Fashion

OOTD: FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY

Another day another hat post? Apparently I’m REALLY into hats right now. That or I’m REALLY not into washing my hair. I’ll let you be the judge of that, but I will say while I do have an affinity to hats. This hat and I have been through a lot.

While traveling in France a number of years ago I purchased this beret hat for something like 10 euros from a vendor near Notre Dame, and didn’t stop wearing it.

Anyone who was in my Education program can attest, because there wasn’t a day that winter that this hat did not sit on top of my head.

I purchased this hat not to be a cheesy Parisian tourist (well I was but that was besides the point), but rather because I didn’t have a hair dryer, curling iron/flat iron OR ANYTHING to style my hair. See my friend who was living there (whom I was going to visit) failed to tell me that in Europe they have different outlets than we do, and well you need an adapter plug to take care of business (which of course I failed to bring). Because we were students and we were broke AF I mean I literally tutored and babysat for an entire semester to fund this trip we of course stayed in a hostel.

These were pre AirBnB days (also pre-iPhone days) guys these were primitive TIMES! The hostel didn’t even have an alarm clock let alone an adapter for the outlets. And while I usually don’t wash my hair that often, and it normally wouldn’t REALLY matter I’d just flew like 10 hours on a red eye flight, and I NEED-ED a shower. Even though our shower didn’t have a curtain or a door for that matter (but we won’t even go there).

My beret purchase was an attempt to tame the beast that is my wild natural hair (some things never change). Our adventures in France are ones I’ll never forget for as long as I live. And arguably this was probably one of the bravest things I’d ever done (aside from moving to a new place with absolutely no friends i.e university). You never learn more about a culture than when you spent time in it. Y’all know I grew up in a SUPER duper small town in Cape Breton, and you just don’t realize how young our country is until you visit a place Europe. From the beautiful architecture that’s drenched in history to the museums with art that’s century’s old: it’s truly a humbling experience.

After returning from France I’m pretty sure I thought I was French lol Meanwhile I’m about 99% positive that I’m mostly of English and Scottish decent lol Not to mention I was only there for 10 days. But after spending time in Paris and better still in the small quite town of Grenoble I decided to make some changes in my life. I wanted to live like the french do lol so I started making more simple meals, but with better quality ingredients. I whole heartedly adopted their laissez-faire attitude, and decided I wanted to express my love for everyone freely and un-apologetically. I mean not bad life changes for a 20-something.

If you ever get the opportunity to travel by yourself. Please do. There’s absolutely nothing more invigorating.

There is nothing more empowering than traveling alone. I mean of course it’s scary AF, but when you look at it with gratitude you’re just busting with excitement. I kept wanting to pinch myself to see if it all was real. I kept reminding myself of how lucky I was to be having these experiences. See I made a decision that year that I was going to stop not doing things because I was scared. About 95% of the things I worry about never happens, but how sad would it be to deny myself an experience over something that is likely NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.

Now I may not be able to travel to France on whim right now (I mean I wish), but I do think we can apply this same logic to our clothing and our style on a daily basis. I hear so often from followers and friends “oh I wish I could wear that” and it’s almost always about the color red (people really have some beef with the color red y’all), or about leopard prints. Both of which I am here to tell you, YOU CAN TOTALLY ABSOLUTELY WEAR!

When it comes to style choices just remember you are the only one who creates limits. I don’t care what you’re coloring is, or what you’re mother has told you about style rules. If you’re confident enough you can wear AN-Y-THING. Yep! I said it. Anything. We could get into a chat about how certain reds look good on certain people, but honestly if you hold up the colors you’ll know what looks better on you. You just have to own it.

WHAT I’M WEARING:

Jacket, Bag, Trousers & Cardigan Sweater: c/o Joe Fresh

Sunnies, Celine Audrey via Smartbuy Glasses

Shoes, c/o Nine West Shoe Studio (purchased in store but shop similar online here).

Watch, c/o Daniel Wellington

Nothing breaks my heart more than the thought of someone holding themselves back from wearing something they REALLY want to because they are scared. Not that you need it, but I am here to give you permission to wear whatever the heck you want. Currently Joe Fresh is running a #Trueto campaign, and I say be #trueto you. Forget the rules, forget what you know. Think back to when you were a little girl or boy, and you weren’t bombarded with noise. Ask yourself what he or she would want or choose if there was no fear, and then just wear the heck out of it!!

 

What trends are you excited to try blog reader?

xx

Kayla

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9 Comments

  • Reply Élana Camille November 9, 2017 at 2:57 am

    I love this entire look!! Especially the beret and the bag!

    • Reply shortpresents November 10, 2017 at 3:25 pm

      Thank you so much sweets!! xx The bag is SOOO cute, and so affordable. I love the texture of it.

  • Reply Heather Laura Clarke November 9, 2017 at 1:56 pm

    Love this post — and you are so brave for traveling to France and staying in a hostel, wow! For me, I decided a few years ago that I literally do NOT care about clothes, shoes, or fashion. I have a ton of interests but those aren’t any of them, so I gave myself permission to stop trying to be trendy and just wear what I want to wear — lots of black, stripes, and florals, but overall very comfy stuff that feels “me.”

    • Reply shortpresents November 10, 2017 at 3:25 pm

      I LOVE that!!! Honestly trends come and go, and while experimenting with them is fun I think being true to yourself is better.

  • Reply Brianna November 10, 2017 at 1:57 am

    LOVE your blog!! I actually just started one myself and I would love for you to check it out and give me some feedback if you have time. Thank you soooo much in advance 🙂 PS I wish i could pull off that jacket haha http://briannamarielifestyle.com/

    • Reply shortpresents November 10, 2017 at 3:24 pm

      OMG those photos are beautiful!! Starting a blog is scary, and a little thankless in the beginning but perseverance is what will make all the difference! Keep up the great work. xx

      • Reply Brianna November 11, 2017 at 2:42 am

        Thank you so much 🙂

  • Reply Holly Clarke November 10, 2017 at 4:03 am

    Oh you look so good in hats though! Why can I never find any to fit my head lol my head is not that large but they never fit or don’t stay on.. it’s very sad.

    I wish I could be as brave as you! I’m such a homebody anxiety case, but reads like this do make me push those boundaries. 😉

    • Reply shortpresents November 10, 2017 at 3:23 pm

      Girlll you are sooo fabulous!! You should check out Joe Fresh they do have various sizes and I find I have the opposite problem. I bet is all that fabulous hair you have. I also think you’re much braver than you think :):) I love all your beautiful makeup choices. xx

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