Blogger Interview: Sarah of The Petite Pixie

I cannot believe it's already September 1st.  I really can't.  This summer went by way too quickly!!  Luckily, I have an interview with an adorable blogger to help ease the transition into September.  Meet Sarah from The Petite Pixie!  She's cute as a button (and a fellow actress!), and I guarantee you will fall head over heels for her sweet sense of style.

Name:  Sarah A. Garcia

Age:  Freshly 20!

Where do you blog?  I blog over at The Petite Pixie!  It's a personal style blog I started a year ago in efforts to reinvent myself and find somewhere I can share my love of dressing up and be unapologetically me!  I also run Elle Fanning Style, a blog dedicated to finding and sharing pieces from actress Elle Fanning's wardrobe. 

What are you studying in school?  I am currently studying Acting at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

What's your dream job?  The goal is to become a movie and/or television star, but I would be just as happy making YouTube videos or being in community theatre for the rest of my life, as long as I'm acting!

How did you get into blogging?  Many years ago in high school, I read blogs constantly and thought about how much fun it would be to start one.  After some trial and error over the span of a few years, I finally found an identity that suits me and that got me excited for what the future of blogging might hold!

What are some other blogs that you love?  Oh gosh, too many!  The Soubrette Brunette (obviously!), Scathingly Brilliant (which was the first blog I discovered that made me want to start blogging), Mermaidens, A Beautiful Mess, Briar Rose, Paige Joanna, The Clothes Horse... just to name a few!

Your favorite musical artist:  I've worshiped Stevie Nicks since I was a kid, and that hasn't stopped to this day.

Your favorite musical:  I know it's super cliché, but Les Misérables was the most beautiful thing I've had the privilege to see on stage thus far.

Your favorite movie?  Once, but I haven't seen the musical version yet!  That may replace Les Mis soon.  [Sammi's note: Such a good choice!!!]

Which actress would play you in the movie version of your life?  Either Carey Mulligan or Emma Stone, as I've been compared to them quite often.

One character from a movie or TV series with whom you identify:  Lily from How I Met Your Mother.  We are literally the same person.

Do you have a celebrity crush?  Nate Ruess, the lead singer of Fun.!  My friends and even my boyfriend know him as "my husband," and the second time I saw him in concert, he smiled at me, so you know our love is real.

Photo credit: Lauren Crow

Your favorite guilty pleasure?  Lately I'm kind of a little too obsessed with "Say Yes to the Dress."

Favorite book (from childhood or now):  My favorite book for years has been Running with Scissors but I've probably forgotten most of it by now!  The most recent book that I've read that was good enough to be deemed one of my favorites is (another cliché) The Fault in Our Stars.

Drink of choice:  I'm so boring, but water.  It's a magical potion, I tell you!

Favorite food in the world?  Macaroni and cheese, hands down.  Any kind, anywhere.

What's your favorite season and why?  I absolutely love autumn.  I've never lived where the leaves change color or anything like that, but I love the feeling of the school year starting and the holidays fast-approaching and the cool air.  It gives me the warm fuzzies inside!

How would you describe your personal style?  On most days, very feminine and girly, with influence from the 1950s and 1960s, but sometimes I like to experiment with different styles as well.

What's been your favorite post from your blog so far?  My favorite post would have to be Pixie Day!  Not only does it match the current layout of my blog (I am sort of a matching freak!), but it was so fun to be a pixie for a day.  That was kind of the true start to the blog, as well.

Do you have a style icon?  If so, who?  Oh, I have so many!  The first two that come to mind are Zooey Deschanel and Elle Fanning, even though she's so much younger than I!  Those two definitely inspired and shaped me to have the personal style I do today.

If you could live during any other time period, what would it be?  Entirely from a style point of view, the 1950s.  I love the 50's housewife look, but I'm not a fan of the whole not-having-rights part of it!

Your favorite place to shop or favorite clothing brand:  I'm a sucker for a good deal, so thrift stores and cheaper brands like Forever 21 and H&M, but when my pockets are feeling a bit fuller, I venture to American Apparel and Topshop.

Go-to accessory?  The pink pearl-banded watch that my boyfriend made me!  It's so perfect in every single way.

What's the most beloved article of clothing you own?  My grandmother's leather and fur coat from the 1960s that she gave me!  I haven't worn it yet because I cherish it so much!

If you could wear only one outfit every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?  It would have to be an A-line dress, belted at the waist, with a cardigan and a pair of comfortable flats.  It is really fit for any occasion and is still incredibly "me!"

Thanks so much to Sarah for being my September interview subject!  Don't forget to swing over to her blog and follow her!  She's such a doll, isn't she??  Have a wonderful first day of the month!

xox Sammi

Summertime Blues

I'm in absolute denial that August is almost over.  As much as I love the fall, I'm not ready to say goodbye to summer!  I feel like I didn't end up doing many summery things this season.  I didn't go to an amusement park or to a carnival... and I hadn't even gone swimming!  I figured I'd at least check that off my list while I still had the chance.

I really adore this swimsuit!  It's by Fables by Barrie, which is one of my favorite retro reproduction swimsuit brands.  This suit isn't available at ModCloth anymore, but you can still get it on the Fables by Barrie website -- and it's 30% off, along with all of their other swimsuits!  You can check out their full selection here.  As much as I love the design and fit of this suit, it definitely took some courage to go through with posting these photos.  It's hard for me not to pick apart my appearance (especially when there isn't a flowy dress to hide behind), but in the end, even though I'm not perfect, I like how I feel in this suit, and isn't that all that matters?

In short, I'm making more of a conscious effort to do things that scare me a little bit or take me out of my comfort zone.  Sometimes, it's better not to over-think things... and just jump in.

Outfit Details

Swimsuit: ModCloth (available here!)

Jelly wedges: Pinup Girl Clothing

Sunglasses: ModCloth

Have a wonderful weekend!

xox Sammi

Friday Favorites #61

This whole week has felt sort of wonky and I've been having trouble keeping my days straight, but at least I have Friday Favorites to get me back on track.  Here are some of the items I've been loving over the past couple of weeks:

a  //  b  //  c  //  d  //  e

Novelty purses abound!  I especially love the milkshake and donut ones from New Look (which I couldn't resist ordering).  I also like the ones below from Betsey Johnson, especially the one that looks like a little chalkboard.

a  //  b

And of course, I'm totally in love with these whimsical Olympia Le-Tan embroidered book clutches:

one  //  two  //  three

I really adore story-themed accessories, like these darling pieces of jewelry from ModCloth!  They're perfect for any logophile!

a   //   b

Belle is one of my favorite bookworms of all time, and this skirt (of the Beast's library!) is stunning.  It's from the Etsy shop Go Follow Rabbits, which has a ton of wonderful kitschy & geeky gear!

Glasses are the ultimate geek-chic accessory, and I'm dying over these cat-eyes from the Keiko Lynn + BonLook collaboration.  The bottom ones are my favorite pair!

I can't talk about cat-eyes without touching on these cute kitty cat items!  Lazy Oaf always has such fun stuff, and these paper clips from H&M are so adorable!

1   //   2

Unicorns are pretty high up there on my list of favorite creatures.  This pencil sharpener and necklace are just right for any mythological-loving gal:

1   //   2

I know it's way too early to be thinking about cold weather (I'm still in denial that August is almost over), but oh my gosh... these Hell Bunny coats!!!  I actually have this same coat in red, and it's unbelievably lovely... but the pastel pink and blue are just beyond!  They're the perfect mix of kawaii and retro.

a   //   b

This iPod speaker is so much fun!

And finally... these Irregular Choice shoes are insane, in the best way possible.  The heel is Elvis's face.  I can't handle how ridiculous and great these are.

Have a great weekend!

xox Sammi

This post contains affiliate links.  If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I may receive a small commission, which helps to run my blog.  I link only to items I absolutely love, from companies I wholeheartedly support.  Thank you for supporting The Soubrette Brunette!

Instagram Dress Sale!

This is just a quick little post to let you all (or those who don't follow me on Instagram) that I'm selling a few of my dresses there.  A couple have sold already, but if they don't end up selling, then I'll list them in my store next week.  My favorite one is the yellow Steady Clothing dress in the middle -- it's brand new & never worn (I ended up needing a size up and I took the tags off so I can't return it)!  It's SO darling and I hope there's someone who wants to give it a good home.  :)  If you're interested, I'm selling stuff at good prices, so hop on over to my Instragram and take a peek!  And if you're not seeing anything there you like, you should take a look around my "shop my closet" store, as well!  There are tons of great things still up for grabs!

Have a great Thursday!

xox Sammi

Bicycle built for two (Flock Together)

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  I'm over on Flock Together today, wearing a delightful bicycle print dress that I borrowed from Marisa of The Shades of Monet Chronicles!  Check out how we both styled this darling dress here!

By the way, thank you for all of your thoughtful comments on yesterday's post.  Having your input definitely helped to put things in perspective.  I guess I should have been more clear about the fact that my number one priority for my blog is always to fulfill my own creative desires (rather than making decisions based on what other people will like).  Granted, I think everyone craves some kind of validation that what you're doing is in some way relevant and appealing, but at the end of the day, I am going to post what I want to post.  It can be a little hard to gauge reactions when you're on this end of the screen, so I appreciate all of the sentiments that echoed my own feelings on the topic so well.  Obviously, the bulk of my posts will always be outfit-related, because that's what I most enjoy, but I think it's just as important for me to not feel limited in what I do here.  I appreciate all of you who took the time to leave feedback on this subject, and if nothing else, it's so nice to be surrounded by such supportive people.  I feel very fortunate.

 

Have a great day!

xox Sammi

Tough Topics: On vulnerability

I'm trying something a little bit different with this post.  For a while now, I've been feeling like I should do some more "real" writing on my blog.  I always write fashion-related commentary, and I usually give small updates about my life, but there are some other, deeper subjects I've been wanting to tackle.  I've tried to make my blog a source of positive energy; I like having it be an escape from reality on some level (which is partially why I don't ever write posts that are fully devoted to my life in the theatre), and I think it's really important not to get bogged down (or bog you all down) with the trials and tribulations of my everyday stresses.  I've said this before, but I never want to come off as a ranting, raving writer.  I've seen it happen with other bloggers, and it's absolutely the quickest way to get me to unfollow people (and generally, I don't even bother with unfollowing!).  At the same time, I do think it's important to have maintain an honest and open line of communication, and I don't want to sugarcoat my life.  It's a fine line to walk, and I'd like to think that I've become pretty aware of this necessary balance and have done a fairly good job of maintaining it.

It's interesting to me that some of my most popular posts have actually been the ones I've written about important losses in my life -- decidedly heart-wrenching stuff.  My top 10 most-read posts include the 3 saddest ones: namely, the posts about my break-up, about my grandma's passing, and about the death of a dear friend.  One of the reasons for the popularity of these posts might be the fact that people who don't normally read my blog (i.e., family members and friends) find their way to these particular ones, but I think it also speaks to the power of vulnerability.  It's an interesting dichotomy.  It takes a lot of courage to write from your soul and show the most fragile parts of ourselves to people you've never met.  There's a huge amount of power that comes from being able to release that heartbreak.  Of course, it doesn't take away the hurt you experience, but being able to put pen to paper (so to speak) is incredibly helpful when trying to sort out your feelings.  I've also been fortunate enough to receive a plethora of kind and supportive comments from my readers, and when you send words out into the void, it's incredibly reassuring to know that you are not alone.

Photo via Modern Girl Blitz

I think it's a pretty common phenomenon for those in my generation to get to know people exclusively online.  We are saturated with technology, which can be both a wonderful and awful thing.  Sometimes it means we don't connect to people as well when we're face-to-face.  But it also gives us an opportunity to make a connection with people we might not otherwise meet.  And when you get the chance to meet those people "for real," it can be a bit scary and intimidating.  In many ways, even though you expose yourself to a bigger and more diversified audience when you post online, it's actually more challenging to do it in person.  There's more pressure.  Much more is on the line.  You can't hide behind your writing.  But it's ultimately really rewarding when you can transfer those internet friendships into real world ones.  When I finally had the opportunity to meet Kristina and Midge this weekend, we did a lot of blog talk.  I don't often get to talk about blogging with people I know, so it was a nice change of pace.  Among other things, we talked a bit about the formats of blogs, and I had mentioned how I don't necessarily feel qualified to speak as an authority on certain topics (and therefore don't include them on my blog).  I think hair and makeup tutorials are great, but frankly, I know only what works on me, and I wouldn't feel comfortable promoting myself as an expert on most beauty topics, even ones I know my readers would find interesting.  Similarly, I am in no way qualified to speak on photography, cooking or crafting DIYs.  As with many things, I learn as I go via trial and error, and I think asserting one's self as an authority on those topics without the skills to back it up is a recipe for disaster.  But I had already been a bit worried that perhaps I do too many outfit posts without enough variety in between, and Kristina kind of confirmed this fear for me.  As a Highly Sensitive Person, I am prone to obsessing and getting defensive about comments such as these; part of me wanted to cite the other types of posts I do ("What about Friday Favorites?!  Blogger interviews?!  Label Love?!"), and analyze it all to death.  But then I stopped and thought about it, and realized that feedback like this is priceless.  It's coming from someone who genuinely likes my blog and my aesthetic, but is still able to give an honest opinion on how to make it better.  I'm the type of person who always wants to grow and learn.  When you stop improving upon your art, you're no longer an artist.  That's not to say that my blog is "art," per se, but it is a creative outlet, and in any creative field, I firmly believe that becoming stagnant is equivalent to death.  And so, I always challenge myself to do more, to continue to put myself out there -- even when it's really uncomfortable and scary -- and to never be truly satisfied.  I suppose this can be exhausting, but I think it's also the only way you can further yourself as a human being (and especially as an artistically-inclined one).

The point of all of this is, I have some ideas for some more writing-based posts.  I always end up gravitating towards alliteration, so for lack of a better title, "Tough Topics" will have to do.  There's been one about self-esteem floating around in my head for a long time, as well as some on creating your own happiness, staying motivated, and the ins and outs of being a Highly Sensitive Person.  My question is this: what do you think?  Is there actually any interest in something like this?  I know a lot of you might come here specifically for quirky, kitschy dresses and petticoats (which, believe me, I understand), and you might not have any interest in anything more than that.  And if that's the case, I don't necessarily want to push for something that won't interest people, though if it's something I'm passionate about, then I think there might be at least a little bit of interest.  Basically, I need your help!  I'd love to have your input on whether or not you think these posts would be well-received.  In addition, if there are other topics that you've wanted to see me write about, or questions you might have, please leave a comment about those, too!  I have some other ideas for different types of posts as well, but this is especially appealing to me right now.  It's wouldn't be an all-the-time occurrence, but I do think there's a need for some variety, and since I feel that writing is a skill I possess, it's better for me to play to my strengths than to try and venture into territory with which I don't feel comfortable (beauty tutorials, recipes and DIYs) or a medium I don't necessarily like (video).  I believe in the importance of vulnerability, and I guess I do feel a need to put myself out there in some way.  So perhaps this is a good way to do that.  And if there isn't any interest... then at least I tried.  There is never any shame in that.  And if anyone tries to tell you otherwise, it comes from a place of fear.  Vulnerability encompasses both being brave and being afraid.  That's what makes it so beautiful.  And so worth the risk.

Thank you for listening & have a beautiful day.

xox Sammi  

All in the golden afternoon

This dress is even prettier than I thought it'd be!  I'd seen it on the ModCloth website for a long time, and I always liked the style, but I think it's even lovelier in person.  Hell Bunny is one of my favorite brands (I may have to make it the subject of my next "Label Love" post), and I'm glad I was able to snatch this dress up at 70% off!  Plus, it perfectly matches my pink BAIT heels!  The print of this dress and this pretty lighting reminded me of the song from Alice in Wonderland that all the flowers sing (hence the post title).

I'm still in New York City right now, and I had such a nice time with Kristina and Midge yesterday in McCarren Park.  We're going to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens today (and I wish I had brought this dress with me!), which will be fun.  Other than seeing them, I've spent a lot of time with my roommate from college, who was sweet enough to let me stay with her, and I've seen a few other people from school, as well.  As with most things, this trip didn't really go exactly as planned, but I think it was a good idea to challenge myself to be a little more independent and remember that I can handle the things that come my way.  I'm totally undecided in terms of whether I want to move back here (or the general area), but in a lot of ways, it might be something I won't feel 100% about until I try.  I have a lot of time to think about it, so I'm trying not to stress out about not knowing, as hard as that is.

Outfit Details

Dress: ModCloth (similar)

Spectators: ModCloth

Petticoat: eBay

Have a beautiful Sunday!

xox Sammi