SUNSHINE STYLE FOR A SKEPTIC

The birds are chirping and the sun has risen. Spring has somehow already arrived and Summer is just around the corner.

 Florals everywhere and the earth is celebrating life, love, and new beginnings!

The problem is, what do you do when your mood is in darkness, pessimism, and ultimate skepticism? You just aren't feeling it, and you rather just crawl back in your moody dark corner with your black yoga pants. The last thing you would ever want  is a bit of sunshine.

Hold on my friend, skeptics can also do well with a bit of sunshine in the their Spring style. There are ways to keep your edgy style while  adding a bit of light and life to your dark aesthetic. 

1.) BE BOLD WITH COLOR: 

As a skeptic, you are naturally opinionated and have no problems questioning the norm. Use that courage, and gamble on a powerful color. Try a bright red/orange with harsh lines, and dare to be seen. It's a statement of power, and it suits you. 

2.) VINTAGE 60's:

If you have never tried vintage shopping, give it a try. Most skeptics detest being like everyone else, and shopping in vintage shops is guaranteed to suit your desire for individuality. The 60's were a very creative, and daring period of fashion. Mod Style, is edgy, bright and fun. 

(The dress I am wearing above, belonged to my mother from the 60's.)

3.) CONTRAST SWEET AND SOUR:

A skeptic, loves nothing more than a good argument, and a playful banter of opposites. If you can't commit to head to toe color, then intermix it, and create irony. A black leather jacket casually worn over a soft floral, is a salty bite to a sweet center. 

From one skeptic to another, don't be so predictable and wear the same style or color every day of the year. There is nothing edgy about a one dimensional style formula.

xo,

Maya

WHY DO WE WEAR CLOTHES?

Have you ever thought about why we wear clothes?

We are the only species that have adopted the art of dressing, and nudists would argue, it's plain unnatural. 

Unnatural for an animal, but not so for a human. 

Humans have an innate ability to multitask multiple ideas, emotions, problem solve, and develop. This complexity, results in the need for creative ways to express life, far beyond our instincts. 

Creativity is a skill that must be practiced and strengthened on a daily basis, and yet it is one of the most neglected tools of life. 

This is wear fashion takes its role in everyones life as a tool to use creativity or not.

If you are a realist, you may dress strictly for practical reasons. If you are a religious person, you may dress strictly for modesty. A materialist, may dress to claim status, and power. 

However, a person who dresses themselves to practice creativity and actively express themselves, is a living art form. 

Why do you dress? 

xo,

Maya 

DOES MAKEUP MAKE YOU FAKE?

Caking on makeup verses no makeup at all. Which one is the "real girl"?

Bare faced. Blemishes, discoloration, a bit of shine, we all have them, but like dirty secrets, no one would ever know.

A no makeup face in a cosmopolitan society, is translated as lazy, unhealthy, or unprofessional. While those who believe in the authentic life of a bare face, may deem a full face of makeup as fake, superficial, and manipulative. So, which one is it? Can these two worlds ever collide in a balanced harmony?

Yes. The truest form of balance is to learn the benefits of both worlds. 

Finding comfort in your own skin with no makeup is a valuable lesson of self acceptance, and confidence.  One should be comfortable to show their bare face in front of anyone, and understand the unique beauty of being completely natural. 

However, there is also value in understanding the benefits of wearing makeup and appreciating a different form of beauty. It is a valid tool of professionalism, attraction, expressionism, and artistry.

 Just as one decorates a table for a dinner party, makeup is an artistic exploration of colors, angles, textures, and the effects of aesthetics on human interaction. 

Practice the healthy balance of letting your skin breathe on a daily basis, while challenging yourself to explore the various variables of faces found in the unexpected playground of makeup.

Have fun!

xo,

Maya

CREATE YOURSELF: FASHION EMPOWERMENT

Fashion Empowerment.
We are born into this world with an identity. A name given to us by our parents, and a life predestined by the hopes and circumstances placed by everyone around us. How do you define yourself? A race, a gender, a career, social status, fame or money?

Perhaps, the problem begins by the very fact we spend far too much time defining ourselves rather than creating our own identity. We have the power to mold our lives and ourselves into the shapes and colors we desire, but we lock ourselves into preconceived ideas that have been placed around us. Why?

Fashion. As superficial, meaningless, and vain as many people believe it to be, it is actually one of the most practical ways of discovering your identity on a daily basis. What you wear is a reflection of how you think and feel. This is why your style evolves alongside your experiences, confidence maturity and surroundings. 

Creating yourself neither begins nor ends with what you wear, but it is a progression of limitless ideas   and questions regarding yourself as a work of art. 

Who are you today and how would you express it? What are your limits, fears, and dreams? Break free from the mold of following everyone else around you, and start questioning and creating your own path. 

Mix and match things you like, and break free from the idea you must "fit" into a square that society has placed upon you. 

To be creative, means you no longer see yourself as a creature of attraction, but an ever-changing creation of ideas. Your primary goal is not to be beautiful, but to say something. Strengthen the ability to express ideas, and eliminate the need to conform. 

If you want to wear your skirt as a shirt, and your pants as a scarf, then do it. Challenge yourself by feeling uncomfortable, and push the boundaries to make people THINK.

Stay Tuned !

 In 2018, Talk Fashion Blog, will be exploring new and unique ways to explore the art of fashion expression. Fusing the fashion world with philosophy, psychology  literature, mathematics, music, and art, we will be exploring the limits of personal style. Join us!

xo,

Maya

HOW FASHION CAN HELP YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION BE SUCCESSFUL?

"Do not go to bed until you have gone over the day three times in your mind. 

What wrong did I do? What good did I accomplish? What did I forget to do? "

-Pythagoras

A new year, a new you, but how?

New Year's Resolutions are often created with a mindful goal to attack specific things you would like to change about yourself. Whether it be your weight, your lifestyle, or unrequited passions, a better you is waiting to be born. Unfortunately, every year we spend 10 minutes creating a list that is probably more productively used as a piece of scratch paper.

Why do our resolutions fail and how can fashion help?

New Year's resolutions usually fail, because they are concentrated lists of problems, without any regard to the formula behind these bad habits. Here are 3 examples of how fashion can help your resolutions:

RESOLUTION 1

HEALTH/FITNESS

You want to lose 10 pounds. 

You make a list of how you will exercise more, eat less, and stay away from processed foods. Sounds like a good plan, right? Wrong. This plan is too centralized on the specific problem and lacking in inspiration, and motivation.  If you want to lose 10 pounds, try adding the element of fashion and stay motivated. Invest in an attractive, but comfortable work out gear and enjoy getting ready for your exercise sessions. Buy a fun dress that is 1-2 sizes smaller, and hang it in a place you can see it every morning. Use it to motivate you, and provide you with visual imagery that is a tangible version of the future you are creating. 

RESOLUTION 2

PERSONAL LIFE

 You want to be more outgoing and meet someone new. 

Your plan includes, going out more, downloading a dating app, and being more "social", but most likely you will do none of them. The problem is, improving your personal life, can only happen, if you change on a "personal" level. Often times, this includes what we choose to wear. We fail to realize the impact of how we dress, and its relationship to how it attracts or rejects human interaction.

 The style of clothing, color, and cleanliness, are all factors observed before a smile is exchanged, or a word is spoken. If you want to improve your social life, start by evaluating your current fashion choices. Simple changes such as wearing a softer or brighter color, will immediately make you appear more cheerful and approachable. 

RESOLUTION 3

CAREER

You want to quit your stable job and chase your dream job.

Your plan includes calculating your finances, and mustering up enough courage to quit your stable job. However, most people, never find the courage and live a life of paying bills, and unrequited dreams. 

To "imagine" the reality of a dream, you must realize the discomfort of the unknown. Fear is one of the main reasons we stop ourselves from pursuing our passions, but the lack of positive visual imagery also exacerbate our fears.

One of the most simple ways to boosting positive visual imagery of your dream job, is dressing the part. Adopting the style of the person who has such a job, is a strong foot in the door of imagining yourself as that person.  

Best wishes and may you have a phenomenal 2018! 

xo,

Maya

S. FREUD: HOW TO DRESS ME, MYSELF, AND I

FASHION PSYCHOLOGY 101

Take a look at your closet. What is it like? Is it a chaotic mess filled with multiple personalities? Or is it a small organized capsule collection featuring only the basics? 

According to Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory of personality, balance is key in all genres of personal taste. Surprisingly, being too chaotic and instinctual with your choices is just as bad as being too organized and predictable.  

Freud theorized that personality contains 3 main elements: id, ego, and super ego.

1.) ID: impulsive, uncontrollable, and primitive. 

Like a baby, it is the unconscious element we are born with that is extremely impulsive. It has a simplistic desire to satisfy our primal instincts, without any regard to its effects on others. This is the part of you that picks clothes based on primitive needs, such as warmth, desire, pleasure, etc. 

An overly dominant id, can lead to impulsive fashion choices, uncontrollable shopping habits, and disorganized sensibility of any type of order, or logic.

2.) Ego: calculated, conservative, narrow-minded.

 Very much like a control center, the ego is the element of rationality. It is able to control one's impulses and manage it's choices with calculations and directions. 

An overly dominant ego, can cause you to be conservative, narrow-minded and predictable. Your choices follow the fashion book and your style can lack spontaneity and understanding.

3.) Super Ego: moralistic, and judgmental

The Super ego behaves as the moral compass, and suppresses all unacceptable behaviors and pushes idealistic standards. It acts to civilize our behaviors and distinguish right from wrong.

An overly dominant Super ego looks to perfect and abolish all unacceptable choices.

Each element of personality is negative, without its equal counterpart to balance them out. Be aware of our natural impulses to forget to be diverse, and embrace contrast. 

 It is easy to fall into one category of mind set, but fashion excellence is achieved though embracing all aspects of our personality.

Always remember to style with a healthy dash of spontaneity, a structure of calculation, and a sprinkle of morality. 

xo,

Maya

A Letter From Maya...

Welcome to TALKFASHION!

Inspired by nature, art, music, and culture, TALKFASHION, covers the evolving force of self discovery. 

The  inner dialogue between you and your heart is the key essence of finding yourself and your style. 

Forever looking to what inspires you, fight the gravity of normality.

Be brave enough to make  mistakes, and have courage to walk the path alone.

What you wear is equally simplistic and complex. They say, " Never judge a book by its' cover, but how introspective to create the perfect cover for a specified book!

You are a what you wear and within that equation is art.  

The greater the art the greater the message.

What do you feel, and how will you arrange your image today?

Sincerely,

Maya Horikawa

(Creator of TALKFASHION)

What is 箱入り娘 ?

箱入り娘 (hako-iri-musume), is a Japanese proverb describing a metaphorical "box" that surrounds a girl who was raised in an overprotected family, and given very little freedom. 

                                                                   
 At the heart of TALKFASHION, is a Girl in a Box (箱入り娘). For her, fashion is an inspirational  tool to discovering herself, and finding her voice. Breaking free from her mental prison, requires cutting the need to impress, and the importance of her heart. Observations of nature, art, music, color, and emotions, are all used as guides to push her senses of expression.
 What she wears is no longer just garments to keep her warm, nor are they tools to impress her peers. Clothes, are now a self discovery tool, of creating an image that reflects the person inside.

Join TALKFASHION 箱入り娘 Girl in a Box, and follow her artistic journey of introspection, inspiration, and self projection.

                                                        xo,
                                                      Maya

ARE YOU FASHION PIGEONHOLING?

What in the world is fashion pigeonholing?

Pigeonholing is any process that attempts to classify disparate entities into a small number of categories (usually, mutually exclusive ones).

Fashion Pigeonholing is when you classify yourself into a particular style group. 

A lot of how we dress, is a direct representation of who we think we are, and how we see ourselves. Factors like, social circles, work, school, hobbies, etc., can find us stuck on a limited variation of self awareness and style. 

This is your comfort zone, and it feels safe. You know it well, and chances are you've dressed that way for years. You shop at the same stores, gravitate to the same colors, and basically, buy the same outfit in slightly different shades and lengths. 

The problem is, life is an ever evolving force. You are evolving and your style should be as well. Staying fresh means trying something new. This does not mean you should make a 180 degree fashion flip and abandon everything you know. Fashion is a collection of ideas, and keeping the essence of your style aesthetic will stay relatively unharmed. The challenge lies only in your own mental stereotypes of who you think you were, are, and will be. 

"Oh no.. that's not YOU!" -(My mom) 

To this day, every time I go shopping I can still hear my mother's infamous words, "Oh no.. that's not YOU!" . Funny enough, those exact words are still preventing myself from stepping out of my little pigeon hole. 

Don't be afraid to grab a style completely different from anything you know. You may surprise yourself and actually like it.

Take care and lots of love.

xo,

Maya

BEAUTY CHAT: ARE YOU UGLY OR ARE YOU LAZY?

The truth of the matter is, laziness is ugly. YOU are not  Ugly. 

Like anything in life, "effort" does make a difference. Those extra 5 minutes of attention, will make a world of difference in your appearance, mental health, mood, and self image. 

Beauty is defined in the work you apply to take care of yourself. Just like a plant needs proper nutrients, sunlight, and water, your attractiveness depends on factors of maintenance.

This includes: skincare, hygiene, exercise, personal maintenance and wisdom. I hate to break it to you, but you are not just born beautiful. No one is. 

It is a daily effort that fluctuates based on will power. I personally,  struggle with my skin and weight  during stressful or hard moments in my life. This is a result of poor food choices, lack of sleep, and exercise. 

Just like any skill, you must learn the techniques to maneuver your actions for the desired reactions. Learning from your mistakes, looking for solutions and striving to be better on a consistent basis, is not an easy task. It is okay to fail, we all do; but,  personal beauty can only be achieved with humility and acceptance of those mistakes, and the commitment to try again. 

The way you live your life, and the effort you put into yourself, is your personal canvas. 

The clothes you wear, match your personal aesthetic. The books you read, represent the shape and directions of your thoughts. The food you eat, symbolizes your desire to live.  The art you love represents your soul.

Just like the furniture in your home, your efforts should bring you joy, and comfort. 

A sense of home.

Live Beautifully!

xo,

Maya

HOLIDAY LOOKBOOK 2016! (Jingle all the Way!)

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.

Please SUBSCRIBE to TALKFASHION TV!
xo.
Maya

TFTV: HOW TO DRESS AT #NYFW

TALKFASHION TV

How To Style Your Outfit Around Your Bathing Suit

Learning how to style your bathing suit into your daily look, is a fabulous way to enjoy the final stretch of the Summer season! 

Very similar to Superman and his super suit, bathing suit style will allow you to be ready for water, anytime, anywhere.

Whenever we think of swimwear with fashion, the furthest our mind may take us is a colorful sarong, a beach dress, or some sort of cover up. 

However, what about the idea of including a bathing suit as part of your fashion look?

Here are my top 4 tips on styling a look around your bathing suit:

Tip 1: Dress Light

Nothing is worse than wearing a bathing suit under another outfit on a hot day. When you style a look like this, pick the lightest fabrics, and let the suit peak through.

The more airflow around your body, the easier it will be to stay cool. 

Tip 2: Do not wear expensive or sentimental jewelry. 

Never forget the purpose of wearing a swimsuit, is to spontaneously swim or jump into a body of water. This bracelet by Betsey Johnson is one of my favorite pieces of costume jewelry and a nice compliment to the pink swimsuit. 

In general, keep jewelry as limited as possible.

Tip 3: Pick a Color Palette Around Your Bathing Suit:

Rather than covering your bathing suit, think about featuring it. 

My style inspiration for this look, was completely inspired by the vibrant orchid pink found in my suit. Because, the color is full of energy, I counter balanced the effect by pairing it with a neutral white lace dress, and white vintage bag. I tied a silk Pink Pucci scarf in reference to the color palette. 

Tip 4: Have fun and enjoy life!

xo,

Maya

To see the entire look check out the new video on TALKFASHION TV

FASHION AND SOUL?

SOUL: 

-The spiritual part of a person that is believed to give life to the body and in many religions is believed to live forever.

-a person's deeply felt moral and emotional nature. 

-Merriam-Webster Dictionary

We all struggle with emptiness. The unknown is dark, and scary, and often leaves us feeling lost and without purpose. Rather than facing these questions, we distract ourselves by looking to others for answers, and mimicking habits that are proven to be socially successful. 

 How we dress is no different. We treat what we wear as a costly game of cat and mouse. We chase, we catch, and repeat. Fashion ideas, with very little personal attention leaves the soul forgotten and lost. 

 Believe it or not, there is so much LIFE in deciding what you wear. What you wear is a daily question of personalization, and problem solving on the unknown variables that make you unique.

However, this is a skill. It is only as powerful as your emotional abilities to feel, create, and produce ideas into your reality.  To be able to express, and share bits of your identity requires an internal understanding of what that self identity is. Such knowledge of who you are, can only be obtained through daily practice of challenging your own internal thoughts. 

A life well lived, is one that thinks, questions, and finds its own answers.

xo,

Maya

SUMMER FASHION LOOKBOOK (2016): DANDELION STYLE

TALKFASHION TV


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SUMMER LOOKBOOK SERIES: 

DANDELION STYLE 

Inspired by William Shakespeare; Sonnet 18

SONNET XVIII

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And Summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course, untrimm'd;
By thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou grow'st;
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee."


xo,
Maya (Summer Dandelion)

FASHION and COURAGE?

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." 

E.E Cummings

Everyone talks about having individual style, and expressing one's self through fashion, but they miss to mention one key element on achieving it.

COURAGE.

One of the biggest road blocks to finding your personal fashion aesthetic, is having to go against what everyone else is doing. We learn very early on, that being "different" is a negative thing, with embarrassing consequences.

 Fashion trends guarantee you a level of security that people will accept you and admire you. 

It makes obtaining success easier, and gives you a barrier of ultimate safety. You have the majority backing a singular idea, and anyone who defies it, is in the minority.

Why in the world would you ever risk failure by pursuing your own ideas?!

"Courage is the main quality of leadership, in my opinion, no matter where it is exercised. Usually it implies some risk- especially in new undertakings." 

-Walt Disney

Pursue your own fashion identity, even if it terrifies you, because it is your personal responsibility to yourself. Yes, it creates huge risks, and people will most likely mock you, but the rewards will be immense. Why?When you create your own sense of style, you take the power back. What others are doing or thinking  won't matter.You will define yourself based on what you believe, feel, and desire. 

This life is yours, explore it free from manipulation. 

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma- which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other people's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition." 

-Steve Jobs

DO YOU HIDE BEHIND YOUR CLOTHES?

Looking in the mirror is a reflective experience (literally, and figuratively).

There is this strange psychological banter between what you see, feel, and identify with. Who is that person you see?

From quite early on, we learn the powers of fashion. It can make you look like anyone you choose to be. Just pick and idol, watch what he/she wears and copy it. This is the nature of how people dress, and it focuses primarily on how you look, regardless of the person inside. 

The question is, why do we do this? Why do we dress without considering what we represent on the inside? Do we even know who that person is?

When I look at people, I see them as books. What is their story? Each person has this mysterious past, present, and future, and it is constantly changing and shaping them into this unique being.  

What would your book cover look like? This is the question people should ask themselves when they try to find their personal style. What would be on that cover? What would represent your current lifestyle, and events? 

When you start approaching fashion with this kind of mindset you will see how strange it is to desire to look like someone else. Maybe you think Kylie Jenner is gorgeous, but your responsibility lies in representing your story. 

 Listen, I have gone through my fair share of fashion trends, and style snatching. I admit, copying beautiful people is a super easy way to look better. Their tips work, and compliment almost everyone instantly. However, the satisfaction lies only in your ability to please others. You feel better, because others view you as better. The person you actually are, is left ignored. 

For me, it was a feeling of detachment.  On the outside, I could look like this "cool, trendy" girl, but  on the inside, I was this awkward girl sitting in the corner reading a book that told a very different story. 

 Dressing to look good verses dressing to cultivate your character, may seem like a small difference but it holds two entirely different outcomes. Anyone, can look sexy, or beautiful, "physically", but to feel it from the inside out, is a different story. 

It is only when you choose to be a copy that you become boring. Who wants to read the book, The Girl Who Pretended To Be Helen Keller? (Not going to lie, that sounds pretty hilarious. I might read it.)

You might be thinking, I am not defined by what I wear, it doesn't matter. Which can be true if you live in complete seclusion on an island somewhere. However, in this fast paced world, an accurate representation of who you are, will open the right doors to the places and people suited for you.   By not putting importance on finding a true representation of your style, you  are representing a different story, and attracting a very different audience. 

Only one person in the universe can dress the person who lives inside of you. Tell your story!

Click! TALKFASHION TV

                                                                            xo,
                                                                          Maya

FASHION PRISON

Fashion is a world filled with false illusions, and unrequited desires. The need to be admired, will almost aways find yourself in a type of fashion prison. 

Why?

Unfortunately, people are rather simple minded, and wearing the latest labels, and brands, will get you a quick glance of admiration. Now you are somebody, and now you are successful. Having something that others cannot afford, gives you this false sticker of superiority. However, like everything in life, there is a price to pay, and in this case a high price. 

When you find self worth through the exclusivity of trends and luxury items, there will never be a sense of content or fulfillment. Fashion is a well oiled machine, and every second, something shiny, and new is waiting for you to swipe your card. Nothing will ever be enough, and paying for it all will leave you feeling desperate. 

It is in this desire alone, millions of people trade in their life of freedom, and exchange it for one of debt, endless work or unethical choices.

When fashion controls you, it will destroy you. Be creative with fashion, and it will free you. Find life long pieces, and cherish them. Minimize the need for mindless shopping, and carelessly replacing your entire wardrobe each season. 

Living in a prison is not easy to see. The walls are invisible, but the power is real. 

Click! TALKFASHION TV

xo,

Maya

TFTV: HOW TO CREATE A BAG FULL OF FASHION?

We all have those moments when our outfit is incomplete, and a quick change would be a life saver.

On today's episode of TALKFASHION TV, I discuss how to create and use a bag filled with fashion accessories. Whether you use it to dress your outfit up, change your mood, add a pop of color, or go from day to night, this tiny little red bag will keep your creative juices flowing all day.

Check out last weeks episode: WHAT'S IN MY BAG?

Please SUBSCRIBE to TALKFASHION TV.

xo,

Maya