AS IF: 'Cause I'm Just A Girl...

Tartan Plaid Print Blazer: Zara | Black Satin Twill Belt: H&M | Button Down White Blouse: Mango | Tartan Plaid Miniskirt: Zara | Beret Hat: Ever New | Knee High Socks: Marks and Spencer | Velvet Mary Jane Kitten Heel Shoes: Gravity Footwear | Metal Edged Rectangle Bag: Vintage Italian | Cat Eye Red Sunglasses: Mango TOUCH | FASHION ATE THE WORLD Statement Pin: Irene's Closet

Take this pink ribbon off my eyes
I'm exposed
And it's no big surprise
Don't you think I know
Exactly where I stand
This world is forcing me
To hold your hand
'Cause I'm just a girl, little 'ol me
Don't let me out of your sight
I'm just a girl, all pretty and petite
So don't let me have any rights Oh...I've had it up to here!
The moment that I step outside
So many reasons
For me to run and hide
I can't do the little things I hold so dear
'Cause it's all those little things
That I fear 

'Cause I'm just a girl I'd rather not be
'Cause they won't let me drive
Late at night I'm just a girl,
Guess I'm some kind of freak
'Cause they all sit and stare
With their eyes
I'm just a girl,
Take a good look at me
Just your typical prototype
Oh...I've had it up to here!
Oh...am I making myself clear?
I'm just a girl
I'm just a girl in the world...
That's all that you'll let me be!
I'm just a girl, living in captivity
Your rule of thumb
Makes me worry some 

I'm just a girl, what's my destiny?
What I've succumbed to Is making me numb
I'm just a girl, my apologies
What I've become is so burdensome
I'm just a girl, lucky me
Twiddle-dum there's no comparison

- Just A Girl, No Doubt from Clueless Soundtrack (1994)

It has been 20 years since this movie was released and at that time, I was only six years old yet I remember renting the Laserdisc (how so very old school!) and asking my mom to purchase it for me instead of returning it. She did. My sister and I watched it and watched it until the disc was scratched and until we memorized ever single line. I do know memories like that cannot be forgotten and I proved to myself I have still memorized the movie script from start to end when I watched it recently. I don't know why but even at such a young age, the thing that fascinated me most about the movie was the fashion. Perhaps that explains why I chose fashion as my method of self expression and as my hobby. But ask any girl which iconic movie they remember the most back in '90s... it would be rare to get an answer that is not Clueless. To the young ones who have not watched the movie, allow me to explain: basically, it was The Mean Girls of my generation and just like your Burn Books, "So Fetch", or "And four for Glen Coco, you go Glen Coco!," we were uttering phrases like "As If," "WHATEVER," "Girlfriend" "Sporadically" and "And in conclusion may I please remind you it does not say R.S.V.P. on the Statue of Liberty. Thank you very much..." We called boys, "Barneys" or "Baldwins" and girls "Betty." Basically, we thought juts "Rollin' with my homies"  was cute. 

I absolutely loved the movie. I guess I have given sufficient proof to support that fact. But what I liked the best was how it introduced me to brands I have never heard of then but have come to love until now: Azzedine Alaia, Calvin Klein, Tiffany's, Fred Segal and Boulmiche. Cher Horowitz of life bible teen movie Clueless fame is responsible for a lot of things we do: Admiring our friend's fashion risks even if it looks like they went shopping with Dr. Suess, for example. Or using "sporadically" in a sentence. But perhaps our biggest takeaway from the film was the big brand knowledge bombs she dropped on us sporadically (see?) at a time in our lives when we were pretty clueless about what was out there.This is why with the resurgence of the plaid overload trend, I decided to do my take on this fashion icon and dress up like her for a yellow and green themed surprise party I threw my dad. I was quite proud of the job I did as I nailed the look to a tee and everyone got my outfit... yes, including Yaya Armi who movie marathons with me sometimes in my room. The movie also gave birth to my love for retail therapy and what to do when I feel helpless because according to Cher, "I felt impotent and out of control. Which I really, really hate. I had to find sanctuary in a place where I could gather my thoughts and regain my strength.." (WIDE SCREEN ANGLE OF THE MALL) It was years after when I discovered the book was actually based on Jane Austen's character Emma in her novel with the same title. While reading the book I discovered so many similarities and got the inspiration for such an iconic character. I was ten years old and it was all so enlightening really.

It was a quite great to reminisce, actually. There are timeless things like these that just don't fade away or age and again we are transported to a time when life was good and not messy. Where "Until mankind is peaceful enough not to have violence on the news, there's no point in taking it out of shows that need it for entertainment value" was still somewhat a valid point to make. Now it's all about control and logical reasoning and doing too much. Watching this film enables me to relive my heyday and on special occasions like this, perfectly execute an ensemble that reflects the fashion that the movie was all about. I know, I know, I put so much effort in these things yet I think it is always a wonderful opportunity to have a day where you can just celebrate being yourself and dressing the way you want to (In this case, I obviously wanted to dress up like Cher). You see, unlike some people, I find that celebrating ourselves does not mean that we put men down or do not like men. I, for one, am against calling men demeaning names like misogynist and  phallocentric... I mean if we start labeling them as such, we are no different from those who label us as bitches, sluts or whores. Think about it. Maybe I am idealistic in a sense, or maybe I really am clueless but  only treat people how I want to to be treated. I celebrate the good things and I do not think calling someone names and negative labels counts as something to jump up and down out of joy for. In my case, I love celebrating myself for the unique contribution that I have made, that I am making and that I can make. All of us have gifts that are unique to us. I guess mine would involve being able to express myself in how I dress...and in being able to think with both my left and right brain (PS: Trivia time: I am ambidextrous by the way!)  No one else has quite the combination of gifts of gifts that each of us has to offer and many of those gifts are not in spite of being a woman but rather, because we are women. Me being celebrating my ability to do what I want, wear what I want and find inspiration in anything I want is my life force. And today. I just proved I can have fun with this.

 

xx, JL

Fashion Inspiration:

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