NEW SERIES: Etsy Roundup!

We are pleased to announce a new series here at RCS! As some of you may know, we're pretty big fans of Etsy around here (and also the satire site Regretsy, which skewers the stranger items on the site). Not only is it a venue for purchasing unique items you can't find anywhere else, but your money directly supports small-scale crafters, designers, and vintage curators (Just watch out for those resellers though, a.k.a. avoid owl pendants).  

So, from time to time we'll feature some Etsy listings we've picked out of the fray, because they're stylish, intriguing, or simply amusing. We're always doin' it for the lulz.

Without further ado:

(From left to right: Finger Print Embroidery Hoop, Gem Brooch Set, Batman Pendant, Lionel Ritchie Tea Mug, Mermaid Fins, Crochet Viking Hat)

What do y'all think of our picks?

-Berit & Claire

P.S. If you have a moment, check out Berit's Etsy shop! Because what's a post without some shameless self-promotion?

OOTD: Floaty Fabrics

Today I did that thing where I combine two pieces that don't match at all, but somehow work because they share the same texture. This dress was a gift to me for Bayram from a Turkish-designed label called Yargıcı (Yar-guh-juh) that specializes in soft, feminine pieces nautical-inspired gear.

(Dress, Yargıcı; scarf, Grand Bazaar; boots, GeeWaWa; earrings, Mom's; bangles, Pull & Bear; necklace, Istanbul boutique)

-B

Fall Style Tips: Metal Capped-Toe Shoes

As Fall quickly approaches, many of us will reluctantly bid farewell to our sandals in lieu of more weather-appropriate footwear. In the fashion world, Autumn is synonymous with chicness and polish because of the melding of summer and winter styles, plus consistently mild weather that lends to layering for the purpose of style rather than utility.

Enter the metal capped-toe shoe. In a myriad of styles and colors, this trend offers polished intrigue without sacrificing versatility. It looks expensive without trying too hard and is a great building block for accessorizing.

Valentino kitten heel shoes / Yves Saint Laurent cap toe shoes, $710 / Rachel Roy slip on shoes / ASOS high heel pumps / Wallis flat shoes / Oasis cap toe shoes, $60

Blessedly, this smart-looking trend has descended from the upper echelons of the fashion heavens to more affordable locations, including, not surprisingly, your local Forever21.

 I don't know about you guys, but I'll be snatching up a decently priced pair of these shit-kickers ASAP. Thoughts?

-B

Body Love

This post is about body love.

Spending the past two months in Turkey means that all the hospitable Turkish people I meet are constantly feeding me. Have seconds, thirds, don't you eat more than that? Aren't you hungry? Turkish life revolves around food, and if you've got a guest, well, you pretty much feed them until they can't breathe properly. Food = love.

So yes, naturally I've put on a few pounds since arriving in the city of Delicious Buttery Börek (basically the Turkish hot pocket), where I've relished all the incredible food I've been able to eat.  

And despite all the self-love mantras my friends and I say, and all the affirming literature I read, and though I try to avoid magazines with models who have had 20% of their body weight photoshopped off or something, I have to confess that I have not been loving my body lately. I've been obsessing over how "gross" I feel. Being out of my usual routine and typical diet has thrown me for a loop where I've ended up heaping salad onto my plate (salad? I hate salad.) and worrying about the tightness of my pants.

I suppose this is all a prime example of the power cultural beauty norms perpetuated by the media have over women and the way they view themselves. Instead of admiring my curvier body or my happy psychological state or acknowledging that it's okay for weight to fluctuate, I'm beating myself up. After recognizing these obsessive new behaviors I also realized that hating my body isn't making me any happier or healthier. Furthermore, I don't want to lose my enthusiasm for Turkish food, which is fucking delicious.
This article from Rookiemag really spoke to me because it doesn't chirp the same "U R BEAUTIFUL ALWAYS, AND STUFF" message that kind of loses it's meaning the more one hears it. Instead, it says: eat the fucking brownie if you want to, but if you do, you need to enjoy it.

The author writes: "Here I am making a vast and sweeping gender stereotype, but do you ever, ever hear dudes say “I just want a little bite” or “This is so bad, you guys, but I totally ate a whole pint of Ben & Jerry’s last night”? No! Because it’s OK for men to eat! Men get hongray! Men need frozen dinners called “Hungry-Man”! Men need Manwich! Boys are allowed to grow into men, but “attractive” women in our culture are expected to stay at pretty much an eternal pre-adolescent weight. What’s society’s current ideal man look like? Fit. Big muscles. What’s society’s current ideal woman look like? Thin. Really thin. No hips. No belly. Hairless except for the head. Basically a 10-year-old girl with boobs added for sex appeal."

(Adele gives no fucks about what the world thinks of her figure. She's too busy being awesome.)

So yes, I'm all for eating healthy and taking care of myself. But no, I'm not okay with the double standard that women are held to where they must remain perpetually thin and feel guilty about enjoying food. Even if that brownie isn't as nourishing as some kale chips or whatever, the fact that it comes along with a blissed-out sugar high is sometimes JUST AS GOOD.

Physical and emotional health doesn't begin with a hateful relationship with food and our bodies. So next time I have a snack, I'm going to try to just enjoy it for what it is, no strings attached.

I know this isn't the most academic thing I've ever written, and I may not be using the right terminology. What I do know is that every woman (and man) is affected by negative body and gender norms in some way. My hope is that someone will read this and feel empowered and encouraged like I did.     -B

Basic Eye Makeup: Enhancing Small Eyes

Using our friend Allison's enchanting hazel eyes...

(start with well groomed eyebrows, and a well defined arch to open up the lid)

cover the whole lid and inner corner with a light shimmery eye shadow 

(i used MAC Naked Lunch)

soften the lid using a neutral tone shadow just above the crease

(i used MAC Concrete)

 add definition by using a dark shadow in the outer corner
(i used MAC Charcoal Brown)

run a black shadow or liner thinly along the lash line
(i used MAC Carbon)

 run the same neutral crease color softly under the outer edge of the bottom lashline

 curl lashes and add mascara!
(i used a Shu Uemera Lash Curler and Covergirl Lashblast Volume Waterproof)

comment, share, follow!

♥

 Claire

T-Shirt Makeovers!

Why buy new clothes when you can just spiff up the ones you have!

 1. Revamped Button-up

Blinged out collars are everywhere right now, and as much as I think they are totally hot, 

I am not paying 50$ at Urban Outfitters.  

So, I rummaged in my closet and found a 10$ H & M button up I used for band concerts in high school.  The fit was hideous, so I cut off the sleeves and the reshaped the bottom, 

and used some brats that I bought at Joanne Fabrics to embellish the collar.  

Easy, and cheap!

2. Tye dying madness!

All my white T-shirts got really dingy from the red desert dust in Israel, 

so I chopped them up, bought some fabric dye and made them awesome and fun!

I hope you all are savoring the last few weeks of summer!

♥

Claire

Revlon Lip Butters

I love these, they are creamy and have a luscious sheen, and come in lots of very wearable colors. 

If you aren't a lipstick OR a lipgloss kind of person, then this product may be your happy medium.  

It feels like a balm, and is very tinted so you get great color payoff without the opacity of a lipstick.  They smell good, wear well (and last long!), and are super affordable!

If you have tan skin, Creme Brulee is NOT your color.  I love Tutti Frutti, Lollipop, and Candy Apple.

♥

Claire

p.s. check my portfolio for updates! i have been working to fill it out :D

ihttp://clairematsunami.blogspot.com/