VELVETY SCHOOL GIRL REALNESS.

by Jamila Pierre


Look, I don't care how old I get, if I want to dress like a baby in diapers...I will. I dress with my gut, and if it says today you're going to serve edgy velvety school girl realness...then that's what's gonna go down on today. 

Don't get me wrong my gut tells me to be classy & sassy, and a minimalist from time to time, but like I said if the gut isn't singing that hymn...then that's not what's being served.  

As for this look, I went school girl. It's always so funny to me how I'm drawn to collegiate or even the stereotypical borderline cartoon version of a school girl style, yet school and I had such a difficult past....you'd think I didn't want to be a part of it in any way shape or form....

It wasn't until I became older and actually had to pay for my own schooling (not to mention the value of what I was studying for), that I started to appreciate what I was doing and it's importance. I had so much to lose so I made sure I lost nothing.

 

ON TO THE FASHION!

This lush little bad boy is so soft, lightweight, and flirty. I featured it in a Forever21 haul I did on my YouTube channel where I discussed how I acquired it, and that this lovely thing was free 99.

I'll admit, when I first got it home I didn't know how I wanted to pair it, you'd think it'd be simple enough right? I mean at the bare minimum it's a damn black skater skirt...right? But for some reason I just didn't get that tingly feeling I get when I know instantly what I want to do with something (it just didn't click), I knew I wanted it...I just didn't know what for.

Then it all became clear.

This skirt was the last one in the whole store (or at least that's what I am to presume after an hour of sifting through the sale section), and it was a 1X....which if you know by now...I'm typically a 3X in junior plus clothing. Thankfully there is a whole heck of a lot of stretch to it, and honestly the size on the tag doesn't typically steer me away from a garment, some of my favorito pieces that fit me the best have come from the straight sized line or just have a smaller sized label.  

I decided to hike it up, tuck in a printed top (because who wants a plain one *pppffff*), threw on my fast fave sneaker wedges with the spikes (because hello) put on my sweater/leather jacket hybrid (which I rock heavy in the cooler months), popped on my jewels...tell me you don't love the skull bracelets as much as I do...I'll wait....(I got them so many years ago but I'm sure you can google these bad boys), and lastly I borrowed my homies's fluffy leopard Jansport to seal the deal (because print, on print, on print...you know how I do).

What I'm Wearing:

  1. Jacket from Forever21.com. $19.90
  2. Top from Forever21.com. $12.90
  3. Skirt from Forever21. $Free 99
  4. Shoes from Forever21. $10 (On Sale)
  5.  Necklace & bracelet from Wholesale District. $2-$5 (Bracelet can be found here but buy at discretion, it is off of eBay, if you do a simple search there will be other sellers as well.)
  6. Backpack from Jansport.com. $50 (Borrowed from my main Bish)

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)