Take Note: June's Blogger of the Month

For June, I decided to feature Liz from Olive, My Love as my blogger of the month. Her style is really accessible while still being inspirational and chic. She posts about her adventures as well so her blog is always a good read. She kindly answered some questions for me below.

How did you first get involved with blogging?

I became interested in blogging through the Wardrobe Remix Flickr group in 2008. A lot of the girls who contributed also had blogs, so I began to follow a few. I was looking for a way to channel some of my creative leanings and a blog seemed like a good way to create some kind of scrapbook. I didn't want it to be a personal style blog initially, because I felt like, "Who do I think I am??" when it came to posting picture of myself. It also felt like a daunting task to keep it up. With some encouragement from friends (and the amazing IFB Conference in February) I started to write more substantial posts. It definitely feels more personal now, which I really enjoy.

Describe your personal style.

Refined 90's with a classic, clean 60's styling aesthetic.

Who are your style icons?

Currently: Marina Munoz Always: My mom

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Most of my inspiration comes from regular girls that I see on the street and my friends! I also obviously look to fellow bloggers, style sites and magazines now and then, but I think the best ideas come from real people that you know.

How does where you live affect your style?

Besides having to dress for the elements, I think being in Brooklyn and helped me simplify my wardrobe. It might also be because I'm older now, but I am more interested in owning a few key pieces and things I really love as opposed to having the most up to date trend right closet. Brooklynites march to the beat of their own drum - they don't always follow trends and tend to stick to tried and true classics and that is definitely something that I relate to.

What's your favourite book, movie and band?

Ooh this is hard because I don't really have favorites, but...

-The Great Gatsby has always been a favorite book of mine since high school, although I am reading a lot of J.D. Salinger right now and I'm kind of falling in love.

- I'm not the biggest movie buff, but I love "There Will Be Blood" and "Now and Then" is pretty much the most perfect girly summer movie of all time.

- I'm currently listening to a lot of Tennis, Fleet Foxes and Zombies and I'm always listening to Wilco, Justin Townes Earle, Jenny Lewis and a variety of 60's girl groups like the Shangri-Las.

What would be your perfect Saturday?

Renting a car and taking an adventure out of town with my guy. Probably something involving historical monuments!

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

Camping by a lake in the Shennendoah Valley.

What's one fashion faux pas you secretly love?

Black with navy. It's totally chic, demure and sexy when done right.

If you could live in one movie, which would it be?

I would like to live in a movie about my life where I have more money and a better apartment with a very large closet.

Any tips for aspiring personal style bloggers?

Be true to yourself and write as if you were talking to a friend. It's easier, comes more naturally and people will relate to you.

So check out Liz's blog, Olive, my love by clicking here.

Be Back Soon

I know I said I was taking a week break to sort out moving home for summer but then my 21st birthday weekend happened and now I'm on tour with my best friends band doing some filming til the end of the week. I'll be back soon but I just wanted to let everyone know I hadn't just disappeared.

P.S If you want to check out what I'm up to on tour, check out Calais by clicking here.

Heat Rash

Dress: Vintage

Cardigan: H&M

Belt: Zara

Shoes: UO

Bag: Vintage

Wore this for a day trip to Otley recently when the weather couldn't decide what it wanted. I wanted to go one last time before disappearing for summer but it seemed someone else had gotten there first and nabbed all the good stuff. It was followed by a night of watching 'The Craft' and 'Matilda' with friends which is the perfect way to spend an evening in my books. 

I'm currently packing up my room to move home and I'm going to take a break from the blog for the week so I can deal with all the stuff I have to do. Plus I'm lacking a photographer since Mel is leaving Leeds today too. It's back to self-portraits once I'm home for summer. 

I'm looking forward to going home for the home comforts, the free food, packed charity shops and freedom of riding my bike around but I'm going to miss Leeds and everyone in it. I can't even handle thinking about graduating next summer without a slightly nauseous feeling in my stomach. Growing up sucks!

Try To Change

Top: H&M

Skirt: H&M

Cardigan: Topshop

Shoes: UO

I kind of disappeared for a while there. Since finishing university for the year, I've had no structure in my life at all and everything has gotten a little bit crazy. We've got the rough cut of the film finished, just waiting on credits and soundtrack now which is exciting. A lot of people have asked about being able to see it but I'm still considering whether I'll be making it available for viewing online. It kind of cuts down your options for what you can do with the film but we'll see. 

This outfit was an easy option for a day of watching X-Men First Class, going for one last dinner out with Mel and then a party in the evening. People have been having parties left, right and center since finishing so it's been a tiring couple of weeks. Dressing for comfort has become my only option really. 

I'll try and get back into the swing of posting regularly but I'm going to have to take next week off because I'm moving home from uni etc. Might try and get some guest posts, let me know if you'd be interested in helping a girl out!

This Is Our Lot

Dress: F21

Cardigan: H&M

Shoes: UO

Had a little break from the blogging world to go outside and enjoy the sunshine this week. It's a lot of my friends last week in Leeds as well so I had lots of quality time scheduled in with them. I'm on a four nights out in a row schedule at the moment, tonight being the third and I'm just not sure how I'm gonna survive. All the days tend to blur into one in summertime and coming home in the morning when it's alright light outside is really disorientating. 

The ease of summer dressing is something I'm totally renewing my love for though. Sundress and shoes, ready to go. Anything more complicated is just too much for a sunfrazzled brain to comprehend. 

I went to a friend's birthday party the other night and the theme was crossing dressing so of course I obliged and went as my alter ego Claude. A moustache and a bow tie was added after the photo below but all of the other photos are pretty horrific. At the party I went to last night someone said 'You're looking nice in your girls clothes' so clearly Claude made an impression.