Divine Intervention in this Decaying World

I'm not entirely sure how to begin composing this post. It's been over a year since my last blog entry, and I'm sure I can agree with all my readers that it was certainly plausible that such an absence was the result of alien abduction or similar supernatural phenomenon. Yes, I took a very long break from blogging. It was unannounced and not entirely intentional, stemming from several reasons.
A very easy and convenient reason was choosing to focus my time on my Etsy shop, which as you know I founded in May of 2012. I continued to juggle both my Etsy shop and my blog from May to December of 2012, but after a while it began to make more sense to devote my "online time" into something that generated immediate gratification and productivity (making money) versus abstract artistic creativity. Throughout the course of this past year, I have learned to manage my time more efficiently, and will be making both blogging and my Etsy shop a priority.
If you thought juggling an online business and personal fashion blog was crazy enough, think again. Not only was I immersed in these extracurricular endeavors, but I was enrolled in college full time. I am pleased to say that I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in English this past summer, which eliminates education (unless I choose to pursue a Master's Degree) from my list of blog abandonment excuses.
Perhaps the most important excuse for a lack of blogging was my genuine lack of interest. My life was so preoccupied around my newly founded Etsy shop and long list of intensive courses, that spending time on my blog became a truly depressing ritual. It seemed pointless to dress up in full theatrical regalia to get my picture taken, when my everyday life was spent in the most blase of garments. Due to being under 21 years of age, I didn't have much of a social life either, which eliminated the task of dressing up for nightlife activities. The radical difference between my photo shoot garb and real life apparel was drastic to a point of inducing mild depression.
However, the past few months have seen a new change in my social lifestyle and this past month has marked my 21st birthday. I've embarked upon a new journey in my attitude regarding many facets of life, to include my wardrobe preferences and mode of creative expression. Blogging and its many related activities have presented themselves to me in a new and stimulating light, and I'm excited to get back into the game. In this new epoch of my blogging journey, I am looking to not only utilize my blog as a personal means of creative expression, but as an outlet for my two modes of business. My Etsy shop and freelance wardrobe styling are both aspects of my career that I would like to further publicize. What a better platform from which to toot my own horn than on a blog attracting like minded fashion enthusiasts? In addition to publishing personal photographs (such as the ones revealed in this post), I will also be showcasing photo shoots from my wardrobe styling portfolio, with the majority of the apparel sourced from my Etsy shop. Triple promotion? Heck yes.
Moving to a more relevant subject, these photos were taken almost a year ago. I collaborated on these with two of my favorite ladies, Nikki A. Johnson and Josephine Love. It was abominably freezing, but I managed to brave the frigid weather and strike a few poses. I'm in love with the 1920s-meets-Preraphelite outcome. I'm very lucky to have such talented and artistic friends!
The sheer white lace dress moved from my personal collection to my Etsy shop (sorry guys, it sold.) The vintage locket box necklace experienced a similar departure from my collection. I picked up the earrings at Forever21 on one of my semi-annual mall pilgrimages and the self-made flower wreath has been in my collection for several years. The Brutalist pyrite and sterling silver ring is one of my most treasured possessions and was inherited from my Hungarian grandmother.
That's all for now, folks! I'm quite exhausted from writing after such a long break. However, I will add a weekly blog entry to my list of resolutions for 2014. I'm actually pretty thrilled to be back in my little niche again. It has been a successful and productive day, to say the least.
Lots of love and positive energy!

~Hope Adela
Photo: Nikki A. Johnson MUAH: Josephine Love Wardrobe: Pink Champagne Vintage
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