A Closer Look at the Collections: NYFW

Hello Beautiful Readers,

Today I am going to continue with my New York Fashion Week posts, there is only a couple days left in The Shows and this series. Since I have not posted about the collections specifically in the past couple of days I thought today I would highlight my favorites that I have seen thus far. I hope you all have enjoyed this series and if you have suggestions or favorites, please share them with me.

Last night was the DKNY show and from the looks of it, it was amazing. Anne Wintour was there, and of course, Donna Karen herself made an appearance. The show took place on the beautiful High Line. DKNY has also recently appointed two new creative directors,  Maxwell Osborne and Dao-Yi Chow. This duo took the chance and not only set the tone for these designs, but set their own name in the DKNY label. The collection was made up of futuristic styles, ranging from street wear to pin-striped professional. I thought it was a fantastic line with lots of variety.

Zac Posen took the runway yesterday, bringing some fresh designs to NYFW. Zac Posen is known for his amazing dresses, but yesterday he displayed a variety of designs. Posen stated that they took the signature idea of their gowns and brought them into a more day time kind of look, via moto jackets and pants. He worked with making the hemlines more definable and creating a new look that can also be signature to his already popular gowns.

Oscar de la Renta presented it’s new Spring 2017 collection yesterday as well. There was lots of buzz going on regarding the new creative directors of the brand are also the creators of the Monse brand. The duo is set to take over the creative design at Oscar in the beginning of next year. This collection was created by the studio crew, made up of 10 people. Some say the collection did not completely follow the Oscar name, but is that a bad thing? These collections are to be new and different, but some were disappointed to see the loose lines and baggy shorts. I, personally, thought the show was a great mix of Oscar classics and modern styles.

Rag & Bone is a brand I am not very familiar with, but after looking through the shows this one appealed to me because of the motocross inspired looks. I grew up racing motorcycles and I was eager to see the designs they came up with. Marcus Wainwright, working alone on this project, made the decision to showcase a more temperate weather collection rather than just a Spring collection. This is a global brand and he knows that weather differs from place to place; therefore, he chose to display more light jackets, sweaters and leather trousers. He explained that the tone of the collection was rooted from things he grew up with and learned to love.

I think all these collections were amazing in their own ways, they all brought something fresh to New York Fashion week and I am looking forward to their future designs. Check out more collections from NYFW on Vogue.

Looking for today’s schedule, find it here!

Thank you all so much for reading this post today! If you missed out on the last posts be sure to check them out. I also just started a new collaborative series with my favorite bloggers, called Cafe Chat, and I would love for you to check it out.

Happy Tuesday.

xo, Lyss 

Quote of the Day: 

 

September Cafe Chat: Patterns & Prints

Hello Gorgeous Readers,

I am taking a break from my New York Fashion Week mini series to bring you a brand new collaboration with my favorite blogging tribe, the series is called Cafe Chat. This is a group that I will meet with monthly to discuss a number of different things, from what inspires us to what makes us happy, then we are sharing what we all discuss with each of you through all of our blogs. We had our very first meeting this past week; the girls and I met up bright and early at The Sparrows Cafe & Newsstand in Grand Rapids. Here is what we came up with:

 

The first topic was about finding textures, prints and patterns that inspire us. It was really cool to see what each of the girls brought to share. Paige, from Where the Wildflowers Are, came up with our first topic. Paige is a bright and creative soul; therefore, this topic was a perfect way to include her style and challenge us to find patterns and inspiration through different things in our lives.

I could not come up with one set pattern or print that represented me or my taste, but the first thing I could think of was black and white fashion magazine photos. I decided to bring my Alexa Chung IT book and the #MadFor Madame Figaro magazine from France. The Alexa Chung book has so many cool patterns, illustrations and photos in it, and I thought my tastes connected well with the book. The magazine I brought had a cool spread in it with old styled photos and chic models.

Another piece I brought to share was my embroidered jacket from H&M because I am currently in love with embroidered pieces. I have always loved floral, but making it pop in your clothing is such a cool touch. This jacket has been the staple piece in my closet since I picked it from the shelves in France. I absolutely love the look to it. I also chose a few photos from Pinterest that showed more examples of this embroidered look, from Oscar De La Renta dresses to even the simplest denim tops.

 

Then after sharing my pieces, I talked a little about why I picked them. I am a very simplistic person when it comes to my style, I love classics. That is why I feel I am drawn to black and white photos in magazines. They are just nostalgic. I like when something can be timeless and authentic, and that’s what I strive to be in life, timeless and authentic. I love fashion that can cross over many generations and still be relevant. I love a person who can be so passionate about something that it literally shines through them when they talk about it.

I also think I picked fashion styled pieces because fashion is really important to me. I love that the industry is always changing and there is so much freedom within fashion. People may not think fashion impacts them but everyone has a “style” whether they choose to or not. Every culture can be defined by clothing. I think clothing and fashion are important because what you wear is your daily uniform to take on life. Dressing up makes me feel put together (even when I’m not) and more confident.

Lastly, I talked about my love for the ocean and how swimming in it makes me feel the most alive. The ocean is such an amazing undiscovered world and that completely intrigues me. When I swim in an ocean, sea or large lake I can feel the energy in the water rush through me. This may sound weird but it makes me feel so connected to myself and the earth. Water is such a powerful element and we often under estimate it, I think. I can relate to water as a female because I think women are often underestimated in society, but women are powerful and sometimes undiscovered. We hide ourselves in society because we are afraid to stand out.

Meet the Girls:

Tessa is an inspiring blogger and productive individual, who not only has her life together but has so much ambition. Tessa is the owner of the blog Simply Tess. Tessa has a very minimalist style and she talked about this in part of her chat, she likes to keep her style very undone and simple. She loves the Fall and Winter season, she told us that these are the seasons she feels most inspired in. She loves the beauty of nature. But, if you are interested in learning more about Tess and her inspirations, check out her blog at Simply Tess.

Paige is the owner of Where the Wildflowers Are; we described Paige as a fighter, authentic, raw and strong. Paige is the blog to go to if you seek all kinds of adventure, she is really in touch with nature and she has such a creative mind. In general, Paige loves textures and prints like wood grain and floral, these inspirations are root from nature and here artistic abilities. Paige is also interested in crystals and stones, they inspire her in many different ways. Some of Paige’s dreams include owning a small business, working in art therapy and traveling the country in a old Volkswagon Van. Check out more from Paige and her chat on her blog now.

Ally is the classy, fierce, and determined owner of the blog A Touch of Tulle. Ally’s dream would be to run her own wedding planning company. She really incorporated this chic wedding style into her own personal style. She looks for clean lines in her clothes and art. She also is inspired by floral and floral prints, especially lace. She is similar to me, in the sense that she enjoys classic pieces in fashion and art. Ally likes to travel because she feels she is able to find herself that way. If you would like to read more from Ally’s chat, check out A Touch of Tulle.

Now here is my challenge to my readers: Find a couple of things that inspire you, take a photo of them and share it on Twitter or Instagram. See what you and your best friends have in common and start your own inspirational chat.

I am so thrilled to kick off this new and exciting series with my favorite people, these women are so amazing and wise beyond their years. I am so lucky to have found a group of like-minded girls, who I am able to connect with on a deeper level. I really encourage all of my readers to check out their blogs. This is a collaborative post, which means we are all sharing a little something different from our chat. Please check out all four to get the full effect of our chat. I hope you all enjoy this new series, I have found so much inspiration from it already and I hope you can too.

Happy Monday.

xo, Lyss 

 

 

Recap Day One: NYFW

Hello Pretty People,

Yesterday was the first official day of New York Fashion Week Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear, designers such as Desigual and Nicholas K were some of the highlighted shows. Personally, I do not pay much attention to these designers but I am excited to dive into some of their designs. So, if you are feeling like you do not know certain designers, there is no shame and I am right there with you. Honestly, I myself am working on breaking into the fashion world and gaining more knowledge on designers, bloggers and publishers.

The Collections:

One designer that stood out to me today was Adam Selman, these designs spoke to me and I was able to connect some of them to my everyday style. The show was titled “Sunset to Sunrise”, it included shimmering pieces, white sneakers and colors that represented the journey from sunrise to sunset. Selman is known for creating the beautiful beaded gown that Rihanna wore at CFDA a couple years back. He uses lots of beads, crystals and shimmering pieces, many of the beads and crystals are even unseen.

Kanye West is not my particularly a favorite designer of mine, therefore I will simply connect a link for you to explore more on his Yeezy collection. 

Rosetta Getty was another show that I had an eye on throughout the day. This collection displayed Rosetta’s interest in art, there were many different edges and lines incorporated into her collection. Utilizing a felt material and mimicking the style of pencil skirts, these designs displayed a new light on the runway. Really bringing her collection back to the artistic side of the runway. I feel like this collection mixes the freedom of street style with the classic office look, it is amazing.

Check out more collections on Vogue’s website here!

Street Style:

As most of my readers know, one of my favorite parts of fashion is street style. I am going to be gathering some of my favorite looks from each day and share them with all of you. I would love to get your input too, so feel free to share your favorites too. Tweet me @Vogue_VanGogh and tell me your favorite.

You can also check out some of the behind-the-scene styles on Vogue by clicking here.

My Thoughts:

Many of today’s designers were brand new to me and I am for sure going to be watching for more collections from them in the future. I am now a fan of Adam Selman; his unique style of beading and glassy looks is interesting to me. I think it can be a refreshing style to an often matte industry. Sparkles can sometimes be over the top and tacky, but the way he incorporates it is perfect.

Thakoon was also new to me, I think the colors used in this collection were timeless and a favorite to many. From blush pinks to grey and white tones, I was in love with the colors. The Brooklyn Bridge made for the perfect backdrop in the show, the rustic bridge followed the tone of Thakoon and kept it classic.

I love these Ready-to-Wear collections because they allow the average person to draw inspiration from the runway. These types of brands are not always accessible to the average person, especially outside of the big city; therefore, these runway shows are not only a display of designer collections but also a vision/inspiration for us small guys in fashion. In all honesty, I cannot afford expensive brands that are often displayed in these shows, but from examining the street styles and watching the runway, I am able to extract what I can and add pieces to my personal wardrobe.

I think that’s the beautiful thing about fashion, it is not always about WHO you wear but more about HOW you wear it. Everyone can wear that fancy, expensive button up from BrandX but the real question is: can you wear it well?  Fashion is about how you style it and how you make it your own, at least in my eyes.

More shows are continuing throughout the day, check the schedule for today here! You can also watch your favorite shows live right here.

Interested in tomorrow’s schedule, click here.

If you are looking for more from yesterday’s activities check out Vogue & ELLE for more coverage and specific collections.

Thank you all so much for reading today, keep watching the runway and check back tomorrow for another recap from yours truly. I look forward to more shows. Don’t forget to share your favorite collection or street styles with me on Twitter @Vogue_VanGogh. I would love to hear your feedback.

Happy Friday.

xo, Lyss 

Disclaimer: Photos used above are taken from sites such as Vogue and ELLE; therefore I take no ownership in these photos. I am simply sharing the links for your viewing pleasure, find the originals on the any of the links listed above.

Vision Board {Back to Campus}

Hello Readers,

I am starting a new series here on my blog similar to other back to school series, but this one will be about how to mentally prepare to slay this school year. When a new semester rolls around life tends to pick up and we often get lost in the day to day routine. This back to school series is going to help guide you to having the best semester not only academically but personally.

I think the best way to start a new school year/semester is to organize and prioritize your goals, both short time and long term. I have recently created a vision board for myself to display my goals and dreams. Today, I am going to share what a vision board is and how you can create one for yourself.

A vision board can be anything from a piece of paper with your goals written on it to a cork board that you have decked out with photos and quotes to keep you inspired. For me, I chose the second option.

What you’ll need:

• Cork board (size is your choice)
• Cute push pins/tacks
• Favorite quotes/photos
• Goals/Dreams

A vision board is not only a way to display your goals and aspirations, but a way to get creative. I use my vision board not only for my goals but for a place to get inspired. I put pictures of my favorite things or important people in my life. It is a great way to stay inspired and see your goals on a daily basis.

When creating your vision board you can add stickers, colorful paper and whatever else you can get creative with. I like to use cut outs from magazines, especially fashion magazines. I am always inspired by magazines. Utilize things that inspire you!

Vision boards can also be used for mapping out projects or big goals, it is a great way to organize your thoughts in one place.

Here are some examples from Pinterest:

For the rest of this Back to Campus series I will be posting tips on self-love, staying motivated and staying healthy. I thought this would be a fun first post because there is no better way to start the semester other than laying out your goals and getting inspired. I love my vision board and how it turned out. Vision boards are also really flexible, so when you are feeling a change or you have new goal halfway through the semester you can just add it to the board. It keeps your mindset fresh and your goals in sight.

What are some ways you get motivated and stay inspired during the school year? I would love to hear your thoughts. The beginning of the semester can be tough, but starting strong with a good mindset will help you in the end.

Thank you all for reading the first post in my Back to Campus series, I hope you all loved it and can utilize the idea. Check back next week for another post in this new series! It is a new week and I wish all my beautiful readers a successful and productive week ahead.

Now, go make your amazing vision board; have fun, be creative and stay inspired!

Happy Monday.

xo, Lyss

Monday Motivation:

Lessons Learned From Study Abroad

Hello Pretty People,

As you all know I recently returned from studying abroad in France for 6 weeks. I have to tell you it was the best time of my life. I am not writing this to rub my experience in your face, but to encourage you to be adventurous and live your life to the fullest. If you are thinking about studying abroad or traveling abroad, I say yes. While I was abroad I experienced so many amazing things and I want to share what I learned with all of you. These are just ways, in my opinion, to get the most out of your traveling experience, whether it is study abroad or just leisurely travel.

1. Say yes to adventure: Here you are on an experience of a lifetime surrounded by amazing opportunities, so make sure you say “yes” often. You will find yourself feeling very tired and sore, especially when you are traveling a lot, but do not miss a great adventure because of sleep. You can catch up on sleep when you are home, but you may not ever get this moment again. Disclaimer: Make moral decisions when saying yes, I do not mean do drugs if they are offered to you. Just do not pass up any opportunity to feel alive.
2. Embrace every moment: You are going to be experiencing so much, so fast; every now and then make sure you take a moment to really embrace your surroundings. I found myself in a new place almost everyday; you are sweating from walking and tired from nonstop travel, but take a moment to really experience where you are.
3. Step outside your comfort zone: This relates to the first one, but you will be presented with many new and different experiences that may be out of your typical day-to-day life. Do not be afraid to try them, life in your new country will not always be parallel to your life at home and that’s okay. Push your own limits and stretch your mind to new places.
4. Make new friends: I met some of the greatest people on my trip to France, I know it was only a few weeks but I have already connected with so many of them. You also will make some of the best friendships if you are traveling in a group from your university. There were people from all over, and every night my little group would meet up with these people to go out together, it was amazing. These people you meet will have different and bright perspectives, take time to listen to their views and learn about them. Also, hanging out with these people from around the world will teach you so much, so do not be afraid to stray from your university friends to hang out with new people. You will have lots of time back home to hang out with them, so take this opportunity to learn from others.
5. Be open minded: Studying abroad is amazing, but it can also be very tough. It is a mental and physical challenge, you will encounter many new and different experiences and you have to be adaptable to these changes. Being open minded to these changes will only help you in the end. On my trip I lived with a host family and this was the biggest challenge for me, I did not know much French when I arrived and I knew there would be a couple awkward moments. But, I kept an open mind and realized that I would not always know words, but in the end I learned to communicate well with my host mom and it turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the experience.

Overall, any form of traveling is the greatest wealth you can gain. You gain new ideas, inspirations and perspectives from your experiences. I know that I have never felt more alive than when I did when I was in France. Everyday was a new day to experience something great, some days I could not even process how lucky and alive I was. This is another underlying lesson that will be carried over aside from the ones above, living life to the fullest. Everyone in this world exists, but not many people live. Everyday is truly a gift and people need to realize that more often, embrace the moments that matter and leave the small stuff behind. Traveling makes all the little problems in your life seem smaller.

If you have even contemplated on traveling or studying abroad, I encourage you to take the leap and step outside of your comfort zone. It is the best way to find yourself and experience amazing things. It can be a costly endeavor but it is worth every penny, I promise.

Thank you all for reading this post. If you have ever studied abroad or have your own travel lesson to share, please feel free to post it in the comments below. I’d love to hear my readers thoughts. I hope this was helpful to you, if you are considering study abroad. I know that returning from France a small piece of me is forever there. Traveling can be difficult because you will never be home again because a small part of you will always be in the places you travel. Thank you again for reading!

Happy Friday, Cuties.

xo, Lyss

 

Summer Book Review

Hello Pretty People,

While traveling through France I had a few chances to catch up on some reading, thanks to long train and plane rides. I packed a few of my own books for the long plane ride, but once I arrived in France I picked up some magazines from the newsstand and a friend actually bought me a fashion book as a gift. (Shout out to Danielle!) I am so excited to share a few of my favorite books/magazines with all of you, I hope you like them too!

Books:

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Paris Street Style | IT by Alexa Chung | How To Be Parisian Wherever You Are

All three of these books were witty, fun reads. I absolutely loved “How To Be Parisian”; it had a sassy undertone to it and it was the ultimate guide to the Parisian lifestyle. I liked the tone that the authors used, it was fun and laid back, but still well written. I also finished “IT”, which was another cute book. It was a short read and straight to the point, it wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read but it is a great book to have on your shelf for a little inspiration. I was unable to finish the Paris Street Style one because it is more of a ‘guide’ styled book, which I love. It contains interviews from designers, authors, and Parisians. It is a perfect mash-up of the beloved street style in Paris. I also think this is a great book for inspiration, as far as fashion and style. All are recommended!

Magazines: 

Vogue: Paris | Grazia | Madame Figaro

I picked up these three magazines the first week I was in Nice, I found out that Vogue is cheaper in France, score!! I really loved this Madame Figaro magazine because it was mix of music and fashion, two of my favorite things, and it also had a witty tone to it. It was very rocker chick meets girly girl; I loved the content. This one was also very affordable. The other magazine I found was this Grazia magazine, this one reminded me of Vogue. It had the same style and content, so I also liked this one. Then, of course, the god of them all is my all time favorite: Vogue Paris. I am a huge fan of Vogue, hence the name of my blog, and I loved this issue. This issue featured the south of France, which was convenient for me. I really liked looking at the differences between my American Vogue and the French one.

I recommend all of these magazines, and definitely check out the newsstands while traveling in other countries. I found some awesome magazines and newspapers, it is cool to see other perspectives on different industries.

If you have any book recommendation for me please share them in the comments. I love books like these or confidence, girl power books. What are your favorite books?

Thank you all for reading my little post today, I recently moved so once again I did not post on Monday. I am still slowly adjusting, but stay connected with me! I am working on lots of new series and posts, so don’t give up on me yet.

Happy Wednesday.

xo, Lyss 

My Guide to Paris Street Style

Hello Cuties,

Looking for that perfect guide to Parisian style? Well lucky for you I was able to do some research on Paris Street Style; basically I just observed the people in Paris everyday. First of all, Parisians are the gods of street style, lets just clear that up. They are always chic, even when they aren’t trying. I do not know how they do it, but they rock it.

Everyday I rode the metro for 40 minutes to get to my class, at first I dreaded the long commute but I quickly fell in love with it when I passed the Eiffel Tower every morning and I got to see all these perfect Parisians getting on and off the train. I was able to see new and different outfits/styles every morning. I took some of my own creepy photos to capture the outfits. For my guide to Paris Street Style I am going to share my personal outfits that I put together during the week, along with photos I took on the streets. I will also add an essentials closet guide at the end of the post, so you can build your Parisian wardrobe for the Fall. Lets get started!

My style for the week:

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Embroidered Jacket | AE Ripped Jeans | Simple Yellow Tank

Simple ‘Bad Habits’ Tee | Army Green Long Skirt | Steve Madden Tote

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Blue Striped Button Down | AE Ripped Jeans |Vintage Black Purse | Vintage Scarf

Light Washed Denim Shorts | Striped Sweater w/ Patches | Favorite Bracelet Set

These were my favorite outfits out of the week, I won’t share specific brand names for everything because it’s more about the outfit than the brands I am wearing. I want to show you outfits that are possible with basics from your existing wardrobe. For example, the blue button down can be exchanged for a white button down or the striped sweater can be swapped out for a solid colored sweater. Sometimes you just have to revamp your current wardrobe by changing your perspective on your old clothes. Play with new pairs and mix it up.

Straight from the Streets:

One of my favorite things about the fashion in Paris is how the women can turn a tomboy look feminine by a simple accessory or some lipstick. The fashion for women is very “from my boyfriends closet” look; it’s comfortable yet still chic. The men of France are also stylish, they roll their black denim jeans and wear the same button downs as the women. Probably because the women took that same button up from them last week. Button downs are a staple piece for the Parisians closet, for men and women. Elbow patches on sweaters and button downs are popular right now too. Another popular fashion is wearing Adidas or New Balance tennis shoes with basically everything, as seen above a blue polka dot dress or boyfriend jeans and leather jacket. I also find it interesting how Parisians will wear jeans and a jacket right in the heart of summer, I guess fashion never waits for the weather.

I really liked the top photo; it’s 3 friends walking side by side and all their outfits coordinate in the slightest way: brown purses, black flats and black pleated trousers. They are the perfect shot of Paris street style, simple, classic and chic.

Parisian Style in your existing wardrobe:

• Button downs of any sort: A classic button down can be paired with your favorite jeans, an old skirt or worn as pajamas.
• Favorite Jeans: This is up to your discretion, these are a pair of jeans that fit perfect and hug your booty just right. They are your go to pants and they match everything.
• Bold Jacket: This is similar to my embroidered jacket in the beginning, this can be tailored to your personal style though. This jacket may be a moto-styled leather jacket or a cozy petticoat style jacket. I recently purchased this one and I love it, it matches a lot and it will be my new go-to jacket in the Fall.
• Trousers or Slacks: These should be black, but a patterned style never hurts. These are the perfect way to dress up a casual look. Plus, black matches everything so they don’t hurt to have.
• Old Sweater: This is another piece that can be paired with your favorite jeans or worn to bed. Always keep those sweaters on hand for the cold months!
• Cozy Scarf: In my Nice Fashion post I mention the importance of owning a light weight scarf for the beach, but when the Fall rolls around you will also need to find a big, cozy scarf to wear on the chilly days. A big scarf is also a good way to avoid wearing a hefty coat for a couple more weeks, you can bundle up in the big scarf.
• Signature Shoes: This is another option that can be tailored to your personal style, if you’re sporty maybe this is a pair of original Adidas trainers or if you are the classy type this could be a pair of mule flats. Whatever you prefer, find a shoe that can be worn with all outfits and in most seasons. (If you are from Michigan you understand why I say most seasons, because you have one option in January…snow boots.)
• Scarf for your Purse: Find a ascot styled scarf from your local vintage or resale shop and throw it on an old purse to renovate its look.

I truly fell in love with the fashion in Paris when I was there, I am all about my own style but I am definitely going to add some Parisian touches to my style. I love their simplicity and classic look, they really know how to capture the feminine look in the simplest way. Minimal make up, undone hair and a killer outfit. I am inspired. Fashion is not about being outrageous or bright, it can be, but it is your definition to the world. Your everyday look is how people judge you, what do you want your message to the world to be. I think fashion plays a huge role in our lives, even when we don’t think so. Fashion is always changing and I love that, in life we need solid things but we also need things that change. In with new, out with the old.

I hope you all enjoyed reading this post as much as I liked writing it. Once again, I adored the fashion in Paris and France, in general. It is so defined and classic. I would love for you to share any of your fashion favorites below in the comments. I am still working on so many France related posts and they will slowly be mixing into my normal posts here soon. If you would like to see more specific posts from me, please feel free to share those below as well. I am going to be working on a lot of projects in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for new posts. Subscribe now, and you won’t miss out later!

Happy Fri-yay!

xo, Lyss

Quote for your Friday:

Parisian for a Week

Hello Everyone,

I arrived back in the States on Sunday after spending a week in the beautiful city of Paris and 4 weeks in Nice. I promised you guys a post last week, but with the limited time frame in Paris I could not waste anytime on my laptop. So today I bring you a guide to being Parisian for a week. I did not hit all the normal Paris tourist stops, so if you are looking for a different view of the city check out this post. It’s a mix of tourist & local Parisian. Feel free to share your favorite spots in Paris in the comments below.

Monday:

Everyday I attended classes at a French language school called France Langue, which is an amazing school with great professors who are willing to help you reach your goals with French. So, my day started here with orientation to the Paris program and meeting my new professor for the week. The rest of the week I had class from 8:30-12.

My morning commute was a 40 minute metro ride from Maison Blanche to Trocadero. If you are staying on the outskirts of Paris you may want to check out the metro to get around. It can look intimidating at first, but it’s a pretty simple system once you understand it.

Figure out your metro stops here.

After class my friends and I went to lunch at a cute little bistro cafe close to our school called Le Pain Quotidien. I had this delicious vegetable soup with quinoa in it, the other girls dishes were equally as delicious. The food here was fresh and filled with taste, like all the food here in France.

Then, we tried to check out the Catacombs of Paris but they ended up being closed on Monday’s, so that was a no-go. Tip: Be sure to check when museums are open, for example the Louvre is closed on Tuesday’s, other museums are closed on Monday’s. Check for strikes as well. 

Due to the road block, the group decided to grab some Nutella Crepes and walk in the park close the Eiffel Tower. Tip: Eat Crepes, lots of them. Then it started down pouring and we had to hid out under the Eiffel Tower. We called it a day after the rain and headed back to our houses to eat dinner with our host family’s.

Tuesday:

After our class we had lunch with the group from our university, we ate at a cute little restaurant by the Oden metro stop. I apologize for the lack of knowledge on the name, but I ordered a steak with fries. How American, I know!? Tip: A point, is like medium well.

Catacombs of Paris: We hopped in line right after lunch. The Catacombs were seriously amazing and creepy all in one. The walls were close and the ceilings were low, not a great place to visit if you are claustrophobic. At a certain point the walls became lined with human bones and skulls, my stomach started to feel a little funny at this point. The Catacombs hold a lot of history and they are a must see if you are interested in the history of Paris.

Tip: The line for the Catacombs is very long, come early or be prepared to wait a couple of hours. 

Wednesday: 

Louvre: Today we visited some of the Louvre, I say some because to see all of the Louvre it would take you 3-4 days. It’s huge and the art inside is extensive. My group went in with a mission to see certain things and that is what we did. We stopped at the Mona Lisa, of course, then the Venus sculpture and some of the other famous Italian & French Paintings. We also checked out Napoleons Apartments, which was unreal to think people lived like that. Along the way we made a few detours to check out some of the other works, but we were able to see most of what we wanted in a couple of hours.

Jardin des Tuileries: For lunch, my little group ate in a cute cafe in the Tuileries Garden, which is right across from the Louvre. This is one of my favorite spots in Paris because you get a view of everything. You can see the Eiffel Tower peeping out of the trees, the Arc de Triumph in the distance, the Louvre behind you and the Seine flowingg behind the extensive buildings. I love it here, it’s the perfect spot for a picnic too.

Next, I checked out a museum close to the Louvre called Les Arts Decoratifs where they had a Barbie exhibition going on. This was actually so cool to see, it was like a walk through my childhood. They also had a Fashion Forward exhibit that was a run down of fashion through the years. I was unable to reach this section on my first visit, but keep reading to see this stop.

After grabbing some ice cream, I peeped into an amazing bookstore called Galignani Bookstore.  This bookstore was unbelievable, they had a huge selection of Fashion books in French & English. They also had cute little nooks to read in, along with a industrial staircase to more books. I was in love!

Tip: If you are student in France, bring your student card and proof of residency and you will get in for free. 

Thursday:

Thursday I decided to take a Fashion Tour of the city, put on by yours truly…me. I researched all the places I had to hit and here are a few of what I found.

Palais Galliera, Museum of Fashion: This museum was by far one of my favorite stops in Paris. It displayed garments from the 1700’s up until recent high fashion runway pieces. There was Chanel, Christian Dior, Balenciaga, Paul Poiret and other big designers. Audrey Hepburn’s hat collection was on display, along with other famous fashion icons most loved fashion pieces.

Chanel Boutique: This Chanel is one of the most popular ones because it is located under Coco Chanel’s apartment. I did some window shopping in the store, being careful not to break anything because it felt like a museum to me. The Chanel Boutique was amazing, I was unable to visit the apartment because I did not make a reservation in time.

Tip: Make a reservation or call ahead to be sure tickets are available. 

Galeries Lafayette Paris: This is the must-go shopping spot in Paris, especially during Soldes. The sales (Soldes) are amazing and the store is 7 stories tall. It includes big name brands like Chanel, Kate Spade and Miu Miu, along with more affordable brands like Top Shop & Anthropologie. I almost bought a Kate Spade purse while I was here because it was so cheap for Kate, but I could not do it.

Vintage shopping: Next stop was vintage shopping, two shops I found to be the best were Kilo Shop & Free ‘P’ Star. I found an awesome vintage leather purse at the Free ‘P’ Star, along with some cute scarfs. At the Kilo Shop, they sold Levi’s and other cool denim jackets. I ended up purchasing a vintage black wallet from here and one scarf. These shops were so cool to look through, I think purchasing vintage in Paris is so much better because I know some Parisian woman carried it before me. Therefore, I feel like I am carrying a piece of history. I would have probably purchased some clothes too, but due to the suitcase requirements I could not stuff my luggage anymore.

Tip: Buy vintage purses, they’re better.

 

Friday:

After class the girls and I grabbed lunch at a cafe near the Notre Dame, once again I do not recall the name but there are lots of cafe options close to Notre Dame, so it is a good stop for a tourist. I also got proposed to here by a waiter, so that was interesting.

Then we hit up some souvenir shops to finish buying gifts. I suggest that you do some of your souvenir shopping close to Notre Dame as well because they have a street filled with shops. I think it is a good idea to mix up your gifts too, buy some souvenirs and some meaningful gifts too. For example, buying a specialty gift from the city you are visiting, in Nice this was soap or perfume. Souvenirs can be fun sometimes, but buying unique gifts are nice too.

Tip: Do not over spoil people at home, buy close friends and family something small but do not break your bank to buy them expensive gifts. Most of the time they will not value the trip like you do and they may not cherish something you buy, that’s not a bad thing but something to remember. Choose something small and meaningful, but not overly expensive. 

Musee Rodin:  This museum is home to The Thinker statue. The Thinker sits in this beautiful garden that surrounds the museum. I visited the garden section of this museum but the girls and I got talking and then we got kicked out because the garden had closed. It was still a great stop.

Fashion Foward, 3 siecles de mode: I was finally able to return to the Decorative Arts museum to see the Fashion Forward exhibit. Next to the Palais Galliera, this was the coolest exhibit I have ever seen. I really do love art, but fashion moves me in a different way, I can connect with it. The Louvre is great, but this stop was more my cup of tea. I was on the brink of tears when I walked into the grand room filled with Dior, Chanel & Yves Saint Laurent dresses. If you are in Paris now, or going to be, this is a must see for fashion lovers.

Dinner @ Le Champ de Mars: For a last night out, the girls and I grabbed a nice dinner at Champ de Mars. We sipped on some white wine, ate chocolate mousse and laughed until our cheeks hurt. It must have entertained the waiter because he brought us each a free glass of wine.

After dinner we made our way to see the Eiffel Tower lit up, we found a spot in the park next to the tower and we gazed up at it in shock of its beauty. We asked some people behind us to take our picture and we ended up befriending them. They were from Australia and Canada. I find it so amazing how easy it is to make friends here from around the world. We sat with them until 11 pm to see the Tower sparkle, we yelled at some people selling Champagne and we said our good-byes to our new friends and the Eiffel Tower.

Tip: Sometimes it’s okay to mingle with strangers, you may learn something new.

Saturday:

I tagged along with a small group to go visit the Palace of Versailles. The trip out there took a little while, but once we were in the Palace it was unbelievable. The walls were works of art, the furniture was extensive and the palace itself was huge. The gardens surrounding the Palace were also amazing. It’s insane to think back into history and realize people lived like this. The kings and queens of France built this palace to reside in. It is truly amazing to look at the details they put into the structure, but also sickening to know they used the people of Frances money to build this extensive palace. I am so happy I visited the Palace of Versailles, I was unable to walk through all of the gardens but I was happy to see most of them.

Tip: Take the hike from the city to see Versailles, it is worth it.

Sunday was departure day and I headed back to the States, but my heart was stuck in Paris for sure. I am already thinking of ways to get back, I loved France so much. I will be constructing a summary post to give you an insight on lessons I learned and give a reflection of my amazing trip. I will also be constructing a guide to Paris street style because let me tell you it’s perfect. I am taking a little more time on this post because it deserves it!

I hope you liked this little insight on my week in Paris, I know I did not cover all the hot spots, but I definitely found some hidden gems and visiting the fashion museums were most meaningful to me. A last tip from me is to visit things that actually mean something to you because yes it is great to visit some of the historical sights but you will remember visiting places you liked more than forcing yourself to see something you do not care for. Visit was you want and get the most out of your time, do not be afraid to leave the group to look at something else.

If you have any specific questions regarding these places check the links I shared or feel free to comment below, I would be happy to offer help. I loved both Paris and Nice, I am looking forwarding to returning to both places in the future.

For now it’s time to get ready for the fall and start working on new series for my beautiful readers, my inspiration is flowing now so stay tuned for amazing new posts and a possible change to Vogue & Van Gogh… I am looking forward to what the future holds and I hope you all continue to follow me on this journey. Until next time…

Stay positive & confident.

xo, Lyss

 

A Thank You.

Bonsoir Friends,

It is kind of hard to do a follow up from my last post but I think that a “Thank you” styled post would be suitable. Last Thursday was a surreal day, and it still does not really make sense to me but I just continue on with life. So, that day is shaded with sad stories and more hate toward certain races, religions, etc.. But, I personally would like to take a minute to thank a few people for playing a part in saving my life, even in the smallest way.

First, I am thankful for my friend from Switzerland for changing our groups path from the beach, and recommending that we avoid the crowd and cut the line on the stairs. Saving us about 5 minutes…Kind of crazy to think what could have happened if we let the beach clear first.

I’d also like to thank the man who knew the code to open not only the gates to the alley we hid in, but for knowing the code into the apartment building that I stayed in for most of the night. Without your knowledge and kindness, some of us would have only been left to running for our lives.

Next, thank you to the French man that opened his doors to let us use the restroom and gave us water while we waited for more information. He also kept us updated from what the news had been saying. When a girl on in my program tried to help give us a ride and find us, this man spoke to her host family to explain where we were located and I am so thankful for this gesture.

Thank you to my friends host parents for trying to help us get out of our situation by offering us a ride home. We were unable to take their offer due to the restrictions in the streets, but their kindness meant a lot to all of us. Shout out to this specific friend because her calmness and strength kept me sane on the other side of the phone. She stayed on the line with me for over 20 minutes and she was experiencing her own interpretation of the situation. She is such a strong person and I am so thankful for her calmness and help that night.

Thank you to the French police and military for controlling the situation after the fact and reassuring safety. Thank you to all of the people that immediately went to the hospital the next day to donate blood for those in critical condition. Thank you to all the doctors and nurses who worked to save the lives of the victims. Thank you to the strangers on the streets for helping my friends understand what was going on and to the strangers that opened their doors to not only me, but my terrified friends as well. That takes a lot of trust and kindness. Thank you to anyone who reached out to those in need on this tragic night.

Lastly, thank you to all the friends and family at home who sent me kind regards and prayers, I could not feel more love and support from so far away. You all are seriously the best and I am anxious to see all of you when I return in August. Your words, long or short, meant so much to me.

I do not know if this is the post I should be following up with but I think it was necessary to highlight the kindness in this situation. Hate often shields the kindness in the world because its impact is greater, but finding the goodness in your heart to be kind everyday is important and deserves to be recognized. My heart is still heavy for France, as it has experienced a lot of heartache this past year. I know that with my new knowledge of these horrible situations I will return home with a new perspective of spreading kindness as much as possible. Hate is alive and well in this world, but so is love and love conquers all.

Just a summary of this past week: 

I have spent a lot of time with the people in my group in hope to understand and cope with this event. We have visited new cities close to Nice and spent lots of time trying to make happy memories to shade the bad one that weighs on our minds. This trip has been nothing less than amazing, I am so thankful to be here and experience it all. Nothing can change the memories I have already made and the ones that are yet to be discovered. This attack only adds a story to go with the others, I am not regretting any part of this trip, even that day. The hate in the world wants to find its way into our souls with negative thoughts and through these acts of terror, but resisting these thoughts will keep you healthy and happy. I am looking forward to my last few days in Nice, and my last week in Paris, but I know my heart is sad to be leaving so soon.

This post was mostly to thank all of those involved in my crazy Thursday and I will really try to have a fashion/travel post to you next week. I hope you stay tuned and keep up with me! Thank you for reading today and I love you all. See you soon!

Cheers.

xo, Lyss

What It Means To Be a #Girlboss?

Hello Everyone,

Yes I am still here in France but after some observation of my peers I think this post is necessary.

Before I quit cheerleading this past year, I was having a lot of self-confidence issues. Being on the cheer team I never felt good enough, I felt too fat compared to the other girls, I felt negative about myself and the list goes on. There was a lot of back stabbing that occurred and I was becoming this negative person I was not proud of. I use to believe that I was confident and proud of who I was, but it wasn’t until I parted with cheer and started finding myself elsewhere. Starting this blog has helped me find the things I love, I have been able to put myself first and find myself in a new way. Putting yourself out there can be difficult, like blogging publicly, but it can be very freeing when you are receiving feedback and you are confident in yourself.

Coming on this study abroad trip has made me realize my own progress in becoming more confident in myself and my beliefs. I’m not only proud of myself for taking this leap of faith into adventure and mystery, but also for truly finding confidence in myself. I am not writing this to toot my own horn, it’s actually due to the realization that many of my peers, specifically the females in my group, struggle with confidence and owning who they are. I am here to change that because not too long ago I was that girl, I felt like my beauty and personality wasn’t enough. I think girls have it tough sometimes, we can never be too comfortable because that’s conceited but we also can’t be to insecure because then we are shamed. Girls need to learn to be comfortable in their skin and confident in there goals and values.

The past few months for me has been spent finding myself, I know that is commonly used and cheesy, but for as long as I can remember I have been defined as a cheerleader. In the past few months I have been finding myself in a new light, and this crazy adventure could not have been better timing for where I am in my life. It has inspired me in many ways.

My best friend, Tessa, bought me a custom necklace before I left that says “#girllboss” and on this trip so many people asked me what that means. I guess I have never thought thoroughly about how to define Girlboss or how it defines me; but after the many questions on this trip and the #Girlboss posts on my blog, I’ve come up with something. So thank you Tessa for helping define who I truly am…a #Girlboss. Thanks for a wonderful gift and friendship.

Girlboss is not about being an extreme feminist or being a controlling b*tch, it’s about being confident in yourself, loving yourself and inspiring others to do the same.  I say this because even when you don’t see the impact of these elements, other do, it shines brightly. On this trip, I have been having some of my friends take pictures of my in front of different sites or views, mostly for my blog but also for myself. One of the times that I was taking a picture one of the boys on the trip stepped in and called me conceited for taking so many pictures of myself. At first I became defensive about the comment, but then I realized that for the first time in a while I was being called conceited for loving myself, my body and my life. How is that a bad thing? I am in a beautiful country, with beautiful people and sites!?

Girlboss, defined by me as: A girl who loves herself and lives her life how she wants, aside from societal norms. A girl that encourages other girls to love themselves too! A girl that is smart and witty, but also knows how to let loose. A girl that is not afraid to be smarter than a man. A girl that seeks adventure, knowledge and success in all she does. 

I would choose to be called conceited over insecure any day. This is why I say girls can never win the confidence game, we either don’t have enough or we have too much, it’s a crime if you pose a threat to being completely content with yourself. I know society likes to tell us we need to change, we need to be this perfect shape and this perfect housewife or we are below men when it comes to brains. Sorry to get all feminist but it’s sadly true. This is why I am accepting of the “being conceited” comment because I think it’s important to be conceited at times. In life you are the only you there is and if you’re not conceited for yourself sometimes, who will be!? Now there is a difference between being overly conceited and being humble. Always be humble, but don’t cut yourself short because society tells you to. Go take pictures of yourself, go start your own company and be a CEO, do whatever your beautiful soul desires.

I am writing this for the girls on my trip, and girls everywhere, who are insecure about taking pictures of themselves or nervous to be their true selves in fear of being judged for being conceited or too much. I know you are fearful that you’re not enough or your thighs are too big or too small, but trust me your gorgeous. You may be thinking it’s easy for me to say because I am small or pretty or something, but I use to feel the same way and I’ve been there. Girls of all shapes, sizes and ages feel the same things, trust me. Once you learn to accept your flaws and embrace them rather than pick at them daily, you will be one step closer to confidence. We always are comparing and judging ourselves to women who are not at the same level or place as us. You’re not going to look like a model because you do not have a make-up team and stylist at your side, and that’s okay. You have to look at where you are in life, be thankful for that and keep moving forward with a positive attitude.

Accepting these things will open a new door for you. I have been working on fixing my negative attitude toward myself over the past few months, and I did not see any crazy changes but clearly others have around me. I am back to joking and being myself with others very quickly, rather than being the quiet and unsure girl. I don’t think you ever realize when you are fully confident until other start seeing it, and that is a beautiful moment because being confident with yourself in a judgmental society can be very difficult.

Often times we look to others for inspiration but while we are looking one way for inspiration, someone else is looking to you for their inspiration and we do not realize it. Stop comparing yourself and start being yourself, that’s important to someone out there and if it’s not it’s important to your health. You may not realize the people you are impacting but one day someone may photo bomb you and tell you that you’re conceited or something and you may think “ouch”, but then you will realize you are no longer the insecure quiet girl.

It’s okay to be a powerful woman, I promise. It’s okay to take pictures of yourself, I promise. It’s okay to be proud of your accomplishments, I promise. It’s okay to be a little conceited, I promise. Be smart, be proud and be you.

After encouraging the other girls in my friend group to be more confident and not be afraid to take pictures of themselves, yesterday we had a break through and they all wanted solo pics and it ended up being a really fun day because we all were having so much fun posing for pictures. I think self-confidence is important and the world needs more of it. Encourage others to be the best version of themselves, because sometimes they don’t believe it and they need the reminder.

So here is a shout out to the girls in my group: You are stronger than you believe and more courageous than most simply because you are here in a foreign country. Not everyone has the strength and courage to travel to a foreign country for 6 weeks to study a second language and live with complete strangers. So if you are even doubting yourself or abilities the slightest bit, maybe it is time to evaluate how far you have come and realize you are person filled with adventure, strength and confidence… you just have to believe it too.

Here are some encouraging photos to go along with this post:

 

 

I am proud to call myself a Girlboss and you should be too. Thank you all for reading my posts, even when I am gone! Keep up with me on my journey by subscribing below or following my Instagram.

Happy Tuesday & cheers to the new week.

xo, Lyss