lo lee ta

                         

                      

This week has been great in the world of clothes and inspiration. I ordered a pair of red heart shaped sunglasses like Lolita's in Lolita (1962).

I also ordered a really amazing mint green, knee-length tulle skirt, Marlena's Pastel Puke zine, a Hole Live Through This cassette, and a rad badge.

 

I also finally-finally!-stopped procrastinating and began a screenplay that I've been meaning to write since October 2012. Watching the season finale of American Horror Story:Asylum (SO MANY EMOTIONS, MAN) motivated me to start writing it. It's hard to explain, but I had been looking for the perfect start to my script and from watching the different elements of the finale, everything just seemed to flow. 

I know, I know. Inspiration? Motivation? I sound like one of the cheesy school talks where they assure you that anything is possible (before everything goes back to normal and they contradict themselves). But really, this week has felt like somewhat of a fresh start. Things have been getting better. 

My feelings were pretty much summed up in this week's Rookie diary: 

Nothing exciting has happened to me lately, mostly in part to the fact that school has become a giant blob of tests and winter clothes and loudspeakers playing Mozart and nihilism and unrequited feelings. I would wish for summer, but that presents another problem entirely: boredom.

People say that it’s impossible to get bored in big cities like New York, but I beg to differ. Right now, I wish I were in the country. I want to walk in the woods at night when everything is quiet and stars populate the sky and fireflies illuminate my path. I want to trade in smog and sewage for fresh air, even if it’s only for a minute. I want to spend the day picking daisies in a meadow and then throw them all into a burbling creek. I want to read Sylvia Plath in green fields. I want to bask in yellow sunlight while staring up at frothy clouds in a pure blue sky. At this moment, I just want my life to be a poem. This is the most free I’ve ever felt writing a weekly diary, and this sensation is lovely.

I just want to spend a day in the woods, where trees are everywhere and I can be alone for a while with my thoughts. 

Well, that's all for now. This feels like spectacular; I can't remember the last time I had this much fun writing a blog post. 

    -Britney

P.S. Here is an interview that I did with Francesca Gregorini, who is the director of Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes (in competition this year at Sundance) for SPARK: http://tang-ent.com/field/?p=46
Also: my very first full length, non-collaborative article for Rookie: http://rookiemag.com/2013/01/magic-numbers/

the girl with the most cake

   
Hey, you. I haven't blogged here for a while because I started another blog, Psychedelic Farts. But I'm still using this one more. In fact, I've sort of abandoned that one for now. 
So, a bunch of things have happened in my life since I last blogged (at least, before the last post). 

Kurtney shrines! 

Angsty letters to my crush! (Published on Eva's Teenage Diary Collective)

Became a contributor/staff writer for The Wandering Collective! (Also by Eva) 

Dyed my hair purple! 

Obsessed over American Horror Story some more! 

Became a tumblr addict!

Among other things.

-Britney

pink ladies? (LIEBSTER AWARD)

Hey, you! I just realized that I haven't blogged on The Style Aviator in a long time, so I'm back!

I've been nominated by the lovely Danielle Eisenman (check out her blog. Do it now. Noooow) for the Liebster/Versilility blogging award!  

Liebster Award Rules: 
-Each person must post 11 things about themselves
-Answer the questions that the nominator set for you plus create 11 questions for the people you've nominated to answer
-Choose 11 people and link them in your post
-No tag backs 

11 Things About Myself: 
1. I am obsessed with black lipstick.
2. I am also obsessed with A Clockwork Orange (the book and the movie).
3. I'm an avid writer (and reader), and have been all my life.
4. I want to be a lot of things: in a rad band, a director, an artist, Etsy seller, a screenwriter, photographer, amazing blogger, author,   etc., etc. 
5. I'm a staff writer/weekly diarist for Rookie. 
6. I'm in the 8th grade and so far it is hell. Dante's Inferno was probably based on middle school.
7. I am ALSO obsessed with American Horror Story (specifically season one)/TATE LANGDON. (If you ask my close friends about this they will roll their eyes and walk away because this is basically all I talk about.)
8. Saturday Night Live makes me snort-laugh until I fall onto the floor and pass out. 
9. I like watching infomercials where food is magically cooked in five minutes.  
10. I like making things! (But I can't seem to get my glue gun to work. Blergh.) 
11. I have a lot of favorite bands and I love music, but Nirvana is my absolute favorite band out of them all. 

11 Questions from Danni: 
1. What is your favorite school subject?

My creative writing class. I've been in there with the same glorious people for three years, and besides actually writing, we talk about being in luuuurve and hipsters and possible Evan Peters-lookalikes and Aberzombies. Among other things.
2. If you could trade places with anyone, who would it be?

I think about this question a lot and to be honest, I wouldn't really want to trade places with anyone. If I had to, it's probably be with Kathleen Hanna or Taissa Farmiga. I respect a lot of people, but a lot of them seem to have so much sadness in their lives, which is why it's a bit hard for me to think of anyone. 

3. What would be your last meal?

It depends on how I'd feel that day (obviously not too happy). I guess I'd have to say vegetable lo mein.

4. Honeycrisp or Pink Lady or both?

So, I wasn't sure about this question, but from the name Honeycrisp I figured that this question was about apples. (Either that or girl gangs.) I Google'd it and there is actually a war between Honeycrisp people and Pink Lady people. I never actually pay attention to what type of apple I'm eating, so I'm going to go with...both. 

5. What is your favorite movie?

I have a lot of favorite movies. Right now it's A Clockwork Orange. 

6. What chewing gum gum flavor would you be?

Oooooh, I like this question.  I'd be Stride's Mega Mystery gum. Because I'm a MYSTERY. (Actually I just really like that flavor.) 

                                             

7. Who is a movie character that you'd really really really want to date? 

I LOVE THIS QUESTION. 
Tate Langdon, hands down. But he's a TV character, so I'll choose a movie character, too.
I guess...Malcolm McDowell in any movie when he was young?

8. If you could go to any concert ever (musician can be dead or alive), who would you see? 

NIRVANA. HANDS DOWN. NIR. VAN. A. But I'd probably just stand there crying because EMOTIONS. 

9. What TV show can you be caught sobbing or laughing to at three in the morning?

American Horror Story. I both sob and laugh when I watch it. You wouldn't think that you could laugh at something like AHS but trust me, I find ways. (And sometimes, they're just handed to me.)

10. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? 

Either California (not somewhere like Hollywood or Beverly Hills or Malibu) or France. 

11. What is your favorite season?

This keeps changing, but I think that my favorite seasons are permanently spring/summer. If I had to pick (which I do), it would be summer. It used to be summer solely for the purpose of my birthday being July 8 (I know, I know, that's quite narcissistic), but now I like it because of the weather (except for when it's like, 10,000,000,000,000 degrees). I also like the fact that I don't have to alternate between sweaters and jeans and I actually have clothing choices. Winter equals me switching between some sweaters and jeans. 

Eleven bloggers who I'd like to nominate: 
-PSYCHEDELIC DAISY
-ROMA
-DAYZEE
-EVA
-ARIEL
-ALLISON 
-ADELLEDA
-CARLA
-MARY
-HOLLIE
-IBE

QUESTIONS FOR THE NOMINEES:
1. What movie sums up your life the most?
2. Unicorns or pegasi? 
3. What inspired you to start your blog?
4. Where do you see yourself in five years?
5. If you could have brunch with any person, dead or alive, who would it be?
6. What do you do when you're bored? (i.e. read, write, blog, obsess over your crush for hours, etc., etc.)
7. What is your favorite month of the year?
8. If you had to choose one mystery in history to know the answer to, what would it be? (Odd question, I know, but I think about it a lot.)
9. What is your favorite article of clothing that you own?
10. What is your biggest pet peeve ever?
11. How would you describe yourself in three words?   

                                                                                       -Britney

bleh

 

Hello! These two pictures basically describe my day and sort of how I feel right now. That is all. 

ALSO: 



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89cole_Polytechnique_massacre

It's the anniversary of the École Polytechnique shooting, which I am considerably torn up about. If you don't know about, the above link should help (I know, I know, Wikipedia isn't  the best source for information, but I am currently half-asleep and that is the best that I can do right now.) 

-Britney

marlena and the pastels

LIVING IN A PASTEL WORLD: AN INTERVIEW WITH MARLENA POPE

(I originally conducted this interview a few months ago for my zine, now defunct, and thought that it would be nice to post here.) 

 

Britney Franco: I understand that you have a blog called Self Constructed Freak. What inspired you to start your blog?  

Marlena Pope: At the time I started my blog I had been a follower of the style blogging community for a few years (around ‘07, I believe). By ‘09 I really just wanted my own little corner of the interwebs where I could talk about clothing and music and diy’s that interested me. The one person who really inspired me to start blogging was Isabel of Hipster Musings. Her blog was the very first fashion and feminism-focused blog that I ever read and it definitely made me want to start one of my own. 

BF: When did you first begin creating your DIY crafts? 

MP: I’ve been a bit DIY-obsessed ever since I was little! I started making stuff like clothing and accessories as a ~serious~ hobby when I was around 11 or 12 years old. 

 

BF: What first got you interested in fashion/pastel things/zines/everything lovely on your blog?

MP: I think I’ve always been interested in fashion, as far as personal style goes, since I was young. Putting together outfits has always been my favorite thing to do! But as far as actual ~fashion~ goes, like designers and stuff, I think all the great designers of the ’60s (Rudi Gernreich, Betsey Johnson) are what got me into that sort of thing. My pastel obsession came about in 2008 when I discovered Tavuchi Sayuri and the Spank! shops in Tokyo. 

BF: How would you describe your style? 

MP: I suppose I’m a bit of a pastel punkette. Though, I don’t consider myself to be ‘punk’ in the least bit! ;)

 BF: Who inspires you the most? (This can consist of multiple people) 

MP: Tavuchi Sayuri (she is my queen ♥‿♥)

BF: Where do you usually get your amazing clothes? 

MP: My wardrobe is made up of mostly thrifted items and handmade stuff. I buy new pieces occasionally, but not too often! 
BF: Favorite websites/blogs?  

MP: My friend Kailey’s blog, Mermaidens, is my absolute favorite as of right now (and forever, tbh.) I’m also really loving http://thoughtsfromanotherkook.blogspot.com/ and http://spookypuke.blogspot.com/ too! ^.^ 

                         

Marlena Pope is an expert on all things pastel and DIY. She has a blog called Self Constructed Freak, where she posts lovely outfits complete with lace, glittery socks and tights, & basically everything amazing. She also contributes to  Rookie Mag. 

tulle addicts anonymous

Hello! The above cassette greeted me when I woke up. It just came in the mail and is fitting for a first cassette, don't you think? (NIRVANA>LIFE) In my opinion, cassettes are better than CDs. Sure, they require a bit more work, but they feel more personal to me for some reason. 

This week I imagined having an ultra-cool feminism club at school called 4th Wave Femmes. Unfortunately, the feminist population at my school is most likely 1 (this here blogger) so I'm afraid that I will most likely have to wait until high school to start it. 

Earlier this week, I was on a feminism-focused episode of Nick News with other teenage feminists and...Gloria Steinem! I sat next to her during the taping and she was incredibly nice, but she still voiced her opinions when she needed to. 

For some reason, whenever I take a group picture, my mom goes to the side and decides to take a picture with the rest of the people, resulting in a picture that looks like someone crept up and took a random picture. These are the other really rad teen feminists who were on the show (some people aren't there because they'd left already.)

Me & two super cool friends of mine/fellow feminist members of SPARK , Sariel & YingYing 

Me & Dana Edell, executive director of SPARK, who is another rad feminist that I'm glad to know 

I don't know, man, I don't know. I thought I looked cool and SHUT UP DON'T JUDGE ME. I don't want to turn into a person who takes random pictures of myself. 

I went shopping on 34th Street today after ballet class. I went to Uniqlo, in which I encountered A VERY IMPORTANT DILEMMA. I found two dresses that I liked and couldn't decide on one, so I tried them both on and wasted about half a hour. I ended up getting the corduroy sleeveless one because 1. I was only biased towards the first one because there was tulle attached to it and I am a tulle addict) and 2. the stripey part was weird and droopy and made me look like a toddler. They only had it in a large, which explains a lot. 

I like this one because it reminds me of a mod '60s dress. It would look nice by itself or with a turtleneck (seen below). 

It looks much nicer in a picture than in real life, trust me. 

THIS DOESN'T COUNT AS RANDOM BECAUSE IT'S DISPLAYING A VERY IMPORTANT DRESS. 

I have to go to sleep now (you probably noticed that already) but I'll leave you with this picture that I took of the Empire State Building today. I saw it and it was just sitting there in all of its glowing red evilness. It was dark out, so it just disappeared into the sky, which made it even scarier. (The Wendy's sign in the corner just ruined its intimidating look, though.) 

-Britney 

winter youth revolt

[Source-Internet K-Hole]

    Well, hi. For the past few days, I've been back in school. My normal school is located right near the water & the basement was flooded, which damaged some things, so until everything is fixed, everyone has been relocated to a different school. It's been pretty great so far; we still have lessons from our teachers, we stay in one room all day (which is sort of good), and my friends and I made zines. This week, we'll still be at the relocated school, so MORE ZINES. And maybe Nutella. 

      My new favorite months are now November/December (and sort of early January), a.k.a the months in which holidays are over-advertised and everything spells like cinnamon. Right now my apartment smells like dough baking for some reason, but I have no problem with that.  

*Note-the text above was written about a week or so before everything below.* 

We're back in school, which is okay so far. I'm one of the assistant editors of the yearbook now, and next week is when my school's elections are; I'm running for treasurer. I'm finally reading A Clockwork Orange, which resulted in hours of me looking at tumblrs dedicated to it. Seriously, I'm obsessing over it, which is fine by me. 

(last two images are from A Clockwork Orange)

I cannot express my feeeelings for this. For one, I like the 1960s/1970s vibes of it, mixed with the laid-back college professor. The colors remind me of summer & November, which is odd, I know, but I feel like summer is all about vibrancy and November has colors like yellow and brown and gray, which are brought to life here. 

These pictures basically describes winter for me. Mysterious and getting lost in a pale, snow covered forest like in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, basically living in a fantasy world. 

Lana Del Rey

The above picture is from the Trash & Vaudeville website, and it reminds me of the title of this post (minus the winter part). 

[Source] 

I'm now an official maker of flower crowns! (I made one before, but I feel like this is the one that really counts because it radiates amazingness.)  

I feel like everything outside is blue and silver and brown and gold. It feels like a silvery dusk. 

[Source]

(ALSO: my favorite post on winter and all of it's vibes: http://aestheticfeast.blogspot.com/2012/11/early-winter-vibez.html )

I think that these holographic pictures are very interesting & intriguing. They

re very reminiscent of the 1960s/70s. I'd love to learn how to do this. The tint makes it even better. 

I was reading a magazine yesterday and there was a page on holographic fashion, which is just really great. I feel like the first picture captures the feeling of it more. I don't feel like it's futuristic, but more...outer space feeling. It's not too "in your face" like clothes with pictures of planets and stars and galaxies on them (I don't have anything against those, though; I actually like them).  

Well, then! I'll leave you now. May the force be with you. 

-Britney