for the Frill of it.

for the Frill feature: Sentina

there’s your sister, your brother, your cousin … and then there’s my cousin, Sentina. Charismatic and Eccentric are two (mild) words that can be used to describe her. but it’s her infectious zaniness that made this photo shoot one of the easiest i’ve ever done. she even took me out for City Island shrimp after! and trust me, that’s HUGE.



WHO: My name is Sentina, age 23 from the Boogie Down Bronx. I’m a full-time amazing person. I have a passion for fashion and an itch for accessories that can POP POP POP an outfit!! I’m also a full-time manager and student.



WHAT:


“I love these accessories because whenever you have an outfit which is missing something spunky you can simply add accessories and it will make your outfit pop. I love the loudness and obnoxiousness but also the posh and cute look it gives to any outfit perfectly put together. I love accessories, it’s something about the way you can jazz up a boring dress with throwing on a chunky necklace or a set of bracelets. You can hide behind your accessories. Having a bad hair day? Throw on a headband that’s bedazzled or one with feathers or a bow.”



“My inspirations for my outfits and style come from traveling and looking through magazines. Going shopping and from the amazing artists like Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry to fantastic designers like Alexander McQueen, Anna Sui and Givenchy and my fav of fav’s, Marc Jacobs, it is pretty clear that I take a strong inspiration from these people to create an outfit. Ciao!!”







For the Frill Feature: Tia

tia is a friend of mine who i’ve known for a few years. the backdrop we used for the shoot is from a place in Astoria, New York called 5 Pointz. it’s definitely a place to visit. it’s as dope as tia!
Who: Cynthia B., those close by mostly know me as Tia. Born & raised in Queens, Fashion Merchandising & Marketing student in NYC. Working as a vendor for Interface Merchandising at the Macy’s at Herald Square [somewhat permanently, sometimes moving around to other nearby department stores]. HUGE photography/fine art/street art dork & inspires to live life while having as much fun as possible :D
What: tartan knit scarf, gold Hamsa Wrap Leather Bracelet, gold estate-inspired earrings, cigarette brooch, tortoise frame glasses, black pop-top knit mittens & distressed wooden sole ankle boots.




Where:
• Tartan Knit Scarf - Forever 21 [$8]
• Hamsa Wrap Leather Bracelet - local jewelry boutique, Queens [$10]
• Estate-Inspired earrings - flea market - Lancaster, PA [$5]
• Dee & Ricky Lego cigarette brooch - deeandricky.com [$20]
• Vintage-Inspired glasses - vendors on Canal Street, NYC [$6-7]
• Black pop-top knit mittens - Juicy Couture [$55]
• Distressed leather boots - Forever 21 [$24.90]


Why She Loves: I absolutely adore unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. If I fall in love with something at first glance and then a week later I’m still in love, I know it’s a piece that’s different & stands out from the masses. I don’t have favorites in my accesory collection; I love each piece equally while each individual piece has a story that makes it different from the others. This kinda applies to the Lego brooch that I bought a year back. I hadn’t seen anything like it & even though the price was a tad steep for some legos pieces put together (think about it lol.), it was the dopest thing I had seen in a while. Still haven’t seen anyone besides me with it in NYC! I also feel that if you still love an accesory years later, they seem to get better & even more personal over time. My tartan scarf is circa 2007 & at the time not too many people cared for tartan prints. Now in 2011, it’s a completely different story; someone’s always asking me where I got it and I reply, “ Back in ‘07! “. Same goes for my mittens; within the 3 years of having them, they ripped at the thumbs (thanks iPhone!) and unravelled at the fingers, exposing the yarns from the knit & purl stiches. I mostly wear them at work during the winter for sanitation and warmth & my co-workers think they’re they really neat and ask of course, where’d I get them. 



Do you think style is an art? If so, why?: As deep as this might sound, we are our style. Sure, we may be influenced by what our eyes see, but I believe a person with ‘style’ stays true to themselves & doesn’t carbon-copy what they see. Style is an art; it’s who we are, what we abide by & how we want our existence to be perceived in the world.


etsy finds of the week: SPIKES

i had a friend of mine ask what was big in the accessories scene and what immediately came to my mind? - spikes. spikes have definitely moved up the ladder. originally incorprated to give off more of a ‘punk’ look, i’m now seeing more and more chic-inspired spiked accessories. here are a few i’ve found on etsy:

  1. White Howlite Spikes Statement Necklace ($32.00) - LOVE the layered effect. it makes the howlite spikes stand out more!
  2. Antique Gold Spike Earrings ($50.00) - edge up your look with these spiked studs.
  3. Black Beaded Spike Necklace ($24.99) - if you’re new to the spike scene, this necklace is a good introduction. classy yet not too bold.
  4. Shooting Neon Spike Ring ($14.00) - what i love about this ring is how the spike is neutral and it’s the other colored pieces that make it stand out.
  5. Five Strand Woven Bracelet ($55.00) - again, i am a lover for anything black and gold and this five strand bracelet is truly one of a kind.
  6. Tribal Beaded Necklace ($60.00) - anything with rose gold has my vote. combined with the turquoise beads, this really pairs well with a casual-chic look, such as a white tee/tank with a pair of blue jeans.