this item be more exciting? And the color is perfect! I've always been a huge sucker for deep autumnal hues. I don't care if it's spring and we're supposed to be wearing white and candy brights---warm earthy colors will always reign supreme in my wardrobe! If you love this jumpsuit, then you'll j'adore the rest of what Some Velvet Vintage has to offer. While you're shopping, make sure to check out their blog for the latest store updates, as well as the owner's personal blog. She's got positively loads of wonderful inspirational editorials, full of rich color and texture with the perfect blend of theatrical vintage whimsy and raw modern reality.

I wanted to add some contrasting colors to this jumpsuit, but didn't want to overwhelm its unique charm. I decided upon one of my mother's old shirts and my floppy black Jessica Simpson hat (bought two years ago before the floppy hat craze!), giving the outfit a bohemian 1970's vibe. Steering clear of a potentially subtle color scheme, I added this massive turquoise necklace (a lovely $11 NYC street vendor find) along with a plethora of vintage jewels, the mixed metals staying in tune with the hodge podge chicness I wanted to achieve. What could be a better way to finish this off than with my trusty pair of burgandy Talbots pumps? I wish I had time to paint my nails a tealish turquoise but alas I was far too busy.

LuLu's has graciously offered a discount code to readers of PINK CHAMPAGNE. Use the code (letters are case sensitive) PINKCHAMPAGNE between Friday, April 15th and Sunday, April 17th and get 15% off your total purchase of anything on the website. (I'm sorry international readers, this is valid only in the U.S. and Canada.) Happy shopping! Their jewelry and clothes are absolutely drool-worthy and exceedingly affordable. Be sure to check out my feature on their blog, as well as my feature on Elle Beautiful!

Have a great weekend, everyone!
Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Waking the Witch

2011-04-09T21:14:00.001-04:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb top; Forever21 ring; vintage Florenza necklace (worn in hair); everything else vintage.

Hello, everyone! I absolutely LOVE these pictures---some of my favorites up to date! My life-long best friend and I (along with one of my sisters) ventured to the local graveyard to do a photo shoot. After coming across several blogspots titled "Witchy Woman" (after the song), I was inspired to do a witch-themed photo shoot. (Although I avoided titling my post with such a much-used song, and instead named it after the Kate Bush song, which is about waking up a witch after being dunked.) What a better place to stage such an event other than the resting place of the dead? I originally had one a pair of black lace mitts/gloves with gold bracelets and tons of rings, plus a couple of necklace, but it ended up looking too gypsy-like with the rest of the outfit. Even minus the bling, I still think this outfit dosn't look very witchy---more like an ancient Celtic princess! Either way, I was enormously pleased with how the photos turned out. It's so wonderful to have such a talented and willing photographer as a friend!

The leather zip-up top is from Miss Ruth's Time Bomb. I love how it looks like a corset!

I actually had just bought the purple skirt a couple days before at a thriftstore. The color is amazing, gorgeously saturated. You can be sure that it will show up again on here!

The crocheted black fringed shawl was inherited from my grandmother. I remember she had it draped over the back of a chair in her house when she was still alive. I always would take it off the chair and parade around on the front deck like a mysterious gypsy. Sometimes the first words out of my mouth upon visiting would be "Where is that shawl?!?! I want to wear it!!!" (Come on, I was like ten!) Ironically, now that I actually own it, I don't wear it that much. However, with the bohemian look so en vogue at the moment, it might see a few more forays out of my closet.

The brown leather boots are a two-dollar Salvation Army find. After years of wearing them down whilst on woodland adventures, my dad finally suggested (a.k.a. made me walk down to the shoe repair store at gunpoint...just kidding!) that I get the heels repaired and shined up. Now they look better than ever!

The ring is from Forever21, and the rest of the jewelry is vintage.

I was thinking about doing an eye makeup tutorial, similar to the look I have going on in these pictures. Interested?

By the way, please vote for me in Forever21's Fashion Face Off! Just click on this link and cast your vote. You can do it multiple times per day. =)

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

The Gang's All Here

2011-04-02T20:21:00.000-04:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb top; vintage Oscar de la Renta headscarf; vintage Dooney and Bourke purse; everything else vintage.

Dosn't this outift remind you of Carmen Miranda? I just love the super bold colors and statement accessories! Anyway, my most sincere apologies for being a lousy blogger...this has been one super hectic week of classes. Well, gotta run!

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

Photo credit: Kelly Ann Shuler

Young Girl at the Piano

2011-03-26T23:45:00.000-04:00

Wet Seal dress (worn as a top); Target gloves; Express tights; everything else is vintage.

Hello! Sorry for not posting sooner; things have been pretty busy lately. Anyway, these pictures were taken at the hotel where I stayed at during MBFW. It was such a gorgeous venue! It strongly reminded me of Professor Kirke's house in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; so big and extensive and quaint with little niches and obscure rooms. Everything was decorated in an old-fashioned, Victorian manner, with Persian carpets, fainting couches, and old paintings. We stumbled across this piano in a lounge/conference room on our first exploration of the hotel. (I actually wore this outfit on the train to NYC.)

Not much time to ramble on this post; I want to respond to all of your comments and get to bed at a decent hour! (It's 11:30 p.m. here)

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Alternating Current/Dirrect Current

2011-03-18T18:32:00.001-04:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb jacket; Forever21 bustiere top and earrings; Talbots ring; everything else is random vintage.

Photo Credit: Paul Newland-Solvara.com

That's stands for AC/DC, one of my favorite bands of all time! (Aren't you proud of me for not starting this post with the usual "hello lovely blogger friends blah blah blah"?) I couldn't think of a good title that would coordinate with the images here, but I've been listening to loads of AC/DC as of late, so I thought this would be appropriate. These pictures were taken in NYC during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Paul Newland, a runway photographer for Solvara.com, had taken my picture the day before and emailed me about doing a photo shoot at the tents (I had given him my business card). I love the way these photos turned out---the lighting is so clear and perfect and the fuscia and turquoise colors zing amazingly together!

Not a lot of time to talk right now thoughl; I've been gone most of the day and have some things to do. Fashion show this weekend for the Time Bomb! Pictures will be posted!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

The White Swan

2011-03-13T16:49:00.000-04:00

Vintage hat and jewelry; dress made out of vintage slip and tulle.

Hello, everyone! These pictures are positively ancient! They were taken in the summer of 2009, right before my final year of highschool, for my senior pictures. (The fourth one down was my final senior picture.) Originally, the picture were much warmer-toned, but I decided to change them to something more dark and fashion focused for my blog. It's funny how I was inspired by the ballet of Swan Lake long before this year's Black Swan came out. Proof that I am not jumping on the Black Swan fashion inspiration band wagon!

My outfit basically consited of a vintage slip skirt (worn as a strapless dress) and yards of tulle. (It kept falling down! The people at the park where the shoot was taken were most weirded out.) The white feather hat was procured at a local tea shop that sells hats, and the oversize rhinestone necklace (which I wore for my prom) is an heirloom from my grandmother. The other jewelry items are random vintage finds...I actually ended up using the silver rhinestone broach on the bodice of my costume as part of my prom fascinator! Interesting how one's wardrobe recyles upon itself. That's one of the reason why I love dressing in vintage clothing: it's so reusable! Modern day clothes are usualy made too poorly to be taken apart and used for different purposes.

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Stairway to Heaven

2011-03-07T17:33:00.000-05:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb gloves and hat; vintage dress, belt, fur and jewelry; vintage

Doc Martens boots; Dollar Tree tights.

Hello, everyone! (Hmmm it's weird...I seem to start every post with something along the lines of "Hello, everyone!" or "Hello, lovely bloggers!")

This is a little impromptu photoshoot I did with my little sister, Joelee, right before my MBFW trip. I wanted to evoke a childlike dress-up feel but without using typical and tacky items like feather boas and plastic tiaras; something more sophisticated in style and in color scheme. I also wanted to match the hues of the ensemble with the color scheme of the stained glass window, carpet, and wallpaper. (These pictures were taken on the double staircase in my house; it was far too cold and rainy to venture outdoors!)

If I recall correctly, I had just picked up the dress the other day at a thriftstore for a mere two dollars! The style and shape were a little "iffy", but I was immediately drawn towards the peacock-like color scheme, and have always been a huge fan of anything sequined and bedazzled. The striped stockings are from Dollar Tree; I've had them for several years, but never worn them. (I ended up giving them to Joelee at the end of the shoot!) I procured the floral Doc Martens at a yard sale several years ago. Too bad they never fit me! But hey, they were only a dollar. Someday, I hope to find a gorgeous pair of floral Doc Martens for the same price. =D The belt is from my mom's teenage years, and the fox fur stole and strands of pearls (worn around the neck and as a bracelet) are random second-hand finds. I got the glamorous gold gloves at retro fascinator at Miss Ruth's Time Bomb, and the earrings (to which Joelee kindly reffered as "oversized metallic hearing aides" ;) ) are from a jewelry shop downtown.

I have several more outfit pictures of myself awaiting posting, plus a gorgeous new shoot I did with Joelee today! I can't wait to show you them!

By the way (not going into details), but the boy thing did work out! Thank you all for your support. =)

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

Don't You Think You Are A Little Extreme?

2011-03-02T17:22:00.000-05:00

Forever21 dress and shoes; fringed cape from Ross; vintage shirt and hat; vintage Givenchy gold chain; Miss Ruth's Time Bomb katana necklace and bangles.

Greetings, my lovely, lovely blogger friends! I wanted to post earlier in the week, but my laptop decided that it would be most amusing to get a virus...which means I had to share computers with my siblings for two days and cough up an $85 service fee. Not fun.

But there is good with the bad! For one thing, I've been getting out of the house more often which is amazing. It's not like my parents were keeping me imprisoned or anything; I've just been so busy these last couple weeks in preparation for my NYC trip that I practically glued my butt onto a chair in front of my computer. Since my trip, I've realized that to be someone, one has to get out. Who ever hear of anyone making it big by staying cooped up indoors at all hours of the day? *long silence*

(Unceremoniously moving on to a different topic...) I feel like such a huge hypocrite, but in the very best of ways. I don't like sharing a lot of personal information on my blog (since my real-life friends, and both the guys I'm about to discuss are probably reading this post), so I'm not going to be too detailed about this. To make things short, I broke up with this one guy last week. Nothing dramatic or outrageous; things just didn't click between us so it was pointless to continue our dating. I posted a status on Facebook along the lines of "I-am-done-with-boys-dating-is-stupid"...and what do you know? The very next day I met this wonderful guy! HA! (At least one friend sure got a kick of sweetly making fun of my fickleness ;) ) I'm not exactly sure what's going on between us...I get VERY confused by these things...and I can't say much on here because (like I said before) he might come across it. Hey, but at least *something* is going on between us! I really hope things work out. I will keep you all updated! =)

OK, moving on to the topic on my ensemble. This outfit reminded me of Valora's song Extreme (a bonus track on Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland film), since it includes so many fashion extremities. An extreme-length bold black and white striped dress, a contrasting polka-dot top in brilliant red, varying bangles in black, turquoise, and banana yellow, giant gold necklaces, a huge hat, and a ridiculous fringed cape; can one's outfit get any more over the top than that?

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

The Fortune Teller

2011-02-25T14:59:00.000-05:00

The gold dress-worn-as-a-top is from a friend; everything else is vintage.

These pictures were taken in Central Park on the third day of my NYC trip. I thought that the bangles, gold lame top, and turban went perfectly together in an exotic gypsy fortune teller way, where the patterend 1950's style skirt gave the outfit a bit of traditional sophisticated and primness.

Not much time to ramble today, but here are links to some of my recent fashion features, most of which are from Merceds-Benz Fashion Week:

...and again on Team Peter Stigter!

ProjectINVOGUE

Clin d'oeil

Everybody Is Ugly MBFW street style post on Chictopia

Everybody Is Ugly interview on Chictopia

Enjoy your weekend, lovelies!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Gothic Splendour

2011-02-19T20:14:00.000-05:00

Wet Seal top; Simply Vera Vera Wang shoes; costume shop hat; Miss Ruth's Time Bomb earrings; Target pink ring; vintage skirt, belt, pearls, and blue ring.

HELLO, PEOPLE! I am so sorry to have not posted in such a long time; things have been SO busy. And no, busy (this time) dosn't fall under the usual "I was swamped with homework" excuse. In this situation, busy means that I went to New York City to report on Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for Chictopia.com. What a breathtaking, eye-opening, out of body experience! It was so fantastic. I don't have a lot of time now (and here enters one of my typical "I'm swamped with homework" excuses) to tell you about the trip, but I will include a link to an interview about my trip on Chictopia. One of my favorite parts of the trip was the huge amount of street style photographers who took pictures of me! I even ended up on VogueUK.com, and was named BE Entertained Magazine's BEauty of the Day.

On top of that, I've aquired many new electronic gadets these past few weeks. For months, I've been planning to purchase a laptop, camera, and cell phone: these hazy furistic goals were made a reality in preparation for the trip. I know it might not sound very exciting, but I am pretty stoked to be able to type this post on my very own computer.

I hope to be MUCH more attentive to my blog in the future. I want to make PINK CHAMPAGNE the best blog it can possibly be!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Photo credit: Kelly Ann Shuler Photography

Cityscape

2011-01-27T18:33:00.000-05:00

Everything I am wearing in this shoot is vintage.

So, so, SO busy right now! Juggling two intensive courses now, plus this week has been pretty busy with social get-togethers, etc. If all goes as planned (I'm trying not to count my chickens before they hatch) I have some very exciting news for you all next post! I might be so busy that I will just have to edit this one to (hopefully) tell you the good news. =)

My friend took these pictures last week on a downtown escepade. Pardon the chunky boots paired with the flirty dress (I know, dosn't it make my legs look atrocious?) but I was being practial and not braving 5 inch heels in the newly-fallen snow. I changed into heels though when we reached our destination.

Ohhh I mentioned the possibility in my previous post, but I finally got my own camera! It's a Canon EOS Rebel T1i. (I think that's the proper term for it...not much of a techie here.) It arrived this past Monday, but I haven't had a chance to take it out of the box, much less properly use it. I'm hoping my photographer friend Kelly will be able to help me with it tomorrow. We're getting together for an afternoon of shopping and picture taking, so either way lovely pictures will abound on the blog very soon.

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Picnic at Hanging Rock

2011-01-20T10:46:00.000-05:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb necklace; vintage skirt, blouse and boots.

Hello, everyone! I recently wrote an article for Chictopia about the fashion inspiration in the 1975 surreal film, Picnic at Hanging Rock. My editor encouraged me to put together my own Edwardian-esque outfit, so my friend and I haphazardly took some pictures. Speaking of taking pictures, it looks like I'll be getting my own camera soon! I'll still be doing photoshoots with my friends, etc (because photographs taken by other people instead of oneself tend to be quite more artistically composed) but this means that I'll be to coordinate my own photoshoots with my little sister as a model, in addition to some self timer pictures. I'm just so excited!!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Sponsor: Miss Ruth's Time Bomb

2011-01-16T15:14:00.001-05:00

Shine like a silver-screen movie star in this beautiful Asian-inspired blue dress with exotic cut-out sleeves.

Fans of Mary-Kate Olsen's slouchy chic style? You've found your match in this darling yellow boyfriend cardigan.

Conjure up your inner diva in this elegant black and white maxi dress. Perfect for a glamorous art opening or (for those who like to stay fabulous 24/7) an afternoon downtown.

Warm and cozy, with a flamboyant festoon of silver Art Nouveu sequins and beadwork, this black sweater is both naughty and nice!

Flirt your way through spring in this whimsical bohemian brown and russet peasant dress. Add a pair of tights and a bolero jacket, and you can wear this number next fall.

Dare to be different and make a one-of-a-kind fashion statement with this sparkly red, white, and blue sweater.

Full skirted, with a sexy sweet heart bodice covered in luminous pale gold lace, what's not to love about this little black dress?

Channel your inner Jenny Mellor in this adorable denim-blue schoolgirl frock. You're bound to get "an education" in fashion!

I know that most of you are somewhat familiar with my favorite vintage clothing store, Miss Ruth's Time Bomb, but have you checked out their amazing online vintage clothing store? If you love my vintage look and seek to obtain similarily unique items, look no further than Miss Ruth's Time Bomb. From bold bejeweled 80's sweaters, to fetching 60's minidresses, this place is bound to satisfy your creative vintage fashion needs. (If you can't find your heart's desire on their Etsy shop just now, stay tuned; they're going to be putting up some new items in a couple of weeks.) All of the items featured in this post (modeled by yours truly!) are currently up for sale in their Etsy shop. Don't forget to "like" Miss Ruth's Time Bomb on Facebook to get the inside scoop on all their latest sales and new online arrivals!

Use the promotion code "Pinkchampagne" to get 10% off all store items!

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

Desperately Seeking Vintage

2011-01-10T15:15:00.001-05:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb headscarf; vintage jeans, jewelry, purse, and sunglasses; Rugged Warehouse shoes; crop top from clothing exchange.

Hello, everyone, sorry for the lengthy period in between posts; things have been really busy. I was channeling this look after Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan. (You can read more about 80's fashion via my latest Chictopia EIU article.)
Be sure to check out my feature on Amber's Mouthwash!

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

You've Been...FAERIE-STRUCK

2011-01-04T08:44:00.000-05:00

Forever21 dress and shoes; Miss Ruth's Time Bomb hair flower; vintage rings.

For some reason, these pictures remind me of the term "faerie-struck". (The word faerie-struck actually reminds me of one of my favorite songs, Thunderstruck by AC/DC, hence the blog post title.) It is said that humans, caught up in the otherworldly splendor of coming face-to-face with a faerie for the first time, have a tendancy to feel a bit deleriously surreal. The magical rainbow twinkle lights, coupled with the mysteriously dark outdoor scenery and array of ancient-looking rings and hair flower makes for a pretty good faerie-struck themed photoshoot.

The dress is just a simple stretchy maxi that I got on clearance from Forever21 (so are the shoes, but you can hardly see them), the vintage hair flower is from Miss Ruth's Time Bomb, and the rings are an array of vintage finds. My friend Rebecca (who shot the pictures) did most of my makeup. I love how she used a combination of gold and silver eye glitter, perfectly accented by the pale shimmery lipstick.

Ohhh I nearly forgot! I won the WM Style contest! Thanks to all of you who voted for me! =)

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

House of Cards

2010-12-29T11:41:00.000-05:00

Self-made skirt; Old Navy blouse; Target gloves; vintage hat, shoes, and jewelry.

Hello everyone! Must hurry...I have yet to get dressed and then I must head out the door! I made this skirt this past summer with my mom; I just adore the Alice in Wonderland-esque card print and whimsical suspender straps. The petal-sleeved top is from Old Navy, the gloves are from Target, and the hat, shoes, and jewelry are all vintage or thrifted.

Don't forget to vote for me in the WM Style contest! Friday is the last day you can vote!

1) "Like" WM Style on Facebook.

2) Then "like" this photo.

Thank you!

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

Last of the Romanovs

2010-12-26T17:12:00.002-05:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb dressing gown; Ross Tights; Forever21 shoes and earrings; vintage hat and jewelry.

Hello, dear blogger friends! I hope everyone had a merry Christmas! As promised a few months ago, here is another Russian-inspired photo shoot, photographed by my friend Rebecca. As with the Madame Butterfly set of pictures, we were going for a delicate wintertide vibe, this time with a muted champagne color scheme, contrasting textures, and magical sparkling accents. I basically threw this outfit together two minutes before the shoot (we were running late) but looking back on it, it reminds me quite a bit of Anne Hathaway's September 2007 Teen Vogue covershoot. Inspired by Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov (the youngest last-generation "princess" of Imperial Russia), Anne's shoot combined practical, oversized knitted basics with glamorous jewels and fashionable accents, reminiscent of the historically inccorect yet much romantiscized idea that Anastasia escaped from Russia (dressed like a peasant but secreting jewels and valuables beneath her robs) instead of being murdered like the rest of her family.

Anyway, my outfit is composed of a vintage silky champagne pink dressing gown from Miss Ruth's Time Bomb, a non-descript black tanktop and pair of black shorts, lacey fishnet tights from Ross, shoes from Forever21, and a faux fur Russian hat from Salvation Army. The dangly earrings are from Forever21, and the rest of the jewelry is vintage.

Ungracefully moving on to a different subject (my, how my former English teacher would be shocked at my lack of literary integration!), my 18th birthday is coming up this Thursday! One of my best blogger friends, Amy of flyingakite, turned 18 last week. I think that her pre-birthday post is the perfect summary of my feelings towards next Thursday:

"My eighteenth birthday! The year that I grow wings. The year I walk alone, sign my own name, pay my own fare, drink my own drink.. I'm setting my alarm for 7 am, dressing in flowers, curling my hair, painting my lips bubblegum pink, and walking out the door happy."

Well, with the exception of drinking that is. Alas, as an American-dweller, I will have to wait another three years before a taste of alcholic sweetness passes my lips. Aside from that, I plan to do just what Amy did: rise early in the morning (despite my fondness for sleeping in 'till noontide), deck myself out in fanciful faerie gauze and glimmer, and prepare to drink in the day's loveliness. I'm celebrating my birthday in the morning with my family, after which my bestie and I are driving to a local vintage clothing store/piercing parlor, where I will get my ears piered. My parents have this weird rule that I have to wait until I'm 18 to "poke permanant holes in my body" (hello, they can grow closed again!) so hence the long wait. After that, we'll browse around and hopfeully conjure up some amazing yet inexpensive vintage adornments, then head off to lunch at a tantilizingly deliscious Indian restaurant. In the evening, I'm having a vintage birthday reception with my friends, which will consist of the lot of us dressing up to the nines and stuffing ourselves with scrumptious hor'dourves and delacacies.

ANYWAY, after that huge long ramble, I am very much looking forward to this birthday. Don't forget to check out the lovely Amy's blog!

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

Hidden Treasures

2010-12-23T13:44:00.000-05:00

Vintage skirt, top, hat, fox stole, belts, and jewelry.

Merry early Christmas, dearest blogger friends! These pictures were taken last month, at a local vintage clothing store. I was meeting one of my photographer friends there to pick out some clothes for an upcoming shoot (which will be posted here as well!) and we took a few snaps. Everything I'm wearing is vintage, aquired a numerous different locations over the years. I think that this eclectic look fit in perfectly with the vibe of the haphazard shop, like hidden treasures discovered in an unexpected location. (The golddust makeup only adds to the "treasure" aspect!)

Hope you all enjoy the upcoming holidays!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Madame Butterfly

2010-12-19T19:16:00.000-05:00

Vintage skirt and top; Forever21 shoes and earrings; self-made wreath; Charlotte Russe ring.

Hello, blogger friends! My friend Rebecca took these pictures last Friday. We wanted to go for an ethereal, faerie-tale vibe, inspired by Disney's version of the White Witch (from The Chronicles of Narnia). This is just about as dainty and pale as I can get---magenta skirt and sequins! I thought that the sequined top mirrored the eerie spindly black trees and white snow-covered winter landscape, while the velvet skirt evoked a warm Christmassy spirit, and the unexpected color providing a bit of a spontaneous accent. The earrings reminded me of winter dewdrops or melting icicles, as did the ring, and the wreath had a melodramatic Tim Burton-esque feel of life in the midst of death. (The flowers, albiet pale and discreet, blooming in winter.) The skirt was a thriftstore find; the hem was completely amuck, but the resewing was completely worth it. I got the sequined butterfly top at a different thriftstore, a most wondrous find! I absolutley ADORE butterfly tops, but they're so rare to find in thriftstores, and too expensive for my budget online. The shoes (what you can see of them) were procured from my one-a-year trip to the mall at Forever21. I needed some basic, but not boring, black high heeled pumps, and these were the perfect pair. The earrings are also from Forever21, and I made the baby pink wreath. I got the ring at Charlotte Russe ages ago, and actually wore it to prom this past May. More similar winter-tide pictures to come!

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

Alice in Urbanland

2010-12-15T13:36:00.002-05:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb skirt; thrifted shirt and belt; vintage hairbow, apron, earrings and pocketwatch necklace; Ross tights and shoes.
Hello everyone! These pictures were taken almost a year ago last January by my friend Kelly (check out her new blog!) We wanted it to look like prim little Victorian "Alice" had magically stepped into a modern day urban scene. I love the contrasting red and blue colors! Not much time for rambling today...
Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela
P.S. Remember to vote for me in the WM Style contest!
1) Click on this link to "like" WM Style on Facebook.

2) After you do that, click on this link to "like" my picture.
Contest ends December 31st, so please cast in your votes by then! =)

They Called Her Ms. Sedgwick

2010-12-12T13:49:00.001-05:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb coat and headscarf; blouse, shorts, shoes, and geek glasses via clothing exchange; Target tights; vintage jewelry.

Hello, dear blogger friends! Sorry for the long hiatus-I've been super busy with term papers, etc. This is my last week of the semester, than comes an entire month long winter break, so you can be sure that I will be a much more attentive blogger.
Before I start up with the usual outfit rambling, I'd like to show you all the lovely sketch my cup of coffee did of me after I won his giveaway. Be sure to check out his blog for loads of diverse and multi-genre fashion inspiration!
Also, some of you may have noticed my new sponsor, Miss Ruth's Time Bomb, in the sidebar. My favorite vintage clothing store is now selling lovely things online with me as their model! Once I get a disk with all the picture, I'll be doing an entire post dedicated to the Time Bomb, but in the meantime feel free to explore their website and newly-established blog. I know that you will just adore their clothes! Beautiful, stylish, flirty and very reasonably priced-what more could you want?
Getting down to the usual outfit rambling...these pictures were taken by my dear friend Kelly on another blogger meetup which included the "most beautiful pregnant lady ever" Joy. I wanted to step out of my usual comfort zone and went for an exotic, glamorized urban look. Originally wearing a slightly longer pair of pale pink shorts, I swapped them in favor of these sleek black beauties I aquired during the evening's clothing exchange. Funny enough, I also aquired the drapey black top and tripple-strap shoes from Joy via a previous exchange. The amazingly gorgeous leopard coat is from Miss Ruth's Time Bomb (I am in love with this coat!!!!) I've had the teal tights for a couple of years (bought at Target) and the orange turban wrapped headscarf was bought the past week at Miss Ruth's Time Bomb. All of the jewelry is vintage and comes from a variety of different locations: thriftstores, vintage clothing stores, holiday bazaars, etc. Oh and the geek glasses were also aquired at that day's clothing exchange. I used to object to glasses without actual glass in them but oh well minds change, don't they?
We took a bunch of silly candid pictures at Kelly's house, and I kept doing these Edie Sedgwick-esque poses. I haven't seen the photos yet, but I'm sure that while Edie looked fabulously gamine and sexy, I looked like a drunken ballerina trying to do some sort of prepatory stretch in mid-air. You only live once! Life is too short to be normal!
Don't forget to "like" my blog on Facebook!
And be sure to vote for me in the WM Style contest! It ends on the 31st, so not too long before I stop bugging y'all about this. ;)
1) Click on this link to "like" WM Style on Facebook.
2) After you do that, click on this link to "like" my picture.
Thank you loads!
Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

Suburbia Freak

2010-12-03T09:22:00.000-05:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb skirt and key charm bracelet; Talbots crionline; vintage jacket and hat; Rugged Warehouse shoes.

Hello, everyone! I have some things to do today, so just a quick ramble about the outfit and shoot, and then I've got to run! My sister snapped these pictures last Sunday for an impromptu shoot. The lighting in our usual outfit-taking places near our house was being really weird, so we resorted to photographing in the back alley behind our house. (You can see our garage on the right-hand side of the pictures.) My sister said that the pictures remind her of the suburban community in Edward Scissorhands. I think it was the combination of the flawlessly-bright blue, cloud-bedecked sky, and houses and telephone wires in the background. My outfit wasn't your typical suburban housewife ensemble, hence the "Suburbia Freak" theme of the post. The skirt is a long-time favorite from Miss Ruth's Time Bomb, the black ostritch feather crionline is from Talbots, the black leather jacket was a yard sale find two years ago ($5!!!), the hat came from a thriftstore, and the shoes are from Rugged Warehouse. The key charm bracelet is from Miss Ruth's Time Bomb, the silver bangle is from my dad, and the ring is thrifted.
Remember to vote for me in the WM Style contest!

1) Click on this link and "like" WM Style on Facebook.
2) Then, click on this link, and "like" this picture.
Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Golden Graveyard Afternoon

2010-11-28T16:29:00.000-05:00

Vintage skirt, headscarf, belt, and jewelry; Express tights; Ross shoes; thrifted top.
Hello dears....*yawns* I am so tired, and being on the computer is giving me a positively wretched headache. No multi-paragraph-long rambling for today! (Still I have to ramble a bit about my outfit and the shoot.) These pictures were taken sometime in October by my friend Rebecca. I basically threw and outfit together, and picked out a weird location in which to shoot it. Our local graveyard is so mystical and enchanting, that I expect to do another set of pictures there in the future. Keep your eyes peeled! Anyway, albiet the impromptu composition of these pictures, I think that they conjure up quite a story: the ghost of a fashionable young lady, meandering throughout a deserted cemetery in the hazy golden light of an autumn afternoon. OK, on to the outfit description! The top is actually a dress, tucked into my prized 1950's vintage leopard-print skirt. I got the red Express tights from a friend, and the shoes are one of my all-time favorites from Ross. The green headscarf and gold jewelry were all random vintage aquirements, and the wide brown leather belt used to belong to my mother when she was a teenager.
Remember to vote for me in the WM Style contest!
1) Click on this link and "like" WM Style on Facebook.

2) Then, click on this link, and "like" this picture.
Mwah! Mwah! *stifles back yet another yawn*
~Hope Adela
P.S. I am officially a Harry Potter nerd.

Green to Gold: Hallow's Eve Magic

2010-11-24T09:58:00.016-05:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb skirt, hat, and necklace; vintage tank top (underneath) and jewelry; Express tights; given shoes.

Hello dear people! Today's title was was inspired by Arwen's "House of Healing" song from the extended version of The Return of the King. It's a beautiful, yet slightly melancholy-definatley worth checking out.
With a sigh
You turn away
With a deepening heart
No words to say
You will find
That the world has changed forever
The trees are now turning from green to gold
And the sun is now fading
I wish I could hold you closer
This was an impromptu photoshoot my sister and I did on Halloween morning. The natural scenery was absolutely perfect. The golden and orangey-brown leaves shown out magnificently against the emerald green grass (hence the nod to the Arwen song); the earthy tones of my outfit coordinating with the backdrop, and the purple tights giving the look some overall "fashiony" pizazz. The beaded gold vest was a gift from my aunt, worn over a completely random black tank top. I got the skirt at Miss Ruth's Time Bomb, as well as the hat (the style of which I like to deem "floppy-bohemian-hat-meets-preppy-fedora") and the gold pendant necklace. The earrings and huge ring were inherited from my grandmother, and the gold bangles were from a thriftstore. Both the purple tights and the brown shoes were aquired from a friend via a clothing exchange.
On Monday, I'm going to be doing an Etsy photoshoot for the much hyped-about Time Bomb! So you lovlies will now all have access to purchase their wonderful vintage clothing and accessories. I'll make sure to include a link to their store when the items are up, ASAP.
Now for some rather tragic news.....*mournful music* I ended up winning the eBay lookbook contest, but I got disqualified because I'm not 18 yet. I'll admit, it was my fault; I should have read the rules more carefully. Still, I think it's unecessary to have age limits in a contest like this. Bikini contest? Yes. Fashion contest? No. Just because someone's mother did not give birth to them sooner, shouldn't be a hinderance to someone entering this type of contest. Age is simply a number. (Look at Tavi!) For legal purposes, I think these types of contests should require a parental permission form, or a co-sign on all official agreements/documentation for those under 18, but I don't think being under 18 should prohibit someone from being publicly recongnized and awarded for their creativity and style. Anyway, that's my two cents on the subject. Hopefully next year! Even though this contest didn't work out, I want to thank you guys for voting for me! =)
Speaking of voting, I was browsing the blog links on the other WM Style contestants, and it turns out that one girl (I won't name her) directly copied and pasted my little "Don't forget to vote for me in the WM Style Contest, etc..." onto her own blog. The font, sizing, and wording was exactly the same as it had been on my blog (and it didn't match the rest of her font on that post). I don't have a problem if other contestants rally their blog friends to vote for them, but I DO have a problem when they plagarize my exact words. So, if you are reading this, I would appreciate it if you came up with your own original contest promotion instead of stealing mine. Thank you!
Anyway, if you haven't already done so, please vote for me in the WM Style Contest!

1) Click on this link and "like" WM Style on Facebook.
2) Then, click on this link, and "like" this picture
Have a lovely Thanksgiving, dear bloggers! This may sound cheesey, but one of the things I am most thankful for is fashion and blogging. To me, fashion is an endorphin-inducing art form that enables me to express my ideas, feelings, and emotions; giving new meaning to the term "wearing your heart on your sleeve". Blogging is a way to let the world know about your devotion to fashion. It's also a great way to bond with like-minded ladies and gents, as well as producing additional fashion opportunies. There would be no reason for me to create my own photo shoots if I didn't have a place to post them. The "need" to post pictures expands your artistic creativity in composing photo shoots and putting together outfits, and can alsoteach you how to pose and model in pictures. (I could literally go on for hours about the wonders of fashion and blogging, but I will promptly shut my mouth now.)While the rest of my family rolls their eyes when I say stuff like this, I'm pretty sure that you guys will understand. It takes a fashion blogger to know a fashion blogger. =)
Check out my feature with Wallflower Vintage! They have an amazing selection of fabulous vintage clothing items that you won't want to miss.
Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Queen of Constantinople

2010-11-20T15:48:00.001-05:00

Vintage dress, hat, belts, gloves, and bangles; Talbots shoes.

Hello, everyone! My friend, Rebecca, and I did this photoshoot this past week in an empty parking lot. I was standing on this pole thingy (second picture) and this police officer drove by and wanted to know what we were up to. Needless to say, it was practically impossible for me to actually comitt a crime in this outfit. Bangles, flowing skirt, high heels? I don't think so!

I wasn't exactly sure what exactly this look was supposed to be (other than obviously eclectic), but when I got home from the shoot, my mom said that I looked like a Byzantine princess. Hence the "Queen of Constantinople" theme. The dress is actually composed of two different pieces; a too-big dark blue lace dress and a burnt orange silk vest jacket. I thought the two colors looked quite striking together, and the broacade pattern on the jacket echoed the lacey texture of the dress. The belts and hat are from various thriftstores, and the shoes (of which you can barely see) are from Talbots. The long black silk gloves were inhereted from my grandmother (I actually wore them to prom), and the bangles are recent aquirments from various thrifstores and vintage clothing shops. I've just recently gotten into the whole bangle mania look, and I think it's rather unique and interesting. Plan on seeing more of these beauties in future blog posts!
I'd also like to do some Russian-themed shoots this fall/winter. I was browsing Wikipedia the other day and came across some Russian faerie tales. It really brought back a lot of childhood memories of sitting on my grandmother's lap as she read aloud stories from this Russian folk tale book we have. I was actually thinking about naming one of my children (provided that I actually want to have kids when I "grow up") Vasilisa, after the story "Vasilisa the Beautiful".
Don't forget to vote for me in the WM Style Contest!
1) Click on this link and "like" WM Style on Facebook.
2) Then, click on this link, and "like" this picture.
Thank you very much!
Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Into Sherwood

2010-11-17T12:30:00.000-05:00

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb cape and headpiece; Target gloves; vintage bag; thrifted earrings and shoes.Hello, dears! I just love these pictures to death. The cape and headpiece are from Miss Ruth's Time Bomb, the gloves are from Target, and the underdress is composed of a random black skirt, tank top, and corset-like belt. I was going for a mysterious medieval look; pretending to be the legendary Maid Marian from The Adventures of Robin Hood. This is one of the few outfits that I've posted on here that I haven't actually worn in real life-it was worn purely for the sake of artistic photo shoot purposes.
I would love to stay and talk longer, but (as always) I am most unfortunately busy!
Don't forget to vote for me in the WM Style Contest!
1) Click on this link and "like" WM Style on Facebook.
2) Then, click on this link, and "like" this picture.
Thank you very much! =)
Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Envy of Athens

2010-11-14T15:00:00.001-05:00

Featured on Chictopia's front page!

Vintage skirt, jewelry, belt, and sunglasses; Target blouse; Rugged Warehouse shoes.

Hello, lovely blogger people!
I'm feeling really hyper today for some reason, so I'll keep things short so as not to sound like the complete nut case I am. My friend, Rebecca, took these pictures last month. I think the 60's vibe of the outfit melded quite nicely with the Greco-Roman feel of the columns and architecture. The overall look reminds me of Helen of Troy, hence the title "Envy of Athens" (except, I'm not entirely sure whether or not Helen of Troy was from Athens...ohhh duhh Helen of TROY, is obviously from Troy. Oh well, it makes a nice title, albiet its historical flaws!) I got the 60's green skirt at a rummage sale last month, the blouse is from Target via a clothing exchange, the shoes are from this awesome discount store in Virginia called Rugged Warehouse, and all the jewelry is vintage, aquired from different places.
Oh, if you could vote for me in another fashion contest, that would be great! All you have to do is:
1) "Like" this page.
2) And then "like" this photo.
Thank you so much!
Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Runaway Dreams

2010-11-10T18:35:00.001-05:00

Vintage hat, cases, and jewelry; thrifted skirt and shoes; Target gloves; traded top.

Hello, everyone!

Sorry for the blogging hiatus, I've been super busy. You know, it seems the longer I put off doing a post, the more of a pain it is. For example, if I posted more frequently, I would have fewer comments to respond to, hence less blogging duties. But going MIA is such a huge hole down which to fall, that's it's rather difficult to get out of it.
BLAH! I am not making any sense whatsoever today. Perhaps it's because I'm mentally thinking in a British accent, due to my recent obscession with the Harry Potter books. I promise you, I am truly an intelligent and interesting person: my mind just always runs completely amuck whenever I sit down to write a blog post.
Anyway (still thinking in a British accent!) my dear friend Rebecca took these pictures several weeks ago (or should I say, a fortnight?) I had in mind the idea of a glamorous vintage beauty running away from home on a daring and spontaneous adventure. (Hence the suitcase and traveing box.)
I got the hot pink hat at a local tea shop (they sell vintage hats there), the top is actually a dress which I procured from a friend in a clothing exchange. The green silky skirt (don't you just love the 50's style?) is thrifted, as well as the Vera Wang for KHOL's shoes. The gloves were a Christmas present from Target, and all the jewelry is vintage.
Anyway, got to run, but just thought I'd catch up with everyone. Until next time, fair Muggles!
Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

STYLIT

2010-10-29T12:13:00.000-04:00

Have you ever woken up in the morning without a clue what to wear? I know that this has happened to me plenty of times, usually resulting in a haphhazardly-thrown-together ensemble. Even the most creative of fashion bloggers need an occassional boost of organization to their daily outfit planning in order to look their absolute finest. You're probably thinking "OK, so how am I supposed to solve this problem? Do you have any real suggestions or solutions to a lack of outfit planning?" The answer is, I do! To be more precise, Beth Jones, of B. Jones Style (you may remember my earlier reference to her hair tutorials), has a solution to this problem via her nifty little outfit-planning book called STYLIT. As she explains in this post, "STYLIT is a daily fashion planner that is designed to help you plan your day, week and month with personal style in mind." Each STYLIT contains a personal style page, month at a glance calendars, seasonal inspiration pages, and a daily outfit planning format. In this post, I'd like to take a peek into my own STYLIT, which Beth ever so kindly sent me.

This is my personal style page, where I can jot down various inspirations, fashion icons, and style descriptions. Initially, it may sound cheesy trying to define your style with a pen and paper, but trust me, it is well worth your while to have a physical document of what makes you "you". Stumped for something to wear to a last minute party? Simply flip to this page and think "What would [fill in your favorite fashion icon] wear?"

I cheated on my inspiration page! Instead of pasting pictures and magazine clips into the STYLIT itself (I was paranoid about them accidently falling out as I carried my STYLIT on walks), I composed an entire inspiration bulletin board. Whether you collage your inspiration images in the STYLIT itself or choose a larger alternative canvas, it's a great way to have all your visual inspirations in one place. (It also doubles up as an avant-garde piece of wall art!)

Here, you can see a week of my outfits. I'm a pretty visual learner, so I decided to draw my outfits directly onto my little STYLIT girl. This page is uber conveniant because it also includes little daily "to-do" lists. The following pictures depict close ups of several of my STYLIT-planned outfits, followed with their real-life outcomes.

OUTFIT #1.

OUTFIT #2.

(As you can see, the real-life version of the second outfit bears a few little accessory changes in comparison to the origional STYLIT rendition, although it retains the same basic structure and fashion vibe.)

OUTFIT #3.

(By the way, all three of these outfits will be featured in later blog posts, along with additional pictures.)

Are you lusting for your own STYLIT now? Pick one up quick on Beth's Etsy page. $25 for a year of calm, organized fashion zen? Definatly a must-have!

Mwah! Mwah!

~Hope Adela

Some Like It Hot

2010-10-20T13:43:00.000-04:00

Thrifted top, Target jeans, Ross shoes, vintage fur, headscarf, bag, and jewelry.

Hello, everyone! I'm SO busy today; not much time to write anything here.

Please remember to vote for me in the eBay lookbook contest!
1) Click on THIS LINK.
2) Click on the blue "vote now" button below my photograph.
3) Click on the "vote instantly" button.
4) You're allowed to vote for me 5 times in a row, EVERY 24 HOURS so please repeat this process 4 additional times!

Thank you so much! Feel free to ask me to vote for you in any fashion contests, and I would be more than happy to do so in return!
By the way, I wrote a guest post for Talbots blog, Red Chair Confessions. Check it out!
Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

New Romantic

2010-10-16T12:35:00.002-04:00

Vintage Laura Ashley dress, gloves, and locket, self-made wreath, and thrifted shoes.

Hello, everyone! Sorry for the week and a half long blogging hiatus, but I've been busy working on a philosphy term paper. My friend Rebecca took these pictures last week. I love the romantic, Victorian theme. The dress is Laura Ashley. I don't remember where I got it from, but it was probably a thriftstore or something. I made the floral wreath, and the gloves were a gift from a friend. The cameo locket necklace is from Miss Ruth's Time Bomb, and the mary-jane shoes were bought in California (at a Salvation Army!)

Please remember to vote for me in the eBay lookbook contest!

1) Click on THIS LINK.

2) Click on the blue "vote now" button below my photograph.
3) Click on the "vote instantly" button.
4) You're allowed to vote for me 5 times in a row, EVERY 24 HOURS so please repeat this process 4 additional times!

Thank you so much! Feel free to ask me to vote for you in any fashion contests, and I would be more than happy to do so in return!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Bohemian Rhapsody (Blogger Meetup!)

2010-10-06T10:47:00.000-04:00

Me and Joy!^

Kelly and Joy! ^

Vintage skirt, top and bracelets, thrifted shoes and belt, Forever21 ring and earrings,TJMaxx hat.
Hello everyone!
Yesterday was quite exciting! I met up with two of my friends, Joy and Kelly, for a clothing exchange. I wouldn't technically call it a "blogger meetup", because the three of us are actually real-life friends (instead of Internet buddies who meet up every now and then), but Kelly did take some fantastic pictures of us for our blogs. It was such a fun day! The three of us got along famously together, and it was so nice to be able to spend time with fellow fashion-minded people (of which there are sadly so few in central PA). I got so many lovely things at the clothing exchange (a gold cross necklace, polka-dot skirt, Penny Lane-esque coat, and suspenders, to name just a few!). However, my favorite part of the day was going out to lunch. Not only was the food deliscious (hello, spicy tuna sushi!), but our conversation was warm, interactive, and supportive. We must get together again, ladies! =)
I decided to go for an eclectic, bohemian look, unaware that I was simultaneously emulating three current trends. Oh well! I've always loved leopard-print, striped tops, and floppy hats, so it dosn't matter anyway. I got the skirt at a local antique store. Unfortuantely, the material is super-flimsy, so I rip it practically every time it leaves the house, haha. The top was bought at Miss Ruth's Time Bomb. You can't see it in the pictures, but it has a scooped back with two straps across. I found the hat at TJMaxx this past winter (Jessica Simpson label), and the shoes and belt are various thriftstore finds. Oddly enough, both the fish earrings and the emerald ring were Forever21 purchases, and the bracelets are vintage.

Don't forget to vote for me in the eBay lookbook contest!

1) Click on THIS LINK.

2) Click on the blue "vote now" button below my photograph.
3) Click on the "vote instantly" button.
4) You're allowed to vote for me a total of 5 times, EVERY 24 HOURS so please repeat this process 4 additional times!

Thank you so much! Feel free to ask me to vote for you in any fashion contests, and I would be more than happy to do so in return!

Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela

Looking-Glass Dreams

2010-10-02T20:15:00.002-04:00

Hello, everyone! These pictures were taken a loooong while ago. It was a dark and stormy night (jk!) and my sister and I decided to have an impromptu photo shoot in front of my dressing table. I love the magical, multi-colored glow the rainbow Christmas lights cast upon the shadowy surroundings. The vibe of these pictures are so haunting, like the boudoir of an enchanted faerie-tale princess or a pondering and romantic Juliet-type character. I was just wearing a long flowly Renaissance-style nightgown, and the beaded white cap was a find from a local Celtic festival.
Also, I'd like to express my appreciation towards all of you who voted for me in the Talbot's denim contest. I won! Many thanks to each and every one of you for your support. =)
Ironically, my father thoughtfully informed me of another upcoming fashion contest, so please take a minute to vote for me in the eBay lookbook contest! All you have to do is...
1) Click on THIS LINK.
2) Click on the blue "vote now" button below my photograph.
3) Click on the "vote instantly" button.
4) You're allowed to vote for me a total of 5 times, EVERY 24 HOURS so please repeat this process 4 additional times!
Thank you so much! Feel free to ask me to vote for you in any fashion contests, and I would be more than happy to do so in return!
This week, I'm doing a clothing exchange with my friends, Joy and Kelly. It should be super-fun! I've acquired so many lovely things this past week and a half. I can't wait to show you all my finds!
QUESTION OF THE DAY: What was your favorite clothing purchase this week?
Mwah! Mwah!
~Hope Adela