WHAT IS SELF EXPRESSION?

TALKFASHION TV

"SELF EXPRESSION- the expression of your thoughts or feelings especially through artistic activities, ( such as painting, writing, dancing, etc. )

                                                       -Merriam Webster Dictionary

In order to express yourself through fashion, one must understand what it is to do so. Interestingly enough, when I looked up this word in various locations, fashion, was never written as a possible artistic activity that would lead to expressing one's self. Why is that?

The truth is, the act of self expression is an extremely vulnerable place, and very few actually practice it in fashion or life. Yes, many people boast at how original they are and how they self express through fashion, but in actuality, they look and behave exactly like everyone else.

The mindset of fashion in our society is largely a surface issue. Does it make your figure look nice? Does it look expensive? Does it make you look successful? etc.

Fashion should not be used as a form of "armor", nor should it be used to create confidence and self worth. Any sense of power or strength, created by what you wear, is not power that belongs to you. It is an illusion that creates an unhealthy relationship with fashion that is highly profitable. You need clothes to feel like the person you want to be, and now the co-dependent relationship of "buying" self worth is born.

The process of true power and self confidence, is a journey of self expression. No one is just born knowing who they are, or what they like. It takes daily practice within yourself, and a constant battle of self discovery. What do you like, feel, want?

There is such a constant blur of white noise in our lives, that it is difficult to hear ourselves think. Dig deep within yourself and invite that tiny little inner voice to come to the surface. Yes, you can fool the world into thinking you are someone else, but you can never fool yourself.

Originality, is the celebration of discovering bits and pieces of the priceless qualities within you.

Click! TALKFASHION TV

                                                                           xo,
                                                                         Maya

WHAT DOES YOUR BAG KNOW ABOUT YOU?

Girls and handbags, are quite the mysterious combination. Every single day we tote around our life and stress about what we need and how we can fit it all. A bag is either too big, too small, too heavy, or just not the right color. If you take one moment away from the obvious, and dump the contents of your bag, what do you see?

The truth is, your bag is a solid representation of where your mind is at. Is it cluttered, chaotic and messy? If yes, then your mind is also having trouble processing, organizing and rationalizing. 

What about the contents?  

When we are students, our bags or backpacks, represent the mindset of learning, and education. After school, the contents of our bag say a lot about what you set as your highest priorities.

If your bag is mainly beauty or grooming products, it means you have set your looks as your highest priority.

What about items that inspire you? Why do we not value our own perceptions? What about items that remind you to look for beauty in the world, or open your mindset to things you would normally forget to notice? Why is it, we value so much of our attention on how we are seen, verses how we see the world?

Join me tomorrow as WHAT'S IN MY BAG goes live on TALKFASHION TV, and you can see the random items I carry to live INSPIRED.

xo,

Maya

Fashion Style Inspired by Flowers

Spring is here, and Nature is in full blossom. No one can deny the beauty that comes with this cheerful season, and like the singing birds in the sky, this is your time to shine. Who better to get inspired by than Mother Nature herself?

Here are my Style tips on how to be as beautiful as flowers themselves.

                                         ROSE BEAUTY

When you look at a rose what do you see? First you will notice the softness of the petals, and the curves of beautiful lines the petals make. This dress is a perfect representation of the softness and beauty a rose brings to the eye. Normally, people would match this dress with a deeper purple, or some strappy gold or silver heels. This is standard and predictable. However, use a rose as your inspiration and you can look for an amazing green color shoe with sharp edged rhinestones mimicking the stem and thorns. Voila! Pure Rose Seduciton.

                                    TEXTURES and LIGHT

Spring time is beautiful not only in the sense of "flowers" but the dance of colors that change with the changing light throughout the day. Be observant to the colors changing and gain inspiration on how to add these combinations to your own outfit. 

                     OMBRE and NEIGHBORING COLORS

One of the current trends is "ombre" but did you know this idea is nothing new? Nature has been doing it since the beginning of time. Usually, with flowers, you will see a gradual blend of colors intoit's neighboring  color. "Neighboring" is in reference to the color wheel that follows the order of the rainbow. Play around with matching up accessories and clothes with different shades of the same color family.

                                               SHAPES 

Flowers also are abundant in textures and color combinations, and Nature never gets it wrong. Don't be afraid to play around with the shapes and lines you see in flowers. 

                                   COLOR COMBINATIONS 

If there is a master of color, it would be flowers. They have a way of creating the most magnificent cor combinations  that you would never imagine could work. This dress is gorgeous, but wouldn't your first instinct be to buy a shoe within one of the colors in the dress? A white strappy heel or if your daring maybe a pink pump? 

Would you ever go searching for an amazing textured blue sandal pump? If you observe flowers you would. Looking to nature will give you a whole new vision of endless possibilities.

                                             LAYERING

If flowers can teach you anything, it is to look outside the box. Don't be afraid to layer polka dots on polka dots, and why not add an orange ombre clutch? If it works for a dalmation orchid it will work for you as well. 

Be forever inspired...