Hitchcock Blonde

What I Wore: Walt Disney Family Museum

    This was what I wore a few weeks ago when I visited the Walt Disney Family Museum. The last time I went had been in April for the Mad Tea Party, so I was thrilled to go back! I can easily spend countless hours exploring the galleries that capture each phase of Walt Disney's life, and always depart with a huge cheshire-cat (Alice in Wonderland reference!) grin across my face . The museum  allows visitors to really get to know the man behind the magic, but what I especially love is the "moral of the story" that I take with me each time I leave. No matter how many times Walt Disney was shot down, he never, ever gave up. He followed his dreams, and eventually created a place where everyone is given a chance to wish upon a star, and live out dreams of their own. 

Disneyland

    To celebrate the beginning of summer, my mom surprised my family with a trip to Disneyland! The warm sunshine in Anaheim was a delightful change from the dreary weather that had been present in San Francisco, and my entire family had a wonderful time. Here are some  photos I took!

{Monte Cristos paired with fresh berries and a Mint Julep at Cafe Orleans}

Tangled-Inspired Look

This look is inspired by my favorite Disney princess, Rapunzel. I admire her courage, intelligence, and positive attitude when it comes to chasing her dreams. If you haven't seen the movie yet, I strongly recommend that you do! Also, be sure to listen for the song "I See the Light" - Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi sound absolutely amazing together, and the scene in which it appears is one that never fails to make me tear up :)

I incorporated bold colors that were used throughout the movie, and was sure to include a messy, braided hairstyle, a modern-twist on the braid Rapunzel sported in parts of the movie.

I'm aware that many of these items would be classified as "dream" purchases, especially the ring; I chose it solely because it was gold and tangled. (Get it?!)

And yes, I included yet another Deborah Lippmann nail polish in this set. I'm obsessed!

Alfred Angelo's Disney Princess-Inspired Bridal Line

    Especially with the Royal Wedding just two days away, in addition to my love of all things Disney-related, I found it only appropriate to display Alfred Angelo's new line of wedding dresses inspired by Disney princesses. The collection consists of seven dresses, each designed  with a specific princess in mind, and regarding the prices of wedding dresses, the costs remain relatively low. Maybe Kate Middleton will walk down the aisle of Westminister Abbey on Friday in one of Angelo's designs? Though she probably won't (definitely won't), if I were given the choice, I would choose the Sleeping Beauty-inspired dress. No, my decision is not based purely on the fact that Aurora is my favorite princess (besides Rapunzel from Tangled, of course), though that did play somewhat of a factor, but mainly because weddings are occasions where the bride should be able to feel like a princess, and billowy, pouffy dresses have always symbolized princesses to me. Which dress would you pick? 

Mad Tea Party

    Yesterday I had the most amazing time at the Walt Disney Family Museum's first-ever Mad Tea Party! The members-only event consisted of roughly 100 people, and was located in a building just a few yards away from the museum itself. I've been a member since the museum opened in October 2009, and have attended a fair amount of special events (meeting of the original voice of Alice herself, Katherine Beaumont, and hearing Disney-legend Marty Sklar speak about Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle), but I had never attended an event this "exclusive", even including food, which was delicious if you were curious. Curiouser and curiouser! The decorations, teacakes, sandwiches, and entertainment were all fantastic, and the entire function ran so smoothly. Costumes (or hats) were strongly recommended, so it was only appropriate that I wore my Alice in Wonderland costume. Instead of dressing as a character, my mom decided to make her own hat, which she spray-painted black and decorated with black feathers, playing cards, butterflies, and roses (so creative!), which won her first place in the hat contest. I was so proud of her, especially since the judges included the hat decorator of Beach Blanket Babylon! I had such a wonderful time, and could not have thought of a better way to spend my unbirthday :) 

I just recently discovered that the museum has a blog! Check it out here. 

{My mom is on the far left among other winners. The Alice that took first (center) was "Electrical Parade Alice" who had a sting of lights attached to her costume, a mini-float (not pictured), and even had the parade's music playing from a portable radio. She rightfully deserved to win!} 

 

{The view from the museum! So picturesque, right?}

Balenciaga Exhibit/Day in the Park

    Yesterday, along with my friends Raychelle, Annabelle, and Teddy, I visited San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, specifically the de Young Museum. Though relatively new to San Francisco, the de Young is well-known as one of the city's finest museums. I've seen many exhibits there, including last summer's YSL showcase, but yesterday we saw the stunning fashions of Balenciaga. It was pretty crowded being the first day open to the public, but overall the entire exhibition was phenomenal. From the lighting, the Spanish-inspired music and art around the room, to (of course) the breathtaking fashions, everything was perfect. Though taking pictures was strictly prohibited, Annabelle was able to very slyly sneak in some great ones (shhh!), which I will be sure to eventually post. We all agreed that, even though the fashions were anywhere from 40-50 years old, nearly every piece would still look fabulous if worn today. Balenciaga's timeless shapes, patterns, draping, color-schemes, and beading I'm sure will continue to stay in fashion for a long, long time. Additionally, we visited the park's Japanese Tea Garden, where we enjoyed tea, mochi, and a delicious bento box that Annabelle ordered. I couldn't think of a better way to spend a Saturday :) 

{Dress: Rodarte for Target, Blazer: silence + noise , Tights: DKNY, 

Belt: unknown, Boots: Frye, Ring: Tiffany & Co., Bag: Dooney and Bourke} 

Alice in Wonderland

    For as long as I can remember, Alice in Wonderland has always been my favorite fictional character. I've read Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass countless times, in addition to nearly memorizing (word-for-word) the entire original animated Disney movie. Though I will always prefer Disney's 1951 animated movie adaptation, I also enjoyed the Tim Burton version that came out last year. Below are a collection of some of my favorite Alice in Wonderland-inspired photographs from the past few years. Curiouser and curiouser! 

{From a Alice-themed photoshoot in the woods near my house} 

{From an outing at Lovejoy's Tea Room in San Francisco with a friend}

{From a tea party held at my house prior to the premier of Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland"}

Dooney and Bourke Disney Princess Collection - The Bag

I'm in love. 

Los Angeles and Disneyland

Having spare time in high school (especially as a junior) is extremely rare, so when presented with a random five-day weekend in February, I jumped at the chance to get away from the dreary, rainy weather in San Francisco and travel to SoCal for some much-needed sunshine and fun. The trip's main focus was to look at colleges (specific schools will remain nameless - I consider myself very superstitious when it comes to applying to colleges!), but being a fanatic for all things Disney, especially Disneyland, visiting the Happiest Place on Earth was a necessity. 

{A quick stop at Santa Monica's Urth Cafe, where I enjoyed my fav drink: a blended green tea boba.}