the kerosene's run out

[the pieces]

gray oversize tank :: zara (similar here) | pink lace cami :: maurice's | black maxi skirt :: lammix (get it here) | sandals :: kork-ease (similar here) | messenger bag :: ebay (try this hot pink version) | gold cuff :: charlotte russe (similar here) | bangles :: vintage | sunbeam necklace :: nasty gal (find it here) | wooden turtle necklace :: gift | feather earrings :: maurice's | sunglasses :: charlotte russe | mint nail polish :: green w/envy by maybelline (get a similar color here)

[the inspiration]

This outfit was somewhat inspired by a post from Saucy Glossie, but unfortunately I can't find the original post. Regardless, you should hop on over and take a gander at her lovely blog.

The wooden turtle necklace was a gift from one of my drivers at work; he just returned from vacation in Hawaii and brought it back for me, since he wouldn't have gone if I hadn't talked him into it. Traditional style wisdom would probably have dictated the removal of one of the necklaces, but we all know I'm anything but traditional when it comes to my style.

[the story]
Feeling a bit disenchanted with the blogging world recently; it seems as though we're all so caught up in publishing, promoting and perfecting our own blogs that we hardly have time to socialize on others. I can't remember the last time I actually made it all the way through my blog roll - or even just through my favorites. I've been a part of the blogging community since its inception (I had a blog in the eleventh grade, long before it was cool - back when we had to code everything by hand and there were no fancy post editors), and while I'm thrilled at its growth, I feel that this growth has turned into a double edged sword.

Blogging used to be a way to reach out, to connect with like minds and make connections that let us know that we weren't alone. Now it seems that there are so many voices crying out desperately for attention that we're even more alone than we ever were before.

Blogging started as a medium to express unique points of view and to represent different walks of life; it was a way to make life real, by showing how it was lived by real people. With the rise of commercialism in blogs, however, it seems to me that most of the exclusively successful blogs are just profiles in the same stereotypes and fantasies of perfect bodies and perfect lives that don't fucking exist, and that blogging was created to escape.

This is not to say that every single successful blog is utterly useless (though there are a fair amount that I feel that way about) or that every successful blog meets the criteria of perfect body/perfect life/perfect spouse/perfect hair; I am saying that many of the popular blogs that fall within this make-believe perfection are boring, overrated, and sado-masochistic.

perfection is a beautiful fairy tale that will always leave you hating yourself.

I feel like many blogs, particularly of the style/fashion nature, have a tendency to gloss over the grittier aspects of life in favor of the light and fluffy bunny approach that makes their lives look so damned perfect. Sometimes I wonder if even the blogger is an active participant in this techno-denial. It seems that few ever write with any emotion other than intense enthusiasm, and that to me is sickeningly fake.

Maybe I'm just frustrated because I'm having such a difficult time finding my "blogging voice". Sometimes I feel as though I nail it... other times I just feel like a watered down, over enthusiastic version of myself. I've always had trouble finding direction, and I feel like this blog is a prime example of that. I'm tired of researching how to be a successful blogger; I'm tired of words like niche and voice and following. I'm sick of being wary of public exposure of my personal life. I'm done adhering to a formula, just because it worked for someone else.

this is meant to be art, not science, 

and I'll reinvent the damn wheel if I want to.

Though I think I'll just go to bed for now.