The Girl Who Travels vs The Girl Who Loves To Travel

A recent blog post, Don't Date A Girl Who Travels, posted on lovethesearch.com by Adi Zarsadias got quite some interesting traffic after sharing it via social media. What was most interesting were the comments, with many girls agreeing that this post was exactly what girls who travel are like and with guys and a couple of girls stating that it made the girl look too carefree or flakey.

To summarize the article, the author states men should not date girls who travel unless they can keep up with spontaneity and adventure. Among some beautiful sun-kissed descriptions about girls who travel were these hard-hitting ones: This type of girl may have wasted her degree, doesn't have a permanent address nor knows when her next paycheck will come in. You can see why girls who love to travel got upset at those descriptions. But in all honesty it's quite the accurate description of a girl who travels.

While I disagree with the term 'wasted' her degree, I think she transferred the skills of independent thinking, responsibility-for-self, continuous learning, etc.to any occupation.

A girl who travels - this is not someone who goes on two-week vacations. This is someone who is nervous yet excited about uprooting her life and moving away for a year, at least. She might be cherry-picking in Australia this year, cow-tipping in southern France next year and teaching English in Korea the year after that. Truly, she knows not when her next paycheck will come in nor who will be the one paying it.

A girl who travels - while you may think she's flakey because she may change jobs frequently and may not even have a job you consider a 'real job' - before you criticize her or even try to understand her, realize she is living in a different league from you - not better nor worse, just different. There's no point comparing her to mainstream girls who just have a love for travel and dream of travel but could never even entertain the thought of a total uproot, let alone a backpacking adventure in hostels for months on end. There's a reason she's a freelancer, it always allows her to jump - flake, according to some - at any adventure.

The reason she doesn't have a permanent residence is because she's so used to living in different countries, she can't guarantee she'll be in this one for much longer. Or, that she lives with family when she's back in her 'hometown' as she'll be on her next adventure in no time.

And yes, she may never need you, but she will want you. She's independent enough to not depend on a partner but knows a very deep love, you'd be lucky to experience. She'll give you your space and encourage you to be your own individual but continue to love you, no matter the distance. Neither of you will be limited in your own bucket-lists just because you're a "couple" now.

Yes, most women who love to travel do share similar appreciations of travel as women who travel. They both want to see the world, both may be willing to backpack, stay in hostels, experience local cultures and become aware of the good and not-so-good that a country has to offer.

We all have a little bit of the Woman Who Travels in us, but can rarely commit to it as well as she can.

Wearable Tech: The Age of Cool and Crazy but Companionless?

We’re heading into an age of wearable tech (see CES, a showcase on consumer electronics). If for some reason you still haven't heard of it, think USB necklaces, phone-charging bracelets, vibrating pants, GPS jackets, etc. Think Bond, James Bond. Wearable tech is technology that you can wear - hopefully fashionably. While it's a task in itself to design tech that can be worn on a person and is mobile all day, every day; it's even more cumbersome to make this technology fashionable, discrete and invisible.

As engineers and designers continue to collaborate to create items that will fill our lives in the near future, it's a clear sign that life is about to get busier. Who has time to call home and ask someone to turn off the dishwasher, just text your dishwasher to stop or repeat a cycle. Why ask a stranger for directions, instead wireless waves will tap you on the shoulder. Why waste time in a doctor's office around strangers, instead have an e-visit.

Yes, technology can and does make life more efficient, things happen much quicker and days go by much faster, but what's to say of how it will continue to shape our human interactive relationships with each other.

What's the impact wearable technology will have on relationships?

Instead of meeting up with people, we began to pick up the phone, and now we simply send out a 140 character message. When's the last time you laughed while typing out 'lol'? Why indulge in foreplay when I already caused your pants to vibrate at the bar for 20 minutes? Will we have more less-deeper connections? Or will be have cooler gadgets that will give us more in common to talk about? Will this create more ways for different groups to connect - like the vibrating pants club? Maybe tech is our way to connect now but don't forget to push forward for a more human connection - blog/post/click/like/share/snapchat/instagram your thoughts but also talk to your friends about it. 

People seem to be more connected yet less connected. Gadgets are cool, they make things previously impossible or too difficult, quick and easy. Hello, wearable medical gadgets, rather than being confined to a bed. And while quick and easy is great for some things - okay, maybe most things - it's not great for everything.No thank, food that can be consumed only in a pill form.

Once it becomes fashionable, it's made for the masses (see link on Barneys New York and CDFA's plans for collaboration with Intel). Fashion and tech will unite to affect our lives, as they always have. But when you wear a piece, don't forget to share it. Don't forget interpersonal connections. The increase in tech devices has increased everyone's number of acquaintances, but it's up to each individual to maintain if not increase their number of real friends.

Wearable tech means we'll be multi-tasking more often. Shoes that have an LED twitter feed will encourage wearers to tweet more at clubs (rather than enjoy the experience and interact with people?) and therefore to not just hold a drink, take a selfie, smile at the cute bartender but also to share it with the world. Aren't we already doing that? Yes, but if your shoes show you a constant twitter feed, aren't you constantly staring at it, reading people's tweets and feeling the urge to post?

Wearable tech would achieve its greatness in continuing to increase personal efficiency, being fashionable but also bringing people together. So far it's a sign that life's about to get busier and edgier, but hopefully not lonelier.

Upcoming event: Wearable Tech Expo

Finding the Perfect Bag is Like Finding the Perfect Man

The perfect bag, just like the perfect man, does not exist. Let me elaborate.

I've been on the hunt for the perfect bag for at least five years now. To no luck, every bag I've purchased has held my fancy for about six months at the most. While shopping for a bag, the pros are always at the forefront of my mind: the colour, the number of pockets, current trend and body fit (I'm petite;). This screening process however doesn't suffice three months (sometimes three weeks) into using the bag. I find that it's not big enough, too large, holds a lot but gets too heavy, rips or just doesn't suit as many outfits as I thought it would.

The bottom line is things change. What we look for changes from month to month or sometimes from week to week. Today, colour and trend may be most important with Fashion Week in progress. Last week, usability and practicality were priorities with the start of school semesters or work contracts. In a month, size and durability will matter when you're fully immersed in your school or work life and start bringing work home.

I've found favourite bags, clutches, purses and totes, but not the perfect one. Not one that I would use day in and day out nor use constantly years and years after purchase.

Just like our needs and wants for our perfect bag change, we change and so does what we want in that 'perfect man.' What you wanted him to consist of when you were 15 years old is different from when you are 18, 21, 25, 27, 30, 32, 35, etc. It's impossible to find the perfect man, who is everything that you want and need at every single point in life.

But maybe, just maybe, we aren't on the lookout for a perfect man after all. Maybe in this case, finding our favourite man is good enough. Just like our favourite bag that we'll never throw out and always keep, just because it's 'that' bag. It's got a trendy-ish colour, small when we need it to be and holds whatever we need to stuff in it when we need to and still somehow hasn’t ripped. Maybe being your favourite is all he needs to be. After all, that's the one bag that has made it with me through 10 years, and it still sits there waiting for whenever I need it.

Inhibition of Ambition

I've been feeling ancy lately.

Not sure why.

But unfulfilled.

Like something big is supposed to happen to me but it hasn't yet.

And I'm waiting.

Waiting for it to happen.

Waiting to know what it is.

This waiting has me irritated.

I can't enjoy moments because I keep thinking about this 'big thing'.

Wondering what it is.

Wondering if where I am currently and what I'm doing is a step in the right direction.

Is this bar I'm at or are these friends I'm with a waste of time?

Do I need to go home and reroute my life to get to this 'big thing'?

But I want to enjoy these moments.

Laughter. Jokes. Getting dressed up for silly occasions.

Maybe the 'big thing' can wait.

If it's going to happen, it will.

So why give up my current happiness for what will be future happiness.

It's an uneasy feeling so it's hard to shake off.

But maybe this bar, this guy, this job, are steps in the right direction.

If I make it so.

I either learn that I like it and enjoy it or that it's not for me.

Both put me in a better position and closer to the 'big thing'.

Maybe the 'big thing' is me.

And my every moment.

Maybe the big thing is just my ambition.

My consistent want for more, for better, for bigger.

But maybe it's my enjoyment of the current pleasures will aid rather than inhibit my ambitions for my future.

So maybe it's in contentment of every moment that I can find fuel for my ambition.

If you can't be happy now, chances are that you are sour and that taints your drive to your goals. Happiness, even in the smallest of circumstances puts a positive spin and helps fuel your drive to where you want to someday be.

"Forget me not." - New Year's Resolutions

With the end of week one most people have deemed themselves winners or losers of resolutions. Eleven days into January, there are those who have started their resolutions and are hoping to continue and those who have failed to begin and now feel that it’s too late to begin (it’s not, you’re just 11 days behind, out of 365).

See: Top 10 reasons we don’t stick to our resolutions.

New Year’s resolutions always create a mixed set of emotions in me. Lofty, vague and immeasurable are the reasons for the death of my resolutions, as I never know whether I’ve accomplished them or not (e.g. network more: Are there a certain number of new people I must know by the end of the year? Do they have to be friends? Do the few people that I’ve met at events count even though I’m not in touch with them anymore?) Yet, every 31 of December I find myself making a resolution.

The urge to make resolutions seems tied to the desire to set goals and the opportunity to restart. However, the process of making a resolution is even more beneficial as it forces a person to reflect on the past year and realize what s/he wants to work on and what is lacking in their lives at present.

See: Why we make New Year's resolutions? 

However, when looking at the resolutions that people make, it all seems to come down to self-control. “No more chocolate.” “Junk food limited to once a month.” “Shopping sprees once every two months.” “Socialize more and meet new people.” “Try new things.” “Blog more.”

Self-control: control or restraint of oneself or one's actions, feelings, etc.
© dictionary.com

All these resolutions encourage individuals to practice self-control – controlling eating and spending habits and controlling fears or laziness and time management.

At the core of self-control is self-awareness. One must be aware of him/herself in order to control him/herself. So if resolution-making isn’t your thing or if you’re giving up on your resolution already, at least give the reflection part a chance. Think about what you would like to modify about yourself if you were to make a resolution. This process in itself reveals much about what you think of yourself, your characteristics and more importantly areas that you’d like to improve.

Image © Jeff Epp via Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/eppstein/5724341693/

Resolutions on food = health and appearance
Resolutions on spend = money conscious
Resolutions on socialization = feelings of belonging; mental health; professional development

Check out the top 10 New Year’s resolutions here.

Forever 21 stands true to its name: Juvenile

Dear Forever 21,

 

I love your style but your online service gets me riled.

 

Xoxo,

A saddened customer

**BEWARE IF MAKING AN ONLINE PURCHASE ABOVE $60 CAD.**

Established in 1984 you’d expect Forever 21 to function like a legitimate company. While it’s in-store service is satisfactory, the online experience is a nightmare.

The company’s online section functions akin to a juvenile with the feel of a hoax.

Here’s the story:

Placed an order for 32 items for a total of $250. Received an order confirmation email. Notified that the items would be delivered in 5-10 business days. Tracked the order on day #4 when a friend stated that she received her $60 order. Status of order was ‘New’. Nothing changed on day #5. On day #7 I decided to check the status only to see that it was cancelled. Called customer service. Was tld that the order couldn’t not be verified even though they themselves couldn't see a problem and noted that the order had been confirmed. Stated that they tried to send a need-to-verify email but saw an error. Admitted that they did not try to resend the email nor find a different way to contact us. They cancelled the order. They offered free expedited shipping on the next order, apologized that the desired merchandise nor the promotion did not existed any longer. Supervisor, Joseph M. stated that he would, “make a note of the problem and forward it to the IT department”. I won’t be holding my breath.

Tip: Don’t wait patiently. Call them on day #2 whether or not you’ve heard from them.

After the call, things still didn’t feel right with me because customer service really didn’t fix anything. No compensation. No order retrieval. No credit note. Nothing.  Who cares for free expedited shipping when you’re already getting free standard shipping and willing to wait another five days for what you can only imagine will feel like Christmas in a box.

On researching if others had similar experiences with the company, I found that most people complaining had placed an order for merchandise totalling above $200. Check it out here and here.

Let me be clear that this store is actually one of my favourites so it’s not hard to order items and go past $100. (Being one of my favourite stores is what made this experience all the more irritating – because I really liked the merchandise that I was foolishly waiting for. They should really have a loyalty section). Furthermore customers on forums reported being asked to take pictures of their credit cards, fax copies of cards, etc. (see above links) Given my fair bit of experience in online shopping, asking someone to send over copies of cards to verify accounts does sound suspicious. There are other more legitimate and grown up ways to verify an account – call a person, secret banking questions, pins, actually sending an email and making sure that it goes through, etc. My current experience didn’t get to the ‘take a picture of your card and email it to us’ level but I agree that it sounds “sketchy” and would not be the way that a legitimate company should handle the verification process.

So lessons of the evening:

#1. If you like Forever 21 merchandise, make your purchases in-store

#2. If shopping online, keep your orders under $70 (and cross fingers for a smooth transaction)

#3. Find a Forever 21 replacement store, at least in the online realm (hardest lesson of the night :’( )

Going back to online shopping at Forever 21 is going to feel like returning to a boyfriend that has wronged me. A little extreme? Forgive me, I get attached to my clothing and shopping is my therapy.

DID YOU KNOW:

Forever 21 is family run business?

Forever 21 has a citation of a bible verse on the bottom of its bags?

Speed Dating: Who, Why & Wear

There’s music playing in the background. Twenty-five tiny tables are lined along the lounge. A place card sits on each table. Romantic lighting, of the candle-light-flicker variety, illuminates the supper club. A woman sits at each of the tables while the males are huddled by the bar. They seem more relaxed with a drink in hand compared to the women who sit nervously in solitude at their own tables. The bell rings and the men scatter to find the table with the place card to which they’ve been assigned. At once the music gets blocked out as twenty-five conversations fill the space, all among strangers who now have 2.59 minutes to earn a checkmark under YES.

 

Image courtesy of 49st. A speed dating event
squeezes in an additional line of tables
in the aisle and eliminates all dinnerware.

Who?

Upon returning from the event, the first question asked was “were there any normal people?” and “who goes to these things?” This got me thinking about what exactly was “normal” and who defined it?

 

Female attendees: Most women were 30 years old and above with five being under 27. The age brackets for the event were 25-35. Most were looking to meet someone. Some women mentioned that they were nervous about what to say in their three minutes and others were looking for something different to do on a Thursday night.

 

Male attendees: Many were in the IT field. Surprisingly, most were able to engage in a conversation. I had expected nervous and fidgety men, I guess. They weren’t creepy, except for Mr. I-Can’t-Make-Eye-Contact-Ever, Mr. SmirksALot who seemed to wink at everything and Mr. JobInterview.

 

I tried to ask out-of-the-ordinary questions and most of the conversations seemed like casual bar talk - without the spark but still friendly. (Too fast-paced to flirt? Too time-pressured to flirt? Not the environment for a love at first sight feel? All to be discussed in Matched... now what?) Most of the male attendees seemed evenly divided by first timers and repeat daters. The repeat daters admitted that they couldn’t do this every week because it was exhausting to meet so many people in a fast-paced environment. One patron said he didn’t “remember the first five girls and forgot to write anything down”. It was indeed an effort to remember the first few after the fourth or fifth person, causing my note-taking to become more frequent. People do tend to blur after a while.

 

All in all, the gender dynamic seemed to play in this manner: Men had the opportunity to talk to women whom they would have otherwise been too intimidated to talk to. Women conversed with men whom they might have previously never given the time of day.

Why?

Most of the men stated that they were there to meet people. Some used the euphemistic phrase of “meet new friends” and later stated that they were “looking to date” and “find someone”. Most of the guys mentioned that they wanted to date but said that they were open to meeting new people and “taking it from there”, to “see where it goes”. There was a lot of groupon love that night as almost everyone whom I met had used the groupon offer for a half off price.

 

Outside of speed dating and in conversations will male friends and acquaintances, when asked about their opinions on speed dating many felt that it would be a great place for men to hook up based on the assumption that the women attending are actually looking for male companionship. Of course not all men are looking to hook up and only in conversing with them after the match is made can you find out more about their intentions and the potential of the contact.

Interesting reasons:

“I just got out of a messy relationship where I broke it off with my fiancée.”

“I lost a bet with a friend and so she made me come to this speed dating event.”

“I’m trying to get out there again because your social circle shrinks when you get older.” (great point; future blog post on this ;)

“I’m here to support my friend who is trying to meet new people and get out there.”

“I’m trying to get out there and meet new people because I’m not going to meet someone while watching tv at home.”

Why did I go? To satisfy the curiosity of speed dating in each one of you reading this post right now.

 

Wear?
Most of these events try to inform you with ideas on what to wear. For example they tell you to dress like what you would wear on a date or maybe when out for cocktails with friends.

 

Well the men definitely dressed as if they were on a date. They were fairly well dressed, many in blazers or dress shirts and trousers.

 

The women were well dressed too, but definitely not as if on a date. I can’t help but feel that each one of the women that night would have been more dressed up if they were on a one-on-one personal date. They were in pants or jeans and blouses or knit cardigans, some in sweater dresses and stockings. This is understandable as women at a speed dating event who dress too provocatively may give off the wrong signal and garner too much attention for the wrong reasons. This would cause you to contemplate the reason as to why you have 25 matches – was it your conversation or cleavage? Women were dressed modestly, probably saving their flare for the real date.

 

What did I wear? Leather jacket, black and white sweater dress with boots and a statement necklace. Chic.

 

Next up in the series:

Do's and Don'ts of Speed Dating

Matched... now what?

Speed Dating: Awkward or Artful

Given my incessant need to go out and try new things, the idea of speed dating came up and garnered some curiosity.

Who goes to speed dating?
Does it still exist?
What do you say there?
Do you actually meet people?
Are they weird?
What's wrong with them?
What do you wear?

These are just some of the questions that I had before I stepped on site. Get ready for the series of blogposts on the deed, Speeding Dating Series. Keep in mind that not everyone's experience is the same and my opinions and experiences are by no measure exclusive of all such experiences.

Here's my take: Speed dating is that conversation you have at a bar/club/lounge when the music stops blaring for a couple minutes. The only difference being the lack of the awkward number exchange.

Speed dating highlighted the awkwardness that still somewhat exists today regarding the "can I call you sometime?" process.

When you're at a bar/club/lounge and a stunner approaches you to dance/talk/drink and you engage with said person, what happens when they leave without asking you for your number? Awkward.

Then you can be talking to individuals whom you have no interest in exchanging numbers with - how do you say no to them? or that you'd just like to be friends? Awkward.

Getting someone to ask you for your number? Awkward.

Asking someone for their number? Awkward.

Ok fine these situations are not all that awkward for the socially apt, but even we sometimes get tired of manoeuvring the game.

Bear in mind it can still be awkward when you receive an email from a speed dating company saying that you have no matches (meaning no one whom you had an interest in felt the same about you) but offering you a free session.

But for the most part speed dating eliminates that awkwardness. If you're clicking with someone whom you just feel like flirting with but not pursuing - no problem. If you're smiling politely at someone who is beyond interested in you and you know that friendship is nowhere in sight - no problem. If you can't stand the arrogant person and three minutes seems like three hours - no problem. If s/he is coming on too strong, planning your wedding china - no problem. You never have to give your number a.k.a you never have to check 'yes'. And hopefully you never run into them.

One of the patrons tonight said, "it's less intense and nerve-wrecking than the bar scene where girls are defensive and have their guard up because they just get guys hitting on them and think that all guys just want one thing." "Atleast here everyone's friendly and willing to talk to you for a bit." People did seem much more polite at speed dating and even if uninterested they do give you a couple minutes of their time instead of brushing you away (thereby easing the shut-down impact). Girls who would've probably never given certain guys the time of day and vice-versa actually ended up having a conversation.

Of course, regarding the awkwardness at a bar/club/lounge a simple "no, sorry I'm not interested" or "can I call you sometime?" could be said, but let's be real it isn't always so simple. Sometimes people get nervous, sometimes you're out of your league, sometimes you just don't feel like being rude, and sometimes we/they just can't take a hint (no matter how many times you touch his arm or place your arm on her waist).

So say what you may about speed dating and think what you want about it but it does do something to eliminate the sometimes awkward "let's link up" "can I call you" "call me, maybe" "digits please" etc., process.

Not sure if I'll be a serial speed dater but it was a fun experience and a great way to network with people whom you may not usually meet (in addition to providing me with tons of material for several blogposts to come). It's definitely something to try at least once.

Next in the Speeding Dating Series:
Speed Dating: A New High or Low
Speed Dating: Who, Why & Wear
Speed Dating: Do's & Don'ts

Pumpkin Carving Dishes on Personality

"An artistic and bond-building hoopla."

This year the challenge was to carve a pumpkin that represented you/your personality. The results were quite revealing. The Beckhams carved out pumpkin faces which imitated their own. 

And here's some of the expertise of the local royalty kind. 

Bucktoothed jolly angel. Angry evil count. Sass. Smiling twins.

 

Personalities Revealed:
Bucktoothed jolly angel: A self-proclaimed tinkerbell.
Angry evil count: An smart ass with a persistent need to play defensive. 
Sass: A forsaken self-affirmed charmer.
Smiling twins: Long time partners with hearts of gold (no matter how scary they try to be).

Personality is reflected even in the most mundane things that we do. What did your costume or pumpkin carving reveal about you?

The Fright Night Pumpkin Carving Kit ($2) makes pumpkin carving for kids, newbies, oldies and anyone interested in it an absolute breeze. Happy Halloween. 364 days to go ;)

 

Dinner for One

This past weekend was Thanksgiving weekend. It is a time during which families and friends get together and traditions and routines are put on display. This is especially hard on a newly single person. Being in a relationship for a prolonged period of time brings a partner into one’s home and makes room for them at the table, leaving a gaping empty spot in what used to be their place when they are gone. Whether it was a happy or hurtful break up, the holidays tend to bring up some unwanted memories. You cannot help but remember them sitting at the table, smirking at you due to an inside joke, conversing with your friends and family and just being there confirming the holiday warmth. Therefore it is only natural that the holidays can be a nightmarish ordeal for the newly single, recently dumped, freshly freed, etc.

Some ways to cope:

Ensure that your immediate family and close friends are aware of your new status so that they can become your diversion force. They can scatter themselves around the table thereby occupying the seat beside you/wherever your significant other sat. They can help deflect conversations about your relationship status and quickly change topics with nosy extended family members. But most importantly they can be your reminder of the positivity in your life. Of course it would be great if family and friends knew to do this already but sometimes they may need a gentle reminder that you may still be hurting/healing. These four to five individuals who are devoid of judging you can help ease your unattached status into the holiday parties and mood.

Take a breather if you need one. There’s no point overdoing a positive appearance if you do not feel like it. Take a moment and excuse yourself to the washroom, take a couple of deep breaths, realize that you are accepting the reality that is yours and not denying it, be thankful for the support that you have around you and then exit back to the festivities. Allow yourself to be distracted with the celebrations, you deserve it.

Wear something daring that puts you in good spirits and in a way allows you to focus on on something else. Pulling off a new outfit or something different gives you something else to concentrate on and is especially great because it is something that you are doing for yourself. Daring does not mean provocative, it means an outfit that you've been wanting to try out but wondered if you could ever pull off - this is subjective (check out upcoming post on the maxi dare).

Try to involve yourself in the preparations and the conversations.
I know that there are some times when we would rather be curled up in bed rather than out with people, but a newly single individual gets enough alone time and needs to maximize the opportunities to be around people. It may suck to explain your situation but the more people you are comfortable telling, the more you come to accept it and deal with it.

Happy healing :)

Pilgrim Party on My Arm

"It's a new way to make religion and spirituality both personal and unique."

One thing I did not expect to find on a pilgrimage was arm candy. Religious arm candy is increasingly available especially in the trendiest forms - pull ties, chain links, elastic strings, rubber bands, loops, hole ties and splitters. It's a new way to make religion and spirituality both personal and unique. While quite fashionable some of these pieces have the added benefit of the cultural or spiritual meaning of the symbols within them, thereby becoming quite the souvenir that would actually get used/worn (*upcoming post on useful versus useless souvenirs). 

Religious arm candy: bracelets that have a spiritual meaning within them, fashioned in a trendy way.

Check out a map of the pilgrimage party on my arm:

Starting from the right - Israel & Palestine, France, Spain and Portugal.

Here are some of my favourites:
Pilgrim Arrow: this arrow acts as a sign to pilgrims on the Camino to indicate the route they can follow to an information centre or a check-in site or a sacred site.

Jerusalem Cross: the Jerusalem cross is large Greek cross accompanied by four smaller Greek crosses at each corner. The cross symbolizing the crucifixion. The four smaller crosses are said to represent the four books of the Gospels and the four directions in which Christianity spread.  









Lourdes Ring: the ring and elasticised band of Lourdes is a plate with all the symbols of the Lourdes shrine and grotto. With a mint green elastic band, the bracelet has religious meaning with a sense of fashion. 

Lourdes Rubber Band: similar to the coloured bands that signify a cause the Lourdes band signfies  the place where the person was prayed for.

Santiago Shell: a stringed bracelet with a shell charm is quite the simple bracelet but has some very cool significance. The shell symbolizes the object that pilgrim use to drink water - a kind of cup, if you may. Also the shell signifies the many tribes coming together - the fan - and also the idea of from one starting point people fan out to the many areas.

"From one come many"

"The many coming to one"

Eiffel Tower: no real surprising story here as everyone knows the Eiffel tower, the great pylon, the  symbol of the centennial of the French Revolution. And the tower has comes to symbolize Paris, known as the city of love. The bracelet makes quite the souvenir from Paris, the pretty arm candy with the braided band and the lilac blinged out Eiffel Tower, don't you think?

So there's the pilgrim party on my arm. 23 bracelets in 17 days! Which bracelet is your favourite and which do you think has the coolest story behind it?

 

 

Lookbook: Pilgrim Swag

"The scarf - a pilgrim fashion item."

The brief hiatus has been due to a recent pilgrimage that I took to Israel and Palestine including stops in Paris, Lourdes, Covadonga, Fatima, Porto and Lisbon. While there will be a ton of posts on different elements of the experience, it seemed fitting for a extra lookbook post special on summer fashion - the pilgrim swag.

A common and necessary piece of pilgrim clothing is the scarf. Appropriately lightweight for the hot weather conditions and a convenient cover-up at sacred sites, the scarf was a neccesary fashion accessory. Also while fashion may not be the first, second or third thing that comes to mind when thinking about a pilgrimage, clothing is indeed something that pilgrims need to give thought to in order to ensure that they are appropriately dressed.

Urban Pilgrim
Low-rise loosely fitted denim print capri with a solid tank and striped scarf

Forever 21 coral tank

Urban Streetwear denim print capri

Korean Boutique wrap Zippered Sandal

Ardene striped Scarf

Forever 21 beige retro Sunglasses

The capri was loose and lightweight and not thick heavy denim while still sporting a denim print. Being a capri - you get the benefit and comfort of a pant and the breezy feel of shorts. Capris are a good go-to item as they fall to the right length - below the knee - for a pilgrimage. Pairing the capris with a bright solid tank kept the outfit summery and fun. A looser or fitted tank could be worn depending on personal preference. For the weather conditions a looser tank might be more comfortable. Finishing the outfit with a pair of black wrap up sandals, retro nude/beige sunglasses and a scarf really brought the pilgrim swag alive. Using a scarf that is long enough to wear as a head scarf/band and still drape down your back or over your shoulders, creates a more dynamic appearance. Furthermore it also acts as a light throw when you need to cover up your shoulders. This particular scarf complimented colour-wise with the tank and the capri.

Desert Pilgrim: Bethany Romper
Tube printed romper with solid crop top and printed scarf

HnM crop top with zippered back

Bethany Boutique romper

Korean Boutique wrap zippered sandal

Aldo grey satchel

Ardene printed scarf

Assorted arm party collected from boutiques in Jerusalem and Lourdes

This romper was purchased in the town of Bethany. The material is 100% cotton and is some of the softest material I've ever felt. Loose fitting and lightweight it was appropriate for the long and hot days. Pairing it with a solid cap sleeved crop top provides appropriate cover up for the sacred sites. The black solid top balanced out the colours in the outfit as the pant was beige and had a busy print. Here too, finishing the outfit with a pair of wrap up black sandals, retro nude/beige sunglasses and a printed scarf completed the pilgrim look. The scarf chosen for this outfit attempted to bring out some of the colours in the romper. Also the scarf here was worn loosely around the neck, tied at the side with one edge draped on the front left side and the other over the back on the left side.

Boho Pilgrim: Syrian Pants
Printed overized pants with solid crop top and aztec printed scarf

 

HnM crop top with zippered back

Bethany Boutique Syrian pant

Korean Boutique wrap zippered sandal

Forever 21 beige retro sunglasses

Ardene Aztec print scarf

The oversized pants were also purchased from a vendor in Bethany. They seem to be quite popular at all locations visited in the past month. Again the loose fit and the lightweight feel were appropriate for the weather and the choice of capri length or full length pant allowed the outfit to be in line with sacred site standards. It also made it appropriate for the hot days and the cooler nights. Syrian pants - as some shopkeepers called them - have an elasticized band at the ankle which can be used to wear the pant as a capri or at it's full length. Paired with a solid black crop top to create a simplistic and sombre look. The outfit was finished with black wrap sandals, retro nude/beige sunglasses and printed scarf worn as a head band knotted to the side. The scarf chosen was a blue aztec printed scarf to add a burst of colour ibut still n a sober manner.

What do you think of pilgrim swag? Which outfit would you rock outside of a pilgrimage?

Lookbook: Summer Dress Fever

Photo & Model Credit: @naomicamrey
Urban Outfitters Dress - Pink Suede

Necklace

Rooftop Wedge Sandal

Bag


A new take on dresses this summer is the long-tailed back drop effect. What is more interesting though is that this tailed-back can be knotted and left to hang in the back at the middle or side. Definitely a different look and feel. The knotted back is great if you are at a standing social but unsure as to how it would feel when walking around or even dancing. The wedges are claimed to be the most comfy pair of shoes and can easily take on a right hour work day, followed by a two hour dinner date and a late night club rendezvous - tried and tested and passed with flying colours. The necklace adds an appropriate bohemian look, espcially since it drops far below the neckline. The mini cross-body bag with a drawstring closure gives the outfit a vintage feel due to the colour and also provides the wearer with ample space to store their necessary belongings while maintaining a cute chic appearance.

Photo & Model Credit: @pands_d

HnM Dress

Ardene Belt

SpeedLimit Nude Strapped Pump

Boutique Ring (Hong Kong)

This outfit is a good example of summer time dresses gone chic. Take a flowy/ruffled dress add a thin belt and you've a chic-er than before outfit. Pair it with sky-high pump to amplify the sliming appearance. The outfit could take a slightly different look if paired with a thicker belt, possibly making it less dressed up and instead more laid-back. Try it out with different belts and sound off with images in the comments section.

 

HnM Neon Summer Dress

Coach Wristlet

Boutique Bracelet

Ardene Beige Pump

The colours in this dress were to die for. Neon is in on so many levels this summer and while it usually doesn't seem formal if neon, this and the next dress prove neon can indeed be chic. The palm leaf effect along with the neon coloured print definitely make this a summer dress. The simplicity of the cut allowed it not to go overboard. Pairing it with a brown/beige clutch and shoes seemed to offer a great summery and playful alternative to black accessories. Apologies for the lack of an image of the shoes. Available on request.

HnM Neon Zippered Back Cap-Sleeve Dress

Boutique Drop Earrings (Japan)

Forever 21 Wrist Wrap Bracelet

SpeedLimit Nude Strapped Pump

By far one of the sexiest and mature dresses I've seen this summer! Worn for a 25th birthday this dress makes a statement of grown, sexy and yet fun. The simple cut sits in the most flattering of ways accentuating the front side, back side and the arms! What dress helps to accentuate arms?!!! The oversized metallic zippered back makes the dress well fitting and adds much appeal to the back, in addition to the scooped backline (adds to the sexy factor). The fabric is stretch and breathable. Therefore the dress is actually comfortable. The detail in the sleeves adds to the formal look and makes a more mature statement than a tube, thin straps or even thick straps would have. The mini-cap sleeves added to the formality, in my opinion. The pairing of the dress with strapped nude pumps elongated the legs and definitely contributes to a slimmer appearance. The wrist wrap and watch seemed appropriate accessories in trying not to over indulge and maintain the chic of the outfit. Lastly, pairing it with uber-long earring instead of studs and a necklace allowed for the face and neckline to be highlighted without the use of a necklace (which may have drawn too much attention to the neckline). Remember sexy yet chic.

Summer Dress Fever: Let us know which one's your favourite and different ways you would wear it or accessorize it!