PRETTY SAVAGE

This weekend, my friends and I are going to watch BLACKPINK’s virtual concert. I was initially going to dress in black and pink, but my friends suggested that we should wear a BLACKPINK inspired look, instead.

The K-Pop industry’s budget is insane, so the girls have the most striking costume changes for all of their performances. My personal favorites were their glittery stage outfits at Coachella and their Tomb Raider outfits in “Kill This Love.” I also love seeing them dress in their sponsored designer labels, especially Jennie. She always looks so posh and trendy in Chanel. Lisa is the other member who stands out with her badass streetwear, oversized fur jackets and ever-changing hair color.

I rummaged through my closet, pulling out anything flashy, edgy and K-Pop-ish, and this monochrome look is what I came up with. The miniskirt has a perky girly silhouette, so I balanced it out with a modern asymmetrical crop top.

To accessorize, I put on a choker, which seems to be just as popular in Korea, as it is in the US. If I could spice up this outfit, even more, I would wear a harness or garter. I’m really into all of the unique body straps that Asian pop stars wear, but I haven’t found any that I like yet. This belt is the only accessory I have that resembles that style, so this will do for now. I actually bought it from YesStyle, which is an online Asian store that sells Korean and Japanese-inspired clothes and accessories. For shoes, a pair of booties are always reliable for both comfort and height.

The weather has gotten significantly colder this week, so for my final touch, I layered on my shearling jacket. It’s the perfect excuse to channel my inner Lisa.

Overall, I’d say this look is 10% “pretty” and 90% “savage.” How you like that???

+ BLACKPINK Light Stick | BLACKPINK

+ Jacket | UNIF (Poshmark)

+ Crop Top | boohoo

+ Skirt | Soprano (Goodwill)

+ Belt | YesStyle

+ Booties | Steve Madden (Poshmark)

+ Choker | Forever 21

+ Lipstick | MAC’s Cyber

Photography | Adam Redfield

xx

Dana

SPARKLE + SHINE

It doesn’t feel like holiday season without some glitter. Black and gold are my favorite colors, so I naturally stuck with this color palette. The highlight of this look is definitely the pleated metallic skirt that I got from Goodwill. Since the skirt is high-waisted, I paired it with my Are You Am I crop top.

Unlike the skirt, which was only $6.99, the top was a major splurge. It’s actually one of the most expensive items I own. Even with a discount, it cost about $116. You probably think I’m insane for spending this much on a top, let alone a cropped one, but I had been eying it months before I bought it. I really appreciate its cut, construction, and hand-feel. The knock-offs I saw were missing that crisp square neckline and low-cut back. This top was made from a soft and cozy fiber, called modal, and the long sleeves make it more winter-friendly.

To reflect the sheen of my skirt, I kept my jewelry gold-toned. Ever since I followed Jenn Im on YouTube, she ingrained the idea in me that your metals should always match. For instance, if you choose gold earrings, then you should stay consistent with your necklace, bracelet and ring. After she demonstrated this, I couldn’t unsee it. Now I’m even anal about my purse straps. Aside from having a gold chain, I also thought that my faux fur pouch was fitting for the holidays. It just adds an oomph of class.

For extra warmth, I layered on my mom’s oversized peacoat. I wish I knew the story behind it because it has a Hong Kong address and telephone number printed on the label. Somehow, she thrifted this foreign-made coat that was tailored to petite women, like us. Not only was it well-made, but it still looks brand new. Everything down to the lining was beautifully sewn, and there are even hidden pockets on the inside.

To tie everything together, you can’t go wrong with a classic pair of black heels. They match with almost anything and can instantly elevate your style.

These days, I find it difficult to tell the worth and quality of most garments. This outfit is a prime example of how looks can be deceiving. The most lavish pieces were secondhand, while the simplest one had the highest price tag. Modern day fashion has become a guessing game, but that’s what makes it more fun.

+ Lipstick | MAC’s Hang Up

+ Necklace | Forever 21

+ Purse | Poshmark

+ Crop Top | Are You Am I

+ Skirt | Abound (Goodwill)

+ Coat | Lun Fong (hand-me-down)

+ Heels | Urban Outfitters

Photography | Adam Redfield

xx

Dana

DANGEROUS WOMAN

As I was looking through my closet for Halloween ideas, I saw this babydoll dress that reminded me of Ariana Grande. I thrifted it at Goodwill, last year, but still haven’t had the chance to wear it. With this dress, I already completed half of my costume, so it was the perfect piece to build on.

There are certain elements that define Ariana’s signature style. Aside from babydoll dresses, chokers, over-the-knee boots, and sky-high ponytails are also her trademark. Her Dangerous Woman look resonates with me most, since it’s so dark and sultry. For my costume, I wanted to recreate that album cover.

The most iconic part of the cover was definitely her latex bunny mask. Wearing skintight fabric over my head sounded extremely uncomfortable, so I chose this lace one for more breathability. I thought the veil was more fitting for Halloween, and it could also be tucked back if needed. 

Although I do own over-the-knee boots, I opted for these booties, since they elongate my legs more. My over-the-knee boots are flat, whereas these platforms are 2.75” tall.

The choker was the most difficult item to find, since most of the faux diamond chokers I saw were really tacky. Ariana wore a chunky diamond necklace that I would imagine Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn wearing. I wanted to emulate that classic Hollywood glam, but anything similar was completely out of my budget. Instead, I thrifted this BaubleBar choker for $8 on Poshmark.

For the final touch, I tried my best to do her high ponytail, but it was such a struggle. Doing hair isn’t my forte, even with a simple ponytail, like this. I spent around 30 minutes retying my hair and it still drooped to a regular ass ponytail. My goal is to perfect her hairstyle by Halloween.

This was a fairly easy costume to put together, since most of the garments were things that the average American girl wears. Chokers, stockings and black boots are staple pieces that many of us have. Tying a ponytail is also priceless. If you decide to be Ariana for Halloween, then you’re probably already halfway there.

+ Lipstick | MAC’s Black Knight

+ Mask | Amazon

+ Choker | BaubleBar (Poshmark)

+ Dress | Goodwill

+ Stockings | Romwe

+ Booties | Steve Madden (Poshmark)

Photography | Adam Redfield

xx

Dana