CAMOUFLAGED TO PERFECTION.

by Jamila Pierre

"That moment when you realize that certain items in your wardrobe are such staples in your daily looks...that they might as well become apart of your body; a second skin." -Jamila Pierre

Sooooooo, how tired are you of this studded belt tho....? Too bad! I love this thing so much it's kind of a problem, mostly for those who are tired of it...but for me it will never be. I own quite a few shapeless and fabulous garments that need a little oomph in order to come out to play with me for the day, a belt is a must to add that little bit of cinch. 

I have a few "normal" belts in my stash, but there's a time and place for those...and I haven't been met with the right time or place lately for those in particular. As I've mentioned time and time again, I'm a huge tomboy with brass knucks growing out of my fists, trails of sequins and glitter being left in my wake as I sashay/STOMP my way through crowds while my Kimono (or cape...whichever best suits the mood I'm in at the time) flows in the wind and smacks everyone in the face making my presence known; I can literally add this belt to just about anything and this belt allows me to convey that.

You'll be happy to know that I have different variations of studded belts and I'm coming into a new addition to the studded family soon that is less BABAM IN YO FACE for the more low-key days (LMFAO!!!!), I will probably do a post about that soon.

ON TO THE FASHION!!!

Every time I head to Herald Sq. I go to the Strawberry in the Manhattan Mall, this is the only Strawberry that I know of (or that's near me) that has a + section. When I first discovered them a few years back (like back before they took out the Manhattan Mall food court), the selection was poppin' AF! Flash forward a few years and now we have a lot more hits and misses...I am not at all surprised by that **INSERT SIDE-EYE EMOJI** . I haven't been to 34th street in Manhattan in a minute so I just had to drop in to make sure and check up on them in hopes that this time there were more hits than misses....................................I was NOT impressed. 

I just about gave up untill I came across this piece here and at first it looked like nothing on the hanger, but what drew me to it was the type of camo print that it was (just like floral, skull, and animal...not all camo print is created equal). I held it up, saw the side splits, the slightly curved hem, the collar, I slipped it on over my head (liked it even though it was kinda shapeless), ran around the store to find a belt to get an idea of how it would look when I got it home with my own belt, saw the price tag,  and a BISH was SOLD! 

This bad mamajama is so easy and comfortable it's ridiculous, and I'm in love with how it transitions through all the seasons so I can get the maximum use out of it. 

BEST $20 spent in a while.

What I'm Wearing:

  1. Sunnies from Buffalo Exchange. $9 (Another Option)
  2. 3/4 Undershirt from Target. $10
  3. Camo long-lined tunic from Strawberry. $19.99 (Similar)
  4. Necklace from AFAZE. ( On sale 3 for $10)
  5. Bracelet from Burlington Coat Factory. $7
  6. Belt from V.I.M. $7 (Similar)
  7. Jeans from Forever21.com. $17.90 (Similar)
  8. Boots from Charlotterusse.com. $15 (On Sale from $45)

Class Is In Session.

by Jamila Pierre

"Style-wise...I really like this girl, but throughout my school years...this girl I was not." -Jamila Pierre

I've always had a sense of style (whatever it was), but I was never really this outwardly femme. The funny thing is I'm still not fully Foo Foo McGee...well occasionally I can dabble if I so choose (if I have an itch that needs a scratchin'), but generally there's still a big part of me that resides in the land of the tomboy. I'm still the L.E.S, Alphabet city bread, New Yawk Shitty born and raised hard ass.  My style comes from a mixing pot of many different east village scenes and is immersed in beautiful dead things. It's studded and spiked up, wrapped with delicate flowers made of tulle, gold leaf, tufts of chiffon, silk, and lace that has sequins and glitter woven into every inch of it. I like to think I am the proverbial melting pot to which I was born into; now more than ever before. 

When I look back at the evolution of my style  I realized how much I missed my old clothes. Don't get me wrong now...I wouldn't just swap it all out (I love my current wardrobe) I just miss the parts of me those clothes represented; I almost wish that putting them back on would transport me back in time so I could relive some of those moments.

During my school years (more specifically high school), I was a huge tomboy (outwardly), I actually loved baggy clothes and how I styled my UFO's and Widelegs, I also loved the idea of being ultra feminine underneath my clothing and in a private setting *wink wink*; it was empowering. 

Now don't confuse tomboy with fugly (though I did have my days), I was still a stylish Mutha *SHUT YO MOUTH*. Too bad I didn't document the majority of my younger years....FAIL!

ON TO THE FASHION!

A few weeks back I purchased this scuba dress from Charlotterusse.com, I honestly didn't know if I wanted to get this one or step out of my comfort zone and get the all white one with the black collar, I obviously went the comfort route even though the white one is lovely as all hell. Both of them were giving me school-girl vibes that I was totally digging, very "Class is in session".

As soon as I saw this I knew I wanted to pair it with a sweater underneath, I also knew that that's how I intend to always wear it...with some type of shirt or sweater under it. Look, I understand the bare-arms movement and I think it's awesome, I just don't do it, but...that's not the sole reason I wear tops under my sleeveless dresses (though that's why I began). I realized how much I love the Idea of interchanging your sleeves like you do shoes and any other accessory. You can change up your look with just a swap of a sleeve just as much as a swap of anything else...LOVE IT! And if you know me then you know I am a layering fool soooooo.....yea. #FallLoversDream #SleevesAreAccessoriesToo

This dress is awesome sauce but def could use a belt and as an added tip; have someone help you zip up, too much fussing could get your collar dirty if you wear makeup.

So I added my handy dandy studded belt and what what would go better with this belt than my skull print sweater from H&M. *ZSNAPS* Lastly, I threw on these sunnies just cuz I wanted to change it up a little, honestly they're still growing on me (be gentle).

What I'm Wearing:

  1. Skull print sweater from H&M. $10
  2. Necklace from Burlington Coat Factory. $14
  3. Dress from Charlotterusse.com. $38.99 (Got it on Sale for $27)
  4. Belt from V.I.M. $7 (Similar)
  5. Bracelet from Burlington Coat Factory. $7
  6. Minimalist Wedge from Oldnavy.com. $11 (Similar)