In celebration of (finally) receiving my first credit card, as well as my 20th birthday coming up in 10 days, I though I’d compile a list of things I’ve been eyeing recently. No doubt the dangerous combination of a new credit card and birthday time self-indulgences are a bad one, but I for one, welcome uninhibited online shopping…and bill paying…with open arms. Adulthood, here I come!

1. Vlieger and Vandam Guardian Angel gun clutch
2. Zana Bayne petite leather harness
3. D&G 3 L’Imperatrice
4. Nixon’s “The Kensington”
5. Cards Against Humanity
6. Zara heels
7. 3D Sculpeo skull case 

As usual, when reality enters a dream-like state that far rivals that of the enticing virtual expanse that is the internet, I slowly retract from myself from my laptop and various social media outlets, and instead invest that time into more social human interactions and outdoor activities (ie. actually leaving the house) than I am accustomed to. Welcome to my summer life post-first-year-uni.

I’ve been back in Winnipeg for about two and a half weeks now, but it seems like much longer. Nothing beats homemade eats, being back in your own house and seeing some of your favourite people every day to make it seem like you never really left. Because really, even with my head in Toronto, my roots will always remain here in good ol’ Winnipeg (cue barfing noises).

Right now I’m looking forward to endless summer days of clear blue skies and canola fields, strawberry picking, cute dates and cuddling, more home cooking, mojito sipping and the getting into most fun/trouble I can get into without being arrested (sorry mom).

Stay tuned. I’m working on blogging more often now that there are more hours of adequate lighting, but I’m not making any solid promises just yet. In the meantime, you can follow me on instagram for visual updates.

Photographed by Jarryd

Wearing a Banana Republic coat, Forever21 tee, random jeans, vintage belt, converse shoes and KayTran sunglasses.

This past month has been absolute madness–major papers due on the same day, countless of hours of lost sleep, pounds of chocolate consumed, and many a moment of just rocking back and forth in the fetal position. Fashion school is not nearly as glamourous as it’s hyped up to be, I assure you. Thankfully, I’ve just about broken free from the eye of the storm, and with the new month starting off on the right foot, I am well on the way of smooth sailing towards the end of my first year at Ryerson! Ahhhh, so many feels!

School stress aside, here’s a quickie post of an outfit I wore over the Easter long weekend. It was absolutely gorgeous outside, and I thought I’d do a nod towards the spring holiday with a bit of pastel peach and a pop of electric blue. Unfortunately the clouds have rolled in again and it’s back to covered up legs for me, but the brief freedom was fun while it lasted. Ah well, summer is upon us, and even sooner is the promise of heading back to good ol’ Winnipeg!

Wearing a thrifted tank top, thrifted white vest, vintage blazer, vintage leather skirt, Forever21 necklace, Casio watch and Nine West sandals.

Amidst staying up late writing potential thesis statements in lieu of going to bed early for an 8AM Art History lecture (for which, I’m writing said thesis for) I thought I’d take a mini break before deciding whether I should continue with my sleep-deprived ways or, you know, actually sleep for more than 4 hours.

Anyways, here’s to a refreshing, slightly-less-textual break from all that academic-blah writing. These three watercolour paintings are an assignment I recently handed in for my illustration class. Each of the three paintings were required to have at least three techniques and two fabric/pattern renderings, all with a common theme or storyline. I focused on the colour red and its connotations and came up with these.

Anger, Passion and Power. Which one’s your fave?

With my first year of university slowly coming to an end, it’s safe to say that this year has really flown by. Although I’m currently neck-deep in multiple projects and one pesky Art History mid-term for the upcoming month, everything’s coming up roses. After all, why let stress get to you when you can put all that energy you’d otherwise put into worrying, into the tasks at hand? There’s literally nothing left for me to do but to work hard, because before I know it, two months will have sped by and it’ll be summer break!

As for these photos, my lovely friend Brianna and I decided to take advantage of the nicer weather, take a walk around the neighbourhood and have a little fun. We didn’t have a lot of time, but I think Brianna captured the mood du jour quite well–a sunny disposition despite all seriousness.

Photographed by Brianna Toswill

Wearing a thrifted shirt, Costa Blanca leather jacket (old), vintage belt and bag, pleather skirt from Hush boutique in Winnipeg, American Apparel sheer leggings, Vince Camuto boots, and Forever21 necklaces.

I first found out about KayTran Eyewear last year when I was flipping through the pages of Flare’s May 2012 issue (non-coincidentally the same one I was featured in). Needless to say, after a meeting up with the lovely designer and entrepreneur herself and trying on a few pairs, I was hooked! As a person who’s always had trouble finding sunglasses that didn’t slide off my nose or dig into my cheekbones, Kathy’s line of specifically designed chic shades were heaven sent.

Imagine my excitement when Kathy emailed me in December, asking if I’d do the honour of styling and starring in KayTran’s spring relaunch–of course I couldn’t turn down the opportunity!

The shoot itself was loads of fun, despite the freezing rain that day. Not to mention, It was absolutely lovely to work with such a talented team. Major props to photographer Monique Wiendels and hair/makeup artist Summer O’Grady for working their magic.

You can check out the rest of the campaign and shop KayTran’s line up on their website HERE.

I figured since I spend so much time in school (or slaving away after school, for that matter) that I’d share some of the work I’ve done recently. This was an assignment I handed in last Friday for my illustration class, where we were required to recreate a fashion image by rendering the various textures through the use of found objects.

The imaged I based my illustration on is from a brilliantly styled editorial entitled Fatale, starring one of my fave girls, Ginta Lapina. It’s from the November 2012 issue of Numèro that one of my friends so thoughtfully gifted me as a Secret Santa present back in December. Wish I could’ve done the rest of outfits in this shoot, too… You can never have enough black leather, fur, sequins, jewels and gold chains, am I right ?!

Check out the rest of the editorial here.

I’m only two weeks into second semester and it’s already feeling like an eternity! Perhaps it’s the lighter schedule, which, in an ideal world would allow for a variety of creative side projects (read: photography, blogging, styling) yet in reality, only encourages laziness and procrastination. Or perhaps it’s because I’m just counting down the days until I get to see my boyfriend again! Long distance relationships…LE SIGH.

The Toronto winter isn’t helping me either–school or style-wise. Although significantly warmer than Winnipeg (aka 10000x more fashion friendly), Toronto’s permanently overcast skies, fog-engulfed skyline and slushy sidewalks seemed to have drained the color out of me. Ah well. Here’s to hoping the gray fades away…spring’s just around the corner, right?

Wearing a thrifted knit sweater, long sleeve top and shorts, American Apparel mesh leggings, Calvin Klein boots and rings from eBay

Contrary to popular belief, I do leave the prison that is my dorm room and step away from the homework on ocassion. But only for absolutely necessary things, such as attending class, grabbing food and shopping the Margiela for H&M collection. Yes, shopping this collection was totally necessary.

As an H&M-deprived Winnipegger who missed out on a multitude of H&M guest designer collaborations, I was not about to miss out on Maison Martin Margiela. Who would turn down the chance to own re-editions by the Belgian designer famous for his minimalist, deconstructed designs? Not me. Because let’s face it, this is the is the closest I’ll get to owning MMM–at least until I finish paying off the student loan debt.

While I did not brave the crowds to line up for the launch last week, I did drop by the Eaton Center H&M the following day. I was surprised to see that there was still a good amount of the collection left, but I suppose that Margiela isn’t as recognizable or wearable as the Versace or Lanvin collaborations of the past. But that’s fine with me–I walked out with one of the three remaining tromp l’oeil bodysuits in my size. Major score!

Wearing Margiela for H&M Tromp L’oeil body suit, thrifted deconstructed blazer turned vest, Talulah pants, eBay rings, Vince Camuto shoes.

Once upon a time, before crazy mid-terms, Hurricane Sandy and intense back-to-back projects, I was calm. Well, not entirely, but I was a hell of a lot calmer then than I am now. Fast forward to a month after reading week–the last time I tasted freedom–and I have survived the following:

• • 10 assignments / projects
• • 1 monster research paper
• • 1 equally monstrous Art History essay
• • 3 midterm exams
• • Just under 300 hours of homework + studying
• • 1 nearby hurricane threat
• • aaaaaand losing a very important sewing project only to find it 24 hours later (nearly died of stress)

Yup. I’m just as surprised as you are that I’m still alive and blogging. At this point, the shock of multiple assignments coming at me at 100 kmph no longer bothers me, I’ve just accepted it. I’ve gone from the wimpy kid who is scared shitless of getting hit in dodgeball (but does anyways, and multiple times) to the gym class hero who faces a wall of flying rubber balls with my own well-placed throws at the enemy. I’ve learned that in a game of dodgeball, what matters is not how many balls get thrown at your face, but how artfully you dodge them and how hard you hit back at the enemy. Oh and of course, never backing down in the face of desperation really pays off. There is that last-man-standing rule…don’t get hit for 30 seconds and you win the whole thing! Score.

Confusing, if not irrelevant, analogy aside, I’m just glad it’s only 35 days until I get a timeout–I mean go home for holiday break. Just know that when I get off that bench, I intend on playing harder and smarter than ever before.

Second semester? Come at me, bro.

Wearing random shirt, Acne cardigan, vintage leather pants, Matiko wedges, F21 and DIY quartz necklace. 
Photos taken by Stephanie Tran