VAGABOND

Those of you who've been reading this blog for a while know that I have a "thing" with road trips... specifically ones in which I drive out to Los Angeles. No, I don't have a license so I'm never actually the one behind the wheel, and while not being able to plan my own exodus on my own terms is inconvenient, getting to put my feet up on the dash in the passenger's seat of someone else's car makes up for it tenfold. I haven't traveled in a while because my (not so) recent breakup 1) spurned an irrational intimidation of LA (and of everything in general, I now realize... heartbreak is unnecessarily humbling) and 2) sent me careening into aforementioned "quarter life crisis" in which I am essentially too crippled by perennial cliches (WHO AM I?!?!) to satisfy my sequestered wanderlust. Every day I wake up and wonder "is it over yet?" -- can I go back to being my comfortable, collected self? My sister says that you can't force personal harmony. You'll know that you're 'healed' when you feel your proverbial chakras align. Neither of us really buys into the 'new age anatomy' idea, but it doesn't matter -- something within really does 'click into place' after enough time has passed. And it is my understanding of (stupid, idiot) love that nobody gets to decide how much time that is. 

I'm hoping that sporting a look that reminds me of traveling West will get me back in the vagabond groove. You learn so much more about yourself when you're on the road, in between two cities, meditative with your forehead pressed against the window glass. No time at 70 miles an hour to concentrate on the canyons and cacti that pass you by, and too much solar glare through the dash to see the horizon in focus. You're stuck in your own head, but you're in motion. Having a novel destination means that something 'important' by virtue of being unexpected will happen whether you anticipate it or not. That confidence, that trust in the literally illuminated unknown, is the most incredible sensation in the world. It is an unspoken flavor that will save my life. I'll always have the road, even if I have no one waiting for me at the other end. 



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Hat - Zara
Headchain - Funny People Co.
Fringe sweater - CHICWISH
Ladder necklace - Vanessa Mooney
Leopard leggings - Wholesale Orders
"Funky Booties" - Pink & Pepper
Fringe bag - CHICWISH

Many thanks to Funny People. Co (the makers of my beloved turquoise headchain) and Vanessa Mooney who understand the need for jewelry to compliment a look to compliment a Mach 1 Mustang to compliment a restless lifestyle. Not sure where the idea to pair a headchain with a wide-brim hat came from, but it came, and I acted on it instantly. Praying that I'll have a chance to debut the couple - and maybe even a similar leopard and leatherette fringe ensemble - on a trip West sometime this spring. 

I've written about my love affair with travel before... In Love With Dusk.

Still my favorite photo of a random LA sunset in a random LA Walgreens parking lot.



Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

BON VOYAGE

Since I live in Vegas, I'm not much of a world traveler. I can ride a bus down The Strip and essentially sight-see the wonders of Paris, Italy, Rome, New York City, Hollywood, Camelot, and Egypt. Why spend thousands of dollars on airfare when I can stand on my balcony, champagne flute in hand, admiring a cosmopolitan vision in one panoramic gander? I know there's a million and one arguments you could make in favor of actually immersing myself in the real cultures of the world, but for now... there's a Lanvin charm necklace to keep my wanderlust satiated. ^-^

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Hat - Frank Olive

Sunglasses - Cobrashop

Charm necklace - Lanvin

Scarf - Chanel

Coat - Chanel (Cruise 2012 Collection)

Heels - Vera Wang

This look might represent a peak in my sartorial classicism. Rarely do I don Chanel on Chanel without feeling a bit cheesy. But a loose trench and scarf to match offered just the right amount of practicality to a sophisticate luxe ensemble on a Fall day. My mom, sister, and I found the coat (multiple, actually) at the Bellagio Chanel store this summer. We all tried it on, and even took photos in pairs of us holding pillows from the lounge area as clutch purses. Twas a real hoot for the sales associates. Happy to finally enjoy some coat-appropriate weather in the desert, as this piece was BEGGING for debut. It speaks to me sometimes from the hanger on which it exclusively rests, like a prized art collectible - which essentially it is. Designer pieces will last a lifetime. As for my other elements, I tied the attached veil that usually sweeps the floor around the center of my hat a couple times to save me from an out-of-place goth accessory. No need for a random, thematic flourish; subtle gold details and circle sunnies will do the trick time and time again.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

BLOGGERS AND BRANDING: MAGIC Discussion at FN Platform

There’s no shortage on visual inspiration at a fashion tradeshow, but what largely goes underappreciated is the treasure trove of advice shared by experienced bloggers and style presences at discussion panels. Fortunately, I took meticulous notes at MAGIC last month for my and your learning pleasure! At FN Platform, bloggers Olivia Lopez, Rachel Schwartzmann, and Kiara Schwartz offered their audience advice about what content generates most traffic and which brands are most receptive to collaborations.





Olivia of Lust for Life advised writers to “pay attention to what your readers value.” She noticed that photos of new shoes scored hundreds of notes on Tumblr, which meant more visits on her blog and the chance to foster a stronger relationship with viewers. Maintaining authenticity and integrity is another paradigm she stressed. “Posting content for the sake of hits will never go over well in the blogosphere.”

Rachel of The StyleLine and Le Style Child shared that her readers love seeing photos of her in her New York City neighborhood. It makes sense for her to satiate the world’s fascination with NYC and its respective culture with photos and words since so few artists are able to capture its essence candidly.

Kiara of Tobruck Ave emphasized the values a brand must share with a blogger to initiate a strong and honest partnership. “A good brand features their customers on the site and genuinely appreciates the publicity they offer through blogs and social networks,” she explained. “Reciprocation.” I couldn’t agree more with Kiara’s assessment; a brand that seems indifferent to its audience is not one that piques my interest or loyalty. I feel more inclined to support a brand that establishes a relationship with me as a person.

Goes without saying that MAGIC isn’t all business all the time… ;) Check out this awesome video the GIOGO girls put together detailing their fun at the convention! It was such a pleasure to meet them and experience their spontaneous energy in real life.

So many cool people, such a short amount of time! All I can say is SEE YOU IN FEBRUARY!

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva 

TOP 10 MAGIC DISCOVERIES

Though I instantly recognized hundreds of brand names as I entered this year's colossal exhibitor arena at MAGIC, there were hundreds more that looked unfamiliar to me. I’m curious to a fault at times, but my fascination with new and novel retailers actually led me to some incredible discoveries that I’d like to share with you guys! Here’s my ultimate Top 10 Magic Discoveries list:

10. True Fit. This awesome denim company arranged a lunch with the digital influencers to share with us their innovative new service for online shoppers. If you’re shopping for jeans online but fear that you’ll purchase an ill-fitting pair, dispel your anxiety by signing up with True Fit through Nordstrom or Macy's. They’ve generated a system that displays which styles of jeans will fit you best according to the preferences - NOT measurements - you provide! Read more about their revolutionary system here.

9. Vigoss Jeans. Okay, so I’ve ALWAYS known about Vigoss, but what I didn’t know is that their latest selection of prints and colors plays into my recent obsession with BOLD brights. Naturally, a champagne toast ensued.

8. This eyeball bag by Kreepsville 666.

7. Nathan’s chili cheese fries. SORRY I’M NOT SORRY I CAN’T NON-STOP TALK ABOUT CLOTHES. “Easily distracted by greasy, deep fried American cuisine drenched in processed yellow high-calorie goo.” – My impending OK Cupid bio. Mmmmm.

6. This fluorescent, feather print suit from Lucca Couture.

5. Marchez Vous by Yeardly Smith. Okay, it’s ONE thing to discover an awesome new shoe line. It’s another thing to discover that the awesome new shoe line is designed entirely by, um, LISA SIMPSON. Yup! The actress who voices one of the most iconic cartoon characters of our generation makes SHOES! And they’re CRAAAZY cute. Check ‘em out here!

4. Flat Outs. These are genius, obviously. Every gal has suffered the Great High Heels Dilemma: you want to go out for dinner in your sexiest stilettos. But after a couple hours of pounding the pavement, you’re due for a couple blisters. And then what? Plaster your tortured toes in band-aids and Neosporin? Or drown the pain with ten margaritas? Save yourself the hangover and invest in a pair of Flat Outs, which are adorable little flats that curl up into a TINY box and fit perfectly in your purse! So you can take a comfortable pair of shoes WITH you for a night out on the town. Get 'em here. (P.S. I have the leopard pair!)

3. These Irregular Choice heels. That I now OWN. Sometimes I question whether or not I am even deserving of such color-block perfection.

2. Gypsy Junkies. I could go on for hours about this crew – BEYOND the insane level of bohemian inspired, rock and roll groupie uniforms is an incredible team of technicolor pixies and counterculture enthusiasts. Here’s some blurbs from my “Road to Magic” post!

Today I had the pleasure of rockin' the BEST Almost Famous inspired ensemble I've ever laid my eyes (and hands!) on. Gypsy Junkies, a free-spirited brand inspired by classic rock and 1970s hippie glamour, swathed me in a gorgeous white fur coat, fuchsia tie-dye palazzo pants, and a mushroom-print ruffle blouse!

I wore the outfit to my discovery panel to share the glory that is their incredible line with buyers and consumers on the MAGIC floor. If you didn't get a chance to check out their booth at the show, find them online!  http://www.gypsyjunkies.com/

Learn more about their AWESOME rebel youth team here.

1. Chanelle, Deniz, Amber, Emily, Tiara, An, Rachel, Enocha, Emily K, Erica, Jamie,  Jenny, Joellen, Kiara, Melissa, Stephanie, Sheryl, Wendy,  and Gina – new friends, fellow bloggers, partners in crime. You should already know my other buddies: Bethany, Olivia, and Peter! See the entire blogger list here. 

Everything is infinite!

Bebe Zeva

MAGIC ROUND UP!

This August, I had the pleasure of attending my third WWD MAGIC summer tradeshow with Two Point Oh! LA. Without a doubt, this convention experience trumped all others. Discovering new brands, communicating with retailers, and sharing your industry perspective with an interactive audience is always a thrill – but when those moments are enjoyed in the presence of friends, new and old, they sublimate into memories so powerful that it’d defy reason to forget why the fashion community is such an incredible, creative force. It was a genuine privilege to have been invited to MAGIC as a digital influencer, representing the American fashion blogging community and bestowed the impressive responsibility of generating coverage throughout a medium bloggers know best: the internet. Between meeting an inspirational lot of women as empowered as they are stylish and introducing myself in the flesh to retailers like Pink and Pepper or Lucca Couture(with whom I’d only previously connected online!), I learned. Some girls expressed their concerns with blogger-brand relationships and others offered solutions. Some girls campaigned for their favorite fashion-forward social networking sites like Pinterest and Tumblr. Some girls, like me, encouraged others to get involved in the community by starting somewhere obvious, like Lookbook.nu. No matter what the topic of discussion was, knowledge ricocheted off the walls of the Convention Center and landed deep within the crevices of our inventive brains. Anyone who argues that the fashion industry is superficial and dry has clearly never attended MAGIC. Never in my life have I been surrounded by more brilliant businessmen and women in my life than in those three days. I extend my deepest and sincerest acclaims to the Two Point Oh! LA team and WWD MAGIC staff for making this adventure possible. And I’d like to especially offer everlasting gratitude to my –and the girls’ – “blogger Mama,” Kelsi Smith, who coordinated this ENTIRE collaboration. You are all so indescribably fated to be appreciated!

In the spirit of fond memories, here’s a collage of my MAGIC experience, as documented through Instagram. 

FN Platform blogger panel, MAGIC Digital Influencers blogger panel, day 3 at MAGIC wearing Funny People Co. and Tunnel Vision, me and Carmen, Caribbean Joe Hawaiian prints, me before the All Saints preview party, new Keds, feather print suit from Lucca Couture, me pole dancing in a party bus, me rockin' a 10 Dollar Tee, poolside after a long day, makeup for Day 1. 

Everything is infinite!

Bebe Zeva

LA IN AUGUST

Hey y'all! Haven't been updating the fashion side of my blog much this past week because I've been in LA hangin' out with peeps. I'm heading back to Vegas later today to attend the MAGIC tradeshow with some other bloggers. I'll be tweeting about the experience so follow me on all my social networks and KEEP UP! Twitter / Instagram: @BebeZeva

IN DA MEANTIME, here are some pics I took of myself and friends illuminated by the lambent Los Angeles landscape. 

^^^ EARTH SHATTERING NEWS, this is what I actually look like IRL. Catch y'all on the flip side, Frizz.

Everything is infinite,

 Bebe Zeva

BRAIN OVER BRONZE

Months ago, I wore this outfit to a spontaneous dinner outing with my bestie Spencer (who later moved to Los Angeles... sad stuff). It was an incredible night. I remember having been trapped at home for two weeks, recovering from surgery and desperate to re-enter the scene, when one night on Facebook chat, Spencer asked if I was up for Noodle Asia. Rhetorical question! The answer is always DUH. I headed over to the Venetian pronto, where amid hordes of tourists, Spencer appeared wearing an outfit almost identical to mine in color scheme. We were decked out in our bronze, brass, and black best. For him, a gorgeous metallic button-up matched with a golden Chanel chain over a vintage tie. For me, a lace bronze dress with gold chains seeping from the collar. Perfect evening ensembles, but little did we know that we'd be wearing them till 9 AM the next morning, when we eventually parted ways. That's how me and Spencer have always rolled... long, drawn out dinners followed by hours of idle chatter at Caesar's Palace while watching the distant sun rise from the haze of the Sierra Nevada.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Bowler hat - ROMWE

Metallic sunglasses - 80s Purple

Bronze dress - ROMWE

Boots - Zigi, Karmaloop

April and May were two of the best months of my life, and I am anxious to recapture the thrills that met me then. It's so important to have a healthy social and physical routine -- I was in my best shape when I exercised every day of the week and made a conscious effort to surround myself with people who made me laugh and think. I find that it's also therapeutic to let yourself be alone. There's no guilt in not seeing and being seen all the time! I used to believe that living in Vegas meant I was missing out on so much that was going on in Los Angeles. But now I realize that living in Vegas, where there isn't a competitive club kid scene and glamorous entertainment industry, is actually a privilege. I have the advantage of respite between fast-paced weekends of partying in Hollywood. When the going gets tough, I get to go home. Sleep in my warm bed, away from the social hierarchies and gossip. There's something so serene about a city without a scene. Visitors come and go from all around the world, implanting their own stories into the hollow architecture. There's no local rules or cultures or lifestyles. There's only a grid of streets and places, an infrastructure, a glittering playground where anybody can build their tale. And me? I, too, get to invent my own meaning, but from the comfort of my bedroom. Just a light in a building that sparkles in the horizon.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva