ROUGH SLEEPER

Over the years, I've noticed that people associate me less and less with music. The more I brand with the sartorial elements of fashion - the apparel trends, the kitschy fads, the visual tropes of a young adult acquainted with classic fashion themes - the less attention people pay to my parallel interests. Fashion is more than "clothes"; it's the rhythm of politically relevant aesthetics. The music you listen to, spaces you occupy, slang you use, literature you read, and even foods you eat are mired in a web of changing cultural preferences. Basically, what you consume reflects your attitude at large. But people seem to forget that "fashion presences" can (and do) accessorize with more than just Stella McCartney clutch purses and lucite stiletto heels. Instagram photos of boxed macarons, tweets about hitting the gym, embedded YouTube links to dance music mp3s are all accessories, manifested through social networks, but representing facets of pop culture that are just as indicative of lifestyle as are actual garments. People seem to forget that 'aesthetics' exist in tandem. So if you relate to someone's style, there's a good chance you'll likewise relate to their preferences in music, film, and literature. 

I don't want to be associated less with music just because my blog is fashion-focused. So I'm naming this look after one of my favorite electronic tracks from 2012 to give you a little hint about my taste in music. But I'm not satisfied proffering my own recommendations - I want to hear yours, too. If you relate to my style, or at least admire it from a distance, you might likewise relate to my preferences beyond the scope of 'personal style' and have some music recommendations to make of your own. So tell me what you're listening to! What's your favorite track or album? Of all-time? Of 2012? Of 2013 so far?

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Snapback - YES STYLE

Cage collar - ROMWE

"Locomotive Leather Jacket" - WENDYBOX

Chiffon dress - YES STYLE

Blouse underneath - SUGARLIPS

Sneaker wedges - American Eagle

So, a couple things here on the topic of CLOTHES: I'm wearing a detachable collar that I can only describe as a sort of bondage-inspired cage thing with straps crossing over my leather bodice and creating a business-not-so-casual one-piece partnership with my chiffon dress. I'll give you a minute to mull that one over. My second cool "garment hack" (i.e. clever way to create a new dimension without actually sewing or altering a single clothing item) is tying a black and white Sugarlips blouse around my waist underneath my dress. You can't see the knot, so it just looks like a fabric extension of the dress on top. But it isn't!! HOW EXCITING FOR ME WHEN I FEEL LIKE I'M TRICKING PEOPLE!

Anyway. This post in a nutshell: talk to me about music and hack your wardrobe. Peace.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

STEEL CARNATION

I solemnly swear that EVENTUALLY I will stop talking about my new hair which isn't even new anymore... today is not that day. I can't help but draw a comparison between the subtle sheen of my severe side part and the glossy metallic of my Goodnight Macaroon blazer, decorated in a delicate gray carnation print. The color scheme (or lack thereof) is industrial and cold, but compensated for by the flirtatious blouse bow hanging from my neck. I kept consistent with the futuristic business casual theme and slipped into a pair of iridescent purple/silver Pink and Pepper loafers and dress pants, also from Goodnight Macaroon! Check out their site right here for more sleek styles.



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Sunglasses - 80s Purple
Metallic mandarin blazer - GOODNIGHT MACAROON
"Venetian Concierto Blouse" - Sugarlips
Tapered trousers - GOODNIGHT MACAROON
Leather clutch - DOCTOR COUTURE
Iridescent loafers - Pink and Pepper

My friend Michael Shirley, the it-boy mastermind behind Doctor Couture and Mic, gifted me this leather bag in 2011 and I've since used it every day to store my necessities. Instead of individually transferring all my possessions from purse to purse when I need a new bag to match an ensemble, I grab my clutch and toss it in. I don't know how I survived before this clutch entered my life... and now I'm wondering how I didn't think to simply carry the bag on it's own without placing it inside a larger tote! It looks divine in my hands, or tucked efficiently under one arm. So it's a bag within a bag, and sometimes just a bag. Mucho love and infinite THANKS to Michael for hooking me up with what it is sincerely the most practical gift I have ever received. ^-^

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

SUGARLIPS DAY 5: CHARCOOL

Closing off my SUGARLIPS collaboration week with a piece that I think is especially characteristic of the brand: a crisp, black and white button-up with signature triangle studs at the collar. My sister is as obsessed with the top as I am - she's a big fan of the 60s and all the artistic movements, films, and styles that came out of it. You could even say she's a 'modophile.' So, naturally, a loose blouse with a giant black block in the center tickled her minimalist fancy. I can definitely see her wearing an outfit like this one (even though she's not much of a hat person). Sometimes we rub off on each other!



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Fuzzy beret - YES STYLE
Sunglasses - ROMWE
"Western Consultant Top" - SUGARLIPS
Charcoal shorts - c/o American Apparel
Loafers - Pink and Pepper

Thought I was done harping on about the glory that is Pink and Pepper's patent loafer collection, huh? So wrong you were! I've recently added two new pairs to my shoe caddy and they feel RIGHT AT HOME among the oxfords and flats and crochet booties. Loafers (especially the cutie pies with tassel details) are the unofficially official School Shoe. Wear them over and over again - it doesn't matter, they never lose their sharpness.

My shorts are from American Apparel (thanks, guys!!) and WAHOO do I love a new neutral staple! Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you feel about the desert being a hellish ball of heat and tumbleweed), the weather won't get painfully cold at least until January, so I've still got a solid amount of time to rock these sophisticated shorts before we enter Pants Only territory. 

Last but not least, I want to thank Sugarlips a million and one times for arranging this incredible collaboration with me! Personalizing their awesome garments in a way that tested my creativity and inspired my readers (or so I hope!) was an indescribably rewarding experience. I extend my sincerest thanks to the team! You can DEFINITELY look forward to more Sugarlips coverage on FTBH. 

Everything is infinite

Bebe Zeva

SUGARLIPS DAY 4: VENETIAN LEATHERETTE

There's probably a million ways to wear this pussybow blouse with attention to the era that inspired it. But I've deliberately ignored all those possibilities in favor of a modern interpretation, with a military homage made evident by my double-breasted jacket. I paired the blouse with a seasonal it-skirt: the accordion pleated leatherette mini. Simple accessories like a floral St. John clutch and croc belt keep it clean for any occasion. Peep the Sugarlips' "blogger collection" for inspiration of your own!



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Military jacket - YES STYLE
"VENETIAN CONCIERTO BLOUSE" - SUGARLIPS
Leatherette accordion skirt - ROMWE
Stallion booties - WANTED shoes

I saw this blouse worn TWICE before on Lookbookers Jennifer ("Muse") and Kendall ("In 5 Years Time") and was instantly inspired. Something about the lush fabric bow had me drooling... the more material, the merrier! Have yourself a peep of this style and MORE (hello, Fated to be Hated blogger picks!) on Sugarlips' site right here.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

SUGARLIPS DAY 3: BLACKOUT

I've recently "gotten into" gothic minimalism popularized by designers like Gareth Pugh, Thomas Tait, Ann Demeulemeester, and Rick Owens (omg Rick Owens). Occasionally Riccardo Tisci, too, will get it right in the dark department; I'm especially a fan of his F/W 2011 collection for Givenchy and admit to owning a couple knockoffs in that unmistakable panther print. I'm not sure what it is about ominously unaccessorized black fabrics and anomic silhouettes that is so attractive to me during this transitional winter phase. What I love about a monochrome ensemble with unconventional and almost industrial motifs is that it carries the heavy essence of a silent intimidation. Makes you wonder: what kind of person wears a shapeless shirt-dress with a baseball cap? The veil of anonymity is maintained with an aesthetic as powerfully dark as this one. Questions WILL be asked, none will be answered. And today, that's how I like it.



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Spiked cap - ROMWE
"BLACK DAHLIA DRESS" - SUGARLIPS
Spike necklace - MAD LADY
Cross necklace - RINGS AND TINGS
Spike bag - THIS IS TRANSITION
Boots - UNIF HELLBOUNDS

The gorgeous-in-a-scary-way shirt dress is from Sugarlips, with whom I'll be collaborating every day till Wednesday! You can expect a few more solid days of this good stuff. And in between posts, you can shop my selection on the Sugarlips' Blogger Picks page! (I encourage you to actually click on that link, if only just to admire the awesome gradient graphic the Sugarlips team made with my image.) Anyway. Yeah. Dress. Er, shirt. Long-thing-with-sick-pyramid-studs-around-the-collar. Too complicated? This is how the site describes it: Look dark and mysterious in this long sleeve black chiffon shirt dress with triangle gold studs on the collar tips. Pair it with sheer thigh highs and black platforms to complete the look. Black is still the new black right? Couldn't have said it better, y'all. Check it here. 

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

SUGARLIPS DAY 2: GIVE A SUGAR

Gettin' REAL frisky today in faux fur and leopard! I didn't want to overwhelm this gorgeous Sugarlips dress with too many accessories, so a simple vest and gold chain tied my look together without being too busy. Which isn't to say that I don't like "too busy." You know I'm the kinda gal to pile on the jewelry until my back slowly caves under the weight, and by the time I'm done dressing myself, I find that I'm face-flat on the floor and if I can't even stand up straight then what's the point of wearing all these AMAZING necklaces?? Boo, gravity. Needless to say, I avoided that fate by limiting myself to TWO lovely necklaces and my stand-by Zara hat. Hope we did the dress justice!



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Hat - Zara
Vest - ROMWE
Necklace - Vanessa Mooney
"Neonic Dreams Dress" - SUGARLIPS
Boots - Sheinside
Bag - Rebecca Minkoff

Hope you guys are all having a fine and fabulous Thursday. If not, check out my blogger picks page on SUGARLIPS for some inspiration of the APPAREL variety to *surely* cheer you up! Basic Bebe Zeva trivia: when I'm feeling down, I consume copious amounts of caffeine and writhe in a pile of clothes on my bedroom floor. 5 Sugarlips garments, including this dress, have recently been inducted into said pile. Thank you, people of Sugarlips, for providing me the necessary cushions to prevent injury.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva