Showing posts with label Dreams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dreams. Show all posts

Monday, December 23, 2013

"Fur"vently Festive


 Countdown to Christmas is down to two small days! Where has the year gone? I feel like Christmas should be in a few months, not a few days. But ready or not, here it comes. As I sit here, sipping my eggnog in my Christmas jammies, I realize that being home has inspired me to try all the winter trends that I have been experiencing withdrawals from while abiding in paradise. 
My fur vest happened to be number two on my list. First comes leather, second comes fur, and third comes... [insert every other winter trend here]. 


I wanted to make this outfit be festive, yet not the cliche "I Am Going To A Holiday Party" look. I chose to use my Banana Republic Red and Cream Striped Blouse with neckline detail as the foundation for this piece. I then added my High Waist Banana Republic Dark Straight Jeans, and topped the look off with my Forever 21 Faux Fur Vest. I wore Sperry's as my shoes and I loved this look. I feel like it was the perfect balance between casual and festive. I mean we still have two days till Christmas, we cannot break out the Santa Sweaters quite yet right?!


This fur vest actually has a story to it which symbolizes me as woman. My senior year of high school, I bought this vest and I was SO excited to wear it. To this day I can remember the first time I sported it to my small, narrow-minded, fashion absent, high school. I was wearing orange cord jeans from Ann Taylor, an H&M cream blouse, my Betsey Johnson combat boots, and this vest. I was so proud of this outfit and I loved it. When I reached school that day, the looks that I received were far from loving. Students and teachers alike gave me the rudest looks and the snottiest comments. Everyone hated it but I did not care. I was one of the only girls in my high school who loved fashion and everyone knew it. I was the weird girl who dressed "funny" everyday, but that never stopped me. I wore this vest all the time and I could care less what anyone had to say about it. I loved it, and that was all that mattered. I used to always tell myself when I would get strange looks for my outfits, "Someday, you'll wear this in New York and everyone will love you." Oh wait, I still do tell myself this. I guess some things never change! I cannot wait for the day when New York will FINALLY have me to love unconditionally.


 What I learned from this vest, teaches me just what kind of person I want to be. I could care less what people think about me, my life, my choices, and mostly, my style. Fashion is my safe haven. It is where my calling is and although many people believe that my dream to be a couture designer is out of reach, I could care less because I know that I can do it. And that is what makes me different. I believe that I can be exactly what and who I want to be. I also believe that everyone should try and be different and do all those things that they have always wanted to do because if you don't do them, who will?


It is scary to think that yet another year is coming to a close. I am so thankful that I get to spend time with my family and friends during this beloved time. I am so grateful for my love for fashion and for all of you, precious followers. You always listen to my rants on latest trends, styles, and most importantly life. Fashion is life. I show who I am through my style and once an individual can tie together their style and their personality, that is when fashion can become a thrill like it is for me. Every outfit I wear symbolizes me in one way or another. This vest symbolizes my growth in this industry and I vow to continue growing...
 and wearing this beautiful fur of course! 

Be sure to relax and enjoy this time my festive followers! 

Holiday Cheers All Around!
Till Next Time!
Xoxo
-The Retro Girl 

Monday, November 18, 2013

Nomadic Melodies-Artist on the Rise

Chloe Bray- A college freshman who has an impeccable talent for song writing. I had the privilege of meeting Miss Bray a few summers back and she wowed me with her ability to entertain. Although the girl I witnessed on stage was a naive fifteen year old, Chloe has managed to make her dreams happen with her new EP release, Nomadic Melodies. I have followed Chloe via youtube (@CandO103) and have seen her grow and expand her music. I had the opportunity to interview Chloe and let you all get to a little about this up and coming artist.



Q: Tell me a little about yourself
A: "Im 18 years old and currently a student. My friends make fun of me cause I am listening to music almost 24/7. (mostly indie, alternative, singer songwriter, folk, some chill wave, and classics like Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday) I am very extroverted at times but also can be very introverted. I love going out with friends, playing pranks, and laughing until our stomachs hurt…but I can also sit with a good book and a cup of herbal tea for hours. I would consider myself a good cook but am a terrible baker. I absolutely love meeting new people and making new friends. I am pretty free spirited but also kind of an old soul at the same time."

Q: When did you first start song writing and performing?
A: "I wrote my first song when I was 11 years old. It was by no means a super impressive song, but it was funny because my mom didn't believe that I had written it. She didn't officially believe that I had completely written a song on my own until I wrote my second song and showed her."

Q: What was your inspiration behind your recent EP Nomadic Melodies?
A: "(Don't read this mom and dad), no just kidding. Its actually a funny story. I had gotten in trouble or gotten in some argument with my parents and they had grounded me for the weekend. Thats when I wrote Nomadic Melodies. A lot of my songs have a small bit of truth or story behind them, I just greatly exaggerate events or emotions that happen in the songs to create a story. I took the emotion that I was feeling at that time, enhanced it, and ran with it to create the idea of someone that finds happiness in freedom. My parents always mess around with me like 'See! It was good that we grounded you because you wrote that song!' "

Q: If you could perform a duet with any artist, who would it be and why?
A: "Ah man, this is such a hard question to answer. Probably Matt Corby. He is such an amazing and timeless musician. The combination of his voice, lyrics, and melodies are so impressive to me. I also am a huge Sufjan Stevens fan. It would be so fun to collab with him and see what kind of stuff we could come up with. He is a prime example of someone who stays true to who they are as an artist."

Q: What is your favorite current fall trend?
A: "I love love dark maroon or plum lipsticks. It is such a fun way to make any outfit that much more dynamic."

Q: What advice would you give to young artists looking to succeed in the entertainment industry?
  A: "A lot of people think success means molding yourself to what the buyer wants, or what the label wants. If you truly stick to your style and music, people will listen. I believe that all people appreciate good music, some people just don't know how to find it. Don't think that you have to change to be successful! stay true to who you are as an artist. People will respond positively."

Q: What lead you to the success you are now receiving with your recent EP release?
A: "It is seriously so humbling to see the response that I have had, because I really didn't know what to expect with the release of my first EP. I have to first and foremost contribute a majority of the success to all of my YouTube channel viewers. They are seriously so awesome and have been following since day 1 when I was a little awkward 13 year old. Also, Instagram has been a great way to get the word out that I released it. ( @chloe_bray_ ). I think that people like songs that they can relate to. A lot of my songs have room for interpretation, so people can find a little bit of themselves in each song."


Q: When did your career really start to take off and lead you to the release of this EP? What moment changed everything?
A: "Coming to college, everyone starts figuring out what they want to do for a career and starts working toward that. I had put off actively working on a career in music because I felt that I wouldn't be taken as seriously as a songwriter if I was a young teenager. Also, it has been a process really finding who I am, and what my style is as an artist. It has definitely changed over the years as I have gotten older.  I feel like I have reached that point where I have found my identity as an artist and am ready to pursue it! As I see everyone around me beginning to work towards a career I have really felt that fueling desire to start getting things going with my music and trying to expand my experience as a songwriter."




It has been such a pleasure to know Chloe and I hope you all can check out her new EP release on iTunes, Nomadic Melodies.

Till Next Time!
Xoxo
-The Retro Girl 

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

50 Wandering Gypsy Dreams

Being at college has sincerely made me reflect on all the goals I wish to accomplish during this life. Someone once said, " It is only a dream until you write it down, then it becomes a goal." So, I have taken it upon myself to publicly publish my "50 Wandering Gypsy Dreams" so that they can no longer be just dreams. My love for travel, adventuring personality, and need to see the world has inspired me to thoughtfully consider each item and I am DETERMINED to accomplish
 each and every goal on my list. 



  1. Go Skydiving
  2. Live in Italy For Over 3 Months
  3. Fall in Love and Marry Him in the San Diego Temple
  4. Visit Where My Sisters are From ( Hunan Provence, China) 
  5. Serve A Mission ( or 2 or 3) for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
  6. Live in New York City
  7. Have My Own Show at Fashion Week
  8. Be a Mommy 
  9. Adopt Children From Ethiopia 
  10. Travel to Jerusalem 
  11. Go To a Drive In Movie
  12. Graffiti A Wall With A Powerful Message
  13. Be A Well-Known Woman in the Fashion Industry
  14. Always Make My Mom and Dad Proud
  15. Read the Book of Mormon More Times Than I Could Ever Count
  16. Attach A Love Lock in Europe with My Husband
  17. Finish My Dad's Genealogy 
  18. Learn a New Language
  19. Be In Two Places At Once
  20. Swim In Every Ocean 
  21. Ride a Gondola in Italy 
  22. Sleep on the Beach 
  23. Swim with Elephants in Thailand 
  24. Learn to Surf
  25. Make a Bed in the Back of a Truck and Sleep all Night with my Hubby
  26. Have Cupcakes from Sprinkles
  27. Send Off My Own Glowing Lantern (like on Tangled) 
  28. Hold a Free Hugs Sign in Public 
  29. Kiss my Husband Under the Eiffel Tower
  30. Have Breakfast at Tiffany's 
  31. Ride a Camel 
  32. See The Stone Hedge
  33. Walk the Great Wall of China
  34. See the Auroa Borealis ( Northern Lights) 
  35. Jump off a Waterfall 
  36. Watch the Sunset in Africa 
  37. Send a Message in a Bottle 
  38. Ride in a Hot Air Ballon 
  39. Write A Book
  40. Visit Machu Picchu 
  41. Kiss Under the Mistletoe
  42. See The Nile River and Pyramids in Egypt 
  43. Visit the Beaches of Crete and Ride a Mule like on Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
  44. Snorkel in Australia 
  45. See the Taj Mahal in India 
  46. Venture to Where My Family is From in Scotland 
  47. Attend a Chanel Fashion Show
  48. Be in Times Square on New Years to Watch the Ball Drop 
  49. See the Mayan Temples
  50. Change Someone's Life 

Now that you've seen my list, make your own. Write it down, and make it happen. We live in a beautiful world, see every ounce of it. 

Xoxo
-The Retro Girl