11.28.2013

yay turkey




  idk dude autumn leaves are just awesome


 Happy Thanksgiving! 
(aka "Justina's favorite holiday")

If you are an American, and took a break from eating to read this,

stop it immediately.

This post will still be here, 
but I cannot guarantee your food will for much longer.

If you are not American, or have already passed into the semi-comatose, internet wandering state,
carry on.

I would like to take this opportunity to express how deeply thankful I am for you guys.
I make lists a lot, and on this years "Thanksgiving Thank You's" list, 
a lot of the things were rooted in the fact that you read this blog, like my instagram posts, 
and come up with clever 140 character responses.  

So thank you for being so exceptionally fabulous.

Now let's get back to these pies.

xx,
Justina

PS. (A)
Don't go to Walmart tomorrow. 
 pps.

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11.25.2013

foot gloves


socks c.o. legwear loft| bow legs c.o. my soccer team


if you wanna be my lover, you better give me a good pair of socks


When you wear big stomping combat boots as often as I do, 
a good pair of knee high socks you can artfully scrunch down  is a must.

They should also be durable enough for sporadic floor sliding competitions, and pretty enough that when that awkward "I can see your untanned ankles" thing happens, it's not awkward at all.

These magical things can't possibly exist, you insist. 

and yet

they do.

When Legwear Loft sent me these, 
I was a bit skeptical, as they look a bit on the delicate side of things.
 As we all know, that won't work too well for me.
Let us take a moment and count how many 60 denier tights I go through a week

But after a rigourous two weeks of testing, I am happy to pronounce that they are Justina proof, and for all their cute little knit, they have done a beautiful job of keeping my feet 
(otherwise referred to as "those bloody FREEZING blocks of ice on the ends of your legs"
warm and cozy.

 Everyone who wants to cuddle with me is very appreciative.

xx,
Justina
 


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11.20.2013

cause baby I rule



 sweatshirt - me|necklaces - F21


The reactions I get to this sweatshirt - which is paint on cotton- are priceless.

There are the Lorde fans, who instantly break into "Royals".
There are the people who look mildly offended and ask me if I "support hierarchical clique culture".
There are my friends who laughed and accepted it.

The official definition of "Queen Bee" is
"a woman who has a controlling position in a particular group or sphere."

Regina George to the Plastics,
or
Michelle Obama to the women of America?

this is probably the only blog you'll ever read where the First Lady of The United States is compared to Regina George but that's what makes us special 
Anytime I wear it out, 
people tend to stare at me a bit longer, 
as though they're trying to judge if it's a joke, irony, or a fact.
When I made it, my thoughts were along the lines of all three.

And a little bit of Lorde.

Now I've taken up whipping out a tiara and announcing that "my ball gown is at the cleaners."

and if you don't carry a spare tiara around there really isn't any hope.

xx,
Justina


ps. 
actual queen bees are in trouble, 
read up on CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder) here.

pps. 
Ja'mie nailed it. 

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11.18.2013

so what school do you go to?


So I wrote an essay about being homeschooled for Teen Vogue and
 I may or may not be freaking out right now and it may or may not have less to do with Teen Vogue
 and more to do with my article being on the same page as a photo of Jennifer Lawrence.

xx,
Justina


ps. 
big hugs and slow claps for Julia Rubin, the online editor at Teen Vogue, 
for answering all my questions + being a generally awesome human being.

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11.15.2013

in an old house in california




#teenvogue pinafore c.o chiara fashion| shirt c.o miamasvin



 In reviewing these photos I noticed a few things.

1. That is a GIGANTIC bun.
2.There was a bolt cutter hanging over the fence next to my head.
3. I have an affinity for clothes more properly suited to a 5 year old.
 3 1/2. but gosh does it look cute. 


This pinafore is adorable, and extremely twirly, which we all know is v. important.
 My only complaint is that it is very short for someone of my height. 
I solved it by putting another skirt underneath and wearing tights, 
but that's pretty much the only way I can wear this. 
works for me

Also, this shirt is my absolute favorite shirt ever. 
It goes with practically everything. 
And it has elbow patches.

I found the vest crammed between
 two hideous 80's sweaters in the "vintage" section at the thrift store. 
It made me feel like Macklemore, so obviously, I bought it.

 I rather imagine this outfit is what Madeline would wear if
 she were 16 and had decided to give up that really on point little outfit of hers. 
I wanted a jacket and hat like hers until...actually, I still do. 

In an old house in Paris, that was covered in vines, 
lived a girl in a striped shirt and pinafore, her name was Madeline.


xx,
Justina

ps. small life updates:
1. I just found out I'll be representing California at the 2014 National 4-H Conference this spring! 
It's a huge honor and I'm so excited. 

2. I never got to see Hannah Montana live, but I'M SEEING MILEY CYRUS LIVE IN FEBRUARY.
#hannahmontanaforever
 

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11.12.2013

justina x nina

 http://nick-intl.mtvnimages.com/uri/mgid:file:gsp:scenic:/international/style-intl/general-news/july/midweek-mixtape-nina-nesbitt-545.jpg?height=818&width=545&matte=1&quality=.9
 image via tumblr

I recently got the chance to talk with Nina Nesbitt
who is basically the cutest Scottish*  fluffy haired musical creature/singer ever, and she's got the voice to back up her immense popularity. 
She's got a new album on it's way, 
and is basically going down the path to the top 40 charts, guitar in hand.


*Read all italicised answers with a lilting Scottish accent. 
 J: Just to get started, what three words would you use to describe your music?
N: Acoustic meets electric. But not electronic, like, electric guitars.

 J: I'll clarify that, there's a big difference.
N: There really is, it's quite different.

J: I read somewhere that they call you the female Ed Sheeran.
N: Yeah, I don't know.. I think when they hear the album they'll change their minds, but when I first started off, I think I sounded quite similar. And I went on tour with him and stuff, but now I've picked up the electric guitar and my music is quite evolved. I think America has now just discovered the acoustic stuff, which is exciting. 

J:That's true, I think here in America we've been pop and hip hop and stuff for a really long time.
N:Yeah, like when I was in LA, the radio producers were saying like "this is something new", and I was like "no, this has been happening in the UK for a long time"


J: Would you say you have a personal style? How would you describe it?
N: My style changes week to week, but right now I'd say it's quite vintage-grunge mixed with just kinda quick casual. It's kind of girly, I think.

J: Do you dress differently for performances?
N:I used to jut get on stage in jeans and like, a baggy t-shirt, but then I started thinking, "maybe I should make more of an effort". I also am quite interested in fashion and want to get more involved. I suppose I could wear my performance stuff for everyday, but it's a little more edgy.

J: Any specific style influences? Like people or movies or something?
N: Hmm, I like the old Hollywood type people. I like Bridgette Bardot. For make-up and hair, she's definitely a style influence. 


J: You were a face for Jack Wills. Do you shop there a lot? Anywhere else?
N: Do you have Jack Wills in America? (We do, but only on the east coast.) Yeah, I shop there quite a bit, I really like their jeans, although they're a bit tight. I also really like Topshop, and Urban Outfitters, vintage shops. I went to one on Venice Beach and on Melrose Avenue, they're quite cool.


J: You travel a lot, right? Where've you been?
N:Yeah, I've been all around the UK, and I just wrapped up my Europe tour. I've done a show in LA, and I'm going to do a show in New York next week, which is my first kind of headlining American show.

J:Where is your favorite place you've visited? 
N:Hmm, I don't think I could pick just one. The Europe tour was amazing, I was the opening act, and you never expect much from them, to be honest. You're there to win them over, not the other way round, but they were so amazing and they really listened to the music, which was wonderful. Really respectful. LA was amazing, just because it's exactly like the movies. It's surreal.

J: Was that your first time in the US?
N: Yeah, it was, randomly. I should have been there before. It was really, really cool.

 J: So when you travel is it like super minimalist, only what fits? 
 N: Well I've got one massive suitcase, and then a couple bags. Fans often give me turtles and stuff, so I've got a bag for them. Usually we have a tour bus, which is good, because everything just stays in there, and it's usually an absolute mess by the end. 

J:Anything specific you take with you?
N: A baggy shirt, baggy jumpers, they look cool and effortless. I have a little scrunchie, I can't be bothered to do my hair right, and a black hat. I'm quite lazy with that, but I try to hide it. When I wear it, people are like "I love that hat" and I'm like, "Really? Hm, this is my bad hair day hat."

J:You're really involved on social media. Which is your favorite, instagram or twitter?
N: Oh yeah, I think that's called an addiction. I quite like instagram because I'm a very visual person.

J:This album will be your first, right?
N:Yeah, I've been working on it for about three years, and it's quite long, lots of tracks. 

J: Is there anything specific you can tell us about it, or are you keeping it hush hush?
N: Well, it's a bit more edgy-sounding I think. It's about the stuff I've experienced in the last few years, falling in love, falling out of love, writing some angry songs about it.

J: Well, I don't know how much of our radio you heard, but in America we love a good breakup song.
N:Oh good, so hopefully you'll love the album

J:Are you planning a US tour?
N:Well I'm releasing the album in January-March in the UK, and then after that,  I'd love to do a tour in more of the US.  Hopefully I can come over and play some.

J: What do you think you'd be doing if you weren't a singer now?
N: Oh, I'd probably be studying psychology and writing songs for other people. and sleeping. Also spending more time with friends.

J: How do your friends feel about your fame? 
N:Well I don't think I was the one they ever expected to pursue it, because we did music in school and I was quite bad at it, because it was this really serious stuff, all classical, and they were all better than me. But I kind of secretly sat in my room and wrote songs and developed it like that, diy style. But they're really supportive, and lovely.

J: Last one: If someone who had never heard of you or your music, and you could only give them one word and one song of yours for them to form their opinion of you, what would you tell them?
N: Oh hmm. Word: Scottish. Scottish people have a scertain humor and that really comes accross in my lyrics. Song: Stay Out, which is about a night out in the UK, and all the different people you meet. 
  
J: Ok, so I think my time is up, so I won't keep you, but when this blog post is up, I'll tag you in an instagram post, ok?
 N: Go for it!


 
 There you have it, from Nina herself.

 Go get on YouTube, 
start with 'Stay Out', 
and I'll see you in a couple hours.

xx,
Justina
ps. follow Nina on instagram (ninanesbitt) and twitter @ninanesbitt
I expect you're already following me.
Right? 

Just in case: abentpieceofwire + @bentpieceofwire

pps. 
Nina, I added it up, 
and give or take a thousand, 
I figure you've done about 23,000 hours,
 so you're set.

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11.08.2013

I am model, hear my voice


  


When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a model.

It had very little to do with me actually knowing anything about modelling, 
and more with me wanting to be Tyra Banks.

The older I got, the more this want increased. 
I was a short twelve year old with wonky teeth, and insane hair, but I was on a mission. 
I submitted to agencies, made videos, entered contests.  None ever went where I wanted.
 It got to the point where my dad and I were doing those scouting cattle calls for fun,
 just to see if I'd get "scouted" or not. I nearly always did, because I looked different,
 and that was the lucky number.

But then, I started fashion blogging. 

I very quickly got very educated on the modeling industry behind the curtains, past the jet-set lifestyle. Or maybe I learned what it really meant. I saw the news reports on the eating disorders, witnessed behind-the behind the scenes footage at runway shows, where models dash in only to be fully stripped and shoved around, less like people and more like paper dolls. Can you imagine being told after a year that you are not the .01% of models that become a supermodel, that there is someone younger than you, who isn't jet -lagged, who has better hair, more interesting teeth?
  I saw the models that felt like they couldn't handle it any more. They couldn't handle anything.

I didn't want to be a model anymore.

I wanted to be the boss. 

Please understand : This is not me saying that it is a dark place that you should never visit. 

You might be the next Karlie, and I would hate for you not to make the jump. You could be Cara, the next It Girl. The fashion world could be at your feet with a swish of your hair. You might be the model that gets to keep the Valentino dress you shot for Vogue.  If it's what you want, go for it.
 Just make sure it's not who you become.
You are an awesome person who can do whatever you want. 

Model, and learn to speak Dutch. Shoot editorials, and study anthropology. 
Come out the other end with a contentment, not a "what if". 
 
 I have a close friend who is a model and is happy with her choices. It is what shes does, much like blogging is what I do. I love reading about her adventures, and follow them religiously. She follows mine much the same. We are content in our places in this strange little universe that operates out of suitcases and closets, each an essential part of keeping it ticking.


This TED talk really got to me, deeper than any I had heard before, because here was a model telling people to their faces something I've tried to educate people one since day one (or maybe three)
Nobody looks like the models in the magazines, not even the model herself.


People who are not in this industry don't often understand that. 
They see the "PHOTOSHOP EXPOSE" that crops up on every station in America every couple years, or the before and after photos leaked of a celebrities US Weekly cover. 
They know, somewhere, that it is not real. 
 But they don't see the immensely talented makeup artists, and the ten pounds of extensions. 
The stylist that can make you look ten pounds lighter or thirty heavier with the tweak of a belt. 
It's photoshopped before the camera flashes.

I love it.

(didn't see that coming, did you?)

I acknowledge it's fakeness and take it in all it's glory. It's a magic of sorts. 
But it's our job, as members of both the fashion community and people who are just generally decent human beings, to have people remember the beautiful collections, 
AND know the name of the girl wearing the dress. 
Being a model is not all she is and all she will ever be.

No, she is not #RussianModelNumber34, her name is Anastacia, and she is going to be a journalist.

It's not hard. Unless you're bad with names. 

Whew. I have wanted to write this post for a while, I think. 
I apologize if the thread get's a bit tangled, (or completely and utterly lost) but you get me. 

And if you are the one who is bad with names, try remembering faces.

Mine's the one making weird expressions.

xx,
Justina


ps. to learn more about Cameron Russel, this fab model, click here.

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11.04.2013

happy birthday dear bloggy


 Today is A Bent Piece Of Wire's third birthday!

happy biiiiirthday dear blaaaaaaawg, happy birthday to youuuuuu

That's right, we've been doing this thing for three years now, 
and I'm still not entirely sure what it is.
But it's a good one and a big part of that is you. 

Especially in the last year, 
I've had the chance to meet so many of you, 
and to take part in things way beyond my wildest dreams.
It's been a crazy roller coaster, and it hasn't even started to slow down.
 I said once in an interview that I would stop doing this the day it wasn't fun anymore, 
and fortunately for all of us, 
I don't see that day coming for a long time. 

So take a minute, grab some ice cream, check for a strong wifi signal,
 and watch this video.

That's how we celebrate a birthday on the internet.

xx,
Justina
 




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