FestiFULL of LIGHTS: Deepavali! (Guest Post by Tabitha)

Deepavali (Diwali), also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most widely celebrated Indian festivals of the year. Deepavali is a 5 day celebration made up of rituals, fireworks, gift-exchanges, and feasts. It is a time to appreciate your family and to reaffirm in hope. It is a Hindu festival, but it is celebrated all around the world by various religious groups and ethnicities. There are many explanations to the origin of this wonderful festival, but they all share a universal moral lesson: the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. No matter what time of year, we can all celebrate the "simple joys of life." The message of Deepavali surely resonates in all of us.

Today's post is extra festive because my dear friend Tabitha Busi is our guest blogger and model for the day! Read below and learn about her unique cultural insight on Indian cultural clothing. This shoot was especially challenging because we were in the dark, but Diana pulled through as always! Thank you for the stunning pictures. Take it away Tabitha!


आनंद लें (enjoy)!

In India, there are several types of gatherings, festivals, and celebrations held for various cultural reasons. These celebrations are nothing like I have seen or been a part of here in America. One of these celebrations, Deepavali, is filled to the brim with joy, festivities, dancing, fireworks, lights, bright colors, and lots of fun. Deepavali is a bright and colorful time, in which colors are seen through multiple things such as lights, candles, and my favorite...clothing!

Here, I am wearing a delicate light pink chiffon saree with intricate details and designs woven onto the fabric. What makes the saree quite beautiful is the unique and intricate embroidery work. Woven into the chiffon are tiny silver sequins, gold details, and blue and hot pink feathery details. All of the outfits that I am wearing are originally from India, and it is actually about 10 years old. You probably couldn’t tell, but putting on a saree is not as easy as you might think. The saree essentially consists of three main parts which is the underskirt, the short blouse, and the chiffon draping.

Putting on a saree involves lots of pins, tucking in, folding, and wrapping around. If it isn't done correctly, one could run the risk of looking like a messy pile of chiffon. But thanks to my mom, I think I was able to pull it off!

First off, let's begin with the tree. This tree that I am entangled in is called a moringa tree, and it is in my very own backyard. A more common name for the tree is drumstick tree. My family and I actually call it a “molecada” tree because in the language that my parents speak, Telegu, moringa translates to molecada (I actually didn’t even know that it’s real name is the moringa tree!).

It might be hard to notice, but hanging from the molecada tree are several long, skinny, green, vegetables which we call molecadas. When they are ready to be picked, my parents pick the molecadas and cook them to add to a healthy and delicious Indian meal. It is actually quite rare to find such a large and prosperous molecada tree in America. They are plentiful in India, but it is difficult to successfully grow them here.

Under the molecada tree, I am dressed in something a little different than a saree. It is a deep purple and green Punjabi outfit with very intricate detailing particularly along the neckline. The embroidery includes, beading, sequins, several hints of color, and various gold patterns. Unlike a saree, a Punjabi outfit is ten times easier to put on. This is because a Punjabi outfit is not quite a dress. Rather, it is a long top with pants that go underneath. The drape over on top is a “dupatta,” a scarf-like accessory that complements/completes the outfit. The dupatta can be worn in many different ways. I chose to wear it traditionally, across my chest.

 To complete the outfit entirely, I am wearing dark green glass bangles with gold detailing on them. It is almost a necessity to complete an indian outfit (saree or Punjabi outfit) with stacks of bangles on the wrists. Here, i decided to go with dark green bangles to match the outfit.

Gold accents are also very common in Indian clothing and accessories. You can see that the necklace that I am wearing, also from India, is gold with diamonds detailed within it.

Here I am wearing another Punjabi outfit. This time, it is golden yellow and orange. The collar is my favorite part about this Punjabi dress. I own many Indian outfits, but none like this one, with such a beautiful and detailed, stand-out collar.

Of course, I accessorized with bangles. Red, gold, and orange to match the outfit. Like I said earlier, an Indian outfit is never complete without the bangles!

Deepavali is a time for celebration, appreciation, and happiness, not only for India but for everybody. It signifies the victory of good over evil. Try to remember the good things in your life at least for these couple days of Deepavali. Celebrate, love, and appreciate.

Thank you for reading! ~Tabitha

LaYOURing JEWELRY is key

Accessorizing From 3 to 1

Even though I really enjoy buying clothes, I don't shop often. Up-scale fashion aficionados have a stereo-type for being quite narcissistic and selfish. Even if that stereotype only applies to a minute percentage of fashion-lovers, it's a fact that fashion is expensive. It's also a fact that shopping can be some-what of an exercise of self-fulfillment. I know it is for me a lot of the times. Neither of the two facts have to be seen in a negative way, but I do think it's important to keep those things in mind. To state it more simply, think about why you're spending and where your spendings are going. When I ask myself those questions, I remember to make best with what I have. It is no exception that fashion is a lesson of gratefulness. Gratitude is a small act of grace that leaves a big impact.

Because of those reasons and more, I shop at the mall maybe 3 to 4 times a year. All the other times I'm at the mall (which isn't much), I don't buy anything. I do most of my shopping quite sporadically. On average, I buy one to three items at a time at individual stores, like TJ Maxx, or online, like Nordstrom.

How do I create unique outfits without spending more money? The key is your jewelry. It isn't necessary to buy a lot of jewelry at once. Buying one necklace or bracelet overtime adds up quickly. Even though this post only has pictures of layered necklaces, this same concept applies to bracelets. 

Since last year, I began buying simple and inexpensive jewelry because it's an easy way to add to a simple outfit. Before then, I never shopped for jewelry--just clothes. Well...not anymore! Jewelry is pretty important to anyone who wants to dress pretty. 

3 necklaces might seem a bit excessive, but it can work if you do it right. The trick is to wear simple jewelry. Anything chunky is better left alone. Either stick with all silver or all gold. Versatile tops + inexpensive jewelry is the easiest and smartest way to dressing classy. I strongly recommend Forever 21, which is where I got two of the necklaces above. The cross necklace is from a store called The Grove in Claremont.

Yay for fun polka-dots and denim! Although floppy hats and fedoras are much more popular, caps can be just as fashionable. The only difference is that baseball caps dress your outfit down, while floppy hats dress your outfit up.

The three shirts in the post, which all happen to be blue, are great examples of versatile tops that can be paired with various pants, skirts, or shorts. I refrain myself from buying shirts that have embellishments or patterns because those tend to be harder to match. However, patterns like stripes are exceptions. Creating outfits is a fun challenge, but it's much easier when the clothes in your closet are easy to match.

These two necklaces came separately. I really like the long necklaces because the colors also go well with white, black, maroon, and more. I would say this look mildly bohemian, given the style of my necklaces and peasant blouse. 

Down to one statement necklace! I wouldn't wear another, considering how sparkly this necklace is. There are even different shades of blue on the necklace, which I really like. I don't wear this necklace with any top made of delicate material because it looks too girly. However, it pops perfectly when I wear it with casual material like chambray.

I hope this post was a helpful visual aid.

 Feel free to comment below, and don't forget to follow us on Instagram or Tumblr @Letrendary! 

Once Upon A Promenade: Prom 2015

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. May? It sucks. 'Tis the month in which millions of high school students suffer at the hands of the hellish disheartening pulverizing ruthless AP/IB tests. Luckily, though, I started May off attending Prom with my best friend. It's a bittersweet feeling, the sort that makes your heart stutter a bit, like you're trespassing in the past and you're afraid of saying anything, because anything might shudder you back into reality where time swings into infinity and all of your memories become just dried-up petals in dust-stained scrapbooks. But in writing this post, maybe I'll help engrave these memories into a little corner of the world. In times like these, I wonder if maybe forgetting is our greatest tragedy.

This year, my school's Prom took place at the Santa Anita Park, which is a horse-racing track. Admittedly, when the location was first revealed, I may or may not have grumbled a bit. A horse-racing track? What? Are we even legally allowed to bet on horses? And because I'm a photographer... I couldn't help but think that the lighting must suck if we're outdoors most of the time. But it actually turned out that the lights they had outside, when shot at the right angle, produced some beautiful dual tones. So although these pictures are going to be not the same quality as previous posts (I took most of these with my phone since I didn't want to bring a giant camera with me to Prom), I'm hoping they are enough. :)

It's funny, because Johnny asked me to Prom on the very last day possible, though he had wanted to ask me five months prior. Typical Johnny xD Anyhow, I don't have a picture of the Promposal 'cause I guess we forgot to take one, but it was very sweet. Je te remercie du fond de mon coeur, morse! I'd probably be suffocating in stacks of review books taller than my 5'2" self if we hadn't gone to Prom, aha. So thank you!

Anyways, he can read my mind, which is sort of annoying at times. Example? We both showed up to the same florist to get the boutonniere/corsage at the same time. Unplanned. So I'm coming from a swim test for a boat-racing event, and I run into him there the morning of Prom. I decided to just pretend like I never saw him, because, yo, it's just slightly awkward. But as you can see above, I bought a white rose boutonniere tied with dark blue ribbons. I almost stabbed him when I pinned it on him. Oops.

I am terrible with hair. And makeup. And basically the whole "looking decent" thing. Typically you will find me dressed in what I call a "chic hobo" style: oversized sweaters, maybe skinny jeans, definitely a pair of headphones if I haven't lost them again for the fourth time in two days. This is why I photograph for this blog, not model for it, aha. Dorothy is far better at looking fabulous (<3 to Doro). So of course I had to ask my good buddy Casey to help me with hair. Casey often helps me out on photoshoots that I do for my photography portfolio, and she's just a hair whiz in general. The above style I found here, if you'd like to attempt it yourself. It's basically a half-up half-down pancake braid with curls. Mad appreciation to Casey for helping out a sistah in need. ;) 

My friend Annalise helped me with my makeup. I was twitching the whole time. Such an overreaction, I know. I'm so not used to these things. Poor Annie was so nervous after she left my house because my restlessness was not reassuring to say the least, aha. But thank you so very much, Annie. I could've never pulled this off without your help!

After Johnny came to pick me up, my dad snapped this picture of us.

We ended up not getting professional pictures done at school, because I totally screwed up. I thought the pictures were to be taken at the venue, not a few hours before prom itself. Advice to all: figure out the logistics, and figure them out early. 

We went to my friend Sarah's house to take pictures with a group of people I mostly know well from Science Olympiad. Here is a picture of Johnny putting on my corsage (thank you Gabe for the pic!) and then I promise I'll get to the more culture/fashion side of this whole shebang.

My bangs are in my face. *sigh* Dorothy claims this picture is her favorite though, so I had to include it.

Before I submerge into the fashion of Prom, I think it's interesting to look at...

The History of Prom

Though yearbooks didn't include pictures of Prom until the 1930s, prom may actually have started as early as the late 1800s. Prom, short for promenade, is by definition a formal dance. Whereas it began as a college gathering, prom eventually weaved its way into a high school tradition. In the early 1900s, when it was more of a simple tea party than "a grand affair," the 1920s and 1930s saw the evolution of Prom into a party-themed extravaganza. This makes a heap of contextual sense, because the 1920s saw end of WWI affluence in the U.S., and a youth culture emerged that defied the "modesty" of previous eras. Through flappers and the prevalence of smoking, it's easy to see how Prom in that time adapted to shifting ideals. 

By the 1950s, when the U.S. emerged from WWII as a world power, widespread American affluence sprinkled in doses of elaborate traditions into the dance so that it grew to resemble the Prom we think of today. From that time on, Prom became more competitive; a symbol of popularity; the zenith of the high school experience. It can seem shallow, for sure, but that doesn't in fact derail too far from the early days of Prom's history. Indeed, Prom used to be like a debutante ball; a revolution of firsts; an adventure as reverberating as a wedding. But surely it is no longer strictly this way. I think nowadays Proms are far more relaxed, tolerant, and malleable. It's relieving to think that many students who couldn't enjoy their Prom before (LGBTQ, for example) now can, at least in more and more areas around the world now. The history of Prom is an amusing-in-retrospect and a revealing one, not just of the human desire to feel important and worthwhile, but also of ever-changing ideas and social standards.

Decorations

When we arrived at the dance, there was a long line of people waiting to check in. Even the check in table was beautifully decorated. I love the attention to small detail. Details are easily forgotten but never erased. I think they embellish any story the way our shadows embellish our lives: a constant reminder of a complex, staggering reality that we sometimes forget exist. (You know, because the fact that shadows exist, that they obey laws of physics arbitrarily carved into the heart of the universe...)

Here is a panorama of the inside building (click on it to enlarge). Apparently another school was having their Prom on the second floor while we were on the first floor. You couldn't even tell. The dance music was so loud. Throbbing. Unforgiving. Deafening with drumbeats vibrating every joint in your body.

Here is a picture of the actual dance space. I have to say, the music wasn't particularly grand. Maybe even bland. I think there was only one slow song, which was a shame. Johnny and I ended up spending far more time at the karaoke station outdoors by the horse carriages. 

By the karaoke station was where the lighting nerd in me flourished. Wow wow wow. I loved the contrasting lights. Blue and pink, green and orange. Opposite colors on the color wheel.

A cage and a candle along with miscellaneous empty cups at a table

More details; yay! The hearts are the view from the inside of the carriage. It was quite nice, just riding in a Cinderella-esque carriage with gentle caresses of wind and brushstrokes of stars. I felt bad for the horse though... :-/

F-A-S-H-I-O-N

Of course, this is the big thing at Prom, right? All the dresses, the glamour... It's a big deal. Choosing the perfect prom dress can be stressful. But I've noticed some trends throughout the night that I'm here to share with you to help you find the perfect solution.

Here is Eve again, a previous guest poster. What I loved about Eve's outfit was how it was so utterly her. I think that's the key here. No matter how glittery/glitzy everyone else seems to be, don't be afraid to be yourself. After all, fashion is a way to express yourself. So don't be scared to take "too long" deciding on a dress, and don't be scared to take "too many risks" with what you want. It might not be brimming with sequins, but why is a classic Audrey Hepburn-look (which I saw a few of) not fabulous? Also, Eve's headdress is so on point. Speaking of which....

Accessories! As an artist, I look at things looking for balance. I think that's what is the most aesthetically pleasing thing for most people: balance. If you have a strapless dress (like I did), go ahead and wear a necklace, but make sure it's not so long that it drapes past your bodice so that there is a heavier focus on the bottom half of your body than the top half. If you look at Eve, the lack of necklaces actually helped accentuate her dress while the headdress balanced the outfit. Sometimes, less is more!

Here are some details of the necklace I wore:

What I found surprising but fascinating is how popular color is these days. And by color I mean bright colors. I saw a number of neon dresses. I think neon dresses could definitely be cool, but personally I suggest that if you want a neon colored dress, make sure it's of a shade that isn't too mixed. What I mean is that a pure pink or a pure yellow, in my opinion, is a lot smoother than if something that is halfway between teal and lemon yellow. Mixed colors can look messy, especially if they're super vibrant, like they are in neon. Plus, there will be colored lights everywhere to make your dress a mix of all sorts of colors, so if the dress is an ambiguous shade to begin with, it can get jarring to look at under disco lights.

Of course, classic colors--champagne, white, black, maroon, royal blue--were numerous as well. Many had sequins or beads or glitzy stones on them, and mesh was very popular. Many dresses had mesh sleeves or a mesh area around the neck. I think variance in texture is awesome. Just don't overdo it. While there are certainly people who can pull off a fully-sequined dress, I personally wouldn't be able to look at it very long without my head spinning.

My favorite trend, though, has to be the emergence of floral/watercolor/patterns. I'm biased, I know. My dress is floral. But I think they're pretty unique, and in addition to the whole balance thing I am also a fan of strategic geometric asymmetry. And patterns are awesome for that.

bodice

These details are what compelled me to the dress. The fabric flows like water with the shimmery blue, and the bodice isn't a typical strapless/sweetheart neckline. Also? THIS DRESS HAD 2 (!!!) POCKETS. What more could I ask for?!

Here are some of my wonderful friends. While they all look fabulous, I especially love Vicki's dress (the rightmost one). The blue and the gold provide great contrast (and if you don't want something plain, choose something either very complementary like blue and green, or something with a solid background that has shapes/details in a contrasting color). I think the pattern on her dress is just so cool. It draws your attention but isn't forceful. Subtlety. Subtlety! (I sound like an essay-grading rubric...)

Key words? Contrast. Complements. Subtlety. Patterns. Pure colors. Balance. Geometry.

Annnnd now time for a group picture!

I have to post #Charleitan here, because Sarah and I shipped this Prom duo so hard. Charlotte tried to deny it, but WE PREVAILED! 8) #PromOTP (Also photo cred to John)

Thanks for reading, everyone! Apologies for the erratic schedule of posts. AP/IB testing is pretty soul-sucking, aha, but we will do our best to update as consistently as possible. I leave you with this glorious picture of Gabe with his... is that ginger ale?

photo cred to John

My Prom Outfit:

Floral dress: Nordstrom (and I found a similar/amazing one here)

Necklace: Macy's

Shoes (you can't see them, but they're your standard black heels, basically): Macy's