Just a quick note:
I’ll be going out of town tomorrow, so I won’t be posting for a few days. Today I’m busy packing and then I’m going to have an adventure with some of my best friends. I’m incredibly excited- this is much-needed! I’m not sure when posting will resume, but if you follow me on Twitter or subscribe to my blog, you’ll be the first to know when I’m back!
What are you guys doing this weekend? And can you believe it’s almost August already?!
~ Sarah
Deschanel in the Aug. 2009 issue of Self Magazine.
As Summer Finn in the indie hit (500) Days of Summer, Zooey Deschanel set many hearts aflutter. It wasn’t until last year that this blue-eyed beauty became instantly recognizable, but Deschanel has actually been acting for the last decade. The Los Angeles native was born into show business: her mother is an actress, her father is a cinematographer, and her older sister Emily stars in the television series Bones.
Deschanel made her film début in 1999, with a small part in the Mumford. (Yeah, I’ve never heard of it either, but it still counts.) Her big break though came the next year in the critically acclaimed movie Almost Famous, in which she played another supporting role. She worked on several more independent projects but she didn’t play a lead role until 2003′s All the Real Girls, which earned her a nomination for That same year Zooey co-starred opposite Will Ferrel in the Christmas hit Elf.
Weird, right?
Afterwards, Deschanel became more of a familiar face, appearing in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Failure to Launch, Gigantic, and Yes Man, as well as on the television showWeeds and the mini-series Tin Man. Then she reunited with Joseph Gordon-Levitt (a co-star in Manic) and starred in the title role in (500) Days of Summer, last year’s breakout indie hit. (If you haven’t seen it yet, I’m not sure what you’re waiting for.) Thanks to the film’s success, she and Gordon-Levitt are verifiable A-listers.
Deschanel also has a blossoming career as a singer-songwriter. She has contributed to many movie soundtracks, including Elf and Yes Man. Deschanel and fellow singer-songwriter M. Ward form the indie pop duo and they have released two successful albums, Volume One and Volume Two.
Not only is Deschanel talented, she also has a growing reputation as a fashion icon because of her quirky and vintage style. College Fashion did some great inspiration posts on Zooey, which you can see here and here. She’s also one of the new faces of Rimmel London (her campaign is set to debut next month), but that shouldn’t come as a surprise because she’s, you know, gorgeous. Deschanel’s beauty has a freshness to it- she’s not your ordinary starlet.
So what do you think? Are you a fan of Zooey Deschanel?
~ Sarah
P.S. Thanks to Wash and Repeat‘s Sarah for inspiring me to write this post!
Before I begin this post, I’d just like to thank you guys for all your feedback on my first Fashion Inspiration post. I’m actually really self-conscious about the stuff I post, so it was great getting lots of positive feedback! I hope you like my follow-up.
I’ll admit it: on occasion, I still watch Disney Channel. I’m not even part of their main demographics anymore, but I love Sonny with a Chance and of course, Wizards of Waverly Place. The show is about a family of wizards living in downtown Manhattan. (Does anyone else harbor a secret crush on David Henrie? Or is that just me?) Selena Gomez (who I kind of adore) plays Alex Russo, the spunky and sassy troublemaking witch. I think Alex is a fun character for kids because she’s a regular kid, and she’s a slacker, not Little Miss Perfect. Plus, she has a great sense of style.
There are many components to Alex’s outfits. Throughout the series, her fashion has evolved from kind of urban-punk to more polished but still fun and unique. Alex is a huge fan of color, and lots of it. Rarely do we see her wearing something monochromatic. Alex uses layers with ease and she mixes prints like a pro. She tends to wear skinny jeans or tights tucked into boots (where she hides her wands)- she’s not a ballet flat kind of girl. Alex also uses jewelry and accessories like scarves, belts, and vests to add more dimensions to her outfits. Basically, it’s nothing at all like what I wear, but I still love her clothing. So I tried to put together a few outfits that Alex would love (I hope)- colorful, wild, but wearable.
Outfit #1
Asian Print Henley- Lucky; Cami- Vanity; Vest- Forever 21 (Canada); Skinny Jeans- Coggles; Earrings- Amazon; Converse- Journeys.
I started this outfit with a great henley (you can take a closer look at the print here). I layered a black cami over it because a) it’s a neutral so it won’t look too busy and b) it makes the print pop even more. Someone who is more adventurous might try the flowy vest (which I love) instead, so I included that look as well. I added the earrings because Alex loves her accessories. The red converse complete the outfit with another pop of color
Outfit #2
Gray Henley- Witchery.com; NYC Heart Tank- Deliah’s; Skinny Jeans- Deliah’s; Crochet Beret- Forever 21; Suede Boots- Amazon.
Not only does Alex love skinnies, she often goes for colored bottoms. Maybe it’s the artist in her. I picked these deep yellow jeans because the color is similar to the gold glitter heart featured in the tank top. The gray henley works under the New York tank because it adds layers without adding a competing color or print. For the boots, I picked this colorful, slouchy pair- you need confidence to wear them, so they definitely give off a “cool kid” vibe. The beret adds an artsy, bohemian vibe.
Outfit #3
Fleece Hoodie- Old Navy; Dress- Forever 21; Pink Peace Sign Scarf- Buckle; Tights- Bella Deco; Boots- Deb Shops
Alex does have a girly side, so that’s why I picked a dress for the last look. The dress itself is pretty interesting- it’s a tank dress in a fun floral print with an imitation sweetheart neckline. (At least according to me.) I picked gray patterned tights and gray booties, to give the dress a tough but sweet spin. A pink print scarf and a purple hoodie add layers and color to complete the outfit.
So what do you think? Do you watch Wizards of Waverly Place? Did these outfits capture Alex’s look? Would you wear any of these looks? (I know I’m thinking of incorporating some of this into my back-to-school shopping.) Let me know in the comments!
~ Sarah
Hope everyone had a relaxing weekend! Enjoy this week’s links! ♥
Yesterday, the fourth season of Mad Men premiered and I finally broke down and started watching the show. This video taught me everything I needed to know about Mad Men in less than five minutes. Did anyone else watch last night?
Are romantic comedies ruining relationships? The Daily Mail says yes.
College Fashion tells us why you should borrow clothing from your mom. I know I do!
Tips on what to pack for a summer getaway! I’ll definitely be using Michelle’s tips soon.
A great profile on my favorite pitcher, Josh Johnson. Strasburg who? And yes, I just had to throw in one sports story.
Video Love
This great video discusses the ill environmental effects of plastic water bottles. Take this as another reminder to invest in a reusable water bottle and filter.
I recently rediscovered Mandy Moore’s cover of Rihanna’s “Umbrella”. Mandy’s version is beautiful and melancholy- definitely worth a listen.
On a completely unrelated note, some girls from South Florida have made a hilarious spoof of Katy Perry’s “California Gurls”.
I know, this week’s link are all over the place! Do you have any links to share?
~ Sarah
My summer vacation will be over in less than five weeks. As much as I’m looking forward to going back to New York, I’m dreading leaving the comforts of home. My friends, my family, and, yes, the food!
For you to understand why I love food from home, first we need to discuss food at school. I’m sure you’ve heard horror stories about cafeteria food- I’m here to tell you those stories are true. Sure, meal plans are really exciting at the beginning, because you can eat whatever you want and (usually) when you want. But then you realize that the offerings are really the same things over and over again, and everything is too greasy and salty. It comes to the point when you look forward to the days they’re serving tortellini or chicken burritos, whatever dishes tend to be most edible.
Sodexo- Bane of My Existence
Luckily, I do go to school in New York City, so there is relief when my friends and me venture outside the gates. From pizzerias to Chinese and Mediterranean restaurants, New York has a lot to offer, food-wise. And yet, it’s not enough for my appetite. The problem comes down to this: I have yet to find the perfect Latin restaurant. It needs to be a) delicious, b) cheap, and c) accessible.
I know what you’re thinking, that it shouldn’t be that hard to find a Latin place in a city known for representing all cultures. I’m telling you, I’ve been unsuccessful. Many restaurants are very fashionable and outside of my affordable budget. The more hole-in-the-wall places, which are probably the best, are found in Queens and Brooklyn. That’s a bit of a trek from the northwest Bronx. So yeah, it’s been unsuccessful so far. As it turns out, some of my hometown friends have also felt deprived of Latin food once they left the state. Sad.
The point of all this rambling is that while I was at school, I really started to miss food from home. Not just my mom’s cooking, but the plentiful Latin American cuisine found all over South Florida. I started craving foods I didn’t even know I liked, like lentils. I went from eating rice about five times a week (even more often during summer) to about once a week, and it was never yellow rice.
It turns out that food is really important to me. That’s why I’ve eaten a lot since I’ve been home. Don’t even get me started on Colombian candy either. Below are some of my own snapshots of some great meals. (WARNING: Do not continue if already hungry.)
Cuban bread, rice, beans, and plantains
Black Beans and Ropa Vieja (Shredded Beef)
Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding)
Biscocho Negro (Cake)
I’ve also started helping cook, something I never did before. Actually, my mom is making some natilla and hojuelas as I write this, but you get my point.
Granted, not actually Latin food, but homemade chicken fried rice beats takeout any day.
Mashed Potatoes
Toasted Bread
Chicken
And now I’m hungry again. Here’s to gaining the Freshman 15 after freshman year. ¡Buen provecho!
~ Sarah
