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

EQUESTRIAN

My green, brown, and red Ralph Lauren blouse was begging to be paired with any apparel piece that would honor its equestrian spirit. I think this olive green blazer was just jockey enough. The theme wasn't perfect (I would have preferred riding boots and gauchos), so I'll leave you with my favorite self-aware and post-ironically irrelevant catchphrase: "but hey, whatever works."

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Blazer- Tahari

Blouse- Ralph Lauren

Belt- Brighton

Jeans- Hudson

Ankle boots- Steve Madden

Messenger bag- Vintage

The close-up of my blouse print spotlights the immortalized champion horse-riders. If only I was elegant and knew how to ride...

Here's a 'gratuitous picture of myself' exposing the bang trim ONE MORE TIME.

I will post more elaborately very soon! My sister is on winter break and I'm in virtual high school so it looks like I'll be having a lot more free time in the upcoming weeks.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

NEU†R▲L BL▲ZER

Happy Wednesday everybody! I wore this simple blazer-and-belt pairing on Tuesday to debut my new haircut. Whenever I'm in doubt, I either deck myself out in an all-black ensemble (dark colors are both timeless and slimming) or something neutral that provides a classic silhouette. The subtle flare of my blazer beneath the high-waisted belt and oversized shoulder pads reminds me of a traditional 1990s powersuit.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Wayfarers- Tilly's

Beige blazer- Nordstrom

Buttoned-up cardigan- Gap

Belt- Vintage

Thigh-highs- Drugstore

Heels- Etienne Aigner

(Underneath my layers is an American Apparel dress!)

Here's the much-requested close-up photo of my bangs/fringe:

If you can't tell, I'm trying to channel the French aesthetic of my favorite style icon; Louise Ebel. Please send me your feedback! Good, bad, sympathetic- I don't care WHAT the nature of your criticism is, all I know is that I want some! ;)

ALSO... I'm very pleased to announce that I'm officially a Teen Vogue Style Blogger! This is my first post, and I'm delighted to be a part of the experience.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

B▲NGS

For those that don't already follow me on twitter- let me explain. For those that DO follow me on twitter- let me explain more.

I posted this status Monday night claiming that if I didn't gain 20 twitter followers, I would do away with my middle part and get bangs.

I updated my twitter shortly after alerting everybody that I did NOT gain twenty followers and would therefore be hacking my hairs into fringe oblivion. It sounds a lot worse than it actually is. I didn't dare touch any of my hair aside from the clump of locks that formerly framed my face as such~

BUT, the hair that I did cut I cut A LOT of. To be fair, I had my mom do the snipping for me because she's more experienced and I couldn't see my own eyeballs in the mirror reflection. ;)

I won't post any close-up pictures yet, because my bangs are still in 'day-after phase' and don't look as good as they probably will in a week. However, that doesn't mean I'm insecure about them at the moment. In fact, I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE CONFIDENT.

To those of you who are thinking "I can't believe Bebe Zeva is so dependent on the internet that she created some online gimmick to secure a personal-image decision she could have made herself," not so fast. I have been contemplating this change for months now and would have snipped my locks regardless. The twitter gimmick was just a matter of getting a reaction for a 'vaguely bold' style move. And at any rate, I gained 5 twitter followers. Overwhelming, I know, I know, no autographs please. So, this 'stunt' had more to do with garnering responses from my followers than it had to do with garnering easy answers from my followers.

The real reason for cutting my hair is that I needed a serious change. I didn't choose this haircut because I especially like it, I chose this haircut because it's challenging. I've had long bangs and a middle part for a full year and a half now. I've done my makeup in the same style for nearly 12 months. And since I'm not allowed to buy new clothes, my style has been a little limited to boot. Every day I woke up and had my routine on automatic. With the exception of picking out my outfits, getting prepared for the day was fairly easy. It required little effort because it had become second nature. I don't like that. I like to feel confused, challenged, faced with obstacles. This haircut FORCES me to be creative because I don't know yet what to do with it. How will I make it look elegant? How will I make it look witchy? How will I make it look retro, contemporary, unique? I'm sure for a lot of people, this is a simple task. But for me, it's a job that tests my innovation. I encourage everyone to step out of their comfort zones and try something new.

I'm open to any and all suggestions and ESPECIALLY want to thank each and every one of my readers. I appreciate every comment I receive. Your compliments truly humble me and I cannot express my gratitude enough... THANK YOU!

Everything is ~infinite~,

Bebe Zeva

WI†CH WI†CH WI†CH

Woke up extra early yesterday morning so that I could shoot my outfit while the leaves still cradled Sunday night's raindrops. The ominous clouds perfected the atmosphere I needed to compliment this outfit. I went for my signature 'witch-house vibe' and wasted no time making myself at home in the viney foliage once again.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Veiled hat- Frank Olive for Neiman Marcus

Trenchcoat- Trina Turk

Mesh long-sleeve shirt- Forever 21 (gift)

Holster belt- 1990s vintage

Ruffled skirt- ????

Tights- Drugstore

Velvet Creepers- Buffalo Exchange (gift) (*best gift)

The night before Halloween, Travis and I dressed up in spooky costumes while we DIY'd my Neon Indian outfit. I told Travis a week prior that I wanted to submit a photo to the Hipster Runoff Halloween costume contest, so we agreed to conducting a photoshoot in our 'relevant outfits'. He perfected my costume by presenting me my own pair of all-black VELVET creepers!

I didn't end up submitting a photo to the contest, but I had an incredible time haunting the local church grounds in my maxi skirt and Los Angeles Raiders jersey.

(In case you're wondering, my costume was LEAD SINGER OF SALEM.)

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

P▲G▲N

I was standing in line at Coffee Bean the other day, wearing this multi-layered outfit of cotton, wool, viscose, and leather, when a friend of mine broke the ice and asked what on earth theme I was attempting to master. Instead of letting me provide a detailed analysis of my own ensemble, we consulted the baristo and asked for his guess on my arrangement. He was stumped. Others surmised 'scarecrow', 'picnic hippie', and 'gardening cowgirl'. None of those are what I had in mind when I dressed myself that morning, but it's possible that every interpretation is to some extent 'correct' regardless of my intentions. I don't wear a sign around my neck explaining my thought processes to passerby. It's up to everybody else to 'make of it what they will'. And I'm delighted to accept those hypotheses.

But the truth is, my intended theme was 'free-spirited pagan' slash 'organic witch' slash 'sun-worshiping earth girl'.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Floppy hat- August for Nordstrom

Scarf- Anthropologie

Jacket- My Tribe

Skirt- Nordstrom

Ankle boots- Steve Madden

I know my face looks funny in the last picture, but that's okay. You don't have to be 'hawt' to be fashionable. Clothes can compensate for all your weaknesses ;)

My inspiration for this outfit was obviously Tavi and her mystical forest rompings.

(Photo via Style Rookie)

We don't have forests here in Las Vegas so I had to settle for my condo's woodsy courtyard instead. ANYWHO, I am looking to get a pair of clogs, platforms, and wedges in the near future. Considering publishing my current loose-leaf shopping list to the internet but I'm not sure what sort of criticism that may entail. Interested? Yes? No? Completely indifferent to my online existence and wondering how you even ended up on this webpage in the first place? Feel free to send me an email with incisive feedback.

At last.

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