Do you have a signature scent?

“Monster, I do smell all horse piss, at which
my nose is in great indignation. (IV, i, lines 223-224)
”

— William Shakespeare, The Tempest

First of all, let me say HAPPY 47th BIRTHDAY to me…July 1st…Cancers rule…(ok…I’m done….lol)! And, secondly, let me assure you….I smell heavenly. No whiffs of horse piss, Mr. Shakespeare…lol. This post is all about scents…..signature scents to be exact. Do you have a scent that your friends, family, co-workers, etc. associate with you? Do you tend to go for sweet , floral, leathery, musky scents. or soft , fresh and woody smells? Now, I’m not a “scent specialist”. I’m not well-versed in the perfume lingo, however, I have found the particular oils, trees, and/or flowers that are a part of the scents that I love. I must say, that it took me a long time to find my signature scent. In my twenties, I wasn’t even into perfumes. My thirties were a hodge podge of trendy scents that didn’t appeal to me at all. Believe it or not, it wasn’t until my forties that I began to really hone in on what kinds of scents I really love and what smells good on me. Some of those scents are: patchouli, cardamom, sandalwood, jasmine, fig and vetiver to name a few.

Let me give you some EXCELLENT advice. NEVER buy perfume or cologne for someone that you don’t know very well. Perfumes are really intimate gifts. Giving a scent to someone you don’t really know, may result in said scent lying in the back of a drawer, closet, or gathering dust on a shelf. Or even re-gifted…lol…which actually is better than lying around gathering dust. Pretty bottles don’t make the perfect gift for someone. I cannot tell you how many gifts of perfume I have received, that after one whiff have gone to the perfume cemetery to be laid to rest. Don’t be the that kind of gift giver….lol. Let your gift of perfume live.

Absolutely LOVE Le Labo´s Santal 33. Apparently, the sandalwood in this scent works divinely with my chemistry. I love it. Also, at the Le Labo counter they custom mix the scent for you and tell you all about their philosophy while you wait. Finally, you can even personalize the bottle. Even though it is a bit pricey, you can take the empty bottle in and get 20% (I think) off your next bottle. How cool is that!

Hat: Asos

Jeans: Dolce & Gabbana

Top: Wayf

This Tom Ford is a really grown up and sexy scent. Apparently they harvest the jasmine flowers at night because that is when they are their most fragrant.

This scent from Jo Malone is so light and airy to me. The cardamom is divine. I can wear this and never get tired of it. I will say, that out of the two…this fragrance has the least projection…(learned that from YouTube…lol). It also tends to fade after a while.

Have you found your signature scent? Let me know which scents are your absolute favorites.

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.

EXTRA AF!

Extra AF….you know what I mean, don’t try  and front like you don’t:  Hot sauce on your popcorn, taking 53 selfies to get the perfect IG pic, you have a dog named Ozymandius……ish like this…(smile).  I have to admit,  I’m guilty of a couple of these myself..lol.

Leather biker jacket: Oak (similar version)

Tulle Skirt: Space 46 (similar version)

Socks: Gucci (similar version)

Shoes: Louis Vuitton

Purse: Gucci

That is what this blog is about.  The juxtaposition of  two styles to give you an edgy, yet elegant look. But before getting into the details about my outfit, let’s take a look at that quote.
Polonius is really giving his son some grand advice, here. I can mostly agree. I mean, think about it….your style is an expression of you…and it’s the first thing people see before you open your mouth. And quality is always a good thing. (And only spending as much as you afford is even better!) We all know it’s better to spend a bit more on those investment pieces that will last for years, rather than spending money every season on a cheaper version of the same item because that cheaper item is in tatters. However, I do disagree with Polonius on one point…. a bit of flash every now and again never hurt anybody!

Take this outfit here. It’s the perfect combo: leather, tulle, and combat boots. Just imagine walking into work on Casual Friday with this number on. Or going to your local grocery store to pick up some broccoli to steam when you get home. Now, I know what you’re thinking! This outfit isn’t for the faint of heart. However, I like to think of life as my personal catwalk. And besides, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks! if you want to feel and look like a bad ass princess, then do it. You won’t regret it….I never do!

Photo credit: JG

As always, thank you soooo much for stopping by! Let me know how #extraf you’ve been lately! XOXO