Freedom of speech is something that I've always taken for granted. I had never thought about how incomparably lucky I am to be a straight, white, cis-gendered woman with access to incredible education and resources to extend my understanding on the world. Never in my life have I had to think about things as being not just as they are. As a woman I deal with implicit sexism in all parts of my life, the littlest things that are embedded so far into our culture that people don't actually think that they're sexist. 

Our unconscious forms of sex-bias are arguably, far more dangerous than the explicit oppressive acts of patriarchal males. Our unconscious racism, homophobia and discrimination of all sorts has created a society of morally ignorance. Is it excusable for these implicit forms of discrimination to continue, given that we've never been criticised for all the ways that what we are doing is wrong? 

My whole life I chose to be morally ignorant to the realities of animal abuse, because doing so benefited me. I chose to be morally ignorant of the realities of the daily discrimination of people because of class, race and sex, because these issues never affected me. It has gotten to a point where we are so used to how our lives have been built on the oppression of those around us, that rather than acknowledging our wrongdoings and serving to address them, we feel guilty. Rather than turning guilt into a productive emotion, we donate money to charities that do more harm than good for the 'benefactors.' We vote for the 'better' political party, so at least when the other party stuffs up you can justify your guilt because "I didn't vote for them!"

In order to create change we need to evaluate ourselves and our understanding of the world on a microscopic scale. We need to become aware of the implicit discrimination that clouds our individual judgement of others. We need to stop feeling guilty for things we have no control over and start using what we have been blessed with to create change. Rather than feeling guilty that I was raised in an upper-middle class environment and have the ability to think and speak freely when millions can't, I'm working to realise the power of thought and grasping onto how lucky and grateful I am that I can actually cause change. 

This is not a macroscopic issue, it's an issue that starts with us as individuals. It starts with calling our friends out if they say something that isn't okay. It continues with gaining the foresight and the self reflexivity as individuals to the point where we won't even need to filter what we are saying and thinking, in turn destroying our preconceived discriminatory views on others. I no longer believe, (in my white girl wonderland) that ignorance is an excuse to destructive views on anyone different to us, we have the world at our fingertips and need to educate those around us. Change starts at home. Change starts with swapping negativity with positivity. One single thought can start a revolution within yourself. We have no excuse.  

 

5/12

As tedious as it is for every single person in every month to say "Wow! This year has flown!" it is the absolute purpose of this post. The first five months of this year have been filled with extremes both socially and relating to fashion. There are so many trends and icons and such an influx in style tips and it is giving me so pleasure to sift through them. I personally have been living on substantially less money than I was this time last year, and as an extension I've unleashed a new talent of creating rad outfits (if I do say so myself) on a shoestring budget.
Everyone featured in these photos have influenced me incomparably and have forced me to be creative in what I wear, which I'm thrilled about.

I'm obsessed with layering, loose dresses, long coats and good shoes.

Liv xo

no one man should have all that power

The end of 2014 and beginning of 2015 have successfully placed themselves as the absolute best months of my life. The change from working seven days a week at a job I only just tolerated to a month away in Byron Bay and most excitingly, Japan has enhanced not only my appreciation for life, but also fashion and the power it has in unifying people from around the world.
This journey, so to speak began at Falls Festival and has concluded where I am now, in Tokyo with a newfound appreciation for style and intense passion for fashion (realistically, this started when I first got a Bratz doll.) I've been fortunate enough to experience and observe two entirely different worlds and how not so different they are as fashion has combined to create the pinnacle of all generations, social groups, interests and climates to create what we have now. It's both overwhelming and brilliant.

Falls Festival was excruciatingly hot, the shower situation grew dismal as the days went on and all aspirations for perfect hair and makeup, for me at least were made futile. However, rising from this saw people like me, go out to idealistically pick up men wearing no makeup, having not shaved in a week and wearing yesterday's socks. I don't necessarily condone the last point however you've got to do what you've got to do. What I liked about this was that it was genuine and people were taking control of what they had, and working it. Surprisingly though, this has been paralleled in Tokyo. I've seen countless women who while they may be clean shaven and showered, are wearing subtle, if any makeup and looking so unbelievably powerful because they're confident and also dressed immaculately. What I've picked up the most from Byron and Shibuya is that 2015 is a year of power and my aesthetic for 2015 is powerful but stripped back. I'm not even sure that description will make sense however, if 2015 is to be as powerful a year for me as intended I want my clothes to reflect such. The stripped back part of this ideal comes in with wanting to be powerful, however not intimidating. Moreover, coupling oversized coats of bold colours with slim lined pants and six hole doc martens combines the hyper-femme with masculine whilst not being too far one way or the other. Dresses tailored to fit coupled with statement jewellery, reflect control and furthers the image of power through refinement.

From my perspective, 2015 is about having clothes that fit properly, healthy bodies, healthy attitudes and a culmination of all the best experiences we have had and will have. The past month for me, has been the happiest of my life, going unrivalled against anything else I've done. I want this attitude to be reflected in my work and clothes, bringing the summer into winter and vice versa. If I've learnt anything from the remarkable people I've seen and met from my travels it's that power comes through fashion and that is a trend that has been cultivated around the world, and one that won't die.

I can't attach any photos from my phone but rest assured, when I get home there will be a bombardment.

Liv xo