HOW TO MAKE YOUR FASHION STYLE REFLECT THE PERSON YOU ARE?

The process of dressing ourselves is the direct link between our mind, body, and heart. If all 3 parts work harmoniously, your fashion style will give an accurate portrayal of the person you are.

How do you strengthen your fashion mind, body, and heart?

Mind: 
The mind/brain is like the headquarters of processing practical matters of fashion. This is the area of educating yourself on fashion knowledge, etiquette, and basic common sense. Study designers, collections, trends, history, and fill up your fashion bank with information. Know the difference between, such things as black ties, verses cocktail, and most importantly use your common sense.

Body:
Positive body image and a solid understanding of your body type is a crucial aspect of fashion style. You must feel good about your body naked or else the process of dressing will always be a strategic act of hiding, manipulating, or deceiving. If you have gained some extra weight then lose it, but learn what your "healthy" weight is and STAY on it.
My healthy weight is the same as when I was in High School, and I fluctuate + or - 10 pounds. Staying on this one size allows you to understand your body shape. I can look at a pair of pants, or top and know quickly whether it will fit.

Heart:
The heart is by far the hardest part for most people. If you are not naturally instinctual, you may find it difficult to form your fashion style based on what you feel. It requires emotional freedom and the ability to express it without fear of judgement or rejection. Strengthening your heart, will require surrounding your life with whatever you love.

           You will find your identity in everything and anything your heart decides to love. 

xo,

Maya

TVTF: HOW TO DRESS IN TRUMP WORLD?

TFTV: HOW TO DRESS IN TRUMP WORLD?

Summary:
TALKFASHION TV explores the fashionable emotions of the recent results of the 2016 Presidential election. How would one dress in a Trump World?

3 OUTFITS:

1) "The Trump Optimist"
A golden wonder. The coat is hand embroidered, vintage and made in Sweden.
The gold evening dress is by ABS, Allen Schwartz. The jewelry is by vintage Cadou. Hair accessories are from Zara.

2.) "The Clinton Pessimist"
A black ensemble of disappointment. The jacket and evening dress is by TADASHI. Shoes are by Ferragamo, and hair accessory is from an unknown source in Paris.

3.) "I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag..."
Is a patriotic style in a rather casual style. The jean jacket is by Tommy Hilfiger, and the jeans are by Levis. The casual shirt is by Free people, and the American Flag scarf has an unknown designer.

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xo.
Maya

What is Your Fashion Age?

What does it mean to dress your age? 

First of all, your dress age, is not based on the number of days you have lived but the stage of your mental level. Fashion, after all, is a strong representation of your views on life in general.  

Let me explain, fashion is like a fine wine. In the beginning you start out as a seed, then a plant, a flower, fruit, grape juice, and with much time, "hopefully" into an amazing wine. 

With fashion, there should also be a level of progression and development. We are an ever changing living creature and our fashion choices should reflect that.

The key rule to remember is, fashion represents your current life views. Therefore, what you wear should represent your current mental state. If a small child is dressed in stiletto heels, a mini skirt, make-up, and purse, what kind of life is this child leading? Perhaps, she is a starlet, who has already grown up to a mini adult, but normally a child, going to school to play in the sandbox, will have no reason for such attire. 

Just the same as fashion, your body develops in different stages. A girl goes through puberty, which prepares you for child birth, and then menopause. 

In each "physical" change are corresponding life changes, that reflect on what you wear and learn. For example, when you are in your teens, there are rushing hormones during these pubescent years. It is a highly experimental stage of your life, and "usually" your fashion will reflect that. You will make many mistakes, and experiment with crazy fashion, but all of these experiences will enrich your knowledge for the future.

As you fall in love and start a family, your life circumstances once again change, and your fashion preference will again, "evolve".

However, these natural forms of progression are often stunted by the desire to remain forever young. When this happens, some women find themselves in a "fashion period" that no longer corresponds with their life experiences. 

Most importantly, there is no right or wrong in fashion as long as you are staying true to your own views. If you are a child that likes to dress in old lady clothes, then do so. If you are an older woman who wants to dress like Madonna then do so. However, never use it as a tool to be someone you are not or pretend to be in a stage of life, that was long gone, years ago. 

Fashion is all about reinvention.

xo,

Maya

5 Ways to Finding Your Fashion Voice

 "Fashion is a playground up until a certain age, but then you have to find your own signature and your own style." Nicolas Ghesquiere

When I was much younger, I followed magazine trends, and played around with every kind of style. I was adventurous and even had an entire year in New York wearing only black and white. However, I always felt a bit blind when I shopped in stores. It was a time in my life that I was easily manipulated by what others would tell me I should wear or buy and somehow I felt a bit lost. My voice only knew whether I liked an outfit or If I didn't. That was pretty much the extent of my non-existent fashion voice. This doesn't mean I wasn't "fashionable". In fact, I was always on trend, and by society terms, quite the fashionista. The big secret is, being fashionable is not so difficult. You can fake it quite easily by copying trends from magazines, runways, or other fashionable people. Simply "wearing" great fashion, is not the same as "being" great fashion.  When you and fashion become one, this is when you have unveiled your true fashion voice. 

5 Ways to Achieving Your Fashion Voice

"What you do for a living should not restrict your fashion voice."

1.) Get rid of Stereo-typing yourself.

 People have this misconception that finding your "signature style" is somehow restricting. They often place limiting categories on themselves  or label themselves as a mom, businesswoman, prep, goth, girly girl, jock, or whatever else and then force themselves in a "look" that society has deemed appropriate. The truth is, finding your signature style should be liberating not suffocating. Just as life has a trillion variations in color pigments, your style, can have a multitude of variation as well. 

2.) Dress in whatever excites you. 

The key is to watch out for what excites you from within. Do not follow trends or popularity. How you dress should  have nothing to do with how others accept you. Dress by what excites you.  It doesn't have to be strictly fashion, anything in life that gets your blood flowing take a mental note of it. This is the first step. You will slowly start to notice patterns and recognize certain categorizes or features that speak to you. For me, I love art, and the attention to details. I love vintage clothing simply because the craftsmanship is exquisite and there is always some kind of tiny embellishment, embroidery, or beaded design. 

I also love nature, and the colors represented by the seasons. When I walk through autumn leaves, the colors and textures speak to me, and dressing within that color palette is something that makes me feel alive and connected to Nature itself.

                                    STEPFORD WIVES

3.) Distinguish what you dislike.

Observe fashion styles, and trends, you detest. For me, I dislike the "Stepford Wives" look."Stepford Wives" is basically a robotic barbie look with creepy emotionless, botox injected smiles. The entire look is extremely fake, and very popular in the region I live. I constantly edit my look to prevent myself from going in that direction. 

Perfection is overrated, and in my opinion the ugliest one of all. 

4.) Shop Alone 

Believe it or not, shopping with friends is probably the most challenging way to find your fashion voice. When you shop with a buddy, their opinions and taste affect your opinions whether you know it or not. You are constantly talking with them and  processing your own thoughts take a back seat. 

When I shop alone, it is a date with my thoughts, and discovering myself. You can't imagine countless times I have gone shopping with friends who have forbid me to buy certain items. Sometimes fighting for what you wear, is just as important as fighting to be yourself.

5.) Observe People You Admire and Figure out Why

Observe people that you admire or fascinate you. 

This does not mean to "copy" their style, but simply use it as a tool to uncover your taste and be inspired. Ask yourself what you like about their fashion choices, figure out what is drawing you in. Take what you like from various people and start customizing your individual style.

Throughout the years, unveiling my fashion voice, was also a long process of discovering myself. With all the technological noise we surround ourselves in, our voice can easily get lost. 

Fashion is a way of life, make it as you see it. 

x

m