To Market to Market

WEARING: ROSEGAL MESH PANEL HIGH WAIST BLUE JUMPSUIT | GUESS SATIN PUMPS | 
ZAFUL TASSEL LAYERED DROP EARRINGS | THE LUXELLE SILVER PLATED CLUTCH

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ROSEGAL & ZAFUL.

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When one runs to the grocery store, I think the last thing we're thinking about is the way we are dressed. Now who's to say what can one wear to and from the market? It should be fair game, no? But in reality, most of us are running in and out in our everyday getups - maybe even slipping in with our pjs every now and then, especially on a late night run. This is why I love fashion styling. You don't have to work with the rules of only reality. You can set greater expectations and create stories you wouldn't be able to otherwise without the garments, accessories and everything else in between when gathering a look into a concept. And with my new passion in video (as much as I piss and moan about the process of editing - because yes, it really is a pain) lately, I'm really into creating these teeny tidbits of short film all wrapped up within a minute and incorporating the video with photographs. Come check out this decadent late night run to the market, something I'd totally be doing after show at the Met Opera + dinner... I like having dessert at home. 

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How crazy luxurious-looking is this blue jumpsuit?! And the more insane part is that it's from Rosegal and it's less than $23! Sadly it's currently sold out! I just checked this morning as I was getting ready for publish this post. But there's other colors like black and red which are also perfect for the fall season! I love a good jumpsuit for date night - like I mentioned earlier this is something I'd wear to the opera or ballet, maybe even a special event of some kind, but it's definitely more on the dressy side for me and I love how confident I feel in it! My silver plated clutch is from The Luxelle, and I love how the bag fancies up the look. 

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I wore my favorite black pumps. They are from Guess and made of satin with a real sense of comfort. I've had them for years and I still wear them to this day. They can be worn with a pair of jeans or on the dressier side, like in this outfit. To keep the look playful and fun, I chose these multi-colored, layered tassel drop earrings from Zaful. The blues work well with the jumpsuit I feel. Lastly, I also wanted to show some of my favorite upcoming trends in hair & makeup that I saw during Fashion Month and two trends I've really loved are bright, colorful makeup and sleek hair. I did these looks myself - what's funny is these two things are quite familiar to me from back to my skating days. We did big, in your face, makeup, and perfect hair buns without a strand of hair out of place. I'm all for blue eyeshadow and light pink lips lately, it just gives your face that extra pop. What do you guys think of this whole look?

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I'm always trying to elevate my creative work - it's not about competing with others. I never have and never will. I'm only in competition with myself and if I don't feel like I'm learning something everyday and getting better with my work, I feel really lost and frustrated. So creating these 'short films' as I call them at the moment, do mean a lot to me and I wouldn't do them if they didn't because a lot of time and energy goes into them. That's how I am with people too, but that's for another time over coffee. Ha ha! Anyhow, would you like to see more conceptualized stories such as this on the blog? I'd love to hear your thoughts so don't forget to drop a comment before you go! Thanks for stopping - follow me on Instagram and YouTube for the latest! See you guys soon. :) 

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To market to market, it's never about competing with others but only with yourself. So I'm trying to bring you guys a new editorial every week, with a different concept in tune with fashion, style, and short film. And all in less than a minute.

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Faux Leather Biker Chic

WEARING: ZAFUL ZIPPERED FAUX LEATHER BELTED MINI DRESS | 
FOREVER 21 OVERSIZED CUTOUT SHIRT | ANGELINA SHOETIQUE OTK BOOTS | 
LEVI'S WINTER WOOL BERET | FOREVER 21 OVERSIZED ROUND GLASSES | 
ROSEGAL SILVER BEAD HOOPS | ALLES FRINGE BUCKET BAG 

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ZAFUL.

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A gloomy, rainy day doesn't exactly set the perfect tone to start any week, does it? But whenever I'm feeling a bit down and out, I just continue on and keep doing me. It doesn't matter the amount of pressure I receive on a daily basis, either work-related, personally and/or more, I'm not a quitter and I refuse to let anyone that I know or do not know, to make me feel anything less than worthy. I have come a long fucking way and to those who think they know anything about me, YOU DON'T. You don't know the half of it, and to the ones who do and have never left my side, with full support and no judgment, I thank you and I love you. I have endured and survived through so much shit in my life. I should have died at least three times already, but by the stroke of luck (or hopefully) for some greater purpose, I'm still here standing. And I'm here for a reason, goddamnit. Excuse the language today, but I never said I was all ladylike and ish. 

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So in today's outfit post, I'm presenting my bad-ass self in a biker-chic inspired look completely made out of faux leather. I was really inspired by Moschino's SS18 collection and all of the 'butch' ballerina vibes straight off the runway and wanted to create a similar style pertaining to my own from this inspiration. The zippered, belted mini dress can be worn in all sorts of ways: unzipped/zipped with or without a shirt, layered with one, or without the suspenders, and more. But for this look, I went with a black and white color scheme to keep it fresh and clean. I think other colored shirts would appear just fine as well when it comes to the layering game but I don't always feel vibrant or colorful. I love that about fashion. You can look the way you feel in colors, textures, shapes and more. And whenever I feel more of my weaknesses rather than my strengths, I also will dress more like a baddie to feel more confident and secure. Trust me, an outfit like this can go a long way, even when you're feeling like crap. (Physically, emotionally... perhaps both.) 

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To accessorize the look, I wore my favorite hat at the moment. I'm indecisive as to grow out my bangs or not, so for days where I'm not feeling them as much, I just put on a hat and keep moving forward. I wanted to give it a little European edge and a hat can help do just that! My bag is from Alles Bags, and this fringe bucket bag is definitely a staple in my closet. I've had this baby for a little over a year and I still can't get enough of it, it's such a wonderful bag! To keep with the faux leather from the dress, I wore a pair of faux leather over the knee boots from Angelina Shoetique. I actually wore these bad boys during last February's NYFW on the first day when there was a blizzard outside. I trekked in these throughout the day and THANK GOD for them. They're super comfortable, giving me a tiny extra height from the platform sole, and are just so bad ass! I secretly feel like a superhero when I wear them, and how can that ever be a bad thing?

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What do you like to wear when feeling extra insecure or down in the dumps? Are you more of a sweatpants kind of gal that would rather stay in or do you like to dress up a little more into something extravagant or in character and go out? I'm in between. Sometimes I really enjoy being alone when feeling this way, but I also believe that sometimes, no matter how shitty your circumstance might be, you just gotta dress up and show up. As my father always used to say, keep on keeping on. And to anyone that wants to directly or indirectly (you might as well say it straight to my face because I'm fucking fearless, so watch out) try and bring me down, here's the bird for you. Have a nice day and don't forget, I'm not doing any of this for anyone but me. Don't seek validation from others, seek it within yourself. Having a rough day like myself? Leave your comments down below and let's hear how your day/week/month has been.  

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Stripes and Heavy Hearts

WEARING: ROSEGAL STRIPED MOCK NECK CASUAL KNIT DRESS | 
MICHAEL KORS MERCER LEATHER CROSSBODY | EGO TEGAN POINTED TOE ANKLE BOOTS | 
MAD-STYLE CALLY EARRINGS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ROSEGAL

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Since waking up Monday morning to hear of yet another senseless tragedy in America, I am left with a heavy heart and can't stop crying these past few days. What is happening in our world right now? I can't stop thinking about everyone affected by this. Think about it. Over 500+ injured, 58 dead... triple that amount just to get a perspective on how many people have been touched by this awful incident. As much as I love my work, creating and publishing content without as much as a discussion, let alone a stupid fucking meme with hearts and prayers, is definitely hitting below the belt. I've never seen so many fashionista's Insta-stories and/or social media posts giving 'shoutouts' to the victims and families (or nothing at all, just completely unacknowledging them)... only to go on about their daily lives and not even mention any ways to help like donating blood, contacting your elected representatives to support mental health or stricter gun control policies, or other ways to donate, such as natural disaster relief funds to the victims of Hurricane Harvey. And why do I feel like the ones that preach the most about this shit are the ones that aren't really helping to begin with? I know that sounds pretty harsh, but it is sort of the reality of the situation. Now, I AM NOT saying that there isn't anyone out there, with the power and reach, to spread information like wildfire in a scenario like this, because there are, and kudos to you for taking the time to do so, but there's a lot of you that really don't care about anyone but yourself. And I can attest to this because I'm seeing it unfold right before my very eyes, unfortunately.

Whenever something tragic like this happens, I immediately think of my loved ones. Family first. Don't you? Now for those who don't know me that well, I don't have any family. They're all gone. Either physically or through tough life predicaments, I am left with no one but myself. I don't have a single soul to call and cry about my problems to or have a mommy or daddy to help me out when I'm financially in a pickle. I've been on my own for a long time now. So I tend to get pretty depressed sometimes and will shut down. Especially in a time like now where all I want is to talk to my parents and hug them and tell them how much I love and miss them. I need some form of solidarity when feeling alone and confused. There is no love like one from a parent. A good parent. The most important family is not the one you were born into, but the one you choose. I have a small circle of friends that I trust and hold very dear to, but very few have entered into this circle and have stayed there. Loyalty is hard to come by these days and I'm finding myself losing more and more hope with the world we're living in. 

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Sure you can be an advocate of some kind, whether it's donating your time, money or both to organizations that will help carry that through, but to me, the best and most important way to help right now is to constantly BE KIND and LOVING. Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. So be good to each other. Hug your loved ones extra tight and never forget to be grateful for your life and others. And be forgiving. I've talked about this in the past, because it really hits close to home. It's not about forgiving and forgetting what's hurt you, but more about letting go and being able to move forward. Self-love is something I too have struggled with my whole life, and I'm slowly but surely starting to see my worth and will no longer waste my time on those who don't see this. If they don't look at you like you're magic, walk away... or rather, RUN away. Doesn't matter if they're blood-related or not. 

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Steve Sisolak, Chair of the Clark County Commission, has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the victims and their families. It had collected more than $3 million as of Tuesday morning. Officials in Las Vegas say there has been an overwhelming turnout for blood donations -- some donors waited in line for more than 6 hours -- and no more blood is needed right now. Those looking for information about loved ones still missing in the Las Vegas area can call 1-800-536-9488. If you live in the Las Vegas area, you can volunteer transportation and other help to victims through this Facebook page. Please help in any way you can, it's not just about the immediate support, but for the more trying, long-term ones. The victims need us and we need them. Please remember how amazingly special you are and that you are LOVED. Want to talk? Leave a comment or send me a private message through social media or email. I'm here for you. 

*Go to Direct Relief to donate money or American Red Cross to donate food and/or clothing for the victims of Hurricane Harvey. They are also asking people to donate coloring books, puzzles, and other toys to the shelters for the kids. 

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Elementary, My Dear Watson

WEARING: ROSEGAL DOUBLE BREASTED BELTED PLAID TRENCH COAT | 
FOREVER 21 RIBBED KNIT SWEATER | VAGABOND HONEY JAKARTA DENIM PANTS | 
OLIVER BILOU ROXY CLUTCH/CROSSBODY | GUCCI BELT | LIE COLLECTION SCARF | 
PERIDOT BOUTIQUE LOAFER SLIDES 

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ROSEGAL & OLIVER BILOU

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After writing and publishing my first novel in 2015, many of you have recently been asking if and when I'll be writing my second one. Well... the answer is still a mystery! Why? A few reasons: To say my debut was on the New York Time's bestseller is definitely not the case. (No, this was not my expectation.) Not to mention I also have at least three other big projects I'm trying to do while simultaneously plotting a way to somehow cure a deep writer's block I've been having for the past year or so. While I have my blog to communicate my daily life with you, in terms of fashion, beauty, love & relationships, photography and more, my one true love has always been the written word and in doing so, telling stories. Favorite way? Definitely fiction. But with a new career path in the digital world, I find it more and more difficult to juggle everything that I do and have been asking myself a lot of questions lately in regards to my work and discipline, in that; can a person be successful in more than one field and when one is struggling in one area more than the other, how can it be managed and put back in order? Continue to read more on my reflections and thoughts on this part of my life, including where to shop my new favorite fall plaid trench from this post that I wore during NYFW!

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Now going back to my novel... I never had any intention or high hopes for my book to be anything but legitimately published. Before I found my publisher, I had debated for quite some time whether or not to self-publish and I get asked this question rather frequently when talking amongst other writers. I say there are pro's and con's to both, as there are in everything. But as someone who wanted to establish herself as a writer, I really wanted to be traditionally published. And so I made that happen. And like everything else as well, you learn so much along the way. So long as you're paying attention. With that, I've also embarked on a new journey into the digital world, creating content on a daily basis through photos and text, I truly love what I do. However, finding the time to manage both have put on quite a lot of pressure for myself, balance has never exactly been my forte... I always like to bite off more than I can chew. So, what's a girl to do?

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You do the best you can. I am also a photographer, freelancing here and there and everywhere. The hustle is endless, and I would love to reach a point in my life when I won't have to hustle as hard anymore... but does it ever really get easier? I sometimes think we get lost in our own thoughts and have a tendency to think too much about things. Sometimes it's important to just run with it and let what will happen, happen. Because how much can you really control anyway? And how many of you are where you thought you'd be when you were younger? I bet not that many. So the moral of the story is to try your best every day. That's my motto. If I can look at myself in the mirror at the end of each day knowing I gave it my all, in every aspect (which too, in turn, can be a daunting task, especially if one is trying to maintain a social life on top of everything else), then I'm okay with that. What you think about yourself is more important than what anyone else thinks about you.

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Something I've also learned from the past year: actions really do speak louder than words and when you deliver, that's it. You're good. Don't get me wrong, guys. I LOVE sharing bits and pieces of my life with you, but there's also boundaries and limitations to that too. I am also very private and when it comes to my personal life, very few are aware of what's really going down. And I think when it comes to the work, let that speak for itself rather than running around telling people what you are going to be doing. I'm all about sharing and conversing with one another, but if it's all talk and nothing else, well... I rest my case. I guess at the end of the day, keep yourself involved in whatever it is that you're extremely passionate about, don't compare yourself to others, (easier said than done, I know.), try to be nice (hey, no one's perfect but try to be lol), and after a lot of hard work (we're talking blood, sweat, tears, and then some), the fruits of your labor will come into play. Don't talk, just do. 

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And while I started my second novel last summer followed by a nasty case of writer's block, I know the work will come. It took me nearly four years to write my first one while holding down two jobs, so it's a matter of the right timing, patience, and discipline. When it comes to writer's block, my best suggestion is to walk away from what you're trying to write and take a break or, like myself, write about other topics that are very distant from the one that you're focusing on. Or go off for a tiny shopping run, and score this ultra-chic double-breasted belted plaid trench coat from Rosegal like I did! I love to coffee and grey tones with the long silhouette - very Sherlock Holmes. All I need is Hyde Park and some tea with crumpets and I'll be all set! Perhaps I'll be in Europe in the near distant future? Don't forget to leave a comment down below and follow me on Instagram. Have a great week, friends! 

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NYFW SS18 Outfits

DAY 1

WEARING: FOREVER 21 OVERSIZED CUTOUT SHIRT | VAGABOND HONEY JAKARTA DENIM PANTS | 
GUCCI BELT | LOUISE & ELEANOR LULU CLUTCH GREEN APPLE | EGO METALLIC BOOTS
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DAY 1 LOOK #2

WEARING: MALIKA RAJANI METALLIC LEATHER JACKET | VAGABOND HONEY BODYSUIT | 
GENUINE PEOPLE BELL BOTTOM CROP JEANS | EGO TEGAN POINTED TOE ANKLE BOOTS
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DAY 2 LOOK #1

NA-KD FASHION WORN OUT LEATHER JACKET | GWEN SALAKAIA SKIRT | 
FOREVER 21 SHIRT | EGO NASH BACKLESS ANKLE BOOTS
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DAY 2 LOOK #2

WEARING: SAKU LEOPARD PRINT VELVET DRESS | SØSKEN STUDIOS COAT | 
MAD STYLE NECKLACE | BRAHMIN BAG | EGO METALLIC BOOTS
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DAY 3

WEARING: VIP ME BLUE VINTAGE EMBROIDERY BELTED MAXI DENIM DRESS | 
FOREVER 21 OVERSIZED CUTOUT SHIRT | NA-KD FASHION WORN OUT LEATHER JACKET | 
CLOSET ACCESS MINI ARIA SADDLE BAG | EGO NASH BACKLESS ANKLE BOOTS | 
FOREVER 21 FISHNET CREW SOCKS | MAD STYLE SUNGLASSES
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DAY 4

WEARING: DEUX A BOMBER JACKET | DEZZAL ASSYMETRIC MERMAID SKIRT | 
FOREVER 21 GRAPHIC TOP | ADIDAS NEO CLOUDFOAM | MEDUSA PARIS BUCKET BAG | 
MAD-STYLE IGGY SUNGLASSES
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DAY 5

WEARING: BROOKS BROTHERS MEN'S SHIRT | H&M LONG GREY SUIT JACKET | 
YEAH BUNNY FLORAL PANTS | BRAHMIN BAG | EGO VELVET BOOTS | PERSOL GLASSES
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DAY 6

WEARING: MEDEA MARIS ORGANZA TRENCH | NATIVE YOUTH DRESS | 
YOINS GREEN BATCHEL BAG W/ CONTRAST TRIMS | EGO METALLIC BOOTS
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DAY 7

WEARING: ROSEGAL DOUBLE BREASTED PLAID TRENCH COAT | OLIVER BILOU ROXY CLUTCH | 
VAGABOND HONEY JAKARTA DENIM PANTS | PERIDOT BOUTIQUE LOAFER SLIDES 
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Hey, everyone! In today's post, I'm featuring all my looks from NYFW SS18! A total of 8 different outfits, you can shop similar pieces from each day by following the links through text and/or image. This season I went with a lot of different accessories from bags to shoes, to trendsetting wear, but I think the biggest challenge during this fashion week was finding something stylish enough yet comfortable enough for all day to night wear! On most days I stayed in sneakers or my newly obsessed metallic boots that are not only sleek but super wearable for those long grueling days. The last thing I want to worry about while working is feeling uncomfortable in an outfit. Have you guys checked out my full recap of all the NYFW shows I attended this season? There's a ton of coverage, plus backstage access to such amazing shows like Tibi and Public School... come check it out here and don't forget to follow me on Instagram! And if you have a question about any outfits from this post, please comment down below! 

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