Sometimes, things just don’t seem to go your way. If anyone realized that lately, it’s me. I recently had a move, which would be hard enough in and of itself, but I was escaping a tough family situation, and am now living with someone I hardly know. Sounds fun, right? Maybe you’re not in the same situation but have been feeling really down lately. I’m just starting to learn, barely, what can get me going again.

For those of you in a similar situation, here are what has helped me get me back on my feet. Some of these things are going to seem counterintuitive, or even contradictory, but the thing is, different things work for different people, so I’m going to throw them all out there.

Music- happy, or sad

One night I was being all moody until my friend started playing Rainbow Bunchie. If you haven’t heard it, it’s the most cheerfully stupid song ever, accompanied by a bouncing rainbow... thing. For some reason it made me crack a grin and I had an instant mood whiplash, but the good kind.

But then again, sometimes, especially if you feel like you need your feelings to be validated, it’s helpful to listen to sad/angry/deep/dramatic music. Sometimes I feel too poopy to rock out to my favorite uplifting songs and I go temporarily emo (which I personally find is really fun, and a side of me I like to explore on occasion).  You might have to try a few different songs before finding out that fits your current mood.

Talk with your friends

Maybe you have a friend who you can tell EVERYTHING to, and who’ll give you awesome advice. That’s a really good thing, and I have a friend like this. But even if you’re friends are the type who would rather tickle attack you or play video games the entire time, just go with it. Even hanging out, not talking about anything important- or even not talking much at all- can really help. But if someone can actually help yousort out your problems, all the better.

Ask someone who is wiser than you

Speaking of advice, here’s a thought: especially if you’re young, your friends may very well not know what the heck they’re talking about. So as cliché as it may seem, going to someone older or more experienced can make a lot of difference. I’m not saying your friends don’t have good ideas- they might have great ones!- but it’s also good to check in with someone who’s had more life experience, like a parent/guardian, older relative or even a counselor, if you feel so inclined (they can be good because you don’t know them personally and they have confidentiality agreements). Sometimes even just having someone to listen to you, who doesn’t get ruffled by whatever mood you might be in (I always cry when things get really personal) can be really, really great.

Take your mind off it

Instead of lying in bed all day glaring at the ceiling, try getting up and doing something. Rock out to your favorite play list while you clean the house, or take a walk, or get some of your friends together and have a pizza party. It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you stay safe and get your mind off things. If you can get something productive done somehow, like chores or a workout, you’ll feel even better. Which reminds me...

Seriously, try working out

The endorphins released from working out can improve your mood by a whole heap. And this isn’t just some science-y thing, I’ve felt this myself. If you aren’t used to working out, start out slow and gradually build up your exercise tolerance. You’ll be healthier and happier!

Smile. Just try it!

And if all of this doesn’t work, just remember: you WILL feel better sooner or later. Maybe it won’t be today, or maybe it won’t be this week- heck, life is hard and sometimes it really hurts!- but you’ll see the sunshine one day, and it may be sooner than you think, or at a time or place you don’t expect. I really like the song “Smile” by Vitamin C (yeah, I like old geeky music, lol). I was upset this morning and I have to admit, it’s hard NOT to cheer up at least a little when you hear a song telling you that yes, life is tough, but smile, okay?! And the best part is, if you DO smile, your body will be a little happier just from that simple act. So smile, even if it feels stupid. You might be surprised. Because life really is, in the end, one confusing but wonderful surprise after another. So try to enjoy the ride. I will.


-Barista Nicole-

Image: Steven Zwerink Read more »

Rule #1: Break all the rules

I don’t care if the stars aren’t wearing it, or if you’re best friend already wore it, or if it’s ‘not right for your body shape’. Wear what makes you happy. The following ‘rules’ are just to help you out if you’re having trouble. <3

Rule 2: Proportions (tops to bottoms)

If your wearing an oversized sweater, pair it with skinny jeans. Or if you’re skirt's flowy, try a fitted tank-top. Basically, try not to have your top and bottom both snug or super loose; have them balance each other out.

Rule 3: Colors

There’s supposed to be a skin tone test (the seasons one) but I never figured mine out. I just suggest compiling a list of what colors suit you, in what shades, and which ones make you look sick, tired, or just blah. Everyone’s going to be different, so what looks amazing on your friend probably won’t on you (unless of course you guys have similar coloring). If you find a color you love but just doesn’t look the best on you, keep it away from your face; wear a scarf in a more flattering color over the top of that sweater, or wear it in bottoms, shoes or accessories.

Rule 4: Fit

If you particularly want to flatter your body shape, here’s an easy way to make sure you do that: focus on what certain types of clothes make different parts of your body appear bigger/smaller. Want less focus on your bust? Wear the clothes that make you look smaller there. If you’re like me and have a kinda tiny bust, you might do the reverse. Just make sure whatever you wear isn’t way too big or small; clothes that are too big look sloppy and aren’t flattering, but clothes that are too small are just as unflattering and can actually be unhealthy (and if you’re sensitive about your weight, tiny clothes can create ‘fat rolls’ in places you don’t actually have them). So just observe your body and wear what makes you happy about how you look and what shapes you create (a full length-mirror can really help make sure you like the entire outfit, that you’re not accidentally showing off more skin than you wanted, etc.).

Rule 5: Getting the look

Basically, stand back from your mirror and make sure your top/bottom or dress/sweater whatever doesn’t crazily clash. Stripes with prints, etc. can be dangerous territory so if you’re new to this, it might be better to play it safe and have only one printed part of your outfit. So if you want to wear that polka dot dress, wear the plain sweater. Or if your pants have stripes, go with the chic, simple top. For accessorizing, pick two or maybe three things; don’t pile on earrings, bracelets, necklaces etc. etc. (unless you’re going for a new and edgy look).

So I hope these tips have helped you out somewhat, and I’ll be posting part 2 shortly, for those of you who are saying ‘yeah, yeah I know this stuff but I want more help’. :)


-Barista Nicole-

Image: Barbro Andersen Read more »

Ah, the Oscars. So much happened over the course of one night that the Internet practically exploded: meme, pictures, gifsets....temporary Twitter problems (it was worth it, Ellen!). Here are some of my favorite moments from that night.

1. Jennifer Lawrence

Just, everything about her. She started off the night with a bang- er, another trip- and things kept going from there. From being called out by Ellen, to doing the calling-out herself, to being in the most-tweeted selfie ever... it was a very Jennifer Lawrence-y night, which in my book is a definite win.

2.  The Pizza Delivery

Can we just pause a moment to think about the situation; all these celebrities, gathered for an awards ceremony, wearing their finest and on their best behavior... and then Ellen orders a pizza. And they all eat it- one of the messiest, least-dignified foods- and for a moment, we’re reminded that all these actors are people just like us. I thought it was a super cute- and yummy!- moment.

3. Leonardo DiCaprio’s [lack of an] Oscar

Oh Leo. We’re all starting to feel bad for you- even if the memes that come from your misfortune are some of the funniest. From subtitling his sad/mad movie scenes to be about the Oscars, to always bringing it up every time there’s a discussion that has anything to do with him, the internet loves poking fun at his misfortunes. And they’ll have just as much fun when he finally wins one (hey, Leo’s not the only one who wants him to win!).

4. Anything and Everything Frozen

Idina Menzel’s (or Adele Nazeem’s, lol)  rendition of “Let it Go” had many fangurls screaming into their TVs, and I thought it was just darn cute and quirky that Kristen Bell has a burrito tucked in her clutch (she also gave a French accent to the famous quote ‘Do you wanna build a snowman?’). Frozen 2, anyone? And in the meantime, check out all the super-cute fanart of Elsa and Anna at the Oscars, based off of Idina/Kristen.

5. Ellen

I already mentioned the pizza (which was her idea) and the Twitter problem (which was due to her famous celeb selfie) but let’s take a moment to really appreciate Ellen’s wonderful hosting abilities. She’s funny, intelligent, tells it like it is and knows how to make a wonderful time for everyone around her. I’d certainly want to go to a party hosted by her. Oh, and she’s the author of the best new quote for Hunger Games fans: “Who are we kidding, it’s The Hunger Games. There’s cameras everywhere, you’re starving, and Jennifer Lawrence won last year.”

Well, I don’t know how you feel about it all, but in my opinion, the Oscars this year can be described in a single word: epic.


-Barista Nicole-

Image: Ellen's Twitter Read more »

Sometimes when you meet people, you just know; you were made to be friends. Everything just clicks, but you don’t really know them that well. Or maybe someone of your preferred gender catches your eye in another way, and you can’t stop daydreaming about them. What to do? Unfortunately, we’re beyond the easy-breezy Kindergarten days when you could just walk up to someone and say ‘hey, wanna be friends?’ or ‘I like you’ (kids are super cute, aren’t they?). When you’re a teen or young adult, it starts to get trickier. I mean, you could just be blunt and forward if you want to, but that’s braver than most of us are up for. So I have some ideas of ways to subtly get to know people better, while gauging if they reciprocate your feelings (whether those feelings be friendship or something more).

Part 1: Friends

Ask them to do things with/for you, and if you can do things for them

While it’s definitely not a good idea to pawn personal work onto other people, if you’re having trouble doing something, you can always ask them for assistance or advice, especially if it’s really a two-person job or they’re more experienced than you are. For example, if you’re really struggling with a math concept and you know the person is an expert, you could casually ask “Hey, did you figure out last night’s math homework? I had trouble with problem eight.” For a lot of people, that’s invitation enough to help you work it out, or maybe even set up a study/tutor group. Or you could reverse things and do something for them, which is even better, because not only do you get to spend time with them, but they’ll see you’re a helpful, kind person.

Be places you know they’ll be

It could be anything from walking past science class when you know they’re getting out, to finding their lunch place at the cafeteria, to asking a mutual friend to invite you both to hang. The main point here is to be casual, and not obsess over seeing them; just take the opportunities you know they’ll be around, and try to make them. Or you could go a step further and try to see if they have any casual plans, such as seeing a movie or grabbing something to eat, and casually mention ‘Oh, that sounds fun!’ That way, it’s up to them whether they shrug it off or invite you to join them- you don’t feel pushy or get rejected, and they don’t feel like you’re impeding their personal space or like they have to let you join them if they’d rather not. If they do invite you or, better yet, if they start inviting you to things without you even saying anything about it, you’ll know they’re likely interested in hanging out more.

Don’t be afraid to be bold

If you’re tired of waiting around for the right moment, you can always just go for it and ask them to do something with you. If you’re concerned about rejection, you can make it casual: ‘Hey, I’m going bowling at the new rink and looking to go with some people. Is that your kinda thing?’ Again it lets them back out without having to feel bad, and you can then go with other people if it turns out they can’t or don’t wanna hang that day. Of course there’s nothing wrong with just asking ‘Wanna go bowling tonight?’ but if you’re shy like me, the other way is a good starting point.

Part 2: More than Friends

Of course the tips above still apply to when you just wanna hang out and get to know your crush better first, or casually ask them out as friends. But what about when you’re not sure if you’re the only one with feelings beyond friendship, or you want to let your crush know what they mean to you without flat out saying it? When you’re ready to make the move, here are some ideas.

Gauge their interest of you/actions around you

Does your crush always seem eager to see you, or does he/she seem content to hang with the group when you’re not there? Do you get the same greeting as other friends, or is yours different in some way, such as being gentler, shyer, or sweeter? While these signs aren’t proof that the crush is reciprocated and you definitely don’t want to overanalyze or blow things out of proportion, these are some good things to watch for to help get an idea if there might be something there, or if you’re just a friend to this person. It’s best to look for these if you’ve already been friends for awhile so that you don’t mistake new-person shyness as nervous crushing, etc.  The sad truth is, you’ll never really know unless you ask, but doing a subtle analysis could save you some trouble if you find out that you’re treated just the same as his guy friends or if she smiles at everyone that way- because if there’s no difference, you’re likely just a friend (unless he/she is just an amazingly private person). Again, you never know.

Indicate your own interest

Given the complicated nature of the tip above, you can see why you might get to a point where you just want to make it clear that you are interested, and then leave it up to your crush to either reciprocate or not. The best ways to do that are to reverse the above; let yourself smile shyly at him, or giggle at all of her jokes even if they’re just silly (basically, just don’t do anything to hide the crush like you might normally do). You get to decide how obvious you are about this- if he’s the only one who sees your special smile and wonders about it, or if everyone within ten miles knows that you’re crazy for him/her. Just remember that people might tease you, especially if you go over the top. While I’m not saying that’s a reason to stop, I am saying that you don’t want to get carried away and should make a game plan so you know what you’re willing to reveal about yourself before you get into the heat of the moment. If you want your crush to be a secret, don’t do these things, because someone’s likely to catch on.

Drop some hints

If you’re ready to go even further and make it super clear that you’d like to go out with this person, you can start dropping some subtle- or not-so-subtle- hints to let them know how you feel. ‘Hey, I’m seeing a movie tonight and I’d really like you there to cuddle with’ while you wink is way more obvious (lol) than ‘You doing anything tonight? I’d really like it if we could hang out, just the two of us.’- although both will probably get the message across. This can be a super tricky zone, and just know: your crush is pretty obvious at this point to everyone involved, and you don’t want to make a fool of yourself. I certainly would never say the first line or wink at anyone, but maybe you would if you’re super flirty- the point is, don’t push yourself to do or say anything you wouldn’t usually do. And note; the bolder, more obvious you are, the more exact the person will have to be in their answer, and if they don’t feel the same, it could make it even more difficult on the two of you. I would definitely have an idea that they do, indeed, feel the same for you before you try this. And it’s up to you whether you approach them in a group or alone. Just make sure you’re ok with the entire group seeing you flirt with this person if you go that route, and that you don’t make the person uncomfortable no matter how you go about it.

Final notes

So yeah. Becoming friends with someone- or especially something more- can be super tricky if you’re shy, or just don’t know how to go about it. Just remember to treat everyone with respect and kindness, and not to push anyone to do anything they don’t want to, or make them uncomfortable. Unfortunately, not everyone that you want to hang with wants to hang with you, and not everyone you crush on feels the same way. But that’s ok, because the more you try to be social, the more people you meet and try to get to know, the better chance you have of meeting your new best friend, or scoring a date with an amazing girl or guy.

And if you’re a girl who wants to skip all the games and guesses and just ask that guy out, Barista Mia just wrote a post on that, so check hers out.


-Barista Nicole-

Image: Leo Hidalgo Read more »

If you’re like me, you have a huge amount of dreams; things you want to do, places you want to go, idea just waiting to become reality. But how do you do that? How do you stop dreaming of living and start living the dream? Well, first you have to know what it is that you want to do.

Finding Your Dream

If you have no idea what your dream is, it just means you haven’t found it yet. Take up new hobbies, meet new people, get out there more and try new things. When you find your dream, you will know it, because you’ll be unable to imagine yourself doing anything else with your life.

Prioritizing

But what if you’re like me, and have more than one dream? Can you become a concert pianist, an A-list movie producer and a well-known novelist? Sure, but probably not all at once! When you figure out what your dreams are, it’s important to pick what you need to focus on right now, the most important one. For me, it’s choosing between pursuing writing, acting in theatre, modeling, etc. I choose theatre, because when I watch Ryan and Sharpay sing “What I’ve Been Looking For” all I can see on that stage is wonder, and think “I would die to be doing that right now.” If you can live without it, it’s not your dream right now.

Starting Anywhere

Ok, so you have your dream. Now what? You start anywhere and everywhere you can. If something is going to further your dream, you do it, no matter what- well, as long as it’s safe and doesn’t go against your beliefs, etc. But don’t let unimportance stop you, or if something doesn’t seem a perfect fit. It’ll still keep you going and, you know, everyone has to start somewhere. I didn’t just walk onto a movie set and get cast as a star character. I found out I love theatre by being in a play that I had no lines in. Zip. Zero. All I did was the scene movements and- oh, I got to cough. XD But every day of that play, I was there, doing my makeup and donning my costume and loving every minute spent in the company of other actors. I’ve auditioned since then and am now in another play where I have four lines. Hey, not much, right? This isn’t going to make me a movie star or let me go on Broadway. But it is slowly letting me build my resume. And the best part? I kinda think I’m having just as much fun at a local college’s theatre as I would acting anywhere else. I’m already living my dream.

Never Listen to the Haters

You have to believe in yourself even if others don’t. Don’t let lack of opportunity, of fear of failure, or anything else that doesn’t matter get in the way of you doing what you want to with your life. It’s your dream so, in the wise words of that one pub thug from Disney’s Tangled:

Go on. Live your dream!


-Barista Nicole-

Image: Eddy Van 3000 Read more »

Hey guys! If you’re like me, you’re a big Youtube fan. It’s super-fun to watch videos from your fave channels, but isn’t it even more awesome when you stumble across a totally new channel and get to watch like 30 videos you’ve never seen in a row and fall in love with  them? Or is that just me?

Anyway, I’m going to tell you about a channel I absolutely love. TimmyFellDownTheWell is one of my favorite channels and dude has way more subscribers than I’ll ever have, but he’s still not nearly as well-known as Pewdiepie or Jenna Marbles. He should be. He’s a totally hilarious, down-to-earth, amazingly talented individual who makes the world a better place by what he does. His videos are a mix of comedy, parodies and impressions, inspirational, gay pride, and whatever else his amazing brain thinks of.

One of my favorite groups of videos by him is his Disney Princess Support Group spoofs. He always plays every role, so in these videos he’s Ariel, Snow White (his trademark Princess), Rapunzel, Pocahontas and more. The absolute hilarity of his takes on the princesses we all now and love will have you quickly clicking the link to each episode.

Another awesome episodic of his is Timmy’s New BFF, during which he features many of his Tiny Timmy followers who compete through various weekly challenges to earn the title of Timmy’s BFF. It’s currently in season two (I appear in the first episode although that’s as far as I got, lol). He’s got his own little reality show going on, and if you think people wouldn’t want to be Timmy’s BFF, you’re dead wrong. Because that’s another thing that’s so great about Timmy; he cares about his fans and making a difference and his loyal followers back him all the way. He’s an amazing guy who I would love to meet in real life someday and his videos are the funniest things ever. So definitely, get over there and give his channel a try!

Warning: Timmy’s content is mature; if you take issue with cursing, crudity, sexual content, etc. this isn’t the channel for you.


-Barista Nicole-

Image: TimmyFellDownTheWell Read more »

If you’re anything like me, you’re at least a little bit obsessed with Frozen right now. An amazing story packed with love, action, humor- plus the amazing animation, scenery and costumes- what’s not to love?

So if you’re crushing on aforementioned costumes- Elsa’s ice-dress is to die for- I have a solution for you. Well yeah, sure, as far as I know there’s no way to have an actual ice-dress, but don’t let that stop you. Here are a few tips and ideas for channeling your favorite Frozen character.

Colors

Each sister has their own color. Anna and Elsa are always in, respectively, warm green and icy blue. Kristoff and Hans have a mix but you can still find pieces in their different colors and combine them to get the right feel.

Style

For the sisters, the more feminine the better. Flowy skirts and dresses, corset-like tops or cute sweaters, hair ribbons- anything girly is great for them. If you’re trying to go for the sexier Elsa, I’d recommend dialing back the sweet a bit and adding in the spicy. If you have a skirt with a knee-slit or a gauzy top, now’s the time. You could even layer a sheer top under a sweetheart top to get the look. For the guys, well, it might be harder to get their looks, but focus on shapes. Hans has broad shoulders and snug pants. Kristoff has bulky layers- you might even add a bit of fringe.

Hair

There are several styles for the sisters you could try if you have long enough hair. Two low braids, one over-a-shoulder braid, the swirl-on-the-back-of-the head braid, the coronation crown braid. Are you getting anything here? Braiding is key. ;) For the guys, well…that’s harder to accomplish unless your hair happens to look like theirs. But for Kristoff you might add a little gel to give it a wave if your hair is straight. For Hans you can part it in the middle and smooth it into humps on either side.

Makeup

With both girls, I’d use eyeliner or something to make your eyes look as enormous as possible, like Disney animation does (it’s crazy how big their eyes are, so don’t worry if you feel like you’re ‘failing’ here; it’s just a plus if you can make your eyes look larger). I’d use heavy-ish mascara, but make sure it doesn’t get too clumpy. Both girls have rosy cheeks, so add some blush. For Anna, I’d keep it natural with nude eye shadow and natural lip-gloss. For Elsa, you can go more dramatic with her eye shadow- purple and pink shades of course- and her lip color is more obvious, so stain or lipstick would work here, in a nice medium pink that goes well with your skin tone. Lastly, you can add freckles if you’re feeling extra adventurous; Elsa’s are lighter, Anna’s more prominent. For the guys you could always add some rosy cheeks or freckles, but it’s up to you if you wanna take that route or just go natural.

Combine these elements, a little or a lot, to tone down or shout out your look. It’s up to you whether only you knows you’re secretly sporting Elsa colors, of if you want everyone within five miles to know that you’re Kristoff. Just have fun and enjoy the fandom! And if you do this, I’d love if you tweet pictures- I am an enormous fan of both Frozen and fashion after all. ;)


-Barista Nicole-

Image: Frozen (2013) movie poster. It's awesome. Watch it. Read more »

I tend to get into movies. Like really, really get into them. So it's no surprise, to myself at least, that when I finally watched Titanic this Christmas, it made an impact (yes, I know I'm late 'getting on the boat', 'that ship has sailed', etc. ;) ). Although Rose Dewitt Bukater and Jack Dawson are fictional characters, the Titanic was real, and besides that, who wasn't at least a little bit touched by Jack and Rose's romance, fictional they may be? I could go on and on about how much I loved it, or how great the soundtrack is, or even add my two cents to the whole 'could Rose and Jack both have fit on the door?' debate, but I won't. What I will do is say some things that Titanic has taught me, personally.

"You learn to take life as it comes to you...to make each day count."

Besides the emotional foreshadowing, this line is excellent in its meaning. Jack is explaining to all the rich, emotionless people around them who waste days on small talk and parties that life can be so much more. And you don't know how much life you have left at any one time. I know most of you reading this are young. You probably haven't thought about this much. But life is short, really short when you think about it. That's not to scare you. That's to spur you on to not procrastinate, not waste time leaving your dreams unfulfilled. It's almost new years- what if your resolution this year was to do whatever it is you've been waiting for your whole life? I'm not suggesting you be rash, or run away with the first cute boy named Jack (lol), but I am encouraging you not to wait on things that you shouldn't, that you're only waiting on because you're afraid of failure. So go, try out for that play, or talk to the new girl at school. It doesn't have to be life-changing for anyone but you. Go make your own luck. ;)

"Promise me...that you won't give up, no matter what happens, no matter how hopeless...and never let go of that promise."

This is an extension of the above, and one of the most heart-rending and iconic scenes of the film. It might seem that it doesn't apply to most people or most circumstances- wasn't Jack dying, and Rose in danger of dying, when he said this? But it doesn't just apply to that. It applies to your dreams as well. I recently have had a friend who is into films, who has thought of giving up. I myself have often felt like giving up, especially if I don't know what comes next in my novel or I can't see my acting dream coming true anytime soon. But if you just give up, the chance of your dreams ever coming true at all is very slim. So you can't give up. And when you want to, you have to tell yourself 'I'll never let go'.

"Rose, you're no picnic, alright? You're a spoiled little brat, even, but under that, you're the most amazingly, astounding, wonderful girl, woman that I've ever known..."

Have you ever thought about who you are, really thought about it? I personally sometimes have a hard time telling who I am. I'm twenty, and a lot of you are younger, and this is the time in our lives when we often do some serious thinking about who we are, what we're about, and how we fit into the world. I believe that, like Rose, everyone has things about themselves that need 'fixing', and other things that need to be let shine through their whole being. Nobody's perfect. Sometimes we might realize we're shunning friends, or being grumpy with our family, or maybe we're spoiled brats, too. I know I've fit that phrase more than once. But then there's that part of you that's the wonderful, amazing woman (or man) and that should never, ever change. That should be what shines out about you. Let other people see who you are, really are, and if there's something not good about you that you know needs changed, then do it so that others can see who you really are, and not get stuck on that. Not everyone is as good at 'seeing people' as Jack Dawson, but thank goodness for those who are (I have a friend or two like that myself). And try to be that way to others; see past human imperfections and into who the person really is. You might like the new view.

It's almost the new year. This time, instead of making the clichéd new year's resolution that you won't keep, why not make one and stick to it? Something that'll make a real difference and help you to make your life more what you want it to be? Because it's not up to me to save you. "...only you can do that." Not that I'm saying you need saving, but you know what I mean.


-Barista Nicole-

Image: still from Titanic (1997) Read more »

Hey girls! If you're anything like me, you have some favorite celebrities that you like to emulate. Maybe it's their awesome hairdo, or their super singing ability. Some things are nearly impossible to impersonate, but something very fun that you can do easily is get their look. The best part about it is that you don't have to have Gucci shades or a Prada purse to get your point across. You simply have to figure out your fave celeb's signature style and get a decent approximation.

One of my favorite celebrities is Taylor Swift. I love how she keeps it classy and always seems to have some sort of retro vibe going on, so those are the distinguishing trademarks I'm going to focus on. Taylor has worn skirts, pants, and dresses so the options are wide open. My favorite look of hers is when she wears a simple, forties-inspired dress, so that would be my starting point. Then I would pair it with some simple shoes, maybe ballet flats, and from there I would make the style my own with some accessories. The point isn't to try to pass for the celebrity, but to have an 'inspired by' style. If you really want to get into the look, you can do hair and makeup as well. For Miss Swift I would definitely apply red lipstick- a signature of hers- and give my hair loose, flowy curls.

You can do this for any celebrity you like; you might be surprised how simple it is to do when you figure out what it is exactly about their style that you love. However, some celebs are harder than others without a lot of altering. But even if your fave celeb is Lady Gaga, you can still accessorize like her!

I hope you have fun figuring out your celeb's look! Fashion can be tricky, so if you have someone's style you like, you can use theirs as a template to help you find your own. They don't even have to be a celebrity; maybe your sister, neighbor or schoolmate is a fashion queen! Just remember in the end that you're a unique person, and to be yourself and have fun.

I hope this helps inspire you fashionistas out there, and I'd love it if you tweet me a pic of you in your new inspired outfits!

-Barista Nicole-

Image: Taylor Swift's Twitter

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