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?)