Embracing the possible.

One of the greatest feelings that one could ever have is to feel as though you're headed in the right direction. It's the feeling when you breathe in, and are able to breathe out with ease. It's the feeling when the corner of your mouth turns up at the thought of what's possible. It's the feeling that motivates you to get up, get dressed, and get going. 

I've been experiencing this feeling lately. As I walk to my 8 a.m. marketing class, I don't seem to be dragging my feet as much. On the commute to my internship, I stare out the train thinking about what direction my life could take next--and what direction I will take next to make those day dreams a reality. 

Even though I definitely don't have it all figured out (by any means), it's nice to feel like I'm finally starting to feel comfortable with the future. This confidence, however minute it is, is allowing me to embrace the possible. 

I have grown to become more open-minded in terms of the career I hope to pursue, and where I hope to live after graduation. Somehow, this feeling keeps telling me that I will end up where I am supposed to be. 

Isn't it funny how much we as human beings trust our gut instincts?

These gut instincts are what motivate us. We begin to feel, to trust, that we are headed in the right direction and then act to perpetuate that feeling. This blind trust in such a vague feeling is more than just a fleeting hope or dream--it's you telling yourself that you can make anything happen. 

It's these instincts that tell you to embrace the possible. They tell you to keep going in that direction, even though the road may become rough along the way. They reassure you that you can trust yourself, even when it seems like everything else is falling apart. 

So trust your gut. Embrace the possible. Continue down that road that feels right. You don't need to have everything figured out to know that everything will be alright in the end. 

I'm beginning to feel less intimidated by my future after college. Even if my job prospects are slim and whatever else lies ahead is scary, I know that I will be able to conquer those fears (even if I do so in unexpected ways). I know that it isn't worth it to spend my time worrying--that I should instead be spending my time embracing the possible. 

Happy Wednesday, all.

Favorite find: Lorde's Pure Heroin

Photo by James K. Lowe

Lorde has skyrocketed in popularity. Even if you haven't heard of the 16-year-old newcomer, you certainly have heard of her song "Royals" which could be heard on any popular radio station this summer. 

I've followed Lorde for quite some time now, and I couldn't be more excited that she's getting the recognition that she deserves on the brink of the release of her debut album Pure Heroin. While you can't own the album for another week, you can pre-order it (done) and listen to the entire album at this link (and done). 

The New Zealand native's eerie yet addictive electro-pop songs are perfect to put on repeat on a rainy afternoon while studying or staring out a window (which I do way too often). Give it a listen before Lorde takes over the globe--there's no stopping her now. 

Get More: MTV Shows

This weekend.

Recently I've been trying to take advantage of more opportunities that are in my direct surroundings. Yesterday, I went to a New York Jets game with some of my roommates after purchasing discounted tickets through my school. Despite the fact that I am not a die-hard football fan, much less a Jets fan (49ers, anyone?), I had an amazing time. 

College is a time that exposes you to the truth that lies behind so many cliches. You can sit on the couch and watch life pass you by, or you can get up and live. I would have never pictured myself going to a professional football game two years ago, but I find myself asking "why not" much more than "why" this year. 

As always, Ferris Bueller gets it right: 

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it."

I adore...

Sweater weather. Being that I'm from California, my childhood was largely spent experiencing only two seasons: summer and winter. On the west coast, the leaves do not change and pumpkin spice lattes are not an inescapable phenomenon. After moving to New York for school, I now treasure the fall season and the amazing transitional weather that comes with it. I will be wearing skirts and sweaters for as long as I can without the threat of frostbite. 

Julianne Moore covers InStyle. Julianne Moore is one of my favorite leading ladies right now in Hollywood. The media always likes to talk about aging actresses and how the profession becomes tricky as women pass their thirties, but I think this quote by Moore handles the issue perfectly: 

“I can’t complain. I’ve been pretty lucky. And I think the more we talk about it, the more we make it real. I hate being asked this stuff! Let’s appreciate where we are. Let’s not wish our lives away.”

Jenna Lyons' essentials. Jenna Lyons has completely transformed J. Crew. I love getting any chance to see how her mind works and what she's inspired by--check out this GQ.com feature if you do, too.

San Francisco. When my mind wanders, I find it wandering more and more to San Francisco. I've been thinking a lot about California lately, and this city that I may have a renewed love for. I love finding SF inspiration on Victoria Smith's blog, sfgirlbybay.

The best of moments are fleeting.

I know that I am an extremely sentimental human being. I fall hard for bouts of nostalgia. I melt at the sight of a scene that reminds me of one I once shared with a loved one. I spend an incomprehensible amount of my time daydreaming of days past and the days to come. 

Does this make me a walking cliche? Maybe. I don't think, however, that I am going to change anytime soon. Sure, I let periods of cynicism creep in. We all do. Yet I can't help but be overwhelmed by the amount of good that I've had in my life, even though sometimes it is easy to forget. 

It can be easy to forget when you're far away from that someone that authored one of your most favorite memories, from that someone that created the good in your life. It can be easy to forget when you get caught up in the everyday realities of life, despite that we try with all of our might to not let these mundane routines consume us. 

Sometimes, we just need to be reminded of what we have, and what we have had. Memories can be painful, but those that are most painful are often the ones we treasure the most--they are the memories that tear at us with their fleeting nature. 

Yet it is always the best of moments that are fleeting. Otherwise, these moments would be completely normal. They would not be emblazoned upon our hearts and minds, causing bittersweet pangs of emotion.  

Every time I pull a certain sweatshirt over my head, I remember the times that he has worn it when we've been together. My senses are overwhelmed as they recall that exact moment--what his smile looked like, how he pulled up one of the sleeves, why we couldn't stop laughing. 

As I reach for a tshirt, I think of the all the times that my mom must have worn it while she was dancing with a jazz company in my hometown. I think of her determination to become a better dancer, if not for herself, for her future students. I think of what she was experiencing at the age that she wore it, which was not far off from my own age now. 

Memories do fade, but never completely. Sometimes, all we need is a helpful reminder. 

Favorite find: Fashion at Work by Teen Vogue

Becoming a Brand Manager for Moda Operandi with Jana Hofheimer

One of the best aspects of social media today is the ability one has to share the little-known, behind-the-scene facts of one's life. Of course, this can also be a very big turn-off. Social media gives anyone and everyone the power to share the most unnecessary information, creating the overwhelming amount of information that we are inundated with each and every day. 

This is precisely what makes finding gems like this video so exciting. I found Teen Vogue's "Fashion at Work" series quite a while ago, but they have revamped their Youtube channel since. The series features interviews with various professionals in the fashion industry, and the diversity of occupations is impeccable. These short three-minute videos contain more insight than any textbook, featuring both seasoned veterans of the industry and recent grads that have just broken into it. 

Each episode in the series never fails to inspire me, and is one of the few that I subscribe to on YouTube. It opens my mind to careers that I have never heard of or even thought of in the fashion industry. Be sure to watch some of my favorite episodes below, and catch up with Teen Vogue's channel here: 

Alyssa Reeder: Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief at Teen Vogue

Getting a Job in Communications at Diane von Furstenburg with Elizabeth Luby

London Fashion Week: Erdem Spring 2014

I love New York Fashion Week. I've always felt that it sets the stage for all of the following fashion weeks--that it's the true test of what we can predict to see on the sidewalks in the coming seasons. New York Fashion Week also seems to produce the most wearable ready-to-wear clothing. From 3.1 Phillip Lim to Kate Spade to Alexander Wang, these are the clothes that will have some semblance of affordability and practicality. 

Yet there is something special about the London and Paris Fashion Weeks. London seems to have a mood all on its own--defined by a city that has been known for the most unique of trends like punk, the collections that emerge from its runways never fail to instill awe in its audiences. 

Erdem has been one of my favorite shows to anticipate during London Fashion Week since the beginning of high school, when my love for fashion began. Its original prints are some of the most unique to emerge from all of the shows at the different fashion weeks--but it seems as though this season was different. 

The focus was less on intricate prints, and instead on unique textures and fabrics. Defined by striking black and white, the details of the garments stood out with grandeur. 

Here are some of my favorite looks: 

//images via Style.com