Stylish Thought

It is my firm belief that I was a Rockefeller in my past life. My penchant for overly expensive merchandise suggests that I had it once to splurge. However, that is a past life I speak of and today my current life is more along the lines of Fillet-A-fish instead of Fillet mignon. With that said, I think it’s safe to assume that most of us on U.S. soil are feeling the pinch of these trying times.

We’re in the midst of a recession, and while I don’t know exactly what that means (nor can I be bothered to look it up) my purse strings seem to understand fully. While perusing fashion magazines the like of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, W used to give me extreme pleasure, now the accessory pages and fashion editorials just incense me. I understand that things (fashion) must go on in spite of these hard times, but while I couldn’t afford a 10,000 diamond encrusted bangle before, it made me happy to see it. Now looking at same diamond encrusted bangle just pisses me off.

But to my shock and dismay, my beloved Nylon has sunk to a new recession low, or should that be high. Fendi, not exactly for ladies concerned with a recession, has incensed me with jealously, contempt and lust at the same time. Normally I would revel in this emotional cocktail, but not today.

As tasty as this shot is (I’m talking about the shorts) the price tag leaves an aftertaste. $1,542 for a pair of Fendi nifty embroidered cutoff denim shorts. Well now that I put it that way, let me run to the bank and get a cashier’s check right away. The more I stare at them (and google them) I become less sure what really bothers me here… the fact that with the hard financial times Americans are facing that I have to be faced with such ludicrousness or the fact that recession smession… if I had $1,542 for a pair of this deliciousness I’d serve these shorts, piping hot on a platter and eat them with my silver spoon. Me thinks it’s the latter, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

Widely overlooked and vastly underutilized, hair is an essential aspect of one’s persona. The topper of all toppers, hair is a natural accessory that can enhance your style or deter from it (depending on what your aim is). Throughout my life hair has been an important part of my own persona and style. Growing up Sunni Muslim, wearing a head covering has clearly given me many a hang-up about the importance of hair. I mean it wasn’t until college that I actually began to wear my own hair in public and since a hair-raising (pardon the pun) search for the quintessential hairstyle has ensued.
Initial attempts at a hair-love experience were tempered with typical-ness. I wore my hair straight and flat, mostly. A curl here, a curl there, but nothing that screamed, “HAIR I AM!” Drama is essential in developing my taste level and style, whether it is simple or eccentric. Your fringe should add something to conversation and I have eventually discovered was my hair is shaking, rattling and rolling to be BIG!

Not for the scary or faint of heart, big hair is hair that makes an entrance before it’s actual owner (that’s the real definition, I looked it up). Big hair in the country music sense of the word alerts all that the owner is large and in charge and potentially pompous and royal (have you seen the wigs on those 18^th century cats?) Needless to say, all of this fits my bill to a tee, and while I may shy away from being pompous in attitude, pompous hair is quite fine with me (pompous hair, pompadour, coincidence I think not)

(Ridiculously big hair)

So all of this pomp and circumstance is to say, have you taken a good look at your hair today? What is it saying about you? My is Big…Big hair, Big spirit, Big personality… just look at Amy Winehouse, ok maybe not the best example but you get my drift.

Having a fashion blog, for some reason, does not qualify a person as having style. It may mean that one is inquisitive about fashion and style. However, it does not certify the blogger as fashionable. It’s kind of the same shtick as having money can’t buy you chicness. We’ve seen countless celebrities and they’re proof enough.

I’ll be the first to stand up and say that blogging has made me even more protective of my own personal style. A member of the “Dress how I feel” cult, I’m also a member of the blogging community and the two seem to conflict at times. Some of my favorite blogs as the ones that proudly display their personal style. I love just how open blogs like Style Bubble, Fashion Toast and Kingdom of Style are. They proudly display their passion for fashion through what they wear everyday and viewers love it. I love to see how other people wear clothing, for ideas and inspiration. All of this personal style on display makes me examine my own style and want to showcase it… for better or for worse. To me it is simply the same as what I write on this blog. Bloggers put their opinions out into the world to be read and criticized so fash bloggers put their individual tastes and style on display to be critiqued.

As you can see it borders on the mostly feminine, something silly with a dash of extreme. I wear what I love and what I think is interesting, most of the time without regard to what others think of it. My personal fashion mantra is “Wear what you love” and you can’t go wrong, even if you do err in style judgment, if you stand by your choices then people will ultimately love it too. The best style bloggers are the ones that don’t apologize for their style. And as you see on this blog I stand by my style as well as my thoughts.