My #1 Style Icon
Where does your personal style come from?
Diving deep into why you like what you like may lead you through one rabbit hole and into another. However, hopefully, you will be able to pinpoint why or where you got your style from.
Fashion has always been a part of my upbringing, not in a way where I recognized it, but in an exploratory way. For example, I started to care about what I wore and was able to pick out my clothes around in the 6th grade. I remember shopping with my best friend outside Gate 2 Street, Kadena AFB, Okinawa Japan at 11 years old. I searched high and low to finally find a blue cropped top I wore backward because the front showed too much skin and a black flare mini skirt. I was proud of my fit and thus began my exploration of style. *Can't forget the tons of hairspray for that wave!
I would always look at my mom’s pictures when I was in high school and recreate her photos, wish she kept her outfits, as well as found myself buying something based on what she wore. *My twin cousins and I recreating one of my mom's beach looks.
This lady built the foundation of my style not only by dressing but by how she loves, views life, her quiet wisdom, and by being her most authentic self. She is a master print mixer, color combiner & the Queen of pulling off a look. She surrounded me with beauty with how she decorated my childhood homes, how she cared for nature, others, and her family, and also in forgiveness, kindness, and empathy. She gave me my spiciness, taught me how to stick up for myself, and showed me when to bring the heat. All my lessons were learned first-hand by pure observation. I haven’t always appreciated her. She wasn’t always my favorite, but as I got older and had children, daughters in particular, I’ve learned what a treasure I have to learn from, emulate and look up to.
As I am touching 45, I look back on the times when she was my age, younger even, and am in awe at how she handled situations, people and difficult times, all while maintaining her zest for life. I love this lady beyond words.
In honor of the original fancy lady, I’ve recreated her looks. Not in a literal sense but inspired by or with my touch added to it. Hope you enjoy. To know this lady, is to love her, is to cherish her, is to forever honor her. Dedicated to Priscilla Lei.
My mom taught me your style has 10% to do with what you are wearing and 90% of your attitude toward how you feel, your confidence, gratitude, and love you give. Out of the 2 billion individuals in our world, there is only one you. No one is going to put an outfit together like you or has exactly what you have, so let’s embrace & celebrate you! Yea You! Work it! Get it!