What Fearless Looks Like

As I left my apartment to shoot this look I thought to myself, “is this pink fur too over the top?” It was very bright and I questioned if I was going just an teeny tiny bit over board. Yes, even the most experimental of fashion goddesses sometimes question how they’ve put things together.

As I rounded the corner to where I intended to shoot, an old Italian woman, dressed impeccably, stopped me. She grabbed my shoulder and whispered softly in my ear, “You. This….This is how a woman should dress. She should be fearless.” She smiled and went on her way.

As I set my camera up, I thought about her words. Fearlessness. It’s something that we all should embrace more. If we could live each day as if nothing scared us, as if nothing made us doubt ourselves, and as if nothing stood in our way, how would our lives be different?

I don’t have the magic answer to that deep question, but I do have a photo of the moment I decided to try just a little bit hard to face life with less fear. Well, I have several.

Today fearlessness is bright red pants with gold buttons and a white blouse twisted and tucked into their waist line. It’s a cotton candy pink faux fur coat (similar), gold lame shoes, and a vintage style jeweled bag. It’s this moment in time where I was reminded to question my inspiration less, and trust my gut more. Today, this is what fearless looks like.

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Pastel Floral Realness.

I hadn’t planned on blogging this look, but so many of you asked for details on this snazzy number. In short, thats why I am  here I am typing away at my keyboard to bring you pastel floral realness, that is also affordable and comfortable. Seriously this outfit is comfy AF.

The the floral skirt with NEON accents, is from Boohoo. I feel like i have to write that in caps because NEON deserves to stand out.  I paired the adorable skirt with a white frilly crop top also from BooHoo. Over top I threw a mauve faux leather jacket from Just Fab, but there is a similar one at Old Navy if you don’t want to join their subscription program.  The shoes are also from Just Fab as well. Sadly, I haven’t been able to find a similar style that affordable and available in a size 11.

The ruffle accent on this jacket is to die for.  It makes all my girlie fashion dreams com true.

This gives you an idea what the crop looks like with out the jacket. Still an awesome look for the warmer weather.

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Some Hearts Are Made to Be Broken

For 5 years now, 3 years longer than Glitter and Lazers has existed, I have done a sad photoshoot for Valentines Day. The first one started as a joke. My friend Mary and I were bored on V-day, did some terrible make up, went to brunch with said sad girl make up and found ourselves doing an impromptu photoshoot. This  ultimately devolved into, who could look the saddest on camera. It was legitimately a good time.

The next time Valentine’s day rolled around, Mary wasn’t single, but I was. So, I did the shoot again, this time by myself.

Now it was a tradition, and I couldn’t be stopped. I took this photo in 2016.

In 2017, I added Data into the mix, because for some reason his presence just made it even better. He understands me, as he too is single.

For this years shoot, I wanted to do something different. Gone were the past ways of just getting really tanked in a funny t-shirt in front of a camera, 2018 needed a new vibe. The world needed an editorial version of the Sad Valentin’s tradition.

Once I saw this heart shaped piñata online I knew what direction this needed to take. A lover scorned. A baseball bat. Excessive make up. Heels. I was the ex-girlfriend your momma warned you about. I am sad and I am dangerous.

Trashing a piñata in public is more fun then I thought it would be. I especially enjoyed the sassy man who stopped and cheered me on. It seems the city of smog has more than one scorned lover on it’s streets.

It was also super cathartic. Hitting something with a giant stick is actually really fun. Making loud destructive noises in public, also fun.

I’m not bitter about Valentine’s Day. I just feel like we get so much relationship bliss thrown in our faces this time of year, I wanted to do something to represent the others- those of who are sick of being told we’ll find someone or that we’ll get ’em next year. The crowd thats sick of texts from exes and  2 for 1 specials. Those of us who are single and don’t need to be reminded of it like it some type of curse.

Just Lounging Around

I did something amazing yesterday. I didn’t work. No pictures for the blog. No videos recorded, No emails answered, No research done. I just watched for about 18 hours of a very good K- drama, cooked a bunch of delicious food, and cuddled my pup. It was awesome.

My ultimate day off was lived in my new favorite outfit. These Gap wide leg pants are a dream and I love the white  piping details on the matching crop top. I can swaddle myself in blankets or I can grab brunch in this kit. I’m officially obsessed. I styled this with a print shoe from JustFab and some gold earrings I snagged from my existing jewelry stash. Throw on a red lip and mama’s ready to Netflix and chill, while simultaneously serving looks that kill.

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A Modern Take on Valentine’s Day

I remember very clearly the day I became obsessed with the colors red + pink together. My tale isn’t one of Valentine’s day glory, but rather vignette into my own education in color. I was around 5 or 6 at a church activity. We were cutting shapes out of fabric to decorate white t-shirts. I’d fallen in love with this bright strawberry print and I was meticulously cutting out each individual berry to glue onto my soon to be very fashionable tee. Even as a child, I was type A. My strawberries were perfect. Once glued into place, the next step was to trace them in puffy paint to help them stay in place.

I remember grabbing a red puffy paint to begin my perfect outline only to realize I had mistakenly selected a bright pink shade. I was devastated. I cried big emotional tears at my failure. Red didn’t go with pink. It was wrong. It was different. My shirt was ruined. Now I don’t have a lot of good memories of my mother as she was sick so much of my life, but what she did next will always stick with me. She stopped, looked me right in the eyes and said,

“When something you have no control of in your life is different from the norm you have two choices: You can be upset and fight it or you can embrace it and help everyone see how beautiful it is.” 

We went back to that t-shirt and outlined each red berry in that bright pink. We added little pink dots to each of the fabric fruits. In the end, I loved that t-shirt so much more than I ever could imagine. What I learned from that moment is that we have opportunities every day to choose how to view our experiences. How often do we cry and lament because they feel weird instead of seeing them just as they really are- pretty darn awesome.

Pink Strawberry Fashion Magic

This modern take on that childhood learning is perhaps one of my favorite I’ve ever put together. I’ve literally been showing it to strangers all week, because I’m proud of it. It’s not just super cool looking, but it’s an ode to my own journey. The dress I snagged off amazon. I adore it’s asymmetrical neckline and feel it gives a nice modern swagger to the look. The oversized sweater is from H&M and is one of my favorite pieces I’ve purchased in the last 6 months. I’ve closed the sweater with a red leather tassel belt- an oldie but still goody- from Lane Bryant. The flats are my favorite neutral shoes found at Old Navy.

I embraced the pink and red magic in my eye shadow as well. I created a half circle of bold bubble gum pink using Sugar Pills Dollipop shadow on each eye lid. I then used Nyx Vivid Brights in Fire to line my lids and water line. Using Colour Pops Creme Gel Liner in Exit  I added white accents under the water line and at the brow.  I kept my face completely neutral otherwise and used Winky Luxes Lip Velour Matte Lipstick  in Ghosting with a light pink slightly creamy gloss on top to dull the sparkle just a smidge.

Red And Pink Essentials:

I’ve rounded up some of my red and items that are perfect for Valentine’s Day or just for any day really. Love is love and should be celebrated always.

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