hex champ

Champion of all things gradient, I self-identify as Pantone and Valspar's shared MVP. Catch me at your local Sherwin Williams pocketing sample color cards with delectable pastel auras. See me at Benjamin Moore engaged in a riveting discussion with a paint specialist about which shade of eggshell contains higher elements of blue value. Hex princess. Aesthete athlete. When I drink Gatorade, I sweat high opacity acrylic drops in the exact color code of whatever flavor I consumed. Home Depot you can get really get it.

Of course Wizards of the West printed these leggings -- I'm on a roll. I'm literally going hard in the paint. Combined with this oversize jersey I picked up at Fallas Paredes, I look pretty poppin' for a walking ombre advertisement. 



Wizards of the West "Color Swatch Leggings", ZeroUV sunglasses

Everything is infinite,

Bebe

bahama mama

Another day, another delicious tropical gradient color combo. I remember when I found this Hibiscus print blazer at a Goodwill in North Hollywood. I was at the peak of my "polynesian fetishism" phase and could imagine a hundred million ways to wear this jacket, which I was especially committed to debuting at a club. Since "shaka" (recontextualized and whitewashed to suit my 2012 Hawaiian tourist fancy) is no longer a word in my vocabulary, the jacket is likewise no longer a symbol of my trendiness (or entitlement). In my mind it's returned to its culturally-neutral state of impartial structure... but surely ten seasons from now it will represent something totally different. For now, let's just innocently enjoy the aesthetic pleasure of turquoise, orange, and yellow.



Secondhand cap, Holes eyewear, vintage jacket, Motel Rocks crop top, Romwe bubble leggings

Everything is infinite,

Bebezzzz

rainbow rave

I'm gonna be real with you. I hate raves so much that I almost can't even talk about them. My palms start sweating, my heart starts racing, I feel like I have to take a phantom shit and suddenly where the fuck is my valium. It's not that I "still haven't had the right experience" because trust me - I've done plenty of raving in my recent youth. It's that I associate raves (or musical festivals, parties that last until well after 2 AM, and DJ sets) with MDMA comedowns. Recommendation to anyone reading this who hasn't ever tried molly/ecstasy/press pills: CONTINUE TO AVOID THESE DRUGS AT ALL COSTS. One exposure can sabotage your regulation of serotonin forever and you'll have to take an SSRI/SNRI (anti-depressant pill) to return to a stable mood. :(

Nonetheless I've put together many a technicolor outfit for the more casual raver: shorts instead of a tutu, sports bra instead of a lingerie top, backwards cap instead of a flower crown. Which isn't to discredit the greatness of tutus, lingerie, and flowers... I've just never been one to 'get down' in tulle and lace. This is totally not me trying to shit all over things girls do in an internalized-misogyny kinda way. Anyway, back to me lecturing you about the dangers of hedonism. Rainbow brights will definitely put you in the party mood but (in the interest of preserving your own sanity) complement that pleasure-seeking with deference to the fact that post-traumatic disorders are possible and after repeated drug indulgences you seriously might not ever be the same again. No pressure.



24 Hours vinyl snapback, Daily Look digital print bomber jacket, Romwe rainbow gradient shorts

Everything is infinite,

Bebe

transparency

In honor of this pastel rainbow harness dress's semi-transparent fabric I'll do a little demystifying myself about an annoying trend I've noticed among my peers. It's become a fad obsession, perhaps as a pendulum reaction to accusations of millennial narcissism but serving as no counterexample of it, to claim that it is one's life goal and central focus to "achieve modesty." 

It's already possessive and material to think of 'modesty' as a 'thing' that can be 'achieved.' But what's more irritating about lusting after it is the inherently self-aggrandizing assumption that one is capable of performing morality with such consistency that the title would feel earned. It's that intent to earn or deserve modesty that entails the autoperforation of it . Humility is culturally and spiritually revered, but consideration of it as the most ultimate virtue means nothing when in practice we pay more attention to the egos that perform it than to the characteristics of it themselves. To publicly aspire to possess the most respected virtue seems beyond a moderate estimation of one's abilities. It necessitates the existence of an intended quest for a righteous reputation, thus fundamentally inverting the conditions essential to modesty. To consider reputation is to prioritize (or even so little as acknowledge) an egotistical "image." Efforts to maximize the positive reactions associated with said image also fundamentally block essential conditions. Basically, if one intends to be modest, one cannot be modest, because a modest person cannot even be cognizant of the relevance of the description in relation to themselves. Modest behavior includes selfless efforts to develop trusting relationships for the benefit of others, without regard for the fate of the intending individual.

The actual development of trust should matter more to us than the advantages that come with being well-known as a trustworthy, modest person. I think that as soon as we externalize our 'selves' and attempt to assign to them a preferable judgment from the assumed perspective of 'others' (as if they are not intrinsic parts of our selves), we undo the possibility of modesty and render it an absolutely impossible paradox. It can only be achieved when it is genuinely not desired because reputation is not selfishly considered. 

Ironic that all of this coming from the mouth (fingers) of someone who will proceed to post 8 photos of their privileged body after this text, but hey. The author is dead so leave me out of this. ^_^




ZeroUV sunglasses, UNIF harness dress, vintage heels

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

HOLIDAY IN THE SUN

If you follow me on Twitter (so sad that this is even a CIRCUMSTANTIAL scenario - if you're reading this, that means you have an Internet connection, and if you have an Internet connection, that means you should have a Twitter, and if you have a Twitter THAT MEANS YOU SHOULD FOLLOW ME??) you ALREADY know that I'm a Mary Kate and Ashley enthusiast. I believe in everything MK and Ash represent: creating an empire out of the novelty that is your youth and selling out to the Big Boys. In my humble opinion, HOLIDAY IN THE SUN is the magnum opus of the Olsen twins' film career. We're talking about a movie that stars two babes in tinted, wire-rimmed glasses hanging out at the ATLANTIS RESORT™ for 87 minutes. Better yet, Weezer's on the soundtrack and Megan Fox plays a character named "Brianna Wallace," first class brunette bitch with a 'tude so fierce it even knocks me off my impossibly high horse. "Messages please?" she spits, with her signature sexy sass. I know she and the twins are pitted against one another as they duel it out for irresistibly surf chic JORDAN (Brianna knows what she wants and it's him,) but I'm the kind of film connoisseur who roots for every character, as long as they have an awesome sense of style. And I'll be the first to tell ya... protagonists and antagonists alike, the fashion in this tropical work of avant cinema is IMPECCABLE. So superb that I designed an outfit inspired by the VHS cover.



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Hawaii snapback - Gift
Baroque print jacket - AKIRA
Palm tree top - BLOOD IS THE NEW BLACK
PU Leather shorts - OASAP
Heels - Missguided

Sooooo... The Baroque Jacket. The pattern is very 2012, but opulent gold motifs are still in service so definitely worth the debut. ~ Thanks SHOP AKIRA for keeping my look "a look."

The BITNB top has been waiting for a cameo since I was 19 or something... oh the distant glow of youth. Has a similar aura to the yellow > orange > brown gradient.  

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

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

FADE TO BLUE

I put this look together a loooong while ago and only recently got around to wearing it. Some of you might already be familiar with my compartmentalized outfit system where I create a hundred some piles of coordinated garments and stack them up on my 'mobile wardrobe'. Throughout the week, or month, or series of months, depending on how many outfits I've shelved, I select a look from the racks according to whichever suits my 'emotional fancy' that day. A lot of accessorizing and tweaking goes into the outfit once it's been selected, too. I feel like I still owe it to myself to personalize an already personalized ensemble since my tastes evolve daily. The more information I consume, the more my perspective changes. And with a changed perspective comes a changed palette, which is reflected through the clothes I wear, words I use, people with whom I choose to surround myself, etc. you know the rest. Some people resist change, or refuse to let the things they know influence the way they sartorially self-represent. I believe that fashion poses an unparalleled opportunity to comment on the present world, and dressing in a conservative or unchanging style is a gesture of resistance to relevant commentary. It is a manifestation of stubborn ignorance. It isn't progressive. I can't say that everyone should value progression, or even branding with progression on a material level, but if you do and want to make your value visually evident, change your look in tandem with trends. Constantly.

This look came together in November of 2012, back when I was still influenced by a mystical, monochrome vibe. But I didn't end up putting on the outfit or photographing it until a few weeks ago. I still "like" the look (I think the idea is well-executed and it's pleasant and comfortable), but I recognize that it is no longer relevant to me or my life. Instead of homages to mystic, gypsy themes, I've recently found myself drawn to hyper-futuristic aesthetics in stark white and black. But there's room for outfits in between - outfits that don't exist to prove a point, to represent the cultural climate, to do anything except look good and shallow in their draping satin grandeur. The irony is that my acceptance of "the in between" could be visually likened to a gradient. To ombre. To dip dye. To what I'm actually already wearing. So even in my attempts to celebrate 'stylistic nothingness', small details like the fading blue pattern on my tee paradoxically reference a topical attitude, thus destroying my initial assumption that the motifs mean nothing. Such is "the text". Jk. Kinda.

As you can see, being a fashion blogger is so intellectually depriving that I'm now analyzing my own completely meaningless outfits from a critical lens. Looking forward to your comments about how you love the [something material] and will I follow your blog back because you're hosting a giveaway this week please and thank you? Bitch mode is ON. And I'm confident that I can get away with this level of unbridled snark because maybe only four or five of you read the text portion of my blog. I KNOW THESE THINGS. Hi.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Beanie - 99 Cent Store

Circle scarf - c/o American Apparel

Satin robe - Secondhand

Gradient top - ROMWE

Crushed velvet leggings - TOXIC CODEINE 

Conquer booties - Pink & Pepper

You might remember the last time I wore a velvet piece from Toxic Codeine - the look was "Studs To Boot" and I paired a TC bodycon mini with a cropped tank for a unique summer silhouette. If you're down for the studded goth, plaid, and leather look, Toxic Codeine might be ya steez.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva