Like many other's I view music as one of the best ways to remember different times in our lives. Possibly the easiest way to get me to recall a certain period of time, is to remind me of a hit single or hot band during that same period. I associate entire decades with different styles of music and their influence on not only popular culture, but my own everyday life. This post is a dedication to the music of 2015 and the impact it will leave on the future. Here's to an amazing year.

Fav tracks: Olivia, I want To Write You A Song, A.M, Wolves, End Of The Day

The auditory embodiment of etherealism, Florence + The Machine never fail to deliver an original but all the while romantic sound. Lead by Florence Welch - who I believe to be the human rendering of mother nature- and her crazy powerful voice, they once again blew me away with their May release of, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful. Their creative way of genre-bending, - mixing together folk, indie and rock- once again had me on my toes, with a more evident rock sound than ever. A healthy balance of whimsy and rebellion, the record is exactly what I picture myself blaring on a road trip. The lyrics are care-free and the bass is roaring in an era of music where artists have gotten lazy. I love the narrative the listener is taken on, and the vulnerability in each track. They really put forth their most personal album to date on this one and I absolutely love it. This one's for the wanderlust.

Fav Tracks: Ship To Wreck, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, St. Jude, What Kind of Man

Ones To Watch

If you'd classify yourself as a social media junkie, or are in anyway involved in the online vegan scene, odds are you're familiar with the now infamous Essena O'Neil breakdown. For those of you who have no clue what I'm referring to, let me fill you in. Essena, 19, was a social media personality, originally praised for her looks and style, who quickly become a poster child for teen aged vegans around the world. With an incredibly successful instagram page (like well over half a million), and a YouTube channel that grew rapidly, Essena was sitting on top of the social media-sphere, phone in one hand, ceptor in the other. However this summer it seems she came to a sudden revelation, deleting most of her content across her platforms, and beginning to speak out against the networks that had originally given her her name. She would later post a video, explaining why she 'quit social media' (on social media), and how no one using the websites were happy or in anyway truthful. If you ask me, Essena joined social media for the validation in numbers; got it, the money; got it and the voice; got it. But when she had eventually reached the pinnacle in her career, she was left bored and unfulfilled. This clearly lead to a lot of deeper issues as many of us saw unfold, but no matter your take on the turn of events, you can't argue that no good came from it. By so blatantly putting such a large part of our world's on blast, Essena forced all of her followers to step away from their screens and reevaluate their online presence. Teens looking to start their own YouTube channels were then forced to reflect and ask themselves why they had a desire to share so much of their lives with complete strangers. Essena would argue that we so willingly divulge information on our lives online, because the majority of it, is premeditated and staged. No one is their genuine self online. And I would have to agree with her to some extent.

        When I'm posting a picture of my haul of the day, I'm not slapping the clothes down on my bed and taking the photo. I'll grab a throw so that no one can see my undoubtedly embarrassing neon duvet, and making sure only that  nicest details of my room are in the background. And that's because we all like to seem put together. Social media has made us all subconscious romantics, striving to create perfect moments as oppose to living them. However I would have to disagree with her points on how it changes our values. Although social media is very much a highlight reel of our lives,  it is just as much a platform on which we can display what matters to us the most. My photos and travels are aspects of my life that effect me greatly, just as another's family and faith may impact them in the same way. To say that one person is more shallow than another, based on what you see as profound, is entirely nonsensical. We all have our own fog, clouding our vision, however most people aren't being paid for product placement or affiliate codes, we post what we do because we want to, not out of obligation. That is where I think Essena lost her way as a blogger.

       

 None the less, in the aftermath of such a big shock -being a huge fan of her myself- I still find myself thinking back to the points she made. I guess as someone who views social media in such a positive light, I'm striving to prove the skeptics -Essena and others- wrong. I will never do anything for shock or like value, and I will never put my life on hold for an app or program. To me, social media is very much a community through which we can not only connect and display, but share and shed light on topics otherwise inaccessible. It stretches so far beyond the 'fit tea's and #WomenCrushWednesdays. Through the amazing technological advancements of the last decade, we have been given digital keys to a world of knowing and possibilities. So share content that makes you happy, and things you want others to see. Make people smile and think and laugh and cry with every post. Rattle cages and push buttons, because we have been given the chance. Don't buy into the social media hoax.

Since the summertime, I've seen my style morph and snowball into a beast of it's own. I've discovered numerous new online boutiques and bloggers as well as cute spots around my own town, all of which have contributed to my current metamorphosis. I've hung up my lululemon wunder unders and replaced them with numerous pairs of mom style in jeans in a variety of washes and brands. I cut my hair and gave myself fringe, after months of dancing around the idea. Can't say I'm completely in love, but as it grows out I'm sure I'll come around. The point is, that my style is evolving into something completely my own.

Seeing as the new year is just around the corner, I will probably be back with another post soon, to reflect on my year, but for now let's take a look at the people places and things, influencing my look at the moment.

Starting with people, I've got a few names under my belt, of those, whose own personal style and aesthetic have given me the push in just the right direction.

 

I originally heard about and fell in love with Erin Wasson (model and designer) right around the time I first started getting serious about fashion. I must've been in 5th or 6th grade, watching RAW or FashionTelevision with Jeanne Beker when she was featured, giving a tour of her gorgeous Venice Beach home.

Since that young age, I've been following her career. Her style and amazing attitude, make her one of my biggest style inspirations. Her simplistic rock edge has put her at the top of my list when it comes to muses this month

I discovered stylist Ashley Glorioso through Instagram, surfing through different brand's pages until I stumbled upon her account, @Pursenboots. Jewlery and acsessory wise, her page is a manifesto of almost, exactly what I've been thinking up in my head for the last month or so. Layered dainty necklaces, and some amazing statement boots, her personal style-

 has influenced my buying almost as much as her commercial work.

(Ashley Glorioso for For Love and Lemons)

(Ashley Glorioso for For Love and Lemons)

If you know me well enough, it won't come as much surprise that this beautiful, beautiful man has made it into my roster. Singer Harry Styles seems to be going through his very own style evolution this season, stepping out in a ton of new, out of the box luxury pieces, like the 70s fuelled Gucci suit above. Harry has surprised everyone this fall winter season stepping out in more high fashion pieces than ever before. I appreciate his willingness to step out of the box and try new fits and hems, breaking gender barriers with every piece. Below are some of my favourite looks and pieces.

(Harry Styles in Gucci)

Within mere weeks it seems he's done a total 360; ditching his usual skin tight black skinny for flares of all patters, like these amazing floral ones form Gucci.

(Harry Styles In vest by Saint Laurent)

(Details unknown..probably costs more than my house though)

How amazing does he look in this Saint Laurent jacket.

4. Rock & Roll

Just Rock.

5. Music Festivals

Although season has unfortunately come to an end, I found myself glued to my phone and computer, watching countless sets and vlogs from different summer music festivals. Not only were the lineups this year amazing, but the fashion and culture continue to be frequent inspiration for me in daily life. By the end of the summer I had a list of numerous festivals I wanted to attend. Can you blame me?

6. Pinterest

Xo,