FASHION FREEWAY

BRAND SPOTLIGHT: SEVYNTH

2018-08-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

In collaboration with Sevynth brand

Urban streetwear with substance is what I live for. Nothing beats a dope graphic tee that doesn't do too much but still screams with a rebellious and edgy attitude. These tees by Sevynth brand read "Those who stay hungry get fed." and that resonates with me so much! As long as you have the hunger to succeed or achieve more, you will continue to bask in the fruits of your labor.

What's even better than dope graphic tees? Reconstructed pieces that provoke emotion. These reconstructed patchwork denim jeans were hand crafted by the owner of the brand himself and convey so much character and bring attention to social issues through dramatic imagery from old school horror films and artwork. I love supporting local and upcoming brands and businesses. Why spend $50 on the new Off White tee that everyone around the world has and fund a huge company when you can spend the same amount and support a young person with a big dream who's working day and night to make their dream a reality?

Credits:
Gods Never Age tee by Sevynth
Gold Air Max 97s from Get Em Kicks
Male Model/Photographer: Stephon

BLACK IN JAPAN.

2018-07-26T08:18:00.001-07:00

We all know the harsh realities young black men and women face in America historically and present day. But what’s it like for these individuals in other parts of the world? Do they only face injustices in the States or is racism a globally spread disease? Are they idolized in other countries? Let’s take an inside look at the personal experiences of two young men who have experienced this first hand in one of the world’s most popular destinations for music, culture, food, and fashion, Japan.

Kyoto, Japan 2018

Just to give you guys a little background information on the Japanese culture before we jump into the interviews. Japanese people admire American culture immensely. In fact, they admire it so much that they have learned to adopt it so well that they sometimes do it better than we do. From fashion to music and even food, Japan is filled with American influence from top to bottom. However, no matter how long you may live in Japan, how well you know the language, or how close you may get to a Japanese local, Japan is one of the most exclusive cultures in the world. Meaning, if you're not Japanese, you will never be looked at or treated as such. You will always be a gaijin or outsider. [ Although, knowing the language does increase the likelihood for you to "fit in" with the Japanese or Nihonjin exponentially.]

Japan is one of the safest countries in the world, with an extremely low and constantly decreasing crime rate [I'll explain why in my next blog post.] The Japanese are generally very calm, patient, and kind people. Even if they do not fancy you or even feel prejudice towards you, the worst you will probably get is an awkward stare. They are not into conflict at all, in fact they are very keen on biting their tongues. As a white/latina female, I can't give the perspective of what it's like to be black in Japan so I asked two friends of mine to explain their experiences. Hopefully this sheds some light on the topic for you guys!

Interviewee #1:

Q: What’s your name, age, IG username and where are you from?

A: My name is Daryl White and I’m 23 years old. I turn 24 on October 26th (Scorpio), you can follow me on Instagram @LosaTV and I’m from Wilmington, Delaware.

Q: What do you do for a living and what brought you to Japan?

A: I am an F-15 maintainer (Aircraft mechanic) by trade in the United States Air Force, I have since been tasked to get familiar with some Administrative work to help expand my skill set and assist in my career progression in the military. I was blessed with assignment orders to Kadena AB in Okinawa, Japan back in February 2016 and I will be here until February 2020.

Q: Do you speak the language?

A: I am not as fluent in Japanese as I would like to be; my skill set is very elementary. I can get around, order food, ask where the restroom is etc. However, I am famliliar with the Hirigana characters, which is one of the writing styles of the Japanese language. There is Hirigana, Katakana, and Kanji. Kanji, being the most intricate of the 3 styles.

Q: What is the biggest challenge you face being a black man in Japan?

A: The biggest challenge I face being an African-American male in Okinawa Japan is definitely not being well versed in the language and the culture. Secondly, another challenge would have to be falling victim to the negative stigma around how young black males conduct themselves in relationships with the local females. I do not fit that stereotype by any means and that has been a little bit difficult for me. For me, there has always been a preconceived notion that I want to be sexually involved with every woman that I have come in contact with, when I simply want to be submerged in the culture and become more acclimated with the language.

Q: What is the biggest advantage of being a black man in Japan?

A: On the flip side, the biggest advantage of being black in Japan, is that when you do show interest in the culture and the language, the locals do a great job of embracing you and are more than happy and very supportive in that process. As an individual, depending on what it is that you are trying to accomplish, having that experience and relationship with the community can give you extreme leverage.

Q: Have you ever felt discriminated against for the color of your skin while living in Japan? Give examples if possible.

A: Stereotyping, just like any other place in the world, is the only form of discrimination that I have experienced. To me I don’t take it personal and it’s not a huge deal. I actually find it comical. As humans I understand that it’s just our nature to judge people, knowingly and subcontiously. I find it interesting to say the least.

Q: Can you compare the difference between being black in America vs being black in Japan from your own experience?

A: I will say that being black in Japan is way better than being black in America just for the simple fact that I don’t feel targeted and I don’t fear for my life being taken away as I would if I were back stateside. Being a uniformed member of the military you would think that it is more dangerous than a civilian but I have learned that is not the case. From 2000-2018, approximately 1500 service members have lost their lives in war combat. In 2018 alone, 1400 people have lost their lives to gun violence in just Chicago. That was astonishing information that I learned via the Joe Rogan experience podcast. In Okinawa they have extremely strict gun laws, which leads to a below 4% annual crime rate in general and 0% gun related annual crime. I believe that the states could learn a few things from Japan.

Q: How does it make you feel that Japanese people refer to hip hop, trap, rap, etc as “black music”? How would it make you feel if Americans did the same and why?

A: I haven’t heard that hip-hop is referred to as “black music” by the local community, but if that is true it doesn’t make me feel any way at all. Hip hop is primarily associated with African-Americans and that’s the beauty of our culture. If Americans did the same, I wouldn’t mind either. I’d be a hypocrite if I felt a way about it. I call heavy-metal and country white music so I don’t see a problem. Everyone is entitled to their opinions.

Q: Do you ever feel targeted by the JPs (Japanese Police) because of your skin color?

A: I do feel targeted by the Japanese police because of 1. Being in the military and 2. Being African-American in the military. We don’t really have a great reputation when it comes to our behavior, in regards to military members in general. And when it comes to being black, because hip hop is associated with the black community, one could say that the Japanese police are informed about how we like to party. With parties usually comes chaos and confrontation. Also with parties comes alcohol and some drink and drive, so I do believe that we are a bit targeted. I don’t think it’s right, however I do understand why that is. History does tend to repeat itself.

Q: How has being in Japan impacted how you identify yourself or your self image?

A: It hasn’t changed how I identify myself at all. I can only be myself and I try embrace everything that comes with having this skin color. I’m seeking more to understand than to be understood and that’s all I can do. Some people will love it and some people will hate it and that’s just the game of life we play.

Interviewee #2

Yerrrr my name is Noah, my IG is @Guapular . I am a photographer from Bay Area, California, living in Tokyo, Japan. I first started coming to Japan 4 years ago when i was 18 for work (buying clothes to resell) and i fell in love.

I met this black dude from Georgia while i was buying clothes one day and bro spoke like full Japanese and my mind was blown. I asked him how he learned and he sent me the school program info n all that, and as soon as I got back to the states I signed up. So I speak a little Japanese, enough to get around and have conversations.

Being a black man in Japan definitely has it's ups and downs. Since there aren't many black men in the scene in Tokyo it makes it easier for me to stand out. Since I’m not the average Japanese person, people are more willing to work with me just because i'm black or "look cool" lol. So that's a good thing, but there are some negatives fasho. Like I work with a big entertainment company here in Tokyo, and since i'm not Japanese i'm always being looked at, people are always watching to see when i'm going to mess up. A lot of the older people I work with don't like me and they don’t hesitate to show it. I be getting yelled at for every little thing I do, but they do it Japanese style. So they tell someone to tell me that I’m doing something wrong instead of just coming to me to tell me to my face, shit is really annoying actually. I'm treated different, almost like a burden, but some of the people really like me. But one thing I gotta talk about is the fact that a lot of the music here steals from black culture, but they don't want to pay us the respect or give us the credit when it's due.

Here's an interesting documentary made by Nigerian-American artist Amarachi Nwosu last year following the lives of a few young black mean and women living in Tokyo. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

DADDY ISSUES // OPEN LETTERS TO THE FIRST MAN WHO BROKE MY HEART

2018-06-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

Dear "Daddy,"

[Age 4] Scared & Confused

Why are you so angry? Why do you always yell at Mommy and make her cry? She's so much smaller than you. When you push and hit her it makes me so mad. I feel really hot and I want to scream and kick and punch. Anything to help her. Seeing her scared makes me so scared. Seeing her cry makes me so sad and I want to save her. But I can't. I'm too little. I'm not strong enough. So I go in my room, play with my dolls and imagine a world where all mommies and daddies got along and always had fun together. I like to imagine things and other places. It helps me block out the loud yelling and I forget how bad you make me feel.

My brother, too. Why don't you like him like I do? He's funny and caring, andddd he always plays games with me and lets me play his PlayStation which makes being in this house not-so-bad. He's helping me learn to read and write too. I know he's not really your son, but is this how fathers treat their sons? I'm so confused and frustrated. I do this weird thing with my shoes. My shoelaces have to be super tight or I can't wear them. They cut off my circulation most of the time, but I like the way it feels. It feels secure.

I'm going to counseling now. She asks me about you a lot. I don't know what's the point of all this but I don't like talking to a stranger about my family. I wish I could take you, my mom and my brother to the places I make up in my head and we could all be happy together.

[Age 10] Broken

I'm in the 5th grade now. I love school. I think you would be proud of me. I get all A's on my report cards. Ok maybe not ALL A's - I really hate history, I was never good at it. It's probably because I don't like to remember things from the past. Who says the things that are written in the textbooks are true anyway? Math is my favorite subject because it can be proven and it makes so much sense to me. I'm in my 3rd elementary school now. Mommy had to transfer me because we moved (again) with our cousins and its easier for me to go to the same school as them. This school is really different from my last; everyone is a lot meaner. The boys are starting to notice me and make comments about how big my butt is. Sometimes they even try to grab it. It makes me feel uncomfortable but I'm scared to stand up for myself or they might retaliate liek you used to do to my mom. A lot of the girls at my school don't like me and constantly try to start fights with me. They call me all types of names, especially 'slut'. I don't even know what that means. My mom tells me the girls are just jealous and to not pay any mind to them. I like the attention from the boys, it feels good. It's nice to feel wanted.

My mom says I'm really mature for my age. My body is 'mature', my attitude is mature, and my mindset is mature. I stay focused on my schoolwork because it's like my escape from reality. I feel powerful when I learn new things. Even though my teacher doesn't like me - because I wear earrings and lip gloss, she said im 'too fast' - I still look forward to going to school every day to be around people who actually notice me, even if it's not all good attention. I don't understand why people assume things about me because of the way I look. Because of this, I vow to never judge another person because you really don't know what theyre going through or what makes them a certain way.

It's so cool seeing my friends at school, who play sports and stuff, have their parents there rooting them on all the time. It must be really nice to have both parents in your life. I wonder what its like. Do they get to run to their dad when their mom says no? Do they play catch with their dad in their front lawns like in the movies? Do they eat dinner at a table with nice plates and stuff? They must have so much money with two parents. They go on so many vacations to cool places like the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. I get a little jealous. I want to do fun things like that with my family but we dont have enough money. It's hard for my mom to pay rent and bills. She works so hard. It doesn't make sense to me.

I stopped wearing my shoelaces so tight. But, now I have to wear my hair pulled back so tight or else I feel really uncomfortable. Sometimes I wear it so tight it breaks some strands of hair. It gives me a headache but it gives me that secure feeling I like.

I accept my reality - that you're not in my life. I don't understand why you don't want to be in my life. I thought parents loved their kids unconditionaly but I guess that's not always the case. People at school always have this sound in their voice like they're sorry for me when I tell them you're not in my life and that I barely know you. It's weird but I reassure them that it doesn't phase me. My mom is amazing and she and my brother are all I need.

[Age 16] Resentful

Forget everything I said before. I don't accept my reality. I hate it. I'm miserable. I could never understand how a person can have a child and NOT want to be in their life. I've had 12 birthdays since you left and I can only remember you calling me for one. You never even tried to help my mom with money for me. You have no idea how hard it's been for us. We've moved into a new apartment damn near every year for the past 8 years. I had to skip out on so many school trips, getting new clothes, playing sports, and pretty much any luxury because we barely had money to pay our rent, let alone keep food in the fridge. I had to grow up quick because you weren't there. I missed out on a lot of the innocent pleasures in life and now it's hard for me to make friends because I just don't connect with people around my age. Especially if they're too nice. I don't trust people who are too nice, they make me feel uncomfortable. I attract damaged people, and that's ok because I'm damaged too and those are the only types of people I can really relate to.

When my grandmother died, my mom lost it for a while. She started drinking too much and making a scene every time she was drunk. It usually ended in a violent situation somehow. She brought around strange men; she doesn't really have the best taste in men [clearly.] I know she just wants to feel loved but it bothers me how much she settles. I know she's worth so much more. You really traumatized her and I hate you for that. Her actions really infuriate me but I try not to take it out on her because I know she's just hurt from all the pain she's gone through. She's such a beautiful, strong, hard-working woman. If she can't find a great guy who will love and respect her, is there any hope for me? I dont have any faith in love or marriage. I don't want to have kids because no matter how much you may love them, every single action you make affects them in some way and I never want another person to feel the way I feel because of you being abesnt in my life and my mom being an emotional mess.

My older brother has stepped in a lot in lieu of you. At my Sweet 16, he shared my first dance with me and he changed my shoes from slippers to heels to signify my transition into womanhood; all things that are typically done by one's father. If and when I get married one day, he'll be the one to walk me down the aisle. He always tells me that he's not going to allow me to become one of those girls who act wild because of their 'daddy issues.' He sits me down for hours and lectures me on all things from boys, and friendships, to the importance of school/education, and mainly succeeding in life and being the one to make it out of the constant cycle of misery we were used to growing up. He definitely put me on to game at a young age which helped me make a lot of smart decisions that I probably wouldn't have done otherwise. He stressed to me how valuable I am and to never forget my worth. Is this what fathers do for their daughters?

I'm getting older now and experiencing a lot more life. I think I'm in love. It's my first real relationship. I'm not sure what to base it off of though, because I've never seen real love between a man and a woman. I'm so scared he'll eventually just leave me, after all if my own father can leave me then someone who's only been in my life for a year or so can surely leave without warning. I think my fear comes out in unhealthy ways like a little bit of clinginess and this end-of-the-world feeling whenever we fight. I wish I just knew how to love in a pure way. I don't feel whole if I'm not with him.

I really do love him, but I had to leave before he left me. If i'm not enough for you how can I ever be enough for another man?

[Age 22] Sorry

I'm not bitter anymore. Now, I'm just sorry for you. I'm sorry you missed seeing me grow up and that you didn't want to be a part of my successes. I'm sorry you didn't get to teach me how to ride a bike or see how fast I could run and how competitive I was as a child. I'm sorry you missed all my band concerts from fourth grade to senior year in high school. I'm sorry you weren't able to cheer me on when I was cheerleading and being thrown 30ft in the air. I'm sorry you didn't get to help me learn to read and write or congratulate me when I came home with honors roll time and time again. I'm sorry you didn't get to see me graduate elementary school, middle school, high school, and especially college. I'm sorry you weren't in the audience at any of the fashion shows I coordinated and modeled in.

I'm sorry you didn't get to be my shoulder to cry on when I got my heart broken or that you didn't get to deliver the infamous fatherly speech to my prom date. I'm sorry you weren't there to share the father-daughter dance with me at my Sweet 16. I'm sorry you broke my heart before any other male could.

I'm sorry that I have accomplished so much in the past few years and you have heard nothing about it. I'm sorry that you think because you have me on Facebook, we suddenly have a relationship and you can take credit for anything that I am.

I'm sorry you chose a life without me in it.

I used to really feel sorry for myself. I felt sorry for being without my dad my whole life and trying to fill that never-ending void with temporary pleasures. Whether it be back-to-back relationships, constant partying, smoking weed, or even more healthy habits like obsessing over school work or new hobbies. Nothing could ever seem to fill that hole that you left in my heart.

I look back on all of the times that we never shared together and I don't get sad or mad anymore. Rather, I get a sense of pride in myself. I know how strong I've become just because of your lack of existence. I know that there were people in my life who took your spot and excelled in raising me. I know that you will never see the damage you've done to me, and I promise you that I will make sure you will never see my successes as your own.

[Age 24] At Peace

The last relationship I was in reminded me of you way too much. He constantly disrespected me and mentally abused me. He brought out the best but most importantly the worst in me. We were so toxic for eachother but I stayed for much longer than I should have because it felt normal to me. After all, that's all I've really ever known.

I took the time to do some deep introspection and finally heal all my emotional wounds because I was getting sick of the constant feeling of void in my life. I started praying a lot more and getting in tune with my spirituality. I can honestly say prayer is the only thing that kept me sane - and I mean that in the most literal way possible. I learned to fill all voids with God's love and never expect that from another person. I learned to forgive everyone who's ever hurt me, especially you - even if I never get an apology. I learned to enjoy my own company and moving to another country by myself helped me face my fears of being alone. I no longer feel incomplete without a partner. I am content with myself and my life. I'm sorry you don't get to be a part of it.

I am the master of my fate.

I am at peace.

Sincerely,

Your little girl.

GOAL DIGGER: MID-YEAR GOAL CHECK

2018-06-11T03:38:00.001-07:00

We all talk a good game when it comes to setting goals, but what really matters is execution. You have to hold yourself accountable. Constantly remind yourself of your short term and long term goals and make sure you’re actively taking the steps to achieve them. Reassess your goals and see how many you’ve accomplished, cross out any that no longer align with your values, and if there are any you didn’t achieve, figure out why and then get right back on track.

If you checked out my blog post in January on creating vision boards, TUNNEL VISION // VISION BOARD 101, I spoke about setting goals and how making a vision board can help you achieve them. It was such a fun activity making my vision board and seeing it every day when I woke up definitely helped remind myself of who I am and where I want to be. Unfortunately, when I moved to Japan I wasn’t able to take it with me, but maybe I’ll take this as an opportunity to make another one for the remainder of the year.

Since it’s now June, I figured it’s the perfect time to revisit some of the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year and see how much I’ve accomplished in the past few months. I’ll be addressing each of them and stating whether I achieved them, dismissed them or am still working on them. It’s important to be honest with yourself when doing this, don’t drag the truth to make yourself feel better for slacking.

Goals for 2018:

1. Go Vegetarian (again): [dismissed] This is unfortunately one of the goals I haven’t been able to stick to. When I came to Japan, I wanted to be open to trying new things (especially new food,) so I forgot the vegetarian diet and I’m honestly glad I did. I was pescatarian for 3 years when I was in college and when I moved home with my mom for a few months it was really difficult and expensive to stick to so I slowly weened my way back into a carnivorous diet. I rarely eat beef or pork, mainly just chicken and a good steak once in a blue moon. Being in a foreign country and constantly being on-the go and living in someone else’s house doesn’t allow for much choosiness and I’ve had to eat a lot more fast food than I would have liked since I’ve been here [although the fast food in Japan puts America to shame.] I can feel the changes in my body when I switch my diet back and forth from eating meet to not eating it so I’m currently trying to find a healthy balance between eating enough veggies, fruits and some meat here and there. According to the theory of eating right for your blood type, [im type O] I'm naturally and historically a meat eater and my body needs meat to function at its best.

2. Self employed: [somewhat achieved] As you all may know from my previous post, UPROOTED: I QUIT MY JOB & MOVED TO JAPAN , I quit my day job and moved to Japan with no intentions of finding a new one. For the first three months in Japan, I enjoyed waking up when I wanted and being my own boss. Lord knows it was not an easy adjustment. It is extremely difficult to give yourself that structure that a 9-5 provides and really stick to it because you don't have anyone to answer to but yourself. That's where self control and accountability comes into play. Honestly, Im not happy with my performance the past few months. I found it really difficult to find a schedule and stick to it because, well, I hate routine. I also made the mistake of taking on too many projects and clients which in turn only lead to me stressing out and not meeting deadlines like I should have. I'm learning now to say no to more and more opportunities that are not directly in line with my end goal. Time management is everything!

With that being said, because I was on a tourist visa, which only allows you to stay in a country for 3 months, I had to pick up a part-time gig to give me legal status to live in the country. I'm not happy about it at all, but I'm big on "Doing what I gotta do" if it will help me get to where I wanna be in the short-term. I don't feel that 'locked down' feeling I used to feel when working [as much] since I made the drastic decision to quit my last job and move to the other side of the world and I know this is only temporary because my goals are way bigger than this. Baby steps.

3. Move to Japan: [achieved] Again, if you read my previous post then you know about my move to Japan. Truthfully I was 100% excited up until the day of my flight. It wasn't until a few hours before I left for the airport that the nerves started to kick in. I felt a sudden rush of emotions all at once and had a little mental berakdown in my empty bedroom while finishing packing my suitcase. It was such a bittersweet moment. I love change and the blessings it brings but my natural instinct is to fight it and get emotional about it. It was a really scary feeling to leave everything I know behind and travel across the world to a foreign place with absolutely no idea what it would be like. "Will my nieces and nephews forget who I am?" "Will my friends check in on me?" "What if the food is too weird for me and I'm constantly hungry and unsatisfied?" "Will the language barrier make me feel alienated?" "What if I get homesick and want to come back home?...I don't even have a home anymore..or a job." "What if I have a panic attack on the plane?" "Will I be judged because I have a lot of tattoos [tattoos are taboo in Japan.]" "What if I just change my mind right now, call the whole thing off and just move to Florida with my mom?" These were just a few of the thoughts that were racing through my mind before I left for Japan, and I was seriously contemplating not going because my anxiety was at an all-time high.

I still have a lot of concerns but I'll never let that stop me from making moves. I never want to look back and think "what if" about a huge opportunity I could have taken so I had to talk myself out of the doubts, wipe my tears, and convince myself that I needed to do this. I tried telling myself anything to make me feel more comfortable; I tried acting like it was the same thing as when I went away to college for the first time or that I could just think of it as a vacation and come back in a few weeks if I really didn't like it - and I'd figure out what to do next when the time came. These thoughts helped me get through the flight and first two weeks or so without feeling too homesick. I knew that I was just feeling this way out of fear and I didn't want to make any rash decisions based off that, so I did my best to push past those feelings until I could really experience my new home. And I'm so glad I did.

4. Travel: [achieved/ongoing] Truthfully, when I bought my one-way ticket I had no idea how long I planned to stay in Japan for - and I'm still not sure. This wasn't my last-stop, it was just meant to be a stepping stone for the next chapter of my life - takin control of my destiny and going at my dreams full force. At the moment, I don't see myself in Japan long-term. I honestly can't see myself anywhere long term right now. I want to see as much of the world as possible before I "settle down" somewhere. I'm just taking it day-by-day and making the most of my time here. It's all in an effort to secure my future while simultaneously embracing the present moment. With that being said, traveling around Asia is very affordable so I have some fun trips planned in the next few months that I can't wait to share with you all!

5. Be more aware of how I am perceived by others: [achieved/ongoing] It goes without saying that when you're in an unfamiliar place you are forced to learn more about yourself and other people inw ays that you would never be able to if you were somewhere you're used to. Meeting people from all different backgrounds, whether it be Japanese locals, active military, military vets, expats like myself, or just tourists - I've encountered a great deal of different personalities while being in Japan thus far. I've met a lot of talented and successful people along with some not-so-pleasant people. I've had to break out of my shell and really put myself out there in order to meet new people and make new relationships - whether it be business or personal. I've learned the importance of getting to know people and their "why" as well as doing a lot of introspection and checking my own attitude, thoughts, and actions. There is nothing more humbling than being in a foreign country, living under someone's roof who is from a vastly different culture than you, and not having any type of comfort from home like your own bed, your own room, a car, not knowing where anything in the city is (and most of it being written in a different language,) all the way down to small things like finding your favorite foods and makeup products.

Coming from New York really puts me at a disadvantage when it comes to interpersonal skills, in my opinion. We naturally have a good filter and can spot out the real from the fake, however we have this sharp edged personality that can be received really badly from people who are not used to us. I've had to check myself daily when I realize I'm being too harsh, cold, or even judgemental of someone or something. It's not easy and I do wish I was naturally more open but hey at least I can be grateful for that New York hustler's mentality.

Over all, I'm proud of how much I've accomplished since the start of the year. How have you been doing with the goals you've set for this year? Now is a great time to check in with your goals and congratulate yourself for those you have accomplished. What helps me is writing a list and checking off the things that have been done. It helps me get things in order when I can visually see them and organize them.

This has been the most pivotal year of my life by far. The next half of this year will be devoted to effective execution to meet the remainder of my goals - I would share them with you all but I'm really big on working in silence until things are set in stone. I'm very protective over anything that means a lot to me, including goals that can make or break me so I'll check back in with you guys at the end of the year for another 6-month recap.

Thank you so much for your unwavering support lately. I shared previously that I feel my calling in life is to share my thoughts, experiences, and personal style with others in order to inspire and make other people's lives easier in some way. This move has not been an easy adjustment for me and I can't thank you all enough for all your supportive and inspiring words. I really hope you can all continue to follow me along my journey, I have some really dope changes coming to the blog soon!

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

UPROOTED: I QUIT MY JOB & MOVED TO JAPAN

2018-05-10T09:02:00.000-07:00

Yes, the rumors are true. I quit my job, left my entire life behind and moved to Japan to begin living the life I've only ever dreamed of. It's been over a month since I last posted on here [ my apologies for the delay.] I needed some time away from the public eye to process and absorb my new environment and lifestyle. I'm looking forward to bringing you guys along the ride with me. Let's get right into some of the questions I've been asked.

Why Japan?

Truth is, I didn't really choose Japan, it chose me. I knew I wanted [pretty much HAD to] move by March 2018, and I was really sick of New York. I was conisdering Atlanta or Los Angeles but I felt like I'd pretty much just be taking the life I was living in NY and moving it to a different state, just with warmer weather. I'd still have to get a job to pay my rent and monthly expenses and put my real passion on the backburner. I knew that's not what I wanted to do [more on that later.] At the same time I realized I had to make this move in March, my cousin from Japan was visiting the family in NY/NJ and her dad [my uncle] insisted I would be welcome to stay with them in Japan at any time. Then, my mind started running wild about all the possibilities and opportunities. I've always dreamt of traveling far and wide and living overseas although, where I come from that's pretty far fetched. I never doubted that it would happen, I just had to realize at that moment that this was God placing the opportunity right in front of my face and I'd be a fool to let it pass me by.

Prior to the decision, I didn't know much about Japan. I was never really into anime [besides Pokemon of course], Japanese food, or culture. Not consciously at least. Sure I love sushi and BAPE but once the idea of moving to Japan was presented to me, I took it upon myself to learn more about the culture so it wouldn't be such a shock when I arrived [stay tuned for an upcoming blog post with more on the Japanese culture.] I then realized I was already more in tune with Japanese culture than I thought. Especially fashion wise. I could never pin-point my personal sense of style and inspiration, it always just came naturally to me but when I came to Japan it truly felt like my style was a perfect fit for this place. Not to mention Japan is a very advanced yet systematic society with great food, beautiful views, and the culture has so much to offer and learn from.

Was I scared to quit my job and leave my entire life behind?

Yes and no, but mostly no. I was lucky enough to land an amazing position 6 months after graduating college as a Product Developer in the sunglass department of an international wholesale company; this was directly related to my B.S. in Fashion Merchandising/Marketing degree so it made me feel good that I'm not in thousands of dollars in debt for no reason. I had a decent starting salary with benefits and I worked in a truly amazing company with coworkers who I built strong bonds with. Not to mention we were located right in the heart of the fashion district of Manhattan on 5th Ave. My job was the perfect mixture of creativity + business and the company was laid back and very accomodating to your personal life if necessary. However, at the end of the day it was still just a job. As much as I loved what I did, the people I worked with, and the knowledge and experience I gained, I still had to wake up at the same time every day and be there for 8.5 hours. I still had to answer to someone else. I still had to live paycheck to paycheck because after taxes, medical insurance and travel expenses were taken out from my paychecks I barely had enough left to save, pay rent, bills and feed myself (let alone pay off my student loans). And that is exactly the way I DON'T want to live my life.

Moral of the story is as much as I loved my job, that wasn't reason enough for me to give up the opportunity to fulfill my purpose and go to Japan. I want to devote my life to my own dream, not somebody else's. I gave my boss a month's notice and they all took it much better than I expected. Everyone was SO happy for me to make such a big move and I think it made us all realize how much we appreciated eachother as people - inside and outside of work. I interviewed a bunch of people to fill my position and then trained the new hire, which was a learning experience as well. I still keep in contact with many people from the company, even my boss follows me on Instagram, haha.

Aside from my job, I really didn't have anything else holding me back from making such a drastic change. My mom was planning to move from NY to Florida the same time I was planning on leaving. My friends are back home trying to build their own future. I was not in a relationship [rare], nor did I have kids [which is also really rare where I come from.] So I thought, "Why the hell not?!"

How did I manage financially?

I came to Japan with only a small amount of savings and a lot of hunger to succeed. I bought a one way ticket which wasn't that expensive and I created a financial plan to help minimize my monthly expenses and bring in some extra income.

I gave up my room in my apartment so my brother and his family could live comfortably there [ cross rent off the list. ] I drove my car down to Florida with most of my belongings to stay with my mom and best friend if I ever decide to go back. I fully own my car - I didn't lease or finance for this exact reason. I am actually trying to sell my car now so that will be even more money in my pocket and I won't have to pay my monthly insurance. I paid my cell phone off in full so that my monthly bill will only be the cost of the plan. I canceled any unnecessary subscriptions. I sold a lot of my unwanted belongings such as my bed. my T.V., a bunch of clothes and shoes and I split the money into my savings and checking accounts.

Money rules the world, this is not news. However, if you aren't super careful it can rule you, too. Most people I talk to about my situation always use their bills or money as an excuses as to why they "could never" make the move I made. Pardon my language, but that is pure BULL SHIT. That's the catch, money was made to keep us imprisoned. To keep us stuck. To keep us working. Most people are too lazy to think outside the box and rather stick to the beaten path and work a 9-5, enjoy their life on the weekends and retire after 65. I'd honestly rather die than live a life like that, therefore I'm not letting a few bills or even debt keep me from living the life I want. There's plenty of money out there for all of us, you just gotta claim it.

If you make excuses, you'll never find a way but if you make a way, everything else can be figured out along the way. I'm not saying it's smart to just break your rental lease and run from your loan payments and phone bill. All I'm saying is that you can formulate an effective plan that will allow you to live below your means financially and still make a huge move to living a more meaningful life. After all, I value experiences more than I value material things so it wasn't a big deal for me to give up so much to be able to move to another country.

How am I making a life for myself in Japan?

The main reason I made the decision to come here was to pursue a life of freedom and wealth, to not ever have to work for someone else's dream again. With that being said, the day after I arrived in Okinawa, Japan my uncle put me in contact with one of his friends in the area who is an entrepreneur himself and has many great connections in the nightlife, music and arts scene here. We immediately clicked and began working together. He has been managing me and helping me polish my services as a creative entrepreneur. He constantly brings me new clients and we work with a team that functions as a small scale corporation. We are all teaching and learning from eachother. I have been focusing on building my business as a creative; offering services in graphic design, photography, personal styling, marketing/social media management. I am making more than enough money from my gigs and clients to live a comfortable life here and I expect to have my own apartment and car soon.

I didn't come here with the expectations to start making money this soon, but I am so blessed to be given the opportunities I have been given. It's almost as if all I had to do was step outside my comfrt zone and as soon as I did, God was like "Great job, you passed the test. Now here is everything you've been praying for." Don't get me wrong, it's not all sweet and dandy all the time. Entrepreneurship has been the most stressful and challenging journeys I've embarked on thus far, but its a good stress. The feeling is so fulfilling, so I don't doubt my decision even for a split second. I know this is what I'm menat to do.

What made me make the final decision to embark on this big move?

It's simple really. I needed a change and I was presented with the opportunity. I've always said I wanted to travel the world and live in different countries for some time. It used to seem like a vague dream in the distance, so I had to realize that this was the perfect time to make it happen. I pretty much come from nothing, man. I've lived in the projects several times, in roach infested apartments, constantly hopping from one family member's couch to another my whole life. My mom busted her ass to keep me and my brother fed and cared for. I've been workig since I was 14 years old to help ease the load off my mom and take care of myself. I had to grow up at an extremely young age, and coming from NY I was taught to hustle at a young age as well. Gratefully, being a female I didn't have to hustle and do the dirty work that most boys were exposed to. But I did learn from everything I saw and I used the same techniques and mentality they have in the streets and applied it to education and business. I made sure I did well in school and got a college degree with Honors. I made sure I was always learning new things outside of school, doing my own research, teaching myself new skills, and now it was time for me to find a way to make a living off of everything I learned. A change of environment was necessary because being in a place of comfort, with people I've known my whole life was not providing me with the motivation or energy I need to go at this full force.

As someone who values human relationships more than anything else in life and always prioritizes them, I really wanted to take this time to go down a different route. An unfamiliar one. Devote all my time, money, and effort into myself for once. Stay away from commitment for a while [which has helped me gain SO much clarity - wow this post is giving me so many ideas for future topics haha] and just follow my truest passions - to travel, to create, to inspire.

In conclusion, quitting my job and mvoing to Japan has been the best decision I've ever made. I will never hesitate on any of my goals or dreams again after seeing how rewarding it is to just take the leap and I really hope you guys can learn to do the same.

Stay tuned for more upcoming posts on my experiences in Japan so far!

Photography by Nona

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

COLOR STUDY: CHANNEL ORANGE

2018-04-06T03:46:00.002-07:00

Orange and General Traits

Orange is optimistic, uplifting and rejuvenating. It brings spontaneity and a positive outlook on life.

The color orange radiates warmth and happiness, combining the physical stimulation of red with the cheerfulness of yellow. Orange is more of an instinctive color rather thab a mental reactor liek yellow or a physical reactor, like red.

Orange offers emotional strength in difficult times. It helps us bounce back from disappointments and despair, assisting in recovery from grief.

The color orange relates to social communication, stimulating two way conversations. A warm and inviting color, it is both physically and mentally stimulating, so it gets people thinking and talking!

Personality Color Orange

People with a personality color as orange are generally adventurous and risk takers. They tend to be very independent individuals with a high confidence in themselves and are competitive by nature. They are always on the go! They are always looking for new challenges - and this can lead to restlessness and impatience with others who do not have this need.

With orange as your personality color, you are warm, optimistic, extroverted and often flamboyant.You are friendly, good-natured and a generally agreeable person.

You are assertive and determined rather than aggressive - having a personality color orange means you are more light-hearted and less intense than those who love red.

You thrive on human social contact and social gatherings, bringing all types together. As a personality color orange you enjoy partying and socializing and planning all types of social events - orange people are the life of the party, the uninhibited performer! You are often the loud talker in a group. While you are charming and sociable you do tend to be a show-off.

You get great satisfaction from helping others and they find you inspiring with your vitality and positive energy.

The deepest need for a personality color orange is to be with people, to socialize with them, and be accepted and respected as part of a group. You also have a need for regular challenges in your life, whether it is physical or social challenges.

Orange and Fashion

Orange takes on many cultural meanings throughout the world. In the Western world it is seen as a representation of affordability and adventure. In the East it signifies happiness and spirituality. In Ireland it is the religious color for Protestants. In Hinduism, Saffrom, a soft orange color, is consdered an auspicious and sacred color.

Be careful when using orange in business; apply it sparingly as it tends to be the most disliked color in the western world.

Use it to suggest adventure, fun, optimism. It imparts a message that it is affordable yet reasonable quality, sociable and easy-going.

Its stimulation to social communication and the senses makes it a beneficial color for hotels and resorts.

Travel websites should consider it as one of their color choices for its association with journeys, adventure and exciting fun activities.

Sports teams can use this vibrant color in their team colors to suggest energy, flamboyance and adventure.

Orange is an appealing color for the youth market as children and teens tend to like its sense of fun and adventure and its suggestion of affordability. It is also a great color to use on toys for young children, along with other bright primary and secondary colors.

Orange is an invaluable color in encouraging sales in restaurants, café's, bistros and diners as it stimulates appetite and conversation, contributing to patrons eating and talking longer and spending more money. If you love having people around the kitchen table, orange will keep them talking and eating for a long time.

A softer version of orange, such as peach is favorable in beauty salons, spas and treatment centers' and upper class restaurants.

In fashion, orange tends to act as the exception, rather than the rule. During his time at Jil Sander, Raf Simons developed a new palette of minimalism for women where joyful orange would often be the only bright colour in a sea of black and white and grey. Memorably the Autumn/Winter 2009 collection brought forward flashes of sculptural orange, deep and vivid, in amongst a powerful, and mostly monochrome, collection.

What I'm Wearing:

All Eyez On Me Cropped Jacket (Dolls Kill) // Orange Bikini Set (Amazon)

Black Drawstring Sweats (Zara) // Orange SeatBELT (F21)

Yeezy Boost 350v2 Beluga (Adidas)

Photography by Elizabeth Malave

Photos Retouched by me.

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

COLOR STUDY: MELLOW YELLOW

2018-03-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

YELLOW
is the color of the mind, the intellect and happiness

Yellow & General Traits

The color yellow relates to acquired knowledge. It resonates with the left (or logic) side of the brain, stimulating our mental faculties and creating mental agility and perception.

Being the lightest hue of the spectrum, the color psychology of yellow is uplifting and illuminating. It offers hope, happiness, cheerfulness and fun. It inspires original thought and inquisitiveness. Yellow is the best color to create enthusiasm for life and can awaken greater confidence and optimism.

Yellow is non-emotional, coming from the head rather than the heart. It is related to the ego and our sense of self worth, to how we feel about ourselves and how we are perceived by others.

If you are going through a lot of change in your life you may find you can't tolerate the color yellow very well - this will usually pass. It just means that you are having trouble coping with all the changes at the moment and yellow vibrates too fast for you, making you feel stressed. Introduce green or a soft orange into your life for a while to balance and restore your energies.

On the negative side, yellow can be critical and judgemental, being overly analytical, being impatient and impulsive. It can also be non-emotional and lack compassion.

Personality Color Yellow

Yellow is the practical thinker, not the dreamer. It is creative from a mental aspect, the color of new ideas, helping us find new ways of doing things. You use your mind to achieve goals rather than your physical energy.

Yellow is the great communicator and loves to talk. Yellow is the color of the networker and journalist, all working and communicating on a mental level. Yellow is the scientist, constantly analyzing, looking at both sides before making a decision; methodical and decisive. Yellow is the entertainer, the comic, the clown.

Yellow personalities have a strong independent streak in them, and are selective with your choise of friends, keeping a small group of close and like-minded friends rather than being involved in team events or large social gatherings.

Your deepest need is for logical order in your everyday life and to be able to express your individuality by using your logical mind to inspire and create new ideas.

Yellow & Fashion

Yellow has many different meanings in cultures around the world. In Western cultures yellow symbolizes happiness, joy, hope, cowardice, caution and hazardous substances. In Eastern cultures yellow is sacred and imperial. In China it is a masculine color. In India it is the symbol of a merchant. In Egypt it is the color of mourning. In Japan, yellow is the color of courage, beauty and refinement, aristocracy and cheerfulness. In France, it is the color of jealousy.

In business, yellow is a great color for children's products, particulary combined with other bright primary or secondary colors. It is stimulating to their mind and their creativity.

For many leisure products, particularly those that promote playful and fun activities, yellow is a beneficial color. It will enhance the promotion of any fun and entertainment businesses. It is also huge in the food industry as it stimulates the appetite, especially when used in conjuction with other warm color such as red or orange.

Apart from the above types of businesses, in general it is best to use yellow as a highlight color - too much can cause agitation and anxiety, particularly with older people. Avoid its use where you are trying to impart a message of stability.

In fashion, yellow is a huge color for 2018. This punchy color possesses an energetic spirit and delivers a seriously playful pop of character – cutting through expected mid-tones. It is perfect to add as a pop of color in accessories or even a statement piece like a yellow coat.

What I'm Wearing:

Khoman Room 'Sanskrit' Saffron Hoodie & 'Rival Dogs' Saffron Joggers

Calvin Klein Mustard Yellow Pea Coat (Thrifted) // Black Mid-Rise Jeans (F21)

Black Lycra Sock Booties (Steve Madden) // Nike SF AF1 Black/Gum Sole (Foot Locker)

Photography by Elizabeth Malave

Photos Retouched by me.

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

COLOR STUDY: SERENE GREEN

2018-03-17T12:25:00.001-07:00

GREEN
The color of balance, growth & harmony

Green & General Traits

The color green symbolizes growth, freshness, and fertility. From a color psychology perspective, it is the great balancer of the heart and the emotions, creating equilibrium between the head and the heart.

It renews and restores depleted energy. It is the sanctuary away from the stresses of modern living, restoring us back to a sense of well being. This is why there is so much of this relaxing color on earth (naturally), and why we need to keep it that way. This is also the reason why studies show that spending more time outside in nature decreases depression.

Green is an emotionally positive color, giving us the ability to love and nurture ourselves and others unconditionally.

Being a combination of blue and yellow, green encompasses the mental clarity and optimism of yellow with the emotional calm and insight of blue, inspiring hope and a generosity of spirit not available form other colors.

Green is the color of prosperity and abundance, of finance and material wealth. It relates to the business world, to real estate and property. Prosperity gives a feeling of safety to green.

On the negative side, the color can be possessive and materialistic, with a need to own people and things.

Personality Color Green

My middle name is Jade so I thought I'd add in the meaning of the specific Jade shade of the color green.

Jade Green: The color of trust and confidentiality, tact and diplomacy. Jade green indicates a generosity of spirit, giving without expecting anything in return. It increases worldly wisdom and understanding, assisting in the research for enlightenment.

If your favorite color is green you are likely a practical, down-to-earth person with a love of nature. You are stable and well balanced or are striving for balance - in seeking this balance you can at times become unsettled and anxious.

Having a personality color green means you are kind, generous and compassionate. You're generally a good person to have around during a crisis as you remain calm and take control of the situation until it is resolved.

You are caring and nurturing to others - however you must be careful not to neglect your own needs while giving to others. You are strong-willed and do not like to be told what to do by others. You do like to win arguments and do not concede defeat easily.

With a personality color green you have a great need to love and to be loved. You tend to wear your heart on your sleeve - you are an open book who doesn't hide his of her feelings. You are a natural observer and would rather sit in a cafe and watch the world go by than to take a risk. Money is important to you but you are generous.

The deepest need for a personality color green is to belong, to love and be loved, and to feel safe and secure. You need acceptance and acknowledgement for the everyday things you do for others - just a 'thank you' is sufficient.

Green & Fashion

Green shares many of the same meanings all around the world. Such as, nature, ecology, environmental awareness, the military and traffic lights.

In western culture, green represents Spring, money, freshness, inexperience, jealousy and greed.

Nicknamed The Emerald Isle for its luscious green countryside, green is the national color of Ireland and it's associated with good luck, leprechauns, shamrocks, and Saint Patrick.

Most Eastern and Asian cultures relate green with new and eternal life, new beginnings, fertility, youth, health, and prosperity. And while this is true in Chinese culture, wearing a green colored hat for men is taboo because it suggests the man's wife is cheating on him.

After gaining its freedom from Spain in the 19th Century, Mexico chose to display green in its flag to represent independence. In many South American cultures that are rich in forests, green symbolizes death.

In business, green is beneficial for anything to do with health and healing. Green is an ideal color to promote natural, safe, organic products. It is also beneficial in the promotion of environmentally friendly products. Green motivates people to join social groups and satisfies their need to belong.

Wearing the color green will enhance all the traits of the color such as serenity, calmness, balance and freshness. Darker greens are reminiscent of the military while lighter shades promote feelings of immaturity, cowardice and youthfulness.

Do you relate to the color green at all? Let me know in the comments section below!

Photography by Elizabeth Malave

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED // THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT SUCCESS

2018-03-08T15:24:00.000-08:00

Total disclaimer: This post isn't mean to bash anyone who dreams of becoming a nurse or a teach or a firefighter living the 'All American Dream'. In fact, i'm quite envious of people who can be extremely happy and content with such things. Unfortunately, some of us are just built differently. No matter how hard we try to conform and do what is expected of us or normalized by society, we never feel complete. We need more.

This is for my fellow free spirits. The ones who can't seem to wake up at 7am for their 9-5 no matter how many alarms they set or how early they try to get to bed. The ones who constantly need to be creating or innovating. The ones who's brains move faster than lightning with so many ideas that they can't even image executing them all in one life time. The ones who feel so disconnected from the world and misunderstood by the people around them. The ones who know they aren't meant to work for someone else's dream - but to chase their own.

When your goal is to not live an ordinary life but to live an extraordinary life, the sacrifices are exponential. Success is a lonely road.

Now, you have two options:

1. You can follow the beaten path and have plenty time set aside for friends and family and recreational activities but your personal growth will be stunted. You can only ever go so far, make so much money, experience so much the world has to offer. You'll be working a dead end job with a cap on how much money you can make each year. Now I use the term "dead end" very loosely. Many people might think of being the head of a department in a Fortune 500 company is the greatest of achievements, and to some the security that this provides is more than enough to sustain and fulfill them, but the people who i'm talking to know that they will never be content with this. You make an annual salary and that is their way of saying "you are only worth this much to us, nothing more." And you will NEVER make more than that so long as that is your given salary. It doesn't matter if you're 15 with kids or 30 - age isn't the subject here - the point is that so many people give up on themselves and their own dreams and aspirations to settle for comfort. And as I like to say, comfort is the cousin of death.

2. Or you can take the road less traveled. Follow your dreams, travel the world, do what scares you, become an entrepreneur, do the unthinkable, live the life everyone only dreams of. But this will require a lot more sacrifice. You will lose people, and Im not just talking about a toxic boyfriend, but you will lose the people closest to you. They'll likely still be in your life and you'll see each other on special occasions but on the regular it will feel like they are strangers. If they aren't going down a similar route in life, you will feel very disconnected from them and you will have to fight a long battle of trying to find balance in maintaining a fulfilling relationship with these people.

It will hurt.

It will drive you crazy.
You will cry.
You will feel lonely.
You will feel broken.
You will feel misplaced and lost.
You will miss out on quality time with loved ones.
You will miss your best friends’ birthdays and your niece's dance recital.
You may even be looked at as selfish or condescending at times.
You will feel depressed.
You will feel anxious.
You will feel like shit for having to miss out on things and time spent with loved ones.
You will beat yourself up about not getting enough sleep most nights or eating well.
You will never feel like you're doing enough and the To-Do-Lists will seem to never end.

BUT this is where the key is - you have to be so obsessed with your dream that you pull yourself out of these holes with a new outlook on life each time. Learn something from every struggle you go through. And trust me, you will go through a lot. You have to love and believe in yourself so much that other people's opinions roll right off you because you know your heart is pure and your mind is set on the right things. I am only just getting started on my journey and I have been faced with SO many of these battles already. You will eventually find a better balance between working, self care, quality time with loved ones, and everything else you have on your plate. You will start to feel less guilty for missing out on things because you will reach a level of understanding that this is your calling and some people will never understand what it takes. AND THAT IS OK! It's not meant for everyone to understand or else everyone would do it, too. Keep the people around who still show you love and support and get rid of the nay-sayers. They are detrimental to the dream. They will try and project their fears onto you because they weren't courageous enough to follow through on their own purpose. You cannot allow this energy into your space because it can easily taint you. You can't afford to doubt yourself. Commit to the dream and keep your focus on that, not letting anything deter you from it.

You have to be prepared for these internal struggles that will literally try to eat you alive. You have to keep going.

You'll learn to celebrate your own victories and sometimes not even mention it to other people because nobody can wish bad on something they know nothing about. It's sad but this is the reality - many people will not be genuinely happy for you if you're doing more or better than them. Remember that their opinion is none of your business and just continue getting down to business.

This road has never been paved before and to do so requires A LOT of work. You will shed old layers of yourself to make room for new ones. This includes people, habits, opinions, appearances, and so on. It will be extremely uncomfortable at times but this is where you remind yourself how bad you want it.

They don’t call it the lonely road for no reason.

I will soon embark on a new and exciting adventure of my own and I can't wait to share it with you guys. Stay tuned!

What I'm Wearing
Jacket (Forever 21) // High waist denim jeans (Zara)
Red booties (Zara) // Black Puffer Coat (Primark)

Photography by Jimmy Noble

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

COLOR STUDY: BLUE DREAM

2018-02-27T16:08:00.001-08:00

Blue
is the color of trust, calmness, and loyalty

Blue & General Traits

This is both a peaceful and tranquil color which promotes mental and physical relaxation. Don't we feel a sense of calmness when we lay on our backs and look up at a clear blue sky? The paler the blue, the more freedom we feel. It boasts a sense of security and is very reliable.

The color blue can relate to one-to-one communication. It is the public speaker of all the colors and promotes speaking the truth through verbal self expression. Blue is connected to a higher intelligence and ideals. It represents wisdom and helps us communicate our wants and needs.

Blue is the helper. It certainly gives without expecting anything in return. If it were a person it would be the friend that everyone runs to when they need advice, a shoulder to cry on or even a few dollars.

Blue is conservative and the most widely liked color all over the world. This is probably because it is safe and non-threatening. However, too much blue can enhance sadness.

Personality Color Blue

Blue is persistent and destined to succeed at any endeavor it pursues. However, change is difficult for blue. It is not very flexible and when faced with a new or different idea it analyzes it and makes it fit into its own version of reality. It seldom does anything out of impulse or spontaneity, it needs to have a well thought out plan first.

Blues are nostalgic. They tend to related everything in the present and the future to experiences in the past. They are also very genuine and sincere. They take their relationships and responsibilities very seriously.

Having a personality color blue means you have a deep need for peace and harmony in your everyday life. You would benefit greatly from regular meditation and quiet time for reflection, introspection and self-discovery.

Blues appear to be confident and self-controlled but they are most often hiding their vulnerable side. They are usually very eve-tempered unless their emotions take over in which they either become extremely mood and over-emotional or the total opposite - cool and indifferent.

Personality color blue people are very likable and social people. However, they prefer the company of their close friends and they are very sensitive to the needs and caring of others. They are very empathetic and emotional beings.

They need to have order in their living and work spaces - untidiness and unpredictability overwhelm them. They are very rigid and like to do thing their own way even if their is a better way. They like to stick to what is comfortable and familiar.

The deepest need for a personality color blue is to find inner peace and truth, to live your life according to your own ideals and beliefs without having to change your inflexible viewpoint of life to satisfy others.

Blue & Fashion

Blue is a very safe color to use in the business world because it is universally favored. Blue works well for the corporate world and is often used for more conservative types of businesses such as accountants, insurance companies, banks and other financial companies where trust and reliability are important. Think about Twitter and Facebook...As the creator os such an invasive social network, don't you think your main priority with your customers is for them to trust and rely on your product and service?

The color blue has different meanings in all cultures. In the western culture it represents reliability, calmness, depression, masculinity or baby boys and corporate. The "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" wedding tradition is a good example of the meaning of the color in western culture. Something old represents continuity; something new offers optimism for the future' something borrowed symbolizes happiness; something blue represents purity, love and fidelity.

In Eastern cultures, it represents immortality. In China, it is associated with pornography or "blue films" and is seen as a feminine color. It is the national sports color in India and represents every day life in Japan. In Korea Mexico and Iran, it is the color of mourning. In Thailand, it is the color of Friday. In Egypt, it is the color of protection - to ward off evil.

Wearing blue clothing promotes many of the general blue traits listed above i.e. calmness, trust, reliability. This is why many professionals recommend wearing blue to a job interview - it represents loyalty. Blue is a major color for Spring 2018 according to the runways and streetwear. It was spotted in many catwalks at NYFW including Monse, Fenty x Puma, Michael Kors and Ralph Lauren. It was seen in all shades from periwinkle to true blue all the way to dark navy. Personally, I have been really attracted to the true vivid blue tone lately and in retrospect I can say it has definitely helped me remain calm these past few months through all the challenges and stress I've faced.

I hope you enjoyed this read! Would you say you identify more with blue, purple or red now that I've covered all three? (Stay tuned for the next color i the Color Study series!)

What I'm Wearing

Windbreaker (Vintage) // High waist denim jeans (Zara)

Purple Lycra OTK boots (Similar here & here)

Photography by Elizabeth Malave

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

COLOR STUDY: PURPLE HAZE

2018-02-11T22:25:00.000-08:00

Purple
is the color of the imagination and spirituality

Unlike the color red, which represents our outer most self and the physical world, purple is an introspective color. It allows us to get in tune with our subconscience and spirituality. Purple is a mixture of blue and red and it contains the energy and strength of the color red and the integrity of the color blue. It is the perfect balance between the body and the soul creating a union between our physical and spiritual energies. I would confidently say I am a personality color purple. It was my favorite color since I was a child up until recently when I kind of got sick of colors in general lol. I relate a lot to the below aspects of the color

Purple & General Traits
Purple is all about spirituality. It inspires psychic ability and represents the future and imagination. At the same time, it keeps us grounded. Purple promotes a harmony of the emotions and the mind, creating a good balance and mental stability, a sense of peace and it links thought and activity. It is a popular color for meditation.

Purple inspires selfless and pure love. It encourages compassion, sensitivity and it silences the ego. It encourages creative pursuits and seeks inspiration and originality through its creative endeavors. It likes to be unique, individual and independent, not one to follow the crowd.

Too much of the color purple can promote or aggravate depression in some. It is one color that should be used extremely carefully and in small amounts by those who are vulnerable to these depressed states.

Some negative aspects of the color purple include immaturity, being impractical, cynical and aloof, pompous and arrogant, fraudulent and corrupt, delusions of grandeur and the social climber.

Personality Color Purple
People with the personality color purple are the leaders of the pack. They are innovators, humanitarians and they definitely stand out from the crowd. They love the unconventional and it will often show in their art or personal style. They inspire others with their creative thinking and their ability to deal positively with adversity.

People are naturally drawn to your charismatic and alluring energy. You are very intuitive and maybe even quite psychic. You are a visionary, with high ambitions, dreams and desires, and a compulsion to help humanity and to improve the planet earth. You often hold positions of power because you are visionary, but you delegate to others all the minor details that you aren't interested in.

Purples are natural lovers who are sensitive, compassionate, understanding and supportive. They are the ones who everyone comes to for advice. Being needed motivates them, although that can often lead to them being taken advantage of.

You dislike responsibility and have difficulty dealing with real day-to-day problems

Purples are free spirited, gentle people. They feel very deeply and can be very sensitive to negative comments from others although they would never show it. A personality color purple means you have a peaceful and tranquil energy and a quiet dignity about you. You are more often introverted than extroverted and can come off as shy, even if that is not the case.

Being the free spirit you are, you love to travel to experience different cultures and meet new people.

You are a good judge of character and sum others up quite quickly and accurately, although you usually see the best in everybody.

Time means little to you and you are often late for everything. You trust the flow of the Universe to take care of everything.

You need to be careful not to take on too many projects at a time as you can become quite scattered in your thinking, resulting in stress and confusion.

Meditation is a good activity for you to help you become centered and balanced.

You can sometimes appear arrogant and conceited if operating from a negative perspective.

You can be selfish and self-indulgent as you don't like being imposed upon by others beliefs and regulations.

Sidenote: As I’m doing my research and writing these things down I’m getting goosebumps from how spot on this relates to my personality. There’s something so empowering about understanding yourself and why you are the way you are.

The deepest need for a personality color purple is to seek spiritual fulfillment and the meaning of life. You need emotional security and to create order in all areas of your life, especially your spiritual life. You also have a deep needs to initiate and participate in humanitarian projects, helping others in need.

If you dislike the color purple the following is probably true about you:

You are a realist with feet planted firmly on the ground.

You live in the present rather than the past or future.

You may not be artistic, but like to be a critic!

You prefer to conform to society's ideals rather than be individualistic.

You are more interested in the present or the past than the future.

You may be finding it difficult to express your creativity.

Purple & Fashion
To give you guys a little historical context of the color, purple was the first man-made dye which was discovered accidentally by William Henry Perkin in 1856. For a long time, it was an extremely costly color dye to get your hands on so only the royal and noble were seen wearing purple colored clothing. In ancient times, the Caesars wore purple robes. Therefore, the color purple is specifically associated with royalty and the nobility, creating an impression of luxury, wealth and extravagance.

The color takes on different meanings in other cultures. In Thailand, a widow mourning her husband wears purple. In Tibet, amethyst is considered sacred to Teh Buddha. In the U.S. military, the Purple Heart award represents courage. In egypt, it siginifies faithand trust.

In business purple has the strongest connection with the 18-25 year old market as they see it as sexy and rebellious. Innovators connect purple with sophistication and power. It is most often used by businesses in creative fields such as designers, graphics, psychics and cosmetics.

Wearing purple clothing will always appear more elegant than red or other colors. Red purples tend to look better on darker skin and blue purples tend to look better on light skintones. I offset these feminine over the knee boots and with casual jeans and a throback windbreaker. Yall know I love my tomboy meets girly girl vibes.

I hope you enjoyed this read! Would you say you identify more with purple or red?

What I'm Wearing

Windbreaker (Vintage) // High waist denim jeans (Zara)

Purple Lycra OTK boots (Similar here & here)

Photography by Elizabeth Malave

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

BIRTHDAY OUTFIT.

2018-02-05T15:33:00.001-08:00

As you all should know, my birthday recently passed and as usual when I go out to celebrate my birthday I have a hassle trying to find the perfect birthday outfit. I'm sure my ladies understand the struggle. I ended up getting really lucky and finding an outfit I loved and the best part? It cost me less than $50!

I usually have an image in my head of what look I want to go for and I'll just pull it together last minute but this year I had no idea what I wanted to wear. Originally I wanted to wear an all white, satin outfit but that was nearly impossible to find. I tried two outfits from Fashion Nova (see images below). The Glitter dress wouldn't even pass my hips. I ordered a size XS (I'm usually a small) and I was unaware that Fashion Nova's clothing runs small. The Egyptian Cutout Set was ordered in a size Small and it fit me perfectly. I really loved the material and the color but it wasn't functional at all. Every time I bent down my boobs popped out of the top and I don't know what kind of underwear you can wear with that skirt. I wanted to look bomb of course but I wanted to be comfortable and able to dance without worrying about a nip slip. This was my first time shopping with Fashion Nova and honestly I wasn't very pleased with the service. The clothes were ok. The quality of the dress wasn't great and it offered ZERO stretch (a huge no-no for me.) I returned both items the day after I got them and I was only refunded a portion of my money & they only issue refunds in the form of an E-Gift card which I was extremely annoyed at. I emailed them to ask why didn't I receive a full refund and they said because the items were marked as damaged. Keep in mind I only tried the outfits on for 2 minutes each and made sure there were no damages before returning. Overall, I don't think I'll be becoming a loyal customer to Fashion Nova.

Ways to Articulate Glitter Dress

Egyptian Queen Cutout Set

So my next option was to shop around some stores - I always prefer shopping in person because trying on is a MUST for me. Something can look weird on a hanger but look amazing on you & vice versa. I stopped by the Rainbow across the street from my job one day after work (Ew, I know Rainbow?) You'd be surprised. They actually carry a majority of the same clothes as Forever 21 & H&M. I found these super cute wine colored belle bottoms and I FELL IN LOVE when I tried them on. They were only $20 so I bought them and decided to find a cute bralette or bustier to pair them with. The next day after work I stopped at Forever 21 to find a top and I ended up finding the same exact pants I bought the day before, for only $7.00! Yes, I said $7.00. I grabbed them up so fast and did a little happy dance lmao. I returned the other pair from Rainbow the day after and got my money back.

I must've grabbed every white and burgundy bralette/lingerie top in the store to try on. I added some of my options below. I ended up choosing to go with a matching top ($8.90) and I wore a body chain from my job under it to spice it up a bit. I found a cute pair of nude furry sandal heels at Forever21 as well ($29.99). My entire outfit cost me $46.00. It was definitely a win-win.

Alternate Option

I love the way bell bottoms accentuate my curves and add visual interest which calls attention to the legs, making them look longer. A cute bralette brought real Selena vibes and a faux fur jacket was the prefect amount of 'Extra' for my birthday. I accessorized with a body chain and rings and I kept my makeup pretty neutral with a dark lip. I tend to always wear burgundy for my birthday for some reason. It is the birth stone for January & I think it compliments my skin tone really well. See pictures of my birthday outfits from the past 2 years below.

2016
A velvet dress with plunging neckline and high slit.
See more on my old post: WHAT TO WEAR: CASINO EDITION.

2017
An oversized band tee with OTK velvet booties and a diamond choker.

Here's what my final look was this year:

Real Spice Girl Vibes

Remember, it's not what you wear, it's how you wear it.

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

24 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME FOR MY 24th BIRTHDAY!

2018-01-31T00:01:00.000-08:00

So it's January 31, 2018 and today I turn 24 years old. That's 1 more year till 25. WTF! I can't be anything but grateful to see another year and I'm so excited to see what this next chapter has in store for me! Here's a little personal post on some random facts to help you guys get to know me better. I'm going to dive right into it. Enjoy (:

1. Zodiac: My sun sign is Aquarius. My moon is in Libra. My Venus is in Aquarius. Im really into astrology. I'm not too fond of my birth chart because it exposes my most unfavorable traits, but it's taught me the importance of consciously choosing to change the things I don't like about myself and has definitely helped me understand myself better. I kinda think of it as a cheat code to life.

2. I was born & raised in Staten Island, NY (the forgotten borough). Not so proud of it lol. I moved 10 times from the ages 8 - 17 years old. I had a very unstable and unsheltered childhood. I had my first alcoholic drink at age 13 (supervised by my older brother), I've been working since I was 14, and I first tried smoking weed at age 15. I'm grateful for my early exposure to real life shit because I was taught how to handle things/have fun responsibly. It made it hard for me to connect with people my age because I was more experienced and no longer found interest in the things they were just starting to indulge in.

3. I was a straight A student my whole life but always risked graduating because I had horrible attendance & lateness. It started in 7th grade when I was at the peak of puberty and I went through my first ever phase of depression. I'm pretty sure I have the sleeping disorder DSPS which is the underlying cause for my tardiness (self diagnosed). I'll probably do a post focused on my struggles with my internal clock soon!

4. Im 5'0 tall. I used to be extremely insecure about my body (junior high & high school) because I got bullied and ridiculed every damn day. The most hurtful thing people would call me was a midget (my legs are much shorter "than they should be" in proportion to my torso.) I knew that they were only deflecting their own insecurities on me but their words did hurt and they planted subconscious seeds in my mind. I never let it stop me from being my best self, but although I appeared to be strong and not be bothered by it I was really hurting on the inside (It's an Aquarius thing.) As I got older, I learned to dress in ways that flattered my figure and learned to love my body even with it's flaws. Now, nobody can tell me SHIT to make me feel bad about my body. I treat my body good, I eat well, I exercise, I dress in ways the empower me and help me express myself and I admire myself in the mirror. The funny thing is that so many of those people who used to make fun of me now comment under my pictures with heart eyes and the like.

5. I hate chocolate ice cream. But, I loved it when I was a kid. I'd chose sweet snacks over salty snacks any day.

6. I played the clarinet for 10 years and I was in my school's concert bad & marching band. I wish I would've taken it more serious and continued playing after high school. My favorite song to play as a band was 'Hey Jude' by The Beatles (I love them!)

7. I was obsessed with cheerleading as a kid and I was captain of my high school's team all four years. Yes, it IS a sport.

8. My all time favorite series is LOST. I've watched the full series 3 times over. I'm obsessed with any show or movie that has deep subliminal messages, time travel, mysteries/suspense, and fate-lined stories. You can say I'm a conspiracy theory junkie.

9. I write lists for EVERYthing. I even have a list in my iPhone of my favorite movies & shows... in order. LMAO

10. I graduated college Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising & Marketing Management with a minor in Graphic Design. Truthfully, I don't feel as proud to have graduated college as I thought I would. Education is important but a degree doesn't guarantee success. Hard work does. And if you aren't trying to follow the beaten path, a degree is most definitely not necessary.

11. I don't drink coffee. I drink at least 2 cups of tea every day.

12. 3 huge turnoffs for me (in a guy) are small talk/boring conversation/close-mindedness, condescending attitudes, & long nails. Also, I hate texting all the time - I'm old school in many aspects and I appreciate a nice phone call like were 11 years old again lmao.

13. My favorite number is 17. I was always number 17 in alphabetical order in elementary school and I always won raffles when I picked that number. It has never done me wrong.

14. Reggae/Dancehall is my favorite genre of music, Caribbean food is my favorite cuisine and I am a sucker for dreads. Maybe I was Jamaican in a past life?

15. I massage my own feet and shoulders a few times a week. I try to meditate and do Yoga every day. The first thing I do every morning as soon as I wake up is thank God for another day and pray for more blessings. I practice speaking positive affirmations to myself every day as well (This really helped with my anxiety and self confidence!)

16. I am mixed with a bunch of ethnicities but mainly I am Puerto Rican, Italian & British.

17. I've traveled to 7 different countries. My absolute favorite place would have to be Venice, Italy. Jamaica was amazing as well and had this incomparable free, loving energy.

18. The book I'm currently reading is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey.

19. The most common things people say to me:
When they first meet me in person: "You're so much shorter than I expected."
When they get to know me: "You're so much cooler and sillier than I thought."
When I'm not wearing makeup: "You have freckles?!"

20. Two things I wish I could do: sing & fly.

21. I color coordinate my closet and I am an organization freak. I can't sleep with any doors open and I need to have a pillow between my knees in order to sleep well.

22. My favorite strange smell is the scent of new shoes. Especially in Payless lol.

23. The album I currently have on repeat is Heartbreak on a Full Moon by Chris Brown.

24. Fashion Freeway got it's name from my free spirited personality. A freeway connects two places across borders and I wanted to stress the importance of breaking boundaries and freeing yourself in your personal style and all other aspects of your life. Dress up. Boss up. Bless up.™

Photography by Elizabeth Malave

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

COLOR STUDY: RIVETING RED

2018-01-29T10:01:00.001-08:00

THE COLOR RED
Red is the color of passion, energy and action

Red is a warm and powerful color. It ties us to our most physical needs and our will to survive. It exudes a powerful energy that is impossible to ignore. If you follow me on Instagram, you can tell that red has been my color for the past few months. Many people have assumed that this is my favorite color. Truth is, I don't have a "favorite" color. I just go through phases where I feel connected and empowered by a certain color (also evident in my Instagram feed.) Anyone who knows me can understand why I love the color red after reading this post on the psychology behind the color. I am a very passionate person that exudes a powerful and rebellious energy all around. Red looks good on my skin tone because my undertones are warm. This is the first look in a series of color theories I am working on in collaboration with my photographer and good friend Lizzy. Each look will embody a different color and emotion. I hope you enjoy!

Red & General Traits
Red signifies positive traits such as determination, strength, courage, power, passion, energy and speed, assertiveness, confidence, spontaneity. It can stimulate the appetite (often used by restaurants for this reason.) It can also stimulate sexual and lustful energy.

On the not so positive side, the color red is often associated with anger, short-temper, ruthlessness, rebellion, violent, brutal, resentful, tiring, and domineering.

It's suggested to keep a good balance of the color around you. Too much of it and we become irritated and angry. Too little of it and we tend to feel fearful, manipulative, and super cautious.

Personality Color Red
According to studies, your personality color can be closely associated with your favorite color. However, you may find that you relate to the personality color of a different color. Personality colors are ties between a person's characteristics, attitudes, and actions which are also seen as traits of a certain color. Red personalities are the pioneers of the world. They are go-getters and entrepreneurs who like to be the first to discover new physical realms. Red's are always in a hurry and seldom procrastinate. They don't see the pointing putting off something for tomorrow if it can be done today. They are not afraid to pursue their goals and biggest dreams and they maintain a lively passion for life and adventure.

Personality color red's are hard workers and don't mind getting their hands dirty. Although they do not always make for great bosses because of their aggressive and domineering attitudes. They act impulsively and out of anger, it is important to think before reacting. Although they do react and get worked up quickly, they get over it just as fast once they let the anger out of their system as they tend to not hold grudges. Red's have a vast need for power and control, which is tied to our most basic survival instincts. People with the personality color red often have an overactive ego and a heightened sense of self worth which can come off as condescending to other people.

The deepest need for a personality color red is for physical satisfaction and achievement. They are more "worldly" than spiritual and need to experience life through the five senses.

Red & Fashion
The color red takes on many different meanings depending on the cultural, historical and physical context it is being used. It is a contradicting color that is both associated with love and warmth (Christmas, Valentine's Day) but also danger and fury. It can stimulate life but also symbolize the loss of life.

In Eastern cultures such as China red is the color for good luck. Although times are changing and many Chinese brides now wear white, it is traditionally the color for weddings. In Indian culture it symbolizes purity and is often used in their wedding gowns. In South Africa, red is symbolic of mourning. In U.S. politics, Red is the Republican Party. If you're "in the red" on Wall Street, you're at a loss of money. In Jamaica, if you're red, that means you're drunk. Worldwide, the color of Communism is red.

A pop of red in just the right place is smart in some cases. I.e. One red accent in an otherwise neutral room draws the eye; a red lip with an all black or all white outfit adds just the right amount of energy to draw the eye.

After reading this do you think of the color red differently? Do you relate to the personality traits associated with the color? Do you oppose them? Do you see how you can use the color to your advantage both personally and professionally? Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Stay tuned for the next color in our COLOR PSYCHOLOGY series!

Photography by Elizabeth Malave

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

BOY BYE.

2018-01-19T18:29:00.000-08:00

Men's streetwear has shifted focus to a new industrial inspired aesthetic. Off-White c/o Virgil Abloh was the catalyst in these new industrial and utility inspired pieces. Abloh's designs boast a utilitarian vibe that harness inspiration from industrial objects such as seat belts, street signs, cross walks, architectural lines and angles. His designs have started a movement of expressive fashion pieces that literally speak to people with words plastered all over them and ironically placed on findings I.e. "Shoelaces" printed on the laces of his shoes from the Nike x Off-White "The Ten" collection.

These industrial influences can be seen in the Closed Circuit belt by Korean Brand 51PERCENT above. A new Frozen Yellow color surfaced in the streetwear world this past Fall with the super limited release of the Yeezy Boost 350 'Frozen Yellow' or 'Yebra's' that is a neon yellow that is almost reflective like that of a construction worker's vest. Extra fastenings, straps, and text are subtle details that take pieces from simple to . I'm all for keeping your looks interesting by combining staple pieces with intricate accessories and details.

Photography by Fashion Freeway

Models:
@kotenkyatchi
@senseinick

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

TUNNEL VISION // VISION BOARD 101

2018-01-07T15:08:00.000-08:00

When you visualize, you are emitting a powerful frequency to into the universe. Studies show that the brain activity between a weight lifter visualizing lifting a 300lb weight and him actually lifting the 300lb weight were nearly identical. I truly believe that if it can be thought of, it can be achieved. We are all capable. The only time we aren't able to achieve something, it's because we set limitations on it ourselves. Even things that seem to be external forces that we tend to believe "got in the way" can be moved around. Keep your eye on the prize and don't let anything deter you. You'll get there eventually.

What is a vision board? Vision boards have become very popular recently. Pinterest is probably to blame. They're my go-to for all things inspiration & DIY. A vision board is basically a smorgasbord of inspiration, goals, and reassurance for you to stay focused on the things you want to achieve. Your vision board should focus on how you want to feel, not just on things that you want. You can use an array of words, pictures, miscellaneous objects (I.e. bookmarks, event tickets, awards, etc.) that you want to manifest into reality. This can range from buying house, re-decorating your apartment, finding true love, finding self-love, traveling to Paris, getting a raise, starting your own business... the possibilities are endless and there is no wrong or right way to make a vision board. The moral of this whole project is to practice the art of NOT LIMITTING YOURSELF!

What you’ll need:

- Board of your choice
I used a 16x20" Canson Illustration/Comic art board
- Magazines to cut words and images from
- Embellishments (optional)
Pearls, ribbons, jewels etc.
- Other misc. objects you wish to use
Bookmarks, photographs, certificates, etc
- Glue stick
- Scissors
- An open area to work in

How to do it:

1. Write a list of personal goals you are focusing the board on
First, begin with a list of short term and long term goals you have for the year (or whatever time frame you prefer – I targeted my vision board towards the 2018 year)
If you don’t already have your goals written down, or you aren’t exactly sure what your goals are it’s time to dig deep. What are you currently unhappy with in your life? Your job isn’t paying you a livable wage? Your relationship is draining you? You feel unhealthy or lazy? Start with what you don’t like and figure out how you want to change these things. I.e. Read more on setting goals in my previous post New Year, New Goals // How to Keep your New Year's Resolutions
2. Choose your workspace
Choose music, light candles, burn incense, chant, gather your crystals, sing to your angels, bang drums, or anything else that supports you in feeling comfortable, relaxed, and tapped into your desires.
3. Cut out images/words/visuals that portray your goals.
Be creative!
4. Rearrange all clippings on the board until you’re happy with the layout.
This may require some additional cutting and searching for more content.
5. Glue everything in place.
6. Hang (& frame) your vision board somewhere you will see it and be inspired by it daily
7. Put action behind your visions & congratulate yourself each time you bring any goal into fruition

My vision board focuses on what I want to achieve in 2018 mentally, physically, spiritually, financially and career wise. You can make your vision board for 2018 like I did or you can focus it on something more specific like your career or your new home. It's completely up to you! I plan to make a bunch of smaller boards for different areas of my life. This is my main board for 2018 which overs everything I wish to achieve. I focused each section of my board on different topics. The left ranges from living a happy and healthy lifestyle, maintaining a vegetarian diet, pursing my passions in art, photography and travel. The middle section is mainly focused on stepping outside my comfort zone and doing things that scare me, letting go of fear, doubts, and living a more active and earthly lifestyle. On the top right corner of my board I highlighted words that are associated with my identity such as Aquarius, Latina, Creator, Strong Spirit, etc. Although these are things that I don't necessarily need to achieve because they are absolute - I want to dig deeper into all of these aspects and get to know myself more. In 2017 I started digging into astrology a lot more and it helped me understand myself on a much deeper level. I want to continue to study astrology and my Zodiac as well as that of others because I believe it helps me navigate life and interaction with other people so much. I plan to do a blog post on this topic once I feel confident enough with the information. The bottom right portion of my board is all about success. I vow to read more books this year, sit front row at a fashion show during Fashion Week, work towards buying a Tesla, be more conscious of how harsh I come off to other people, travel the world and most importantly become self-employed.

I was originally planning on making my vision board by myself. I am very much a loner and I enjoy doing things independently. However, one of my everlasting goals is to build up the people around me and be surrounded by love and support, so I brought up the idea for a vision board party to my closest friends (We tend to have a really difficult time coming together.) Only one of my best friends was down to get together and make the boards. Side note: I was initially really upset that not everyone wanted to participate. I get really frustrated when people turn down an opportunity that is only beneficial for them. I spent way too many years trying to help people and it only ever drained me. So I've made it a point to learn to be more tolerable of other people's wishes even when I don't agree or understand them, because maybe I really don't know what's best for them. So my best friend Samantha and I made a little girls night of it. We made tea (would've been wine if I weren't sick with a cold because of this horrible NY weather), listened to music and caught up on our lives. It was a really great bonding experience. There's nothing better than working on productive things with the people closest to you. It was SO interesting to see how differently our boards turned out - which mirrored our personalities so well. We have a lot in common I.e. We were both cheerleaders in High School, and played the clarinet, we were in a lot of the same classes and we both have a huge drive for success. BUT, we also have a lot of differences. I'm much more artsy, edgy and risqué whereas she is more focused on health, family, and love which is evident on our boards.

My Vision Board

My nephew walked in on me taking pics and insisted on me taking a picture of him

Samantha's Vision Board

Vision board parties are a great way to get together with friends and bond. You can discuss your goals before hand and explain your creative process of making your boards after they're finished. Grab some wine and finger foods and it's a party! Make sure you set the mood with a clear working space, music, candles, whatever it is that inspires you.

You gotta believe it to see it, not the other way around.

I wish you all the best new year ever and hope that you all make it a point to become greater this year!

XOXO,

Brittany Jade

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

Follow on Twitter

Follow on Pinterest

NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS // HOW TO KEEP YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

2017-12-27T15:57:00.000-08:00

A new year usually means new resolutions that most of us will forget about by the time February rolls around. Let's all make an active effort to stay on top of our goals and set plans into place to help us reach the next level we've all been dreaming of. Below I have listed some of my New Year resolutions and some tips on how to stick to your guns. It's time to cut the shit and get to it.

I like to set goals for myself every day, not just in the beginning of the year. However, there's something about a fresh start that awakens a monster of motivation within us. Here are some resolutions to help us stick to our resolutions. Ha!

SET GOALS

Write them down. It'll hold you more accountable. I also believe that writing things down makes them real; it's already thought of, now you just have to do it.

Create a vision board. Use old magazines or print out pictures and put inanimate objects on it. Get creative and make something that will inspire you every time you look at it.

Make a plan. Whether they're short term or long-term goals, you're going to need to figure out a realistic way to make them happen. i.e. If your goal is to find a new job by March, you might want to first update your resume, and apply to X amount of jobs per week.

Congratulate yourself every time you accomplish a new goal. It'll keep you motivated to continue.

STAY FIT

Exercise. Whether you going your local gym, go for a run every morning, do yoga, dance, kickboxing, etc. Exercise is a crucial part of staying fit. Your body gets stronger, it gives you a huge boost of self confidence, you look better, and you tend to live longer. If you can afford a Personal Trainer, that's the perfect way to stick to your routine. Pinterest is a good place to find workout routines for what you want to work on as well. After few weeks it will be a natural habit & you'll start to actually look forward to exercising.

Eat well. Cut the junk out of your diet. You're not 5 years old anymore so chill on the Oreos & Cheetos. I highly recommend doing your research and finding a balanced diet that is best for you based on your body type, your lifestyle and your blood type. (Eat Right for Your Blood Type)

FIND INNER PEACE

Mental health is just as important as physical. Make sure you are constantly challenging yourself to be positive and become a better version of yourself without being too hard on yourself.

FREE YOURSELF. Read more on my recent blog post.

GET RICHER

Create a savings plan. I transfer a certain amount into my short term saving account every 2 weeks (for bills & monthly expenses). Then, I send a certain amount to a high yield online savings account for my long term goals (i.e. New car, new apartment, new laptop, travel, etc.)

Cut down spending. Do you reaaaallly need that $5 coffee every day? Maybe try packing your lunch instead of eating out. Take a look at your last few month's bank statements and notice your spending trends. Now figure out a way to cut back on the unnecessary stuff.

Rule of thumb: If you can't afford to buy it twice (2x the price), then don't buy it.

Invest. They key is to make your money make money without you needing to do anything. Whether you want to get into stocks, cryptocurrencies, or CDs. Explore your options and be smart! The sooner you start, the better.

Increase your income. Gone are the days when people have one source of income. Studies actually show that the average millionaire has 7 sources of income . Whether you work a 9-5 or you're taking the road less traveled, you need to find multiple ways to make money. Aside from investing, there are multiple ways to stream more income. Try freelancing on your free time whether you are an artist, a photographer, a makeup artist, a gamer, a hairdresser and so on, there's a market for everything and social media makes it so much easier to build your own business or brand. Find a main side hustle and master it. Try selling your unwanted or unworn clothes. There's multiple apps for this i.e. Poshmark (My personal fave), Mercari, Letgo

I Will Teach You to be Rich : This book has been my financial holy grail, It's basically a guide to financial freedom for the average person. I really recommend reading it.

CROSS SOME THINGS OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST

Travel. Far. Close. Alone. In a large group. Just book a ticket and go!

Try a new activity. Whether it's sky diving or learning to dance Salsa. Try some things you've always wanted to do but for some reason always found a reason not to.

Learn a new skill. If you want to learn how to edit videos or color hair, go for it. Not to mention it'll offer you another outlet to make money. With the internet nowadays, we have free information readily available to us so real you have no valid excuses.

Explore your city. Yup, like a tourist. Or like a local. Or maybe both. Challenge yourself to do things and go places that are out of the norm for you.

STEP OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE

I cannot stress this one enough! This should be something that you strive for every single day, in all aspects of your life. They didn't lie when they said great things never came from comfort zones.

FIND YOUR PASSION

Whether you want to be a nurse or a famous music artist, figure out what it is that sets your soul on fire and go for it full force. Don't let anybody else's doubts reflect on you and don't stop until you get there. You can't fail if you never quit.

REMOVE TOXICITY

Cow milk, bad friends, and a cheating boyfriend all have something in common: They are toxic for you! So stop being a weak a** b*tch and cut it out of your life.

Notice the people who drain your energy, or who suddenly get all quiet when you share an accomplishment with them. If your relationship seems to drain you more than it fulfills you, maybe its time to let it go (Of course, you should do some self reflection first to make sure you aren't the issue.)

Cut out bad habits. Whether you smoke cigarettes, pop pills, self harm, bite your nails, lose your temper easily, listen to sad songs when you're already feeling depressed, etc. Stop treating yourself like trash. How can you live a happy and successful life if you're literally beating yourself down? Find healthy ways to cope with your inner demons. Yoga, meditation and twerking in the mirror help me. Lmao (no shame.)

Thank you so much for reading loves! Now let's put these goals into place and make this new year the best one yet.

What I'm Wearing:

Black Puffer Coat (Primark) | Red Button Leg Trousers (Mystique Boutique)

Nylon Booties (Zara) | Chinese Takeout Bag (Forever 21)

Photos by @senseinick

XOXO,

Brittany Jade

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

Follow on Twitter

Follow on Pinterest

FREE YOURSELF.

2017-12-15T13:45:00.001-08:00

My longest and most difficult challenge through my entire life has been finding inner peace or “freeing myself.” I grew up in a pretty negative environment so reacting to outside factors, waiting for the next bad thing to happen and being negative-minded was a natural thing to me. The older I got the more this became a burden to me and it eventually developed into depression and anxiety. It wasn’t until I went away to college and physically separated myself from a familiar place that I really learned to retrain my mind, body and soul. Looking back, I’ve made so much progress and my accomplishments can attest to it. Once I started taking active responsibility for the good AND especially the bad in my life and thinking positively, my whole life changed for the better.

Some things that helped me become more conscious of my thoughts and remain centered were meditation, yoga, reading self-help books and listening to positive affirmations (this especially helped when I was having an anxiety attack – just search ‘Positive Affirmations’ on YouTube). My favorite self-help book is The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A Singer. It gets really deep about consciousness and separating your physical body from your spirit. It really helped me put things into perspective and I truly have been more grounded and conscious since I adopted the methods they promote in the book.

I’d like to share a short piece of writing from one of my favorite motivators on Instagram (@Idillionaire) that pretty much sums up this whole subject.

Calmness is a superpower. The ability to not overreact or take things personal keeps your mind clear and your heart at peace. You have to learn how to not be controlled by other people’s negativity. You can’t walk around with a button that can easily be pushed. You can’t be swayed left or right every second by what others outside of you are saying and doing. You have to learn how to be in control of your inner emotions and gain inner stability. Be too great for negativity and nonsense.

Your emotions:

You might not realize this, but you choose how you want to feel. You choose to be sad, happy, excited, up and or down. However, when people don’t understand this, they become reactors. Reactors, tie their inner emotions to things, people, situations, and or circumstances. They wait till “this” happens to be happy. They can’t be excited unless “that: happens. Have you noticed, that when you’re just happy for no reason, people ask, “What are you so happy about?” It’s like we can’t just be in that state, without having a reason. And for most people, if there is no reason to be happy, they are either sad or depressed waiting for something on the outside to shift their inner state.

Start choosing your inner state:

First step is deciding how you want to feel. If you don’t decide, you’ll be waiting for something on the outside to decide for you. When you make a clear-cut decision, nothing will alter that state, if you keep your vision on the choice you made. You have the most effect on your reality when you feel good. Feeling good aligns you to the things you desire. The environment might look the same; but the mind looking at it has changed. Know that your inner reality, controls your outer reality.

Be free:

I know you might not have been taught this, but you’re meant to feel good for no reason. You’re meant to be happy for no reason. You’re meant to smile for no reason. Let yourself go and be free. You no longer have to wait to get these feelings. You no longer have to expect others to give it to you to get these feelings. We have to stop tying ourselves down when we’re meant to fly.

Thanks for reading loves. I really hope you learn to free yourself as well!

Photography by Odd Native

What I'm Wearing:

Denim Jacket (L Train Vintage) | Floral/Paisley Blouse (Vintage)

High Waist Jeans (ZARA) | Suede Chelsea Boots (Steve Madden)

Black Pashmina Scarf | Retro Cateye Sunnies (Fantaseyes)

XOXO,

Brittany Jade

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

Follow on Twitter

Follow on Pinterest

10 STRUGGLES THAT I AM THANKFUL FOR.

2017-11-23T13:02:00.000-08:00

I think it's easy to be thankful for things that are naturally in good spirits. Good health, a loving partner, a happy family, a good paying job. But real gratitude is when you can be grateful for the things that aren't so pretty. We all know life isn't always shits & giggles, so it's important to maintain a grateful heart even when shit hits the fan. Below is a list of my biggest struggles that I learned to look at in a positive light.

OVERTHINKING. If I had a dollar for every time I stressed myself out while overthinking, I’d be on a private jet headed to my bungalow mansion in the Maldives right now. Overthinking can cause you to miss out on a lot of great opportunities so i try my best to not let it dictate my actions even though i feel the need to go through all the motions mentally. I’m grateful for my overworked mind because it has also lead me to a lot of great successes. I like to think of all possible outcomes of a situation and in some cases this helps, like how to graduate college early, or how to lower my credit card debt, or how to travel around Europe for as cheap as possible. It’s probably why I always did well in school and excelled in any position I’ve held.

GETTING MY HEART BROKEN. Nothing will break you down like love gone wrong. We are partially at fault for having such high hopes and expectations for people to fit this perfect image we have for our partner. But really what is love without hope? It would just be boring. So as much as it hurts, and as much as it makes you question yourself and what you did to deserve being done so dirty, once you come to terms with the fact that it was never YOU that was the issue you find peace. I never thought I’d be in the situations I was in in my last relationship. It got extremely toxic, from white lies to huge ones, cheating, manipulation, disrespect. I always swore I’d never be “that girl.” But let me tell you, it’s not as easy to get out of as you think. Too many times I felt hopeless and “stuck.” Im so grateful I found the strength to leave a toxic situation even though in my heart I wanted so badly to believe things would get better. Sometimes you can truly love a person but that doesn’t mean that they’re good for you. The challenges and pain i had to overcome from this situation made me better in so many ways. It humbled me, because of course i thought “I’d never get cheated on..I’m too good of a woman for that.” But truth is, it doesn’t matter how great you are, how many times you hold shit down emotionally or financially, how many massages you give your man, how bomb your sex is, how independent you are, if a person is going to cheat, they’re going to do it regardless. It also taught me the importance of self love. Never ever ever forget your worth, especially when you fall in love (because that is the easiest time to get lost in someone else and forget who tf you really are). Most importantly, never let a person who is bad for you make you colder, you’ll only be doing yourself a disservice.

BEING A MISFIT. I’ve never really “fit in” anywhere. I was kind of like a walking oxymoron. I was a “cool kid” in honors classes. Too cool for the nerds, and too nerdy for the cool kids. Being mixed, I was too white for the Spanish kids and too Spanish for the white kids. I went to a predominantly white elementary school because the schools in my neighborhoods weren’t as good. But of course i was too “ghetto” for most of the kids at school and too “proper” for the kids on my block. I was head cheerleader in High School But i also played the clarinet in the school band and marching band. At pep rallies I’d have to play the National Anthem in my clarinet in my cheer uniform then run to lead my cheer team into our routine. I don’t click well with females, but a female can’t have guy friends or she’s a “hoe” or they just catch feelings and shit gets awkward. It goes a lot deeper than this but I think I’ll save that for its own post soon. Moral of the story is I never fit in anywhere and there was a time where it really took a toll on my confidence and happiness... but I’ve learned to embrace it and own my individuality. It means learning to truly enjoy my own company, and be at peace knowing that i may never connect with people on the level that I want to.

BEING A PERFECTIONIST. OCD is an understatement. I’m an organization freak, a control freak, an over-achiever and so on. It comes in handy when you’re in college and on e-board for two clubs, work two jobs, need to schedule naps between classes and turning up and you plan every hour of your day in your planner...BUT it has definitely caused me a few grey hairs and a lot of headaches. Through all the stress I’ve learned the importance of letting go and to just let things flow and be ok with the fact that I do not have control.

BEING BULLIED. Oh boy. Middle school kids are so freaking mean. LET ME TELL YOU. Thankfully, social media was only just emerging when I was in middle school, i can’t imagine how hard it must be on the kids now with all these social networks. MySpace and AIM were the hottest things back then (GOD I’M OLD.) I was bullied A LOT in middle school. Both online and at school. Some of the most common thugs I was made fun of for (and this was every single day) were my short legs, my big forehead, my big head, having hairy arms, being a “slut”. I can’t even tell you the kind of rumors that we’re going around about me WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD. I couldn’t use the bathroom at school without being taunted by older or bigger girls calling me all kinds of names, trying to intimidate me, writings on the bathroom stalls about me and even boys would taunt me too. I dealt with a lot of ridicule from people I didn’t know as well as friends and family (although i don’t know that they’re really aware of how much the negatively contributed.) It definitely took a mental and emotional toll on me, even physical. I went into a depression in 7th grade, I never wanted to go to school, so I was absent a lot or late every day just so I can avoid the early morning crowds going into school and on the city bus. I just didn’t understand why my existence bothered people so much. I never talked about anyone, started any drama or gave anyone a reason to have a problem with me. I was just a girl who got good grades, played the clarinet, dressed weird and minded my business. I had like four best friends who i hung out with (2 of whom I’m still best friend with.) Thankfully I could talk to my mom about what i was going through and she kept me grounded and reminded me constantly to not let other people’s personal issues hold me back from living my best life. This experience played a large part in the person i am today. It taught me not to care what other people think of me, and if they’re trying to bring me down it’s only because they have issues they need to deal with themselves. It taught me compassion and to never be mean to people. You have no idea what someone can be going through.

BEING A FEMALE. We all know that unfortunately in this society, women have to work a lot harder to get what is so freely given to men. We have to do all this all the while bleeding for a week straight every month. We are held to higher standards but not given nearly the same rewards as men. Being a minority woman makes it even harder to get ahead. As much of a challenge it is, I’m grateful for it because it made me go harder in every aspect of my life. I was raised by a strong, independent woman so I’ve seen first-hand how much a woman can accomplish on her own. And truly there’s nothing more powerful then empowered women coming together to support eachother and build eachother up. There’s such a rewarding feeling behind being the underdog and coming out on top, and i feel like that’s what it’s like being a woman in America today.

BEING AN ADULT. You’re never prepared for the “real world” no matter how many lectures you hear on it or how many crash courses you take. It’s always gonna slap you in the face one way or another. My slap in the face was 6 months after I graduated college when my mom told me she was moving and cutting me off financially. I was focusing on building my brand at the time and really did not want to work a 9-5 if I didn’t have to. Unfortunately, that ended quickly and I was forced to “grow up” and get a job and support myself. It took me a reeeeaaaalllllyyyyy long time to get used to it and not be totally bitter about the situation. Anyone who knows me knows how unconventional I am. I hate routine. I hate authority. I hate the never ending cycle of normalcy most people succomb to in this society. I’m finally learning to see the bright side of my situation though. I landed a great job, some may even say career, in the field I went to school for, I’m working in the heart of the fashion district on 5th Ave in Manhattan, and I don’t receive support from anyone

BEING RAISED BY A SINGLE MOM. I had to learn at a young age that the world was not all sweet and dandy. I grew up in an abusive household, and my parents split when I was 4 years old. Growing up with a single mom who worked her ass off to support me and my older brother was definitely a challenge. As a child you don’t understand why relationships don’t work out and your just left wondering why someone who created you wouldn’t want to be in your life. My mom was always working to make ends meet so she wasn’t always able to come to my school book sales, band concerts, cheer performances, Parent-Teacher conferences and so on. I always felt left out when the other kids had their parents there for everything but hindsight is 20/20. I’m grateful because it taught me to be independent and I truly don’t know how my mom did such an amazing job on her own. I was aware of the damage that a toxic relationship can cause to both the people in it and surrounding it at a really young age. I learned a lot of lessons about love, respect, hard work and most of all perseverance from growing up with a single mom.

BEING BROKE. All my life all I’ve known is struggle. Too many times we went without luxuries most people are used to like cable, junk food, AC, new clothes, the newest in technology, etc. It humbled me and taught me not to place value on trivial things. I learned to make the most of what little I had and worked harder so i wouldn’t have to struggle for the rest of my life. I learned to be frugal and strategic with my money. Most importantly, I was taught to give to people in need even if i don’t have much to offer.

ANXIETY. I mention this one a lot. It was the biggest struggle I’ve ever faced. That’s probably because it was an internal battle rather than something external. I’m still fighting to find the words to explain how debilitating anxiety can be. Everyone experiences it differently and it sounds crazy to people who haven’t experienced it. At the bottom of it all anxiety taught me to appreciate the most basic aspects of life, especially life itself. Too many times when my anxiety swallowed me and dying sounded so much more appealing then living through it. Now, I appreciate breathing normally, and being around people I love without being jittery and my mind running wild, i appreciate when my heart beats at a normal pace and when my stomach isn’t turning. I appreciate falling asleep peacefully and not waking up to a racing heart and scary thoughts. I am so grateful for feeling normal.

Photography by Elizabeth Malave

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Brittany Jade

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

Follow on Twitter

Follow on Pinterest

10 THINGS I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT

2017-11-12T19:39:00.001-08:00

Writing this post was a bit of a challenge for me because I overthink ev-er-y-thing! As I was listing things to include, I would counter with a thought on why I CAN live without these things and I started to feel like this was pointless. I can pretty much say I'm not a materialistic person. I always had to get creative with the bare minimum and it taught me to not place value on material things. Of course every now and then I like to be a regular human and indulge in nice things. Below is a list of things I can live without, but would really rather not.

1. A pretty smile (: (I really can't live without this one.) I try to look at the positive in every situation and smile when things get tough. Even if I'm going crazy in my head, smiling & laughing trigger physical responses within the body that help you feel better. I'm currently working on whitening these bad boys with Hi Smile teeth whitening kit. Cannot wait to show you guys the results!

2. Some bomb-ass cat eye sunnies. The ones pictured above were developed by me for Fantaseyes Inc. I'm a product developer by day - everything else by night lol. Cat eyes are definitely my silhouette of choice because they can spice up any outfit and they have attitude, just like me (:

3. A good ol' fashion magazine. I mainly use them for visual inspiration & ideas for sunglasses, blog posts, outfits, and anything really. They keep my creative side alive. Side note: I've always wanted to take part in creating a magazine. I'll probably try it out at some point.

4. A good poetry book. Had you told me I would say this about a year ago I would've laughed in your face. I was never a book person, let alone poetry. However, these past two years have really been a huge emotional and spiritual journey for me. I find that I have a new appreciation for anything that involves self expression and art. Poetry helps me make sense of my thoughts and emotions. The book pictured above, Becoming by Shana Marie Roark was so relatable and definitely helped me get through some tough times these past few months.

5. My body pillow. I have to sleep with a bunch of pillows and blankets in order to sleep well. It might be a security thing? I don't know but I can't sleep without my body pillow between my knees and to hold onto lol, yeah I'm pretty much a 23 yr old baby.

6. MUSIC! What the hell would life be without it? It gets me turnt up when I need to be, it soothes my hopeless romantic when I'm in my feelings, it helps me sleep when I'm having anxiety attacks, it brings a deeper meaning to life. It transcends languages and cultures - it IS like a universal language. My JBL flip is liiiiiiife. It's so small and easy to travel with & even though it's small it is very powerful and it BANGS!

7. My car. I don't know how I ever survived without it. Especially now that the weather is damn near at the freezing point. I can't imagine stepping foot outside my house without having a warm comfy car to get me where I need to go. With music blasting of course! I actually just got my license & car earlier this year, so I'm a fairly new driver and I'm already kind of sick of driving just like everyone told me I would be, haha!

8. Dry shampoo. I can't tell you how many times it transformed me from homeless person to bad bitch. I have really thick and frizzy hair so washing & styling takes me a while and tbh I don't have the time to do my hair multiple times a week.

9. A dope pair of kicks. I am a sneaker head at heart. I'd choose a dope fair of Air Force 1's over boots or heels any day because ummm comfort always wins.

10. Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy collection. Ever since I discovered these products some years ago, I have not stopped using them. They even updated their packaging which is much more aesthetically pleasing than it used to be. I really believe that certain scents stimulate brain function and have positive affects on the mind and body. The 'Comfort' scent from this collection is my favorite!

Photography by Elizabeth Malave

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Brittany Jade

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

Follow on Twitter

Follow on Pinterest

WALK THE WALK.

2017-11-02T21:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, I’m wearing white after Labor Day. Who makes these stupid rules any way? Honestly you either make the rules or break em. That’s the way I see it. This is probably why I don’t do so well with authority haha!

Although this look is definitely more fit for the warmer seasons due to its cuts and materials, it can work in the transitional seasons as well. Unfortunately it already feels like winter in NY ): If you read my Miami Travel Diary, you saw me rock this fit to a fashion show during Swim Week. It’s definitely one of my more risqué looks. I either dress really laid back and "boyish" or barely wear clothes, like this look haha. There usually isn't an in-between.

I felt really bawsé in this outfit and looking back at the photos trying to think of a concept to write about, the saying “if you wanna talk the talk you gotta walk the walk” came to me. Which brings me to my next point. It’s really a pet peeve of mine when people preach a life they do not follow. The growth of social media as a prevalent part of our daily lives seems to have given people this false sense of identity. I seriously hate it. You guys all know that I’m all for thinking positive and spreading good vibes, and I love people who do the same. But when it just becomes nothing more than a quote you post on Instagram meanwhile you’re actually a negative force in real life, it means nothing. Too many things become trends nowadays and people just hop on the bandwagon without actually taking the time to understand the origin and meaning of said things. These things take time and a lot of hard work! It requires a lot of self reflection and most importantly being honest with yourself even when it hurts.

Do you ask yourself how you have made a positive impact on the world or someone else's life every day? Do you redirect your negative thoughts to positive ones? Do you move away from negative people and situations? Do you actually practice what you preach? Try talking less & doing more.

Shot by K Visionary

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Brittany Jade

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

Follow on Twitter

Follow on Pinterest

CAMO'D OUT // ETHIK

2017-10-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

I’ve been on a real camo kick lately. I find that I tend to stick to a certain color scheme for a certain amount of time until I get tired of it then I move on to the next. I was so excited for the transition into Fall, because well Fall fashion is my fave. Earth tones and dark colors are definitely my thing.

Shop the Ethik FW1 collection

Streetwear is definitely my niche. I’ve always been a tomboy with “girly” tendencies and I’m learning to really master my own style to reflect my personality better. I love styling menswear looks in a way that compliments my body and offer an unexpected appeal. You can definitely catch me shopping in the men’s section of all my favorite stores.

With that being said, I had the pleasure of modeling some pieces from the FW1 collection for Ethik Clothing Co. Windbreakers have definitely made a triumphant return into streetwear and I’m all for it. They’re perfect for chilly or rainy days and they give off real nostalgic 90s vibes. Something about a dope jacket just wins me over. Comfy tapered sweats and kicks complete this laid back look that is certainly streetwear certified. Yeah, that was corny. Haha!

Photographed by Odd Native

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Brittany Jade

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

Follow on Twitter

Follow on Pinterest

TUNNEL VISION.

2017-10-09T14:52:00.001-07:00

The vision is free, the hustle is sold separately.

As I'm writing this I'm sitting alone in a park trying to soak in all the life around me. I've been lacking so much inspiration lately. This happens to me very often. I'll have a few weeks where I'm on fire with my ideas, motivation, everything in life really. Then boom. Suddenly I don't even want to open up my Instagram app, socialize much with anyone, eat healthy, go to the gym, or do anything active really. I take these feelings as a sign that I need some change in my life. I like to take these moments to reconnect with my core. I'll usually go sit down by the water to think and write. I'll write about my hopes, my dreams, my goals, my pain, my to do list for the day or the week, anything really. Sometimes I don't do anything and force myself to truly be in the moment. Listening to the waves crashing or the birds chirping and not worrying about anything in my life is so therapeutic. It's vital for me to refresh my brain and redirect my energy.

There's so much pressure I put on myself to stay active on social media every day. Add that on top of a 9-5 which in reality is a 7-7 including travel time, freelance projects, exercising, sleeping, eating... and yeah it's definitely a lot to balance. I have to remind myself that sometimes it's ok to go on a social media hiatus or even a people hiatus lol. Mental health comes before anything and I need a lot of moments to recharge.

When you want to succeed, you have to see the vision before it's really there. You have to feel your success, you have to hear it, taste it, see it and eventually you'll be able to touch it. You have to keep your eye on the prize and not let anything deter you. You have to wake up every day with a mission to get you one step closer to that goal. It's not easy. If it was, everyone would be doing it. It means crying in your own shoulder and telling yourself "everything is going to be ok" when you're hurt or discouraged. It means congratulating yourself and celebrating your own accomplishments because most people around you wont acknowledge them. It means working harder than everyone around you because you don't want to live a regular life. It means losing people and feeling lost at times. It means being humble because you’re doing this for yourself, not for credit... plus you get used to other people not wanting you to succeed so you learn to keep things to yourself. But most importantly it means picking yourself back up and getting right back on the path you've set for yourself despite all the obstacles presented along the way.

Oversized visor sunnies

Tunnel vision is the key to success. When you really want to succeed you have to pass up on some sleep, some meals, and some social events to be productive. Well really you have to pass up on A LOT of those. It’s ok to be selfish with your time and energy. What works best for me to accomplish my short term and long term goals is making lists. I literally make lists for EVERY THING from my To-Do list for the day to the things I want to buy, things I need to repair, things I need to remember, places I want to go, my short term goals, long term goals, bills/expenses, etc. Sometimes I write them over and over so they really stick in my head. You have to be annoying with your success. The way I look at it is this: The more you practice your craft (whether you are an artist or a nurse) the better you get. If you put in work every single day you're going to get better faster than you would if you only put in work once a week. Know when your body needs a break, and don't feel bad about it. This is something I always battle with myself.

Most importantly, work hard in silence. I find that when you put your ideas and your moves out there, someone is always wishing bad upon them or it gets jinxed somehow. Do not compare your journey to others around you, and especially people on social media. Your time will come so long as you work continue to work at it. Figure out your "why" and remind yourself every single day of that reason. Be humble, work hard, and don't give up.

Shot by K Visionary

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Brittany Jade

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

Follow on Twitter

Follow on Pinterest

THIS IS DEDICATED TO THE HOPELESS ROMANTICS

2017-09-14T18:52:00.002-07:00

So here's a total disclosure. This isn't going to be a sappy love post, nor is it going to be the answer to all your relationship problems. I am no relationship guru (I mean, clearly.) Truthfully, Im just trying to figure it all out myself. I was really hesitant about writing this post because I tend to keep my personal life very private, which is really important in this age of social media. It's important to do things just for the sake of doing them because you want to, not because it'll look good on your Insta feed. Ok back to what I was saying - sorry I have a serious problem of getting sidetracked haha!

This is a dedication post to all my fellow ladies who held onto hope for far too long. To the ladies who have been broken down by a boy whom they gave their all to. This is for the girls who think they "need" him, so they stick through all the bullshit and forgive him. This is for all the females who suffer from anxiety or depression and worry that leaving him might make matters worse. This is for the ones who stay with him even though he makes their anxiety or depression worse. This is for all the ladies who toss and turn at night having nightmares about him lying with another woman. Who lose their appetite and feel like puking every time the thought of his infidelity and lies come to mind. Who have this horrible knot in their stomach that they can't seem to shake. This is for the ones whose intuition tells them he's not being real, but choose to ignore it instead. This is for all the ladies who gave him way too many chances. This is for the ladies that took him back before making him prove that he has changed. This is for the ladies who stayed because of the fancy dinners and lavish lifestyle. This is for all the ladies who got dozens of roses sent to their job because he felt guilty about hurting you, but never actually got his act together.

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I’m very much a “relationship person”, some will even call me a “relationship hoe.” Yeah, I didn’t think that was a thing either, but apparently anything you do nowadays gets criticized. Truth is, I am a hopeless romantic. I believe in true love and all the sappy shit. Its an amazing feeling to share great experiences with your counterpart. However, in this day and age it serves as a big challenge to cherish relationships the way that us "Hopeless romantics" do. I'm learning to be much more selective now and content with my own company. I’ve realized that my need to be needed by someone comes from the absence of my father in my life. I never wanted to admit to myself that I have Daddy issues, but admitting is really the first step. And truth is, I don’t want anyone to NEED me anymore. That never leads anywhere good. I won’t go into detail on this subject just yet - look out for an upcoming post with more on this topic soon. It should be a good one! lol

This is for all the ladies who really started to believe that they were crazy because he always reminded you how much you were and boyyyy were his manipulative words so persuasive. So poisonous. Like venom shooting into your skin from the teeth of a snake. They burn too, just like it. But there is always an antidote. Mine was self love. Never think your value is based on someone else's inability to love you the way you deserve.

The main message I am trying to convey in this post is to know your worth ladies (& men, too where it applies.) Stay true to your values and your standards (as long as they aren't impossible). Once you start to make exceptions for people, that's the first step to failure. You literally allowed yourself to be in a situation you didn't want to be in because you thought maybe you were being too harsh with your standards. We have standards for a reason! I have a knack for doing this and the relationship fails. every. single. time. I'm not saying this to sound like a preacher. I'm speaking from personal experience. I woke up one day and realized that my relationship hit a dead end and I was settling for way less than what I am worth and I just decided to change my life. I have never been happier. It may sound a little dramatic but I feel like I was given another chance at life. Starting over is scary at first but it ends up being an amazing thing.

I cannot stress how important it is to really love yourself before investing into someone else. By loving yourself I don’t just mean looking in the mirror and liking what you see, although that is a very huge part of it. But I mean reallyyyyy spending time with yourself. Getting to know yourself again. Listening to the music you loved as a child, as a teen, reminiscing on all the moments that made you - You! All the pain you went through that made you stronger and wiser. All the happy times that left you yearning for more. Reaching for all the dreams you had as a kid that you suddenly pushed to the side for college textbooks & a 9-5 or just simply because everyone seems to make you believe they’re too far out of reach. Appreciating all the people who came in your life and left and all the things you learned from them. Travel far - if you’re up for it, I’ve heard solo travel is one of the most empowering things you can do & I plan to do it soon myself. Get to know your family. Ask about their childhood memories and how different society was when they were growing up. Set an example for the young ones. Look at old pictures and relive that exact moment. Meet new people and be open to people you wouldn’t normally associate with. Splurge a little on yourself - after all you work hard for YOU, right? Take up the whole bed when you sleep. Reorganize your room. Clean out your closet. Pick up a hobby or try finding a new one. Do things that scare you. Just be happy and realize how blessed you are. I am telling you, 99% of relationship issues always stem from within. We then start to project our own insecurities onto our partner and it creates a snowball effect. This can all be avoided by learning to truly love yourself and knowing your value.

Moral of the story is: wipe those tears, put on some kicka** lipstick, wear your favorite jeans that make your booty look big, look in the mirror and remind yourself of how much of a bomb a** chick you are. Then conquer the world (:

Sincerely,

A hopeless romantic

Photographed by Robert Asomaning

WHAT I'M WEARING:
VINTAGE SUNNIES / FANTASEYES
MESH TOP / THRIFT STORE (SIMILAR)
LACED BRALETTE / AERIE
MOM JEANS / ASOS
BLACK BOOTIES / SIMMI SHOES
FANNY PACK / VINTAGE
ARMY CARGO JACKET / VINTAGE

NYFW: NEW YAWKA STREET STYLE

2017-09-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

I can't stress how important comfort is to me. I find that most trends or really cute pieces aren't very comfortable which is why I usually dress simple and don't care much to follow trends. It's also why I only wear like 20% of the clothes I own haha. If the fit is complimentary to your figure and comfortable, ISSA GO!

This look is perfect for those days you want to effortlessly slay. An oversized hoodie worn as a dress is comfy AF, you can shake your booty freely, and it's perfect for those days when the weather is the perfect mix between warm and cool. I wore a pair of black spandex shorts underneath to cover up the goodies. Black booties are a simple and sleek way to elevate the look. If you're having a bad hair day or just want a more urban look, throw on a dad cap.

I am loving the camo + orange combo so much right now. A vibrant orange is the perfect contrast to muted green hues for any street wear look. I loveeee this "New Yawka" cap designed by my friend Rob Manuchi for his brand, Manuchi. I think all New Yorkers are a little ethnocentric but I think we deserve to be. New York is really a special place that not everyone is cut out for. Make sure to check out his stuff and stay up to date with him for new releases & events!

New Yawka cap by Manuchi | Orange hooded sweatshirt dress | Black Booties | Iridescent Shield sunnies

Shot by K Visionary

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Brittany Jade

Email: Contact@thefashionfreeway.com

"Like" us on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

Follow on Twitter

Follow on Pinterest