Inspired

Pants: New York & Co.
Top: Banana Republic
Cardigan: J Crew
Shoes: Naturalizer
Earrings: Turkey
Sunnies: Puerto Rico

Y'all, I've been having a hard time getting dressed for the past couple weeks. It's gotten to the point where I take a shower and then stand in front of the closet for the twenty minutes it takes B to shower. And then he STILL gets dressed before I do. Meanwhile I'm all standing there trying to figure out what I can do with a wardrobe that fits in two suitcases.


BUT! My mom brought me a few magazines when she came to visit. And so, on this particular morning, instead of staring at my closet waiting for my clothes to put themselves on me, I pulled out the May issue of Lucky and flipped through until I found my inspiration. Y'all - I totally had the necessary pieces to put this together!


The two suitcase wardrobe pulls through! And I'm dressed! This may not be the most flattering look - cropped pants, flats, a top that's a size too big - but I felt almost as if I were finding my way out of a rut.


Someone tell me I'm not the only one with this problem....

A Julia de Burgos

Top: Banana Republic
Skirt: Gap
Belt: Banana Republic
Booties: Aldo
Bracelet: gift from my uncle
Earrings: Turkey

So, some weeks ago, there was an announcement about feminist fashion bloggers getting together to combine these two passions. I joined the Feminist Fashion Bloggers group, a decision that I though long and hard about, but ultimately took. Why would I think long and hard about something like this? Simple. It's because as a woman of color growing up the way I have (between continents and in a variety of socioeconomic settings), I feel that feminism is most often associated with a type of woman that I am not: the White, middle-class, well-educated woman from the US, Canada, or Western Europe.


But I do identify as a feminist - what I like to call a "Third World Feminist", so I joined. Because I figured the group needed a few more voices, yes? So, as part of this group, we're taking sartorial cues from a feminist fashion icon. So this is me liberally interpreting Julia de Burgos.

Source

How gorgeous was this woman? She was a poetess, one of the best in Latin America, and probably the best from Puerto Rico. One of her poems, "Ay, ay, ay de la grifa negra", comes to mind. It's about embracing who you are, your ancestors, and at the same time, recognizing the justice issues that play into ancestry, especially when you're Caribbean and racially mixed.


And then there's my personal favorite: A Julia de Burgos. This is the kind of thing that I so GET as a woman, as a Puerto Rican woman. We're from a culture where appearances matter for everyone (male or female), and there are certain ways of acting in public. But underneath it, there's more to us, a real us. Anyway, I took a stab at a translation here, so feel free to check it out.

Source

So today, she is my inspiration: a little boho, a little retro; a little bit of celebrating the natural texture of my hair, a lot of celebrating being a woman who can think and feel and write and live in two cultures and two countries.

Channeling Marilyn

Black boyfriend cardi: Banana Republic Factory Store (remixed)
Purple tie neck top: Ann Taylor (remixed)
Grey tweed pencil skirt: New York & Co.
Black Coach belt: thrifted (for $1!)
Navy suede peeptoes: Nine West
Silver hoops: Kohl's

We're experiencing some weirdo weather in Philly. It's neither hot nor cold, but it sure is muggy, which means the AC is blasting.

I thought of this outfit as I was falling into bed last night, and I was planning it around that Coach belt that I picked up on a thrifting adventure Saturday. I went with B.'s sister and mom and we had a pretty successful trip, I think.


Up close you can see that it's got some paint on it, but I figure for $1 (you know, as opposed to $98), I can deal. Also, seriously, $98 for a BELT?! Who DOES that?!


I had to lose my cardi for part of the day, just because I haven't fully recovered from whatever is making me randomly break out into a cold sweat and feel like I might just pass out. I usually don't do sleeveless for work, but this top has that nice, high neckline that makes me feel appropriately covered up, even if the skirt hugs my hips like I'm freakin' Marilyn Monroe.


My peep toes and red toes also remind me of Marilyn Monroe. Also, could I just point out that I am wearing navy blue and black and not a single person commented on it? Dang skippy. I didn't want to wear flats and I no longer have a pair of black heels, and I didn't think that my go to grey pumps would work, so I went with navy, which I think works well with the grey and purple, and I'm pretty happy with the look.


Not bad for the way I'm feeling. Seriously, y'all, I need to call my doctor tomorrow to make an appointment. See, I told the Internet, which means I need to do it.
Anyway, I was thinking today about style icons - the ones who've inspired my look. You know, besides my mother, who is an icon only to my sister and me. Marilyn Monroe is one, and I've loved her for ages. Jackie O. is another. This outfit makes me think of Marilyn, with the way it celebrates these curves (and creates a waist) and when I'm feeling crappy and am worried about my health, that kind of glamour makes my day.