Five months in...

It's been almost five months since I've started my job at InStyle...and it's been great! I've learned so much during the past few months, and there's no better feeling than seeing the finished product of your hard work on practically every newsstand. I love that my job also relates to fashion, style, and beauty, which makes designing the pages so much more fun.

Check out the June issue with Charlize Theron on the cover. I created and customized a very "sexy" font that is used throughout the feature stories. To create that sexy feel, I gave the letters sleek curves with a dramatic contrast of thick and thin lines.

Here in New York it's our first official weekend of summer. The weather is beautiful, and I'll be enjoying a day outside in a little floral sun dress. (By the way, you can probably tell that I've totally joined the Instragram bandwagon) Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Paper flowers by Lyndie Dourthe

Spring yields us some gorgeous blooms. But if you're looking for a beautiful bouquet that will last all year round, then take a look at these gorgeous flowers, handmade by french artist Lyndie Dourthe. Each delicate bloom is constructed entirely out of hand-painted paper. It's almost as if she's taken a watercolor painting and brought it to life as a 3-dimensional object. I am amazed at how beautifully crafted these are!

Lyndie Dourthe has other beautiful hand-made objects on her portfolio site. Check it out!

Dana Tanamachi's Chalkboard Lettering

Dana Tanamachi is not your typical chalkboard letterer. Her specialty lies in her elevated sense of mixing playful typography with a retro flair. I love that her skills appear in many mediums, from magazines and catalogs to products and signage. She's worked with many clients such as West Elm, O Magazine, Google, Everyday with Rachael Ray, and The Ace Hotel.

Below is a time lapse video of one of her signage installations with The Ace Hotel. Check it out if you want to see her process!

Spring is in the air

The weather has been an amazing 80 degrees the past few days in New York. My photographer friend Hansen Hanggodo and I decided to have a little fun with a shoot. I've always been a fan of brights....this season's trends have made it so much easier for me to shop for all of my favorite colors :)


With an outfit this colorful, Hansen decided to play around with a simpler background. Some of the buildings we came across had some interesting lines and grids with subtle textures, cracks, and nuances in the concrete.









This last photo is probably my favorite. Compositional wise, it has a lot of "white space"....but that space is anything but pure white, which is why I find it interesting. There are signs of age and history, and that's the beauty of an old concrete jungle.

Top, clutch, and jewelry from Forever 21. Skirt from Zara. Suede pumps from Nine West at Endless.

"To have & to hold" a stop motion by Jessica Polaniecki

Hey guys! I wanted to take a moment to share an endearing stop motion film by my personal friend, Jessica Polaniecki. She is a very talented artist who's worked with some great clients such as Sesame Street and Lady Gaga. What's even more amazing is that all of the puppets, props, and sets in her films are each handcrafted and built by Jessica herself! "To have & to hold" is about a woman who's loyal possessions aid her throughout her life. If you like the film, then I ask that you please vote for her so that it will be aired on television! It would mean a lot to both me and her if you can offer your support.

VOTE FOR JESSICA'S FILM HERE:
http://www.thirteen.org/sites/reel13/category/vote/

EDIT: Thanks everyone for voting! Although Jessica' film did not win, she is grateful for everyone's support.

Stop motion is an art form that should never be lost!

"Faith" by Paul Cassidy

This fashion editorial, appropriately named "Faith", was shot by Spanish photographer Paul Cassidy and art directed by Pablo Perez Sanmartin. Models are bathed in beautiful soft, glowing light, the kind you'd witness only at dusk. I like that this softness is juxtaposed with the bolder styling. The clothes take on very constructed graphic shapes full of sculptural curves and angles that are anything but delicate, but certainly divine.




See the rest of the photos here.

Places & Spaces

The space you live in can be a great source of inspiration if you create a beautiful environment for yourself. I recently moved into a new apartment a few months ago, and I've been so busy that I haven't had the chance to really decorate and make it my own. For the past few days, I've been turning to sites like pinterest to look for some ideas. I'm starting to realize a pattern in the images I save: I love 1) vintage photo frames 2) feminine details, like pretty glass perfume bottles, floral patterns, and sheer fabrics 3) beautiful ways of storing, organizing, or displaying things




Dream shoe closet, anyone?
What kind of spaces do you like? What would your dream room, apartment, or house look like? And if you have any great blogs or sites, definitely let me know in the comments :)

Photos via pinterest and SF Girl by Bay