Just Swaggin´ (Summer 2022)

“Summer’s lease hath all too short a date.”

— Sonnet 18

My best friend and I celebrating our 50th birthday in Greece. -July,2022

This summer turned out to be very memorable, and fun. It was the summer that I turned 50 years old. When they say “time flies” it is soooo true!

As always, I intend to have a great summer every year, however, sometimes I hit the mark, and other times I miss. This year, I exceeded it. Without going into details, I actually had one of the best summers ever. I hope your summer was also fun, and you made memories to last a lifetime. If you didn’t , that is also okay, because we can start over at any moment of the day, and make each moment great.

Thank you for stopping by! I really appreciate it.

XOXO

I’m also on Youtube! Check out my videos if you want a little fashion inspiration!

My Summer trip to Rhodes, Greece!

In July, I took a long overdue vacation to Greece. I’ve been to several places/islands in Greece, and this time I chose Rhodes. Several people had stated to me how fabulous Rhodes is, and they were all right on the button.

After the plan landed, I got my bags and got in the taxi that was waiting to take me to my resort. I stayed at the Lindos Grand Resort Spa which is actually located in Lindos, which is an hour away from the airport in Rhodes.

The resort was brand new and beautiful. The staff was also very friendly and helpful. Covid protocols were also strictly adhered to. I had a room with a private pool, which I HIGHLY recommend. I spent more time at my own pool than at the main pool and at the beach.

Lindos, Greece

The town of Lindos is about a 10 minute taxi ride, which costs between 10-12 Euros. There, you can walk around the picturesque town, which is full of shops, restaurants, and they also have an acropolis. You can walk up to the top or take a donkey ride for €8. But those poor donkeys looked so hot, tired, and overworked, if you can walk, then do that.

Like I stated before, the resort is brand new, so there were some minor things that weren’t fully completed. For instance, there were two light bulbs missing on my terrace. It was minor, and it didn’t bother me at all.

The beach is about a 3 minute walk from the resort. There is a direct path where you can walk, and they also offer a shuttle bus, as well. The beach has food and drink service, and lounge chairs specifically for the resort, which is cool. There are also water sports available.

I literally had a different swimsuit for each day I was there! :-)

The floor to ceiling windows were fabulous. It was very hot, but also a nice breeze. When you opened the doors, the air-conditioning automatically shut off, which was cool.

So, if you’re thinking about a planning a trip to Greece for relaxation and great weather, I would highly suggest the island of Rhodes and Lindos Grand Resort Spa.

The resort had fantastic views, and the aesthetics were great.

Let me know if you’ve ever been to Rhodes, Lindos, and/or Lindos Grand Resort Spa.

Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate it! XOXO

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How to get the most out of your wardrobe.

I chose the above quote for this blog because Macbeth and Lady Macbeth´s “clothing” is actually Macbeth´s new title of Thane of Cawdor. At this early stage in the play, they are thankful that they have the title and are not being greedy at this point. Let’s connect that with us literally buying our favorite pieces and caring for them so that they last and are not cast aside so quickly. (Am I reaching? Lol…just roll with me.)

Ok…we love are clothes and we want them to last. How do we do that? Let me give you a few tips on how to do exactly that.

Skirt: Gucci (about 4 years old)

READ THE LABELS:

Those labels are there for a reason. Make sure to check and see if your garment can actually be washed, or if it should be dry-cleaned. If you’ve ever washed something that should have been dry-cleaned, then you know about the possible catastrophic events that can ensue. Washing on the delicate cycle is always a safe bet, as well as mesh bags. I love mesh bags. They are perfect for delicates and anything else that may need extra tender love and care. Another thing you can do is air dry your garment. The dryer can cause shrinkage and put unnecessary heat on your clothes that may ruin them. So air drying is your best friend.

Sweater: Zara (last year) Jeans: Zara

Shoes: Miu Miu, Socks: Gucci

PROPER STORAGE:

How you store your clothes will add to their longevity . For example, hanging up your skirts and pants on proper hangers is something you should do. The right hangers can preserve the shape of your clothes, providing you hang them properly. I really like to use those special skirt hangers. You can also use velvet hangers that will prevent your dresses and shirts from slipping off the hangers, which can be really irritating. Also, keep in mind, some things should not be hung. For instance, cashmere sweaters. Hanging them might cause them to become misshapen, so I would suggest folding them.

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY:

I realize that fast fashion is very tempting, and can be a good choice if you want to try a trend before investing in it. However, don’t overlook the fact that investing in quality pieces will stand the test of time. Often times, these fast fashion pieces are very inexpensive, and when you wash them, they fall apart. Threads start unraveling, hems come apart, discoloration, etc. So, what happens is, you end up wearing the item once or twice and you’re back ordering again. Contrast this with investing in a quality piece that costs more, but it will stand the test of time and you will get your cost per wear out of it….which leads me to my next point.

Boots: Alexander Mcqueen

COST PER WEAR:

Cost per wear simply means the cost of the item divided by how much you wear it. Now, don’t let the math intimidate you…lol. The basic premise is the value of the item is directly related to how much you wear it. If you follow this rule, you will be able to justify that high price tag, because you are getting the maximum amount of wear out of said item. I put this equation to the test when I purchase items that are pricey, but I know I will reach for it time and time again.

Well, those are a few of my tips. I hope I could help. Let me know some things you do, to get the most out your wardrobe.

Thanks for stopping by! XOXO

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I‘d rather be naked! (3 things to do when you have NOTHING to wear.)

“He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat.”

— Much Ado About Nothing Act I, i

PC: me

Headband: Gucci , Dress: Vivetta

How many times a week do you stand in your closet and proclaim “I HAVE NOTIHING TO WEAR”…knowing good and well that this should NOT be the freaking case. (This is definitely a first-world problem,…and the sin of gluttony at the very least…..but don’t judge…lol. Before running to the nearest mall in despair (are malls still a thing)….or your nearest keyboard to order something cute online, check out my three tips.

TIP #1 PINTEREST

Are you still sleeping on Pinterest? Well, today you are going to get that app and get yo life all the way together. Pinterest is a powerful search engine that you can use for all kinds of inspiration, including fashion. I love to type in a particular looks, such as spring/summer outfits, or transition to fall/winter outfits. You can even get specific and type in boots, or leather coats, etc. Go ahead and create some boards and keep your looks on tap. That’s what I do. Check mine out for all kinds of swagalicious looks.

TIP #2 SHOP YOUR CLOSET

Don’t underestimate the depths of your closet. First, have a clear out. Donate or sell all of the clothes and shoes you know for sure you won’t don anymore. Take them to your local Goodwill, or sell them at a second-hand shop, or on apps such as DePop, Poshmark, or TheRealReal, for example. Now you’re ready to take a double take at all of those shirts, sweaters, and skirts, that got pushed to the back of your closet. That skirt you bought on sale, it’s a great color, great fit, still has the tags on it,…pull it out! What about that sweater you haven’t worn in a while, pull it out of your drawer and give it some love. Now, lets see what we can do with these pieces that we’re about to give new life to.

TIP 3 TRY DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS

After perusing Pinterest, you no doubt have several outfit ideas you can’t wait to try out. Instead of pairing the same outfit combinations you normally do, try something different. Pair different patterns, colors, add some new jewelry, etc. Also, try different shoes that you wouldn’t normally wear with the outfit you’re creating. All of this will give you the feeling as if you are wearing a brand new outfit. And the best part is, you didn’t spend any money, and you potentially made some money from the sale of unwanted clothing items. Now that’s a WIN-WIN!

BONUS TIP

There is also an app that I’ve recently discovered called Stylebook. With this you can upload your clothes to the app, and the app gives you wardrobe suggestions that you may not have thought of. There are also other features such as a calendar which can potentially help you take the guess work out of what to wear for the upcoming week. Give it a try! :-)

Those are my tips on solving the “nothing to wear” problem, and avoiding you just giving up and leaving the house in your birthday suit…lol.

Let me know if this is something you regularly do, or if you decided to give something I mentioned a try. Would love to hear from you!

Thank you for stopping by! XOXO

Damn! You are so skinny!

Recently, I went to a Thai restaurant to have lunch. I’d been to this particular restaurant several times in the past, however, this was the first time I had seen this particular waitress. As she was taking me to an available table, she exclaimed quite shockingly, “Wow, you are sooo skinny!” I’m going to assume that because English wasn’t her first language (it was quite obvious), that she didn’t realize using the term skinny has a negative connotation. And using it with strangers can come across as off-putting and rude. However, while taking all of that into consideration, and assuming she had no intentions of being rude to a paying customer, I simply smiled and said, “Yes, that’s true.”

Dress: Athena procopiou (I don’t think dress is available anymore.)

Shoes: Gucci Ace Sneakers

Purse: Gucci

Photo credit: BT

You see, this has been happening my entire life. I am really very, very naturally thin. I basically have been the same size my entire teenage, young adult, and now middle-aged adult life. I cannot tell you the countless times I´d been teased growing up because of my weight. As a child I was called Olive Oyl…remember her? :-) I was also a cheerleader from age 7-18 and of course those skimpy cheerleader uniforms just accentuated my skinniness even more. All of the other cheerleaders had curves by then, and I was still “straight up and down” as they used to say back when I was young. My mother even thought that after I had a baby, I would do as she did, and gain a lot of weight. She, too, had been thin as a child and as an adult before she had children. However, after I had my child, I snapped right back to the exact same size I had always been.

I guess people who know me and have known me my whole life aren’t really fazed by how thin I am. They don’t even notice. And quite frankly, most times, neither do I. But, in today’s society of enhanced body parts, my lack thereof, may seem strange to some people. And the fact that I embrace how I am, and don’t strive to look like what society deems is “perfect” at whatever given moment may also be a factor. I am naturally the way I am. And that suits me perfectly.

The quote above is Shakespeare´s Sonnet 130, and it is mainly discussing people’s perception of what beauty is. What is our standard of beauty? Why are we always striving to fit a standard that is ever-changing, and is quite frankly a hollow template that cannot possibly contain all of the greatness we are? This lady (the Dark Lady, she’s called) that the person in the poem is describing has none of the attributes that make a woman “beautiful”, and yet he is deeply in love with her. He basically is putting his middle-finger up to society and it’s bogus beauty standards.

I’m not putting my middle finger up to society in this blog post…lol…but I do want to stress that we should all be comfortable the way we are. If you want to change something for you, that’s great, but don’t try and fit into society’s fickle perception of who you should be at any given time. When those thoughts start creeping in…that’s when you get those middle fingers ready!!! ;-)

Thank you for stopping by….XOXO!

What if knowledge is LITERALLY power?

“He would be crowned: How that might change his nature, there’s the question.”

— Julius Caesar, Act II, i

WARNING: I’m an out-of-the-box thinker kinda gal.

Carry on.

Have you ever considered this? Good ole Merriam Webster has nine definitions for the word power. In the above quote, Brutus was referencing the second definition: A position of authority, control, or influence over others. There is no need to expound upon that definition. We constantly experience the effects of it in various aspects of our lives. I, however, want to discuss definition number 6: A source or means of supplying energy: especially electricity. From this point on, open your minds and let me give you something to ponder.

Since childhood, we’ve all been inundated with the platitude KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. Yeah, yeah, yeah…we all know that. And trying to gain more control and power in our lives is a big money maker in our society, Whether it’s paying for knowledge gaining esteemed letters after your name, paying for workshops and buying self-help books from other people who seem to know you better than you know yourself. Or better yet, joining the infinite amount of groups that require you to take an oath, perform a ritual of some kind to gain some “secret” knowledge the rest of us don’t know..i.e…Shriners, Knights of Malta, those Rosicrucians, or any of the other numerous fraternal orders out here. Or perhaps going to yoga, learning to meditate is more your thing (which is a good thing) all in an effort to gain more control and knowledge in your own life in order to manifest a life that society says you need. The only thing is, you’ll NEVER get the true answer that will free you and give you the power to empower you, which is your/our birthright.

BUT let me posit this: WHAT IF the phrase in a very popular book Genesis 1:3, Let there be light, actually meant that the people in power at the time actually monopolized how to generate electricity. (Pay close attention the letters in bold.) The descendants from these people, are now the only people to have this knowledge (the knowledge all of humanity once shared), and they now govern us today in the form of royal families and presidents worldwide….a.k.a. governments.

What do you think? Hard to believe? Not really. Without going into an extensive history lesson to cross all of my t’s and dot all of my i’s, it’s more than plausible. Think about it: You essentially go to work everyday to literally pay for power, that is free, so you can go home and flick on the light switch, open your fridge to find something to eat, then turn on your stove to make a nice dinner. Afterwards, turn on your laptops and/or computers to check in on my blogs..;-)..play Nintendo, charge up your electronic devices, etc. Mind you, all the while we are all paying for energy that these huge power plants all around the world are generating for free. Let that sink in a bit.

Most people would equate money with power. They believe the accumulation of wealth will ultimately lead to power.

Unfortunately, money became the poor substitution for true power.

If money = currency, and currency = current, then current = energy, which = power.

Knowledge really used to be power. That knowledge has been hidden.

You can’t be liberated without power...and you can’t have power without knowing how to generate it. And you will never have power if you are paying power companies for energy. Period.

True empowerment comes from more than joining a group and/or subscribing to a particular ideology.

Ok…I’m done soliloquizing….for now..:-)

To be continued at another time. So much more to be deduced through this one thought.

Share your thoughts in the comment section.

Thanks for stopping by…..XOXO!!

Get your clout up- CLOUT CHASIN‘

“Authority has always attracted the lower elements in the human race. They will submit to any indignity, perform any vile act, do anything to achieve power.“

P.J. O‘Rourke, Parliament of Whores

Photo credit: Yours truly

This is the word of the moment. I even think being a clout-chaser is an actual occupation these days. Correction: I know it is. I mean, look at the stats. If you achieve any amount of significant clout (this is a grey area, based on one‘s perspective…like most things), you are guaranteed anywhere from a modicum of money, respect, and power, to cascading throngs of it.

Necklace: Dylanlex (Gilded Phoenix)

Swag, courtesy of me

And isn‘t that what the majority of us humans seem to be socially engineered to crave. Attention. Attention which leads to likes and followers, which you pray to the social media gods will lead you to the Promised Land of Clout. What is causing people from all walks of life to de-value the low-profile aspects of our lives? Does everything need to be seen? Does everything need to be filtered through your Instagram lense? This filtered lense is quickly becoming part of our DNA. We don our filter/template that society has offered us without hesitation. As a matter of fact, we demand it. And heaven forbid if you show up without it. There are quite a few to choose from, too. Which one are you sporting today? I‘m wearing my 80‘s gold chain wearing rapper one today. The aesthetic is cool. I‘m feelin‘ it.

May get „some gold teeth and dance like Michael.“ At least that template is slightly rarer…;-) Hey, in the end, I know this post is ironic to say the least…maybe even sardonic in nature. The irony isn‘t lost on me. But just to put it out there…I‘m not clout-chasing…I‘m just soliloquizing…:-)

Thanks for stopping by…..XOXO

Comment something nice below…:-)

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Do you want to be comfy and stylish? Try this trend.

“Love comforteth like sunshine after rain”

— Venus and Adonis by Shakespeare

Not only does love comforteth, but so do these stylish gym shoes! Ok granted, they are not made for hiking treks on the rock of Gibraltar (where I actually wore these Gucci gym shoes), but they are comfy for regular jaunts around town.

Location: Rock of Gibraltar

PC: BT

Outfit details: Gucci Ace Gym Shoes, Fendi iKan bag, Gucci palm cuff

There was a time in my life, over 20 years ago, when I didn’t even own a pair of gym shoes. I literally wore heels every time I went out. (I mean, back then I was in my twenties…..so, that age range alone is enough to justify why I chose that modality of footwear…lol.)

Nowadays, I still wear heels every now and then, but since the explosion of the gym shoe trend that has taken over the last couple of years, I’ve been hooked.

Balenciaga shirt, Gucci skirt, Gucci belt bag, Gucci gym shoes

Location: Seville, Spain

PC: BT

I love mixing metallics or sequins, or anything else deemed “dressy”, and dressing them down with a pair of high end sneakers. Also, if you’re wearing some jeans and a white shirt, and throw on a pair of Dolce and Gabbana gym shoes, for instance, you’ve just elevated your style 1000%.

Dolce and Gabbana Super Queen leather sneakers (Still available as of date of this blog post.)

Give it a try! Be comfy and cute simultaneously! You don‘t have to sacrifice your comfort for style. Just like love…this upscale sneaker trend (which I think is here to stay) will comfort you like sunshine after the rain.

Let me know how you rock this trend!

Thanks for stopping by! XOXO

No affiliate links were used in this blog post.

So…is it Spring, yet?

“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything”

— Sonnet XCVIII

In my neck of the woods, spring hasn’t exactly sprung. I mean, it has been raining a fair bit, which is definitely spring-like….and the sun has been shining a lot, which is great! However, there has been this slightly cold wind that has been killing my springish vibes. While waiting for that cold wind to warm up, I’m getting my mind right for spring my wearing bright colors that warm my soul up!

These fabulous pants from Zara are the epitome of spring. I’m absolutely in love with them! I’ve paired them with a light blue sweater from Joos Tricot. (Link is similar sweater.)This sweater serves two functions: warmth and this beautiful blue will brighten up any space you walk into. (FYI: The sweaters from this brand are awesome. The fit is to die for!)

As you can see, I’m not afraid of color. My pink Fendi purse, in my opinion, is the perfect addition to finish off my spring outfit. (This link is similar to my purse. Mine may no longer be available)

So, be brave! Experiment with a pops of color, and be young at heart and enjoy the beautiful spring weather that’s on verge of springing forth!

Comment below and let me know how you add spring colours to your wardrobe.

By the way, no affiliate links are used in this blog.

Thanks for stopping by…..XOXO

Fakin’ the Funk: My winter blues…

“How like a winter hath my absence been
From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year!
What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen!
What old December’s bareness every where! ”

— Sonnet 97 (Shakespeare)

I didn’t want to succomb to it. Succomb to the blah feeling, the feeling of zero energy, the feeling of wanting to stay in my pyjamas and pretend that I’m the star of that Twilight Zone episode where I’m, mysteriously, the only person left on this plane(t)…as well as Netflix…:-) I honestly DID NOT. I wanted to embrace this winter season in all of its fluffy white snow, beautiful snow-filled landscapes, imbibe the chilly, crisp air into my lungs….and look stylish all the while doing it. That was my honest-to-goodness plan. Well, it’s already February…and my zealousness has definitely waned….and I’m being very generous with that statement.

My stylish factor, though, has remained high through this loooooong winter, because I believe in that tried but true statement: FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT. For me, I find that if my mood isn’t as fabulous as what I look like, looking fab gives my mood a chance to catch up.

Outside of checking my favorite online stores for the new Spring/Summer/Cruise collections that are flooding my inbox, and yes, getting doorbell rings with packages that contain lovely boxes tied with ribbon that contain clothes and maybe shoes from the aforementioned collections, I realize the most important thing: Life is literally a sine wave. It dips….it fluctuactes…it regenerates….it resurrects…it revives…it recharges. Everything is always in motion. Everything. And in that…we can all take comfort in knowing that said funk will be gone!

Bern, Switzerland (PC: my bestie…S.S.)

I’m a tad bit late…but HAPPY “NEW YEAR!” (Snapchat filter)

Thank you for stopping by…..:-)

Sequins here, sequins there, sequins everywhere!

“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances....”

— As You Like it, Act II, iv

Tis the season to be shiny!! To be fair, any season is shiny season for me. I happen to agree that all the world is my stage (and yours too), and I am the protagonist of my story. J. Cole also paraphrased this same sentiment…”This is my canvas….Ima paint it how I want it..”

This fabulous skirt is from Vivetta. I paired it with a Karl Lagerfeld T-shirt which dresses “down” the dressiness of the skirt. This type of juxtaposition is something I love to play with. My Gucci fanny pack (whoever thought you’d live to see the fanny pack make a comeback!) ties everything together.

Don’t be shocked if you ever run into me at the local grocery store dressed in this shiny sequin skirt and some fab gym shoes…because I never “save my best” for a special day. To me, everyday is a special day…and I dress accordingly!

GO AHEAD AND PIN ME! :-)

Thank you for stopping by! Let me know how you shine! XOXO

Get you some leopard print, bruh!

Are you elusive and secretive at times? Difficult to trace and locate in the wild? I know I have these qualities at times…and most likely am not alone…;-) Apart from myself, these are characteristics of one of our favorite big cats- the leopard!

Headband: House of Lafayette

Jean Jacket: Blank NYC

Pants: H&M

Bee Ring: Gucci

There’s no escaping it. You’ve undoubtedly seen this trend in the last five minutes scrolling down your favorite social media platform. LEOPARD PRINT!! This style has resurrected itself to mind blowing proportions this season. I mean, face it….it never really went anywhere. You’d see sightings of it….jauntily striding through the mall, or perched on a bench in the park, or at the nearest watering hole at the office. But this season, you see it striding proudly wherever your eyes land.

If you’re not bold enough to be dapper and don that leopard coat….smart small. This headband is the perfect accessory to segue into this trend.

Socks: Gucci

Shoes: Gucci

Like in the photo above, I like to wear mine with items of clothing that traditionally don’t match. These pants from H&M are a perfect example. The red stripe contrasts perfectly with the headband…so much so that the leopard print is actually behaving like a neutral.

The bottom line is, don’t feel like it’s impossible for you to get in on this classic style. There are tons of options out there, from earrings, to shoes, heck…even nail designs. Let me know how you rock your leopard print in the comments below! Maybe we’ll even run into each other in the concrete jungle! ;-)

Thank you for stopping by!! XOXO

P.S. Click on some of the product descriptions, they link to some websites. These are not affiliate links, btw.