Fashion is an important part of my life, it's an important part of how I express myself. Somedays I loath getting ready and sometimes I stair into my closet with despair but putting a great outfit together is satisfying. A feeling washes over me when I look in the full length and I feel at my best, I love feeling like I look like the girl that I want to be. But there is a sickness in the world of fashion, there is a sickness in the world from climate change to police corruption and a broken school system. I could go on and on and on about these things but instead I DO things, I buy a greener product, I eat organic food, drive my car less, attend events that promote new ideas and I SPREAD WORDS.

I was in Scotland when I heard about the sad, sad story of Rana Plaza collapsing. I was visiting my brother on his study abroad journey and there it was on the front page of the newspaper at the hotel concierge desk. The picture was graphic and the death toll was much, much lower than it would eventually become.

I had been working with Sol Inspiration's for a while, the issues of fast fashion and careless corporations were becoming closer and closer to my heart. I had been educating myself, learning about the horrors of factories, value perception, cheap labor, etc. But this was on a whole new level, this was an inexcusable catastrophe. 

I took the paper back to my room, I read the article, I watched coverage on TV, I obsessed and read everything online. It took me out of my vacation for hours. I WAS (and AM) SO ANGRY. And so, so motivated. 

LET'S CONTINUE MOVING THAT MOTIVATION TOWARDS REAL CHANGE and a really educated public! 

I will see you on Friday and we will continue making steps in the right direction, the direction that respects the people in the fashion industry as well as the ecosystem that surrounds it. Bring your friends that aren't the ones working for Greenpeace, bring the ones NOT already buying everything they own second hand, bring those friends that LOVE Forever 21 and Charotte Russe. 

Simply bring your friends, your grandma, your neighbor! Invite your social networks and really make this experience one that will change the mindset of many!

Fashion is a beautiful thing, and sometimes beautiful things get out of hand, but it's time to reign this crazy destruction in. We will use education, we will use social media, we will use all of the tools in our box to ensure that our planet no longer has to suffer at the cost of fast fashion addicts. 

xoxo, kp

The Good Lie is a big hearted movie that tugged the tears out of me with little resistance on my side and left me with a full heart, an educated mind and a soft smile. What I love most is that true events were used to create a film, people's lives were lent to Hollywood and a well written screenplay was created. This story incorporates a history lesson, an eye opening experience for movie goers who aren't often faced with the brutal reality of third world countries. It's not Disney, it's not too tame or cheesy but I cried, I learned, I laughed, it touched my heart.

Three of the main characters are acting from experience, these three amazing specimens are Sudanese refugees: Kuoth Wiel, Emmanuel Jal, Ger Duany. And Arnold Oceng is the son of a Sudanese man who came here to experience a new beginning. 

I don't know which parts of the story line are true and I don't care, it was a good movie, full of cold, sobering factual events, characters that are relatable, struggles that all kinds of people can identify with and a warm fuzzy happy ending.

I went to the Redbox thinking that I'd be able to rent Wild, when that was not available I decided to get another movie featuring Ms. Witherspoon and I was not disappointed. Her character is an unlikely hero who is hardly the star of the show. Her participation in this film allowed this story to reach broader audiences and for that she deserves thanks but most of the glory definitely belongs with the 'Lost Boys and Girls,' the refugees themselves. 

I encourage my readers to see films that challenge you, watch movies that you know are going to make your uncomfortable in a way that expands you. Learn things through visual story telling! Everyone loves a mindless comedy or a sappy rom com but honestly your media consumption can be and should be more than small escapes but they can enhance your knowledge of the world. Even a trip to the Redbox can make you a more worldly citizen or a more educated neighbor :) 

xoxo, kp 

Inspired by Gala Darling (one of my life coaches from afar) I've decided to do a Style Direction post, but instead of being for 2015 it's for my 25th year of life. Gala's Style Direction for this year is called Stepford Witch and it is perfect for her. Amazingly girly, bright, empowered but what I needed was a direction that would inspire some excitement about turning TWENTY FIVE in May. Not that I am not excited, but there have been a few different moments when I was a tad bit freaked about the amount of time that has gone by and the amount of time that I might have left on this earth. But you could freak out about that kind of stuff everyday if you aren't living your life to the fullest and I am proud to say that I have collected an amazing amount of memories, experiences and lessons in my 24.9 years!

I've never been a huge trendy follower, I haven't shopped at stores like Forever 21 or H & M in many many years. You may be familiar with my thoughts on fast fashion and the way constant consumption has a large portion of society's priorities way out of whack, which in a lot of ways dictates my style direction. There are many brands that do sustainable in a sexy, forward thinking, trend setting way: Reformation, Stella McCartney, Amour Vert, etc. As my Instagram (#ThriftedHeadtoToe) may have informed you I prefer to shop at thrift palaces, the castles of castaways. I live to find my style amongst the discarded and normally what ends up in my closet is a mess of different looks.

I remember a friend I had in middle school, a fashionable girl whose parents could afford to keep her outfitted in new clothes and plenty of them. This girls would come to school one day wearing her hair crimped, a preppy polo shirt and khakis and the next day she would be wearing too much eye liner and an outfit to make Avril Lavigne jealous. There is also a boy in this story, a boy who called this girl out for her ever changing styles, saying that she was a 'poser,' exclaiming that this beautiful chameleon had no right to change her colors depending on the day. I don't remember having an outspoken or averse reaction right there, on the spot, while this was going down but I know that this happening has stayed with me because I think it is BS. I think a person can put on different looking clothes every day and should be treated with the same amount of respect by those viewing the outfits. Yes I agree with Stacy and Clinton of What Not to Wear, the clothing a person (from a first world country) puts on does in a lot of circumstances let the world know how much you respect yourself but how much a person respects themselves should never tell you how much to respect them. People are precious cargo, be respectful, be loving, no matter what their style. 

That all said, I think that stylizing my closet will make things easier, it will add more ways for me to wear different pieces, it will hopefully gives me a recognizable look. I tend toward chameleon and am often not recognized right away because of my ever changing styling. But for twenty five I think I am ready to commit to style, commit to a direction and really embrace it. 

Have fun with style, have fun with clothes, express your innermost beauty with your actions and let fashion be the cherry on top.

xoxo, kp