Twinkle Toes

Long time no post! I'm officially done with my first semester of college! I'm so relieved and now I'm preparing myself for the festival holiday. Without any more worries, I can enjoy my break with my love ones and spend my time with my youth group at church. My life has been a roller coaster within the past two weeks. I've been overstressed physically and mentally, and the weather doesn't help either. My physics professor told me that life is like a sine curve, and after your lowest lows comes your highest high. I can't wait to be up high again.

Chicago is disgustingly cold right now! Kelly and I braved the weather and took these pictures this morning. This is my entry for the Forever 21's Holiday Sweater Club Contest. Please check out my entry on this link. I'm new to Chictopia so I'm not sure how it works, but there's no hurt in favoriting my photo if you do have Chictopia :D It's my first contest ever and I'm really excited for it!

Sweater - Forever 21 $25; Bear hat - H&M $7; Sherbert blouse - Francesca's; Belt - Forever 21; Skirt - Forever 21; Tights - Forever 21; Boots - Urban Outfitters $40

Grenade

I've been listening to Grenade by Bruno Mars like crazy. His voice is so crisp and he delivers such raw emotions effortlessly. The lyrics are so metaphorically strong, with violent imagery to emphasize the sacrifice a person makes for their loved ones. However, the feelings don't reciprocate.

I had the unfortunate opportunity to witness a relationship like the song. The guy would dedicate himself for his girlfriend, only to be stabbed in the back by her selfish actions. He takes it in and continues to do things for her, but she wouldn't do the same. Every relationship, whether a romantic, or just a friendship, requires a reciprocation of feelings and understanding. Both parties should know what they want and how they feel about the person. Thoughtfulness should be taken account of in every action, reaction, and conversation. You not only have to think about what you can get out of this relationship, but also what you can do to fully give the other person the best you can give them. My dad once told me that a relationship is built upon bricks of happiness and little pebbles of annoyance, jealousy, pettiness and so forth. The pebbles can add up and shake the foundation. Once it is too much, even the bricks can't support the whole and all falls down.

I don't know why I'm so sentimental in this post, but I realized that as the weather changes, people change too, and I think that to have a warm winter, it's necessary to preserve relationships with those dear to us. Don't let misunderstandings in the way we express our feelings ruin the close bonds we have.

My best way to tie this outfit in is that sometimes, underneath all of this tough shell of pride and power, we should also let our soft side of care and compassion out too so that we can enjoy each other's companies in the best way possible. Sorry for the weirdest post ever :D

Dress - H&M $15; Leather jacket - Forever21 - $30; Boots - Mom's

My Perfect Imperfections

A lot of the beauty gurus on YouTube have done this tag, and recently, a friend of mine also did it on Facebook so I thought it would be fun to do it too. This tag is more about the outer appearance, but in no way do I believe that it is the solitary variable to define who you are as a person. I think it is a great way to embrace what God has given you and identify your unique features.

My Imperfections

1. For the past year, I have really struggled with my acne, and still am. There are days when I just felt completely disgusted when I look at myself in the mirror. My mood would be ruined for the whole day and I just wanted to hide. I felt like no matter how hard I try, no matter what products I invest in, it'll never go away. It still acts up these days, but I feel like it's more manageable. I learned to take care of my skin better and I'm more accepting of my acne. It still bothers me sometimes but I realized, in the words of Diddy, that "this too shall pass".

2. My thighs kind of bother me. I felt like it was back in my freshman year I really noticed it because I started playing volleyball. I would eat a lot of protein and drink milk like crazy and got these awesome, muscular thighs. When the season ended, they wouldn't go away and they made my body look kind of disproportionate. It was hard to find jeans that truly fit, because i had a small waist, but larger thighs and a wider hip so it'll always be tight there and extremely loose around my waist and knees.

3. This is kind of weird, but I really don't like how much my body sweats. As I am sitting here, my palms are sweating like crazy. I sometimes go shopping and hold some shirts and then realized twenty minutes later in the changing room that my palm sweat soaked some of the garments. It grosses me out and it really messes up my confidence. I avoid shaking hands with people, and it's hard to pray with others at church or even offer the sign of peace. It makes me really awkward and I really dislike it.

My Perfections

1. This kind of counters my 2nd imperfection but I actually really like my butt! It sounds weird, but I think my butt is pretty cute and it makes a lot of the things I wear look nice. I feel like I get more shape since I'm pretty flat everywhere else so I get more defined curves in the waist area. Recently, I've been into wearing dresses a lot and I think my butt helps make the garment flow better and have a nicer fit. The reason why I believe it counters my second imperfection is because I think that I got my butt from my thighs. You win some, you lose some, eh?

2. I have my mom's eyes and I really like them. They're double-lidded and it makes me feel like they really brighten up my face. I have a wide forehead and a long chin so I think my eyes really bring the focus of my face together. My eyebrows are soft, too, lol.

3. I really love my hair. It's very soft, thanks to my mom's special conditioners, and pretty versatile. Even when I colored it like crazy for the last two years, it rarely showed signs of wear and tear. I barely see split ends, and it's very thin and straight, so I can do a lot with it. I miss my long hair, but right now, I'm definitely feeling the short hair, since it's more manageable and playful.

I tag every one of you reading this! Make a video, a facebook note, a Tumblr post, or a blog post about your perfect imperfections and link it to me via a comment on this post! I'd love to read about your views of yourself. I'd like to leave you with this simple lyric from Priscilla Ranae's song 'Pretty Girl': Beauty lies within your eyes.

Bare Minimum

I have been slacking like crazy on this blog, and I even failed to do an October favorites. Let me know if you're interested in seeing them anyways and maybe I'll do a quick post for that. For those of you who are close to me, you can physically see that these pictures were taken nearly a month ago. School has been very fast paced lately and I'm kind of enjoying every minute of it. I had a major crisis (pun intended) recently because I was not doing so hot in my physics class, coincidentally my major. I was really considering switching, but after an emotional talk with my wonderful professor, I realized that this is exactly what I want. I'm very passionate about physics and although it'll be very challenging, I believe in myself.

I've been challenged a lot this past month, with a lot of school work, as well as my new hobby: breakdancing. Yes, you've read right. This scrawny, girly asian girl has picked up breakdancing. It's one of the hardest things I've ever done, being physically straining and mentally tiring, I will never give up learning. My knees, elbows, and now shoulder, are covered in bruises, and sometimes it hurts to even walk up the stairs after a session, but I love it. I've never felt so free before. This new excitement is a wonderful feeling and I can't wait to see what I'm capable of.

Speaking of which, I was able to meet my inspiration, Victor Kim, last night when he came to Loyola. I briefly got to talk to him during the meet and greet, and it was so motivating to see what a down-to-earth and cool guy he is. He told me to keep practicing and doing what I love and I'm so ready to test myself.

More on the outfit! I decided to do a more minimal themed-outfit with this piece. The dress itself is already so pretty and intricately delicate that I thought that it was perfect enough. Normally, I enjoy loud prints and bold colors. However, there is a sweet and romantic feel in the color scheme that I absolutely adore and think it's perfect for fall.

This has been an incredibly long post! I'm done ranting about my feelings, and I hope you all have a wonderful second half of the semester. I promise to update soon!

Dress & shoes - Zipia $24; Bracelet - Forever21 $5

Faded Glory

As the weather gets cooler, I became more obsessed with layering sweaters, shirts, and accessorizing with scarfs and beanies. This shoot with Kelly was from a while back, when the weather was warmer. I thought I keep it more laid-back with just gray Jeggings and a white button up. To add more color, I tied a silk scarf for a more flirty feel. One of the reasons why I really like this outfit although it's simple for my taste is because of the jean jacket. On Christmas of 1992, when I was more than eight months old, my mother bought this jean jacket for my father as a present. After eighteen years, he still keeps it in his closet. Although he can't fit it anymore, he still holds it dear to his heart. Last month, I found it by chance and he happily passed it on to me. Although it is not my style, it is extremely comfortable and has a homey feel that makes me want to cuddle with it. That is why I really wanted to feature it on this blog. Happy fall everyone. Although I know that the change in weather has not been giving such happy days, but change can be a good thing in the end.

Jacket - father's; white button-up ($20) and jeggings ($22) - Zipia; Kimchi Blue Shoes ($20) - Urban Outfitters; Scarf ($4) - thrifted

Peek-a-Blue

Midterms have been rough and the weather has been changing constantly. My mood has been up and down a lot just like the unpredictable Chicago weather. Fashion-wise, I've been on the bummy end, just running to school in hoodies and sweatshirts. A couple of weeks ago I attended a youth leadership conference, so in the rare occasion I decided to go all out and look more decent. This is a variation of the outfit since the actual day that I went, it was rainy and cold, so I layered with black stockings, a black blazer, and my black Nine West oxfords to really make the blue pop. Normally, I'm not a blue person, but there's just something about the satin and the royal blue hue that makes me feel so sexy and confident.

Blouse ($16), Skirt ($9), Bracelet ($5), Necklace ($5) - Forever21; Shoes - Ralph Lauren

MySpirations: September 2010

I've decided to start posting end of the month favorite styles and guilty pleasures of mine because I thought it'll be interesting (and it's totally fun for me!). This season, as you know, I'm all about more neutral colors and lace. I think there's a mature warmth in the color, making the outfit more sophisticated. Paired with edgy designs and patterns and you got a laidback yet very romantic and light outfit. There's something about the fall that makes me just want to feel light as a feather, and this type of style heads-on support the idea. So check out my favorites from this month as my ideal September styles and let me know what your ideal styles, most wanted outfits, or inspiration is!

Romantic Rose

Whoo hoo! I finally got around to taking and editing pictures! As you know, lately I've been getting into the more romantic lacy, floral, and nude trend for fall. I think it's a great combination to warm up the changing weather.

Sorry for the short post, I just really wanted to get this up. I'm starting to stress out a bit from school because of midterms lurking around the corner. I've been having such a great college experience so far and I'm really happy that I'm exposing myself to everything that's out there for me. Look out world! I'm taking over! (With style hehe)

Top: H&M $10; Skirt: Forever21 $12; Love necklace: Forever21 $4; Heels: Zipia $24

Red, White, and Bloom

Sorry I've been MIA! School has been so exciting and everything is so fresh and anew for me that I haven't had time to take pictures. I've already have about 4 outfits lined up, but I just never got the time to go to Kelly's house and take pictures of them with her. Don't worry, by no means does that mean I'm abandoning this blog! This week, I'm going to be running around Loyola campus with my point-and-shoot, hawking down fashionistas like no other. There were some instances where I found awesome outfits on campus, but I either didn't have my camera with me or the courage to ask them. I'm definitely overcoming that to bring you guys awesome stylespirational outfits soon! Hopefully, I'll have time to meet with Kelly this week so I can update with my newly arranged outfits by next week!

By the way, I'm cheating with this post. Originally, I took pictures of this outfit with Kelly nearly a month ago before I left for Michigan. Now that I looked back at it, I don't like it as much anymore. Nonetheless, check it out. It's a shirt I made with $3 fabric from Hancock and a light denim pair of $15 Forever21 jeans. Sorry it's not as BABAMsizzle as I would like, but I thought it's still something.

Downhearted Blues

Whoo hoo! I just finished my first two days of college! It was exciting yet nerve wrecking at the same time. I was almost kind of sad seeing how everyone is already so close to their dorm-mates and I only have two people I know in class. Different from my personality, my shyness forced me into places that I'm glad I went to. I went to Madonna della Strada chapel to pray several times a day as well as rummaged the Cudahy library, reading the Sky and Telescope journals. Gosh, I'm on mad nerd mode!

Alright, less talk, onto fashion! I recently stumbled onto this dress during my back to school shopping trip a while ago and I was totally sold the moment I tried it on. You know how I'm obsessed with the nautical theme this summer, so I just couldn't help myself. I decided to crash my best friend, Kelly's house, and did a fun photoshoot with her dad's awesome Canon 40D. Honestly, I could never go back to my point-and-shoot ever again afterwards!

Dress - Urban Outfitters $20; Anchor necklace - Forever21 $5; Bangle - Kelly's from Forever21; Hat - American Eagle; Tom's Shoes $43

All Laced Up

Sarah's outfit caught my attention because it has a sexy yet romantic feel. The slightly see-through lace shirt is countered with the dark denim and the soft gold jewelry, giving a sweet and personable feel to the ensemble. The bag and the high waisted jeans also make the outfit more classy, emphasizing the shy beauty of the lace shirt. I totally adore this outfit and I thank Sarah once again for sharing and Stylespiring all of us!

High waisted jeans - Forever21 $9.90; Lace top - Nordstrom; Necklace - Forever21 $5; Leather & ribbon bracelet - Knotts $11 & $5; bag - goodwill $3

A Black Bow Affair

Lately, I've been getting into some of the styles that I've never really liked before. I suddenly developed a fond liking to neutral colors as well as lace. I'm usually a bright and colorful person, but lately I've been liking more neutral and feminine, flowy styles. It gives a very innocent, sweet, and soft feel to it that suddenly attracts me. Different from my usual bold pieces, I am starting to lean more towards the subtle and sweet look. Not to mention that I've been buying a lot of stuff with bows on it lately, I just can't help myself anymore. By the way, digging the hair? I know I am!

White lace tank - A'gaci $6; Black skort - Zipia $12; Black bow ring - Forever21 $5; Gold bow&heart necklace - A'gaci $6; Chanel bag - mom's closet! Nine West Oxford Heels - DSW $50

Sailor Moon

This is one of my most favorite dress that I've owned, yet I haven't really had the opportunity to wear it. This week was the last week of my internship with the Asian American Institute's Impact Fellows Program. For memories, I decided to dress up on the last day to leave a lasting impression of myself. Dear fellows, I will miss our good times. I've learned so much from all of you and I've finally discovered myself and my potential thanks to your nurturing ways. Please remember me as not only 'Sunnay Honnay', but also the Ai Nhu with dreams and curiosity. I know that you all will support me in my path, and please don't hesitate to look for me if you need a helping hand.

Dress: Forever21, $22.90; Shoes: Zipia.net $24

In Full Bloom

I had a Stylespirations moment yesterday. Kelly and I got off of work early because of legislative visit. We planned on going out to Tank Noodles, so we stopped by Kelly's house for her to change. I came in my purple t-shirt and jean shorts from Forever 21. We hung out a little bit until I noticed this wonderful skirt in Kelly's closet. It was a gift for her 19th birthday in April and she still hasn't worn it. Immediately, I was attracted to it right away and tried it on. I ended up throwing on her gold gladiators and suddenly there was an impromptu photoshoot in her room. Although it wasn't intentional at all, it made me happy to realize that inspiration is always around, it's just up to us to realize it, take it, and make it ours.
Purple t-shirt with pocket, Zipia. Kelly's skirt, forever21. Floral sunglasses, forever21.

Sail Away

Happy July 4th everyone! I hope you all enjoy a great celebration with your family today. I know I'm still on food coma from the damage we've done.

The lighting of these pictures bother me so much, but it was really gloomy outside so I had to make do with taking pictures in my office. This dress is one of my favorite buys this summer so far. Initially, I thought it was pretty ugly, but I decided to try it on anyways for fun. It turned out to be a surprising buy because of my first impression and I usually never buy dresses over $20. I simply fell in love with it. It's such a simple yet playful dress from a local Chicago boutique on Clark called Presence. With the strong summer heat in the hair, it's fun to play with the nautical theme to cool down in a unique way.

Flowery Funk

This post is actually overdue for a while now. This is my good friend Tracy, one of the cool Koreans that I will truly miss. Her coolness transcends to her fashion style. Tracy, like me, actually styles herself depending on her mood and laziness. We have moments when we're free from school work so we dress up more, or are always in v-necks and jeans when exam time comes around.

Tracy's outfit was incredibly adorable. She mixes a fun and funky Free People cardigan, which I adore so much, with a cute, gray dress and black leather flip flops to tone the strong pink down. The cardigan has amazing pink crochet details, going hand in hand with the soft white lace on the dress. Hands down, this is one of my favorite outfits I've ever seen.

Sweet Pea

Something I put together a little while ago. We had an IB picnic in the garden of Oz Park and I thought that this outfit was appropriate for the occasion.

I put a simple white shirt with light pink floral designs to balance out the black and bright floral designs of the skirt. I thought that the bracelet also gave it a clean and polished look. It's overall laidback, yet also has a girly tone.

Shirt from Vietnam. Skirt I stole from my mom and reconstructed it. Toy charm bracelet from Francesca's.

Wildly Wonderful

Lesya is one of the most fashionable person at LPHS. Her style is extremely sophisticated and feminine, yet also has a playful hint through her accessories. Although she enjoys to play with color, she always balances her outfits with the soft and feminine style such as a flirty skirt or a Victorian-esque top.

This is one of the outfit that truly reflects her style. She matches bold colors with its zig-zag stripes so that it's not overwhelming. The ruffles and simpleness of the dress also balances the look as a whole. She cleanly completes the outfit with a solid brown bag to soften the look along with the simple white flats. She also throws in a fun side with her Ray-Bans, mixing her sophisticated and laidback style to reflect her overall personality.

Say You Love Me

I bought this dress last September on Soompi for $14, but I never got a chance to wear it because of the fickle Chicago fall weather. Yesterday was the last day of my IB exams, so now I've got no worries. I also have a performance with PPG at DePaul tomorrow for the IB CAS fair, so I'm in such a great mood. I decided to bust out the awesome outfit that I've been dying to wear. Because the outfit was so cute already, I've decided not to accessorize at all to give it the full focus it deserves.

Outfit is a 3 piece: shirt, skirt, and belt all from a Soompi survey for ~$14 shipped. Sandals are my mom's.

PS. I've been obsessed with IU's cover of MYMP's 'Say You Love Me'. This song also inspired me to wear this outfit, since both has a sweet but laidback feel. Check it out here.

-Ai Nhu

So Fresh and So Clean

Of all of the friends that I've recently made, Alzen is one of the most memorable one. He's extremely outgoing and is definitely not shy when it comes to music and dancing. His bold personality combined with his sweet nature presents a wonderful and unforgettable person and this transfers over to how he presents himself. I was more than happy when I saw his entry in my mailbox. In this entry, Alzen shows his simple and boyish charms with a clean and natural look.

Who inspires me?

Kim Kibum, member of SHINee, is notable for his eye-catching, slightly feminine sense of style and ssanti/girl dancing. I like to examine what he wears and I have noticed that he enjoys wearing accessories and likes to expose his neckline. He inspired this "summer look" and I used elements from the "ring ding dong" dark and "juliette" color concepts. The necklace is the focal point because I like accessories and I find that necklaces provide some sort of "eye-candy" to people because typically, people usually notice smaller things like earrings and necklaces. The color contrast of the shirt and the shorts makes the outfit more bold and the shoes give it a "cute look" because "being cute" is naturally a part of my personality. Every guy should embrace more feminine qualities when it comes to clothes because mixing feminine and masculine styles makes our styles more dynamic and interesting.

My advice: Do not over-accessorize because it might bog down the style you are trying to portray!!! and remember, fashion is fun!

Sky blue Vans, $46; Black A&F shirt, $10; White Drifter Industries shirt, $15; brown necklace from HMart, $5

STYLESPOTTED: Culture Clash

I've known Amara since my freshman year of IB. She has an eccentric personality and an out-of-this world vision. I've always taken notice of here unique style. Even on a regular or stressful testing day, she always has an outfit that makes you do a double-take.

This look is fantastic and clean. Amara turns the focus on the unique blue dress (sari?) by minimizing accessories. The dress itself has a great balance in the bold color and the minimal yet intricate designs framing the edges. She completes the outfit with a cute pair of Converse and white frames, perfectly reflects her quirky, yet laid back personality.