QUI N'AIME PAS LA MER?

Who doesn't love the sea? I've been enamored by the scents and sounds of sea salts and sea shells since my infancy. You might not know this, but I was born right on Miami Beach! It's probably in my destiny to move back some day. One can only be without the ocean for so long. And on the topic of oceans- have you guys heard the album Cape Dory by Tennis? It's my second all-time favorite record, next to Room on Fire by The Strokes. The whole album is a documentation of the band's experience at sea, set to lo-fi melodies overflowing with nautical sincerity. I proudly admit to skipping around my room with "Seafarer" on blast while wearing this very maritime get-up! Red sky at night, sailor's delight.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Beret- Saks Fifth Avenue

Sunglasses- 80s Purple, www.80spurple.com

Cardigan- Gap

Bejeweled anchor dress- Victoria's Secret PINK

Thigh highs- Drugstore, DIY

Flats- Target

My title is (of course) in French, because the aesthetic I'm trying to convey is both Parisian and aquatic. Accents like my black ribbon and red frill assert that I'm young and romantic, while pieces like the beret and cardigan effervesce a 1950s beatnik charm. Altogether, the effect is French lolita looking for love at the naval base. Seafarer, you and I belong together!

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

MIME GIRL

Can't say much today- I'm a mime! If only I were skilled enough to embed a video in which I provide a detailed charade that explains where each article of clothing is from. Looks like I'm going to have to break a few mime rules just this once by spelling it out.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Cap- Not sure, vintage

Red lipstick- MAC Powerhouse

Bow tie- DIY

Striped shirt- Gap

Suspenders- American Apparel

Pants- Rock & Republic

Flats- Target

I chose to dress 'mime-esque' today because I wanted to utilize my black suspenders in the most creative way possible. While the theme is gimmicky, the simple color scheme and fluid silhouette are still sophisticated. The statement piece of my outfit isn't actually a piece at all- it's my lipstick! It was tempting to go all out with the white and black facepaint, but I figured that this outfit was more a 'playful interpretation' of an idea than a full-blown costume. So I settled for a BRIGHT red kisser and called it a day!

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

BE▲†NIK

I recently received a question in my formspring inbox that questioned my propensity to leave the house in something simple and effortless, as opposed to something calculated and eye-catching. The truth is, every outing is an opportunity to create something that other people can appreciate. I love art, creation, and productivity. I love any material that can be manipulated into an original work. I love the pride associated with accomplishment. And that's what I experience when I deliberately craft an outfit. Why would I deprive myself of the sensation of fulfillment when it is so readily available to me? The idea of 'effort' doesn't scare or repulse me. So, to answer that person's question, I really don't have days where I throw on whatever's clean and accept the fact that people will pay absolutely no notice to my passing existence.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T HAVE DAYS WHERE I JUST WANT TO FEEL COMFORTABLE. Yesterday was one of them! Yet instead of stepping out in my favorite pair of maroon drawstring sweats, I put on two sweaters and a loose pair of pants. And I still committed myself to a theme; the beat generation.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Glasses- from a terrible store in suburban Las Vegas called "Tilly's". Its top exports are checkered Dickies backpacks, DC skate sneakers, Famous Stars and Straps t-shirts, and multi-color aviator sunglasses. At least one good thing came out of being temporarily condemned to Hades; these prescription-less wayfarers.

Cardigan- Gap, secondhand (gift)

Striped sweater- Vintage, Avalon Exchange (gift)

Pants- Seven For All Mankind 'Gwenevere', cuffed to preferred length

Flats- Target

Bag- Rebecca Minkoff

Journal- Valentine's Day Gift in 2008, STILL UNUSED AND THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE

I'm not sure if I've ever before divulged this information, but I've been 'the writer of the family' since I became literate. I wrote crazy poems in elementary school, most of which were about colorful characters feasting on strange and inedible foodstuffs. As I matured, I penned short stories about my then-present love life. I grew progressively more animated and politically impassioned at the onset of high school, so I took to scribing rants in a composition notebook titled 'Enigmatic [Expletive]'. I'd bet my life that every teenager goes through a rebellious phase during their freshman year of high school. Human nature demands it. So, my desire to write inspired my mother to buy me this beautiful notebook for Valentine's Day many years ago. I loved it so much that I couldn't bring myself to write anything in it; every word seemed to undermine the journal's grandeur. My expressions were too pedestrian to compare to the supple leather, the pages' creamy complexion, the ever-satisfying crinkle of bending the book's spine backwards. I tucked the gift away and have since 'saved it for later'.

If you have any ideas on what I should write in this notebook, PLEASE provide a tip. Also; my wonderful friend Roya found this incredible necklace at a thrift store in New York City and I, again, would like advice on how I can honor it for all its worth. I think it deserves its own outfit, no?

Yes, it is a ~tiny~ pair of glasses attached to a gold chain. /squeals /twirls

Everything is infinite!

Bebe Zeva

INSPIR▲†ION

Sometimes I am asked to explain the thought process that invents my everyday outfits. I admit that I have NEVER been one to reach into my closet blindfolded and pull out whichever t-shirt I grasp first, paired with the cleanest pair of jeans in my vicinity and the most comfortable pair of shoes in my closet. While I admire people that are so low-maintenance, I honestly cannot relate. Every outing is an opportunity to create something to be proud of. It's a chance to earn compliments, respect, and attention from those who appreciate the art form that is apparel. I wouldn't sacrifice that chance, even if it meant comfort, bliss, and relaxation for the entire day. I want my peers to think that I care more about pleasing them than I do about pleasing myself. Wearing sweat pants is like saying "I'd rather be sleeping, but since I have to be here, I might as well be comfortable". Something about that mindset seems a tad pessimistic. I wish more poeple were happy to dress up.

Contrary to popular belief, fashion isn't superficial. It requires a great deal of talent to accurately execute a theme, as well as dedication to an aesthetic. It's more than what meets the eye- it's what meets the mind, and how the mind manipulates its fabric environment. Fashion icons shouldn't be lambasted for caring about the way they look; they should be lauded for their stylish sagacity. I'd like to give you a very teensy taste of the purpose behind my clothing choices. I don't ever want to come across as someone who values material for the way it looks exclusively. To me, a good outfit is something practical, well-constructed, and artistic. Hopefully you can work some sense out of my looks as you're scrolling through.

My first outfit is an all-pink ensemble that I wore to a downtown street festival last month. Essentially, I wanted to make a statement since the purpose of the venue was to promote art, culture, and general quirkiness.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Giant pink bow- Not sure where this accessory came from, but it appeared within the depths of my closet and was begging to be paired with equally cutesy clothing. I'm pretty sure the spirit of Tavi Gevinson was living vicariously through this frosty neck adornment.

Pink blazer- Escada from Neiman Marcus

Pink and gold belt- V-I-N-T-A-G-E y'all

Neutral dress- American Apparel

Sparkly tights- Juicy Couture

Cream heels- Ralph Lauren (found these babies at Ross 2 years ago for $25)

Also, that weird thing on my forearm is the remnants of a dancing skeleton temporary tattoo. Because I take getting into the Halloween groove extremely seriously. It was October!

My theme for this outfit was "Lady Gaga Barbie Baby Doll". Admittedly, Lady Gaga would have pulled together something exponentially louder and more eye-catching, but it wouldn't surprise me if she attempted this theme herself one day. For something ironically insignificant, like dining at a sidewalk cafe or window shopping in Paris. JK AS IF IMMORTAL BEINGS ACTUALLY HAVE TO LOWER THEMSELVES TO THE PLEBEIAN STANDARD OF CONSUMING SANDWICHES AND PURCHASING CLOTHING.

The Barbie facet of this outfit was manifested in the pastel shades of the bow, belt, and blazer. As for 'Baby Doll', that seems obvious. Mature adults don't wear affectionate pink tones. Anyone catch the Madame Alexander vibe??

This is undoubtedly my next outfit inspiration.

My second outfit is a simple blend of pale blue denim, lambskin leather, and lightweight cotton. I wore it to my sister's college campus one day to study for my SATs. I wasn't trying to attract attention- just to stay comfortable, warm, contented, and studious. It would behoove me to use SAT-vocabulary-approved adjectives, but my brain is fried from the actual exam and I fear that it may implode if I push it past its intended capacity.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Hat- Light wash denim newsboy cap from DA CLOSET~

Leather jacket- Diesel. The original version of this jacket features a- no joke- all white lapel, which I had dyed black to match the rest of the jacket. For that reason, this piece is more or less one of a kind. You can still check out Diesel's other available styles if you're interested in a good quality leather jacket (next to Members Only, it's the only brand I strongly recommend).

Denim button-down- Ralph Lauren. It's a 'vintage piece' (probably from the 80s or 90s) which means I likeliest bought it off eBay.

Skull shirt- Threadless. Yuri from Lookbook asked me if I'd be interested in modeling it for the site, to which I happily agreed! It's one of my favorite tees and I'm delighted to welcome it into my wardrobe. Get your own "BONE IDOL" t-shirt here!

Eiffel Tower necklace- I made it out of a keychain (my friend got it for me in Paris) and a gold necklace.

Denim shorts- I cut an old pair of pants into shorts and VOILA they've been this way ever since.

Tights- Vera Wang at Kohls

Flats- Target

My third outfit is what I wore to take my SATs last Saturday! The objective was to feel physically confident just in case my intellectual security began faltering midway through the math section (it did).

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

American flag bandana- stole it out of Travis McFarland's car trunk. I feel guilty because he probably loved it just as much as I do and maybe even mourned over its disappearance.

Leather jacket- Members Only

White v-neck - American Apparel

Dreamcatcher- Also stolen from Travis McFarland's Miata. I AM A REPEAT OFFENDER.

Native American feather braided headband worn as necklace- Metro Park

Crocodile belt- Vintage. Could be an alligator, who knows?

Shorts- Guess

Sneakers- Converse high-top all stars.

I took these pictures with a Canon Powershot Sx210 which is (maybe) why it didn't turn out so well. I think I will stick with my Samsung L310W.

My thought process behind this outfit was "what can I wear that will restore hope in my existence just in case I do poorly on this test?" Eventually I went with something trendy (patriotic flag pattern) paired with something relatively timeless (leather jacket) paired with something comfortable (shorts, shirt, and shoes) paired with something personalized and original (dreamcatcher accessories). As I anxiously punched out math equations on my TI-84 Silver Edition Plus scientific calculator, I thought to myself "at least if I fail this geometry section, I'm still wearing a really awesome American Flag scarf around my forehead". Shrugged it off and cruised through the rest of my exam.

(I will not share my test scores when they are released so please do not request them! Thank you!)

Hopefully I'll be able to delve farther into the psychology of my outfits as I become more experienced and cultured. This blog is still a little baby- not even one month old yet! Thanks so much to everyone who has been following along with my 'fashion lifestream' since day one.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

NEWSBOY H▲†

Last weekend, Travis and I went to a blogger convention at Mandalay Bay. It was mostly a series of booths promoting cyber services like twitter applications, search engines, and web hosting. We talked to a hundred different representatives about their products, picking up complimentary chapsticks and t-shirts along the way. Everybody wanted everybody else to succeed. I'm vaguely certain that I was the only fashion blogger in attendance. As for my outfit, I threw together something reminiscent of 'Stockholm street style' which is my second favorite theme to sport (neo-goth takes the cake.)

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Newsboy hat- I've had it for years and this is the first time I've ever worn it. No idea where it came from. I have a massive newsboy cap collection.

Blazer- Burberry

Textured leotard/onesie- 'Feel Goods' vintage piece via my mom

High-waisted floral skirt- Gift from a friend many years ago

Crocodile belt- vintage

Wedges- Target

Most of my clothing articles are not recently purchased. If they are a new addition to my wardrobe, they were probably placed there by my mother who occasionally treats me to something new and novel. I'm generally not allowed to buy new clothes for the reason that my mom forbids clutter and overcrowded closets. She is on a constant mission to downsize our collective possessions and is strongly anti-indulgence. Trust me, she is not a hippie. More like a Gucci-worshiping Burberry-pajama-wearer who prefers to keep her household as minimalist as possible. It was from her that I inherited my appreciation for couture design and architecture. My mom is constantly encouraging me to appreciate the handiwork of Valentino purses. And did I tell you about the time she made me pet a cashmere scarf for ten straight minutes because I didn't fold it properly before putting it back on the hanger?

"Moms; can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em!" - quote from a t-shirt that should not exist, written in comic sans font.

But before I sign off, allow me to say that despite my love for designer goods... there is absolutely nothing better on Earth than an oversized knit sweater for $3.99 at Savers. I would shop religiously and exclusively at thrift stores if

1) I had the disposable income and

2) it wasn't a punishable act within the Zevalt household

When I'm living independently and have $30 to blow, I'll probably bring a trunk-load of mesh, wool, cotton, and even the dreaded yet post-ironic polyester home to my temporarily maximalist closet space.

And as soon as I reach my mother's age, I'll be sure to instigate my quest for downsizing as she did.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

W▲†ERMELON

Oscar Wilde once said "life is too important to be taken seriously." It's my favorite quote of all time. Not only is it true, it's deliberately paradoxical; therefore furthering his point in having a laugh at 'the human condition', etc. Yesterday's outfit was a physical manifestation of said concept. I wasn't in the mood to be somber and serious- I wanted to make people happy by process of 'somewhat making a fool of myself'. Here I yam!

From top to bottom:

Black/pink/green headscarf- VINTAGE

Sunglasses- Savers

Feather earrings- Forever 21

Ring necklace- Juicy Couture

Hawaiian t-shirt- Dollar store gift from Travis

Belt- 90's vintage

Shorts- DIY'd them

Flats- Target

My sister compared my outfit to something a famed crazy aunt would wear. You know the stereotype- lives in Florida and pinches your cheeks too hard? That was me. For an entire day.

It's all good. Life's for the livin.

Yes, that is a Hello Kitty ring pseudo-pacifier.

EVERYTHING IS INFINITE,

Bebe Zeva

FLOR▲L SPIRI†

Yesterday I dressed as a floral -clad free-spirit in my flowery pink, purple, and green shift dress from Buffalo Exchange. The weather was perfect for this outfit; my skirt and scarf billowed in the autumn breeze. I felt elated. There's nothing better than an outfit that requires no adjustments throughout the day. I often judge an outfit's appeal based on how low or high maintenance it is. A cluster of beaded necklaces paired with a zipper-happy leather jacket and knee-high socks looks incredible but requires too much rearrangement to be considered comfortable. Obviously I would wear it anyway. Pain = beauty, discomfort = fashion. Shit is non-conventional for a reason.

From top to bottom:

Dress- "Tramp", bought it at Buffalo Exchange

Scarf- Somewhere in New England

Bracelets- Nordstrom

Wedges- Target

The back of the dress is undoubtedly the best part. And in case you're wondering about my purse- it's a leather laptop bag my mom found me on eBay! Luckily it fits everything I need- computer, charger, makeup bag, wallet, ipod, phone, and Richard Yates.

And in celebration of rosy florets- this collection of cloth flowers for my hair!

I can't wait to begin messing around with scrunchies and hair bows. It's about time I start personalizing my winter fashion gimmick.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva