A Quickie

Hello, hello!

Apologies for deserting you; cannot promise it will not happen again. Life is just so busy and hectic at the moment. My life has basically consisted of working, school, and starting the barn life again/equestrian. But it's all good when I love what I do, non? Christmas is coming up and I think I am finally getting excited. For the longest time my happiness - not joy, my joy is permanent - was delayed, but it is here. Cirumstances are not what I am used to, they have changed, but I still love Christmas.

Just a little update on how life is, and what I will be doing on rebavanity lifestyle:

As you know, I want to be a writer, and do consider myself an aspiring writer; because of this, I have to prepare and practice - one reason I started this blog. I did write a Novella as an entry for a contest that another blogger was holding while back, however, despite my not winning, I still got motivated to do something. I wrote on a character named Sonja, and am now motivated to continue with that character, and start a series on her. It is fashion; why write on things of which I do not know nor understand?

This is a really fun idea for me as I love to write and I love fashion, I am always looking for ways to combine them; and I love storytelling, but have not had the right motivation, nor the right idea that allowed me to incorporate that.

If you have been reading my tweets, you would have read how I was going through some Elle mags and how I especially loved the September issue of Elle. Here are some pictures I favored from the September Elle '09:

"Remains of the Day" pg. 412-421.

Photographed by Serge Leblon; styled by Samira Nasr.

source: Personally scanned images, I am still new to this and learning how to scan to the max!

Clinique Fresh Faces Tour and I

Hello mah darlings,

I do sincerely apologize for not blogging for what!? Over a month now?? Life happens however. I have been going to online school at Kaplan Academy of California and let me say, that is one highly demanding school. I am taking seven classes when everyone else is doing around four or five. However, all in all, I am I am thankful to my school because if it were not for highly dreaded school testing to meet Cali requirements, something superbly exciting would not have happened on Wednesday; you will get to read about that below, but for now, let's talk some more about how...

...Life happens... I have started work as an assistant to a new designer who wants to get her stuff out there. All started simply with me doing her website because she liked my blog, but life happens and now I am her assistant. I work for Charlotte Epee who is the founder and designer of CharlottesAngels. She has very pretty jewelry, dresses, shirts, and more coming! In fact, I am wearing one of her necklaces now. I would also link her website but we are in between hosting services right now. The team is getting bigger and bigger, we are searching for models, photographers, and all that jazz and it all makes me realize I have a REAL job that I absolutely love.

Sooooo, Wednesday: I was in Westwood Village or somewhere near Beverly Hills doing CAHSEE testing. When I went into the main waiting area where my mother was using their WiFi (of course) while waiting for me, she told me that there is something she found for me to do and that I will like and be interested in it, but she will still force me to do it, because it's something that I would regret not doing. Therefore I went to the bathroom, came back out, she showed me the Clinique Fresh Faces 09 Tour flier telling about the makeover, getting my photo taken, and how the stupendous Eva Chen - Beauty and Health Editor of Teen Vogue - would be there. So I GASPED! ! ! Enormously.

So I got in the line, mother did the release form and all, and decided to be the best support and mother ever! She wasn't in the line with me, but outside of the rope, so she went to watch other people getting their makeup done. Soon after some people went over to her, and my mother being charismatic and proud of her lovely daughter, started bragging about me. She started talking about how I thoroughly love Teen Vogue, and how I have been subscribing for years, also talked about how I want to be on the other side of the camera (photographer) and just the stuff good 'ole mothers brag about. She yelled my name, I looked over, smiled and waved, at the same time wondering, "Oh, gosh, what is she doing, hi people."

She came back over and told me what had just happened, I didn't realize her mother instincts to brag about me, and I sort of had the tone of "dear mother, but no!" when talking with her.

Soooo big GASP: I spotted Ms. Chen and noticed her walking in my direction, my heart pumping I crossed my fingers for her to walk towards me, and what happened? She walked straight to me, introduced herself, and I told her I love her page -the one in Teen Vogue, duh!- and we talked. It was just incredible talking with her, and she was also just the nicest person ever! She recommended a school in New York to me, and it was also a really encouraging conversation, whether she knew it or not. Mother said I was completely professional but on the inside my heart was fluttering and jumping, pumping and dancing.

I chose the more dramatic look, got my makeup done by a Clinique expert, but sadly the parking meter was about to run out of time and mother had already refilled it twice, so I just got my photo snapped by a photographer without my horrendous testing hairdo getting prettied up by a stylist who would have made me fall asleep while letting her fingers dance in my hair, but life happens...

So my day went from mediocre due to testing to spectacularly the best day ever!

Hopefully you have been reading my Tweets and noticing that I have not gone completely M.I.A. Follow me @ http://twitter.com/rebavanity

The Girl Who Made the Jeans, A Petite Novella

A girl of 23, fresh out of college with a degree in communications, Sonja is an agreeable girl; however, there is always a mysterious shadow attached to her that lurks around the corner, which no one can identify until they get close to this woman of intrigue. Sonja dresses and behaves in a very classy and chic manner, and her fashion sense goes along with her grand looks. She is a girl who strongly believes in smart shopping which allows her to not have her closet overrun by trends, nor have the credit debt of Rebecca Bloomwood whilst having beautiful staples. No doubt she pays attention; how could one not when attempting to live in a whirlwind of fashion?

Smelling mango with a slight hint of hemp, Sonja had, indeed, woken up with her face in her Friesian-like hair, again. She bounced up with an energetic spring, and gave serious thought on leaving the apartment in her silk pajamas; realizing this was no option, Sonja walked to her wardrobe in desperate search of real clothes. Today she was somewhat off from work, whilst still having to complete a few glamorous tasks. Wanting to represent her boss in the best of ways, she knew it would not be appropriate to don too casual attire that day. As she was shuffling through her expansive collection of pants, Sonja finally realized the only pair of pants capable of holding up to this pressure while keeping her own look would be her Current/Elliot “the Legging” jeans. So of course, Sonja slipped the jeans up her lanky legs without hesitation. Now that her foundation was completed, she was able to continue building the rest of today’s house; seemingly, everything started to fall perfectly into place. She spotted her Asos pleat sleeve V-neck sweater and knew the next step. With her jeans being black, and her only being 5’4, Sonja wanted her legs to keep going; with this, she slipped her size 8 feet into her Christian Louboutin very prive satin pumps. She quickly hunted for those prepossessing black earrings from Asos she saw on their “Oh So Coco” page, rummaged through her ring collection for those random cocktail rings from chickdowntown.com, quickly put on one of her many Alex and Chloe necklaces, and finally snatched her Marc Jacobs Cecilia studded satchel. Glancing in her full length Victorian mirrior, Sonja loved the way the purple Marc Jacobs bag complimented her black foundation - her Current/Elliot jeans - as this bag would fall against her thighs with her arm hanging low. She decided to smooth, but not brush her hair; and as always, applied minimal make up. For Sonja believed a simple smile is capable of wonders make up can never even touch on. Taking a side glance at her brand new Peek beeping with emails on her white bedside table, she finally took note today was still somewhat a work day.



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After a hectic day of running about town, hopping from elegant corner boutique to another in dire search of clothes and new collections for her boss, it was the compliments on her jeans rather than handling beautiful clothes that made her day.

“Those jeans make you look taller,” said one stylist.

“You have the legs of a model in those jeans,” said another fashionable lady; and the compliments just kept spilling out from the mouths of these women Sonja herself considered icons. It, indeed, had been one long day filled with flattery. Over what? Over the jeans. Dear Time was now nearing 18:30 and dinner with the beau and his friends was at 19:00. If the taxi and dear Time permitted, Sonja was hoping to quickly slip into a classic body con dress and slip into a night filled with love and laughter. However, city traffic appeared to always be dear Time’s nemesis. Arriving to the apartment a tad shy of 19:00, Sonja knew a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do!

“My dear Sonja, your knight is almost at the cross street, ready?” Her charming and rudely gorgeous beau had texted her. Of course! Because like a good girl, Sonja planned her back up ensemble in the waiting taxi. Slipping into a more feminine top, her Vivienne Westwood Gold Label corseted silk top, Sonja had a few more tweaks up her sleeve. The shoes were staying, and of course the jeans, for only thing to alternate would be her necklace and bag. She took off her previous necklace, and put on her present from that darling beau, a black Kenneth Jay Lane flower necklace. Remembering to substitute her more subtle black leather Chanel 2.55 for that Marc Jacobs, Sonja was almost set for launch. She just needed to transfer her Peek, Nokia, and a few cosmetic items into her purse, feed her amazingly adorable Yorkie, Marc (after Marc Jacobs and Marc St. James from Ugly Betty), and apologize to the beau beforehand over text for being late. Out the door, she took off for the latter part of her exciting day; meeting her boyfriend by the steps of her apartment building.

Thanks to her boss, Giovanna Battaglia, Sonja knew her stuff and how to alternate and transform. More thanks to her jeans, however. The jeans that took her from running around town to going out to dinner. The Current/Elliot jeans were one of Sonja’s many staples, yet they were her favorite. No matter what the day threw at her, Sonja looked quite splendid whenever donning these jeans; they epitomized her style, morphing into whatever the day or her mood was. They allowed Sonja to wear flats, when the rare occasion did come. Sonja loved pretending to be a skyscraper while never forgetting to stay grounded; and these jeans allowed her play on both teams. These jeans held their own while letting Sonja be the young woman she has matured into. Indeed, she made the jeans just as much as the jeans made her.

sources: Neiman Marcus, ASOS, Net-A-Porter, Google, Chickdowntown, Alex and Chloe

with love Rebekka

So Far in SUCH A Short Time

I keep repeating over and over in my own freaking head "wow, I still cannot believe out of all the places, I live in the beautiful, and quite colourful in all the ways Los Angeles!" It is a surreal thing for me! I moved out of Texas to California as a whole in March, I came to LA every week, but you know, now I actually freaking live here. I go to Hollywood for errands instead of being one of those silly tourists whom I now laugh at when I pass them on the street or in the car. Someone who has lived their whole entire life here may not understand; but for a girl who lived in Texas after moving there from Finland it is a pretty cool thing.

I walk almost everywhere I possibly can unless I will have a lot of groceries or it is further than walking distance. I eat at those cool little restaurants instead of going to a chain restaurant - I still gotta say I love Chili's! I see more colours walking along the sidewalk than I probably ever did going to one of those botanical gardens in Texas. And of course I have to bring up the weather. Despite all the spoiled complaints of these LA peoples, the weather is still pretty nice!

The streetstyle and the people themselves might be one of the things I love best about LA, however. People say the LA style is blah and generic, but walking down the street and around LA one can see this may not be so. It is very eclectic and colourful. I was just discussing with someone the other day how in LA one can pull off the black/white and neutral colour palette so often seen in NYC; but one can also pull of a very colourful and vibrant colour palette here as well. Just the atmosphere, the surroundings, and the location makes this magic happen. The other day I wore purple skinnies, a cute blue blouse, bright green wedges, a red and orange Marimekko handbag, and purple and orange scarves, and everything worked out perfectly.

So yeah, I live and love living in Los Angeles.

It's time to break out my camera and skills along with the camera and start shooting! BTW, I found more film rolls when I was packing things getting ready to move to LA from Ventura, and I believe I have above 14 rolls needing some chemicals and darkness.

Nylon TV

I just love everything about this collection; and honestly, I was getting the whole desert vibe when watching this. Very Erin Wasson!

with love Rebekka

Embracing Femininity

So, life is life and it has been hectic! Living out of a suitcase is not the easiest task in the world. However, I am here to discuss fashion, not my life except for the little glimpses I might show here and there.

Despite everything I love my life and I love the people in my life and the people that have come into my life.

For sometime now I have been trying to embrace my femininity and who I am as a female; doing so, I am working on stepping out of the normal, yet cute tank top and blue skinny jeans and transform my outfits into a more delicate and in a way, costume-type world. When shopping and even going through my own suitcase I have noticed that I have a gigantic fear of colour. Ruffles on a black blouse do not fret me but oh! when it just might be a boisterous red or a sleek blue I get just a little anxious. I am getting better but with my closet consisting of more grays, blacks, browns, and those sorts of colours it is obvious I am still in a little trouble. Embracing our own femininity doesn't only consist of vivid colours, but being feminine with our clothes is so much more - something I am also hoping to work on. And with fall almost visible in some areas vibrant colours are just not the case. Here in Los Angeles it might be able to pull off however LA is not the only destination there is. Femininity can still be embraced with darker colours. Doing so, the clothing should be accompanied by a certain attitude; clothes are little without the right attitude. Ruffles, pleats, eccentric dresses, sleek pants, pretty blouses - all can be in any array of darker colours; yet still remain ultimately feminine.

That being said femininity should be embraced in some form by every woman. I am not saying every woman has to put on that costume dress in a showy pink but who we are as women should not be let go.

source: Shopbop 'Runway To Shopbop' Designer: Alice + Olivia
collage owned and created by Rebekka of rebavanity lifestyle

So remember to embrace your femininity. Whether in small doses or large doses femininity is something beautiful.

with love Rebekka

Eloise is Back! And All Grown Up!

In the Elle US August 2009 issue the "Little Miss Precious" editorial photographed by Ellen von Unwerth captured my eye the most and made me drool. It is almost as if they are trying to depict Eloise all grown up; yet a tad naughty. The model, or Ellen von Unwerth's muse Kemp Muhl, really tells and brings the story well. She is quite posh, precious, and prim and proper; and looking at the set, patterns, girl, clothes, colours, one would be able to determine this as well. However, I feel like Ellen von Unwerth turned it up a notch with disorientating or disorganizing the whole image; like going beyond the prim and proper. I believe the angles Ellen von Unwerth shot from also helped in this process. I just love the angles.

Favorite shots:




image srouce: FashionGoneRogue >>Editorials >> Elle US "Little Miss Precious"

with love Rebekka

Petit Cheri Is Holding A Giveaway!!

So catching up on my blog reading on Bloglovin' and I see Petite Cherie is holding a giveaway! Awesome! She is giving away a Love Heart V Neck Tee by Wildfox Couture from chickdowntown.com. Just go here to see the few little rules she put up.





source: FashionGoneRogue

Go! Run! Enter!

with love Rebekka

Mysteriously Sensual & Magnificently Weird Part l: Karl Lagerfeld

I always find an exquisitely mysterious and sensual trait is always attached to Karl Lagerfeld's photographs. He captures the very essence of femininity in the model; all the while making her mysterious, like she's hiding a world of secrets. Every time I see one of his photographs, I stare with my mouth open in awe of how one might be able to capture such beautiful moments. He has everything down to the perfect lighting, setting, and angle all to capture this exceptionally magical moment.

In the photographs above and thumbnails below, his effects make the models look like beautiful one-of-a-kind drawings; yet they are unique photographs.




In the very photographs below, Lagerfeld captures the very mystique that usually captures my eye. The smoke, the mysterious masculine figure in the background, everything is all so alluring and capturing.



I believe sometimes the angle can make perfection:



Lagerfeld's black and white is quite spectacular. I dream of only attempting to get good results when it comes to black and white. The lighting of everything is magnificent and Anja Rubik is beautiful. How he captures the highlights in one area yet perfect shading in another is a mystery to me. As many times when I attempt the black and white neither is equal. I guess practice makes perfect?





I am not quite sure what's going on with the photograph below, but it just looked fun: the colours, the patterns, the girls!




source: FGR "Fashion photography" >> "Karl Lagerfeld"

with love Rebekka

Pink, White, and Black-Our New Colours

Watching the Boys & Girls video, I was not only completely smitten with the location, sound, and the fact that Jean Paul Gaultier had something to do with it, but furthermore seeing that the clothes are simply (and I mean simply seeing as they are simple yet elegant) splendid. Owing to the simple truth that I quite love fashion and music and love putting the two-and-two together, I decided to make clothes inspire by the looks from the video.

The clothes on the people themselves were all black and white but in between shots you are clearly able to see gorgeous shades of pink clothing on racks or being tested. This, in turn, gives the video a pop of colour. I wanted to incorporate these same pops of colour and put them into the outfit itself.

The Essentials: A well-heeled shoe and a pretty black bra peeking through takes the button down from established classic to a very sensuous, still elegant shirt. Opaque tights keep the levels of mysterious sensuality and masculine classy balanced. A leather glove adds a nice hint of chic edge.

1)Piped Lace Balconette Bra at Topshop-$28.00

2)Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless Padded Bra at ASOS-$54.72

3)80 Denier Opaques at Topshop-$12.00

4)ASOS Leather Studded Fingerless Glove in the style of Lady Gaga at ASOS-$30.78

5)ASOS Frill Back Patent Platform Peep Toe Shoe at ASOS-$68.40

6)French Connection patent cut out sling back at ASOS-$167.58

7)Reiss Clementine frill detail platform shoe at ASOS-$271.89

8)Faith Cibbon Ribbon Detail Shoe at ASOS-$119.70

Though there was no blazer on Martina in the video, I thought it would be a nice touch, completing the outfit all together. The tank tops were neither on Martina but they come from those pretty little pink things being seen here and there being pulled around on the racks. They also come in handy if you don't feel comfortable having just a bra peeking through. The pink all-around gives the outfit a nice pop of colour. Hotpants, not sure if I would wear them, but if you are brave enough, the sequined ones give a little shimmy shimmy to the look. Besides looking great, the belt really just pulls the whole outfit together adding some structure.

1)Jersey Boyfriend Blazer at Topshop-$100.00

2)Premium Boyfriend Blazer at Topshop-$125.00

3)Alexander McQueen Wool-blend twill blazer at Net-A-Porter-$1,960

4)Elizabeth and James Elizabeth twill blazer at Net-A-Porter-$385

5)Theory Rialet wool-blend blazer at Net-A-Porter-$395

6)Long Sleeved Star Detail Shirt at Topshop-$30.00

7)Ruche Sleeved Shirt at Topshop-$36.00

8)ASOS Longline Washed Cotton Shirt at ASOS-$34.20

9)ASOS Men's Style Striped Shirt in the style of Rihanna at ASOS-$47.88

10)White Wing Collar Oxford Shirt at Topman-$50.00

11)White Curve Collar Cotton Shirt at Topman-$50.00

12)Muscle Back Vest at Topshop-$20.00

13)Basic V Neck Vest at Topshop-12.00

14)Cotton Lycra Tunic at Topshop-$24.00

15)Plain Scoop Vest at Topshop-$12.00

16)Plain Scoop Vest in white at Topshop-$12.00

17)Muscle Back Vest in white at Topshop-$12.00

18)Crumpet Cashmere Top at Net-A-Porter-$230.00

19)Spandex Hotpant at Topshop-$30.00

20)Plain Sequined Highwaisted at Topshop-$50.00

21)Multi Elastic Corset Belt at Topshop-$44.00

22)Wide Waist Buckle Belt at Topshop-$50.00

with love Rebekka

I Would Like A Boy

While reading through a Dujour Magazine newsletter, I discovered this cool music video done by Martin Solveig feat. Dragonette filmed at the Jean Paul Gaultier mansion. I have fallen in love with the sound, the set, and of course the clothes.


source: tempsdavance

with love Rebekka

Have People Forgotten Art?

Sometimes I wonder if some people nowadays have forgotten what art is, and I am talking about what art truly is. It appears to me that people seem to only enlist the title of something being "an art piece" on some item that has a price tag well over the worth of a decent house. Of course there are still some people who do appreciate art in all of its many varied forms.

image sources: weheartit, googleimages

Those art pieces, the ones that seem impossible to even touch, sometimes don't even represent what art even is. Sometimes they are just mere forms of a status symbol that are there so that the lady we all love to hate can say to her friends: "This piece cost me a few hundred thousand."

Oh please!

I am not trying to say that art cannot be anything, because it certainly can. To me, art is your creative outlet. It is your expression of ideas, what is on your mind at that moment; what you wish to feel and express but cannot say in words. Maybe if Chuck Bass would have put his feelings on canvas Blair would have forgiven him and known how he truly felt a long time ago? If creativity and passion and imagination are not behind what you create, then why is it even worth it? Because art is creativity and all the rest on a piece of canvas, paper, photographic paper, in a sculptor, what somebody is wearing, the make-up on someone's face, whatever you decide to put your creativity in, art can take so many different forms.

image source: foto decadent (I would link but I just went there and apparently foto decadent has been deleted?)

However, the sad truth is that people have forgotten what art is. Even the tiniest things can be art. I believe nature is one of God's little art pieces. I believe a gorgeous gown is a designer's art piece. I believe that gorgeous colour of mint green we have been seeing so much of lately is some person's art piece. Certain cars-I say certain because this does not apply to all-are the engineer's art piece. Interior design, architecture, landscaping-all can be considered art at a certain point.

image source: weheartit

I hate when people try to box art to a certain criteria. It cannot be done! Art has to run free, just like your imagination. Art is most beautiful and can truly be appreciated when it is free. Free from all labels of criteria, free from all labels period.

One might think that I am trying to label art by saying, "art is your creative outlet." To me, however, that is not a label of art, but only a view point. Look at it closely and see. Creative outlet is only one of the things that I believe art is. Why do you think troubled kids/teenagers solve a lot of their problems through art? Because art allows them to express their ideas in so many more ways than words can even begin to express. They are able to express their hurt that is hidden deep within. They are able to express their joy that no one sees. Art heals. It truly does. I believe art is one of the most powerful three-lettered words.

"What about portrait art?" One might say. "Is that not art because it is not your imagination but instead someone else's face?" One might also say. Well, I believe portrait art is also still your expression: you are painting someone else's face the way you see it. We all see different people in different ways. One might paint someone very differently than another artist might paint the same person. Why do you think the portraits from before there were any cameras are not all consistent among all those different painters? They each painted that person the way he saw the person. So even then is the artist putting his own creativity into the portrait.

Someone might see bitterness in the person's face and that bitterness might come out in the end result. Another artist might see happiness and joy in that same person's face, and that's what might come out in the end result. Our point-of-view in the portrait is what makes it special.

image source: GoogleImages

Art is so many things that we should not and cannot box it. We should embrace art in all of its many different forms. Art is beautiful when art is allowed to be what it is. Art is not only something expensive that looks pretty. Art is also that weird five-dollar looking thing at the flea market you frequent. Art is that sculptor you don't understand that you see while going through Pratt Institute's courtyard. Sometimes I don't understand every art piece myself, but I love that piece just as it is. You can see love and joy radiating through an art piece, though it might be hideous looking to you. But that's just what makes art itself beautiful: everything the artist was feeling when creating it. Whether it be anger, joy, sadness, it's still beautiful. If you read this far, I thank you. I sincerely commend you for reading all this.

So I come back to ask if people have forgotten art? What is art to you?

I love ART! In all of its forms.

with love Rebekka

Edit: Here are some more art images.