New CF Post: Weekend Wear

I actually have two new posts up because I forgot to update last week, but I'll update my blog with the second one another day. Here are the pictures from one of them - What to Wear: Weekend Wear.

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WHAT TO WEAR: Casual Date Night

As we get deeper into fall and the days are finally beginning to get colder here in the South, items such as sweaters and boots can finally come out of our old packed up boxes and back into our closets. These items can be worn with outfits for any occasions. One of these occasions is a casual date...

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In fair Verona, where we lay our scene..

(Note: I have been in Italy for the past two weeks for a study abroad program. I was going to take a hiatus from blogging while I'm here, but I just can't do it. So occasionally, I'll make blog posts about my trip, tips for anyone studying abroad or just visiting Italy, etc. I will sometimes include fashion posts, but for the rest of June, until I'm home again, I will be posting about my time here. Hope you enjoy!)

“Romeo and Juliet” has been named one of the most romantic, iconic stories of all time…and also the most cliché.  Many who read the play, including myself, have been subjected by our cynicism to think those who find the play romantic are absolutely crazy. What’s romantic about a 13 and 15-year-old meeting, declaring love, and dying within three days time? Something just doesn’t add up there.

Despite it all, the hopeless romantic in me could not resist a trip to Verona, where “Romeo and Juliet” is set. I visited to see the opening night performance of the opera “Aida” in the Verona Arena. I knew nothing about the opera and I have never seen one before, but if a chance to see one on opening night in Italy pops up…well that’s just something you don’t skip. Though I loved the opera, I will admit I was more impressed by the city of Verona itself.

 

 What a beautiful city it is. With its arena (the third biggest in the world), lovely river, and lack of tourists and street venders compared to bigger cities like Florence and Rome, Verona has a quiet spirit to it.

      Now of course if you go to Verona and do not visit the supposed homes of Romeo and Juliet, you have not done the city justice. Romeo’s house is private as people do live there, so you can only see the outside. However, Juliet’s House is probably the biggest tourist attraction in Verona. Tucked into the shopping strip, one turns and sees a small alleyway with walls full of graffiti, telling of couples and their love for each other. Then you walk through into the courtyard, which is the busiest. To the left there is the famed “Club di Guiliette” and a gift shop. To the right, there are plaques giving the history of the house. At the back, one sees a gate filled with locks. The locks are put there by couples celebrating their love. Next to the gate is the famous statue of Juliet. The idea is that if you rub her right breast, you will receive good luck in finding love. Many people crowd the statue waiting for their turn to get a picture. Overlooking the courtyard is the iconic balcony where the “Wherefore art though Romeo” scene of the play takes place. For a price, one can venture into the house and go stand on the balcony.

If you have seen the movie “Letters to Juliet”, you know about the tradition of writing letters to Juliet and getting them answered. Well, that is a real thing. All around the walls, one can see pieces of gum. The gum is from people writing letters to Juliet with questions and confessions of love. This tradition has been going on for decades. The Juliet Club takes the letters and writes back to each one. Of course, I wrote a letter myself. Recently, there has been a law placed saying that people can no longer stick the letters to the wall because it defaces the property. However there is an envelope stuck to a door where one can put a letter.

     So even if romance is not your thing and you don’t think you can stand the cliché love for the famed William Shakespeare play, Verona is a must for anyone who travels to Italy. The city oozes romance and history and has a peaceful atmosphere to it. I cannot wait to return. 

If you would like to send Juliet a letter, you can! Check our their website, http://www.julietclub.com/en/, for information on how to mail a letter. 

Teen Vogue Handbook - Must Have for Fashion Industry Dreamers

If you have ever wanted to enter the fashion industry, you probably have been told many times that it is more than just drawing pretty clothes or styling celebrities or living a glamorous life in New York. But if you are like me and really have no idea how to get into the industry, this book is a must have. It gives one all types of testimonials and advice from some of the most influential people in the industry, such as Marc Jacobs, Anna Wintour, and Karl Lagerfeld.

The book is split into six sections - designers, editors, stylists, models, beauty, and photography. Each section provides personal journeys and tips on how to get your foot in the door of what area of fashion you want to work in. Each section also comes with "Tool Kits" for each section, including an important one - Intern Tool Kit. 

It gives you tips on how to get an internship, how to make a resume, and how to make an impression during your internship. At the end of the book, there is a list of fashion schools and a glossary of basic fashion terms every aspiring designer, editor, etc should know. So if you want to be a designer, fashion journalist, blogger, or you haven't narrowed down your choice, I definitely suggest you pick up this book. With passion and the right information, you can make it in the industry and follow your dream.

 Teen Vogue Handbook should be available at bookstores like Barnes & Noble or you can find it on amazon. 

What type of fashion career do you think would be best for you?