Fashion Recap: London Olympics Opening Ceremony

After watching the long-awaited London Olympics 2012 Opening Ceremony and one cup of instant coffee, I was bouncing around until 7 AM this morning and woke up after snoozing a mere 4 hours. My fault, my fault yes. But the good thing is FASHION RECAP is here! Four years ago the Beijing Olympics were about the ooh-ahh-fireworks and waiting forever for the USA and Chinese teams to pop up in Parade of Nations but this year my eyes were glued to the tube for what the athletes donned as they strutted the stadium.

The verdict? Mostly disappointing, with the same combination of blazers and pants/knee-length skirts with optional fedora. You would think that these buff and super fit athletes would all look good in anything but that's the common misnomer about fit. The Queen looked super fly in her Union Jack parachute as she played skydiving Bond Girl (okay not really but at first everyone bought it, right?) but her pink sequined getup complete with feathery headband and surly countenance weren't my cup of tea. [Disclaimer: these are my personal opinions on the fashion choices, not on any individual athletes or their countries. Go World!]

These are not the best images since NBC was the only channel allowed to cover in the US, so we make do with blurry snaps from my phone or scrounged from online sources with credits listed. If you missed out, the Opening Ceremony is very British (as an American I simply can't understand some nuances, so basically movies like Trainspotting involve my mouth hanging open in front of the screen for several hours and still not getting it) and quite fun. I'm sure all sorts of clips are available on Youtube and NBC.com. Favourite moments? Mary Poppins army with their light up umbrellas, swing dancing docs and nurses, Olympic Cauldron coming together, and of course, Her Royal Highness.

THE GOOD:

Ralph Lauren for Team USA

(photo credit: entertainista.com)

So what if Ralph Lauren makes his stuff in China? Looks like the USA team of 500-plus-strong walked straight out of a prepster catalog, but lookin' good. I especially enjoy the double breasted blazers that the guys had, which looked good with their little berets and white pants. The womens' white skirts were floppy and unshapely, why not give them trousers too or at least put some pleats in it, RL. And give them fitted double breasted blazers too next time.

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Pantone: Tangerine Tango

H&M sparkly silver cropped light sweater // Forever 21 scallop hem bright orange skirt // 

Thrifted Goodwill/Ann Taylor strappy wedges // 
Wilsons Leather orange faux leather shoulder bag (gift from JJ's Mom) //

Photography: Dad 

COLOUR OF THE YEAR. So I've been wearing bright orange since many years ago, so I declare hipsterdom over whatever Pantone will decide for the 2013 colour of the year as well. Keeping it super simple, since all my traveling this summer has led to no-makeup-wearing, no-accessorizing, simple no-ruffles-no-fluff, barely-can-even-call-them outfits. I would call it minimalistic but that would imply effort and crafting simplicity instead of laziness. For a family dinner with my dad's boss and his wife (hi! I'm super flattered they read my blog) and watching the long-awaited Pacific Time NBC broadcast of the London Olympics opening ceremony today (7/27). I tweeted my thoughts on the outfits during the Parade of Nations but after a while it got harder to keep my eyes glued to both screens at once. Fashion recap post tomorrow!

Thanks Dad for these quick snaps before the sun dipped below the horizon. Forgot my orange faux leather bag in the hurry but it's been a handy gift from JJ's Mom that surprisingly goes with everything. Along with my mithril silver sweater, this is so casual I could sleep in it. IT FEELS SO GOOD TO BLOG. The past few days have been cray and hectic (note: cray > hectic in measured chaos) because I'm finally organizing everything for my impending move to start med school. Guys, this is insane. Back to the Midwest in 7 days!! Should I do that big reveal I've been talking about forever now? Okay. I'm going to OHIO STATE Med School and proud to be a Buckeye again. Ohio has always been my home, filled with friends close enough to be family. Rest assured, I will keep blogging because it is the stress outlet I dearly need and cherish. My goal is to become more of a person of ritual and habit than the spontaneous mess I am now, so an hour a day dedicated to you guys is more than possible.

Oh and I'm making my photos public on Flickr again from now on so you can Pin them :) And I'm helllllla tan after Hawaii. These photos don't even do my darkness justice.

Readers - have you worn Pantone's Tangerine Tango yet?

 

I'm Backkkk!

Finally back home from traveling the world: NorCal, China, Hawaii. I took 5000 photos just on my phone and have a full month of adventure I need to share through 011011101's and pixels. I have zero idea where to start, so here are 3 pretty pictures from my Instagram, which thankfully was accessible anywhere in the world, for each. My instagram is @pandaphilia and here is my webstagram link. Yay pixelated eye candy nom nom. I have missed uncensored/consistent internet so badly and I've missed you! (Please say hi!)

1. Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China // 2. Hanauma Bay coral reef, Honolulu, Hawaii // 3. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

DIY Inkblot Tee

DIY inkblot flowy top ($5 shirt from H&M) // DIY/Unionbay distressed denim shorts //

Thrifted dark green fitted boyfriend blazer // Thrifted J. Crew light blue strappy sandal heels (size 6; selling!)

Forever 21 double black triangle necklace //

Photography: JJ

WHAT DO YOU SEE? A quick post as I'm scrambling to fit everything into a suitcase. I'm headed to CHINA for 3 weeks, and as you know the Great Firewall doesn't like Blogger (personally I think it's a plot to keep all the kids from distraction but they find their ways - I'm looking at you, World of Warcraft gold miners). Hopefully I can get a VPN.

Wore this dressed-up casual outfit for exploring dowtown San Jose and some yummy Vietnamese dinner (6/10). I really enjoy the strong lapel on this forest green blazer, thrifted for only $4 at Thrift Town in San Francisco when I met up with Whitney and Mallory of WhitWatWear. It fits like a glove and looks especially flattering in the back, flared yet fitted. Thanks for a great time, girls! Speaking of these fun and giggly gals, they made a tutorial on how to make DIY inkblot tees! This was a super cool, unique, and fun project (see their video here) - you need a bit of soft fabric paint, posterboard, and a simple, preferably white, tee. So all in all this project only cost $8, materials and all :) Talk about awesome. And shhh don't tell but this entire outfit cost $25 including accessories.

So, what do you see in this inkblot? I see Frank the bulldog from Men in Black, JJ sees a scary clown, and I've gotten responses from "a fat tiger" to a crying woman. Let me know in a comment because faux psychoanalysis is fun.

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