Black & Yellow Winter Layering

WEARING: BLACK FUZZY COAT | YELLOW BLAZER | PLEATED SKIRT | COMBAT BOOTS | BELT | BLACK CLASSIC HANDBAG | SUNNIES

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THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY W. CASHMERE, CHICWISH & DELAGE BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Last week’s post focused on a winter outfit which included a pleated skirt. There is also a pleated skirt in today’s post, but completely styled differently and with a change in color palette. The first pleated skirt look (take a look at the post here) was with blue, white and black stripes where today’s skirt is black, mustard yellow and plaid. And a shift from feminine edge to a more masculine one. Plus, I’ve got the coziest cashmere hat I’ve been wearing all winter long and wanted to share the piece because I love it so much! Continue reading to see and learn more about this winter look, where the layering game is in full effect and I’m geared up for the extra colder days.

I’m obsessed with this cozy chic longline coat boasting a snuggly black faux fur design. The coat is glam enough to layer over your dresses yet can bring extra edge to your casual looks. With a fluffy faux fur finish, side pockets, and a turn-down collar, it’s the ultimate go-to black coat in my closet at the moment. And can you blame me? You can get one for $80 HERE. I love this brand - I literally have so many pieces from them and yes, you can bet it, the pleated midi skirt is also from the same label as the coat is from.

I love the trendy yet professional feel to the skirt. It is snug at the waist, but the material is of great quality and it did not arrive to me frumpy by any means. The pleats have stayed in their place. There’s literally only one more left online, so check out the site now before the skirt goes quick! This skirt is retailed at $45 which is a great deal for this type of skirt. I styled it this time with my favorite pair of winter boots this season, these black combat boots with yellow lacing but I think you can definitely style it more elegantly or even with sneakers depending on your style. In my case, I went for a grandma punk style ha ha!

To complete the touches of yellow from the shoe laces and skirt, I layered with a mustard yellow blazer which has ruched sleeves (can be seen here and here) and a heat tech shirt underneath from Uniqlo which are life savers during the winter time. Accessories include a designed with state-of-the-art seamless technology, this stylish hat is produced with a unique machine that all but eliminates seams for a beautifully finished appearance from every angle with no visible lines. 100% premium cashmere having a unique feeling of comfort, versatility, and flexibility all the while maintaining sustainability. Warm cashmere beanie hats are a must from W. Cashmere. My chic sunglasses are from ACCRUE and this gorgeous handbag is from Delage. A classic piece, the Freda Collection is a tribute to an ambassador of Delage, Joséphine Baker, who’s real given name was Freda. A silhouette with a timeless beauty for a demanding, determined and diverse woman. The Delage’s red (the brand’s famous color) which is present in the lining of the bag, discreetly expresses the strength of feelings and the attachment to life. I don’t know about you, but for me it’s all about these subtle details, in fashion and in life. What are your thoughts about this black & yellow winter layering outfit?

LOVE & XX’S,

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5 Ways to be a Fashion Rule Breaker

WEARING: MEN’S PLAID JACKET | PLAID SUIT VEST | PLAID CAPRI PANTS | PUBLIC DESIRE BOOTS | CHLOE BAG | NAVY BLUE HANDKERCHIEF

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Happy Friday, you guys! Today’s look definitely reflects my overall style in fashion - rebellious, maximalist, chicness if you will, but today’s post also discusses the ways to do it. One of the key rules in fashion, in my opinion, is taking risks and trying something new. I think when we do this, it helps us hone in on what our style is, and though it is constantly evolving, there are always a few keen elements that resonate within one self. I tend to break the rules, in general. And just like it has in life, I have made some mistakes and I’ve also had some successes by now following the usual norm/rules. Continue reading to see more of this strong masculine outfit and the top five ways to be a fashion rule breaker.

1. DO YOU – AND ONLY YOU

It’s easy to scroll through Instagram and be ‘influenced’ by an outsider. A complete stranger. But I think what really helps is focusing on what styles you truly love. What makes you feel really good, confident, empowered. Anything positive. Because I too have had my fair share of uncomfortable outfits for the sake of some trend or vibe I was trying to go for, if it’s not me I know right away. But the way to be is to have the desire to impress yourself rather than for anyone else. Don’t develop your style based on other peoples’ opinions of yourself.

2. EMBRACE CHANGE.

When I was going through a lot of personal stuff a couple years back, I went to the hair salon and got bangs. At first, it took some getting used to but now, I can’t imagine my hair any other way than the way it is. For those that are not in the know - I have jet black hair and took nearly a year to get to the color I have now. I had really originally wanted platinum blonde hair but my hair colorist was so honest and trustworthy in the fact that that kind of drastic color would utterly fry my hair. So instead of walking around with damaged locks of frizz, we reached to this kind of color. And I find it unique and never had a hair color like this that I love so much. So it just goes to show, embrace change. Take a chance. Worth the risk. If not, it’ll grow back lolol.

3. IT TAKES TIME

Rome was not built in a day. And neither will your style. It’ll take years of trial and error to figure out what works for you and what doesn’t. This comes with taking chances, but it takes time to build up confidence in knowing what your style is. So be patient, have fun with clothes, and don’t take it too seriously. Fashion after all is a form of playing dress up, is it not? So don’t be shy in expressing yourself to the world!

4. DON’T KNOCK IT TILL YOU TRY IT

In order to figure out what works for you, it’s not a bad idea to step outside your comfort zone when it comes to your style. Maybe try a style you may not usually wear, just to see how you feel and look in it. I tend to mix/clash between what I’m confident in, and other styles I may not normally do and put them together to see the result. Sometimes I’m pleasantly surprised and other times it’s, “What’re thinking?!” Haha! So don’t be shy in experimenting.

5. STUDY FROM THE PROS

Not, not your favorite influencer with a million followers. We’re talking legendary icons in fashion like Coco Chanel, Diana Vreeland, Grace Coddington, Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele and others. These are those one can learn from. It’s like anything else, the more knowledge you have in something, the better off you are in it. So this definitely applies to the world of style, in all aspects - not only fashion.

What do you guys think of this masculine power suit look? I deliberately mixed three different patterns of plaid and to be quite honest, I love it so much! I styled it with a crisp white blouse and burgundy accessories like my handbag and boots. The added contrast is my navy blue silk handkerchief that always makes me feel European for some reason. I think this outfit is an absolute fashion rule breaker, how about you?

LOVE & XX’S,

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NYFW AW 18 Outfits

DAY 1

WEARING: MKT STUDIO RED LEATHER JACKET | VIP SHOP PLAID WIDE LEG PANTS | CHLOE BAG
H&M TURTLENECK | GUCCI BELT | ACCRUE KANDINSKY SUNGLASSES | FOREVER 21 BURGUNDY BOOTS

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DAY 2

WEARING: SAKU NEW YORK BURGUNDY FOX FUR COAT | CHLOE BAG | LEVI'S JEANS | 
FOREVER 21 BURGUNDY BOOTS | ACCRUE BONNIE SUNGLASSES

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DAY 3

WEARING: NA-KD FASHION LEATHER JACKET | SAKU NEW YORK LACE TRIMMED SLEEVE KNIT TOP | 
SAKU NEW YORK WIDE LEG PANTS | CHLOE BAG 

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DAY 4

ROSEGAL DOUBLE BREASTED PLAID TRENCH COAT | THACKER NYC BOYFRIEND SHIRT | 
VAGABOND HONEY JAKARTA DENIM PANTS | STELLA MCCARTNEY OVERSIZED GLASSES | 
BRAHMIN MELBOURNE CROSSBODY | KOIO CAPRI BIANCO SNEAKERS

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DAY 5

WEARING: SAKU NEW YORK COLOR BLOCK LONG WOOL IVORY COAT | WHO WHAT WEAR™ SWEATER | 
GENUINE PEOPLE BELL BOTTOM CROP JEANS | EGO METALLIC BOOTS | 
MAD-STYLE PEARL MULTI RING CHOKER | ACCRUE BONNIE SUNGLASSES | 
DRESS LILY FRESH BLUE CROSSBODY BAG

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DAY 6

WEARING: MKT STUDIO JUMPSUIT | ZAFUL STRIPED JACKET | ASSEMBLY NEW YORK BLACK COAT | 
ALLES BAGS FRINGE BUCKET | EGO BOOTS | DIOR GLASSES | FOREVER 21 BELT

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LOVE & XX'S,

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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 

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THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ROSEGAL & OLIVER BILOU. 

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!

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?

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.

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. 

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! 

LOVE & XX'S, 

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Plaid at No. 22

WEARING: VIP ME BLACK PLAID LONG SLEEVE SHIRT W/ WIDE LEG PANTS | 
MATT BERNSON MEZZA | ZAFUL TRIANGLE CLUTCH

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THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY VIPme. 

 

My mind has been stuck on Manchester.

What kind of world are we living in where our children can't even go to a concert without being safe anymore? Imagine - 13... 14... 15 years old and running for your life thinking it's the end. And yet we have people wasting their energy complaining on Instagram for having their photos (not even their photos actually) being reported and therefore taken down because of it. How about instead of posting tits and va-jay-jays that are solely for attention-seeking, we rather post content that either tells a story or tells a story within a story? Why does everything have to be instantly gratifying nowadays? Don't get me wrong. Everyone is allowed to do whatever the heck they want, and I'm not here to preach what one should or should not do... but can't we give this bullshit a rest? People are dying out there and you want to talk about why it's okay to post nudity because we're all naked in the end or whatever cockamamy excuse you want to use to call it a way of expressing art? Now, have I ever done a self-portrait of my booty? You bet your ass I did, but the difference is I didn't do it for anyone but myself. And I certainly didn't post it or someone else's work to grab any kind of reaction. 

Sure, everything is redone/copied/heavily inspired by someone else's work today, even sometimes making the fashion world quite an ugly one. Not everyone that's talented is kind or even decent for that matter. But what I appreciate is the story-telling that is ongoing, that leaves me with the desire to do the same. No, I may not have the power or finances to help with what is going on in the world at the moment, but my power to share the content I create, I believe, does help and inspire others to do more and be more. 

Like this British-inspired, two-piece made of plaid and leather by VIPme. After the Manchester attacks, I wasn't sure what deemed appropriate in terms of my next blog post, given the crazy times we're living in is much of what I've been thinking about the past couple of days. But as I was editing this shoot, I played around with the tones much more than I usually do. I think it has a lot to do with mood and your environment. And I'm more and more in tune with what can be told through a photograph, so for me, this is my teeny-tiny little tribute towards our current events. Plus, I've always had a soft spot for UK fashion. 

Summer is coming but before the hot days are here to stay, you can mix this two piece with so many other styles. I accessorized with an old pair of gold hoop earrings and Matt Bernson flats. The triangle clutch from Zaful is from last Fall but is still a favorite in my handbag roundup. I love the linen feel of the two-piece, and really dig the black leather statement pockets in the front of the top. 

The bottoms have pockets too and I love that you can not only wear them together but also separately. The pants would look chic with a white tee and blazer and the top would look great with black jeans or even a cute white denim skirt. I love when pieces hold a ton of versatility and can be worn all year round, especially in places with all four seasons like here in New York. What do you guys think of this two-piece? How would you have styled it?

And lastly, I've recently been getting a lot of food content requests, with questions of when I will be getting back into video content as well. I'm happy to report that after a tiny hiatus (because video editing is my worst nightmare and least favorite thing to do in the world LOL) but also because I haven't found a story I really wanted to create for it, I have finally got something in store for you! It'll be out in the next couple of weeks, but it's something really special to me and I hope it'll blow you away! Stay tuned because I can't wait to just even share the behind the scenes!

Lots of changes happening right now and I'm excited, nervous and a bit overwhelmed at the moment, but I know me and I'll be just fine. At the end of the day, we have no one to answer to but ourselves. So be true to you and to others. Stop being full of crap, be nice, and go out there and get ish done! I know it sounds easier said than done, but remember that people love you and care about you, that includes me! Spreading nothing but Love + Light, forever and always. Until next time, take care of yourself and take care of others. Smooches. xx  

LOVE & XX'S, 

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