becoming a #styleboss

'street style comes to life'

two weeks ago, i had the immense pleasure of participating in the #styleboss 

series, hosted by darcy camden of styled seattle, sydney mintle of gossip & glamour,

and westfield mall at southcenter. 

^^^ between the swag bags and treats, this event was one for the books! ^^^

^^^ this event (and that poster with my street style fashion and photo tips) 

was the highlight of my blogging career thus far - i plan to keep it forever! ^^^

^^^ fellow style bosses! aika of aika's love closet, rebecca of blogger not billionaire, 

and jenn of hello rigby ^^^

if you don't yet follow these ladies, be sure to check out their unique 

blogs for outfits, style tips and daily adventures! though we've met at past 

events (and support one another on social media), it was fun to spend

the evening chatting, sharing our #styleboss tips, and enjoying snacks and

coctails from moctezumas and candy from lolli and pops. i am slightly embarrassed

to admit just how much chocolate i ate while driving home from the event...

the theme of our style boss event series was 'street style.' 

street style is the clothing and outfits you see when simply 

walking down the street; street style is all about taking the clothing and trends

represented on the runway of fashion shows and making it real - making it your own. 

^^^ pictured above: sydney of gossip & glamour, jenn of hello rigby,

sarah of sweet blonde's fit life, and sarah of the blonde giraffe ^^^

^^^ pictured above: my aunt and mom who came to support me (thank you both!!),

dawn of party til dawn events and asa of lace and pearls, aika of aika's love closet and
sarah of 'thoreau yourself together' ^^^

i loved seeing familiar faces at the event and meeting a few new friends, too!
i was very grateful both my mom and aunt were able to attend.
their support means a great deal to me, and they helped calm my nerves
before the panel discussion and fashion show began -
i have to admit, i was very nervous before speaking (!!!). however,
the widespread support and encouragement of fellow bloggers made presenting
much less intimidating.

the style boss event featured a fashion show, with looks that depicted

our interpretation of street style. the outfits were put together by jenn, myself,

rebecca and aika. we were each randomly assigned two stores, located in westfield mall, 

and asked to create a day and nighttime look. there were not any restrictions

or specific guidelines, so the outfits we put together were very open-ended.

i put together four outfits - two from the limited and

two from forever 21. while i go into forever 21 on occasion, and often browse online, 

i have not been to the limited in years! i wasn't sure what to expect

when shopping for my outfits but was very impressed (the jewelry, in particular, was amazing!). 

^^^ day & night from forever 21 ^^^

my daytime look is similar to the 90s inspired outfit i wore on my blog

here. i love the distressed denim and hat, with a flannel

casually tied around her waist. the overall look is very grunge, yet 

chic and seemingly effortless. my nighttime look is much more feminine.

if i cant decide what to wear to an event or for an evening out, a dress, 

denim jacket and bold accessories is my go-to.

^^^ day & night from the limited ^^^

when i first walked into the limited, i was slightly overwhelmed. while the store

is well organized, with bright colors and bold prints, much of the clothing

felt more business casual or 'wear to work' than street style. i found the navy blouse

on the left (with open shoulders and a fun print) first, but couldn't find bottoms

to pair with it. the blouse was hung next to a pencil skirt and grey dress pants, 

but neither felt appropriate. after much digging, i was thrilled to find these

light-wash boyfriend jeans. boyfriend jeans are a closet staple for me - i wear them

with everything! my nighttime look came together more quickly. navy cutlottes, 

a striped blouse, layered necklaces (incorporating both silver and gold jewelry), and 

a grey poncho - this look could transition from work to happy hour, a show, or

dinner in the city. 

all photos by vivian hsu photography

after the fashion show, darcy asked us to share

about the creative process of blogging, the outfits we put together, and any style and

 photo tips for the audience. 

i thought it would be fun to share my top three photo tips here with you: 

whether you work with a professional photographer, or your best friend

takes your outfit photos (or for the talented ladies who use a tripod

and remote!), i think these tips are applicable in any situation! 

1. be yourself. wear clothing that is comfortable, pose in a way that feels natural,

and showcase your style in the photos!

2. be flexible. try new trends and visit different locations when shooting.

3. pinterest can be your best friend. it is an excellent resource for outfit ideas,

style advice, and a forum to share your photos.

and lastly, my favorite fashion advice?

wear and write about what you care about. readers can find style, 

great photos and varying opinions in other places. they come to your blog

to hear your story! be your own #styleboss

^^^ stocking up on delicious sweets from lolli and pops ^^^

a very special thank you to westfield southcenter for allowing me to 

participate as a panelist for #styleboss. 

and of course, i have to share the details of my outfit! 

dress: thrifted (via goodwill), necklace: borrowed from the limited (exact here),

heels: franco sarto, hair by gene juarez & makeup by aveda