me myself and eye

I think I've crossed a threshold in my blogging experience wherein I no longer expect anything to come out of my content creation. When I started out, there was a purpose: to get people's attention. And once I had their attention, another purpose emerged: to monetize my popularity. I was successful in my pursuits, but only for so long. While many bloggers were and are able to maintain their rate of production and profits, I am not one of them. I attribute this to my own failure to put money into my blog: I never paid a web developer to design me a more sophisticated layout, I never bought my own domain, I never traveled to New York for fashion week, I never hired a photographer to take my pictures. I remained "DIY" at the expense of my potential to thrive. Like anyone who missed the boat on an incredible opportunity to build an empire out of their access, I have my share of regrets. I could have translated "Fated To Be Hated" into a commercial endeavor generating enough ad revenue and collaboration fees to constitute a salary. I could have even set more modest goals, like aiming for a cool $1000/month. But not even that came into fruition. Nonetheless, for 99% of the time my blog has existed, I have been able to at least exchange sponsored garments for cash. The other 1% of the time includes the first couple months of my blog's existence -- and now. 

I hope that my blog's commercial failure is a creative blessing in disguise. I have only the clothes I started out with left (yes, the same pieces you saw in 2010) which means I must tap into a place of complete sincerity. There are no sponsors to appease and there are no liabilities. I have absolutely nothing to lose. And I am not obligated to blog about things I don't genuinely like just because I can flip them for ten bucks on eBay. 

Hopefully this is the beginning of a new life for me and my platform. A fresh opportunity for me to create, for free, with as much expressive recklessness as I see fit. I have no expectations of monetization -- and that's liberating, not a disappointment. All the labor I put into this blog must satisfy ME, because no gratification will come from anticipating validation or payment from others. I am untethered to everything but my Desire.



80s Purple mirrored shades, Romwe sequin eye sweater & blouse, vintage Minnie Mouse jorts from The Dog Show, Under Construction platform boots c/o Echo Club House, Pink Brix Kelly skull earrings + Coco ring

Everything is infinite,

Bebe

vogue boss

Yesterday's look was for sure my favorite outfit, but today's theme is my favorite aura. 1980s situationist slam poet, a tortured artist whose 'soul' complaints include the "the toxic breath of post-fordist capitalism" and a "labyrinthine secret order imprisoning my carnal unit." Favorite movies: Videodrome and The Lawnmower Man. Favorite musicians: Art of Noise, Biota. Favorite artists: Cindy Sherman and whoever is responsible for this youtube video. Favorite quote: "Never Work."

Might I ever be a "Vogue Boss" in an outfit this kitschy? Might I even desire to be a "Vogue Boss" if capable of an outfit this kitschy? I think I'm more inclined for a position as 'Adbusters Creative Director of Fashion Hacking.'

Jah bless to one of the ex bf's for this top, I am well aware that it's the greatest shirt you've ever seen and that I have good taste in suitors. They usually give me excellent clothing to reward me for being such a wonderful girlfriend before inevitably breaking up with me, blocking me, and sending me seething text messages during one of their cocaine comedowns in the ensuing months. Worthy trade-off!

Vogue Boss Slam Poet's parting Debordian cry:

"INCESSANT TECHNOLOGICAL RENEWAL, INTEGRATION OF STATE AND ECONOMY, GENERALIZED SECRECY, UNANSWERABLE LIES, AND ETERNAL PRESENT... OH, THE HORROR"

Vintage top, Romwe leggings, Yes Style beret and heels

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

twee antoinette

Haven't done a full blown pastel look like this in a while! My frilly pink instincts danced right back into fruition when Le Bunny Bleu sent me these mint green oxford lace-ups -- pairing them with a matching aquamarine rose jacket felt SO natural it's not even funny. Summer goth is always a fun look...  but sometimes I gotta let my inner cupcake SHINE knowhatimsayin?? Maybe some of my readers will even recognize this vintage belt from previous posts... that shit hearkens back to 2011's "Hello Kitten" get up. 



Romwe rose print vinyl jacket, Le Bunny Bleu oxfords

Everything is infinite,

Bebe

GOLD SCHOOL

The fast fashion set has seen some remarkable aesthetic changes in the past couple years as designers have established a distance between their recent collections and the maximalist, retrogressive themes of seasons prior. Versace's H&M moment in 2011 presented one of the most sartorially exciting collaborations for consumers looking to brand themselves with the ostentatious kitsch of luxury for the masses. An obsession with appropriating saturated versions of other cultures' symbolic markers emerged and manifested in tropical, Polynesian prints, Greco-Roman motifs, and Japanese cherry blossoms. Excess, flamboyance, and even the subtle insinuation of entitlement to translate world cultures into playful commodities became chic in mainstream fashion circles. But by 2013, the trend tables have turned to favor austerity, futurism, and an idea of a globalized world where cultural themes cannot be appropriated because they simply do not exist. Instead of ironic baroque print bomber jackets, the fast fashion set is now scrambling to be seen in sterile silver and white or minimalist active wear. Function has finally trumped form -- perhaps not because it deserves to, but because commerce demands that new aesthetics develop and conquer in order to stimulate a subsequent trend that people feel obligated to buy into. 

Well. Not me, not today. I'm gonna back track and continue to wear the flashy clothes that I have because I honestly can't afford to trade my rococo for Raf Simmons. Yes, it's cool to enter a new phase of fashion in which innovation is rewarded and efficiency is held to a higher standard than appearance alone. But it's not cool to feel "pressured" to buy membership into that movement. And it's not cool to feel excluded and ashamed because what you're wearing is representative of a conflicting (maximalist) paradigm. 

I called this look "Gold School" because, besides the obvious metallic reference, my look is commemorative of a luxury hip hop theme that probably won't be considered "novel" or "innovative" anytime soon. Old school, new perspective, same aesthetic allegiances.



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Embellished snapback - OASAP
Gold and amber necklace - DAILY LOOK
Crop top - American Apparel
Transparent waist skater skirt - MUSTARD CARTEL
Modern sandal heels - DAILY LOOK

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

CHECKMATE MOD

If I say that I'm really seriously committed to blogging consistently again would you believe me? Feels like I keep dropping in then peacing out... but I swear on all that is holy that this time is different. If there's one thing I could use more than an Hermes personal shopper to hook it up with a Birkin bag it's a #lifestyle change. And part of this season's new lifestyle is blogging every day, without fail, as an exercise in relieving ~emotional tensions from within~ through the very cathartic and creative process that is fashion blogging. Yep. I feel like putting myself out there both visually and verbally is the most constructive way for me to keep my "sartorial chakras aligned." These photos are from a couple months ago, back when my hair was still a perfect shade of platinum blonde. I've since dyed it brown and watched it fade into dirty blonde territory but the memory lives on nonetheless... bye bye Blonde Beeb. Onto the next phase of my personhood.

I'm not really sure what's going on fashion-wise these days, especially following Spring 2014's NYFW. I do know that "dazzling blue" was named Pantone's Color of the Year, but that's a bit irrelevant to me since I very rarely (if ever) wear bold colors besides pink and red. So I'm sticking with what I know best, and that's compensating for color with clash. I'm black and white head to toe, but a far cry from minimalism nonetheless. This checkerboard and diagonal stripe juxtaposition is more "cheeky" than "chic"-- perfectly in sync with how I'm feeling these days. ;)



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Hat - Vintage
Rhinestone cuff necklace - ROMWE
Check print top/dress - ROMWE
Diagonal stripe skirt - ROMWE
Patent heels - Daily Look

Clearly inspired by the 60s, but particularly the boxy check print resurgence we first saw in Louis Vuitton's SS 13 collection. Oh, and yeah, this would be the first time in a really noticeably long time that I'm wearing socks with heels again.^_^

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

ROUGE AND FLARE

Perhaps this look without a hat will serve as a breath of fresh air... and also maybe a source of inspiration for bottle blondes who are too ashamed to expose their dark roots to the world! I have embraced mine all the way... and in fact I think they accentuate the black and white stripe theme in this retro drop-waist dress look. Whoever says you can't look fancy with a huge patch of undyed brunette locks needs a reality check. It's 2013, plenty of people dye their hair artificial colors, and no one should feel too embarrassed to bare evidence of it. I'm sure you could also make the argument that dark roots suggest laziness... but show me a working woman who has enough time to spare for a four hour hair bleaching appointment and I'll show you 12 year old white girl who doesn't like Justin Bieber. Yeah. Not gonna happen.



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Cage collar - ROMWE
"Vertical Stripe Jumper Dress" - ECUGO
Suede wedge heels - YES STYLE
Leather clutch - Doctor Couture

Super simple look with minimal accessories for a casual, cafe-appropriate ensemble. This silhouette seems retro to me -- a floating 1960s cut with timeless stripes and a ruffled hem. It matches nearly all of my heels, but I went with the pointed suede wedges since they're the easiest to walk in without compromising height. 

Yes, as pro-body-acceptance as I am, the fact that I'm so vertically challenged (5'2" represent) still gets to me. Probably has something to do with the fact that *all* the visual media I consume every day as a fashion blogger reinforces a ridiculously tall and borderline emaciated beauty standard... one that has conditioned my self-esteem for the worse. Can designers and campaign directors PLEASE do something about this? If you need your clothes modeled by an underweight amazon to afford them any ounce of sartorial credibility, you're copping out. Let the apparel speak for itself and leave the ~personal interpretation~ to real people with average bodies so consumers can get a REAL idea of what they'll look like if they make the purchase. Don't distract from the garment with a fabricated lifestyle. Consumers should decide that for themselves.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

RUBY FLIRT

Another day, another item from Heavenly Couture's $16 or less selection! I'm wearing a utility blouse tucked into a Motel Rocks circle skirt with Pink & Pepper peeptoe heels. The look is flirtatious, summery, and (my idea of) timeless. Besides the tribal-esque fabric on my shoes, I'm not repping many trends here. Mostly just falling back on classic staples like a floppy hat and red lipstick. 



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Floppy hat - Karmaloop
Necklace - Chanel
"Shaish Light Longsleeve Utility Blouse" - HEAVENLY COUTURE
Belt - Vintage
Skirt - Motel Rocks
Heels - Pink & Pepper

Today's lonesome necklace is a far cry from yesterday's jewelry overload. While I think this outfit translates well from day to night, the minimalist motifs make it a better fit for evening. As always, check out Pink & Pepper for more date-appropriate styles. ^-^

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

STEPPING OUT

What a perfect little number this Daily Look pink and leopard dress is. It's definitely cute enough to wear solo with no accessories cramping its glamour, but... you know me. Had to indulge in the faux fur. As for the cap -- I must wear a hat these days to hide my dark roots! They are out of control and I have NO idea how to stop them because I've never dyed my hair myself. Bleaching only one patch of hair seems extremely complicated and also HIGH PRESSURE because - hello - it's bleach, and that shit fries ya follicles. But I'm really not in the mood (or financial position) to drop another $200 on a professional appointment. So. Until I make up my mind about how to tame these brunette beasts, I'll be wearing caps like my life depends on it. Because my social reputation does, and that's about the same thing. 



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Cap - Vintage
Cuff necklace - OASAP
"Chain and Leopard Shift Dress" - Daily Look
Faux fur vest - Boohoo
Patent heels - Daily Look

It's also come to my attention that I wear this silver cuff necklace WAY TOO FREAKIN' OFTEN and I'm worried that you guys are starting to get peeved with my lack of accessory originality. I can hear the haters now... "new outfit post from Bebe? Oh great, I can't wait to see what outfit she paired with that stupid silver necklace THIS week." I'm sorry to have failed you... it's just... a really cute necklace. :(

WILL TRY HARDER.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva