It’s been a long time...

It’s been about five-plus years since I’ve updated (or even given a passing glance toward) this blog and so much has happened! For good or worse, I have evolved as a human being, daughter, sister, friend, and now I am top member of the management team for a store I’ve worked at, coincidentally since I’ve written in this place. I forgot how cathartic this can be, how cringe worthy the past can be, and how promising the future can be when you look at the present through the eyes of the past. I’ve come incredibly far with the scars to prove it. 

Wellness/Health:

I have yoyo-d health and body wise for years, currently a firm pescatarian and having sworn off meat for about two years. I used to be incredibly consistent with my water intake but I have fallen off. That being said, I need to get back to basics. The introduction of Covid 19 into our daily lives makes a huge difference in health proactivity, and staying hydrated needs to remain on the top of the list. I also incorporate vitamins in my morning routine, try to consume fruit and vegetables in my routine (I’m rarely home as quick snacks need to be healthier and easier to consume and have a good protein content.) I also support small businesses by purchasing handmade face masks. 

My skin routine is on point, Korean face wash, Thayers Rose Witch Hazel, and Rosehip oil to moisturize. Still relatively make up free, the only step I take consistently is doing my eyebrows. No more shaving, only plucking, and I’m careful about picking my face when I have the odd pimple or blackhead. I had a huge issue during 2017 with a growth under my face, which I got rid of using apple cider vinegar and Aztec Healing Clay (Doctor WHO? We don’t know here.)

Education:

I graduated with my associates in social behavior May of 2015. Although I’ve not put my degree into practice by consistent means (I wanted to continue my education to become a sociologist and have my own practice) it has given me many tools to do my job better and more efficiently than I thought possible. Becoming a top manager means engagement with people, employees and customers alike. I still have much to learn and personal growth to achieve, but I am more than open to those opportunities. 

Fashion:

The subject I’m most excited about! My style has stayed pretty consistent with the clips I shared in 2014, basics are timeless and are easily transitioned for many situations.  Neutrals and black and white is STILL the color scheme, Calvin Klein is STILL my brand, and pouring through old vogue runway stills continue to inspire me.

I finally purchased an item that I have been obsessing over for a few years, Margiela Tabi Boots. It is the boot of my cloven hooved Taurean dreams, and they are on the way. I’m still shocked that I was able to purchase them, on my own with just a click. I have been fortunate enough to earn financial stability, and the little treat items that I’ve wanted for years that never waived are going to be mine. You only live the one time that we know of, and I want to covet my little precious things. I am a Taurus, after all! We love lazy luxury, and purchasing my Tabis and also a Mignon Faget ring I’ve wanted for about 14 years are going to be mine soon. Simple yet luxurious pleasures, by my own hand. Independence looks well on me.

Update soon!

More Calvin Klein...

Research and the obsession with Calvin Klein.

I've been away for a minute; busy with life and new opportunities. It's 2015, Happy New Year!!! I'm staying away from New Year's Resolutions, but I have set some goals that I'd like to accomplish.

Organization: I need to start following through with tasks and making my living and work spaces more tidy and accessible. I have a tendency to be very consistent for about a week and then it all falls to shit and I'm tossing things around and refusing to fold clothes and generally being a busy mess. So, I've got to work on that for 2015 and ever.

Research: I've discovered that I don't shop as smart as I'd like to think I do. I notice that a lot of my clothing doesn't fit me properly and the material falls apart or warps faster than normal. While I do shop less I still need to make better decisions. I've been looking at the Calvin Klein collections and various places that sell cK merchandise and I've noticed a drastic difference in the quality. Outlet stores have lower quality merchandise even for designer labels because those designers have factories specifically for manufacturing outlet store clothing. They use different fabrics but sew the designer label. Some things are past season, but a lot of merchandise is just designer outlet clothing. I was in Burlington Coat Factory because I wanted to look at everything they offered by Calvin Klein. I saw some knits that were poorly made, even the label was sewn so incorrectly that it caused a huge hole in the collar. Yet if you walked into a Dillards, a JCPenny, etc, you'll find better quality merchandise and for around the same price or a little bit more. I don't normally shop in those stores but I may have start perusing them to find affordable yet well made cK garments to begin my collection. I'm also researching scents and how some retailers and outlets especially buy illegal versions of designer perfume and some can even contain human urine. It's time to be especially critical with things that I put on and in my body and simply begin consuming more consciously. I've been reading a lot of articles and comparing them and making my own decisions... never just accept information, always look into things yourself, extensively. Be aware, be smart, be well.

Health: I got a membership to Planet Fitness in September, and I've gone more in the last few months than I've ever gone to a gym in my life. I see a nice change in my body but I have to apply myself and make this more consistent and routine. Although it's definitely about health, I also have a goal and a shape that I'd like to have, and I think that I can have these things and stay body positive you know. It's great and powerful to accept yourself as you are and love yourself right here and right now, but I think it's also great and powerful to want to change yourself if you want to. 

The above is a set that I created on Polyvore, detailing a few pieces from Calvin Klein that I have an interest in and fit into my current style catalog. I really see my style evolving into something minimalist and clean lined, neutral yet powerful, sophisticated but not extravagant and out of character for me. I'm enjoying finding my own voice and separating inspiration from absorption. I want to be me and confident about that. Style is fun, the voyage is fun, and the end is death I figure. Evolution is continuous and I'm so fucking excited about it.

Pale September

This has been an incredibly trying couple of weeks. Not to get into details, but I'm realizing the importance of financial stability more than ever. Not just that, but it's also recognizing the sacrifices that I need to make, and the sacrifices that I can not afford to make. Knowing, understanding, and implementing these things can make all of the difference in the way you lead your life. As I've already resolved to not make any more frivolous purchases, I've got to find a way to keep my wardrobe fresh without feeling the need to add more and more unnecessary pieces to it. The fall season seems to be wanting to break through this awful Louisiana heat (at least for the time being,) so I made a ShopStyle widget to showcase what my fall style will revolve around.

More Calvin Klein...

Due to my financial hardships, I've decided that it's time to secure myself and build up some of monetary goal for the next few months- year. I'm planning on graduating next semester, which means that it will be time for a career rather than just finding a job. In the mean time, I still need to find a better paying job so I can begin to secure myself. I need to start holding myself accountable for scouting and turning in applications, updating my resume (you should always be in revision mode, we are always in a constant state of learning and employers respect and seek out those qualities,) and actively researching job openings and learning the ins and outs of different companies. Don't just talk about it, BE ABOUT IT. And I'm definitely including myself here; I don't know if there will ever be a time that I won't have to kick my own ass. I think that's a great thing though, challenging oneself to be better and do better. There's no one who can do it more effectively and with more self care than I can, so... whoomp there it is.

Take care, honeys. Let's look forward to some #positive changes in our lives and more financial freedom.

These are (incredibly high end and expensive- minus my actual cell phone) versions of my daily wardrobe made school specific. It's been over 90 degrees every day so I modify accessories and outwear to stay as cool as possible, but these are the basics. As I previously stated, comfort is my biggest focus when it comes to style. If I am constantly readjusting a garment to fit properly, unbuttoning it because it's too tight or fixing it because it's too loose, etc... what's the point of it? Also, my color scheme is very indicative of my mindset. Instead of standing out with my clothing, I would rather dress in neutral colors and incorporate louder accessories: long box braids, dark lip color, dramatic cat eyes. These things make me feel both the idealized comfort and growing style I seek. 

One of my favorite items is the field jacket. The above version, the Anna Field Light Jacket, is a version of my own twill field jacket from Old Navy in Goodnight Nora. Considering it won't be cold for awhile, I find this lightweight jacket incredibly well made (especially for something I was able to purchase for $3 at the Old Navy store) and fit pretty well for an XL. Being plus sized, it's difficult to find garments my size and in styles that don't revolve around peplum and over-sized baby-doll tops. (No shade at all, I just don't care for those styles of clothes anymore and wish designs didn't revolve around such a limited spectrum for the plus sized market.) 

Anyway, I'm finding that my style this year is more focus on practicality and neutrality. I like clothing with stretch, elastic waistbands are my friends (and I fully embrace them, regardless of what fashion magazines want me to feel,) and leggings are pants whether anyone likes it or not. I fully believe that the best way to dress one's body is to put clothes on one's body that one enjoys and go from there. Rules are meant to be broken, etc etc etc.

The hardest thing is to take less when you can get more. ~Kin Hubbard

One benefit of the pursuit of knowledge is the ability to apply said knowledge to your personal growth, inter/intrapersonal interactions, careers, etc. While Tumblr is not the best place to source information, in some ways it is. Tumblr provides an encyclopedic plethora of wealth, via the personal opinions of fashion bloggers who exist outside of the street style frame and focus on the garments, the emotions, the labor. A bit like walking down an aimless street and finding a glorious dirt road full of feminism and accessibility. 

After exposing myself to these different aspects of style blogging, I've (again) wiped this blog. This time I'm going to find my own voice and direction, rather than seeking identity through the eyes of others. Originality is always questionable, see these quotes about the subject. Instead, I'm going to bleed honesty, passion, research. It won't always be about style. A couple of days ago, I researched water filtration techniques while watching Fringe. (I now know that Dasani is pretty much as justifiably yucky as I thought it was, and that some expensive waters are well worth the price you pay for them. 

Which circles back to the first quote! I am a minimum wage working student. I struggle (far less than some, I completely acknowledge my privilege in this life) to pay bills and maintain a sense of comfort but I do it. There are, however, things I need to do differently. A huge change I've made is consumption. I used to have a shopping problem- everything I bought was always incredibly cheap (I'm talking .10 shirts, $1 shoes) and I justified those unnecessary (and often ill fitting) purchases by their cheapness. Those decisions led to clutter, gas spent on trips to Goodwill to donate those items that often went unworn, and clothes that were never really my style, my personality. 

I've come to realize that style is a personal connection. I want to wear my clothes and feel confident, proud, comfortable. As a Taurus, comfort is one of my top priorities. If I'm uncomfortable, my world becomes instant chaos. Cleaning out my closet usually leveled that chaos to a small tick, and I've decided I enjoy the consistency of that tick. 

I'm going to use this platform to somewhat journal this journey... listing the successes of better consumption, the failures (because they do happen,) and even the purchases themselves. I think I might make a master post of some of my best purchases that I stand by, even if I've yet to wear them. (My confidence hasn't yet reached the level in which I'm ready to go to class in my platform Supergas but I'm getting there and isn't that the point of a journey?)