Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Go!

It's that time of the year again. And by "that time" I mean no other time than the holiday season. With the overflowing shopping malls, vibrant-red-meets-forest-green decor, and insanely brisk winter wind, this time of the year is a favorite for many, including myself. 

The title of today's post is - what I like to think- a relatively clever play-on on the spirits of the holiday season. Along with the cold weather and holiday grandeur, this time is the perfect opportunity to make amends with the past and let bygones be bygones, aptly nicknamed as "letting it go" in today's age ( a reference to the Disney movie, "Frozen"). As 2014 dwindles down to its final days, one cannot help but reminisce about the past and all the significant events that occurred during the year.

However- albeit unsurprising- the holiday season is my favorite not only because of this opportunity for nostalgia (although who doesn't love a good 'ol flashback moment), but because of the new styles and trends that emerge in the fashion world during this time. Pieces such as pea coats, tights, and the occasional muffler and scarf (depending on the region in which you reside) always make their yearly appearance during this season, which leads me to the question I find myself asking almost every day: what is the signature piece that everyone needs for this current season?

My answer? The perfect scarf.

Scarves serve multiple purposes; they provide warmth and add a chic touch to one's outfit. Patterns express the feelings of the individuals, personalization is feasible with monogramed options and personal prints, and the act of giving a scarf as a gift implies a sense of care and love from the gifter to the giftee.

Below are a few of my favorite scarf ootd's, all found on tumblr.com

What is your staple winter piece? And how do you plan on letting go this holiday season? Let us know in the comments below.

2014 has been a crazy year for Mindy and I. The growth and development in the past year that has occurred due to this blog have been an incredible experience for both of us as writers, bloggers, and individuals. It is truly encouraging to see the hundreds of page views we've accumulated and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for reading our blog. Mindy and I would like to wish all of you the best this holiday season. May your days be merry and bright!

--K

Handbag HTML : #000000

#000000, also known as Hex 000000 in RGB terms, or more simply the color black is yet again making waves in this new chilly season. Black handbags are a timeless classic, and can be traced back to multiple decades. Rather than questioning the color, this season is questioning the style of the timeless jewel. Clutch or Crossbody? Duffel Bag or Shoulder Tote? These styles are appearing everywhere on the market, thus leaving the final decision in the hands of the buyer.

Although I'll never be able to choose a sole winner, here are a few of my favorite #000000 handbags i've seen thus far. 

Note: All images found on tumblr.com

-- K

A(DRESS) THE MESS

Overall, my relationship with dresses has been in full force since I can remember. They're perfect for throwing on when you're running late, or for getting snazzed up for that party you've been looking forward to all week. 

Going into the endless bowels of dress styles to choose from, I'm going to target t-shirt dresses today. T-shirt dresses, like most, can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the occasion. They're perfect for that effortless look that says you tried, when in reality you spent a solid 12 seconds into your outfit that day.

I'm currently on the hunt for these one-piece wonders, so I wanted to show you guys some of my favorites that I've found so far:

Left: Stripe Knit T-Shirt Dress // Nordstrom
The classic striped t-shirt dress that you've probably seen every girl wear. Regardless of its increasing popularity (and slight mundanity), you can easily put your own flair on it by adding a statement necklace with a jean jacket and/or some bright, colorful flats.

Middle: Silence + Noise Blanc T-Shirt Dress // Urban Outfitters
Still staying on the casual side of the spectrum, this dress is the most lenient with all styles. It's easily customizable (and comes in various colors), whether you're pairing it with a simple waist belt or dressing it up with some ankle booties and a vast assortment of necklaces.

Right: Tweedweave Shiftdress // Madewell
For the people who lean towards the more business casual/mature style, this dress probably fits you best. I personally tried this dress on in the dressing room and I instantly felt like a businesswoman in my 20s. The simple lining creates a nice, neat border that frames around the dress, ultimately helping the design flow together.

--M

*Insert Red Heart Eye Emoji Here*

Recently, I've been fascinated with the combination of classic concepts with modern looks. Comme des Garçons- a revolutionary brand known for its signature logo (a red heart with eyes)- epitomizes the idea of mixing timeless structures with current patterns and prints.

Meaning "Like Boys" in French, Comme des Garçons was founded by Rei Kawakubo in 1969. According to Wikipedia, this Japanese-based clothing line grosses approximately $180 million/year and has expanded worldwide in recent years. It's out-of-the-ordinary artistic concepts crossed with monochromatic pairings have created a distinct look for the brand, a look that is exceptionally unique in our time. Below are two of my favorite runway concepts from Kawakubo's brand. 

image source: vogue.com

image source: redcarpet-fashionawards.com

--K

Black is the New Black

Fall is officially here, although those of us in SoCal have yet to feel that autumnal vibe. However, that hasn't stopped us from (attempting to) emulate what seems to be an eternal trend : black on black. This timeless pairing of colors has transformed from a color of mourning to a color of elegance, mystique, and power. Below are some of my favorite black on black inspirations for the upcoming season. 

Note: all pictures found on tumblr.com

--K

Wang X H&M

H&M is back with yet another designer collaboration: Alexander Wang.

Alexander Wang is a force to be reckoned with; his unique blend of brooding color schemes and chic street vibes have brought a new and innovative look to the high fashion industry.

At 30 years old, Wang is the youngest designer to collaborate with H&M and is following in the footsteps of iconic designers such as Donatella Versace, Stella McCartney, and Karl Lagerfeld.

Wang's collaboration is scheduled to appear in stores on November 6th, 2014. 

Here's a sneak peak of the collection, as seen on the @AlexanderWangNY Instagram:

--K

NYFW : Rebecca Minkoff

NYFW is in full swing, so I decided to do a quick highlight on one of my favorite shows i've seen thus far, Rebecca Minkoff's SS15 collection.

Minkoff's collection has a very young and simplistic vibe, and is said to be inspired by photographer Deborah Turbeville. Turbeville is known for adding a darker, brooding vibe to the photography world of fashion. 

The collection contains many cooler color palettes and tones, and (of course) a handful of eye-catching bags.

Photo source:  schonmagazine.com

--K

Madewell Jeans Review

Guys... I splurged. I couldn't help it, I was in desperate need of go-to jeans and Madewell seemed to be the only store that delivered. On the bright side, these jeans were on sale and Madewell was having a 30% off sale event! **double sunglasses emoji**

As previously stated, these jeans are pretty much your average everyday jeans-- but they're not. Not only are they super versatile, they're also EXTREMELY comfortable because of the flexibility and stretch of the denim (I could sleep in these).

The jeans that I chose go down to the ankles and have a small zipper lining towards the end, which I thought gave the denim a little more personality.

Overall, I think these jeans are a good investment and are worth "treatin yo self" to. These will definitely last a long time, even if you accidentally sleep in them.

Jeans: Skinny Skinny Zip Jeans in Sky Wash // Madewell

--M

Delicious & Healthy Breakfast - Toast, Guacamole, and Egg

I love breakfast. So. Much. Today, instead of the usual greens-and-fruits smoothie I whip up with my Nutribullet (aka the best investment I've ever made), I decided to put a little more effort into my breakfast. I thought of this creation the night before and based my recipe off of one that I later found, but added my own flair to it. The recipe below serves one person.

Ingredients:

• 1 avocado
• Lemon Juice 
• 1 tomato (or as much as you prefer)
• Salt & Pepper 
• 1 piece of multi-grain bread (or any you prefer)
• 1 egg
• Olive Oil
• 1 basil (optional)

Steps:

1. Scoop out the inside of the avocado with a spoon and mash it up in a bowl.
2. Slice the tomato and add it into the bowl along with some lemon juice and salt (to taste). Mix.
3. Toast your bread (of course, you may do this whenever during the process!).
4. Heat your pan and add the olive oil, then add your egg (I cooked mine sunny side up because it was prettier, but feel free to make yours however!). Add in salt and pepper on the yolk.
5. Spread the homemade guacamole on the toast, put the egg over it, then add the basil on top!

This recipe doesn't take a long time and is super simple (especially if you're a mediocre cook like myself). My mom and I thought it was delicious and will definitely be making it a lot more often!

--M

“Hello & Welcome”

New bloggers always tend to publish a “hello & welcome” post when starting a new blog. However, we’ve decided to rid of this tradition and the typical “please support this blog post (although we do appreciate your support and will continue to try our hardest to make this blog the best it can be)” and start off with a different topic: our vision.

Both Mindy & I (Katie) are very excited to have finally started our blog! As you might have already realized through our url, banner, and blog theme, minimalism is a style we both admire and (attempt to) incorporate in our everyday lives. As rising seniors in high school, the opportunities to flaunt and embody a sense of style are not always the easiest to come by (style and the SAT never seem to fit in the same sentence no matter how hard we try.) That is why we’ve decided to start our blog! This blog is our beacon of hope to express our vigor and passion for simplicity and how it intertwines itself into our world- whether it is through fashion, art, or even common household items (more to come on this subject). Minimalism is simple yet sleek, charming yet chic, and a force to be reckoned with.

We hope this blog serves as both an outlet for us to develop our sense of style while inspiring our readers to see the world of minimalism (among other things) from our eyes.

-- K & M