I had been planning to do a Christmas kitsch look book for months, because I love a good theme. So as holiday themed bojangles, baubles and trappings started to appear, I snapped them up. In my mind I was going to create something gloriously over the top. But, then, things changed.
Nerding Out Over the Holidays
Some how as the themed garb piled up, the ice cold heart of mine melted. Instead of being obsessed with the theme of Christmas, I became fascinated with it. So instead of shopping for theme t-shirts, I began reading about it’s history. I wondered where today’s traditions came from, why we celebrated in all the weirdly beautiful ways we did. Well before the Yule tide, I found myself engrossed in Christmas.
A Visual Love Letter
So what was set to be a silly set of images that were set to obnoxiously scream Christmas, became more subtly themed and sentimental. They made me think of the snippets I read and all the wonderful new things I learned. Decorations from the Mayans, Pagans and Shaman. Traditions from the Turkish, Dutch and Germans. Christmas is this amazing amalgamation of cultures and religions and superstition; it’s a beautiful piece of artwork in the form of celebration.
Finding my Christmas Spirit
It’s weird that this year, of all years, my Christmas spirit is off the charts. This is the year I don’t even know if I will be celebrating with someone or if I will be alone. A lot has changed in my life and the airlines are a cruel master. So this Christmas I might find myself alone with my pup. The weirdest thing is, I am totally ok with it. Because this year, I finally get why everyone sees the lights, the trees, the reindeer, old st nick and nutcrackers and their heart sings out. Maybe this year the music is a just little bit more audible because there’s another loud, brassy and potentially annoying singer in the chorus.
I was going to do your typical black Friday post, but then I was like, screw that. Like do you really need another blog with links and sale descriptions? I don’t know how to make that original. I’m not that clever at 5 am after eating my weight in carbs. However, I do know there’s some items you’ve flipped over the last few months that are now super cheap. So here’s a list of things you’ve loved, that are now at prices you can also love. Each of the titles above the item click directly to the store.
This week’s theme is sequins and what I learned from shooting in a little glitz and glam is that I- as hard as this might be to believe- need more sparkle in my life. There is something about a good row of sequins that makes everything brighter. They reflect and shine what’s around them, rather then selfishly sucking in the energy. I look up to sequins! Sequins are the type of people I want to be.
Reflect the Good
Excuse me for what might be a far fetched tangent here, but it seems like sequins are a great analogy for life. I love justifying my fashion obsession with philosophy, so hear me out. Sequins have a magical ability of shining brightly by bringing to life, reflecting and extending the light that surrounds them naturally. With out the light of others a sequin fails to be more than a bizarre plastic disc with a little lustre. However, with the help of a little external glow that sequin sparkles to life. It reflects the good of it’s surroundings, and in turn grows in beauty.
Fighting Our Culture
We largely live today in a society that acts very much counter the way a sequin does. We measure our worth by how much do I control, how much I do , how much credit I receive, how much I achieve. To think externally and about one’s community in counter to what we are taught. We are pressured into thinking from children that we are in some weird horse race, constantly battling to be the top. In this world of mes it’s hard to focus on the we.
Why The We Matters
The more we focus solely on ourselves the more restricted we are in our potential. Let me explain. I am one person, with only a certain amount of talents, a limited sense of perspective and a certain mental capacity. I, by definition, am limited in what I can do. I could focus all my energy in doing something by myself and still not have the right resources to do it. However, when my goals and ambitions extend to include my community- viewing them as co-patriots to success rather than competition- suddenly I have a pool of talents to resource from, a varying set of perspectives and many more chances to succeed.
It’s hard to wrap your head around, and I am certain I have not done the concept justice with these words. Simply put, if you work to develop your community, your community will work to develop you and you will both be better than you could be individually.
I was in New York just a few days and needed to take photos of my outfits for my look book pretty much as I wore them. However this particular outfit was… problematic. See I had absolutely fallen in love with Good American jeans, so I had a pair of their black denims rush delivered to my office in NYC. Specifically for this shoot. Specifically for this look. Specifically so I could come up with a reason to buy another paid of the pants I loved.
The Plus Size Jean Let Down
However upon arrival, I was sorely disappointed. The pants that had fit me like a glove in the lighter shade, were like a jig saw puzzle to put on in the new darker color. I literally had to lie down on my bed, suck in for all it was worth and say a long well thought out prayer to sweet baby Jesus to get these jeans on. I actually cut into my finger pulling the zipper up- it was that much of a struggle bus. They were easily two sizes smaller than the pair I had originally purchased… but they were marked the same.
Making It Work
I was in a make it work situation. I did not have anything else planned let alone packed to wear. I had put all my eggs in these jeans. Which obviously was dumb, because here I was watching those eggs drop through the leg holes and make a figurative yolky mess. But, I had to press on. So wearing the world’s tightest pants, I literally wobbled down the street to my office, praying that none of the seams split until after I got the photos I needed.
Human Denim Sausage
It bothers that I cant exactly explain just exactly what was so off with the fit. I climbed the stairs to the shoot with little to no problem. Normal walking was hard. Everything felt like I had been made into some gross human sausage that some one was aggressively squeezing so it would pop out of the casing dramatically. But yet to onlookers they looked banging, while internally I felt them mash my precious organs to tiny little bits.
Great Photos. Terrible Plus Size Jeans.
I got up there and I modeled through it. I got the shots. My ass looked fabulous. But while I love this look, I got to be real with you. These jeans sucked. They were terrible. And right after the camera stopped, I raced to rip these off my body to send them back to the hell they came from. And now I sit here thinking about how those Kardasians probably wont give me my money back. How I will probably be out $200 because their fit is inconstant between washes. How I was a sucker and I deserve exactly what I got. I still think the blue 02 wash is amazing, but seriously anything else be very very very wary of. Weep womp.
Somedays you just want drown your face in a pile of stuffed animals. On those days I wear faux fur. Then at any time during the day I can sweep my chin against the wafts of plush surrounding my face and feel at ease. I can also reenact 1980s skiing adds ( like down below) whenever it suits me. Look at me I am just having such a fun time at this sky resort, with all my rich friends, in our ski bunny attire and making important calls on our large cell phones. Thanks for asking.
As a super pear I usually belt my fur vests. This is because I like to have a defined shape and often when wearing a fur vest my waist can get lost in swaddles of plushy fabric. I like a cinch to define my curves. It’s a thing.
A Round of Applause for Wearable Heels
I just want to give a quick shout out to heels that feel like flats. A once inch block heel changed my life. I love the way heels make my feel, but for real yo I don’t know how any one survives in 3 inch stunners, let alone some of the crazy stilettos I see. I didn’t train to be in the circus. I have not intention to walk on stilts. I don’t want to paint my face, wear, spandex and entertain you. Wait nope, I actually do want to do that. Just not on stilts.
A block heel makes me feel supported, and the inch height means even if I’m on my feet all day- like Gloria Gaynor- I Will Survive. Plus this red color perfectly mixes the “no place like home” wishes of Dorothy and the footwear that Elvis Costello reminded us only angels can be envious of. Can I make any more song references in this post? Well, woomp there it is (shaka laka shaka laka)
Shop This Look
Want to look flawless in fur and sassy in a sweater dress? You can find the items featured in this look in the links below:
Find 50% off site wide at 
I was in New York just a few days and needed to take photos of my outfits for my look book pretty much as I wore them. However this particular outfit was… problematic. See I had absolutely fallen in love with Good American jeans, so I had a pair of their black denims rush delivered to my office in NYC. Specifically for this shoot. Specifically for this look. Specifically so I could come up with a reason to buy another paid of the pants I loved.
However upon arrival, I was sorely disappointed. The pants that had fit me like a glove in the lighter shade, were like a jig saw puzzle to put on in the new darker color. I literally had to lie down on my bed, suck in for all it was worth and say a long well thought out prayer to sweet baby Jesus to get these jeans on. I actually cut into my finger pulling the zipper up- it was that much of a struggle bus. They were easily two sizes smaller than the pair I had originally purchased… but they were marked the same.
I was in a make it work situation. I did not have anything else planned let alone packed to wear. I had put all my eggs in these jeans. Which obviously was dumb, because here I was watching those eggs drop through the leg holes and make a figurative yolky mess. But, I had to press on. So wearing the world’s tightest pants, I literally wobbled down the street to my office, praying that none of the seams split until after I got the photos I needed.
It bothers that I cant exactly explain just exactly what was so off with the fit. I climbed the stairs to the shoot with little to no problem. Normal walking was hard. Everything felt like I had been made into some gross human sausage that some one was aggressively squeezing so it would pop out of the casing dramatically. But yet to onlookers they looked banging, while internally I felt them mash my precious organs to tiny little bits.
I got up there and I modeled through it. I got the shots. My ass looked fabulous. But while I love this look, I got to be real with you. These jeans sucked. They were terrible. And right after the camera stopped, I raced to rip these off my body to send them back to the hell they came from. And now I sit here thinking about how those Kardasians probably wont give me my money back. How I will probably be out $200 because their fit is inconstant between washes. How I was a sucker and I deserve exactly what I got. I still think the blue 02 wash is amazing, but seriously anything else be very very very wary of. Weep womp.
Outfit details:
