Goodbye 2016!

2016 has been a year of adventure. At the start of 2016, I decided that this was going to be a year of adventure. And it was – I traveled to many places, rotated through jobs, came into a new relationship, and found a new focus in blogging with local events and incredible partnerships.

An Affinity for Bridges

Holly Phan Photography

Casual Chic Christmas + Why I Love Partnering with AEO

10 Takeaways from Using Smile Brilliant

Lindsey Clawson Photography

White Elephant Gift Guide (Under $40!)

Happy Holidays everyone!

You’ve probably seen plenty of gift guides this season so I wanted to offer you something a little bit different. So I present to you the White Elephant Exchange Gift Guide (Under $40)! Usually my family has a Secret Santa every year, but this year we’re changing it up with a White Elephant Gift Exchange. I had so much fun browsing through items for my family that I thought I should share some of my top picks for both guys and gals:

How I Fell Back In Love with the Northwest

Holly Phan Photography

Emma’s Edition x American Eagle Outfitters

#WeAllCan - I Can Be, Do, & Create

Holly Phan Photography
AEO Style Ambassador – Holiday 2016

A Velvet Dress

Lindsey Clawson Photography

3 Experiences When I've Been Brave & Bold

Lindsey Clawson Photography

Besides my bold lip color and neckline, this post is sharing some of my boldest, bravest decisions this past year. I was inspired to write this post after watching a TED video by Reshma Saujani, “Teach girls bravery, not perfection”. Reshma Saujani shares her journey of running in the New York City congressional race and calls women and girls to be brave, not to be perfect. Too often, we feel like we have to show the world that we’re doing well in every aspects of our lives. When in reality we’re balancing competing priorities, experience career changes, and working on our relationships with our families and friends.

 As a style blogger, I feel I have a platform to give you fashion ideas. As a woman, I feel I have a platform to share my experiences of bravery and boldness. These experiences are times when I’ve felt vulnerable and insecure.  It’s also these experiences that have helped me grow this past year.

The Ravenna Woods x AEO

Holly Phan Photography

American Eagle Outfitters Style Ambassador - Holiday 2016

For my first Holiday Look for AEO, I want to take you to an escape in the Northwest. An escape to one of my favorite places in Seattle. This place is between busy streets and people’s schedules and agendas. This place is where I feel whole and everlasting as the evergreens. This place is where I breathe effortlessly and I find moments of clarity as I walk beneath the bridge and alongside the stream. This place is the Ravenna Woods.

3 Lessons I Learned: Leaving My First Job Out of College

Holly Phan Photography

25 Facts About Me!

Jenna Lynn Photography 

3 Tips to Feel Comfortable in Officewear

Holly Phan Photography

My Last Name is Cortes

My Last Name is Cortes

My last name is Cortes
No I am not Hispanic
I tell my doctor who walks in the room
Who is surprised to find a petite, tan, Asian looking girl who hasn’t been feeling well for several days

 My last name is Cortes

Because I am a Filipino-American
Because the Philippines was a Spanish colony for 300 years
I tell my Uber driver
Who is confused why I am not Latina

 My last name is Cortes

I explain to my Sales mentor
It is my senior year of college and I am in the Sales program in the business school
My Sales mentor is in awe that I speak so well
And that I don’t have an accent

My last name is Cortes

Because my parents immigrated to this country
Because my grandfather fought for the Americans and the Filipinos during WW2
Because of my grandfather and my parents sacrifice
I am here today

My last name is Cortes
And though my parents speak English fluently
The customer service representative at the cell phone store
Turns to me, speaks to me
To communicate to my parents

 My last name is Cortes

And when I landed my first big corporate internship in college,
I was ecstatic
My mother was also ecstatic and she sat me down for a pep talk
Because when she walked through the doors of corporate America 25 years ago
As a young, newly immigrated Filipino-American accountant,
A co-worker told her that she didn’t know that
“Monkeys could do accounting”
She feared I might experience the same comments

 My last name is Cortes

And in countless work meetings
I am the only woman, the only person of color, and the only person under 30
I may not face the same explicit racist comments my mother had to deal with
But I do know I am not the norm

My last name is Cortes
And all my life I knew I was different
I stay tan year round but my parents wanted me to stay light skinned
I grew up without Asian-American models in billboards or representing major fashion brands
I spoke a different language at home
I have a do or die attitude and I feel like I cannot let myself or my family fail
And I’ve tried so hard to level myself to an equal playing field in my career and education

 My last name is Cortes

And though I’ve faced implicit attitudes and daily micro aggressions
I have never faced explicit racism
Like my parents have

 My last name is Cortes

And I fear that one day these implicit attitudes will become explicit actions
Fueled by hate, discrimination, sexist, and prejudice notions

My last name is Cortes
And though I understand people wanted major political change in electing him,
I’m devastated that my country has chosen him
Regardless of his dangerous rhetoric
I’m devastated that a man with 0 political experience was elected to lead this country
While I fight my way for just a seat at the table

 My last name is Cortes

And because I am different
I know I can relate to many others
Who may share experiences of micro aggression
Who may share experiences of being a minority
Who understand the frustration of trying to get to an equal playing field
Who have to constantly explain “where they are from”
Who may share the experience of being a woman

 My last name is Cortes,

And whether their last names are Peterson, Kato, Changela, Umetin, or Varkey
I know our differences will unite us
And one day my friends, my peers, my colleagues
Will be future lawyers, future executives, future doctors
My friends who are Muslim, who identify with the LGBT community,
My friends who are white, black, and brown
Will shatter the glass ceiling
Will advocate for human rights
And will create a leadership, a government
That is representative of America

We will challenge, we will unite

We will use love to trump hate
And we will be proud to claim a last name like Cortes.

The Windy City

I literally just got home from the airport from a long weekend in Chicago. Here is a quick outfit recap of what I wore in the Windy City.

Corporate Chic - A Business Lesson into Blogging & The Importance of the Third Piece

Corporate Chic Series: Part One

A Business Lesson into Blogging & The Importance of the Third Piece 

Holly Phan Photography

3 Tips on Time Management

Holly Phan Photography

It’s not easy being a modern woman of the 21^st century. It’s awesome that in the present, women are encouraged to seek out careers, pursue higher education, and start families at the same time. I’m definitely not ready to start a family, but I am establishing my career both in aerospace and in fashion blogging. Additionally, I’ve decided to go back to school. I am working towards getting my Marketing Management Certificate from the University of Washington. But between work, school, and blogging, plus spending time with my family, boyfriend, and friends, my schedule is full. I’ve been out of school for two years and I’ve realized that “figuring out” my life is a never ending process.

Luckily I’ve learned 3 main lessons to help me with time management. In order to prevent myself from getting too stressed out and help the loved ones in my life not feel neglected, here are three things to try:

How to Style a Wood Watch

Holly Phan Photography

Emma's Edition x  Wooden Wristwatch

Three Favorites from BukiBrand (Promo Code here!)

Holly Phan Photography

Three Trends to Try for Fall

Holly Phan Photography

Fall In Love With Basics

Marina Moiseeva Photography

Take it Easy Tuesday

Marina Moiseeva Photography

How to:Find a Dress for a Fall Wedding

Marina Moiseeva Photography

Nautical Labor Day Weekend

Marina Moiseeva Photography

Say Yes to the Maxi Dress

Holly Phan Photography

Boyfriend Jeans

Holly Phan Photography

American Eagle Outfitter Back to School 2016

The Transitional Romper

Holly Phan Photography

American Eagle Outfitters | Back to School 2016 

A Face of AEO

Holly Phan Photography
Writing Editor: Kayla Kato

Today I'm talking more than about the Boyfriend flannel...

Troll Avenue

Holly Phan Photography

Style Ambassador - American Eagle Outfitters Back To School 2016

An Ombre Fringe

Holly Phan Photography

Boho Casual

Holly Phan Photography

Spring Off the Shoulder

Holly Phan Photography

 

The Spring Flats

The Spring Flats

Luke Mattson Photography

Spring Suede Dress

Suede Spring Dress

Luke Mattson Photography 

Valentine's Day x Jojo Rings

Holly Phan Photography

The Mock Turtleneck Dress (MTD)

Holly Phan Photography

The Little Red Dress

Holly Phan Photography 

Thrifty Tuesday

Holly Phan Photography