SEEING STARS.

Ashley Stewart is seriously one of my fave brands, not only do they always have sales and at times allow you to stack coupons, they have an awesomely unique selection of pieces that you can take from work, to a night out, to a casual weekend, all in one fell swoop; without skipping a single beat, all while maintaining maximum fabulosity.

If you know me, or are anything like me, then you love a good over the top piece, more is more for sure. I'm also a sucker for things that are so unique/ugly....that it's actually good, which is why, for the longest time, I was obsessed with Diesel sneakers. 

There's nothing ugly in the slightest about this jacket, though if it was...I'd still probably be into it....is what I'm saying. This jacket, and it's black twin sister, are Every. Fucking. Thing.

I got them in both color ways because they serve different purposes. The purple one is more for the interesting eclectic Za Za Zoo, but the black one is a slightly more elevated, expensive, Za Za Zoo. I haven't received the black one in the mail yet, but I'm too hype for its arrival. 

I ordered this purple on in a size 22/24, because I'm a true 3X and Mrs. Stewart is fairly true to size. The sleeves juuuuust come over my arms with a light-weight sweater, and is quite fitted around the bust (not in a tacky or horrible way...but yes...it's snug), so I made the decision to get the black one in the size up. I'm almost certain it'll work out perfectly for it's purpose. I want to be able to rock it with a multitude of layers, all through the winter months, and NOT have any complications with fit. Do I care that I'm a 3X and the size I had to get is a 26 (4X/5X)? Not a single fuck is, or was, given. I do NOT let the number on an article of clothing dictate to me a got damn thing. My main concern is that the item fits and fits well. 

As for this outfit; I'm absolutely head over heels for this fur stole (as I've worn it in the post before this one...and plan to for the rest of the winter season) and I felt it went perfectly with the jacket. I didn't want to rock a normal scarf (though I would rock a normal scarf), so I went with the stole and paired it with a not so basic, basic-Tee. I'm telling youuuuu, when Boohoo comes out with their Halloween stuff....? You betta get on it. This one is currently out of stock but I included some awesome alternatives, cuz yeah.

I was going to pair it all with a basic pair of dark denim or black jeans....but then I was like....go big or go home. Again, these are no longer on Charlotterusse's site, but I I included a few alternatives below.  I also didn't want to jumble up the look with a huge bag (I know, I know....this coming from someone who is like "more is more", but there is a difference between more is more and imbalance), so I decided to go with my little devil emoji bag. Isn't it adorable?! I got it from Rainbow (in-store) so they may have it if you go into one of their stores...but it certainly isn't available online.

And finally, these shoes. I got them from Charlotterusse and I got it in gold as well (pretty pissed that i didn't follow my gut and also get the silver. Moral of the story, follow your gut). They are seriously some of the most comfortable pairs of sneakers, EVER! and, they are seriously super fly in all their endogenous glory, I included some rad alternatives and ones that I currently have my eye on. 

Overall, this outfit is kinda just a sassy AF casual lewk, real simple, real cute.  

What I'm Wearing:

1. Sunnies from Torrid. $15

2. Fur stole from TELCO. $7 (Alternative HERE, and HERE)

3. Jacket from Ashleystewart.com. $45 (On sale, but is on super sale right now)

4. T-Shirt from Boohoo.com. $10 (On sale, alternative HERE, HERE, and HERE)

5. Bag from Rainbow. $5 (On sale)

6. Jeans from Charlotterusse.com. $20 (On sale, alternative HERE, HERE, and HERE)

7. Shoes from Charlotterusse.com. $10 (On sale, alternative HERE,HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE)

70s VIBIN'

Let's talk about timelines real quick (knowing me...it won't be quick at all).

The first thing I'd like to talk about is the time in which I was born. Though I feel I grew up in a GREAT time (especially seeing what the current state of things are), I often times feel a magnetic pull into a much earlier timeline. I feel so drawn to the 20s, 50s, 60s, & 70s.  I love all of music and fashion of that time (even though politically and when it came to things like race, etc...I am not and would not be here for, there were so many things that, I'll admit, I romanticized about the decades mentioned). I always had this feeling like I was either born/ grew up in the wrong decade, or that I at the very least lived many lives. Moral of that story....I almost never feel comfortable in the now and my existential issues are at an all time high, at all times.

I pull inspiration from the past and sometimes I pull from  the potential of the future (distant future)....but I, like most, have a hard time just existing and enjoying all that is the NOW. I'm working on it, don't judge me....actually judge away if ya wanna, don't care.

When it comes to timelines, I can't help but think about, not just in which I exist and what suits me best as far as that goes, but I think about it in ways that I feel can be detrimental to my mind, body, and soul. When there are so very many things you want for your life, so many things you want to accomplish, and so little time, you tend to go crazy (hence where living in the now can really come in handy...but I've never spent much time there to fully validate whether I'd be better off existing there). Compound that with having a full on debilitating disability/illness of any sort, especially chronic widespread pain, and having all of your aspirations come tumbling down or passing you by, while you whither and "die" (essentially)....it wreaks havoc on every vital part of the you that makes up the "you" in "you".

Hope that makes sense.

It's amazing how chaotic it can be trying sift through all of the voices and expectations of others and the world (existence), to find your own voice...to then sometimes find that you too are judging you. Sometimes you have to just throw the whole damn thing away. Start from scratch, be kind to you (while still holding yourself accountable) and try with all your might to not only move on...but to press on (push through).

The other thing that comes to mind when I think of timelines, is this whole IG (Instagram) algorithm fuckery. Here we have a social media service that is supposed to be for the people....yet the voice of the people isn't being heard. I don't understand. I'm curious as to how we got to this point, who asked for the initial change, why CAN'T things be chronological exactly? Why are they making things more difficult to grow a business and to find like minds? I find it funny how people actually believe the BS coming out of their mouths, the whole "It's just IG.", "It's just numbers...they don't matter.", "You're not getting paid.".....PEOPLE! Get a clue! Use your God given common sense, followers means support, eyes that can see the hard work you put out and can get you noticed by the movers and shakers of whatever community you're seeking to be apart of. Support means that when you have projects or sponsorship's, people will see it and support, this generates revenue, THIS brings about more opportunities outside of social media. THIS is just the fundamentals. 

Imagine now that you're a company, looking for someone to invest in, and the perfect candidate is out there....but you can't find them due to all the mucky muck. One of the biggest reasons a company chooses to work with a content creator is because of their reach, this new algorithm is fucking with that entirely, THIS fucks with people's marketability, it fucks with the way brands look at the content creator and their ability to engage with their supporters (follower/readership). Most if not all, of the content creators I know personally (or even know of) put in literal hours/days of hard work to produce quality content....all to not reach the masses until weeks later if at all. HOW does this serve the people, HOW does this make sense, WHY are they doing this? I'd say it's due to net neutrality.....but it's been going on for quite some time. How do they not see all of the ways they are fucking up businesses that were built using said application for what it was? THIS (at least to me) is all just common sense. STOP trying to thwart our progression, our entrepreneurship, our means of putting food on the table and keeping roofs over our heads. NOW, if it's all just because you want a piece of the pie....then just say so. Keep everything the way it was and charge a small fee for use (not that I'd want to use it if I had to pay a crazy amount), there's a way to make everyone happy and the way their going about it is NOT the way. Quit making things harder for us entrepreneurs, quick cutting us off at the knees, quit fucking up our timelines. This goes for Instagram AND the cosmic line of existence, please and thank you.

As for the outfit; I decided to play with some 70s inspired color-blocking. This fur stole is from TELCO, the glasses were from a street vendor, the belt and the dress was from Charlotterusse (which the dress only comes in olive green now....but I want that one too, and it'd look awesome in this mustard orange's place, and the belt is also no longer available...but I provided some great alternatives below), the boots are hella old from who even remembers where, the bag was a x-mas gift from the madukes, and the knee/thigh highs are from One Stop Plus (which is now Fullbeauty.com). I took some colorful plus-size tights and cut them into thigh-highs, and before you knew it, I was 70s vibin.

Doesn't the image below give you "Sin City" feels...? I think it's the glare in the sunnies that does it.

Let's take a moment to also appreciate not only the junk in the trunk in the image below...you know... the "I don't think you're ready or all this jelly." *Beyonce voice*, but the wild gaze in my eyes....LMFAO, where was I going...and who do I think I am?!

What I'm Wearing:

1. Sunnies from a street vendor at 14th street Union Sq.. $5 (Same ones HERE)

2. Fur stole from TELCO. $7 (Alternative HERE, and HERE)

3. Necklace from H&M. $12

4. Dress from Charlotterusse.com. $10 (On sale, no longer avail., alt. HERE, HERE, and HERE)

5. Belt from Charlotterrusse.com. $5 (On sale, no longer avail., alt. HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE)

6. Bracelets from street fairs, and Burlington Coat Factory. $2-$7

7. Tights from Fullbeauty.com. $???

8. Boots from Mandee...I think...$??? (Alternative HERE, HERE, and HERE)