SHOES WOULDN'T. SNEAKERS DEFINITELY WOULD.

Can I get a WHAAAAT WHAAAAAT for the new Converse campaign?? I'm loving how they've re-branded Converse sneakers to appeal to the party hardy generation. Sneakers no longer must be relegated to the boring and banal: exercise, errands, outdoor activity. With Converse, they've been liberated from the shackles of labels like 'practical' and 'comfy.' Sure, Converse are both of those things. But they're so much MORE, and the new campaign underscores their hip versatility with catch phrases like "shoes buy art, sneakers create it." Now that's what I'm talkin' bout! I'm no sucker for propaganda, but I can totally get behind a movement that calls for sneakers as signature foot gear for artists, innovators, and kids who let out battle cries like "YOLO" before jumping off the roof of their house and into a pool at midnight. A million thanks to Converse and Lookbook.nu for arranging this collaboration! I'm an avid fan of a classic shoe and love the ways in which Converse has chosen to represent itself this season. GET CRAZY.














FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Sunglasses - Foster Grant
Flag print top - OASAP
Light wash jacket - GUESS?
Flannel button-down - A&F
Lace-up navy shorts - SHOPPALU
HIGH TOPS THAT KICK ASS - CONVERSE 

This outfit is perfect for a pair of high-top Converse because it's consistent with the Americana aesthetic. Kicks look good on anyone with anything, but a flag print top and flannel button-down feel especially fitting. I wore this ensemble out for a long (and spontaneous) day of random shopping about town with my sis. That's what Converse are all about -- endurance and recklessness. The best decisions ever made are on whim. And what better way to wing it than with sneakers?

I got my first pair of Converse high-tops for my 16th birthday after seeing them on trendy it-girls of the era, like Cory Kennedy and Agyness Deyn. My life drastically changed soon after - maybe not as a direct result of owning the chucks I'd pined after for the months leading up to my birthday, but definitely while they were on my feet (or at least in my closet). No longer was I reserved and insecure; in the summer of 2009, I underwent my first of many adolescent metamorphoses. I was ambitious. Feeling more like the idols I admired through the lens of internet famous party photographers, I chased after my dream lifestyle. I was as silly as any 16 year old with aspirations of the "alternative" variety... I wanted a feature in Nylon magazine, a Wikipedia article, a fanbase, anything to validate my existence and affirm that my attempts to *be* as cool as I felt inside and looked outside were not in vain. I was your average teenage girl with too much curiosity and not enough reservation, humility, rationale. But maybe I didn't need it. Maybe had I fostered more mature goals for myself, I never would have become the person I am today. And it's crazy to think that a pair of shoes gave me the initial confidence boost I needed to spark the chase. Converse isn't kidding... shoes wouldn't. Sneakers definitely would. 

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