Globetrotter

Time to hit the airport!

     Hello, all! Today I plan on discussing one of my favorite topics: travel! Traveling is a great way to introduce yourself to new cultures and their customs, something I think is very important. When my photographer took my sister Kaya and I to China, we got to try new foods, see new things, and learn more about my heritage. I think it's incredibly important to be aware and respectful of all cultures and people in this world, and traveling is a great way to achieve this. Kaya and I may not have enjoyed every food we tasted, or thought every piece of art we saw was beautiful, but we were still respectful, and that's what's important.
     Like travel, I wanted this outfit to be fun, but at the same time safe and comfortable. Whether I'm trekking through the Amazonian rainforest or shopping through 5th Avenue, I want to have an exciting experience. At the same time, I don't want to get bitten by a piranha or run over by a taxi. That would be bad. This outfit looks fun with all the bright colors and sparkles, but is also. "safe". In this fashion world, I hope it inspires you to create a travel outfit of your own!

Ah, tulle and rhinestones, my BFFs.

     What does this headband remind you of? It reminds me of 2014 Girl of the Year, Isabelle!  For some odd reason, I couldn't get Isabelle out of my mind today, and whatever's on my mind gets incorporated into my daily style. How convenient. As you know, Isabelle is a ballerina, so this outfit includes small ballet-related details, like this headband. Tutu's is a stretchy, netted material that many tutus are made out of, along with my headband, which is conveniently pink, a color closely associated with ballet. The rhinestone in the middle also reminds me of Isabelle--she has so many sparkly items in her collection! Have you bought Isabelle or any of her clothing and accessories? Tell me in the comments!

This vest is just too adorable!

     The vest I'm wearing was originally from a set called "The Wilderness Outfit"--how befitting, as today's topic is travel! One of my favorite things to do while traveling is go on hikes or take a dip in the ocean. The world is such a beautiful place, I need to see more of it! I paired this best with a short-sleeved tee to keep warm. One thing I love about vests is that they don't restrict your arms; I'm free to move as I like. The tee underneath is a turtleneck, which is quite strange seeing how short the sleeves are. I like it, it's weird. Bringing the focus back to ballet, we have to the appliqué on the shirt. It's purple. It's sequins. 'Nuff said.

These shoes are perfect for slipping on and off at airport security.

Travel is exciting because you get to take risks, and in this outfit I took a pretty big risk: wearing ballet flats. Remember my number one rule? Don't sacrifice comfort for fashion? Well I broke it again. Ugh. I need to grasp control of myself. Fashion is taking over! While these shoes are pretty and appropriate for the airport, we all know I would get blisters if I were to wear them while strolling the streets of Paris and hopping in and out of museums. Again, these shoes fit the ballet theme. It couldn't get any more obvious than ballet flats.

My bag is packed!

     Last but not least, my suitcase. It came with a bunch of travel stickers to decorate with, but I can't seem to find them. Hmmm, maybe I'll go hunt them down. This suitcase completes my Isabelle theme. So far, I've had a few twinges of purple here and there: my headband (really, it was pink), the appliqué, and my shoes, but this suitcase rounds it all out!     Try an outfit like this at home: take inspiration from a person or doll like I did with Isabelle. Incorporate bright colors and patterns like, Julie, the 70s girl, or try adding some southwestern flair, like last year's Girl of the Year, Saige. Well, I have a plane to catch, see you tomorrow!

Stay fashionable,

--Ivy

Clothes
Headband: Sweet Savannah Dress

Vest: Wilderness Outfit

Shirt: Go Anywhere Outfit 

Shoes: Bow-Toe Flats

Suitcase: Travel Set

P.S. Don't forget to check out my brand new Instagram! http://instagram.com/ivysadventures

Winter Walk

The wind is tossing my hair around!

     Today I ventured into the snowy wilderness to take pictures, and boy was it cold! But on such a beautiful day, how could I resist going outside? To keep warm, I wrapped myself in a gorgeous, ruby red trench coat. It's my favorite winter accessory, and I always cuff the sleeves and pop the collar for a more mysterious vibe. For fashion purposes, I belted the coat open, showing off my outfit underneath. I do not recommend doing this regularly, though. My number one rule is that however cute your outfit is, do not sacrifice personal comfort for the sake of fashion! It's a bumpy road that only goes downhill. You've been warned, so stay safe!
     I adore my ruby trench for a few reasons: its warmth, its color, and its length. Let me explain that last one. Not only are long coats extra warm, but the way they sweep my feet makes me feel extra princess-y. Also,  wearing something short underneath a long coat, like I do here, produces an amazing contrast. It's quite eye-catching, long vs. short! I think this coat really completes my look. What do you think? Tell me in the comment section! 

I love this belt's rustic vibe!

     This belt is the prize gem of my collection, and guess what? I made it yesterday! While digging through her closet, my photographer discovered a "skinny belt" (it's a special style of belt) from her childhood that no longer fit. Realizing it could be doll-sized, we snipped the belt to fit my waist perfectly. Isn't it just darling? It reminds me of log cabins, chopping wood, and warm winter nights. I can't believe it only took me a few seconds to make!

     Story time's over now, back to fashion! It's time for me to tell you a secret, the secret to why this outfit works! I mean, I'm wearing purple tights, a multicolor striped skirt, and a trench coat. Reading that sentence, an image of a fashionably-challenged clown comes to mind. Anyway, here's why it works: color, color, color. Look closely at the colors on the skirt, and then look at the pieces I'm wearing. See a resemblance? I thought so. There are red, purple, blue, white, and orange stripes in my skirt, and I'm wearing a red coat, purple tights, blue shoes, a white top, and an orange-ish belt. Astonishing how well it all works together, isn't it! 

Ahhh, my clogs. Comfy and casual.

     These clogs are one of the best purchases I have ever made from American Girl. They are of the utmost quality, and are such a rich, blue color. Too bad they're retired. You can probably find them on Ebay though, along with a brown and red pair. Go check that out! Try an outfit like this at home: mix clothing of different lengths for some variation, and tone down busy pieces by incorporating their colors into the rest of the outfit. 

Stay fashionable,

--Ivy

Clothes

Top: Isabelle's Rosette Leotard
Coat: Local boutique
Belt: Handmade by Ivy
Skirt: Julie's Summer Skirt Set
Tights: Go Anywhere Outfit
Shoes: Blueberry Clogs

P.S. I just opened an Instagram account! I'll be posting previews to blog posts and exclusive photos. I even have a plan for a giveaway when I hit 50 followers on this blog, or 150 Instagram followers! Follow me @ivyagadventures, or check out my page here. For future reference, there is also a link in the bar to the right of this post. 

Signs of Spring

I love the fun, bright colors in this outfit!

     Hey all, Ivy here! I have a wonderful outfit prepared for you today. It was inspired the beautiful flowers of springtime, but is still comfortable enough for these last few weeks of winter. In my corner of the world, the weather has been warming up (45° F!), and I'm getting excited for spring. Birds chirping, grass peeking out from beneath the snow, the world slowly waking up, I love it! In this outfit, I took these springtime ideas and wrapped them up into a  bundle of cozy winter fun. Enjoy!

Saige had such a nice collection. This necklace was my favorite part!

      The vest I'm wearing is adorable; I love that it's not a bright, harsh, white color. Instead, it's a beautiful cream shade which can be matched easily. It lays flawlessly across my chest, creating a wonderful strip of color down the center. This way, it acts as a frame for my necklace, giving it the perfect place to hang. Vests are a great way to give an outfit more flair. Not only are they cute, but they aren't too bulky and can be worn during any season.

   

Thumbholes: yes or no? Tell me in the comments. 

     Ever heard of color blocking? If not, you've come to the right place! Color blocking is a fashion term that describes the usage of multiple, single colored clothing items in an outfit. In this ensemble, I used color blocking by matching a pink sweater and green skirt, but you can color block with all sorts of colors. Try matching deep purples and emerald greens, or sky blues and daffodil yellows. Avoid using prints though, sticking to single colored clothing items will prevent your outfit from becoming too busy. Still, don't be afraid of getting wacky, that's the whole point of this trend!

Trim is such a nice touch--it really spruces things up!

     I adore the ruffles on this skirt, they give my outfit a little extra sparkle. As said before, this ensemble was inspired by springtime, but more specifically, flowers. Let me explain. The boots, which are a light, earthy, brown color, are the roots. The skirt is the stem, and my favorite part, this trim, is like leaves. The shirt, vest, and necklace (which conveniently has a flower on it) are the bloom, the most beautiful part of the flower. 

     Modeling outfits after real objects, like I did here, not only ensures a aesthetically pleasing look, but it's also loads of fun! 

Experiment with these examples:

Bird                                         Pencil                                     Tree

Beak-Orange headband          Graphite-Gray scarf                Leaves-Green shirt

Body-Blue shirt                        Wooden Tip-Tan shirt             Trunk-Brown pants

Wings-Black pants                   Body- Yellow Pants                Roots-Black boots

Feet-Orange shoes                  Eraser-Pink shoes                 Birds/flowers-colorful bracelets

These boots are simple yet stylish.

     Try an outfit like this at home: Go ahead--experiment with color blocking in your next outfit! I recommend looking at a color wheel beforehand. This way, you'll know which colors look great together. Also, be aware of your surroundings. Inspiration comes from everywhere, so take a look around--you might just spot your next outfit! 

Stay fashionable,

--Ivy

Clothes

Necklace: Saige's Sparkle Dress

Vest: Weekend Fun Outfit

Sweater: Isabelle's Coral Sweater

Skirt: Go Anywhere Outfit 

Boots: Ivy's Meet Outfit

I had a bit of trouble getting up the stairs:

Help me!

Art Smart

Hey, I'm back!

      Welcome back to Ivy's Adventures! Today, I put together a simple outfit called "Art Smart" for you. I've come to realize "Art Smart" isn't the best name, though. You see, the lovely raspberry beret I'm wearing reminded me of my days in art class, my paintbrush swirling beautiful colors onto a canvas. While this outfit is cute and comfortable, I see it isn't quite appropriate for arts and crafts. A white shirt, while drawing and painting and glueing! What was I thinking? I guess I'll just have to be extra careful. 

Ooooo, this bow is gorgeous!

      The base of this outfit is a white shirt and light-wash jeans. The shirt has a subtle leafy print which I adore, and the pants are a fun, bright blue color which reminds me of the 70s. Delicate detailing, like that shown on the shirt, can easily be incorporated into any outfit; it adds some "zing!" without being to distracting. Rolling up a shirt's sleeves for a  three quarter-length look, like I did here, is easy and adds an exciting twist. Together, this combination of jeans and a white tee is simple yet stunning. Still, I think it's a bit boring. That's where the belt comes in!
     The pink, bow-style belt I'm wearing was a spur-of-the-moment idea. I threw it together using some fabric strips (tutorial on that later), and I think it adds some much needed color to the outfit. Touching back on details, this belt is sprinkled with a simple flower pattern. While any color belt would have matched the white background, I chose this one because of it's white flowers, which match the shirt perfectly. Little details like this can make any outfit  more put together looking.

Black boots: a necessity in any girl's closet.

     These black boots are probably my favorite purchase from American Girl--they are so versatile! I'll admit, the detailing is bland, but sometimes, simple is good. These boots work well with skirts, dresses, jeans, trousers, leggings, or tights, and I'm sure I could find a way to flaunt them with shorts. Anyway, these boots match my hair and belt buckle fantastically, which is why I to wear chose them. Well, actually, my pants are bell bottom style (think extremely large bootcut) and I needed to tuck them into something cute to disguise their ugliness. These boots came to the rescue!

Now all I need is some paints, brushes, and paper!

     Now for my last clothing item: the raspberry beret. I guess I was going for something a bit monochromatic with the light pink belt and all. It works, but the hat's not the focus of the outfit. This is totally fine; the beret is just there to get me in an artsy mood! Try an outfit like this at home: jeans and a t-shirt are boring alone, add fun accessories like belts and hats for some pizazz! Well, I'm off to the art studio now, wish me luck with my white shirt!

Stay fashionable,

--Ivy

P.S. Leave a comment if you would like a tutorial on the bow-belt!

Clothes
Hat: Ivy's Meet Accessories 
Shirt: Local boutique
Belt: Handmade by Ivy
Pants: Local boutique
Boots: Fashion Boots

Hello!

Ooo, a close up! I'm looking mighty fine today!

     Hello everyone, the name's Ivy Ling! This blog, Ivy's Adventures, will be filled with fashions, crafts, and general musings from me, Ivy. Sometimes, my sister Kaya might post too. She's a bit shy though, so I'll need to coax her into writing something.
     Anyway, today's first post is all about fashion, something I adore. The colors, the fabric, the combinations! Putting together outfits is so much fun! I believe in dressing your best everyday, as it makes you feel more confident and relaxed. Hopefully, you'll be inspired by some of the outfits on my blog and try dressing your best too. 

Hi! The name's Ivy Ling.

    Enough of that introduction stuff, let's dive into today's fashion! A warm, striped sweater, complete with thumb holes, is the base of this outfit. I pulled on some black leggings and tan boots to accompany it. I think the boots match the sweater's beige stripes nicely, and the black leggings tie it all together. Perfect for a casual day at home! Too bad my day was super busy--

I just adore the buttons on this skirt!

--I had errands to run! It's still freezing where I live, so I needed to keep warm while scampering about town. That's where the scarf comes in. I've been learning how to knit, and this scarf is my first completed project! It's super soft and oh-so-warm. I love its color too! I threw on this red, high wasted skirt to add a pop of color to my rather plain outfit. It really cheered me up on this dreary February day, and I love how the black buttons match my leggings and hair. Twirling in this skirt is so much fun, and plenty of strangers thew odd glances my way as I danced through town. Hehehe, I just couldn't help myself!

The full outfit, in all it's glory!

    Try an outfit like this at home: boots, scarves and skirts always look great together, but adding fun colors and accessories like my bright red skirt and long purple scarf will make any outfit unique. Well, that's it, folks! I hope you enjoyed my first ever post--come back for more excitement soon!

Stay fashionable,

--Ivy

Clothes
Scarf: Handmade by Ivy
Sweater: AG Wilderness Outfit
Skirt: Forever18Inches
Leggings: Dollie and Me 
Boots: Ivy's Meet Outfit