Cigarettes & Loneliness

Boater Hat: Forever 21

Coat: Forever 21

Sweater: Urban Outfitters

Scarf: Urban Outfitters

Plaid Culottes: Vintage 

Knee-High Socks: Urban Outfitters

Oxfords: Urban Outfitters

Backpack: Vintage 

I sneakily (cheekily?) asked Nicholas Coleridge, President of Conde Nast International, if I could write about one of his stories on my blog and he said yes so here's a comical anecdote before I launch into my London adventures. One day, one of Nicholas Coleridge's (I am going to continue to refer to him using his first and last name because he is a v important man) friends asked if his son's girlfriend could talk to Nicholas Coleridge about the publishing industry. Nicholas Coleridge said yes so the girl went to his office and he asked her what magazine she wanted to write for. To his surprise, she said GQ instead of Vogue or Tatler. Then, he asked what she wanted to write about for GQ and she said she wanted to write about bondage for the sex column. In utter tea-shaking shock, Nicholas Coleridge asked if she was an expert (lolz) and she said yes she was indeed. Apparently, bondage was her sex topic of choice because she discovered that she couldn't physically enjoy the experience of sex (euphemism) unless she was tied up. In bemusement and maybe even terror (?) Nicholas Coleridge sent her to the editor of GQ, they talked for two hours, and she's been the GQ sex columnist for the past three years. What a happily-ever-after straight from Disney, no? 

In all seriousness, this inspiring/unorthodox/laugh out loud tale taught me a great life lesson. And that is to unabashedly and boldly follow your passions. Especially if your passion is to write about sex for GQ cuz it leads to an immediate job for a hearty duration of time. 

That being said, I've been wildly chasing my passions in London by making it my goal to see everything and anything of interest-- art, shows, shops, restaurants, people, I want it all. I mean, living in a city with so much life feels like a waste if you're not out and about thriving in the electricity and verve, right? Right. 

This past weekend, I was all about exploring old stomping grounds. I loved walking along South Bank and strolling through Portobello Road last time I was here, so I visited those old haunts last Friday and Saturday. 

After furiously writing random words in a Cafe Nero along South Bank on Friday, I went to Tate Modern in attempts to find the Bruce Nauman room and the Richter room. The last time I was there, I quickly breezed through the museum because I had to go grocery shopping for yogurt so I figured I missed my favorite rooms the first time around. I WAS WRONG THEY GOT RID OF THE ROOMS AND REPLACED THEM WITH NOT AS INTERESTING ART. Ok, so I feel a bit bad belittling the replacement art but the Nauman and the Richter rooms were the best rooms in the house. I took a disposable photo in the Richter room, which came out quite shitty (as in Ronnie and I were literally shadows and most of the photo was this weird red color and you couldn't even see the Richters), but that's how much I loved that room. I could have just taken a photo with my phone (which I did), but my strong affections for that room drove me to use a roll of film on it. I also took a photo in the Bruce Nauman room, which came out beautifully and was my Facebook profile picture for a while. Now, I can't take any more disposable photos BECAUSE THE ROOMS HAVE BEEN EXTERMINATED. I am probably gonna write a strongly worded letter to the Tate Modern about this because in Ronnie's sage words, "WHAT ARE THEY DOING?!!" 

Anyways, after angrily texting Ronnie about the disappearance of our favorite rooms, I went on a calming stroll along South Bank. The nighttime cityscape glittered in the River Thames, soft blue lights sparkled in the trees, delicious aromas emanated from nearby food stands, and a quirky-looking street performer played an unidentifiable but soothing song on his saxophone. As I meandered through these sights and sounds, I was alone but not lonely. And that's the magic of London. I can go on all these adventures by myself and never feel lonely. Perhaps I'm a bit of an exception because I've always had this terrible itch for solitude. I'm one of those weird aliens that enjoy embarking on excursions alone, but in London it's different. Something about the atmosphere makes everything I'm doing so enchantingly surreal in an at-home kind of way. London, for me, is fantasy in reality. It's a cotton-candy-cloud-dreamland over here but it's all pinch-me-I'm-dreaming real. This is exactly why I'll never lose my child-like wonder and awe when it comes to this city. This is my Oz. 

Sorry. When it comes to London I'm prone to these lovey dovey ramblings and I literally cannot stop. But after wandering around South Bank and salivating over the bruschettas at the food market, I went back, talked to Georges on the phone, went to sleep, and then woke up the next morning for NOTTING HILL. 

I adore Notting Hill because of the movie (yes I'm a sappy romantic) and Portobello Road. Portobello Road has this market (aptly called Portobello Market) filled with vintage knick knacks (Film cameras! Antique books! Rusty keys!), ridiculously cheap clothes (leather jackets for 2 pounds #wut), and mouth-watering savory foods (da paella doe). Portobello Road is also dotted with adorable pastel buildings and I almost got ran over by a car trying to take a photo of some light pink/blue/green homes. But what's life without a little risk, no? Jk, I was absolutely terrified and will no longer take photos in the middle of the street. I suggest you do the same because #safety. Anyways, if you're in London, you should definitely visit Notting Hill because um, duh, who doesn't want a 5 pound oversized incredibly comfortable jumper? And then you can tell some rando that you're just a girl (or boy) standing front of a boy (or girl) asking him (or her) to love her (or him) and then sprint away (!!) because everyone deserves a shot at love, even celebrities. And especially you. 

Music

The Longer I Run by Peter Bradley Adams

Retrograde by James Blake

Build Me Up From Bones by Sarah Jarosz

Songs For The Rich by Tristan Prettyman

Cigarettes & Loneliness by Chet Faker

xx

Chameleon Soul x Project B

This weekend I met up with Charlotte Bata of Project B. She's the great granddaughter of the founder of Bata shoes and her blog serves as a platform to showcase shoes from Bata as well as her own creative work. Since she was born into a fashion family, she's basically the real life equivalent of Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl but, unlike Queen B, Charlotte's incredibly sweet and down-to-earth. After shooting these snaps around Soho, I sat down with Charlotte and asked her some questions about her experience in the fashion industry, her life affinities, and (of course) Bata shoes. Read on to get a glimpse into the life of a London fashion maven. 

Do you have any cool stories from growing up with Bata shoes?

Every summer, the Bata clan (there are 24 of us) go to a cottage in Canada on the Great Lakes for one weekend and we have something called the Bata Olympics, which consists of competitions in canoeing, water polo, and even building forts. Sometimes we have guest speakers that talk about family bonding and team building. It's really silly and a lot of fun!

What was it like growing up in fashion?

Growing up, my dad would always talk about fashion and right now my brother works for the company. I don't work for the company, but I've been able to go to a lot of fashion events with Bata. My favorite is the Milan shoe show, which is a big exhibition with different brands of shoes. You get to meet people, make contacts with suppliers, and also see what is up-and-coming for next season's shoes.

Since you currently don't work for the company, what has been your fashion experience?

I've had a lot of varied experience. I worked for Selfridges as a buyer and worked for Diane von Furstenberg as a showroom assistant. One time Diane von Furstenberg came in and she was really bubbly. It was super cool to meet someone high up in the industry and see her be so friendly. The whole theory that people in fashion are bitchy is not true from my experience. (Yes, mine too!)  

You were born in Canada, but grew up in Switzerland and now you've been living in London for 5 years so you seem to be quite the traveler! What is your favorite travel story?

I went on a whole Asia tour with my dad one summer. We went to Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Bangkok. I got to see all the Bata factories in China, which was really cool. It was good to see where the shoes were coming from and meet the people that were making them. 

On top of traveling, what are your favorite things to do?

I enjoy skiing in Switzerland, sailing in Canada, and shopping (at Le Mairas) + eating (at Che Leon, a mussel and fries restaurant) in Paris. 

You also live in Chelsea (Fulham) and since I am an avid fan of Made in Chelsea, I just have to ask, what's it like? 

I absolutely love it. All my friends live in Chelsea and there are a bunch of great restaurants and bars and it's really easy to commute to Central London. I see people from Made in Chelsea from time to time and I'd say they are like their characters on the show. 

That's so rad! Before we wrap up, do you have any last comments?

I'm really excited about Project B. I've gotten over 2,000 views in the last two days and I can't wait to keep creating outfits + blogging posts. I want every post to be a different theme: work theme, edgy theme, etc. I like to call them Brogues in the City or Autumn Boots. Oh and every shoe is from Bata! 

Annnnnddd in case you are curious, which I'M SURE YOU ARE! I also collabed with Project B! Modeled some Bata shoes around Soho. Had to pose in some dark alleyways, swing around a pole, and climb some black box thing (not sure what it was but it was plopped randomly in front of a bar on Greek Street). Whilst on top of the box, one of the bartenders tried to lure us in with the promise of free drinks but we were like no we have to go meet our boyfriends and then scurried away post-photosnapping. He was quite persistent but also helpful cuz he took a group photo for us that I'm probably not gonna post on social media since I look derpy. Anyways, this is my favorite photo from the bunch. I think I mastered the fake laugh look quite well. Don't remember what I was thinking bout though. Maybe Shia LaBeouf (Shia if you're reading this, we should create art exhibits across the globe together and buy bulk bags of SunChips from Costco):

To lurk the rest of the photos (shot by Fen Sandelson), click here. 

Music

World Spins Madly On by The Weepies

Fireside by Brett Bixby

I Do by Susie Suh 

xx

I'm Into You

 Welcome to the photo diary of my first week back in Londres. A year ago, when I studied abroad here, I made a vow to myself that I would return. Now, I'm back and I'm still pinching myself because this place. It's everything. In fact, walking around the city makes me a little teary eyed (literally; I've literally teared up) because the streets/the people/the energy fill my veins with an overflowing amount of djalds!! I know, I know, I'm such a cheeseball and it's totally gross, but seriously. Every day is an adventure. There's just so much going on all the time and it's exhilarating and dizzying and so deliciously wonderful. I'm obsessed. 

Since you're probably tired of my love letter to London, I'll recap what I've been up to this week. I started the Conde Nast Vogue Program on Monday and it feels like a futuristic dreamland of immaculate white walls and glossy magazine pages. Everyone is incredibly sweet and good-looking and well-dressed. It's certainly a change of scene from the frequently sweatpant-clad folks from my university. But now I actually have to try everyday, which makes me miss the sartorially dgaf environment of Notre Dame, but that's what joggers and culottes are for. To remain comfortable and efficient in the mornings, I've been sneakily sticking to the snug pant options. Thus, making it seem like I put a lot of effort into my ensemble without actually expending large amounts of energy. Hehe. 

Anyways, the first day was filled with fancy food (not sure what any of the foods were but they were nomz; I wanted to get seconds but didn't cuz #fashunz plus I'm on a diet so I shouldn't be devouring obscene heaps of food anyways). Then, we walked around the building and I salivated (and photographed cuz I'm a millennial and an Instagram-holic) over all the issues of Vogue (the blue books on the shelves contain all the issues of Vogue from the first to the most recent #swoon). Then, we all bonded and became a cozy little Conde Nast family. A fab first day, I think (the 'think' is not a dubious one; I'm using it as a filler cuz 'A fab first day' by itself felt too short). 

For the rest of the week, I explored the V&A museum and Tate Modern and oh my gahd I actually cried when I returned to the Tate because it is the best place in the entire world. It felt like home. Being reunited with the familiar (and incredibly missed) canvas-faces of Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner, Cy Twombly, Mark Rothko, Gerhard Richter, etc. Even the Ellsworth Kelly is cool. (I was a bit unimpressed by the E.K. pieces at the Art Institute, but the geometric pieces at the Tate were mesmerizing.) I found the large abstract shapes to be way more interesting than the side-by-side single colored canvases in Chicago (I still love AIC though; it's my second favorite art museum after Tate Modern). 

And today, I met Nicholas Coleridge (President of Conde Nast International), Kate Reardon (Editor of Tatler), and Geordie Greig (Editor of The Mail on Sunday). There were many humorous stories about the journalism world and the fashion industry that were exchanged, but I was sworn to secrecy so I cannot relay them on my blog. I'll just say that the fashion industry is a very, very comical and astonishing world. 

Welp, that was my first week in a nutshell. I plan to hit up South Bank and Notting Hill (Portobello Road!) this weekend and snap some blog photos. So stay tuned. 

Music

I'm Into You by Chet Faker 

Umbrella by Scott Simons 

Hey Ya by Obadiah Parker 

xx

Chameleon Soul x Livin' Like Larz

Landed in London yesterday and discovered I’m neighbors with Riley from Made in Chelsea, Paul McCartney from The Beatles, and my best friend’s cousin (aka one of the two people I know in London). Since Bryan (Carrie’s cousin) literally lives 2 minutes away from me, we hung out around Oxford Circus this afternoon. Went to Topshop and bought an outfit to wear to my first day with Vogue. Then, met up with Larz of Livin' Like Larz, a fellow fashion blogger from Teen Vogue Fashion University, for a blogger collab. We took photos around Trafalgar Square and the London Eye and then I conducted a quick Q&A cuz she’s a #GIRLBOSS. Read on to hear about Larz’s adventures with Brandi Cyrus (Yup, Miley’s sister), Red Carpet celebs, and Paris Fashion Week.

When and how did you start blogging? 

I started a year and a half ago. Every place I'm at, I create an opportunity for myself by talking to people. For example, I'll go into a store with a business mentality. I focus on connecting with the people in stores and take the initiative to collaborate. That's how you make people believe in you. 

How did you get inspired to create a blog?

I had a Tumblr in high school and I've been an artist my whole life. I love craft. In 6th grade, I took a vintage record and made a picture collage out of it. I made my first business card in 5th grade because I started a headband business. My blog is a combination of my love for creativity and entrepreneurship. 

As a blogger, you get to work with a lot of brands and people. Do you have any favorites? 

My favorite moment would have to be working as an intern for Dannijo the weekend before the CFDA awards. We shot photos in a boxing place and Sophia Bush helped me put on a necklace. 

That's so cool! I also remember seeing that you worked with Miley Cyrus's sister on your blog. What was it like working with Brandi Cyrus? 

We met at a Lululemon brunch and I'm actually really good friends with her. She's super chill and we hang out at her house so I see photos of Miley on the walls, which is like whoa. She just created a blog called Style Native and it's really awesome. I was featured in her first post. 

Since you go to school in Nashville (Vanderbilt University), do you find it difficult to stay connected to the fashion industry since most events take place in NYC?

Yes, it's been really hard and I wanted to transfer to NYU after my freshman year, but one day I walked into Lululemon and the exec was there that day and we talked and she invited me to the Lululemon brunch because she liked my energy and from then on I found my creative family in Nashville. 

I noticed you're also active in the Chicago blogging community. How did you get started in Chicago? 

I grew up in Chicago. One day, I went to a Henry & Belle event and met the creative director of Glossed & Found. I told him I loved what he was doing and then I asked if I could help on set so I got to create an installation for a Glossed & Found event with Topshop!

And now you're studying abroad in Paris and covered Paris Fashion Week. How'd you get into shows? 

The CEO of LOOKBOOK emailed me because I'm one of the most active users on the site and I told him that I could cover Paris Fashion Week street style for them. Then, I emailed Paris Fashion Week press people and told them I was working for LOOKBOOK so I got my pass into the shows. 

How would you describe your style?

It's very me. My friends are always saying, "Oh that's so Larz." I think my style reflects my capability to connect with others and I like to wear what I think looks cool rather than brand names. If I had to describe my style using adjectives, I'd say funky, pop, boho, and urban chic. 

Now for a basic, boring question. What's your major?

Creative strategy, marketing, and communications. It's one major. 

Do you have any last things you want to say?

I really try to inspire other people via my blog. I want to encourage people to explore, take risks, feel pain. You gain a lot through taking risks. For example, my friend was on a plane with a man who said he liked her style and asked if she wanted to work in fashion and she said no but gave him my blog's business card. He ended up calling me and asking if I wanted to meet up for dinner. I took a risk and went to dinner with him (even though it was potentially sketchy because I didn't know him) and he ended up introducing me to the exec at Nasty Gal. I'm always trying to meet new people and connect with them. When I was at my internship with a PR agency in LA, I was in a Lyft car and my driver had a friend at that PR agency so he asked me if I could help him escort celebrities at the Emmys. I took him up on his offer and got to walk on the Red Carpet and hand celebrities their trophies (they use the same trophy on stage so celebrities have to go to a separate room after exiting the stage to get their trophy). My favorite moment was when the people from the Daily Show held their trophies and cried and told me to keep following my dream. It really inspired me to work my butt off and make things happen.

Larz's main message to da readers: FOLLOW YOUR HEART AND WERQ TO MAKE YOUR DREAMS INTO REALITIES!

Music

1998 by Chet Faker 

Perfect Day by Lou Reed 

This Is All Yours (Live Album) by alt-J

xx

90's

Crop Top: Forever 21

Leather Overall Dress: Forever 21

Sneakers: Forever 21

Choker: Forever 21

Sunnies: Forever 21

This outfit is the result of Forever 21 giving me a $1000 gift card, except for the pink choker necklace. I bought the necklace the other day and have been wearing it all day everyday because I'm a 90's bitch. I originally wanted one of those classic black chokers, but then I decided a pink choker was too fun to pass up. And after seeing photos from the Moschino show at Milan Fashion Week, I grew even more attached to my new choker because #BarbieRevival y'all. 

Lyfe Update: One more week until Chicago and then London. I'm about to be swallowed up by the Conde Nast/Vogue world on the other side of the pond and I'm excitednervousscaredready. 

Music (90's Throwbacks)

Say My Name by Destiny's Child

Crash Into Me by Dave Matthews Band

Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden

Tearin' Up My Heart by N Sync 

Show Me Love by Robyn

xx