Reviewing 2016

 I am currently watching one of my favorites, "That '70s Show" and I am already on season three... where has the time gone?! But then I think... 2017 begins in just a couple days... WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?! I may be young but time is passing by so quickly and it begins to make me feel old. What really matters though is not the time that has passed but rather what the time has been spent doing and how it makes you feel. If you are happy... then who in the hell cares what year it is, what your age is, or which season of a television series you're on? Right?

Now that the year is coming to the end though, I decided it was a good time to return to my blog and restart it off with a review of the past year. 2016. 2016. 2016, oh what a year you have been. Some things that happened made me cry tears of fear, sadness, and stress. Some things that happened made me doubt the humanity of humans. Some things that happened made me feel alone. On the bright side though, these things have helped shaped the person I have become. These are the things I would like to review in this post.

In the start of this year I had hair that was slightly longer than shoulder length and didn't have much of a defined style I could easily call my own. I had numerous friendship issues and boatloads of homework. Then in March after had been an Audrey Hepburn fan for a few months, I decided to chop all my hair off and donate it so that it could be similar to the way her's was in the 1950s. I didn't yet dress vintage or even have more than 5 vintage items in my collection. I didn't really grow into my vintage fashion groove until June, despite the vintage inspired haircut.

Above:

Dress & Top- Forever 21

Earrings- Revere Folie

Scarf- thrifted

I continued to have friendship problems but I finished off my freshman year just fine in the end. The struggles only made me stronger. So, when I began my vintage craze in June, I taught myself how to do makeup (I mean, I did makeup before then,but no more than some concealer and mascara). I was obsessed with using bronzer to contour my cheekbones and felt good about it at the time, but by September or so I realized my contouring job was a mild disaster and that I truly didn't need it... which is why I rarely contour anymore. It's crazy how much one can grow with makeup skills and even self confidence within a matter of a few months.

Above:

Dress- Unique Vintage

Gloves- thrifted

Necklace & Earrings- passed down

I believe it was in July that I ordered my first pair of Revere Folie earrings. Some of my favorite Instagram accounts wore them and so I naturally needed a pair too (despite my irrational fear of putting in/taking out earrings)! Not long after, the shop owner, Angie, reached out to me about creating a pair of earrings inspired by Twiggy and I in my honour. Ever since, I have bought and/or received numerous pairs of cute vintage inspired earrings and developed a great Instagram relation!

Above:

Dress- Good Style Shop

Necklace- passed down

Gloves- thrifted

Scarf- thrifted

I spent A LOT of time building my Instagram account over the summer by doing photo-shoots almost every day and expanding my vintage closet. Aside from that, I spent nearly everyday paddle boarding with my family. SO relaxing. I wish it were summer again! After 3 months off of school though, of course I most dreadfully had to go back in the fall. But to my excitement... around that time I finally reached 1000 followers on my Instagram account!

Above:

Scarf- thrifted

Top- American Eagle

Skirt- Tip Top Atomic Shop

Shoes- Target

While connecting with other vintage enthusiasts on social media, I have been told many times that I either looked like Twiggy or Mia Farrow. I have never truly saw the resemblance, but that is why I dyed my hair a light blonde for a period of time... but that was just a phase and I went back to my natural hair color.

Above:

Top & Dress (used as a skirt)- Unique Vintage

Earrings- Revere Folie

Then the leaves began to fall and the trees changed their colors and I decided to try out for my school play. The night before the audition I had serious doubts, worried that I wouldn't fit in or make friends... but I tried out anyway. It was one of the BEST decisions ever. I ended up earning a supporting role and ended up meeting some wonderful people who were right up my alley. This is where I belong- with the drama kids. The stage and the camera are my homes... and so my passions only grew from there.

Above:

Dress- KrispyFringe Vintage

Brooch- Bolted Vintage

Earrings- Revere Folie

Top- Forever 21

Loafers- thrifted (Steve Madden brand)

It was very depressing when the play ended. I actually had something about school to look forward to: rehearsals! I cannot wait for spring to come so that I can try out again, but that means that now I have extra time to focus on my vintage love and and love for helping this Earth! And speaking of helping out... that is why I made the switch of vegetarianism to veganism.

Above:

Boots & Coat- Unique Vintage

Earrings- Revere Folie

Top- Forever 21

It was a gradual process. A long while ago I cut out red meat, then lean meat, then fish/seafood, because I wanted to contribute to ending animal suffering. They have a life too and deserve to live it just as much as you and I. I was officially vegetarian (lacto-ovo) as of July 2015. But in September of this year I decided that it was time for me to do more considering that animals suffer just as much cruelty in the egg and dairy industry. Since making that change to vegan I have felt spectacular!

Above:

Cape & Skirt- Collective Clothing

Shoes- thrifted

Top- American Eagle

Earrings- Revere Folie

In late November I went on a vacation with my family and it was amazing... it always is! And I found some delicious vegan food and great vintage clothing shops. It was a trip that will always be remembered. I feel so grateful to have been able to come out of that adventure alive though. My thoughts and best wishes will continue to be sent to those families who were affected by the wildfire that spread and destroyed the sweet little town exactly one week after I visited there. <3

Above:

Top- Baby Grandma Vintage

Bottoms- American Eagle

Earrings- Revere Folie

Next month (this month)... December. Never ending activities inspired by the holidays. A nice kick start to December was my sixteenth Birthday and 2000 Instagram followers milestone. Unlike most girls who turn sixteen, I didn't have a Birthday party and I didn't get my driver's license. The last couple years I have become more and more skeptical of Birthday parties considering that I am not a huge fan of social situations. Instead, I went to Denny's with my family and collected some donations for my local Children's Hospital! And let's not even start on the driving topic aside from the fact that I get too anxious in cars and need to overcome that first haha.

Above:

Dress- Unique Vintage

Earrings- Revere Folie

Above:

Skirt & Top- Tip Top Atomic Shop

Scarf- thrifted

Brooch- Erst Wilder

And then came the holidays and winter break, of which I am on now. I have grew so much as a person this year and have some really exciting things planned to happen next year. All my love and a special thanks goes out to my family who have continuously supported and loved me despite the weird person I am. You know who you are and I love you. I hope that you all had a nice 2016 and if not, I hope that you have a better 2017. Here is to new resolutions, a blog restart, and a Happy New Year!

Lots of love,

Skylar :-)