the italy video

I’ve always kind of believed in magic. I think that’s why I’ve always believed in love. They’re both this intangible thing that give us this immense amount of purpose. Magic keeps you wanting to see more. Love keeps you wanting to feel more. In too many ways to count, I think travel combines the two. Making us crave the world and book flights, throwing sense, doubt, and whatever’s holding us back in our little worlds to the wind. Even if it’s to places that we’ve been a thousand times before, it keeps us coming back and thinking, “Well, let’s just see,” and somehow gives us an experience unlike the last. It fills us with a feeling that’s pretty intangible and indescribable, unless you were there yourself.

I wanted so badly to film everything for this video. The way the light looks in Florence in the morning, the way tourists pose in the water with the rolling hills of Cinque Terre in the background, the way the mountains of Northern Italy look when hanging on a rocky beach in Sirmione. I wanted to put you in my scuffed-up shoes, so you could experience the rush of this country and its never-ending, natural beauty. When I got home and looked at my clips, though, I felt like I fell short. At first, I didn’t touch them at all. But then, about a year or so later (Took me long enough, huh?) after some editing and all that, this video became everything I wanted it to be.

In all the shaky footage and imperfect clips of flowers, waves, and gelato being made, I kind of serendipitously captured this trip and what I see, feel, and love the most in Italy. Somehow, without really trying to, I threw you into the sunsets and such, and made what’s always been intangible and indescribable for me entirely the opposite. So, here’s the Italy video. I hope you love it as much as I do.

Love always, Marisa.

DESTINATIONS IN THE ITALY VIDEO: Milan, Cinque Terre (Riomaggiore, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare), Florence, Sirmione & Lake Garda.

it was all a dream

The funny thing about this video, and the entire shoot that follows, is that it came to me in a dream. I woke up, poured myself a cup of coffee, and then decided to just take my camera out and see if I could create what I saw, in just glimpses of my subconscious. 

I knew exactly what I wanted to wear: a pair of Brandy Melville jeans, and a top that my best friend had given me the day before, from the same brand. (If you follow me on Instagram, you know I can't get enough of Brandy. Maybe it's because it's so naturally aesthetically pleasing? I should probably note this post isn't sponsored. Just a girl, in love with her pastel, earthy and — dare I say, trendy — clothes.) The look got topped off with my pair of white Vans, that somehow have made an appearance in almost all of my content this summer. And that was that.

I hopped in my beat-up 2001 Honda Accord and drove around my town, scoping out locations. The East Coast is interesting, sometimes, because there are no huge mountains in the middle of Connecticut, or bright red canyons at the end of the road. You have to search for backdrops, and turn them into your own. It's a challenge that I think I'll miss, if and when I do move somewhere else. 

I ended up spending the whole afternoon in a field of flowers about fifteen minutes from my house. It was just me, my tripod, and the beating sun. (And some iced tea and snacks, 'cause well — ya know.) At the time, I couldn't have been more content. People passed by my "set" every once in a while, but otherwise it was fairly quiet. For once, I wasn't rushing to the next thing, and tried to stay open-minded about using just my self-timer. To say I'm endlessly stoked about the content that came out of these few hours, is a swift understatement.

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THE LOOK:  Mom jeans (Brandy Melville, $38); Plaid cropped tank top (Brandy Melville, $24, Something similar here.); Seed Bead Ice Cream Anklet (Pura Vida Bracelets, $24); White sneakers (Vans, $50)

DON'T FORGET: Use my rep code if you shop at Pura Vida Bracelets for 20% off your order! Just put in 'MARISATAYLOR20' at check out.

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When you're creative, sometimes you have visions, but just can't bring them to life. The amount of times I've had an image in my head and ended up staring at my sketchbook, not being able to get my hand to do what I needed it to do — I can't even count. So, the moments when the pieces just fall together is kind of like bliss. You get this adrenaline rush, and need to just create and create and create. Do you know what I mean?

This was all just a dream, but it's real now. Thank goodness for that.

Love always, Marisa

the new york city video

The New York City video has been quite the experience for me. After editing and diving into Premiere for months, I scrapped everything I had for a concept that I'm way more passionate about, in its entirety. 

The reality of our existence is that we're always rushing. To the subway, to the top of another skyscraper, to whatever's next. It's no wonder we're feeling lost and confused about everything. So, with this video I wanted to recreate that concept, and explore the possibility of living life slow versus the fast pace we're constantly running at. I wanted to capture the stress and sleepless nights and create another option. 

This is New York City — a place that's always existing with an immense energy, and never slowing down. But maybe it could.

Love always, Marisa