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Retro

    Outfit

    70s Retro Vibes in A Marigold Top, Denim and Clogs

    Marigold top and Madewell denim
    Photos by Ale Veyna

    Outfit Details:

    Madewell 9″ Rise Denim (Available in Davis Wash)
     
    Marigold is one of my favorite colors to wear. Yet, I don’t seem to have enough of it in my wardrobe. There’s just something about the color that immediately brightens up my mood. That is why I knew I had to have this marigold top when I was out shopping for business casual attire a few weeks back. While the color is bold, the warm shade is office-appropriate.
    As you can see, what makes this piece so great is that it’s also perfect for everyday wear. I was going for a 70s vibe with this outfit I wore for a day of running around LA with my sister Ale. Therefore, I paired this top with high rise jeans and wooden clogs. On the website, the model is wearing the tie a bit higher. However, to keep true to the retro feel of this look, I wore the bow tied lower and near the neckline. I would also recommend wearing it this way if you’re looking for a more “modest” look. Otherwise, it can be a bit revealing.

    Before I go, it rained a bit in Portland this weekend, so I’ll have to warn you that you may soon start seeing me in more transitional outfits on the blog. The good thing about this look is that you can easily layer on a sweater, but other pieces are more challenging. However, I feel confident that I’ll do a much better job at packing on the layers this fall and winter seasons since I already have one year of experience of dressing for PNW weather under my belt, but I’ll let you be the judge of that!

    xoxo,
    Helen
    Outfit, Travel

    That Special Dress

    Photos by Sarah Veyna and Ale Veyna
    Outfit Details:
    Handmade Dress (Similar steal and splurge)
    Franco Sarto Strappy Stilettos (Similar here and here)

     

    I took these outfit photos a few weeks back while my sisters and I were staying at the Madonna Inn.   Since I’ve only worn this dress a few times because I don’t usually attend events that require a formal dress code, I figured that our fancy room would be the perfect place to photograph it.

    What I like most about this dress is the beautiful sequins on the sweetheart neckline and the tulle at the bottom of the skirt, details which you can’t fully appreciate in these photos.This dress has a very special place in my heart because my mom made it for me about eight years ago so that I could wear it to prom. I didn’t want to wear the same dress as any other girl and I also wanted something that was vintage-inspired; because most dresses that fit this description were outside of my budget at the time, my mom got to work and created this dress for me. It means so much that she went out of her way and put in all this effort to make me feel like a princess for the night.

    Do you have any items in your wardrobe that have a special meaning to you?

    xoxo,
    Helen

     

    Outfit

    What A Steal!

    Photos by Ale Veyna

    Outfit Details:
    H&M Dress (Old)
    Forever 21 Clutch (Old)
    Seychelles Pumps (Old)
    This dress from H&M is one of the purchases that I’m most proud of. I bought it while I was studying abroad in Spain for about 5 euros, which is about $7. Black was very trendy during the winter months that I was in Spain, and I’m sure that the reason that this dress was on sale was because most people were turned off by the bold and colorful floral print. I, however, fell in love with this dress for that very reason, and was more than thrilled to get it for such a steal. Brown and black are great colors for fall and winter, but I also think that there’s no reason to be afraid to experiment with a little bit of color during these seasons. Even though I’m kind of saddened by the fact that not everybody shares my love for wearing colorful floral prints during the cooler months, I’m really glad that it led to me getting a great deal on this dress

     

     

    I wanted to take this post as an opportunity to share a couple of facts about myself, since I realize that those who don’t know me in person only get tiny bits and pieces about my life on this blog. Another reason why I’m sharing these facts is because Katherine, from the lovely blog Wander Hour, nominated me for the One Lovely Blog Award. In order to accept the award, I’m required to list 7 facts about myself.  Doing this activity was very fun, and I’m so honored that Katherine nominated me for the award. If you haven’t checked out Katherine’s blog, you definitely should. She has a great sense of style, and is also an amazing photographer.
    7 Facts About Myself
    1. I didn’t really learn how to speak and read in English until I was 6-years-old, and in the first grade. I don’t remember having any trouble learning the language, and it’s probably because I had always watched English-language television and listened to family members speak to each other in English. But until this point in my life, I only knew how to speak and read in Spanish.
    2. I attended Scripps College, a small women’s college in Claremont, CA, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. I’ve always had very feminist ideals, but I always felt that I was never in an environment where I felt safe and comfortable enough to express them. Scripps really changed that for me, because it finally gave me the opportunity to be in a space where female empowerment was really encouraged. I met some of my best friends and learned so much about myself while I was there.
    3. I was named after a small chocolate company called Helen Grace Chocolates. My mother couldn’t decide whether to name me Helen-the Greek form of her middle name Elena-or Grace, after my Grandma Graciela. She got the idea to combine the names after looking at a Helen Grace chocolate bar.  I, of course, did not realize this until I was about 5 and somebody was selling Helen Grace chocolate bars to fundraise money for a family member’s little league team. I was initially really excited to see my name printed on a chocolate bar, since I don’t think I completely understood what was going on at that time. However, it did lead to me slightly getting made fun of in high school.
    4. I started running about 3 years ago, and it quickly became one of my favorite activities. I used to hate running because I expected myself to immediately be able to run 6 miles, and felt weak and defeated when I wasn’t able to do so. When I graduated from college, I had a couple of coworkers who were really into running, and they encouraged me to pick up the sport. This time around, I went in with a different attitude, and decided to take it slow. My patience and hard work paid off, and I was able to run my first half-marathon 8 months later. Running has become one of my favorite activities because it has taught me to appreciate and really care for my body, and also serves as a way for me to relieve stress at the end of the day.
    5. I would describe myself as an introvert with an outgoing personality. I get anxious whenever I have too much alone time. Oddly enough, even though I crave being around people, I’m also really shy and don’t always have the energy to be sociable. I think the reason that I really love hanging around coffee shops is because it gives me an opportunity to hang out around other people, without having to actually interact with them. If you want to learn more about what it’s like to be introverted and have an outgoing personality at the same time, you can check out this article here.
    6. Coffee is my favorite beverage. I don’t really know much about coffee, but I really enjoy the taste of it. One of my favorite pastimes is exploring new coffee shops with friends, and there have been days when I’ve only had coffee and pastries for every meal of the day. I can’t say that is the healthiest diet, but it sure is yummy!
    7.  I love traveling and, although I have been fortunate enough to do my fair share of it, I wish I could do more. While I was studying abroad in Spain, I was able to travel to 6 countries, and more than 10 cities. I definitely want to make my way over back to Europe, so that I can visit more countries there. I also want to explore South America and, in the near future, I want to make a trip to Mexico so that I can visit my Dad’s side of the family.
    I hope you enjoyed learning a couple of things about me. I’m not completely following the rules of the One Lovely Blog Award, and tagging other bloggers. That’s only because it’s too hard for me to just pick out a couple of bloggers whose blogs I really enjoy. However, if you want to go ahead and tag yourself, you can check out the complete set of rules on Katherine’s blog. Definitely let me know if you do decide to share a couple of facts about yourself on your blog. I’d love to learn more about you!
    xoxo,
    Helen Grace