out of the bloom

Driving through downtown LV with my mom (both photographer and chauffeur), there wasn't a specific location I had in mind to background this technicolor jester look. Until we spotted The Wall. A shade of blue that perfectly, eerily, downright paranormally matched the hues in my vinyl cap and floral bomber. The alley was deserted, just as I like it, so I was free to ham and cheese it up in my platform Timb knockoffs and chainlink hula hoop earrings. There's physically no way to 'keep it together' in an outfit like this. So if you expect me to play it cool the next we're seen in public together, remind me to specifically leave the checkered harem pants at home. Although it will be hard, as they have a mind and a mouth of their own.



Choies floral print snapback, Pink Brix rainbow chain hoops, Butterface Vintage "Whatever" choker, OASAP rose print bomber jacket, Romwe platform boots

Everything is infinite,

Bebe

leo neo

Idk about you but if I were in the matrix, the absolute last material I'd want to sport is leather. Does sweat not exist in a simulacrum or were Morpheus and the gang just sucking it up for the camera? Meta, I know. Anyhoo a mesh jersey sounds much more practical for an olympic chase -- plenty of ventilation and flexibility, all the better to dodge bullets with. The top I'm wearing in this look is armed with an oversize asymmetrical panel on the bottom, leaving behind a silhouette more avant garde than a PVC knockoff Trinity trench coat paired with Crocs. As for the bunchy jersey collar: I added that myself. Clearly much better at layering fabrics than realities.



80s Purple Collection "Neo Matrix" sunglasses, Vanessa Mooney chain, Bardot leopard coat, Choies oversize mesh shirt

These photos are from at least a couple months ago but little has changed in the life of Zave. Except I did spill seltzer water all over this mixed metals necklace last week. And I had my roots highlighted last night. OH YA and I sacrificed this gorgeous faux fur coat to the cause of cats. Know how lil bb felines loooove to knead their paws against soft furs that remind them of kittenhood -- especially ones that perfectly match their own coloring? Well meet my friend Spyder, a little tortoiseshell fluff nubbin who lives in Silverlake.




Everything is infinite,

Beeb

rosetta stoned

In my five years of writing a whole lot about absolutely nothing, I've discovered that it is really easy to like things. A fashion blogger's default emotion is 'loading justification..." -- She is always generating a reason to like something she owns or sees or is offered. And generating a reason to dislike something she can't have. And then when she has it, she generates a reason why she was wrong, another reason why she likes it now, another reason why you should want it too. 

Fashion blogging has never been about sustainability: it blossom/s/ed from the novelty of apparel, not the usefulness of it. But given the technocentrism of the past several decades, "aesthetic delight" is not a good enough reason to fund an endeavor with labor and time. An urgency to imbue 'the love of things' with practical meaning surfaced and consequently, liking anything has become a performance with purpose: a gallant charade to foreshadow necessary identity. Liking things is an exercise in the creation of the self. It is the motion of "style."

While affirming the self and strengthening a sense of personal power, "style" also engenders a motivation to justify. Because we socially agree that our style is a picture of us, we internalize that it is about us. And we are driven to explain every choice (this hat over that headband, these heels instead of those flats) because we want each outfit to seem like it accurately describes our selfhood. The trouble is, we don't actually get to choose our style. Capitalism does. So we end up devising extremely personalized, qualic reasons for purchases and outfits and makeup routines after the decision has already been made for us. Everything happens afterwards. And it happens in defense of an invisible economic force.

The fashion blog is a platform for these justifications. It soothes the author, who is better able to veil her material exploitation in the rhetoric of "I'm just doing my job," and it soothes the consumer, who is able to use whatever reasons generated by the author for the service of rationalizing her own surfeit desires. But perhaps the most potent function of a fashion blog is its propagation of the idea that style is "purpose-serving." Utility, or at least the image of it, transforms frivolity into function. We conclude that fashion must be practical. It must communicate a message. Otherwise... it's a vain mess of ego and resource deprivation. Or better, or worse. 

The problem with framing style as "purpose-serving" is the possibility that we might include material self-expression in our constitution of subsistence. Material self-expression has nothing to do with subsistence. It is a luxury. Yes, it serves a purpose. But not a purpose that pertains at all to maintaining survival. We tend to reference utility to prevent the threat of deprivation. The more you need something, the easier it is to persuade someone out of taking it away. So by describing material style as a useful tool, our excess is protected under the clause of pragmatism. And as we all know, pragmatism and love of beauty are what make humans civilized. Material style is very well guarded by the rhetoric of postindustrialism, and consequently... all the ugliness that accompanies excess is insulated. 

There's a downside to the admission that style is frivolous, too. But I've already filled up half the page with my errant drivel and accomplished what I set out to do: appear to justify blogging about my outfit by including useful thoughts. HA.




Choies mod moto jacket, Yes Style harem pants, Missguided canvas sneakers

Everything is infinite,

Bebe

NEON JET SETTER

I'm baaaaack with a fluorescent vengeance! Nothing says "ready to go" like racing checks in classic Nascar style. But instead of a jacket adorned in corporate logos, I'm rocking a Givenchy inspired silk bomber from Choies to afford my look a more 'fast fashion' than 'fast track' feel. I've posted a couple photos on Instagram featuring this holographic snapback from my new favorite online shop -- 24 HRS. A million and one of my readers have asked where it's from, so I'm pretty sure this might be the most popular 'crown' in my cap collection. And the lucite heels... man. Where do I begin with these? I apologize in advance for wearing them WAY. TOO. FREQUENTLY. I swear I'm not being lazy. I'm just unhealthily obsessed.



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Silver snapback - 24 HRS
Givenchy-print bomber jacket - CHOIES
"Lightweight Bustier Crop Top" - Daily Look
Check-print shorts - ROMWE
"Modern Sandal Heels" - Daily Look

Sooo I've been "offline" for a quite a while because I'm going through a transitional period right now and have been busy trying to establish my surroundings. I recently moved out of my old condo and have been living the vagabond life while waiting for a new apartment to open up. Last time I posted, I mentioned a loft downtown that my family and I intended to move into. It unfortunately didn't work out, but I'm optimistic. I don't think a sense of environmental uncertainty should excuse an exaggerated absence. I've got so many new posts to share with you so I'll try my best to be consistent!! Love you all.

BTW -- the best way to keep in touch with me is on Twitter and Ask.fm!

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

BOHO PROWESS

I've always felt like best outfit for a California road trip is a a baggy t-shirt or sweater, ripped jeans, boots, and turquoise jewelry. Maybe it has to do with that western rock and roll vibe. I like to feel in character while I'm on my way to a new place. Something about torn-up pants and a leather vest feels true to the vagabond spirit, especially while tearing up the highway en route through the mountains. 



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Head chain - Funny People Co.
Leopard sweater - Yes Style
"Romeo & Juliet Stitched Vest" - HEAVENLY COUTURE
Ripped jeans - Pac Sun
"Fab Boots" - PINK & PEPPER / Piperlime

About Heavenly Couture -- EVERYTHING IS $16 OR LESS. A million and one people have messaged me on Ask.fm asking for affordable online shopping options and Heavenly Couture is honestly as good as it gets. The fact that a leather vest in excellent condition and quality was priced so low is beyond me and I'm not questioning it. Just kind of quietly worshiping the lovely person that sent it to me. 

My Fab boots, which are *literally fab*, are from Pink & Pepper... and I think it's pretty obvious! My Pink & Pepper shoes all have a signature flair. Like they're related. Heh. You can find this pair on DSW, Piperlime, or Amazon!

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

FADE TO WILD

All I need in this world is a snapback and free wi-fi. Been spending most of my days at home but every once in a while there's opportunity for adventure... that's when I break out the camo crop top and fill my backpack with cameras and a phone charger. I live in such an insane city. Would be a waste to keep to myself instead of marinating in the estranged neon aura, melodic casino rhythm and almost supernatural fluorescence...



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Studded cap - ROMWE
Studded jacket - BOOHOO
Camo crop top - O-Mighty
Leopard shorts - Choies
UNIF Hellbounds - Solestruck
Backpack - Yes Style

Light clothes, big shoes. That's my summer game. The badass top and equally badass happy face pin are from O-Mighty, vintage and wholesale fashion extraordinaires. You need to check out their site if you like rad shit, which invariably ALL of you do, otherwise why are you even here on this blogspot where all I talk and care about is rad shit?? Yeah. And follow them on Instagram: omweekend ^-^

My leopard shorts are from Choies, an online retailer I've featured here on FTBH before (remember BORN IN THE USA?) Like O-Mighty, they stock such insanely dope product that I couldn't resist but to make a collage out of other must-haves from the site... too good. Hope you lurve. <3

"URBAN LUXE" by Bebe Zeva on Polyvore

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva