Some Of My Favorite Sketches Ra.Ca.No.Ki.

Alright, so these are some of my most favorite fashion type sketches, and all of them have some sort of really great memory to me. If you’re interested in knowing these memories, here we go (going from top left, to middle, to top right, to bottom left, middle, bottom right)

Sketch 1: These was when I began to sketch once more in the summer, it was after my first true breakup and art was when I was really expressing myself and going back to my past happy days and related to one of my most favorite anime of all time Soul Eater. It was the first anime I saw and my best friend actually introduced me to it, and I had the idea of the sketch months prior but over the summer finally got to it.

Sketch 2: This was actually a sketch that became a reality because I was assigned in my semester long fashion and textiles class as my final project to make a total of 15 sketches as my "collection" and create one of those sketches to become reality and it was to be presented in a school runway show. It was definitely an odd and stressful experience, I am happy to say I earned the most applause at the show. I created the dress along with a purse made completely out of pop tabs. Though this was always my favorite sketch of the whole collection and always brings the thought of "I got through all the yelling, mean people, with acing my design and getting famous from it".

Sketch 3: This was a request made from a friend, some months before I ever even saw the show Doctor Who but was always interested with the space look of the show. I actually recorded myself drawing this, comment if you're interested in me posting this video. I am very happy with the way the sketch came out, it was one of my earlier  attempts with using watercolors in my sketches.

Sketch 4: I was always interested in the style of Halo, due to my friend always talking about it and forced me to watch "Red vs Blue" and over summer once I started posted my sketches on Facebook another friend suggested I try to do a Halo inspired sketch. I actually went to PaxPrime, a gaming convention being held in Seattle because my sister desperately all summer begged for our family to take her so she could go to a meet a greet and it was there I actually had fun (I'm a bit of a gamer) seeing all the fandoms and especially what interested me the most was seeing all the wonderful cosplay. I actually interviewed a couple cosplayers asking about their costumes, what inspired them to create it, the struggles, time, what materials, etc. 

Sketch 5: This is actually the most recent of the sketches and this was made around the end of November. I was starting to create a bunch of sketches and this was my favorite and I honestly think best of the bunch. It's a simple type design and want to one day actually create it.

Sketch 6: This was made over the summer as well, and Disney is a major inspiration to me. I was listening to instrumentals for Disney rides and it truly inspired this sketch. It was one of the most loved and praised and by my friends and just makes me happy when I see this sketch.

Updates! Collaboartion + Discount Codes For You, My hopes for the new year, personal life and more

Alright, well hiyas! Long time no chat I know… well I want to start off with the negatives… so my personal life has been iffy. For one I just went through a terrible relationship ending, on the other I have more support from friends and teachers. I’m struggling with some health which I want to discuss in a later post (more info on that, keep reading) but I’m getting better in my academics.

Now that that’s out of the way, I’m given the opportunity to really want to further my fashion career. And I am definitely happy to say that reaching over 7,500 followers on polyvore, more popularity means I have grabbed the attention of a store called Fevrie.

Check out the store: http://www.fevrie.com/

Plus here’s a discount code to use: racanoki

Now this is really great because in return for designing sets featuring their items, they were kind enough to send me one of their products which I intend to post a how I wore it and review.

This is also really great because it’s a start to having my fashion taste be more noticed, working with companies and polyvore I think would look great in a portfolio for college applications, plus it’s a great way to gain more contacts and experience for the industry. I’m still struggling how I’m going to further my love for passion career wise such as what school I’d love to go to plus what I really intend do, whether it be a public relationist, designer, etc. If you have any suggestions or help it would be greatly appreciated!

Moving on to the next order of business, I really want to make Ra.Ca.No.Ki. Style work out, especially as more practice with the fashion industry. Therefore I will soon be posing a variety of styling tips, tricks, discussions within fashion and the industry, and possibly more posts on how I wear and any projects I’m working on.

Thanks so much for all the support and having faith!

o.o.o -Kim

My View: Why would you quit at the start?

So my views just to start, they're unscripted and I'm just typing out as I'm going so excuse the grammar errors they're just me being me? Anywhos.... let's start!

This started when reading back messages on polyvore, I noticed I had a still am recieving messages from other users, these tend to be new users and they want to know how to gain more followers, if I can help them out in anyway and opinions on their work. The problem is honestly I hate doing shout outs and trying to critique someone's work, really when they're new users. It's just I don't know whether or not that person is really serious about it and I don't want to look like a fool helping out someone who quits polyvore after a couple months at max. It sounds a bit jerky when I do respond, but unless that person shows some determination giving a good reasons besides asking for how to gain more followers I don't want to help. I'm using polyvore as a way to practice and further my knowledge in the fashion industry and I still need help but I don't like soliciting other users unless I know for a fact that the user is familiar with me. I would love to do collaborations with companies still and I would love to work with other users who do take polyvore seriously and have been on there for a good length of time. As well I just don't think it's fair if i start saying how I managed to gain my audience, or how to work on polyvore when I've almost been on there for two years and learned everything on my own. 

Though I remember when I first started using polyvore I honestly thought to use it as a way to find clothes I owned or try to configure and make designs exact to what was in my head and quit quickly. Then I tried to use it again with a stylist idea but because I wasn't getting results quickly enough I quit once again. Finally about 4 or so months into using it I started to gain more likes because I wasn't starting at a 0 follower count, I had more so the results were showing in. But when I had a break again where I was getting lazy, the results slowed. I learned that on polyvore you have to be continous because there will always be people but ya gotta put yourself out there to be noticed and take like a job if you want to gain success. There are the occassions where a new person will come along and suddenly have 1,000 followers i a day and I envy those people but still the journey of gaining an audience and seeing your work evolve is still pretty amazing. 

In conclusion, if you want to be successful on polyvore, take it seriously like a job and the results with lots of hard work will come eventually be how much how work you put into it. 

Today's Outfit #3

So this outfit is actually from a couple weeks ago.... anywhos I finally posted it now yay ^.^

So the outfit a pair of dark blue denim skinny jeans. A nice fitting knit like sweater in a light navy color. Boots are my favorite flower combat boots. Jacket is just an over sized thing I call my teddy bear. Jewelry I had on a long chain that I strong three rings on for a charm like look. My classic go to gold hoop earrings, no bracelets today. Makeup, a simple cat eye and light shimmering pink shadow with brown highlighter, everyday blush, natural lip. Nails are a dark wine color with chunky gold glitter specks. 

Today's Outfit #2

Theme

I was going for a slight Japanese culture meets western vibe and edge. 

Going with the red combat boots and blue jeans, plus tan jackets paired a traditional Japanese top. The makeup was a bit Japanese inspired as for the jewelry was mainly edge (literally)!

Today's Outfit

THEME

I was trying to go for a very simple outfit that looks like I put in a lot of effort with just getting basic pieces and adding special details, DETAILS CAN MAKE AN OUTFIT! So I decided to go with a bit of the 80's/90's with a big denim jacket plus buttons, the wacky pieces and a little bit of grunge with the dark feel of all the black and natural look. As well the cute feel when having the pastel flower print boots and accessories like the earrings. I also wanted a flattering yet comfortable style so a simple tank and skinny jeans are great, comfy boots and jacket. 

OUTFIT

Vintage Large Denim Jacket: I love over sized jackets, because they're able to go over bulky clothes and easy to push up the sleeves ^.^ also added some cute buttons/pins which include a metal flower one, Catbug and 3 Nightmare Before Christmas ones buttons found over years and jacket taken from mom's closet

Ruffle Black Lace Top: a size medium, got it from Romy a year ago and just finally started wearing it. Pretty good fit and quality and I like the little lace and ruffle detailing.

Black Polka Dot Mix Textile Jeans: Not really denim, and has these furry polka dot print on them which adds a cool unique touch. A little bit of diy here since they were extremely long on me (I'm 5'2) and also turned them into skinny jeans. Also got them at JCP about a year ago.

Boots: Got them at JCP and I just love these doc marten style boots! Especially this different flower print on them, adds a quirky touch. They're half a size too big on me, which is fine because I can touch in flare jeans easier, bad when I need to do a lot of walking or running!

Necklace: A very interesting type of choker, got it at garage sale over the summer and it was my first time wearing it. Really comfortable and light weight plus a major statement/interest piece in a simple outfit. 

Gold And Copper Cuff: Another yard sale find some months ago. Pretty good piece.

Earrings: These sun flower earrings got at Claire's, they're really cute and a bit childish which fits the theme of this outfit. As well my one single gold hope for my cartridge piercing which is still healing. 

BEAUTY

Eye Makeup: My basic wing black eye liner, a light brown shadow and a light pink shimmer highlighter, black mascara

Blush: just an everyday natural blush color powder

Lips: Natural,  just a slight gold tint gloss.

Hair: Natural curlyish/wavy hair put into a half pony. 

A Bit About All This

Hiyas! My name is Kim Castro, as 15 year old girl currently living in a small town near Seattle WA. Anywhos... so one day I would love to make it in the fashion industry. I'm currently all around in what it is I want to do in fashion such as being able to sew and wanting to be a designer, enjoy styling designs/outfit, sketching, embellishing, advertising, taking stats of sales and the list just goes on. I want to put my name out there! 

Therefore, I decided to make this blog which I hope will feature sketches I make, current designs, ootd, status on my career path, beauty designs, interviews, tags and maybe more. 

Please check out my polyvore! http://racanoki.polyvore.com/

Thanks for checking this out, I love getting feedback good or bad and hope to make this into something ya'll enjoy reading :) <3