Do you Heart it?

Have you heard of We Heart It? I would like to briefly introduce you to this website I found roughly 4 years ago, as it is interactive and highly visual. When joining we heart it, it gives you the option to sign up utilizing either your Facebook or Twitter account. This is interesting to point out because all your activity done on we heart it can then be linked back to these accounts, making this site highly interactive. When you log onto we heart it, you can search just about anything you would like to see visually. For instance, if you wanted to view pictures of delicious cupcakes, you would search the word and explore what they have to offer. The images below reflect what pops up upon searching “cupcake”:

There are over 10,000 pages of images under the tag “cupcake,” which represents how popular images are in today’s day and age. It seems as if people would much rather view it, than read it, write it, etc. As one can notice, apps including Snap Chat, Instagram, Flickr and various others are becoming very popular. You may be asking, why? It’s simply because the task of the consumer is viewing; it cannot get easier than that.

One of the main reasons I enjoy We Heart It is because it is truly inspirational. For instance, when I am having a bad day, I will type into the search engine words including inspiration, happy, music, colors, food, and a variety of different words that genuinely make me feel happy. Here, I will find a series of images that lift my mood and spirit, and it is all through this image-based social network. Not only can you be the viewer, but you can upload your pictures to this site. Therefore, if you are a photographer, we heart it can be beneficial to get your name out there. This is because we heart it enables you to favorite, or like pictures, and those with the most likes would then be featured under “Most Popular” pictures. Personally, as a dedicated Instagram user and individual who loves photography and unique images, this site inspires me to take better quality shots. Additionally, last semester at the University of Miami, I was required to take an advanced Photo Shop class. Here, we were asked to manipulate a photograph by combining two different images. When I had no idea what I could possibly do, I sat on We Heart It for a short period of time, which was all I needed to find inspiration and a starting point. We Heart It is a great visual site, which enables even amateur photographers to share their images.

We Heart It established a partnership with notable brands including Lucky and Conde Nast, which will further lead them to success. For more information, click here. I would definitely recommend joining we heart it, as it is purely a leisure site that can enhance your photography skills and inspire you on a daily basis.

Zara Barcelona

Upon observing the role of fashion in Barcelona, I strolled along the populated street known as Passeig de Gracias, where I walked through notable stores including Zara, H&M, and Mango. What I have concluded through my exploration is that the Spanish population generally sticks to the basic shades of black and white, and shares both similarities and differences to the typical style in the United States.

As seen in the first image, I captured a photograph of Motorcycle Boots with Silver Buckles, as I found them relatively important to the Spanish population. Since Barcelona is relatively chilly and requires endless walking, motorcycle boots are ideal, as they are comfortable and ensure a fashion-forward look. I noticed a table of young girls indulging in tapas, some of which were wearing motorcycle boots. Similar in the United States, especially in New York, motorcycle boots have been a popular trend and are definitely one to stay.

Second, I captured a photograph of the mannequin display at Zara, as I found it interesting to note the complimentary relationship of the Black and White. As I walk along the streets of Barcelona each day, it is rare that I notice a brighter color that catches my eye. Thus, I have established that in Barcelona, it is considered a social norm to stick to basic colors. Additionally, I took note of this Blazer, as I believe it to be a hot trend in Barcelona. Why? I noticed that a blazer was also displayed on the mannequin at Mango, which led me to believe it is a desirable look in this city. Below you can identify a tweet from  a fashion blogger who goes by Miss Marbles. I found this fascinating to include because she uploaded pictures of herself from this past Barcelona Fashion Week, wearing neutral colors and a blazer type jacket.

Let's get this week started with some pictures of 080 Barcelona Fashion. New on http://t.co/iolPBgNzwd 😘😘 http://t.co/29kfGtlygI

— Claudia Albons (@Claudia_Albons) February 3, 2014

Last but not least, I photographed a simple Black Leather Dress that seemed desirable for an evening out in Barcelona. Whether headed to one of the popular night clubs or a fun dinner with friends on the beach, you could never go wrong pairing this dress, with tights, a jacket, and boots. Notable designer Coco Chanel, displayed towards the left, is forever known for the creation of the LBD, or the Little Black Dress. Consequently, it is evident that the LBD continues to be a popular trend in Barcelona, as it is easy to wear and maintains a sense of simplicity. Similar to trends in the United States, the Little Black Dress continues to remain popular as well. It is definitely easy to wear, and seems to be an essential across the continents. Overall, I found it highly interesting to pay attention to the street wear style that exists in Barcelona, as it is simple yet chic, and shares similarities to trends in the United States. Additionally, being that I have a high interest in fashion, it is valuable to pay attention to what people are wearing, how people are wearing it, and cultural differences around the world. Next summer, I will be interning at Design History, a contemporary sweater designer for women. I find it highly important to pay attention to ordinary people because they ultimately dictate what sells.