Holidaze: What to Wear

Oh, holidays! As we get tired of the overplayed Christmas carols, milk chocolate Santas, and frost-nipped fingers, we feel the stressful holiday season start to set in. With so many get-togethers, dinners, and parties, no one wants to spend a ton of time putting together outfits. Here are a couple outfits with basic holiday pieces that go both day and night:

1. Red Pants: The outfit on the left is casual and perfect for hanging with friends at the mall or going out to lunch. For a toned down tough-girl look, pair a motorcycle jacket with cute leopard flats and awesome accessories. The slouchy bag is perfect for carrying anything you need for the night!

2. Grandpa Christmas Sweaters: Distressed jeans and flats on left make the outfit super comfortable. Wear the same sweater at night with all black on the bottom, from the booties to the tights to the skirt. Find some vintage-looking rings or bracelets to dress it up a bit more.

3. Little Black Dress: During the day, stay casual (and warm) with an infinity scarf and tall boots. Make a statement with a bag in a jewel tone. Put on some accessories and switch out the shoes at night for a classy black-and-gold look!

Have fun at those parties and happy holidays!

-Rachel

Holiday Giveaway!

Hey readers. Yep, you read that right. We're going to be having our first giveaway at Crush! Over these past few months of our start-up, we've received both support and enthusiasm about our blog from outside. To thank you guys, we want to give something back, especially in the spirit of the holidays. :) So what is it that we're giving out?
 ..... A FREE MAKEOVER + PHOTO SHOOT + FEATURE ON OUR BLOG!

If you read the above, you'll know there's only two simple steps you have to take! Just comment below on this post your New Year's resolution. Please also include your name & email in the comment. Next, just follow our blog! If you have a Google account anywhere, that should be easy. We also want to say that this giveaway is only for girls in the San Jose / Cupertino surrounding area. The date of the photo shoot will be discussed with the winner of this giveaway, but it will definitely be in the beginning days of 2013. Share this with your friends, good luck, and have a happy holidays!

DIY Jewelry Board

One evening, as I just came home from a successful day of jewelry shopping and was admiring the new pieces to my collection, it came to my attention that I really had no where to organize it all. Remembering an article I came across in the magazine Better Homes and Gardens (I was bored waiting at a doctor's appointment, don't judge), I became inspired to create my very own jewelry board. In addition to my love for fashion, I also enjoy interior decorating, so this was a perfect opportunity for me to fulfill both. After a quick run to Target and  Hancock Fabrics, I was ready to tackle this project! The jewelry board was done within an hour, thanks to my dad's help and inspiration from Wendy's lookbook as well. Now, allow me to show you how to make your very own jewelry board.

Materials:

- Pretty fabric

- Cork board

- Scissors

- Push pins or nails

- Stapler

- Rope

- Foamy "paper"

1. The Board. Cut the fabric so it's at least two inches wider from each side of the cork board. Align the fabric to the cork board, fold over the edges, and staple. You may need to use a bit of force to staple down the fabric to the wood, but I did it, so you can too!

2. Necklaces. Now, for hanging the jewelry. Necklaces are the easiest; all you need to do is push in your pins on the board where ever you want the necklaces to hang. Make sure you eye the length of the necklaces so they won't dangle too low. 

3. Bracelets & Rings. Measure and cut three pieces of rope (or yarn, string, etc.) so they are all the same length. Next, braid it! It's better-looking and sturdier this way. Tie a double knot to secure the ends. Now you can slip the bracelets and rings onto the braided rope and pin it to the board. 

4. Earrings. These can be tricky, so it may not work for all types of earrings. For the studded earrings, I used this foamy but not flimsy "paper" which I unfortunately don't know the name of. Poke holes into the "paper" and put in your earrings. Take long nails and pin the "paper" on the board so there's space in between for the back of the earrings. As for dangly earrings, I took one piece of the rope, looped the ends, and tied a knot to secure it. Then I just hanged it on the board.

Bohemian Rhapsody

Although summer has already come to a close, the "boho" trend is still very prevalent in cities across the world. That includes Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, the Caribbean islands, Hawaii.... If you didn't just think of a warm winter vacation, then school's stress really is getting to you! Hit these tropical cities with your best bohemian embodiment instead of the usual tourist tees, and you'll definitely turn heads. Don't forget to pay your dues to the original boho-chic queens of each era, Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, and Vanessa Hudgens. 2012 could really use a flashback to the 70's!

Bonus tip: The shorts model Alissa is wearing were hand-cut from white jeans and dip-dyed, all by ourselves! In comparison to Urban Outfitter's price of over $50, this is pretty worth it. Just find an old pair of denim jeans and purchase Rit Dye at your local Michael's craft store, and you can wind up with hipster shorts in less than two hours. Also, you can take an old T-shirt and cut lines along the bottom to make a cute fringe cropped tee. Here we used Alissa's mom's vintage Aeropostale tee from 1986.

Urban Outfitters tank, Urban Outfitters skirt, De Masqe bandeau

Vintage Aeropostale DIY tee, DIY shorts

Urban Outfitters dress, thrifted earrings, GAP hat

Photography: Yaoyao Pei
Styling: Yaoyao Pei & Alissa Valentine
Model: Alissa Valentine
Makeup: Yaoyao Pei
Hair: Christina Daniels
Editing: Yaoyao Pei

The Name's Bond... James Bond

Hello everyone!

So here's whats been buzzing around lately. The popular nail polish company, OPI, has released yet another collection!  

In the celebration of Skyfall and James Bond's 50 year anniversary, OPI released the James Bond Skyfall collection.   

This collection has bold, dark, and metallic colors, and it's perfect for the winter season.  

(But I thought the colorful ones kind of reminded me of the Germany Collection from OPI.. which I believe was the previous one before the Skyfall Collection.) ..Correct me if I'm wrong. 

Personally, I really want to try Live and Let Die and Skyfall.  

Although Live and Let Die seems like a normal black polish, it actually has little speckles of shimmer for an extra glossy finish.  (I WANT.) 

 Somehow I can never pull of plain black nail polish because it's just so....plain black, and it makes my hand look so dull; however, I love it when people have super glossy, smooth black polish.  I think it looks classy and elegant! 

What shocked me the most was......

REAL 18K GOLD IN NAIL POLISH???

What. Wait. 

How does that even work?

So apparently, it is a top coat with specks of real gold....

Okay. Can we all just take a moment to appreciate the revolutionary, creative ideas of OPI (not to mention the creative names).

This top coat is around $30 (many vary) 

Not something I would immediately jump on and die for, but I am really curious.

I don't know about you, but I would probably feel super freaking rich if I had 10 fingers with gold on them!

How about you? 

Would you spend $30 on top coat with real gold? 

-Wakana 

In Full Bloom: The Flower Dutch Updo

One of our goals at Crush is to encourage girls to go beyond their comfort zone and try things out with beauty and fashion. So it was perfect when Diana Zhao came to a Homecoming decoration meeting with a gorgeous flower dutch updo. This girl is talented, wouldn't you say? Although the look may be too extravagant for others, it's perfect for a summer wedding, a romantic date, or simply an outing with friends! Here, Diana speaks about her hobby in an interview with Rachel.

Rachel: So, when and how did you get interested in hair styling?
Diana: Well, I guess I just grew my hair out and I figured I should take advantage of it! For me, it took about one year to grow waist-length locks.
R: What's your favorite hair style?
D: Definitely natural looking waves.
R: From where do you learn new braids and fancy things like that?
D: Youtube!
R: So what's your favorite braid and updo?
D: My favorite braid is probably fishtail and my favorite updo is the flower dutch.

Familiarity

When the sun sets tonight, many students' hearts will be filled with anxiety. Alas, summer is coming to an end and school is on the horizon. Looking back at the long expanse of no homework, we certainly know we will miss summer. And hopefully this summer, there were many memories made that can be looked back upon with bittersweet nostalgia. Although this short film is more of personal, expressive project than a film made for a fashion blog, we at Crush still acknowledge those feelings that can be triggered when thinking of the good ol' summer days. There will always be a next year. But for now, let's own this new year of school! I don't know about you, but I'm actually pretty excited for a fresh new year of high school. (Plus, the subjects are dressed quite stylishly, so take some fashion cues from them as well!)

[WATCH IN HD]

Filmed  & edited by: Yaoyao Pei
Location: Twin Lakes State Beach
People: Rachel Tu, Jennifer Lee, Wakana Ishihara, Anthony Lee, Jasmin Hahm, Sarah Kim, Eric Wong, Anderson Ju, Jessica Jiang

Monochromatica

This season, colors took over the runway. Pastels, neons, and prints exploded on the streets. But behind all that, black and white remained! And will remain. These two basic colors will always be in style and are simply chic. They're the go-to colors for easy outfit pairings you will never have to worry about. At Crush, we took a tomboy yet mod twist to the clean color palette, and completed the look with the beautiful Cantor Arts Center as our location. The classical black and white has never looked so refreshing!

Vintage leather jacket, Corpus shirt, De Masqe dress, Dr. Martens boots

Vero Moda jumpsuit, Converse sneakers

H&M baseball cap, Zara tee

Photography: Yaoyao Pei
Styling: Yaoyao Pei & Rachel Tu
Model: Rachel Tu
Makeup: Diana Zhao
Hair: Rachel Tu
Editing: Yaoyao Pei

Freedom to Your Wallets!

Happy Independence Day citizens of America! Fireworks aren't the only things that blow up on this memorable day... Sales are blowing up across so many stores! Here are some great deals we found from our favorite stores, for online and in-store shopping. Happy shopping, and have a safe fourth of July. :)

1. Kimchi Blue Raffia Wedge

2. Ecote Suede Fringe Crossbody Bag

3. Sparkle & Fade Elliptic Slip

4. Pins and Needles Bow-back Lace Top

5. Milk Floral Readers

6. Geometry Wire Choker Necklace

1. Angled Pleat Skirt

2. Knit Floral Shorts

3. Sheer Beaded Jacket

4. Lurex-blend Sweater

5. A-line Knit Skirt

6. Brunch Date Dress

1. Pieces Skinny Leggings

2. ASOS Metal Collar Necklace

3. ASOS PETITE Exclusive Blouse with Twist Back and Spot Print

4. ASOS Pastel Metal Keeper Super Skinny Waist Belt

5. ASOS Mini Dress in Spot Mesh

6. ASOS Tank with What the Funk

1. Tribal Print Satchel

2. Denim Button-up

3. Lace Embellishment Tee

4. Nude Fitted Blazer

5. Crochet Ballet Flats

6. Spike Necklace

3 (Amazing) Days of Fashion!

Rachel here! I just got back from an amazing program called 3 Days of Fashion, hosted by the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in San Francisco.This experience gave me a chance to meet and work with awesome people who were all fashion-minded like me. These three days were a blast, so I hope you guys will enjoy reading what I learned and who I saw. 

Here are some highlights from the 3 days, along with a style diary. (Click photos for high-res!)

In the city, it's all about comfort and function (and still trying to look cute!).
H&M Jacket // Charlotte Russe Top // Hollister Jeans // dEliA's Boots // Forever 21 Necklace // Pacsun Bag

In the first workshop called “Concept to Consumer,” I used a collection of photographs as an inspiration for a Fall 2013 clothing collection. My team presented colors, textiles, sketches, and the inspiration pictures as a “concept,” or an idea. I loved working with my teammates to create a collaborative collection that was original, creative, and wearable.

Creating our concept - our table was a mess!

Next, I attended a “Draping” class where my team created three dresses with three yards of fabric, a mannequin, and lots of pins. My team’s first dress was a partial disaster; the fabric was fringy and hard to work with. But we pulled off a dress that ended up looking great! (bottom left) 

For our second dress on the top right, we used a sequined burgundy sheer fabric. Our challenge was to drape the dress on the bias, which made the drapes flow well. We shaped a cowl-neck, a V back, and lots of gorgeous drapes on the sides and back. It was a challenge to work with unusual fabric – but it was a good challenge!

In my last workshop called “Footwear Design,” I saw how shoes are made. I even got to design my own heels, which were a summery wedge with geometric print:

Watch out Steve Madden! (just kidding.)

Basic black with a pop of pink to make it interesting!
Split Coat // Gap Cami // Rockstar Pants // Dollhouse Oxfords // Forever 21 Necklace // Pacsun Bag

Next, in “Promo Campaigning” we simulated a promotion campaign for a clothing line. We designed a studio for a promotional photo shoot as well as an event to promote the collection, focusing on neon, edgy, and geometric shapes. We planned out all the details for the event - from the dinner to the runway to the lighting!

Our photo shoot studio & the event plan!

“Sketching the Fashion Figure” was a fast-paced class where I learned how to sketch figures, outfits, faces, shoes, and hair. Using the 9-headed technique, I developed a sketch that somewhat resembled a model:

With and without an outfit

 It is said that these models are simply "pretty hangers for your clothing." To make them "pretty," the key things to keep in mind are proportions! As you can see from my sketch, I need lots of practice!

Combining cold weather clothing (long pants, sweaters, and scarves) with bright, summery colors!
Old Navy Dolman // Century 21 Pants // Airwalk Shoes // F21 Belt & Shades // Hollister Scarf // Pacsun Bag

On the last day, we had the famous “Trends Tour.” We talked about spotting and predicting new trends and how these trends end up in stores like H&M of Forever 21. Then, we created an inspiration board of a trend:

Our trend was Metallic (Magnetism!)

We headed out to the stylish streets of San Francisco (Union Square, baby!) to check out window displays and to watch for trends. After three days of learning about marketing and retail, it was amazing to see it all come to life in the stores we shop at!

Left, clockwise: Zara; Diesel; Juicy Ombre Shorts; Levi's; Zara studs; Chanel; Inside Juicy; Walking the streets.

But the part everyone had been looking forward to was at the very end: a visit from Nick Verreos, the Project Runway season 2 winner! He’s so funny! :)

It was inspiring listening to his personal story and we even got to see some of his dresses – ones he designed for Beyoncé and Katy Perry:

Yes, the celebrities actually wore these dresses!

I’m so glad I attended 3 Days of Fashion at FIDM. It was an eye-opening experience that was fun and educational. Maybe you can attend this program next summer and experience it for yourself. Because in the words of Nick Ferreos, "No shoulda, woulda, coulda. Just do it!"