Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel remains a mystery to most of us mere mortals, an elusive being whose essence we call upon when we behold something refined or elegant.

Her influence on fashion is incredibly vast. Not only did she affect the fashion world, she influenced the world's view of beauty's aesthetics as a whole.

I feel like including any small portion of her biography would not do her justice. To include a large portion of her biography would not do her justice.

Perhaps one day I shall know her and understand her more. I am afraid that I won't feel comfortable relating her story until I feel like I more fully understand it. Surely she has a rich and complicated history that has shaped her into becoming the epitome of all fashion.

But I do know that she was known for her "costume" pearls, jersey knit material in clothing, and her little jackets.

Here are some pictures of a young Coco Chanel.

I love the classic look that she created. The clean lines, the huge pearls, the bobbed hair and red lips. What we consider "elegant" and "classic," is all her creation.

It was her birthday on August 19th. I'm a little late now, but I would like to honor her memory today with my own version of her elegance and class.

This outfit really reminds me of Coco Chanel because of the straight lines of the shirt and the pearls necklace. She loved clothes that were architectural and soft.

This blouse in particular has darts at the bust instead of at the waist. That causes the material to nip in at the bust instead of at the waist, giving it an intentional square shape. 

This is how I would interpret a classic casual Chanel look. How would you do it?

Also, I'll have you know that I originally was wearing my rose gold watch, but I took it off. It was Chanel who is reported to have said said: "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off."

Besides celebrating Coco Chanel's birthday, I am going camping with my singles stake tomorrow. I'm not really much of a camper, but I think that this time it will be fun! It's just one night that I'll be sleeping up in the mountains. I have a bed and a bathroom, so...I guess I can't complain too much. Haha!

I just got certified for Article 9, and that means I can start billing Hab and Respite finally. Yes!

I've been watching a lot of old James Bond movies for the first time. I love Sean Connery! Even if he is such a ladies man. Right now, I am watching Thunderball. Don't ruin it for me! ;)

Until next time, my dear!

xoxo Miranda

*****UPDATE

Thunderball combines all of my favorite things: fashion, marine biology, and attractive spies.

Lace top, acid wash jeans, brown studded flats:// Target (but similar ones here)

Pearl necklace:// New York and Company

Bag:// Charming Charlie

Sophia Loren's Trip to Disneyland, 1963

Hello, friends! How has your summer vacation been? 

Mine has been pretty good. I got out of school at the end of July and I got to go on vacation back to California to visit family. While we were there, I got to meet my new baby cousin Isla! She is adorable! I went to Disneyland with her, my aunt Cami, and my grandma.

That is where I got my inspiration for this post. As my uncle Brian said, "People should take a good look at themselves in the mirror before they leave the house."

Today, I am going to share with you the Do's and Don'ts of Disneyland. Here we go!

DO take inspiration from Sophia Loren:

She visited Disneyland in the spring of 1963. Here, she is dressed in a plaid jacket with a classic button down sleeveless white blouse and a pencil skirt.

DO wear comfortable shoes. You will be doing a lot of walking and standing. I wouldn't recommend sandals, unless you are an experienced Californian.

DO wear your hair up. As Sophia Loren demonstrates, it can get really hot and muggy. Especially in the middle of summertime. It is one of the busiest times of the year.

DO cover up. There are children there. Let's keep it PG, people.

DO wear sunglasses. As well as being a style statement, they protect and keep the glare out of your eyes.

Now for the don'ts:

DON'T wear a fanny pack. For the love of all things Disney, don't wear a fanny pack unless you are trying to look like a tourist.

DON'T wear too much makeup. I love makeup, so I'm talking to myself as much as I am to you. But trust me, your makeup will just sweat off as you're waiting in line for Indiana Jones. Keep it simple and you won't go wrong. 

DON'T wear high heels. Believe it or not, I have seen this a few times. It makes me feel pain for you.

Over the course of all my Disneyland trips, I have acquired several Disney t-shirts that I LOVE. 

Here are some ways that I would style my Disney t-shirts if I were going to Disneyland tomorrow. 

Ariel Shirt://Disneyland  Acid Wash Pants://Target  Snakeskin Flats://Target  Bracelet://New York and Company

Minnie Mouse Shirt://Disneyland  Cobalt Blue Bermuda Shorts://Target  Brown Studded Flats://Target  Minnie Mouse Wallet://Disneyland 

me+Disneyland=<3 Shirt://Disneyland  Forest Green Pants://Target  Leopard Print Flats://Ross  Grey Statement Necklace://Designer Blvd

Thanks for stopping by. If you are starting school this week, good luck. And if you're not starting school again until September, let's have some more fun! :)

xoxo, Miranda

RIP Lauren Bacall

"You know how to whistle, don't you Steve? You just put your lips together and...blow."

Vogue Magazine describes her as "Wide-mouthed, with a deep deadeye voice-sounding sexy and faintly mad at someone, Lauren Bacall looks the way most American women yearn to look; the way that stops men- American and otherwise- smack in their tracks."

But Lauren Bacall was not just a pretty face. She had real talent and an energy that drew people to the screen.

In 2009, she received an Academy Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in recognition of her central place in the Golden Age of motion pictures.

She started out modeling for fashion magazines, first gracing the cover of Harper's Bazaar. She began acting on Broadway in 1942 at age 17.

Her breakthrough was in 1944, in To Have and Have Not with Humphrey Bogart in 1944. The two fell in love and married in 1945. Bacall was 20, Bogart was 45. They remained married until his death in 1957.

After Bogart's death, Bacall was briefly engaged to Frank Sinatra, and later married actor Jason Robards Jr. She continued to act through the 1980's. She died on August 12th, 2014, after a stroke.

She has a remarkable presence onscreen. If you ever watch any of her films, you will be surprised at how deep and husky, yet surprisingly female her voice sounds. There is an innate sense of self confidence about her. She is strikingly beautiful, but it isn't the beauty that keeps you looking. Its her intense stare and her self assurance that holds you captive. You feel as if you are moldable to her wishes: whatever she wants you to believe, you believe.

I don't think there will ever be another actress like her. She will be missed.

xoxo Miranda

National Lipstick Day

Hello, friends! I'm sorry that I haven't blogged in a long time. The past few weeks I have been working on finals, and this week I am on a short vacation visiting family in California.

But I promise to get better to start fashion blogging again soon!

In other news, today is National Lipstick Day. Hooray!

Lipstick has a rich history. It was around in the Roman Empire, and both men and women would wear it to indicate their high social status. During World War II, Winston Churchill rationed all cosmetics except for lipstick. He believed that it boosted morale. He was right! Lipstick sold well during the war.

Now, people have mixed opinions on lipstick. Everyone that I come across either hates it or loves it. I find for the most part that men don't really like it because they don't want to get it on their mouths when kissing. But there are a few men that still like the way it looks. And then there are some women that don't like the way lipstick looks, and some who do.

Obviously, I love lipstick. And for a long time, that was hard for me to say because I know that there are so many other people out there who don't like it. It may sound like an insignificant thing, but for a long time I was so concerned about what other people would think if I wore lipstick. I felt so self conscious. If there is anyone else out there who had an experience like this, I totally get you.

But honestly, it's your life. Wear the dang lipstick.

Here are some of my favorite lipstick pins for inspiration. :)

And one last lipstick quote...

Happy National Lipstick Day! Mwah!

xoxo Miranda

Cleopatra, 1963

ELIZABETH TAYLOR.

Elizabeth Taylor.

Elizabeth Taylor!

Seriously, just saying her name gets me excited. She is one of my favorite actresses. She is also the actress that I am compared to the most in looks, which is the HUGEST compliment, for anyone who has ever said anything like that to me. Thank you!

Anyway, in the movie Cleopatra in 1963, Elizabeth Taylor plays Cleopatra VII, the Queen of Egypt.

The film was was one of the most expensive films ever made. It costed $44 million to make the movie. While it was the highest grossing film of 1963, making $26 million, it ran at a loss. To this day, it is the only film to be the highest grossing film of the year and yet run at a loss. 

Cleopatra was nominated for nine academy awards, and won four.

Elizabeth Taylor is so beautiful in this movie. I love all of her gold dresses. I can't say that I love her makeup, but Elizabeth Taylor did! She continued to wear eye makeup similar to this in for most of her life.

I took one of those cheesy BuzzFeed quizzes today about what era I am supposed to be in, and it said I was supposed to be in Ancient Egypt! Who'd have thought! So I thought I would play the role of Queen Cleopatra by also putting on a fancy gold dress!

Isn't this dress so cute!? My friend Lauren's mom made this dress for me when I was in high school for my senior prom. She is a fantastic seamstress. I especially love the ruffle on the back, I think it is so flattering! (I'm still a LITTLE self-conscious about having a flat butt. Haha.)

Anyway, this past week has been really busy, and this week too, with finals coming up at BYU-Idaho. I only have a week and a half left and I am back in Arizona! Seriously, I am so excited. I love working and living with family. I also get to see my new cousin. I haven't met her yet. I'm going to meet her before I start going back to work. I'm so excited!

What are your fun summer plans? Any good ideas that I can steal? ;)

xoxo Miranda

Breakfast at Tiffany's, 1961

We all know Breakfast at Tiffany's as Audrey Hepburn's most identifiable role. This film is so significant that in 2012, it was deemed as "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress. It was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

It was nominated for five different Academy Awards. Best Actress for Audrey Hepburn, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, and Best Original Score and Best Original Song for the song "Moon River."

I love the beginning of the film. It starts out with a cab pulling up to Tiffany's in New York City. A young woman gets out of the cab, and eats a pastry and drinks coffee as she lovingly gazes into the windows full of sparkles and jewels.

Her dress is possibly the most iconic dress of all time. It was designed by Givenchy (pronounced Gee-vohn-chee). When it was first designed, it showed too much of Audrey Hepburn's leg, and was deemed unsuitable for the screen. So Edith Head, my favorite designer, redesigned the bottom half.

I love how Audrey's delicate shoulder blades and slender frame fit inside this dress. It's easy to see why this particular dress is considered the epitome of all elegance.

Audrey Hepburn and I do not have much in common, except for loving elegance. We are built very differently, so what is beautiful on her will not look the same on me. I decided to use a dress that is flattering for me and closer to my personal style, but still elegant.

I bought this dress from New York and Company a few months ago. I love it! It is flattering on every woman that wears it. It's not that expensive, either. So if you can find it, then I HIGHLY recommend that you purchase it. You won't regret it! :)

A big thanks to Alpine Jewellers for being conveniently located. There is no Tiffany's in Rexburg yet, I can't imagine why.. ;).

There is only about three weeks of school left, so everyone is getting very busy. Megan, my photographer, is in a huge dance festival called Summerfest! She's very excited about it.

My weeks coming up are going to be crazy, too. I'm helping plan the BYU-Idaho Fashion Show and starting to work for Mary Kay. That is not including finals. Wish me luck!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

xoxo Miranda

Beware of Danger: July 4th

Happy Independence Day weekend!

Sorry I haven't posted all week. It is the last four weeks of school, and my photographer and I have been very busy. It has been difficult to find time for both of us to take pictures when we have different schedules and lots of things going on.

So, instead of pictures of me this week, I'm going to show you some gorgeous one piece swimwear. They'll make you feel as fabulous as Marilyn for the Fourth of July!

All of these swim suits are Anthropologie Swimwear.

Remember to use sunscreen! ;)

xoxo Miranda