Erin of ShopJeen, an online accessories boutique, recently sent me a very generous care package, featuring a gift for a lucky See Creatures reader: a beautiful Gold Sequin Collar by Gemma Lister. This exquisite necklace has smaller sequins in the back, larger sequins in the front, weights to hold down the flaps, and hot fuschia lining. It looks so cute over crewneck sweaters and dresses! I’ve styled it below with my favorite Everlane t-shirt:

In order to win the Gemma Lister gold sequin collar, simply follow the steps below.

Contest Rules

1. Follow ShopJeen and See Creatures on Twitter.
2. Retweet the following:
   

   http://bit.ly/IQ4hxH Enter to win a Gemma Lister gold sequin collar necklace from @ShopJeen at @See_Creatures

3. Leave a comment on this post telling us your twitter username and how you would wear the Gemma Lister sequin collar. Don’t forget to leave your e-mail address in the “e-mail” field so we can contact you if you win!
4. Contest ends on Friday, June 8, 2012. Winner will be selected at random and will be notified via e-mail.
5. For an extra entry: Follow ShopJeen and See Creatures on Instagram (@ShopJeen & @SeeCreatures)! You must still complete the above steps to qualify.

Good luck~

Everlane crew neck tee, Lonely Hearts leather lace-up shorts, Juicy Couture sunglasses

via Vogue RU

I also couldn’t help but share these beautiful backstage photographs taken by Nickolas Sushkevich at the runway show last December. Incredible!

via the Behance Network

When it comes to making a purchase of any sort, I’m usually obsessive about it. As a financially-independent college student, I can’t really afford to be any other way. When I see something I want, I pin it, research it, save for it… I even keep Excel spreadsheets so that I can budget my fashion purchases for the next few months.

But fashion moves so fast; if you wait to buy something that you love, it could be gone by the time you’re ready for it. This is where Yoox comes in handy. I recently scored these beautiful Chloé shoes from the Spring 2007 collection from their site, which recently restocked their Chloé selection with shoes from all of my favorite seasons (even some from Fall and Spring ’06). I know a lot of people think reissues are cheating, but for me, it’s a great way to determine how much I love something if I still want it years after it first hit the runway.

I’m a bit sad that they sold out of this iconic Chloé wedge in my size, but I’m not too bitter, as I’m quite in love with these too!

In love with this minty bluish green organza skirt from Topshop. It has the most perfect anime proportions, made more perfect by the My Little Pony color. Too bad it’s just slightly sheer. Worn here with a super soft (and also fairly sheer) Victoria’s Secret Pink cropped tee.

Makeup: OCC lip tar in “Divine,” and Zoya yellow nail polish in Pippa

One of my favorite seasonal series was the Runway to Print posts, which featured looks from the runway juxtaposed with editorial photographs featuring the pieces. Although I enjoy runway shows, they don’t have much value for me beyond an apprehension to see what amazing creations my favorite designers can pump out. But there is something mildly painful about them for me too- perhaps because the models often look so thin and tired, or maybe because I am so focused on a full collection that I don’t often get to appreciate the details.

So while I love following the Fashion Weeks, I truly look forward to seeing my favorite collections artistically interpreted in the editorials that follow a few months after. Here are a few of my favorites from Spring 2012:

Click to enlarge (Sources: Style.Com // FGR)

Click to enlarge (Sources: Style.Com // FGR)

Click to enlarge (Source: FGR)

Click to enlarge (Sources: Style.Com // FGR)

Click to enlarge (Sources: Style.Com // Daniel Sannwald)

Click to enlarge (Sources: Style.Com // FGR)

Click to enlarge (Sources: Style.Com // FGR)

Click to enlarge (Sources: Style.Com // FGR)

Click to enlarge (Sources: Style.Com // FGR)

I debated these Lonely Hearts lace-up leather shorts for a long time, but after a month of mentally pairing them with every tee I owned, I finally surrendered to their RPGesque charm and bought them at Fashion Artiste on sale (FYI they are having an extra 20% off sale on their Facebook page). I’m so glad I caved – they are as well-built (fully lined!!) and supple as they are unique. I feel like a Final Fantasy heroine! Only pockets could improve them, honestly.

Worn with my new favorite Wilfred heathered tee from Aritzia and a bronze TomTom chevron aura cuff. Thanks to Mark for being my human tripod ♥

I want to take a moment to remember my beautiful puppy Momo who died exactly a year ago today. Although I miss her constantly, Bunny has really aided in the process of healing, and I’m so glad to be able to remember Momo now more in her life than at her death. I was so lucky to have her, if only for a few years!

Valentine’s Day is approaching, and as if on cue, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about lingerie shopping. To be perfectly honest, I think it’s a bit cheesy for people to only care about their underthings on Valentine’s Day; in fact, I’ve always felt that bra shopping should be more about the person wearing the bra than anyone who might see it. To reiterate a point I made in an old post:

When it comes to lingerie, my largest pet peeve is when I hear girls say they can’t justify buying nice things because they “don’t have a boyfriend” or “have an a-cup.” Ridiculous! I don’t think everyone should go out and buy an Agent Provocateur bra (though I highly recommend it!), but I do believe that gorgeous underwear is ultimately meant to only be enjoyed by one person, and that’s the wearer.

That said, I would never turn away someone looking for bra or underwear suggestions, regardless of their motivation. In fact, I’ve even started a lingerie pin board for fellow Pinterest addicts.

Pictured above is my Eleanor set from Agent Provocateur. As you’re all probably abundantly aware now, I’m an AP addict, and they happen to be having a really good sale right now. However, I’ve also been collecting Aerie’s vintage lace tangas, which are made of the softest, stretchiest lace, in a ton of cute colors.

Also, this just in: Faire Frou Frou is offering 20% their merchandise – see their Facebook page for details! (And no, I’m not being paid to say this!)

Going to my friend’s CD release show	Bunny getting a bath
Perfect boxy tee by Wilfred (from Aritzia)	Zoya’s “Pippa” creamy yellow nailpolish
Zoya’s “Goldie” nailpolish, Madewell sparkly sweater	My mom looking beautiful in an old photograph

You can follow me on Instagram @seecreatures for more. Also, thank you everyone for your responses to my last entry!

Also, shout out to the lovely lady at Jimmy John’s who reads my blog! I didn’t get your name, but you made my day! ♥

I love the internet. I’ve been browsing it daily since I was ten years old, when I began building websites and keeping a blog. Over the years, I’ve made so many friends here from places in the world to which I couldn’t even point on a map at the time, and I’ve even been fortunate enough to meet some of them in real life. My high school years would have driven me insane with loneliness had I not had a place to pour my obnoxious adolescent rants, without sympathetic shoulders to metaphorically cry on.

But sometimes it can just be a vile place. I’m starting to really and truly understand how thick of a skin it requires to put yourself out there, especially when people actually start paying attention. Luckily I’ve never been subjected to cyber-bullying like some of my friends (like on /cgl), so I really don’t have room to complain. All that I know is I have some incredibly strong friends.

Sadly this is the price we pay for the anonymity and openness of the internet. It is both wonderfully and dangerously free. I know negativity will always be an issue, but all I’m saying is, next time you think about sending someone a hateful anonymous message, or leaving them a critical comment about their appearance, seriously consider picking up a good book or watching a good movie instead. I promise you your time will be better spent.