don't have a cow

Forget the misleading title -- I am not a reasonable, rational person. I am a histrionic cry baby drama queen who most definitely does 'have cows' or whatever when shit starts to get real. I don't genuinely believe in karma but I must have done something seriously messed up within the past several weeks to deserve the INSANE amount of curveballs life has been throwing mercilessly in my direction... but what?? Maybe the universe is trying to whip me into shape, and by forcing me to confront (literally) painful situations I'm learning, developing into an adult, becoming a responsible and discerning woman, etc. ALL THAT GOOD STUFF. 'Growing up' has been oddly concentrated into one year of my life so far, that year being this one, 2014, my good old 21st anniversary on woeful planet Earth.

At the end of the day, after I've cried out every last milliliter of tears, I realize that at least I still have my sense of style. I constantly reference taste as an alternative currency because I firmly believe that it is valuable in ways money isn't. Even if you're flat broke and sifting through bargain bins, it's your vision and ability to artfully arrange that renders you stylish - NOT the amount of money you're privileged enough to spend on frivolity. The tougher life gets, the more passionately I appreciate my tastes because no matter what they cannot be taken away from me. 

Now. Onto the real cow print elephant in the room - I'm wearing like 4 acrylic nails total in these pics, that's how hardcore my life is. K bye.



6ks cow print blouse, Rings & Tings necklace, Retro City sunglasses, Yes Style beret and slacks


Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

PACIFIC HI-FISLANDER

You've definitely seen this tropical print on me before -- I've worn the bomber twice already, once with velvet leggings (HIBITCHSCUS) and once with leopard print shorts (TROPIC FEVER). But you've never seen its matching dress! Yes, the hibiscus bomber has a hibiscus twin. Prints on prints are popular this year, especially as matching sets gain popularity and designers, stylists, and consumers alike opt for looks that feel deliberately 'put together.' I didn't even buy the bomber jacket from the same website as I bought the dress! I just knew I couldn't debut the latter without the former... it needed one extra layer. And what better than identical outerwear?

I should probably acknowledge my awkward ~1 month absence from blogging... August was *the* most hectic month of my summer/entire life. I moved out of my mom's house, temporarily lived in a hotel, temporarily lived with a friend, then begrudgingly moved back in with my mom, went to New York City for 10 days on an admittedly cliche soul-searching expedition, then re-enrolled in college, where I am right now, typing out this blog post. I have also eaten 400 calories worth of wheat thins since I started this paragraph. So as you can surmise, I am completely out of control and not even remotely closer to understanding 'who I am' or 'what I want to do.' All I know is that I am compensating for an absence of identity with copious amounts of whole grain crackers. I'm hoping that having to attend classes and respect deadlines will reinstate some structure and normalcy in my life... and as a result I'll get back to blogging more regularly. ^_^




FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Silver baseball cap - Buffalo Exchange

Hibiscus bomber jacket - YES STYLE

Hibiscus print dress - ROMWE

"Modern Sandal Heels" - Daily Look

I've worn this silver baseball hat at the very least 500 times between now and last August when I bought it... made its initial grand appearance in LA and has topped off outfit themes like sports luxe, cyber swag, and everything in between. I'm SHOCKED that I haven't showed it to you before?!?! I feel like every one of my readers has been cheated of some veeeeery central information.

It's probably a good thing that I haven't played out the silver hat signature... I'm definitely on the fast track to becoming predictable with my cuff necklace and lucite sandal obsession. Pray for my creative process. PRAY. I should probably invest in more jewelry and shoes. I'm just too overwhelmed with life right now to allot any time to online shopping. Still need to buy all my college textbooks, print out my homework, write my novel, and respond to the one million unanswered emails festering in my inbox. 

Jk.

Shopping online eternally comes first.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

SUB ROSA

Hello! Back after a weekend so relaxing it actually got kind of boring. There's only so many naps you can take with the balcony door open, so many minutes you can spend in the steam room before dying of heat stroke, so many facials you can give yourself before exfoliating your skin into a raw oblivion... luxury problems. Anyway, today is the first day of Passover, so Chag Sameach to all of my Jewish readers who are celebrating! I'll be at a seder this evening hoping a slightly more conservative version of this leather-on-leather look is appropriate. Wish me luck. Heh.



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Sunglasses - RETRO CITY
Jacket - Member's Only
"Faux Leather Crop Top" - DAILY LOOK
Scarf - Armani
Skirt - Sachin & Babi
Heels - ROMWE
Clutch - Doctor Couture

I've gotten really, really, dangerously lax about accessorizing lately. Last year this time, I wore pounds of bracelets, chains, and chokers to bulk up my look. In fact, dripping necklaces and chunky rings became my look. Nowadays I compensate for a minimalist ensemble in other ways - like oversize sunglasses or a statement scarf. Big is better and less is more: learning the difference between size and quantity is one of my favorite fashion discoveries this year. 

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

ON THE PROWL

It's kind of gross how unapologetically "diva" this outfit is. The Carrie Bradshaw curls and beret, oversized sunglasses, and baroque satin, leopard print, and fuchsia suede triple threat are almost too much. No, actually, this print crazy hodgepodge is genuinely "too much". Fortunately we here at FTBH Corp. don't respect socially constructed fashion boundaries and take much pleasure out of crossing lines conventional style referees label off limits. And we do it in literal stride - one platform pump in front of the other. "We" being me, myself, and I, of course. Even fiercely independent girls need a posse!



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Cap - An old standby
Oversize cat-eye sunglasses - RETRO CITY
Vintage satin jacket - TUNNEL VISION
"Leopard leisure suit" - NATURAL COLOUR
Fuchsia pumps - Pink & Pepper
Bag - Rebecca Minkoff

Only four people deserve my love today. Brit and Madeline, the rock n' roll amazons behind Tunnel Vision, and "Pink" and "Pepper", the BFF cartoon chicks who represent the shoe company they're named after. Even though they're only illustrations (don't discriminate - even drawings can dress top-notch) they're somehow WAY more stylish than me in all their two-dimensional glory. I'm thanking the boos behind these brands (or 'vintage stockists' in the case of Tunnel Vision) because not only did they hook me up with some sweet Spring goodies, they pretty much do the entire world a service by offering such rad merch. 

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

FLANNEL SQUARED

Most great things come in twos: Reese’s cups, Shamwows, The ATL Twins, certain male reproductive organs. This plaid flannel-on-plaid flannel pairing is no exception. I layered a knee length plaid shirt-dress with cutoff sleeves over another flannel wonder, this one with sleeves still intact and a casual cut reminiscent of most bathrobes. With my outerwear lending itself to a “trailer trash heroism” theme, I knew the rest of my outfit would have to follow suit and honor the classically American look. Ergo, overalls. It’s finally warm enough to bare knees, so I’m trying to get as much wear out of this vintage Vigoss number before it either falls apart or my butt gets too big to squeeze into it (very likely considering my recent cheese Danish obsession). Overall (no pun intended), the look is “prole on the prowl” – calculated nonchalance and hobo chicness in tow.



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Beanie – H&M

Sunglasses – Retro City

Gray flannel robe – YES STYLE

Blue flannel cutoff shirt – Secondhand

Ladder necklace – Vanessa Mooney

Snakeskin turtleneck – Boohoo

Vigoss overalls – Secondhand

Bag – Rebecca Minkoff

"Opera booties" – Pink and Pepper

These here shoes are a rockin’ new pair from my buds Pink& Pepper, cheekily titled “the Opera bootie.” They’d surely fit right into an ‘exclusive art ambience,’ but I prefer wearing them to downtown dives and flea markets where my frayed flannel is not only socially accepted, but encouraged. Less pressure. I’ll be leaning against a chain link fence somewhere shotgunning a PBR if you need me. 

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

PRESENT TENSE

You’ve seen this jacket on me before – I literally ‘rocked’ it with a check print miniskirt and oxford lace-ups this Fall in a look called “Wild Thing.” The 1950s homage was full force with heart-print sunglasses and a fuchsia sash wound characteristically around my neck, but my penchant for nostalgic influence has since rot and festered. Outfits that look like costumes suggest more of a superficial understanding of “clothes” than of a deep and rounded understanding of “fashion.” The relationship the outfit’s aesthetic maintains with present culture is of premier importance, and in fact integral to the execution of the ensemble as an idea. So I didn’t nod to styles of any years past with this look. I buttoned the varsity jacket straight up to the neck and let the asymmetrical hem speak for itself. It’s nobody’s kitschy letterman. It’s a staple piece of present-day sportswear with an avant garde twist. Thank you, Jovonna London!

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Sunglasses - Retro City

"Allison Vesty" Jacket - Jovonna London

"Sexy Pages" Crop Top - HOW VERY DARE

Velvet harem pants - PERSUNMALL

Suede stilettos - PERSUNMALL

Leopard satchel - Jimmy Choo

Underneath my jacket is a very clever crop top c/o How Very Dare – a clothing line that prides itself in attention to prints and modern silhouettes. Scoop necks, hi-low hems, and contemporary patterns – I see you, horse print leggings – command a presence on their site, and they all translate beautifully into real-life function. This top was an easy choice for me: the open book print is smart with a sense of humor. Didn’t even mess around with heavy necklaces because I wanted to keep the lounge vibe consistent... velvet harem pants with a low-rise, elasticized waist made that easy. And the practical heel on my new stilettos kept the silhouette sleek without compromising my comfort. Both are from Persunmall, and both are prized new staples that well represent the present tense that is 2013.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva 

METRICE

I’ll never forget the time I wore this Romwe sweater for two straight days… I thought I’d lose my mind if I had to look down at that dizzying pattern for one more hour. But in moderation I admit that neutral hexagon print affords my knit top a comforting chicness, especially when paired with cuffed denim skinnies and stilettos. I love a little monochrome symmetry. I also love that this Valentino rockstud clutch looks kinda like a classic quilted Chanel. It’s homage with attitude… couples well with a messy ponytail and oversize aviators.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Pyro sunglasses - RETRO CITY
Hexagon print sweater - ROMWE
Cuffed skinny jeans - Seven For All Mankind "Gwenevere"
Rockstud clutch - Valentino
Transparent heels - YES STYLE

I loved Olivia’s interpretation of the sweater, jeans, and heels combo in January, and I think what she said about American classicism is true: “It’s all about that chunky cable knit paired with worn in denim, and a classic pair of sunglasses that matches pointy pumps that is reminiscent of all things Americana.” Certainly is, and just goes to show that you can wear jeans to lunch without looking underdressed. Sometimes the most sophisticated looks incorporate famously casual elements.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva