Art Inspiration: Anthropologie Window Display

I have basically stopped shopping, but I had to go to Santana Row yesterday because the rest of my family enjoys walking around the area.

What caught my eye was the window display art at Anthropologie! They're so beautiful. 

My mom hiding in the corner! The reflective glass creates a cool effect, but makes the art harder to see.

I love the use of the drip technique that allows the 3D string to flow and continue the unity within the piece. Mix of textures (contrast with thin paint and thick cloth attachment) and bright colors (orange/blue/green) make this piece pop!

J.Crew Diversifies Summer 2014 Catalog!

When I was browsing through the J.Crew Catalog, I was really surprised to see an Asian male model for the Men's section. It's nice to see J.Crew being more progressive about hiring different races and ethnicities, effectively rejecting the unsexy Asian male stereotype.

look at that little eyebrow raise ;)

I was trying to look up who he was, but couldn't find it. So, who is this man? I guess there is a pretty great incentive for stores such as J.Crew to diversify their catalog. With still mostly white models, the brand extends their consumer base while retaining their original customers. With an awareness of this, I looked at LLBean's catalog and literally everyone was white. I saw one African American in the entire catalog and that was it. As an American brand, I would really think that they would try to at least embrace diversity somewhat.

Fashion often runs the fine line between celebrating different ethnicities and cultural appropriation/reinforcing stereotypes, but I think J.Crew does a good job in this instance. I would like to see more Indian or indigenous models in the near future, as they often get even less coverage in fashion and are more stigmatized in society. 

Approaching Minimalism

Throughout high school, I was obsessed with fashion blogs. I was constantly scrolling through websites such as Lookbook.nu and watching JuicyStar07 shopping hauls, which fostered me with an appreciation for diverse styles and an update on current fashion. However, internally, they also gave me a sense of overwhelming inferiority. I thought the only way I could elevate myself like these Hyped Lookbookers was to keep acquiring cool shit and show it off. Yet, even when I got new clothes or jewelry, I felt like I never had enough. The Lookbookers always got something that was cooler, newer, more expensive. On blogs, their lives seemed so exciting and fresh, complete with DSLR-quality photographic evidence. 

Struggling with my deep-rooted discontentment, I started to wonder how I could mold my life into something that I loved. What did it take for me to be happy? I noticed that I liked interacting with my friends in the absence of technology, such as in instances of shopping. I liked trying new foods and reading for leisure. I couldn't quite put these preferences into words. They stayed in the subconscious levels of my mind. 

In a more philosophical exploration of the internet, I finally found Minimalism. It really curbed my desire for more things, as I realized that all the little gadgets, cute accessories, and clothes that I had accumulated brought little value into my life. Instead, experiences and people took the center stage. These were the times in which I truly felt happy and more fulfilled. Moreover, it made me realize that life really isn't about making money and that you don't have to sacrifice your passions in order to live happily. 

I now often toot the horn of Minimalism as my ideal lifestyle. I know that my habits are far from perfect (and I do still buy the useless, cheap, but cute crap from time to time), but, I do it much less. I have less of a desire to acquire. I have trained myself to appreciate cute things that aren't in my possession. I've become okay with not owning everything that I like, because I happen to actually like a lot of things. Such as Hello Kitty toasters. Such as dinosaur onesies. More importantly, I've stopped feeling sorry for myself, just because I don't have thousands of dollars to spend on brand named "cool clothes". I am more than the things that I own. 

In college, I've tried my best to live Minimalist-ly. I keep my dorm room relatively clutter free, and try to only keep what I really need. Of course, things often accumulate, while I'm in the stress of finals and less aware of being mindful about my possessions. I find time to exercise and embrace new experiences. Yet, I often still find myself overextended beyond my means by participating in too many activities, forcing me to focus on getting my grades as high as possible instead of the learning experience. I think what I've learned through this constant struggle of balancing minimalist philosophy and the bustle of college life is that I don't need to be hard on myself, and that it's okay when my actions don't align perfectly with my beliefs. I used to feel terrible for days after I bought a new dress because I felt like it went against my Minimalist ideals. Yet, this is all a process, and I don't need to be the perfect Minimalist and only own like one shirt in my entire wardrobe or something right away, but only be mindful of my actions and be critical of what truly enriches my life and what I can do without.

For more on Minimalism, please visit these amazing blogs; 

www.theminimalists.com

www.becomingminimalist.com

www.exilelifestyle.com

www.zenhabits.net