Fragrance Review: Vanille Eau De Toilette

Take it back a little. Do you remember the days where you had endless chances to bake chocolate chip cookies with your grandmother? She'd let you lick the spoon, and sometimes she'd even let you add in the ingredients.

I don't know about you guys, but my favorite ingredient was always the vanilla extract. One hit of that scent and a wave of warmth would always come over me. Seriously, it's like a nose drug. So wouldn't it be great if you could smell like that all the time? Well guess what? You can!

The Discovery:

Let me tell you how I discovered the fragrance in person. For the longest time, I always thought Anthropologie was some random furniture store I'd pass by after leaving my favorite bookstore. Turns out, it's like--a branch of Urban Outfitters or something? Yeah, it's got all these cute beauty and home essentials. From candles, chairs, and table decor; to kitchen utensils, office supplies, and of course, make up!

Anyways, after exploring the insides of the store, I wandered over to the fragrance section (like I really needed to buy another bottle of perfume after my purchase of goodies from Le Labo...holy moly that place was expensive as heck), and I came across a small rounded table full of a very rare perfumery that I've seen just about on every single social media website. 

Vanille Eau De Toilette by Outremer (formerly known as L'Aromarine), is a perfumery located in the wonderful country of France, crafting each batch with its fresh variety of aromas and vintage glass bottle sets. Outremer is still one of the very few perfumeries that makes both bath and beauty products in Paris, and has previously done work for famous clients such as Hermes, Cartier, and Yves Saint Laurent! 

Another plus about this brand is that they spend absolutely no cent on advertising, keeping their prices reasonably low. They also practice sustainable methods of production by reusing materials to package and make their products. 

The Aroma: 

Alright, sold yet? After telling you a little bit about the backstory, let's talk about the actual signature aroma: Vanille. One thing to keep in mind is that perfumes do tend to change their scents after being on your skin for awhile, so with that being said, you probably shouldn't purchase any perfume without smelling and trying it out in person (no matter how famous the bottle is!). For some of you though, that may not be an option if you don't ;live in Paris or have an Anthropologie near you, so I'll try to explain Vanille as best as I can. 

As stated before, it smells exactly like vanilla extract. It's got that soft and warm scent of honey, cream, and a subtle hint of cotton candy that makes it so mouth-wateringly delicious. It's seriously the holy grail of vanilla scents. After spraying it twice against my skin and clothes, I found that the fragrance lasted for a long time throughout the day. In fact, my cardigan still smells like vanilla from when I sprayed it two days ago! 

 This authentic, Parisian perfume is for people who unabashedly love vanilla scents. So if you're into sweet fragrances and enjoy smelling like you're actually edible, go for it. 

Buy the fragrance here, here, and here (tiny version). 

À bientôt! Xx-Nikka

CRISIS // Nikka X Dfrntpigeon

       

       

    

   

Seldom do you come across fashion labels that stem from a worthy cause. This month, I'm very proud to be collaborating with dfrntpigeon, an apparel line from New Avenues for Youth that helps young adults who are at-risk of homelessness by providing them with a place to work while also teaching them the essential business skills and experience to make a career of their own.

Expressing who they are through fashion, dfrntpigeon is run by a handful of young adults from Portland, Oregon, ranging from the ages of 16-25. They just recently released their new spring collection during Design Week Portland, which consists of unique, grunge style tees that express who the creator's are by their individual designs.

The name dfrntpigeon (pronounced 'different pigeon') came to be from the "negative perception people in urban areas commonly have of the pigeon as a street pest," says Angela Hathaway, the woman who introduced me to this inspiring brand. I thought that was a creative way of coming up with a name through the symbolism of a pigeon, while, continuously flying about the city streets, have incredible worth and hidden potential as well. 

I styled my dfrntpigeon CRISIS Tee with black jeans, a leather jacket, and of course, statement boots. 

  

  

Dfrntpigeon is more than just a clothing brand. It's a fashion label that raises the voices of the unheard, challenges the perception of marginalized youth, and opens up the doors for many talented and creative people who deserve to be recognized for their bravery and unbreakable souls.

For more information, check out their website at dfrntpigeon.com. View their apparel here. Not only are they stylish, but they're affordable. Plus, you're contributing to a great cause.  Xx-Nikka

SHOP THE LOOK: 

CRISIS Tee

Leather Jacket

Topshop Boots

Topshop Jeans

                                                           

Inspiration of the month: Paperbag Pants

For the past few months, I've been dying to get my hands on a few pairs of statement pants. Whether that be zigzag patterns, bold colors of orange and yellow, or pinstripe, I was craving something-- different.

 Yes, I do love a good pair of mom jeans or high waist skinnies, but more often than not, I felt restricted with the jean material. Also, to be quite honest, I grew tired of them. Fast. 

I know, there's always that slight hesitation on investing in statement pants. It's as if there's a stigma in the air that styling statement pants can be tricky, and maybe too much of a risk for what it's worth. Well, you will never know if you never try, right? 

I was thrifting in my hometown a few weeks ago when I came across some cream colored Ralph Lauren pants. They weren't just any kind of regular pants though. It was a type of Paperbag pant, so I've soon discovered the name. 

As unflattering as the name sounds, the pants were priced at a very affordable $6. I repeat, 6 flippin' dollars for Ralph Lauren! I've also never owned any bottoms that were white before, so I decided to give these bad boys a try. 

To me, they fitted beautifully. Not only were they the perfect length, but they were high waisted and gave me that retro 70s aesthetic look I've been attempting to incorporate with my outfits. It was definitely an A+ purchase I made over spring break. 

The thing about cool statement pants like these, is that you can totally dress them up or dress them down. Pair them with some golden boots and a red blouse and a black clutch if you're going out. Or maybe a black halter and sneakers if you're running errands around town. Even with some black pumps and a blazer, you can dress it up in a formal manner for your work or school presentations.

I styled my pants (similar here) with loafers, a leather jacket, and a red tee (my shirt says "Be a Hero with Chris Phillips, my brother. The day this photoshoot was taken, my little brother won a talent show event at his highschool. So incredibly proud of him!!).

Here are some of the many ways I would style Paperbag pants. 

I love the scrunch of the waistband and how the pant fits loosely around your legs. If gives you more freedom to stretch. Seriously. It's a very comfy yet very stylish and unique piece of clothing you need to own or at least try. 

Shop in the gallery below to find your perfect color of Paperbag pants. 

Très Élégant

It's January, which means the holidays are over, school has resumed which usually feels like the longest stretch until spring break, it's still cold outside, and I'm just tired. I don't know, I've never really enjoyed the remaining winter months for some reason. I just feel so exhausted and empty.I'm done with the cold weather and I just want the sunshine.

 During these times, I tend to daydream about what it would be like to be in one of my favorite foreign countries. Walking around old streets, reading poetry in tiny cafes, and enjoying the culture that I'd immerse myself in. After the holidays, my style turns from this rustic boho look to just plain, simple colors. I wear a lot of black until it starts warming up in Portland.

So do you know what other place tends to be gloomy but still remains to be one of the most famous cities in the world? Paris. About a year ago around this time, I started listening to jazz music, I began to invest in drinking dark coffee, and I guess that was the time I started creating bangs with my curly hair. Aren't those all kind of minor essentials to being Parisian? Or at least feeling like you're Parisian? 

This was also the time I finished reading a biography on the legendary Coco Chanel. She, herself, created the  fundamentals of what it really meant to be the Parisian woman. Scratch that. She defined what it meant to the THE ultimate elegant woman.  Whether that be having minimal attire in your wardrobe (less is more), owning simplistic jewelry, or never forgetting to leave the house without a signature fragrance you can call your own, it doesn't even seem like you need to be wealthy to live that elegant lifestyle. Even in Christian Dior's Little Dictionary of Fashion, he states that elegance must be "the right combination of distinction, naturalness, care, and simplicity." I actually find this really great, especially since school has started again. You really must take care of yourself. Eat right and dress appropriately for the weather (something you'll notice I really didn't do in my ootd post since I wore frikin slip ons in 30 degree weather. A hypocrite, that's what I am). 

Thanks to the influence of Paris, I wanted to do a photoshoot that incorporated such plain pieces, but altogether, creating such a simplistic and stylish look for the rest of winter. It's definitely something I found to make me happier when the dull school weeks just drag on.  It lifts my spirits up and gets me out of the old blues I always seem to be in at the beginning of the new year.

I wore this Francesca's cropped turtle neck (similar one here), vintage trousers (similar one here), a vintage trench coat (similar one here), eBay transparent aviators, vintage belt, and these brand new forever 21 loafer mules. Insane how it looks exactly like the Gucci ones for like- $595?!

Say hello to my new Boy Chanel! Got this little guy from my mummy for Christmas. She's the only one who gets me. Honestly. 

I've also created some inspired Parisian looks and hopefully you guys can also start living that simple lifestyle while you finish up midterms and all that jazz. Can spring come any sooner? 

Au revoir, mon petit amis! Xoxo

A Christmas Gift Guide

 Happy December, everyone! Now that I've finally finished up with finals, it's time to travel home for the holidays. But before I go to see my wonderful family, I HAD to go Christmas shopping. I can tell you it's a lot easier for me to go shopping for my family when they don't live under the same roof as me! I don't have to hide my gifts in the car and wait for the perfect moment to bolt from and to my garage with my gifts hiding under my coat. How did our parents manage to do it all these years?!

Anyways, I've struggled with finding things for my family members in the past, so I thought it would help to make a gift guide to lay out the possible ideas that are special and slightly affordable at the same time!

Here we go.

                       

For the boys, I was thinking some essential items could be a watch, some  cologne, and a hair or shaving kit, but when I asked my brother what he wanted for Christmas, he told me it would be nice to have warm outerwear for the freezing days in winter, so here is this stylish aviator jacket. I also think beanies and an awesome Iphone docking station would be great for him!

Mom's are a little trickier, because when you ask her what she wants for Christmas, she'll go, "Ohhhh, I don't need anything this year. Your love is all I need," and yeah yeah yeah, but we all know she's still hoping for something. A kinfolk book would be lovely (I would actually recommend the  Kinfolk Table if she really likes to cook), because it not only includes unique food ideas, but ideas for decorating and traveling. Definitely worth reading. 

Cheese boards or general cutting boards would be nice if she needs a new one. You can also never go wrong with socks ( 1, 2),  candles, and  fragrances (hopefully she's not too picky, nor is she allergic to Chanel, like my mom :'( ) 

Again, an  Iphone docking station is great for both moms, brothers, and dads. 

If mom's weren't hard enough to shop for, now we have aunts! What could they want?!  Wall decor could be a good idea for decorations.  Nice oils and other candles would be brilliant to freshen up the air, and of course,  coffee products  can make anyone happy! If your aunt's love to cook as much as mine do, maybe invest in some festive  cooking gear! 

Last but certainly not least, we have sisters! I don't have any sisters but my friends feel like my sisters, so there isn't much difference, is there? 

Lush products would be perfect for her. Lush is not only environmentally friendly, but they're all so unique and they smell amazing. 

Some wall decor ( 1, 2) couldn't hurt! I love them so much. They can make any room feel more homey. I implore you to check out  Francesca's because we always carry the cutest wall decor of all sizes. 

More fragrances!  L'Aromarine is unique and if she likes vintage things, she'll love this.  

Finally, I think  these cat headphones are the cutest things ever. If she's into fashion, get her Christian Dior's  Little Dictionary of Fashion, and if she loves poetry, get her  Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur.

I hope this was helpful in your search of the perfect gift for your family and friends this holiday season. I hope you all have a wonderful winter break! Please, stay warm. For those who are traveling to see their families, take care and safe travels! xx-Nikka