Can't Buy a Thrill

This is an outfit I wore a while back, but I hadn't shared the photos with you guys yet. I am so obsessed with these conductor stripe pants from Nordstrom. For me, they're the perfect summer pant. They're light, fun, and super easy to style. I have worn them so many times this week, and I am surprised as to how well they work with so many different things! Ever since I was a kid, I have been obsessed with traveling, especially by train, so I fell in love with these railroad striped babies imediately! Wearing them makes me want to plug into my iPod, crank the Bob Dylan, hop a train, and go on an adventure..

 Lush Split Neck Woven Tank - BP@Nordstrom | Railroad Stripe Jean - BP@Nordstrom | DV by Dolce Vita 'Nanette' Sandal - Nordstrom

My Style Icons

Hey guys! I have been thinking a lot about what persona style means to me, and after reading Frank Vinyl's post "Searching for your Signature Style", I decided to do a similar blog post featuring my biggest style inspirations.

How would you define your style? Who are your biggest style icons?

 Kurt Cobain

What he taught me: Um, everything? But mainly, that it's okay to be weird. In this case, I'm talking about fashion, but he really taught me to embrace my weirdness in every aspect of myself. (Being obsessed with child birth and the reproductive system is O.K.) But when it comes to style, if you feel like wearing the Elmer Fudd hat with the leopard print coat and oval sunglasses, you go for it!

 Mick Jagger
What he taught me: My 1970s style comes out of nowhere. I love the look of the 1970s woman, but couldn't think of a single typical 1970s woman who I actually consciously channeled. That's when I realized, I wasn't channeling any woman. I was channeling the kind of woman Mick Jagger would have hung out with back stage after a show in the 1970s. Which is way cooler. 

 Patti Smith

What she taught me: Patti Smith has the kind of effortless style that you really only saw in men at her time. The biggest thing I took away from Patti Smith, is that being a girl is kick ass. And should I ever want to stop shaving my arm pits and legs, that's fucking okay. 

 Winona Ryder
What she taught me: Modest is hottest. That statement alone makes me feel too vulnerable to even continue on. But I will. My love for Winona is never ending. Let's put it this way; if I woke up tomorrow a high class, celebrity lesbian, I wouldn't even question it. I would just go find Winona Ryder. Because, to me, she's the perfect kind of sexy. She never shows too much, she's mysterious, she's feminine without trying too hard; she's everything. Winona is everything, Winona forever. 

 Bob Dylan

What he taught me: Bob Dylan taught me that androgyny is cool. Not because he himself dressed androgynous, but because he was scrawny (like me) and though he didn't have breasts (like me. Just kidding. Kinda?) he really inspired my style. I've been obsessed with him from a young age, so I feel like I could go on and on about the things that he has taught me, but I think the biggest thing is this, and it's kind of heavy: Lots and lots of things are beautiful. The most beautiful things are the things that maybe take a little digging, a little squinting, and a little thinking. If I am every called beautiful, I hope it's meant in that way. 

 Courtney Love

What she taught me: You know how Patti Smith taught me that being a girl could be kick ass? Courtney Love taught me that I was kick ass. Growing up, I was never the "pretty" girl. Luckily, I had an older brother who told me a lot about a lot of amazing bands, Hole included. I was blown away. Courtney Love is (one of) the reason(s) I ever picked up a guitar, I ever cared about fashion, and I ever stopped giving a damn what "pretty" meant to anybody else but myself.

Kate Moss

What she taught me: This one is kind of new for me, guys. Obviously, being interested in fashion, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Kate Moss. However, in the past year or so I've started modeling and my biggest lessons have come from Kate Moss. She's so confident, and I am so not. Kate Moss has very recently taught me what sexy is. Sexy is a smoldering eye, it's feeling the breeze through your shirt on a sunny day, it's sometimes going topless (okay, maybe not in public for me, but you get it.) She isn't conventionally pretty, but in front of a camera, and as a model, she's gorgeous. She's a super model, and has earned her confidence over time. I know that the body image issue is big with a lot of people, but as a naturally scrawny, small breasted, small butt girl, I too sometimes feel under attack. When I do, I look to Kate Moss, and her cool-girl, "who cares?", bra-less (woops, did I say that?) attitude and feel much, much better.

Make sure to follow my Pinterest and Tumblr for more inspirations!

It Takes a Trian to Cry

I got my new shoes in! If you follow me on Instagram, you know how excited and obsessed I've been about these shoes. (Follow my Instagram here!) They finally came in last night and I literally wore them around my house for hours, and then to class and out and about all day today! It's pretty safe to say they are well broken into. I love the folksy feel of these shoes. I am a huge fan of 1960s and 1970s fashion, but I think that the folk aspect of that time is often largely left unnoticed. People think of bohemian and hippie and disco fever, which is all very relevant, but there's something about Bob Dylan and Joan Baez's folk style and attitude that always appealed to me way more. These shoes just evoke a feeling in me. I love when fashion can do that, just the same way a song can; just the way a Bob Dylan song can.

Tank - Free People | Halter Bra - Free People | Boots - Free People | Jeans - Urban Outfitters

March Goals

I know March is 5 days underway, but I figured it's never too late! I've been wanting to do a post like this for a while but have been lacking the motivation the past few months to actually sit down and give serious thought to what I would like to accomplish. Maybe I caught spring fever, because all of a sudden, I am feeling much more inspired. I am one of those people who is a big believer in bettering yourself as much as you can, even if it's just in little ways. I always think of quote by Bob Dylan (Which, by the way, fun fact was my senior quote when I graduated high school) "He not busy being born, is busy dying." To me, that quote means if you're not busy developing and growing as a person, be it spiritually/mentally/whatever, than your energy is basically dead. Maybe I'm getting a little too philosophical on this, but hey - That's what blogs are for, right?

Kenzie's March Goals

1. To purge my closet. 

2. To compare myself to others less.
3. Spend more quality time with myself.
4. Eat more fresh fruits & veggies.
5. Spend at least a few hours a week drawing. 

What are your guys' goals lately? How do you hold yourself accountable to them?

InstaUpdate!

 A little bossy, but whatever.

 Just some doodling I did while listening to music, in between Tumblr "reblogs".

 A silhouette painting I did of Bob Dylan. My obsession only grows stronger with age.

 A shameless selfie. A "mirror pic", no less! Can't stop... Won't stop...

 This is Portland's "snow storm". Adorable! In all seriousness, I would like to thank the city of Portland for being so overwhelmingly safe. I enjoyed not leaving my apartment for three days - Sincerely!

 Isn't this cozy, and so tumblr of me?

 Kind of, sort of, madly in love with these clogs. If it has an ankle strap in any way, I want it.

 Duck fat fries while bowling! For every carbohydrate burned, two more were gained!

 Venturing out during my retailing class to see how other stores decorated. This little store got the dang thing done I thought!

 Bob and the Monster! If you're a fan of Thelonious Monster, Red Hot Chili Peppers, or the early 1980s Hollywood punk scene, watch this movie. I was feeling totally inspired after.

 I just love the way my cat somehow takes on the shape of a cinnamon roll or some other dough-y substance when she's laying down. Her wedging herself between my boyfriend and I just sort of added to the cuteness.

 Gorgeous shoes spied in a waiting room. On my feet, no less.

 Kitty and Lisa Frank had one wild night by the looks of it. Better let her sleep this one off.

 Obsession growing with age, blahblahblah.

Free People. Need I say any more?

I hope you guys enjoy these posts because I really enjoy posting them! It's nice to recap and remind myself of all the little moments I've compiled. I completely forgot about how much fun Matt and I had snuggling up for Bob and The Monster, and how delicious those duck fat fries were when bowling. Hopefully I'll be able to get back to some outfit photos once the weather turns into something a little more pleasing!

Bob Dylan's Shoes

I am pretty obsessed with this jacket. I bought it at Nordstrom for $88, and it's super heavy and warm. It's kind of rare to find a really cute jacket (in my opinion) that's still super warm under $100. Trust me, coming from Alaska, I've given that search a damn good try. I'm definitely wearing this jacket back home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I'm pretty confident I'll stay toasty warm. Not that I go outside for longer than necessary when I visit home in winter - But still!

Speaking of obsessions, I'm kind of also obsessing over these shoes. Not just these shoes, but any shoes even shaped like this. It's not exactly a new obsession, but it's one that gets a resurgence in fall/winter. Shoes like these always remind me of Bob Dylan. I know I've talked about how much I love his music, but I think it's also pretty plain to see I draw a lot of inspiration from him style wise. When I think about it, most of my style icons are boys. Weird? Maybe. Anyways, it's gotten to the point where, if Matt is over and I ask him to get out my "Bob Dylan shoes" it takes him a few tries because about 50% of she shoes I own are referred to as my "Bob Dylan shoes". Long story short, I love a good pair of shoes I could see a male musician wearing from the 1960s-1970s.

Where do you draw some of your shoe inspiration from?

Jacket - BP@Nordstrom | Top - BP@Nordstrom | High Rise Jeans - Free People | Shoes - Nordstrom

Lip Color - Nars Pure Matte Lipstick "Terre De Feu" | Eyes - Urban Decay "Naked Basics" | Nail Color - Butter London "444"